ABC's

1. A is for age: 23

2. B is for beer of choice: Coors Light

3. C is for career right now: Nanny/Office Bitch

4. D is for your dog's name? Maxx & Maggie

5. E is for essential item you use everyday: Coffee Pot

6. F is for favorite TV show at the moment: The Office

7. G is for favorite game: Gin Rummy

8. H is for Home town: Priest River

9. I is for instruments you play: I play a mean tamborine

10. J is for favorite juice: cranberry, but only with vodka

11. K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: Sean, Tiffany, Jack...

12. L is for last place you ate: wendy's

13. M is for marriage: Not completely sure how I feel about that

14. N is for your full name: Heather Kristine McGregorino

15. O is for overnight hospital stays: Nope

16. P is for people you were with today: coworkers

17. Q is for quote: Figure out who you are then do it on purpose..

18. R is for Biggest Regret: No regrets

19. S is for status: alive...healthy...a little sleepy...overall well-done ;)

20. T is for time you woke up today: 5:45 am

21. U is for underwear you have on now: these great target brand ones. I love them

22. V is for vegetable you love: Broccoli

23. W is for worst habit: not putting my clean laundry away for months at a time and letting the stacks just pile up all around my roon

24. X is for x-rays you've had: none, except any on my teeth

25. Y is for yummy food you ate today: Oatmeal Raisin Choc Chip Cookies that I made yesterday

26. Z is for the zodiac sign: Capricorn

Life is good~

The Beginning & The End~

No words can describe the kind of day it's been today.

Bittersweet comes close.

Today, after much anticipation J.T. was born. At 1:06 pm a little 7 lb 10 oz bundle of joy decided it was about dang time to meet his family. I haven't seen any pictures yet, and we're still without details beyond the basics, but simply my heart is full for what the future holds. I cannot imagine my life without my cousins in it, and now, I can't imagine family gatherings without this little baby along for all the laughs, all the memories, all the years to come. Childbirth is a miracle I never quite get used to, regardless of how often I get to be a part of it. Babies are born everyday, but the magic never seems to dissipate. For me, the miracle never becomes commonplace. I'm always at a loss, always amazed at how affected I can be by the entire process.

And while waiting for the news of little baby B, I attended the funeral of another cousin.

A person I was never personally close with, but a family member nonetheless. A special part of a family that has its share of laughter and good times spread over the years. As time goes on this particular branch of the family tree becomes too distant to gather much anymore. But anyone can feel the love, the bond they hold. I was surrounded by Reids and I could feel it deep down in my soul.

I just sat through the entire service with this gut-wrenching ache knowing I could not function without my mother. I wouldn't be able to stand up, let alone speak about the amazing woman she is to me. I can't even imagine how a family goes on.

I know all about the circle of life (I have seen the Lion King after all). But actually living it out, experiencing it from both sides; I just felt empty--drained, mentally, emotionally, physically.

And yet, I still have this little fire inside of me. This little drive to live my life, to count my blessings and always, always appreciate the ones I love.