Linky Love

So go read this magical, funny, delightful and beautiful post by my magical, funny, delightful and beautiful friend Deb.....

http://earthmamagoddess.com/2007/02/27/a-family-bed-fairy-tale/

I love this lady (you will too, I promise) !!

Packing Peanuts

When we arrived home (from our journey north to attend a Sonics game with my Dad) on Wednesday there was a rather large and highly anticipated package waiting for us! Inside was the learning tower I had ordered for Maddy so she can help me with dishes, cooking, etc now and as she gets older. The step stool hadn't been working out so well. She kept falling off and it was hard for her to reach things on the counter, so when I saw one of these at my friend's house I knew I had to get one. I got a pretty good deal on one on ebay (hooray ebay!! my secret addiction). So inside was the tower, but the real treasure was the sixty bazillion packing peanuts that came with it! Jackpot!!! She helped daddy tremendously during the assembly process and has been climbing it every chance she gets since. The peanuts got repacked and will come out again on a boring rainy day.....

Seaside

This past weekend we went on a marriage retreat with our church to Seaside. We really wanted to attend the conference and focus on our marriage, but we didn't want to leave Maddy behind because she has never been away from us and is still nursing and doesn't have anybody she knows well enough to stay behind with and not be completely traumatized at night. So we "compromised" and had my parents come down to stay with her during the day at the motel while we were at the conference. That way I could still nurse her for naptime and bedtime and she wouldn't be terrified at night. She knows my parents well enough that (at 17 months) is happy as a clam to spend the day with them and totally forget that Jason and I are not around. This plan went over GREAT with people who "get" how we have chosen to parent. People who don't get it think that we are over-protective nuts. Several of our friends lamented the fact that they don't have support people in their lives to make this happen (they just didn't get to attend the conference at all) and a few parents at the conference who left behind little babies/toddlers expressed wishes they would have had the moxie to break the mold of "leave your kids behind" and follow their hearts and make their kids (and their own sanity) a priority. Every time there was a break about fifty cell phones were whipped out to frantically check on little ones back at home. I bet they couldn't focus at all and some admitted this to me. All in the name of "getting away". Doesn't sound like fun to me! I never once had to think of Maddy or worry because I knew she was in good hands and also knew that if she needed me I could be there in one minute flat. I think there is a LOT of pressure out there to force your kids into early independence and to make the adults' needs/wants the priority. But since for most people this doesn't sit right anyway not matter how often you hear it, it forces parents to go against what is written in their hearts and causes a lot of undue anxiety for everyone. I am thankful we have my parents to count on to help us have the best of both worlds. Here are some photos of the fun they had while we were absorbing some great marriage building advice.

Superbowl 2007 (and a peek from 06)

Maddy took the first half in with a leisurely nap on mama's lap. The second half she took in with a leisurely snuggle on dada's lap. And with Pirate's Booty cheese popcorn to eat... This gal has got it made! (I put in the picture we took at last year's superbowl too... notice a pattern?)

I am feeling a lot better now, but am mostly just tired. Blessed blessed amoxicillin, I can hear again and swallow. Two nice features for daily living. I plan to take a whole bunch of cough medicine and sleep great tonight. wink wink.... I hope Maddy is paying attention to that plan!

while I lay dying

Maddy found the games and puzzles. We are amazed that prior to this week, they had remained untouched and undiscovered. Oh, the joy she has found in this corner of our house! I have since taped the puzzle boxes shut and she seems content (for now) to merely sort and organize the contents of all the board games. This is literally HOURS of fun for her --- which means HOURS of rest for mama behind her on the couch. Definitely worth the chaos!

a typical day

playing with my stacking blocks
folding and unfolding and then stomping around on my tumbling mat
carefully lining up my crayons inside the slats of the heating vent
hard at work with the crayons again

well... it *was* folded in the basket....and refolded and resorted and refolded and resorted...
is this the missing sock mama?
look, I almost fit inside the pot!
look, I can stand on the pot!
look ma, no hands!

On the 8th Day...

God created Antibiotics. My fever is down and the aches are subsiding. It still feels like I swallowed glass and have fiery hot pokers in my ears, but I no longer want to die. Amen to feeling better soon!

February Sucks Hard

Just when I thought it couldn't get worse.... I have been going downhill since Wednesday morning and just got back from the doctor. I have a raging case of strep throat and a double ear infection. I have fever, aches, the whole works. Really fricking sucks. Anybody want to come put me out of my misery? Or take care of a busy toddler while I lay dying on the bed???