Strawberries!

It seems that every year around this time, we find our rhythm and head out to the strawberry patch for pickins.  Last year, however, Miss Maura had other plans, and by the time she was out, the strawberries were no more!  We still headed to the farm...explored the patch, and found nary a berry!  We did go back for blackberries a month or so later, and that was a treat because it meant Sorbet!  But I digress, the strawberries are really my favorite.

It's been a bit warmer than usual this spring here in New Jersey, so I was sure to call the farm nice and early to make sure we weren't missing any picking opportunity.  Lucky for us, they only opened picking last week, so when Joe had a few days off, we chose a day and headed to the farm.  This year, we had two in tow...

A new mouth to eat the berries alongside her brother...to play curiously with the hay as we filled our basket full of berries.  I'm not sure who ate more - Maura or Patrick!

It was hot in the field, and Patrick's patience didn't last long in the humidity, but we had our fill of berries, and I'm sure we'll be headed back again!

To the beach...

It's a Memorial Day tradition.  It's been a Memorial Day tradition since long before I had small children to bring with me.  Every year, Elise and I head to the beach.  Surely, the cast of characters has changed much over the years, but one thing is constant - If it is Memorial Day weekend, you can surely find us at the beach on one of those days!

Last year, I found myself in much different scenery.  We had hoped she would be home for Memorial Day.  After all, we'd taken Patrick to the beach on his due date.  We wanted to take Maura on hers.  Maura had other plans, and the weekend before Memorial Day, Maura's short trip home ended quite abruptly with a rash of seizures.  I remember that week clearly.  Memorial Day was the worst of it.  I walked into the NICU and Maura had seven seizures that night.  seven.  It was the most seizures Maura had ever had on any one day.  She even earned herself oxygen.  I remember spending much of that day in the darkness of the NICU crying.  

Well, Elise is moving.  She's headed to the left coast.  And she's been busy.  So when we talked weeks ago, it was a vague idea that we'd go to the beach one last time.  She wasn't so sure herself that she'd make it.  

I stood my ground...I kept texting her, "Beach tomorrow?" "Come to the beach!"  "You have to go to the beach one last time!"  "Say goodbye to the beach!"  Apparently, the beach won over, and on Friday morning, we found ourselves driving the familiar roads through the Pines to Long Beach Island.  We had a lot to talk about that day...the long rides never seemed so long with Elise.  

When we got on the island, we headed for our usual spot - Taylor Ave...of course, this has changed too...it used to be Brighton Beach, right by the surf shop, but as her boys grew, so did their interest in Fantasy Island and being close was key.  So we headed to Taylor.  The beach was pretty calm for the start of the season, and we found a spot right over the hillside.  

Patrick declared it all the best party ever as we stood on the shore and looked out at the Atlantic.  He doesn't even know how right about that he was.  

I spent most of the day cordoning Maura, who was insistent on touching the sand, and playing with Patrick at the water's edge, and Elise did the same...just as we did with her boys for many years.  It was the same as it had ever been...with a new cast of characters...

And while it won't ever be the same, the beach will still be there...as for next year, we'll meet at the shore on our respective coasts...on the beach...just as we always do on Memorial Day.

The Lucky Train Pants

Who doesn't need another pair of pajama pants?  When I saw this train fabric on clearance, I knew I had to pick up enough to make Patrick a pair of summer PJ pants.  I've been trying to find time to craft during nap time - when they coincide, which isn't that often.

 These were a quick stitch, but they certainly paid off, especially considering the long lost Mavis and Annie trains showed up just today while he was wearing them!  Perhaps they are good luck!

A Moment in the Sink

Just a Moment from our week, one to remember and savor always...slowing down to enjoy it!  Hope you have a great weekend!

Mothers Day

A year ago, I spent Mothers Day at CHOP.  This year, I spent Mothers Day with both of my children at Sayen Gardens, and we wandered down paths and explored the garden.  It was the perfect way to spend Mothers Day.  I wouldn't change a thing.

A Moment in the Grass

Just a moment from our week, one to savor always, one to remember, a new crawler.  Breathe it in today!

What's your special moment?

On the Move!

Just when I think I've got her figured out, she does something to blow my mind.  She's always been that way....even in the very beginning.  After all, it was a mere 30 minutes before we were slated to leave the hospital that her little body decided to have a seizure, and she's been like this ever since - the last minute lady, we call her...our Pokey Puppy.

So it really should have been no surprise when she had two bouts of uncontrollable crying last week that something was up...something developmental.  She wasn't going to let me post without proving me wrong.  She put one hand in front of the other and did it.  She is officially a crawler now!!

If that wasn't enough, we came home on Friday night and I sat her on the floor.  I clapped my hand, and she did the same.  I did it again, and so did she!  She really is clapping her hands!  And waving too!! Who would have thought?!

So just when you think Holland is looking a bit cloudy, there are some tulips up on the hillside...the most beautiful, colorful ones ever.

Cake

There is something glorious in reaching One.  The cake in particular is a moment you wait for.  A few months ago, we wondered if Maura would even be capable of eating cake on her birthday.  She wasn't even eating solids at Christmas time.  Lucky for us, she caught on.
 

I waited three whole years before Patrick would even touch a cupcake.  He was always a bit OCD about getting his fingers into the whole cake business, but by three, he decided that he really did indeed like the frosting if nothing more, and we relished in the fact that he actually, for the first time in three years, had cake on his face!

Maura is certainly ahead of the game here.  She loves her cake..and not just any cake, Alicia inspired me to make a Lemon Poppyseed cake for her!  Lemon Poppyseed!  Can you believe her mature tastes?

Yes, my girl likes to eat!  I'm glad we could share in her cake moment with her.

A First Birthday Moment

Just a moment from our week, one that we'll never forget...one to remember always.  I hope your week was just as special as ours!

One

Tomorrow my baby turns one.  It's been a long year.  We are all a year older, a year wiser.  One of my favorite short stories is Eleven, by Sandra Cisneros.  Have you read it? It's a great little story.  It really speaks for all the years we have inside of us, like little Matryoshka dolls, nesting one inside each other.  I keep repeating to myself, It's her birthday, and mama is making her a cake, and everyone will sing Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to Maura.  It's her birthday.  She's still so tiny, so fragile.  How can she possibly be one?

I'm making a string of pictures for her birthday.  I ordered them today.  They start at the beginning and go all the way up to just recently.  How far we've come, I think to myself, and how far we've yet to go.  She'll get there and for now, I won't dwell on it.

Because tomorrow is her birthday and Mama is making a cake and everyone will sing Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to Maura.