This last weekend was a good one. We played in the sand and sun, Em walked to us on the beach, and we found a place to stay for the remainder of our time here! The best part is it's proximity to Clark! We are within walking distance instead of a 15+ minute drive. Today is even going well and it's Monday!
I cannot wait for this week to reach Wednesday and then to speed up to Friday! Clark gets to take some leave so he will be all mine for 9 days, that seems like a lifetime to me. I'm soooo excited to go visit Clark's brother and his family for Christmas.
I'll get to cross off some more states on our drive there too! It's about a 10 hour drive and Clark is dreading it a little bit. I told him that 10 hours seems like nothing after my cross country road trip less than two weeks ago...
I hope there are lots of Christmas lights to go see in North Carolina because there sure aren't very many here in PCB! There are a couple fake Christmas trees though...
I have always considered myself a lover of the colder winters we get back home, so this 65-70 degree weather hasn't convinced me that it is Christmas time yet. It is so strange , but I am enjoying the change. Hopefully, with this new place we are staying in starting January I'll be able to meet a friend. Or maybe I'll just go get some supplies and start trying to make some art again. I could get to all those things I always pushed aside in favor of social interaction ;)
Monday, December 15, 2014
It sure doesn't look like Christmas here
I figure I had better start writing again since I let November go by without a single post, it is the middle of December now and the blog has been neglected for far too long.
First thing is first, my dear sweet baby is turning one year old in FIVE days. How did that even happen?! Actually I know how, that was rhetorical... I can't believe it though, time is a tricky s.o.b and he always gets the best of me.
One year old... It is a scary thought, more and more she becomes a person with her own personality and wants and I have to somehow help guide her in a "right" direction and try to keep her from getting too bruised along the way, hopefully without too many lasting scars, both emotionally and physically. This job of parenting is not easy. We are taught that we as mothers are supposed to be naturals and that it's supposed to be our greatest accomplishment, but what if it's not? It's scary being a mother.
Luckily, I was given a book by one of my incredibly intelligent and dear friends. (Not only does she give great books, but also wise and encouraging advice. I truly admire her and am thankful for her friendship). The most recently shared book is, the essential Hip Mama edited by Ariel Gore. Hip Mama is what I turn to when I need some reassurance that it's ok if motherhood is messy and tiring and if I feel like running away to a mystical child free land. I also can find some laughs in it when my tiny human is napping. Sometimes I even read it aloud to her... She needs to hear some real life stories, not just children's fiction in my opinion. Basically what I am saying is, if you are a mama and you want something to read related to parenting and real mom-life you should probably go pick up any of the Hip Mama books or just subscribe to the zine!
Now, Em and I have been in PCB for one week exactly. The cross country road trip was quick and dirty and an adventure to say the least. It was fun and I'm glad that Laura was able and willing to jump into an adventure with me despite our friendship being rather new for such a committed thing. Luckily, we are both easy going and we had lots of feminist subject matter to keep us talking and awake on the 2,880 mile trip.
PCB is nice, much warmer than home in December and I must admit I feel truly spoiled being able to walk across the street and stick my toes in the sand. Em is absolutely loving the beach time and I think she has inherited her father's love of water. She just wants to be in it all the time. I set her in the sand and she crawls straight for the waves. She's gotten better about not going in unless I'm firmly holding her chubby hands though... We are working on it...
Clark's days are long and hard, but it looks like I'll be able to see him every weekend at least. Worth the move, 100%. Em also scored an uncle out of the deal. Clark's roommate is a smart and nice guy, so naturally they are now close friends and he has taken to calling himself Em's uncle. It's pretty cute. I haven't made any friends yet or gone out too much.... I'm kind of a hermit and very quiet in person, you wouldn't know it from me airing my life on here, but hopefully I will soon. Em is wonderful and all, but not quite at the level of adult conversation...Plus there is the whole issue of wanting her to be my daughter for the next 20 years, not my best friend... More on that another time.
Here's the good part of my post: photos!
First thing is first, my dear sweet baby is turning one year old in FIVE days. How did that even happen?! Actually I know how, that was rhetorical... I can't believe it though, time is a tricky s.o.b and he always gets the best of me.
One year old... It is a scary thought, more and more she becomes a person with her own personality and wants and I have to somehow help guide her in a "right" direction and try to keep her from getting too bruised along the way, hopefully without too many lasting scars, both emotionally and physically. This job of parenting is not easy. We are taught that we as mothers are supposed to be naturals and that it's supposed to be our greatest accomplishment, but what if it's not? It's scary being a mother.
Luckily, I was given a book by one of my incredibly intelligent and dear friends. (Not only does she give great books, but also wise and encouraging advice. I truly admire her and am thankful for her friendship). The most recently shared book is, the essential Hip Mama edited by Ariel Gore. Hip Mama is what I turn to when I need some reassurance that it's ok if motherhood is messy and tiring and if I feel like running away to a mystical child free land. I also can find some laughs in it when my tiny human is napping. Sometimes I even read it aloud to her... She needs to hear some real life stories, not just children's fiction in my opinion. Basically what I am saying is, if you are a mama and you want something to read related to parenting and real mom-life you should probably go pick up any of the Hip Mama books or just subscribe to the zine!
