Letters For Lucas

Wonders, Mishaps, Blunders and Joy.. commentary on my life as a mom in the form of letters to my son

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Mommy Time Well Spent

Posted on October 9, 2013 Written by Tonya

Lucas goes to preschool 18 hours a week.

Six hours, three days a week.

Those 18 hours are precious as hell to me but also busy as hell.

If I’m not sitting in a doctor’s office or being seen by a doctor, which eats up a lot more of those 18 hours than I care to report, I am running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off.

I typically have a ‘To Do’ list a mile long consisting of phone calls to make or return, groceries to purchase and dry cleaning to drop off and pick up.

I use those three days to walk the dog, tackle mounds of laundry, attempt meal planning and/or cooking, keep our home in order and if there is any me time left over, I catch up on my shows, blog, get my nails done, shower and wash my hair or enjoy the company of a friend over lunch, but every once in a while, I forgo the busy morning and appointment driven days and take myself to breakfast.

This is what that looks like:

bliss

Just me, a pot of green tea and a book. It’s a rare but lovely treat.

Where do you find your bliss?

Linking up with Sarah of The Sunday Spill and Greta of Gfunkified for their #iPPP weekly meme. Photo was taken with my iPhone 4s.

GFunkified

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Filed Under: #iPPP, books, iphone, me time, question Tagged With: #iPPP, books, iphone, me time, question

With Love

Posted on October 8, 2013 Written by Tonya

It’s that time of year again… Halloween has completely invaded stores and in some cases, (Michael’s and Kohl’s) you’ll even see Christmas decorations displayed. It starts earlier every year, as they say.

Children wane back and forth about costumes, family reaches out to discuss Thanksgiving plans and preliminary gift lists begin.

The last three months of the year are typically a blur to most of us. We scratch our heads in bewilderment wondering where the year went, lament over all the holiday activities, try to stay healthy and enjoy the magic of the season and precious time with our families and friends.

This time of year sucks for me.

I’m overjoyed about finally being pregnant and loving every minute of daydreaming about baby girl’s arrival, we may have found a house and just this morning, I ordered Lucas’ Halloween costume, but October 15 is looming. It’s a date on the calendar I dread the most. This October 15  marks the sixth anniversary of my parents deaths.

Six years.

Six years of milestones missed.

Six years of missing.

It still boggles my mind and the grief continues.

It’s just not right that they aren’t here.

This year I will be spending the day with one of my dearest friends getting pampered, followed by a mellow evening with my husband and son. We will launch a sky lantern and remember, as always with love.

grief

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Filed Under: grief, holidays, loss, milestones Tagged With: grief, holidays, loss, milestones

Childhood Classics

Posted on October 3, 2013 Written by Tonya

Play Doh, Crayola crayons, Hop Scotch, Dr. Seuss, Monopoly, Legos, the familiar jingle of ice cream trucks, cannon balls, balloon animals, Disneyland, peanut butter & jelly, hide and seek, cartoons and silly, albeit inappropriate songs…

I love how some things about childhood are timeless.

“Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat.
If you don’t, I don’t care, I’ll pull down your underwear.”


This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, Prompt 5. Something your child learned this week.

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Filed Under: children, holidays, lyrics, mama kat's writer's workshop, silly, video Tagged With: children, holidays, lyrics, mama kat's writer's workshop, silly, video

Camping Buddies: #iPPP

Posted on October 2, 2013 Written by Tonya

As a father, one of the things my husband was looking forward to doing with Lucas, as soon as he was old enough, was take him camping. Over the past two years, he has taken him at least a dozen times. On the very rare occasion, I’ll tag along, but it’s mostly about father/son time.

This past weekend, because they were at a camp site less than 15 minutes from our house, I joined them for dinner on their second day and captured some great shots.

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Camping buddies.

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The makings of a beautiful sunset.

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Daddy’s little helper.

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I got it, I got it!

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Swoon.

 Linking up with Sarah of The Sunday Spill and Greta of Gfunkified for their #iPPP weekly meme. All photos are filer and edit free and taken with my iPhone 4s.

GFunkified

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Filed Under: #iPPP, camping, iphone, photos Tagged With: #iPPP, camping, iphone, photos

I Write In Books

Posted on October 1, 2013 Written by Tonya

I have shared my love of reading before, how much I adore getting lost in the shelves at bookstores and how I collect books.

My nightstand has been taken over by must reads.

I’m always reading something and this year I have made a [successful] conscious effort to read more. A purist at heart when it comes to books, I can’t believe I’m actually considering adding a Nook or Kindle to my holiday wish list.

I’ve gotten a lot better about passing my good reads on to family and friends, but I can’t seem to let go of my favorites and after I have read something, I hang on to it for far too long because of a habit I have…

As a lover of quotes and words in general and how some authors have a magical ability to string them together, for as long as I can remember I have written in my books.

