Where Did This Little Beauty Come From?

I don't remember planting it, I've never seen it before. And yet, here it is, in my weedy, rangy, struggling, clay-heavy flower bed. It's entirely possible that I planted it, and then gave up on it when it struggled and didn't do anything, so I forgot about it. Nevertheless, here it is. A gorgeous dark purple columbine, peeking up right were I can see it through my front door. What a treat!

Nerdy: The Next Generation

Uncle Martin is Jonah's new favorite person. One first-born geek to another.

Sometimes I Forget...

...that work can be play.




I've never liked to have Jonah (or any small child) helping with the dishes. Of all things, that drives me nuts. I try to always give Jonah opportunity to help and I like for it to be fun for him so that he can be learning that work is not horrible drudgery. But the dishes? Dishes are for me. I have a system. It's a somewhat meditative job that I don't like to have broken by a sloshy mess and bumping elbows and stolen dishrags. I just want to get the job done.

I have a bad habit of missing the forest for the trees. What's more important in my day? My getting my work done, or my teaching my child how to work cheerfully?

Since we got a dishwasher, however, the dish load is not the only thing lightened. It's also made it far easier for me do dishes with Jonah. It's become a morning routine for us to unload and begin reloading the dishwasher together while listening to Alexander Scourby's Bible reading on tape.

When there are extra dishes that need washing, there are usually not very many, so I don't feel the pressure to "just get it done." I can wash the more difficult things and then let Jonah wash a few things while I work on something else nearby. That way we don't have to be doing the same thing at the same time, but I can still supervise and he gets to have a little fun in the dishwater. Yeah, the dishes don't necessarily get totally clean or rinsed, but it's more about the process than the result.



While having a 5 year-old do dishes can be a little aggravating, I have to admit that it would never occur to me to make the suds shoot out of a funnel like a volcano. I'm so much about "getting the job done" that I would have slopped that thing through the sink, rinsed it, and tossed it up to dry without even seeing the hilarious potential.

On "Knowing"

I get asked all the time.

Usually by complete strangers, or new acquaintances, or people I don't know well at all.

They all want to know, and seem to act as though I should.



Do I know whether my baby is a boy or a girl?



It's sometimes very hard for me to swallow my snarky replies. In fact, sometimes I don't (but I usually try to be polite...).

"Do you know what you're having?"
Me: "Yep! Pretty sure it's a baby!"

or

"Is it a boy or a girl?"
Me: "One of those!"

or

"So... what is it?"
Me: "It ain't a puppy!"



I understand that most people do find out at an ultrasound (at least, it seems like "most people" to me). And I'm certainly not judging those who do-- if you want to, fine! Do it! I've never had the opportunity, so I've never even considered the possibility.

But I'm glad of that, because I really do love the surprise. Sometimes I feel like I'm just dying to know-- but I'll find out soon enough and when I do it will be so much fun! When Jonah was born, I absolutely loved the moment that I "caught" him myself and held him and it seemed like several minutes went by before I even checked! No one announced it for me-- I got to find out for myself. It was fantastic.

I don't ever want to spoil that moment.

I understand if others want to know ahead of time. But somehow, I still find it surprising that it's that commonplace to "find out" and that it even seems to be expected! I guess it just doesn't seem to me that I should know yet. It seems... unnatural. And I like natural. I'm all crunchy and granola and stuff, you know.

Yes, I will admit that I also find the question just slightly invasive. Why is that the first thing that a complete stranger asks me? But then, I have personal space issues anyway. I'm also not a big fan of random hands on my belly, but I guess I just have to grin and bear it.

I guess I just have to keep telling people that I am relishing the anticipation.

And He Turned 5

My sweet little baby boy turned 5 yesterday.

What? He's not a baby anymore? Huh. I thought he was, just a couple days or so ago...

Anyway, he's 5.

And we had a party, of course. Birthday parties are fun. And... tiring. I'm really tired.

(Please excuse the poor photos in this post. Of all things, you'd think a birthday party would be an important event for decent photography, but action shots in low light are NOT my forte.)


As is fitting for a 5th birthday, enormous volumes of spaghetti were consumed by all.




Jonah had requested a solar system cake, and I gave it my best shot. It may not be perfectly neat (piping all that frosting made my well-built, goat-milking hand ache), but I think it was a pretty fun cake!





I made him name all the planets before they were eaten.




Jonah told his Oma and Opa on the phone "Hi! I'm five and I had a solar system! Okay, bye, I gotta go open presents!"




The other kids made Jonah a birthday crown and a beard, because, of course, he's old.

Heh. Clever, I thought.

Jonah had lots of help opening presents, of course.


But the best part is the help opening all those pesky anti-theft packages! I didn't have to touch a single one this time.





The aftermath this morning is intense, and I haven't even bothered to think about cleaning up yet. I will. As soon as I pry my butt off this couch.

One thing I'm grateful for is that I can go on light-entertainment duty since Jonah has lots to keep him occupied...



...like making the knights from Grandma duke it out on castle turrets.

Except I'm being required to answer a whole heap of knight questions.


Oh, and by the way, we did get the Lego plane finished. (Though, I generally avoid toys that involve me playing with them, I made an exception... just this once.)

Uh-oh...

We have Legos in our house.

Duck and cover. Crazy Momma ahead.



(Birthday pictures coming soon... if we ever get this Lego plane finished.)

Pre-birthday Oops

I just wanted to whip up a quick batch of cupcakes to take with us to Story Time at the library tomorrow. Thought it would be fun to share a treat for Jonah's birthday.




Um yeah. Let's just say I don't make cake very much. And I have a whole birthday cake to bake tomorrow...

Oh well. They're edible, right? Sort of.

Chocolate frosting covers a multitude of cake sins. Right, Mom?