morning, noon, night

morning

 

 

noon 

night 

My days home now aren't any different than my days home before.  But somehow they feel different. 

They seem longer.  With more to do, certainly.  But also with the freedom to let something go until tomorrow if I want.  (That means you laundry baskets heaping over with clothing waiting to be folded.)

Our time definitely has been spent doing some of the favorite things we've always done.  But I've been trying out some new routines and responsibilities too.

Thank you all for your affirming comments about these big changes I am experiencing, it is so good to know there are other Mamas out there cheering me on.  The sweet Erica, from Warm as Pie, left a comment that she is still adjusting to a similar change even months later.  How good to know that it is okay for this transition to take some time.

Because I imagine it will.  Which is just fine with me.

As long as I can put off laundry until tomorrow.

re-inventing

Buddy, just new to the world. 

Years ago while on maternity leave when my oldest was born, I felt a seismic shift within.  From woman to mother.  When asked, I would always respond that I felt like I had re-invented myself those weeks after the birth of my son.

Re-invented.

So not quite starting from scratch, but that all important RE.  Re-designing. Re-discovering.  Re-creating.  Never in my life had so much changed in such a small window of time.

Until now.

I find I am again re-inventing myself.

I've recently made the decision to be home full time.  Ever since becoming a mother I've worked part time in a profession I love, pretty capably balancing a significant amount of time at home and a significant amount of work too.  Always feeling brilliant that I could be both stay at home and in a career.  But part of my discovering these past nine months has included serious thought about how that balance has shaped and formed our family life.  And how that schedule leaves, or really doesn't leave, any time for me to pursue some new dreams.  I'm 40 after all.  I definitely want to pursue some new, and creative, dreams.

This decision has brought with it changes in child care relationships, school arrangements and daily and weekly routines and rhythms.  So much is new.

I've begun cooking.  Really.

Hubby is also starting a new job.

Oh, and in case you are just tuning in, I will become a mother of four in the spring.  Four!  I've just gotten used to three! 

So, yes, I am again feeling that seismic shift.  Though this time I recognize it coming.  And I want to re-invent myself with the very best of what I am, and the very best of what I can become.

Becoming Claudine.

this moment {sunshine and sunglasses}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are savoring this week!

Wishing you a glorious weekend!

art

We have some artists in this family.  Artists who make alot of artwork.  A.LOT.  I've written quite a bit about my creative kids.  If you visited us today you would find art in most rooms, the photos above are just a sampling. 

Recently the lovely MJ asked if I keep everything.  And, yes, yes I do.  Here is the story.

Early on, with only one young artist creating work at the time, I began filling three-ring binders with plastic sleeves and saving the artwork so that it could be viewed like a book whenever he wanted.  The reality is that once several notebooks were filled, and taking up precious shelf space, I still had piles of artwork being created daily.  I realized that soon, there would simply be too many notebooks, and not enough shelf.  And the notebooks couldn't contain the growing collection of larger creations and projects that were three dimensional.

My attempts at recycling some pieces had only been marginally successful because my oldest son likes to save all of his work.  Some things that I recycled on my own, he would sometimes remember and ask about later.  Oh my.

So, yes, I keep everything.  I simply stash it all in big plastic bins, stacked in the basement.  I know it isn't ideal, but it works for now anyway.  I figure when the kids are older we can sort it together and each pick our favorite pieces to keep.   When that time comes I will get that precious time travel that comes with remembering my children at younger ages.

So all of this art has me, and Hubby too, daydreaming of a room we can make the art studio.  I don't think it will happen in this house, it is a bit too cozy for that.  But oh, I think I will know our next house when I see it.  I am able to imagine that bright, open art studio for the kids.  And me too.

In the meantime, I want my artists to keep creating.  So I will do my best to keep these simple art supply shelves organized.  I'll keep the tape close at hand for mounting.  And I really should buy a couple big bins the next time I am in Target.

~ updated ~

A book I wanted to mention that has helped form my thinking about nurturing young artists is the very gorgeous Hands: growing up to be an artist by Lois Ehlert.  Check it out at your library or buy a copy of your own to cherish.  You won't regret it!

simply ten {inspired by Soulemama}

Inspired by Soulemama's post this morning and her prompt to "give it a go," here are simply ten good things:

~ bright mums bringing fresh color to the flower beds
~ new art projects, always in the making
~ a few extra minutes for snuggling before kids fall asleep
~ apple slices in warm caramel
~ sunshine after days of rain
~ a brisk feel to the air as fall arrives
~ trying some new recipes
~ the fun of sharing exciting news here yesterday
~ mud-covered rain boots
~ a beautiful day ahead to fill with goodness

So you, you give it a go now.  Tell us your ten, or two, or twelve simply good things.

and why I haven't been hanging at this water cooler much

I've been a bit busy.

Going to bed early.  Sometimes right after dinner.

Sneaking naps.

Eating steak.  Lots of steak.  Sometimes at 11:00 pm.

Squeezing into drawstring yoga pants.

And not being propped up by coffee, or chocolate.  Oh my.

All of this, my friends, can only mean one thing for me.

I'm expecting.

Happily.  In a very tired and always hungry sort of way.  Ahem.

So our days have also become sprinkled with questions about umbilical cords and the auditory capabilities of a baby in a belly.  "Yes, the baby can hear what you are saying."

There is daily brainstorming by Buddy of names I might like.   "Hmmm, that's a neat name, Buddy.  Though I don't think I would name our baby after a character from Phineas and Ferb."

There is the giggling at pictures of how a baby in a belly looks at 8 weeks old.  "Yes, it does sort of look like an alien."

This time around has a whole new kind of fun with it.  Kids who realize that a new little person will be joining us, so they keep asking when.  "After Halloween, and Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and New Years and Valentine's Day.  And most likely after St. Patrick's Day too."

Which right now seems far away.  But I know will come in a blink.  So, good thing Buddy's list of names gets longer each day.

he says

Ever since this kid was little, he has kept me laughing.  And on my toes, ahem.

Early on, I knew.  Just take a look at that hair.  All too much I say.

And the toes.  This is hide and seek with my Munchkin.

He has never been afraid to let me know when enough pictures are enough.
And when he doesn't mind a good photo shoot.

He has always had fashion flair, that one.

Right now the fashion is soccer socks pulled up to his thigh.  I say go for it, no need for sweatpants when it gets cold my son.

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to dress up.  We have dozens of costumes.  He wears them all.  Sometimes in public.

Which is where he discovered his superhero power of "opening" the door at Target.  (Notice the fashion flair of soccer shirt with the number facing forward, so he can see it.)

Recently, he has had me laughing with some things he says:

He says:  "meat bulbs"
Translation:  meatballs, as in "I don't want meat bulbs with my spaghetti."

He says: "Maim"
Translation: Ma'am, as in "Here is your coffee and soup Maim," usually said during imaginative play.

He says:  "Noctober"
Translation: October, as in "Mom, is Noctober the day after when we wake up?"

He says:  "Be End."
Translation: The End, as in "Be End!" Said with a flourish when finishing, then closing a book.

I can't correct him.  For I know that all too soon he will say meatballs and ma'am and October and The End and so many other words exactly how they are meant to be said. 

There is good reason that Munchkin has not one, but two, blog labels.  I just hope he never stops making me laugh.  Or keeping me on my toes, most of the time.