"There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things and because it takes a man’s life to know them the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave." – Ernest Hemingway, Death in the Afternoon
Category Archives: Living
Living: Making Memories
Our weekend-o-fun got underway Saturday morning when we piled in the car and headed off to Philly for the weekend. It was the family version of a babymoon before baby girl arrives. We set out with only one goal in mind—to make some memories.
There were sweet treats—donuts for breakfast and ice cream before bed,
fun rides at Sesame Place,
and hands-on learning opportunities at the Please Touch Museum.
There was also plenty of snuggle time for mom, cheesesteaks for dad and jumping on the bed for my guy. My guy also got his fix of roller coasters and got to stay on his favorite ride at Sesame Place five times in a row since there was no line. His daddy was a good sport, but looked a little green when they finally got off the roller coaster.
There were a few moments-o-reality thrown in along the way. I underestimated the direct correlation between my energy level and my patience—not just with my little guy but also with other people’s children. There was also the fact that my little guy decided he no longer liked pizza, chicken nuggets or French fries—foods he really shouldn’t have but are all too convenient and often the only things readily available on a road trip.
On our drive home, I was thinking about the trip—the good, not-so-good and ordinary moments that made up the 33-hour getaway. Giving my little guy 50 cents to buy a finger puppet when we stopped for gas, sharing a funnel cake with my hubby and watching my guy jump on the bed for an hour straight were the highlights. I took a lot of pictures, shared a lot of smiles and made memories that most likely will shine brighter for me than they ever will for my little guy. The best part of the trip was that I was able just to be there will my boys—without my computer, without my to-do list and without worrying about all I needed to accomplish in the day.
In her book Loud and Clear, Anna Quindlen talks about being present. She said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.”
I’m also guilty of not being in the moment often enough, but I am happy to say during the past weekend, I was able to just enjoy our time together as a family.
Living: Celebrating My Mom
My mom…
-is my best friend, my biggest fan and the first person I call each morning
-treats everyone like family
-taught me that some things aren’t worth fighting over, some things are and that knowing the difference will save you a lot of heartache
-loves my little guy as much as I do
-is proud of her kids
-makes the best strawberry rhubarb pie, hot rolls and chicken noodle soup
-makes everyone feel welcome
-let’s my guy have the things his mama denies him
-has fun everywhere she goes
-makes everything special
-knows how to iron a dress shirt, sew on a button and hem pants, but also accepts that there is nothing wrong with letting the dry cleaner do it
-loves living life
-forgives me when I’m tired and cranky
-tells me I can sing
-worries about my dad more than he’ll ever know
-cares about my hubby as if he were her own son
-loves to laugh
-looks for a silver lining
-always takes my side, even if I am wrong
-always takes my side, even if I am wrong
-is the most beautiful and amazing person I know
Happy Mother’s Day, mom! I love you!
Living: Happy Weekending
My hubby and I have a special weekend-o-fun planned for our little guy. We told him about our plan earlier this week and he has woken up each day since then asking if its Saturday.
With only a few more weekends until our little girl is slated to arrive, I want to try to make the most of the solo time we have left with my guy. I’m not going to spill the beans on our weekend plans just yet—I already feel like I am tempting fate by daring to make plans this close to my due date. But I promise to post some pics next week. We’re going to try to squeeze in every ounce of fun we can—the errands, home repairs and cleaning can wait. If you visit my house next week and it isn’t quite in order, I’ll just tell you you’ll have to excuse us because we were out making memories.
Happy weekending to you! What are your plans?
Living: Hello Summer
I think we skipped spring this year and headed straight into summer. My little guy didn’t mind a bit and hasn’t wasted any time getting into the swing of things. I love that nothing more than a sprinkler and an umbrella can entertain him for well over an hour. Oh to be a kid again!
