Random Ponderings

I need more reflection.  More quiet.  More peace.  Which I know will translate into more energy and more amazing things I am able to do.  I feel like I need a little fire under my bum, a little wind in my sails and a little energy.

So this year, instead of aiming to blog every day (who did I think I was?) I will compromise with a little reflection time in my day.  A little time where I can do what I want and grow in my spirituality, which in turn will be passed on to others.  I know for a fact that if I am reading my scriptures every day then I am much more smiley and happy with other people and not so worried with what everyone is thinking - just happy jogging through life at my own pace, waving and cheering on to those around me.

Being part of the young women presidency in our ward (unofficial at this point, but whatevs) we have ordered study books and journals for the weekly yw lessons and I can already see it making a difference.  I love journaling, I really do, but it's hard to do when I don't have a goal.  These journals are absolutely amazing because they have fill in the blank questions.  Questions with lines made just for my special answers.  It's been really great.  And the girls got journals for their lessons, complete with entry squares down in the bottom of each week that ask questions like, "How am I going to serve God this week" and "How will I apply what I learned this week" - I am really excited to use them and our goal is to make them a smash book style thing with lots of handouts and washi tape and colored ink.  I hope the girls can catch the vision.

We are losing one of our girls to a boarding school where she supposedly is going to make up a lot of lost credits due to her being in and out of homeschooling and regular schooling and switching high schools and stuff.  She's not a beehive, but we have a special connection because I helped her make a baby quilt when neither of us knew what we were doing.  We worked merely be faith and a 'well, let's get this done' kind of attitude.  Which is really the only kind of attitude that gets things done.  We spent a whole day on it and concluded with binding it, as well, which I will never do again, and honestly, looking back, don't know how I did it the one time.  She's super outgoing and the most interruptive of all the girls we have.  Knowing the bigger picture of energy, I know she is the kind of girl who will actually go and do something and as she gets older that energy will tame and she will be an absolute joy to be around.  It's just a lot of lessons to get through between now and then, ya know?

I am going to miss her and want to let her know we're all back here rooting for her.  Some packages and letters and things.  Don't let me forget, that's why I am writing this down.

6 Months With Talmage

Favorite Things:  People playing down on the ground with you.

Special Talent:  Rolling in circles.  Somehow you do it.  I haven't payed much attention as I am always off doing something and then coming back to you, but one minute you'll be faced one way and the next you'll be 180 to it.  You chewed your first item that you weren't supposed to be able to reach and make a big, paper and spit mess on the floor and whimpered as I dug it all out of your mouth.

Favorite Pastime: Tummy time.  You absolutely love being on the ground.

NickNames:  T-Man

Sleep:  Winter break really threw a curve ball at us this past month and you were getting up around 8 am after going to bed closer to 9 and 10.  Never did you throw a fit or anything about not being in your bed.  You catch naps after being up for every two hours until the evening.  Then you last from about 3 - bed time without a nap.

Eating: Maybe this is your favorite thing, actually.  You love your food.  I give you enough cereal to mix with 3 or 4 ounces of formula combined with one pea or carrot food jar.  I was topping you off with 4 oz of water until Nana added some prune juice to your water and you haven't been happy with water since.  So now you are a juice boy and then I remembered that you should probably still be getting more formula than just from your cereal so instead of juice I give you 4 oz of formula in a sippy cup after each meal to top you off. 

Crying:  Poopy diapers and when you're tired.

Dislikes:  Loud noises and people in your face.  

Likes:  Toys.  They have finally grabbed your attention and you love them.  Especially a ball that you got 3 of this past Christmas.  It's easy to grab onto because it is more like a wired together ball than an actual ball, so it is very easy to grasp and you love getting it and throwing it and getting it back.

My favorite part:  Kissing your forehead goodnight.  It is the perfect size and shape right now that my lips can just press against it perfectly.  I also like getting you up in the morning.  You are so happy to see me that you squirm and smile really big.  No noise, just a lot of wiggling back and forth and big smiles.

She's Still Got It

26. The magic age that years start to feel not so long.  6 months. The magic amount of time after having a baby that I feel like I can conquer the world, again.  I might be able to do this, after all.

Days hold lots of smiles and memories, punctuated with pictures.  Weeks fly by, measured by Sunday lessons taught and days spent at the gym.  And the months.  They add up with days of substitute teaching counted and students I have met.  It's a good life right now.  Maybe in an apartment that is too small and a car that is even smaller, but it's good.

