Love it and List it

Contrary to what Hilary and David will tell you, you don't have to choose

Every night leading up to Valentine’s Day, I write something I love about my daughter on one of these hearts and stick it on her door. At the beginning of the month she was sick and cried about everything, so she simultaneously didn’t like the hearts and cried that my mom didn’t make some for her at her house, as well. Since she’s been better, she’s come around to the idea again but has started telling me what to write on them. Can you guess which ones were my ideas and which ones were hers?

While HGTV may say we have to love it or list it, today, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m going to love it and list it. “It” of course being some of my favorite things, a la The Sound of Music. I’m adding “niche pop culture references” as my unofficial top contender, but let’s dive into the official list, shall we?

Typing this list without my nails incessantly clacking against the keyboard, thanks to today’s manicure, is cause for celebration.

• The look and feel of a fresh manicure after letting my nails grow out for entirely too long

• Being the first person awake in the morning and having a quiet house all to myself

• Realizing I have more Housewives episodes recorded than I originally thought

• Walking with a friend, losing track of the miles between our stories and our laughter

• Checking a new travel destination off my bucket list

• Listening to my favorite songs from previous eras of my life¹

This is the sushi tray Luke, my sister in law, and I devour together on a regular basis. I’m not even ashamed by its size.

• The first bite of sushi

• The way my daughter says “pre-na-tend” instead of “pretend”

• Patio dining in 75 degree weather

• The sound of moving water

• When my best friend texts KELSEY, all caps, and I know something good will follow

• The smell of a new book

Current hyper fixation: a trench coat. I tried on approximately one million to find one I liked

• Finally acquiring or achieving whatever hyper fixation is taking up all my brain space

• A well executed theme

• Laying out with a book in one hand and a Sonic drink in the other

• My Jeep

• Waking up in the middle of the night thinking it’s morning, only to realize I have several more hours left to sleep

• Jacuzzi bathtubs

Is there anything sweeter than a nursing baby?

• The feeling of a tiny hand on my chest or holding my hand

• Witnessing the moment a concept clicks in a child’s mind for the first time²

• Worn in sweatshirts

• Listening to live music

• My emotional support heating pad

Our very first California trip together, almost exactly 10 years ago, back when Luke was clinging to his hair and I was clinging to my giant sorority girl watch

• Sipping wine at California vineyards with Luke

• Nancy Myers movies and aesthetics

• When a creative idea pops into my mind unexpectedly and I have to rush to capture it

• Not having to meal plan

• Fawning over baby gorillas at the zoo

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No matter your feelings on this holiday, Valentine’s is a great time to reflect on all the simple pleasures in life and maybe even treat yourself to a few. I hope your day is filled with love in obvious and surprising ways and if you feel like sharing, I’d love to hear what you’d add to your own love list!

-Xoxo

1. The artists range from Brooks and Dunn to Lil Wayne and everyone in between.

2. This was by far my favorite part of my work as an SLP—watching a child, or an adult, work tirelessly to grasp a concept and then bearing witness to the moment it finally connects in their brain. As a mom, I get to witness this every time my daughter learns something new and it brings me endless joy.