Remembering

Since I last posted, we have greeted a new addition to the family by the name of: Samantha Joy Frey! She was born after induction on March 13, 2014 (kind of a fun number combo 3-13-14). She was five days late and I felt like she would never show up! Stephen was amazing at keeping my spirits up as we waited. We took several weekend mall trips to walk out my crazy energy and uplift my dampened mood. He just kept reminding me, "She's coming!" My OB was wonderful and calm and a great, gentle birth coach. My recovery has been so different from my first. Having Caitlin was the hardest thing I've ever done and I think I was a bit depressed because I felt so alone and nursing was very difficult. Things have come so much more naturally this time and I already feel much more in love with this wee one. I had a much harder time with Cait's newborn stage. I am home from work for the remainder of the school year, finding a new rhythm at home with my girls. I love that our family has grown. We are so blessed to have this new little one. It is such a profound miracle to grow and birth and nurture a baby and I feel so lucky to have two. Cait clearly has many emotions to sort through and she has hard moments, but she is so helpful and gentle with her new sister. I can tell she is just glad to have another kid around even if it's a little 2 month old crying, mush ball. She calls her sister "Samanthi" and "Sam Sam" and she says "Aww so cute" about six hundred times a day in reference to Sam's facial expressions, outfits, what have you. It's endearing to the point of almost annoying. Since Caitlin is my main buddy here during the days, in terms of someone to talk so, I wanted to record some of her current interests and funny sayings. A few things about Cait at 4 and a half years old: *obsessive about fashion and creating fantastical outfits/dressing up *is constantly constructing scenarios for play like: balls, dances, weddings, birthday parties, picnics *loving her preschool and will dearly miss it during summer (but there's summer play sessions at park!) *taking swim again (Preschool 2) and feeling cool with her new flower swim suit and mermaid towel (monogrammed!) *plays Barbies, ponies, Calico Critters and is starting to get very detailed in how she dresses them and sets up their little houses *loves to dance and sing constantly (especially to Frozen movie soundtrack or Disney songs on Pandora) *enjoys helping in the kitchen (making the coffee, mixing up pancakes, baking with mommy) and is able to partially help set the table *is very artistic and loves re-using materials from kitchen to make crafts (cereal box houses, coffee can mailbox, you name it...) *started drawing her own people and characters and writes series of letters (mix of upper and lower case), but starting to get the idea that there are spaces between words *enjoys Sunday school most when little friend Riley is there (remembers playing more than the actual lesson) *asks to go out for ice cream constantly since we tried out new Fro Yo place where you make your own...she was in heaven *tears up at least once a day (likely related to new baby stress) *loves walking or biking to the park and is currently into swinging on her belly The other day at lunch she told me: "Mom, did you know that Tinkerbell and Periwinkle wear ripped up baby diapers for underpants?" (totally out of the blue) Samantha is currently learning how to smile and *almost* laugh and the rest of the time she's sleeping or wetting her diapers...ah the life of a 2 month old. We are in love with our little ladies. Thanks for joining us in the journey!

February

I have not updated this blog in so long, I thought I should re-enter this world. I am awake and Stephen and Cait are sound asleep. It is 6:30 am on a Saturday in February. The sound of my husband sleeping is like music to my ears because he has been working so incredibly hard the past two weeks. He had his first official training with work and tomorrow is his first day off in a long time. Cait is probably tired, too, from staying up to watch Despicable Me 2. A movie which I laughed at way more than her, but afterward she told me it was "so cool." She's 4 going on 13 with some of the cute vocabulary she's trying out; she's still my sweet preschooler but she thinks older girls are SO cool and fashionable. Here are the BIG updates: 1) We are expecting child number 2 in four weeks. It is a girl and we do have a few good names picked out finally. This little lady is part of the reason I'm up right now...I was too hungry to sleep any longer! I am teaching up until a few days before I am due, which makes me extra fatigued, but my students are pretty understanding about my needs to sit down or lean on things. 2) Caitlin is in her 2nd year of preschool with a fabulous teacher. Her school is changing locations for next year; moving closer to our house--yeah! She goes to school two mornings a week as we kept her in the 3's class b/c of her late Fall birthday. She loves school, her teacher, her Christmas program and getting to march in the Memorial Day parade at the end of the year. She is a little social butterfly. 3) Stephen started work as a criminal prosecutor this past Fall and he has really been enjoying the work. He never really saw himself practicing criminal law during law school, especially not on the prosecution side. But he seems very intrigued by the processes he's learning and it's a good fit for him for now. It's so strange seeing him get so dressed up for work now that he has to wear a suit everyday. He looks good! Attached are some dance updates. Cait started dance classes this year and it's a great, non-competitive program for 3-5 year olds and they get pink tutus! (her favorite)

