I know people without children who don't get it ... the "it" being we parents and our odd behaviors and thoughts in relation to our children. I don't get it either. All I know is that I think every little thing these children do is amazing and I adore them ... even at 2 a.m., and then 3 a.m., when little feet pitter patter into my room or a little baby stirs to let me know he is hungry again. The nights can be long and hard, but somehow I find more energy than I need to get through the day ... which can be equally long and hard ... but I think they are the most precious days I may know so I try to take it all in.
This blog is evolving. I decided to spruce things up a bit to revitalize my efforts here. Thank you, everyone, who has not complained during my hiatus as a regular blogger. This blog isn't the only thing that's been evolving lately.
I adore how Wesley and Boden play together. Boden has been pulling up and crawling since 5.5 months and cruising since 6 months. At 7 months, he can really keep up with Wesley. The two interact and play with cars and other toys already.
I really don't know how much longer Boden will be crawling ... dare I say he'll be an early walker? He's already letting go and holding his own for a second or two before falling down. He even attempts to let go of one piece of furniture and fall towrad another for support. 
Wesley and Bo take baths together too. They really enjoy the water. Boden gets excited as soon as he hears the water start filling the bath, will stand up on the side of the bathtub and try to pull himself into it.
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I found something that our sweet Boden will eat ... summer veggie mix. Here are the pics of his first meal :)
Baby crying, Wesley laughing ... gotta go!
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I downloaded those pictures ... so that's two out of three (reference to previous post).
Family-in-a-hammock balancing act.
It's no wonder these boys light up every time they see their daddy!
Boden started cruising (walking while holding on to furniture) at 6 months, two weeks after he started crawling and pulling up. Bo even turns corners around this play table. Isn't he amazing?
He's got those cold red cheeks that come with teething. I don't like that he's in pain, but I so adore his gummy smile ... it's one of the only baby things left on him. As Wesley says, "He's a big baby now. He's growing up."
Look at those eyes! He's self soothing some here as he waits for mommy to put down the camera and pick up the cuteness.
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(The above pictures are about a month old now. But doesn't Bo just fit right in with nature?)
Wow. I haven't updated this blog in a while. I kept thinking I'll have time in the morning, but find it quite hard to get out of a warm bed on a cool morning ... especially after waking all night to feed Boden. Earlier this week I had a night that might have rendered 2 hours sleep total ... I'm still recovering.
Nighttime is my only time to get on the computer because we no longer have a functioning laptop. Previously, I'd set the laptop up in the kitchen or living room and would write/post/surf/etc. every few minutes or hours in those few minutes the boys were content. Not having a laptop means finding time upstairs, which doesn't happen because the boys don't play upstairs, they play downstairs.
So then night would come, but the computer was in our bedroom and since Patrick wakes at 5:30 he tends to go to bed at a decent hour, unlike the hours I find time to write/post/surf/etc. Now that the computer is out of the bedroom and in a little nook I created in the hallway I hope to post more.
*Looking around nook* It's kind of cozy here. I have a bookshelf to my right, a window in front of me, and the bedroom door to my left. There's a pile of tax information on our desk, along with a hair brush, a marker, a light, and a pacifier. The dogs are snoring behind me.
Now that I'm enrolled in three courses at a local university I'll likely spend more time at this computer. In general, I find the more I have to do the more structured I become and the more energy I have. Right now, however, as I adjust to life as a student along with life with an active workout schedule, I find that I am rather tired. I am wondering why I'm awake, oh yeah, I want to read a chapter of one of my books, download some pictures and post on this blog ... at least one of those things will be done.
Anyway, I like the pictures above. Remember when life consisted of simple things like swinging from trees? Well, it still does for me. Sure, I'm not the one hanging in the tree, but I sure do enjoy playing with the boys and watching them play. Just tonight Patrick, Wesley and I daydreamed about the tree house we would build: A fun retreat, accessible by ladder, exitable by slide, a place where Wesley could wonder about the world, a place where I could set up my laptop and hope for a strong wireless signal.
Yes, this nook is cozy, but I sure do look forward to computing among the boys again. Writing now seems forced. Writing in bursts here and there between their laughter and crying and wanting and needing, is more natural to me. Writing in a tree house ... now that's just natural.
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Devon Gundry - "Armed" (Please keep Kathy Grammer in your prayers) from Justin Baldoni on Vimeo.
As 2009 approaches, it looks like we'll have another 365 days of unnecessary pain, death, illness, poverty, etc. I hope that when it comes to matters of the heart and soul, you will find the strength to heal what ails you. It is my hope that not only will you heal, but that you will find joy, that this joy will permeate your lives, your homes, and spread out to the communities around you. Be the spark that ignites the fire and warms the hearts.
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Patrick and I haven't always lived a well-balanced life. When he was in family practice residency, he especially didn't have many connections outside of work and family. I had a few friend groups that I visited with regularly, still, I lacked hobbies.
During his public health residency, which was less demanding of his time, Patrick picked up Dungeons and Dragons and similar gaming adventures. He had found an outlet for his creativity and had made time to bond with other "cool" guys. I wanted some hobbies too. I tried knitting, but didn't enjoy it.
Here in Texas, Patrick has resumed his gaming adventures and has even joined a spelunking group. He is doing more AND has more energy!
