Parents don't "just" do anything.
I am sure all parents everywhere are nodding in agreement. I "knew" this, but never knew the extent of this until I became one myself. Every piece of my day reinforced this fact, and I just had to write a fun post about it.
9:00 a.m. Talking to mom. I tell her that I am stir crazy, and she asks if we should go swimming today.
10:00 a.m. We confirm that swimming is a good idea.
10:01 a.m. I start packing up Jackson's stuff.
11:00 a.m. Jackson wakes up. I spend the next hour trying to entertain and spend time with him, while packing his things, feeding him, cleaning the house, balancing our budget, and writing an email.
11:45 a.m. Get the fifteen minute warning from my mom.
11:46 a.m. Panic. Get the last of Jackson's things, pack his food with a cold pack, get Jackson changed, dressed and a quick, last-minute feeding.
11:59 a.m. Oh shoot. I am not presentable. Hurry and brush my teeth and run a comb through my hair. Oh well. Everyone will be looking at the baby, right?
12:00 p.m. Go downstairs to meet my mom with the stroller, car seat, Jackson, his food, his toys, his clothes, his diapers, his swimming stuff... Oh right, wallet, keys, cell phone, camera. Phew.
Okay, skip ahead, this could take awhile.
2:00 p.m. It is now a three-generational venture to "just" go swimming.
2:01 p.m.Attempting to get Jackson's diaper changed, and swimming clothes put on.
2:05 p.m. Still attempting...
2:15 p.m. After taking turns getting changed, watching the baby, putting sunscreen on him, setting up the playpen in case he needs a nap, getting his swimming toy blown up... we are ready to "just" swim.
2:30 p.m. We are done swimming.
I could spell out the rest of the day for you, but I will spare you the details. Let's say that it was spent "just" preparing to go away for one night. Harder than it sounds...and way harder than swimming!
To all the people who have now decided not to have children - every bit of today was wonderful. What doesn't get recounted in the details are all the smiles, laughs and new discoveries. Every day, our baby discovers something new about us, about himself, or about our world. Life is so much more exciting with a child! Oh, and just for the record, life would be probably a million times more difficult if the planning and running around didn't happen. I cannot even imagine "just" doing anything without organizing, preparing and being productive for hours ahead of time.
Time to get some sleep. Between now and tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., our house needs to be prepared for showings, just in case, Kyle's stuff packed up, my stuff packed up, and Jackson's stuff packed up. Strange how a tiny baby needs about ten times more than two adults combined.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Little Things
Well, it's been a month since I posted. My last post was all about why I would miss our condo...and yes, I spoke too soon. Our condo is still for sale! I would never have guessed it would have taken this long, and I don't pretend to know why we are still waiting, but here we are. Trusting, waiting, wishing.
I have been mulling over a post that I want to write ever since I started this blog. I am not quite finished mulling yet - I still have some tweaking to do before I type it out. I have a habit of rehearsing emails, conversations and various other scenarios in my mind before I actually go through with them. Sometimes, it is a method of tweaking - getting all of the kinks out of the email and saying just exactly what I want to say. Sometimes, I rehearse a conversation that may or may not ever take place. That is likely where I will lose a lot of you, although you did willingly read a post from "The Looney Bin." I find this sort of thing very helpful - whether it is to keep myself from saying things that should not be said, or to mull over what really needs to be said and what is mere excess.
In any case, I am not ready to write that other blog yet, but I do have some reflections on marriage for this evening. I do not pretend to be an expert on the subject. I am well aware that I am a mere novice, and can humbly say that I have learned far more about love and marriage than maybe, if I am honest, I thought I needed to learn. I am reminded more and more how "simple" love can be. Not in essence or quality, but the fact that love often boils down to "the little things." I find it difficult to describe marriage sometimes because "love" and "marriage" are not synonymous. I find that a lot of people have grandiose scenarios in their mind that equal love. Everyone is itching to have that perfect engagement story that all their friends are so jealous of, the spouse that everyone agrees is drop-dead gorgeous, and the pictures and stories to prove that they are a great couple. And you know what, sometimes amazing marriages and those couple who are truly head-over-heels in love do have amazing stories, great pictures and the perfect engagement. But you know what my experience has been? Day in, day out - hard work, great laughs, a handsome man (and now the cutest baby, too!), tears, struggles, early mornings, great pictures, patience, oh, and did I mention hard work? :)
Today, I just want to reflect on the little things. Mostly due to a lot of financial strain in our marriage thus far, and partially due to everyday life - my husband has not whisked me away to the Caribbean for our anniversary or a spa for the weekend of my birthday. You know what? Sometimes, we can't "do" anything for anniversaries or birthdays but just stay in and have supper. Do I really care? No. I have learned, and am still learning that a lot of average days can equal extraordinary love.
