Sunday, April 4, 2010

Q: What do rabbits have that nothing else in the world has?

A: Baby rabbits.


Holidays for me are all about family. My husband and I are lucky to have both of our families living close by, so we got to see everyone this Easter weekend without having to drive longer than 20 minutes. Told you I was lucky!

We went to Mass this morning with my husband's side of the family. As with most holiday Masses, there are lots of kids in attendance. Some are content to eat Cheerios or color, while others are a little more "vocal." All of it makes me smile and get a little teary all at the same time. I miss the days when my kids were that little. The privilege of being a parent is something I thank God for every single day of my life.

For as long as I can remember, all I wanted to be was a wife and mother. I am sure it had everything to do with the wonderful parents I was blessed with. They taught me unconditional love, and I wanted to pass that on to children of my own. My husband and I dated off and on all through high school, got engaged when I was 17 and he was 19, and married when I was 18 and he was 20. Keep in mind, that was almost 30 years ago. Times are a little different now. Ugh! You have no idea how old that makes me feel saying that.

There was never a doubt that we would start a family after we got married. Good thing we weren't in a big hurry. It was five years before our daughter was born. Two years of not being able to get pregnant turned into fertility testing, etc., etc., before I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis. Two months after having an outpatient procedure to eliminate the scar tissue caused by the endometriosis, I was pregnant. You have never seen anyone do a happy dance like the one we and our families did upon hearing the news.

I loved every single minute of being pregnant. Absolutely loved it. One month before my due date, I quit my job in anticipation of being a stay-at-home mom. Exactly on my due date of December 4, 1985, our beautiful baby girl was born. At the time, I thought I had come up with a completely original name for her. We liked names like Jessica and Erica. My husband's only sibling, a brother, is named Dan. So I came up with Danica. Of course, since then we have learned of a few others with that name, most notably Danica Patrick.

Fast forward 24 years. There have been dance recitals, piano recitals, softball games, volleyball games, highs, lows, tears, and laughter, but most of all . . . love. She is a tomboy, a fierce competitor, and wears her heart on her sleeve – like her mom. She is a hard worker, loves the outdoors, and stubborn – like her dad.

Meet my oldest baby rabbit ; )

Music to Scroll By
(ringtone on my cell when she calls)


Danica and her "sister," Joline
(best friends since they were two)



Danica and a best friend, Nikki
Vikings/Bears football game
(have played softball together for 11 years)


Flag Football Game with Co-Workers
(only girl on the field; everyone else was bundled up
and sitting on the sidelines – love it!)


Touring Lambeau Field
(She's only 5'2".)


St. Louis
(She was there for a St. Louis Rams football game with her boyfriend,
Scott, but I like to pretend she was there for a St. Louis Cardinals
baseball game. She and her boyfriend are Boston Red Sox fans. 
Thought I raised her better than that. Go figure. It's hard to tell,
but she is wearing a Guns 'N Roses t-shirt.)


Travis, Danica, and Carlos
(She bartends part time. Carlos is from Puerto Rico and
became a very good friend of Travis's at junior college.)


Danica and friends since grade school
(after Travis's baseball game – to the right of Travis)


Danica with her cousin, Ty, and Travis
(at my oldest niece's wedding)



Hope you had a nice weekend, too!
  

23 comments:

Black Box said...

That joke was cute. I heart it. It's funny you talk about children in churc makin noise. This morning in our service when we were taking communion, and it was really quiet, an 11 month decided it was a good time to make raspberry noises and motor boat impressions. It was so hilarious. I was stifling my laughter the whole time.

Love the pics of your family. Your daughter seems to look a lot like you! And she's only 5'2, that's so cute.

Black Box said...

Oops, I meant 11 month old baby.

Anonymous said...

Happy Easter. I'd say more, but I think the beg ham dinner followed with plenty of chocolate has killed my brain. lol

Musing Bella said...

Thanks for sharing these pictures, Lisa! It almost made me tear up a little, just getting a taste of the love you have for your kids. I can't *wait* to have babies, but we are not in the most stable situation right now and so are waiting for a little bit. I loved seeing the pics of your daughter (she's pretty and does look a lot like you)!

I hope you had a nice Easter!

Amy said...