We went to a new year's party last night.  A 1920s murder mystery.  The most fun part: dressing up.  I scoured a couple of thrift stores before settling on what was once the most ugliest piece of clothing invented.  But it was sparkly and that's what I needed.  And, guess who pulled off 'Best Dressed' for the night? Yeah, this girl right here.  I've still got it.  Take that.  And I was able to do it modestly, neckline, sleeves, and length.  You can do that when the piece you originally start working with is a long sleeved, floor length, turtle-neck.  I have the before and after pictures to prove my awesomeness.

 

I Already do the Least Amount Required

It seems that there are times when I cannot get enough of pinterest and then other times when I don't visit for weeks at a time. Sometimes I am just picture surfing, other times I will click a link and actually read it.  This past week I opened a link titled 'How to cut your laundry time in half.'  I am all about saving some time and most definitely could use anyone's ideas on how to most effectively get the clothes off the couch after they have landed all warm and nice smelling and tend to stay there enough days to get sat upon and crumpled and tossed off and back on a time or two.

Well, turns out, after reading about pre-sorting darks and lights as you wear them, as in having a light and dark basket, and then being able to dump all like clothes in the washer, being sure to pay attention to when it stops and change efficiently to the dryer and then sorting the clothes into who's is who's piles and putting their baskets in their room, having them fold and put away their own clothes and bring baskets back to the home base of the laundry room - I am already doing the least amount of work required.  I have that system nailed.  Thank you, not thank you.  I need MORE!

I have even gone so far as to have a system of clothes.  Being in a too-small apartment makes me absolutely loathe excess and I have the kids' clothes cut down to the bare minimum.  Yes, they are nice clothes, but they need to be when I see them being worn once a week.  I don't have a pile of clothes hidden in their dresser drawers that they only wear in emergency or when things need to be switched up because I can't stand a striped shirt.  Nope.  They basically have their Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday outfits.  And it's not like I have titled them that way, that's just the way it goes.  That they wear my more favorite outfits earlier in the week and then they get less and less favorited until a day comes that we're going grocery shopping and then I be sure to have my favorite outfit of theirs washed and ready to go out in public.

I only buy clothes on sale because I have a curse that follows me - but it tends to be the case that if I get an outfit full price it is the first outfit to get a hole or a stain.  So, out of pure intent to keep their clothes looking as nice as possible, I only buy clothes on sale and for some reason or another they tend to stay nice.  Sure, I've had my laundry battles, but a good bottle of spray and wash or a biz soak conquers most all.  Talmage has just started eating baby food and I already know he will never know the sweetness of yams or sweet potatoes because those orange foods stain harder than I have the energy to get out.  Carrots are borderline, but I can usually get them out after a second wash.

It's processes like these.  Articles that promise more time and then turns out I am already doing as the article prescribes and there's nothing to win from reading.  The other articles that I always scour and then end frustrated is how to cut your grocery bill in half.  You know, things like only buying the basics, only buying what is on sale, only buying what is on your list, only buying store brand, blah blah blah.  I have yet to read one of these articles that actually helps me because I am not already doing whatever it lists above.

5 months with Talmage

Favorite Things:  People smiling at you.  You get so excited about it.  You'll smile super big at someone and then turn your head down and shake it like your hungry, burrying it into whatever is nearest.  It seems to me as if that is a way you have found to communicate how tickled you are that someone is paying so much attention to you.  You just can't hold it all in and give them a little show.

Special Talent:  Rolling over.  But just one way.  I always have to remember which way you roll when I put you down so that you don't end up pinned next to a wall too quickly.

Favorite Pastime: Scooting around on the floor and rolling around.  It happens so slowly I can't even watch it, but you will be on one side of the room and then tucked up against the couch or the chair that gets in your way occasionally.  You don't really seem too interested in scooting around for things, but prefer moving just for the moving part.

NickNames:  T-Man  - this one is sticking.

Sleep:  Up at 7, down at 8.  A couple naps thrown in and you still have a tendency to need a nap around 5 pm if we are home.

Eating: At your 4 month appointment the doctor suggested that we switch you from 8 oz to 7 oz.  You cry after every feeding, wanting more, but as soon as you are burped you are just fine.  I have started giving you cereal and vegetables every once in awhile and you are pro already.  You love to eat and are good at keeping it in your mouth and down your throat.

