10 Things : Capturing Me Right Now
1. I am wanting to re-organize everything. And I mean everything...no drawer is safe. It's usually when I am at my busiest that I want to get rid of any excess that has been collected (and I have no time to do it). The result is little messes all around where I have started going through stuff and then had to get back to work in my office before finishing the task. Not a good cycle.
2. I am tired. I have a seven-month old and, no, she does not sleep through the night. But as you can see above it has not stopped me from testing out the Wii that Chris brought home this past weekend. Simon is a bowling champ already.
3. Simon has been amazing us every day in all sorts of ways. He seems to have had a language explosion again recently. Actually it's more of a sentence explosion - he is expressing himself in longer sentences and more complete thoughts (that make more sense and are more relevant). It's really, really cool. Chris and I do a lot of glancing at each other and smiling while we listen to his daily recaps, questions and statements about his life. Yesterday as we headed out on some errands he stated, "Mom every time we walk out the door it's an adventure."
4. I haven't read any really good books since Anna was born. I haven't really felt much like reading - every little bit of sleep is like gold. This past weekend I was wishing I had something to read to balance everything out: work, family, baby, this & that. I am thinking of jumping on the bandwagon and checking out Oprah's new book club selection which is a collection of short-stories: Say You're One of Them
5. I am constantly in awe of the fullness of life.
6. I caught a little bit of one of my favorite radio shows last night (I usually listen to it as a podcast on iTunes) called Speaking Of Faith. This week was a replay of a 2008 interview with Irish poet & philosopher John O'Donohue called The Inner Landscape of Beauty. What I heard was really inspiring and I'm hoping to listen to the full version while I work today.
7. I am feeling really thankful that I am getting the chance to revisit babyhood again with Anna. In the same instant I am often aware that I am a completely different person and the same scared first time mom I was with Simon as an infant. I can feel totally capable, calm and confident one moment and then slip into insecurity about my abilities in the next. Overall I am much more relaxed and go with the flow and trying really hard not to wish any of these stages away.
8. My to-do list is longer than there are hours available.
9. I was surfing around recently and came across this project by Laura Kurz: 365 days to 30. It's a blog where she documented 365 people (over 365 days) who were along for the ride of her life leading up to her 30th birthday. It's magic and fabulous life documentation.
10. This morning I played chase with Simon as he waited for the bus. We talked about the red leaves on our grass and made some "observations" about where they had come from (the neighbor's tree across the street). I got to give him a big hug and a little kiss as he got on the bus. I love you buddy - hope you have a great day filled with fun adventures at school.
And NOW, after reading the last statement, I have tears in my eyes ..LOL.
You have a wonderful life.
I love looking at pictures and love this one of you and your kiddos. I especially love looking at the children... take a look at Simon's hands... he is soooo helping you with your turn at play.... LOL... so cute.
Thanks, Ali, for sharing your life
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hi ali. :)
i got teary-eyed actually while reading your post. i can understand the need for more time and more sleep to accomplish all that you want.
i am pregnant with our second child and my first born recently turned 7 (much as your Simon's age when your Anna came along) and it so touches me that you have shared these with us.
somehow, i am learning a lot from your re-learning in having a new baby and it kinda prepares me on what i have to face in a few months time.
hang in there, there are a lot rooting for you. i wish you strength and more willpower. God bless.
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I just did a layout about how I should know as a parent to capture and savor all details of a baby's first everything (I now have my third boy). And you know what? I still don't remember everything! At first you are too tired, infant + your other babies and then days just slip away. I do know without scrapbooking, these moments would be completely lost!
Oh, and the Wii is FUN - except I never get to play on it...
AND I have a 4 year old son with apraxia (speech disorder) and I too have noticed a HUGE leap in his vocab these past few weeks. Sometimes I wonder if there is something in the air?
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Hi Ali:
Can I recommend two books to you that got me through the "I don't even have enough time/focus to read a New Yorker article" phase when my son was a baby? Home Cooking and More Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin. The stories are chatty, like sitting down with an old friend. The books make you feel cozy. She writes about food + life with this wonderful voice. And they are short essay length - perfect for a quick diversion.
Lillian
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Can I recommend a book I think you will absolutely love?
http://www.amazon.com/Listening-Act-Love-Celebration-StoryCorps/dp/0143114344/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253554673&sr=8-1
"Listening is an Act of Love" is a collection of interviews with average Americans who tell their stories. It's wonderful. I've laughed and cried and just been in awe. It makes me grateful to live in America and more in love with life. It's an awesome way to document our history. I think you'd enjoy it!
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I LOVE Story Corps - I have it :).
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The organizing bug has arrived here too, but that's because we just moved our daughter to college again (UO---your "neighborhood"!). Like the last 2 autumns, we've been able to see what she really wants from our house, and then weed out the stuff she doesn't want, which means we can also weed out the unused things we don't need anymore. Without any babies in the house, we can sometimes actually finish an area, but we're prone to distractions, so messes do sit here and there while we work too... Here's to "autumn cleaning"!
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Great idea to capture "right now". Thanks for the inspiration!
