Sunshine in the Garden

Wanted a few new photos for you to get a little update on the Garden.

Sunflowers are open.  Baby Sunflowers have sprung up.  My baby steals the spotlight and I start taking photos of him.  It's a natural progression.

 I love this scrunchy-nosed kid.

Coming soon:  a video of Saul doing his fabric-loving shenanigans.

On Blogging In General

Let me start off by saying that I've had my first comment by someone I don't know. 

Dear Sarah, the fact that you stumbled across my page is a blessing in itself.  I have only been blogging for a few months, so the fact that anyone I don't know has found my little corner of the interwebs is awesome.  I am so honored that you decided to leave your comment.  Isn't that what blogging is about?  Sometimes, it feels good to hear a, "Me too!" You're not obligated to ever say another word, but thank you. 

Also, reader in Germany.  I see you.  That's awesome that you regularly check to see what little words I throw out into space.  I don't know who you are, or if you even really live in Germany, but I think it's so cool that you like what you read. Thank you.

This is not a post for self-glorification, but to say hello and thank you to those who like what they read.  Just like any other blogger, you write for readers.  If I wanted a private journal, I would have one.  I kept journals/diaries for 8 years, and I love them.  That is not where I am in my life now.

As I said, I write for advice, an outlet, and the "me too's".  Being a new mother is exciting, energizing, tiresome, and sometimes downright terrifying.  It's new to me.  I am not the first, nor the last "new mom" in the universe.  I get the hang of it more and more each day.  I don't know that I have more or less to say than any other mother out there, but I love having a place to share. 

I love your input, and I love that people may keep that input to themselves.  It's alright either way.  I'm just glad that I have a place where some people want to visit sometimes.

Finding My Niche

I've written and rewritten this entry in my head a million times.

How weird is this - I don't know what I love to do. 

These days, everyone is an artist.  Everyone is a blogger.  Everyone loves thrift stores, antique malls, and flea markets.  Everyone's home is decorated interestingly. 

Well, you know what?  I don't know where I fall.

Now that Saul is at the age where he is in constant need of correction and needs to really comprehend that just because he sees Mommy doesn't mean he has to be on my hip incredibly self-reliant, I have been trying to figure out what it is that I like to do when he's napping, the house is clean, and dinner is waiting to be cooked.  

I have no idea.  Usually read blogs and think about writing a post. 

I like painting ... but I'm really only good at copying something someone else has painted already.

I went through a jewelry-making phase ... but then feather earrings went out of style, so I became uninterested.

As weird as it sounds, I really, really love paper mache ... but since when has that ever been a useful craft? I mean OTHER than  the 4th grade science fair when you make the volcano replica with baking soda, vinegar, and red food coloring? 

I crochet ... and I can make a mean beanie or scarf ... but that's about it. 

I have absolutely no interest or know-how to do any sort of graphic design.

I draw and doodle a lot ... but I always draw the same stuff.

Photography is really, really, really neat, but I don't have a DSLR camera or any fancy editing software.

I sew occassionally ... but it's really hard and usually get discouraged halfway through the project and just forget to finish it ... 

Basically, I'm stuck.  I'm trying to find something that I really LOVE to do.  It makes me feel lazy.  I'm not particularly good at anything. 

It's frustrating.

But you know, I'm really good at being pregnant and having a baby.  I know, I know.  Seven feminists in California somewhere just spontaneously combusted.  But seriously.  I loved that.

However, I don't think Todd will go for being the next Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.  In fact, I'll be lucky to get one more. 

Oh well.  I guess I'll just keep trying new things.  Crafting is a must (seems) for stay-at-home-mommas.  I think maybe I should detach from other blogs for a while to try to cultivate some deep-seated creativity, rather than compare and downgrade my own ideas to other women out there who, seemingly, have rainbows of creativity pouring out their ears, nose, and rear.

All in due time, I suppose. 

We love singing around here.

I am dying laughing right now. 

Everyone in this house knows that I sing.  Like, all the time.  Even before Saul came along, Todd would laugh at me because I make up these stupid songs about absolutely anything and will sing them full scale in funny vibrato around the house, yard, it the car -- anywhere, really. 

Well, today I finished up typing 200+ pages for my job.  Now, I have no work for the week.  Well, Saul got up from his nap, so I decided to sing about it. 

