I caught up on this one’s baby book this weekend, one of those once-a-month Saturday morning activities I actually enjoy, especially with coffee and a quiet house.

I filled in blanks for “First Tooth” and “New Foods,” taped corresponding pictures onto pages and wrote little love notes to my boy where blank space allowed. And then I flipped back to the first pages, stared at pictures of those early days and felt nostalgia quickly creeping in with all its achiness. So I smiled at the memories–so happy to have them captured–closed the book and looked down at the same boy who is here, just bigger.

I’ve always been mindful of my sentimental heart, but I’m learning to nurture that hyper awareness for how my babies are growing and changing into a good place. I want it to serve as an appreciation and motivation tool rather than a rut that makes me yearn for yesterday or focus too much on how quickly time is passing. Because I’m pretty sure that focusing too much on how quickly time is passing and mourning that it’s gone only makes it worse. Besides, right now is pretty awesome. Forward, forward we go.

Nature seemed to be our theme this weekend. It came in search of us in the form of a tiny soft shell turtle who attempted to cross our street by his lonesome, consequently making Lainey’s “dreams come true.” And then we set out in search of nature Sunday morning with a family trip to a boardwalk trail.

Myrtle the Turtle definitely stole the show this weekend.

Inspired by homeschool mama Kristin Roger’s (@kristinrogers on IG) nature journals, I finally started our own this weekend. I only wish we would have done this sooner. With all the shells, sea creatures and Florida wildlife we’ve discovered over the past few years, we’d have a thick journal by now. Myrtle gave us a nice kickstart though, and we had fun documenting our investigations in our books, followed by good questions, drawing, iPad searches for soft shell turtle facts and quizzes later in the night.

If you get a chance, check out Kristin Roger’s hashtag #ibenaturejournaling on IG–such a beautiful way to learn/teach, completely led by interest.

More nature discoveries on our walk this weekend:

A rather fortunate photobomb.

Also, I made myself a Monday checklist this week, just for fun.

1. Pull out a cookbook and try a brand new recipe this week.
2. Send a fun snail mail package to one friend.
3. Start writing down a holiday bucket list for this year.
4. Wake up early and run just once this week. Maybe twice next week.
5. Clean out desk.

Checklists make Mondays better. Five ways to make this week more fun, more productive, more meaningful–share any good ones you have.

I caught up on this one’s baby book this weekend, one of those once-a-month Saturday morning activities I actually enjoy, especially with coffee and a quiet house.

I filled in blanks for “First Tooth” and “New Foods,” taped corresponding pictures onto pages and wrote little love notes to my boy where blank space allowed. And then I flipped back to the first pages, stared at pictures of those early days and felt nostalgia quickly creeping in with all its achiness. So I smiled at the memories–so happy to have them captured–closed the book and looked down at the same boy who is here, just bigger.

I’ve always been mindful of my sentimental heart, but I’m learning to nurture that hyper awareness for how my babies are growing and changing into a good place. I want it to serve as an appreciation and motivation tool rather than a rut that makes me yearn for yesterday or focus too much on how quickly time is passing. Because I’m pretty sure that focusing too much on how quickly time is passing and mourning that it’s gone only makes it worse. Besides, right now is pretty awesome. Forward, forward we go.

Nature seemed to be our theme this weekend. It came in search of us in the form of a tiny soft shell turtle who attempted to cross our street by his lonesome, consequently making Lainey’s “dreams come true.” And then we set out in search of nature Sunday morning with a family trip to a boardwalk trail.

Myrtle the Turtle definitely stole the show this weekend.

Inspired by homeschool mama Kristin Roger’s (@kristinrogers on IG) nature journals, I finally started our own this weekend. I only wish we would have done this sooner. With all the shells, sea creatures and Florida wildlife we’ve discovered over the past few years, we’d have a thick journal by now. Myrtle gave us a nice kickstart though, and we had fun documenting our investigations in our books, followed by good questions, drawing, iPad searches for soft shell turtle facts and quizzes later in the night.

If you get a chance, check out Kristin Roger’s hashtag #ibenaturejournaling on IG–such a beautiful way to learn/teach, completely led by interest.

More nature discoveries on our walk this weekend:

A rather fortunate photobomb.

Also, I made myself a Monday checklist this week, just for fun.

1. Pull out a cookbook and try a brand new recipe this week.
2. Send a fun snail mail package to one friend.
3. Start writing down a holiday bucket list for this year.
4. Wake up early and run just once this week. Maybe twice next week.
5. Clean out desk.

Checklists make Mondays better. Five ways to make this week more fun, more productive, more meaningful–share any good ones you have.

A short Enjoying the Small Things post tonight.

New school routines and all the things that make life busy and full yet complicated and exhausting caught up with us today.  We’re all tired and consequently, we had a little battle of wills tonight. I said something along the lines of, “you’ll be going to bed early if your attitude doesn’t change”–definitely one of those “I sound just like my mom” moments.

The attitude didn’t change, and I knew I had to follow through.  And it sucked.  There was a point in the middle of all the crying and her passionate rebuttal when I asked myself, “Why?”  Was I trying to prove a point that I was a tough mom who did what she said she was going to do?  Was this an important life lesson?  Did it really matter that much?  Something inside me said it mattered–that it really was important tonight to follow through, gently and with love.  So I did.  I hugged her and rubbed her back even though she didn’t like me very much (she told me).

I know babies are the easiest part of motherhood.  And after that, the next easiest part is a tired first grade rant.  So it’s just going to get harder and more complicated, and there will be so many more nights of wondering if I did the right thing or feeling really awful because my kid went to bed feeling sad or let down by me. But I also know that there’s a motherhood pilot light that never ever ever burns out. I’ve never felt anything so strong in my life than that little light, even at its dimmest glow.

Tomorrow is a new day.

In the meantime, a little propane for our light…Enjoying the Small Things:

He likes bubbles.

Searching Internet Hairstyles is a new favorite of ours.


Dash, you’re not sixteen, okay?

This bag of Saltines.  Everywhere.  Everyday.

Two words:  Swishy. Ponytail.  

Nella, you’re not twenty-one, okay?

Kanga and Roo–my favorite Pooh characters.

She fell asleep with Brett tonight, staring at him, kissing him and touching his face until she got so tired, she closed her eyes and passed out.

I used to practice drawing Elmo just so I could whip him out on restaurant placemats for my nieces.  Sister’s still got it. Even if Prairie Dawn is a hot mess.

This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.


******

This week, I’m sharing:

On BabyZone: 17 Ways to Support Friends When Their Baby is Diagnosed with Special Needs
On All Parenting:  Our Family Bed  (Looking back on our six years sharing a family bed)