babyhood / celebrations

She’s one

P1010020

The pregnancy with Elizabeth was quite a roller coaster. Blood clots, painful shots, a single umbilical artery, potential birth defects, high risk doctors, multiple ultrasounds, multiple doctors, abnormal test results. It was a lesson in faith and Elizabeth a lesson in miracles–as she emerged into this world with a knotted umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. A little miracle.

With her in our arms, we thought all was good, the "issues" behind us until abnormal test results came again and again. More doctors, more tests. And more news–all tests were false. We were in the clear. One year later and you’d never know the road we traveled to get here had so many bumps, which in reality are dimples compared to the potholes that so many go through. God is good and faithful.

And here I sit, one year later, and I can hardly believe it’s possible. One year?

In keeping with my birthday post traditions, a little list of what I love–and little Elizabeth Paige, gets an extra column–the things that make me crazy! (in the best way.)

What I love:

*we have a song. and it’s the only one you want to hear me sing at bedtime
*you love to have your head rubbed, hair tucked behind your ears, cheeks stroked
*you stretch, hands over your head, legs stick-straight every morning when I lay you down on the changing table
*when the wind is blowing in your face, or the sun in your eyes, you snuggle your head into my chest
*you laugh like an owl hoots–a deep, happy laugh in your belly.
*when you see people you love, you get so excited a shiver runs through your body
*you call me, "mum-mum"

Reach

What drives me crazy (but I still kinda love) or You’d think by now I’d learn that:

*You pull off my glasses every time I sit you on my lap.
*You suck on the charred pieces of wood around the wood burning stove. It’s organic, right? (I should probably clarify–the wood isn’t hot. what kind of mother do you think I am??)
*You eat the soil out of the flower pots. also organic??
*You’re obsessed with the toilet and darn if the girls don’t forget to close the door when they leave the bathroom, let alone put down the lid.
*Every time I lay you down for a diaper change you flip over onto your tummy faster than lightning. You find it quite comical.
*Every morning, every morning, you know to go into the girls’ room and pull down their glasses of water that are on the table between their beds–onto the floor, onto yourself.
*When I put a pile of Cheerios in front of you, you scatter them all around the floor and table with a few sweeps of your hands.
*You stand up on your tippy-toes, reach over your head and pull down all the neat, organized stacks of paper on my desk.
*You also sit quietly under my desk and empty the trash can onto the floor, piece by piece.
*I put your hat on, you take it off. I put your hat on, you take it off.

You have a sweet, gentle, content spirit that brings peace and joy to our home. I can’t imagine our family without you.

P1010020

The pregnancy with Elizabeth was quite a roller coaster. Blood clots, painful shots, a single umbilical artery, potential birth defects, high risk doctors, multiple ultrasounds, multiple doctors, abnormal test results. It was a lesson in faith and Elizabeth a lesson in miracles–as she emerged into this world with a knotted umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. A little miracle.

With her in our arms, we thought all was good, the "issues" behind us until abnormal test results came again and again. More doctors, more tests. And more news–all tests were false. We were in the clear. One year later and you’d never know the road we traveled to get here had so many bumps, which in reality are dimples compared to the potholes that so many go through. God is good and faithful.

And here I sit, one year later, and I can hardly believe it’s possible. One year?

In keeping with my birthday post traditions, a little list of what I love–and little Elizabeth Paige, gets an extra column–the things that make me crazy! (in the best way.)

What I love:

*we have a song. and it’s the only one you want to hear me sing at bedtime
*you love to have your head rubbed, hair tucked behind your ears, cheeks stroked
*you stretch, hands over your head, legs stick-straight every morning when I lay you down on the changing table
*when the wind is blowing in your face, or the sun in your eyes, you snuggle your head into my chest
*you laugh like an owl hoots–a deep, happy laugh in your belly.
*when you see people you love, you get so excited a shiver runs through your body
*you call me, "mum-mum"

Reach

What drives me crazy (but I still kinda love) or You’d think by now I’d learn that:

