Summertime in a child's eyes....

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here-Nat King Cole

     A young baby faced boy sits on the bench swinging his feet back and forth. His cheeks are blushed pink from the sun’s warm rays and his eyes are as blue as the clear skies above. He sinks his teeth into the juiciest slice of watermelon with a smile. By his side is his loyal companion. A 4 year old bichon frise not quite 10 lbs. Her overgrown white coat is getting stained pink from the juice dripping down the boys arms. She licks the boys hands and face enjoying the sweet treat. Giggles echo in the summer breeze.

      Refreshed and cooled from his snack the boy gets up and looks around wide eyed at the family’s yard. In his eyes the modest sized yard is the size of a football field and filled with so many options for the day.

      Ahh summertime in a child’s eyes. It ignites all the senses including the innocent 6^th sense-imagination. The brightly colored summer fruit and snacks are just as delicious to see at as they are to taste: a bowl of deep red cherries or a deep purple popsicle. The smells that fill the air scream summertime: the salty ocean breeze, the bbq grills from the neighborhood cookouts, and my favorite- the smell of a freshly cut lawn. The sounds of summer that whisper in your ear: children laughing, waves crashing, crickets singing, music paying, wind chimes chiming and plastic tricycle wheels hitting the cement. You can feel the sand between your toes and the warm sun on your back.

      The little boy makes his way over to the side of the house and lifts the doormat up. He kneels down to take a closer look at his discovery. “Look mama, a bug a bug!” He watches the ants scatter and tries to pick one up. When unsuccessful he puts the mat back down and runs towards his pool and jumps in. Splash. “Arr Matey,” he says. His mama nods. “Today is a very good day to be a pirate, little one,” she says. “Now where to captain?”

Wake up Slow....

This song

It's meant to keep you

From doin' what your supposed to

Like wakin' up too early

Maybe we could sleep in

I'll make you banana pancakes

Pretend like it's the weekend now

And we could pretend it all the time...Jack Johnson 

        My husband and I have a little house rule that we both try to live by. Every single day when those reports have been handed in, the computers have been shut down, and we step foot out of the stuffy office and into fresh air we are officially on vacation. We erase any of the days stresses- day care drop offs/ pickups, 9 am meetings, the constant ringing of the office telephones, and that nagging pile (you know the “I really don’t feel like doing that but how long can that pile sit there” work) and breathe a sigh a relief. We make the most of the rest of the evening together. And even though it seems as though we don’t have many hours left in the day we find a way to pack in so much togetherness and laughter that is seems as though we were never even away from home. We eat dinner as a family, take a walk or go to the park, and just enjoy the rest of what the day has to offer. But my favorite part of the day is when we all crawl into bed together. The three of us under the fluffy white down comforter like a cloud in heaven. We cuddle, we read, we laugh….a time where we truly have each other’s undivided attention. And like clockwork every single night Eddie’s eyes get heavy around 8:30pm and he falls asleep in between Ed and I. We carry him to his crib where he sleeps till morning and the rest of the night is for the two of us.

       Just like we end the day on Friday nights we begin it on Saturday mornings. As soon as Eddie wakes up Ed or myself carries him from his crib into our room where we just lay in bed a little longer. Watch a show, read a book…wake up slow. We have been doing this since the moment we carried our precious new bundle home. “There is a special connectedness that happens there, a family in bed, socks on our feet, and no agendas to tend too. Monday through Friday our lives are filled with other people. Saturday mornings are just for us.” Then we make breakfast as a family (Eddie LOVES to stir the pancake batter) and we see what the rest of the day brings.

       Many people have given us their opinions and advice about letting Eddie fall asleep in our bed. “Don’t let your kids sleep in your bed-you will create a bad habit” “You will spoil them” “It will ruin your marriage.” All meant well I am sure(and I am sure I would think differently if it weren’t for the fact that from 8pm to 8 am Eddie sleeps in his own room)….but I will never forget my best friend telling me once about an episode of Rachel Ray where Salma Hayek talked about her children. When asked what was the best advice she has ever gotten she said her mother once told her, “Always rock your babies to sleep because one day they will be too big and you will wish you could hold them again.” One day my children will be too big to cuddle. They will have other places to be on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.One day they will have their own families to wake up slow with…..but until then I am going to savor every single cuddle, kiss, and hug I have. <3 

A poem for my little boy...

Inspiration: This morning my husband took my car to get a much needed oil change. It was just me and my little boy at home. He had just eaten breakfast and was playing with his toys. As I was cleaning the kitchen up I turned and noticed he had climbed onto the kitchen chair all by himself so that he could reach his sippy cup. Usually he grabs my leg and says, "cup"...but today he did it on his own. This is for him:

The moment I laid eyes on you I knew it was love

A sweet little baby, a gift from above

Was placed in my arms all bundled with care

Our growing family, no longer just a pair

And now I see your sweet little face full innocent wonder

Believing in flying, even if it is in slumber

Chasing fireflies in the night with not a care in the world

Not sure what to make of those sparkling swirls

Through the past year you have learned how to walk

How to smile and giggle and even to talk

But there are some things in life I want you to know

To never forget as you continue to grow

Don’t ever lose your childhood dreams

Even though people may tell you they can’t be reached

Because ANYTHING is possible if you just believe

With hard work and determination it can all be achieved

But for now come to your parents, when things are too high

No need to rush to grow up when we are by your side

For as long as you can try to stay in the present

When your laughter and soul is nothing but innocent. 
                             ~Christina Zambrano