Pook

I just had to write, before I forgot, about Pook's latest birthday party request. For those that don't know, it was Robin Hood (and I'm still pushing for that for the cool ideas). However, yesterday she tells me she wants it to be a Strawberry Shortcake Party.

Robin Hood hats and outfits I can make, but have you seen those Strawberry Shortcake ones? ACK!

At least the food would be sweet... ;)

Mornings in Bed

I wish that I could say that I've spent the last few mornings lounging in bed (flannel sheets, PJs, hot tea, the whole bit); however, though I've been in bed and I'm still in the PJs I've been working.

It's been nice, and when Pook wakes up, I get cuddles too!

But, unlike yesterday, today we've got to go out. Hmmm... suppose I'd better change out of the Pjs then, eh?

Early morning

I was up today before the rise of the sun, listening to the singing birds. And now, with the rise of the sun, and the Pook, I'm listening to her singing to her own little song and rhythm.

She misses her Daddy, and is snuggled into the flannel sheets awaiting Mommy snuggles.

What will we do today? It matters not.

Right now, I'm completely present, aware of the softness of the flannel, aware of the sunlight through the curtains, aware of the warm cuddle-bug on my lap, her head on my shoulder as I type.

So, do you like British humor?

I absolutely LOVE British humor, with thanks to BBC and Phil for introducing me to Black Adder (LOVE IT!), the hubby for Red Dwarf (oh Lister!), and oh other goodies! And don't even get me started on the delightful discovery of the series of Hercule Poirot, starring David Suchet as Poirot. I can't even see anyone else playing him now. He's so perfect!!! (And for you Monk fans out there - you will SO see who he is based off of!)

But, I've digressed. I'm here to rave about the movie Keeping Mum with Maggie Smith, Rowan and Kristin. If you like dark comedies, British humor, Maggie Smith (Oh Maggie!), you will SO LOVE this movie! And Rowan! I knew he was brilliant in Black Adder... but he just floors me in this movie. Really, he was amazing as a vicar (yes, a vicar) who's disconnected from his wife and how he rediscovers himself and, well, don't want to ruin it for anyone, but really - this movie is SO good!

And um, yeah, I've already watched it 3, maybe 4 times since we got it Friday from Netflix and ended up buying it. I can't help it, each time we watch it, you notice something else. A look here, a simple inflection there... I have an awesome appreciation for these actors. Mind you though - the Amercian character will discuss you, and there is some nudity. And, oh yeah, murder (that you never actually see... and arent' gory).

And so now you know. I love and adore British humor. And yes, you'll occasionally hear my spouting off about putting the kettle on for tea, watching the tele, etc. ... comes from all those bloody good shows doncha know.

Sledding, Celebrations, and Stomach Virus

This weekend we zipped down for a quick weekend visit to MD. It was so weird seeing the fields of icy, glimmering with the touch of the sun. We weren't sure if we were going to go - the weather, and the fact that POOK wasn't her usually self. Well, I listened to what others said - she didn't have a fever, it was probably just her off her routine, etc. etc., because I thought that since I wasn't sure if I wanted to go or not, that I should just stay home.

Oh, when will I learn!

Friday night, and Saturday evening, I'd had a headache. I thought it was because I was watching all those home improvement shows on the tele. Sunday evening, I thought the food wasn't agreeing with me, as my stomach cramped up and any movement invoked naseousness. I had eaten a lot. Monday, my stomach was crampy, but I thought it was due to the female cycle kicking in.

But then, this morning, da hub wakes up with the same symptoms, AND we remembe he had headaches the last few nights.

What does this all mean? Pook had the same thing, but was unable to clearly tell us. She had glossy eyes, and complained of a sore head - but no fever. She also spent a day snuggled up to me saying she was cold (this was when she got the chill part). And then, she wasn't eating, but her tummy was rumbling - a lot, and she said it was sore.

I knew she wasn't feeling well, but didn't listen for various reasons. Next time, you can bet I'll listen.

We did, however, manage to get some sledding in (yes, already know that it was dangerous, but we did check it out carefully before trying it) and celebrate the Chinese New Year.

And now, we're home. YAY! And getting back into the groove.

And then,

Celebrating with Pook

When I was younger, my father would always bring my mother a dozen red roses and a big heart box of chocolate. Apparently, some times she got funky undergarments too, but thankfully, I didn't see and don't remember that. I think she got my dad a card.

As I got older, my dad would bring me a single red rose and a small heart box of chocolates. Then, Mom made him bring my brother some too, as he was feeling left out.

