Free Association

In my younger days (yeah, yeah, I know, 30 is SO old) I used to journal frequently and write poetry. The older I get, the less I seem to do either. I think my blog (does anyone else picture a big leopard frog when they say blog? Bllllog. Bllloooog. Blloooogger. No? Just me? Figures.) has become a digital catharsis of sorts. I don't have much time to myself anymore, but I can sit and thumb out a blog on my phone with one thumb while I rock Punky to sleep. And it seems to work nearly as effectively as putting pen to paper. Nearly. I originally was hand writing my letters to Punky, but switched over to an electronic format for those- I thought the type would hold up better than the pencil versions. I do still hand write cards, thank yous, and other notes.

While the leather bound journal seems somehow more personal and therapeutic, I'll gladly spend a few extra minutes with my daughter by short cutting on the keyboard. I think I've also learned other coping mechanisms. I no longer solely depend on writing to be my outlet and problem processing procedure.

So I sit, rocking and thumbing in the light of a nightlight, letting Punky play with my hair as she struggles to drift off to sleep. Someday, when she's a little older and more independent, perhaps I will return to my half-used red leather (or more likely imitation leather) journal. Side note, since Ivan free associating tonight- I LOVE journals. I love looking at them. I have to resist the urge to buy new ones because I know I currently have three containing various writings. None of which are the novella I am someday going to finish...which reminds me, finishing it should be on my bucket list. I like lists too- so many ways to organize them: by due date, by priority, alphabetically, by difficulty...

Why is this child not asleep yet? Poor child inherited my difficulty falling asleep, I fear. I think we are now at the too tired to sleep stage. And her little fingers are starting to get tangled in my hair- ouch! That reminds me, I need a haircut. Hmm, keep it short or let it grow out again....

The Adventure Winds Down

First day here we made a stop at our favorite surf shop (cause we are The surfing type- ha!), Ron Jon's. The huz and I had realized we'd had our current swimwear for a minimum four years (not counting the suit I picked up cheap last year to fit my pregnant belly). It was time for some new trucks and suits. I opted for a swim shirt this time around since the only thing Irish about me is my pasty white skin. And I wore that shirt all week. Until yesterday. I thought it was time for a clean suit.

I should have known- it was the last day at the beach, sunny as all get out, best weather we had the whole trip. It's always the last day, I get a little less vigilant or something...

We were only out a couple of hours. And I used sunscreen- twice! But I still got burnt. My shoulders are toasted just enough to be uncomfortable. I imagine the burn on my back will become apparent when we pile into the car for the trek home. Ugh! I've been trying not to think about that, but the morning has arrived. We will likely be heading out in about an hour. I do not expect the daytime trip to be as easy on the hostages, I mean kids, as the nighttime journey. And therefore will be more difficult for the adults. And will likely take longer, involving more frequent, longer stops... But this time tomorrow I should be waking up in my own bed, begging the huz to slather more aloe on my back before I trudge off to feed Punky.


Goodbye ocean sunrise, I'll miss you.

The Adventure Continues

Vacationing with young children is very different than vacationing sans children. It is not nearly as relaxing. I've actually had to get INTO the pool, lazy river, and ocean instead of just sitting beside them with a book. I'm barely halfway through the first book (and likely the only book) of the trip.

On the other hand, Punky gets to spend lots of time with Mom and Dad together! She ate her first sand. Felt the salty ocean tickle her toes outside my womb- the same ocean, the same beach where she first felt the ocean from inside my womb. And she tried her hand at golf. Not bad for it only being Wednesday!

We had some rain. We had some late meals and missed naps. But all in all, the adventure has been pleasant. And it's not over yet!

The Adventure Begins

Aside from almost falling out the window, the voyage to the beach was relatively uneventful. We set out approximately bedtime and the kiddos drifted off pretty quickly in their carseats way in the back of our rocking rental minivan. The moms attempted to get comfortable in the middle seats, surrounded by diaper bags and snacks for the road, the menfolk taking on the driver and navigator roles.

