Small Talk

(Marlowe with Adoration. Kristina's daughter from Altogether Beautiful) 

Marlowe isn't exactly what I would call a "talker". She'll be one and a half years old in just a few short weeks, but she still won't mutter more than a handful of words (hardly a handful, honestly). Don't get me wrong, she gets her point across, just without words. I'm completely certain that if she really wanted to talk, she could and would. But she doesn't. Honestly, behind this screen, I'm not really a talker either (her dad too), more times than not, I've heard that at first glance, I come across mean or intimidating, but the reality is: I'm shy and quiet. I'm working on it, no really, I am. Not only do I pay more attention to my *bitch face*, but also, my general shyness has improved tenfolds since having a kid. My mom always jokingly (jokingly, right mom?) worried that I would NEVER talk to Marlowe and she would be some sort of mute. That's not the case. We chat a lot. I mean, I'll admitedily say: I won't ever sing to the girl because I wouldn't want to scare or traumatize her, but we do talk quite often and we read (not exaggerating) at least 30 books a day. I've had one person question why I'm not more worried about her developmental standing when it comes to speaking. I was... um... a bit offended? Babies and kids don't all learn the same things at the same time. I mean, how creepy, unoriginal, and boring would that be if every kid learned to say "mama" at the same age and day. We all learn things differently, at our own pace, and that doesn't make one advancement better or worse than another. Yeah, I mean she doesn't open her mouth to say more, but she communicates really well, she is incredibly smart, and she is excelling in so many other areas. I mean, the girl decided to start walking 3 days after her ten month birthday, she can now pick out just about any animal you ask her about (whether it be in a book, a puzzle, or bin of finger puppets), she can find (or put back) any item in the house you ask her to find (when she wants), and (very scarily) she knows how to pick up my iPhone, slide it to unlock it, go to youtube, and start playing baby einstein videos (you've gotta have good coordination for that!), among a million other things. We looked into the baby sign language thing, but after testing out a few videos, I don't think it's for us (I would like her to study ASL in the future, but right now doesn't seem to be the time). We do just fine without the baby sign language and I am certain that in due time, she will be blabbering full sentences. It'll be like this whole "MOM. I DON'T WANT TO TALK" thing never happened. 

Words she says now: "bye", "dd-dd- bed" (as in telling Jerry to "go to bed!"), "bird", "woof" (do animal sounds count as a words?), "moo", and for a short while she said "m-milk". Lately she has been making more noises that seem like she might be trying to say something, but it's really hard to tell. Like "Jerry"... sounds more like "Rer-ry", but she is often patting him when she says it, so I think it counts. 

When I went to visit the psychic (remember that story? geez. She was even *kind of* right about a second pregnancy-- crazy) she had told me Marlowe was a clairvoyant or a "crystal child". I googled clairvoyant, but didn't find much other than the definition. Then (months later) a few days after posting that ridiculous psychic story, I came across a few sites about "crystal children". A lot of it was (and is) pretty out there and mystical and what not, but I continued to read more and found that Marlowe was creepily close to matching up with every single trait listed. Honestly, this has nothing to do with anything, I think I'm only bringing it up because it's close to midnight and I'm hitting that delirious stage of the night... but really, she fits the list:

• Are usually born in 1995 or later 

• Possess large eyes with an intense stare 

• Have magnetic personalities 

• Are highly affectionate 

• Start talking late in childhood 

• Are very musically oriented, and may sing before talking 

• Use telepathy and self-invented sign language to communicate 

• Are even-tempered, sweet, and loving 

• Are forgiving of others 

• Are highly sensitive and empathetic 

• Are very much connected to nature and animals 

• Exhibit healing abilities 

• Are quite interested in crystals and rocks 

• Often discuss angels, spirit guides, and past-life memories 

• Are extremely artistic and creative 

• Prefer vegetarian meals and juices to "regular food" 

• May be fearless explorers and climbers, with an amazing sense of balance 

Besides the whole "discussing angels and past lives" thing she matches each one REALLY well. Especially the affection, music, and animal traits. I mean, really, really well. So yeah, I don't know much about this "crystal children" thing. For all I know, it's some sort of weird coincidence (probably is, remember, I don't delve much into mystical things), but either way: whatever. I don't mind my kid being late to the talking game. She's got it down everywhere else. And in her own time and speed, she will be caught up in talking too.... or maybe not. She is definitely an observer, and watching her now, I highly doubt she will be shy. But who knows, maybe she will always be the quiet, "weird" kid in the corner drawing and creating away, just taking everything in. That's okay too. She's a smart girl and I'm pretty certain she will always excel in being awesome.

