August had quite a busy start. We just got back from a whirlwind trip to Minnesota to visit my grandparents and celebrate both of them turning 90 years old this year.

The flights both there and back went much more smoothly than I expected! Michael had his own seat for the first time and very much enjoyed watching Cars with his own headphones and holding Grandpa’s hand. Beatrice slept for 90% of both flights.

It was so special to have my grandparents meet Beatrice for the first time: even more so because one of Bea’s middle names (Margaret) is named for my grandmother.

Having so many family members in the same place at the same time was a blessing. We didn’t quite get everyone — three of the thirteen grandchildren couldn’t make it — but it was a beautiful turnout nonetheless.

As always when my dad’s side of the family gets together, there was much singing and playing of games. Michael and Beatrice were surrounded by “aunties and uncles” (my amazing cousins as well as my aunts and uncles) to hold them and play with them.

It was such a lovely time. I won’t deny it was exhausting: neither kids slept well or for long, and even tiring Michael out in the hotel pool had limited success. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

When we returned home, Beatrice turned five months! She’s quite the mover: even though she’s not quite crawling, she rolls and scoots and shimmies very quickly. She’s also often on her hands and knees, rocking, trying to figure out how to crawl so she can keep up with her big brother. She is still working on cutting her bottom two teeth, and she’s learned to screech with incredible volume for such a small baby. She loves her Sophie giraffe teether toy and any of her brother’s cars (much to his chagrin).

So now we are home (just in time for a few more 100+ degree days) and settling back into our routines. Next week the temperatures should finally drop into the high 80s and low 90s, which means we will be able to have more outdoor fun.

I’ve been trying to be more intentional about our daily routines. I’m focusing on our mornings: getting dressed, breakfast, morning prayer, some crafts or activities, and then quiet play in his room til lunch. No screen time before 2 pm is my current rule, and it’s working well for our family. I hope to move it to 4 pm eventually as we find our rhythms and I rely on it less.

Michael is in a phase where he’s enamored with ritual: he wants to do things the exact same way over and over again as he masters them. Integrating rituals into our daily lives has been really good for him in particular.

I’ve been very inspired by an account I found on Instagram (@sasha__dube). Her unhurried and beautiful approach to motherhood and life in general is a breath of fresh air. I especially love her different sensory activities for her toddlers: they’re relatively low-maintenance, clean, and easy to set up. Right before our trip, I ordered some supplies and set up our porch to make these activities easier to facilitate.

It’s a game changer. I have time to eat my breakfast and drink my coffee while he plays and Bea watches or rolls around on her activity mat. Less stressed me, less stressed kids, less stressed day.

Some of the things we’ve done include painting old boxes with washable paint and water, washing animal figurines with soap and paintbrushes, and pompom “soup” with ice cube trays and spoons. I have a bunch of other ideas — some my own and some I’ve compiled from Instagram and other sources — and as we try them out, I’ll let you know how they succeed.

I’ve always been obsessed with productivity and results; always wanted to finish things and finish them well. But parenthood doesn’t fit well into a “productivity” mindset: you’re never truly finished being a mom. There are no boxes to check, no easily definable objectives to meet with multi-step processes to follow. And anyone who has ever been around toddlers or babies knows that conventional definitions of productivity don’t really fit with their approach to the world.

I thought I was a pretty unhurried mother, but the last few weeks have helped me see that I have a lot of unlearning to do when it comes to hurry and busyness. One of the ways I’m trying to do that is by focusing on making good, nourishing, and beautiful meals whenever I can, for both the kids and for me.

It’s easy for me to make my toddler something wholesome and balanced and then just scrounge leftovers or skip breakfast altogether. But I need to slow down for nourishment too. My days go better when I take that time to nurture myself alongside my family.

I’m also going “old school”: we got a CD player for Michael’s room and I borrowed a bunch of CDs from my parents to play during quiet times. It’s really nice to have something physical and separate from my phone to use. It’s less distracting for us both, and less glitchy than Bluetooth. So far, Michael loves Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns and Peter and the Wolf. We also have a few audiobooks like Beatrix Potter and Aesop’s Fables.

Unhurried rituals have started to be the saving grace of this summer. Especially after such a hectic weekend of travel, it’s lovely to be settling back into the embrace of these routines and taking each moment as it comes.

July has had record heat for us: it’s been a challenge to navigate keeping the garden happy, the children from overheating, dinners from making the house a sauna, and our energy bill from skyrocketing. It’s months like these I feel my Swedish heritage reminding me I’m probably more genetically inclined to be a Viking in cold temperatures rather than these hot days.

To keep the household running, I’ve been keeping a daily to-do list in a small notebook I had lying around. It’s helpful to see tangible evidence of progress. Much of the work I do week-to-week is repetitive, which sometimes clouds my perception both of the passage of time and how much I get done.

