Living the dream...

The jury's still out on whether or not I am keeping this blog name, but I figured while I have it I might as well explain where it came from.

I read an article once talking about how as little girls, so many of us dream and play at becoming 'mommies', but once we're actually living that dream, see it more as drudgery than dream. I love that reminder that I am truly 'living my dream' as I raise these little boys, as I create a home for my family, as I cook, clean, and change diapers. So, I thought it was a fitting blog name as I chronicle the ins and outs of my life, 'living the dream'.

Which brings me to another thought. It has been a while since I posted (via xanga), and a large part of that is impetus lost due to a realization that my posts were being seen by some as reflecting a 'perfect' life, perhaps hypocritically so. That is the last thing I want to portray through my posts. Yes, I have days when I am down, times when I am grumpy/worried/upset/etc. However, those are rarely portrayed in my posts for a few reasons.

One, when something is truly bothering me, I tend to keep it very close to my chest. I discuss it with Josh, sometimes Mom, until it isn't painful anymore. Once it is at that point, I will often share it with everyone and anyone, but by that time I can share it laughingly and in a way that doesn't communicate at all that it was once very painful, completely unintentionally.

Second, if it involves something that Josh & I are working through, an area where someone else has hurt me, I feel very strongly that those things are not to be shared publicly.

Finally, for those daily irritants, things that go wrong for all of us in the normal ins and outs of a day, I almost always have two little voices discussing it in my head. One is reacting negatively, and one is finding the whole thing highly amusing. Since I put a lot of effort into trying to keep the amused voice as my outer response (no, it doesn't happen all the time, by any means), I am not going to post the miserable side of it anyway. I've tried, and I just can't. :-P

So, there you go. That, if you will, is my disclaimer as I start a fresh blog. Yes, I experience frustrations and difficulties throughout my days, but I want to reflect on each day positively, so will be using this blog to do just that - reflect on all the ways that I am truly, "Living my dream." :-)

And, in honor of that, here are some pictures capturing a few of those moments.

Peter enjoying his favorite task - putting away the silverware

"Come on, I KNOW there's a thumb there SOMEWHERE!!"

Such a smiley little man he's becoming!

Enjoying a few minutes in the jumper - perhaps a little young, but he enjoys it for about 15min a day...

Loving books already... that's my boys!

Isn't he simply adorable??

My men... I love each one of them so much, but I love the biggest one the bestest...

He has a great fascination with the red wall/black ivy/white wall combination, and spends a fair bit of time beaming at it...

Ahem. This was Peter's addition to our supper the other night - about 1/2cup flour. He's been quite into helping me cook these last few days, usually when I'm not around...

Smelling the flowers Josh brought me...

Reading already... so advanced, I know. ;-)

This picture, and the two following are all of Peter copying Josh. He is such a little copy cat right now! :-)

Josh had been warming his hands on the distiller, hence Peter's actions.

And, of course, if Daddy has a toothpick, I need one too! (This, and the following pictures were taken tonight)

Helping Daddy out

The rag had been on Timothy... I put it on him to keep him warm, but Peter decided he needed to lie down and put the rag on himself. :-)

And, after getting in his pjs tonight, his first time in pjs with a zipper, he undid them, and was trying to get them back on. Josh called me over to watch him covertly, and I had to grab the camera.

When he finally noticed us he said, "Uh ohh!"

Random Ramblings on priorities

So, with the busyness of life right now, I've been thinking a lot about the importance of prioritizing. Not the way we typically discuss it - i.e. am I spending enough time with my children as opposed to cleaning (although that has been a separate thought pattern) - but what is the best way to approach all the tasks I have to do.Unfortunately, there isn't enough time in a day to get everything done that I want to get done, and yet there are still things I HAVE to get done. Additionally, there are a whole list of things that are equally important, how do I decide which one comes first?

I have made a fascinating discovery. How I prioritize my day makes a huge difference in how I feel by the end of it. For example, the other day I had a pile of laundry and a pile of dishes to do. Both equally needed to be done. However, the pile of laundry had been there for more than a day, and the dishes would be done at supper time (even if it did take a bit longer). So, I chose the pile of laundry, and by the end of the night felt so much better about my day than I would have if I had just done the dishes...

Then, of course, there are time-dependent tasks (e.g. supper related tasks, invoices to be made up and mailed). I find my mind constantly reviewing my mental 'to-do' list and re-arranging in order to try and use my time the most wisely.

What is the point of all this? It seems simplistic, but I h

ave been amazed at the difference this simple act of prioritizing has made in how I feel about the day, what I am able to accomplish. I have been increasingly grateful for a mother who taught me to make lists, to do what is most important and not worry about the rest, and to enjoy each day to the fullest of my ability.

Of course, there is the other aspect of prioritizing to co

nsider, that of NOT 'accomplishing' and simply 'being' a wife and mother for my family. I am actually finding it easier to take time with Peter now that I have Timothy, crazy as that sounds. Probably because I can do two things at once (nurse Tim and read to Peter), but I am really working at 'seizing the moment':

pausing in my pickling to hold Peter and exclaim over the 'main' (plane) flying overhead

taking a bit of extra time with supper to include him in the stirring

letting him put away the silverware and pausing to delight with him over each properly placed utensil

sitting down and reading a book togethe

r in the middle of the day

taking him out with me to feed the chickens and seeing them through his eyes

'guarding' him from the steer who has suddenly become a fearsome foe

dancing around the kitchen to a catchy tune

snuggling with a blanket (always a blanket)

I find I am better at taking those moments with Timothy too, stopping the busyness to look into his eyes and smile, make him smile, gurgle, and coo. Perhaps each child helps you realize more acutely just how precious these fleeting days of babydom and childhood are, and take the time to enjoy them more. I hope so.

Along those lines, I often wonder, what is the balance between including Peter in everything I do, so we're not doing a whole lot of playing, but we are learning together, being together, delighting in life together, and taking time during the day to stop the tasks of the day and just play together? Any thoughts?

Yup, these are the moments that make my day... :-D