About a year ago, Tim and I were closing up our apartment in Norway. The movers had come, we cleaned up, sold off stuff, and were staying in an Opera apartment. Sara Ellen was tiny. Here is a photo soon after getting home, a photo of her with Tim and with me. We hoped to crash at my parent’s for just a few months. Well, it’s been almost 12 now and it will be a few more.
Part of me continues to miss having our own home. A new country, with interesting people and places to visit, and our own apartment which we ran as we saw fit. But I always remember how lonely I often was, and how far away we were from family who couldn’t see our new addition.
In all this time Sara Ellen scooted, crawled, cruised, walked, and now runs. She is even plopping or climbing backwards down the stairs. And we finally have gates at both stairways on the main floor! She is now tall and able enough to to reach and pull open doors with lever handles. This was a big problem with the basement because it’s well-used by people and cats, so locks wouldn’t work. Until this week we barricaded it but whenever someone went down, the block had to be fixed. She is saying something like “momma” and “daddy” but those words get applied to all kinds of things, people, real or photographed, animals, etc. She points at the ceiling a lot. Has gone back to eating her toes. She can climb safely off our bed. She loves emptying and refilling, dancing (boy does she boogie - so much fun!), looking at books, picking up gumbballs outside, seeing dogs. She used to just watch me brush and floss, now she wants to do it too. She even likes washing her hands. She knows where the paper recycling goes, and copies my hand gesture which she understands for “gone”, “finished”, or “done”. She also understands lots of words, hug, kiss, yogurt, cheese, up, and probably more. I have introduced her to the church nursery because running around the small chapel and collecting pencils during church has become too distracting. She had wonderful relationships with the adults in her life. She sees other children during La Leche League meetings. We usually attend the 11am sunday service and there aren’t many kids in the nursery, but I learned the children’s education director has her two daughters there every other week.
Tim is still working for Opera Software. Right now has him in a strange position but I’ll let him explain. He is also doing volunteer work for a website that uses the webhost he is familiar with. He practices handbells at church once a week a rings during church once a month. Tonight he is off to host an Opera User Group in Silver Spring. We see his mother about once a month and his dad’s family about once a week.
I have been rehearsing for our June recital, and should begin learning my solo in the next few weeks. I’m really excited and the two so far are going very well. I became an Independent Mary Kay Consultant a couple weeks ago. I’m slow starting, mostly because it takes money to make money. My first party is this Saturday though I helped my director/pastor’s wife give homeless men and women facials at Calvary’s Winter Relief on Sunday. Motherhood is my biggest and best job, and the most challenging in so many ways, emotionally, physically, and in the time it requires. I’ve learned what baby (and mom) clothes are easiest for us, what products are unneeded, and some which might be useful. I’ve learned you should avoid an episiotomy during if at all possible. I’ve learned how crucial it is to our, yes our happiness that I have alone-time! I have happily reached 140 lbs, gradually, but would like more toning by doing the workout I learned at the chiropractors.
Life would be quite different if we had our own home, but I’d like to. I also want to do well with my new business, without being a pushy saleswoman. Are you happy with your skin care? Looking for fun new cosmetic colors? 
Seriously.
I’m looking forward to having our own place with *all* our stuff together within easy reach.
We’re taking a day-trip to Annmarie Garden in Solomons Maryland and then will share dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.