When I was a teenager, after my parents divorced, I would sulk over this day. I hated it. I wanted that someone special to bring me chocolates and flowers as it was "supposed" to be.

The older I got, the more I had issues with this day. After college, I started the tradition of Anti-Valentine's day, where we'd all get together and bring a gift for under $5, have a potluck, draw numbers, hang out... but that never took hold.

As I mentioned in my previous post, hubby and I just don't celebrate this day. But, with the birth of Pook, I wanted to do something, but I didn't want her growing up with expectations of chocolate, jewelery, flowers, and the like, and depending on someone else to do so.

Thus, hubby and I decided that the best gifts are the ones from the heart and homeade. And so, we've cut out paper hearts and hung them about, and she made a super secret Valentine's Day card for Daddy (don't worry, he already knows about it, Pook isn't good at keeping secrets!). Tonight, we'll dine on Papa John's, and maybe watch a romantic comedy - as a family.

And for her little KM friends, I crocheted some simple red bracelets, and we made red envelopes (for Chinese New Year on the 18th), included a printed paper with shapes to make a pigs faces, printed out a little note explaining it all, and stamped and stickered them.

And so, I hope that I can instill and inspire in my daughter a sense of love and togetherness on this day, as opposed to what you are "supposed" to get from someone else. And when she gets older, we shall send her homeade Valentines and scrumptious homeade goodies, and let her know that she is loved.

To my love

I am married to a most amazing man. I don't celebrate this one day a year, but, today being what it is, it's the perfect reason to make sure he knows it.

My husband is a wonderful cook, and cooks most of the meals in our home. On occasion, I help out or even cook a whole meal, but most of the time - it's him. When I start to get cranky, and he knows I need some "me" time, he'll encourage me to get off the computer and do something for myself. If I'm having a challenging day, he'll take over care for Pook so I can get things done. He helps me when I get into a decluttering frenzy, and has even been encourage to do it on his own.

He's a snuggler (although these days we've got to fit it in where we can, because our Pook is one too, and doesn't like to be left out!). He's creative. He's my best friend. I can tell him about everything and anything. And when I feel I can't, I usually end up talking to him about it anyway. I can be completely open with him, put my heart right out there, completely let go and be me - and he embraces it all (sometimes with a little smile). He loves me completely for me, and that is such a gift.

We are up front with one another and our feelings. He's not afraid to tell me No, or that he doesn't want to do something. We don't "force" one another into uncomfortable compromises. We put our cards on the table, clean up the mess if one is made, and move on. If I need him to be sensitive, I let him know. If he needs to come out and tell me something that I might get hurt feelers about, he'll check with me (or at least give me a heads up!). Never, have I been able to communicate so well with someone.

There are so many wonderful things about our relationship, but one thing over the past few weeks that I've come to appreciate more than anything, is the level of trust we have for one another. I know he loves me, and I love him. We want to be together, and that's all there is to it. We take our marriage vows seriously, and therefore know we need to work through things instead of playing games or pulling the "silent treatment" card. I want to grow old with him, hold hands on long walks, be mother to at least another child of ours, and play with grandbabies (if that's what our kiddos decide).

I adore my hubby. We still have that occasional argument. We still get angry with one another or in general. But we've an unwritten rule to treat one another with respect and love at all times. We are very considerate of each other's feelings. I know that he needs his cave time, just as I need mine, and we do our best to see each gets it.

My husband and I don't go out of our way to celebrate this day. In the past, we've exchanged cards; I think twice I created a trail of hearts for him to follow on a treasure hunt of sorts. We don't do the flowers (for the set reason that the prices are jacked up) because of this day (although he has surprised me before), but sometimes I get them after if we find a good deal. Luckily for him, I'm not into jewelery, and if I am, he knows it's best to let me pick it. (I've got a very hard-to-define taste, and sometimes just go by the way it makes me feel.)

Though I don't like all the commercialism, I do like the fact that one day a year Love (albeight in its commercialized form) is celebrated.
So my love, Happy Valentine's Day. I love you.

Interested in the history of St. Valentine's Day?

Making the most of snowy days...

When it's too cold to venture outside, we reccomend baking:

When you get 4 inches, and it's warm enough to go out, then, it's most fun to sled.

For the last 4 winters, my sweet Pook has had a variety of reactions to the snow. First, she hated it and cried because of the cold. She was 8 months. Second winter, when she was 1 and a half, she cried, but sledded a bit, and helped with a snow man. Third winter, there was lots of giggles and the desire to build a snowman, but you had to sled with her.

Forth winter:

It's all about independence.