Meals are one of these things that repeat a lot, but lately I’ve gotten creative with our meals: lots of Instant Pot and stovetop dishes that don’t require the oven. One recent exception however was a delicious leek bread my mom made and shared with all of us. It had goat cheese and Parmesan and thyme and was absolutely worth turning the oven on. Also, I accidentally made a nice-looking omelet and was so pleased with myself I had to take a picture.

I used to feel self-conscious about things like that: over the years I’ve gotten my share of half-joking, half-snide comments about taking pictures of food, or outfits, or other random things that catch my eye. But I’ve gotten to the point where I’m determined not to bridle my delight. Life’s too short to pretend I don’t get excited and happy about these little things, or to pretend I don’t enjoy documenting them.

Currently, this theme of choosing delight seems to be permeating my life. My children are the best at pointing it out to me: I think a child’s default state is one of wonder and delight.

I love watching Michael play: he makes up complex stories regarding Mama and Dad and Baby Bea, and his “friends from church”. He currently enjoys putting a peg doll he calls “Michael” in his cars’ driver seats and having Mama and Dad dolls sit in the back while he drives.

He often needs to be reminded to be gentle with his kisses and pats, but he really is the sweetest big brother. He loves to play with her and help wherever he can — with great enthusiasm.

Some other milestones I forgot to mention: he has learned to count to ten, and often does so with great enthusiasm, especially for games of hide and seek. He hasn’t quite grasped the concept of hiding in different places yet: when discovered, he goes straight back to his old hiding place for the next game. Michael also has hit the asking “Why?” stage: every request or new discovery invokes a cascade of “why”s.

Beatrice has hit the four month sleep regression: we recently had a few nights where she was up every hour — the past weekend was definitely a rough one. She still sleeps very well during the day, though she strongly prefers contact naps. She has this adorable tendency to hold her head/ears when she’s chilling in her bouncer. We’re slowly collecting a whole album of these photos.

She also recently found her toes. She wants to move so badly: she gets on her hands and knees (or even feet) and screeches with frustration when she doesn’t automatically start crawling. I’m bracing myself for an early crawler/walker…our house is nowhere near crawling baby proof so that’ll be a fun transition (and a problem for future me to handle).

The heat has made my fiber related hobbies take a bit of a backseat: it’s hard to enjoy working with wool or fabric when it’s so hot. But I did make an adorable little patch for Michael’s shorts and cast on yet another pair of socks (this time for me, in a self striping colorway inspired by Little Women). I also finished spinning the singles of my large combo spin I started way back in February. Those three bobbins hold 12 oz of wool. Onto the plying stage!

In the meantime, I’ve been continuing to chip away on some fiction writing in the quiet evenings. Beatrice has even been joining me, watching in fascination as I hold her and type one handed. I reached 15k in my project recently which felt like a pretty big milestone. Only a few months ago, I hadn’t really touched writing fiction since 2021. It feels good to get back into the swing of things, even if it’s mostly only for an audience of one (me).

I’ve really enjoyed revisiting the No Write Way podcast hosted by V.E. Schwab as a source of inspiration on craft. I’ve also enjoyed being more intentional with carving out time for reading: I recently finished Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (why didn’t I read this sooner??) and Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake. I devoured John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War in a few short days, and I’m currently reading a collection of stories by Kelly Link and The Whole Brain Child by Dr Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.

In full honesty, it’s been a tough week. Between sleep regressions, teething, a high-octane toddler, a reaction to reflux medication, extreme heat advisories, and general life busyness, the exhaustion is heavy and clouds much of my outlook.

One of the ways I’m combating the melancholy is by taking pictures: capturing the small and beautiful moments that take place despite the exhaustion and the never-ending to-do list. Here are the ones at the top of my camera roll, and the moments of delight that prompted me to capture them.

I delighted in Michael enjoying his new balance bike and helmet, and making a nest of pillows in his living room play corner. He still loves the quilt we stitched together.

I delighted in the sweetness of Beatrice, snuggling and playing in the morning sun. Even when she’s uncomfortable, she’s got the sweetest coos and such a gentle, joyful smile.

I delighted also in some small changes in home and routine: I hung some number cards in the kitchen to practice counting with Michael, and we began lighting a candle during mealtimes. I got the idea from an account on Instagram (@holyfamilyhomestead). She coined the phrase “When the candle is lit, it’s time to sit”, which has helped Michael sit through our mealtimes with less fuss.

And I’ve delighted in my gallery wall and piano. I did some rearranging of art, and then I borrowed a songbook: Go In And Out The Window. It’s a book I had as a child: classic folk songs and nursery rhymes interspersed with pictures of art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s a delight to the eyes and ears.

