Living, Loving, Learning

Lucy smiled for the first time last Wednesday. It was such a beautiful moment of suprise. We have since seen her happy face a few times each day but it is so special I rarely think to grab the camera. This is the best I've been able to do so far but I thought I would still share them.

So, Griffin was supposed to play his first soccer game last Saturday but unfortunately he woke up with a terrible stomach ache. We let him decide and he chose to skip the game - so unlike him! This morning though, he was ready to go! It was a little emotional for me at first, watching my little guy out there alone. This is the begining for him...all the twists and turns his road will take, all the challenges and adventures laying before him that I won't be there to influence for him. It took a lot of self-control and a stern lecture from Bruce to keep me on the sidelines. I want to go tell him "Keep your eye on the ball! Listen to your coach!! Stop pulling your pants up!!! Keep your hands to yourself!!! Try to kick the ball!!" My primal Mama urges to protect and direct him are so strong! Finally, I let go and let the giggles flow, loving and accepting Griff for who he is right now. He is Cracker Jack #2....most of the time he is in the back of the pack, when he is anyw...

This is the image that hit me as I stepped out of the front door this morning to collect the paper. The air was warm, scented by the zillion trees in bloom, the birds chirping. ahhh....deep breaths, savor the moment. The quintessential perfect morning for me. Wishing you a perfect moment today.

RRRRrumble.....I was sort of awaken (actually just drifting back off to sleep after nursing) by a little earthquake - 5.2, last night. For a minute I was scared, thought someone was trying to break in and woke Bruce in a panic. We have an antique sewing machine right outside our bedroom door and it was shaking like it was turned on....so unless this house is haunted by seamstresses past, I figured we were in an earthquake. Living in southern California for a few years, I have experienced my share of quakes and recognized the feeling. Well, we are OK, the house is OK, in fact, I don't think there has been any damage to anything in town. So here are a few funnies for the week. I took Griffin into his future elementary school for the pre-school screening. They are looking for a developmental delays and then the state will provide whatever help is needed to get all the kids up to speed in time for kindergarten- a really awesome program. Anyways, they came over to us and told Griffin i...

AHHH, spring flowers. Lilacs are my very favorite flowers. Their abundant delicate blossoms, bright heart shaped leaves combined with that FRAGRANCE...what a combo. We had a few purple lilac bushes in our yard in Michigan that I LOVED, so we have been delighted to see that we have a white lilac bush in our yard here. It was so fun to start my morning by cutting a bunch to arrange in the house. Lilacs also will always remind my of my sister Sarah. I did the flowers for Sarah and Leo's wedding in D.C. a few years back. A couple of days before the wedding, Sarah and I went into the city to the fresh market and picked out all kinds of seasonal blossoms for the wedding. She picked lovely purple lilacs for her own bouquet. We brought all the flowers back to my hotel room and I spent the next day or so arranging all the lovelies. The best part, aside from the smell in my room was the parade of people who showed up at all times of day and night to help out. I remember drinking wine wi...

Hey all. We are doing so, so well down here in 'Tucky! Little Lucy is still the best little Sprout we could hope for. She wakes 3 times a night to nurse but the whole thing takes about 20 minutes and she is right back to sleep...who could imagine it at 2 weeks old? We are starting to teach her how to enjoy a "plug" (pacifier) so that has helped her through her, like 5 minutes a day, of crankiness. Bruce has started doing tummy time with her and we were shocked that she is already trying to pick her little noggin up! I sometimes feel like I am walking around, holding my breath, waiting for the other foot to drop. Our pediatrician has been monitoring her weight because she dropped 11 ounces in her first 2 days of life (very normal!) and she is almost back to her birth weight. So healthy and strong! I had a check up with my O.B. today. Looks like I am healing up wonderfully and the restrictions have been much lessened. I have to go back in a month for one more...

My Mom left this morning....sniffle, sniffle. It was early when she left, but the gloomy mood stuck around all morning. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing the last two weeks have been and how incredibly thankful I am that she was here to experience it all with us...but I will try. Looking at my baby girl, I am filled with such awe and LOVE, I realize just how my Mom feels about me. It is an amazing realization to look at it from the other side. My Mom took this time with us to show her love in soooo many ways. She cooked, cleaned, took care of Griffin, ran errands, snuggled Lucy, nurtured me and Bruce, planted an herb garden and tons of pansy pots and just pitched in at every turn. She fit so easily into our home dynamic and lifestyle, it felt so natural to have her around. It was an amazing time to share thoughts and stories with her that are so difficult to fit into our normal phone conversations. I feel so happy to know her as a person and friend, and so so lucky that sh...

Lucy gave her brother a gift when she came home from the hospital.

MorMor is here for the weekend!!

Grandpa and Grandma Gast with Griffin and Lucy Grandpa and Grandma Huggins with Griffin and Lucy

We are doing really well down here. Lucy is such a magical little Sprout. She is on her own schedule, eating, waking and sleeping in a 3 hour cycle all day/night long. I would never have such expectations of a newborn and it is amazing. I actually have been up more at night due to back pain (I still can't fully lay down due to my surgery and have a terrible time getting comfortable) than from Lucy's needs. We have heard her cry enough to know she has a vocal box but other than that...this girl is chill! Although, she has been nursing great, I am still really engorged and have been walking around with cabbage leaves in my bra...what a relief! We feel so lucky that Lucy's temperament and our parenting experience is combining in such a peaceful lifestyle. Griffin has spent the last few days doing all kinds of fun one-on-one activities with his Gran. They go to the park, play with his trains, read lots of books, go to the library...all kind of fun things. She has started to te...