What about you guys? Do you worry about your children fitting into a certain range? When did your kiddos (or babies) start talking? How many words can they say now? Are they talk-talk-talkitive? Are you? :)


Happy Tuesday!

Play Ball!

I'm loving this beautiful Florida weather. I love sticking my head outside the truck to feel a nice cool breeze. I love being able to make it home early enough (I'm usually home by 2:30) to spend some much needed time outside with Marlowe. When I come home she's usually napping, I throw my things down, jump in the shower, scrub scrub scrub the smoke and grease off me, get dressed (well, half dressed), and depending on the time and what's in the fridge I either: cook dinner or (preferably) prop my feet up on the coffee table and relax while I wait for M to wake up from her nap. She wakes up, we give big hugs, and then it's playtime-- lots and lots of playtime. Or actually, more days than not: it's story time, which is great and all, but how many times can someone read "Are You My Mother?" before going completely insane? "How could I be your mother?" said the cow. "I am a cow." sigh. So yeah, I'm loving this beautiful weather and so is Marlowe. On the days when I am too tired for a walk to the park, it's nice to be able to just play ball on the deck :)  Here's a little peek into our beautiful weather days...

hi mama!

plop down, put on shoes. 

points to outside. 

(please note the mess to the left and that the stroller is out! I'm getting much better at these things! There has even been a book under the ottoman for two days! Yes, I've been counting how long I can let it sit there. TWO DAYS. I'm also getting better at not vacuuming everyday. woot.)

is it playtime now?

YES!

yay!

I never want it to get hot again. Ever. This weather is perfect :)

ps: There's that smock dress, again! I'm thinking I might host another giveaway offering one to a reader. I know it's not warm enough in most places around the world (yet), but they are great for layering anytime of the year... and it has been freakishly warm in most of the U.S this week. BUT, I'm thinking I might switch it up a bit and host the giveaway on the ohdeardrea Facebook for the first time ever. Whatdaya think? Ya' into it? :)  I know I don't post on Facebook very often, but if you do follow along then you know a giveaway for one of my mobiles just finished on another blog! Don't miss out next time!  ;)

pps: Thank you ever so much for all your votes from yesterday's post. We made it up to number three! Thank you so much! Here and there, a few people mentioned that I should post a banner at the end of each post for a reminder... but that defeats the whole not spamming you idea! If you don't remember to vote daily, that's okay! I still love you! 
&: Yes, she's wearing a disposable. We still use cloth, but I don't make my babysitters use the cloth if they don't want to. 

One Year Old!

Marlowe turned one yesterday. Yes, one. This year has gone by at lightning speed. Each month that has passed, has been quick, but worth celebrating. I cannot imagine my life without Marlowe. She is my life and my world revolves around her. This life I have, is nothing I could have ever imagined, it is far better than any dream. Her joy brings me joy. &Her little tight gripped hugs are more valuable than gold. Happy birthday to my little babycakes. I hope you enjoyed your first year.

The party was wonderful. I'll be posting pictures later. We were completely set up and rained out, but it still came together in the end. That's just life, isn't it? I would have been a fool to sit there and cry miserably about the rain. The rain was out of my hands. We made the best out of the situation, and everything worked out beautifully in the end :)


ps. Thank you thank you for all the birthday wishes! M had a great day!

One More Thing...

If you follow me on twitter or facebook, then you've already seen this, but this is way too cute to pass up!

Seriously, I can't get enough. 11 months old and she is already a dancing queen! Love her. 

again, happy weekend! 

&good luck and safe-keeping to everyone in the path of the storm! <3

Heaven

I imagine, if there was a 'perfect' place, it would be here. Here, dreaming in her crib while the sun sets in through her window. It feels so completely comfortable and safe as a patch of light dances, warm on her sleeping back. I want to live here. I want to live inside that patch of sun. I hope she feels it as she dreams.