We tried all sorts of ways of getting comfortable: reclining as much as the carseats behind us would allow; stretched out with my feet on her seat and her feet on my seat; leaning against the windows (which worked the best for me- until someone wanting a breath of fresh air opened the wrong window...); curling up between the carseats and stretching out over the diaper bags. We just couldn't get comfortable enough to really be able to catch much sleep. But we arrived, safe and sound- if a little tired. And managed to get an early early check-in, hours before the scheduled early check-in.

Eventually we managed to find the correct grocery store to pick up our already ordered groceries and have a late (really late) lunch. After which Punky and the daddies took naps. Little Man was not a fan of naptime so he and his mommy hit the pool while I did some for-fun reading!

By this time it was dinner time and bedtime was soon to follow. Punky didn't get the "you sleep in on vacation" memo, but I'm used to being the first one up when traveling...

Pictures:
Beach yogis
Sunrise
Harper looks at the morning ocean

Picture of Innocence

I was awake at 5:00 am today with Punky. Poor girl just can't stay comfortable all night right now, those darn teeth! It struck me this morning as she snuggled against me, head on my shoulder, thumb in mouth, drifting back to dreamland, that she is the picture of innocence. Right now. Nothing has tainted her, corrupted her, robbed her of her innocence. No one has hurt her, broken her heart or her spirit. She doesn't have bad self-esteem or body image issues. She doesn't hate her mother (at least not yet!). She couldn't possibly disappoint a soul. She is pure and innocent.

I lingered with her in my arms this morning. Knowing I needed to catch a few more zzzz before my workday began. But I lingered, longing to absorb her peaceful presence, her calm innocence a little longer. The moments when she snuggles against me are already becoming few and far between. My little go-getter is an independent one for sure! Already is is 9 months old. It happened in a blink. Tomorrow I will turn around and she'll be 13, next week- 30. It saddened me a little, to realize how quickly it is going. And it saddened me to know she will one day lose this innocence. I hope I can instill in her a good sense of self, a confidence that no one and no thing can take from her. I hope that I can be an example to her of how to dream and achieve whatever she wishes. I hope I can show her what unconditional love feels like. I hope she can find a way to retain some of her innocence throughout her life.

Squeezes, spring, sports, and cents

Each week, Hilary at Feeling Beachie lists  four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, please email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If used you will be added as co-host to the hop! This week’s co-host is Janice from Janice’s Footsteps (she came up with the last two statements)

I would LOVE it if you could please help me spread the word about this hop…. So, please tweet, FaceBook share, and add the linky to your post…

This week’s statements:

1. I ___ so much __ in a day
2. I don’t like ____ but I love ___
3. When I watch_______ I ­­­­____
4. I have ________in my wallet.

My Answers:

1. I love my daughter so much I must squeeze her a million times in a day.

2. I don't like winter but I love spring.

3. When I watch sports I enjoy it more if I am at the event in person.

4. I have $1.37 (in change) in my wallet.

Distractions

I fell a little behind in my daily devotional. And had been having quite the afternoon at work- one of those days where I didn't have to arrive until mid-afternoon, but from the moment I got in I felt as though I would have been much better off staying home. I needed to get my head on straight before my one measly client for the day. I pulled out the devotional book and read yesterday's devotion...

I am the God of all time and all that is. Seek Me not only in the morning quietness but consistently throughout the day. Do not let unexpected problems distract you from My Presence. Instead, talk with Me about everything, and watch confidently to see what I will do.
Adversity need not interrupt your communion with Me. When things go "wrong," you tend to react as if you're being punished. Instead of this negative response, try to view difficulties as blessings in disguise. Make Me your Refuge by pouring out your heart to Me, trusting in Me at all times. (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

