Whilst my offspring frolic in the frozen precipitation, I stay snuggly warm surfing the interwebs.
This is how we do snow 'round here!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sorry Tiny Man.
Tiny Man to Violet: "Bica, do you like me?"
Violet to Tiny Man: "No. I like Mommy."
This may sound familiar to some of you, as an eerily similar exchange occured earlier this year between Violet and her father. Who was, let's just say, less than impressed.
I swear to God I don't teach her these things. Or even encourage them! Don't worry, I'm painfully aware that the love won't last long and that I'll suffer for it mightily in her teenage years.
But for now, I am enjoying my tiny fan club. Even if the rest of the house suffers a little for it. (Sorry guys.)
Violet to Tiny Man: "No. I like Mommy."
This may sound familiar to some of you, as an eerily similar exchange occured earlier this year between Violet and her father. Who was, let's just say, less than impressed.
I swear to God I don't teach her these things. Or even encourage them! Don't worry, I'm painfully aware that the love won't last long and that I'll suffer for it mightily in her teenage years.
But for now, I am enjoying my tiny fan club. Even if the rest of the house suffers a little for it. (Sorry guys.)
 |
| Mommy and Violet, Christmas 2011 |
Friday, February 11, 2011
On Daddies.
Recently, a few women I care about have lost their fathers. It is always a tragedy when someone loses a person they love, but for me, losing daddy hits very close to my heart. While working to come up with things to say, I ended up with the below. It is an open letter to all the little girls who, for one reason or another, have lost their daddies.
Perhaps the 'daddy' described here sounds more like your mom. Your big sister or brother. Your best friend, or your aunt to whom you were very close...
To all who've lost someone dear, this is for you.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Friend,
Daddies are special men who teach us, their daughters, the most important things about life and love. Through their examples they teach us patience, through their assurance teach us courage, and by their affection set our expectations for a partner. They are the warm, steady influences in our uncertain lives, and we rely on them for support, encouragement and acceptance.
And then one day we grow up. We become women, and suddenly realize our daddies are just men; that they have faults and make mistakes. But we decide we don't mind. We forgive them their weaknesses and failures because they are perfect in our childhood hearts. We accept them because of what they mean to us.
And then one day, they are gone. And the world no longer makes any sense. Our most reliable fail-safe person has disappeared, and we feel abandoned. We are surrounded by our partners, peers and children who love us and whom we love, but who can never see us or accept us in that perfect way of a parent. In that precious way of only daddy.
The following kind words were given to me shortly after my father died. They were shiny pieces of hope in a time of deep grief. What they meant to me, I hope they mean to you too, as we are sisters of a kind:
"You are your father's daughter. You can do anything, even this."
Love,
Nicole
Perhaps the 'daddy' described here sounds more like your mom. Your big sister or brother. Your best friend, or your aunt to whom you were very close...
To all who've lost someone dear, this is for you.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Friend,
Daddies are special men who teach us, their daughters, the most important things about life and love. Through their examples they teach us patience, through their assurance teach us courage, and by their affection set our expectations for a partner. They are the warm, steady influences in our uncertain lives, and we rely on them for support, encouragement and acceptance.
And then one day we grow up. We become women, and suddenly realize our daddies are just men; that they have faults and make mistakes. But we decide we don't mind. We forgive them their weaknesses and failures because they are perfect in our childhood hearts. We accept them because of what they mean to us.
And then one day, they are gone. And the world no longer makes any sense. Our most reliable fail-safe person has disappeared, and we feel abandoned. We are surrounded by our partners, peers and children who love us and whom we love, but who can never see us or accept us in that perfect way of a parent. In that precious way of only daddy.
The following kind words were given to me shortly after my father died. They were shiny pieces of hope in a time of deep grief. What they meant to me, I hope they mean to you too, as we are sisters of a kind:
"You are your father's daughter. You can do anything, even this."
Love,
Nicole
Thursday, February 10, 2011
I don't kneed you anyhow.
So my beloved routine was destroyed a few weeks ago during an unfortunate training incident when I strained a tendon in my right knee. I thought it would be a quick recovery, but it's proven much longer and much more annoying than anticipated. I've tried not to get discouraged or to dwell on the fact that the progress I'd made in fitness to that point was starting to feel substantial. And that I was feeling really good and more like...myself. And now I feel flabby and tired again, and my knee hurts too, to boot.
