I just passed a house on my street that had a basket of apples balanced on the wall with a sign that read: "Windfalls, please help yourself." While I do not know the woman who owns the house, I do see her cleaning her yard and her windows sometimes. I've only caught her eye once, when she was inside cleaning her window, and when I waved she waved back. The few things I know about her is that she has white hair, a ready smile, and a lot of apples, which she is happy to share with her neighbours.
The sign she had on the basket and her generosity got me thinking about blessings and the act of sharing these blessings. There has been a lot of "windfalls" in my life that have come unexpectedly but timely, which has made everything from challenges to simple day to day living more tolerable and enlightening. If a smile from perfect strangers on a bad day makes me feel better about myself, what more a squeal of delight from my three month old daughter? Or the look on my husband's face when I tell him about it?
I think we receive gifts from many unexpected sources, and because they are unexpected they are all the more precious and touching. I say, let's all take stock of these windfalls, appreciate them, and pass them on.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Saturday, 18 September 2010
CSI Junkies
I just wanted to share that Christian, Warrick and I are sitting in front of the tv watching CSI New York. With Sophie sleeping peacefully (cross fingers) upstairs. Just chilling on a Saturday night. Indoors. Nothing too exciting. Just the way we (currently) like it.
Sure, in the past we've chosen other means of entertainment. Usually outdoors. Just the two of us (me and Christian, not me and Warrick). This time around, though, we're perfectly in tune in agreeing that some inside peace and quiet can also be nice. Relaxing. Comfortable. After all, it's the company that counts.
Still, there's more to come. After all, couple time can be couple time in and out of the house. And there should be a balance between the two. Next week we'll work on being a couple outside. Tonight, we're working on being CSI junkies.
Can't think of a better way to spend the middle of our weekend.
Sure, in the past we've chosen other means of entertainment. Usually outdoors. Just the two of us (me and Christian, not me and Warrick). This time around, though, we're perfectly in tune in agreeing that some inside peace and quiet can also be nice. Relaxing. Comfortable. After all, it's the company that counts.
Still, there's more to come. After all, couple time can be couple time in and out of the house. And there should be a balance between the two. Next week we'll work on being a couple outside. Tonight, we're working on being CSI junkies.
Can't think of a better way to spend the middle of our weekend.
Friday, 17 September 2010
With a Huff and a Puff
I've just had a bout shortness of breath, care of an hour long exercise session with my personal trainer, Guy. Now, before you think that wow, she's so posh, personal trainer, la di da, believe me when I say that it was a last resort. I've tried losing weight by joining a gym, asking Christian to play badminton with me... hmmm... come to think of it, maybe a personal trainer was only the third resort. But it's the last one for me as I think it is the best one.
Nothing beats having a friendly if strict gladiator giving you instructions on how to start sweating like a pig in the great, cold outdoors of London. There's something fulfilling about running back and forth, jumping in one spot, boxing uselessly but breathlessly, and other such demeaning activities, especially if done in front of strangers who gawk at you. It helps in spurring me on to complete my sets faster!
So, anyway, back to the story. Today I had my first session with Guy after a nine months hiatus to, you guessed it, have a baby! Now that I feel reasonably fit with Pilates and mild weight lifting (given that Sophie weighs 7 kilos and counting!), I thought it would be a good, SAFE idea to try losing the baby weight. The session itself was a real eye opener, as I could tell that proving that I still had some life in me made me work that much harder. I did sweat a lot and I did raise an eyebrow in protest once or twice, but all in all I did better than expected. It's true I found the 8kg swing weight a challenge, but then again, I'm only used to Sophie and I certainly don't swing her around!
The pregnancy, birth and aftermath has certainly tested my mental and physical boundaries, and today was another way of strengthening both for the long journey ahead.
Nothing beats having a friendly if strict gladiator giving you instructions on how to start sweating like a pig in the great, cold outdoors of London. There's something fulfilling about running back and forth, jumping in one spot, boxing uselessly but breathlessly, and other such demeaning activities, especially if done in front of strangers who gawk at you. It helps in spurring me on to complete my sets faster!
