Rambling Redhead

2012-01-06T23:10:00.000-08:00

We got new pictures of little Henry today. He is 6 weeks
old. He is of course super cute. But these pictures remind us of Edgar. We don’t know Henry's personality traits yet as we haven’t met him, but there is something about the way he looks at the camera that reminds Alex, my mom, and I of Edgar. He has a
regal meets mischievous look to him! And that was certainly Edgar.

When I first met Alex, Edgar was full of personality. He used to literally tie me up in his leash when Alex and I would take him on walks. He did not like me muscling in on his human in those first months. And he would run away most mornings in search of Alex, poor guy was incensed at not being taken along. He could have come if he hadn’t insisted on marking everywhere he went… One of the times he stayed with my parents he jumped up on their dining room table and ate an entire stick of butter and
jumped down again before anyone could get into the room. He liked to mark the same spot at their house until it started leaking urine through the basement ceiling. Ah Edgar, he certainly did have an opinion. I tend to recall the mellow ancient creature he was in his last years. But he was an exercise in patience for a long time. Dagny on the other hand was nowhere near as troublesome. She was a dog, she barked and sniffed and whatnot, but generally she was a good girl. And yet I miss Edgar every day and Dags, well it was lovely while she was here and I hope she is a happy angel dog but I don’t really miss her.

Paying bills as a procrastination tact

2011-12-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

Why do I procrastinate "cracking open" my blog and posting? I daydream about it. But when a moment free of familial questions and request presents itself I am scurrying into the kitchen to wash the dishes or balancing my checkbook instead of logging in. Getting all the bills and payments ready for next month was today's blog procrastination. Yes, I know, one would think it would be the opposite. Oh well, here I am--logged in and typing. Makes me sweat. It isn't like I don't have anything to say, anyone who knows me can attest to my nonstop stream of consciouss capabilities. Somehow this is just a stumbling brick. As I ease into 2012 I will attempt to narrate the journey of our adjustment to a new puppy and all the other silly meneal things that go on here at Berry central. :)

Alex and I are headed to Yakima end of the week to meet little Henry an English Jack Russell. I am as excited as I am nervous. Good thing, like children, puppies pull at my heartstrings. He will be old enough to come home with us in about a month and then the real fun begins.

Pickled Beans

2010-08-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

Quilla and I pickled green beans today. I had about 4lbs from Fall City Farms (thank you, Kristi!) and so we looked up a recipe and jarred 'em up. It was surprisingly easy. Especially since I have already done peaches and tomatoes in previous years, this seemed fairly easy. We shall see how they taste in a few months.

60lbs of peaches this year, lots of frozen blueberries and blueberry jam. We experimented with varying amounts of sugar/honey with the blueberry jam. Taste test results to be shared upon opening.

Next up: canning roma tomatoes, applesauce, and maybe some egg and beet pickling.

2010-08-09T21:29:00.000-07:00

I love to read. As a mom sometimes there are long stints without much of that, but lately there has been time to read. I am loving it. The most recent was Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah. It was recommended to me by several people and by page 6 I was already tearing up. I am a crier, be it a movie, book, or stories about in the newspaper I cry when something is sad. I like people, so what if they are fictional. And for anyone planning to read Firefly, it's good, but be warned the end pages should have built in tissues. My daughter found me crying and thought something seriously bad had happened. No, just reading! :)

And my other current favorite is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I loved this book. It made me laugh and stayed with me. I wanted to travel to Guernsey and meet the folks in the book. Delightful.

It is a little dangerous for me to open a new book as i don't want to put it down. And I am cranky until I can get back to it and find out what happens. (Thankfully I married a man who is the same way. So while it drives the other nuts, we totally get it.) I am now on book 2 of The Sisters Grimm series. Young adult books, yes, but that hasn't stopped me before!

More interesting facts about God

2008-09-08T21:37:00.000-07:00

So most of you know that I believe there is a God, but for me it is fairly private. I don't talk about it a lot and I have forged my own relationship as it were. So as things come up with the kids I try to answer their questions with different views including my own and allow them to explore. Aresa loves to talk about God. It is just very interesting to her so it comes up a lot lately. For her birthday she asked for a picture of God. So Alex and I found a whole bunch of images that depict different ideas about what god might look like and told her no one really knows and these were what some folks thought.

