MommyCoddle

She's one

The pregnancy with Elizabeth was quite a roller coaster. Blood clots, painful shots, a single umbilical artery, potential birth defects, high risk doctors, multiple ultrasounds, multiple doctors, abnormal test results. It was a lesson in faith and Elizabeth a lesson in miracles--as she emerged into this world with a knotted umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. A little miracle.

With her in our arms, we thought all was good, the "issues" behind us until abnormal test results came again and again. More doctors, more tests. And more news--all tests were false. We were in the clear. One year later and you'd never know the road we traveled to get here had so many bumps, which in reality are dimples compared to the potholes that so many go through. God is good and faithful.

And here I sit, one year later, and I can hardly believe it's possible. One year?

In keeping with my birthday post traditions, a little list of what I love--and little Elizabeth Paige, gets an extra column--the things that make me crazy! (in the best way.)

What I love:

*we have a song. and it's the only one you want to hear me sing at bedtime
*you love to have your head rubbed, hair tucked behind your ears, cheeks stroked
*you stretch, hands over your head, legs stick-straight every morning when I lay you down on the changing table
*when the wind is blowing in your face, or the sun in your eyes, you snuggle your head into my chest
*you laugh like an owl hoots--a deep, happy laugh in your belly.
*when you see people you love, you get so excited a shiver runs through your body
*you call me, "mum-mum"

What drives me crazy (but I still kinda love) or You'd think by now I'd learn that:

*You pull off my glasses every time I sit you on my lap.
*You suck on the charred pieces of wood around the wood burning stove. It's organic, right? (I should probably clarify--the wood isn't hot. what kind of mother do you think I am??)
*You eat the soil out of the flower pots. also organic??
*You're obsessed with the toilet and darn if the girls don't forget to close the door when they leave the bathroom, let alone put down the lid.
*Every time I lay you down for a diaper change you flip over onto your tummy faster than lightning. You find it quite comical.
*Every morning, every morning, you know to go into the girls' room and pull down their glasses of water that are on the table between their beds--onto the floor, onto yourself.
*When I put a pile of Cheerios in front of you, you scatter them all around the floor and table with a few sweeps of your hands.
*You stand up on your tippy-toes, reach over your head and pull down all the neat, organized stacks of paper on my desk.
*You also sit quietly under my desk and empty the trash can onto the floor, piece by piece.
*I put your hat on, you take it off. I put your hat on, you take it off.

You have a sweet, gentle, content spirit that brings peace and joy to our home. I can't imagine our family without you.

up close and personal

macro project 1:30

I just lost this whole post...firefox "closed unexpectedly" on me. It's never as good the second time, so you're going to have to settle for it in list form this time. I don't have the heart to go back and find all my links...

1. Either I'm going to have to start working on my autobiography, or I'm going to have one heck of an "about page". Wow. When a girl asks for questions you all sure do come through! I don't think there was a single question I didn't like. I spent many a laundry-folding and dish-washing session pondering your fabulous questions. And since they all can't be answered in a little old about page, I'll think I'll tackle some here over the next few weeks. Thank you for all the great ideas!

2. I've joined orange flower's 30-day macro photo challenge. (here is where I had lots of links to other creative projects on the web...) I'm jumping in a few days late...but I'll just start my 30 days, today. I'm really looking forward to this. I love that little macro button on my camera, and I've been in the mood for a good creative project.

3. You can pre-order the latest issue of MixTapeZine right over here. I wrote an article for this issue which was one of my "I can't write under pressure" deadlines from the last few weeks. I won't give you details on my review, but if you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you can probably determine which favorite author I've written about.

And finally, some news from the home front that might bore anyone outside of my immediate family... (okay, might bore anyone but my husband):

*Did I ever tell you that the way I discovered Elizabeth was ready for some solid food (like Cheerios) was when I found her pounding the cat food? It's a constant battle in our home because I'm always forgetting to put the bowl up on the counter before putting Elizabeth down on the floor. The girl's got cat food radar. She always knows when it's down. And don't worry, I don't let her eat it. A simple, "Elizabeth???" Is there something in your mouth??" will cause her to spit all slimy contents into my palm.  She only has the occasional fit of lock jaw and refuses to give it up.

Emma has realized that if she plays with my hair while I'm at her bedside giving final kisses and hugs at night, I'll stay there for a ridiculously long period of time. Last night, when I attempted to pull my weak, relaxed body from her fingers that were twisted up in my hair she said, "Mom. Just let me play with your hair one more time while I count to 100." And I didn't even stop her when her brain got stuck on a loop between 40 and 60. How can I resist?

At Emma's riding lesson today she finally got it. Posting at a trot.(oddly, a video of a video) She's been working so hard to figure it out, but it's just one of those things you need to feel--like riding your bike without training wheels for the first time. I'm proud. And her sister is getting impatient for the day when it will be her turn. She's getting sick of sitting on the fence.

the birds and the bees

The birds:
I made cutting boards for my family two years ago in this sparrow shape and I've been wanting to do something else with it ever since. So last week when I had my sewing machine out, I tried a swallow-shaped pillow. However, I don't think they are going to work as a pillow. I haven't stuffed them yet, but I think they'll lose their shape and charm when stuffed. Now I'm thinking they'd make a great applique on a pillow....any other ideas?

