My bucket is full

Back when we were moving, I spent a whole day sitting around our condo while the packers packed up all of our stuff. It was awkward and weird. I couldn't do anything to help and I didn't really want to hover over them all day while they packed our stuff, but at the same time, I didn't think I should just leave them alone. Like I said, awkward and weird. I happened upon a book on Tom's bedside table; "How Full is Your Bucket?" by Tom Rath. It was given to Tom at work. I read it cover to cover (it is very short, sweet and to the point) while I sat with the packers. Tom and I still make reference to it in our day to day conversation. The premise of the book centers around everyone having a 'bucket' and every interaction we have with another person is an opportunity for us to dip or fill that bucket. The book talks about how being more conscious of whether you are "dipping or filling a bucket" helps you to lead a more positive life. I really like the metaphor the book creates and I do try and "fill buckets" and not "dip" from them to fill my own. Where am I going with all this you are probably wondering?.....

My bucket has been filled. The kind of filling that can only be done by the arrival of a new baby, close friends, uninterrupted long chats, pedicures, cupcakes with too much frosting and a pregnant belly. I had the best weekend. It started on almost 2 weeks ago now on Friday afternoon with the welcoming of a new baby girl into the lives of 2 of our close friends. Welcome to the world Braxton Carolina Beatty! We can't wait to meet you in person. I am sure you are stealing hearts everywhere! Saturday brought Jack's best swim lesson and then I headed out, on my own to  Concord, NC to meet up with 2 of my closest friends.

Since moving down to SC, I have made it a mission to try and make more get togethers with my close girl friends. I know we all still live quite a ways from one an other and we all lead very busy lives, but I need them. I need to see them. I need to chat live and in person with them. It is just so much better than on the phone. A few months ago, the girls that live in NC and I decided to just pick a date and set it up. We chose Concord as an equidistant location for each of us (as best as we could). We kissed our babies good bye, gave the dads all the instructions they would need and met up by 4pm on Saturday. It was a quick trip. We were all home by 12 on Sunday.

It was exactly what I needed. 

I didn't realize until the short and very sweet trip was over how much my bucket needed to be filled by them. Our lives have gotten so crazy since we found out we were moving, since we moved and now since we have started trying to put a life together here in SC. I love being home everyday with Jack and Will. I am trying to cherish every day-crazy or mundane because I know they are coming to an end. I will be returning to work eventually. At the same time, I have come to realize how important time for myself is in order to maintain my sanity and be the best mom that I can for both of our boys. I have been trying to be better about taking time for myself. As I have mentioned in other posts, I am trying to get out a few mornings a week to the Y to workout and let my racing mind have a rest and think-but it is only in 45 minute increments. This weekend was about 3 amazing friends and moms taking the time for themselves to  recharge their batteries and fill up one an other's buckets. We laughed and talked and shared parenting tips and tricks. We got pedicures. We uncovered that pregnant belly from the jacket it was hiding under while waiting at the bar for a table for dinner in order to use it to our advantage and score some prime seats and eat.

 (This involved Camilla shedding her jacket as we stood at the bar. A pair of nice gentlemen that were eating at the bar shared this exchange:
First guy: (while hitting the second guy on the leg) "That girl is pregnant, we have to get up."
Second guy: (Nods, Finishes up his dinner quickly, asks for the check, and pays while standing up) "Here, you can have these 2 seats. It will be a start".
Insert our smiles from ear to ear. :)

Lauren and I held a small little party to shower Camilla and Baby G with some little gifts and a large heaping of frosting topped cupcakes! Delicious. Baby G was dancing and doing back flips after that.

Like everything else with good friends, it went all too fast. We enjoyed a quick, complimentary breakfast at the hotel in the morning and headed on our separate ways. Buckets overflowing.

To the dads for taking on all the kids this weekend, Thank you.
To my two wonderful friends, Lauren and Camilla, thank you for taking time from your busy lives to get together. We need to start planning another get together soon-but with ALL the girls.



"Friendship isn't about who you have known the longest... it is about who came, and never left your side."

So this is a REALLY old picture, but the only one I have of the three of us and it is one of my favorites. 

Have a good weekend!