The Park Mom

My mom talks often about how she was a "Park Mom" when we were younger.  We spent a lot of time at parks and pools in Austin growing up, and I'm starting to understand why. 

What is this precious expression?!

I've found that stay-at-home-mom-ing is not "boring." Isolating at times, yes. Boring... not quite the right word. There is more than enough to do around here that I never manage to feel bored. Park dates, play dates, swim dates, gardening, walks, runs, spreading a blanket out in the yard: these are the things that keep me feeling connected with my friends and neighbors.  Mostly, I just can't stand the thought of being inside now that the weather is so dreamy. 

Juicy legs, perfect smile.

Yesterday we met two of Piercy's oldest (boy) friends at Zilker Park for some swinging and mom chatting.  The park is about to be a lot more fun for Miss P as she is very close to walking independently. She seems really frustrated by all the things she wants to do but which her body will not allow her.

Yet.

I spend most of Piercy's waking hours hunched over helping her walk, which I want and love to do but which my body does not appreciate.

Jellies

For now, swinging is a good compromise.

Warning: Adorable Baby Face

The other biggest hit? Wading in "Bargain Springs," the free, dog friendly, run-off version of Barton Springs Pool where Greg and I used to always sit and chill our legs after long runs at the trail. We'll definitely be taking Daddy there later this week when he gets home from his trip. Piercy is sure he's never seen anything so enchanting in his whole life! I could almost see her thinking what she'd tell Greg if she had more words to use.

"You get to walk on rocks in your jellies, and then your feet get really cold and wet, and you get to pet other people's dogs, and you get licked in the face, and there are ducks, and there are big kids to watch, and the water is whooshing by really fast, and...."

Little Howler Monkey

So I guess I've done it again, and become in just another small way, my mother's very own carbon copy.  Greg teases me all the time that there never were two more similar people (which is only half the story, because we really are different in many ways too).  I guess I've become a young Park Mom myself.  The best bonus is the kind of sleepy that Park Babies are after spending a day running wild.

Have I Mentioned...?

Have I mentioned that when I'm in a blog lag it usually means my cuticles are also a mess, my life feels out of whack, the laundry is probably piling up, and there may or may not be multiple illnesses in my household?

The lack of blogging does not cause these things, but life does. The absence of sleep, run of the mill gastroenteritis, marital bliss, and no exercise routine (i.e. no endorphins) causes this for me.  As we speak, I have a garage full of gigantic, procreating crane flies buzzing around the florescent lights at my "laundry desk" that illuminate more mountainous a pile than they have in a while; an inbox full of barely answered emails, Facebook messages, and texts; a husband who was probably happy to hit the road after a week home with the Wicked Witch of Central Austin; and a toilet bowl that's been cleaned approximately 35 times in the last three days. Okay, that toilet estimate is really conservative.

Oh, and another thing...

That gastroenteritis?  I think I gave it to Piercy.  Right after I took...

This Picture...

...with my iPhone, she made it clear that, despite having been thrilled to discover that she could blow bubbles for the first time, there was an intestinal squall headed south. Can you see it on her face? Ohhhhh boy.  It cannot be said enough, parents who cloth diaper, God Bless you.  She was wearing one of her many cloth swim diapers today for our inaugural Big Stacy Pool swim.  Pobrecita!! I'm so thankful she waited until after we'd finished swimming.

Tonight during Preciosa's bath, we were practicing blowing bubbles together, and she was so overtly thrilled with herself.  First, let me give you a quick look into our (only) bathroom where the old-fashioned tub is a little deeper than most, and I'm leaning over the edge to get my lips into four inches of water as a means of coaxing Piercy into the fun. Ridiculous.  Back and forth, back and forth. I foolishly contort myself, then she follows, easily folding her little Bendy Baby Body over to place her mouth in the water.  This goes on for a dozen minutes or so, and I even got a little video clip to send to her Daddy.

When I realize that this bath has become The Longest Bath Ever Taken in The History of Baths, I quickly start the clean up song and look over to watch her take a... gastroenteritis-inspired... number two. In the tub. Sickening, and maybe funnier than gross.

There has never been such rapid slippery baby whisking-out-of-the-tub.  Or maybe there has, but we were at least close.

The clean up, well, it was not so rapid.  I had to let it stew while we 1) Completed bedtime routine, 2) I bathed the stinky dogs who played in the creek today, 3) I cleaned some of the grosser dinner dishes, 3) I started a load of laundry, 4) I Facebooked the whole episode (hello?!).

So that's it.  I think that's what I needed to knock me out of the funk.  Her first, big funky yuck in the bathtub.   Well played, Piercy!

And for the record, Gregory, I love you to pieces.

Love,

Your Meghan Very Own Wicked Witch

Best Ever

It's March.

I love March.

I love that March 2nd is Texas Independence Day.

I love that I can still hear my seventh grade science teacher say, "March fo(u)rth! A day of action!"

I love that March 5th is my very own special birthday, and that this year, my first waking thought was of thanks for my dear mother who labored to bring me to life 27 years ago. Ah, perspective!

I love that March in Austin, Texas is busy. Busy as in Rodeo Austin, Zilker Kite Festival, South by Southwest Interactive/Film/Music Festival, Spring Break, St. Paddy's Day busy. Busy as in can't find a seat at your favorite haunt. Busy like you swear you'll never get in your car again to sit in traffic with a bunch of out-of-towners, but also busy like you can't believe that you're lucky enough to live in the epicenter of busy-ness during the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

And I love that March means rain, or wind, or rain and wind, or cold, or snow, or sun, or sunburns, or heaven.  At eleven days in, we've had all but one of those (snow) weather events. Today, as the sun emerged for the first time in four days, our garden fairy that holds the rain gauge sat quietly with 3.25 inches of rain in her glass. This, friends, is more of a blessing than most could fathom.  Last year's drought was exceptional, and we are thankful for the relief. The trees are budding out, the wildflower seeds are pushing through the mulch, and every living thing seems to be thankful to have made it through the dreaded summer of 2011.

Obligatory photo montage.  Keep scrolling... the Rodeo snapshots are to die for.

Floor Refinishing Project

70 Year Old Floors Before

Freshly sanded!

Gardening

Cauliflower Harvesting

My friend who emerged while washing the cauliflower

Zilker Kite Festival

Let's go fly a kite!

It's an optical illusion

Who needs a hat?

With Ally Cat

Precious Allyson and Piercy Joye

Scrumptious

Rodeo Austin:

First Pony Ride

Longhorns with Daddy

Cheep-Cheep!

Lemur-licious

Petting Zoo

Smiling Camel

Goats!

Kisses

Frozen Custard Smile