This was us seven years ago tonight…

April 23, 2005 my groom dipped me while we danced.  We fed each other cake after rambling, tearful toasts.  My grandma said the music was too loud and my friends drank too much.  A bridesmaid may or may not have made out with the bartender.  I stand by the cliche that it was one of the “happiest days of my life.”

I’m using the occasion of our wedding anniversary to speak out about an issue I feel very strongly about.  Two weeks from tomorrow North Carolinians will go to the polls to vote for or against Amendment One.  Same Sex Marriage is already illegal in my home state.  This amendment would define marriage in the state constitution as a union between one man and one woman, and would ban any other type of “domestic legal union” such as civil unions and domestic partnerships.

I really  have no reason to be against Amendment 1.  I’m straight.  I had the privilege of marrying whomever I chose.  Actually I’ve been pretty lucky when it comes to discrimination.  Let’s face it.  I’m an able-bodied, middle-class, educated, straight, white woman.  I think all women have felt the pangs of discrimination somewhat, even white women.  But, I’ll never know what it’s like to be discriminated against based on my race or sexual preference.  So why should it matter to me if this Amendment gets put into the State Constitution?

It matters because it’s wrong.

If the people of North Carolina vote for Amendment One it would ban domestic partnership benefits including health care for public employees and children receiving domestic partner benefits.  I honestly don’t understand why anyone would be against gay marriage anyway.   It in no way threatens my straight marriage.  If someone told me I didn’t have the right to marry Greyson I would fight until I did.

Worst of all, this Amendment hurts someone I love.  It pains me to think that he already can’t marry the person he loves and our home state would never recognize any union he chose to enter in to.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  This is the Civil Rights issue of our generation.  Gen X and Gen Y in North Carolina, I plead with you to educate yourself about Amendment One.

Like all parents who work outside the home, our weekends are sacred.  It’s our chance to catch up with our growing child.  Two full, uninterrupted days of family time.

We ate cupcakes. (Yeah, I had Gigi’s for the first time and it changed my life)

We hiked around the lake.

And…Greyson got in Charlotte’s wagon with Elmo and Abby Cadabby.

So overall it was a great weekend.  Charlotte did have her moments, however.  You know what I’m talking about.  Periods of inconsolable, toy throwing, snot nosed, tear-filled tantrums that no amount of food nor Sesame Street can end.  It’s a side effect of toddlerhood we’re dealing with on a daily basis.  I have a terrible confession…

At one point during a tantrum I thought, “I want to take her to daycare!”

Oh my God!  I did NOT just think that!  I was horrified and guilt ridden.  Usually I dread Mondays when I have to leave my babe during the day.  I get sad during lunch breaks when I see Stay-At-Home moms out at restaurants with their tots.

But, I was at my wits end.  I was hoping someone else would take a crack at getting through to my child.  Her teachers at school are just the ones to do it.   I actually got excited about going to work and that’s not just because I like my new job.

Later tonight after she had a fully belly and had calmed down she said “Mama! Mama! Mama!” over and over.  In my ears it was like a little songbird from heaven was singing with the angels.  I thought, “That’s it!  I’m pulling her out of daycare so I can be with her all day!”

I have as many mood swings as my toddler.

We gave up after our first Baby Bracketology video because Charlotte sadly picked the Witchita State Shockers to reign supreme in Men’s College Basketball.  Gone is the dream of my 16-month-old having a near-perfect bracket and chuckling with Matt Lauer during our satellite interview with The Today Show.  (Oh, wait.  The tournament is on CBS.  So it would be The Early Show.  Meh.  Okay.)

Our beloved North Carolina Tar Heels battled their coach-sharing rivals, the Kansas Jayhawks in the Elite Eight today.  Here’s a glimpse.

Greyson couldn’t sit the entire game.

Until the last 3 minutes when he glared at the TV with disdain.

Then he hate-Tweeted and posted snarky Facebook status updates.

With this final score our season ends and the madness is over.

All her life my mom heard how much she looked like her aunt.  At family gatherings when she was young people would say, “You must be Ruth’s girl!”   She would reply with a laugh, “No, I’m Tom’s daughter!”

It really shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise when in the recovery room at the hospital I held my fresh, squishy little newborn and thought, “I just gave birth to my sister’s baby.”  Lots of people look like their aunt, uncle, or grandparent more than a parent.   Charlotte certainly looks like her Aunt Julie.

Last night I had the privilege of hanging out with some fabulous bloggers here in Raleigh.  Gals like Suzanne, Erin, Fadra, Andrea, and Andrea.  I was so happy to see my old college buddy Beth Anne, too!

Fadra was complementing my adorable baby’s big blue eyes.  I thanked her and said I couldn’t take credit for those.  They’re my sister’s eyes.  My eyes are green.  Then Beth Anne stated the obvious in a way I had never thought of.

“Oh yeah!  Charlotte looks like your husband and your sister had a baby together,” she said laughing.

Oh my God!  She’s totally right.

::insert redneck/inbred/North Carolina joke here::

I’m gonna go with a 1997 joke.  “JERRY!  JERRY!”

I mean, eeww, despite the obvious ick-factor,  genetics ARE like that.  My mom texted me this picture the other day as she was flipping through old photo albums.  I put Charlotte’s next to it.

I think everyone wants their baby to look like them, but if my daughter looks like anyone else in the family, I’m glad it’s my sister.  She’s beautiful inside and out, and tomorrow is her birthday.  Happy 28th Baby Sister!  I’m proud of the woman and aunt you’ve become.