Snow Day Blasts

Early February we had a big snow storm, the first real snow of the year. It also fell over the full moon, called a "Wolf Moon." A bit concerned about going into labor during the storm, our baby and my body patiently waited it out. Whew!

We had a really fun family day in the early snow. I just love my family.

Last snow as a family of three.

"How 'Bout Dis One?"

SUNDAY

Today was a rare and wonderful day. We had a relaxing morning with a breakfast fit for kings. We went and chose our Christmas tree, walking through almost the whole patch before finding the perfect one. Ian ran up and down the paths, eager and excited. He even got to ride on the gator with Papa and the gentleman who helped to prepare the tree to be put up on our roof.

Full of food I'd packed and relaxed, he fell asleep on the car ride home.  I took a shower while Jim worked in the yard around Ian sleeping in the car. When I got out of the shower, I glimpsed a very content duo holding one of the rabbits we recently acquired. Ian beamed from ear to ear, when it was his turn to hold the bunny. Jim said he didn't even look down at the bunny in his arms, Ian was staring forward with a look of amazement and joy.

We then brought the tree into our living room and rearranged the whole thing. We had to move things to make room for the tree, but it's also left us so refreshed and content since they've been moved. Sometimes you just have to move the furniture around to put an extra spring in your step!

I made quiche with Ian while Jim did more yard work. After the quiche was in the oven, we did a puzzle and played.

After dinner we listened to Christmas music and put the decorations on our tree. Last year we weren't living at home for the whole month of December, as we stayed with some friends in Richmond for a rotation. Since it had been almost two years since we've put up our decorations and ornaments, I had forgotten about some of them and was reminded of a few different people and memories. Familiar comforts.

The best part of the day was putting the ornaments on the tree with Ian. HE LOVED IT. He enjoyed each part... the unwrapping of the ornaments, the detangling of the hooks, and then the placement on the tree. Jim and I felt so much joy watching him today.

Jim laid out the hooks for us and Ian would walk over and get one each time we needed a new ornament. I loved his exclamation of "How 'bout dis one?", after he would choose which hook he wanted to use for that particular ornament. All of the hooks look exactly the same, but his choice of words just kept us in stitches.

We finished the night with Love Actually, a movie we watch once a year. It was great.

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MONDAY

Would you believe it? Today was equally as wonderful. 

I took Ian to PMO and returned to the car to find six missed calls from Jim & a text. Before I could even read the text, he was calling again. The power was out at his clinic and he didn't have to be back at work until 1 PM!!!! 

WHAT?? And I happened to be free without Ian? Many a time I have thought about how nice it would be for us to have a small date in the beginning of the day, while Ian's at PMO. I never thought that it would actually come to fruition. And I happened to be completely ill-prepared for what I would do during my free time anyway (something quite unlike me). 

So, we met at Our Daily Bread, the best bakery in town for a yummy croissant and coffee date. He helped me run a few errands and we even had some spare time to walk on the Huckleberry. Pure sweetness! 

Lastly, for the first time ever, Jim got to see Ian in action at PMO... how content and focused he is with the centers. He got to meet his wonderful teachers and see their love for Ian permeate their smiles and interactions. And then Ian got to show him his sand box, truck, and spoon at the playground.

In a perfect world, this is how we'd start every Monday.

___________________________________________

This life in the medical training field is very unpredictable. Family time is limited and sometimes even when he's home, he's typing up medical notes on patients or taking phone calls at any and all times of the day. Seizing and savoring these full days of time together or surprise morning dates are what keep us going. And they remind us of how life can be again in the future.

Added Note: It's 9 PM & Jim just walked in the door as was finishing this post. He immediately had to run downstairs to his office to call in a prescription for a patient. Catch my drift?

First Nap/To-do Time

It's nap time. The first nap time. The time when I try to get everything done, so the next nap time can be recreational, luxurious, and relaxing.

This means tackle everything possible before a sound is made from the nursery. Go.

Pick-up toys & put them back in the basket.