Pokemon, Presents, and Packing

I like alliteration. And being able to throw the word alliteration into a conversation. Yes, I am aware of the increasing level of my dorkiness, which is only going to further increase when I admit that I searched for, ordered, and "read" the "Amazing Pokemon Guidebook." Not really much reading involved, mostly pictures and Pokemon puzzles. Why on earth would I purchase a book on Pokemon [I swear I only paid $0.01 for the book (plus $3.99 for shipping and handling)], especially when I give the huz such a hard time about his Magic habit? Research of course! I have a couple of young clients who are really into Pokemon (I had NO idea Pokemon was still popular!) and seeing as how I knew absolutely NOTHING about Pokemon, I decided to educate myself. And I thought one cent was an excellent price for my education!
Pokemon fact #1: Mudkip becomes Marshtomp becomes Swampert (if I am understanding correctly).
Pokemon fact #2: Seedot like to look good and polishes its body everyday, using leaves.
Pokemon fact #3: For the Kadabra, a spoon is apparently a power-boosting utensil.

Pokemon fact #4: I think Horsea is kinda cute (okay, that's not really a fact!).

I am not counting this as one of my 10 books...

On a completely unrelated note, this Friday will be my 5th wedding anniversary. The huz and I have been largely unromantic on past anniversaries. We agreed that we would do our best to always spend it together, but we weren't going to get into giving gifts- except for the "bigger" ones. The 5th marks the first "big one." I was so proud when I thought of a gift for the huz without too much difficulty. He tends to be somewhat troublesome to purchase presents for. And I am even more proud to announce that, although it was close a couple times, he has not managed to weasel his way into getting this gift early! Barring nothing happening in the next three days I will have successfully made him wait until the actual celebration day to open his gift. This is the man who got his Father's Day present in April. Got his 2010 Christmas present in September! He almost got me a couple of times, unknowingly talking about something related to what I had picked out for him and I thought I was going to have to give it to him to keep him from purchasing something himself. But so far, I have lucked out!

I even remember where I packed it away. And will be sure the huz packs it when we go on our upcoming trip that we have not yet begun to pack for (remember, I am the one who packs weeks in advance...). I'm getting itchy just thinking about the fact that I haven't even made a packing list yet...

Fill in the Blank Friday

This is my first time with the fill in the blank Friday, but I read my Auntie's each week and decided to join in the fun this time around.

Each week, Hilary at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them,  you  will be a co-host to the hop! This week’s co-host is Susi from Boca Frau (she came up with the last two statements)

This week’s statements: 

1. when I was little my mom  _____
2. ___ is my favorite condiment
3. I don’t like to celebrate ______because____
4. My ­­­­­­­______ take up more space  _______and I can never ___________.

My answers:

1. When I was little my mom used to put my hair up "in a knot on top of my head." I would always request she do this- but to "not pull the little hairs on the back of my neck."

2. Cheese! Cheese is the only condiment!

3. I don't like to celebrate Valentine's Day because I find it more romantic and special to be surprised with flowers and chocolate on a completely random day "just because" than to be given lavish gifts (or unlavish gifts) because one is supposed to do so on Valentine's Day.

4. My books take up more space than I have shelves for and I can never part with a book even when I didn't really like it (hmm, maybe this is why I'm not allowed in bookstores unsupervised...).

8 of 10

Wow! I'm already through book 8 of the 10 book challenge! And it's only August! Honestly, I cannot believe I'm going to (likely) hit my goal ahead of schedule. Amazing!

Last night I decided it was a reading night. So I put on my jammies and crawled into bed. I didn't intend to finish the book last night, but I only had 8 pages to go when the huz crawled into bed- so I went for it! Turned those last few pages before turning out the light.

Okay, on to the book review. "How to Eat a Cupcake: A Novel" by Meg Donohue was a cute little story. I mean, it had cupcakes in it, how could I not like it?! It was slightly predictable, yet I still found myself rooting for the characters and getting misty-eyed at just the right part- even though I knew, I KNEW! what was going to happen.

The fun thing about this book is that the two main characters take turns telling the story. Chapter alternate if it is Annie or Julia telling the story. And the author did this well- no confusion about which character was telling the story. And I think it really enhanced the story itself. Inside perspective into the character's minds. Yadda yadda yadda.

One and a half stars for predictability and two thumbs up for enjoyment on the Random Ramblings Random Rating Scale.