The reality of a long day – Sanctification through Motherhood

I feel like at times long days have become synonymous with Abi being 2!  Oh my goodness, I love this girl so much – but I am realizing that tending to a child’s soul is not the easiest task in the world!  At times I am oh so tired.  At times Abi is oh so not impressed by my attempted “stellar mothering skills.”  One day at a time.  I am so thankful for the lessons of humanity, grace, humility, and patience that loving this little heart have given me (even though sometimes I do not recognize them as a gift, and I fight the learning of these lessons!).  Recently, I just had to take pictures….or I might have gone crazy.

Yep, that’s my awesomely clean kitchen…looking good, huh??

Did you want a closer look??

No…I did not strap my child in…she did that willingly, although she might have been exhibiting telepathic abilities.  Why is her carseat in the house, you ask?  Oh, that’s right…she went potty on the way home.  Ahhh.

And because I needed some downtime and this is something that I really believe in PLUS there is that little addition that we’re expecting in February…we have been working on mandatory reading time.  Where both Abi & I read for 10 minutes…Abi wanted to read in her tent…that' sounds great – oh wait, except she just wanted to play in her tent.  The books were just an accessory.  Try forcing a 2 year old to read.  It’s pretty funny.  Please note: there is no abi in this picture…just books being unread.

“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”  II Corinthians 12:9

Just singin’ in the Rain!

These are the moments when I wish that I more frequently had the heart of my 2 year old daughter.  Good times are to be had by just being outside when it rains…and I too frequently have something else to do / don’t want to get wet / am too lame.  Not her – oh, goodness, when the opportunity arises, the girl seizes the day!

Testing…one does not want to commit too quickly.

The next morning – it was still raining.  Good thing daddy is more fun than me!

’The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain.‘ ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Oh, my happy heart

How many moments do we get like these once our little darlings begin the transition into these delightful, crazy kiddos – and slowly walk away from the toddlerhood/infancy that was so precious? 

Baby girl was O.U.T.  We had to wake her up because we’d already pushed back our very important date of Yogoland with friends by 1/2 hour.  I mean really, she needed to get up!  But, truth be told, we just watched her for a while.  Donald and I would look at her, look at each other, and smile.  Thankful.  Amazed.  Humbled.  Happy.

The next master chef?

So, Donald and I really are addicted to this show.  It’s brilliant – take a chef show, which were previously aloof on channels such as Bravo and the like (which do not come free on HD antennae, so consequently are not watched in the wallace casa) and bring them to mainstream prime time!  Hooray!  Even though we think that Chef Ramsey is one crazy cookie.  I am always inspired, always humbled by how much I do NOT know about food or preparing it, and always encouraged to keep my little lady with me in the kitchen.  Food truly can be something beautiful.  It is about the relationships that are enriched through food that make it beautiful.  Sitting around a table with dear friends, sharing it downtown or wherever with those who are in need, baking in the context of your home with your daughter.  Beautiful memories of which I am thankful.  This girl loves to cook.  As soon as I start to prep the kitchen, you better believe that the middle drawer is pulled out, apron X2 are in hand (she likes for me to wear one too), and a stool is being scooted around the island so that she can be at the proper height.  A peek into our recent conquests…

A very easy job for abi (and one that keeps her busy, which is easier for me!) is whisking.  So, that’s frequently the duty that she is assigned, and does so with great gusto!

The mess that inevitably follows…but I am always smiling when cleaning these messes up.  They are precious.

Because we all need a really good and honest “taster” in the house.

Take a peak at our back patio

Oh goodness, this patio could tell countless stories.  It was once covered, and dark, rather tomb-esque if you will.  When we bought this house we had such plans for this patio.  Some of them have happened.  Some are still in the works (why can’t house projects just be free?!).  In the fall it is covered with an insane amount of leaves ( 3 large trees are able to drop their leaves on this patio) Currently it is being stained by our little platoon of squirrels dropping and breaking pecans on it as they prepare for cooler weather.  Often there are bubbles and chalk stains.  This patio brings our little family quite a lot of joy.  Simple and fun JOY!

Abi using the timer for a self-portrait…

 

Oh, my little artist – being inspired by nature (at least that is what I like to think!)

 

Dear Patio – we’re thankful for you.  For the memories, for the frustrations, for the reminders to be content and to find beauty.  Who would have thought all of this could come from a patio?

Movin’ on up!!

To the Big Girl Bed!  WHAT?!  How can my baby be old enough for this?

