As You Wish, Luke

Yesterday I found this video which was recorded nearly a year ago today.
Watching Luke grow is the greatest privilege I've ever had.
And yes, I didn't help him right away because I was laughing too hard.
Judge me if you will.

Tumbling reminds me of another famous tumble
when the Dread Pirate Roberts reveals his true
identity to Princess Buttercup by shouting
"As You Wish!"
which of course means,
"I love you more than life itself!"

Where My Mind's At

I have Green envy

This is what happens when I can't sleep.

click to enlarge photos.

This is the before shot, because after they're fired these colors are going to be WAY different.
The light green is supposedly deep blue, the red is a brownish blue, and the tan will be orange.
I'm so excited to see them finished!

Where's Nook?

Luke hides and then says, "Where's Nook? I don't see him anywhere! I miss him." at least ten times a day. One of his favorites is hiding under the towel just after a shower, curled up on the bathroom rug. And obviously the laundry basket is popular. My least favorite is when we're out in the yard and Luke runs into the neighbor's garage while my back is turned and I spend several scary minutes shouting his name and running around the neighborhood. Yeah. It's happened - more than once. It's cliche for a reason: good fences make good neighbors. We need a fence!

To Brag or Not to Brag

My child is incredibly talented and intelligent. I've known right from the start, of course, but I've tried very hard to be humble. However, I receive this weekly update on babycenter that told me:

"Your toddler can probably hop off the bottom step of a staircase by throwing one foot forward and letting the other follow. But true jumping, where both feet leave the ground at the same time and then land squarely, is a skill that requires excellent balance and may take a few more months to master."

So I'm going to brag. My kid is so far ahead of the curve! Luke has been jumping with both feet off the ground for over a month already, and can jump solidly off the bottom step. After reading these updates that tell me what my child should and shouldn't be doing I am often exasperated with these "milestones" because they are so different for each child and we shouldn't judge all children with the same yardstick. But there's a yardstick and I can't help looking at it and my kid is at the top of his class!! I'm so proud!!!

Oh no. This could be very bad. What if I turn into one of those terrible proud parents who make their kids go to ballet, swimming, soccer, and after school math programs before they are even allowed a drink of water?! I don't want to be someone who lives vicariously through their children until their children figure out what's going on and move far FAR away. Luke has no idea the turmoil his brilliance causes inside me. He is a kid. Just as he should be. I want him to be a kid. Kids naturally love without using a yardstick, and I certainly don't want him to learn to love conditionally - by my own example. So I won't brag, and make TOO much of a big deal about his achievements. I won't tell everyone I know that my kid's a genius. I won't write a blog post that suggests "My kid's better than yours". I won't be one of those parents. But the fact is, my kid's jumping with both feet off the ground.

Hm. I guess the one who really needs to practice balance is me.

Winnipeg weekend

WBS annual meetings in Winnipeg.

Luke talked to Grandma on the hotel room telephone every few minutes. We unplugged it.
He's naked here because we had just gotten back from swimming.

Tallest Bed in the History of Mattress Manufacturing

And perhaps the happiest sight (besides my first glimpse of Luke, of course) in the history of my marriage.
I'm in love.
And the reason this post is so short:
I'm takin' a nap!
see ya monday.

Boy Named Sue

This boy is all boy, but sometimes he likes to wear pink. He made me take off the pink scarf and put it on his head and the blue scarf went on my own.

Wednesday.

Luke's been waking up an hour early and then taking a three hour nap every afternoon this week. I LOVE the new routine. I get so much done in the afternoons and even sometimes get a nap after I've finished my to-do list. Today I threw the to do list out the window and read my book (Digging Deep by Fran Sorin - kinda cheesy but appropriate) in the sunshine on the deck after a long, hot shower. Nice warm weather here all week. What a dream! We've been outside every morning all morning, and often again for an hour or two after dinner. Unexpectedly gorgeous april.

The best bite

click on the photos to see my yard work up close.
Thanks to Adeline for giving me SO MANY perennials!

