Mi casa, Su casa

I have often made the comment that our garage is so dirty and cluttered that small animals have moved in and set up home. However - despite the fact that each spring a colony of bumblebees sets up a nest in the framework - this declaration was made in jest. The animals moving in part was in jest, the slovenly state of our garage was sadly, not. Recently though, my jesting has turned prophetic.

Do you see this artfully arranged cluster of an even-freecyclers-didn't-want-it-infant-seat, two flat basketballs and a random shoe? Klassy isn't it?
I think the fact that they are sitting on a broken chipboard dresser between bed rails and a shower frame really gives it that extra-special somethin'.

And now, lets look closer shall we? A nest. A momma bird found our disarray cozy and has indeed set up home. There was a brief talk of moving the nest until further inspection revealed this:
Eggs. Those are eggs. (Badly photographed in an effort not to disturb them.)

The chaotic children and I were delighted. We go out daily, much to the mama-bird's dismay, to check on their progress. We make certain the garage door stays open until far after dark to assure the mama's return, and is opened bright and early for her morning constitutional.

And best of all...We now have an actual excuse for not cleaning our garage. We are preserving nature, people!

And who said we aren't green?

AND THE WINNER IS...

The Random Number Generator selected:

2

So the winner of my favorite things Giveaway is Laurel Wreath!
Congratulations!!

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And...for something more serious...today is World Malaria Day.

And through Compassion International people can give a one-time donation of $10 and provide a mosquito net for a child - or a family, if they’re all sleeping in the same place - who otherwise would have no protection from this completely preventable disease. That $10 will also provide education and treatment for people who are already sick with malaria.

We have sponsored a child with Compassion International for seven years and I can't say enough about this organization. So Click the "Bite Back" button above to head over to BooMama's place to read more about it. It's just ten bucks people.

A Reminder...

The Joy in Chaos Favorite Things Giveaway ends tomorrow (Thursday) night. So leave a comment here if you are interested.

And in the meantime, for the relatives: Here's an "I" poem my Allie-girl wrote tonight. Because I think it's melodramatic and sweet and totally her.

“I” Poem

I am a treat, a quite unexpected surprise
I wonder why industrialization is consistently required today, but never before
I hear “Allison, how can EVERONE be your best friend?!"
I want a kitten I curl up with at night
I am a treat, a quite unexpected surprise

I pretend I’m an actress, like ones from black & white dramas
I feel inspired to learn more about people and their lives
I touch the leaf of a lilac and the dew drips on my fingers
I worry an explosion will wipe us out before our time ends
I am a treat, a quite unexpected surprise

I understand that things don’t always have happy endings
I say that anyone should have his or her own free rights
I dream of leaving my troubles and experiencing freedom
I try to give advice to the ones I love the most
I hope that I can give my best effort in making the world a better place
I am a treat, a quite unexpected surprise

Someone, please press pause...

Clara turned twenty-one months last week; three-quarters of a way through her second year of life.
She's officially a walker now. The Man and I just discussed it and came to the conclusion that 68% of the time she chooses to walk instead of knee-walk. Yes, 68%. I thought it was a less than 70, he thought it was a bit more. Our guesses were drearily predictable in this. He will always be the optimist. I adore him for that.

But just look at her!

Look at her bee-bopping around our cheap, tacky deck furniture like nobody's business. In just a couple weeks she has made a complete breakthrough. I am mesmerized by her. I could watch her determined, see-sawing gate forever.

Today she had her official evaluation for the early intervention program. The Man thought we should have cancelled it due to her current 68% walking rate and her increased fluidity and ease in doing so. I couldn't bring myself to do it though, because of how long it took me to get it scheduled. Their official findings:

"Clara has made significant progress with independent ambulation over the past 2-3 weeks. She does not demonstrate any delays in communication, social, adaptive, cognitive or fine motor. Her gross motor delays are due to her delay with walking. Her mother agrees to give her time to mature her gait cycle before she will progress with these high level skills. Child is not eligible for services at this time."