So, anyway, back to the story. Today I had my first session with Guy after a nine months hiatus to, you guessed it, have a baby! Now that I feel reasonably fit with Pilates and mild weight lifting (given that Sophie weighs 7 kilos and counting!), I thought it would be a good, SAFE idea to try losing the baby weight. The session itself was a real eye opener, as I could tell that proving that I still had some life in me made me work that much harder. I did sweat a lot and I did raise an eyebrow in protest once or twice, but all in all I did better than expected. It's true I found the 8kg swing weight a challenge, but then again, I'm only used to Sophie and I certainly don't swing her around!
The pregnancy, birth and aftermath has certainly tested my mental and physical boundaries, and today was another way of strengthening both for the long journey ahead.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Prayers for Baba
Warrick had to go through an operation today to remove some bladder stones. He was so weak that Christian had to carry him halfway from the vet's surgery to our house. When I answered the door because Christian was holding him with both hands and Sophie in the baby sling, my heart broke. Warrick had his head raised slightly but had a very sleepy, "they wouldn't leave me alone" look. It wasn't easy to see him padding unsteadily through the house and wincing every five minutes as we tried to stop him from licking/ nipping at his wound.
I can only hope that as each day passes he'll find an easier time of it, and that he recuperates well. There's nothing more lump-in-your-throat than those big brown eyes staring at me with a little less spark than usual.
Your prayers for my baba are appreciated!
I can only hope that as each day passes he'll find an easier time of it, and that he recuperates well. There's nothing more lump-in-your-throat than those big brown eyes staring at me with a little less spark than usual.
Your prayers for my baba are appreciated!
Friday, 10 September 2010
What a Difference a Year Makes!
Christian, Sophie and I spent last week in Barbados, the exact same place where we honeymooned (belatedly) this same time last year. While the country and the people were as welcoming as ever, the main changes I noted were:
- Last year I could read books and watch magazines during the flight. This time I could still do both, but Christian and I had to constantly be on the alert if Sophie cried, getting fussy, or there was turbulence. We then had to stand, haul her out of the cabin cot and strap her to me or head to the bathroom to change her. Not a lot of nap time for me either!
- We didn't get to roam around as much on foot or by car this time around. A lot of what we did revolved around Sophie and her sleeping-eating-nappy filling schedule.
- A typical day last year would be us waking up at 9am to catch surfing lessons at 10am, then coming back in land after two hours of surfing, eating a hearty lunch and driving to a different beach to chill out everyday. We'd then pick a place for dinner and head out at 7pm, and stay out as late as we wanted. A typical day this year was waking up at 8am, feeding her until she went back to sleep, waking up at 10 or 11am when she did, dressing her in her swimsuit and lathering her up in sunscreen for a morning swim. Feeding her again at 230pm and lathering her up again to go to the hotel's beach area. We'd stay until she got hungry again at 5pm, then head inside, feed her and get ready for dinner while she snoozed. We'd either eat at the hotel restaurant with her in tow, or take out from Oistins to eat in the room while we took turns holding her in our laps when she fussed. Then it would be bath time at 8 or 9pm, bedtime at 10pm, and morning feedings at 3 and 6am.
- The time I spent in the sun last year was A LOT in order to get a good "holiday" tan. This time around I had to stay with Sophie all the time so I was also hiding from the sun, choosing loungers that was either under a low palm tree or under the big shadow of a beach umbrella. Christian managed to get a bit more tanned because of his surfing lessons though, but he is still nowhere as tanned as he was last year.
- I was able to take surfing lessons last year. This year, I was on baby duty! No surfing, but a lot of sleeping when the baby slept!
- Last year I bought 7 books on holiday and finished it within the two week time frame we were in Barbados, and I still had to buy a book at the airport to read on the flight home! This year, for one week I brought three books and barely managed to finish all in 7 days.
Still, the biggest change is:
Last year we were only thinking about having a child, this year we have one who runs our days and nights, squeals in frustration when she is lathered in sunscreen (she probably feels like a marinated piece of meat), and acts up in the most romantic restaurant because she is bored with the candlelit ambiance. As I scooped her up for the nth time to rock her back into calmness, I realized that there was no where I would rather be, and nothing else I would like to be doing.
