Almost 3

On the eve of your birthday, I remember back to when you were just so teeny tiny.  We wrapped you up like a burrito; You looked like this:

When you were a few months old, we took you camping, brought you to Whidbey, fed you baby oatmeal, and held you all the time.  You looked like this.  

As you got a little older and stronger, you started doing more things.  You learned how to crawl and sit.  You were so much fun.  

Here you are on your first Halloween; You were a bumble bee. 

And your first Christmas.

You were so funny, and you learned how to walk at 11 months; around Valentines day.

Here you are at your first birthday. 

That next year, you started to grow up FAST!  Here we are in Wisconsin.

That fall, you were a Violet crayon for Halloween.  

For Christmas you got G-raffe.  And we started to pack for India.

First we stopped in Paris. 

Then, India India India!! 

We came home, and it was Easter, and you turned 2. 

Well, this year has been wonderful, too.  Here you are throughout the year:  

Well now, tomorrow is Violet's birthday, and we are learning what it means to be 3.  She is a whirlwind of presence--  joy, frustration, creativity, beauty.  We are preparing to have about 11 of her favorite little friends over tomorrow afternoon....

And this is what she has to say for herself: 

Pea Soup for a Rainy Day

I'm just going to say it:  We have had some seriously nasty weather lately.  38 degrees, with sideways wind/rain.  A wet cold dark that just won't go away (although, admittedly, this afternoon I did see the sun peek it's shy shoulder for the first time in about a week...)
Really, this is the price we pay for such glorious summer days later in the year.  But it's hard to keep that in mind, especially when you're stuck in the house day after day with a restless 3 year old.

 Here are a few tips (and one recipe) for getting over the Seattle downers...

Go for a walk with a GIANT giraffe umbrella.

Find a library with a Clifford to dance around with.  We did this, and soon got shunned by the scary accordion-playing librarian (as if playing the accordion is somehow less disruptive to the library patrons...).  Whatever, it was totally worth it.

Attend story time run by said accordion playing librarian (Edmonds library). 

Bake cookies!! Just make sure you 1) use parchment paper 2) don't heat the oven too high 3) don't think that instant oatmeal works the same as normal oats when making oatmeal cookies.

Make pea soup!  

 I like this recipe for pea soup because it's super easy, and reminds me of fun childhood trips down the length of California, making a stop at Pea Soup Anderson's along the way.  It is indeed their recipe, and is perfect.  

Perfectly Simple Pea Soup

8 cups water
2 cups green split peas
1 rib celery, coarsely chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1 dash ground red pepper
1 bay leaf
salt
pepper

Combine water, peas, celery, carrot, onion, thyme, red pepper, and bay leaf in large kettle. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Boil vigorously 20 minutes, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until split peas are tender (add more water if necessary). Press soup through fine sieve (or don't, if you enjoy your pea soup on the lumpy side) and reheat just to boiling point.   
Garnish with cheese, sour cream, [turkey] bacon hunks, or whatever else you prefer on your perfect pea soup! :)

FishCam!

I have found a new end of the day relaxer.  It's my brother David's fish tank that he is web-streaming.  (Did I  mention I have the four most wonderful [and strange] brothers on the planet?)  His ladies are quite lovely as they float up, down, sideways, backways, and do nose dives through their watery home.  Just the right kind of zen I need at the end of the day.
You can watch them here:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/jmhsrv-fish

Feeding time is especially fun: around 6:20am and then again between 8-8:30pm  (this is when things get really exciting :)  Tune in!

Our new gym.

Last night I was lying in bed with Chowder curled up next to me, and suddenly I rolled over and woke to this sharp sharp pain in my arms.  What on earth is happening?! In a half awake state, I thought maybe the cat had bit me, or possibly someone was in our house, robbing us, taking my child, and stabbing my arm
Well, a mother worries.
Turns out, I am just extraordinarily out of shape, and the 45 minute yoga class I had taken that morning was making itself known.

It was pretty shocking for me to feel so incredibly butt-kicked after one Sunday morning yoga class.  There was a time when I was doing yoga 5 days a week.  When I was younger I was a competitive gymnast, and swimmer.  A dancer, too.  

