Three years in three paragraphs
Last month, I got to write a little blurb for the Santa Maria Sun's 10th anniversary issue's 'Where are they now?' feature. As the deadline approached, I found myself reflecting on and distilling the past three years since I left working full time for the weekly newspaper. These three little paragraphs gave me hope for the future, showed me the contentment I am experiencing now, and reminded me of the past fun and challenging experiences I had at the Sun...
Where am I now? As I type this I’m standing at the kitchen counter while my 3-year-old daughter Natalie begs to watch Mary Poppins for the umpteenth time. I’m brushing her off because up until this very moment I was intently trying to fix the comma key on my laptop (which you may notice is not yet fixed). The comma key needs to be fixed because my 7-month-old daughter (who is currently napping) somehow managed to pry off the “home” key which unbeknownst to me flung a keyboard piece under the comma key. Now both keys are broken.
As you’re reading this I am probably at a San Luis Obispo park or coffee shop working harder than I’ve ever worked in my entire life. I quit writing and editing for the Santa Maria Sun in December 2006 to jump headlong and full time into motherhood. Since then I worked with baby in tow part time at my church’s office for a few months and as the Sun and New Times proofreader for a few months. When Natalie turned 1 my attention became too divided for me to continue working. In July 2008 I opened an online shop to sell a handmade paper crafts and fund my creative outlet. The following July my second daughter Naomi was born and my job as mom got a heckuva lot harder.
Since leaving the Sun I’ve focused on actively loving every minute of motherhood. It’s a challenge like no other. No college degree no internship no amount of on-the-job training prepared me to listen to my instincts to love unconditionally and to discipline and protect the two beautiful children I’ve been blessed with. Yes I have moments of nostalgic longing for stimulating conversations with other adults and of drawing upon years of interviewing and writing expertise. But mercifully those moments are growing fewer and farther between. No doubt as I’m pushing my daughters in the swings at said SLO park or sipping an iced Americano at a coffee shop I’ve just heard at least one person say to me “Enjoy every moment with your children. They grow up so fast.” Already I’m finding those words to be very true.
(Seriously I’m sorry about the comma key!)
I love these dresses! I bought the one Naomi's wearing for Natalie when she was almost a year old. I hung onto it just in case I had another lil' girl. And then, a few weeks ago, I found the same dress in the same second-hand store in Natalie's current size! It's currently the only matching outfit the girls have, and Natalie has twice now requested that she and her sister wear them at the same time.
I was not prepared for Naomi to be into icky things as soon as she figured out how to scoot herself around the house. Before I could get used to the idea of her being fully mobile, she was knocking over the trash ...
... and opening up cupboards. She helped herself to some of my vases and jars. Clearly I need to replace the latch on this cupboard! Naomi is also much more adventurous than Natalie and seems to have a less refined palate -- she doesn't mind hunting and eating dust bunnies, dirt clods, bark, rocks, grass, weeds, dirty tissues, and so on.
In other news, the girls are almost over their respective head colds. It's been a bummer to help them weather the congestion/sore throat/sneezing/coughing/buckets of snot that have resulted from this bug...
Also, Bret and I were able to have a night away on the 17th at a local bed and breakfast to celebrate our 10-year dating anniversary. Thanks, Grandma Julie and Grandpa George for coming and staying with Natalie overnight! We had a wonderful time together, and Naomi was a good sport (we brought her with us).
Natalie quotes and some photos
If laughter is indeed the best medicine, then these quotes from Natalie are sure to help me kick the yucky head cold I've had for three days. I love reading the funny things my little person says just about every day. Plus, these photos from throughout February always make me smile...
Read More...
I finished the dragon mobile for Ryan! Natalie named the brown dragon "Dragon and Dragon and Dragon."
It was one of the most challenging craft projects I've undertaken, and I am excited about taking paper crafts to a personal next level. More photos and notes are on my craft blog.
It seems that the few times I've sat down at the computer to compose a post, I remember that Bret has the camera (with recent photos still in it) at work! I'll remedy that soon...
By way of an update, Natalie has been saying some wonderfully funny things lately, which I've jotted down on sticky notes around the house. I'll compile them in a post soon. Naomi is teething and pretty upset about it (she's currently rifling through the desk drawer while sitting on my lap). She's also getting close to crawling -- she's capable getting up on all fours but seems to prefer sitting and reaching or being on her tummy and spinning around.
I've been busy with custom mobiles, some through my shop and one for Ryan Miller -- a one-of-a-kind dragon mobile that's taken me 13 months to get going. I'm in the final stages of completing that masterpiece and could use some physics help -- the third and largest dragon won't balance properly. I'll post photos and notes here and on my craft blog as soon as it's presentable (and presented to the recipient, of course).
Bret's been spending his free time working on FAWM songs (February Album Writing Month). He and the aforementioned Ryan have written and recorded five songs to date and plan a final creative push this weekend.
On Feb. 21, Bret and I celebrated our 10-year togetherness anniversary! We started dating a decade ago after I crashed my car while we were both visiting my parents in Santa Rosa. Ah, memories!
Banana!
It's been getting more and more difficult to keep Naomi from getting her hands on my food. Once I finally got used to the idea that she is obviously ready to try her first solid food, I let her lunge for and grab a banana I was eating while holding her. She immediately put it in her mouth, bit down, pulled it out, considered what just happened, and went back for more. Naomi seemed to enjoy the new experience, and for her second banana adventure, I put her in the high chair and let her go to town on it. It was amusing -- for her and for me!
Natalie's been quite helpful lately while I've been working on packaging up three mobiles to send to a gallery in Bridgewater, Mass. She made her own scrapbook pages and helped with my mobiles' packaging. (There are more photos on my craft blog.)
The other day I turned around from working on the laptop and saw Natalie wearing an old pair of my glasses, reading in bed...
It seems that Natalie has officially given up napping ... but most nights she's been going to sleep earlier. Sometimes Naomi joins her. We like those nights.
« Previous page |
Displaying entries 17-24 of 122 |
Next page »
