The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
Family. Faith. Fun.
I took Adeline with me to a doctor’s appointment a few weeks ago. The experience was too good not to document, though the hilarity/discomfort of it all cannot be contained in words. These are a few of the interesting questions/experiences we had:
1.) Upon arriving, she refused to read her own book. Instead she found American Pregnancy and began to read to me about early labor signs.
2.) When I was called back Adeline remained in her seat and said, “I’ll be waiting here for you, Mama! Hope you don’t get a shot!” and began to read to herself. (I of course made her come with me.)
3.) While we waited for the doctor Adeline decided to explore the room. She found the materials used for a pap smear and began questioning me on the use of the instruments.
4.) ”What are these for, mama?” Stirrups, yeah.
5.) ”I have to go potty!” Each of the exam rooms has its own bathroom. So, she went. She then asked me where the paper towels were. I pointed absent-mindedly to them and resumed reading and article. A few seconds later I looked up to a frustrated Adeline. “These won’t dry my hands!” She was frantically wiping her hands on individual packages of maxi pads provided by the office.
6.) After getting her hands dried of on actual paper towels, she sat down. “I’m thirsty, mama.” I told her that I had nothing for her to drink. She said, “There are so many cups in the bathroom!” When told what those cups were actually for Adeline responded, “This is a very weird place!”
It has been nearly six months since I popped into this space. Not to look at comments, not to write, not to peruse my babies’ images. I’ve missed it, but it has also been somewhat peaceful to have just one less thing “to do.” No, no one has ever forced me to blog, but after doing it for a few years it felt like part of the to-do list. Ideally, I would have cut something else out of the list, but what is easiest to ignore (blogging) got the boot.
For nearly five years I’ve been balancing (or trying, at least) work, family, faith, housework, sometimes school, and my own time and interests. At times I have been wildly successful. Those times have been short-lived. The thing that immediately gets run over and tossed out is “Me Time.” For me, Me Time is reading. It is writing. It is knitting, sewing, creating. It is exercising and eating right. When I’m feeling overwhelmed with life, instead of running towards my interests, I shove them out of sight and mind and focus hard on all of the other people and things in my life.
This, of course, is my choice. There are baby sitters to hire and a dear husband to lean on (though he could do very little more than he already does), but I never choose those paths. I suck it up and plow on.
Matthew insisted this past Wednesday that I get out on my own. So, I did. I did some work on our business, and then plopped down at Panera Bread for an hour and a half. I read a little, I Pinterest-ed a little, I Facebook-ed a little. I ate slowly and with both hands and all of my own lunch I didn’t have to pick up any dropped food or give any of my own away to little pleases. It was marvelous. It was the first time I’d eaten lunch out on my own in 4 1/2 years.
So, with that little nudge, here I am again. I want to be here and write for my children, for posterity, for spirit, and for you. If I have knowledge, I want you to have it. If I have weakness, I want to share it, too. I love this space for learning and developing. Here I go, testing the waters, and trying to force a little Me Time into my days.
And because the little ones are six months older than the last time I shared:
I absolutely love thrifting. I love knowing that I’m getting a great deal on something, and that we’re reusing something instead of buying brand new. I’ve been thrifting for myself since high school and I’m pretty well practiced at it.
We’ve lived in different states and each area has its own thrift-store style. In Iowa the stores are mid-sized and quite calm and peaceful. In Indiana, the stores were pretty dinky and I don’t believe I ever found anything great except about 8 yards of high quality, dark denim for $5. We lived there for two years! In Wisconsin, the stores were pretty huge and the stuff was quite low-priced. I found lots of great deals there, including a really expensive bike trailer for $12. Not bad!
Here in Boston, the stores are mostly tiny with a huge turnover. Sometimes I go and I cannot find a thing, and other times I walk out with a bag full of stuff. I’m learning what days which departments are stocked at which stores, etc. It’s hard to shop with little ones, but if I can get out by myself, you’d better believe you can find me at a thrift store!
I’ve found some of my very best deals here in Boston. Here’s a peek at some of my best and favorite:
Stone bird – $0.99
Glass birdy – $1.99 (I love birds! Also, I don’t recommend the book it is sitting on. I found it in the same thrift shop, and didn’t want anyone else to buy it because it’s garbage.
New Fossil cross-body bag – $5.99
About four yards of Amy Butler fabrics – $4 for all
Orla Kiely handbag – $5.99 (I later found the matching wallet, but the zipper was broken.)
Crate & Barrel nesting baskets with removable liners – $10 (The top basket houses all of the resident dinosaurs, the middle basket holds baby doll clothing, and the largest basket containsdress-up clothes)
And my very favorite…
Beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier in Hannah Print – $9.99(!)
This carrier is in fantastic condition. I actually sold my first one today that I paid WAAAAAY more for. After buying the infant insert and sleep hood (that didn’t come with this carrier) and selling my original carrier(a limited edition carrier) for $10 less than I purchased it for, I will come out $40 ahead. Then I will sell this when our baby days are over. Great deal!
Also purchased? A pair of authentic Coach rain boots for $7.99. I could care less that they are Coach, I just needed some boots!
I’ve also found countless puzzles and games for Adeline, and loads of clothing for her, too, including some boutique and handmade items.
I love thrifting here. It’s way different than anywhere else we have lived, but it definitely is an exciting and rewarding venture here in Boston!
Save, oh Lord, your people, and bless your inheritance.
Grant victory to the faithful against the adversaries of the Faith.
And protect your people by the power of your cross.
Joyous Feast!
Dear Katherine,
You are one.
You are also the second born, which is why this is nearly two weeks late.
We celebrated your birthday with lots of fun and love. You had your first swipe at cake (the photos of which I am waiting for your father to edit) and got run around with lots of little friends. It was a good day.
At one, you are your very own person. You have been walking since ten months and now you are running around the house, the playground, stores, and church. If there is open space, off you go! You are quick and still so small that you look like an unlikely walker.
You have an incredibly sweet disposition and you are a very easy smiler/laugher. You love zurbers, Patty-Cake, Got Your Nose, and This Little Piggy. Your smiles are infectious and you have a gutteral little laugh. You crack me up.
Music is already very dear to you. Your sister’s favorites are your favorites, so when “Oh, Sherrie” or “Party in the USA” come on, you will stop whatever you are doing and dance. You are still not a great car-rider, but when Papa turns on some random dub step music, you calm dawn and/or go right to sleep.
You can say ‘mama’, ‘papa’, ‘Aduh’ (for Adeline), Ah Duh! (all done), and ‘bye’. But you know many more signs like milk, cheese, more, baby, up, down, and shower.
You love books and prefer Adeline’s toys over your own. Your favorite foods are cheese and banana. You climb up the stairs about seventy-two times a day You are utterly adorable.
Your growth is great but you are still tiny, tiny. We haven’t had the big one-year appointment yet, so we don’t have the official measurements, but last time we went you were in the third percentile for both height and weight.
Your temper is incredible. The other day you flipped a basket into your face and hurt yourself. Out of anger, you slammed a door which then got you right in the face! Your angry squeal is loud and, well, angry. Frustration comes quickly for you, but you are relentless until you do what you want to do.
Pretty much we adore you and you wear us out.
This has been a year of transitions and blessings. You, my dear, are a fantastic blessing and I’m so grateful you are ours.
(Even though you just deleted that last sentence. Phew, got it back!)
All my love,
Mama
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene