Gardens, Good Things, and God

With lots and lots of help from David, I was able to accomplish May's goal of getting our garden started. We planted 4 rows of lettuce, 1 row of carrots and have tomato and eggplant seedlings growing on our porch. So far, I've killed one entire row of lettuce by forgetting to add potting mix and sticking the seeds straight in our rocky, clay-like soil. The rest of the garden has survived two hail storm assaults and a week of neglect while we were in Baltimore.

Seedlings!

It's so exciting to come out each day and see plants that have literally grown over night. Caleb enjoys "helping" me water (eg, he's obsessed with the hose) and David is always willing to dig yet another row. It really has been a team effort. It's also reminded me a lot about how growth takes time, patience and nurturing. A good reminder for me in my new role as "mom".

The lettuce is almost big enough to be thinned again

Despite the 90+ degree weather, spring remains in full force in our yard thanks to a wonderful large Maple tree that shelters the smaller bushes from the sun's relentless heat. Red, pink and yellow knock-out roses are in full bloom and making their best effort to take over our back patio, the wisteria survived two rounds of hail and some lovely purple flowers have appeared on an unnamed bush towards the back of the yard.

June is already looking like a busy month with a cook out, a yard sale, a visit from David's brother (woo-hoo!) and a very special first birthday on the horizon. In light of all this, my only "goal" for June is that rather than using these things as a means of avoiding God because I'm "busy", I would spend much needed time in communion with Him.

It's so easy for me to think God's plan for me is to be a "good wife" or "good mom" as if those things are all he created me for. And while those things are wonderful and important, I am made for so much more. Caring for our home and son are just a few means of bringing God honor. When I'm not communing with God, even those things become means of avoiding Him and I miss out on touching base with all the other things He's created me for as well. I forget that my role isn't just to meet my families physical needs, but their spiritual ones as well.

So in this busy season of gardening, farmer's markets, hospitality, birthdays, diapers and dishes- I want to remember that life is about even more than all of these wonderful things.

More Random Mommy Thoughts

Caleb has two speeds:

fast and "can I crawl fast enough to get into trouble before mom stops me?"

He is so smart. He knows several things he is not aloud to touch and if he hears me coming he will kick on what David affectionately calls "the afterburners". If it becomes clear I will intercept him, he immediately changes direction as if to say, "Just kidding, Mom!" I am in big trouble.

Who me?

Motherhood inhibits your ability to decipher certain things. Caleb was in bed. I was feeling lost, cranky, and unsure what to do next. I didn't want to do chores, I didn't want to relax, but there was definitely some unhappy feeling in me that needed attention. Oh yes, I finally recognized it, I am tired. I should take a nap. And I did. Who knew 20 minutes could change the course of the rest of the afternoon?

There is nothing more wonderful than watching a child discover something.

This week I watched Caleb:

clap his hands while standing on multiple occasions.

crawl to a book when I told him to, "go get a book."

practice his new skill of putting toys "up high". In his play pen, on the couch, into mommy's hands. His new favorite game is putting a toy some place that's "up" instead of just dropping it on the floor.

There is nothing more heartbreaking than the "I'm hurt and in pain" cry

Caleb and David were wrestling a couple days ago when Caleb decided it would be a good idea to dive over daddy. The poor guy landed face first into the floor. At first, I thought he was just in pain, but not injured, then I saw blood coming out of his mouth. Instant tummy flip flop.

He'd somehow cut his top gums with his bottom teeth. David had the presence of mind to pull out out the baggie full of frozen corn I keep just for Caleb injuries and I wrapped it in a cold wet wash cloth. After a couple of minutes the bleeding stopped, the crisis was passed, but I wonder if my mommy heart will ever get used to this!

Every week contains so many small memories that are hard to capture in writing. Caleb and I dancing around the living room to toddler friendly tunes, watching the rose buds unfold into full bloom, Caleb throwing his food onto the floor, but eating dirt and leaves, watching him giggle as I tickle him on my lap, family snuggles as we read a few stories together before bed...life as mom certainly has it's challenges, but I don't think I've ever been happier!

11 Things That Change When You're 11 Months Old

If someone asked me to sum up a baby's first year of life in one word, change would definitely be it. This has been a month full of changes and "firsts" I want to remember.

Now that Caleb is 11 months old...

...He's big enough to play at the Roller Rink during toddler time. He had a blast pushing around balls and chasing after bigger kids, who surprisingly, all wanted to share with "the baby".

...He's too big for mommy to carry around all the time so for longer trips he rides in the stroller instead of his preferred method of transport- the baby carrier.

Investigating the stroller

...Finger foods are still for mommy to put in his mouth, but he's begun trying to sign "more".

Yeah, I know I already posted these pictures, but it's just so darn cute!

...If he's happy, and he knows it, he can clap his hands! He loves to clap in the car seat to get mommy's attention and recently began standing and clapping. He also claps when he's done nursing sometimes, it's so precious!

...He can pick out his own books. This month we took our first trip to the library. He loved pulling all the board books off the shelves (which is actually encouraged at our library! They just ask you put them back, but they're not kept in any order).

David reading one of Caleb's favorites

...He's officially attached to his lovey. David sweetly sent me on to Bible study one week while Caleb was crying himself to sleep. We'd already done two check-and-console's. Eventually, David decided he needed to be checked on a third time. Normally when we walk in he is staring at the door, just waiting for us. Instead, he was flat on his tummy, reaching through the bars of his crib to where his lovey was lying on the floor. David said he felt so terrible! He restored the lovey, put a second one in the crib for good measure and didn't hear a peep out of him the rest of the night.

...His receptive language is expanding each week. His new favorite game is "Where's the fan?" He looks right at it every time!

...He's beginning to sleep through the night. For various reasons, I haven't pushed night weaning. He's gradually gone from 3 wake ups/night at 4 months, down to 2 around 6 months, 1 at 8 months and now, for the past two weeks, none at all. I hope I'm not jinxing it by writing about it!

...He can eat dessert. Mommy caved in and gave him his first sweet treat- bits of whole wheat banana muffins I made. He enjoyed mushing each bite we fed him in his mouth, but still stoutly refused to pick any of the pieces up.

Photos from the day he decided to feed himself some banana

...All 6 teeth are here. No more lopsided smile. There are now 4 on top, which came in from left to right and 2 bottom teeth, which came in from left to right also. Maybe it's from all the reading...

You can see the bottom two as he uses his sunshade to play peek-a-boo with mommy on the way home from Baltimore

...He has several new favorite books. The top two at the moment are "Go, Dog, Go" and "Blue Hat, Green Hat". He cracks up when David or I read "Oops!"