it's about me this time

I love to share photos and stories of my little boy with my family and friends through the blogging world. But I've always been hesitant about sharing too much about myself. I can be pretty private at times online although with my good friends in "real life", however, I can be an open book. I understand the need to vent and, really, no one has a perfect life. But it's always hard to know how words are interpreted, especially online. I also know that people, myself included, yearn for connection and community. This means you have to take risks and open yourself up to sharing with others.


So here are 55 things about myself, you may or may not know:


1. I am an avid reader. I daydream often about spending a weekend or week alone in a beautiful space where I can fully devote myself to reading those stacks of books on my "to read" list that I never get around to doing.
2. I am a multi-tasker when it comes to reading. I am rarely reading just one book.
3. I am religious. I think about religion a lot, but don't share that side of myself with many.
4. I have an aversion to overly commercialized childhoods. I don't judge others for what they choose to do as parents. Certainly if I'd had my way as a small child, I'm sure my allegiance to my favorite characters would have run way deeper than a pair or two of Underoos, Strawberry Shortcake and Cabbage Patch dolls. I'm also not interested in completely sheltering my child from the world around him. He watches Noggin and PBS Kids and Sprout and occassionally Playhouse Disney...all in moderation. But I'm happy to avoid fostering a serious fixation with commercial toys and clothing (and the recitation of movie lines) as long as possible. I'm sure at some point it will all be inevitable.
5. Which also means I don't have a videogame console in my house. (Although, this is also in part due to the fact that I could easily become attached to the Wii or Guitar Hero and I have way too many other things in my life I'd rather accomplish than spending all of my free time trying to ace the expert level on a song.)
6. I love vintage aprons. If I had a lot more free time and a lot more talent, I'd love to make my own.

7. I love vintage children's books, toys, and playthings. I wish the playthings from my childhood were in better condition to resurrect them for my son. Sadly, they were so loved by my siblings and I growing up that not much is left of them in working, decent condition.
8. I love colored glass and small pitchers, swings on front porches, and lush gardens. I especially love fireflies.
9. I adore being a mother. Becoming a mother has been the most amazing journey of my life. If I could have a house full of children, I would. Chances are, I'll only have one. This makes me very sad, but on the other hand, my patience and sanity will not be put to the test the way it would if I really did have a house full of children!!
10. I am pretty free-thinking in many respects. But I am also pretty traditional when it comes to respect, love, and accountability.
11. I live in partial fear of "the teenage years" as a mother.
12. I should mention I was super shy as a child. As an adult I have shy moments, but have come into my own more and definitely have let out the more outgoing, perky, spunkier side of me.
13. I am full of contradictions. I used to think I had to be one way or the other (for instance, one either likes opera or rap, not both. And btw, I'm not really fond of either, just making a point.) Now I know there are many unique, diverging facets to one's self.
14. Speaking of contradictions, I love nature and the urban environment.
15. I love modern, urban design and I love vintage style.
16. I mentioned my aversion to overly commercialized childhoods. But I also love, love, love Disneyland. I haven't been in years, but cannot wait to someday take my boy there!
17. I love music. I wish I had more time to just listen to music with no distractions.
18. I wish I had understood the freedom you have before you are a parent. I don't wish to go back to that, but I wish I had really understood what I had back then - and really put it to use.
19. My family is very important to me. I wish they all lived closer.
20. Since I can remember, I always wanted to be part of a big family with lots of traditions. I greatly treasure my own family and the traditions we have and are building together.
21. I am a single mom. Despite the obvious negatives, there are some benefits. I am grateful everyday for the treasures I do have.
22. I do hope someday I'm not a single mom. But I am blessed either way.
23. It frustrates me when my married friends say "you know, sometimes I'm jealous of you!"
24. I am not a designer, but I have a big interest in design.
25. I have wonderful friendships and feel blessed to have met some of the most wonderful men and women everywhere I've lived!
26. I moved back to my hometown a few years ago. I never, ever thought I'd live here again, but have found it's one of my favorite places.
27. I rarely run into anyone from my childhood in my hometown. This strikes me as kind of odd, but it also makes the town a-new.
28. I'd love to reunite with friends from my childhood. Especially those that are experiencing the journey of motherhood.
29. I have developed a mini shoe obsession in the past 2 years. I never understood this with others until it happened to me.
30. I love to travel and want to travel to India, Costa Rica, Italy, Germany, and Israel someday.
31. Most likely my next travel trips - with child along! - will be to Disneyland and Hawaii.
32. I love the Pacific Northwest. But the months and months of endless gray can really start to get to me.
33. I love the outdoors - camping, hiking, biking.
34. I wish I was more patient.
35. I love working with children. It's the most rewarding job, keeps me on my toes, allows me to be creative, and brings me lots of joy.
36. I am dreaming of saving enough money to buy a digital SLR so I can finally post some decent pictures here rather than fuzzy ones from my Powershot.
37. I love birds - in art, on stationary, in prints, on jewelry, on bags, clothing, you name it.
38. I love to bake, in general, but especially pies. If I could open up a pie shop and make a living, I would.
39. I cannot imagine a world without art.
40. I miss my dad incredibly. He passed away 9 years ago and while it is easier as time goes by, I still miss him like everything. He would have loved my little boy. They are so much alike.
41. I am a workaholic at times. I have to make an effort to take breaks from trying to accomplish everything all the time.
42. I dream of going back to school for my PhD. I'd love to someday direct my career toward research and policy.
43. I believe beauty is everywhere. Sometimes it really is as simple as taking time to stop and smell the flowers. I am also a big romantic.
44. The one dream I had as a small child that I regret letting go - becoming a writer. I haven't even attempted to really write in years and years.
45. I have a giant fear of spiders. Unfortunately, this is one thing I've indirectly taught my child.
46. I am a wannabe runner. I would love to be able to run a marathon someday, but will settle for a half-marathon.
47. I love basketball (go Hoosiers!) and baseball. Football is growing on me.
48. I believe being involved in one's community is so important. I love having a community-oriented career and have a hard time not signing up to volunteer for everything!
49. I wish I'd never stopped playing violin or taking piano lessons.
50. I'm terribly afraid of heights.
51. I love strawberries. Not just a little, a lot.
52. I can be sarcastic, silly, and have a quirky sense of humor.
53. I don't mind getting shots at the doctor's.
54. I loved college and graduate school. If I could, I'd be a forever student. I feel bliss just walking on university campuses.
55. I think you don't have to have a reason to have fresh flowers in your house.

