40 weeks in, 40 weeks out....my little baby has reached that point in her life that she has been out of the womb growing about just as long as she was in the womb growing. and growing she is....every single day she shows us something new that she has learned. that precious sound that a parent waits for has just started...the calling of mama. the fact that she called for the cat first, boo boo, is something i am overlooking. her personality is really starting to shine through, as well as her likes and dislikes. i am getting to know her as a person in a totally different way than when she was first born and so dependent upon us for every need. she is strong and independent, so curious about the world around her, and very happy to engage herself in many different little activities...from chasing the cats, to pulling out her books to "read," and crawling over every square inch of our home, inspecting every nook and cranny that we adults do not find fascinating from our standing on two feet point-of-view. she loves laughing, loves peek-a-boo, loves rocking back and forth whenever she hears music, and loves playing chase. she is basically a happy baby....but she is my first happy baby, so all of these seemingly general, every day occurrences are monumental first time occurrences for this momma. i am so proud of her, so happy to share this space and time with her, so blessed to be her mother. i wake every day knowing that i will never have today again, so i try to see her as if for the first time, all the time, so i won't ever forget how wonderful she is at all of these quickly changing stages. 40 weeks in, 40 weeks out, and trying not to count. she is still my little baby, but she is moving every day becoming her own little person. and oh so sweet.
your momma loves you so much, piper.
"Every morning, lean thine arms awhile
Upon the window-sill of Heaven,
And gaze upon the Lord...
Then, with that vision in thy heart,
Turn strong to meet the day."
~Norman Vincent Peale
I am an avid library goer...I am there, um, several times a week some weeks. I have my very long library card number memorized in case of emergencies, and there are many, because whenever I hear of a book that I think I may need to check out, I hop on the nearest computer, punch in my digits, and the book is on hold for me in seconds. I am constantly researching information or reading up on things that I am drawn to...and I read tons of children's books because of my job and because I have two little ears that need to hear good stories now. I plan to share what is in our book basket regularly, because I like to share a good thing....and books are such good things. So, turn off the tv, get a mug full of tea/coffee/whatever your vice is, and open a book! The brain stimulation alone with be so well worth it!Here is what we are reading this week.Happy reading!
Wild Geese
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
~ Mary Oliver
It is 2010....I can hardly believe it. Either way, it is here and needs to be welcomed with open arms and a positive attitude. My life was redefined last year with the birth of Piper. I am open to more change this year, positive change, positive growth, more love, more peace, more communication, more understanding, more living. According to Mary, I only have to let the soft animal of my body, love what it loves. I think I can do that.
I typically write down 100 things in my journal that I want to do/try/change for the upcoming year. I plan to get that done this weekend. I have such hope for this year. I believe it will be a big growth year for my family and me. S. & I have already sat down together to have a conversation about our life and what our vision is, thanks to the family mission statement information I found on simplemom.net awhile ago, as well as some cool questions to ponder for the new year, individually and as a couple. I believe that we are going to come together as a family in a renewed and stronger way, and I am going to find balance with all of the hats that I wear. It is going to be an awesome year, and I welcome it with open arms.
What are you thinking about for the new year? What would you like to see change with yourself and/or your relationships? If you believe it, then it will be. Get your thoughts in line with your desires, stay positive, and the fruits of life will come to you. I believe in that more and more every day. Many blessings to you.
