Every Thursday for a Year (Week 26)

I was late in getting this up because we were in Portland for Thanksgiving.

Please, oh, Please

Please, oh please can someone stop time.

Despite all the craziness of the last few months, nothing and I mean nothing could have prepared me for how much my heart swelled and swoon tonight. We bathed Whitaker and Mae together for the first time. The squeal of delight that Whitaker let out, when Mae splashed water, can never be replicated. The smile that Mae smiled, after his squeal, can not be replicated.

I wanted to stay in that moment forever -- all of crammed into our bathroom where we were warm, laughing, happy, present, and with each other.

Mae giving Whitaker a massage.

Where are Mae and Whitaker?

For the last few months (or more - it is hard to keep track), Mae has loved finding things in a larger image. Here is my own version of, can you find Mae and Whitaker in the photo?

Yep, that is Mae in the pearl necklace "sash" and Whitaker being a big boy and sitting up playing with toys.

PS - This is an indoor Sandbox (aka volleyball court).

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 25)

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 24)

Giving Thanks 5

Today I would like to give thanks for bed time and wine. Enough said.

PS - Today is my nephew's, Luke Sanne, 5th Birthday. I would like to wish him a very BIG Happy Birthday and say thanks for being the first baby in all of the Kogut babies.

Giving Thanks 4

On this Friday, I am giving thanks for "perfect" weather. "Perfect" doesn't have to be 70s and sunny (I think what most people would describe as perfect weather) but a "perfect" when you pause, without thinking, and say, "this couldn't be more perfect weather!"

The other day I had one of those moments. It was a perfect fall crisp day with sun gleaming through the changing colors on the leaves. I went with a walk through the Arboretum (my perfect place) with my good friend Sarah and her kids. All kids were happy and equally as pleased with the weather as I was.

These photos are from Thursday at the Arboretum with Sarah, Lucy, and Baby Emmett.

Mae and Lucy playing catch.

Running

Giving Thanks 3

Today was yet another doozy of a day in the Cummings house. Mae has a cold, and lets just say she has been in a less than perfect mood. I haven't been as patient as I would like. So when today I went to go put on a pair of my shoes and there were tissues stuffed into the toes I almost hit the roof. It was yet another thing to add to my annoyance. BUT then I stopped - after pulling tissues out of the second shoe - and realized that was quite a little surprise, albeit, not one that I was in the mood for. For my third day of giving thanks, I would like to say thanks for surprises.

How great are surprises? Even though I am the ultimate sleuth, I LOVE them. Back when Pearson and I were dating long distance, I secretly would hope, that he would surprise me one day and show up on my door step. Needless to say that never happened but I loved the idea of it and married him anyways. I loved the surprise of finding out I was pregnant (after the initial shock of). I LOVED the surprise of finding out the sex of my kids at their birth. I love the little surprise of running into someone randomly on the street. I love the surprise of finding a gem of a meal at a place where you didn't think it would exist. I love being surprised with a great gift.

In a life of too much technology, where you know where everyone is at any time and over scheduled, over planned moments, surprises are what I deem the simple joys of life.

Every Thursday for a Year (Week 23)

Giving Thanks 2

Today, I would like to give thanks for the ordinary day. A good friend of mine sent me a link to this video on youtube six months ago. The author talks about not taking for granted the ordinary day. For instance, although sometimes I don't want to pick Whitaker or Mae up for the 600th time in a day (because my arms are tired, my wrist kills, and my back is aching) that day will end sooner than I want it to. The note I wrote back to my best friend, Beth, after sending me the video rings fairly true today.

THANKS for sharing!! You knew EXACTLY what I needed today. I am sick, Pearson is gone for 11 days, it is 41 degrees and raining, I am bigger than I have ever been (no lie, I don't remember being this big when I was pregnant with Mae) and on top of it, Mae threw a tantrum (hurling body on the floor) for 20 minutesat a restaurant today. Then we left the restaurant (because that is how long it took me to the get the bill and get the hell out of there) and she proceeded tocry in the car for another 15 minutes and then another 10 minutes of a 25 minute walk with the dog (mind you in torrential downpour). As much as it sucked because lord did it ever, I know I will "miss" these moments.

For the second day in November I give thanks for my two kids teaching me that the ordinary day is pretty extraordinary with them.

****PS - I know I am not pregnant or sick or that Pearson is not out of town but it was a challenging day.

Interrupting Month of Thanks...

To report Whitaker is SITTING up all on his own. It literally happened over night. Yesterday he could sit up but would fall over after a few seconds. Today, he sat for long enough for me to go get the camera, get it turned on, and take pictures.

Giving Thanks

Can't believe it is already November. I am going to be cliche and say, where has this year gone.

In an attempt to be more thankful (it is the month, after all, that we celebrate Thanksgiving) and thoughtful about the plentiful abundances that we have been blessed with in our lives, I am going to dedicate the next month to the "Cummings things that we are thankful."

The first thing that we are thankful for is Pearson F. Cummings. It also coincides with his birthday. 37 years ago today God (and Johanna and Gary) created the most imperfect perfect man, husband, and father. Thanks for making our lives filled with many more laughs, hugs, kisses, and love.