Page 32 April 2015 The onesie that changed everything. recognize. Not quite disappointment, and not just sadness, but rather a unique combination of both. The only way to describe it was…hurt. As I tilted my head and crumpled my eyebrows in confusion, Michael spoke. Quietly. Sadly. Hurt. “But I’m your best friend,” he said. Looking back, those are perhaps some of the most important words Michael has ever uttered. In those first few months of my son’s life, I spent almost every waking hour – and many not-nearly-as-awake-as-I-should-be- if-I’m-handling-an-infant hours – with the little man. During the day, while Michael was at work, my son and I had a lot of quality time together. We played “try to pee on mom” and “look how long I am when I stretch” on the changing table. We sprawled out in the living room – he on a colorful mat of sea creatures and me on the wood floor that desperately needed to be cleaned. I rolled him onto his belly and he complained about how heavy his head was. We had picnics on a blanket in the backyard – where I sincerely hoped no one peered over the fence to see the source of his meals. We read Gossie the Gosling . We read Goodnight GIRL NEXT DOOR Moon. We read them both again. We played with finger puppets where I created controversial plot lines so I could be entertained as well. We chitchatted. I said, “I love you.” He responded with, “A goo a goo a goo,” which I was pretty sure meant he was a genius. We smiled and giggled and smiled and giggled and repeated until his smiles needed to be recharged by a nap, then some food, and then it started all over again. Under 12 pounds and entirely captivating, it was so easy to get totally caught up in him – in every smile, in every sigh, in every goo and gurgle. It will always be easy to get lost in the love I have for that little man. So easy...and kind of dangerous. That afternoon after the baby shower, after I finished showing Michael the rest of the gifts, he left the nursery to work in the yard a bit (male-nesting) while I spent some time alone. I put the gifts from the shower in their well-organized-pre-baby places. I took the tags off all the clothes and prepared them for their fragrance-free trip to the washing machine – all the clothes except for one small, simple gray onesie. I stood there in the silent nursery for a moment, holding the onesie and considering what its small, embroidered message was really saying. That soon there would be another man in my life. Although it had been fourth grade when I last worried about “best friend” status – after exchanging half of the heart from a “best friends” necklace – I stared at the small outfit in my hand and wondered: Was Michael right to be worried? Could I really be carrying not just a son, but also a new best friend? Standing there, I replayed the image of the look on Michael’s face: hurt. And I made a decision. While I love my son desperately, he is my son. Michael – my biggest fan, best critic and husband – will always be my best friend. My son needs that relationship, the one between his father and I, to remain strong far more than he needs a half-a-heart necklace from me. While it won’t always be easy, while sometimes the Kindra-Michael relationship will risk getting lost in the shuffle of parenthood, I must do whatever I can to let Michael know: He is the greatest best friend I have ever known. As for the little gray onesie, it’s tucked safely away in the back of a dresser drawer as a silent reminder. A reminder of the love I have for the man, Michael, who had my heart first. The very first best friend By Kindra Hall About two months before my first child – a boy – was born, some friends held a beautiful baby shower in my honor. It was filled with smiles and gifts and friends and cupcakes: all of my favorite things. After the oohs and aahs and games – that always sound more fun when you read about them on the Internet – were complete, I couldn’t wait to get home to my husband, Michael, to show him all of the wonderful things my wonderful friends had picked out for our sure-to-be-wonderful son. Michael and I sat on the floor in the nursery while, one by one, I held up each gift and made him ooh and aah over it just as I had an hour earlier. Clever devices to help baby sleep, clever devices to make bath time more pleasant, clever little outfits to ensure our son would be the best looking boy on the block. While revisiting each gift, I got more excited at the thought of using it; each gift made the whole concept of having a baby more real. And then one outfit stopped the gift parade in its tracks. One little onesie. One tiny, newborn outfit brought a whole new level to the “reality” of it all. Michael watched as I pulled a small, gray outfit from the pile. It was small and precious and simply said: Mommy’s Best Friend. I began to coo over it – like I had with all the others – when I noticed a strange look on Michael’s face; one I didn’t Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available Watch our website for summer camp information for preschool – 8th gr ade! Join us for an Open House on April 10, from 9:00am – noon. 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8

