+ a "whine free" evening + "hugs" from family + "small chats" w/the kids at daycare + "saying no" to household chores at least twice a week + "being greeted with a morning smile" before the I wants + taking off your adult eyes and "putting on your child eyes" - living in the moment
This post is "Six Word Friday" entry sponsored by the lovely Melissa
As my son's birthday is creeping up in a few days I REFUSE to send my son to school with the birthday norm - a cake. At least I'd like to think a cake is the norm - go with it okay!. In my brain, I had to out do the norm. What loving, chaotic, competitive d.y.i loving parent wouldn't? No, seriously! So I came up with a plan and today we skipped into the school with a "d.i.y super duper birthday pack"!
What is the heck is that, you ask? It's my rendition of a party grab bag with:
+ an elmo coloring book w/ text;
+ crayons gently wrapped; and
+ muffins with cupcake toppers on them
Conceptualized and put together by a procrastinator - yours truly (yawn). I was pretty excited. Well just a little. I am more so curious as to what the teachers and parents will think. Just curious, not worried.
So yep...I'm that mom and I rock! Unfortunately these photos suck.
Nanna and the grand kids caught strolling about on a early fall morning. I love this photo, it's my "happy view" - and reminds me of that moment of peace
that can sometimes happen. (looks like my dad has taken on a new profession: Paparazzi!)
Aaah...exhale...the art of paper cuts...intricate and tedious. I've attempted to take on a few paper cuts in my lifetime. Let's just say for me, it's not a good idea. I am not patient with the knife and my mind works against the grain. I do enjoy coming across artists and designers that have this amazing gift. I've always loved the work of Peter Callesen. Often I'll go onto his website to see if he has done anything new or to see if one of his installations will be in a neighboring town (wishful thinking). I wanted to share one of his works but there are just so many that I enjoy. Nevertheless, you can visit his website here.
There's something about the look and feel of a clean, cozy, organic space that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside but, then makes me do a double take because I have a wild monster (toddler) in my house!
You are the love of my life and the apple of my mommy tummy.
However, you must learn that when mommy says, "time for sleepy" at night (readers: I will not disclose the time) it is not a time for the following:
Pulling your diaper off and running like a mad man through the house;
Screaming to the top of your lungs while attempting to do somersaults;
Running into a room in the house (take your pick) and pulling down anything in sight (and then refuse to clean up);
Climbing onto mommies bed and running towards the headboard - banging on it then running to the foot-board while attempting to jump up and down (all at the same time - while laughing); and
Picking up the diaper you pulled off minutes ago and throwing it at mommy along with your slippers and possibly socks if they are laying around!
My dearest, "sleepy time" is what mom is right at this exact moment "SLEEPY"
It's a time when you grab your favorite book and listen to a story,
It's a time when you lay down like a good little boy and just go to sleep,
It's a time when you let mommy play on the computer or whatever or shenanigans she attempts to do while you are sleep,
Quite possibly it's the time when mommy actually gets to sleep - despite she wakes up two or three times throughout the night to check on you (so really she never sleeps)!
My Dearest Son
Love of my life
Apple of my mommy tummy
"Sleepy time" is a time when I wish you'd just rest that little soul and go to sleep...for the morning comes very earlier and we both know you hate "morning time".
Why? Because "morning time" for you is this:
plus the drama and whining, the babbling about what? I don't know but I am convinced you are talking bad to me
So, once again my dearest son
Love of my life
Joy of my soul
Apple of my mommy tummy
Do the two of us both a favor - rest your little soul and perhaps sleepy time for mommy will stop being what it is at this exact moment, "SLEEPY".
…just when I was contemplating inviting daycare kids to the boys’ birthday party (early planning), the boy received his first birthday party invite from a kid at daycare!
So now I’m thinking…
Crap, I have to invite some of the daycare kids, seriously are there rules for this kind of stuff?
Will one kid/parent know if another kid/parent was invited and their kid wasn’t?
