Small big things
Posted on | September 6, 2008 | 12 Comments
It was our unnoficial anniversary yesterday (first date.) Nine years. We ate Mexican on the waterfront, with a perfect sunset and perfect weather. Now the remnants of hurricane Hannah bring rain and thunder. I’m so in love with my man. Still. More than ever. He’s like good wine…. He’s aged well. He’s hotter, more confident, kinder, and more thoughtful than when I met him.
In other small big news, we just got back from buying lots of track and trains to add on to Bean’s collection–a reward for the momentous milestone: he’s slept in his OWN BED all night for the past five nights. We moved his room–and his new room (my old studio space) is so cozy and snug and fun. He loves the bright sepia walls, the gabled ceilings, and a new soft rug to play on. And remarkably, he was game to sleep in his bed the whole night–waking up to check that his nightlight was on, and then going back to sleep.
This is huge. This is beyond huge. At the beginning of the week, after his first successful night, we celebrated with cupcakes (homemade, from Nigella Lawson’s How To Be A Domestic Goddess) with purple frosting. I figured: anything to sweeten the deal. And it seemed to work.
But perhaps underneith it all, he was just ready. He was like that with all his milestones: throwing out his pacifier for good at 10 months; weaning at 16 mos; potty training effortlessly at about 18-24 mos. It’s something to remember about him–when he’s really ready, it won’t be a struggle.
Isn’t this true for everyone though? So much of what makes things a struggle daily is that we don’t feel ready, we feel rushed, croweded, over-booked, over-worked, frazzled. If we have adequate time to wrap our heads around things, it’s not so hard to get everything accomplished, and then some. Or at least that’s how it is for me. And this is partly why I took a blogging break. I needed more time in my days.
Time to just be with my guys, and to settle into the pace of teaching again. Time to treat myself gently (I’m still feeling iffy, the nausea still creeps up every day at some point.) Time to make purple cup cakes and redecorate and take naps with DH while Bean is at his grandparents house. And it’s been good. I needed to slow down, though it’s not something I do naturally.
Still I missed blogging. Missed teasing out little snippets of my day into the yarn of sentences, the fabric of paragraphs. I missed the quirky dialogue that takes place here in the comments (the Internet = my only source of parenting advice, for one.)
And today when we hauled a huge bag of clothing to Plato’s Closet to try and sell them, we were told, “These [five items] are the only ones we could take. The rest are too mature in style.” And immediately, I thought of you. Because who else can I go to and whimper: THE LADY AT PLATO’S CLOSET JUST CALLED US OLD.
Am I old?
Damn. I guess I am. Old enough that my bag of cast-offs (lots of unwanted gifts from well-meaning relatives) aren’t trendy enough for a second hand store. Oh well. Goodwill was happy for them, and either way, my closet has way more space.
I’ll stop whimpering immediately if anyone has any good tips on where to buy maternity clothes that don’t cost boatloads? Because my belly is popping out (way faster than with Bean) and even the Bella Band I’m starting to feel like a sausage.
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12 Responses to “Small big things”
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I am Christina Rosalie
Hello. I'm so happy you've stopped by!
I am a multimedia storyteller, digital strategist, idea starter, stalker of wonder, finder of four leaf clovers, MFA graduate student, and mama of boys. My first book,
will be published by SKIRT! Books in September, 2012.
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September 6th, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
wow, i am soooo out of the loop. i’ve been on an overextended hiatus from blogging (both posting to mine and reading the posts of others), that i am just now finding out you are pregnant. Congratulations!!!
so glad i ventured out of my bubble long enough to visit here… i always enjoy your musings about life.
September 6th, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
this is lovely; i’m so glad that you are happy and doing well…congrats on the milestones. the photos below are lovely!
September 6th, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
We all need a blogging break once in a while, but man, this internet is ADDICTIVE, ain’t it?
September 6th, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
They’re easier to find on-line. Here are a couple places I found them …
Old Navy has reasonably priced maternity clothes. JC Penney has some too.
September 6th, 2008 @ 9:47 pm
Target has some really cute stuff….
September 6th, 2008 @ 10:58 pm
Glad you’re back to blogging! You were missed.
September 6th, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
good to see you’re back! I’ve missed you, you look wonderful.
big hugs,
Rosa
September 6th, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
Motherhood maternity has such cute stuff that is very reasonably priced! Both my sister and I have wanted to shop there when we AREN’T pregnant. I think their website is http://www.motherhood.com. They have lots of stores but online is convenient too.
September 7th, 2008 @ 4:15 am
H&M Mama is fabulous for tops (Boston has a store I think). They wash well, feel really comfortable and look great on, even stretched to 9 months. I still wear some of the tees for pjs, just because they are so soft and comfy. And I never thought I’d say that about a piece of maternity clothing!
September 7th, 2008 @ 9:18 am
My little one just weaned on her own at exactly 16 months too. So true that when we’re ready, changes aren’t a struggle, though they still do leave that nostalgic twinge.
As for maternity clothes, I liked Old Navy and the Gap’s sale rack (online too.)
September 7th, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
wow, are we in synch! weird.
I’m very much with you on the blogging break, the cleaning of closets, the new milestones…if we could both drink a glass of wine to celebrate, then I’d pour you one
About the maternity clothes: does that trendy kid thrift store carry maternity clothes, as well? I found everything I needed at thrift for those last, bulging months. Just don’t buy from Naissance maternity. AWFUL customer service
September 8th, 2008 @ 9:57 am
that’s great, honestly my 7 and 8 year old daughters still don’t make it through the night in their own bed. i find it exhausting having them crawl in between us and waking me up every night! good for bean!
tara