Sunday, July 31, 2016

Playing Catch-up

I've been waiting to write until I had something deep to share. Call it sleep deprivation or cuteness overload, but I'm operating solely in the here and now these days-- diapers, feedings, and baby wearing-- and can barely string two thoughts together, let alone hope for depth and meaning. Some days feel like weeks.

So how about a baby update instead?

Andrew is changing everyday! He has folds and folds of adorable baby-pudge that cry out for kisses and raspberries. He coos and has started to laugh, but you really have to earn a giggle. We do a lot of reading and singing, and his open-mouthed smile is precious. He sleeps right next to our bed in a Rock and Play, which is basically a motorized hammock of love. We quake at the thought of trying to transition him into his own room and a crib. Somehow I don't think he'll be thrilled at the proposition. 

Andrew still doesn't like to nap during the day at all (much like Margaret and Jack) so I wear him around in a baby carrier as he sleeps. Putting him in it is like a sleeping pill. My old knee is starting to protest, because he likes me to stay on the move while he's sleeping, but a rested baby and a sore knee seem preferable to a cranky baby and a cranky mom. You might say we are wrapped around his tiny little finger. Car travel and stroller rides are still not his cup of tea, so we drove through the night both to and from Connecticut last week so that he would sleep. That worked like a charm.

Picture Time: I realize that those of you who don't follow along on Facebook or Instagram might need some new baby pictures, so I aim to take care of that today! Please note: Margaret is thrilled with her baby brother, and is in lots of photos with him, but she is also a teenager who values her privacy, so that is why I don't post many of her.









More photos to come soon, as he hits the 4 MONTH MARK this week!

I also want to share the exciting news that an article I wrote, called Loss. Trust. Love. is featured in the Summer 2016 issue of Ladies Home Journal!


This is a dream come true for me. The issue is full of amazing articles, and I'm so proud to be part of it. Thank you to Dorie Howell Photography for photographing Andrew and me for the article.


Pick a copy up if you have the chance! I found mine at Food Lion, but friends have purchased them at Barnes and Noble, Costco, Wegmans, and other retailers.

As we slip into August (Jack always called it "The Sunday of Summer") I am contemplating my next steps career-wise and am finally ready to look for a speaker's agent to help me manage speaking engagements. If that's an area in which you have expertise, I would very much appreciate your advice.

That's all for now!  I hope whether you want your days to go slowly or to speed the heck up, you are doing well, Friend.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Congratulations on the article - so neat! I have the goal to be published in a print magazine too.

And Andrew is so, so precious! That smile!!!

Jan said...

Wonderful article about you and lots of other good stuff in that issue. Andrew is absolutely adorable.

AshleyJPiper315 said...

I look forward to your every writing... And ALL.THE.PHOTOS. You're simply the best!

Kristibella said...

I admire you so much, Anna. You are rockin' motherhood again this time around and we know it's hard. Really hard. I was almost 40 when my 2nd child was born. And I felt every one of those years, especially at the end of the day. But oh the joy...that love is magic! I wish you and yours every good thing.

Michelle said...

Thank you for sharing your story. I always look forward to updates

Sharon in Indy said...

I love that you stay aware of Margaret's needs when so much of the focus has been on her brothers. I'm sure you and Tim are doing that for her in other ways, too.

We get to see so much joy with Andrew, but I know that isn't all there is to your lives. Anna, you go right on living day by day for as long as you need to. Don't you know that we find depth and meaning simply in you moving forward and finding joy with Andrew while never forgetting Jack?

Kristy said...

Precious that baby! Just finished Rare Bird. I love you and think about your family every day. xoxo

Andrea Mowery said...

Love those baby pics! What a sweet time of life it is. Congrats on the article - you glow with love! xoxo

www.robinbotie.com said...

You are amazing. I don't know how you do it all. When I had kids and a small silkscreen printing company, my husband would come home from a long day of construction work and I'd say, "So what's for dinner?" There was no energy or time for being creative or putting on makeup or reading a book that wasn't an out-loud read to the kids. You must have a ton of strength stashed away somewhere to even think of doing speaking engagements. I'm in awe. And I wish you well. Hope to catch you out there one day. Cheers!

Gigi said...

Andrew is so adorable!!

And congrats on the article!

Anonymous said...

Andrew is a little doll. And congratulations on your article appearing in one of the top magazines. I'd be proud, too!

Julie A. said...

thanks for the photos, I don't do Facebook or instagram and had been hoping for a photo update!!!
Julie

ellen said...

I went to Costco last night and bought the magazine! Thanks for sharing your story!

Julie said...

Congrats on the article! I can't wait to read it. Andrew is just precious!!! I love Jack's take on Aug.: the Sun. of summer - so true!

Julie Gardner said...

This is marvelous, in the true sense of the word. I marvel at you and all you do and how you do it. Not perfectly but with love and honesty.

I also marvel at the cuteness.
And Margaret.

All of it.

Maria Johnson said...

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