Sunday, March 31, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Motherhood Musings
Ian is away tonight at a funeral for the father of a co-worker. The Bugster is down for the count and I'm settling in for a nice, rambling blog post on motherhood. I'm not sure if it's because I've been re-reading the Anne of Green Gables series, or because I'm 6 1/2 months pregnant, but I'm feeling sentimental and mushy. And I don't even mind it.
Today was beautiful. It was a lovely spring day. Ruthie and I spent much of the day in the backyard, enjoying the sunshine and gentle breeze. While I was pushing her in the swing, listening to her squeal and shout with joy, I felt our new baby kicking happily inside me. In that moment, I knew like there was no where else I would rather be, nothing else I'd rather be doing. Each day that I spend at home, in this new life in which I now find myself, I feel so thankful and amazed at the beauty of motherhood.
My heart is so full of Ruthie - her smiles, her babbling, her expressive hand motions, her hair sprouts, her chubby hands, her open mouth kisses, her giggles, her little, impressionable soul. I love getting her out of bed in the morning, as she "tells" me all about her night; I love reading her a story (or ten) before nap time, as she picks them off the shelf and thrusts them in my face, motioning "please" frantically; I love listening to her hum as she eats her meals with gusto; I love her eight small words that she says with such eagerness. I love that girl. And I love that she made me a mother. Being a mother is so much more than I ever knew. The love and protection I feel for Ruthie is astounding and my desire to save her from all pain and sadness is almost overwhelming. I always hoped to be a mother, but I didn't long for it deeply the way some women do. But now that I am a mother, it makes my heart so full. So, so full. I had no idea.
I got an email today from my sister about a friend of hers who goes to our church, who is suffering her second bout of brain cancer. I know this woman a little - we chatted once in the nursing mother's room at our church while we both feed our babies - and it breaks my heart to think of those little ones (she has two older kids as well as the baby) possibly losing their mother. It makes no sense and it certainly doesn't seem fair; and while it causes me much confusion and heartache for that family, it also makes me grateful for the life I have been so inexplicably blessed with.
With another baby on the way, I am so excited to see this love expand. I can already tell that there is more room in my heart, more spaces for this new baby to fill, more dreams to come true with this new little life. Being a mother has changed me, forever and completely, and I'm so grateful God saw fit to answer that prayer. I didn't even know how much I wanted it and how rich it would make life. Thank you, Jesus, for my babies and for motherhood!
Today was beautiful. It was a lovely spring day. Ruthie and I spent much of the day in the backyard, enjoying the sunshine and gentle breeze. While I was pushing her in the swing, listening to her squeal and shout with joy, I felt our new baby kicking happily inside me. In that moment, I knew like there was no where else I would rather be, nothing else I'd rather be doing. Each day that I spend at home, in this new life in which I now find myself, I feel so thankful and amazed at the beauty of motherhood.
My heart is so full of Ruthie - her smiles, her babbling, her expressive hand motions, her hair sprouts, her chubby hands, her open mouth kisses, her giggles, her little, impressionable soul. I love getting her out of bed in the morning, as she "tells" me all about her night; I love reading her a story (or ten) before nap time, as she picks them off the shelf and thrusts them in my face, motioning "please" frantically; I love listening to her hum as she eats her meals with gusto; I love her eight small words that she says with such eagerness. I love that girl. And I love that she made me a mother. Being a mother is so much more than I ever knew. The love and protection I feel for Ruthie is astounding and my desire to save her from all pain and sadness is almost overwhelming. I always hoped to be a mother, but I didn't long for it deeply the way some women do. But now that I am a mother, it makes my heart so full. So, so full. I had no idea.
I got an email today from my sister about a friend of hers who goes to our church, who is suffering her second bout of brain cancer. I know this woman a little - we chatted once in the nursing mother's room at our church while we both feed our babies - and it breaks my heart to think of those little ones (she has two older kids as well as the baby) possibly losing their mother. It makes no sense and it certainly doesn't seem fair; and while it causes me much confusion and heartache for that family, it also makes me grateful for the life I have been so inexplicably blessed with.
With another baby on the way, I am so excited to see this love expand. I can already tell that there is more room in my heart, more spaces for this new baby to fill, more dreams to come true with this new little life. Being a mother has changed me, forever and completely, and I'm so grateful God saw fit to answer that prayer. I didn't even know how much I wanted it and how rich it would make life. Thank you, Jesus, for my babies and for motherhood!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Clare and Ruthie on the Piano
Last Thursday, we joined Mary and Mike's family at Disneyland for a small pre-celebration (her party with the whole gang was last night) for Clare's first birthday. The kids had a great time, especially in Toon Town, where Ruthie and Clare really tore up the piano in Goofy's house.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Attack of the Leggings and the High Pony
My sister Sarah have us some super cute leggings. I don't know if you've experienced this, but it is sort of hard to casually work leggings into an outfit. Today we were feeling crazy, though, and the weather was a tad cool for the skirt Ian dressed her in this morning. So, leggings it was!
Also, I have been meaning to get her some hair ties for a while, since she officially has enough hair to qualify for them. So here she is, sporting the leggings and a high pony, while she plays in the backyard.
Also, I have been meaning to get her some hair ties for a while, since she officially has enough hair to qualify for them. So here she is, sporting the leggings and a high pony, while she plays in the backyard.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Monday Baking/Nesting
I can't tell if it's the pregnancy nesting or just my regular love for baking/cooking/trying new recipes, but I spent a lot of today in the kitchen. How glorious! I had the windows open, the sliding glass door open and while I baked, I watched Ruthie roam around the backyard. It was beautiful. Did I mention it's 75 here today? =)
I have a new granola recipe that I use all the time now. It's called Clump Granola, because, well, it's clumpy, and while I do love clumpy granola, what I really love about this recipe lies in two other facets: (1) It is made using one bowl and (2) it involves no stirring. You may remember from a previous post that it is best if I avoid having to stir. And one bowl? It means that I can make this granola and clean it up in about 7 minutes. That's pretty great, if you ask me.
You just whisk together the oils, sugars, salt and vanilla.
Then you pour in all the dry ingredients (the flaky stuff on top is wheat germ because I'm trying to grow a genius, while I'm doing all this baking).
Then spread it flat onto your pan and bake. It comes up in about four large pieces, which you then break into however many clumps you want. Easy-peasy!
My finished product...
They aren't exactly bananas, but they aren't plantains either. If anyone out there knows, please tell! But aren't they cute? Here they are, before I mashed them up.
And here is the finished bread. Yummy!
Happy Monday to you, whatever you're doing!
I have a new granola recipe that I use all the time now. It's called Clump Granola, because, well, it's clumpy, and while I do love clumpy granola, what I really love about this recipe lies in two other facets: (1) It is made using one bowl and (2) it involves no stirring. You may remember from a previous post that it is best if I avoid having to stir. And one bowl? It means that I can make this granola and clean it up in about 7 minutes. That's pretty great, if you ask me.
You just whisk together the oils, sugars, salt and vanilla.
I also made Peanut Butter Banana Bread, because at Mary's new house she has a...a...well, we don't know exactly what kind of tree it is. What do these look like to you?
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
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