*You pull off my glasses every time I sit you on my lap.
*You suck on the charred pieces of wood around the wood burning stove. It’s organic, right? (I should probably clarify–the wood isn’t hot. what kind of mother do you think I am??)
*You eat the soil out of the flower pots. also organic??
*You’re obsessed with the toilet and darn if the girls don’t forget to close the door when they leave the bathroom, let alone put down the lid.
*Every time I lay you down for a diaper change you flip over onto your tummy faster than lightning. You find it quite comical.
*Every morning, every morning, you know to go into the girls’ room and pull down their glasses of water that are on the table between their beds–onto the floor, onto yourself.
*When I put a pile of Cheerios in front of you, you scatter them all around the floor and table with a few sweeps of your hands.
*You stand up on your tippy-toes, reach over your head and pull down all the neat, organized stacks of paper on my desk.
*You also sit quietly under my desk and empty the trash can onto the floor, piece by piece.
*I put your hat on, you take it off. I put your hat on, you take it off.

You have a sweet, gentle, content spirit that brings peace and joy to our home. I can’t imagine our family without you.

family / home / life (in general) / LIVING WELL

sunday afternoon :: monday morning

P1010030

::Sunday afternoon::
Dan is over at "the new house" working to get walls
mudded and paint on trim. I’m working my way around the house, trying
to regain control of the weekend neglect before the new week starts.
The front door of our porch slams open and Emma is there yelling for my
help, right away! quickly! I go to the door and she’s standing there in
her plum-colored fleece and bright green knit cap (mine)–with the
spool of kite string in her hand. Except the spool is empty. I peek out
the door and see a faint line of string–from her hand, over the roof
of the house, above the oak tree, above the barn–to a brightly colored
dot of kite flailing in the sky. "I wanted to see how far out it could go.
Then it pulled me all the way over here and into the trees. I can’t get
it down." Barefoot baby on my hip who’s enjoying the show, we carefully
tug the stubborn kite out of the sky, holding our breath as it
tangles in the bare limbs of the oak tree three times before falling to
the pavement.

P1010016

::Monday morning::
Elizabeth is standing at the rails of her crib, squealing. I can hear Emma and Mary in the same room squealing and laughing too. A long wooden board–the adjustable shelf from an old bookcase is propped against the overstuffed chair in Elizabeth’s room–a makeshift slide the girls have invented. They are sitting on dishtowels and sliding down the two and a half feet of board and laughing hysterically. Simple joys.

P1010013

Spring is slowly sneaking in making subjects for my macro challenge plentiful. Everything seems ready to burst, though the landscape still looks a lot like winter when the sun isn’t shining. Robins are boldly singing from the treetops and tugging tangled worms from the soft soil. Spring peepers are now just part of the sounds of night. But they still catch my attention when I walk outside. I’m eagerly watching the Magnolia in front of the "Big House". Each branch is in a different stage of openness. More here and here.

Happy Monday, everyone.

P1010030

::Sunday afternoon::
Dan is over at "the new house" working to get walls
mudded and paint on trim. I’m working my way around the house, trying
to regain control of the weekend neglect before the new week starts.
The front door of our porch slams open and Emma is there yelling for my
help, right away! quickly! I go to the door and she’s standing there in
her plum-colored fleece and bright green knit cap (mine)–with the
spool of kite string in her hand. Except the spool is empty. I peek out
the door and see a faint line of string–from her hand, over the roof
of the house, above the oak tree, above the barn–to a brightly colored
dot of kite flailing in the sky. "I wanted to see how far out it could go.
Then it pulled me all the way over here and into the trees. I can’t get
it down." Barefoot baby on my hip who’s enjoying the show, we carefully
tug the stubborn kite out of the sky, holding our breath as it
tangles in the bare limbs of the oak tree three times before falling to
the pavement.

P1010016

::Monday morning::
Elizabeth is standing at the rails of her crib, squealing. I can hear Emma and Mary in the same room squealing and laughing too. A long wooden board–the adjustable shelf from an old bookcase is propped against the overstuffed chair in Elizabeth’s room–a makeshift slide the girls have invented. They are sitting on dishtowels and sliding down the two and a half feet of board and laughing hysterically. Simple joys.