Today, love is the little things.
Love is spending an evening alone at home while my husband (and baby) get the sleep they desperately need.
Love is waking up at 6:00 a.m. to make egg salad sandwiches for your husband's lunch, even though you were up twice with the baby in the night.
Love is leaving out your favourite spice in a meal, so your husband will enjoy it more.
Love is finding a 'treat' (on sale - always on sale!) for your husband during each grocery trip.
Love is learning (maybe, finally learning) not to over-plan your weekend because your husband needs to recharge for his work week ahead.
Love is doing these things with a smile, and meaning it.
I have been mulling over a post that I want to write ever since I started this blog. I am not quite finished mulling yet - I still have some tweaking to do before I type it out. I have a habit of rehearsing emails, conversations and various other scenarios in my mind before I actually go through with them. Sometimes, it is a method of tweaking - getting all of the kinks out of the email and saying just exactly what I want to say. Sometimes, I rehearse a conversation that may or may not ever take place. That is likely where I will lose a lot of you, although you did willingly read a post from "The Looney Bin." I find this sort of thing very helpful - whether it is to keep myself from saying things that should not be said, or to mull over what really needs to be said and what is mere excess.
In any case, I am not ready to write that other blog yet, but I do have some reflections on marriage for this evening. I do not pretend to be an expert on the subject. I am well aware that I am a mere novice, and can humbly say that I have learned far more about love and marriage than maybe, if I am honest, I thought I needed to learn. I am reminded more and more how "simple" love can be. Not in essence or quality, but the fact that love often boils down to "the little things." I find it difficult to describe marriage sometimes because "love" and "marriage" are not synonymous. I find that a lot of people have grandiose scenarios in their mind that equal love. Everyone is itching to have that perfect engagement story that all their friends are so jealous of, the spouse that everyone agrees is drop-dead gorgeous, and the pictures and stories to prove that they are a great couple. And you know what, sometimes amazing marriages and those couple who are truly head-over-heels in love do have amazing stories, great pictures and the perfect engagement. But you know what my experience has been? Day in, day out - hard work, great laughs, a handsome man (and now the cutest baby, too!), tears, struggles, early mornings, great pictures, patience, oh, and did I mention hard work? :)
Today, I just want to reflect on the little things. Mostly due to a lot of financial strain in our marriage thus far, and partially due to everyday life - my husband has not whisked me away to the Caribbean for our anniversary or a spa for the weekend of my birthday. You know what? Sometimes, we can't "do" anything for anniversaries or birthdays but just stay in and have supper. Do I really care? No. I have learned, and am still learning that a lot of average days can equal extraordinary love.
Today, love is the little things.
Love is spending an evening alone at home while my husband (and baby) get the sleep they desperately need.
Love is waking up at 6:00 a.m. to make egg salad sandwiches for your husband's lunch, even though you were up twice with the baby in the night.
Love is leaving out your favourite spice in a meal, so your husband will enjoy it more.
Love is finding a 'treat' (on sale - always on sale!) for your husband during each grocery trip.
Love is learning (maybe, finally learning) not to over-plan your weekend because your husband needs to recharge for his work week ahead.
Love is doing these things with a smile, and meaning it.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13)
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Reasons I Will Miss Our Condo...
This blog post is based on the assumption that we will sell our condo. It is an extremely lovely place, and we know it will get snatched up right away once it goes on the market, so we are giving everyone a chance to buy it privately to save us all some trouble first. Shamless plug - http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-real-estate-condos-for-sale-Jamieson-Parkway-2-Bedroom-Condo-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ376540860.
Now, onto the post.