My purpose for having out the machine was to make two of these friendly little turtles--a favorite homemade toy in our home, who are now wrapped up and safely on their way to a very, very, VERY patient family.

The bees:
Melissa sent me an email this week, asking me to blog about a very important project. The Great Sunflower Project is an effort to attract and count honeybees in personal and community gardens. If you sign up for the project they will send you a free packet of sunflower seeds to plant in your garden (or even a pot on your deck). All you need to do in return is take two bee counts (according to their simple instructions) and send in or fill out their online count. The whole count will take less than 30 minutes. I'm going to do it as a school project with Emma and Mary. I hope you'll join Melissa and me and be a part of this important project. (I'd love to know if you decide to join in!) Here is an article in the NYTimes about our honeybees in peril.

The birds and the bees:

First of all, no. I am not pregnant. But that doesn't stop me from getting inspiration from an amazing new book that April at Chronicle Books sent me last week. The book is called Nursery Style and it is by Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter of the California-based store, Serena and Lily. I love these kinds of books because I find so much inspiration and ideas packed into them. And I love paying attention to the little details--the artwork, the pillows, how the toys are put away, how an armoire is utilized, the curtains.

1. image 1, 2. image 2, 3. image 3, 4. image 4

Even though the book is aimed at nursery design, there are still so many great ideas in this book for anyone decorating a home with and for children.(stefani, I thought about you with those silhouettes in image 3. Can you do that?! :) So baby on the way or not, this book is full of beautifully designed living spaces, new ideas and fantastic tips and hints for decorating. And April, I want everything on page 74 and 75.

Happy Weekend everyone. Sign up for your bee count, read a good book and take it easy.
See you Monday.

note to myself...

...on the day that you slice your thumb open from cuticle towards the knuckle with your rotary cutter; and while applying pressure with a blood-stained paper towel back into a large clay pot and send it crashing to the floor in a mess of soil, green leaves and broken pottery, while the baby cries, and the children bicker....

REMEMBER THESE THINGS:

that this little one lays on your chest at bedtime and tucks her head under your chin so snugly that you can feel her eyelashes brushing against your neck. And while you sing the only song she'll settle down to, she coos and moans in rhythm along with your voice, and lets you rub her head and tuck her hair behind her ear, until her tired eyes finally close in sleep.

that almost once a week you get a taste of spring

that soon, very soon--you'll be spreading out. you'll have more room. you'll have your own space. you'll have your own garden. a table big enough to dine with friends and family, all together. a stream to play in. a barn to fill. a place to plant your feet.

that you have a full plate of projects and swaps. but it is good, creative kind of work. nothing you dread or don't enjoy. only things that need creative time, not dreaded time.

that you're healthy and happy. you have a good husband. laughing, creative, gentle children. a warm home. good food on the table. and a close family.

think on these things.

7 wks :: 7 mos

Someone has been growing quite nicely around here:

When did this happen?? I don't know, but I love it.
Happy seven months sweet baby girl. Roll on.

she's goin' easy on me

7:30 am. me and E. snuggling in bed. everyone else is still asleep. 

I don't know if she felt like she owed me something, after such a tough pregnancy, or if she's just determined to be the sweetest, easiest little baby. But yesterday, I stuck my finger in her mouth only to get it chomped on by a sharp little baby tooth, shoved up all the way through those drooly pink gums. No fussing, no sleepless nights, no ear infection, no runny nose--just a tooth.
Now we did have slobber. Lots of it. The kind where every smile emits a little niagra falls pouring out of the mouth. Shirt-fronts soaked from the belly button up, neck rolls always stinky and damp, big puddles of wetness all over the crib sheets after a nap. You know, all that good stuff.
But she has a tooth! I can't stop saying it because I'm so shocked.
Alright, I'm moving on. You know, there are people out there who make fun of "mom blogs". This is probably the exact kind of post that adds fuel to their fire.

Crafting News: none. My sewing machine is broken. (but my knitting needles aren't!)

Yesterday Dan and I celebrated seven years. The night before, we both handed each other green Barnes and Noble bags with something special inside.  For him, this and a handy, fold-up guide for local birds. And for me, this. I'm already reading it.

It has been a good seven years. We've been through some testing fires and come out on the other side-- still holding on to each other and even more in love. I can't imagine anyone more perfect for me.

for the mouthy one

I made this wee patchwork blanket for Elizabeth yesterday. The child loves to suck on fabric--a girl after my own heart. She's not picky-- she'll yank a piece of her onesie into those gums or gnaw the dishtowel over my shoulder or the tag hanging off the playmat where she spends some serious time. If she spits up, she gets the purest pleasure if I mop out the insides of her mouth instead of just dabbing up the stuff making a mad dash out of the corner of her mouth, down her cheek and behind her ear lobe.

