If you are visiting Pentagon's City Mall and you need to use the bathroom, head over to Nordstrom. It is the best Women's Lounge, as they call it. If you are a breastfeeding mother, it is a haven since it comes complete with a breastfeeding room, changing tables, nice chairs, and couches. The Girl and I have been visiting these facilities quite often, and more so now that my big belly results in more frequent trips to the bathroom. However, our visits to these fabulous restrooms (they have one per floor) have become a little embarrassing for me, lately.

You could say that I am the daughter of Clark W. Griswold from the movie Christmas Vacation. My dad decks the house pretty intensely with two Christmas trees, lights everywhere, including the fake ficus trees in the living room, and decorations in every room. Growing up in that world, it is to be expected, I guess, that I inherited some of that.

Last week the girl, my mother, and I were shopping at one of those pretty packed Hallmark stores. My Mom was looking at Vera Bradley purses and the girl was happily entertaining herself with anything her two little arms could reach from her stroller. I had parked her by a rack of purses as well, since they are pretty much non-breakable.

Letter to my little girl: Two years ago at this very same time, I was holding you for the first time. I was counting toes and fingers and figuring out how to breast feed you. I was nervous, scared, tired, and that was just the very beginning. Today I have to say that you are the most delightful person I have ever met. You changed my life completely and sometimes I wish I could go back to the simplicity of my previous life, just for a little bit, but I would never change a single minute of these past two years.

Last Thursday one of the girl's playmates passed away after fighting leukemia for almost a year. You might recall his story from my previous my post, Running for a Cause. What a tragedy! To read full post, please visit my blog at http://4everamommy.blogspot.com