Crying:  When you need a diaper change.  If you start to fuss a little I look at the clock and can usually predict what's going on by knowing your schedule.

Dislikes:  Poopy diapers.  These are a big deal around here.  Considering that you don't fuss all that much and when you are poopy you let us all know in a big way.

Likes:  Your sister.  You two are adorable together.

My favorite part:  Your chunker thighs.  I love squeezing them and holding onto them when I carry your around.  You are a sturdy little guy.  My little rock.

coco night

Last night we went to coco night.  I've been subbing a lot in St. Helens these past couple of weeks at the high school and have been drawn to the theatre kids.  I don't know what it is in particular, but they seem the most comfortable in their own skins, the most likely to reach out and introduce themselves and the easiest to carry a conversation with.  They have impressed me and I wanted to support them in some small way that indicated, "I appreciate you."

The opportunity of coco night came and I knew I would jump on that train and would need to make it a surprise date for Steve to be on board for the shindig.  He's not much into the arts.  Uncultured swine, I tell ya.  No, just kidding.  I just wanted to say it.

Basically, it's a small group of kids who do a little slam poetry, some improv, a lot of singing and a spackling of instrument playing.  It ran for 2 hours and there were a couple of good one-liners that I loved and lot of bewildered laughs as in, "I don't know why I am laughing, or why this is funny, but it feels good."  Shared with caught glances throughout the crowd as we turned to one another to see if others were as bewildered and enjoying it as much as we were.  They were.

Tears of laughter came from my eyes when some kid with a trumpet and a few other mouth pieces started a monologue of fart noises, punctuated by comments and I laughed and laughed because where else are you going to be sitting with highschoolers enjoying some authentic fart noises that for some reason become funnier and funnier the more they are heard.  Some good American culture, right there.

Steve and I came to the auditorium and began to sit in the theatre seats when we were urged to sit on the stage, which I was a little unsure of until I saw the chairs set up in a semi-circle two chairs thick and knew this was going to be a small knit of kids to show up for this.  And it was.  And they were all so pleasant.  A little odd, but pleasant.  I loved it.  And I admired their bravery in performing.

We met a few kids and supported others that I already knew.  Steve talked drums with a band geek and we settled in.  One of the young women from church read a couple of poems she had written and her last one choked me up.  She's new here and hasn't really found anyone to connect with.  She's going through the motions and doing what she can, but I understand her struggle.  A senior transplanted.  It's hard.  She nearly started crying at the end, too.  So many emotions.  I gave her a hug at the end but I didn't want to embarrass her too much.

4 months with Talmage

Favorite Things:  Your fists.  I really wish you would take a binkie, as those are easier to get rid of than a thumb.

Special Talent:  It's fun to be with you.  You love to grab things and will take toys when I hand them to you.

Favorite Pastime: I haven't really been around too much this past month, but I know that you are absolutely chill with whatever comes your way.  Oh, you especially love those mats with a bar across them, dangling with noise-maker toys.  We don't have one, but the babysitter does and the gym does and you are content for a long time looking and trying to hit those.

NickNames:  T-Man, Talmage.  Alaska hates it if we call you anything but "Talmage" and is constantly reminding us, "His name not Cutie Pie, his name Talmage."

Sleep:  You will predictably go down at 7:30 or 8 and get up again around 7.  Take a couple two hour naps during the day and even though you still do a late cat nip around 5, you will still down early.  You are definitely on a eat, play, sleep schedule and it's nice to have a rhythm that I can count on to define when you are fussing out of hunger or out of being hungry.

Crying:  You are so quite most of the time, especially when you wake up.  You can be up for half a hour before I hear you because it takes you that long to get the momentum up to cry hard enough.

Dislikes: The binkie.  I am just about to give up.  You hate that thing with a passion.  You will tolerate it, sometimes, but always spit it out before I have held you 5 minutes.  And then if I persist, you scream.

Likes:  People laughing with you.  You aren't much into laughing, but if someone is laughing with you they are more apt to get a chuckle rather than a smile.

My favorite part:  Your endearing personality.  I love that you are so docile and easy-going.  It makes me feel like I am ready for another baby.  You are so awesome!  I just can't get enough of you.