I guess Colston, my dog, got a little tired of it.  Poor guy hears these songs nonstop.  I guess his thought was, "Well, if I can't beat her, I'll join her." 

I was fortunate enough to have my camera close by.  See for yourself!

Colston, the singing pup. 

In My Element

I don't want you to think that my life is perfect. 

By all means, it's not.  My life is not all kisses, rainbows and butterflies.  Although it's not quite the opposite, it's a fair balance of kisses, tandrums, giggles, and crying to no end. 

 I know a lot of bloggers out there would love to have you think that their house is always immaculately cleaned, they always serve their family organic, gluten-free, no-sugar-added, "whole food" meals blessed by their loving hands, their children always get along and are never disrespectful, challenging or messy, and their marriage is straight out of a romance novel.  However, I will never lead you to believe such a thing about myself and my family.

But you know what?  We are happy.  Really, really happy.

 This time last year, life was a haze.  I don't mean that in a dark way, it's just that I had a newborn.  I was running on hardly any sleep (even though Saul was a really good sleeper) and my thoughts were consumed with this new, squirmy infant that was now in my complete care.  I didn't garden with Todd.  I didn't go places.  I didn't enjoy spring and summer, but with good reason - I had an newborn to enjoy!

Right now, I'm TOTALLY in my element.  Saul is a rough-and-tumble kid, and I'm loving every minute of mothering him. 

I can't explain it.  I think it's because of my own childhood summers, but I feel like a SUPER mom when I get to put Calamine Lotion on his bugbites.  He is just too cute with those chalky, pink/white dots all over his arms and legs. 

I love making ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch and cutting them up for him to enjoy.  Watermelon.  Strawberries.  Apple Juice.  All the flavors of summer.  I can't wait to let him take a bite out of a good, sweet, juicy tomato sandwich.

As I mentioned last week, we took him to the park a couple times and let him yell at the ducks while we threw the ball with Colston.  He wasn't the biggest fan of the baby swing.  That's okay, though.

Yesterday, we took him to a splash & play water park in my town.  I cannot express to you how much that child loved being absolutely drenched with chlorine-water in his hair and eyes.  He was squealing his wonderful little squeal as I ran through baby waterfalls with him. 

Although my little life is far from perfect, I think that makes it pretty perfect.  As summer begins, I am absolutely overwhelmed with the love that is and the fun that is to be had. As much as I want to add another little one to our family, I am so glad to be present in this first taste of summer with my son.  I am so thankful for every single moment I get to watch him experience the wonderful life that God has created for him.  Everything is so new and exciting for him, and I guess it's the same for me.

Oh, my gosh.  I love being a mom.  Seriously.

Legacy

See that man right there? That man is one of the best men you'd ever meet.

He lived a life full of love, affection, compassion, sacrifice, intergrity and strength.  He is the absolute model of a real man.  

He filled his days with loving Jesus for real, fishing, risking his life for others on a daily basis (firefighter), growing tomatoes, and loving his children and grandbabies with every fiber of his being. 

I could talk for days and days about how wonderful my Grandpa Joe was, but I'll leave it at this:  I hope that my son is a lot like Joseph M. Scarborough.  This world needs more men like him.  

I pray daily that Todd and I are leading him down the right path. 

Ten Things Thursday

How about 10 awesome things about this week?  

1.  We are unpacked from vacation.  That is so wonderful.  Last vacation we went on, I allowed us to live out of our suitcase until we had worn and washed everything in the bags.  It's true. 

2.   This guy.  He's awesome every day. 

3.  This guy.  His love makes every day awesome. 

  

4.  I think we might've found our church, reception site, and picked a date for the wedding.  Three decisions down, only 4,283 to go, right? 

5.  Saturday is the Firehouse Fish Fry to honor my late Grandpa Joe.  It's going to be so special.  I can't wait to party as he would have us do.  I miss him.  

6.  I busted the garden hose today.  That's awesome ... ?

7.  Saul got to watch the ducks swim at the river yesterday. He screamed with excitement.

8.  I have done no real elbow-grease/gut-busting house cleaning this week.  What's awesome about that is that you can't even really tell! Light upkeep is where it's at.

9.  I've got another Rogue Petunia, 2 Sunflowers, a Cosmo, about 8 tomatoes and countless Cayenne Peppers.

10.  Oh, and it looks like we've got a Certified Walker on our hands.

Take 1 didn't go over very well. 

Take 2 is much better. 

Love it.  

M