Growing Things

Spring is reaching its peak here in middle Georgia. Ahh, spring... the very thought of the season makes one want to throw extravagant descriptives into the pollen-thick air: dazzling, resplendent, ambrosial spring. Spring--the new beginning. The time in which the wintry old melts away into new green, new life, new adventure.

New...cabbage?

This guy looks a little wilted  because he was recently transported.
Don't worry--he's happier now. 

Yes, it's true. Though every plant I've tried to nurture has withered away (except for that bean plant I grew in kindergarten--remember the monster that turned into, mom?), somehow Patrick's grandma thinks getting me involved in their garden is a good idea.

Maybe this is a good thing. I mean, I already love so many homemaker-y things, I might as well round myself off by pursuing competence in the things I'm terrible at. Like gardening. Or, *shudder* sewing.

In any case, I'm all for new adventures, as long as an experienced gardener is there to prevent the untimely demise of any of our plants due to my mistreatment or neglect. I should also point out that Patrick, Cambrie and I will probably be eating the lion's share of this garden's bounty. That's pretty good motivation to contribute the manual labor. Maybe in years to come, I'll be adept enough to be the mastermind of my own garden.

Or maybe I'll just rely on Cambrie--she already seems to have this down.

Planting beans.

See? Both plants and Cambries need water to grow!

A week or so ago, when we planted the cabbage, broccoli, romaine, beets, and beans, we were lucky enough to have Patrick's uncle and his wife there to assist. I furtively slipped into my role as photographer and seed-placer. You know, after they told me how deep, how far apart, and how many seeds to place. Baby steps. It'll come.

One row of beets, and two of beans. Holy cow.
I may be forced to have the privilege of learning how to can this year, too. 

This little guy was a little upset at us digging in his home. Cambrie thought he was cool, though.

All my misgivings aside, there is a certain satisfaction to walking away after a day working in the garden. It's that nice feeling of knowing that my physical labor, no matter how trivial or guided, contributed to something that is going to, literally, grow into so much more.

I'm excited to see how this all pans out. I'll keep you updated as to whether anything I touch dies or not. Here's to new adventures!

Bitty Snores and Other Baby Blips

This past week, Cambrie had a small cold. It wasn't anything dire, but it was enough to give her a sore throat, a stuffy nose, and a few miserable nights of sleep. One evening, after she'd been in bed for a few hours, she cried out. It sounded sadder than usual, so Patrick and I went in to try to comfort her. By the time we'd gotten in the room, however, she'd already fallen back asleep. We watched her breathe a few heavy, congested breaths, when we heard it.

Our beautiful, tiny, precious, sick baby, did the cutest snore.

I don't mean a wispy, half snore. This was a real snore with strength and a firm tone; if she'd been playing a trumpet, I'd compliment her breathing and her embouchre. As ridiculous as it sounds, it made my heart melt. 

It was like the very first time your one-month old baby lets out a fart in the middle of a prayer in church. You know you're supposed to be embarrassed, but you can't help thinking to yourself, "That was so freakin' cute! That's my cute baby!" And then you sneakily look around to make sure everyone else is acknowledging how cute your baby's fart was, too.

Thanks to this little episode, I've been much more in tune to the little things Cambrie's been doing that makes being a mom so worthwhile. Here are a few of the things I've noticed.

Cambrie and Mommy playing under a blanket

She's very good at closing doors and putting things away. That includes taking one of Daddy's dirty socks, placing it in a drawer of clean clothes, and shutting the drawer.

 When Cambrie finds herself outside without her shoes on, she'll always pause in a half-concerned way then start to walk toward whatever rock, ball, or toy has caught her eye with tiny tip-toe steps. Sometimes she'll even run on her tip-toes, just because she doesn't have shoes.

My little twenty-month-old is finally getting a little curl. The other day, we went outside and I realized that she has enough (very fine) hair to get frizzy in the humidity! That's a milestone for the baby book...

It's there! I promise! A curl right in the middle of her head!

Cambrie loves to bounce on the very edge of her bed while holding onto the foot board. The other night, though, she threw me for a loop. She took her time getting all positioned and ready to bounce, then looked up at me with the sweetest smile and patted the bed next to her--she wanted me to bounce with her. *heart squeeze*

This morning when I went in to get Cambrie up, she immediately clambered up from the blanket she was playing with and pulled her self onto her early-morning-unsteady legs. Once she was up, with no good morning babbles or smiles, she lifted one foot in the air and demanded, "Shooos!"  "But Cambrie, you still have your pajamas on; why do you need shoes?" Her response, first thing in the morning? "Aoo-sai!" ["outside"--it's an obsession of hers].