Reasons I will Miss Our Condo:
1. The Old People. Although it felt at times like we were living in a retirement home, the elderly people, our supers, and neighbours were kind and wonderful people. It was delightful to be greeted at the door by the elderly people that hang out in the lobby, and nice to know they have our backs and would give a mean stare-down to any guests that entered the building. Since we the only husband and wife with a baby in our building (a few families with an older child and a couple single moms), Kyle was dubbed "The baby's father."
2. Proximity to Work. During our married life, I have only worked at two different locations - Food Basics and Heritage, both minutes away. You know the phrase, "Absence makes the heart grows fonder," well, I prefer, "Stop by often and they can't forget about you." :) Even while on mat leave, I could walk to Heritage to visit, and could visit a number of stores to do errands.
3. Recycling. We never had to remember (or care!) about recycling or garbage day. We could schlep our recycling down to the bins any day of the week - how freeing! We could 'take out' the garbage by walking down to the chute in your pajamas. On a related note, our mailbox was indoors, just a short elevator ride away, and if you had stamps, the out-going mail was dealt with in-building as well.
4. Snow Removal. On lousy days, Kyle and I could sit by the window and watch all the ant-sized people shoveling their driveways.
5. The Quirks. We didn't have to buy a baby monitor because we could hear Jackson wherever he was in the house. There was an outdoor pool...though we never did use it. Every once in awhile, you would look outside and see someone hanging there to replace your windows. And, maybe the best one, on Canada Day, we could stay at home and watch about 10 fireworks displays at the same time.
6. Last, but not least...You always had a few minutes warning to change out of your pajamas when guests came to visit. Unless, you were one of the lucky ones that the elderly people trusted, and you never had to 'ring up.'
It's been a fabulous three and a half years in this condo - the perfect place for us to start our married lives - and we will miss it. However, our journey continues! We welcome the change...backyard, BBQ, and basement!
Now, onto the post.
Reasons I will Miss Our Condo:
1. The Old People. Although it felt at times like we were living in a retirement home, the elderly people, our supers, and neighbours were kind and wonderful people. It was delightful to be greeted at the door by the elderly people that hang out in the lobby, and nice to know they have our backs and would give a mean stare-down to any guests that entered the building. Since we the only husband and wife with a baby in our building (a few families with an older child and a couple single moms), Kyle was dubbed "The baby's father."
2. Proximity to Work. During our married life, I have only worked at two different locations - Food Basics and Heritage, both minutes away. You know the phrase, "Absence makes the heart grows fonder," well, I prefer, "Stop by often and they can't forget about you." :) Even while on mat leave, I could walk to Heritage to visit, and could visit a number of stores to do errands.
3. Recycling. We never had to remember (or care!) about recycling or garbage day. We could schlep our recycling down to the bins any day of the week - how freeing! We could 'take out' the garbage by walking down to the chute in your pajamas. On a related note, our mailbox was indoors, just a short elevator ride away, and if you had stamps, the out-going mail was dealt with in-building as well.
4. Snow Removal. On lousy days, Kyle and I could sit by the window and watch all the ant-sized people shoveling their driveways.
5. The Quirks. We didn't have to buy a baby monitor because we could hear Jackson wherever he was in the house. There was an outdoor pool...though we never did use it. Every once in awhile, you would look outside and see someone hanging there to replace your windows. And, maybe the best one, on Canada Day, we could stay at home and watch about 10 fireworks displays at the same time.
6. Last, but not least...You always had a few minutes warning to change out of your pajamas when guests came to visit. Unless, you were one of the lucky ones that the elderly people trusted, and you never had to 'ring up.'It's been a fabulous three and a half years in this condo - the perfect place for us to start our married lives - and we will miss it. However, our journey continues! We welcome the change...backyard, BBQ, and basement!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Sugar and Spice
It is that time in the day...the 'mid-afternoon-I'm-starving-when's-dinner' time of day. I find it a difficult time of day to be sitting at home. I am desperate for the sunny days to return, so Jackson and I can get walking every afternoon. In the meantime, I am attempting to maintain a very healthy lifestyle in the kitchen to get rid of the last of my pregnancy weight.
Today's delightful afternoon snack is a knock-off of a campfire favourite.
Take an apple or two, slice them into quarters and remove the core.
Lay in a glass dish, inside up.
Sprinkle some brown sugar on top (I used maybe one tbsp. total over all 8 pieces).
