Friends

Naomi had some friends over to play the other day -- two other girls her age and they had so much fun while their parents were out and about. We spent the whole evening playing outside -- swinging, picnicing, chasing cats, playing in the sandbox, and running! As a sidenote, you can notice Naomi's dress. I bought on a work trip to South Padre two years ago (while I was pregnant). It fits her now, and was the only thing she wanted to wear for two days! Mark wonders if this is how she'll dress when she's 80. :)

A conversation in the kitchen

We were discussing Joss Whedon and Firefly, Angel, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Mark: But he was no Donald P Bellasario.
Kristen: What? Who's Donald P Bellasario?
Mark: The producer of Magnum PI.

Duty

I recently finished reading The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham, and this passage struck me -- I think because I find it so challenging to do.

"Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands when they are dirty; the only thing that counts is the love of duty; when love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding."

Rodeo

Naomi was sick last week, and stayed home from school Wednesday and Thursday. By the weekend we were all needing some air and entertainment, so we headed to the rodeo fairgrounds Sunday morning. There was a petting zoo, a pony ride, and free ice cream cones! Naomi had her first pony ride and ice cream cone (yes she has had ice cream, but she carried the cone and ate almost the whole thing herself). We saw the pigs and lambs and steers the FFA kids were showing, sat in a teepee, and a cowboy gave us a biscuit and gravy mix. :)

Kite Festival!

Weekend before last we went to the Austin Kite Festival. I'm really glad we went -- sometimes I just assume things in Austin will be too crowded/difficult to get to, and so we don't do them. It was a perfectly windy day, we got a great parking spot, and there were some amazing kites! Plus it was down at Zilker park, so we walked a bit of the running trail to get there.

Naomi had a great time -- we made a kite, saw some friends, and saw lots and lots of kites. But the best part for Naomi was the popcorn. Really. I'm glad we live in Austin, and made it to the kite festival, so Naomi could experience kettle corn.

Glasses!

I had to get new sunglasses today at Target, and well...the kids section was right there! Naomi loves her glasses, and wanted to wear them right away, during a trip to the library..and while playing at home...and in the car.

Overdue

This post is a bit overdue, but the beginning of the month marked two events: Naomi turned 19 months old and I've been at my job for a year.

At the beginning of this blog I wrote about what Naomi and I would do with ourselves - because that change for me was all about her, and making a choice towards family, and making space for all three of us. And I have to say, that I think that it was a good move. Naomi and I have done most of what is on that list. We go to the park. We hang out with friends. She is learning a language (English), eating all kinds of food, and runs, walks, climbs, and slides like a pro.
We have also done a lot of cooking and baking recently as part of our days at home. This has been a goal for some time, but we are being a lot more intentional lately. In this picture, for example, Naomi enjoys black-eyed peas, sweet potaotes, and collard greens (the collards we picked from our garden today!).

So what does more time with her really look like?

1. This morning I was sitting in my room, checking my email, while Naomi was playing in the dining room. I could hear her laughing, and then I saw her in the corner of my eye running to her room, laughing hysterically, with a bucket on her head.

2. At lunch today, the three of us all dancing while sitting in our seats (hmm, yes there is a dancing theme lately)

3. This evening, all three of us spinning in the living room (til Mark and Naomi fell over from dizziness!)

4. This evening, Naomi asking Mark and I each to lay down on the rug, covering us up and saying "night night," and then laying down next to us...and getting up again...and laying down again...

5. At the end of a really sweet snack time where she had been sharing her food with me and chatting, she throws two handfuls of Veggie Booty at me, along with her bottle. Time out for all of us.

I am really thankful for this past year.

DADA!

On Monday, Mark came home from work at noon to work from home. He threw a shirt on a chair, and went to sit outside. Naomi was asleep, but when she woke up and we walked through the living she pointed at the shirt and said, "DADA!"

This morning she woke up asking about him.

The weekend morning of the picture, she pulled the chair over and climbed up to work next to him at the desk.

She's also called ME Dada a few times this week.

She really loves him.

And then she asked me to dance for her while we listened to music and ate waffles at 6:15 this morning. I was missing her Dada today too.

Falling

Don't worry, she was fine!

Jumping

Naomi thinks it is really funny when we jump -- and she tries really hard to also, which we think is really funny. We got the camara out today to record what she looks like trying -- and then she surprised all of us.