Thanks, Cambrie, for being so darn cute! I will treasure these moments away against the tempers and tantrums of the upcoming terrible twos...

Money Matters

Last week Patrick and I sat down and made a budget for the first time since we left Virginia.

You know what that means, right? It means we have money to budget!

I know for a lot of people there's a real stigma around the word "budget." But since we took a finance class back in Virginia (Financial Peace University with Dave Ramsey, if you are interested--we highly recommend it!) and put into practice what we've learned, we actually enjoy the process. We have very clear goals: build back up the savings we depleted during the job search, save up a few months rent or a small down payment on a house, and chop down our student debt.

We are lucky we have such similar objectives in this regard; I know every marriage is made up of two very different people, and believe me, Patrick and I are very different in many ways, but it is so nice to be married to someone with financial views similar to mine. Our family's fiscal policy in a nutshell is to wait for it and save for it. I hesitate to say we're cheap (though I know some friends who would lovingly call me cheap in a second) because both Patrick and I really like and appreciate the nicer, quality, more expensive things. We just really hate to spend money on them if there is a better place that money can go.

Budgeting helps me feel less guilty about buying things I want. If I want (and need) some new shoes, there's cash already sitting in the clothing envelope. Sweet! If I want to splurge on a new purse or book or smoothie, I've got my blow money; we each have an allowance of sorts called "blow money" that we're allowed to "blow" on whatever we want. If there's no money in those areas, that's alright, I'll suck it up and wait until next month, and I'll know that our bank account isn't going to be overdrawn.

It's exciting to have a plan, financially. I find myself motivated by watching other people succeed. One mom blogger (and a friend from when we lived in Virginia) actually puts all her finances (within reason) out for everyone to see. I don't think I'm brave enough to share our numbers with the world, but it sure is fascinating and inspiring to see how a real family with real money, real goals, and real weaknesses does it. I can imagine that knowing the world is watching would be a great motivator to stay on track, too. Hmmm, maybe I should reconsider this public disclosure thing...

How's that for public disclosure? :-)
 (Sorry if baby bums offend you. This was actually last summer, and I couldn't resist.)

Either way, this whole budgeting thing is a reassuring sign that things are, in fact, moving forward for this little family. Land of fiscal security, here we come!

Conference Weekend

This past weekend was General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It occurs twice a year and is a chance for us to hear from our prophet and other leaders--to be uplifted, inspired, counseled, and reminded of what is important.

Because of the semi-annual aspect of General Conference, the April conference always feels like a new beginning: like spring, like a new chance, like a new life. This past weekend was no different.

These flowering bushes are just right in our backyard!

Since we were able to watch the sessions on TV, conference was a semi-casual affair. We gathered in the living room, snuggled into our chairs, and listened to the music and the words. On Sunday, Patrick's aunt, uncle, and cousins came over. I love that feeling of gathering together with family for something like this. It feels comfortable--a light lunch of sandwiches, chips, and pasta salad, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing, casual commentary between the talks ("Oh, I liked that one." "I wonder when so-and-so will speak?" "I need to get up and stretch." "Cambrie! Please don't eat that book!").

Patrick being studious before the Sunday morning session.

Patrick's cousin playing with Cambrie during a hymn.

A drawing Patrick's cousin made of Cambrie. I love how accurate it is--ball in hand, crazy hair/pigtails.

Between the sessions, we took advantage of the beautiful day on Patrick's grandparents' screened porch.

Hammocks are so much fun!

This spring's conference was, in truth, a little more hectic than previous conferences, but that is to be expected, I think, with a 20 month old (one who is currently a little miserable with a cold). What was the same was the sense of peace and happiness; though my family and I are far from perfect and though I am constantly learning things I need to change and improve (especially during General Conference), I feel very blessed to 1) know who I am, 2) know why I am here, 3) know where I am going, and 4) know what is important along the way. I know not everyone has found those answers yet (though if you're curious, check this site out), and I feel so grateful to have this knowledge as part of my life.

C. S. Lewis said, "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important."

Being able to listen to General Conference twice a year is a good reminder of that for me. All in all, it was a good weekend.