Muhammad Ali said, "Children make you want to start life over." I think it is true. Wouldn’t you love to feel such sheer joy and enthusiasm on a daily basis? A butterfly hovering over a flower, an airplane in the sky and a puddle all make my guy’s eyes sparkle. It makes me wonder how we all become so jaded and when we stop being amazed and excited by the simple joys we experience. I’m so grateful I get to re-experience the wonders of this world with my guy–even if many of those simple joys create far more laundry and work than I would sometimes like!
Living: Saying Goodnight
The bedtime routine with my little guy often turns into a power struggle. That little one doesn’t know how lucky he is to get so much uninterrupted sleep! He also doesn’t realize that the full night of sleep he gets results in more smiles and happy moments the next day–for both of us.
Last night was particularly challenging. On my guy’s third trip to the bathroom (within ten minutes), I was helping him pull up his pajama bottoms when he put his hand on my shoulder and said, "One day I will be a grown up and then I will stay in bed all night long." Sometimes my guy knows exactly what to say to calm my frazzled nerves.
His little words reminded me that these moments are fleeting. As hard as bedtimes can be, they are only a blink of the eye in the grand scheme of life. One day he will be a grown up. He will stay in bed all night long, he will brush his teeth without a fuss and he won’t need me to remind him to eat his chicken. But he also won’t ask to snuggle me for just five more minutes or tell me he misses me when he is at school. I won’t get to applaud him for jumping over a crack in the sidewalk, kiss him goodbye in front of his friends or make his day by handing him two Tic-Tacs.
The days are long but the years are short. So tonight when my guy asks for a drink of water, an extra book or a few more minutes of snuggles, I’m going to try to be a little more patient.
Living: Learning the Ropes at Soccer
Three weeks ago I became a soccer mom. When did my little guy become old enough for this? I still don’t think it is possible.
He is learning to be a part of a team, how to dribble a soccer ball and how to score a goal. But I’m learning, too.
I’m learning to stand back and cheer from the sidelines.
I’m learning to let the coach do the coaching.
I’m learning that toddlers are easily distracted from the task at hand, which also means I’m learning to capture the little moments of the game from afar so I don’t become one of those distractions.
I’m learning that crackers and a water bottle are soccer necessities.
And I’m learning how to get through a whole game without shedding a tear when I catch special moments like this one. It isn’t easy.
Being Confident
I recently read this quote about being confident in your work and I couldn’t agree more:
“There is a difference between being arrogant about yourself as a person and being confident that your work has some value. The first is unattractive, the second is healthy and natural. Some people respond to one as if it were the other. Don’t confuse them. Marketing is not bragging, and touting one’s wares is not evil. The baker in the medieval town square must holler ‘fresh rolls’ if he hopes to feed the townfolk.” — Jeffrey Zeldman.
I think it is crucial that a any business owner be confident in the work or service he or she provides. If you’re not confident in your work, why would any of your potential clients be confident in you? By knowing the value you provide and the expertise you bring to the table, you show that you have a product that is worthy of the price you charge.
Snow, Snow and More Snow
I have to hand it to the meteorologists here in the D.C. area. They’re accurate. It started snowing at 9:30 a.m. on Friday and didn’t stop until 6:00 Saturday evening, leaving us with the predicted 25+ inches of snow. The sun on Sunday lured us out to do some shoveling, play a little and snap a few photos. Even though the snow creates a lot of extra work and hassle, it is pretty.
Photo Sharing – Video Sharing – Photo Printing
Photo Sharing – Video Sharing – Photo Printing
Photo Sharing – Video Sharing – Photo Printing
Getting around in over two feet of snow, whether on foot or in the car, creates a few challenges. We’re learning to overcome them.
The local weather is predicting another 8-10 inches of snow on Tuesday. I’m eager and afraid to see if they’re right.
Trying to Stay Warm
With one snow storm behind us and another one on the way, I’m thinking warm thoughts to try and stay toasty.
The latest weather report predicted 18-20 inches of snow for us over the weekend. Today I’ll join the masses buying up extra milk and bread in case we’re stuck in the house for the next three months. I’m also in search of a sled so we can make the most of the white stuff.