A Walk In The March Woods

Yes, the days are longer and the skies are blue. March is here, beckoning spring, new beginnings, warmth, and glorious sunshine. This morning there was a distinct color palette: blue, grey, camel, and brown.

On our walk we spotted two tree trunks with freshly hewn woodpecker homes. Can you spot them? I've noticed over the years that woodpecker homes have two holes, one above the other. In the first photograph of a woodpecker home, there is only one, but above that hole, you can see the beginning of another. I love watching things like that progress every day on my walks.

I wondered while I was pregnant: would I be able to blog once my baby was here? Would I be able to keep in touch with friends, remember birthdays, and manage to give my friends and family members the attention they deserve? The first couple of months of Rafael's life, when he slept a lot, I thought, No problem! And now, since about two months, I've been struggling with the guilt and realization that: No, it's not the same, and it's not possible to keep up with friendships and blogging the way I had hoped I could. There are too many new things Rafael shows me every day, and I don't want to miss a minute of it. Not to mention all of the every-day tasks which I must fit into the moments in between when I get the chance. Sometimes, at the end of the day, I'll go online and zone out on Pinterest, because I don't need to think to do that. Meanwhile, I feel guilty that I am not responding to lovely emails, or writing thank you notes for kind gifts and letters. Hopefully I will learn how to balance my life more sufficiently, and in the meantime, I hope my friends (that includes all of you!) will have some understanding for my situation.

On a more happy note, I've made friends with two other mothers with boys the same age as Rafael. We meet regularly for walks and visits to each other's homes. We hope our three boys will go to kindergarten together, and, essentially, grow up together. You can't plan these things, but it would be wonderful.

Wishing you all sunny days! I'll be back tomorrow with Rafael's week in pictures, something I am determined to keep up.

xoxoxo

P.S. We are somewhat baffled by Rafael's eyes. What color are they? Ramon has brown, I have blue. It seems Raffi has a mix of both if that is possible. What do you think?

5 Days A Week, 5

onesie with cars: H&M :: navy blue sweatpants: baby Gap

hooded sweater and jeans: H&M

hooded sweatshirt and corduroy pants: H&M :: curious charlie doll: quill and ink handmade

sweatsuit: H&M

fire truck onesie: H&M

Rafael discovered some new things this week: how to screech loudly to hear his own voice; how to stick out his tongue; and his reflection in the glass door of the oven.

We traded in the carrycot for the stroller seat on his Teutonia because he was getting too big for it. But he is still lying flat and facing me.

Raffi eats two solid meals a day now. He loves butternut squash, sweet potato, carrots, zucchini, and apple. When I am holding him and take a drink of water, he pulls the glass to his mouth and insists on a sip. 

He is learning how to sit on his own, though this will probably take a little while longer.

He has rolled over twice from belly to back.

He has made two new 'friends,' Tobias (2 1/2 months old) and Florian (5 months old).

He is full of smiles and laughter, only getting grumpy when he is tired or hungry. And he still only wakes up once in the night, between 11 pm and 1 am.

On another note: Ramon and I are celebrating our 13th anniversary today! Thirteen years ago today we fell in love. I was 18, and didn't even believe in love back then. He proved me wrong.

So, I'm not only thinking about how blessed I am, but how blessed little Rafael is, to have parents who love each other so much and are so committed to one another, and to their family.

xoxoxo

Five Dirty Secrets About Me

1. I buy and read In Touch.

I know, it's terrible. I always think, "Next week I'll be a better person and won't buy this ridiculous magazine." Then Thursday rolls around and I see those stars and those headlines and I can't resist. I can't really explain why. But it feels like a mini vacation for my brain.

2. I like horror movies.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've been fascinated by horror movies. My best friend and I would secretly rent scary movies that scared the bejeesus out of us to the point where we couldn't sleep and were plagued with nightmares. Many years later I fell in love with and married a man who likes watching scary movies just like me. I love heartwarming films like Cranford, The Notebook, and The Fox And The Girl, but I also love nail-biting, shiver-inducing flicks like The Ring, Insidious, and What Lies Beneath. 

3. I spend too much time on the internet.

When Rafael goes to sleep at 7, and Ramon and I have eaten dinner, one of the first things I do is go online. I visit other people's blogs, search for great things on Etsy, and, mostly, get lost in the addictive, fantastic world of Pinterest. I know I could be using that time to get crafty and artistic, read a meaningful book, or even meditate. But at the end of the day, all I want to do is relax and escape, and the internet is such a perfect place to do that.

4. I use my fingers to add.

I've always been horrible at math. To this day, I still have to use my fingers to add. And even then, I don't always get the right equation. Embarrassing but true. 