Michael and I usually choose a few songs and sing them together at the piano while he looks at the pictures: his current favorites are Farmer in the Dell, Down by the Station, and Bingo. My current favorites are Lavender’s Blue and The Skye Boat Song.

I’m grateful for the camera in my pocket, the moments it helps me capture, and this blog where I can meditate on these joyful things instead of ruminating on lesser things.

When people say you can’t get seasonal affective disorder in the summer, I laugh at them and tell them to live in the Central Valley for the months of June-August. We’ve had two weeks of solid 100+ degree temperatures, up to 115 degrees. All the windows and blinds are sealed shut against the heat, the garden wilts by 10 am, and there are only so many layers of clothing you can shed before being arrested for public indecency.

So, to battle my tendency to melt into a depressed puddle at this time of year, we came up with some creative ways to change up our indoor spaces or escape the heat. We took an IKEA trip with some friends who came up for a weekend and got some storage items we needed for Michael’s room (and a few toys for him too). It was the perfect excuse to do a bit of redecorating.

We removed the closet door and reorganized both his and Bea’s clothes: it has already made putting away laundry so much easier. The TROFAST units has made cleaning up so simple and Michael loves all the bins. I also hung one of my favorite art pieces in the corner (A print of Aslan, Lucy, and Susan by Loré Pemberton) and hung the hand-sewn bunting I made for Michael’s first birthday.

Michael already spends a lot more time playing in his room. I didn’t realize how much I enjoy creating kid spaces: rooms that are beautiful and whimsical but also fully kid friendly. I love making spaces beautiful: functional but with little magical details that catch the eye and delight the heart.

Here are some that I’m particularly fond of right now: the corner with Michael’s high chair, the Middle Earth tapestry hanging by our couch, and the newest addition to our gallery wall (a print of the Dawn Treader in a beautiful vintage frame).

We also took a family trip to the California State Railway Museum: it was Michael’s first time going, and he was absolutely enthralled.

We walked around for hours, enjoying the museum (and its stellar air conditioning) and letting Michael see the trains and play with the different interactive exhibits. He especially adored the third floor, which was completely dedicated to model and toy trains.

He wasn’t too sure about the “pretend people” (mannequins in period clothing) and didn’t prefer the sleeper car exhibit (which rocked and moved like a real train), but he still talks about the trains and constantly asks to read the train book we picked up at the gift shop.

The week of fourth of July was also 105+ with an excessive heat wave warning. Unfortunately, that meant none of us were up to Independence Day activities: BBQ and sparklers just weren’t appealing. It felt wrong to do nothing to mark it, however: so I tried my hand at homemade ice cream. I got an old fashioned ice cream maker and tried two different recipes. One was a quick one with just milk and cream and sugar, and the other was more labor intensive with a pre-cooked custard step: and of course, the more labor intensive one was absolutely incredible. I didn’t get any photos, but we all agreed that’s a recipe we need to save and make again.

Beatrice turned four months old and had a checkup with our doctor. She’s soaring into the 75th+ percentiles of height and head circumference and also hitting some six month milestones (rolling over both ways (though she definitely prefers her right side) sitting with some help, and supporting her weight standing with some help). She’s quite the overachiever, determined to keep up with her big brother.

We were grateful to escape the oppressive heat and spend the holiday weekend in Morro Bay with some good friends.

I joked that I was a Victorian woman with hysteria, prescribed a trip to the seaside for sea air.

We went to a delightful coffee shop and perused the bookstore next door. I love crowded bookshops with used books piled to the ceiling and knickknacks displayed on the shelves. They’re just so cozy — I could spend hours in them.

It was Michael’s first time at the ocean: he loved throwing rocks into the surf and looking for shells and pebbles with me. We rolled up our jeans and let the surf “kiss our toes” and jumped over bits of shells and seaweed. He loved every bit of it (except for sand in his shoes).

Before we left, we got to eat at Giovanni’s, which is one of my favorite places to eat. Their poke bowls and fish and chips are excellent, and Michael watched them select crabs and played in the giant shell.

We also celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary over the weekend. The past five years have been filled with more blessings than I can recount. I’m so grateful for my husband and for my marriage. He is strong and virtuous and kind and intelligent, and everything I have ever dreamed of in a husband.

I indulged myself by perusing our wedding photos, and I thought end this post by sharing some here, too.

Five years down, eternity ahead.

It feels like May just began, and somehow it’s basically over. Time just seems to pass more quickly every year.

Spring weather is slowly creeping into summer weather here: we’ve officially had our first few 90 degree days. My tomato plants are enjoying it, even if I’m not. I’m sad to have my knits packed away until October.

However, I’m relishing the mild mornings: I’ve been waking around 5:00-5:30 am with Beatrice, who seems to be a morning person. So I often get up, open up the windows to let the breeze in, and start a pot of coffee. It’s given me some quiet time in the mornings, often with baby snuggles and a good book or knitting project. I’m grateful.