- Last year I could read books and watch magazines during the flight. This time I could still do both, but Christian and I had to constantly be on the alert if Sophie cried, getting fussy, or there was turbulence. We then had to stand, haul her out of the cabin cot and strap her to me or head to the bathroom to change her. Not a lot of nap time for me either!
- We didn't get to roam around as much on foot or by car this time around. A lot of what we did revolved around Sophie and her sleeping-eating-nappy filling schedule.
- A typical day last year would be us waking up at 9am to catch surfing lessons at 10am, then coming back in land after two hours of surfing, eating a hearty lunch and driving to a different beach to chill out everyday. We'd then pick a place for dinner and head out at 7pm, and stay out as late as we wanted. A typical day this year was waking up at 8am, feeding her until she went back to sleep, waking up at 10 or 11am when she did, dressing her in her swimsuit and lathering her up in sunscreen for a morning swim. Feeding her again at 230pm and lathering her up again to go to the hotel's beach area. We'd stay until she got hungry again at 5pm, then head inside, feed her and get ready for dinner while she snoozed. We'd either eat at the hotel restaurant with her in tow, or take out from Oistins to eat in the room while we took turns holding her in our laps when she fussed. Then it would be bath time at 8 or 9pm, bedtime at 10pm, and morning feedings at 3 and 6am.
- The time I spent in the sun last year was A LOT in order to get a good "holiday" tan. This time around I had to stay with Sophie all the time so I was also hiding from the sun, choosing loungers that was either under a low palm tree or under the big shadow of a beach umbrella. Christian managed to get a bit more tanned because of his surfing lessons though, but he is still nowhere as tanned as he was last year.
- I was able to take surfing lessons last year. This year, I was on baby duty! No surfing, but a lot of sleeping when the baby slept!
- Last year I bought 7 books on holiday and finished it within the two week time frame we were in Barbados, and I still had to buy a book at the airport to read on the flight home! This year, for one week I brought three books and barely managed to finish all in 7 days.
Still, the biggest change is:
Last year we were only thinking about having a child, this year we have one who runs our days and nights, squeals in frustration when she is lathered in sunscreen (she probably feels like a marinated piece of meat), and acts up in the most romantic restaurant because she is bored with the candlelit ambiance. As I scooped her up for the nth time to rock her back into calmness, I realized that there was no where I would rather be, and nothing else I would like to be doing.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Second Anniv and Counting...
Christian and I just celebrated our second (civil) wedding anniversary yesterday night and, in typical fashion showing that times have indeed changed for us, Sophie managed to put her stamp on the evening. First, she did not want to continue sitting quietly in her chair and so Christian had to take her on his lap. While on his lap she decided to do a number two, thankfully before our food came. I tried to feed her discreetly in the bathroom lounge and Christian hurried down to the car to change her as there were no chaning stations in the bathrooms).
Still, we didn´t make it to dessert as she was fussing again, but it was just as well as we were too full of wonderful seafood and gorgeously baked chicken. One of the waiters came over, told me that he thought Sophie was beautiful, and asked how everything was, and I said it was great. After I said it, I realized it was true. Things are great, from the holiday we were lucky to repeat, to the baby girl we only dreamed of having this time last year. It has been one huge change after another, and while I understand why some couples make it or break it at this time, I can only hope that it continues to make me and Christian stronger as a couple, as parents.
Each year there is something more to be thankful for, and this year I am thankful for Sophie, for another year with Christian and Warrick that almost never happened had I decided not to stay on in London. I am also thankful for the adventure, the fun memories, and the love.
Ta.
Still, we didn´t make it to dessert as she was fussing again, but it was just as well as we were too full of wonderful seafood and gorgeously baked chicken. One of the waiters came over, told me that he thought Sophie was beautiful, and asked how everything was, and I said it was great. After I said it, I realized it was true. Things are great, from the holiday we were lucky to repeat, to the baby girl we only dreamed of having this time last year. It has been one huge change after another, and while I understand why some couples make it or break it at this time, I can only hope that it continues to make me and Christian stronger as a couple, as parents.
Each year there is something more to be thankful for, and this year I am thankful for Sophie, for another year with Christian and Warrick that almost never happened had I decided not to stay on in London. I am also thankful for the adventure, the fun memories, and the love.
Ta.
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