Last winter Liv’s dentist predicted our girl would lose her baby teeth soon, at “age five” she said. On Livia’s fifth birthday she worked and worked at that baby tooth, convinced it would fall out that day. This morning a little floss and a damp cloth did the trick! First tooth down, many to go. We’re pretty pumped around here. One of us in particular is eagerly awaiting the Tooth Fairy’s visit tonight!
Elsie (4yrs old): Livia won’t let me be the [garbled word].
Me: The what?
Elsie: The [garbled word].
I’m stumped.
Me: What’s going on, Liv?
Livia (5yrs old): She’s a sickoner. And I’m a sickoner, too.
Me: You are “sickoners?”
Elsie. We’re at the Ariel Hospital.
Livia: Yeah.
Me: At Ariel Hospital?
Elsie: Yeah.
Me: Oh. [pause] We can also call you “patients”.
And then they were back at it again. Two sickoners with no nurse in sight.
1) These peas taste delicious. I’m amazed I had anything to do with the production of them. Granted, I did very little in the whole scheme of things, but between the Tredway Three, we did plant, water, weed and pick the pea plants. So that’s something.
2) My husband and child like peas far more than I do. Each little pod I harvest goes straight from garden to mouth. I have five little plants set up, though, so eventually we might save up enough for a real meal.
3) I selected this shot for the peas but then found myself gazing at my hands. At first I thought they looked kind of old. Later I realized that I have my Grandma Iola’s hands—and even when Grandma was younger, she seemed old to me. Indeed, this is a photo of a pea pod in a young/old lady’s hand. Ha.
Forgive the poor photo, but I can’t resist posting this shot.
Liv has two questions she asks on a regular basis in the strangest, most monotone voice a five year old can muster. The first is, “What’s behind me?” It’s a strange little game she plays where she asks the question, holds absolutely still and waits for you to answer. Go figure.
The second question is, “Where’s the dog?” Asked in the same odd monotone voice, Livia won’t even look around the room. Somehow it’s your responsibility to locate Shiloh and report back. While Jeremy and I have taken to spontaneously and irrationally asking these questions in return, I ask you to refrain from doing so. Liv’s knowledge of my blogging is limited at best. In fact, I think she believes I’m working when I’m, in fact, blogging. So don’t ruin my secret just yet.
Hey, Internet! Where’s the dog?
The plans for last week included out-of-town friends, a due date, a garage sale, a big move and an anniversary celebration. Joe and Karen Choi stopped in for a late night visit and it was so good to hang with them. My sister-in-law’s due date came and went with nary a newborn to be found. The garage sale swept in according to strict schedule and myriad shoppers were on our front yards before all our crap (I mean, merchandise) could be placed on tables. And then that newborn, my adorable nephew, showed up, as I mentioned recently, between a sale and a glass of water. Part of the anniversary celebration was postponed to this weekend, which makes sense considering June 13 is our actual anniversary.
But there was another event that I felt got rushed over in the hustle and bustle of the crazy week: Joie’s big move. So our dear friend filled up her station wagon and headed for the bright lights of the big city in order to pursue life as a dancer. I couldn’t be more proud of her if I wanted to be and I’m super excited to see what she’ll do next, but oh my goodness… the way time marches on when someone special leaves is almost breathtaking, in a bad way. I look at this photo of Joie, Renae and me and almost feel lost when considering how to be okay without Joie.
This isn’t the first time I’ve said goodbye to beloved friends. Last year alone saw Jamie, Brook and Karen leaving town (say nothing of the O’Donnells’ international destination!). Before that was Julie, who was a huge part of my world. Sarah and Charity still live far away—but we’ve forged new relationships that work despite the miles between us. I’m aware that I’ll survive being left behind, but it’s tough nonetheless.
Why I’m blogging this, I don’t precisely know. What I do know is that I miss Joie. And that I really like this picture (credit to Jason for snapping it).
The birth or adoption of your own child is a phenomenal event, obviously. But the birth or adoption of a niece or nephew is just something else. It’s exciting and thrilling. It’s wonderful to see your sibling become a parent and take on this amazing responsibility of raising a human being (something you could never have fathomed in your younger years). Also, being an aunt is simply awesome. It involves all the goodness of the adult/child relationship without the responsibility—purely delightful, I believe.
I became an aunt for the second time last Friday morning at 11:08am. With Mom giving me the play-by-play as she could tell from the hospital waiting area, I knew the birth of my first nephew was imminent. In a moment between me selling tchotchkes at our garage sale and getting a glass of water, Noah Robert Lawton was entering the world, all 9lb 1oz, 21.5 inches of him.
Noah is a beautiful little guy and I’m incredibly proud of all the hard work Kristin did to deliver him! Adam, from what I understand, was pretty cool too. My brother and Kris are great parents and I love their sweet family so much. Congrats to big sister Madeleine and welcome to the world, Noah Robert!
Liv was a little sick Saturday. Maybe it was a one-two punch from the garage sale and all the sweets she had eaten the day before. Shiloh was either empathetic or also a little worn out, because he, too, lay around the floor much of the day.
Should a photo-happy mama takes advantage of such cuteness? Definitely.