I often save the best bite for last. It's an exquisite bite, proportioned perfectly to fit on my fork with equal amounts of carrot, potato and meat, or ice cream and caramel, or chocolate and nougat. Since I've had Luke, eating has become more about what Luke needs to get through a polite meal at the table and less about watching my plate or even noticing if I ate anything at all. Meals often go by in a blur and I am content to know that something made it into my son's and my own stomach. I do sometimes need my space and I dream about meals when he will never ask for a bite and I will never have to share. Because if he asks, I always share. I can't say no to the little boy who says, "Tanks, Mama!" as if I just handed him the keys to his very own car. And it just doesn't seem right to eat something right in front of him and not give him a bite. Solution: don't eat it in front of him. Sometimes I wait for him to go to sleep before I eat just so that I can eat an entire banana from start to finish without sharing. And sometimes I have special treats that I hide away in the cupboard and only bring out when he's gone or sleeping, and I hoard them and I savor them and I revere them. Yes, I'm talking specifically about See's candy.

I brought a pound of bordeaux home from California as a special treat just for me. I've been eating one every now and then when I needed one of those, "All alone just for me" times. Yesterday I took my See's downstairs during Luke's afternoon nap so that I could iron some t-shirts and enjoy my sweets. I left them on my sewing table thinking that if Derek and I watched some TV later that evening maybe I'd eat the very last one - or maybe I'd save it for a special occasion - or for a time when I really needed a pick me up. After dinner I went over to Adeline's house to dig up some of her perennials which she was going to split with me, and Luke and Derek stayed home. I dug and planted and finally came in just in time to put Luke to bed, took a shower, and went down to flop on the couch to watch TV. Just before the much needed flop, I saw what appeared to be rat droppings on the couch! As I inspected them more carefully I recoiled in disbelief. There, on the couch in the basement - there were hundreds of...I can hardly say it... little chocolate sprinkles. Between the cushions, on the floor, on the coffee table. And under the corner of the couch? My See's candy box. Empty. My very last bordeaux.

I knew I was giving up certain things when I had a child. I knew I was giving up the greeting when I walked into a room - people don't say "Hi Laura!", anymore, they say "Hi, Luke!". I knew I was giving up solid nights of sleep. I knew I was giving up being footloose enough to walk to the ice cream store whenever I felt hungry for ice cream. I knew I was giving up close relationships with numerous people - the pool of people who know me best has dwindled since my days are full of Luke. I knew I was giving up having lovely belongings that stayed pretty and clean and whole. I knew I was giving up all these wonderful things. But what I didn't count on was giving up the best bite. That one hurts.

No photos :(

Sorry, but the weather's been so nice since Saturday that I haven't gotten out my camera, or hardly even sat down! We've been out in the sunshine, digging in the dirt. I am a much happier, healthier person when there's dirt under my fingernails. Although, I can quickly get distracted and say, forget to post the blog.
I apologize.
Definitely pictures tomorrow.

Friday Moment

cat in action-
this is a typical sight:
Luke running around,
cat tearing in for a swat
when he least expects it.

About half of my tomatoes have died (due to sun exposure), but I like to think it was natural selection and only the best and strongest survived. And anyhow they're all mixed up so I don't know which is which. I am enjoying watching the surviving tomatoes pop out new leaves every couple of days though, and Derek put up my garden boxes so you can bet I'm putting a few of the tomatoes out in the dirt tomorrow morning. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the soil warms up nice and good inside my little greenhouse cover (the pipe is part of the cover, plastic is not photographed). The other option for starting seeds in my planters is going to the MCC store and seeing if they have some old windows I could cover the dirt with to keep them warm. I just love my dirt!