So, how on earth did this happen?  

You know, when you become a mommy, you realize what it means to live an active life.  I have never considered myself really out of shape, especially since Violet was born.  If I'm not literally carrying all 30+ lbs. of her around like a pack mule, I am constantly running after her, or pushing her in the stroller...  bending down, standing up, lifting up, lifting down, etc.....
But, here's the thing:  it is not a complete self that I have been exercising.  It is the mommy-self, with the mommy muscles, and the mommy endurance, which isn't nothing...   but all of my other muscles; my body in its complete form; as well as my mind, have been feeling a bit neglected lately.
We all know how important exercise is, but I am realizing that the key to feeling better is actually taking the time to exercise in a way that is 1) intentional, and 2) enjoyable.   It's giving myself the gift of a true full body workout that has nothing to do with errands that need running, or being a mommy; Not allowing myself to be satisfied with two weekly turtle-paced walks to the library with Violet in hand.

In short, Tyler, Violet, and I are joining a gym.  This is big news for us.  It was a more complex decision than one might initially think--

Our goal was to find one with: 

1) childcare 

2) yoga and step classes (for me :) 

3) a pool  

And, (here's the tricky part) it had to be affordable.  Like, REALLy affordable.  

Also, scrupulously clean--  or at least appear that way.  I have a bit of a phobia of dirty gyms.   

We went on a bit of a gym hunt, and this is the gem-of-a-gym that we found.  It's a YMCA in Shoreline.  A little farther away than we had hoped for, but really only a 25 minute drive if we go in the middle of the day or weekends (which is what we're planning on).  

I think it's going to be really good for all of us.  Physically, mentally, a few steps in the right direction.  Also, they offer tons of classes for kids as Violet gets older-- swimming, dance, soccer....  all very fun.  

Thank You!

Certainly it must have something to do with the outpour of love and support I have received from all of you out there who read my last blog---   All of your good thoughts must have combined into one beautiful cloud of sleep dust that settled onto our home last night, because finally, after several weeks of no sleep, the Sprague family finally slept [with only one small night waking at 1am, and of course our "normal" 5:30 am rising].  But no hourly tears.  No bad dreams.  Just one night of sweet sleep.  

And the little thing woke up happy; singing to herself and reading Harold and the Purple Crayon to her animals at dawn.    

I am praying, begging, aching for this to last.  

Even the cat behaved himself!  

It is amazing what one small beautiful night of sleep can do.  We all felt so clear and happy and crisp today.  Many of the hard 3-year old moments were replaced with moments like these...  

In Remembrance of Sleep

I remember sleep.
The last time I saw sleep in its most complete and beautiful form was January 27th.
No joke.

This not sleeping--  I've heard it's a 3 year old thing, or 2 year old thing---  who knows.  I definitely feel as though I've written this same posting before...  But it's definitely become more and more of an issue lately.  On average I've been up with Violet around 4 times a night.  She wants water; she wants to rock with me in the rocking chair; she wants her heater on, or off.  She simply wants me, and she is most desperately sad about it.  
She comes pitter-pattering down the hallway and shows up at the foot of our bed.  She climbs in, wanting to sleep with us, then a few minutes later decides that no, actually, she wants to be back in her own bed.  So, off we go, back and forth and back and forth, two ladies wandering through the house in the wee small hours of the morning.


Well, then there is the cat.  Every time the little cat gets pushed out of place by the little girl next to me in bed, he remembers The Foot-Monster.  Some of you who own cats might know what I'm talking about.  It's our bed-feet that he attacks over and over again, with every tiny toe-move; we are finally settling back into sleep, and this lunatic cat is jumping around the bed like Zoro or Peter Pan, determined to kill whatever is under the blanket.
Friends, let me tell you, it's a three-ringed circus.  My only comfort is talking with other mommies, and realizing that this nightly charade is going on in other households.  Surely, soon, this phase will end-- right?

Sweet photo, maybe.  But those are some SERIOUS bags, mama!