Spring.  

Oh, and I went to a “mom’s night out” photo workshop, so I was inspired to play around with a few photos.

Little Comic Lover spiked a low-grade fever this weekend and I took it as an excuse to lay low.  I think it was something we really needed.  She seemed to be feeling good but agreed that she was too sick to go to gymnastics - so either she was feeling sick or she too needed a weekend at home.

Even with her under the weather, we found time to do so many creative things: art projects, baking (yummy muffins), legos, playing house, paper dolls.  We took a wonderful Saturday afternoon snuggle nap together.  One of the best weekends ever.

I let Little Comic Lover pick a skein of yarn out of my supply to learn to finger knit.  She had little-to-no interest in finger knitting but really wanted to pick out her own yarn.  As she was taking her time selecting her yarn she found pom-pom makers - and a new project was born.  It was so much fun!  She could do most all of the project herself with just a little guidance getting it started.  She gifted her final products, one to our cat and one to Dad-dad.

We also made calm-down jars.  This is a project I first saw at family sponge and I have been so looking forward to making.  Little Comic Lover is a pretty calm kiddo and we rarely have need for time-outs.  But I think the jars of glitter are so beautiful.  We have also been watching the Tinker Bell movies on Netflix so we’ve been talking a lot about pixie dust.  By the end of the weekend we had made four jars - even Dad-dad got to make one to take to his office.

Now its Sunday night and I feel relaxed and ready for the week.  I guess I could use more weekends like this one.  :)

Below is an older post of mine, it’s one of my favorites and I feel - worth repeating. My little one is no longer in a crib, in fact she recently outgrew her toddler bed.  Sigh, she is growing so fast.  Watching her sleep as well as helping her find her calm space to fall asleep are still things that fill me with peace, love and joy.

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September 2011: Ahhhh, just a quick note to remind everyone to watch your children sleep.  It is so beautiful it will soothe your soul.  Those peaceful little eyes, closed.  That beautiful body, quiet.  I had the joy of watching my toddler sleep tonight - it brings me peace.

Of course, “peaceful” is not how it started, it started with tears, lots of tears.  My toddler was “off” tonight at bedtime.  My guess is that she was simply overtired.  We started our bedtime routine about 15 minutes late and she was agitated throughout.  She cried as each book ended and insisted I not sing the good night song.  When it was time for me to leave her room she cried, but I left.  I went about cleaning the kitchen expecting her to work it out herself, as she typically does.  But after a few minutes it was clear she was ramping up - not down.  Tonight I trusted my mama’s gut and I went back in a little sooner than I typically would - she sounded like she needed me.

I returned to her room as I heard her distinctly calling for me.  I’m a sucker for her “using her words.”  We try and respond to clear communication (she does not always get her way but she knows that we heard the request).  Anyway, I went in and rubbed her back until she was calm.  

Then I sat on the floor by her crib and watched this beautiful child fall asleep.  As she slept the days weight lifted from my shoulders.  As she slept love burst through every cell in my body.

I’m glad I went back in. 

The Cuteness is back!!  Watch for these weekly.  Some are re-posts from my old blog.  The art is all Dad-dad and the captions are either from or inspired by our Little Comic Lover!  

What would your caption be?

I decided I wanted new shirts for St Patrick’s day and wandering through the craft store the other day I hatched a plan: I’d let Little Comic Lover tie dye her own green shirt.  I have always wanted to tie-dye (and screen print) my own stuff but have never done it.  So under the guise of guiding her creativity, I got to fuel my own.

Little Comic Lover was excited about the project, okay mostly excited to get to wear gloves (just like the dentist!), but she did great following directions and being careful with they dye.  We had lots of laughs and she was so proud to wear the shirt she made to pre-school today!!

I’m super excited because I have a spray bottle dye activity that I’ve been holding off on until we can be out in the yard - reduce the chances of spilling a bottle of dye in the house. 

Window Art

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soule Mama - See more at: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/#sthash.lC9CKyhT.dpuf

So tonight I wanted my Little Comic Lover to sponge paint a flower pot for her grandmother’s birthday.  Super fun creative project with the added bonus of a lovely hand-decorated gift! Right? Wrong-ish… (cute yes, feeding the creative soul - not so much)  

Here is how it went down.  We got out the supplies I demonstrated what we were going to do - Little Comic Lover was bursting with excitement she wanted to touch everything, experience everything.  We started by picking our paint, I asked, what color do you want? I really should know better as she is elbow deep in her “pink” phase.  “Pink” came the reply.  So now the hunt was on for white paint as I had red but no pink.  I found white and we made pink paint. 

Fabulous Side Note: Little Comic Lover is now convinced I am the most amazing person because I can make pink paint.  What a lovely job being a mother is!!  

She did the first few stamps on the flower pot as guided and did a beautiful job.  Then she asked to mix blue and purple paint to see what color it would make.  “No” was my response “we need to finish the flower pot”. Yeah, right about here is where I wandered off my “nurturing creativity” path.  Little Comic Lover wanted to play with the paint and I wanted her to create a beautiful flower pot for Grandma.  

I did promise her that as soon as she finished the flower pot we could play with the paint and mix the paint all she wanted, all different colors.  She did wonderful finishing the flower pot, but I could tell she was less connected to the experience.  She was having fun but sort of rushed through it and when we finished the task she was ready to be done.  She wandered off to play with her toys without playing with/mixing paints.  

As I was reflecting on our “creative time” it was clear that this was my creative activity, not hers. The art was not about the “process of being creative” it was about creating something gift/pinterest worthy.  All that said, Grandma’s gonna LOVE this little flower pot!  :)

Little Surprises Living with a Beautiful Child

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Inspired by Soule Mama - See more at: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/#sthash.lC9CKyhT.dpuf