"Apples"

I laid down on my back in the middle of the living room floor last night. Lily laid down next to me, her entire body pressed up against mine. She was holding a green wood ball that's meant to be whacked through a hole and clank down a wooden track. But it wasn't a ball tonight, it was an apple, which she enthusiastically announced by both saying and signing the word. "Nom, nom, nom!" She pretended to eat it complete with taking "bites" and chewing motions. "Momma, apple!" she exclaimed as she shoved it to my lips. I obliged, and "ate" a bite along with her.

There we were, laying on the floor in the middle of our living room, sharing an "apple," and time just stood still. I had made a conscious effort last night to pay more attention to her, or at least tag Art in to do so. We so easily get swept up in the nightly routine of dinner and preparing for the next day, relaxing on the couch with our laptops or me knitting, and it's so easy for Lily to get restless and bored, which in turn creates a sense of clingy neediness. But really, if we'd just make small efforts all along she will happily play until it's time for bed.

So, here's to leaving my laptop closed and my knitting needles down. I would much rather share an "apple" with my daughter.

Mandatory Thanksgiving Post

I'm thankful for my adorable and cuddly kid, even though she has reached a new level of persnickety these past few weeks.

I'm thankful for my caring and hilarious husband, even if he still forgets to close the kitchen cabinets after opening them.

I'm thankful for my generous and loving parents, even if they're batshit crazy sometimes.

I'm thankful for my boing and weird odd jobs, the food we eat, the roof over our heads, our health, and our humor.

Thanksgivings one and two have been delicious and I know the third will be too!

So very tired

I have a problem. I don't know how to night time parent when nursing back to sleep fails. Seriously, my brain is mush overnight, and when rolling over and latching Lily on doesn't conk her right out I utterly lack trouble shooting skills until we're hours into the restlessness.

I'm not sure that I would have been able to find a solution last night though unfortunately; I think it was just ones of those nights. She didn't seem to be in teething pain, no fever, no poop in her diaper, but I changed it anyway. Maybe she didn't like that it was warmer in the bedroom since we've had unseasonable weather? Maybe her stomach hurt after celebrating Thanksgiving with my mom's family yesterday evening? Whatever was going on left her tossing and turning and crabbing and neither Art or I got much of any sleep.

I'm seriously zombie-like today. Coffee had no effect. I am really looking forward to bed tonight--hope this is a more restful one!

Baby wearing, it's not just for babies

When did my baby get so BIG?

She was having a rough time post-nap yesterday, so I wrapped her as I held her in this borrowed Walter's Organic shorty. I am so in love with this wrap; I'm seriously contemplating purchasing one of my own, despite my baby being obviously quite large. I typically toss her on my back in a ruck tied under her bum, but for extra snuggles it works just as well as a ruck on my front, crossed in the back, and tied under her butt.

The starfish

This evening's Peaceful Parenting post shared this story, and while I've heard it before, it struck me again tonight. I was just feeling uninspired with pursuing volunteer work to help other moms and this is exactly what I needed to kick my butt back into it...

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out, "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they will die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Play dough to stringing beads

3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup corn starch
Enough warm water to make it dough-like
1.5 year old
A little adult help





= Stringing beads (to be painted by said 1.5 year old once dry), plus a head start on some Christmas ornaments :)