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The Right Side of Happy

This morning Maggie brought to me a couple of her blankets and plopped them in a pile next to me. I asked her where her baby doll was and she promptly went and found her doll and brought it back to the pile of blankets to be tucked in and kissed. Maggie’s ability to follow directions and interact just keeps increasing and this age is becoming my favorite, although I’ve said that since the day she was born.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that Maggie understands more about life in general, she wants to ‘help’ out with various tasks around the house.  I’m working to let her be a part of the action, rather than asking her to wait until I’m done with the task at hand. Both Barry and I have had the pleasure this past week of having her ‘help” in the kitchen and we’ve discovered her affinity for baked goods. This morning I was taking the hardware off some cabinets I’m painting and she used the baby sized screwdriver to unscrew a few screws. Granted, it took longer than if I were to do it myself, but she was so satisfied to be a part of the team.

Our goal as parents is to make sure that Maggie lands on the right side of happy.  By allowing her to mix the batter, unscrew a few screws, walk Sydney, pick blueberries, feed the fish, dig in the dirt, unfold the laundry, and tag along for whatever it is we’re doing makes me believe that we’re doing just that….finding the right side of happy.

Sometimes that means that we’ve got to make decisions for her that don’t always equate to immediate happiness and we’re learning that our child is very strong-willed. But the right side of happy and safety go hand in hand and so wearing bike helments, sitting down on beds, not climbing fireplaces, having awareness of hot stoves and holding hands when crossing the street are just as important as all the ‘fun’ things.

And if we time it just right, we’ll be able to help Mags safely land on the right side of happy.

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If You’ve Got the Sun and If You’ve Got the Rain….

Without a doubt Maggie and I were the luckiest of girls this week to get to spend time with all our friends and family scattered around Skagit Valley. It is so easy and enjoyable to be in Anacortes during the summer months and my parent’s house never fails to feel like a little pocket of perfectness tucked into Fidalgo Island. I only wish that everybody was so lucky to have a place to return to and feel such a strong connection to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I spend time looking at all the work that my parents have done to turn their home into the gorgeousness that it is, I can’t help but wonder if their talents skipped a generation (me) and will hopefully crop up in Maggie. Maggie’s love of plants and flowers is already so blatantly obvious, with her insisting on smelling every single flower she sees and digging in the dirt without hesitation. The girl also has no qualms getting in the mix of things, helping out in every way.

My childhood is partially sprinkled with memories of eatting vegetables from my mom’s garden, but now that I’m on the other side of the fence as an adult, I have a deeper appreciation for all the work that must have gone into making sure those seeds got planted and nurtured. Seeing Maggie and my mom wander the garden, filling colanders with freshness, washing the dirt off and taking bites off and on, was incredible to see. Maggie was fascinated by the process and I have no doubt that she’ll be a great ‘helper’ for future harvests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve got Ella Fitzgerald’s Summertime stuck in my head.

Summertime and the livin’ is easy….

Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high….

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Leave Her With Grammy for One Second And….

 

 

 

Maggie and I are in A-Town for a few days visiting and it is already a delight being here. Even though it isn’t sunny, life in Anacortes during the summer is hard to beat. Not only did we get to swoop in and visit Suzanna and her boys yesterday, but we also got to poke our fingers in my mom’s garden. Within in an hour of pulling into the driveway yesterday, Maggie was busy pulling carrots, peas, rhubarb and strawberries with Grammy Fidget. Sydney has taken on her standard role here and was up at the crack of dawn wanting to get the party started. I got to go on a run this morning with out pushing a stroller or tugging a dog and it was glorious.

Today we get to see some more friends and Midge too, so it’ll be a fantastic day!! I’ve got tons of pictures, but since my parents are practically on dial up still, it might be later than sooner before they appear here. I’m sure I’ll have to share a few before too long. Last night Barry called me during dinner and I removed myself from the dinner table to talk to him. While I was talking to him, my mom quietly asked me if Maggie could have some ice cream since they were all done with dinner. I shook my head yes and carried on with my conversation with Barry.

When I finished the phone call, I walked back into the kitchen to find Maggie with two little spoons full of ice cream, a huge smile, and the tub of Tilamook’s Peanut Butter Chocolate practically on her lap. Maggie was so proud of her double-fists of ice cream and the melted goodness across her face proved that she approved of the flavor. My mom wasn’t really letting her eat out of the tub, but it isn’t exactly something that wouldn’t happen around here.

We’re off to seek out some adventures today and that may or may not include more ice cream.