As a mom of two, I have found that I need to refuel more frequently. To that end, I have a couple of developing friend groups, I exercise regularly, and I reward myself with pedicures. I still felt the lack of growth and companionship that I was sure I'd find in hobbies.
One night, I rose to put down my thoughts and feelings. When I read them I realized that I was writing poetry. I hadn't written poetry in years. I've tried, but it didn't flow. Now, however, it flows! I feel like I've got my writing back ... and with it comes a hobby! One would think that poetry is an isolating passion. But that doesn't have to be the case.
I'm joining the San Antonio Poets Society and will join the other members once a month to share poetry, develop my craft, and enter contests. I'm also joining the Greater San Antonio Photography Club. I don't have a fancy camera yet, but that won't stop me ;) I'll mix and mingle, learn some tips, and then decide which camera suits my needs. This group also supports monthly contests. I'm excited: Not about the possibility of winning, but the fact that I am going to enter and learn from people who are enthusiasts about their crafts, people who are passionate.
My craft of late has been parenting. I am passionate about parenting. Sometimes I do it well, and sometimes not so much. I've surrounded myself with other people who are passionate about the children they are raising, other people who don't do it perfectly (or rather, who admit they don't do it perfectly), and who are willing to share and learn from others' best practices. The greatest lessons I've learned from parenting are that if I know what I want (in order to refuel me) and if I am willing to forgive myself ... the job is a lot easier. Now that I know what I want, I can get it ;)
Now, comes getting what I want in concert with my family. Patrick and I are balancing our schedules so we've both got the time we need for ourselves and for each other. Our goals are prioritized and we will both make exceptions as needed, but we've built our activities into our schedule and both are richer for it.
Wesley drew the above picture. It's a rainbow cave. Inside are his friends Roshan, Aidan, Collin, Daddy, Aspen (the one in the purple and green dress), Wesley, Boden, and "another Roshan." On the bottom right is an orange "people eating plant." To the left of the plant is the plant's plate of spaghetti (it had to eat something after the people kindly asked it not to gobble them up.
I like this piece of art. He started with the cave and his dad. I think it's neat that he knows his father has an activity that he enjoys, one that offers a reference for some of their time together (as Patrick has taken Wesley to a cave and to one of his spelunking meetings).
I knew that having hobbies would enrich us individually, what I didn't know was that those hobbies would enrich our cihldren's experience as a member of our family. I look forward to seeing how my poetry and photography enrich our family life. And I strongly encourage everyone to find an art, sport, hobby of some sort. If it's done right -- in an inclusive way, a way that spreads the passion -- the time away is not selfish, it's shared by all.
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Yesterday Wesley wrote "N" and "N" on a piece of paper. I pointed out to him that he could use those letters to spell a simple word. He said, "No, those "n"s are for Brianna."
:)
Smart or coincidence? I think smart.
Also, his drawings have taken on new life. People have legs and feet now, and even shoes. My stick figures will no longer do. People need more features. For instance, "Mom, can you add some teeth so they can sing?"
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I love the picture with his hand on his chin. He's taken this pose quite a bit lately. It's adorable because he always looks so thoughtful about things. He drinks in his surroundings. I think that's part of the reason he's trying so hard to crawl now: He sees things, he groks things, and he wants to get to them.
This is Bo's typical smile: BIG! He is a joy. On the rare mornings that I don't wake up before he does I get to wake up to this smile. I feel like the luckiest mother in the world!
There's the evidence: His bottom is in the air. He rocks back and forth a bit too. Every once in a while he moves forward, but he knows he's much quicker rolling and scooting here and there.
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A picture of Pat & Em ... Can't you feel the love? Can you believe that we'll soon celebrate our ninth anniversary? How time flies!
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We had a wonderful day at a local museum last week. Toward the end of our time there we were debating whether or not to hang out for jazz in the park. Patrick and Wesley sat by the pond pictured above and played as the band set up their equipment. Random bits of our conversation went like this:
"It's close to dinner."
"Looks like they'll serve food."
"They won't do this again until March."
"Wesley would love it out here on the lawn."
"We've had such a good day already."
"Yeah, but would we be pushing his limits if we stayed?"
Ultimately, we decided to leave 45 minutes before the jazz started. Sure, we had a great day, but we know our boy and our boy requires certain things: primarily a steady flow of food and that food supply had run out. Staying for music on the lawn was a romantic idea ... but it wasn't worth the risk of topping off the day with a sour note. No, we wanted to leave on a high note, even if that note wasn't from a saxophone.
More pictures from the museum below:
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What IS it about children that gives hope and inspires forgiveness and growth?
It is my hope that as these boys grow, they retain the light that I see in Wesley's eyes, and the motivation Boden shows as he tries to go mobile ....
Wesley's said: "When I grow up I want to go up into space and put another flag on the moon."
Boden is looking around for the next thing he wants to conquer/accomplish.
He found it (notice he sits up now ... usually with a little help).
Boden is ready to go (in style I might add ... that's a Be-bops wool diaper cover and a pair of coordinating Baby Legs leg warmers ). Watch out, world, this boy can roll and scoot his way around!
And THIS is the look of joy that radiates at every turn . I hope this look is with him every step of the way on his journey to realizing the inherent potential within him.
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