Year of the Pig

On February 18, the Chinese New Year (Year of the Pig) will start. The pig represents "chivalery, pureness of heart". If you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995, this is your year to shine and overcome obstacles.

Here's a website with more information: http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/chinese-new-year.htm

You can find out what year you are, and what it means. Plus more tidbits. If you'd like to know your Chinese Astrological forcast for the coming year, read all about them here: http://www.chiff.com/a/chinese-horoscopes.htm

There are some more in depth ones, though a bit negative here: http://www.crystal-vaastu.com/general_annual_predictions_2007_ding_hai_yin_red_fire_pig.htm

Hey sweet hubby, looks to be an interesting year.

I heart...

this blog:

Soule Mama

Not only is it one of the more inspiring blogs, but if I'm having a rough day, I can go there and soak in the visual goodness. Her blog is so cozy, and her pics on Flickr - more visual goodness.

Ah... bloggity bliss.

New desk, nice people, and being honest

This has been an interesting week. I actually bought a new computer desk. A very expensive computer desk, but as I work from home, it's a business expense. I don't really "need" this desk (okay, well, the keyboard shelf is coming looser then I'd like on the old one!) but there's something about it. Eventually, as we move the office, finish painting, and when the time comes for baby #2 (no, not yet peeps!), I'll need to be able to lock up the computer and file info. I'd been looking at armoirs, but they are quite clostra phobic. And then, I came across this.


Am I nuts to spend so much on a piece of furniture I adore? I'll let you know after it arrives.


In other news, this last week's been an emotional rollercoaster, and I've been dealing with a situation involving some really nice people, but people I'm not comfortable with. I knew it from the first time they reached out to us, I felt it in my gut - keep distance. And then, one day, ironically over an strangely similar situation in which I'd caused offense and not know it, I allowed myself to reach out and be considered friend.


Now, these are sweet people. And, I felt that they wanted more of my time. Which, they did, but I was too scared to reach out because, though nice, they are on the passive agressive side, and I felt I couldn't be myself, because if I was, I'd end up hurting them, which *sigh* I ended up doing when I came to the realization that if I'd met these people under different circumstances, I'd not pursue a friendship.


Have you ever met someone who gives so much, yet you feel they give with strings, because that is how they want to be treated? They give you SO much, that you actually feel bad, because you don't give like that? So you feel you need to live up to a certain standard (theirs) and that you need to give a certain amount, or else you'll get a joking remark with underlying sarcasm, or a snarky passive aggressive remark instead? And then, you feel that there's no trust there, because they are always second guessing and analyzing you?


Now, I don't like passive aggressive stuff. I find it very offensive. Just come out with it, put it on the table, and let's move on please. Granted though, not everyone feels this way. Thus, I just try to avoid these types of people.


Long story short, too late! I decided I needed to be honest, and tell them I wanted to be friendly, instead of friends. Which, went over oh-so-well. They are both hurt, and in their hurt lashed out. I admit, I was expecting pain, but not the lashing I got. Which, I suppose was deserved in that I prefer to spend time with people who nurture me as friends. The thing is, what is boils down to, and I can't put my finger on - is that I feel incredible uncomfortable when around them. I'm not sure of the exact reason why, but I tried my best (spent 48 hours on a email to speak from my heart, tell them that the issues were mine, and how difficult it was to write it... etc.) to let them know in the most loving manner I could.


And now, I don't think I'll be responding to them, at least for a while. I don't know of an appropriate response. I did challenge myself to wait 48 hours now before I respond to emails or people who touch one of those sore spots. Which, is a good rule I should've enstated years ago.


The thing is, that when I thought about being honest, proposing being friendly and putting that distance there - it just felt right. So though it was really hard, and though I feel badly that I hurt them, I really feel it was for the best. Especially after the email I got in response.

Tigger Reiki

When you are blessed with having a small child in your house, there are no ends to requests for interesting things. On Thursdays, our friend R comes over to visit with Pook. After the visit, we all do Reiki. Last Thursday, there was someone in dire need of Reiki:

:) Hope this pic brings you the joy it did for me.

Happy February

Well, it's a new month, and a short month.

This February, I'm thankful for friends. And not just any friends... I'm thankful for those friends who far and near support you regardless. I'm thankful for the wisdom and quiet strength of R (who always encourages me to be true to myself, and I needed that recently). I'm thankful for the nurturing of some, the wit of others, the hugs of all...

So whether I see you on a regular basis, once a year, or once every five years... this month I am thankful for YOU!

Okay, I'm ALWAYS thankful for you! But this month, I'll be shouting it to the moon, the sun and the stars, and basking in the love I feel for you. Thank you for being a part of my life.