So tonight she asks me about the election. We are Obama supporters so we have been trying to explain elections, and why we prefer one over the other, etc. So tonight she was asking about them again and why I didn't like Mr. Bush very much. And I mentioned that I was hopeful that Obama would do a better job with things. So she proceeds to empahatically ask God "to make Obama the leader of our country" and she sits there as if waiting for a response. So I said,
“Honey, does God talk to you”
“yes”
“what does he say”
“did you know he speak spanish”
“no I didn’t know that, are you able to understand him”
“oh yes”

Love it, so that is your interesting tidbit of the day, God speaks Spanish. One would think from all the focus she puts on god that we discussed it a lot, we don't and 9 out of ten times when we do it is initiated by Aresa. It will be fun to see how she evolves.

say it out loud

2008-07-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

There have been several folks in my families extended relations and good friends that have passed in the last few weeks, some expected, some a shocking surprise. I am a big believer in telling folks how you feel about them when you feel it. Don't assume they know or that there will be another chance. Be aware enough to be sure and say the things you would want said if you were to leave tomorrow for a very long time.

And not just the folks around you that you see frequently. Take a moment to think of the people that changed your destiny when you were in high school, or you looked up to as a 6 year old. If there is a way to find them and send a quick card do that. It will make their day.

We get a lot more out of life when we are focused on what is joyful.

Sunshine feeds my soul

2008-07-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

I am a true Seattlite, I like the rain. I like the smell and getting wet in it. But I also love sunshine. I like a balance of the two best. You know how good it feels to slip on a pair of jeans on that first rainy day after 10 days of sun? Or vice versa, the tank top of that hot day after months of rain and gray skies?

It has been such a treat to have warm weather that isn't so hot that it turns me into jelly. Just made me happy today to look out and realize summer is really here and I am awake enough to realize it. The baby hormones are mostly gone, I am starting to see some progress with the balance of motherhood, womanhhood, entreprenuer. It feels good.

Be present

a taste of peace and joy

2008-05-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

When I am stressed or can't seem to settle down I sing affirmations to myself. Lately I sing "Money comes frequently and easily" and "I welcome and enjoy success" to myself as I do the dishes or tidy the house. But for years I have gone to sleep saying "I accept peace and joy into my life" the more times the better.

This morning I had a taste of peace and joy. This morning was already warm and sunny. Breakfast on the back deck, Alex off to a show, the kids and I ready for a leisurely Saturday. They played together and in tandem on the back porch as our new dog, Tom, wandered between them. I was able to tidy the house and clean up the kitchen without any screaming, leg pulling death grips, or disaster. It was fantastic. I really enjoyed it.

are you still growing?

2008-04-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

I love it when Aresa starts putting concepts together and calls us on the things we say. So some times to get her to eat we remind her she needs food to grow up and be strong. That will usually illicit a few more mouthfuls of a vegetable.

So the other night we are eating and Aresa looks up (we had not yet reminded her of the aforementioned) and says, "Are you still growing?" to Alex. He looks a little confused but says no, so she moves on to me. "Are you still growing, mommy?" I said no. "So why are you eating?"

Good question, so begins the discussion about energy and muscles, and exercise.

We are doing well here. Eliot is quite the inquisitive little dude. I reminded Aresa that when she finds him in the bathroom splashing in the toilet that she just used that instead of giggling would she please let me know so I could come clean him up. We really would rather he didn't play in the toilet.

And by the grace of God I was standing next to him when he pushed Aresa's box of dress up clothes out of her room and down the hall so it sat in front of the gated stairway and proceeded to climb on top of it.

Curiousity is so cool and it teaches me, but may we all live through it without injury. It is hard to balance letting kids experiment, with keeping them safe, with worrying they will always wear their pants backwards and not use their fork. :)

But when I have had sleep I am up for the fun of it all.

Under pressure

2008-04-10T13:57:00.000-07:00

Why is it when my to do list is a mile long I crank through things and feel excited to check everything off. But as that list gets too short I suddenly am lethargic and can't quite get anything done. Maybe I just left the harder things until last. Having one of those afternoons where I am not sure which direction to focus my "free time" moments. Should I tackle my usual to do list, focus on organizing some closet or cupboard in my house that really could use some help or just sit on the couch and read a book with some tea?

ideally all three, but as most mothers know how long nap time will last isn't up to you so prioritization is key but today I am a little paralyzed by it. Could be the exhaustion--Eliot spent a lot of last night flopping around in pain I think his next set of teeth are near cutting.

