Mama Bird

I have been watching this mama bird (maybe a wren - she's very small) build and rebuild a nest several times at the top of one of our front porch columns. It's a popular spot for nests each spring. We've seen baby birds over the last few years. This year has been especially stressful for the parents. Probably 3 nests have been blown down or otherwise destroyed so far this year. But now the nest is complete, and Mama sits dutifully on her eggs (can't see how many). She is committed to her task of keeping her babies safe. I can relate to that. Watching her sacrifice so much for her offspring is inspiring. And only too soon will her babies be able to fly on their own and take care of themselves. It's a big sacrifice, but I'm so glad my mother and all the other mothers in my family tree made it. And I feel blessed and privileged to be able to "sit on my eggs" and tend to my nest. I only have to think of this Mama Bird when I get tired and frustrated with my mother role. When I do, my resolve and willingness to do whatever it takes to teach my children how to fly on their own returns.

And Happy Birthday to my own Mama Bird! I love you!

Update

Turns out my tooth with its new filling is fine. Apparently what I was experiencing was just "all in my head"! (You've got to laugh at that one!) I'm back to eating crunchy and chewy foods.

As for the washer/dryer, I've decided to purchase the set. My plan is to do it tomorrow online, so that delivery will be pushed back to after our vacation. I'm looking forward to my new machines.

I just checked out two more books, The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options and Redux: Designs That Reuse, Recycle, and Reveal. I am enjoying thinking about the remodeling of our house in a new way - to make it functional, comfortable, healthy, and green, while trying to stay within our current walls (the outside ones, at least).

I'm still reading Do It Herself: Everything You Need to Know to Fix, Maintain, and Improve Your Home by Joanne Liebeler. Lynn, I would highly recommend it for you. It's written by women for women and has humor throughout. J has even read some of it and said he finds it "interesting". I recently said to James that I think J would make a great architect someday, and J thought of that himself and announced it to me the other day! He now wants to be an astronaut/scientist/inventor/architect. I think I remembered all the titles-between-the-slashes.

Swimming, Dentist, and Washer/Dryer

Swimming lessons are going great for both kids. MC has learned how to blow bubbles in the water, which is the first step. Now to get her to put her whole face in the water... J is advancing quickly. His teacher yesterday almost recommended for him to move up to level 3, but decided he is probably good where he is and can use this time to refine what he's learned so far. He is trying everything asked of him and building on his confidence as a swimmer more and more. Both kids seem proud of their accomplishments so far and James and I are certainly proud of them too.

Yesterday I went to the dentist to have a filling replaced. Afterwards it was extremely sore and sharp pains came when I bit down or even accidentally closed my teeth together. The dentist actually called me at home last night to see how I was doing and when I described what was going on he said I should come back today to get it fixed. He mentioned something about preventing a root canal! My imagination is making this thing turn into major oral surgery. If I do have to have a root canal, they had better sedate me.

I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new washer/dryer set. Our dryer is 15-20 years old and not working as efficiently as I would like. Our washer was purchased and installed the weekend before J was born. It still works fine, but the new front-loading washers are so much more water and energy-efficient that it might be worthwhile getting a new washer too. I just joined Costco, and they are offering a good special on a Whirlpool Duet washer/dryer pair. I have to purchase them online before this Sunday to take advantage of this offer. If anyone has any advice, please let me know.

My Latest Thoughts

Today the kids have swimming lessons at the neighborhood pool (assuming the weather cooperates). J just figured out how to swim on the surface and underwater without holding his nose. He goes as far as he can for as long as he can hold his breath. He begins at level 2 today, but I expect this summer he will advance quickly. MC is repeating level 1 after a one-week hiatus. We will be at the beach with access to a pool in a couple of weeks, and I'm hoping they will solidify what they've learned so far.

Last week was Vacation Bible School at church. Both of my kids went and had fun too. Imagine that! I led the daily storytime for the whole group (which was around 80 kids) each morning. I had fun as well.

I checked out 3 books from the library last week: The Simple Home, How to Work with an Architect, and Do It Herself. So I've been thinking and dreaming about how to simplify our lives within our home and it's been an enjoyable thought process. Up until I read through these books, I'd been thinking that one day we'd have to add on to our home to get what we want out of it. But the theme throughout that I've discovered is that having less and more flexible space may be more suited to who we are as a family and what I want my kids to learn from the experience if/when we make significant changes to the house. Apparently a lot of people add on to their homes and then find they have spaces that they don't know how to use - wasted space. If/when we add on or remodel, I want to have the least possible impact on the environment while staying within our budget (which I hope to keep as small as possible). So I'm now walking around our house thinking about how we could change it on the inside to maximize our space function and suit our lifestyle and values.

My kids really are good friends and for that I am truly greatful.