Last week I tried something new. I wrote down a little tid bit every day about something that stood out to me. Something that I knew I wanted to remember.
and I love it. This past week has been a whirl wind of family and awesomeness, so it probably merits a post all to itself, but for the normal every days I love this system.
I don't have time to write every day, but it seems like something precious happens every single moment. A tender moment with Kaleb, a loving gesture from Blake, or just some fun project I decided to do last minute. I want to capture my life right now. I want these moments to forever be available for my perusal and remembrance.
This "jotting-down-something-every-day-to-write-about-later" will be, I think, the best way for me to do that.
so this is what my list looked like:
Mon - Kaleb asks for Buh and hat at bedtime, I made a purse, wallet set
Tue - Park with mommies, session, Blake was awesome while I had a head ache, Rebrand blog
Wed - Mail throw away game, Kaleb Jumps,
Thur - film @ no limit, backpack, calm day, BK play outside, I read Nienie, birthday dinner date
Fri - Sick from vicodin, balloons to Blake, scampi
Sat - Surprise party, bow ties.
and this is what I remembered:
ON MONDAY
As I laid my baby boy down to sleep, he tucked his knees under himself and reached out for his plush Buzz Lightyear and said "Buh! Buh!" I tried so hard not to laugh out loud. Hes never requested a toy by name before and this was adorable The moment I handed it to him, he said "Hat! Hat!" it took a second, but I realized he was requesting his plush Woody.
(he has the "real" woody and enjoys removing and replacing his hat, so I guess that became Woody's new name)
I handed Woody over and my little one was, once again, content.
As I closed his door I said "Night night, baby." and I heard the smallest "Nigh nigh" in return.
My heart melted and my baby fell asleep.
Then I stayed up almost all night making a purse, wallet, coin purse, Key fob and card holder.
(I will ABSOLUTELY be posting more pictures of that, and of the one I tried to make the week earlier)
ON TUESDAY
Kaleb and I walked to the park to hang out with some our friends (mommies and babies) from Church.
Last Sunday was Kaleb's first official day in Nursery all by himself and that made me step back and kind of take a look at everything. Actually see what a little boy my baby is becoming. He has friends he "plays" with and he has a teacher (of sorts) and he has snack time and he is just growing.
So anyway, we're on our way to the park, listening to Yo Gabba Gabba songs and I'm so hot and wishing I had the car instead of Blake, but still (somewhere in very back of my mind) I know the walking is good for me.
When I got there, Kaleb jumped from his stroller and ran to his new bestie, James. They climbed up to uncomfortable heights and I had to "rescue" my son for my own sanity as he danced on the ledge that led to a "slide-down" pole. James maintained a safe distance, so he was allowed to stay up there.
It really is so fun to see Kaleb interact with other toddlers. and James is an awesome little one, so I'm glad he's the one Kaleb chose to follow around.
After lots of hesitation, Kaleb also started going down the slide solo. He would walk around, up the stairs, sit by the slide, scoot forward, slide down, jump off and do it all again.
Yeah, I broke out the video and got all choked up.
Kaleb also got slapped in the face by another little friend. It was the first time anything like that ever happened, but he kept it together until he saw me hold out my arms, then he buried his head in me and cried. It was only for a moment though, and the two were playing together soon after.
Later that day, I also had the opportunity to capture some very special family portraits. (more on that later) But when I came home, I had a HORRIBLE headache.
Blake was so sweet. Without skipping a beat, he gave Kaleb dinner, a bath and put him to bed while I was laying down with my eyes closed tight.
(I love you, Blake)
That night, when I was feeling better, I went to the computer and tried (for the third time) to "re-brand"
our photography site. I knew I wanted something different, but each time I designed something Blake (
or my trusted friend Emily) would veto, tell it was too different or not "us" or just plain old bad.
Well on Tuesday night I actually did it and created a softer look that wasn't too different to be unrecognizable but just different enough to appease me. I happen to really like it.
ON WEDNESDAY
Things stayed pretty chill. I decided to take Kaleb with me to check the mail (I usually don't) and it had been a couple of days so the junk mail was RIDICULOUS! I mean it was crammed in there.
We get so much junk mail. Everyone does. That's why our lovely complex managers bolted a huge trashcan right next to the mailboxes. :D
I went to throw the lot away when Kaleb reached for it. I handed him one piece and he put it in the trash and signed for more. We sat there as I handed him piece by piece and he happily tossed and tossed. It was one of those small moments that I hope he, maybe not
remembers, but adds to the overall memory that his mommy tried to make the days fun and that she loves him so much.
Also later that day, while watching
Yo Gabba Gabba, he jumped. Not the fake-out jump, where a toddler just tosses his upper body, but an actual jump where both his feet left the ground It was awesome.
There was much rejoicing.
ON THURSDAY
Things started early, with the entire family (Me, Blake AND Kaleb) going to shoot a promo video for my new favorite place;
No Limit Personal Training / Boot Camp.
I'm there almost every morning, so when I told Sako (the owner) that I may have to bring my little one in when we film, he said it was fine and that Kaleb was welcome.