Crocus

Yesterday afternoon we went on a spontaneous visit to the windy wilds of Manitoba to find the native crocuses in bloom. Our guide, Adeline, introduced us to the wild crocus, which is an endangered species and which only grows in un-tilled land. Each year they are becoming harder and harder to find, but Adeline knows where to look. Apparently the crocus is deceptively clean and fuzzy looking. If picked (and DON'T because they're protected by law!) they are full of bugs and the bugs will slowly come out and cover your dining room table. While we were out there, Adeline and Luke also had a good listen to the frogs in the slough (I've never actually used that word in a sentence so I hope I'm right in referring to it as a slough - maybe it's a creek, or just a ditch....?). The frogs were singing beautifully and Luke shouted into the wind, "The frogs are talkin' to YOU!" I lost my hat a few times in the wind and was reminded of my sincere dislike of the howling prairie wind, but it's part of living on the prairie, and this was a true Manitoba experience.

If you'd like to read the story that first made me dislike the prairie wind, read "The Painted Door" by Sinclair Ross. This was required reading for my Canadian Literature class and we discussed the personification of the wind in this short story, and how the wind was not just personified, but was an actual character in the story.

But a word of caution, it is not a pleasant story, and after reading it you may never feel the same about wind again. Also, it will not leave you with the nice feeling my post has left you with, and might in fact ruin your day. Definitely do not read it just before bed. Or first thing in the morning. Or if you're already in a bad mood. Or if you're in a good mood. In fact, you're better off not reading it at all. Which is why I can still say it's a wonderfully written piece. It's stuck with me like an old nightmare.

Modification

In an effort to reduce the light entering Luke's window I modified the curtains (lengthened them) by letting out the top hem and putting on tabs instead of one long fold. I like the tabs better anyway. The picture with the curtains closed is quite bright still because I have the blinds wide open behind, but with the modifications and the blinds closed these curtains should do the trick!

Goofing off

Yesterday I made curtains for Luke's bedroom! I am really pleased with the colors, not so pleased with how much light still comes in.
However, the fact that I made these curtains for $13 wins them a LOT of points.

Let your hair down

Derek likes to let his hair down on the weekend and take his race car for a spin. Luke thinks it's the greatest thing in the world and begs, "Daddy, ride the race car!".

Great-grand Thiessens came for a visit and Luke got to stay up past his bedtime to play with them.

Overheard at Bedtime

"Lights out, Luke. Sleep good."
"Hug Mommy!"
"Okay. Laura!"
"Yep, on my way."
(hug)
"Hug Daddy!"
"okay, one more. Sleep good."
(hug)
"Hug Mommy!"
"Last one."
(hug)
"Where's Grammy? Where's Grampa?"
"In California, sleep tight, okay? Ni-night."
"Hug kitty!"
"You already said good-night to kitty"
"Hug Mommy!"
"You want the blanket?"
"No blanket! Hug Daddy!"
"It's time to sleep. Ni-night."
"No! Hug Mommy!"

Who can resist one more hug?
The manipulated can....
eventually.

a rocha debrief, to be brief

from the ridge looking out towards winkler

Luke and I "debriefed" this morning in the Pembina Valley with a friend of mine from CMU. Susan and her husband are now working at A Rocha. I reconnected with Susan because she is teaching my pottery class on Wednesday nights. Susan is an open, exuberant, sensitive person who I am always at ease with. Susan and her husband are connected to the arts community in the area and are the type of people who are always brimming with ideas, projects, inspiration. It is inspirational for me to spend time with them, especially in such a lovely place. We watched birds come to the feeder, ate homemade bread, drank tea in the sunshine, went potty in the outhouse, daydreamed about pottery and painting, Luke even discovered deer poop and then washed his hands in the dirt. Very satisfying, very refreshing. Experiences like this solidify my confidence in the idea that God wants to use my interests and skills for his glory, and that the mundane is not meaningless.

Feel the burn

Dear amanda,
wish you were here.

I've been wandering around the house doing the usual things: dishes, making dinner, laundry, planting seeds, reading stories, playing ball, dishes again, making lunch, etc etc. I feel like I need a debrief after my vacation. Instead I got tossed back into the whole huge mess/responsibility that is having a family and a home, without a moment to catch my breath. To make myself feel better I am sticking with these California pictures determined to make something of them and not let them sit in this computer file until they rot. Hope you enjoy seeing some more CA photos.

PS- I planted sweet peas today. sweet peas. mmm.