P1010013

Spring is slowly sneaking in making subjects for my macro challenge plentiful. Everything seems ready to burst, though the landscape still looks a lot like winter when the sun isn’t shining. Robins are boldly singing from the treetops and tugging tangled worms from the soft soil. Spring peepers are now just part of the sounds of night. But they still catch my attention when I walk outside. I’m eagerly watching the Magnolia in front of the "Big House". Each branch is in a different stage of openness. More here and here.

Happy Monday, everyone.

crafting with children / HOMESCHOOLING / sewing projects

do something creative

  P1010017
Lori and I often email back and forth about homeschooling our children. (Well actually, I email with all my homeschooling woes and she emails back encouragement and ideas.) A few weeks ago in one of my emails she told me that there are a few tasks her boys are required to do each day, on their own. She and I have similar learners–independent learners. Generally, if wasn’t Emma’s idea, she’s not too keen on working on it. It can make for quite a few battles when I try to do some concentrated work with her.

But this is all a series of learning, trying new things, adjusting, evaluating and getting to know my children better. I think I change my approach to homeschooling every other week, but so far, this simple little idea, at the suggestion of Lori, is working.
P1010020
On a piece of cardstock, which I "laminated" (with packing tape), Emma has a series of tasks she must do every day. She slides the list into her notebook, traces the right side edge, dates the page, and puts a sticker beside every task as she completes it. It allows her to do things on her own time, at her own pace and I believe she feels like she is controlling some of her learning. My help is required for many of the tasks, but it still has an air of independence to it.
P1010007
Of course, the two favorite things on her list are "play outside" and "do something creative". She wakes up ready to tackle both of these before breakfast has made its way into her stomach. This morning, we shoved bagels and cream cheese aside to break out the ironing board, wool felt and floss. `A la The Creative Family at Home, she’s stitching up a wool felt cube for Elizabeth’s birthday next week. It’s been a great little project for her to work on and chill out in a comfy chair on this gray and damp afternoon. And the whole process of creativity brings a sense of peace and calm to our home. Even Mary has a square that she’s filling with giant pink stitches.

I’m thankful for this little taste of quiet, busy hands on a Friday morning.

Happy Weekend, everyone. Wishing you lots of greening grass, warm sun and peace.

my life::up close:: 2/30

  P1010017
Lori and I often email back and forth about homeschooling our children. (Well actually, I email with all my homeschooling woes and she emails back encouragement and ideas.) A few weeks ago in one of my emails she told me that there are a few tasks her boys are required to do each day, on their own. She and I have similar learners–independent learners. Generally, if wasn’t Emma’s idea, she’s not too keen on working on it. It can make for quite a few battles when I try to do some concentrated work with her.

But this is all a series of learning, trying new things, adjusting, evaluating and getting to know my children better. I think I change my approach to homeschooling every other week, but so far, this simple little idea, at the suggestion of Lori, is working.
P1010020
On a piece of cardstock, which I "laminated" (with packing tape), Emma has a series of tasks she must do every day. She slides the list into her notebook, traces the right side edge, dates the page, and puts a sticker beside every task as she completes it. It allows her to do things on her own time, at her own pace and I believe she feels like she is controlling some of her learning. My help is required for many of the tasks, but it still has an air of independence to it.
P1010007
Of course, the two favorite things on her list are "play outside" and "do something creative". She wakes up ready to tackle both of these before breakfast has made its way into her stomach. This morning, we shoved bagels and cream cheese aside to break out the ironing board, wool felt and floss. `A la The Creative Family at Home, she’s stitching up a wool felt cube for Elizabeth’s birthday next week. It’s been a great little project for her to work on and chill out in a comfy chair on this gray and damp afternoon. And the whole process of creativity brings a sense of peace and calm to our home. Even Mary has a square that she’s filling with giant pink stitches.

I’m thankful for this little taste of quiet, busy hands on a Friday morning.

Happy Weekend, everyone. Wishing you lots of greening grass, warm sun and peace.

my life::up close:: 2/30