The boy is 2!

I can't believe that as I sit here and watch this little dude run around this morning that he was born two years ago! I can still remember the details of his early and extremely fast birth (woke up at 3:20 a.m. because my water broke as I rolled over in bed; he was born on the bathroom floor at 4:59 a.m.). The call to the midwife; the anxiety about the pace of the birth; the sun rising as we took our first bath; the excitement of his sister and his dad as they held him for the first time; the beautiful, little details of this boy that were now physically present: tiny fingers and toes, a head full of dark hair, big eyes, tiny perfect pink lips. Now he is two and I am just as in awe of him today as I was then. How time flies, eh?

Yesterday was an interesting day. It didn't go as I had hoped or planned, but he did not seem to mind. He was very happy and content with the events of the day even if I was not. His sister has been having a very hard time this last week and yesterday definitely was the day that the rest of the week was building up to for one HUGE day of meltdowns. Wednesday night was a full moon and we are well aware that when the moon is full it has some type of pull on this child. She is usually really squirrely or really emotional; but yesterday she was not only emotional and squirrely, but also mean and whiny which made the day emotionally exhausting for me.

While the kids napped I finished sewing up Keegan's birthday crown and was going to make his honey cake until I realized I didn't have enough eggs. So I scrapped that idea and I will make the cake today and we will have two days of celebrating. Here is a picture of the crown. It wasn't as easy as the blog made it out to be, but I think it was worth it. I am pleased with the way it looks and so is he. This morning he has been riding around his "horse" with his crown and it is simply adorable!


I also stole some time to myself while they napped and looked through birth photos and wrote in his special journal that I started the day he was born. I am so amazed that these two little people were in my belly at one point and now are such amazing and beautiful little people with such STRONG personalities. Every time I look at the photos of my children's "birth day" I get so weepy. Today was no different, but due to the emotional aspects of the morning I didn't just cry; I sobbed. It was at that point that I knew I needed a nap as well; so I crashed on the couch and 30 minutes later the kids were up and ready to play and we all felt much better.

The birthday evening ended with the boy's favorite meal; pasta with homemade pesto, a salad (which he surprised us by actually eating) and then more presents and yogurt covered pretzels for dessert.

So much to say and not enough time

So much has happened since the beginning of the year. I vowed I would take some time away from the computer and television, which was not as easy as I thought it would be. There were so many times I just wanted to sit down and write and so I did; in my journal...I forgot I even had one until two weeks ago!

A lot of renewing of spirit, faith in this world and faith in myself. It is so easy to go through each day in a blur trying to keep up with an impossible pace we have set for ourselves here in the states. In my own world I go through the motions of being a mom, doing what has to get done. I find that at times it becomes a routine that is dull, drab and emotionless. I get the kids up, I feed them, bathe them, clothe them and scoot one off to school and then start the mundane tasks of dishes, laundry, floors, bathrooms, cooking and the list goes on and on. I loose sight. I forget what is important. I forget why I CHOSE to do this.

So this month I have spent my time trying to let go of this fast-paced, always moving and always thinking way of life and instead take the time to connect with those around me, particularly my children. Forcing myself to not worry about everything that I think needs to be done, but actually do what NEEDS to be done, which is smothering my children with love and reconnecting with those feelings of love, tenderness and awe that I have for them that sometimes get shoved to the side. I have let myself be in love this month. In love with my children, with my partner and husband, with my family, with my true friends and with my life.

It has been an eventful time in my life, January 2009. First of all, there is a new baby in the family, and I am happy to report that is is not mine, but my sister's! My little sis is now a mommy to a healthy little boy who was born in the beginning of January. I am amazed at all of the birthdays that are in January; all of the springtime luvin' I guess. My new nephew is now the tenth January birthday to celebrate in our home. So welcome to the world and the family little man...and sis, welcome to the club!

I am so proud of my sister who made it through almost 24 hours of labor (mostly back labor) to give birth naturally (by that I mean NO DRUGS) to a little boy.The day she went into labor I happened to be engrossed in the documentary The Business of Being Born , which I watched almost 3 full times in a row and can I just say....what an amazing documentary. A must for anyone who is thinking of having a baby, about to have a baby, even throwing the idea around about kids in their future.

I will write about that documentary soon, along with so many other things that have peaked my interest this month such as the state of Detroit, the inauguration, sewing, easy artisan bread baking, making homemade yogurt, womyn-centered activities, seed catalogs, feminist books about loving your body and your vagina and the anticipation of spring. All of the things that I focused on during my detox and throughout this last month's break from the computer and television. All of these things I have found pleasure in and have helped me reconnect with myself and with those around me.

So...stay tuned I am revitalized and ready to share so much of what keeps me going day after day!