Very sweet Lisa! She has the same smile as you! What do your kids think of your blogging? Do they share any of your interest in Rob?

I'm not sure if I'll ever have kids. I think I will, but I have a lot of worries about it. I don't really click with kids. But that's a long way in the future...

That's really amazing she has a best friend from the age of 2! You and your husband have obviously done well for yourselves. :)

Happy Easter!

Dangrdafne said...

Funny, I was just thinking that we haven't seen too many pictures of Danica lately and then you surprise me today. I wish I could still be close to my best friend from the age of 5 but she lives in San Diego and we don't keep in touch enough BUT we do our best when we can to contact each other. Thank you for sharing your baby bunny girl :)

17foreverlisa said...

@Living with Edward - The 11-month-old sounded cuter than the two-year-old we had at our Mass who was hands down the bossiest toddler I've ever heard in my life! At one point she demanded, "I want to go home!" I think the majority of wanted to say, "Yes, please, take her home." LOL!! My mother-in-law is only 5'1", so that's where my daughter got it, I guess. I'm 5'6". I guess both of my kids have my smile because I get that a lot. It could be worse :)

@TwitardedMom - You must have had to host Easter dinner. I was spoiled and just had to take a dish to two locations. Hope you get to relax before the work week starts over again. Damn Mondays come too quick, don't they?

@Musing Bella - Awwww, thanks. I do love my kids and am so proud to be their mom. Most days, I think they feel the same way about me ;) And like the old saying goes, "If you wait to have children until you can afford them, you'll never have them," but I hear ya. Times are tough right now. I know. My husband has been laid off since December :( I did have a nice Easter. Hope you did too! I even had a nice glass of Merlot at my parents' house. You'd be proud of me.

@MissAmyJoon - As I was saying to Living with Edward, people always say the kids have my smile. I smile a lot, so that's a good thing, I guess :)

They both know that I blog, but neither one of them check it on a daily basis, if ever. Whenever they are over, I'll show them different things. And, no, neither one of them share my "interest" in Rob. They both watched Twilight with me on DVD. My daughter and her best friend, Joline, went with me to the midnight showing of New Moon when it came out, which was a lot of fun. Luckily, they just laughed at me toting Pocket Edward along. Joline and her parents built a house by ours when the girls were two. As fate would have it, they have been best friends ever since, and Joline's mom is my best friend. They moved to a farm so they could have horses when the girls were 16, but it's only 20 minutes away. By then, they both were driving anyway, so it wasn't that big of a deal for them. It was harder on Michelle and I to not be able to walk over to each other's house.

Happy end of the Persion New Year! XXXOOO

17foreverlisa said...

@Dangrdafne - I need to scan in some pictures of Danica from when she played softball and volleyball. It was before I had a digital camera. I loved watching her play her sports, too. It's just that she was done playing by the time I got hooked on the internet and blogging. Your best friend since 5 couldn't live much further away from you, could she? Bummer!

qcchevyman said...

Hey what about that GREAT Uncle you have. LOLOLOL

VampiresWeLove said...

Aww Lisa..you have no idea how truly blessed you are :-) My story would read almost the exact opposite of yours..the only thing the same is the love for our children..2 paths to arrive at the same conclusion lol. I never wanted kids, but they are the best thing I've ever had in my life & they make me smile constantly. I guess they were my salvation after all :-)
Thanks for sharing!

17foreverlisa said...

@qcchevyman - I love you, Uncle Rich! XXXOOO

@VampiresWeLove - Thanks for reading and for sharing some of your own story. Until you have kids, it's hard to understand the pull they have on your heart. I know it's not for everyone, and I respect that (talking to you, Amy). I'm glad things worked out for you and for your kids.

smartEpantz said...

Hey Ladygirl! This post was so fucking cool, it really gave me insight on the evolution of being a parent...no offense meant, please. My babies are just 7 and (almost) 3. I just really take for granted the simple joys in life sometimes, and you seem to help remind me that before I know it...I just might miss the way things are now. Wow. I think I might just get emo on your ass.
We are different generations, but have alot in common. I also married at 18 (almost 19, but who's counting?) and had trouble concieving...we were married 6yrs before we had our firstborn, and it had taken us 3 1/2 yrs to concieve him! Your description of your "happy dance" brought back vivid memories. I swear.
Good Lawd (ooohhh is that bad to say on Easter? meh), I could go on and on, but I'll stop there!

