Kelle, Author at Enjoying the Small Things

The Other Shoe

May 26, 2011 By Kelle

We are on our way home from an impromptu two-day retreat, and I have turned the very back seat of our car into a temporary office. While my knees are jammed between two car seats and I occasionally have to angle my screen to compensate for sun glare, I can’t complain. My office windows currently happen to offer the breathtaking view of Charlotte Harbor, its canvas peppered with boats whose white sails contrast nicely against the sky, and there are two sweet bodies—one at 10 o’clock, one at 2—to keep me company.

A quick trip to drive Rebecca to her parents’ house on Gasparilla Island turned into an extended stay for us—one that involved mornings sipping coffee on the dock and evenings deciding what Big Olaf ice cream flavor was the best (it’s a tie between Butterfinger Blast and Kahlua Krunch).

Yesterday morning, as I made a comfortable seat out of sand and positioned myself so I could sip my coffee, watch the pelicans and still keep an eye on Nella who was busy investigating sea oats behind me, I did what you may have done at the intake of this very sentence. I laughed. Seriously. Seaside coffee? Pelicans? Babies and sea oats? Ride a unicorn, why don’t you.

And my first instinct is to tip the scale, shifting the balance back where it belongs. Birthday party, Isle of Capri, morning coffee on the dock—Fun’s ahead by three points in our lives, and if events aren’t fairly proportioned between work and play, home and away, I’ll feel like we’re doomed for the other shoe to drop. Like that imaginary pinched chick with the tight bun and the clipboard who hands out good and bad will notice our unfair share and come lay hell on our lives.

I’m learning to ride the wave though. Balance occurs naturally, and feeling guilty for a few moments retreat or immediately packing up and heading home, purposefully running out of gas along the way, isn’t going to help anything. If anything, a short, calm intermission has revitalized me to return home, restore order, clean clutter, and get back to work, all the while remembering to welcome more tranquil moments and to be grateful for all of it—the highs, the lows, the crazy, the lazy, and the mortar in between.

I look at balance a bit differently now. It isn’t a game of keeping score so much where good and bad, chaotic and quiet, stressful and restful have to be even players in our home but more so a measure of our response to harmonize the presence of whatever circumstances happen to be hovering. When challenges come, we accept them, learn from them, chop and puree those damn lemons into something sweet and likewise, when the good and easy comes, we drink it in gulps knowing that, like hardships, it won’t last forever.

Sea urchin

It just so happens we had the privilege of leaving the good faucet on a little longer this week.

Rebecca’s parents are also from Michigan and, while we collectively recalled what we missed about our home state–namely, the October russet landscape and fall apple orchard adventures–we unanimously concluded that there is something quite marvelous about babies growing up on the gulf.

We also realized, after spending a couple days in a fully carpeted home, Nella really does know how to do a real crawl with the whole alternating hand/knee coordination thing–and she does it well. But the minute Smartie’s knees hit hard surface, she’s skidding her belly seal-style–not to be underestimated, however, because Sister can slither quick and gracefully like the speedy little lizards who dart across our garage floor every morning. She high-tailed it from one end of the walk-around porch to the other in all of one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand seconds.

Finish Line Reward.

And, just like a kid at show-and-tell, we whip out our family’s best moves for people we haven’t seen in a while. Like we have Lainey perform that pointed toe tappy thing she does from ballet (applause, applause) and when Nella slips her foot out of her high chair during dinner, we yell for everyone to come look.

It was a good couple days.

Can I get an “amen” for how good it feels to watch your friends love your babies? These kids are my heart and when you love them, you consequently just found yourself a deeper place in my own heart. Likewise, to let my friends know I love them…sometimes loving their kids is the best place to start.

As balance would have it, I’ve just smashed my arm into an old Nutrigrain bar, and its sticky remains are glued to my forearm. Nella is unhappily awakening from her travel nap, and we are pulling into our driveway where the scene from my office windows has shifted: a lawn that needs to be mowed, trash cans that need to be put away, a house with closed blinds that, if open, would reveal a post-party hot mess that calls for clean-up.

Oh, it’s good to be home.

The other shoe has dropped.

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Congratulations to the winner of a new Sweet Seat, Comment #462: Picture Parables: Love, love, love your way with words-so much so, that I’m having contractions with my first on the way, and I just HAD to read your blog this morning!

Picture Parables, please send your contact info (and a picture of that new baby!) to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net, and your new little one will soon have something pretty to sit in!

