On the Homefront

Life has been full of late. Not in a rushed, busy, stressful sort of way. In fact, I've spent more time at home than usual over the past month. No, it's more of a pleasantly occupied, getting things done, counting our blessings kind of full. As we muddle our way through this challenging season of life, I have been trying to keep myself busy. I've been catching up on cleaning and projects that piled up when I was feeling too nauseated and tired to tackle them. While I can't contemplate my current burst of energy without a pang when I remember why I feel "good," I am determined to make the most of it. I need time to grieve, not brood.

Not that my little ones are inclined to give me much time for brooding! They're both so energetic and curious. I've been trying to spend more time lately focusing on them (rather than "co-existing" with them), which I've found remarkably fulfilling. We finally replaced our little free shelf with a full-size bookshelf -- with most of our children's books displayed (I had quite a few from my childhood and young adulthood!), I find we're reading together more. Plus, our wooden puzzles are now out of Rosa's reach, which means less mess to clean up at bedtime.

This girl LOVES her books. She totes them around as she toddles all over the house.

Sadly, my Canon Rebel T1i died in January (i.e., nothing happened when I toggled the power switch), but it's finally home -- what a relief to have my most used piece of "technology" back!

I've been trying to improve my eating and exercise habits, partly because that's just good to do, and partly because I'd like my body to be as ready as possible should God choose to bless us with another child soon. It's not that those things will somehow guarantee me a healthy pregnancy, but not taking care of myself is certainly not wise or responsible. I've also recently started applying magnesium oil transdermally (in other words, I used these magnesium flakes to make this oil and spray it on my legs and feet every night), and I've been quite impressed. Of course, there's no way to be sure the improvements I've seen are related to the oil, but it does seem ironic that the dishydrotic eczema that had flared up on my fingers and toes over the past few months disappeared within three days of starting magnesium. I also feel much more energetic and less irritable.

My sewing machine is whirring once again, and it feels good to have my creative juices flowing. I am in very great danger of sewing too much for Rosa -- now that she's walking, it's even more satisfying to make her clothes, just to see her toddle around in them! That, and I have a bit more time now that she's *sniff* no longer an infant. I am loving that her clothes require very little fabric, so I can buy a used garment for $1 and make something entirely new for her with it (or just use up bits and pieces of scrap fabrci). She's already got two little "upcycled" summer dresses, and another two made from stash fabric as I made various mockups of this babyGAP dress (mine came out a little more heirloom and a little less chic -- but I do love the tulip sleeves!). Ideas for a knit colorblocked tunic had been fomenting in my mind, and the result was exactly what I wanted, so I'll have to share that as soon as I get pictures.

Well, there's a little update of life in our household! Hopefully soon I'll have more pictures and fewer words (or, more likely, more pictures and more words...). I hope you're all having a lovely week!