this moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Byrdie's garden

A few months back when I was having a hard time even walking through the parking lot to my doctors appointment, let alone squating in the soil, I told Byrdie that she could have the garden this year.  I'm now regretting that decision a little bit.  Nott only is she wanting to plant an apple tree and a grape vine in my raised beds, but I've been saddened at the thought of no fresh garden tomatoes. 

I think we've come to a compromise, however.  She also had plans for carrots and lettuce and she added raddishes when we went to the store for some seeds.  I'm good with all those and she agreed to give me a bed for my tomatoes as long as I found a suitable spot for her apple tree and grape vine. 

So, we went to work and with our combined efforts, we may get lucky and see a bit of home grown produce this year. 

Recent Finds

Now I really didn't think I'd be going to any yardsales this year--Saturday mornings are quite different than they were a year ago.  No treasure is worth the extra 30 minutes of sleep I might get in once a week when Nate is home to help out in the mornings. 

But what's a girl to do when she's out on an afternoon walk around the block with the twins for a breath of fresh air and there just happens to be a yardsale going on.  Well, I had to look!  And I happed to have a few dollars cash with me.  So, I picked up a few little treasures. 

I just love some of the older kitchen utensils.  The were made so dainty and pretty back then with wooden handles.  Much lovelier than the monster black plastic things they make now. 

We can always use another small suitcase for doll clothes. 

I actually have been looking for a doorbell like this for our back door--can't wait for Nate to install it.

Although I'm sure Nate was looking forward to a year without a bunch of old random things making their way into our house, I'm glad I got a little treasure hunting fix without even having to disrupt anyone's sleep schedule.

seeing the eclipse

Weekends are really great around here.  With Nate home to help, good weather and no place to go that's worth taking three kids plus two newborns, we spend our days in the backyard.  We eat our meals outside, swim in the kiddi pool, garden, swing, throw, kick and bounce various types of balls, refresh with popsicles or cold drink, find bugs and pick flowers. 

And on Sunday, we made eclipse viewing boxes.  Nate looked up several ways to make these boxes and we tried out a few of them.  Then we took a walk up the street and onto the trails above our house.  We picked up a friend on the way and met several others on the trail as we shared our boxes and all glimpsed the solar eclipse.  It was a small glimpse, but a big adventure.

Track and Field Day

The real story here is the one without pictures.  The one of which I have no pictures except for the awful pictures running through my mind.  The pictures that I'm sure I will block out of my memory so that when 10 years from now, when a sweet innocent mom informs me that she's pregnant with twins, I'll smile and say that I'm so excited for her and that it's just a wonderful thing to be a part of.

But for now, the day I decided to take the twins out on my own is very clear in my mind.  I thought I could do it.  I really thought I could do it.  I fed them so well, so long that morning.  I had them in dry diapers and dressed cute.  I had the diaper bag packed with all that I'd need including prepared bottles "just in case."  Louisa and the twins and I headed out to the track and field event for the elementary school.  I don't think I would even have attempted it, except that Oliver, remembering that I had gone to watch him last year, shouted as he went out the door, "See you at the thing."  How could I let him down? 

So we headed out--running late and worried I'd miss Byrdie's events.  We made it just in time to see her run her last race--but we made it.  Only then little miss Beatrice decided to unload a few days of feedings into her diaper and her pants, and shirt.  So there I was, wiping down a screaming, naked 6 lb. baby in the middle of a football field with a group of Kindergartner's gathered 'round to see what was making that awful noise.  And it went on and on--it seemed like for eternity.  And Beatrice screams loud!  I'm surprised she didn't bring the whole school over to watch. 

Once that was over, I thought we'd be good, but for whatever reason, already being so worked up, the bright sunshiny day, the noise of the children, or just to see mom sweat, the girls decided to get hungry, and demanding.  Here's where one baby would be doable.  But to feed two babies at a time--even with bottles is a little complicated.  And this is when all the teachers came over to see what was going on and I saw looks and heard rumors of teachers questioning my decision to take two 5 week old babies out.  I don't think that 5 weeks is too early to take babies out if they're not being passed around and exposed to germs and such.  However, I agree with her that in this situation, if I never take them out again it will be too soon. 

After 45 minutes, and even before Oliver finished his events, I was ready to go.  I loaded a double stroller, two infants and a toddler into the car and pulled away only to discover that I had recieved a parking ticket.  Just the perfect end to the whole experiment. 

Next time I consider a day out I'll remind myself of all the great productive and enjoyable things I can do in the safety and comfort of my own home. 

From Oliver and Byrdie's point of view, however, mom was there.  I was there.  And that was worth it all.

This Moment

I think she thinks they only come in pairs.

right now

 

Right now, I am...

 

relieved that there are not three of them.


eyeing some fabric in my stash for some baby pants.


planning in my mind my vegetable garden--for next year.


smelling the lovely flowers brought to me throughout the week by my children.


embracing all things "home delivery."


remembering that even if a baby is asleep, it doesn't mean she'll stay that way once you set her down.


wondering when I'll get my shower in.


deciding which of the two shirts that fit me to wear today.


finding it hard to keep my eyes open while I'm feeding babies.


looking at Louisa's hand next to Beatrice's and reallizing that my 3 year old is not a baby anymore.


giving up on housework.


identifying with Mrs. Peters from The Seven Silly Eaters more than I ever thought I could.


devouring my sister-in-law's homemade strawberry freezer jam.


greatful for all the frozen meals that friends and family have brought by.


taking advantage of the good weather and sending the kids outside with a bag (or two) of popcorn.


admiring each baby as I nurse them individually and overcome with awe as I nurse them together.