The Harris Herald

Apr 5, 2009

Wilder's 8 months old--wow. that went fast.

ALL ABOUT WILDER!!!!

Wilder is changing so quickly! Even as I'm with him all day, every day (how blessed we are!), I still catch the changes, even some of the small ones.

Like today. When he looked at me, I felt like he really looked into my eyes ("oh, that's Mommy; she's cool).

He's my string bean cuddle critter and he makes me so happy!!

Some highlights:

~rolls around like a pop can down a hill; he gets into position like he's going to crawl-almost there!
~adding to his taste palette-he now has dinners of turkey/rice, chicken/noodles, etc. I've grown quite fond of the Gerber fruit he gets to eat, too. But that may be another posting.
~has said about 3 consonants. His favorite is "bah"
~loves books; smacks them, turns the pages, chews on them ~sits for long periods of time unassisted
~walks if someone holds his hands ~stands against furniture, with assistance
~claps
~laughs uncontrollably--especially when we tickle his armpits
~sits in his stroller like a big boy (no more baby seat inserted!)
~eats the dissolvable puff snacks
~getting the hang of the sippy cup
~weaning from breast milk like a champ
~sleeps on his tummy 1/2 the time
~if he had a tooth, you'd know by now!
~loud noises/crowds don't alarm him as they used to
~he's such a cool person

New toy from G'ma and G'pa Harris!

Enjoying some Seuss with G'pa

Whadya think of those baby blues?

Very first Easter goodies!

With little dissolvable puff treats in each egg!

Take 1!

Take 2: there ya go.

Apr 2, 2009

Wilder's first trip to the fire station

Wilder learned all about fire safety and fire trucks today! It was quite fascinating but Mommy secretly hopes Wild chooses a safer occupation!

Apr 1, 2009

Those rooms, woah!

There's a blog reel on the left. You'll notice Design*Sponge isn't a blog but a wonderful webby site; it's so cool I can hardly stand clicking on it. Maybe I should have it off in a different section, but I found it one day & didn't want to forget about it.

They profiled this rockin' couple, of Enormous Champion, who do letterpress and take pictures and make stationary and who live in Brooklyn {may I shadow you guys, puhleese?}. And part of the profile was showing pictures of their ~~amazing totally awesome makes my knees shake makes me wanna roll on their floor home~~ home.

My birthday's coming up in May. Not that I'm announcing it off the rooftops because birthdays just aren't as fun as they once were, but because I have a birthday wish list.

Here it is. Everything you see in the pictures, of their home in Brooklyn.

I would never leave my home if it were that beauty-full. Shawn would leave the home to get away from the cat. He doesn't hate cats but his body does.

Here's some links to get credit where it's supposed to go:

The couple's company, Enormous Champion.
The full article on Design*Sponge.
Design*Sponge.

There. I should be covered.

At least get me one of those prints. Our love is here to stay! Right?

Right.

Mar 31, 2009

Becoming Free-Surrendering the Ego

MY dear friend Davina sent me a book prior to Wilder's birth, and I've treasured it so much. It's been a big help; the chapters are comforting, especially when the baby thing is so novel and overwhelming. It's titled The Mother's Book of Well-Being: Caring for Yourself So You Can Care for Your Baby, by Lisa Groen Braner. It's split into weeks for your child's first year of life--so they're short and quick!

I just have to share Week 31. Ms. Braner puts the unexplainable into words, and I love it.

So settle in for a read. It's worth it.

"I've become freer since having a baby. I may not get to the movies or linger in conversation with girlfriends as much, but I have tasted a freedom that was foreign to me before having children. It didn't come without a price, mind you, but freedom rarely does. I've learned to abandon my ego and surrender it to two little people who need me more. I wish I could say that I had a hand in this accomplishment, but in fact, it's impossible not to surrender that part of us when caring for a baby. Who can be self-absorbed with a baby in their care? The responsibility always takes you away from yourself, gets you out of your skin. The physical demands preclude our egocentric predilections during the day. There's little time to be preoccupied with oneself when a baby's life requires so much attention and maintenance. Personally, I have very little time to obsess over my relationships, career, or appearance. Having a baby streamlines old anxieties, simplifies what's important, and discards the rest.

What a relief! Does anyone else feel this way? Perhaps it's a secret benefit to motherhood, silently celebrated in the cloistered emotional lives of mothers. I don't have to be eternally eighteen, wear a size 2, make a million dollars, or solve the world's most pressing problems. I still find these things appealing, but really, life is easier when you just live it instead of wishing it were different.

I am content gazing into the eyes of my children. I love them unconditionally, a quality of acceptance I've seldom granted myself. The idea that they might be better in the future or more acceptable when they achieve something is absurd to me. I love them wholeheartedly as they are now, as they'll be next week and next year. Oh sure, I'd like my son to eat at least one vegetable on the planet, and I'd like my daughter to stop standing in grocery carts. But these are the details that curve and twist the branch of our family tree. After all, we are simply who we are.

The ego tells us who we "should" be. It's the voice that asks us to betray our real self, to defy what's authentic for us. It's the antithesis of reason, the worry that keeps us up at night. The ego teases with promises of happiness if we could only be something different from what we are.

My children have shown me that the more engaged in life I am--body, mind, and soul--the happier I am. I have less time to listen to that voice of unreason, its judgmental whisperings. We love our children easily for who they are, and maybe along this road we will find that same comforting affection for ourselves."

It's that last little bit that gets me. Yeah, that part in bold.

And I'm trying.

p.s.--I just had to put that yummy picture of Wilder up; he was so little then...

Mar 30, 2009

It blizzard-ed but they still got married

Shawn's cousin Amy married Dave this weekend & I was able to get some good pictures! Shawn ushered and I did Amy's makeup (talk about pressure)...

Purdy soon I'll learn how to arrange photos differently, so it's more of a collage, for your viewing pleasure. For now, you'll have to scroll, scroll, scroll!