It's all made with things I had on hand--including some of Kristen's fabric and a perfectly worn piece of flannel from my grandmother's old sheets for the back. It is something I'm really trying to stay committed to lately--the ideas of economy and getting as much life out of an item as possible. Of course, you had to know I'd have a Wendell Berry quote for this one, too:

“Granny was sitting by one of the windows with her sewing basket and button box and a heap of Graddaddy’s and Uncle Ernest’s work shirts beside her on the table. She was patching torn places and replacing buttons, making the shirts last. She too was not making a sound. She was under the spell of her own quietness in the quiet house, and was enjoying being alone”. 

I love that. And if Elizabeth decides that this just might be a favorite thing --(Elizabeth, I so won't mind if you decide that), then I hope it gets full of patches and extra stitches. I'm sure I can find lots of life in it.

what's new

Our internet was knocked out in a thunderstorm Sunday morning and has finally been restored this afternoon. I kind of enjoyed the forced break. It left me lots of time for reading, knitting and general wackiness around here. Now today, there's so much that could be written to play catch-up, but at the same time it feels like there's nothing in particular to say.
Kind of like of friend of mine around here who always asks, "what's new?" every time we meet. And I always answer: "not much". Yet lots is new. Life brings something new each day.

For example:
Elizabeth has discovered the joys of rolling over much to her mother's frustration. She has FINALLY settled down for a nap this afternoon after me coming in to her crib many times to flip her back over. I'm sure she thinks it's quite entertaining.

Emma is suffering through swimmer's ear...which makes perfect sense because she's probably in the pool three times a day. I remember earaches and how even just tucking the hair behind your ear is painful. Poor baby.

And Mary, well, let's just say Mary is three. That probably says enough. She is my non-stop talker, energy-depleter and yet I could still eat her up (most of the time). But, we may have had a breakthrough in the car yesterday: "MOM!! I just realized I can still breathe when I'm not talking!!" phew.

living 4 :: no humidity

last week. a temperature drop and no humidity. perfect for being outside.

::heading down to the garden for a little lettuce harvest::

::happy baby on a blanket under the tree::

mary's love for elizabeth is pretty intense at times.
I often have to say:"mary, give elizabeth a little space."

::good boy::

::little climber::

week seven

You would think after two previous babies, I might be able to remember some of these newborn moments and milestones, but I just can't. Many times when I'm enjoying some quiet moments with Elizabeth nestled between my knees while I rock in the armchair, I ask Dan questions like:
"when did Mary start to smile?"
"was Emma sleeping through the night by this time?"
"did both of the girls have such flailing arms and legs?"
"did they have this much hair? was there this much red in it?"

So here's my chance to take a few notes, if you will. Humor me, so that if and when this topic ever comes up again, I'll have something to look back on.

Elizabeth Paige :: Seven Weeks ::
    How she sleeps:
She goes to bed between 8:30-10:00 and sleeps until 3:45-5:00a.m. She wakes up  to nurse and I give her a little bottle to top her off.  Generally, she goes right back to sleep without a peep. Then, Elizabeth sleeps until 7a.m-9a.m. She gets up to nurse, then "plays" (i.e. kicks and flails) on my lap or on the floor with her sisters. She only lasts about 20 minutes (at the most) kicking on the floor before she gets tired of it wants to eat some more. Back to sleep for another nap, that usually goes through lunch, although sometimes if she's fussy, I'll just put her in the pack to sleep. She takes another big nap through the afternoon and wakes up somewhere around or after dinner before going back to bed at 8:30ish. As far as I can remember, her sleeping habits are very similar to Mary's and Emma's (after we read the book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child--a TOTAL God-send!) 

    How she looks:
I think elizabeth is the fairest of all my babies, although my need to write all this down proves that I'm not very good at remembering. She has a decent amount of hair, but not too much. And in certain light, I really see a lot of red in it. Red runs in Dan's family, so it just might be possible. She's got the same big eyes that Emma and Mary have.

    How she moves:
Her arms and legs still flail about, although she doesn't seem as out of control as a few weeks ago.  she's mastering getting her fist to her mouth for some good (and noisy) sucking.  She is just beginning to flash a smile that is intentional. She really lights up for Emma and Mary, especially after she has just finished a nap. She loves to hear her name and is just beginning to follow noise and movement around her head. Yesterday, Dan was holding her while Emma was coming in and out of the room and I was amazed that she kept watching Emma and moved her head to see where she was going. (she's quite enamoured with emma.)

    How I feel:
I am just starting to feel like I'm getting my mommy groove back. Things are beginning to settle into a bit of routine. I feel more relaxed and with all these test result scares behind me, I'm less apt to sneak in during a nap and check for breathing. Yes, I'm still doing this with my third. And of course, seeing the beginnings of a smile curl in her lips stirs up so much deep joy inside me.

Photoshoot outtakes here