Square Peg, Round Hole

Tell you what: I keep trying to make this blog post follow some kind of order or express some kind of theme. I can't make it happen. This might be because the theme of this weekend was "hodge podge". There were multiple big events and tons of funny little moments but it was all in little fits and starts and honest attempts to keep several balls in the air at a time. So it's like fitting the square peg of my life into the round hole of a blog post - it ain't gonna happen. So please bear with me and if you are scratching your head at the end and wondering what it all means, well then, you and I are in the exact same place.


Wednesday morning we woke up to this sky:




Man, sometimes San Francisco really delivers.

We lingered on the steps and waved to Tim as he headed off for work. We looked like a regular old family.




Ada and I settled in for 2 precious, much anticipated days at home together. They were beautiful, these two days and a befitting preamble for a good weekend too. I can always tell when my wee one needs this time together as much as I do. As annoying as it is to not be able to pee without a toddler climbing onto your lap, I have to admit that deep down I don't really mind it.

A good Puritanical work ethic meant that we had some serious business to take care of  before we could play without guilt. I won't bother describing my projects as things like balancing the checkbook and scrubbing the toilet are pretty lack-luster. However, Ada is quite serious about her little toddler projects around the house. Projects like the great strawberry organization of 2010:




There is also the great belt and clutch purse organization of 2010.




With these very important tasks taken care of we were able to play. She is so very industrious and busy, busy, busy in her play that it seems she outgrew all of her other toys overnight. Now, I have a grand vision for my girl this Christmas. I want to get her THIS or THIS or make something like THIS. Until that time she has picked out a warm-up play kitchen. Yes, I bought her another toy. When she woke from her nap, she discovered that the toy she so loved at Target was magically here in her very own home! It was totally worth it to see this face




It was a beautiful day on Wednesday: warm and sunny with no wind off the ocean. Classic that while the rest of the country is pulling sweaters and boots from storage containers under the bed we San Franciscans are wearing shorts and flip flops. Or, if you're Ada, you are wearing your Hawai'ian outfit one more time before you grow out of it entirely.




I am achy for fall to settle in around us. Just like that sky above, San Francisco delivered again. The temperatures started to drop a bit, some clouds hung in the sky, and the crisp air of fall now with us. I made pumpkin bread - heaven. I made a soup with fresh beans and kale from the farmers market - delicious! We don't have our pumpkins yet so I went down the street our neighbors house and admired their collection of pumpkins. I am putting tights on the baby even if they don't go with her outfit - cozy! We got a delivery of apples from our neighbor. Apparently, a tree that never bore fruit before is suddenly dropping dozens of apples a day! They are crisp and tart!










There were visitors too!! One of Tim's friends from college stayed wtih us as he passed through town. It was funny to hear him in wonder at Tim as a father. Given the context in which they became friends, it makes sense. Still, funny!
Then I met Ananda! Some people know her as Serendipite (or Dip) but I know her as my friend who I can be shamelessly silly with. Friday night we had dinner and wine - Tim went back to relieve the nanny and go to bed himself while Dip and I stayed out to play. Such a rare treat to have a girls night out! Nevertheless, I was home before midnight. I drug her to my favorite coffee shop and then to the Alemany Farmers Market on Saturday morning.  Ananda ran the Nike women's half-marathon on Sunday. I would have loved to go cheer for her and Kathi too (damn woman, another PR? way to go!!) but I was working. Boo :( Maybe next year?




Then there are all those little moments I mentioned - too precious to not remember but they occurred so much in their own time that they just stand alone. My little baby is a jokester these days. I would like to have her baby laughter on a continuous replay. She sounds like heaven to me.






There was one single point over the past few days when I thought, "Oh my gosh. I might be able to sit down and have a moment." So I grabbed my coffee and the great new magazine Moira (new mom to a gorgeous baby girl!) sent my way. I plumped up a cushion behind me, swung my tired feet up on the couch, sighed a contented sigh, and reached for my magazine when...."Whhaaaaahhh!!!" and just like that my moment was over. I think that half-full cup of coffee is still sitting right in that same spot and is now joined by a bigger stack of unread stuff - most of it is about veterinary dentistry.  I'll get to it - always do :)




More good to come this weekend. And the weekend after that.