So that's that. No therapy for my girl. And I am perfectly fine with that. Thrilled actually, that their opinion was the same as ours.

But, oh my baby! What has happened to her in the last 3 months since I did her 18 month update? She's so different now. It's like her infantness is slipping away before of my eyes. She talks up a storm. She says "Iwan" (I want) followed by any number of commands. "Milk" or "Eat" or "Died" (outside). Allie bought her a doll for $2 at a consignment sale and named it Poppy. "Boppy" is a regular part of a her life now. She loves to sing to her: "Night, night Boppy" in perfect imitation of her own bedtime song. She tries to give "Boppy" her juice and tucks her in under blankets. And every day she asks me "Where's BooBoo? (Ben) Where's Addy (Allie) Where's Daddy?" She's hammy and silly and bursting with personality.

He appetite seems to have slowed down, but she still prefers to eat mostly fruits and veggies and dairy. Her new favorite food is cheese. She begs for it all day long and her very convincing "PEEEEEESE" makes me cave a bit more than I should.

It's true that she is still sassy and strong willed, and prone to occasional violent outbursts. She spends a good bit of time in time-out in her room for her temper. And some days, many days, she has me climbing the walls. But, oh, how I love this stage she is in now. Each day learning new words, new steps, new ideas.

I just wish that I could pause it. Just for a few days. A week. A month. Let me learn by heart every little nuance of how she is this moment, before it slips away and is replaced by another. Wonderful and miraculous in it's own right, but heartbreaking in its unfamiliarity.

Keep walking Clara-bear. Just don't go too far.
Not yet.

Pout

This is my best shot Monday. Clara was pouting because she couldn't figure out how to wear the bow and a hat at the same time. It's one of life's big dilemmas.

And can I just tell you, I may be a wee bit obsessed with Clara's lips. With their perfect pouty sweetness. And she takes every opportunity to display them to their greatest advantage, puffed out and quivering.

My Favorite Things. A GIVEAWAY

Oh my goodness, people, has it ever been hard for me to get this post up! I am sorry it has taken so long. I have been trying to get to it for days. And your response to my last melancholy post was so kind, I really wanted to get on here an post something upbeat, so you would all know I am over my melodramatics now. I swear.

As I mentioned, to celebrate my 200th (now 201st) post I decided to do a giveaway. I had two obstacles to this. Not knowing what to give and being in a financial situation commonly known as poor as dirt.

I recently noticed several bloggers doing posts on "their favorite things" and I loved them. Because who doesn't want to know someone's favorite "pink-y, nude-y, gloss-y lipstick", or whatever. And so my inspiration was born. I wanted to a giveaway of some of my favorite things. But then I was back to problem #2. None of my favorite things seemed to be free. Well you know besides things like "sunshine" and "grace" and for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to mail those in a box.

SO for the last few weeks I have been on a mission. To obtain some of my favorite stuff for as close to free as possible so I could share it with one of you, my faithful friends and Internet stalkers. And I have to tell you, I have been overwhelmed by my own awesomeness in accomplishing this. I'm just sayin.

Here's what you're gettin:

Audrey Hepburn-
I have a long and unwavering love for Audrey Hepburn movies. Roman Holiday could possibly be my favorite movie ever. And so I am giving away this boxed set, containing not only Roman Holiday but a collection that also includes Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany's. I found this set for such a steal I had to do a happy dance. Seriously.

Dunkin Donuts Coffee -
It's no secret I love coffee and I have particularly had a thing for the Dunkin Donuts variety since highschool. And even through I am as inclined as the next person to drive through for a non-fat, half-calf Venti whatchamgig, I still think they make the best plain old Cupa Joe in town. And now I can buy it at my grocery store. AND EVEN BETTER, at my price club in 3lb bags! 3 pounds of Dunkin Donuts caffeinated goodness at a discount rate. My heart could hardly stand it! I'm just giving away 1lb though. Shipping costs and all.

