Mommy Photography Challenge Day #1: What/Where Spend the Day

(written yesterday) :)

It’s storming here today.

The first day since we’ve lived at the beach that we’ve had a proper storm. 

I simply love a good thunderstorm, and right now I’m listening to the pelting of hail on the windows and feel the vibrations of thunder shake the walls a little bit.  It’s been black as night since about 10:00 this morning - I’m crossing my fingers for a long, looooooong nap time for both girls.

(Eh, scratch that - AV woke up early and is sitting on her palette playing, already yawning, but Meggie is still sleeping!)

They have gotten stuck on this cycle of not sleeping well in the afternoon.  I think potty-training is the culprit for Miss Meggie; she usually wakes up after about an hour needing to try and go.  Where Miss AV’s concerned, I’m guessing it’s her one-year-old molars?  Why my children cut one hundred billion teeth all at the same time is beyond me.  Just a few weeks ago she got five in the same week, and now I just peered into her mouth and her gums way in the back look red, puffy, and irritated.  She’s also gone completely OFF solid food, so that’s another clue. 

If I’ve learned anything from my first-time parenting experience it’s that nothing seems to last forever when they’re this little.  With a little time and patience (and perhaps the help of an earth-shaking storm?), I’m hoping they’ll right themselves again.

Today is also AV’s ten month birthday. 

My ladybug has gotten a feisty spark in her old age.  Her glowing personality keeps us all entertained and on our toes.  But, it’s her tenderness, softness, babyness which we’ve continued to cherish since the beginning and which still endears her to everyone.  That baby girl brings such contentment and love into our home - I try to remember when we got pregnant before we really were planning to and I was afraid I would never love another baby like I loved our Meggie, and I simply cannot do it.  I cannot remember what it was like not to know her, not to squeeze her, not to breathe her in. 

Like sugar in our tea.

Like manna to my soul.

I’ve been trying all morning to snap a ten month picture, but it’s been too dark outside for a good one. 

Maybe I’ll succeed tomorrow and will be able to put up a true ten month post for her since our moving day happened to be on her nine month birthday. 

Wow.

One whole month in this new place. 

Seems so long and so short.  Still waiting for it all to seem familiar.  I may have to wait a while.

I did, though, capture a few of Meggie girl while AV took her morning nap for an exciting project sponsored by Inspired by Family Magazine and The Hollie Rogue.  These gals, in honor of Mother’s Day next month, have challenged mamas to document their daily lives through photography prompts - what makes us laugh, cry, tremble, sing for joy.

What most intrigues me about this whole deal is the encouragement to BE CREATIVE. 

I miss using my brain in an artsy way, as well as being a student with an assignment.

And, of course, celebrating my littlest loves, Megga Lilly and Allie V.

We spend a lot of our time reading books.

Meggie's gone through different phrases of loving books and being disinterested in books.  Honestly, when she was a baby/early toddler, I couldn't get her to sit in my lap and stay for the duration of a story.  She's always been full of energy with a drive to explore.  Books seemed like too passive of an activity for her.

As a mother, I went through this long period of mourning.  Reading is my all-time favorite hobby, and passing on a love of reading to my children a big time dream of mine.  Even though I began reading to that child before she was even born, it seemed like we'd never share this love.  I know in the grand-scheme of things it's not important, but I did, in a way, feel heartbroken while encouraging her to be who she is.

But.  Recently, when she learned that reading was something she could do for herself - my independent lady - she began memorizing every single book we have.  And now it's her (current) favorite thing to do.

Turns out we're always reading something around here.

In the morning, we stack up a huge pile of books if we're not quite ready to wake up when she is, and she entertains herself for at least half-an-hour.  Once AV goes down for her nap, we pull her books out again and jump onto our bed to snuggle and read.  And when Daddy gets home from work, we all read again while I make dinner.

 

So much LOVE piled on that bed!  My heart does a flutter because these are some of the most precious moments, the times when all this parenting stuff actually feels like I thought it would - and makes all the harder ones more than worth it.  My reality and expectations perfectly aligned.  I recognize these moments for the sweet gifts they are, and hold them tight.

I just love this one...I'm thinking of submitting it for the thankful/blessed prompt.

 I wanted to remember them through the first day prompt: How we spend our day.

Well, hello there, birthday girl!

AND - I just know that once Meg really learns how to read and connects words on the page with paintings in her head, there'll be no stopping her.  It's just how she is; it's just how I am.


Can I urge YOU to come along with me and take the challenge, too?