5/7/09

Sunshiny Walks and Ice Cream Cones

I've been thinking about all of the ways our lives will change with the addition of another child. I know it will be fantastic and magical at some moments and incredibly overwhelming at others until we settle into the new normal. It doesn't feel as real as I think it should considering I've done this before and live with the physical end result of that positive pregnancy test, those weeks of constant nausea, the expanding waistline and random attacks of restless leg syndrome. I was expecting to appreciate every part twice as much, be even more sensitive to the changes and more aware of what was on its way. It may be that my attention is so often fixed on the child running up and down the sidewalk that I haven't been as mindful of the one in my belly. And I'm sure that will all change once this little one is big enough to lodge its foot between my ribs.

While visiting his family last month, Brett's grandma surprised me with the stippled quilt that I'd left with her at Christmas. The texture is fantastic. Once I make my mind up on which fabric I want to use, I'll be able to add the binding. For those readers who weren't here in October, this is the quilt top I made to remember the pregnancy we lost. Gender neutral, happy colors to represent the early days of excitement and possibility that new pregnancies can bring. I'm really thankful that she was able to quilt this together for me at a time when I couldn't bring myself to work on it without getting overwhelmed with emotion. I love it. Thank you, Dorotha.

In other news, the shipment of bees arrived last week! Brett got the call to pick them up from the post office while I was teaching at the craft weekend so I wasn't there to see the wire mesh cage they were so carefully packed in buzzing with hunger or the six bee stings my SIL got while Brett was transferring them to the hive. He only got stung once, which still amazes me. They are settling into their new residency at the back our yard and battling the ants over their sugar water supply. Brett has them up on cinder blocks to keep them dry during the spring rains. He'll check the honeycombs next week to make sure things are starting up well. The majority of the honey bees are female. Brett calls them his ladies.

Our bat cave is still unoccupied but we've spotted two bats in the neighborhood. I also saw our first two mosquitos yesterday. We may have built just after the bat housing bubble burst.

Sebastian and I spent a good chunk of our time outside on walks yesterday. One walk for exercise that ended up at the park playing with the preschoolers, one that led us on a wild goose chase to find the ice cream truck, and one with Brett that took us to the gas station to get a sad boy some ice cream after we didn't find the truck. He finished it up on the front porch and was so sticky from ice cream run off that we stripped him down and introduced him to the manly act of peeing in the grass. By this time it was dark and the street was quiet so we didn't think twice about public displays of nudity until I heard a little snicker across the street and saw the lit cigarettes of our neighbors on their front porch.

At least Brett wasn't teaching by example this time!

23 comments:

jen geigley said...

you guys are just beautiful, the quilt is gorgeous, and i LOVE the bees (wait till I show Bo.) our bats are back, too! the other night we were outside and one kept flying by my head (we call it buzzing the tower.)

Anonymous said...

haha! Great story! Sounds like a fantastic day.
Oh, and the quilt is wonderful. The stippling looks amazing.

danielle thompson said...

lol! hilarious. :-) i love the way you write. :-)

Jamie said...

Life is definitely different after you add another child! Enjoy every moment!!! You all are such a beautiful family! Love the quilt!

mrs boo radley said...

This is a lovely post. What a beautiful quilt.

I love that you have bees!

Anonymous said...

I've been searching for an e-mail adress like a crazy person but I just can't find one!
Anyway, I just stumbled into your flickr-page, only recently discovered flickr (yes I know, shame on me!) and since I'm moving to a new apartment it has been a great source of inspiration, specially your page. Which is exactly what I wanted to say that I have saved some pics for my own inspiration - yes you have a groupie..:) Love your style so keep it up and I'll be sure to hang around here too as of now.

Love Mia

Anonymous said...

such a fun post! xo.

miss teacups said...

you really do have a beautiful family rachel ♥
xo, carly.

Amy said...

Love the bat house! Spiders and wasps also eat TONS of mosquitos too! Amazing how helpful some of those creatures can be!
Just of curiosity, why did y'all get a bee hive? It's a very interesting thing to do! I presonally can't be anywhere near them (allergic!) Are you doing it for your own bellies or to try and sell it? what an interesting hobby/adventure to take! What does S think of it?
Amy/Texas

margot said...

omg that is so funny!
you have such a nice family, and you're going to be a great mom to two amazing kids!
i hope one day i can be a mother like you!
xo,
margot

Charin Adams said...

You are so sweet :) :)
And you will do a great job having two babies...I only have for a little over two months, I know :) but Colin has definitely just made himself right at home and made it very easy to have two little ones.
I think yours will be the same way :)
P.S. Can't wait to find out what you're having, and hear names you two have picked out!

Charin Adams said...

P.S. My Dad had bees when I was little, this post brought back memories!

Elizabeth said...

you have such a beautiful family! and the bees make me so so happy!!


rachel - have you seen this? http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?navAction=jump&id=BEES&cm_re=Apr_09-_-042109_self_apriloutbees-_-copy_submsgbees

Tracy said...

I thought i would be more sensitive to my second pregnancy but i tended to forget i was even pregnant. Chasing a toddler can do that! Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes great! I love your blog...you have a super cute fam!

suzy said...

So beautiful Rachel.

I had restless legs and I had to up my intake of iron. I ate lots of spinach, porridge, sesame seeds and nuts and dried apricots. Just leave them lying all around in bowls and keep eating. It might help with your dancing legs.

Anonymous said...

Love this post :)

Rubyellen said...

this post made me smile, especially the first paragraph! ;)

Vanessa said...

that quilt is GORGEOUS. such a sweet thing. you are incredibly loving and thoughtful to do that for you and your family.

Mindy said...

the "new normal"...yes, getting ready here as well. who knows what it will be like. a little scary and very exciting!

Anne Esquibel said...

You have a hive!! That's awesome. I can't wait to see the amazing things you do with the produce. hope it all works out. :) xx

Anonymous said...

that fam pic is beautiful! And the bee house and bat house, what a cool thing to have right in your backyard! I'd love a bat house, the mosquitoes here are so bad.
That quilt is so absolutely special, what a wonderful way to remember the spirit of your little one.

chelsey. said...

You and you're family are adorable! I love the fact that you have bees--such a different touch! Love your decorating style (from previous blogs), and just wanted to finally stop by and say hey.

Hope you all are doing great!

Anonymous said...

The quilt has added meaning now that baby's great grandmother has helped with it. It is nice.

We recently saw two bats flying in and around our neighboring trees. We wonder if they are not living under a lean-to our neighbor uses above his wood pile.

My husband once devoured some books on bees. If you have allergies to anything in your neighborhood this honey will help. We buy ours from a beekeeper states away where my husband's parents live. We consumed 10 2-quart jars of honey last year! We drank a cup of hot tea like everyday that year. Since we may be moving there, I'm expecting no allergy symptoms. :)

Sherrie