And We're Off

We have found a happy little rhythm already this year.

We had a skiff of snow last week. It was fun to have an excuse to spend some extra time outside. The fresh air really is wonderful medicine. Even if I have to make myself bundle up, I'm always refreshed and invigorated. Speaking of medicine, our family has been remarkably healthy this year. After our stint in public school last year (Hannah was ill with one cold/flu/ear infection after another from November through March), I was wondering how we would fare with less germy exposure this season. Much better. Much, much better. Thankfully. 

For the last few holiday seasons I have planted paperwhites. I am never, ever sorry. They are so lovely and perk up the grayest days of winter. I'll be sad to say goodbye to them. I wonder what other bulbs are easy to grow indoors? I'd like to just keep some permently on display. 

True to form, our Christmas tree was down by 9:30 am on December 26th- along with all the other decorations. Ahhh, a clean slate.  It didn't take me much longer go through the cupboards and toss out all the junk. I'm feeling so much better without all the sugar! The kids too have made good efforts to take more responsibility in feeding themselves healthy foods. Lately, oranges are all the rage. These beauties were found at Costco of all places and I'll be going back in a day or two to replace the huge bag that we have already devoured. 

Hooray for weekend babies. I've sort of gotten back in the game at the birth center. I really have missed it (driving there white knuckled, through freezing rain, in the middle of the night, and not getting to bed until 4 am and all.)  I just don't think that I will ever stop awing over the miracle of new life emerging, and the process by which we welcome these new little creatures. Amazing. 

I'm working on the homeschooling FAQs page and hope to have that up soon.

I've updated my reading list and added a link to my pinterest page. Oh man, there is so much to see. I have to limit myself otherwise I could just chase pinterest rabbit trails all day!

Hope you are settling in too.

Friday, June 3, 2011 at 08:02 PM

The house is blissfully quiet.  I can even hear the clock ticking. Baby asleep. Kids playing outside. Husband fixing sprinklers.

Me:

Knitting: these

Sipping: port. Not too much...I'm on call.  And yes! I finally made it to the beginning, middle, and end of a birth last weekend. Welcome Wee One. Actually he was quite big! 9#8oz

Contemplating: Classical Conversations, Montessori, Winterpromise, CVA, and a bazillion other homeschooling options. Chime in with any thoughts that you might have about any of them.

A great way to ease into the weekend. Whew! That was one of the longest "short weeks" that I've had in a long time.  Glad it's over.

::Cheers::

Microchimerism

"It has just been discovered that women carry fetal cells from all the babies they have carried. Crossing the defensive boundaries of our immune system and mixing with our own cells, the fetal cells circulate in the mother's bloodstream for decades after each birth. The body does not tolerate foreign cells, which trigger illness and rejection. But a mother's body incorporates into her own the cells of her children as if they recognize each other, belong to each other. This fantastic melding of two selves, mother and child, is called human microchimerism. ~ "Without a Map" by Meredith Hall

I recently came across that quote and thought it was just amazing. Hope you all have a wonderful day reveling in the joy of being a Mother.  Happy day!