It's happening!
THE TURNING OF THE LEAVES
My favorite. So pretty around here. Dangerous for me to drive, really.
I am thankful for...
the 20 minutes of gymnastics-nursing and giggles that I get each and every night at bedtime. It's my FAVORITE part of each day. Nothing else exists except me and my baby in a dark, dark room.
I am thinking about...
how I'm like taffy.
Probably, really, all moms feel that way.
So pulled in different directions... stretched so thin... happy and eager for all of the directions being pulled to - but not sure how this really works. Not in a real 'finished taffy shape' at the moment... still in the stretching stages. Not 100% of anything, really. One foot in the door of Kindergarten Teacher. One in Mommy. One toe in Wife. One toenail in Dancer. Ok, a small hangnail portion of a toenail, but it's hanging on! And one foot as Literacy Committee Chair (a complex role I'm passionate about) - there just isn't enough of me to go around. And I'm really feeling it. ADVICE PLEASE. If you've never hit that 'comment' bar, now is the time to do it!
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| love it when she sleeps like this - with her arms up |
Learning all the time...
Was reminded today that in order to keep our brains healthy, we have to continually be learning something new. Invigorating idea! Hm... what would I chose next? Piano? Guitar?? a Language? a Religion?
Right. I'll stop now. Too stretched at the moment. Will hit pause on this one. I promise. ;)
how 'bout a picture of 2 new little teeth?
From the kitchen...
chocolate chip cookies! (unfortunately everyone else got a virus... so I had to pretty much eat the whole batch myself. Yes, I can take one for the team.)
I am creating...
not much.
I am working on...
being more efficient and choosy about how I invest my time and energy in my work. So far it's just the goal. Not sure how to accomplish that yet. My kids and my family and my home are calling to me with loud voices and I'm feeling ... gulp.... DOMESTIC lately. Ouch. Kinda hurt to say that. Me???? Yes. I want to bake and clean and cook and change diapers. I'm crazy. What can I say? I don't even know myself anymore!! ;)
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| at the carnival-like event in our neighborhood called "Hilloween" |
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| with her old/new bestie - glad you're back from Jerusalem, friend! |
I am going...
nowhere. poo. I want to go somewhere!
I am hoping...
the virus has left our house for good.
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| one of her RARE grumpy faces... (and my new 'connected in hope' scarf) |
I am reading...
Ten Ways to Destroy The Imagination of Your child - by Esolen
-- recommended by Sarah
At first, I was intrigued and even impressed. But as this rolls along... I think he's gone beyond his point and is now just caught up in himself. Going to finish it out because he references a lot of interesting literature and his point has already altered my viewpoint .... but I gotta say I do so with caution
I am praying for...
my angel girls
I am hearing...
well - when I started this post, I was hearing the low rumble of the dryer, Norah Jones, and the clink of my wine glass on the table..... now I'm hearing the drones of the TV, and the hilarious conversation of my husband and sister-in-law
Around the house...
Trying (again) to tame the toys.
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| raised legs on the art table... those little tubs are baby-finger-proof... but works-in-progress are just too tempting for little hands |
One of my favorite things...
the smell of my baby's feet
A few plans for the
a birthday party, groceries, hanging with Rachel, prepping for parent-teacher conferences, lit committee work, and loads upon loads of laundry (no, Sar, not as much as you. You take the cake on that one)
Did i say?? AUNTIE RACHEL IS VISITING!! :) YAY! Ainsley is in HEAVEN:
(Word)
Okay, Esolen is my new favorite author and culture critic, so you might have to expand on what you mean when you say he's getting caught up with himself. I'm curious.
ReplyDeleteBaby feet! I love love love the smell of stinky baby feet!
I'm not pulled in as many different directions as you are, but I do feel like taffy much of the time myself. Recently I've given up on the idea (modern myth?) of balance. How does being pulled in so many different directions, holding out on one area in order to have more to give another, make us feel more whole? I don't think it can. I think perhaps it even goes against natural law. I wonder if when we are seeking "balance" what we are really after is "peace." And I'm pretty sure we'll only find peace if we go all in where it matters most.
Of course, the how of doing this seems almost impossible, so as usual, I have no answers for you, only more questions. Giving advice has never been my forte. :)
I lovingly disagree, my dear. You give sound advice, and you're good at it. Sometimes I think YOU'RE the big sister here. :) No, really, you do. And I love it. Yes - I'm sure you're right. PEACE is what we are all really after. I heartily dig my heels in and resist the 'solution' of holding out on an area in order to give more energy to another. It just seems too sad, really. I mean - life is so rich, and complex, and full of wonderful things... why would I turn my head away from something I love, that gives me hope or calm or inspiration in the name of finding balance? On the other hand... maybe that's just me being a LIBRA and having a hard time making decisions. I like to live in the 'grey', as blasted hard as it is.
DeleteEsolen. Yes, I was wondering what your response would be. :)
Well - I think an artist has an obligation to make a point, then step back and let the "audience" process it. Esolen made his point. Now he's banging it in with a jack-hammer... in a way, I find that it dilutes his point. And I wonder, as he references such wonderful things (but soo very much!)... and due to his writing style... whether he just likes to hear himself "teach". Whether he's not just writing the last portion of the book for himself, really. Because he sounds smart.
That said, he is a strong, new voice as a culture critic and raises compelling points. He's clearly intelligent, and well educated. Ridiculously so. already I have found myself pausing before saying or doing something both as mother and as teacher - and upon reflection, realize that it's because of his book and his ideas floating around in my head. So - there's that.
Even her grumpy face, looks like smiling from this end!:) You are such a good organizer! Everything looks great! Just hard to keep it that way with a wee one curious about everything around her. The girals looked so sweet in their costumes. So cool, that you do a neighborhood thin!. Proud of you for being able to to mentally think "family, family, family", amidst all the constant, never-ending. pressures and tasks of work.
ReplyDeleteAngelic voice, that one! I used to make up songs constantly while I was doing things when I was a child. Never sonded like that though!
ReplyDeleteTiff, my dearest elder, I can't compare to either you or Sarah's level of taffidom, as of right now as a stay at home mom to a single child I have it much easier, I do know that is about to change in a short 4 months.
ReplyDeleteYou are learning something new, you are learning how much like taffy one can be and how to balance all the many layers of your life.
On another note, the girls are ADORABLE!! AHH I just want to hug them! And teeth!
Hang in there sister you are doing amazing!!