January.

I've really noticed lately how much weather affects our daily lives. Maybe it's the fact that we can't control it but our activities and plans depend so heavily on its outcome that makes me notice it. Maybe it's just the omnipresent fear of being cooped up with a cranky, teething toddler forever teetering on the edge of boredom that will make you check the forecast and wonder if the park, or just a stroll in the woods, is an option. Either way, this time of year has always been a very love/hate relationship of mine.

Honestly, I believe things are just more complicated in the winter. More clothes to keep track of, less day light means more workout planning, less fresh fruits and veggie options for quick and healthy snacks, and need I even mention how sick and tired I am of everyone being so sick and tired?

Not to say that the winter months don't have their importance. I love snow. And fires, and low key movie watching nights. And sweaters, and moonlight that just seems brighter this time of year. The clear, crisp run I went on last night through the fields in the snow covered grass makes the 30 minute coats/shoes/hats/gloves gear up time seem worth it.

We've actually had a pretty good mix of warm and cold so far. Parks and chilly hikes. And breaking in our new home.

 

Birthday Fail.

"What is that smell?"

Never something you want to say at 4am when the power is off due to a 100 year storm and you've just let your dog back into the house after discovering her fighting with a critter outside. And not just any critter. I think the skunk has spent the better part of the last millennia perfecting the spray it unleashes on its victims. So Bailey, having pissed this thing off sufficiently, corralled it by the deck. Where it sat. For the day. I honestly believe she thought she was giving me a birthday present.

"You know what's awesome when the power is off and a skunk has decided to camp out under your house? 110 freaking degrees".

So I left. I had plans to run with some friends in the morning which turned into a local tour of the devastation that the storm had brought. Two lives lost, countless homes and trees damaged, thousands without power. We wouldn't get ours back for six days. We are lucky to have a generator at least and cold showers are actually kind of refreshing when it's a hundred humid degrees outside.

When I got home, Dave was filling the kiddie pool (haha, I just wrote poop instead of pool...seems fitting these days) because he's a genius. So much splashing.

Our afternoon plans got cancelled but we made the most of it by crashing Jenny and Shawn's house for a cookout and AC.

There are two things I usually try and do on my birthday no matter what else is going on.  1) Have my favorite beer.  2) Notice the sunset.  We found it on the way home.

Then, after the kiddos FINALLY went to sleep, Dave surprised me with the cake he was planning on serving at our canceled party...

Haha, it was an ice cream cake.  And had melted without power.  It was the most fitting ending to the day and I really loved that moment.  Eating melted birthday cake in the dark and heat, Dave was so upset but I couldn't stop laughing.  Here's to 31, from how it began, it looks to be a pretty crazy year!

Welcome, summer. Stay as long as you like.

Summertime has always meant a few things to me:  bare feet on a grassy pavilion listening to amazing music, cool beer on a patio cooking out with friends, storms over Lake Erie, tubing down the James, long days best utilized by staying up late gardening or swinging in the hammock, sunsets on Ridge Road, blazing heat in road training. 

Reading through that list, I probably won't get to do many of those things this year.  But I will get to see my family splashing in kiddie pools and playing in the grass.  I will get to watch Rowan and Avery roll around in only diapers, their baby fat rolls and bums bringing a laugh to Dave's face.  I will get to finally squeeze in a few date nights with my amazing husband, maybe strolling a little together like we did before babies. 

As so many things are an example of these days, our lives have certainly changed.  And while those changes are definitely intimidating in their finality, I'm becoming so very aware of the countless incredible memories we're making as a family. 

I can't even describe how excited I am about this summer.  When I was on bed rest.  When we were in the hospital.  When we were in the NICU.  When we were on house lockdown.  The whole time I kept saying to myself:  just make it to June.  Just wait for the leaves to turn green.  Just wait for the flowers, the sunshine, the warmth.  I am happy to report that it was worth the wait, and so much more.

This weekend was a fantastic start. 

A forced slow down.

Any runner will admit, if only to themselves, that when they get to a stop light and the cross walk turns red, they're secretly relieved. Take a breather, stretch it out, refocus. Unless you're one of those who actually competes to win (and I mean more than your age group in a local charity 5k), the required break isn't really an option. So you might as well enjoy it.

Kids are like that I think. Like breaks for your life. Yes, you're very busy but it's with the details. The overall picture slows down and you start to enjoy the process again. It's hard to be anywhere on time. Add two infants and I've started using "ish" a lot when describing our plans. As soon as you make peace with the idea that a 4 hour trip to town solely to get milk is how you will spend your afternoon, the important things become a little more obvious. It's definitely taken some emotional adjusting, and I absolutely still rebel at the inefficiency but making your daily agendas about having fun along the way and not just checking off a to-do list can be, if you let it, pretty freeing. Our weekends used to fill up months in advance. Now we actually have conversations about what we'd like to do that day.

It took two kids and over a year but I feel like I'm letting go. A little. :)

"What do you want to do this afternoon."
"How about a walk."
"Perfect."

 

3.14.12

I appreciated:  new walking routes.
I could have done without:  work stress.
I learned:  3.14 is apparently pie day.  I'll have apple.
I noticed:  babies in the hammock.

3.13.14

I appreciated:  adult discussion.
I could have done without:  being yelled at for 5 hours.
I learned:  left handed tubs vs. right handed tubs.
I noticed:  my pillow.

3.12.12

I appreciated:  Dave.
I could have done without:  neighborhood sad news.
I learned:  quicksand is formed by upward flowing water or earthquakes.
I noticed:  view from the other side of the farm.

3.11.12

I appreciated:  a perfect balance of productivity, relaxation, and company.
I could have done without:  the usual.
I learned:  the moon is between 356,400 and 406,700 kilometers from the earth.
I noticed:  Rowan's first belly laugh.

3.10.12

I appreciated:  overly generous mama friends.
I could have done without:  springing forward tonight.
I learned:  banana baby food is good in the freezer for 30 days.
I noticed:  morning.

3.9.12

I appreciated:  pesto.
I could have done without:  monotony 
I learned:  sled dogs have a specific whine for polar bear warnings.
I noticed:  how quiet the house can be.