Boo.
So I'm going to try again, but I'm going to do it a little differently this time. I'm gunna get back on that nose-flaring horse we know as Jillian, but I'm going to spend some hours in other things too, just to make sure I'm not setting myself up to get hurt too quickly again. (She's a ball-buster, kids, but her technique is imperfect, in my sub-professional opinion.) I'd do the gym thing, but family-time and being home is paramount this quarter. So I'll have to stumble along until a new routine develops.
Tiny Man is four and a half now, and y'all might recall that the last time I was really in shape was about the fourth month of my pregnancy with him. (At which point I stopped running and the rest is history.) 5 years is a long time to de-condition, especially when you've had not one but *two* pregnancies in its first two years. (That's right, friends. Tiny Man was 10 months old and barely weaned when Stinky's ovum was fertilized.) That kind of work is really hard on an old bod. I'm lucky I can still walk upright.
Don't get me wrong. It was totally worth it. I love my kids, love how close they are in age and I think back on those years of pregnancy and nursing with much fondness and warmth. Being Mommy is awesome, and I'd do it again the same way if choosing again. But, the work it will take to get even close to the place where I started from is hefty, and setbacks like tweaked knees are harder on my confidence than they ever would have been before I first got pregnant. I don't need to be that small again. My body is different having brought life into the world, and I am okay with that. But I would like to have more energy, and to feel more comfortable in my skin. I want to feel like I remember feeling then -- fit, spry and like trampolines weren't the enemy.
So. My new mantra. I will not be discouraged! I will take care of my body! I will love it even when I still have a pooch six months from now! And the next time I tweak my knee, well, I'll find some other way to keep my routine on-track. Even if it involves a shake weight.
Boo.
So I'm going to try again, but I'm going to do it a little differently this time. I'm gunna get back on that nose-flaring horse we know as Jillian, but I'm going to spend some hours in other things too, just to make sure I'm not setting myself up to get hurt too quickly again. (She's a ball-buster, kids, but her technique is imperfect, in my sub-professional opinion.) I'd do the gym thing, but family-time and being home is paramount this quarter. So I'll have to stumble along until a new routine develops.
Tiny Man is four and a half now, and y'all might recall that the last time I was really in shape was about the fourth month of my pregnancy with him. (At which point I stopped running and the rest is history.) 5 years is a long time to de-condition, especially when you've had not one but *two* pregnancies in its first two years. (That's right, friends. Tiny Man was 10 months old and barely weaned when Stinky's ovum was fertilized.) That kind of work is really hard on an old bod. I'm lucky I can still walk upright.
Don't get me wrong. It was totally worth it. I love my kids, love how close they are in age and I think back on those years of pregnancy and nursing with much fondness and warmth. Being Mommy is awesome, and I'd do it again the same way if choosing again. But, the work it will take to get even close to the place where I started from is hefty, and setbacks like tweaked knees are harder on my confidence than they ever would have been before I first got pregnant. I don't need to be that small again. My body is different having brought life into the world, and I am okay with that. But I would like to have more energy, and to feel more comfortable in my skin. I want to feel like I remember feeling then -- fit, spry and like trampolines weren't the enemy.
So. My new mantra. I will not be discouraged! I will take care of my body! I will love it even when I still have a pooch six months from now! And the next time I tweak my knee, well, I'll find some other way to keep my routine on-track. Even if it involves a shake weight.
 |
| Me, pre-babies. Sigh. |
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Babies on Display
So yesterday the Buttheads came to visit me at school! Josh took the day off so he could escort them in to participate in a learning lab for my pediatrics course. It was really fun; we had two rooms filled with toys and balls and 32 grown-ups anxious about meeting strange little kids. Happily, the Buttheads were really great. At least, as as far as I know, they didn't scare any of my classmates into sterilization.
After they left, some older children came, and they were fun too. But working with them taught me something -- as much as I love children, of all ages, my heart really belongs to the little ones. So if I were to decide to be a pediatric therapist, it would most-likely be in the context of children 0-3.
Babies? Are where it's AT.
After they left, some older children came, and they were fun too. But working with them taught me something -- as much as I love children, of all ages, my heart really belongs to the little ones. So if I were to decide to be a pediatric therapist, it would most-likely be in the context of children 0-3.
