Weekend at Beanie’s.

Unless you live under a firmly grounded rock, you understand why the events of this weekend have caused me a little bit of emotional turmoil. My precious, undefeated, perfect Tigers suffered their first loss of the season and their first loss at home in the last two years. Not only did they add an ugly red “L” to their schedule sheet, but the letter just had to be stamped right next to the name “Tennessee.” Ugh. Make me gag. Yes, I know that once upon a time, I used to be a crazy Volunteer football fan, but come August – J.R. Woodfin, this one is especially for you – Go Gators! It’s not that Tennessee won. In fact, I guess if that were the case, I would be more bound to be upset with my own team. Because in all honesty, I believe we self-destructed.  The problem I have with Tennessee is two-fold. One, I have determined that all Knoxville has ever caused me is pain. Those of you who know my past there can empathize. Second, and this is the more current and relevant issue: Tennessee fans, oh how they sucketh. Please, if you go to Tennessee, please refrain from rubbing it in my face any longer. I have had it up to here (cue visual of Robert Dozier standing with hands above his head) with all of this insane smack talk. We do not doubt that you are a good team. You don’t have to prove it by incessantly berating us.  So – back at ya. How about them ‘Dores?  Moving on to the better (and more important) events of the weekend… Bella, my lit’le, Billy Bella turned Four Years old on Monday… how sweet and sad. I look at her now and realize that the girl is just huge. I can hold her precious pudgy hand now and feel like I’m holding a big girl’s hand. Every year on her birthday, I start the day before and re-live in my head and aloud in stories that I tell her, the events that brought her into the world February 25, 2004. I tell her about the box of purple Girl-Scout cookies that I devoured on the 240 loop back to my house from the store. Opening her baby book, I find the ticket stub for the Tiger game against Southern Miss. You all wouldn’t remember what that game was like, because we left immediately when my water broke during the introductions. Bella loves that part of the story – she thinks it’s neat. Somehow, that will always make me love my Bella and my Tigers even more. I love that they are connected. At 6:19 in the morning, I whisper in her ear that this was the time that I first held her in my arms and told her that I loved her. At 6:19 in the morning, on February 25, 2004 – I fell in love with my child in such an amazing, perfect, heavenly way. Bean’s birthday was great. The festivities actually started on Thursday when I brought cupcakes up to school and got to read a book to her class. The girls all seem to love Bella. They all seem to like me a lot, too – I think it’s because most of the time I bring a cute, fuzzy little baby with me. Bella got to wear a big birthday hat and she sat in my lap while I read the book aloud to the class. I had bought the book the day before just for this occasion; it was a sweet story about celebrating your birthday. There were cartwheels in the book, so you know it was a winner.  Bean gets really shy when I come around; it’s really funny and kind of surprising. She won’t sing along with the class or talk or anything. I hope she feels like she can do that stuff around me. I mean, how many times has the girl seen me dance around and sing in my underwear at home? Wait. Maybe that’s why she is quiet… maybe she doesn’t want to follow me down that wretched path…. uh oh. Anyway. Her bday party was a hit. It was at Botanic Gardens, and we just about had perfect attendance. Her best pal, CeCe Turley was there, and Bella was so excited. They were inseparable. Bean was a little subdued until CeCe arrived a little late, then completely perked up. She and CeCe hold hands. It’s really cute. I guess that’s what best friends do at that age. We spent the rest of the afternoon opening presents and getting them out of their secret-service packaging. Nana spent the night that night while we went to the basketball game, and if you know Nana and Bella – they are great buddies and just have a great time together. The next day, Brad was going to leave for training for two weeks. Yikes. Not fun at all. But we had the morning together and spent it opening Beanie’s presents and eating lots of sugar. Seriously, donuts and cake were the only items on Bella’s personal menu. Brad left around 1ish and the rest of the afternoon and evening was a “Bella’s choice” kind of deal. We spent the night at Nini and Damp’s and watched Dumbo (this seems like an appropriate tim eto give a shout-out to Nicky- hey Nicky). On her bday, we went to the zoo – Target, bought more presents (a pig, an elephant, and Ariel were her picks), and ate chicken pot pie. Had dinner with Sallie Dunne and that was that.  The night of her birthday, she asked me before she fell asleep: “Okay, Mommy – when do I turn 5?” I say to her “Oh, sweetie. Let’s stay young while we can, okay? I’m not ready for you to grow up too fast yet. ” She responds in the curiously intelligent way that she is known for. She wonders aloud – “Is that when my talk will get bigger?” I can’t believe that a four year old notices that voices change with age. If I could have her talk the same all her life and it not be weird, I would freeze her innocent voice just how it is and have it be that way forever. What a whirlwind of a weekend. Now it is Wednesday and Brad has been gone for three days. It sucks, I’m not going to lie. Bella is feeling the brunt of it. She cried for about half an hour before she fell asleep and wouldn’t fall asleep until I put his picture up right in front of her to stare at while she drifted off to sleep. Poor thing. It just breaks your heart.  I realize that all of this is about Bella and very little has been said about Sweet Madeline. The sweetheart smiles all of the time, chews on her hands, and just is the joy in my heart. I wish I could describe more accuartely some of the things that she does. Maybe I will try and put up a video. One thing I can say about her is that she really smiles constantly. If she is awake and not crying, she is smiling. And it is the most adorable little smile I have ever seen. She is a happy little thing and I love her so incredibly much that my heart might burst.