tuesday

I have not been great at blogging as much as I'd like to. It has been such a busy Autumn for me. Trips to Washington, parties, conferences/classes for work, and now we are in the process of moving. I'd love to think we'd be done with the move before Thanksgiving, but it will likely continue a few weeks after that until things are really settled. Marek has been so helpful during all of this. He's such a good little boy. He loves being involved in any way he can. He has also been good at keeping busy playing while some of the grunt work gets done. I'll be glad when this process is over! I also have his 5th birthday party to start thinking about. It seems like we just got done with the Halloween party and now it's time for another!



And then Christmas is right around the corner. This is my favorite time of year. I wish I could stretch it out over many more months! I'm taking the first week of December off from work to devote entirely to Christmas decorating, baking, and preparation. Hopefully then we can just relax and enjoy the rest of the season fully!

Last week my work sent me to Seattle for training. I love the Puget Sound and part of me really misses living there. I love the city and feeling part of a bigger pulse. I miss having the opportunity to see shows, art, and events that only a bigger city can attract all throughout the year. I have daydreams about living in an urban loft. I especially miss some of my friends from that area. But I do not miss the traffic and the congestion...and the pollution and the crime. I was raised in a small college town and a small part of me never fully adjusts to major metropolitan areas...although I do love them a lot.

It has been windy and rainy here today. I am excited for cold weather, warm hats and scarves, getting cozy by the fire, the smells of cinnamon and ginger and fresh pine, and the possibility of snow. Maybe I'll be able to return to the mountain again this year for some snow action!

fire safety day

Cutest little hero. Checking out the ride in a firetruck. We toured the station and watched them put out a fire or two.

coming out of the dark

I haven't had a chance to post here in awhile because the flu of some sort hit my house this past week. Marek's fever only lasted a few days, but I fought with the germs for the entire week. In fact, even though I'm on my way back to health, I'm still achy, wiped out of energy and congested. Ugh.


The week before Halloween, however, was terrific! Marek had his first Halloween party, which I now plan to make an annual event. I LOVE entertaining.  I love throwing parties of all kinds - baby showers, birthday parties, seasonal/holiday parties, for kids, for adults, whomever. Just love it. He had six of his friends and their parents over the afternoon/evening before Halloween to socialize, play, make Halloween crafts, eat pizza, and have cake and/or cupcakes.

Did I say cake? Here is the cake I made:

I sewed Halloween napkins for all of the kids to take home and I made these owl cans for a toss-the-bean-bag game for the kids.

And here is the most peaceful pirate in town:

He's really trying to make a "sad pirate face" in that photo.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous for most of the week, and luckily Marek was well soon enough to enjoy the sunshine and leaves over at his Grandma's house before the rain set in.

