And we're off!

There are some amazing perks to being the wife of a photographer (he did not take this picture, by the way). First perk I can think of? He has the dream job of 88% of the world, so there’s lots to talk about when someone asks. Perk two? Exotic travel, which I may or may not be included in, but like to think I could throw on a scarf and jet set on a whim, if I wanted (and didn’t have two children at home). And perk three? The schedule allows Nick to work really hard but also take time to attend a family reunion ski trip in France.

And what about the downsides? He’s gone. A lot. And when planning said family reunion ski trip to France, a marketing trip to NYC just happened to fall the week prior, leaving the unfortunate position of me and the children in Seattle and Nick in New York and all of us flying to Europe. On separate planes.

I think I have told just about everyone I have interacted with how nervous I am. Complete strangers included. How are you today? someone might ask. I am flying international with my two young children all by myself and I am super nervous about it, I always respond. Because maybe if I say it out loud enough times it will get so old, my mind won’t even allow it as a possibility anymore and I just won’t be nervous anymore, ever, and we all will travel happily ever after.

That’s my hope anyway.

The reality is, I have run in my mind every possible area of hazard (hunger, tired, bored, screaming, not wanting to sit still, etc, etc) and the only one that I can't seem to solve in my hypothetical scenario is what happens if I need to use the toilet and both of the children are still awake? Which seems pretty good, because I will quite happily suffer as long as the children are fed, slept, entertained and quiet. Or at least one out of those four. 

Wish me luck. Send good thoughts. 

xx

Abundance

Life has been abundant around here, which is kind of fitting, because if you were to ask Nick and I what word comes to mind on New Year’s Eve, it would be abundant. Abundant in love, in friendship, in family (hello, three new sister-in-laws in 2013), in life, in travel and adventures, and in happiness.

I just returned from a long weekend in NYC with some girlfriends from the UK. Actually, a wife and wife-to-be of Nick’s best friends from childhood. We spent the weekend wedding dress shopping, bridesmaid dress shopping, window shopping, shopping-shopping and eating some of the best food in NYC. Because us wives are thick as thieves and how lucky are we to be close friends when our husbands are best friends? Abundance.

Over the holiday season, all three of my brothers got engaged with fantastic women that I adore. I would be friends with each of them if we met on the street, and now I get to call them my sisters. I have always, always wanted a sister and now I get three, only we got to skip the teenage years when all the sisterly fighting happens, and bring our best adult selves to the relationship. Abundance.

As each year passes, I love my husband more and more, if that were even possible. He is such an amazing Dad (hello, long weekend trips where I don’t even worry for a second, even though the children are really sick with colds), such an amazing partner and incredibly inspirational in his passion and skills as a businessman photographer. Abundance.

A couple of months ago, Nick and I decided that I was going to spend an extra day a week working for him, starting in January. But our nanny has another job and can’t give us the days that we need. So, in divine abundance, along comes a young, traveling, Aussie friend of the family, Gabi, who just happens to want to stay in Seattle for a while and just happens to be fabulous with the children and just happens to be flexible enough to stay with us and nanny-on-demand for now. And to complete the circle, my mom babysat her mom in Australia 35 years ago, her mom babysat me when I was little, and now Gabi is babysitting my children. Abundance.

This year is a year of travel for us. We have a lot of destination weddings and family reunions that are bringing us to some amazing places, all of them filled with family and friends. This is the last 9 months that Poppie can travel for free, so once this year is over, our traveling schedule will be greatly reduced, so we are appreciating and enjoying every second of these trips. Abundance.

And the picture of Finn? They remind me what a happy, well-adjusted little boy he is these days. He is absolutely brimming with an abundance of love, kindness and happiness, which means that we are doing our job. 

What dinner looks like when Daddy makes it

Fun food for the tykes

Triumph at Weird O'Clock

It is 2:54 am here in Seattle and I am feeling pretty triumphant. Especially because Jenna is away at the moment and so my fathering accomplishments feel hard won.

Poppie just woke me from my deep sleepy stupor. This is not normal. She normally sleeps through the night without a peep for an average of 12-13 hrs every time. I was up in a flash and by her side. We made a bottle together and with a hug and a kiss she was back to sleep. Triumph one.

As I was crawling back into bed I remembered that Finn still had something stuck in his foot. Just before dinner yesterday Finn broke a glass on the kitchen floor. I thought I hovered up all the bits. But a small shard ended up stuck in the bottom of Finn's foot. We had a traumatic time trying to get it out. There was a lot of tears and screaming. I got hit on the head and kicked in the mouth and Finn shouted "Bad Daddy! Bad Daddy!" For attempting to get the glass out. I was successful at removing the main piece but one tiny, painful slither remained.

So instead of bed I grabbed the tweezers and headed to the base of Finn's bed. I grabbed the light. Found his foot. I cleaned the micro wound with my tongue and used my tongue to confirm the presence of a nasty sharp foreign body in Finn's foot. I made several attempts before finally a tiny but very sharp shard of glass came out. Triumph Two.

It is weird and wonderful some of the things we end up doing as parents. And no matter what tomorrow will be a great day. Good night.