Clean off high chair & leftover breakfast food.

Finish the last step of hard-boiling eggs. Quietly, though, because the nursery is right next to the kitchen. Leave eggs in sink until later... they are cooling, right? Not pressing.

Check email. Send two emails.

Sign up for coconut oil order.

Get laundry from dryer. Fold laundry from yesterday.

Put away clothes.

Remember the load stowed next to the chair.

Fold more laundry.

(These steps should really be in bold or take more space.... this doesn't do the deed justice!)

Fill water bottle. Take desperate sip.

Remember that teeth need to be brushed. Brush teeth. Swish mouthwash.

Use the bathroom. (Yes, this needs to be mentioned).

Notice the drool stain on shoulder when looking in the mirror. Smile. Savor it. He fell asleep there before being transferred to his crib. Something so little, and yet, means so much.

Pour cup of broth (a new snack/drink of ours). Let cool for later (I'm a ninny when it comes to hot drinks).

Add water to the broth. Fill filter again.

Add items to the to-do list. Remember all of the sorting that needs to be done with baby gear & clothes. And the baby food book you want to read and check out.

Stirring comes over the monitor. 

Eyes are open. Coos. Babbles.

A happy, rested boy awaits.

Leave the list. Leave the chores.

Nap time's to-dos are over. 

Playing time has returned.

This is when we live. 

This is when we love. 

There's no time more important than now.

Love the puddle of drool on the shoulder. The coos. The toys strewn everywhere.

Somehow almost seven months have already passed. 

Chores and to-dos will always be there. 

My little babe won't always be my little babe.

A friend posted this quote today and it couldn't be more true:

"Little boys should never be sent to bed. They always wake up a day older." -Peter Pan

Where's the pixie dust?

While I encourage sleeping, there is always a piece of me that misses him and knows he'll wake up just a little older, a little wiser, and a little more independent.

Time Well-Used

This has been an absolutely beautiful weekend! The weather has been warm enough to wear sandals, shorts, and tshirts, while also being cool enough to enjoy just sitting outside. Just plain beautiful!

After a crazy morning of errand-running, forgetting cards, basketball (Jim), back-tracking, way-to-much-driving, entering grades, etc., we spent most of yesterday afternoon and evening outside. Jim studied in the hammock, while I knitted in the adirondack chair and Leif meandered around the yard.

In the evening we sat around the campfire and ate mountain pies, while researching and dreaming about our road trip to Maine this summer. Then Mike and Lindsay came over to relax and chat late into the night.

Today's been about the same. Both of my cousins who blog, amazingly enough, wrote about doing "nothing" this weekend (in the best, productive sense of the word). They wrote about ditching the to-do list and just doing what they wanted, when they wanted to do them. It appears that we are on the same wave-length this weekend, even though the many miles separate us.

This injury, though annoying and painful, has really helped me to put the "to-dos" into perspective. I no longer stay at work until 5 PM (2.5 hours after school gets out) to grade, plan, and organize. I make my planning periods REALLY productive, and I've learned to delegate responsibilities to instructional aids and students in the classroom. It's amazing just how many things can be adapted, when you realize your limitations.

I'm reminded of a cross-stitch my parents have at The Pinery (our summer cabin) that reads: "Time is precious, waste it wisely." Too true.

Lots of rounds of fetch make Leif a happy pup!

I hope your weekend has been beautiful and revitalizing, too. 

The Gift of Time

Today we were sent home from school 2.5 hours early and given the incredible gift of time. After recovering from the shock, since there is absolutely NO snow on the ground, I began to think of what to do with this miraculous amount of time given to me. I'm feeling crafty... we'll see what today brings! Perhaps I'll make one of those half, folded scarves. I have the yarn and it's been waiting for my busy hands :)

Well, what today brings until 5 PM, when I meet Jim for dinner. It's 2:35? Yikes. Not much more left of my gift, but at least the dishes are washed and grades are filed.

What would you do with a gift of time?