An American Girl

 Every generation of girls has their dolls.  For me it was Crissy and Velvet.




Twenty-five years ago a woman called Pleasant Rowland started a company called American Girl.  According to the company website - American Girl’s mission is to celebrate girls. We embrace who they are today and look forward to who they will become tomorrow.

Until three years ago, the only thing I knew about American Girl dolls was that they were expensive.  And then, one Christmas, Cate received Felicity from her grandparents.  Now I know that each doll is a 10-year-old girl from a period in US history.  Each doll has a back story which is told in a series of books.  Felicity is a 10-year-old girl growing up in colonial Williamsburg.  Felicity is also a horse-lover which is why my parents bought her for Cate - since Cate is nuts about horses.  Since Felicity came into our lives we have also welcomed Elizabeth, Felicity's best friend, and Rebecca, a Russian Jewish immigrant growing up in the early 20th century.

Cate and Felicity

When Cate found out that the American Girl Doll Store was opening in Tyson's this summer, she made it clear that she wanted to make the trek into the Commonwealth to check it out.  We did that today.  Cate, her best friend, her Nana, two dolls, and me all went to the store to celebrate Cate's 10th birthday (all of the dolls are 10).  We did the Birthday Bistro package.  Lunch with celebratory pink lemonade, goodie bags, and a birthday cake and ice cream.  The dolls participated in the festivities.

Felicity at lunch

A toast to turning 10

After lunch, we spent birthday money sent by the grandparents and took the dolls to the salon to get their "hair did".

It was a fun day and I was completely caught up in the excitement of the girls as they shopped for cute outfits and accessories for their dolls.  I was also listening to their chatter about finally becoming "tweens" and I thought to myself - "Keep playing with dolls.  The tween will become teen before you blink.  Stay little for awhile longer my sweet American Girl."

It's a Girl

On July 17, 2001 at 11:15am Maura Cathryn Lawrence was born.  

 
I think I knew from the moment I found out that I was pregnant that the baby would be a girl.  I was afraid to have a girl.  Girls are complicated and moody and they give you trouble.  And boy did this baby give me trouble! I was sick from day one.  Tired all of the time.  And ended up on bed rest for the last two months of the pregnancy.  For the icing on the cake, I fell and broke my arm two days before she was born, so I delivered her with one good arm.

Soon after Cate was born, she and I shared a moment in our hospital room.  Our eyes locked and for several minutes we just quietly stared at each other.  I realized I was wrong - this girl wasn't trouble.  She was a blessing.  It is one of the most clear memories I have.  With her arrival - our family was complete.  We had a sweet boy and a sweet girl.

My baby girl is not a baby anymore.  She turns 10.  Double digits.  She is a smart, thoughtful, caring, loving, helpful, beautiful girl.  And I count my blessings everyday that God chose me to be her mother. 

She is adventurous.

She is musical.

She is a horse woman. 











She is my sweet baby girl and I treasure our relationship.

Happy 10th Birthday to my Pooh Bear and my best girl friend!  I am so excited to see the young woman you will grow up to be.

I love you, Mom.  XO

Who Says You Can't Go Home

Last night, I was lucky enough to spend several hours catching up with some "old friends".  All of them I have know since Middle School - with a couple from way back in the second grade.  Words cannot describe how much I loved seeing everyone. We grew up together in a small town.  Our high school class had just shy of 250 kids - and we all knew each other (in contrast to my husband who grew up in a DC suburb and had 700 kids in his class). 

I loved catching up and hearing everyone's stories.  I learned about kids (and grand kids!), career paths, spouses (and some ex-spouses), changes in our home town.  And we all laughed over the endless shared memories - Goat Man's, the King and Queen Seat, McDonald's on 22, the Pines, parties when Rob's parent's were at Sturgis, and the list goes on.  I was reminded that when you are young and feeling indestructible - you make some pretty interesting choices. 

Our graduating class has remained close since we graduated in 1985.  I credit the hard work of a couple of our classmates who were determined to host a reunion every five years.  Because of them, we are quite probably the only Aberdeen High School class in recent memory who has stayed in touch.  We were on an e-mail list serve before Facebook and now most of us have FB accounts. Even though our hometown is no longer small - and is in effect a Baltimore suburb - our reunions and social media accounts have kept us together and help keep connections close.  For that I am grateful.

Last night, there was a mathematician, a nurse, a machinist, a scientist, two teachers, two executive chefs, an Air Force veteran, an insurance representative, and an association director.  But, in these grown ups (gasp!), I saw clearly, the young men and women we used to be. 

I guess you can go home.  

I love you all!!

Peace.

Tee

SK8er Boy

I had some time between doctor appointments and errands yesterday so I stopped by to see Connor at Skate Camp. 

People who skate get a bad rap.  The public thinks they're a nuisance - what with their long hair, sagging skinny jeans, and such.  The thing is, if you observe a group of skaters together, the have a culture that is supportive and encouraging (with a little trash talk thrown in because that's what teenage boys do).  When there is a "little dude" skating, they look out for him and offer advice.  When someone lands a trick - there is wide appreciation because they all know how much practice it takes to get there.  Connor's camp leader is one of the most gentle souls I have ever spoken to.  And he is so encouraging to the kids. 

Skaters are often run off from sidewalks and parking lots.  Cops are called.  Luckily Silver Spring recognized that there is a need for a place for the kids to skate and they built a skate park.  The park was built after the efforts of some young documentary filmmakers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqdibiYlzD8.

My son is not a team sport kid.  He has chosen boarding as his sport.  The enjoyment and challenge he gets from it makes me happy for him.  Watching him skate yesterday was one of the best things I've done in awhile.

I am proud of my SK8er Boy. 

Peace, Love, and Vans.
Tee