{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

100 things that delight me

A couple of years ago at Parent Connection we discussed taking note of the things that make us happy. We're so busy being parents that we sometimes forget the great loves of our life - the things we used to do when we had the time, energy and money. So every year since I've made my list of 100 things that delight me. Some change and others remain the same and Valentine's Day is a great day to take note of all the things that This Mom Loves.

1. nursing my littlest

2. raspberries from the farmers' market
3. my cozy bed
4. puppy dog tails
5. the first buds and catkins in the Spring
6. window stars

7. a clean counter
8. Elana's Pantry
9. The Company Store Primaloft pillows
10. Magoo's big blue eyes and long eyelashes

11. the first snow
12. watching Johnsmith in concert
13. my lovelies sleeping

14. making my husband laugh
15. snuggling by the "warm spot" with the girls
16. trees

17. Pinterst
18. my sister's sense of humor
19. Paleo macaroons
20. making a snowman with the girls

21. a good massage
22. opening up our CSA box

23. peg gnomes

24. the moms in our parent/child class
25. a cardinal's song
26. embroidered dish towels

27. ordering Penzeys spices
28. getting an unexpected card or letter in the mail
29. our nature table

30. new glasses from SEE
31. a dinner date with the hubby
32. Castle
33. spontaneous dance parties with the girls

34. Junior singing
35. my garden

36. a good cup of black tea with coconut milk
37. Christmas music
38. the maple trees in the fall

39. campfires
40. Summer sunsets
41. fitting into a new (smaller) pair of jeans
42. sun tea in mason jars

43. the Kickapoo County Fair

44. a crafty Christmas
45. January organizing
46. honey roasted almonds
47. a full nights sleep
48. Mueller Photography
49. gerbra daisies
50. my "new" wedding ring
51. a great haircut
52. green
53. the smell of citrus fruit
54. bluebirds

55. a clear sky and bright stars
56. the afghan we got for our wedding
57. LuSa Organics
58. a good Riesling
59. candlelight
60. the Little House books

61. girls' night - painting toenails and doing my girls' hair
62. the smell of sawdust backstage
63. new Smartwool socks
64. listening to A.A. Milne Classic Pooh
65. a full moon

66. The Sing Off
67. rocks and feathers in the washing machine
68. the hubby playing guitar for the girls

69. lovable, furry old Grover
70. old pictures

71. twinkling eyes
72. a good Lisa K. Adams dinner party
73. seeing a really great stage play
74. a warm Summer breeze
75. tulips
76. crafting with felt

77. Perot State Park

78. striped Hanna jammies

79. Yates Cider Mill

80. the girls in leotards and tutus
81. my Better Homes and Gardens in the mail
82. Fran Swift

83. coming home from errands to find Mom has done my dishes
84. meteor showers
85. snap peas off the vine

86. clean sheets
87. my shamrocks
88. time for myself
89. Strongly Pullin' Me
90. kissing my girls

91. Parent Connection
92. intelligent conversations
93. Home for the Holidays
94. the picture next to my bed of my husband on our wedding day
95. when I call my sister and she says, "I was just thinking about you."

96. witnessing my kids learning something new
97. our Waldorf community
98. handwriting
99. sharing Popsicles on the front steps in the Summer
100. when my kids tell me I'm really pretty

Happy Birthday Elizabeth

This Mom Loves you!

Lincoln

drawing Lincoln


Portrait


the artist (at 2 years old)

This Mom Loves the artist I have in Magoo.

Autism sucks

I'm WAY behind on blogging. My rhythm is off. I haven't been getting much sleep because the girls are having a rough time. Junior has been getting her two year molars. Magoo is experiencing a lot of anxiety. I'm sure she's picking up on my anxiety as we're applying for medical assistance for her Autism Spectrum Disorder. We just had a follow-up appointment with the child psychiatrist. We discussed increasing her melatonin supplement slightly to see if that helps and have actually discussed the use of medication to help her sleep. The goal is that if we improve her sleep she'll be less anxious during the day and have fewer outbursts of aggression. There has been a lot of aggression lately and unfortunately Junior is really getting beat up. She gets bit, hit, pushed, and yesterday I watched her get hit violently three times on the head. It's so sad. It's sad for my sweet little one and it's equally sad for my Magoo. I feel terrible that she's so frustrated. I hate that she doesn't know how to express herself.

There may be some people to say that Autism is a blessing - that it's changed their lives for the better. I'm not there yet. I really hate that it's hijacked my little girl's brain. I hate that she was born with this and will die with this. I hate this level of anxiety that everyone is feeling. I'd like to get past this but I just see our challenges getting bigger for the time being. I guess time will tell. Sorry for the rant. I'm really feeling the stress.

This Mom Loves these sweet girls. I hope that we can find some rhythm and some balance around here soon.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.