Feel Like Chillin'

This is exactly how I feel. We went to the St. Joseph County Fair last week, and there were a number of "exotic" animals at one exhibit. I don't know if this guy is a small kangaroo or a wallaby or what, but he was quite obviously in need of a deep rest if he was willing to lie balls up like that with all of those people around.

I've found myself in that exact same position (minus the balls) on the couch for the past two days at some point in the afternoon. I just feel completely exhausted. I've been feeling depressed, anxious, burnt out, and a number of other unpleasant emotions. Which is a shame because it's so beautiful outside, but I can't really enjoy it. Partly because I have spent the last few days treating the kids for lice, and washing pretty much everything that can be put in a washing machine. If I wasn't feeling emotionally drained enough, those little bugs in the kids' hair sealed the deal. Fortunately, the problem seems to be resolved, but I'll be on the look-out for the next few weeks at least.

I think a big part of my negative emotions right now is that I haven't been getting enough exercise. I had to stop going to dance class a few months ago because Twyla is battling separation anxiety somethin' fierce. I took Diego out for a long, fast-paced walk last night while I listened to the Splendid Table podcast, and I felt much better for it. The problem is, depression makes it SO HARD to just get out there and do it. I know I'll feel better once I get moving, but I pretty much have to force myself to get going. So I'm going to try to walk the dog every night when I put Twyla down to bed. Gotta start somewhere, right?

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Snip, Snip

No, Scott didn't get a vasectomy. It wasn't that kind of snip. Since I had Twyla, my hairclip has been a nearly inseparable part of my identity. My hair was getting really long. And my baby was, unfortunately, born with rubberized fingers that were somehow magnetized by that long stuff growing out of Mom's head. So I resigned myself to frumpdom until she figured out that I do enough pulling out of my own hair for her to not have to worry about it.

But then I decided to wear my hair down the other day when Azzie and I took all our kids to the fair. Just for kicks. And while I sat nursing Twyla on a bench, listening to the pigs squealing like they were practicing for the slaughterhouse, something became illuminated- my hair. The sun was shining full force on my long locks, which made it painfully obvious that it looked like total ass. That shit was fried! I guess that's what happens when you go 9 months without a real haircut.

So I decided that it was time for a drastic change.


But obviously it doesn't look very drastic because not a single person mentioned it at church today. Probably because with a clip in it every single day, it could be any length at all, and no one would be able to tell. Oh, well. I love it. It feels so much lighter and healthy. I even hennaed it last night, so it feels super soft, and looks great in the sun. Much unlike it did the other day!

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Marley's Cute as Shit!

It just occurred to me that my last two posts were about Ronan and Twyla. So I thought Marley deserved her time in the tiny, pinprick-sized spotlight that is my lame ass blog.

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My Baby Freaks Me Out

I know that sounds bad. But really- I'm tripping out over her physical abilities! Sure, many people are rolling their eyes at me saying this. I mean, it's not exactly uncommon for a baby to be sitting unsupported at 5 months of age, and then crawling before 7 months. BUT IT IS SO FOREIGN TO ME!!!!

Ronan was my first baby, and I didn't mind that he was nearly 7 months old before he could sit on his own. Then, three and a half months later, when he crawled, I was delighted at his development. Marley came next, and followed a very similar pattern. They walked at 12 and 13 months respectively.

Twyla is just 7 months old, and is not only crawling, but mobile enough that I occasionally lose track of where she is in my house. Then a couple of days ago, I was chatting on the phone when I watched little Stinkerbell sit up on her knees, reach well over her head, and pull up to standing at the coffee table. Take into account the fact that my other two children were just sitting at this age, as well as Twyla's itty bittyness, and I'm left with the feeling that she's just too little for this sort of thing to be allowed. In fact, I think I would wholeheartedly discourage it if I thought it would work. A baby that just sits like a lump in one spot is much easier to watch than one that is often found under the table, attempting to eat the morsels dropped by her older siblings.

I wonder what she'll be like when she's older. Will this developmental pattern continue? Will she be later to begin talking because she's so busy moving? I think Ronan and Marley were more vocal at this age. There aren't a whole lot of consonant sounds going on with Twyla yet, though both of the other kids said their first words in their eighth month.

And to top it all off, the little turd has BLONDE HAIR! WTF?! Yep, she's definitely freaking me out.

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Beauty in Symmetry

Ronan has been working with pattern blocks as part of his math practice. I am always astounded by the complexity of his creations. I realized that I should be taking photos of these, because they are REALLY cool. After the first picture I took, I asked him to put a piece of white paper on the table before starting so that the contrast would be more visible.
I love that he starts with one central block and works outward, placing a block on one side, and then the other to make sure both sides are identical.
In other news, Ronan has been making great progress in his Ninjutsu class. He will be testing for his next level on Saturday. He's going for another stripe on his yellow belt, and then it will be training for blue belt. I think all of the leaping, rolling, and midline crossing is doing wonders for his neurological development. He is very focused while in class, and also while doing his homeschool work. I'm so proud of him, and so glad that I'm fortunate enough to be able to stay home and be his teacher. Wow, I can't believe I just wrote a post without one cynical comment. I guess I'm proud of me, too!

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Happy Wheatland!

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Worst Blogger Award Goes To........

I know, I suck at keeping this up. It's been a busy couple of months! We're off to Wheatland tomorrow, which is always a blast, but heralds the end of summer. Homeschooling is in full swing for us, and I'm going to try to get my butt in gear and write about that more. I also started attending births again, after a 6 month dry spell. It's good to be back. Off to do more packing, but I thought it was high time I updated, or people might start to think I had died. Not that anyone reads this, but hey, you never know.

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Catch-Up Photos

She just keeps getting cuter!
Ronan earned a stripe on his yellow belt.
If only the older two were as crazy about each other as they are the baby.
With Twyla and Kim at a Donna the Buffalo Show.
My baby's losing teeth. Waaaaaahhhh! Where does the time go?
Rag curls for my girly girl.
Twyla's starting to crawl. Holy crap!
My performance at Weed Dance Weekend. So much fun- definitely the highlight of summer!

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