5. I have a cleaning lady. 

She comes every Friday for two hours and makes me so, so, so happy.

P.S. I shared these dirty secrets purely for the sake of hearing that I'm not alone in these things!


xoxo

5 Days A Week, Week 4

sweater: baby Gap :: jeans: H&M :: train toy: Haba

entire outfit: H&M :: crocheted toadstool rattle (my favorite of Raffi's toys): little haiti pebble toys (a gift from Morwenna)

ribbed shirt: C&A :: wool leggings: H&M :: teething toy: Sophie The Giraffe

plaid shirt: baby Gap :: vest: and pants: H&M :: wooden beeping car: Selecta

knit jumpsuit: baby Gap :: wooden teether: Haba

Hello my friends!

Here's another post featuring Rafael throughout the week. It's become such a great ritual. Probably the most special part about it is that, when Ramon comes home, I have a picture to show him of his son from that day. Sometimes I shoot a little video to show him, too, and I always make sure to tell him about anything new Rafael has done.

Today Raffi was having a hard day, which meant we had a hard day. He's teething and had a light fever. It seemed no matter what he was doing...sitting, being held, playing, nursing...it wasn't what he wanted. After a nap in the stroller this afternoon, he was doing a little bit better, and as always, bath time made him happy. There are moments when I get frustrated, and feel tired, and just wish he would play happily for a little while, so I could have a break from carrying and bouncing and comforting. But those moments pass, and hard days pass, too, and at the end of the day, when he is falling asleep, smelling of honey and baby, so warm and plump, I could care less what kind of a day it's been. Also, I always remember that he isn't being like this to annoy or exhaust me....he is uncomfortable or in pain, and doesn't have to words to tell me what's hurting or bothering him. Really, he's much worse off than I am in those situations.

This past Friday the handyman was here and helped me build together and install a few things for Rafael's room. It's not all complete yet, but it's coming together so nicely. I am really looking forward to sharing it all with you!

Hope you enjoyed a lovely weekend!

xoxoxo

Rafael is 5 Months Old!

I have learned a few things about Rafael this past month: he only gets really upset when he is tired; undressing him when he is fussy works like a charm to get him in a good mood again; humming 'twinkle twinkle little star' helps put him to sleep; sometimes he needs to cry before falling asleep, I'm guessing to release pent up energy, and I just need to lay there with him patiently and be there for him...he calms down at some point and falls asleep afterwards; he needs short cat naps throughout the day to stay cheerful; he is getting tired of the baby gym, his crib, and his baby bouncer. It's time for a new stage of toys, and maybe his high chair.

Raffi has eaten: carrot, apple, sweet potato, potato, and parsnips. 

He has tasted: cream, butter, coconut oil, coconut milk, water, egg yolk, and yogurt.

When I am holding him while I drinking a glass of water, he always insists on pulling the glass to his mouth and taking a little sip.

My favorite time of the day with him is the early early morning, around 5 or 6, when he wakes up. We go to his little room, turn on a dim light, listen to Jack Johnson or Jonathan Richman, and slowly, while we cuddle and play, the sun comes up outside. It feels like that hour of early morning belongs to us alone. It feels so special. 

I am enjoying the new freedom of being able to get around with him in his stroller instead of only in the Baby Björn. We take more walks and I am looking forward to being able to start jogging again in Spring. 

I am so happy to say that being a mother is even more wonderful than I ever dreamed. 

xoxoxo

A Perfect Heart Full Of Joy And Gratitude

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

5 Days A Week, Week 3

hat: H&M :: green onesie: Gap :: sweater: Mexx :: jeans: H&M :: toy: Jako-o

dachshund onesie: Gymboree :: organic pants: Jako-o :: teddy bear: Strolz

shirt: Gap :: vest: Gap :: corduroy pants: H&M :: small teddy: vintage

shirt: Gap :: jeans: H&M

blue and white striped suit: Next Baby Boutique (a gift from Morwenna) :: hooded sweatshirt: H&M :: wooden mushroom rattle: Selecta

Every day Rafael shows us something new. Lately he has begun doing something like sit ups when he is lying down, lifting his head and upper body to look around (mostly at the dogs). He kicks wildly in the water at bath time. He takes my face in his hands when I lean towards him. And he loves to talk. Sometimes he will look at me with such a serious expression on his face and talk to me as if he is explaining something very, very important to me, which maybe he is.

His hair is growing thicker, his body longer, his legs straighter. He is getting so big!

Tomorrow we have our appointment with the heart specialist. Pray with me that all is well.

xoxo