Here it is!

My new favorite reading material. I want to blog the entire book, which doesn't seem legal, but it's so well written I long to share it with everyone - as I'm reading I feel like Scout and Jem are going to come bounding around the corner and start telling me about Atticus' way of making their little house feel like home (To Kill A Mockingbird).
Anyway: "We can all have happy, comfortable, pleasant homes if we care enough. It is necessary to care. You can transform unprepossessing materials into a happy home if you care, think and plan... Interior decoration begins with a study of the people who are going to live with it. This is not only necessary for the best results but often turns out to be loads of fun. It also costs nothing, which lends enchantment. Know thyself!" Are you inspired? Oh I hope so.
This has been my bedtime reading, which doesn't seem like a good idea. It's like consuming an energy drink before hopping on an airplane - not smart! Andrew is so patient with me as we sit there with our books. He'll be quietly reading some melancholy mystery, and I'll interrupt him with interjections like, "Get this-!" and, "Oh my! That's exactly right!" My poor darling. He is also an artist, though, so my excitement is sometimes met with mutuality when it comes to new ideas.
This morning while doing my BSF I was enlightened further as they directed me to Deuteronomy 6 & 7, where it talks about loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. God tells the people to talk about this and the rest of the Ten Commandments all the time, "Impress them on your children... Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates." How awesome to be deliberate about making Christ the center of your home. Pahlmann doesn't mention God in his design theories - I'm not sure where he stood with Him. I know I'm passionate about the Lord and I'm passionate about design, so naturally enthusiasm is mine as I consider the two together.
Oh, I've forgotten to cite that Oliver is often subjected to my design woes as well. He's my little sidekick as we meet with our clients (my mom and my sister's mother-in-law so far). He's going to really love it when we get into some projects that require demolition...

They never give me enough room for all of the pictures I want to share... My baby looking very thoughful at the hope of spring - when he won't have to wear silly old mittens!

Last hurrah

the joy and thrill of being pulled in a sled!

snowboard stance - we're teaching him early

meeting mr. miniature snowman

chillin with ma

Interior Design

I picked up a book by the late William Pahlmann while rummaging - ahem - through some boxes at Goodwill last week. "Pahlmann's Book of Interior Design" is surprising me. First of all, its copyright is 1955, so the design itself is sort of old school (especially when all pictures are in black and white). But after I poked around a little online, I found that Pahlmann's design was quite revolutionary to the industry. 'Eclectic' is the word used most frequently in all writings I've found on him, which is my favorite design style, as it combines a little of everything to make a space uniquely yours. The fact that he seems to be a brilliant artist, from what I can tell, is actually secondary to the real reason for this post. Though I still don't know much about who he was as a person, I want to share a little from the book which makes him seem like a pretty classy, down-to-earth kind of guy...
"I am aware that to make an original comment on the word home, either in its generic or specific sense, is licked from the start. Not only has the subject been enshrined by everybody from Shakespeare to Robert Burns...but also the feeling for it is instinctual to the human heart... Personally, I have strong and shameless sentiments on the subject. I believe that the home - that setting for the basic family unit - is not only the measure of individuals but of nations. Home is the place where all the battles will be won or lost."
Brill. Plus, he starts the book off with a quote from Charles Dickens: "In love of home, the love of country has its rise." How sweet. Timeless. Classic.
Pahlmann goes on to say that having a fancy dancy house means nothing if you can't actually live in it or if none of it is really you.
from me: Your home should be a reflection of things that make you smile, give you joy, bring you peace. Home is a sanctuary from the outside world. Since it's one of the only places in life you can control, why not make it the best it can be? Write Bible verses on the walls, splash your favorite color everywhere, mix old with new. There's also a balance of too much going on and that can actually evoke feelings of tension, so be smart about it. Be organized. Have built-in storage units (I know a guy who could hook you up). Then use your things for better living. Display favorite books or plates or that quilt from great-grandma. Nothing says 'you' like your home. May it be a reflection of all the unique and beautiful character qualities of your heart. Don't let anybody sway you otherwise.

Easter Crocs

Just a few more snapshots from the trip, plus matching Easter buddies.

Oliver and Uncle Lukey with their nose wrinkle smiles


waking up in Dayton - what fun!


the gracious hosts


Easter - Andrew went out and played basketball before I could get a picture of these two, thus destroying his J Crew model hair and attire. That little Olive makes everything better.


matchy matchy

The Voyage

*After a long journey, I came home to find that our computer was yet again under the weather. Silly machine wouldn't even turn on, thereby causing delays in the blogging realm. But alas, my very un-techy husband worked some sort of magic and we're back in business. Technology - yuck. Andrew - yay.

Let me start the retelling of fun, excitement and craziness of our trip by confirming that it was all of these and more. Travel went well as we passed time by entertaining Oliver, playing the celebrity guessing game, taking pictures and getting lost. God was faithful (as He always is), getting us to and from Ohio despite the unlikelihood of three airheads + one baby ever navigating successfully over so many miles of open road.

It was such a joy being with Anna and Luke in their lovely home. They, plus Isaac, Jessica, Megan and Nicole equal some of the very greatest people of our time.