Page 33 April 2015 By Kaley Kalil With the inclusion of Arcadia Home & Design in this month’s issue, it’s obvious the feeling of “home sweet home” is highly desirable. Home is a safe and comfortable place where we find ourselves surrounded by family and familiar with our environment. However, we can achieve that at-home feeling, even while traveling. Here’s how to make that hotel room feel homier so that you can sleep better, travel happier and feel more at ease: • Travel with your own pillow – You already know you can comfortably sleep on your pillow at home. Why not take the “sure thing” with you instead of wondering whether the hotel pillows will be too hard or too soft? • Bring a portable humidifier – A good night’s sleep is crucial. Our bodies are more prone to illness when traveling because we’re exposed to more germs, and without proper sleep your chances of getting sick increase exponentially. A travel humidifier can be calming and healing, as well as create a type of white noise to help you block out unfamiliar sounds. Humidifiers are a great way to counter dry climates, keep your nasal passages clear while traveling to locations that may cause allergies, and even provide indoor heating and cooling. • Carry a few family photos – Just because you’re in an unfamiliar place, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t surround yourself with familiar faces. Miss your spouse, your kids or your perfect pooch when traveling? Pack a couple of your favorite photos in your suitcase and set them up on the bedside or coffee tables in your hotel room. • Pack your beverage of choice – Do you have a favorite tea or coffee you enjoy sipping before bed or brewing first thing in the morning? Bring it with you. Sip away. Brew on. Pack tea bags and single serving coffee bags to enjoy in your hotel room or at breakfast. The familiar aroma will make you feel more at home and allow you to continue your normal morning or bedtime routine while away. • Arrange fresh flowers – It’s amazing what fresh flowers can do. A simple flower arrangement can help bring peace and tranquility to your temporary home away from home. The fresh, floral scent will cover up the unfamiliar smells of your new surroundings, as well as give you a homemade focal point that’s uniquely yours. Unpack your suitcase – Unpack your suitcase as soon as you check in to your hotel, even WHERE’S THE NEIGHBOR? if you’re only staying for a couple of nights. Unpack your toiletries and hang up any clothes that may wrinkle. There’s nothing that makes you feel less stable and settled than living out of a suitcase. • Take Arcadia News with you – Lay your latest Arcadia News issue on the bottom of your suitcase so it doesn’t get crumpled. Toss it onto the coffee table in your hotel room after checking in to establish a sense of normalcy and familiarity. — Traveled lately? Tell Kaley via email: kaley@arcadianews.com. Send Entries to: Teachers We Love c/o Arcadia News 3850 E. Indian School Rd., Phx, AZ 85018 or fi ll out a nomination form online at: arcadiadaily.com/teachers.pdf Teacher/Administrator Name: _____________________________________________ School Name: _________________________________________________________ Your Name: ___________________________________________________________ Your Email Address: ____________________________________________________ Your Phone Number: ___________________________________________________ How does this person make a difference? __________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ It’s easy to recognize and nominate your favorite teacher for Teachers We Love! Just fill out this form and mail, fax or drop it by our office. OR, you can nominate a teacher online at www.arcadiadaily.com/teachers.pdf Be sure to include details about why your teacher is great (more details = better chance of winning!) Winning teachers will receive special gift certificates to Fox Restaurants and Salon Sandoval! Send Entries to: Teachers We Love c/o Arcadia News 3850 E. Indian School Rd., Phx, AZ 85018 or fi ll out a nomination form online at: arcadiadaily.com/teachers.pdf Teacher/Administrator Name: _____________________________________________ School Name: _________________________________________________________ Your Name: ___________________________________________________________ Your Email Address: ____________________________________________________ Your Phone Number: ___________________________________________________ How does this person make a difference? __________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _ _________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ It’s easy to recognize and nominate your favorite teacher for Teachers We Love! Just fill out this form and mail, fax or drop it by our office. OR, you can nominate a teacher online at www.arcadiadaily.com/teachers.pdf Be sure to include details about why your teacher is great (more details = better chance of winning!) Winning teachers will receive special gift certificates to Fox Restaurants and Salon Sandoval! Do you know a teacher who really makes a difference? Take a bit of home with you on next travel adventure