June 30, 2008
I love being a mom. I love his giggle. And his toes. And his little bum. And his recent wave-to-everything-inanimate gesture. His love of books and sitting in our laps for long periods of time. His singing……..I really cannot list it all.
But sometimes, in the quiet of the morning, in the dead of summer, when I am used to a hustling, bustling school year of college students in and out of my home, being on and off campus, in and out and here and there…….sometimes I get a little bored being a stay at home mom.
(huge gasps! faces of dismay! judgement!)
Actually, I am sure none of the above happened if you are a mom. There are just days, weeks, times, moments where staying at home is not that exciting or adventurous. You are just doing your mom routine. In the groove. Cut up small chunks of food. Get fresh milk. Change a diaper here. Prevent him from falling down stairs. Patty cake. Teach him to know where his head is. Clean up the mess below his high chair. Read some books. Down for a nap…..you know the drill.
No one likes their job ALL the time, my husband reminds me. I know, I know. But somehow it feels un-virtuous to admit. Let alone say out loud. Let alone post on your blog. But I did it. No shame here. Sometimes it just is.
Here’s to you, silent mom, who has felt like her day drags on and does not really matter. You can admit it, it’s ok. We both know those days are few and far between and that mother-love overpowers so much. And we both know that these small things do matter. That raising a little person who will shape our world is a worthy, noble and beautiful calling…..that maintaining and sustaining a little world for this person is in the very image of God.
June 17, 2008
Sounds like a headliner to a newspaper article. Could’ve been. Before we left, we had a meal together on the deck that overlooked the ocean. What a view.
Not soon after, our next momentous view was on the side of the road on I-64 West as we headed home.
Stranded.
Stuck.
Hot.
We had 8 of us driving back in Rob’s parent’s Big Van (15 passenger Ford) and it lost it’s power steering on the highway. Kinda scary. We then all piled out of the driver’s seat and stood there, calling family, AAA, taxis and whoever would listen.
We were that family.
Long story short, we stayed a night in a Holiday Inn, waiting for the van to get fixed, but never did. We left it for dead (well, it just felt that way) at the Ford dealership and rented a car. We got back into town on Monday – what should have been Saturday.
Ahhhh…..traveling with a one year old. Actually, he was really great. Slept in a hotel closet and was a real trooper.
The closet door was open, don’t worry.
June 12, 2008
Robby is getting more adventurous with each day on the beach. He ate his first few fist-fulls of sand. The kind that looks like it might be a yummy biscuit, all clumpy and nice. Yep, he ate it. And didn’t seem to not like it. But daddy made some sandcastles and truckloads of sand for distraction. We learned a few essentials for the beach with a one-year old:
- A bucket of water to wash off his hands before he rubs sand in his eyes and cries
- An umbrella for shade
- A clean towel to wrap him in for naps on the beach (which he took everyday….it was great)
- Snacks for after the nap plus icecold water
- Aunts and uncles to kiss him and hold him when we are in the surf
I am so glad he likes the beach. He sat with grandma near the waves and let them lap at his toes. Sweet guy.
June 9, 2008
We are currently on the North Carolina shore and Robby has seen the beach for the first time. What a sweet boy. He is pretty afraid of the waves, which, granted, are huge compared to him at his level. I would be scared, too. But, he’s a trooper. He naps on the beach while we play in the waves as an aunt or uncle reads a book by him. He has tasted the sand a little bit but doesn’t seem too interested enough to keep at it.
June 8, 2008
We went to Columbus this past Sunday to cheer on one of Rob’s best friends, Sean Tierney, as he coached men’s high school volleyball for Elder at Cincinatti.They had never lost a match – and they carried it on to win the State Title! Yay, Sean! We are proud of you and your team! 
June 3, 2008
Here’s Robby’s hives….but justice is not done in this picture! Imagine his cheeks as bright, candy-apple red and then this color of bumps all over his whole body. This is that night at dinner. 
