I always used to love the thought that, until we added solid food, I had managed to grow the entire child all by myself. Ah, the hubris of a bf’ing mom.
(A roundup post with links to my notes and reviews)
Hey, what happened to all those booklists you used to have in your sidebars at the old blog?
They're still accessible at melissawiley.typepad.com, where this blog lived from January 2005-March 2008. You can also find all my Lilting House posts there, or try the search bar here. All my previous Bonny Glen and Lilting House posts have been imported to this site.
Every day is complicated, messy, and full of friction. And every day has glorious or cozy moments worth celebrating. I seldom bother to chronicle the friction and the mess because writing time is fleeting and precious—and childhood even more so. I’d rather capture the small joys that I might forget—or take for granted—if I don’t take time to set them down in words.
(Excerpt from this post about Real Life, quoted here because I don't want anyone to be under the impression that things are always perfect around here! Heaven knows we are anything but. Perfect, frictionless, orderly? Nope. Happy? Most of the time!)
Be like the bird
Who, pausing in flight
On limb too slight,
Feels it give way beneath her,
Yet sings,
Knowing she has wings.
—Victor Hugo
Twitter Updates
“Exploration,” says John Stilgoe, author of Outside Lies Magic, “is a liberal art, because it is an art that liberates, that frees, that opens away from narrowness. And it is fun.”
Yes: it is so, so much fun, and that is why I write these posts all chattery with excitement over this or that connection the kids made today. (Or that I made myself!) I know I get carried away, but that’s the point, isn’t it, that way leading on to way has carried me away?
And yet—and yet—I think we are at once ‘carried away’ and made more fully present in the now, more rooted, by these relationships between ideas about things past and future. The joy of connection makes me want to celebrate this moment, this brief encounter with wild-haired child and broad-trunked tree, bus going by, sign on church wall, Scottish warlord creeping over the tower wall and startling the English soldier’s wife who has just put her babe in arms to sleep by crooning that the Black Douglas won’t get him. Child, laughing, shouting “Dinna ye be sae sure aboot that!” across the courtyard outside the library. How can I not celebrate this freedom?
Oh MY! I might just buy another ticket out so I could squeeze those chubby legs. So sweet!!!
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 7:49 amUtterly delicious. (I love how much your kids look alike — they do in photos, anyway).
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 amOh those sweet, sweet baby fat legs and arms!
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 11:05 amOh deliciousness! Hunka chunka chocolate legs!
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 pmAdorable! Love those chunky breastfed legs! There’s skin in there that’s never seen the light of day!
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 1:38 pmOh! Oh! Oh! Can we get some butter for those rolls? So squeezable!!!
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 1:45 pmSo so delicious!!!! What a beautiful family you have.
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pmHehehehehehe!
Chubby baby legs!
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 5:20 pmtoo cute
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 pmWe used to call my Mary Rose ‘Booga Chubbers’ but your Michelin Man has her way beat. Must be all that good chocolate you eat. Gorgeous photo besides.
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 7:59 pmOh, what is it about babies — they all have a “beefy” stage for some reason!
I am happy to subscribe to your blog. We will be taking a trip soon. I was very tickled with myself for adding your blog to my Google reader account.
Posted on April 24th, 2009 at 2:03 amOops. My link above is broken! Here is the correct one.
Posted on April 24th, 2009 at 2:04 amYou’ve obviously been reading books that you can’t put down while nursing!
He’s adorable!!!!
Posted on April 24th, 2009 at 4:05 amOh.
My.
Goodness.
You are clearly giving him the good stuff.
Posted on April 24th, 2009 at 8:47 amOh he’s simply scrumptious!
Posted on April 24th, 2009 at 11:34 amoh my is he ever cute!
Posted on April 24th, 2009 at 5:37 pmI always used to love the thought that, until we added solid food, I had managed to grow the entire child all by myself. Ah, the hubris of a bf’ing mom.
Posted on April 25th, 2009 at 10:23 amIt IS so amazing, Sue, isn’t it?!
Lissa……he is so adorable! I hope to meet him before he turns one…not sure when that will happen!
God bless!
PS…..we cannot WAIT to start playing in the backyeard…if it would just warm up and stay warm here!
Love, chari
Posted on April 29th, 2009 at 9:54 pm