A return to memories

I have not posted on this blog in such a long time, but I've narrated posts to myself frequently during my absence. I often think to myself, this would be such a great way to easily record family memories, but life gets me tired and distracted. I wanted to write about some of the changes to our little world since Cait entered her 3rd year of life, so here's what we're up to these days and here are a few of our traditions: *Cait attends preschool at a local coop where her favorite friend is Lukas. They can frequently be caught holding hands or giggling, so I'm told by the mums who are able to volunteer more than I am! Through going to preschool a wee bit this year, she's had so many great opportunities like a cider mill field trip, a tumbling gym trip, kids theater, and she'll be marching in a Memorial Day parade very soon. It's been great socialization for her and we plan to keep her there for the 3's program again next Fall. *Stephen is wrapping up law school and beginning bar prep...the saga continues. This process has involved a lot of juggling of responsibilities and it has required that I stay teaching to pay the bills, but my heart yearns to have the financial flexibility to stay home. *We have been able to see lots of family as a by-product of moving home and it just continues to remind me of the importance of being physically near to them all. Last Sunday, Caitlin and I biked over to play with Lily and Hud in the dinner hours. This past Saturday, we were able to attend a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese for Cait's 2nd cousin. Cait's godmother was able to attend "Special Person's Night" at preschool a month ago. All of these gatherings and times together are priceless. Cait and I are constantly talking about how excited we are for the next chance to get out to the cottage to share more fun times with family. It's mid-April, so the end is near...but not near enough that I can stay up super late to continue updating. Maybe this summer, we'll finally get a camera so that i can really record our history a bit better!

The Most Wonderful Season of All...

I love Christmastime. I always have and I do believe I will continue to randomly squeal like a school-girl around this time of the year. I love Advent and the quiet waiting and anticipation of celebrating Emmanuel, God with Us. I love working at a school where we can read and reflect on the Advent season. I love the creation of gifts for loved ones and the general spirit of generosity. I love that we are celebrating our first Christmas in our very own house. We've been married for 6 years and we've had many adventures in that short amount of time; our biggest one being the birth of our first child, Caitlin. We had to delay home ownership during years of intentional poverty trying to get a community business together and working towards higher degrees. But the blessings of more meaningful work have allowed us to own a small home and its the best thing in the world.

Here's what I SO love about Christmas this year:

Home: What do I love about our new home at this time? I love decorating with the few things we've acquired in our short married life, picking out a real tree at a neighborhood lot (though I long for those fancy Pines and Spruce's...the lower rung will do for now!), baking gingerbread cookies and slowly picking my way through the mounds of gifted goodies and snacks gracing our new, granite counters, our first sloppily-hung green Christmas lights gracing our porch beams (a feature I couldn't do without for our first house), stockings hung with care on our big family bookshelf (it may not have a fireplace...but this will ALSO do!). I am also enjoying a tree clad in all white lights with various collected ornaments, but we need more lights! And I'm already thinking ahead to the beautiful, natural pine swag I will buy for my handrail headed upstairs (which we are going to finally mount over break--we have to purchase a new one b/c the old one had too many layers of old paint and was poor quality).

Family: Driving around the metro area to be with loved ones is WHY we came back home and its so good to return home at the end of a large gathering, or sleep over and drive home in the morning. Having family members drop by to help eat through our Holiday treats and play with Cait and her new toys is also what melts my heart at this time.

Town: I love all of the Christmas decorations EXCEPT those giant blow-up globes that are so popular these days. We took Cait to a Holiday parade right after Thanksgiving and my favorite part are the bagpipes! I should really get some bagpipe recordings to play at home during the Holidays. We live in an area between two very adorable downtown scenes that have great Holiday shopping and small, independent stores with cute gift ideas. I only browsed this year because I bought a lot online, but its fun to look! I also got to sneak away for an afternoon of pre-break grading at a nearby bookstore where I enjoyed the Holiday jazz and a warm beverage (one of my favorite winter things) Now...it just needs to snow because we are walking distance from some GREAT sledding.

