Cousins

I did not post during Thanksgiving week (third week of November) because I was in Florida, celebrating the holiday with my husband's family. It was a lot of fun! Mostly because we got to hang out with the family (who we do not see enough of), but also because there was a (heated) pool to play in. And a jet ski. Captain Adorable had a wonderful time being the center of attention, playing with his Grandpa and Lita, his great-aunts, great-uncles, and uncles.

However, the favorite of the week was his pretty cousin. She is about 21 or 22 and is tall and beautiful and is also good with kids and was willing to hang out with him. He met her on the first day we were there. We also met her boyfriend, a tall handsome young man who left to play golf. Hours later when we heard the boyfriend was coming back, Capt. Adorable became unhappy and upset, to the point that I asked the hostess to text her daughter to warn her that he might be difficult. That worry was averted when we left to go back to our hotel room before the two young people returned.

The next morning I moved from the roll away bed where I slept after Captain Adorable refused to the king sized bed to cuddle my captains for a few minutes. We were talking about the upcoming day and Captain Adorable asked about "that girl," pretending not to know her name because he liked her So Much. I said her name and we chatted about the things they had done together the day before. Then, because I wanted to prepare him, I mentioned that the boyfriend might be there again that day. Captain Adorable became upset, said he did not want that guy there and kicked, saying "let's send him back to golf!" Finally the kicking became so much that he kicked me right out of the bed! Later when I asked about it he said he kicked me out of bed because I said "bad things."

Later the boyfriend did show up and was very nice and played with Captain Adorable and everything was cool, though of course the pretty cousin was still the favorite.

Almost seems like a first crush, doesn't it? 

Inspired By Watching A Cake Show

Yesterday the captains did yard work all day! There were a lot of leaves. I was inside, eating bonbons...ok not really, but I was relaxing on the couch, indulging in some television. In fact I was watching a cake show about various fancy bakeries making various fancy wedding cakes. Captain Adorable happened to come inside and I did not turn off the tv fast enough, so he got interested in the cake show. I turned off the sound and we talked about the show while it was on. There were cakes in all sorts of shapes, including one shaped like a big wheel of cheese.

Captain Adorable said he would like a cake shaped like a dinosaur--like a meat eating dinosaur. I asked what flavor the dinosaur cake should be. He replied it should be a meat cake. Through my laughter, I asked if he meant that it should be a meat-flavored cake and he said no, it should be made of meat! I thought this was hilarious and so he was even more inspired. By the end of our conversation he had clarified that he wanted a meat cake shaped like a meat-eating dinosaur made of meat from meat-eating dinosaurs!

More Work On The Foyer

The paint has been finalized. Here you see Captain Adorable painting a piece of 2x4 while keeping his daddy company and Captain Obvious actually painting the trim. You can see the subfloor in these pics. Eventually the final coat was put on the wall and it all looks bright and beautiful in there!

A few minutes later he decided to paint his feet and all work was halted for the great wash down.

My darling husband, working hard as usual.

Last weekend, the new underlayment (1/4 plywood on top of the subfloor) was installed. With a (very) little help from me, the wood holder who doesn't actually hold the wood straight (sigh--I tried, I really did!). And today, Captain Obvious began installing the cork (floating floor)! There is still another day or so of work, but it is looking gorgeous so far.

Skid Loader

We've never gone to a touch-a-truck event. I really wanted to go to a recent one but it took place during our last visit to Tennessee. Today we got to make up for that in a big way. A friend of mine has a landscaping/design business. Therefore, he has a skid loader. This afternoon we went by to visit and check it out. My friend hopped in, started it up and actually let Captain Adorable sit on his lap and DRIVE THE THING!

This photo is blurry because they were moving towards me!

Here again you can see that Captain Adorable is the one driving!

After Captain Adorable was finished, I got a turn (all by myself). It was cool but I think Capt. Adorable had more fun than I did.

Magical Words From My Son

This afternoon I was racing around, all stressed out from half an hour plus on the phone trying to arrange dentist stuff and trying to get the house cleaned up in preparation for the cleaning lady's arrival. (She's only staying a certain period of time and I'd rather she spend that time cleaning than picking up.) I was also frustrated because Captain Adorable always turns into an insane rabid monkey when I am on the phone, sigh, so I had asked him to stay in his playroom while I finished on the phone. When I finished and called to ask him where he was, he informed me that he was in the bathroom on the toilet. I continued frantically stuffing things into the dishwasher (just getting them out of the sink so she can clean the sink and not the dishes). Some of the dishes, like wine glasses, are actually hand wash only, but I put them in there just to get them out of the way.

In my stress I broke a wine glass. Just by stuffing it in the dishwasher. Of course I exclaimed aloud (Oh no!) and of course my little captain called out, asking what had happened. When I told him I broke a glass he replied, "Everybody makes mistakes mommy. Its ok," and the proceeded to list all the people in his life who make mistakes (which is everyone of course). His calm, sweet encouragement was exactly what I needed.  Hearing the words I have said so often to him (its ok, everybody makes mistakes; you have to make mistakes in order to learn) come back to me at a moment when I really needed encouragement was just, was just--magical.

Oh how I love that child!

Savor The Flavor

My next CT scan is December 8. I am worried, but I am always worried about these things. I have been thinking about and planning for the future. At the same time I have this Big Worry Of Illness And Death with me, just beyond the edge of my peripheral vision...yet, this in-my-face mortality allows me to appreciate and enjoy this moment, right now (each moment), more than I would were it not there.

Over and over again, even when quite sad and scared, I recognize the beauty before me and within me. I use that recognition to comfort myself. Right now, outside my window I see the colors of of the light sky, dark holly leaves, yellow oak leaves, red maple leaves, green-yellow sassafras leaves. Right now, inside my head and my stomach, fear and sadness are on the brink of spreading. Must I deny either of these truths? Or can I hold both ideas at once? Can I feel the pleasure and pain of life together? Can I savor the flavor of duality?

Overwhelming Love/Luck/Blessings

Over the past few days I have been reminded, yet again, of the overwhelming love/luck/blessings in my life. Just when I was feeling so down about the whole second baby no go thing. The universe (or whatever you chose to call it) has yet again shown me that I have a full life, abounding with love and happiness. Mine eyes shine with joy.

(If I tried to list all my blessings this post would never be over, but let me hit a few high notes...) I have lovely friends--old and new. I have a beyond-amazing child who returns every iota of my intense love for him and yet actively lives his own life. My marriage is overall great and currently at a particularly outstanding spot. My relationship with my parents is just, well, if you want evidence of how great it is, check out the photo in the previous post--who else among you makes art with her/his mother? Seriously. :)

Yesterday morning I was wiping the kitchen table after breakfast. My eyes wandered outside as they often do. My view was of trees and clear blue fall sky. I stopped to breathe and look; outside the leaves were floating down from their branches. I was transfixed, still, watching them falling slowly through that autumn morning. How blessed was I, in that moment, that eternal moment living in my memory, to just be there, being there. Bliss is that simple.