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I have REALLY enjoyed to bigpicturescrapbooking.com reading club this year.
? ----what adhesive are you using since kokuyo is no more?
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yay for the language explosion!!!
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OMG! I usually want to purge when I am at my busiest too! That sounds so like me.
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Ali, great post.
I feel you. Particularly the part about wanting to organize when the to-do list is never ending. Some excusable form of procrastination? Who knows?
Keep trying not to wish away any of the stages! That's a tough one when we haven't much sleep. But the attitude is all right.
Peace, D
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Ali---I love your site, ideas, comments. Not enough time? Too many tasks? Little piles everywhere? TAKE TIME NOW to check out www.flylady.com. Her ideas really, really work---if you stick with them! And I know you are thinking, "Routines? I have KIDS!" -- Teaching them to follow her advice (check out www.housefairy.com)-and even help you around the house...well...imagine all the "extra" time you are going to have!Blessings from a Flybaby in NC, Sharon
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Hello Ali- When you are a mother, your to-do list is always longer than the time available. So you have to learn how to let go of some things and prioritize. I am sure you know how to do this!! And lighten your load whenever possible by accepting help from others. Good luck and God bless!
Aloha, Kate
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I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog.... I am not a writer and do not have the gift for it. So thank you for sharing all that you do with all of us who read it :)
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Love the post today. I think I will write my own list.
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I feel for you, Ali, with Anna not sleeping...same with my babies...I do truly believe that babies are born with unique "sleep personalities" that they exhibit from week one....lighter sleepers, heavier, etc. Ya just have to adapt to them rather than change them.
As a Mom who nursed three infants and toddlers, I "adapted" by nursing them in our bed...dozing as they nursed. This is how mamma's all over the world do it. If you are not comfortable with her sleeping in your own bed (which requires a safe set up and diligence on your part to maintain); push her crib right up next to your adult bed--much easier to take them in and out. You WILL get lots more sleep this way!
Good Luck, Ali...your children are beautiful.And you both are excellent mamas and papas :)
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I follow your blog regularily for inspiration on lots of LO's and ideas. I am always in awe of your ability to balance work,scrapping and life. I too have a new baby (3 months) and a two year old. Needless to say life is hectic and not alot of time to scrap.
Now on to my point. I love that you said "and no she does not sleep through the night." Number one asked question to new Mom's. The 2nd asked question? "Is he/she a good baby?" They always make me smile....because the answer is always the same.
Thanks for sharing.
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BTW I also co-sleep with my babies in order to get more sleep. It makes nursing much easier and I find with my second he doesn't nessisarily want to nurse but to be close to us.
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you should seriously try the wii active trainer game. I got it last week and am loving the effect a daily cardio / strength workout is having, after only doing it for 4 days so far.....awesome way for us busy mums to get some much needed exercise into our lives...
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Ali,
I love your honesty and ability to put it into words! I too am a 2nd time mom with a 5 yr difference. It's a whole other world this time around. I am different yet the same, and I'm glad to hear it's normal! Thanks!! My youngest (also a girl) is now 2 and I can say that parts get easier, but other parts don't... the potty training is interesting!! The younger does alot more earlier because they're just trying to keep up with Big Brother!! It's a different world all the way around with the age gap and different sexes!!
As for the Wii, becareful! It all starts inocent enough with bowling and tennis... then you break into the Wii Fit and the Outdoor Adventures and the Boxing... and it becomes addictive WORK!!! Enjoy!!
Thank you for sharing and inspiring!!
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Hi there Ali I check your blog every day I don't always comment thought but love reading it and seeing your little girl grow up so fast.....i can so relate to the no sleeping i have a 22 month old though who had decied not to sleep again mmmm.....and the 365 project im doing that this year and its so cool to look back on the photos ive taken so far this year amazing really.....
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Ali, I so appreciate how willing you are to share your life with us. Thank you. In case you haven't heard of them, I wanted to recommend two great books. One, which I'm still reading and really loving, is The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton. It's about a group of women who write together, and it's one of those that I have trouble putting down. The other is by Jennifer Weiner, her new book, Best Friends Forever. Very well-written and well-paced. Just thought I'd give you a couple ideas of something to read.
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Hey! I commented about being the one to bug you at scrapfest and afterwards I read this entry. My three-year-old has Autism also. He was diagnosed 6 months ago, so your third comment really hit me. My husband and I were having that same conversation an hour ago! Walter is 3yr and 3mnths now and we are just starting on having a conversation! I feel like its taken forever to get him to reply to me or talk about anything other then immediate needs. But I truly love him exactly the way he is, and wouldn't change him if I could. Some of his first sentences were: I love you, I'm so happy, and I need a hug. It is true joy.
Want some Walt stories? check my blog: heatherocks.tumblr.com
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for not only sharing your confident moments in life, but those insecurities too...like the second time around mama stuff {same here}! I love reading others' stories, b/c they make me feel normal...it's not just me! LOL. And BTW, if you ever decide to have a change of career, you'd make a great elementary teacher--after reading about your "observations" on the lawn before the bus.
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