balance

Addiston woke up about 10 times friday night after taking two hours to go down in the first place and I think each of us spent and hour slumped over the railing of her crib with eyes closed, patting her back and praying, for the love of God, that she wouldn't cry when the decision to finally withdraw a hand (gradually, of course, because any mom knows a full-on patting session must first decrease to a slower pat, then slower, then slow plus light, then lighter--until your fingertips are barely grazing their back. Then and only then can you quietly pull away with the chance they won't realize you've dismissed yourself).

She woke up for good when the sun was barely spilling its light into our bedroom window, and for a moment--in my squint-eyed, slow-to-rise wake-up mode--I considered canceling all plans for the day, but a cup of coffee later, I was psyched.

Someone had their first ice cream!




I love weekends. Usually we have a hundred and one things to do and never seem to find the time to fit them all in but this weekend was different, we had no set plans, just summer-stuff, like mow the grass (all jared) pull weeds, fold laundry, organize the spare bedroom that seems to have become a dumping ground for every lost sock, uncased DVD, broken doo-dad, undesirable thing-a-ma-jig and all things missing. We balanced it out with some time for fun, tickle parties, swinging, playing with the new water table that she flippin' loves, and of course some relaxing!


Addy's schedule's off, and she yearns to be secured to my hip and in sight of me at all times which makes for more trying days...and nights, but this too shall pass and when she's 16 and sleeps 18 hours on weekends I'll remind Jared of these days and how it' all balances out.



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 dang 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. And sleep deprivation is always remedied with an afternoon iced coffee and the best dessert ever!


(yes that is a chocolate-chip cookie topped with an oreo then covered with a brownie)

We had friends over Saturday night, it was casual, laid back and fun. Sunday consisted of amazing burgers after church and becoming "family" with our good friend Nathan, ok so maybe only Verizon considers us family but psh, we're saving money so I'm happy! Then we decided to go to his place to balance it out that he comes to our place about 50 times for each time we go to his. And I must say my favorite quote from the afternoon, "you think your house is safe till there's a baby in it!" it's ok Nathan the 3 head bumps caused no serious damage! He loves her and it's so sweet (someday I'll get a picture of them together), it balances out the 10,000 "aunts" she has that claim her.



Addiston is become quite personable, saying hi to every single person we passed today at the grocery, where not to brag or anything I saved about $50, but in true fashion it balanced out when I had to drive back to the store to be refunded for the 34? green peppers I had bought (it was suppose to be a price match for 1 pepper at 34 cents!) Ah the cosmic scheme of things.

As balance would have it, I've just smashed my arm into cream cheese, and its sticky remains are glued to my forearm. Addy is unhappily waiting from bed, and we are avoiding, trash cans that need to be put away, toys scattered throughout the entire top floor, a basket of towels that need folding and a house with closed blinds that, if open, would reveal a hot mess that calls for clean-up.

When sleep schedules are amended, order will resume. Until then, have a happy week.