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Finally, it just so happens to be an appropriate time to launch the renewed sponsorship of Mamalode magazine because look who’s on the cover of the current issue:

Opening the mailbox to find a new Mamalode issue is always a welcomed surprise. It’s a good read–full of thoughtful writing and beautiful complementing photos. I love the variety of Mamalode’s content, the freedom of which the writers are able to express themselves, and the overall message that motherhood is hard but rich. Essays are raw, honest and encouraging, and I am proud to be a part of this “Enough” themed issue with “The Secret Reserves,” an essay on overcoming feelings of inadequacy and doubt in mamahood.

Mamalode is quickly growing. Be a part of it and get your subscription HERE.

One comment on this post will randomly be selected to win a free subscription, courtesy of Mamalode.

Stay classy, San Diego.
(sorry, I’ve been wanting to use that)

Encore.

May 24, 2011 By Kelle

The best thing about birthday celebrations around here is that they bring those we love and miss a little closer. Long after the recycle bin towered with crumpled wrapping paper has been dragged to the curb and discarded bandanas have been collected from the yard, there’s still the party encore, and it comes in the form of seeing my dad curled up on the couch with my girl or watching my friend torpedo Lainey out of the shallow end with a fit of laughter that’s even better than the soundtrack to our big birthday bash.

Here’s what I think about birthdays: Celebrate them. Plain and simple. Whether you are two or forty-two. It’s not a promotion. It’s not a graduation. It’s the anniversary of freaking life. And the older I get, the more I’m not okay with hearing people downplay their big day like it’s no big deal. It’s a big deal that in one year, we spent a slew of Sundays browning our babies on familiar sand or sorting good shells from broken ones while the tide receded behind us. It’s a big deal that we surveyed more sunsets, ate more grouper, shook the sand off our shins at the end of the day…again.

There may not be grand parties every year, but there will be celebrations–the confirmation that yes, I’m so glad you were born. A cupcake with a candle, a toast with paper cups, a lighter in the air floating to the chorus of a birthday anthem. I’ll make it special because it is so worth recognizing. And I’m going to try and do better at remembering others’ birthdays too. Less half-ass day-after texts. More showing up at random places with obnoxious balloon bouquets. Yes, that.

My friend Rebecca joined us for a family day at Isle of Capri Sunday.

I love that, just from visiting several times the past couple years, she has a whole scrapbook of Isle of Capri memories to draw from already. We recalled many of them as we sank our chairs into the shore–until the water swallowed our seats–and we watched as Nella slapped the glassy surface and winced at the salty water that slapped back.

I met Rebecca when I was twenty years old, when we both volunteered part of our summer at Camp Catch-a-Rainbow, a pediatric cancer camp in Western Michigan. I’ll never forget my first day of camp. I drove my teal Ford Escort wagon with the duct-taped fender into the dusty parking lot of Camp Pendalouan, parked it, and timidly walked toward the proverbial A-frame lodge for our scheduled orientation. I knew no one. My throat was tight, my stomach in knots, and I was secretly terrified I had signed up for the saddest experience of my life. Little did I know, my camp experience would become one of the greatest highlights of all my days–a magical event rich with laughter, parties, late-night pranks and lessons about life I’d need twelve years later. That is, sometimes, in the places you’d least expect to find it…happiness dwells abundantly. That and a friend for life.

We knew we hit it off when we realized we both filled our camp suitcases with crazy wigs for the kids. Our connection grew as camp progressed–dancing, stories, cabin makeovers, huddling on bunk beds listening to fourteen year olds talk about losing their eyebrows and hating the way everyone treated them different. You can’t do this kind of camp with someone and not connect in a life-long way. We returned to camp every summer for the following four years. Twelve years and two bridesmaid dresses later, we’re still kickin’.

And, this week it’s been dreamy to share coffee with her in the morning, listen to her convince Lainey to put on her pajamas at night, and toast to another Sunday at the beach while the legs of our chairs sink deeper into the sand and the water rises higher on our middles. As Rebecca said right about the time the tide was pulling back and she repositioned her chair to face the sun…”This so doesn’t suck.”

Suit from my favorite retro swimwear boutique and sponsor, Popina.

Lainey turned four and suddenly, she eats. My birdy little nibbler devoured multiple helpings of pineapple, grouper, buttered pasta…and finished it off, of course, with cake.

She thrives on salty mists and sweaty cheeks and never complains about the bottom of her feet meeting the sun-soaked patches of hot dock planks or the jagged bits of broken shell beach carpet.

