Chelsea's 21st Birthday...Bring on the Tissues!

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to blog about the maelstrom of emotions I'm experiencing today...my first born's 21st birthday. Chelsea Marie Grieger was actually due Nov. 13, and I remember Mike and I talking about how it was too bad she couldn't be born closer to his birthday on the 1st. I should have known that she was planning to be a daddy's girl when she arrived several weeks early and very close to Mike's birthday. Little-Miss-Impatient came out with her eyes wide open, looking around, ready to take on the world!

I think I started to realize just how grown up she was in January when we took Chelsea to the airport for her semester abroad in London. I tried so hard to find something profound to say, some good advice, words of wisdom, but I kept coming to the conclusion that I just didn't have anything else to teach her...she was all set to take on the world, literally, and I told her so. Ten months later, I'm even more sure that my little girl has transformed into a wonderful young woman.

Now for those emotions...I know it's lame of me to start out with the negative, but boy am I afraid to let her go! I just want to hug her and keep her safe from the world forever. At the same time I'm filled with pride, joy, love, admiration, hope, expectation, anticipation...the list goes on and on!

Of all the things I've done in my life, I would have to say, unequivocally, that being a mother had been both my greatest challenge and my greatest reward. And I have to thank my beautiful, strong-willed, self-reliant girl for getting me started! I love you, Chelsea...happy birthday baby!

Naming my blog

I'd been thinking of blogging for awhile now, but silly as it sounds, I couldn't pin down a name for the blog. Finally, this weekend the GPS and a hotel key card helped me out. While traveling to Maryland this past weekend for my daughter's volleyball tournament, the GPS pronounced Maryland like two separate words, Mary land. I joked to my friend with a giggle, "I live in 'Mary' land everyday." Then later my hotel key card had 'Welcome to Maryland' on it and it just clicked. So welcome to my blog, my thoughts, my feelings, and whatever else comes out.

Welcome to Mary-land!