We've had a run-in with carrots. Don't worry. No children or pets or parents were harmed in the making of these pictures.*
*There may have been a few casualties, however, including 2 bibs and multiple carrots.
02 March 2011
Carrots
We've had a run-in with carrots. Don't worry. No children or pets or parents were harmed in the making of these pictures.*
*There may have been a few casualties, however, including 2 bibs and multiple carrots.
24 February 2011
Milestone Moment
Little one is growing up so fast! So cliche but so true. (Excuse the high-pitched mommy voice at the beginning - I realize no one finds that cute, probably not even Teddy.)
23 February 2011
I am a stereotype
Woman of average height and build, short hair, wearing snow boots and a Columbia fleece jacket circa 1995. Pushing a stroller with young infant nestled inside and diaper bag hanging from the handle up to the library check-out counter.
The hint of dark circles under the eyes.
A stack of a half dozen books to be borrowed. Titles? "Baby Sleep Guide," "Take Charge of Your Child's Sleep," Sleeping Through the Night," and "In Search of Sleep" to name a few.
The hint of dark circles under the eyes.
A stack of a half dozen books to be borrowed. Titles? "Baby Sleep Guide," "Take Charge of Your Child's Sleep," Sleeping Through the Night," and "In Search of Sleep" to name a few.
22 February 2011
Righting the chaos
I'm quiet and still. It's 12:15, and I've already had lunch and gone for a 3.5 mile run and visited a friend and put my baby down for a nap. And while he dreams dreams that I can only imagine, I exhale.
But there's something else. I'm feeling victorious. I'm feeling like a pro-mom. My child is napping. In his crib, nonetheless. And I have time to think and write and feel like I am doing something right.
That's when it hits me. R.I.G.H.T. This word haunts me - as a woman and a mother. I've spent the better part of 28 years always trying to do the right thing, the best thing, the thing that will result in the most favorable outcome. That thing that, when I tell other people or look back on it myself, I'll think, "yup, I succeeded. I did it the right way." As a woman, I think about whether it's the right time to look for a job, to cut my hair, to buy a house. As a mother? Ohmeohmy. The list could be endless!
Most recently, I've been figuring out the right way I should get my child to sleep (both day and night). Do I push a routine? or let read his cues and just go with it? Do I lay him in his crib awake? or rock him to sleep? Do I not respond if he wakes up within an hour of going down for a nap? or will not responding land my adult-child in the therapy chair (ha)?
No matter what I do, when he sleeps, I feel victorious. I did something R.I.G.H.T. When he doesn't sleep? You guessed it - I can taste failure. And it tastes like disappointment + desperation + gravel.
I realize this issue of R.I.G.H.T.ness is not really about sleep. Or about schedules. Or my son.
Narcissistically, it's all about me. About my tendency to need validation, to succeed (at what?), to wrap things up in nice little bows. Because when I feel validated and successful and have a nice little bow? I feel victorious. I feel quiet and still.
And I can ignore the chaos that is being a woman and a mother.
But there's something else. I'm feeling victorious. I'm feeling like a pro-mom. My child is napping. In his crib, nonetheless. And I have time to think and write and feel like I am doing something right.
That's when it hits me. R.I.G.H.T. This word haunts me - as a woman and a mother. I've spent the better part of 28 years always trying to do the right thing, the best thing, the thing that will result in the most favorable outcome. That thing that, when I tell other people or look back on it myself, I'll think, "yup, I succeeded. I did it the right way." As a woman, I think about whether it's the right time to look for a job, to cut my hair, to buy a house. As a mother? Ohmeohmy. The list could be endless!
Most recently, I've been figuring out the right way I should get my child to sleep (both day and night). Do I push a routine? or let read his cues and just go with it? Do I lay him in his crib awake? or rock him to sleep? Do I not respond if he wakes up within an hour of going down for a nap? or will not responding land my adult-child in the therapy chair (ha)?
No matter what I do, when he sleeps, I feel victorious. I did something R.I.G.H.T. When he doesn't sleep? You guessed it - I can taste failure. And it tastes like disappointment + desperation + gravel.
I realize this issue of R.I.G.H.T.ness is not really about sleep. Or about schedules. Or my son.
Narcissistically, it's all about me. About my tendency to need validation, to succeed (at what?), to wrap things up in nice little bows. Because when I feel validated and successful and have a nice little bow? I feel victorious. I feel quiet and still.
And I can ignore the chaos that is being a woman and a mother.
19 February 2011
More effort
It's starting to take many more toys to keep the little man entertained during my morning runs. Yesterday?
1. Rings
2. Ducky ball
3. Fabric block
4. Burp cloth
5. Rattle elephant
6. Fingers
And still? He only lasted 25 minutes. The good news about that is I'm forced to up my speed to get the distance I want to accomplish and will soon be running 7 minute miles...ha. Ha ha ha. Friends, I haven't ran a 7 minute mile ever.
Ah well, soon the weather will warm and we will be braving the outdoor run-while-pushing-a-baby-in-a-stroller-while-trying-not-to-get-hit-by-cars-and-avoiding-potholes-the-size-of-Texas.
17 February 2011
Thankful Thursday
For warm sunshine
For 8 hours of sleep (in a row)
For coffee
For running
For cardigans
For 8 hours of sleep (in a row)
For coffee
For running
For cardigans
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