We finally brushed off the sand, folded damp towels and drove forty minutes home where we rinsed naked babies in the pool, zipped up stripey jammies and continued the spring lovefest in the driveway.

This one bestows kisses freely and proudly now. I lean in, pucker up and ask nicely. “Nella, kiss?” And she smiles. Pauses. Slowly leans forward, pressing her forehead against mine and then gives the most gentle, precious little kiss–her mouth open just enough for me to smell her sweet, milky breath. But the best part is when she pulls away. She leans back, impishly smiles and waits for it. The thank you that follows. She knows she’s getting a gushy thank you and she works for it.

How’s that for an encore?

Many of you commented on questions re: birthday party details from the last post. I added an addendum at the end of Lainey’s Party Post with answers. I hope it helps!

Finally, I’m pleased to have Sweet Seat joining us as a new sponsor. Sweet Seat is a family company that designs and handcrafts beautiful booster seats on their own farm. Since we got ours, we’ve used it outside in the driveway for play, inside the house for eating, outside at the lanai table, at a restaurant and at Isle of Capri. It’s easy to transport, simple to clean, and very nice to look at.

It makes a great baby shower gift or, even better, a present for yourself. Use Code BLOGS for 10% off your order. One comment from this post will be winning a sweet seat of their choice as well!

Post sunset sky encore:

A great week awaits.

Round ’em Up

May 22, 2011 By Kelle

We had us a hog-killin’ good time today. And it all started at Nella’s birthday party when, the day before the festivities, Gary saw a sign, staked in the median at a Naples intersection, advertising party ponies and was so excited he almost signed them up for Nella until we convinced him Lainey’s birthday was a few months around the bend. So we had ponies and the rest fell into place.

I really do enjoy the whole glue-gunning/sign-painting/ribbon-dangling part of planning my girls’ parties, but the best part–the part that grips me for a tears-welling second–is when friends start arriving and music is playing and my girl is all shy-smiling with happiness.

The horses were a huge hit. There were a whole lotta little cowgirls with shy, satisfied grins, and then some who couldn’t hide more obvious radiant smiles…and Nella was one of them.

We panned for gold.

And ate good grub.

Our “Aunt Rebecca” came down from Indiana and performed a nice reading of a cowgirl story for the kids…with the perfect southern accent.

And the kids took care of the rest. Yee haw.

Bandanas stuffed with goodies and tied to sticks made some nice hobo stick party favors.

…and some trail mix for the mamas.

Oh, did we ever have a good time.

And in the end, a four-year-old girl who felt loved and celebrated.

So ‘thar you have it.
A happy birthday indeed.

Congratulations to the winner of the Piccadilly Circus $50 gift certificate: Comment #592, AFD Jewelry: Happy birthday to your sweet girl – she is just a doll! And my oldest (who turned 4 in January) requested mac n cheese for her birthday meal as well 🙂

Please send your contact info to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net.

Happy Weekend!
Now, Giddy-up!

Photobucket

Addendum: To answer many of your questions, the following are some more specific details regarding Lainey’s birthday party.

I created all the signs, labels, invitations from scratch so there aren’t any templates but I did find some great free Western fonts like this one on dafont.com.

The Invitation: I designed the invitation with my trusty old Microsoft Digital Image Suite, but you can create something simiilar in Photoshop/Photoshop Elements or whatever layout software you use. It’s a 5×5 trifold card printed by WHCC Labs. I burned a CD full of kids western songs, printed our own label, and attached it to the card using a foam CD hub like this one on Amazon.

Play Money: Poppa made it.

The Barn: Lainey actually received two fold-up cardboard playhouses for her birthday last year, so we saved one and pulled it out this year for her party. My dad slapped some red and white paint on it to transform it into a barn.

Wood Signs: You can get thin sheets of plywood from Home Depot for a couple dollars. A little bit of craft paint and some wood embellishments, and Voila.

Horses: If you’re in the Naples area, we got a great deal on two horses from Ponies for Parties. They stayed about two hours, and the owners were fabulous with the kids. Phone Number: 239.200.6010.

Party Favors: Most everything came from Oriental Trading. They have a fantastic variety of inexpensive treats, and a slew of western stuff to choose from.

Cake Banner: Blu Embellish on Etsy.

Lipstick: Ha ha. Funny question, but several asked, and it happens to be a to-die for shade that flatters anyone and everyone. Lorac 3D gloss, Color: 3D (beachy and rosy/bronzy).