Babies? Are where it's AT.
 |
| Baby Tiny Man and Laundry |
Ohhhh, we're halfway there...
Ohhhh! Living on a prayer!
Actually we're living on Josh's paychecks and loans. Thanks honey!
Today is the halfway point in my grad school program. So in 1.5 years, I'll finally be done with these shenanigans. Just in time to start new ones, of course. Preferably some that are less expensive and more conducive to sleep and gluttony.
Thanks for y'alls' support these many months! Not too far now!
(Oh who am I kidding? I could gestate two children in the time I have left to go. *sigh* :)
Actually we're living on Josh's paychecks and loans. Thanks honey!
Today is the halfway point in my grad school program. So in 1.5 years, I'll finally be done with these shenanigans. Just in time to start new ones, of course. Preferably some that are less expensive and more conducive to sleep and gluttony.
Thanks for y'alls' support these many months! Not too far now!
(Oh who am I kidding? I could gestate two children in the time I have left to go. *sigh* :)
Friday, February 4, 2011
Life to Date.
Friends and family,
Boy howdy, we've been busy! Though I'm not sure with what...life? Sometimes just trucking through the day feels like an insurmountable obstacle. Perhaps it's just the weather...
So what's new? First of all, I just turned 30. 30! And I'm not even sorry about it. I kinda feel cool being in this decade where people are generally productive, mature and fertile. It makes me feel like I should be taken more seriously...and that I've finally arrived. Feels good! My friends (like you) and family made me feel very loved and special on my birthday, flooding my Facebook page with good wishes, for example, and Josh and the kids' sang me happy birthday over cupcakes. :) Awwww. Josh spoiled me over the weekend by a) letting me take an all-day photography class and then b) picking me up and taking me to a lovely dinner together before whisking me to a lovely B&B in North Bend along the Snohomish river. Where they had chickens. And goats. And mattresses like clouds. And niiiiiiice people who cook like magicians.
We've been able to spend lots of hours together "just us" lately thanks to Josh's mom, Gigi. She came to town to bond with her newest grandson and to play with our kids on weekends. Seriously, it's awesome! We go to lunch and just sit there in the peaceful stillness, chewing contentedly. We run errands without pushing carts laden with squirmy chattle. We adore the break, and the one giving it!
What else of late? Hmmm. Oh yes, I had to travel to Olympia with my class and 670 other PT professionals/students to talk with legislators. I appreciate the lesson, but would have much preferred staying home and studying. Or sleeping. I got very little out of it, save for a couple nice photos which, if you're interested, can be found here.
Also? Raspberry mochas are the shizzle.
Hope you and yours are well!
Love,
The Demetrescus
Boy howdy, we've been busy! Though I'm not sure with what...life? Sometimes just trucking through the day feels like an insurmountable obstacle. Perhaps it's just the weather...
So what's new? First of all, I just turned 30. 30! And I'm not even sorry about it. I kinda feel cool being in this decade where people are generally productive, mature and fertile. It makes me feel like I should be taken more seriously...and that I've finally arrived. Feels good! My friends (like you) and family made me feel very loved and special on my birthday, flooding my Facebook page with good wishes, for example, and Josh and the kids' sang me happy birthday over cupcakes. :) Awwww. Josh spoiled me over the weekend by a) letting me take an all-day photography class and then b) picking me up and taking me to a lovely dinner together before whisking me to a lovely B&B in North Bend along the Snohomish river. Where they had chickens. And goats. And mattresses like clouds. And niiiiiiice people who cook like magicians.
We've been able to spend lots of hours together "just us" lately thanks to Josh's mom, Gigi. She came to town to bond with her newest grandson and to play with our kids on weekends. Seriously, it's awesome! We go to lunch and just sit there in the peaceful stillness, chewing contentedly. We run errands without pushing carts laden with squirmy chattle. We adore the break, and the one giving it!
What else of late? Hmmm. Oh yes, I had to travel to Olympia with my class and 670 other PT professionals/students to talk with legislators. I appreciate the lesson, but would have much preferred staying home and studying. Or sleeping. I got very little out of it, save for a couple nice photos which, if you're interested, can be found here.
Also? Raspberry mochas are the shizzle.
Hope you and yours are well!
Love,
The Demetrescus
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