Weekend Pics: A Night Walk Downtown

After cuddling in and watching football all day on Saturday, we decided to bundle up and take a night walk in downtown Portland. We had so much fun and Seeley loved seeing all the lights and buildings. She especially enjoyed looking in restaurant windows and saying, "ooooooo". Luckily the people trying to eat their dinners thought it was funny. It's pretty great that we get to raise our daughter in such a beautiful city.

 

Stress, Growth and All That Stuff

First off, I feel silly. I'm not working all day to put food on the table, or struggling to take care of my family. My problems are definitely privileged. That said, life isn't a competition. I've been stressed. Mostly it's my darn anxiety acting up. Anxiety is a real killer when you're a stay-at-home mom who also happens to be a perfectionist. Is she watching too much t.v.? (Answer: yes. But the girl loves Curious George!) Is she spending enough time socializing? (Answer: of course. We spent three hours, THREE, at the park on Monday and had a three hour playdate yesterday.) Her development is skyrocketing. She started counting (to two, but still!) and identifying colors. She says new words everyday. I have a lot to keep up with. I'm trying to keep in mind one of my most important parenting philosophies of nurturing her personality and letting her grow without hovering. But it's easier said than done.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but taking care of Seeley, but I'm finding I have less and less time for myself. Writing poetry is important to me. I'm going to write and (hopefully) publish poetry for the rest of my life. I want to go to graduate school in the fall of 2015 to get a Master of Fine Art in Creative Writing and teach at the Community College level (hopefully). In typical Tanya fashion, my plans are rigid and defined. But I haven't written a poem in weeks. I'm too tired at night (did I also mention that her growth spurt is making her wake up a million times a night?) and too busy during the day. I don't have a solution, I'm just wondering where the time went? I'm sure this is common among all parents, especially stay-at-moms planning to return to a professional career. My previous work experience is falling further and further away and Seeley is getting closer and closer to school age! And where does that leave me!!! But enough whining and freaking out. Seeley just told me she pooped and is now jumping on the bed in said poopy diaper. Time to put writing aside for the moment and get back into mom mode:)

Seeley Turns Two (Part Three of Three)

No trip to Missoula is complete without fun time with Seeley's aunt Shamara (aka aunt girl)! We visited a local pumpkin patch and little girl had a blast. Now to look forward to Christmas!

Seeley Turns Two! (Part Two of Three)

Missoula sure is a magical place. I can't wait to hear what Seeley thinks of it when she's grown up. While I took care of gma Susan, grandma and grandpa Joscelyn took Seeley all over town and she seemed to have a blast. She even learned how to skip (or just throw) rocks into the river! Enjoy some more pics from our wonderful visit to Missoula!

Two Year Mama (Part One of Three)

We're back! We spent a wonderful week in Missoula celebrating Seeley's second birthday and helping my mother recover from surgery.  It's been amazing watching Seeley get to know her family. From having to reestablish familiarity every visit, she now practically runs to the door and immediately goes to her favorite spots in grandma Susan and grandma and grandpa Joscelyn's homes. As Seeley's personality develops and we see how funny, smart, kind and social she is, I'm realizing that all these vacations, adventures, made up games, etc. are shaping who she is. Early childhood is such an important time for shaping ones worldview. Everything is novel. Everything is approached with a clean slate. That's why I love every second she spends with her family (plus it takes a little pressure off of me!) Will she love animals based off her time playing in the backyard with my mom's dog Charlie? Will her love of nature be rooted on throwing rocks in Rattlesnake creek with grandma and grandpa Joscelyn? Will she love making friends because she spent every day of summer at the park making new friends every day? This family time establishes roots and creates that safe space ( she'll always have a home and someone to hug) that everyone needs and deserves.

For Seeley's birthday party we had a wonderful get together at Wes' uncle Toms gorgeous home. Take Mackenzie River Pizza and Bernice's Bakery cake, some birthday presents, some locally made beer, and some wonderful family, and you have a good time!!!

Great place for a party, right?!

These birthdays keep sneaking up faster and faster!

:)

Mixing and mingling. Seeley is probably running around like a crazy person somewhere.

Party food!!

The birthday girl and her grandpa.

What's a Portland girl without her rainboots?

Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled!

Proud parents :)

Around These Parts...

Happy Fall! Can you believe it will be October this week?! Crazy. There's been a huge rain and wind storm here in Portland so we've been housebound the last couple of days. Seeley has also decided she doesn't want to nap, making the last three or four days interesting to say the least. What is it about babies changing their schedules randomly? I know we're really lucky to have a baby that falls asleep on her own and sleeps through the night no problem. But lately she refuses to nap and has a huge cry before she'll sleep in her crib! I know it will pass, but it sure is hard spending an hour or two on bedtime! We think she might be fighting a cold and hopefully we can get her better before her birthday (in 14 days!) so we don't have a repeat of the epic birthday cold of 2012.

Despite her lack of sleep, Seeley is still super active. In October one of our favorite activities for littles, The Southwest Community Center Indoor Park, opens and I couldn't be more excited. Imagine a huge gym full of toys, a bunch of wild kids running off their energy for an hour and a half, and a bunch of parents sipping coffee and enjoying their bit of time to space out. Sounds great. Enjoy some pictures of our indoor adventures!

Fall stomping shoes!

She's all about climbing, tumbling and rolling lately.

Fantastic vegetarian cookbook I'm reading. Super Natural Everyday by Heidi Swanson.

Wes making his favorite Thai pie pizza. I cannot get enough of that pizza.

Us

Seeley always giggles and smiles when we kiss. How long will that last?!

We found a break in the rain!!

Singing/yelling girl.

I attempted to make coconut curry with tofu...it did not work.

 

But the banana bread turned out great!!

Lunch at Seeley's tea table.

Girl time.

And we can't forget football time with papa.

A fall backpack for all her travels.

Second pair of shoes: Nike Air Maxs. Yes, we know she's spoiled.

And we can't forget the newest member of the family, Seeley's beta fish Elmo!