My grandparents are here visiting us this week. What a treat to have folks here who love my kids and just want to be with them. And they actively pursue giving me a break. I am truly grateful for the help, extra time, but also the emotional support.

Where does the Easter Bunny Live?

2008-04-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

As my previous posts make clear, Alex and I are often tackling questions we had not previously considered. Where is the tooth fairy right now? Where does that Easter Bunny live? Can we meet Diego for real, not just in our dreams? Why are those shoes called slippers? Great questions, hard answers on the fly.

Make a wish

2008-03-12T20:39:00.000-07:00

My sweet sweet Eliot is turning 1. A whole year has gone by since I was in that hospital room wondering what on earth I was thinking birthing him naturally. I am so happy we are at this milestone. Eliot is so happy and silly as he learns to toddle, insists on drinking water from my cup and eating what is on my plate. "None of that baby food for me mom!" Oh and tonight he grabbed his sister with all his might and hugged his sister to his cheek with a look of sheer joy and fierce determination. We all better watch out, this little guy has plans!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

paddling in circles

2008-03-05T14:58:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have those days when you need to get a few things done but just simply don't feel like it? So you finally push through that legargic unmotivated obstacle and get into a tiny part of that to do item and then the kids get clingy?

When I locked Eliot and my keys in the car this morning I should have given myself a hug and said, take it easy today nothing needs to get done that bad. But for some reason I just can't be ok with it today. My house is in post tornado aftermath, my little man's two front teeth are cutting, I am exhausted.

Where is God, right now?

2008-02-27T11:09:00.000-08:00

My daughter prepared me early for the tough questions most parents dread. At 2 1/2 she marched into my office one afternoon and informed me she had a penis in her vagina. Unsure where to even begin I finally replied with, "So how does that feel?" Her response: "It tickles"

So I knew there would be many interesting Q and A sessions in my future. Now at 3 1/2 we discuss God a lot. Where is he, can he come to school with her tomorrow, etc. Since I am still figuring out some of those answers I tell her I am not sure and we discuss. God is everywhere doesn't work at 3, she just looks around the room and back to me as if to say, "Are you jokin me mom?"

So one night just before I turn the light out Aresa says she would like to visit God. So I say great, in your prayers tonight ask him if you can come visit. Why not?

Next morning we are down getting breakfast ready and I remember the request from the previous night. I ask her, "Did you visit God last night?"
"No. Yes, I was joyful with him, but then he had to do some work"
"Oh, did you get to go with him to do the work?"
"yes"
"Did you get to help him?"
"No mommy, God doesn't need my help."

Well, don't I feel silly ;)

A conessuir of dirt

2008-01-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

I recall the child safety information with my first baby. I went ahead and plugged all the outlets, put a lock on the fridge, etc. but Aresa wasn't mischievous that way. Or so I thought. Now I am realizing she would have gotten into everything if I had made things available.

With my second child, little Eliot the toilet splasher, there is a whole world of wonderful things to explore, often because big sister doesn't remember our constant talks about keeping things off the floor. Today has been particularly interesting/challenging depending of which of us you ask. I have pulled paper, a large rock, blue marker, a hair ball (you know, those balls of hair that come off clothes after they've been dried), and a big hunk of dirt out of Eliot's mouth. Well, not the dirt, by the time I caught that most of it had gone down hatch.

At least I was able to get most things out but my sanity is eating away at itself :) And this too shall pass. Maybe that should be the name of this blog.

Excuse me, where is your restroom?

2008-01-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

I have two children Aresa is 3 and Eliot is 10 months. When Aresa went mobile I frantically plugged outlets and locked the toilet seat down. This proved to be very challenging for guests. Even a ivy league education doesn't prepare you for outsmarting an infant. But Aresa didn't care about the toilet, nothing about it was interesting.

Then Eliot came along. He is a very easy going, happy guy. I am able to basically block off the upstairs and let him explore on all fours. But baby El is as curious as a cat. 4 times yesterday I found him... you guessed it...playing in the toilet. Are you kidding me? He hates taking a bath, but cold water that has the potential to be gross, he is thrilled.

Ever time I turned around he had bolted in there. Whole different road. But my mother-in-law reminded me it runs in his genes. She loves to tell stories about my sweet husband jumping around in the toilet in his brand new shoes at about 4 years old.

Ok, off to find my toilet locks. Have a great day!