Nap number one is currently underway and I sit here with my cup of tea coffee and absentmindedly stare out the window of our office. The sun comes up on this side of the house so, right now, the sunlight bounces off the white window blinds and splashes on the walls. It’s pretty and I wonder if I can mimic that in some way through crafting. The tree right outside is still bare from the winter but the bush at its feet is already starting to sprout little dark crimson bulbs.
Spring is coming here.
Diaper laundry helper
The grass is finally starting to come up in our backyard to a point that will be comfortable for Olivia to crawl around in. We’ll clear some branches blown down by recent storms and make sure there’s no, ahem, doggie surprises. Then let her loose in the dirt and grass. Stephen and I both played outdoors a LOT as children and we want our kids to have the same appreciation for all things outside.
Sometimes I look at her and momentarily freak out because the person looking back at me is a little girl…not a baby. She’s starting to come more and more and more into her own each day. She’s getting braver with her cruising – only holding on with one hand or cruising along the walls. She walks with help but only uses us for support. I can hold my hands flat and she just loosely hangs onto them and walks shakily towards me, huge grin on her face with each step.
She’s proud.
Reading
The move is growing ever closer. We’ve pretty much decided we’re leaving the weekend after Olivia’s Birthday and Mother’s Day. We’ll do a big blowout for both days, say goodbye to family, finish packing, and be off.
I’m excited. And nervous. Mostly nervous for the typical moving stuff like everything getting there in one piece and no one being injured loading or unloading. I’m also nervous for Olivia and for the dog. This house is the only home they’ve ever known. And, yes, we’re going to my parents’ house so maybe they’ll see it, at first, like a vacation. A visit. And then it’ll just bleed into “the way things are” …maybe.
All we can do is get as much settled into the house as possible and try to make our space as homey as possible. Then dive into extreme saving and aggressive paying off of debt.
I’m writing occasionally over here about our adventures into baby-led eating. Not having to deal with staged foods or specific foods marketed to babies is nice and cheaper. Plus, she probably has the most varied palate of any baby I know at this point.
She.eats.everything.
And with the American Academy of Pediatric’s new stance on food for babies, she can eat everything in sight. So far the hilarious one has been guacamole. She kept shoveling it in her mouth handful by handful and then banging her tray for more. She ate three servings for dinner last night.
Tonight, we’re having pork fried rice if daddy doesn’t stay late at work again.
I want to go on a picnic. Deviled eggs, chicken sandwiches, apples and pie.
Maybe we’ll try for that this weekend if the weather stays warm and happy. If the weather around you is warm enough for it, I encourage a picnic of your own. There’s just something about a blanket on the grass, finger food and nothing else but the family and the sounds of nature. Even if it’s in your own back yard.
Go on a picnic. That’s my challenge for you this week.
And then come back and tell me all about it.