Sprinkle cinnamon over the pieces next.
Bake at 375 for about 20-25 minutes.
I also added a little squirt of Agave Nectar and some vanilla flavouring as well.
Great afternoon snack - and only 2 Weight Watchers points, if you care!
Also, chilling in the freezer - banana slices with a tiny bit of peanut butter and melted chocolate on top. Not quite as healthy, but another great snack - creamy & sweet! I refuse to give up sweets when eating healthy - you just have to keep it to a minimum and be sensible. :)
Off to make supper - soup and homemade buns!
Today's delightful afternoon snack is a knock-off of a campfire favourite.
Take an apple or two, slice them into quarters and remove the core.
Lay in a glass dish, inside up.
Sprinkle some brown sugar on top (I used maybe one tbsp. total over all 8 pieces).
Sprinkle cinnamon over the pieces next.
Bake at 375 for about 20-25 minutes.
I also added a little squirt of Agave Nectar and some vanilla flavouring as well.
Great afternoon snack - and only 2 Weight Watchers points, if you care!
Also, chilling in the freezer - banana slices with a tiny bit of peanut butter and melted chocolate on top. Not quite as healthy, but another great snack - creamy & sweet! I refuse to give up sweets when eating healthy - you just have to keep it to a minimum and be sensible. :)
Off to make supper - soup and homemade buns!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Okay, I promise not to overload you with posts, but I was requested to post an archived blog post, so here it is. :) This is probably my most told story out of all the stories of my life. Enjoy.
Craziness
This week is another day camp – 65 kids grades 1-6…yes, you are right, it is fun…Okay, so I am having a blast…that is until today (more later)…
Anyway, so I spend from 7 am – 5 pm at the church and our various locations, and my nights at the townhouse because Jarett’s friends from New Brunswick are down and this is my only week to see them. This week has been awesome, so friggen’ fun – but I am beat, so incredibly tired…it’s not funny – not even in my incredible giddy state…
A lot is happening – roommate shifting in the townhouses and trying to figure that all out. Finishing up the day camp Friday and then leaving Saturday for a week in inner city Hamilton on a missions trip with my youth pastor and my kiddos…Trying to get ready for school and STUCA and figuring out finances and how I am going to do everything I need to do…I haven’t even had time to think about moving and packing and all that…not really looking forward to even thoughts of it.
So Wednesday – ah yes, the most hilarious afternoon of my life. Most embarrassing, but most hilarious nonetheless. We went bowling (where I kicked butt of course) and then swimming at the Waterloo Rec Centre.
A few disclaimers and sidenotes:
a. We had NO injuries in our EXTREME Sports Day Camp two weeks ago
b. I am VERY VERY tired
c. I am BLIND without my glasses
d. I was very GIDDY and subsequently out of it today
Alright, so we get to the place and go to the locker room…Ah yes, a lovely place to start the embarrassment. Well...basically, I stuffed a bunch of stuff (mine and other peoples) into a locker, paid the quarter and then learned it was out of order (there was a big sign on the front...I Am Very Tired)...then I put it in another one, but locked it wrong and wasted a quarter, so I had to put it in another one...not the best story of the day...it just started me out on the wrong foot.
So I went to the kiddy pool, and in my state of tiredness, proceeded to fall a couple times from the couple inch high drop-offs that are apparently obvious.
So I went to the water slide. Now, I was wearing a tee-shirt over my suit to promote maximum modesty at day camp. Apparently, that wasn’t as good as an idea as I thought. I went down; on my back of course because I am cool, and about 15 feet to the bottom of the slide, I stopped (the resistance from my shirt being too much). There I was. I good see the lifeguards, they could see me. I could see people from my group, they could see me. So I did what any dignified person would do…I pushed myself down the rest of the way and graceful glided into the water.
