Monday, August 31, 2009

Making memories in the mud





Last Friday Luke and I headed out to Katie and Jack's house to do some sewing. Luke had a gorgeous nap and let me and Katie sew for two hours uninterrupted! Just before we left I wanted to get a photograph of the bearded barley, so we walked out to the edge of the field. The sky was cooperating, with sun and clouds so beautiful, and Luke wandered out after us by himself so politely. It seemed like God really was smiling on my photo shoot. And then I turned around.

And saw what life is really all about.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Bad Days

A picture from a good day which Ruth emailed to me.



Yesterday Megan was over and Luke was Mr. Grumpy and Megan said, "I'm glad to know you have bad days too, because sometimes your life seems idyllic"...or something to that effect. I was surprised, but reminded of my sister Melissa saying something very similar not all that long ago. Since two people have said it so close together I began to wonder if I'm misrepresenting our lives here in this blog. To set the record straight: we have bad days too.

Although Luke is honest-to-goodness one of the most good natured people I know, there are days when everything seems to tick him off. Luke has a grumpy face, and can throw a dirty look with the best of them. When he's tired he will often throw whatever is in his hand at the moment and lately he has tried hitting me when he's angry. Obviously that does not go over well. Luke gets a time out in his crib when something is thrown or when he hits. He spends two minutes in his crib crying, and when he is rescued he often needs a few minutes alone to de-angrify and then he wants to cuddle up and apologize.

Most of the time Luke is easy-going and cheerful, but when a tooth is coming in or when naptime isn't sufficient, days can be very long and bleak. Luke has a dramatic tendency (where does he get that I wonder?) to throw his face down on the floor with his bum in the air and cry a long shaky sob with his lip hanging down if life just seems too hard.

Sometimes I want to do the same thing when Luke is crying. Sometimes when I get very upset I put Luke in his crib and I go sit on the deck or work in the garden where I can't hear him. For the most part our life is cheerful and enjoyable. But just so you know, we have our dark days too.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Catch Up Videos

Mr. Clean
Luke's signs
Luke's list of spoken words:
Mommy
Daddy
ball
doggy
go
up
all done
banana
hat
hot
grandma
grandpa
papa
no
uh-oh
ball
hi


Luke's list of signs:
bird
dog
please
thank-you
more
all done
drink
eat
hat
shoes
bath
diaper
ball
bye-bye
good-night

and I'm sure there's more which I will add to this list as they come to me.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Road Trip

Today Luke and I are going on a road trip, so there will be pictures later!

Here they are:

On the road. Look at all the bugs we collected!

Luke loves sand! He played in the water until his lips turned blue, and cried when we left.

I enjoyed just sitting on the beach. Perhaps the most relaxing day I've had in some time.

Thanks Ruth and Ralph for having us out to Matlock for the day. It was gorgeous. I wrote this poem on the way home for you:

To Ruthie and Ralph:
My memory of our day on the beach

Roasting shoulders
Black smoochers
old labrador struggling to stand

Simmering toes
cooled in the waves
Sea glass in your hands

Sunny cheeks
dimpled wrists
diaper full of sand

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Hot Hat



Luke says 'Ot when food is hot, and can now say hat! He especially likes hats...any kind of hat really.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Home Jiggity Jig


Hats this size aren't much good for grandpa.

Bikes this size are good for everyone! Luke was strapped in with rubber snubbers.

Sharing a ride in the new bike trailer.

Luke gets a lesson in riding with training wheels.

Friday, August 21, 2009

A poem and a list

I wrote this poem a couple weeks ago. It came to me while sewing! It doesn't yet have a title.

Luke's eyes
patterned after
my own
fingers woven
in Derek's
Heart
in two
stitched whole


And since today has been so busy I thought you might like to see what it was busy with:
buy:
tray for ficus
ziploc bags
cupcake papers
to do:
fill up w/gas
mail 3 discs of photos
finish editing photos of twins
put last shoot online
call Connie's depot re: 2 boxes
call Mom re: tracking number, and addresses
make cupcakes
hem Derek's jeans
pick tomatoes
bury compost
plant Helene's volunteers
pull out sod from flowerbed
wash dishes
empty garbages
shower and shave
launder diapers
bring in ficus
pack:
diapers
clothes
bathroom stuff
cupcakes
s'more ingredients
Luke's blanket
sippy cups
tennies
jackets
camera
swimsuits
remember:
turn off oven
turn off lights
lock doors
put away shovel
bring in compost container
start dishwasher
blog

And so I've completed my list. We're off to camp with the Thiessens!