Marriage and Family

Like any normal American couple, we have our issues. I'm an introvert and my husband is an extrovert. I leave empty diet coke bottles everywhere; my husband leaves his clothes on the bedroom floor (right by the hamper!) I like to purge; my husband likes to save. I love shopping; he would rather undergo a root canal. We both struggle with procrastination. We're both hypersensitive. We're both moody. And like every normal American couple, we argue. But we always work through our issues together. We always make up. As mad as I get at him, I am in love with my husband and he is in love with me. Being mad at someone doesn't change the fact that you love them. Mad is just a temporary state of being, love is the committed eternal.

Two nights ago, Gabriel lay in between John and I as we were going to sleep. He grabbed our heads and brought them close and said to us, "I love you both" before falling asleep. It is hard to write about how wonderful that moment was without sounding entirely sappy. I love the fact that my son is able to have two parents who are together. That we have this little family where we are delighted with him, and he with us.

Now, I am not a perfect mom by any means. I tried that once and it was too much of a mind fuck. I thought I had to meet all these standards, and post perfect family pictures, and "create moments" and "find meaning" in them. And then blog about them. It felt so smothering and a lot of it felt like I was stuck in The Feminine Mystique with the Problem that Has No Name. Everybody pose for the Hipstamatic!

We're not picture ready most days at my house. And that is ok. Half the time, I in my yoga pants and tank top til noon. And I keep forgetting to charge my camera batteries!

Today, we worked in the backyard, clearing the yard and flowerbeds of leaves and sticks. Gabriel dug in the dirt with his shovel, picked flowers, and played in the yard. My sister, husband,and I raked and filled bag after bag of leaves and yard waste. I suppose I could have blogged about it, taken some "perfect moment" pictures, and found some deep meaning in them. But it was more fun to just work cheerfully in the yard, get dirt in our hair and under our nails, and enjoy each others company. Gabriel handed me over a dozen little bleeding hearts that he picked from the bushes in our yard. Didn't get a single picture! But that's okay. I will always remember this life we live together

Corners of My Home: Toddler Edition

There is a common meme that I believe originated on SouleMama called Corners of My Home.  Bloggers take and post lovely pictures of beautiful rooms, or corners, of their home. 

These kinds of posts are some of my favorite things to see online.  I love looking at how people decorate and design their homes.   To me, it is better than looking at Country Living or House Beautiful. I love seeing how their personalities are reflected through color and style choice. 
But sometimes, when you are a stay at home mother with a toddler it can feel a little discouraging.

You know these bloggers  have a bunch of littles running around, yet the nature table is perfectly arrayed and no one has used their markers on the robin's egg blue milk painted walls.  And there does not seem to be a stray toy or sock to be found.  Not even a knitted wool one.

And you start to look around your house.  It was clean this morning, but between breakfast and naptime, your child managed to make you look like a candidate for Hoarders.  

Sure, those other mommy bloggers talk about their neverending piles of laundry. But all they show you is the wrought iron bed with the Elizabethan coverlet used by their two year old daughter. 

I am not like those ladies.  I am going to show you what living with a crazy person toddler does to your decor. 

Note ornaments are missing from the bottom of the tree.

He does nothing but throw these letter tiles.

See the drawing paper.  Begged for it.  Then after scribbling once, it was abandoned.  Later ended up on floor.

I really hate the letter tiles. They collect cat hair like crazy.

Daddy and Gabriel made pancakes. And walked off. Also all my baking sheets are no longer in their proper cupboard.

I like to keep my dirty laundry in hampers.  Gabriel does not.

Note gift bag, paper towel roll, and stupid letter tile behind son. 

Beds aren't meant to be made.

Messy bookshelves.

Before the bed is made.  Sometime around three in the afternoon.

So there you have it.  The corners of my house.