I underline passages and sentences that speak to me and are relevant to my life and then add them to a document I have on my computer.

My father did the same thing.

In fact, it brought me to tears when my sister, husband and I were cleaning out my parents house and discovered a box full of dogeared pages and post-it notes and lots of of pen marks in books he had read and needed to transfer quotes from to his own document. Like father like daughter, I suppose…

Here are a few of my latest and these are all books that I highly recommend!

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Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

IMG_5639

Ten Years Later: Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives by Hoda Kotb

photo

The Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

photo(1)

How To Kill A Rock Star by Tiffanie DeBartolo

Have you read any good books lately?

Have you ever come across a book with passages underlined or notes written in the margins by someone else, like a family member? Did it add to or detract from your reading experience?

If you have an e-reader, which one do you prefer and why?

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Filed Under: books, MSA, pastime, question, quotes Tagged With: books, MSA, pastime, question, quotes

If It’s A Boy…

Posted on September 30, 2013 Written by Tonya

When I was pregnant with Lucas, even after finding out he was a boy, we consciously registered for and bought a lot of gender neutral items… reds, tans, greens. Even his nursery furniture and decor could go either way.

But, clothes are a whole different ball of wax.

I have diligently saved all of my favorite articles of clothing that Lucas has outgrown, others I donate or pass along to friends.

If our next baby is a boy, he’ll be set! He’ll be able to wear practically brand new and/or gently used onesies covered with footballs, basketballs and baseballs, several pairs of Vans sneakers, brown loafers, Crocs with Spiderman buttons, Superman, Star Wars, Cars, airplane and vintage car T-shirts, an adorable vest with a train on it, countless blue, brown and black striped and collared shirts, so many cargo pants I’ll never have to buy another pair and dinosaur, monster, pirate, insects and boat pajamas.

If this baby is a girl…we’re screwed!

Guess what? I revealed Sunday that we are having a girl when I participated in RESOLVE’s inaugural Southern California Walk of Hope. 

More than 280 walkers and $50,000 raised for RESOLVE. These funds will support local fertility programming, public awareness initiatives, and advocacy efforts to ensure that all family building options are available to all. No one should face infertility alone.

I walked for my daughter, in hope that she never faces the fertility struggles that I have and if she does, she’ll know she is not alone.

More on being a mother to a girl later…

Walk of Hope - September 29, 2013

Walk of Hope – September 29, 2013

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Filed Under: clothes, doodlebug, gender differences, infertility, pregnancy2 Tagged With: clothes, doodlebug, gender differences, infertility, pregnancy2, secondary infertility

My Quotable Kid

Posted on September 25, 2013 Written by Tonya

While I have found joy in every age Lucas has been, four has been my favorite so far because his sense of humor and curiosity are in full swing.

I have my blog, where I share a lot of adorable Lucas quips and conversations, but I love having this book to document gems such as these….

photo(2)

Click on image to check out on Amazon… makes a great gift!

Hey look, I’m an a-hole.

I’m so happy that I am relaxing for a little while.

Old McDonald’s has the best hamburgers I have ever put my mouth.

Okay, sun I’m done with you today. You are too bright.

Oh, yay! There’s a hot tub!

I wonder if there is a school where you can come check on me during the day, because I miss you.

It’s a red light kind of day, mama.

I need to have one of every color Jordan almond right now!

Lucas: Do we still have my three wheel Scooter?
Me: Yes, I think it’s in the garage.
Lucas: Good, because want to give it to my baby. And I also want to get her a helmet with pink flames.

Lucas: What do you think the baby is doing right now?
Me: Just hanging out and growing and around moving a lot.
Lucas: Well, maybe you should eat a baby toy, so it has something to do. 

Cringe worthy, heart warming, sassy, insightful, funny and smart, that’s my quotable kid!


This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop Prompt 5. Write a list of things your kids have said that that made you cringe.

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Filed Under: books, conversations with Lucas, mama kat's writer's workshop, milestones, quotes Tagged With: books, conversations with Lucas, mama kat's writer's workshop, milestones, quotes

One To Frame: #iPPP

Posted on September 25, 2013 Written by Tonya

I have a real camera somewhere, but I haven’t seen it in years.

I got my first iPhone on September 28, 2009 (yes, I know the exact date) and I have been taking photos with it ever since. I was snapping photos with other cell phones prior to that, but a smart phone is slick. It’s easy to use, portable, the new iOS 7  has built in filters and there are tons of cool photography apps available.

I’m not a great photographer but I try. I think I have a good eye and so I take lots of photos. I’m trying to focus on capturing more candids and small moments.

Some of the pictures I take are silly and stupid and deleted immediately, many are for the purposes of the blog or Instagram and tons are texted to family and friends on a daily basis and then there are a very select few that are blown up, framed and hang in my home.

