Complaining

I feel like I use this blog as an outlet for complaining. This is not good. I have SO much to be thankful for, and I'd like to share a few of my thoughts:

I never want to forget the sound of baby laughter. Oh sure, Gavin might be 2, but I still (and probably always will) consider him my baby. I love listening to him break into peals of laughter over the silliest things - Mr. Noodle on Sesame Street, putting pants on his head (he's entering the silly stage in which objects put in the wrong place are hilarious), running down the hall after Daddy, being thrown in the air or tickled by Daddy, etc. I think many of the world's problems would be solved if everyone could have access to the sound of a child laughing on a regular basis.

We ate a vegetable dish made entirely of vegetables from our garden last night! Zucchini, summer squash, and cherry tomatoes sauteed in olive oil and sprinkled with fresh chives (also from the garden) and garlic salt. Delicious. AND victorious. (See previous complaining posts for more information about our foray into gardening in balmy Tucson.)

As scary as it can be, I like to watch the monsoon rains. As long as I am safely in my home and not stuck in the rain or flooding somewhere, I feel very grateful that the rains water my garden and water the desert. The lighting storms can be fantastic, and the sunset under dark clouds is beautiful. It makes me want to take up oil painting again. Someday!

Boy do I love blueberries. Thank you, Thomas Jefferson, for mainstreaming such a delicious summer berry for America to indulge in.

I've actually grown to somewhat enjoy the Elmo in Grouchland movie. No, really - it has its own comedic charm and a few jokes only adults would understand. As long as I must watch it a few times per week, I might as well enjoy it!

I am SO thankful my mom and sister came to stay with and help me while Casey spent two weeks in Denmark. I miss them.

I am SO thankful Casey is home from Denmark!

I love homemade whole wheat bread and homemade strawberry jam. If there are two things that make me feel like June Cleaver or Betty Crocker, it would be these two. I could sure use an apron from Anthropologie to complete the picture, though. Oh, and a string of pearls.

And last but not least, I really am grateful to be pregnant.

3 Sides of Gavin

Smart (lining toys up, just like Uncle Reed used to)

Silly
Sweet

Reality Check

I miss artsy fartsy stuff. I used to attend symphonies, ballets, operas, art museums, and other associated cultural locales on a regular basis. Tonight I heard an Impressionist piece by Satie that I fell in love with and decided to share with my husband. As we listened to the soothing, simple sounds of solo piano wafting through the computer screen, I was taken away to that place where only classical music can take me - a refuge, a retreat; a fantasy...which was shortly broken with the loud sound of Farty Farterson at my side, who promptly brought me back to the reality of my own day-to-day personal symphony. Eat your heart out, Satie.