Digging in the dirt

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Bare feet. Warm sun on my back. Ready and eager assistant by my side (holding the garden hose is, of course, his favorite job). Out to our tiny patch of soil we go. It’s not much, just a sunny corner of our postage stamp lot. And we don’t claim to be master gardeners; we probably have almost as many failures as we do successes! But, there is just something about bringing to the table something that you grew yourself. Like it nourishes not just your physical body, but a little bit of your soul as well.

There are many reasons to garden: to save a few dollars on food (although many of us probably don’t if we really do the math! ;) ), to know what is in and on your food, for exercise, because it tastes better (ever had a sun-warmed tomato fresh from the vine? Oh. My!), because it is fresher, because you want your children to know where food comes from and have a greater connection to the earth…

But probably the greatest reason, for me at least, is this: the warm sun on my back and my helper by my side. The fresh air, the sunshine, the squeal of delight when the first strawberry of the season is discovered (and promptly eaten!), the anticipation with which the apple tree’s progress is checked and measured daily, catching the scent of lavendar and mint on a sudden breeze, the feel of the moist, sun-warmed earth beneath my bare feet. Gardening for the love of gardening. Ahhh…

Our garden this year:

This year we are already enjoying lettuce and a few strawberries, loads of mint (did you know it is considered highly invasive? ;) , and chives. And we are looking forward to tomatoes, apples, carrots, beets, peppers, kholrabi, swiss chard, beans, sunflowers and acorn squash. Oh, and enjoying a sweet surprise as we learned that the tree that spouted up in the corner of the yard a couple years ago turned out to be a mulberry!

What are you growing this year?

Mom

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I had this post all written up for Mother’s Day, but didn’t get around to posting it amidst all the hustle and bustle of a wonderful Mother’s Day with Stephen’s family. I almost decided just to skip it since It’s so late, but you know what? This is my blog, and I can post three days late if I want to:)

I don’t think I ever truly appreciated my Mom until one sunny Thursday moring three years ago, at 9:33, when a tiny, sweet miracle was placed in my arms. One look. One moment. I finally got it. This is what it means to love someone with every single bit of your soul, this is the love she feels for me. Not because I deserve it. Not because I was always such a helpful/polite/respectful/obedient/cute/charming child and teenager (although surely I was! ;) ) She loves me simply because I am her child and she is my mother. Suddenly, I was looking back on my childhood through a new lens, recognizing all the moments of selfless, unconditional love tht I all too often took for granted at the time. My mother was and is the most important woman in my life; my teacher, my mentor, my encourager, my cheerleader, my biggest fan, my inspiration, my example, my friend…

Happy mother’s day!

Lately

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Lately:


Savoring the little things like front yard picnics that make the day extra-special.


Enjoying the Local Harvest…


…and his very own icecream money from Grandma


Sweet kisses


A little sewing…


…and intoducing new friends. His name is Patrick, after a baby we met in the doctor’s office waiting room the other day!


I think their going to be great friends :)


Now I need to just let go of the fact that I spent many, many hours making him and just let him be loved by a three-year old, even if that means he gets dirty, and “well worn” with time. That’s what cameras are for, right? :)

Happy Weekend, everyone!

Doll making!

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So, I think I want to be a doll maker when I grow up! Or at least that is the latest thing I have added to my already lengthy and ever growing list ;)

I first started looking for a doll for Miles when I was pregnant, and quickly decided that a department store doll was not for me. Lots of frilly pink (not that there is anything wrong with boys and pink…), lots of not-so-cuddly plastic, and all the same. I did find him an old (as in older than me!) Cabbage Patch doll at a yardsale that is pretty cool, and “Baby” has received lots of love over the past several months, but what I really wanted was a handmade doll. I drooled over the many gorgeous one-of-a-kind handmade dolls on Etsy, but they were well out of my price range, so I timidly started toying with the idea of making my own. Well, my first “practice” doll is finished, so without further ado, meet Amos:

Isn’t he adorable?!? I have to say, I really impressed myself :) Not that he’s perfect. There are a few things I will change for the next one (already in progress!) but for my very first doll ever? Not too shabby!

He’s a Waldorf inspired doll. Made with all natural materials; cotton interlock skin, cotton clothes, wool stuffing and hair. I started with the Little Amigo pattern from the book Growing up Sew Liberated but it needs a bit more tweaking before I am totally pleased. Like shorter arms for starters…

Well, I’m off to crochet another doll wig! Oh my, this could get very addictive…

Six Months

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The day Ezekiel was born (SIX months ago next week! Where does the time go?!?) was probably the most nerve-wracking day of my life. We knew our son would be born with a congenital brain disorder- Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum- but we didn’ know what, if any associated conditions he might have, or how it might complicate his delivery. Add to that the fact that he decided to make his entrance five weeks earlier than expected, and you can imagine that I was quite a mess! Much of my memory of the day is a blur, but the one moment that is etched in my mind was the few precious seconds I got to hold him before he was whisked away to the NICU. I have never been more terrified in my life, but the moment I looked into those deep blue eyes I knew: everything was going to be okay. There was still so much I didn’t know at the time, and really still don’t know, but I just knew that this fiesty little boy was going to be be okay.

Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum is such a strange disorder- the way it affects some so mildly they would never know they were missing an entire structure of the brain but for some MRI images while others battle difficult developmental, social, and cognitive challenges their entire lives. I try to look at Zeke and just see my little boy, but it’s hard not to wonder what challenges may lie ahead for him. I try to avoid comparing him to what I remember Miles doing at six months, or what other babies his age are doing, but at the same time, I want to recognize any potential areas where he may need extra support now, while he is still young. Like I said, there is still so much we don’t know…

But what I do know is that at 6 months old, Ezekiel is a happy, vibrant, amazing little boy. His smiles, giggles and coos melt the hearts of everyone who knows him (including, and especially, his Mama!) He loves snuggling, listening to music, playing with different textured fabrics, putting everything into his mouth, and he absolutely adores his big brother. His biggest smiles are always reserved for Miles, and his face lights up anytime brother enters the room. Yes, he seems to be slightly delayed reaching a few of the developmental milestones, but he is also learning new things and making progress daily. He is going to physical therapy two times per week where his therapist is working with him on things like rolling over (he can roll belly to back, but not the other way just yet. Close though!), keeping his head in midline (he likes to keep it cocked to the left), reaching out to grasp toys, and strengthening his overall muscle tone.

What joy this litte guy has brought to our lives!


(Miles thought he needed a hat!)