blueberries are the new cantaloupe.

You may think that Abel has barbarically massacred a squirrel in this picture. Nope. He just loves blackberries and blueberries.

We had a fun past week (minus one miserable day that Abel and I were in a fight over napping) involving snow, cold, berries (obviously, see above!), and standing up using one hand for balance. Abel has also discovered his pointer finger, and likes to put his left one up to my lips for smooches.

Sleep Report: We are still at many, mini naps per day, although Abel did have a bit of a sobbing, screaming, non-napping fest at the beginning of the week. In regards to napping, I am trying to remember the idea that "letting go" is a verb in practice, not an end result. I am trying to let go of the idea that he "should" be napping X number of times per day, for X number of minutes. He is a happy, seemingly well-rested kid, so who cares if he takes disco naps all day? (I do- but I am letting go....letting go....letting go...). I am also trying to let go of the crazy notion that (at this point) I have ANY control over ANY act of sleep in our house (letting go...letting go....letting go....).

On Children
Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.