Happy Friday!

Phew! We made it! It’s Spring Break, and Husband has been out of town for work this week. He got home in the wee hours of morning, just in time to celebrate BB’s birthday. He’s 8 today!

I cannot believe it was 8 years ago that my water broke and we rushed to the hospital to deliver him 4 weeks early. He was a tiny little thing, but he grew so quickly and got so chubby that Husband called him “The Baby Who Ate the Baby”. Now he’s tall and lean, built just like my daddy was, and he’s one of the kindest kids I’ve ever know. He has a compassionate heart and is a friend to everyone. Just yesterday, we were at the park when the little brother of one of BB’s friends fell down on his scooter. BB immediately knelt down and stayed with him until the little boy’s dad could get to him, comforting him and making sure he was okay. He is genuinely thoughtful and considerate, and he teaches us so much every day. We are blessed to be his parents.

I am off to finish up some birthday traditions that need to be done before BB wakes up, including streamers on his door and at his place at the table, and muffins and bacon for breakfast in bed.

Here are a few things that have been on my mind this week:

1. “I’m doing this for me.“ I’ve thought of this about a hundred times this week, when I’m tempted to feel frustrated when the dishes aren’t put back in the right spot (who decided the “right” spot?) or the towels aren’t folded the right way (is there only one?) or the kids’ clothes aren’t hanging perfectly in the closet. It’s like that quote about no one way to be a perfect mother but a million ways to be a good one. There’s a lot of margin for how things can be done in our homes and families, and I’m learning to have more grace for the ways that are different than mine.

2. I’m sure you’ve read this by now. I put it off until I could be alone and ugly cry if I needed to. I needed to. I’ve been a fan of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s since I read Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and wondered how I could relate so much to this woman I had never met. The book was lovely and funny and amazing and down-to-earth and charming and profound. I loved it and loved her immediately. (She also wrote the children’s books, Uni the Unicorn – BG’s favorite – and Spoon, which we read to BB about half a million times, and many others.) She will be deeply missed.

3. On a lighter note, this is amazing.

4. These wedding dresses. I haphazardly ended up on the Lost in Paris website when I was searching for ideas for a clothing rack. (My vintage clothing is taking over my workspace rapidly and needs a better solution.) I fell down the rabbit hole looking through Alyssa’s beautiful wedding dresses made from vintage lace and redesigned old dresses. They are simply stunning.

5. This made me laugh, because it’s true. Except I’m pretty sure my doctor is younger than me. When did this happen?

What are you up to this weekend? We are celebrating Husband being home, BB being 8, and all of us having a great Spring Break! Hope you’re weekend is a good mix of purpose, play, laughter, and love. Thanks for reading!