Conversationitis

I've had one of those days where I'm slamming head directly into the wall of motherhood.  Don't get me wrong, I had an enchanted day with my girl - at an Earth Day celebration, at breakfast, while enjoying a picnic lunch, watching her roam a grassy knoll swinging her net at butterflies, and gardening with her.  It wasn't those moments, but the ones where she talked..and talked..and dominated conversations..and continued.  At times I felt like the Grinch ("oh the noise!") and at others I sat there beating myself up mentally for not absorbing her adorable stories.  I know, we all have moments and that's why I'm here banging it out on my keyboard.


When my father talks to much I try to combat the chatter by being quiet - as if my silence has an ability to negate noise or balance the quota of words flinging through the air.  Ben found us girls out in the patio while I was training my mother's climbing rose along our fence.


Ben: "Hi!"  
Me: "Hey" (not breaking my stride)
We are momentarily quiet, drowned out by the constant chatter from Alex and her stuffed animal Greenie.
Ben: "You in a bad mood?"
Jen: "You know how I try to counteract noise with silence?"
He looks at her,  and figures out quickly why I'm quiet and laughs. He turns around to go back in.
Jen: "By the way, you're on tonight.  I'm going out by myself for one hour."


By the time I left tonight, Ben had Alex in bed and was trying to tell her stories to get her settled. She was still verbally bouncing off the walls, which made her physically kick herself out of the covers again and again.  He looked at me and whispered "Oh My God!"  For a hot moment, I misplaced the keys and sent a text to a friend saying that I was screwed.  She knew my pain, seeing that she just returned from an hour of silent solo shopping.   Having wine at her house was option #2.


I secured my keys within 2 minutes, headed out the door, and called my dear girl Karen in Indonesia.  I told her about my stress, the talking, the noise, my lack of appreciation, and I was informed that Alex was suffering from "conversationitis".  Karen laughed at me and informed me that it happens when kids think that they finally get the whole conversation bit and will have one with our without your participation.  Lovely.  Well, at least there's a name for it.  Thanks Karen for the education. Moving on.


::
Easter was a rocking.  

We had multiple egg hunts, grandparents, and handmade dresses to name a few of the highlights.

Alex would say that the dress I made for her was the best part.

The material was a seersucker weight material covered in a random bright floral.  The bodice in this pattern won me over with it's petal detailing and material flower accent.  And I finished the inside with a pink lining just because. I am reminded every time I complete a big project that I able.  Zipper, no zipper - I got it - and I have a sense of humor and a sharp seam ripper just in case.  Thanks Mom for giving me the skills and the confidence. 

And as for Alex, I sense that she knows that handmade is special and that I love her with every stitch.  It's the one time when I feel she's an old soul and just knows that it takes a lot of love.  And it does.  And I do love her so.


And even though I do have moments like today where I'm suffering, the are just that - a lapse in time and not a defining moment.


Alex is growing so quickly these days - and it's not just the matter of filling her drawers with larger sizes.  No, it's the look.  

She's maturing.  I see it in her face. 

 Her look is of a girl, a kid.  

Not so little.  

Instead of running like an etherial fairy (with a little hop included), Alex can sprint along like one of the boys. She flits, she flees, she flies. 


See, I needed this.  I love her so.  Regardless of the noise. - J

Springing Forward

It's (almost) Easter.  I'm on the verge of going nuts decorating. Gardening. Crafting. Sewing. Eating mini eggs. Mmmmm…mini eggs.

Peeps.  Gotta love them.  Especially the felt variety.
And the melange of felt eggs hanging from the kitchen window makes me yearn to break open the Paas dye kit every single morning.  

Of course, Alex believes that the Bunny has been stopping by our house to leave those little ditties. 


And these little ditties too.  


The rabbit left a few eggs, new pajamas, a cup, gardening tools, and a special little note just for her.

I realize this is the age (~3) when she will remember snippets of life.  Memories etching daily.  I want to make seasons extra special, grooving moments deep in her mind. 

And satisfying my other baby is not that hard.  Insert one beautiful afternoon with one tennis ball.

My favorite shot.  This boy knows that white man can't jump, but stumpy dogs can.

::
My raised bed arrived this week and I successfully relocated plants and set up the bed between a napping toddler and waves of strong thunderstorms.  

I was a complete mud-puddle, but loved every moment. Tomorrow: dirt, manure, peat moss, compost, & seeds.  Hopefully the potato bags and potato starts will arrive this week. I am venturing on my virgin harvest with my girl in tow.

::
Last week, we went with friends to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.  It was cold and windy, but stunning. I'm so grateful to have this resource right around the corner.

And Alex and Enzo enjoyed making impressions on t-shirts.  

She chose a turtle.  Enzo, a Rockfish (local stripped bass).

The result? One lovely loved pink turtle.

And I adore their friendship.  It's so simple.


::
Lastly, Cindy and I attempted to make flower bombs to give this holiday.  It's equal parts worm castings (aka worm pooh) and clay mixed with seeds and a touch of water.  Messy.  Very messy.  But I was in my element - part gardening, part (almost) cooking.

Lollipop, anyone?

And now it's time to get back to springing forward.  Smell ya later.


-J