This will be one of those precious few.

belly

Waiting for baby kicks – September 24, 2013

Sharing this pregnancy with Lucas has been so much sweeter than I ever could have imagined and baby kicks? Well, there is nothing better. 

Linking up this week with Sarah of The Sunday Spill and Greta of Gfunkified for their #iPPP weekly meme. 

GFunkified

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Filed Under: #iPPP, blog hop, doodlebug, iphone, photos, pregnancy2 Tagged With: #iPPP, blog hop, doodlebug, iphone, photos, pregnancy2

20 Questions, 22 Months Later – Update

Posted on September 24, 2013 Written by Tonya

I seemed to have forgotten/put off/overlooked a follow up questionnaire to my 20 Questions post from November 2011, which I had wanted to do every year, so here it is, Lucas at 4 years, 3 months.

See if you notice a theme… 

1. What is your favorite color? Red

2. What is your favorite toy? Cars movie cars and Planes

3. What is your favorite fruit? Grapes

4. What is your favorite TV show? Paw Patrol

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? PB&J

6. What is your favorite outfit? My red Cars movie shirt, light brown shorts and red rubbers

7. What is your favorite game? Sorry!

8. What is your favorite snack? Cereal bars

9. What is your favorite animal? Zebras

10. What is your favorite song? 22 by Taylor Swift

11. What is your favorite book? Once Upon A Time…The End

12. Who is your best friend? Wyatt, Jackson, Mommy and Daddy

13. What is your favorite cereal? Fruit Loops

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Scooter, skateboard and play soccer

15. What is your favorite drink? Chocolate milk

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Lovey

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cereal

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Breakfast

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A race car driver

While I’m not thrilled by my decreasing best friend ranking, I loved this exercise and how much Lucas’ tastes have both changed and stayed the same.

Questionnaire originally found on Pinterest.

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Filed Under: cars, conversations with Lucas, question, raising boys, toys, update Tagged With: cars, conversations with Lucas, question, raising boys, toys, update

You Know You’re A Blogger When…

Posted on September 23, 2013 Written by Tonya

I’ve been at this blogging thing for over four years, sharing the ups and downs of my life and opinions about things, working through the crazy thoughts that go on inside my head, asking for advice and getting to know some you very well and I’ve come to learn a few things about myself and being a blogger….

And it occurred to me that there is no such thing as blogging. There is no such thing as a blogger. Blogging is just writing — writing using a particularly efficient type of publishing technology. – Simon Dumenco

  • Your best ideas come to you while you’re in the shower.
  • You dream in blog posts.
  • Every situation, conversation, event, book, movie and recipe should be considered blog post material or the launch pad for blog post material.
  • You have sat in your car (with it running) for over an hour “writing” a blog post on your smart phone.

I believe the term “blog” means more than an online journal. I believe a blog is a conversation. People go to blogs to read AND write, not just consume. – Michael Arrington

  • You get twitchy when you haven’t posted anything in over a week.
  • You know it’s a good post when you are scared as hell to hit publish.
  • The posts you feel the best about, agonize the most over, edit and re-edit will warrant the fewest readers/comments/shares.
  • The posts you threw together in under half an hour will end up being your most popular.

The bottom line is that blogging is like sex. You can’t fake it. You can’t fake passion. You can’t fake wanting to engage with the public. If you do, it will ultimately be an unsatisfying experience for both the blogger and their readers. – Kevin Anderson

  • Some of your closet friends you’ve never actually met in real life.
  • Most of your family and friends keep up on your life via your blog, yet would never admit it. Creepers. 
  • The search terms that bring people to your blog can make you laugh out loud or make you want to take a shower.
  • You have had at least one argument with your significant other about the amount of time you spend blogging and/or something you’ve shared on your blog.

A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world. – Unknown

  • Negative comments still hurt your feelings, no mater how thick you think your skin is or how long you’ve been blogging.
  • Kind comments and having people agree, support or share a similar experience with you feel like bear hugs, assure you that you are not alone and validate your feelings like nothing else in the world.
  • Having no Internet connection or Wi-Fi can bring you to tears.
  • You know the anguish of not backing up.

A blog is what all websites want to be; updated on a regular basis, containing content that is of interest to a select or target audience and is easy to update and change  – Unknown

  • You constantly wish you had more time to write posts for your own blog and read other posts by friends.
  • You get headaches from staring at screens for too long.
  • You will take 30 photos for just one good blog worthy shot.
  • Family and friends have asked you nervously,”You’re not going to blog about this, are you?”.

    Blogging is not rocket science, it’s about being yourself, and putting what you have into it. – Unknown

    How do YOU know you’re a blogger?

blogger

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Filed Under: blog, quotes Tagged With: blog, quotes

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