Hugs Are The Friendliest Of Things

I really enjoy all of my teammates at work. There are a particular group of ladies that I especially enjoy spending my days with. They are smart, funny, talented, and empowering women. And they give great hugs.

Here's the thing about hugs...I like hugs! As my friend Pooh Bear would say, "Hugs are the friendliest of things." No, seriously. I have a stuffed talking Pooh Bear from when I was younger and he actually DOES say that.

Last Friday I started my day (and theirs) by giving some of my lady teammates hugs. I don't know what possessed me to do so, but I just did. (May I also note that on some particular mornings, I go around the group and high-five everyone.) I hugged N, then J, and then L. And before I knew it, we were in a group hug (which has also been dubbed a "Nica-Sandwich" because I was wedged in the very middle.) We had a good laugh, felt warm & fuzzy, and I think we all agreed that it was a nice way to start our day.

Even after the day was done and the morning hugs could have been long forgotten, I saw one of the women post the following on her Facebook status that night:  "I'm officially calling this 'Hug Day'. It's amazing how a hug changes your day."

As I said, I like hugs. Before I go any further though, let me clarify that I don't just go around giving free hugs. Nor do I just hug everyone. Because when I give a hug, I give a HUG! A big bear, 2 armed, meaningful squeeze. These are the ones I reserve for my family and closer friends. I make my husband hug me quite often. Sometimes he looks at me like I'm crazy, but after 7 years together, I'm pretty sure he's catching on that I actually may have a few screws loose (in a cute and totally normal, functioning kind of way). But I digress...

What my teammate posted on her Facebook kind of struck me. She's right! A hug really

can

impact your day. So yesterday morning, I went up to my three gals and gave them each a hug. And another repeat performance this morning. (I had to skip Monday because I wasn't in the office.) My boss saw this morning's exchange and asked if this was going to be a daily thing...

My answer: YES.

P.S. Talk about impeccable timing...guess what yesterday was? National Hug Day!

Breakfast For Dinner

I called the husband before leaving work today and asked him what he wanted for dinner. The answer...bacon and eggs. See why I love this man? So I swung by the store on the way home and picked up our essential ingredients (bacon...and eggs).

Typically, one of us will make dinner. Now and again we cook together. And as of late, I involve the kid, as much as I can, in what I'm doing in the kitchen. It keeps him busy and it's a nice way to spend time together. It's also pretty cool to see his interest grow in "cooking" his food. He's my little sous chef! (Even though he likes to add cumin to everything.)

Tonight we did something for the first time - the 3 of us made dinner together. (At least I think it was our first time. It's hard for my mommy-brain to remember sometimes.) Daddy made the bacon and I taught the kid to crack eggs. I consider it a victory that we only lost one egg to gravity. The kid's main contribution was to beat the eggs. He did rather well considering he only knows how to stir things.

Tonight, not only did we make dinner together, but we also ate dinner together. Eating dinner as a family is important to me. Before kids, I never realized how hard it can actually be to get three people to eat at the same time, let alone sit at the same table while doing so!

Before kids, I also never thought that making a meal and eating it with the ones I loved would give me such warm fuzzies. Tonight's breakfast dinner is another one of those tiny memories that I will look back on and smile, both inside and out.

UPDATE: Two hours after dinner, the kid asked me for mac & cheese. I don't know whether I should be proud or worried that he takes after me and can eat dinner twice.

Dear 2013, Thanks For Not Sucking

The best years of my life (so far) have seemed to be of those most recent. I thought the best year of my life was meeting and falling in love with my husband. Then I thought the best year of my life was when our son was born. Now it seems like every year is a new favorite - even when looking back at some of our most challenging moments. 2013 is no exception.

So in good fashion, a few of my thoughts in looking back on the best parts of the past year...

(In no particular order and to include, but not limited to...)

Things to celebrate that did

NOT

happen in 2013 (that

did

happen in prior years):

*No broken toddler femurs.

*No ambulance rides.

*No adrenal crisis incidents that landed us in the hospital.

*No trips to urgent care because the kid shoved his hand in the dog's mouth and cut his finger.

*No surgeries.

Things to celebrate that

DID

happen in 2013 (that did

not

happen in prior years):

*The husband and I got married. Like, paperwork is filed, we can do our taxes jointly, half your stuff is mine married; no longer are we common law married.

*The kid started special ed pre-pre k at elementary school.

*The kid rode the school bus for the first time and loved it.

*The kid started speaking in short phrases.

*The kid learned to ride a bike, thanks to Daddy's awesome teaching efforts.

*We did fireworks in our backyard for 4th of July and the kid was in AWE.

*The kid was excited about the Christmas holiday season and can actually say "Christmas".

*The kid learned to swim. Okay, not really "swim", but we're getting there. Kind of.

*I took my son to his very first movie theater experience.

*My bestest friend got on an airplane to visit us (trust me, it's a big deal).

*I published my first blog post, even though I actually started my blog in 2012.

*We bought new couches.

Dear 2013,

     You were awesome. Please put in a good word with 2014 for us. We want to keep this party train moving forward.

Love,

Nica, BJ, and LJ

Our Playdough Nite

Tonight, I sat at the kitchen table eating chips. The husband came over and opened the tub of playdough that was sitting on the table. He started to make something. Then the kid came over and started helping Daddy with some creation. It ended up being a chair for a toy Mickey Mouse figure. I made a cube block (Mommy isn't as creative as Daddy).

The 3 of us played with the playdough together for a while. The husband made a mustache, which made the kid laugh. My son has the best laugh.

It wasn't one of those milestone moments in life, but these are the kinds of memories I enjoy looking back on. I have no pictures to document the details of the event. For once, I resisted the urge to grab my phone and start snapping away. Instead, I lived in the experience, smiling and laughing.