Every time I post photos I always come to the realization that I need a new camera. My point-and-shoot Canon PowerShot is fine for everyday shots and actually takes pretty good short video clips...but I'm not a big fan of it overall. I always get red-eye. Sigh. The images are never as crisp as I'd like. I'd really like to invest in a DSLR... Nikon or Canon? What do you use?

October Memories

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

beautiful boy

A sampling of photos of my beautiful boy by a great photographer! Samantha of Park Avenue Photography in Gig Harbor...she's wonderful!

Our portrait

I mentioned that we had had a photo session recently, right?

Actually, you can see a small selection of the photos that Samantha took here. This awesome portrait of Marek and me above, though, is one of my favorites. :)

Pumpkin Patch

One of my favorite traditions of autumn is the annual pumpkin patch trip. This year we're likely to be heading to the pumpkin patch three times. We've already ventured to one in Washington. Next week is the preschool trip and another one is sure to take place at our favorite local farm. I admit, I go a little crazy around this time of year when it comes to holiday and seasonal celebrations. Love them! I'm also planning a Halloween party for my boy. Recent fun at the first pumpkin patch:

Carpenter Boy

My life has been very busy this autumn, and I'm falling behind on the blogging world and keeping up with photos and posts! My laptop took a dive a few weeks ago and until it is repaired, my time online is limited. Some early fall memories to share:

Wacky Birthday

One of M's classmates had a birthday party this weekend at Wacky Bounce, a place full of these giant inflatable playthings. And the kids had a great time!

 

 

 

Sigh

I just love my new boots. If you ever need new rubber boots, I can't recommend Hunter enough!

 

The Beach is Worth the Climb

I've come down with something and am not feeling too well today, so I'll just post some recent photos, make some hot tea, and then head straight to bed!

music for my day

Friendships that Inspire Me

I met Joanna the second day of my college career. She lived in the dorm room next to mine and struck up a conversation. From the very start it felt like talking to someone I'd known forever. She was wise beyond her years, understated, funny as can be, brilliant, considerate, caring, sensitive and conscientious. I always thought of her as an "old soul". We bonded over class schedules, music, crazy and brilliant professors, ballet class, Beverly Hills 90210 nights, dorm food, broken hearts, road trips, and more. She has always been someone of great integrity who never felt like she had to change who she was just to fit in. We became roommates, shared weekly trips to Farrell's for ice cream, stayed up all night talking, tried to build our life plans. We both spent part of our junior year abroad. I headed to London and she to Jerusalem. I studied art history and she was fascinated with archaeology. We met up during our spring break together. She flew to London and we took an incredible trip to Scotland and the Netherlands. After we graduated from college, we both moved to separate cities and stayed in touch not nearly as often as I would have liked. But she's always been one of those friends where it doesn't matter if I just saw her yesterday or if it has been 10 years...there's no awkwardness or anything. Just familiarity. Over the years between college and now I'd get an occassional email from her from all over the world. Thailand. Zimbabwe. Darfur. Boston. She was in the Peace Corps and has worked in some of the world's most devastated areas doing humanitarian work. My life has taken a much different route. But whenever I hear from her, she is a huge inspiration to me. I only wish I could make the impact on the world that she has and will in her lifetime.

I recently saw her at her wedding this summer. It had been so long since we'd really talked, and weddings are always the hardest events to try and catch up at. It was a beautiful wedding. But bittersweet, as during the reception her stepfather had a heart attack and she (being a newly graduated nurse practioner) had to give him CPR until the paramedics came. A grueling amount of time went by in that period of waiting. It was surreal. At one of the most joyous events of one's life, how did it happen that something so tragic occurred? Why did it have to be the bride who was the only one there who could respond? But of course it was her. She saved his life, my amazing friend. And now I just received a letter from her that she and her husband are off to help save lives in Sudan. I anxiously await to hear more of her life story, as it always inspires me to do more with my own.

to nurture

I just ran across this quote online and it can be applied just as easily to motherhood:

"I have come to a frightening conclusion.

I am the decisive element in the classroom.

It is my personal approach that creates the climate.

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis

will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or de-humanized."

-Haim Ginott

I know I want to be the best mother I can be to my little boy - now, as he grows, and forever. I want to be his source of comfort, security, the one solid thing he can always count on. It is easy to get caught up in all of the other responsibilities and stressors in our adult lives, but raising our children is the most important job we'll ever know.

You have to pour love into a child, never ceasing. Love them and respect them or they will never grow up to love and respect themselves or others.

What an amazing responsibility.

ice cream days

Days spent with sun warming our bodies

Summertime ice cream cooling our thoughts

As we pause from splashing in the water

Taking a break from all that is routine

To do something so ordinary as this

That which renews our spirit

Providing memories and laughs

Life is good!