So we're there for a few hours, Blake is filming the goings on and I'm taking testimonials and Kaleb is going back and forth between us. He's also having tons of fun playing with a little ball that Sako gave him and messing around with those huge work out ropes that you're supposed to swing up and down.
By the time we're ready to go, they had given Kaleb a little backpack with the NO LIMIT logo on it. He put it on and was ALL smiles! He loved the darn thing so much that when we tried to put him in the car-seat and had to remove it he started screaming. That was fun.
The afternoon was slow and beautiful. The day was bright and not too hot so all the windows and blinds were open wide. There is always something to do and a deadline to have it done by in our home. I felt AMAZING to just let everything go for a bit. To slow down and keep pace with the moment.
I started reading
Stephanie Nielson's book
Heaven is Here on my Kindle and was so touched by her words. I've been following her blog since just weeks before her accident in 2008, and I didn't think I would be so emotionally moved by the description of events that I not only knew about, but that occurred to people I have never met - but I was. (oh my run-on-sentence!) I hope to write a review of sorts when I finish the book.
While I was reading Blake took Kaleb outside to the grassy area right below our second story living room window. They ran and threw rocks and played with Kaleb's little Dino-ball. I love watching my husband be a father. I adore seeing him so carefully
(and sometimes so very roughly) play with my baby. I know that he enjoys his role as father and sometimes I catch him gazing at our son in just absolute amazement. The love we have for our son binds us stronger and more fully than we were before.
And I love that.
That evening Blake and I dropped off Kaleb Mom and Dad Green's and went out to celebrate his 30th (which was actually the next day, but Thursday is Blake's day off)
We had two gift cards, one to the Cheesecake Factory and one to a small Mexican restaurant. We decided on Cheesecake Factory for dinner and small Mexican restaurant for dessert.
When we arrived, Blake came around to my side and opened my car door (I'm sure he would every day, but I usually ask him to grab Kaleb from the back and let myself out). He held my hand as we walked through the large glass doors and while we waited for a table he wrapped me in his arms and we just stood there. It felt like dating. and that made me happy.
We sat down out side and chatted. We talked about getting ready to move and we talked about jobs. We talked about the little kid in the table next to us who looked like he'd rather be ANYWHERE else but in a booth with about eight women. I munched on my Firecracker Salmon Rolls (Amazing, by the way) and we made jokes and had a really enjoyable night.
Then we left the cheesecake factory and went the little Mexican restaurant (I wish I remembered the name!) just as they were closing. In fact, they opened up the doors for us. I had a ridiculous sundae thing and Blake chose churros and flan to go as his birthday treat.
While we were there, we started listing the places we've lived and the schools we've went to. I moved around A LOT when I was growing up so I totally won that exchange, but it was fun to surprise him after all these years. Apparently he didn't realize where I'd been and how many different places I've lived.
ON FRIDAY
It was Blake's actually birthday and I intended to wake up and do Birthday Breakfast for him, but the night before I started to feel that horrible gallbladder pain, so I took HALF a painkiller. MISTAKE. I felt AWFUL the next morning. I hate those drugs! I was sick and headachy and just awful. So that sent a lovely birthday morning right out the window.
And Blake had to get off to work, so I felt pretty guilty.
So around lunch time, Kaleb and I went to Party City and the grocery to get Blake a little Birthday treat: a "Happy Birthday" Mylar Balloon and a bottle of root beer some
imitation girls scout cookies. It was fun to see him in the middle of the day and
I know he liked them.
That evening we had chicken scampi (one of Blake's favorites) at his parents house with Mom and Dad Green and (his bother and sister-in-law)
Jordan and Freesia.
Thats also where Blake's parents presented him with his new and improved banjo. Blake had salvaged it from a neighbor's garage, when neighbor was going to throw it away. His parents had it restrung and fixed up for his birthday.
The rest of the night was pretty chill, just hanging out and being with family.
ON SATURDAY
Blake went to work in the morning like usual and I was going a little mad getting things ready for his surprise party that evening. It was to be VERY small, but I still wanted it to be nice. I remembered a surprise party I threw him when we were dating, it was so much fun and I hoped to recapture the excitement that he had on that day. I mean 30 is a BIG deal. A HUGE deal.
Any way, I made his 2 tier lemon cake and a yummy fruit/cookie dip. I bought six packs of IBC root beer and black cherry soda (the kind in the glass bottles) and ordered some pizzas.
In the midst of all this I realized I hadn't finished his birthday present, three bow ties, so I rushed to do it in 30 minutes. I actually only finished one in time, so thats what he got.
It didn't' look awful, but it didn't' look great.
When he came in with his brother
(who picked him up from work) he walked in the opposite direction as everyone else! I called "Blake, can you come here for a minute" and when he walked back to us, everyone shouted "surprise!" and that moment was such fun.
We ate and talked and played games and celebrated my hubby. It was fun and I am very happy with how everything turned out.
BACK TO NOW
PHEW! That was LOT to write in one post! So, I'm thinking I'll just find time to do one a night, or I'll write separate posts and back date them when I publish. Anyway, I really do love this system and it helps me remember those little things I don't ever want to forget.
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