Markus has become such a big help around the house. Not only does he (usually) help entertain Deacon when I am busy doing 10 things at once in the kitchen, but he is starting to find great joy in his baby brother all on his own. This moment between the two of them really happened – as opposed to the “guys, make it look like you like each other” moments that I may or may not be guilty of capturing on occasion – and I was delighted to find them having fun together. Apparently Markus has a very interesting mouth.
“What’s up with Mommy?”
Too many late nights.
Too many cups of coffee.
Too many interrupted nights.
Too many simple carbs.
Too many baby-in-the-bed nights.
Too many birthday sweets.
This has got to stop.
I was having a bad afternoon, and needed to get ready to go out for supper with Clay. A birthday supper date was on the agenda. I knew I would probably be in a better mood if I put a little effort into the way I looked, especially after drying my eyes from a good cry. So I fixed my hair, and put on some makeup. I contemplated changing out of my jeans and plaid shirt, but I certainly am a girl who prefers comfort over fashion, so I wasn’t very motivated to get dressed up. I decided to consult my boys. They’d have an inside look on what my guy would like.
“Do you guys think I should wear this for my date with Daddy, or should I change into something else?”
“You mean, something prettier?” Their innocent faces inquired.
“Yes, something prettier.”
“Do you have any clothes that are pretty?” They wondered. We made our way into the closet.
“Yes, I have some skirts over there, and some dresses.”
“Where are the dresses?” Markus wanted to know.
“They’re over here. I have this pink one, a purple one, and this other one with lots of colours.”
“Well, I think you should wear the purple one, because that shirt is kind of something that looks more like what a boy would wear. Right?” An innocent smile and questioning eyes.
Oh Markus, you are too cute! The purple dress it was. I was freezing in it, thanks to the freezing rain and snow that fell while we were out, but it definitely lifted my spirit to remember my little man and his encouraging words.
A daily photo. What seemed so impossible two years ago has become doable. Manageable. A snapshot and a soundbite. There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes from looking back on two years of daily photos. A flood of memories. Satisfaction. A bird’s eye view of the blessings, forgetting the struggles under the surface. And yet…
Yet there are times when I have more to say. More to say about the blessings, and things to say about the struggles under the surface. They don’t make it to the daily snap. And instead of doing the 365 project well, and another personal blog with mediocrity, I’m going to merge the two. With photos I can paint you an idyllic picture of what my life looks like, but I don’t want to give the impression of ease. Life is not easy, and I have not found balance. I heard a wise women say, “There is no balance. You have to learn to live within the tension.” Welcome to the tension. There is beauty within, yet struggles abound.
And so begins Chapter 28.
Everyday life.
Messy stuff included.
Well folks, this brings my second 365 project to a close. I set out to document my 27th year of life in photos and I accomplished that. Thanks for the laughs...well, thanks for following along. Tomorrow marks a new chapter. See you then!
After this party we are done with Markus' celebrations (next time we will streamline the festivities! I am wiped!), which leaves one more birthday for March Madness - mine! Tomorrow will be my final photo of this 365 project, which is actually a 366 project this year, thanks to the leap year. Blog changes are coming after that, so stay tuned!
Happy Birthday to my Markus. You are an absolute delight!
