no jacket required

We're back to the daily grind this week ... Work for me and lots of (boring?) indoor play for Malcolm ... So, the nearly eighty degree day that capped off our weekend was a true treasure.

Thank you, Cleveland! Finally!

A day to pull out the long-awaited, short-sleeved onesies (without anything layered on top)!

A day to explore the outdoors (and get some yard work done)!

A day to celebrate a wonderfully fun-filled week of spring vacation!

Malcolm was loving every minute ... And after running the length of the backyard, playing in the dirt, and rolling around in the grass, I finally captured him, red-faced, in the driveway:

Onesie: Toughskins (thrifted for $1.00)
Sweat pants: Carter's (thrifted for $0.50)
Socks: Circo ($1.00)
Shoes: Stride Rite (thrifted for $3.00)

It's hard to believe that, last year at this time, he wasn't even sitting up by himself!

This summer is going to be so different ... And so fun!

off the clock

I stumbled across this quote the other day and thought it was funny (and all too true):

"You can't see Canada across lake Erie, but you know it's there. It's the same with spring. You have to have faith, especially in Cleveland." ~Paul Fleischman

I'm currently enjoying a week of freedom during my Spring Break from the virtual school.

While the weather hasn't exactly been as "springy" as I would like, the "break" part of the equation is in full effect!

It's absolutely wonderful to just take things easy. To wake up when Malcolm does and to just spend the entire day doting on him ...

So often during a work week, I feel like I have to push him aside to get things done. I have to use means other than myself to occupy him ... Such as popping in his new favorite DVD ("Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures") and merely glancing his way as he bops along to the opening music.

Sure, he is no worse for wear. He's a happy kid. His needs are met. His diapers are changed. He's fed when he's hungry and read to when he wants to hear a story.

But, there's always that nagging feeling that I should be doing more for him. That he should be getting my undivided attention. I know that as time rolls by, and more children are added to the mix of things, my attention will always be divided to some extent ... So maybe this "lack of spoiling" my firstborn is currently receiving is a good thing.

Even so, it is nice to have those moments where I don't have to second guess and put one of my "jobs" in the backseat. For one, blissful week, it's just me and Malcolm doing whatever we want to do. Sure, there are various appointments in there too (for his eighteen month well-check and eighteen month portraits) ... But, for the rest of the day, it's all about him.

At least until he naps.

Then it's all about me!

Finally!

march madness (is over)

The only way to eliminate the madness a toddler feels after being cooped up in the house for the entirety of March is to shift the calendar to April.

Although things seem to be cooling down again, we did get one nice day of running amok under our belts, courtesy of an afternoon at Gramma and Grampa's house.

Hooded sweatshirt: Circo (thrifted for $1.00)

WALL-E Tee-shirt: Disney/Pixar (thrifted for $0.50)
Fleece pants: Wonder Kids (thrifted for $0.50)
Socks: Circo ($1.00)
Shoes: Stride Rite (thrifted for $3.00)

I can't wait for this kid to really get a chance to explore their yard this summer.

He is going to absolutely love it!

virtual insanity

I signed up to take two e-learning classes this summer in order to finish up my master's degree (in Education) once and for all.

Although I am excited to throw myself into school again (as the student), I don't fully know what I was thinking.

I guess, last time when I took only one class, I was able to juggle it, a newly-walking one-year-old, a full-time teaching job, and a part-time tutoring position ...

Things are a little different now. I've gotten into a routine with the full-time job and given up the part-time one ... So, what's another class added to the mix?!

It doesn't hurt that work with my own virtual school will be over for the summer (yet I will still be required to be "in my office") as my e-learning classes really pick up, so I'll be looking for something to occupy my brain as I sit around the house in a state of suspended animation.

All logical reasoning aside, as much as I say I like to relax and just be, I also like to feel like I'm accomplishing something ... And what's better at making a person feel accomplished, than completing a master's degree?

It will be nice to finally end the process (about five years in the making) and have everything in place for when I need to renew my license in a few years.

I also figure that, on the family front, things will only get crazier from here on out ...

Malcolm is only going to become more mobile, and vocal, and independent ... He's not always going to be happy with reading the same books, or playing with the same toys, day in and day out.

He'll need more from me.

He'll need to be entertained and challenged and intellectually stimulated.

Our family (God willing) is only going to get bigger and more chaotic ... The number of "projects" that I can handle with one child demanding my attention will probably decrease once a second (or more?) is thrown into the mix. So I might as well achieve my current academic goals before something has got to give ...

Yes, now is the time to just go for it!

To take the leap and sink or swim ...

And, as I've said many, many times before, I don't do things "half way."

I'm a classic overachiever.

I'll take those two classes (hopefully earning a pair of "A's" to join all the others), complete my Graduate Comprehensive Exam, and never look back.

Then I'll get antsy and begin planning for my next advanced degree ...

Maybe Biology this time?

littlefoot

Just testing out the manual settings on my Christmas gift ...


And pleasantly surprised that (at least) his feet still seem little!