Post Script

You know how some people stress eat?  Pretty sure there must be a stress baking too.

Pretty sure I do that.

Something about following directions, whipping eggs in butter, and pouring a teensy bit of salt in the palm of my hand brings order where I actually have none.

Last night while seeing Grayson lull from side to side in last ditch effort to rid himself of the beast behind his forehead, I was in the kitchen clanking pans, melting butter, and measuring baking soda like it mattered.

"Mommy?"

1 tsp baking soda, 2 1/4 c. flour...where is that 1/4 cup?  "Yes, Baby?"

"I feel seasick."

ahhhhhhhh add pinch of salt, coffee granules...  "Oh Honey, I know you do.  It will pass soon, please try to drink your Gatorade and lay back down."   stir, lift, stir, lift, stir

"Mommy?  Where's Abby?"

preheat oven 375, or is it 350? 350.  This oven is so unpredict...

"Mommy!  Where is Abby?"

"Oh, sorry.  She's out walking with Daddy.  She will be back.  Are you worried?"  stir, lift, stir, lift, stir, lift

"No.  Just wanted to make sure she isn't stuck in the garage."

add 1 c. maybe a little more like 2 c. chocolate chips "Stuck in the garage?  Really?  Has that ever happened?"  fold, stir, taste mmmmm, fold, stir, taste, ahhhhhh

"Only one time."

  
text everyone on recent calls list to tell them I'm making cookies for the nation, would anyone like some?

The List

My husband is a list man. If it's in his brain, it's on a list somewhere. It's actually impressive how his mind must categorize naturally for him to create these ordered reminders. For years I have poked fun at these things in all shapes and perforations found all over the house and on his person. I've made fun mostly because they are always there; they are his constant. He sometimes chews tobacco, sometimes doesn't. Sometimes runs six miles every day of the week, sometimes doesn't. However, my husband will forever make lists...it's how his brain shifts and moves forward. Throughout the years we've been privy to skinny pieces of Labrador decorated paper for groceries and household items, unlined white papered wish lists of hunting gear, Word documents bulleting his (our) five, 10, 20 year plan.

In light of our imminent move to Virginia, Andy's organizational gene is in full glory. His pen is in overdrive and lists abound!! Just this morning I unveiled the most recent stash of lists (yes, even his list had a baby one underneath it!). It is entitled, "Don't Move" : fridge, washer/dryer, garage freezer, garage ladder, garage lawn spreader, gun cabinet." Then, underneath those words is the offspring of that list entitled the, "Move Ourselves" This is really why I love my husband and where all his sweetness lives. I will let you read for yourself. Sorry but no shortcuts, you have to peruse the entire thing for the full effect. Okay, as it is written:

Move Ourselves List

-Andy's Mtn. bike
-Pac N Play
-Double Stroller & Snap N Go
-Gas & Propane & Hazmat
-Lawnmower/weedwacker
-Andy's tools
-Frozen/Cold Food
-Files & Lockbox

-Clothes
-Toiletries/towels
-Bedding/pillows
-Rubber Ducky
-Diaper/wipes/powder
-Jewelry
-Deer Mount

Did you see it? Did you read the sweetness? Inside that noggin filled to the rim with copious amounts of military knowledge, aircraft acronyms, and fine tuned MajorSpeak is a smooshy gooshy soul that actually wrote down, "Rubby Ducky," in his very masculine hard-to-decipher-at-times handwriting. This is why I love this man. He can fool the rest of the world into thinking he's hardcore and badass but I will always be here, reading his lists and knowing what's really important to him also happens to be the things that are really important to his children. And yes, I did read the Deer Mount part but of this we do not speak.