Marlowe

Sometimes I wonder if I've lost all sentimentality. I know at one point I was a sentimental person. Dates, songs, promises, and scribbled notes on paper all meant something to me. What happened to the romantic in me? The one who wrote poems and made love notes? I lost a lot of myself the day I realized the person I loved most could leave me at the most difficult moment in my life. It was almost a year ago today I found myself alone, lost, and incredibly scared. Love became a lie that people told to try to get their way. Fear of the future became my norm. Sentimentality flew out the window. What happened to the person who believed love could conquer all? I am here now... slowly rebuilding myself. It has been almost a year since I was forced to choose between the man I was with or my body and my baby. I was left alone because I would not compromise what I felt inside.
Here I am now: I am no longer scared and I no am no longer lost. I am happy. I am a strong woman, I am powerful, and I am in love again. I am in love with an amazing man. I am in love with the life I have created and the future I will live. Most importantly, I am in love with my darling child, Marlowe. I found a new hope through my pregnancy. I now believe pregnancy to be one of the most beautiful experiences one can live and one can share. Through pregnancy, birth, and motherhood: I've realized how truly powerful we women are. Through Marlowe I found a new light and a new hope to one day gain my sentiment back. I may not cherish every hair that falls from her head or the first outfit she wore home from the hospital, but I cherish her for everything she is and stands for. I cherish every new step she takes in her life and brings to my life. I may not cry looking through old photos, missing the tiny newborn she once was and I may not clap at every new milestone she has, but I do feel joy. I smile inside and out with every forward motion she takes to become more of the incredible woman we were all born to be. To love something, is to let it grow. My life has grown and changed in unimaginable ways over one years time. We are both growing, taking new steps forward, overcoming new obstacles, and letting the love flow in and through the happy lives we have created. Grow Marlowe, grow.

I love you.

In Her Little Face II

I don't think I ever truly realized what I looked like until I looked at Marlowe. I find myself studying all her little facial expressions, every feature she has, and all her actions and movements. I examine her in a way I've never been able to do with myself before. I've known what I look like: I am small with brown hair that gets lighter with seasons. I have seen my green eyes that get greener with my clothing choices and more grey with sunshine or tears. I have a nose, a mouth, and an average-smallish body and long fingers and toes. But since Marlowe's arrival I've noticed traits in myself that I've never seen before. It's like I have really realized my nose for the first time and I've finally come to understand the shape of my lips. I've noticed more the way my face scrunches or the way my eyebrows arch. I can see my complexion with the pink undertones. I've heard "She sleeps just like you, or maybe you sleep like a baby". I've noticed I stretch in the mornings the way Marlowe stretches. Or does she stretch like me? I now notice my thousand facial expressions that I've always made and I have now really heard the noises I create with certain movements I make or feelings I have. Marlowe has led me to finally see I have a million different features and traits and I am more than just a small girl with brown hair and green eyes.

In Her Little Face

I'm pretty sure any mother would agree her favorite thing is to stare at her newborns face. I am no exception to this, but I find myself staring at her face for so many different reasons. It's crazy how much she has changed in a weeks time. I will never have the way she looked those first few days in the hospital back. She is changed forever and I will only have that little look through pictures I have taken or the memories I have stored. I'm very lucky to have experienced those looks and moments at all.

I joked with my friends that I got myself pregnant because she only looked like me. The first few days of her life I would stare at her searching for her fathers face. I couldn't find it. I felt relieved. Throughout the pregnancy I feared his face in her. I feared she would enter this world and every inch of her face would be a reminder of him. I feared the pain this would bring me everyday. I was surprised when I didn't find his face in hers-- not right away anyway. About 4 days in I started finding reminders of him in her. She was changing and growing. Her feet and toes filled out and they no longer resembled mine and each day her profile grew more to look like him. From the front she looks only like me and from the side she looks more like him now (it's crazy how that works). But luckily it doesn't hurt and I don't feel that pain I feared. I still hurt when I think of him and I will never respect him again, but luckily, I don't feel pain or resentment when I see his face in my daughter. I only see her beauty. I have found I don't care who she looks like (honestly I would love if she got his eyebrows) and really, all I care about is her. The important thing is who she is, who she becomes, and how much love she gets from me. The absolute most important thing is that she is my daughter-- I have been there from day one and I will always find beauty in her regardless if her toes fill out like his or not. I'm happy to only feel love and not pain when I see her little face.