Travelingjenny

Navigating the hilly terrain of motherhood

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    It was rainy on Earth Day here in Maine, but we celebrated as best we could. We made coffee filter flowers, which Grace quickly fashioned into hats for her animal friends (and for Tess!). 

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    Grace drew grass on a crown for herself because, naturally, she was Queen of Earth Day. Then she helped me start the seeds for our vegetable garden. It's good to be queen.

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  • What have we been up to this week, you wonder? Oh, just flying kites at the beach…

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    learning how to apply make-up,

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    blowing bubbles,

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    and hiking by the ocean.

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    We love having family come visit!

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  • GrittysSky

    Ahhh…. beer. Happy Friday!

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    Tess is amazing me in so many ways lately. Besides being chatty and funny and kind, she is becoming brave and outgoing. Yesterday morning, a neighbor we'd never met before dropped by with her two young kids, and Tess made a big effort to introduce them to the chickens. She then eagerly played with the four-year old, and showed him how to climb the ladder on her swingset. Today, she held her own with the big kids on the playground at Grace's school, and even made a friend. As much as I love watching her play with other kids, though, I love our one-on-one time even more. She's still my sweet little buddy. And I'm really going to miss those chubby toddler knees when they're gone.

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    Last week, I bought the girls cheap gardening gloves at the grocery store, in anticipation of planting our vegetable garden — which we'll be able to do safely about six weeks from now. Tess wore her gloves to bed, and kept them on all night. The next morning, she asked me if we could go plant seeds. I explained that there was still too much snow for gardening, and we would have to wait for it to melt first. Tess insisted that we go outside and shovel the snow off the garden. At first, I balked at this, after all, the sun would melt it eventually. But Tess seemed so proud of her good idea, and I hated to put a damper on her enthusiasm. So out we went.

    We both worked very hard, and it paid off. Just three days later, on Easter morning, the garden was almost completely free of snow. And today, I noticed garlic sprouts coming up! Of course, we still won't be able to plant anything for six more weeks, but at least by then Tess will have her gardening gloves all broken in. And after all of this work, our home-grown vegetables will taste even sweeter.

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    Grace: "Rule of life #27: One of the best things about having a baby sister is they always get how funny you are."

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    On Saturday we went to a local Easter celebration, and Tess got her first taste of hunting for eggs. She was in the youngest age group, and the eggs were simply scattered around in the grass. So Tess calmly sat down and carefully gathered all of the eggs within her reach, in typical Tess fashion. All the same, she easily filled her basket, and her big sister was quite proud of her.

    Grace was a successful egg hunter as well, but I think she had more fun on the bouncy slide and bouncy tunnel. I may have to buy one of those for our backyard. I just love that child's enthusiasm.

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  • SandyHands

    Sand shovels and buckets are overrated. Rain boots, however, are not.
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    Tonight at dinner, after being complimented on cleaning her plate, Grace said, "I'm having a grow-a-thon." 

    Really honey, a grow-a-thon is not necessary. Just take your time. Please.

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    On Sunday morning, we spent over two hours frolicking at the beach. On Sunday afternoon, Tess took a nap. A blissful, two-and-a-half hour nap. I cleaned the chicken coop (yes, I lead an exciting life), while Adam, Grace and Grandma Ha had a sports fest outside. 

    When Tess woke up, she was lovely and sweet and wonderful. She napped on Monday, too, followed by more wonderfulness. And on Tuesday it dawned on me — there has been no mention of itchy foot since Sunday. Hurrah! 

    Wednesday afternoon, after many minutes of calm swaying and back rubbing, and a few minutes of quiet, Tess emerged from her room. She was holding the plastic childproof doorknob that is meant to keep her in her room at naptime. She was very proud of herself.

    It appears I may have to break out the ice pack again.

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