A Day in the Life...

or...My Gift to Mom Egos Everywhere.

5:30ish am:  Owen wakes up.  Bring him into bed and spend 45 minutes pretending he is still asleep.  

6:18 am: Pull Owen down from on top of the headboard.  Get up.

6:32 am: Microwave oatmeal.  Just like mom used to make minus the from-scratch part.  

6:54-9:26 am:  Blurry.  I think I changed a diaper.  

9:27 am:  Nap One.  Assume I'll nap later and so spend the time 'working' (aka send an email and then spend the rest of the time checking news and blogs).  Mistake One.

11:05 am: Owen wakes up and begins sounding the traditional get-me-up call of the Northern American toddler.  

11:15 am:  Go get Owen.  

12:36 pm:  Note the increasing size of the pile of dishes in the sink.  Resolve to get to those before 11:30 pm.   Pat myself on the back for being so proactive today.

1:02 pm:  Shoes on, hat on, phone, keys - out the door.  Reconsider since it feels like an oven.

1:06 pm:  Talk to mom on the phone.  Give up trying to get Owen to walk on the sidewalk.  Keep an eye out for cars in the parking lot.  

1:10 pm:  Finally herd Owen down the hill and off the street.

1:12 pm:  Get bitten for the millionth time by a mosquito while attempting a cute photo of Owen.  Get distracted by swatting mosquitos.  

1:13 pm:  Sprint to stop Owen from walking into what looks like poison ivy.  Kind of make it in time.

1:14 pm:  Carry screaming, squirming toddler home.  Get bitten by millionth and first mosquito.

1:45-3:15 pm:  Lay down with Owen.  Pretend to sleep while he practices his judo rolls over my belly.

3:15 pm:  Have a serious talk with Owen about how mommy really needed a nap and now she's kind of grumpy so let's be a good boy until bedtime.  Pray for patience to show him I'm serious.

3:17 pm:  Owen dumps his apples on the floor.  

3:17:30 pm:  Owen dumps his popcorn on the floor.

3:18 pm: Owen screams while I clean him up.

4:45 pm:  Get ready to head to the pool. Realize I'm out of swimming diapers.  I may or may not have decided that Owen doesn't need one.  (I mean...he NEVER poops in the swim diapers and we all know that they are just poop catchers.)

4:50 pm:  Watch as a stream of fluid runs down Owen's leg and into his swim shoes.  (Point made...swim diapers are pee catchers too.)

4:51 pm:  Find poop in the swim shorts.  Clean poop and pee.  Clean carpet.

5:03 pm: Head to pool.  Someone pooped in the main pool (nope - not Owen).  Head to the kiddy pool.

5:20 pm:  Notice Owen chewing on something.  Yep...an old screw.  Consider that he's getting additional iron.

5:21-5:58 pm:  Keep Owen from putting every single piece of trash in his mouth.  Keep Owen from disassembling the pool strainers.  Get a splinter chasing Owen up and down the wooden ramp.

6:03 pm:  Shower at the pool with Owen.  Make a note to bring earplugs next time.  Surprisingly - he also screams if you don't let him stick his own head (BY HIMSELF) under the shower.  Hmmm.

6:10 pm:  Make the mistake of saying we would WALK home.  Apparently the home part is considered optional in some languages.  Carry screaming, squirming toddler home.

6:20 pm:  Let Owen run naked while I take the splinter out of my foot.

6:21 pm:  Realize it's too quiet.  Find Owen sitting in poop.  On the carpet.

6:22 pm:  Shower number two for Owen.

6:27 pm:  Clean floor number two for me.

6:30 - 7:15 pm:  Give in.  Blues clues.  Microwave turkey and a sweet potato.

7:20 pm:  Give Owen my toothbrush since I can't remember where I put his.

7:28 pm:  Pry my toothbrush from a screaming toddler.

7:32 pm:  Owen is asleep.  Marvel at how beautiful he is.  

7:45 pm:  Eye the mountain in the sink (and on the counters).  Decide to blog.

8:05 pm:  Realize that I loved today.  I didn't write about all the hugs and kisses - all the times I got Owen to say 'mama'.  The playing cars and chasing the cat and eating popcorn.  His 'helping' me cook, his 'helping' carry the keys, tickling me at the pool, climbing in the chair next to me to read stories. I'd do today all over - tired, teething tantrums and all.  