A few things we did:

- drove until 5am EDT

- went for a run (which is a daring feat for me, I must say...risky)

- made and ate some of the most amazing food ever, like toasted ravioli, baked potato pizza, peppered steak with Marsala mushroom cream sauce and roasted asparagus, croissant french toast, etc. (all of which brought on the necessity of the run.)

- went to the most unbelievable Goodwill, where there were bins of junk. Seriously, one bin had the cover to Candyland. No game. No bottom of the box. Anna said she's seen people in there with gloves digging around. Yikes. I did, however, find a few diamonds in the rough by way of antique books. One of the books is Pahlmann's Interior Design from 1955, which I will post about sometime.

- attended a church service where we were blessed by a choir consisting of former drug addicts and homeless people.

- shopped like we were being paid to

- talked

- laughed

- played

Here are a few pictures testifying of the grandness of our adventure.

There and Back Again

Sorry to say, but I'm going away...
Oliver and I are going on a road trip. To Ohio. Dayton. Anna. I am so excited! We're driving out with my cousins, Megan and Nicole, so the company is exceptional. We are sure to redefine words like 'zany' and 'weary.' I'm trying to imagine just how ridiculous we four will be... An adventure is about to unfold.

"Words like 'thither,' 'mischance,' 'felicity'..."

So the reason I haven't blogged in a while is because I've been reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. It has had me 'in raptures'! It's so unbelievable...not a single sentence that would be used this side of the twentieth century. I'll quote a little regarding Elinor, the oldest of three sisters, as she reminds me so much of my dearest cousin Megan: "[Elinor] had an excellent heart; -her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings strong; but she knew how to govern them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught." Language. Brilliant. Cunning. Love. (Megan took a quiz on Facebook as to which of Miss Austen's heroines she would be, and Elinor Dashwood was the lucky lady.)
Changing the subject of this post, yet adding to my entertainment -- Oliver. He's a walking machine! It's amusing to see him waddle around the house, so unsure of himself and his ability. He usually has this look on his face like, "What am I doing? This is some kind of miracle. Look, Mom and Dad!" And yet, despite his unstable hobble, there is a bit of confidence, too... mixed with insecurity: he starts out so sure of himself, then stumbles, recovers, and wonders at what he's doing. I tried just now to take a picture of him. I guess the third of his photogenic problems (the first and second being looking away or closing his eyes), is the bucky factor. He was being such a little bear when I attempted to catch him in the act of walking, all I could get was a look that conveyed this was his least favorite activity of all. Arrr. He went straight to bed after this was taken.

And these are the trials and joys of the day. Adding to the joys of course is the sun which is melting the snow which is cheering us all. Praise the Lord. The baby and I may just venture out for a sled ride. Yes!

Ode to spring

"No winter lasts forever;

no spring skips its turn."

-Hal Borland

Triumph

As brought to my attention by my dear husband, my blogging has not been as clever lately as it was in the beginning, when excited energy filled my fingers as I wrote. A pang of frustration and reality hit my heart. The moment he revealed this, I knew it was true -- oh where has all the quick-wit gone? Though there isn't an extremely large population tuning in ..ahem, 'logging-on'.. to read what I have going through my head, I don't want to disappoint even a small audience. Truth: my life is far from boring. This busyness causes a constant hum in my head -Dad, you can relate- and in addition to the melancholy feel of our February/March climate I think a good all-encompassing word for my state of mind would be POOPED.
Something definitely the opposite of dull happened just Saturday and although it may not promote happy feelings, I'll share. First you must know that Oliver hates getting his diaper or clothes changed. I could skip my daily regimen of Pilates in exchange for one diaper and clothes fight, it's that intense. I should make a fitness video for moms... Anyway, Saturday I was feeling exhausted and willing to do whatever Oli wanted in order to prevent a fight. He opted to play with one of the clean diapers in the basket. Great! After refreshing his pants, I let him play with his new toy which he actually thought was a hat. There he was trying to get the diaper on his head, while testing his sweet and shaky walking skills. Then I watched in horror as he fell, hands above his head, right on his poor little face! You know those bad dreams when you can't find your voice to warn of trouble and you can't run from it because you're totally paralyzed? My worst nightmare came true. There I sat, silent, as he crashed directly onto his forehead producing a hickey-like red mark that outlasted the weekend. His nose was bloody and he was crying. (I had to stay strong for him or I would have been crying as well.) I have a feeling there is much more of this to follow...
And so I admit that the content of my posts have been somewhat lackluster (excluding that last paragraph). I guess being a mom is becoming more of an all-consuming challenge than even I had until now realized. I love it, though. It's worth the late nights and near heart attacks. It's worth the countless lessons in humility. It's worth my sanity. Well...
So in answer to the question, "Isn't being a mom the greatest..most of the time?" I say YES. I still can't believe God chose me, but I'm sure glad He did.

Quotable moment

"Careful when you pray for humility. You might get pregnant."
- Me
(Not now, but with Oliver. I'm in the process of realizing that there is nothing as humbling as being pregnant, giving birth, and being a mom.)