The Gift

Men have the gift of sleep. I know a few women who have this gift too, but mostly men. I think God gave men the capacity to sleep just about anywhere, anytime. It is this special gift that allows them to totally "check out" for a bit, turn off their brains, and escape from the stresses of work and caring for a family. I remember after Phoebe was born, being sleep-deprived to the point of insanity, desperate to somehow acquire this ability to spontaneously sleep like the dead. We women just cope differently. God gave us the gift of gab-which we use freely to vent out frustrations to one another, or to share a funny story that ends in a fit of side-stitching, teary-eyed laughter with a friend.

But men? They can fall asleep in anything that moves-cars, trucks, trains, planes. You might find them asleep on the couch, in your favorite rocker, outside on the patio furniture, in the park, or in a chair at the mall, while waiting for their shopping wife. And if they really need a nap, they may even doze off while watching football, reading a book, getting a haircut, OR...widemouthed in the dentist chair!

Okay, maybe those last two are exclusive to my husband. You see, as far as the gift of sleeping goes, this guy is blessed! This is a man who walks past a park or a field and says with great admiration, "Ooh, nice sleeping grass." I recall one Saturday afternoon back in our California home. Xee noticed the sunlight streaming through the french doors in the kitchen. He layed down in the sunlight and sort of jokingly said, "Ah, I could just take a nice nap right here in the sun." I ran upstairs to toss in a load of laundry, and when I came down he was passed out, flat on his tummy, in a tiny pool of his own drool. I mean, who does this? Who falls asleep on a hardwood floor? Um...apparently, my husband does! (Too bad the battery in our camera was dead when I went to capture the moment.)

Right now Xee is is his office, enjoying a blissful little slumber while the landscapers are blasting away with the mowers and the leaf blowers. And I am out here admiring this gift. I have stopped coveting it, because it it shall never be mine to attain. So I am happy for him. Let him sleep. Let him drift away and escape for just a little bit. He needs it. He deserves it. If the gift of napping keeps him going and going, doing all that he does for us, each and every day...I too, am blessed by the gift!

Fashionista Does Modern Dance and Princess Praises!

I thought I would share a few clips of Phoebe in action. She is such a little dancer, continually exploring her improvisational style of movement and experimenting with new moves!

Just before this video, Phoebe was dancing and she stopped abruptly because she decided that she needed to wear every piece of jewelry she has. Then she asked me to start the music again...

In this next little clip, Phoebe is doing a little impromptu worship (and watching herself in the window reflexion). So cute!

(Translation: "God you are awesome! God, you have your Holy Spirit in our hearts!")

Okay, now I have asked her to turn around and do it again for me. She gets a little sidetracked. This one cracks me up! Be sure to read the translation :)

(Translation: "You're awesome. Your Holy Spirit......I AM DOING MY STRETCHES... I think, God, do you not mind me doing my stretches? GOD-Do you not mind I am doing my STRETCHES, Lord?.............Jesus, You're awesome!")

:)Ha ha ha! Silly girl!

Pictures of the Kiddo!

I was on the phone with my sister the other day and I mentioned Phoebe's new haircut. Then I realized she hasn't seen it...and neither have any of you! I have been a bit behind on posting pictures, so here are a few from the last few months (both before and after the new do-which is absolutely adorable by the way!).


Carefree, blissful, kiddo fun!


A special girl's lunch on my birthday with my very best girlfriend!


Sand play is serious business around here...

We love tea parties so much that we even have them on the beach!!

Cozy with Daddy after a beach day :)

Just chillin'!

It is so fun to create in the kitchen....

Checking the computer for a recipe-just like Mommy.

While sporting matching jerseys with her daddy, she also wanted to wear the tutu...that is just so Phoebe!

Breakfast has her seal of approval.


The girl rarely naps these days...but sometimes a little quiet time in front of her favorite show can induce a sudden, temporary comatose state. You can't fight it every time, little Miss!

Blowdrying her hair!!

A little light reading.

She's looking more and more like a little lady these days. Slow down, would ya Phoebe?

Blissful Mommy Moments And One Not So Lonely Chair

For most of Phoebe's young little life, we have spent a portion of our day in our rocking chair (actually it's a glider, but we call it a rocker). When she first arrived, the glider, then strategically placed in the living room, was often my saving grace. Little ones change so quickly. The bedtime techniques that Xee and I have employed have shifted with her various stages.

When Phoebe stopped nursing and was sleeping through the night, the rocker was a place for winding down. I'd read her a couple books and sing to her while she soothed herself by sucking on her fingers...and loving on "booey". More often than not, she'd fall asleep in my arms. The days have gone by so quickly. I'm not sure when it happened, but our recent phase of winding down has shifted to Mommy and Daddy's bed. Phoebe loves to enjoy a book or two...or three, in our bed, snuggle up next to me and drift away before she's gently transferred to her own bed.

A few weeks ago I was walking past her room, and a lonely rocker caught my eye. I stood there and looked at it for a while, with a sweet longing in my heart. That night I nonchalantly asked her if she wanted to read in the rocking chair. She thought about it for about a second and said, "Nah...Can we read Curious George?"

Last night the little munchkin was having a bit of a hard time settling down for bed. She tossed and turned in our bed, kicking her legs, restless and wide awake. I didn't ask. I scooped up that great big baby girl and headed for the chair. With her head off to one side and her legs dangling way off to the other, we rocked as I hummed. Within a matter of seconds, my sweet girl was completely out!

Funny. Seconds earlier I had felt exhausted from the day. I couldn't wait to have a little personal space. Yet here I was glued to that chair. I sat there for the next half hour, just staring at her precious face. Watching her chest move up and down and running my hand over her silky hair. Pressing my face into hers, feeling her breath on skin...time stood still for just a minute.

Then a fluttering thought came and went, but a reality nonetheless. The inevitable. She's growing up. Though I can hardly imagine her ever being taller than me...one day she will be. One day she will rock a baby of her own in a chair much like this one. Of course I stuffed that thought into a deep, deep place in my mind and went downstairs to wash the dishes.

Tonight I tried to recreate the magic. Phoebe tossed and turned and declared, "I can't sleep Mommy!" Off to the rocker. After a few minutes of snuggle time, she said, "I'm sleepy now. Let's go back to your bed." Alright, I'll take what I can get. She's not going anywhere just yet. So for now, at least for now, I will rock her. I will sing. I will stare at her and smell her hair. And I will relish every moment!