Saturday Morning

It's a roller coaster, I say, about almost everything- allergies, schedules, sickness, the kids, motherhood. Up & down, round & round. Unexpected jolts, expected jolts & lots of in between. The laughter, the fear, it's all there, greeting us each new day. Whether or not you have children, whether it's your first or your third child, our emotions are all intertwined. Wrapping us tight in their grasp, holding close, reminding us to make the most of this ride, the ride of our lives.

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A Family Session at the Beach

One Year

"I'm going to be a funny guy," he informed us at the dinner table. That alone resulted in laughter. I remember, as a baby, his expressions and demeanor would make us laugh. He always brought so much happiness. His shyness was always apparent, but so was the desire for smiles, both giving and receiving. He was smiling willingly at only a few weeks old. Well before he was "supposed to." As a toddler, I'd say "he's going to be a class clown." So far, the shyness keeps that prediction from becoming a reality. But not at home. At home, he's really, really funny. It's amazing what you learn from your child in that first year of life. Their characteristics that you know you'll be dealing with for a very long time. The sheer joy that they'll be bringing you, right along with the challenges. It's 365 days of hands-on learning. It's one year of motherhood. 

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One Month

The last two days have been spent mostly homebound, as two of my three battle the nasty cold floating around our island. It's been a fountain of unlimited mucous in these joints, and we're over it. Except for the extra snuggling. That's almost worth the illness. But I'm still considering it the last big sickness of the season. I'll probably be wrong, but I can smell spring and that means summer is not too far away. Like literally right around the corner (I'm looking at you May). Spring isn't really a season here, but this year seems to be making an exception. There are actually things blossoming right now, and my rhubarb looks like it could be harvested in another month. So I'm fantasizing about summer vacation kicking off with good health and good weather. Double whammy. Like those early days of motherhood, when you wonder what happened to the last month of your life, or the last 12-hours of your day. When everything seems to move in a sudden instant, yet drag slowly. It's the perfect twist of emotions, presenting to you the roller coaster that will encompass you now that you are mom. 

Motherhood at one month.

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At Home with Ben and Beate

December Morning

"On the day you were born
the moon pulled on the ocean below,
and, wave by wave,
a rising tide washed the beaches clean
for your footprints...
...while far out at sea
clouds swelled with water drops, 
sailed to shore on a wind,
and rained you a welcome
across the Earth's green lands....

...On the day you were born
the Earth turned, the Moon pulled,
the Sun flared, and, then, with a push,
you slipped out of the dark quiet
where suddenly you could hear...
...a circle of people singing
with voices familiar and clear...
As they held you close
they whispered into your open, curving ear,
'We are so glad you've come.'" - from "On the Day You Were Born" by Debra Frasier