First Grade

My little girl is currently in class on her first day of first grade. She told me before she left that she was "Super nervous." I think she was excited...to see her friends, to get to know her teacher, to meet the new (to her) kids in her class. I'm excited for her.

This has been a grouping of firsts for her. She lost her first tooth, got her first uniforms, and started first grade. It really does seem like just yesterday she was taking her first steps, saying her first words, all the fun things of babies.

I know I mentioned my lack of wanting for another human child in my earlier post, and just by mentioning it here, have refreshed your memories on the subject.

I want to make clear that my reasons for it are not that I didn't enjoy my first human child, but because I thoroughly have enjoyed raising the one I have. I don't want to have to split my time between two children. I love that she takes up all my time. Words don't describe just how good she is. She is kind hearted and generous, smart as a whip, and so many other things all wrapped into the best kid a parent could ask for.

Yep, I am a totally biased parent of an only child. But I dare you to find anyone who will disagree with me about her. :)

Anyway...

First Grade. First day of first grade. Thinking about it makes me a bit weepy, in that unique way mom's have of leaking tears of happiness. I'm so excited for her. She is going to soar through first grade, and springboard towards high school before I know it.

Yes, in just 7 more years, I'll have a teenage version of myself. Are you cringing as much as I am at that thought?

Good. Cringe harder, because I know what I did in high school.

I just hope to continue to build a strong relationship with my daughter now that will ease the way through the teenage years.

Love to all.

Foal Fever

I'm experiencing foal fever today. To you non-horsey people out there, this is a need for a four legged, fuzzy, sweet baby horse to snuggle with.

I've realized that I don't have cravings for another human child. I don't ever have a desire to hold another baby, or to be pregnant with my own. I'm just super happy with the human child I have, and don't want to have to split my time between two. Selfish? Maybe, not the topic for the day.

Most breeders (like I had the opportunity to call myself with Irish Draughts) view it as a necessity for each year. MY last foal was in 2007, but I did have the opportunity in 2009 to deliver and raise a foal from one of my broodmares, Rose, who I sold in 2006. Rose was the first ID I purchased as a foal, raised through her first event as a 5 year old, as well as being dam of the first foal of my breeding program, Premier de Kegan (photo above), so she has a very special place in my heart. It has been a great experience raising her new foal, Chance, and I'm really grateful to her family for sharing it with me.

I feel like I've missed out on the best part of being a breeder...keeping one for yourself. I've sold all that I've bred, and my breeding stock too, all to keep the business in the black (the very reason I got out of it in the end). I want to breed one last foal, a keeper for life.

I want to make the decision regarding the best stallion for the mare for what I want to produce. I want to be there for the delivery of the foal, to enjoy the miracle that is birth after a long, 11 month wait. I want to teach it everything it can, to help guide it to be the best it can be. I want to raise another best friend.

To me, it starts with an interesting game of research. I like to play with pedigrees, phenotypes, and inheritable traits. At any time, I'll have a handful of potential stallions for any mare I know...all catalogued in my mind.

So, foal fever in full force today, I've wasted hours researching stallions. I have a short list of possible canidates for the mare I have in mind. I have another short list of things to research on the mare, and another list for what vet bills would come from getting her pregnant.

And then seeing those costs in black and white stops me short. "I'd never be able to justify it to Kevin." is my first thought...and then I remember that even if the odds are a million to one, theres still a chance of it happening.

Foal fever is a dangerous addiction that I'm reveling in right now. :)

To blog or not to blog...

I have a few friends who seem to enjoy the experience, so here goes...

Random thoughts today, maybe as I get more comfortable with exposing myself online, I'll delve deeper into thought and create a blog entry worthy of being read by more then the handful of friends I'll send an invite to...

Life is a journey that is impossible to accomplish without hope, faith, and a few good friends.

My best friend is my husband, and although that may be the mushiest of sentiments, it is absolutely true. He is my confidant, my protector, my sounding board, my provider. He is the one person on earth who knows me better then myself, and I am lucky he found me.

Hope and faith are essential in life. Without faith, we can function, but we do not truly live. With faith we can find hope. Only then we can do more then simply function day to day.

I wish you all well in your journey. I hope you find your faith and your hope, and along the way, find your best friend as I have done.

Thats all.