Expectations: I have many plans for over break and I spent this Boxing Day afternoon working on various lists, but, honestly, one of the most important things to me is relaxing because Stephen and I are both usually running ourselves ragged during the school terms. I am reading The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen and I have Tina Fey's memoir on my nightstand as next in line. We will surely chip away at the household tasks since there is MUCH to do (curtains, railing, wall hangings, basement organization, organization, filing, etc.), but we are good about reminding each other to slow down and just be still and, yes, get a refill on coffee and cozy up on the couch.

Christmas time is here and my heart is filled to overflowing. I am tired from family gatherings, but grateful for all the loved ones we could see and treasure.

Enjoy!

Christmas is coming...

As I unwind from the week and prepare my mind and energy for the weekend, I am reminded of blessings. I've told some of my co-workers at my new school that this Fall, though very busy, has felt like a bit of a Sabbatical to me after the last few years as there are so many less stresses on my mind and heart. I am grateful as I enter the flurry of this final week before Christmas 2012 for...

-Caitlin's spirit of creativity and ingenuity in her play and her nonstop curiosity!
-a husband who has been willing to cook after long days so that I can catch up with Cait after work
-Tempeh-Lettuce-Tomato sandwiches on a Friday night
-a sense of completion on the Holiday Cards (though a picture card would've been easier in retrospect, these will send some good tidings around and that's the point!)
-a workplace that brings me more sense of calm...
-a husband who is done with exams...for now!
-extra acorn squash from my sister-in-law...hmmm... many possibilities

My husband reminded me to get back into this old blog and update more, so I will try to do so during the Holidays when I have a chance to breathe a bit more...until then...enjoy your loved ones!

Summer Right Now

Thanks to the Summer Solstice, we are now officially in our Summer days. Here's what is happening. I am...

:digging up a storm to clean up and arrange our little yard into some workable space. The garden is planted! Though I don't currently have space for my big vines (watermelon and pumpkin...next year, guys), we should have (as long as the bunnies stay away): tomatoes, basil, green peppers, mustard greens, collard greens, peas, and garlic. The rest we can get from the market this year...

:smelling the sweet smell of the the air after a long rain

:packing for a small vacation to celebrate marriage, babies and family. It's the only planned getaway for the summer...so we'll live it up, I'm sure.

:organizing, cleaning, and continuing the work of MOVING INto this new home. There are shelves to be built, boxes to sort through, and countless fix up and painting projects around the house...all in time.

:sleeping off a year of stress, chaos and exhaustion.

:enjoying too much coffee, too frequent snacks, and too much internet time in these early vacation days...that's ok ;)

What are you feeling at this seasonal change?

Spring

I cannot believe that I've made it to Spring. There remains only a few weeks of teaching left before my summer recess and I'm so anxious! We are settling into the house and it looks like we may be able to move into the upstairs by Memorial Day weekend! Stephen is finally done with school for the term, so he has a bit of time to press forward on the painting and trim before the carpet arrives. My dad has been a huge help coming over on weekends to help with painting and other projects upstairs. Once we get everything moved up there we can finally MOVE in, and get all rooms set up including the office. This will be such a relief to get the shelves and books and files out and in order and not have to rove through things in the basement.

We've been so anxious to use the little piece of earth that we have to grow some things to eat and be nourished by this Spring, but my time is so limited because of work. We have not had the chance to test our soil, but I just threw some herbs into some planters that were already here when we moved in, and I planted a few cosmos along the front beds. The yard will require a lot of work, but mostly some cleaning up and rearranging. We need to get a fence completed so that we can actually be outside with Cait and not be following her around every second. As of right now I can only pull weeds while she sits in her bike cart and that doesn't last super long ;). We'll see what decides to grow. I know I'll be relying heavily on the Royal Oak farmers' market--which is in biking distance!

I'm currently so focused on getting myself through the last weeks of instruction, that I have not have much time to work on planning our one summer getaway. But we are planning a trip out to Columbus, Pittsburgh and Washington DC for wedding, new baby visit and to see family. I just cannot focus on the details just yet.

I hope you all enjoy your Mother's Day. You are all strong and beautiful. Take care.