What type of parents will be there? Moms, dads, families? What will there demeanor be like?
If beeka doesn’t go will we be breaking a cardinal room for being invited again?
And of course my brain hurts from the revisiting of questions in my slowly diminishing noggin. I know, it’s probably not that serious…but these are things that cross my mind!
I’m so excited about my new Etsy finds design crush(es). I’ve been spending way too much time on Etsy the past three weeks…it’s so addicting. There are way too many great designers out there!
It all started out with this print (thanks Running Mommy):
Remembering the time when I screamed as I moon walked across the kitchen floor, thinking about the woman in the mirror and how sometimes they really don't care about us. It all gave me butterflies! It was just human nature being a smooth criminal (not literally)! To say the least...here I am at the break of dawn thinking about how he, his life, and the memory of his music continues to rock my world!
(NOTE: music player does not start automatically. Please feel free to listen or had these favorites to your playlist.)
I opened the classroom door in the daycare! Otherwise known as crap, o' crap, shoot, gosh darn it, I'll be damned!!!
All the kiddies had on shorts today.
Yes! It will be around 82 to possibly 90 degrees outside!
But what about the inside temperature? It's cold as crap in that place.
Besides the kiddies only play outside for what 30-40 minutes (I'm assuming). AAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNddddddddddddddddd what about bruises?
My Beeka may fall and bruise his tender knees or
legs out there on the black top!
I mean really, isn't it enough that I get "mulch" presents and surprises each day when he gets home (as a result of playtime)?
Okay so maybe I should have put shorts on him today?
But wait...summer doesn't start till June (what's the date), right?
But again - the kids only play outside for what 30-40 minutes (I'm assuming again). AAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNddddddddddddddddd what about bruises?
My boo boo may fall and bruise himself!
Really, isn't it enough that I send him to daycare in
short sleeves and light cotton pants?
I wonder...
if he knows he the only kid not wearing shorts today,
goodness the boys only 19 months...does he know?
Okay, already! I give in (besides thinking about this is hurting my noggin)
I'll let him wear shorts tomorrow,
“… connecting the power of design to the people who need it most, and the places where it can make a real and lasting difference.”
Project H is a team of designers and builders engaging locally to improve the quality of life for the socially overlooked. Their long-term initiatives focus on improving environments, products, and experiences for K-12 education institutions in the US through systems- level design thinking and deep community engagements. Project H is a tax exempt 501c3 nonprofit based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Bertie County, North Carolina.
Project H’s five-tenet design process:
There is no design without (critical) action;
We design WITH, not FOR;
We document, share and measure;
We start locally and scale globally;
We design systems, not stuff
Founded in January 2008 by Emily Pilloton a then disgruntled designer, Emily formed Project H Design as a nonprofit, and as a conduit and catalyst to provide real, socially-driven, scalable, and empowering design projects to designers, and most importantly, great design solutions to communities that needed them. Since January 2008, Project H has grown from one person’s vision to a coalition of hundreds of designer’s worldwide, working in project teams on 20+ initiatives in 6 countries.
Emily has a background in architecture and product design. She has written for design magazines and blogs, and was the Managing Editor of Inhabitat (a sustainable design online publication).
Learning Landscape Project, Bertie County School, North Carolina
I found out about Project H while on Twitter one afternoon! I then did a little research and became an instant advocate! Project H currently has a Learning Landscapes project going on…that’s right up my alley (with my background and love of kids, education, etc.). AND what a great way to support a non-profit with a great mission and the community!!! I am currently in the process of seeing how I can inspire others in my community with the Learning Landscape project. Wish me luck…possibly I’ve inspired you to do the same.