After conquering the water slide, I went on to the hot tub. Now again, I am blind. I see a five-inch wall, a gap for the run-off and then another five-inch wall. I play out the logics and decide that you must have to jump into the hot tub…so I did. I made quite the splash – a near cannonball – and apologize to the people around (it was quite crowded everywhere there that day) and then the lifeguard comes over. Great. She points me to the path where you can, quite nicely, walk gradually into the hot tub. Oops. So I sit there, and then a few seconds later, another lifeguard comes over and says something – I couldn’t hear her though because it was so loud, so I just figured she wanted us out, so myself and the two kids that were with me, got out. (Turns out people from day camps weren’t allowed in…but I think they just hate me for doing a cannonball in the hot tub! :) )
So I move on to the high diving board. Now again, I am blind. Plus, I don’t really prefer heights so that is not really fun. However, I love a good adrenaline rush and new challenges, so I figure I will just tackle the high dive and move on (I guess I forgot what kind of day I was having!). I did a successful dive, a cannonball and then went up for round number three; another dive. Woohoo. I am pumped for this one. I wait for my turn patiently, yet anxiously. My fear of heights makes me want to get off quickly, so I figure I shall run (or at least shuffle) and dive. Now again, I am blind and the greenish board blended in far too well with the water providing a very bad situation for me, the very blind girl. So I take off, shuffle shuffle shuffle and …… JUMP…… except when you are diving, you stay closer to the board then when you are jumping…plus…in my anxiousness, I believe I dove about a foot too soon because on my way down, thwack, thwack, the very springy board smashed into my legs (at least twice), providing quite the crippling effect. Now, when you are in the diving position, it is quite difficult to get out of that position. So, in the impact on the water and from some reenactments, I believe I flew in the air and hit the water like an upside-down cannonball. (Yes, you may laugh, I haven’t stopped laughing since it happened). Considering the gracefulness that so normally surrounds me, this dive was quite…nice.
So, I proceeded to sit in the kiddy pool, 19 years old, with my legs up, ice packs on, quite embarrassed. I then had to go fill out an accident report and confess my age to which I said…"I’m 19…I’m 19!!!" thoroughly ashamed at my complete lack of skill…and how the injury occurred…"I went off the high dive. I dove. That’s all."
There you have it. Five humbling experiences in one afternoon. A very nice reminder to myself that I am definitely no better than anyone else.
Life as We Know It
I am going to make an assumption, since I am not yet a household name, that those who read this blog have a fairly general understanding, at least, of who I am. So, to keep things brief, 'Hello.' I used to blog in college, mostly to pass the time and procrastinate, but I find something calming about writing, even if it is just for myself (which this likely will be!). I find that when you write - whether it be a blog, journal, email, letter or even the to-do lists I am so fond of - you articulate your thoughts so much better, because you have to! If I sit at home and decide not to come to turns with reality, then, eventually, you can do just that. When you put your words down on paper (or a screen), you MUST formulate your thoughts. Whether you are expressing yourself logically, dramatically or creatively, you must gather your thoughts eventually. Even a sudden outburst can be very telling!
My piece of advice today, for myself, and my mother (because I know that she, at least, will read this) - Use your words wisely. :) Each time I browse Facebook and Twitter, I come across so many posts (hopefully not often my own) and think, "You will wish you could take that back someday, maybe someday soon." But alas, the internet does not forget - I can still find the silly blog posts I wrote six years ago. I am far too guilty of the aforementioned 'sudden outburst,' I am just thankful that they aren't all written down on public forums for all to see. No less crippling, to myself or those the words were spoken to, but at least I can reflect and repent more privately.
After that small reflection and very uplifting first post, I will pause and leave you wanting more. :) I promise to keep things interesting, at least until Jackson can talk. Then, he can take over my blog with his funny remarks, and I can retire early. I fear, already, that I allowed myself to ramble (a common friend of mine), so I will be off.
Happy Thursday!
My piece of advice today, for myself, and my mother (because I know that she, at least, will read this) - Use your words wisely. :) Each time I browse Facebook and Twitter, I come across so many posts (hopefully not often my own) and think, "You will wish you could take that back someday, maybe someday soon." But alas, the internet does not forget - I can still find the silly blog posts I wrote six years ago. I am far too guilty of the aforementioned 'sudden outburst,' I am just thankful that they aren't all written down on public forums for all to see. No less crippling, to myself or those the words were spoken to, but at least I can reflect and repent more privately.
After that small reflection and very uplifting first post, I will pause and leave you wanting more. :) I promise to keep things interesting, at least until Jackson can talk. Then, he can take over my blog with his funny remarks, and I can retire early. I fear, already, that I allowed myself to ramble (a common friend of mine), so I will be off.
Happy Thursday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)