Now, Em and I have been in PCB for one week exactly. The cross country road trip was quick and dirty and an adventure to say the least. It was fun and I'm glad that Laura was able and willing to jump into an adventure with me despite our friendship being rather new for such a committed thing. Luckily, we are both easy going and we had lots of feminist subject matter to keep us talking and awake on the 2,880 mile trip.
PCB is nice, much warmer than home in December and I must admit I feel truly spoiled being able to walk across the street and stick my toes in the sand. Em is absolutely loving the beach time and I think she has inherited her father's love of water. She just wants to be in it all the time. I set her in the sand and she crawls straight for the waves. She's gotten better about not going in unless I'm firmly holding her chubby hands though... We are working on it...
Clark's days are long and hard, but it looks like I'll be able to see him every weekend at least. Worth the move, 100%. Em also scored an uncle out of the deal. Clark's roommate is a smart and nice guy, so naturally they are now close friends and he has taken to calling himself Em's uncle. It's pretty cute. I haven't made any friends yet or gone out too much.... I'm kind of a hermit and very quiet in person, you wouldn't know it from me airing my life on here, but hopefully I will soon. Em is wonderful and all, but not quite at the level of adult conversation...Plus there is the whole issue of wanting her to be my daughter for the next 20 years, not my best friend... More on that another time.
Here's the good part of my post: photos!
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Trying not to be that mom..
As a woman of our society, I know firsthand how damaging and hurtful judgments of character based on minimal interaction or just appearance can be. Yet, I find that I am often having to check myself and reign in my own silent judgements of others. How does this happen? Will it always be this battle against this internalized thing? I have noticed that I often am doing this against other mothers, which seems even more depressing. I don't know that family's life, day, situation or anything about them really. Who am I to think that I could do better or that what they are doing isn't right? (What the heck is "right" anyways?) I have often defended others lifestyles and choices that are deemed "wrong or unconventional" by others and yet I still find myself being a jerk, even if it's just in my own head. Does anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions?
PS where are the other feminist moms and/or feminists who aren't moms at? I need a nice long discussion over coffee with some like-minded humans....
PS where are the other feminist moms and/or feminists who aren't moms at? I need a nice long discussion over coffee with some like-minded humans....
Goings on lately
We went to the pumpkin patch a few Saturdays back with my parents and siblings and their little ones. It was a lot of fun and I was glad that the weather decided to stay beautiful and sunny. The patch we went to is Seven Oaks Farm and it is where Clark and I took our maternity photos last year. I felt a small twinge of sadness at the fact that he wasn't able to be there, but I know that there will be many more years of pumpkin patch outings in our future.
In other news, my grandmother and I have put together a list of things to do before Em and I meet back up with Clark in Florida. It is mostly comprised of things that we would do together when I was younger. For example: bake cookies, visit art museums,the public library, parks and downtown GP. We also would like to make art and go to the November First Friday Art Walk. I am so thankful for this time spent with her. It's a nice way to keep busy and reconnect. It is also priceless time for her to spend with Emmalyn. So far we've managed to cross of a few things even. Most might think this item is strange, but we ate scrambled eggs and rice for lunch yesterday. As a child I was ridiculously picky and it was one of the few things that she could consistently get me to eat. She always loves to tell me about how, since I was very young, I would sit at the counter and watch her cook rice for me. Another item for in the kitchen that was crossed off is, bake peanut butter cookies. I followed grandma's recipe while she played with Em. We have now also gone to the two parks that I played at the most as a child. She was telling me that she has taken three generations to the park; my dad, me, and now my daughter. I cannot wait to fill the days crossing more things off of our list and maybe even adding some new ones.
I'll finish this post with some iPhone photos of our last few days adventures.
In other news, my grandmother and I have put together a list of things to do before Em and I meet back up with Clark in Florida. It is mostly comprised of things that we would do together when I was younger. For example: bake cookies, visit art museums,the public library, parks and downtown GP. We also would like to make art and go to the November First Friday Art Walk. I am so thankful for this time spent with her. It's a nice way to keep busy and reconnect. It is also priceless time for her to spend with Emmalyn. So far we've managed to cross of a few things even. Most might think this item is strange, but we ate scrambled eggs and rice for lunch yesterday. As a child I was ridiculously picky and it was one of the few things that she could consistently get me to eat. She always loves to tell me about how, since I was very young, I would sit at the counter and watch her cook rice for me. Another item for in the kitchen that was crossed off is, bake peanut butter cookies. I followed grandma's recipe while she played with Em. We have now also gone to the two parks that I played at the most as a child. She was telling me that she has taken three generations to the park; my dad, me, and now my daughter. I cannot wait to fill the days crossing more things off of our list and maybe even adding some new ones.
I'll finish this post with some iPhone photos of our last few days adventures.
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