Well, continuing in my annoying tradition of updating 2-3 weeks late…here’s the biggest change to rock the Wallace household (and I do mean rock, since this addition my little lady has begun waking up at 6:30 AM and only taking 1 1/2 hour naps) – if that doesn’t fit the definition of rocking one’s world…well then, I just don’t know what does!

As we were working on fateful Saturday morning, Abi was way into the transition!

See, this is how she knows it’s really hers…

All ready for nap time!  Which did NOT go well that first day – poor thing cried for almost 1 hour (with steady 15 minute checking-in from mom & dad).  We tried the pillow route…don’t believe her face.  She liked it at first, but since this picture, she has not laid her head on a pillow unless it’s on our bed!

Blame it on the pregnancy hormones, but I cried putting her to sleep for that first nap and bedtime.  I just couldn’t believe it.  How can she be so big to already fit into this big girl bed.  Oh, this child is growing and molding quickly.  Lord willing, may this progression lead her to a love for her God and others that is matched with equal excitement and fervor as reaching new milestones in her beautiful life.

(Oslo wanted to check it out too, sorry for those who are currently grossed out!)

I know you’ve wanted this kind of education…

**Meant to post this on our blog...oops!**

Please meet Mr. Dragonfly.  He resides in our yard – he’s been the subject of many-a-made-up-adventure for Abi & I (really, thought of writing a children’s book – you’d buy it, wouldn’t you?!).  And we think he’s wonderful and beautiful.  On to that education we were talking about.  Scientific name – Anax junius (or the common green darner, green is not specific to species color) – they are awesome to have in your backyard as they eat all of the annoying insects – think of them as the hawk of the insect world! 

These handsome little buddies can fly between 25 and 30 mph!

I saved the best for last…those amazing compound eyes…up to 30,000 facets (nope, not a typo!) can sense blue spectrums and UV light (the top facing ‘eyes’) and orange and green spectrums (bottom facing ‘eyes’).
See, now you can go about your day fully satisfied that you will know something more about dragonflies the next time that you see them!  (And thank you for humoring me!)

Art Class

I can not say enough great things about Abi’s art class this summer.  I loved it.  She loved it.  The grandparents loved it.  The whole shebang.   If you’re looking for something delightful…the Museum of Nature and Science Education Department.  We headed down there every Wednesday morning this summer for some messy, inspirational fun.

Our teacher, Miss Margie (who, in my complete lack of memory totally forgot to get a picture of with abi!) was wonderful and did a great job of having a mini lesson about the artist (from Claude Monet to Andy Warhol to Vincent van Gogh) and then artwork that was inspired by them!  We both learned so much – truly!

It’ll probably make it on our calendar again in the Spring – but who knows.  Isn’t it silly how many things you can get a 2 year old involved in?  Kind of makes me sick to my stomach, as I can see I’m tempted to put her in everything – the type of parent that you read articles about.  But it’s hard, isn’t it?  You want them to get a taste of every little thing this beautiful world has to offer.  I want to see her eyes light up in gymnastics, her beautiful and awkward grace in ballet class, her fascination for the natural world grow in Miss Jenna’s (now Mr. Faizel’s – both former coworkers at the zoo) Birds of Play class at the Audubon Center, goodness, I want it all for her.  Plus, I want her to be that child whose mind is creative while she sits in her backyard and finds great comfort just from being at home.  And I want her to learn to take joy in simplicity so that she can give generously to others.  But, this is neither here nor there.  Just my ramblings.

We’re talking about art class.

A few samplings – we had such a fun summer in the basement of the museum!

(our friends Tracy and Zach – they seriously looked like this after every class.  Often when abi didn’t have a drop of paint on her.  Oh, the difference between a boy and girl!)

They always had so many little things for them to work on.  They understood the mind of a 2 year old well.  There was easel time, and usually at least 3 other projects for them to be working on.  And each week they added something more to their canvas, which was then sealed for the last day of class.

 

The sweet canvas.  It is already a treasured “Wallace Original.”  Miss Margie hung each child’s canvas around the room, like it was a gallery showing!  Such a thoughtful touch.

Nanny & Grandpa came for the last day too.  Isn’t she just too cute holding up her canvas?! (Even with eyes closed!)

Someone told me once to save all of their artwork in one place, and then every 6 months clean it out.  That way it is still fresh in your mind – you know what was most meaningful – and you are able to throw some stuff away!  Seriously, I can already imagine the boxes upon boxes of papers!

Goodbye summer of art class!  Thanks for the good ideas, the messiness, the memories.