Thursdays with Sam | Smiling.

When I picked up Sam this morning, Katie told me she'd read this week's blog posts (and the comments - thank y'all!) and that it sounded like someone had died.  All those "thinking of you" and "keeping you in my thoughts" and yeah, I get what she means (and I love how supportive y'all have been, truly!). This move is really a good thing - they're super-excited about the house and the location - and "with light traffic it's just a 30 minute drive". point taken.

We're smiling!

I had two wonderful days with the boys this week and even snuck in an extra hour with little Sam yesterday.  Tomorrow and Saturday I'll see them again (I'm helping Katie unpack) ... and I have plans to see them all once they're settled in. Tuesdays with Charlie and Thursdays with Sam are going to look quite a bit different going forward, but we'll still have plenty of time together. Thank goodness "Atlanta" isn't really as far away as it sometimes seems!

and this just occurred to me as I writing the post - think of all the books I can listen to on those "30 minute drives" 😃

Thursdays with Sam | Food!

New thing today - Sam has started food!

This morning, Katie told me I had the very fun responsibility of introducing carrots. They're one of my favorite foods, so I was hoping it would go well. and I must say - the first serving was ... maybe not so great. But after bananas at mid-day, he seemed a lot happier with the carrots this afternoon.

She also told me "food is fun" at this stage. Indeed! It's certainly a touch and taste experience. I also told her I maybe should've just fed him in the bathtub.

p.s. our neighbor passed away yesterday. I know his wife and family are feeling all the love and prayers from y'all - thank you!

Renie's shawl ... slow progress

p.p.s. we are watching the news about the terrible highway collapse in Atlanta. Katie normally travels that route every afternoon, but today - she had a business dinner downtown. She's fine (and taking a different route home tonight) ... and while she's worried about what her commute will be for the next two weeks, she's glad it's just two weeks. Her new commute won't be anywhere close to that intersection. It seems a miracle - but so far, no one's been hurt. and I've got plenty of time to find a different route to visit her.

Thursdays with Sam | A Different View.

Today's Think Write Thursday topic is to look out a window you don't normally look out of and tell us what you see. I kind of cheated. I did do the "don't normally look out" part - but I knew what I'd see.

I snapped this photo from Charlie's bedroom window just after I put Sam down for his last nap of the day*

That sign is in their front yard; and yep, they're moving. Three weeks from today.

They're moving 25 miles away. back into town. 25 miles closer to Katie's work**. They'll also be a lot closer to fun things to do like the Botanical Gardens, the Children's Museum, the Aquarium, the Center for Puppetry Arts and I'm sure we'll find more.

I know 25 miles isn't another state, but - especially on Atlanta highways - it's a big deal. After the move, I (we!) won't be spending Tuesdays here with Charlie or Thursdays here with Sam. I do plan to see both boys (and their parents) on a regular basis ... but we're going to let things settle a bit before we figure out a new routine.

And you know it will be a very little bit because I don't think I can go more than a week without seeing this in real life.

*not to confuse y'all - I pick Sam up in the morning and we spend the day at my house ... until just after his 3pm bottle. Then we head back to his house, so he can have a good nap in his own bed (instead of a carseat), before the family gets home for dinner.

**she works at Coca-Cola's headquarters and she'll have a 15 minute commute. a real life changer!

Thank you to Carole and Kat for the prompt. I had no idea how to share this news ... but I think this worked! Click here to join the Think Write Thursday fun!

Thursdays with Sam | What Really Matters.

Today's Think Write Thursday topic is about bullying. Yesterday's entry in A Year in Miracles was titled "Today I will be a friend to myself." These lines from the devotion spoke to me

No one is going to accept me if I don't accept myself first. Today I will be a friend to myself. Not in denial about my weaknesses, but loyal...and kind...and embracing. Other people will see my goodness when I have seen it first.

and gave me the idea to write about how much we - especially we women - bully ourselves. and, when we judge other women for their choices in partners, careers, parenting, clothes, bodies, etc, etc - each other. I thought I'd have an hour (maybe two) today while Sammy napped to work on the post and I planned to cap it off with a cute photo (because, after all, Thursdays with Sam).

I'm sure you know where this is going now, right? Yep. He was happy, played hard, ate great, and slept...not much.

As I was driving home this evening, thinking about this post (not even started), I decided the reality of the day spoke for itself.

Today I will be a friend to myself.

(I will focus on what really matters.)

and that will enable me to be a friend, a wife, a mother, a Marmie, a sister, a daughter ... to others.

I'm curious to see what others have written on the topic. Click here to join in!

Thursdays with Sam | Four Months.

What a difference a month makes. especially when it's 25% of your whole life! Today was my first day with Sam since early February. We had a great time. Gone are the worries about bottles and sleeping in a strange room. and in between the bottles and naps, we took plenty of photos (and sent his mama lots of text messages), 

including a few selfies,

read a few of our favorite board books (Goodnight Moon, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Everywhere Babies),

and practiced "talking". Since he was last here, he's found his voice. I love how he concentrates when he's getting the sounds out.

(and now I'm ready for a nap and a glass of wine!)

The Think Write Thursday crew is writing letters to March today. I'll be back with mine tomorrow. Happy Thursday!

Thursdays with Sam | A Love Poem.

Today's Think Write Thursday prompt is to write a love letter. I'm not so great with words, so I borrowed some. I'm thinking Sam didn't mind*.

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you 

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart 

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
~e.e. cummings

*A little while back, Katie & Charlie gifted me a beautiful interpretation of this poem - yes it's a book!

 ...and it's perfect everyone. Highly recommend!

If you want to sign up for the Think Write Thursday prompts, click here. And thank you Carole and Kat for another inspiring week!

Thursdays with Sam.

...officially began today! The morning was a little rough, but by this afternoon we'd found a good groove. He drained his bottles, napped like a champ ... and posed for the camera.

We even took a selfie.

And looked through his mama's photos to see if we could find one at about his same age.

Now can you see why I've been saying Sam looks like his mama?! (also note the outfit - I'm guessing this photo was taken in early May ... already sleeveless weather 😊)

p.s. the Think Write Thursday crew is writing letters to February today. I'll be back with mine tomorrow.