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Lately

Summer Lovin’

That stinky rain is back and we were just starting to feel like Summer is really, truly around the corner. So it goes in the PNW, so it goes. Our little tribe has been bustling around trying to enjoy as much of the sun as possible. Maggie busted out some of her water toys and Syd got to lounge in the green grass.

I can’t begin to describe how excited I am for summer to arrive. I hardly remember being outside last year at all, I think I was still in “I-have-a-new-baby-I- am–utterly-exhasted” mode. We’ve already spread out the quilt outside a few times and just last week Maggie spent a good portion of the time splashing in a bucket of water and hauling rocks. My dad would be proud at her ability to haul rocks, maybe he’ll give her some work next time he needs a hand.

Sleep Jollies and Friends Visiting

The other day Maggie was laughing so hard when I would act like I was going to eat her finger, that I called my mom just so she could listen to Mags bust up. Lately Maggie has been getting The Tired Jollies and starts cracking up right before she conks out for the night.  It is very hard not to laugh when she is laughing and not tickle her in her teeny, tiny arm pits….so we do and laugh right along with her. We think/hope she is getting better at sleeping, but I’m done guessing about anything sleep related.

Joe and Claire stopped by on Easter Sunday to drop off a birthday gift for Maggie and as you can see Maggie feels a bit better about Joe now in comparison to a few months ago. Is it mean that I like the picture of her crying because that is EXACTLY what she looks like when she is Square Mouthing?

Anyhow, they gave her a Raggedy Ann doll, which is perfect, and Joe kept telling Maggie that if she ever draws a self-portrait she can just look at the doll. I think Raggedy Ann dyes her her though, Maggie is a natural.

Kara also stopped by to help Maggie celebrate her first year and they spent some time reading books outside and poking each other. I’ve droned on and on about how loved Maggie is by so many people, but it is so true. Her life is full of people that love her and are interested in her.  My brother stopped on his way to Portland to smooch on her and play a silly ice cream game too. It seems like our world is full of people being too busy, typing on their iPhone, not living in the moment. It saddens me.

BUT

I love that when people stop by and take time out of their lives to see Maggie (and Barry, Syd & me too) they are very present in the moment and focused on her.

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Exploding Suitcases and Leg Exercises

When I was 22 I had a chance to travel to Scotland and Ireland for the second time with my grandma, aunt, cousin and mom. It was truly a trip of a lifetime where memories were created that I’ll never forget. Jokes were started that still live on and to think back on some of the shenanigans that Danielle, my cousin, and I pulled, I can only laugh.

We often switched up who we were sharing rooms with, as we hopped from town to town, and so this meant that sometimes the Young Girls (that would be Dani and me) shared with the The Old Gal (that would be Midgee-Poo). I’d like to place all the blame on Danielle, but I just don’t think that’d be fair….but the story goes that when we shared a room with Midge our suitcases exploded and clothes were EVERYWHERE. Midge had to get up in the middle of the night and out of fear of falling over some piece of clothing she army-crawled to the bathroom while Danielle and I snoozed on. To hear Midge tell the story is hilarious.

Of course Danielle and I could counter point that we had to wake up early in the morning to Midge splashing in the bathtub or doing her leg exercises. Anyhow, when I think back on these tremendous stories, full of the women in my family, it warms me up and makes me feel a little sappy. Not only did my cousin and I get to snuggle close to our grandmother on a fancy-pants vacation, but we also got to share with her through laughter parts of our everyday quirks ~ exploding suitcases, leg exercises and all.

When Danielle came to Maggie’s party wearing shoes that made me feel like I might topple over just by looking at them, it reminded me of our trip together all those years back. Dani loves high heels and wears them day in and day out. I, on the other hand, love flip flops and wear them day in and day out. It’s just how it has always been and probably how it’ll always be. Midge forever will fold her clothes and keep them contained and organized. Danielle and I will probably carry exploding suitcases until we’re elderly.

Now that we have a new generation among us, I can’t help but think about the quirks that I’ve got, or that my mother has, and that one day Maggie will notice and can’t believe she’s related to us. Hopefully she’ll get a chance, like I’ve had, to witness older generations and appreciate their quirkiness.