Kate DiCamillo-
Kate DiCamillo is a new love of mine. Two of her books, The Tale of Despereaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane are acclaimed by Allison as "the best books ever!" Allie had been nagging me to read them for years and when I finally did I was blown away. The simple, sometimes dark but enchanting stories, carry in them strong life lessons and are, I think, destined to go down in history as remarkable children's literature. And I have to tell you, even as an adult, I still found them a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. I am giving away a gently used (from my favorite used book store - I'm not giving you my copy) but still in great shape Newberry Medal winning The Tale of Despereaux.

Reeses Pieces -
And last but not least this old family favorite of ours. There is nothing I like better when watching a movie (say an Audrey Hepburn Marathon) than popcorn with Reeses Pieces in it. You really should try this combination. It's heavenly.


So that's it. Movies, a book, coffee & candy. If you want to be entered in this giveaway just leave a comment on this post. You do NOT have to have a blog to enter but if you don't, please make sure to include your contact information in the comment so I can reach you. So go ahead lurkers, this is your chance to make my day by letting me know you read, and maybe winning something in return.

I will draw a winner for this contest on Friday.

This is my 200th post.

Alas, I cannot bring myself to imbue it with the spirit of celebration I had planned. I am sad. My Aunt was in town visiting us from Rochester, NY, this week. A dear, dear aunt, who made my baby quilt, and 30 years later made one for Ben and Clara as well. Who has opened her home many times to invasions of nieces and nephews and slews of little cousins to sleep on sofas and beds, in tents in the yard and on pallets on the floor while forgoing her own sleep to make cookies and breakfasts and do load after load of laundry. Who showed up at my house this week with boxes of my favorite chocolates and gifts for the kids.

Our visit was uneventful. A day spent with the family at a park. An afternoon at the mall picking out shoes for Clara. A visit to my favorite local sandwich shop. And lots of time spent at home with the kids. Or in the kitchen, graciously observing my bumbling attempts at hostessing, while laughing at memories of her last visit when I barely had a knife to chop my vegetables with.

Her last visit...when she came to meet a downy haired, irritable, tiny plucked chicken of a baby boy. The same now-almost-four-year-old who met her again this week and fell, unabashedly, in love with her. Relentless in his desire just to be near her, to impress her, to talk to her and snuggle with her. And who, today when - after dropping her off at the monstrosity of the Atlanta airport - I returned without her, wept; wailing in confusion and despair that "people who are part of our family should stay with us forever!"

And so we had a talk about people we love, like Grandmas and cousins, and favorite aunts, who are part of our family, but live other places. But in my heart I felt as he did. That NY is just too far away for someone we love so much. And four years is a lifetime. I have visited her twice during that period, once alone and once with Allison, but the means to purchase 5 or 6 airline tickets to NY has been beyond us. And I have been unable to muster the fortitude to drive there with toddlers and babies in tow. And so I know that the next time he sees her he will likely be a long legged elementary schooler who may not remember her, this visit, or his fleeting love affair at all. And for that reason, I found myself in tears tonight as well. And wishing that I could, even just occasionally, fold up the distances between us so we could step across.

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And in a luckless accident this weekend, my brother fell and broke his leg in several places. Requiring five screws, a slew of painkillers and a two night stay at the hospital. And while he does live close and I have called him several times, I haven't seen him or even actually spoken to him yet. We have, despite growing up in the same home, taken different routes in life. There are no hard feelings between us that I am aware of but, with my life as a stay-at-home-mom and his single and carefree, there seems to be a chasm fueled by different lifestyles that I have been unable to ford. I am worried about him, but I know that when we finally do speak, it will be full of civilities and artifice that should not come with someone you have known since birth. And I hate it.

And I feel tonight as if things are all broken and mixed up and not the way they should be at all. I am wallowing in melancholy that I cannot not rearrange the circumstances of my life to my liking. So, I am putting aside the 200th post celebration/givaway I have planned until tomorrow. And my 201st post. So please forgive me this self-indulgence. It is, after all, the thing that blogging is most often about anyway.