Nella woke up with a fever last night. And as soon as I heard the faint cry of her discomfort and leaned over to feel the hotness of her flushed cheeks, I knew it would be a moment–one of those I remember years later. Because among the monotony of all the beautiful good in mamahood like snapping pictures of them blowing out birthday candles and swooning at the first “I love you,” there are rites of passage that aren’t so easy but just as memorable.

I slipped out of bed, clutched her hot little body to my chest and tiptoed out of the bedroom whispering all sorts of “It’s okays” into her ear. I fed, I changed, I Tylenoled and hushed her back to sleep. And just like all the other times when her sister was sick, I layed her back in bed and stayed up hovering next to her, feeling her cheeks, tucking my hand around her neck waiting for the hotness to creep away.

It was only a half-hour fever, an easy night compared to some. But I still earned a pin on my Momscout Vest, one I proudly placed under the rest. The Fever of ’07. The Falling-off-the-Bed of ’08. The Yelling-and-Feeling-Guilty-for-It Episode of Easter morning, ’09. I earned these pins. I wear them proudly. I join other decorated veterans of motherhood who have fallen deeper in love with this honored profession from not only the pretty moments but the ugly ones too.

Some pins stand out among the rest, earned with soul-scraping tears. 2010’s First-Night-of-Acceptance pin was a doozy, let me tell you. But it’s there, proudly displayed among the others, and together it all represents so very much.

Hokey Girlscout comparison? Maybe, but Dude, this is Homeschooled Girl’s once chance for making up a fake club and getting to wear an imaginary vest. Give me Momscouts ‘cuz I never had a prom.

Speaking of Hokey…couldn’t help myself.

And because it’s Friday and we have company tonight and there’s a counter heaped with groceries that need to be taken care of, here’s the quick-version lowdown.

This girl’s getting big. At almost 16 pounds, our girl does a mad army crawl across the floor, claps on command, dances to music and says Mama and Dada (Mama came first…just sayin’.)

This girl just won a pin on her own vest for Accomplished Big Sister for her wicked feeding routines she does with Nella sans adult help.

It’s a sight to behold.

This girl I’ve missed hanging out with and, after a girls night out, a park date and watching her love my girls, I am reminded how thankful I am for my friend.

She fell asleep on a blanket with Nella at the park.

The weather is still the bomb–warm enough for water spouts in the day time and cool enough for nubby hats at night.

And I must show some love for our new paintings by Jana Laurene. I found Jana shortly after Nella was born when someone sent me a post she had written about her little sister who has D.S. The way she wrote about their bond and how capable and amazing her sister was was such a comfort. Little did I know, months later, I’d have a piece of her amazing talent in my girls’ room. Check out her commisioned paitings project HERE.

And, we are so honored to be nominated for The Bump’s Best Special Needs blog and proud to be among other amazing voices! Please Vote for us here!

Poppa just arrived, curried beef is simmering…Happy Friday!

Oh, these two.

Let’s get down to business.

A: Tonight, there will be some shakin’ it.

I love my aprons. I love my crafts. I love my kids. But I also love, once in a harvest moon, to kiss them all with an “I’ll be right back” while I slip into some heels and head out to leave lipstick marks on restaurant wine glasses.

The girls are out tonight. Wahoo.

B: Does a good fortune count if you ripped through six fortune cookies with lame fortunes to get it?

Didn’t think so.

C: Lainey loves her ballet teacher. So much that every Tuesday, right before we frantically head out the door, she runs through the house looking for some show-and-tell crap to show Miss Blair.

And she’s constantly practicing point and flex, point and flex.

D: Lainey stole my camera for a second this week. I didn’t think she had a chance to take any pictures before I grabbed it until I loaded them up and found this one on my computer today.

She’s a natural.

E: We think Gary put steroids in our garden dirt. It’s on fire. And afternoon watering sessions are becoming a favorite.

F: Brett caught a lizard for Nella today. She was mesmorized. Tried to grab it but it escaped her grasp and made a safe landing on her head instead.

G: This week has blessed us with the most heavenly weather in the history of mankind. It’s just so comfortable…like an old sweater, with enchanting morning breezes, afternoon cool calms and evenings with just enough chill to call for hats and quilts.

H: Life is busy and crazy, but it is amazing how, amidst the chaos and the long nights and the frustrations of not being able to keep up with it all, I find fuel in digging my fingers deep into the dirt of what I love to do. Finding time for it is challenging, but the reward never fails to deliver. And just like those girls who carefully count out the rhythm of the double-dutch jump rope as it hits the pavement before they find the perfect spot to jump in, I have to stand back sometimes and survey all my priorities. But, no matter what, I never regret jumping in…even if the jump rope snaps me in the face. Because you stop, start over, and jump in again. I’m finding the rhythm that works best for me.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a fabulous pair of black heels calling my name.

Wow. That’s all I can say on the response on the last post. It was really good for me to write that but even more to read your comments. There is a lot of pain–a lot of people going through finance problems and sicknesses and losses and deep hurts. But, there is so much color to balance it, and it was powerful to read about both. Thank you for your kind words.

I am doing well and am very accepting of the fact that we don’t know the future. That alone fuels me to change the future–to believe that great things will happen for our child and for others like her. And it is good for me to go there sometimes–to know that reality can be harsh. I take myself as far as I can go every once and awhile, like pushing a bruise and wincing from the pain. I come out stronger and go there less. But, thank you either way for so many encouraging words.

And kudos to everyone who spelled color colour…’cuz Lord knows I love a good “u.”

And with all that said, I’m on a total high right now.

Dude, it’s cold.

Forecast calls for a low of 48 tonight, and I couldn’t be happier. The sweaters are out, the hats are unleashed, the new quilt is currently tucked around a fleecy jammied baby. And we are loving it.

She totally knows what to do with chalk. She colours with it…swear.

And while that cold sends me into a creative frenzy planning Christmas crafts and preparing for holidays, it also commences this cozy calm in our home. Tonight, we had our first fire of the season, and it was delicious.

I’m painting the bathroom this weekend. After my first trip to Ikea ever today, I’m inspired. That place is nuts.

I have some pretty far-fetched ideas for the bathroom, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed they’ll work out. We can’t afford to do a real bathroom make-over as far as gutting the shower and ditching the gold fixtures and such, so I’m cheating like crazy to incorporate it all in a funky way with paint and some new textiles and such to hold us over. I love the challenge…more to come.

Ikea’s on the East coast, so we did our jaunt across the Everglades today and stopped to scout some gators. They freak me out in the alligator-nightmares-once-a-month kind of way. We found none, thankfully, but we did enjoy some crazy wind.

The weekend calls!

Lainey’s favorite barrettes right now from Lil Junebug Boutique, our new sponsor. Right now, you get a free hair clip for every $5 you spend. Check it.

And, the Bib Set Giveaway winner goes to:
Commenter #284, Misty: My gray is this morning sickness that is still lingering. This too shall pass. My color is the most gorgeous golden hues in the leaves of the Cottonwoods reflecting off the water of the Rio Grande River. Cutest bibs ever!!!

Misty, send your info on over to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net, and some bibs will land your way.

Finally, I want to thank you again for your comments, your support, and your readership. It really is a two-way street. I am continually inspired by all of you and am so happy to do this high-on-life-and-writing-about-it thing joined by others who share the same enthusiasm. With that said, I’m so excited to share that Enjoying the Small Things made Babble’s Top 50 Mom Blogs list and made #7 for Best Design. You all play a big part in these successes, so cheers to you and cheers to anyone who wants to grab life by the horns and ride it into the sunset.

I’ll lead the way.

Happy Weekending, Friends.