The farm

As wonderful as these pictures make our time look and as fun as it was for the brief moments we were actually hanging out at the farm, this particular trip was mostly for cinnamon donuts....maybe entirely for the donuts, with a bit of feeding the animals on the side.

We were on our way to somewhere else and the donuts seemed like a necessity.  Maybe it was because Clint had been gone for a time and was happy to simply be with Evee and I...  Or maybe it was because the trip was actually to get his father's day gift.  Either way, Clint easily obliged to this side trip.  Or maybe it was for the love of donuts.  Or maybe it was because he didn't want to argue with a pregnant woman. :)

Just the tutu (and jumping off the couch)

Continuing on through the week of pictures and random fun things...

Evee is into doing "tricks" of late.  She jumps in to her car seat and this is a trick.  She puts one foot up in the air for a moment, this is a trick.

The other day this was the newest of tricks...

The bike (and the tutu)

I uploaded some pictures that had been on the camera for the last week.  I realized that there have been little things we've been enjoying throughout these days.

Last week we had Clint home from his long excursion.  It was very sweet watching Evee try to fit 3 weeks worth of words, stories and kisses in to the first couple days of his return.  Really, any time they were together she was in his arms...sometimes with the addition of her hands on his cheeks telling him yet another thing from when he was away.

One of the first things to be shown off was the bike.  I know I've already shown pictures, but in these are the addition of the tutu that her granny sent over for her from Australia.  It very much shows the fashion of this child even though she still loves getting dirty and playing hard.

New old things

We've been enjoying these new-to-us items lately.  Our community had a garage sale and we totally got the hook up...

a book shelf I'd been desperately looking for (think months) to house games, books, dress up clothes, blocks and other various toys.

age appropriate games we've been having fun with and look forward to using (a ladybug game, memory, and a goodnight moon game)

a few goods for the little one coming

and, probably the greatest score of all... a bike for this girly who has been dying to get one of her own.  She wants to ride all the time - to the garden, to the playground, to the pool, etc.  It's fun to see her grow more confident and enjoy the process (and, don't worry, I think this is the only time she didn't have a helmet on).

Help along the way

Clint is soon getting back from the possibly the longest time we've been apart since being married. "After this sleep" we pick him up from the airport (as Evee would say).

I have to say that there were moments I dreaded thinking about not having him around and trying to balance everything on my own. Eventually we got into a routine, though, and it wasn't so scary in the actual moments. We are excited and ready to have him back though...that is for certain.

During these days/weeks there were so many blessings.  I hope to reflect/write here this week in more detail about a couple of them, but for now the shorter, less descriptive list (except for the last one)...

Having family around...my mom started the time here with me and it was a very great blessing indeed!

Friends here and while traveling were amazing hosts - whether it was spending the night or an invite for dinner. 

Relearning some parenting techniques that are quite useful, but that I'd kind of forgotten (or hadn't thought through in awhile)

Learning the art of processing together while apart (for Clint and I) and anticipating the arrival of being together again (while also emotionally preparing for it)

The latest wonderful gift was having a friend's teenage daughter come watch Evee last night while I had to be away a couple of hours for work.  I had planned on taking Evee, but she was so tired and this friend had offered. 

I had no idea in the moment what a gift it would turn out to be.  She had her in bed exactly when I'd asked and Evee had a great time with her.   Evee slept more than she has in over a week (which was desperately needed). 

It seriously made my day...knowing that Evee was functioning better because of sleep and that I was too.  Anyway, I know it sounds simple, but it is something I am so grateful for!!!

Soil & First Fruits

I wish I had the camera to share pictures of the garden. It is a beauty. Sometime soon...

Tonight we headed back there to take another look, chat with gardeners who were also checking out their plot and watering, dispose of our compost and pick some of the "first fruits" (for us anyway).

We ate our salad on the picnic table - the lettuce from our crop and the addition of bought tomatoes and cucumber (soon I hope we'll be eating our own though!).

The variety of flavors in a few pieces of lettuce was amazing to me. Add to that some basil and cilantro, and it is quite wonderful. In Evee's words, "I like this salad mama!". There is something wonderful about doing the actual picking, washing and eating yourself after planting and watching and waiting.

I also started pulling weeds outside our porch today. Clint and I cleaned the whole thing out awhile back and then were gone for 6 days or so. I was amazed at how many weeds had started growing again.

I must say, though, that there is something very therapeutic about weeding, planting, having your hands in the soil. And, if I can add, that's a statement coming in my 8th month of pregnancy when it's not super fun to bend over. It was such a beautiful day here, though. It was a gift to sit outside and pull weeds as Evee made her way around and around on her bike. A lovely night to have some soil therapy.

And today's thanks...

Evee saying, "Dada!!!" every time she gets to talk with him

The husband that I'm so amazed to be married to

Late night talks with a dear friend

2 sweet girls playing and loving each other (even in the midst of tears and not wanting to share)...hearing Evee say today (about her friend) that she wanted to keep her forever (while doing a hugging motion).

Catching up and seeing people after not for a bit

Seeing our garden growing and beautiful (thanks to our friend!) and watching Evee run around the plots pointing out all that was growing and talking in an excited voice. After a few minutes and before deciding she wanted to dig a hole, she said, "And that's the end of our story!"

Relationships that are a blessing even though transitions are coming for many and it's hard to see people go...

And, 2 amazing shirts that I got at H&M last week that are long enough for my 8 month pregnant body, but still in my regular size and not maternity. Much more importantly, they are super comfortable. I've basically been wearing them as much as possible and until I am forced to wash them so that I can wear them again.

Thankful today for...

Strawberry crapes

A good night's sleep - for me and my kiddo

Positive reinforcement for good behavior

Friends and family who are always amazingly gracious and hospitable and flexible

Talks with Clint and the ability to do so while apart

The rain and playing in it (that's Evee's thanks for today)

In lieu of not writing in this space at all, I will write simple posts of gratitude.  Not that it will be all that different than normal....

In the midst of life as it is right now I see that my time/ambition for posting has decreased while my need to stay focused on the beauty and peace of life ever increasing.  I am also without a camera for another couple of weeks (not that my pictures are ever fantastic, but it still captures a moment).  Simple, grateful posts seem to be just what is needed.

"Gratitude is a shield against fear and self-absorption. It makes the heart quiet and poised to listen." - @sandramccracken

Gratitude I'm feeling in this moment...

• The joy of parenting with a mate who is so different than me, but balancing in every way
• Sleeping in because my mom was around and had special coffee dates with Evee while I legitimately slept in
• Skype - not sure what I would do without this right now

More to come...