Yes I watched this film finally and cried my eyes out. I had heard about the casting of the boy and his growth on screen as it was shot over multiple years. I was curious.
So Saturday night I watched the movie and on Sunday found myself noticing all the ways my boy is growing into his own personality. We rode bikes at Cabrillo Beach. Henry would charge up ahead forcing me to call out his name or run faster to keep up. Meanwhile Paul lingered and never went too far ahead. When we stopped to rest he grabbed my hand and sat at my side, expressing his appreciation for our afternoon spent outdoors.
My heart tugs, wanting so bad to hang onto this eight year old boy.
Then on Monday he came down with a fever of 104 and seeing how quickly his smile fades, he is lethargic, and uninterested in food. He lets me hold him and asks to sleep near my bed.
I remember how scared and nervous I was when he was a newborn baby. The weight of responsibility to be a parent. It comes flooding back. I realize my parenting isn’t ever done. I will watch him battle sickness, heart break, disappointment, and all I want is to protect him from it all.
Meanwhile, he is thankfully unaware and mostly enjoying the attention. He is home while others are at school. He has my undivided attention. He is living in the moment, finding the silver lining, and I have to come back to the present. The future can overwhelm me.
I watched her tiny hands curl up in fear at the dentist. I am the exact same way. My dentist doesn’t have many three year old patients. He was impressed.
Oh and those boots. She won’t take them off. They were Henry’s. One of the last gifts my ji’chan bought for my boys. Henry was wearing them at two, when Olivine was born. I stuffed them in a closet and when they fell out recently, I cried. I love that she loves them. They fit her perfect.
And here is a typical range of items brought home from the child development center. Plates turned into frisbees, paintings, and folded up with tape instruments. The egg carton contains “cupcakes” she made me at school. What do I do with all these treasures?
Let’s not forget-the birthday. We are in countdown mode..seven days away..one week. She made these invitations with balloons, her phone number, and is insisting on a party. She called a friend last night to talk about a sleep over. This girl is three. Who does this? Oh wait, me- the kid who loved talking on the phone.
For fun (or maybe for the upcoming Super Bowl) he designed a board game.
Complete with a football field, flags, team logos (playing pieces), and four pages worth of instructions. Oh, how I love his heart!
These quilts are gorgeous. The boys both have Star Wars themed quilts. They are in love with the size.
We are feeling loved. Thank you Garcia-Robb Family!
Hello small cupboard that I open weekly to access the coin bowl (for laundry). You are in my kitchen and make me sad. You are full of recipe books.
When spread out, there are over 25 cookbooks. What?! Most of them are nostalgic from our days of living as vegans. I even found some baby food cookbooks. I won’t lie, more recently I have taken to finding recipes on line. After a trip to Target and $10 later…I am feeling so much better! I donated a ton, tossed a few recipes, and made myself organized!
Then there has been my desk. Mostly a dumping ground, where I could only ever sift through the top. I finally dumped the inside out.
Found homes for everything and kept the items I need inside my desk…within reach now.
And the top is cleared so I can use the space for studying or grading papers. Bonus: the two gift cards lost in the shuffle, from months ago.
It helps that she has a magazine subscription to Highlights (thank you Auntie Lily) that serves as inspiration and instructions.
We let her take over the kitchen table with paints and scissors and glue. And I won’t lie about how much this scene makes me think one day her and I will share a craft room. She even set up her teddy bear and doll to be the audience for her “cardboard cookies.”
at Sidecar Donuts (Pilar-we loved it!). We tried flavors like huckleberry and banana cream pie. Grammy might have ordered one with bacon on top.
Followed by a train ride and some wandering around the swapmeet.
We have started counting down for her official retirement. She will be done in just a few months. I am so excited for her.
I know a chain bookstore that emails cookie coupons for birthdays. Olivine cashed hers in this week.
I even stumbled upon a Pat Mora haiku that sums this girl up.
I guess the aquarium isn’t technically free. But having a membership feels pretty darn close. We bypass the line, wander in and out in two hours, stopping to notice new animals in the exhibit. These are starfish.
And wave at some of our old, familiar friends.
Then there are also the free random teddy bears that come to a girl who likes to smile. On a visit to a friend in the hospital this past week she found herself being presented with toys to help pass the time.
Yeah we have been busy. Can you tell?
While Olivine napped, Henry cracked eggs and helped mix a strawberry crumble (George watched). And yes we ate this with a scoop of Cool Whip (don’t judge).
family notebook 