Stolen Glimpse

They didn't know I was watching, but I caught this moment and it made me smile. Daddy walks Daughter over to the tree, under the low-hanging branches. He lets her touch and pull the leaves. He tells her about the tree and the animals that live in our backyard. She is in awe.

What an awesome daddy.

Posture

There was a girl I knew in college. She was very pretty, thin, smart, articulate... plenty to be intimidated by. She also had the world's best posture. She never slouched, always walked with her neck erect and her head held high. Because of this, I thought she seemed kind of snobby, even though she was a very nice, friendly person.

Finally, senior year, I learned that she actually had metal rods in her back due to childhood scoliosis. That is why her back was always so straight and she had such impeccable posture. She never slouched because she literally couldn't. My judgment (which was largely based on insecurity and envy anyway) was based on something that this girl couldn't even help.

Despite the fact that I'm the arse of this story, I love it. It shows an extreme case of how our judgments are often not based on reality, but instead motivated by our lesser angels. It makes a perfect sermon illustration. (Matt should really use it someday.)

I wish I remembered this story more often. I am ashamed of how quick I am to judge others. This is one of the (many) areas where I fall far short of the ideals I profess. I could blather all day long about how God loves and values every person and how our job is just to love them, not to judge; yet I still put people in boxes so fast it would make your head spin. A quick subconscious analysis tells me whether I should feel inferior to and intimidated by someone, or if I can feel confident about my own skills and traits.

I try so hard to be better in this area. To not make snap judgments about people, to not fall into the trap of comparing myself with others (that's a game no one wins). To feel secure enough in myself to just accept and appreciate others for who they are.

Now that would be reason to hold my head high.

Wordless Wednesday -- Tub Toys

Fast Learner

Kate is learning new skills at an incredible rate!

Here is a video of her practicing pulling up, but only to her knees:

and just a few days later, all the way up to her feet with much less assistance!

What a big girl! We're so proud of her!!!

Swing Swing

I took Kate to the park on Saturday, something I'd been wanting to do for a while. There is a really nice playground there, with slides and equipment for big kids and little kids, plus regular swings and baby swings. Especially given that Kate's swing at home isn't a normal swing, but a "soothing center" I was eager to see how she would enjoy a real, back-and-forth swing.

She seemed to enjoy it, giggling as I kissed her knees or tapped her nose when she came forward.

What a great way to spend a late summer day!

Power Chick

Remember a couple years ago when every network had a show about powerful corporate women? There was "Lipstick Jungle," "Cashmere Mafia," and--the marker of any legitimate trend--an SNL spoof sketch called "Lady Business." Matt had a term for the leading characters of those shows: "Power Chicks." (Actually, I think it was Power-something else, but fortunately, this is the name that has stuck.)

Ever since then, "Power Chick" is Matt's term of endearment for my work persona. When I emerge from the bedroom in the morning dressed in a professional outfit, he says, "Look, Kate--Mommy's a Power Chick," and he encourages Kate that she can be anything she wants to be, including a "Power Chick like Mommy."

When, at two months postpartum, I started feeling really down and anxious about returning to work, I looked on Amazon for books about working motherhood. Amidst the titles for the working mothers themselves was a children's book called Mommy's High Heel Shoes. It's about a little girl playing in her mommy's closet after Mommy leaves for work, and thinking about all the different shoes Mommy wears for all the different things mommies do: going to work, making breakfast, working in the garden, walking the dog, going grocery shopping, going out with Daddy, etc.

Since discovering that book, Matt and I have referred to it often when discussing my working motherhood and our childcare arrangements. For my birthday, Matt even bought me a high heel shoe charm for my Pandora bracelet. I'm sure the charm is mainly intended for ladies with a shoe fetish, of which I am not one, but upon opening the box, I immediately knew the meaning of the gift from my wonderful, supportive husband.

I didn't buy the book right away, since $16.99 seemed like a lot to spend on a children's book, but once I'd earned enough swagbucks to get a couple Amazon gift cards, I ordered it recently, and Kate and I have enjoyed reading it. As the author intended, my hope is that it will help Kate understand why Mommy goes off to work every day, and that "Power Chick" is just one of the hats (or shoes) that women can wear.

Judging from her playtime the next day, I think she gets it.

Babyproofing

We've been gradually babyproofing for the last month or so--putting plug protectors in our unused outlets, installing cabinet "locks," adhering corner pads to the edges of our coffee table, etc. I also carefully draped several thick blankets over our brick hearth, so that at least a bump against it wouldn't result in a trip to the emergency room.

A concern we'd been discussing for a long time, however, was the tangle of cords under our TV table, which posed a major strangulation hazard. Matt bought zip ties to loop the cords up and hold them in place, but there was still the problem of the Internet router and other things that wouldn't fit in the shelf. As Kate started creeping and--like every child--was drawn to things she shouldn't touch, we found the under-the-TV area would definitely be a problem.

Add that problem to my desire for a less cluttered room and Matt's desire to upgrade our television, which was starting to develop a dark cloud near the top of the screen, the solution that emerged was.... flat screen TV!!

I know it sounds like an elaborate excuse, but seriously, there are many benefits to this plan. Personally, I think it was worth the price of the TV to take the arrangement of our den from this:

to this:

Even with the books, mugs, and gadgets still covering every other surface in the room, I love how much more open and less cluttered the room looks. (and yes, Matt loves the TV and put The Godfather in the DVD player immediately) And most importantly, Kate will be safer with the TV table and mess of cords gone and the bookshelf tethered to the wall to prevent tipping when she starts climbing. Woo hoo for babyproofing!