Getting the laundry done.

One of my favorite activities to do with Eloise is the simple task of hanging up the laundry together.

I'll either put her on a blanket in the garden with some toys while I put the laundry out on the clothes line or better yet I'll put her in the carrier or sling and let her help me. We'll squint our eyes in the sun, Eloise will touch the different fabrics while I attach the clothes with pegs and sing to her.

It's the time of the day I feel most Motherly. And thus the time of the day I am happiest.

Days like these

There are some days when she is restless. When she seems unhappy with her lot in life and I cannot figure out what she needs to smile again. Days I get the feeling she wishes she wasn't a baby anymore. Not today.

She happily went into her carrier. She tilted her head and smiled at the old woman cooing at her on the bus. She enjoyed her signing class (although I can't say she payed much attention to the teacher) and on our walk back home she took in the world around her and every once in a while would lock eyes with mine and give me the sweetest Oh! You're still here! YES! Smile and then carry on taking in the sights.

We came home, and after lunch of chicken and leeks, dried fruit and green beans we took a nap together in my bed, her fuzzy head resting just under my chin. She woke up and started pushing her little hands on the small of my back. Then we hid under the blankets, me pretending to gobble her up, she laughing.

She resisted her afternoon nap (when I usually do some housework and spend my one hour of "me" time a day watching my t.v. show). So instead I set up the play mat, scattered some toys on the ground and sat down with her - putting the t.v. on in the background. I was quickly distracted from the quick quips of the Gilmore Girls by Eloise laughing at her teddy bear dancing and singing. So I continued to make her bear dance and sing just to hear her sweet giggle, until she rubbed her eyes and I took her upstairs to get in a quick nap before dinner.

Some days being her mother is the easiest job with the biggest rewards.

Adorable two-headed monster

It's been pretty cold here these past few months. No, not snowmaggedon cold, but cold enough that I haven't used the baby carrier in ages because Eloise would be too exposed to the elements.

And just when I was thinking about how I missed wearing my baby and wanting to give the old Bugaboo a break I received this in the mail from my so-awesome-it-hurts Godmother in Denver (and people from Denver who have 3 kids KNOW about keeping little baby toes warm):

I don't know if it was the novelty of being in the carrier after such a long absence or if she was just having a really good day - but kid was so happy strapped in with me. I plonked a hat on her pretty little head and went into town.

Let me tell you, people get pretty smiley when you have a little cherubic face poking out of your chest. And it was so nice to have my hands free and not have the pushchair in the way that I went into the little jewelry shop and treated myself to a new pair of earrings.