March 29, 2007 | Mama Smith

snippets

This whole day has been evidence that I am sorely sleep deprived. From the diaper in the fridge and Brighton’s sippy cup in the trash mix-up, to the half-eaten lunch I didn’t realize I’d started until 4pm. It’s too much to ask my brain to put together any cohesive thoughts this evening, but I thought I’d share a few brief snippets of the past few days.

Love in the Form of Lemon Almond Chicken

Yes, Levi is almost two months old and yes, I still can barely get my act together to keep the boys in two pieces by the end of the day, much less get a semi-luke-warm meal on the table. Our friends have reached near-god-like-status in our books by continuing to bring us meals even well into the second month of Levi’s life. I literally could cry when I see their warm faces and arms burdened with food and wine and coffee for us. We have felt lavishly loved these days.

Double Take

I get them all day long. Not for any desirable reason, but rather, I’m assuming, out of pure shock and sympathy as passerbys scope out the tiny bundle strapped to my chest and boisterous toddler attempting to escape the five-point harness stroller. We are getting new wheels. Soon. Before my shoulders turn into a lumpy mass of sore muscles from these twice a day, 2 hour long park visits or romps through the woods with Levi hanging off of me while constantly chasing after B and tossing him up on my hip.

Smiles

My attempt to capture Levi’s smiles he’d been flashing all morning. Not as easy as I thought, trying to lure them out while holding the camera next to my head, hoping it’s actually aimed at his face and not my dirty socks.

Just Ask the Pros

Ha. Not even. But we were dumbfounded when scrolling through some of our design feeds, one of which includes Ikea Hacker and came across this. For a minute I just sat there thinking, “Huh, that looks a lot like the fabric hanging I did in our den?”. Then it clicked. That WAS our den?! Matthew had submitted the revamping to a DIY community site and it was passed on to IKEA hacker. Which is not that big of a deal, really, but it was fun to see. And you may remember back to when I made that fabric hanging and matching pillows, saying we needed a new couch to go with the pillows? Well, Matthew’s folks granted us that wish unknowingly through a sweet Christmas check, in which we were able to purchase our very first new piece of furniture. Levi is taking to it nicely and I think the sippy cup feels right at home.

The Big Guy

I think all these changes around here with a new little bro has propelled Brighton into BigBoyhood suddenly. Where did my baby B go? He couldn’t be any more boy these days. Today he was throwing rocks in the creek, smashing sticks on tree trunks, shoving dirt in his pockets and tripping over massive tree roots without one yelp. All the while rambling to himself or randomly yelling “Rocks! Tree! Splash! Wooooah!”. He’s still into these praying spells, healing a tree stump today repeatedly. “Pray” he’d say, grabbing it with both chubby hands, and in a hushed tone whispering “Huz a buhz a tun a mahento. Amen.” Faith to move mountains. Maybe it’ll be a full grown tree tomorrow, then I’ll stop laughing over his praying obsession.

Boxes – a Child’s Best Friend

This is the latest torture device. I foolishly did this once. Now I’m the regular horse & buggy around here. We ordered this massive box of diapers from Amazon and made it into a “wagon” of some sorts for Brighton using a jumprope. One pull around the house and he was hooked. Now he innocently requests “Pull. Pull. Pull” all day long with those big brown eyes, that I just can’t say no. So up and down the hall we go. Me with the rope around my waist and laundry to put away or toys to disperse in my arms. Chores with a toddler & box in tow.

This box is easier on my body. A house we created for Brighton out of the latest furniture purchases. Being true to his father’s past, we even “graffitied” the sides with crayons. How to distinguish coloring being okay on a fake house and not the real house? I’ve yet to figure that one out.

That’s all for tonight, folks. It’s now time to finish our wine and head to bed, hoping this little guy is down for a few hours at least.