Katie Big Mouth

When I was a teenager, I spent so much time on the phone that my dad dubbed me Katie Big Mouth. It's not exactly alliterative or even particularly clever, but he thought it was pretty fitting and it sort of stuck. I also had the misfortune of getting the reputation of being the person in the family least able to keep a secret of any kind. It got so bad that my little brother still hesitates to tell me any secrets for fear that I might tell my mom. In his defense, of course, it's probably pretty true. It's not that I'm a tattletale or anything; I don't tell details that might be incriminating. I just like to be in the know and, when I am, I like to spread the knowledge around. In my older and more mature years, I have learned to keep my mouth shut--mostly because that means that my brother will be more inclined to tell me his secrets and, after all, learning secrets is the most important thing. Sometimes it kills me not to be able to tell what I know to the world, but I'd rather be in the know than not.

Today, I am suffering under another secret. It's not a big one, of course, which is why I will write about it here. I sent Andy a small Valentine's day present and I didn't tell him about it. I think it's probably more exciting to get a present if you don't know it's coming, so I am trying very, very hard to keep my mouth shut and not give him the heads up. I went to the post office to mail it the other day and they gave me the specific option of choosing a type of post that meant that it would get there on Monday--perfect! I really do want his present to get there on the day. Since I can't be there (I'm stuck in WV until Thursday), the next best thing is to have a sweet little surprise to let him know I am always thinking of him.

Valentine's Day, in my opinion, is not a major gift-giving holiday.  I think sometimes the more exciting presents are the little thoughtful things that you don't expect.  Or, even if you do expect them, it's sometimes nice to get a present that just contains totally fun, whimsical things.  That's what my mom always does.  Of course, Andy wouldn't appreciate socks with hearts on them or heart-shaped mini springform pans or funfetti cake mix.  But he does have a pretty serious sweet tooth, and who doesn't like getting surprises in the mail?

When I went to Target the other day (God, I love Target) to get the baby shower present for Lohryn, my sorority sister, I did a little V Day shopping for my man.  I found this card and I had to get it.  I am not the kind of person who is drawn in by super sappy cards.  I don't care for religious cards, either, or humorous ones that have inappropriate sexual innuendo.  I prefer simplicity.  And I'm a sucker for pictures of kids.

I think it's just adorable.  I love the cute little kids kissing.  I hope it makes Andy smile.  Luckily, too, the inside message isn't cheesy.  Sometimes it's hard for me to look in the card section because so many of the messages make me feel like gagging.  But I found this one pretty quickly and really liked it. 

Of course, I wrote a little message in there for him.  Even though I WANTED to be slightly cheesy (in my own words, though, not the words that Hallmark chose for me), I just said a little something.  After all, it's the thought that counts.  I put it in a large bubble wrap mailer and filled it with chocolate, too.  (It's actually a heck of a lot of chocolate.)  Andy will probably eat it all for breakfast on the first day.  He loves sweets for breakfast.  Anyway, its the littlest things. 

I really do love Valentine's day.  What's not to love about a holiday that lets you buy red and pink heart shaped things?  I also have a present from my mom that I'm saving for Monday morning to unwrap.  Who knows what might be in it?  I would adjust the tissue paper and make it look prettier, but I'm afraid that I'll see inside it and that would ruin the surprise.  I was never the kid who looked for the Christmas presents.  Even now, I avoid the living room before Christmas morning because I want to be surprised and impressed by the mountain of presents that show up on for us.  Of course, I know there's no Santa Claus, but my parents do to a lot of trouble to make every holiday special and I really like to appreciate every part of it.  Valentine's Day is no different.  It's just one present, but who wants to spoil the surprise?  Then there'd be nothing on Monday, and the present was meant for Monday.  Here it is!

I'm a big advocate of saving presents until the day of.  If you open them early, then there's nothing to celebrate on the real day.  Even though I'm nearly 25 years old, I really look forward to stuff like this.  It's like the brand new Christmas pajamas that I get every year on Christmas Eve.  I'm trying to do stuff like that for Andy, too. 

The trouble is, I have to keep the secret for a few more days even though, every time I talk to him, I want to tell him I have a surprise for him.  Maybe my dad was right.  I'm totally a big mouth.