Moments from today

I promised Ruth that we’d go to the playground. We took a potty break, got suited up, and ready to go, only to discover that part of the stroller buckle was mysteriously missing. When running back to the house, and Ruth fell and skinned her knees. It was QUITE a piece of drama. She didn’t want to be cleaned up; she seemed more upset about not going to the playground than about getting a scrape.

After cleaning her up, trying to find the buckle, and failing, I simply put her in the stroller, instructed her not to get out, and off we went to the playground. We weren’t halfway there when I looked down and saw her slumping forward. It was 6:30, and she had fallen completely asleep. Afraid that she would fall out of the stroller, I took her, wheelbarrow-style, the whole way back.

And she’s been asleep ever since. It’s 9pm.

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Mamou volunteered to take over nighttime duty with Lucas last night–a huge undertaking. We’ve been puzzled for some time as to why he wakes so often at night: is he truly hungry? does he just want momma? is it pain?

Well, the report this morning gave us quite a bit of information. He drank NINE ounces last night. NINE. The kid is hungry. That’s almost as much as what a newborn would drink during the night. Not to mention a light sleeper (but we knew that already).

So, then plan: bottle-feeding at night, slowly diluting the formula down until it’s only water. It’s been over a year since I’ve had a full night’s rest, and hopefully this will help speed the process of night weaning up a bit.

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Waking up this morning after a full night’s rest was almost like waking up on Christmas Day. Or, waking up on the first day of summer vacation. Or, the feeling you get after you’ve had a nice, long afternoon nap, but wake at just the right time.

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My dedicated helper, Margaret, left today. I miss that extra pair of hands while my husband is away.

Coming to the end of the summer

It’s been pretty silent on the blog, which nearly always indicates a flurry of activity. Our summer has been full–so full, in fact, that we haven’t gotten to do nearly close to everything we had hoped.

I feel a growing sense of urgency about my interactions with friends and family here; we don’t have much longer together. While our lives have been so mundanely intertwined, it’s a fragile and temporary blessing that I’m soon to miss all too terribly.

Overall, the wedding season has been well-paced, but at times overwhelming. I’ve learned quite a few new tricks, gained a few insights into next steps I should take about my equipment, skills, and business. I feel happy to be shooting more weddings, but also more contented with my role in the world as a “mere” part-timer.

Right now, the little ones and the family are the most important thing, and the business–while fulfilling and exciting–simply has to be secondary. It’s way too easy to look around and get caught up in false and distracting competition.

Well, now that the children are fast asleep, I’d better catch some rest myself; I’ve got a wedding to finish editing tomorrow!