Lessons Learned

I've always loved being a student.  Receiving a syllabus always overwhelmed me, but looking back at the enumerated and weighted requirements at the end of the semester left me feeling proud and accomplished.  Motherhood does not come with a syllabus, nor is there a set curriculum that lays out objectives or skills to master.  It is, however, a hands-on learning experience with its rewards and heartbreaks and Alekzander is, without a doubt, my favorite teacher.

Today's lessons included:

Play first, work later.  I was trying to sweep the floor while Alekzander was running circles around me.  He is obsessed with the broom and ended up with my cleaning tool even though I provided him with his own.  I eventually managed to distract/trick my ridiculously smart/quick one-year old so that I could hide the broom (and avoid a cry-fest).  Work time was cut short, and playtime, giggles, and raspberries ensued.  (The floors were eventually swept and sanitized two-hours later during Alekzander's nap time.)

Soak in nature.  We went to visit the "duck-ducks" at the pond.  Alekzander gets so excited when he sees a duck-couple swimming toward him; he points with his cute bowed index finger and shouts, "Duck-Duck! Duck-Duck!".  We counted five ducks as we went around the pond and pointed out a turtle sunning itself on a log.  I thought we had found/seen all the ducks and wasn't even looking anymore, but Super Baby had his "duck radar" on and starting pointing and squealing as he saw two more.  For the rest of the walk, he squawked and chatted with the birds and laughed at the squirrels running through yards.  His one-year old sense of wonder reminded me to "Stop and smell the flowers" which we did ... we also stopped to sniff the basil, the lettuce, and the tomato plant that he bought with his Dada yesterday.

Read the Bible.  Sweet, nosy boy found my Bible in my nightstand and handed it to me.  I read a few passages out loud that I had marked in the past, including John 15:1-17.  My note said, "Love your children this way."  I don't know when I would have written this, nor the last time I read this verse, but it never hurts to be reminded to love others as intensely as God loves us.  "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love." (John 15:11-13)

Going Green

Green River Revival

at the USNWC

March 12, 2011

Contemplating rolling down the hill to flirt with some older girls

on Belmont Abby Island

With Dada during the

Powerball Race in the GREEN rapids

Dancing and being silly with Mama

Places to Go

Now that he's mobile, Alekzander always has places to go and things to explore.  

Today we went out to Marvin to catch up with our friends and 

took a wagon ride through the woods.

An impromptu photo shoot by the pond was short-lived.

The wagon and the pond were much more interesting 

than Mama's attempt to capture some cute pictures.

Excuse me; I have places to go.  Things to see.  

 {Did you see those ducks?  And the family of deer?!}

And this little ham?

In a few years, he'll be leading his little city friend through the woods... 

showing him places to hide... 

places to run... 

places to go.

Shadow Monster

Toddle

Toddler :: a young child who toddles about ...

Unless you are Alekzander. 

Then you prefer to run.  

Superman style, arms behind you.

Such a big boy.

No Escape

When Alekzander is not breaking out of rooms by standing on his tippy-toes and reaching high above his head to touch (and pull open) our lever door handles, he is closing doors ... making an escape impossible for our cat, Rye-lee.

Life used to be peaceful.  Rye-lee could nap uninterrupted.

Then Alekzander got  brave and wanted to share love during Rye-lee's 20 hours of daily naps.  Rye-lee tolerated the attention.

Now Alekzander's love for Rye-lee has grown.  He follows him around like a hunter on the prowl for the biggest polar bear in the north.  Except rather than quietly stalk his prey, Alekzander yells "Rye-lai, Rye-lai" ... "Hey!  Rye-lai" and chases him through the house.  When he finally does get poor Rye cornered, Alekzander  puts his hands over his head and swings them down for a good solid "love pat."  When they're on the same level, he scoots close to his cat and twists his body to use Rye-lee as an over stuffed 25 pound pillow.  

Crazily, Rye-lee still outweighs Alekzander by 2-3 pounds, though you'd never guess it considering the torment Alekzander puts Rye-lee through each day.  I have to wonder if some good intentioned cat abuse love is better or worse than the humiliation and manipulation Tessa and I put our cats through when we were little.  Surely our cats enjoyed being strapped in strollers and bucket swings while wearing baby bonnets and dresses, right?

Lunar Love

Since I'm the favorite girl in the house, I got a new favorite necklace from my boys for Valentine's Day.  I love it!  I love them.  And they love me ... up to the moon and back again.

Thursday night after dinner, under the light of the moon, Andrew and Alekzander were at the end of the driveway cheering me on as I finished a three-mile run.  Andrew's been my biggest fan (and I guess Alekzander is my littlest fan) as I begin to step back into the world of running.  Fast or slow, in shape or not, I know I am loved.

Last night, after an exhausting afternoon of mini-meltdowns and toddler tantrums, Alekzander gave me the chance to love on him long after he should have been asleep.  A coughing fit woke him up, and I decided he I needed a little quiet snuggle time.  My sweet little boy koala-hugged me, put his sweaty little head on my chest, and passed out.  With slivers of moonlight shining through his window, we rocked and rocked; and in those quiet, comfortable moments, all of the day's frustrations faded completely.  

Without a doubt, my love for my little (and big) man is big.  Up to the moon and back again.  {Times 5,297,831,460}