Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooals

In quick summary, Charles has 2 kinds of rotation: on service and off. Off service, he works a pretty regular-day sort of schedule, for the most part. On service, well let's just say that the hours are not short. He is coming up on an on service month for the next four weeks.

We've already learned that these months are good for stretching us, both as individuals and as a couple. They are also good for leaving us both exhausted in every way.

In an effort to try and keep my game-face on in the next month, I've set myself up with a few little projects and personal goals that will help provide me with a little personal fulfillment beyond keeping everyone alive. Not that that isn't a worthy goal, I just need a little more if I can eek it out.

In an effort to hold myself accountable, I'm writing them down.

Hopefully, I'll be able to look back in 4 weeks and have some good reflections on the experience. :-)

7 Quick Takes, Vol. 72

Joining Jen and her Merry Band of Bloggers.

1. Haven't done much blogging this week, but I anticipate that that's about to change. Charles has a tough rotation coming up, which means I expect plenty of time to pound out some ideas. Famous last words. ;-)

2. On Tuesday, we went to the pumpkin patch with our play group. Clare had a blast! Peter was less than impressed by the wind. Next year, hopefully, he'll feel differently.

Choo choo!

Over the bridge, headed to fun!

Riding the bus

Delighted by the animals, and saying, "hello."

Why do I have to stop for a picture?

This is his "unimpressed" face.

3. Then we came home, and I made the kids participate in a little photo shoot. Bonus neighborhood glimpses for curious family members. I'll do a home tour one of these days.

Front yard

Front porch (via Instagram)

4. Photo dump skip. #youarewelcome

5. Look at how high Peter is lifting himself up in those pictures. We're anticipating him being on the move soon. Kid is so eager to crawl, it is pathetic. I'm torn between excited for him and dreading the soon-to-follow into-everything phase. Enjoying the (relative) quiet while I can!

6. Good things come in 3s: 1) Real Top Chef is ba-ack!! 2) Date night this weekend! 3) Feeling good about our new parish -- thank you God for putting us here! That's a lot of yay!

7. Oh, and a bonus that, as soon as we move to Kansas, the Kansas City Royals are everyone's favorite Cinderella story. We believe!

That's all for today. Have a lovely weekend!

Reflections from Bath Time

The other day, after Peter's bath, I wrapped him up in his Elmo towel and carried him out to visit with Charles and Clare.

Unrelated. Already on Instagram and FB.

There is nothing I love more than snuggling my freshly bathed and not-yet-pajama'd babies. I had never quite put my finger on why. It isn't the lingering smell of Aveeno, though that's not bad. It could be simple pleasure in knowing that I wasn't likely to be smeared in jelly or sweet potatoes. But for the first time, it really dawned on me. Holding my wet, squirmy babies takes me back in some small way, to the moment when they were each placed on my chest, wet, squirmy and freshly born. There is something primal and beautiful there. Something sweet and special and sacred.

I was standing there, basking in the joy of my not-so-tiny, clean and squirmy baby, when Clare came over to tickle his feet. There were my babies, playing together, laughing. Charles was there, and we were grinning stupidly at each other, overjoyed by the moment of affection. I knew I had the most beautiful family. I knew that I was blessed.

Peter -- 6 months

That's half a year, people. Mr. Torpedo Man had his half-birthday yesterday, and to celebrate he got . . . baby oatmeal and sweet potatoes. Nothing says "Party like it's your (half) birthday!" like being spoon-fed unseasoned purees. Yum!

Mr. tall-and-skinny had gotten too long for 6 month sleepers, so we've moved up. The rest of his wardrobe rotation is a mix of 6 and 9 month items.

Meanwhile, he continues to be the happiest baby. Everyone who meets him comments on it. He just can't stop smiling.

He still likes to babble and coo. And try to eat his hand. He tries to be dainty and go a finger or two at a time. Then he gets frustrated, throws in the towel, and goes for the whole fist at once.

He is sitting up independently, but generally doesn't try very hard to keep at it. He'd much, much, much rather flop onto his belly and try desperately (and I do mean desperately) to move forward. He is successful at about 6 inches an hour. He wants to go faster. He's getting some good cross-body motion, but hasn't figured out how to get his knees under him yet. He tries to army crawl, but ends up spinning. After a few minutes of all of this, he gets tired and frustrated and cries. Poor guy.

Most of all, though, he loves to stand. He loves to stand on laps, stand being held on the floor, stand holding onto the coffee table or couch. Stand, stand, stand. Do not make me sit Mama. Do not. I think someone wants to keep up with big sister!

He is far too easy to get pictures of! With Clare, I had to get her dressed and ready, sit her in the chair, and go through 20+ shots and 20+ minutes to get a decent picture. Yesterday, I got his smiley mug in about 5 minutes. :-)
 

Currently . . . October 6

It's been awhile. Joining Joyful Life for another round of Currently. Thank you, Hannah, for taking the reigns.

Thinking about: My thoughts wander. Home. Fall. Weather. Sleep. Love. How stinking adorable my kids are. Finding my niche. Dinner. Dessert. TV. God. The spiritual life. Contentment. Heaven. Food again. Changes. Family. Friends. Lots of thinking, but not a lot of answers.

Making: baby food! Peter is juuuuuuuuust getting started in the world of real food, but I'm super excited. I make our own baby food. Yes. I'm that mom when it comes to baby food. But you know what? I love it. I find it fun to roast and puree and freeze.

Getting too big

Watching: Parenthood. From the beginning. I've never watched it, but have heard rave reviews. Charles has another tough rotation coming up in a couple of weeks, so I anticipate extra time for solo-TV. Thank you, Netflix.

Loving: Clare is all about -- no, obsessed -- with her ABCs. She finds them everywhere, and loves to read off the letters for the words she finds. A recent gem (while looking at a container of milk): "O-R-G-A-N-I-C spells cow!" Moo!

C-L-A-R-E spells Clare (with assistance)

Thankful for: Saturday morning, as I was pouring my morning coffee on the first truly chilly morning of the year, I felt that giddy rush of warmth that only comes from this time of year. That feeling of savoring the warmth and the chill all at once -- it makes me thankful for all that I have and for having all that I need.