I'd just remember the diapers

8:15 pm:  Head in to start the dishes.

Tribute Week - Highpoint 5

This week I'm writing five short tributes to endearing aspects of this quirky, charming little apartment that we've called home.  Five little things that we will miss so much.  Next week I'll do a series of things that we are so looking forward to in Baltimore - so stay tuned!

5) The place itself.  (And the cool pool.) 

I'm not going to lie.  Having access to a private pool was beyond awesome.  The fact that I happen to be married to the attractive pool caretaker only made it better.  

How many evenings did I glide through the water - listening to the silence around me - and thanking God for divinely orchestrating our lives.  (Which He does, and for which I will always, even in a pool-less house, thank Him for)

Living at Highpoint, apart from the wonderful people, view, trails, cats, etc, etc, etc...was really like living in my dream house.  Jon knows my penchant for old houses, full of history - and does this place have a story to tell.  It is a gorgeous home and I loved that Joya allowed us to use her space and bring friends over for baby showers, birthday parties, game nights, overnight stays, and dinners.  She always says that this place is something that should be shared - and share it she does.  

What a beautiful gift it has been to live with her in this magnificent place.  

What a beautiful gift. 

Moving

Thanks to Dad for the cool picture.

Ah, yes.  It is true.  We are moving.  After more than 5 years here at Highpoint (the house, not the blog) we are pulling our roots out of the soil and re-planting them elsewhere.  

Oh, and I've grown some deep roots.

Apparently I've grown a little too comfortable here on our cliff-top perch.  The seclusion, the proximity to so much nature, the running trails where I poured out my blood and sweat (so, so much sweat) training for Chicago, the pool, the company, the VIEW - oh my stars the view.  This place, like no other, has become home to me.  I'm not sure how we'd manage to live in the little one-bedroom basement apartment with a few kids running around but gosh darn it, I probably would have tried.  (Poor Jon is cringing right now).  

We are moving to Baltimore so I can go to school for a year.  We are living in the city.  In the middle of a row of townhomes.  Neighbors so close that you can smell what they're making for dinner.  It is a beautiful neighborhood, we have a little yard, windows, much more room (and closets - oh my stars the closets!), and no mountainside to shovel if it snows.  It is mere blocks from school and a short walk to a cute coffee house and other small shops.  I can feel the old, forgotten sense of adventure well up inside when we visit.  A complete change!  How will we grow and progress under the pressure of the new environment?  It excites me and I see the possibilities as endless.

So, in an acknowledgement of my sentimentality, and my deep love of our situation here in Virginia, I'm going to pay tribute to our lovely nest here.  The place Jon and I made our own, where we first snuggled our son and settled ourselves.  Next week will be Highpoint week - each day I'll post about a little something I loved from this place.

And the next week, in celebration of our new abode and our excitement and anticipation for the future, will be Fairmount week - with a new post each day detailing the neighborhood's charm and the house's nooks and crannies.  

Hopefully it will be a fun way to say goodbye, and hello, to some wonderful places that we call home.

The Mobile

I finished, mostly at least, the birds for over the baby's crib.  These are the ones that my wonderful friends helped me to make at my baby shower in early January.  I think they came out wonderfully.  Here are a few pictures.

It would probably look better with white walls - but the colors are much more vivid in person.

This is the view the baby will have.

A close-up of the craftsmanship!  (I have great friends!)

I even hung a few over the changing table so he'll have something to look at during diaper changes.  

I'm not sure how I feel about the ribbon hangers yet - I might switch to clear fishing line...but I want to give it a few days to see.  

Highpoint View!

Jon and I live at Highpoint. Pretty much one of the most beautiful locations around Washington DC. It's actually our wonderful landlady's 'estate' - a Spanish style house built on top of a cliff overlooking the Potomac river. We both have always really liked the name Highpoint. An elevated location.

Here are some pictures of the physical Highpoint.

The view from the top.

The scenic winter view of the river from the side of the house.

So that's what's behind the name. On to the reasoning for the blog in the first place. More than anything I think this page serves as a joint diary of sorts. Some place we can keep a record of our journey. an added benefit is that other people can join in and see what's been going on - eventually. :) We have such a diverse and dispersed family (blood and spirit) that this might be a handy way for people to stay in touch.