I'm glad you had a beautiful holiday.

Oh, and in case I haven't told you, your children are beautiful! They seem to radiate love, and I can guess where that emanates from. :)

xoxo
E

Twired Jen said...

I just want to smooch you for finding a way to incorporate Robsten into Easter. Love you for it!
I'm 5'2" too, just like your daughter! She's cute...you have a lovely family and I can see how much you absolutely adore them. I have a very close relationship with my Mom. She's my life. Holidays are definitely a time to be reminded of just how much we love our "loved-ones."

Hope you had a great time today!

xoxo

17foreverlisa said...

@E - Last post you were nuzzling my neck and now you're thinking about going emo on my ass. I think we need to get a room. LOL!! Seriously, though, I'm glad you liked the post and could relate to the happy dance :) The time really does fly. Before you know it you're part of the older generation. Thanks for the reminder. LMAO!! XXXOOO

@Jen - And smooches from you...banner day :) I just love Google and every once in awhile those silly manips come in handy. LOL! We've talked before about family and the close relationships that we have. We are very lucky. Hope you didn't drink to many Bloody Marys yesterday ;) Mwah!

Anonymous said...

HEY! Your daughter looks just like you...wow!!! This is a beautiful post, and i hope you are recovering well from Easter! (I have this last lasp to take and then I'm HOME FREE!!!)

17foreverlisa said...

I won't tell Danica you said that ;) I didn't have near the recovery from Easter that you did/will have. Can't wait to hear how your weekend went.

mmMoxie said...

Your daughter is adorable :) Ya done good Lisa. You're so proud of your kids but you should be pretty darn proud of yourself for raising them.

sparkle for twilight said...

What a lovely story and a beautiful family. I can't believe you and your husband are high school sweethearts. I don't know anyone that lasts that long, only in the movies! I liked hearing the part about your name decision. Even though I'm no where near having my own children yet, for as long as I can remember I've been putting baby names in my head. Whenever I'd go to the bookstore with some time to kill, I'd take out a baby name book. Once I had someone come to ask me if I was expecting a boy or a girl, that was slightly embarrassing!

Do your kids know that you write about them here?

Amy said...

@ SFT I asked the same question about her kids knowing about the blog. You can look at the long response she gave me.

I've been looking through baby name books since I was a baby. You're not alone!

Honolulu Girl-Suz said...

You have such a good looking family, kids, your nephews, etc.. Geezus.

Hey I saw Guns N Roses in concert with Skid Row. Just thuoght you'd want to know. That's how long ago that was.. :)

I always love your posts with your family photos, and again, your oldest baby rabbit is beautiful!

TongueTwied said...

Mama Rabbit-another relaxing post from you. You are so personable and it is nice to see your family. Your daughter really resembles you. And obviously you have given your kids a good solid background and support system--kudos to you and hubby for that and a long-lasting marriage!

TwiloveSue said...

Lisa, I always enjoy hearing about your family and your love for one another always shines through on your posts. That's such an important gift you've given them & you and your huband should be very proud of your accomplishments.

17foreverlisa said...

@Mox - Awwwww. Thanks!!

@SFT and Amy - You two continue to have so much in common and I love you both BIG time. Amy, I never write long responses, especially to you. I don't know what you're talking about. LOL!!

@HG - Thanks! I was telling Mox the other day that I met Sebastian Bach from Skid Row, along with the guys from Warrant, Slaughter, and Vince Neal minus Motley Crue. They were playing a small summer series concert at a bar owned by my cousin's husband. Obviously, it was not at the height of their careers. I wish like hell I'd seen Guns 'N Roses when they were touring. Still love their music! I've seen Motley Crue, Poison, and Def Leppard once each, Bon Jovi twice (once with Tesla and once with Extreme), and Aerosmith four times. Ah, the good old 80s hair band days :) Who else have you seen?

@TongueTwied and Twilove1 - I'm glad my family posts don't bore everyone to tears...especially on Wet Wednesday ;) Seriously, though, my kids are my life. It just sort of feels like I've adopted Rob now is all. LOL!

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