I’ve come to really appreciate our armchairs perched in front of the window. They’re the perfect place to sit and read and knit. They’ve become the focal point of the living room.

Michael and I have been sitting here and reading together. I read him his very first chapter book: My Father’s Dragon. He loved it and was very concerned about the baby dragon. We are now reading the second of the series, Elmer and the Dragon.

Earlier in the month, my parents went on a camping trip and on a whim, took Michael with them. We stayed behind to take care of the animals and gardens, and enjoyed the photos they sent whenever they had cell service.

To say he had fun would be a gross understatement. He went on many adventures with Grandma and Grandpa and loved making pancakes, playing in the dirt, and seeing the big trees.

Michael is growing in leaps and bounds. His new obsession is the Disney animated Robin Hood. He has added singing “Oo-de-lally!” to his song repertoire. He loves to sing: usually a mashup of Old MacDonald, Alleluia, and Row Row Row Your Boat. He loves to talk and has some adorable toddler-isms. My current favorites:

“Buckle me out!” — the opposite of “buckle me in”, said vehemently when he wants to get out of the car.

“I’m playing hide and seek with my eyes!” — his version of peekaboo.

“Go frontwards” — the logical opposite of backwards.

“Hold me up!” — instead of “pick me up”.

He is also a very protective and loving big brother. Whenever someone else is holding Bea he gets very concerned and wants to know where she is at all times — sometimes even telling that person to “give her back”.

Beatrice has discovered she can smile, and does so with gummy gusto. She also has found her head and clutches it quite often, which makes for some pretty funny pictures.

We took a trip to Southern California to visit Jake’s parents and celebrate his younger brother graduating from high school. We got to see many dear friends and family members.

Michael was especially excited to spend time with Oma and Opa: together, they watched Robin Hood probably 4 times, and read books and played silly games.

I was able to visit one of my favorite parishes for Vespers and Mass: St Michael’s in Whittier, CA. It was lovely to catch up with friends and pray in the place where I discovered the beauty that is Orthodoxy. This is where I was chrismated. This is where my soul is most at home.

There was something that was particularly meaningful to me: six years ago on Memorial Day, I attended a youth BBQ at St Michael’s and met this cute guy from Michigan. Now here we are on Memorial Day, at the same place where we met, after nearly five years of marriage and two children. To God be the glory.

On Pascha, our little Beatrice turned two months! It’s amazing to see just how much she’s grown.

She’s an adorable chubster with rolls upon rolls, the squishiest cheeks, and the most intense and varied facial expressions. See below!

Like her brother, she is afraid of missing out on things and loves to be held so she can see all that’s happening around her. However, unlike her brother, she is a champion sleeper and even slept through the night a few days ago. I’m grateful!

She got rave reviews at her recent two month pediatrician appointment. She’s 11 lbs 11 oz, and growing excellently in every way.

Michael adores her: he still calls her “Baby Beatrice Margaret Marie” over and over again and wants to help with her in any way he can. When I’m not holding her, he gets very concerned and wants to know where baby sister is. He does get a little territorial when he sees her with Grandpa, however.

When we are at church, we jokingly say that she’s “everyone’s baby”. She is usually either being held by her godfather or one of the several other members of the parish that love baby snuggles. Over Pascha, I think I held her maybe twice outside of nursing her. It’s nice to know she is so loved and well taken care of at church, and it’s nice to have the chance to be at the choir stands too.

Nearly two and a half, Michael is as rambunctious and precious as ever. He’s got some adorable “Michael-isms” right now, with my favorite being “Buckle me out!” when he wants to get out of his car seat (a reasonable opposite of being buckled in).

He loves any sort of vehicle as usual and points out every car or truck he sees whenever we’re driving. My mom recently got him a bunch of different construction and farm equipment toys, including an attenuator. He loves talking about his “attenuator truck that grandma got me!”. It’s hilarious to see a two year old throwing around a five syllable word. Whales are also currently a favorite, because “the whale flies in the sea!”

Age Two definitely comes with its difficulties — my goodness, does he have a will of unyielding steel — but it also comes with its beauty and sweetness. I really love how his curiosity and wonder show me a new way of looking at the world.

We are still recovering from Holy Week and Pascha over here. Things are quiet — well, as quiet as they can be with two children — and peaceful even amidst the busyness. I’m working in our garden, hoping to grow quite a supplement to our grocery bill this summer. I’m knitting up a storm (more on that later).

I’m also preparing for the storm of preserving that summer will bring. It’s already begun: we stopped by our local strawberry stands and bought two full flats: I’m hoping to can up some strawberry balsamic jam this weekend.

Happy Bright Week, dear friends — Christ is risen!