Read more on Project H Design here Read more on Learning Landscapeshere
On Friday during normal folks lunch hour, I headed out to run errands in preparation for a Mother’s Day Lunch. While out I ran into a quaint little bookstore called, “The Children's Bookstore" Actually when I think about it...a little book in the window lured me in – talk about advertising! The book, “Zoo, I drew,” by Todd Doodler. I’d say it was the color + graphics on the book cover and then the construction of the book that just stood out (amazing what the eye detects).
I immediately fell in love with this bookstore first step in the door. Cozy, small, quaint, homey, and perfect is how I’d describe this store. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Barnes & Noble’s but this store had appeal! I can only imagine what story time and book signings would be or feel like here. Being in this store took me back to the movie “You’ve Got Mail” – which I absolutely adore. Can you imagine that or see where I’m going? I’m sure you can!
Okay. So I’m rambling with this post...back to the subject matter.
I eventually left the bookstore with two books (and did I tell you I am on a new budget – HA!). The two books are:
The Zoo I Drew (the book that lured me into the store); and
Take a few moments to check out these two books…maybe add them to your library.
p.s. Within 40 seconds of analyzing the “Zoo I Drew” book my son tore the back page off the book in half – I could fight this kid. The "On Your Potty..." book, well, my son said, “poop and pot”…25 minutes later my son walks over to me and says, “poop”. I then asked, "did you poop?” He said, “yes” and ran away laughing!
I guess you could say most little girls grow up saying, "when I grow up I am going to get married and have kids.” Agree? I did say most because not all girls say that (believe it or not).
Well, I can remember saying it…thousands of time, over and over again.
Ages 24-29...
I thought about children – I didn’t have any. I wasn’t dating anyone seriously and if I was dating the relationships never amounted to anything. I then decided it’ wasn’t important if I didn’t have kids…I loved being free. And I enjoyed watching my little cousins, GOD kids, and friends kids – and then sending them home.
Jumping to age 30 on...
I’d say it wasn’t till around the age of 30 that I can honestly say I said I would not have kids at all in life. I was getting way to old! Really I was. I was enjoying my life and I learned to be alone and I was reviving my design business. Life was good.
Age 33 and some months – but too soon age34...
Oh snap I’m pregnant. A baby! What? You’ve got to be kidding me? Should I be excited or sad…I had no clue. I had said I wouldn’t have kids. I was okay with not having kids. I was dating someone but I wasn’t married. How does one explain this? There was nothing traditional here! I know I’m not the first single parent…but that wasn’t my plan.
So I’m pregnant and I still never fully realized it until the 7th month – however – everyone around me was fully aware and kept reminding me. By the way, it’s a boy (HAAAA…but you knew that)!!!
GOD had a plan.
Late Fall 2008...
I’m getting closer and closer…okay so the time is here! It’s Miller time (labor)! I knew my little beeka was coming but of course the doctors didn’t believe me. Unlike some, I had an easy labor - in by noon, out by 4:25PM. However, the time getting up to that point I had a few issue here and there.
Wow…life! You know – I still couldn’t believe it…even as I held my son in my arms for the first time. It was a rough few months. The lack of sleep, lack of bubble baths, the crying, the breast feeding, and the emergency room visits, NICU, etc.! You momma’s know the deal! I think I was delirious for about 6 months!
19 Months Later...
Wow…life! I still can’t believe it…okay, really I can! I’ve smacked myself in the face a few times, reality has set in. I’ve had some trials along the way but:
I continue to grow;
I continue to be in awe and in amazement at life’s process;
Icontinue to need caffeine;
I continue to wonder if this kid is going to eat me out of a house and home (yes);
I continue to wonder when those incomplete sentences will become full sentences and a bit clearer (so I can say shhhh or stop talking so much.J);
I continue to hold my son in my arms as I did the first day I met him out of the womb;
I continue to wonder if I’ll be the best, most resourceful, loving mom there is to be; and
I continue to gaze into my sons eyes and realize I wouldn’t trade being a mom in for anything else in the world!!!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Hey, and Happy Mother’s day to me (because last year it didn’t quite hit me…but this year it has).
