Peeper Summarized: Red Light/Green Light

"For without the private world of retreat, one becomes virtually an unbalanced creature."

- Elanor McMillen Brown

There has been a little chirping in my personal life about this blog - questioning what I chose to share and "are you sure you should leave that up there?". One persons life is the sum of it's parts. Some parts I feel comfortable to share: a few pictures of my kid and my excitement over a new small appliance is in no way a baring of my soul. Other things I leave mostly private with the occasional confession or admission. We're all friends here and not too many others find their way to my little virtual space -once they do, many become friends as well.

So, it is with great consideration that I admit the following: recently, we got the sad news that my ovaries are reaching the end of their reserves. It's all me draggin' down the ship of our family expansion plan. It's a horribly disappointing feeling. Since I don't take a good fight laying down I've already set a few things in motion. In April we're seeing an infertility specialist, the same guy we saw to get pregnant with Ada. I hope he can still help us. Until I can get in to see him, I'm starting acupuncture again with the same girl I went to before. If you're the praying type, I'd appreciate a little mention of us. All in all, I'm a good person, responsible citizen, and a decent parent - I think I deserve for good things to happen.

We tried to go to music class but it turns out that last week was the final class. In a weird way I was sort of relieved. She loved it so for that I was sad to have it be over. Still, this class was in one of the more upper-class neighborhoods in San Francisco. I had been thinking that we might be happier in a class with people more like us - more down to earth people. Next week we'll start a class that is right around the corner from the church where Ada was baptized. The best part is that we can walk. Hallelujah! This is just in time as we used AAA to tow our dudd-of-a-car to the shop today. We'll get a rental for the weekend - I asked for the Volvo just to see what it's like to drive something nice. They needed 24-hour notice so instead I think we'll end up with a standard 4-door. Who cares, as long as it's reliable.

I'm also on a couple of neighborhood lists. A few days ago I posted asking if anyone else wanted to do a playdate. I can't believe the response that came of it. I figured it would be met with the sound of crickets and tumbleweeds rolling by. I'm excited about this - about making new friends and meeting people in our neighborhood.

So there you have it. Life is just like a game of "Red Light/Green Light". Just like I said I would, I am soaking her up this weekend. Even though it rained in sheets and the wind tried to blow our house off the hill, we stayed cozy and happy.

The view out our front window this morning. Yuck.

Last week, for the first time in my life, I felt like I couldn't drink another cup of coffee. I wanted something warm so I got a Chai latte from Peet's. My friend Harveen once educated me that "chai" means tea so if you order a chai tea whatever you are actually asking for a tea tea. I've been craving them ever since I drank that first one. For one thing, it's brewed, not from a concentrate syrup. This is one example of how Peet's makes Starbucks taste like swill. So I got a box of tea, brought it home and set out to see how much tea one girl can drink in a day. I think I drank 6 cups of tea today. Did I mention that it was really cold and windy outside?

I didn't even know that she knew where to find that old point-n-shoot. She was cracking me up this morning. She put the camera to her face, would check her work, then check her settings, and take more pictures.

Puppet was her favorite subject this morning. He was a bit suspicious at first as he never had his picture taken with the camera literally on him. Still, he's a good sport about most things.

Actually, he's the best cat in the world (except for our other three cats).

We spent the day doing not much of anything. We baked apple bread. We made pork roast in the crock pot. We played tickle games on the bed. We played with the Little People farm. Mommy got a massage because her back is still jacked. Then we got a rain cover for the Bob so that we can take walks instead of driving everywhere when the weather stinks.

See what I mean? We did nothing. But it was everything and it was perfect.

Playing in the bed is the best. I just can't think that I'll ever get tired of tackling her and making zerberts on her belly. She thinks it's pretty awesome too.
B.I.V.s - yeah, that's how it's been around here.

Casual Thursday at the Shepherd home. I never thought diaper-free time was important until I met the diaper rashes that can happen despite fastidious cleaning and lighting-quick disposal of dirty drawers.