This didn't quite turn out as I'd hoped, but I was rushing to try and get it finished this week and thought something was better than nothing. It's been sooooo long since I've posted anything to Illustration Friday, and it is a goal I have to start participating again.
My thought for the topic comes from the fact that--although this is not always a bad thing--I sometimes feel like I'm on an island here in the apartment with Evelyn. Life is completely different with a newborn, and it definitely revolves around her. Of course Chokydar is here with me, but other than that, it can feel rather isolating at times.
Four and a half years ago I was once again checking in to a Continental flight from Houston to Newark on my way back to Rutgers after spring break. While at the curb side check in, the attendant asked, "Would you like to change your seat?"
"Where am I sitting now?" I asked.
"On the isle about midway back," he replied.
"No, I'll stay there then. Thank you."
When I'm traveling with someone, I prefer the window so I can look out, but alone I go for the isle. I like the isle seat so I stand up quickly at the end of the flight and don't have to crawl over any one if I need to come or go. Plus, you never know when you're going to get stuck sitting next to Fat Tony and the extra breathing room the isle seat affords can be heaven sent. I had an isle seat, so I saw no reason to change.
Like I said, you never know who you're going to end up sitting next to on flights, and I usually try to be friendly but aloof, often putting in earphones immediately after saying hi to make it clear I'd rather not spend three hours talking to a complete stranger about their dog's latest haircut or whatever; we've all sat next to someone and found ourselves entangled in a painful conversation, unable to break free. That day I had a book I needed to have read over spring break (and didn't), The Good Soldier. It was for an honors seminar on "The Puzzle Novel" and I had to be ready to discuss it by the second day of classes after the break. I was going to need the 3 hours on the plane to try and make up for my slacking over the holiday.
I didn't get a single page read that day, because as fate would have it, I didn't sit next to Fat Tony, but instead, shared the row with Justin Watson. He boarded after me, and stopped at my row after I was already seated and settled. Let's just say I didn't mind getting up to let him in. Once we were both settled again, I went back to "reading," although I think my eyes were really just skimming the page as I tried to casually glance his direction now and then. He told me later that he sat there "reading," doing the same thing, trying to think up a good way to open up a conversation. "So, what brings you to Newark?" he asked me. The only pause in the conversation came three hours later when we realized that we had landed in New Jersey.
There was no way for me to know that day that I would meet the man I would marry, and I sometimes muse about how awestruck we would have been in that moment had we known the full gravity of that first chance encounter. Today is the third anniversary of our wedding, and every day has been better than the one before it. We've had our share of trails for sure in the last three years, but every hardship has been more than offset by joy. In Justin, I have a man who supports me for who I am and encourages me to keep growing to become the person I have the potential to be. He knows my strengths and weaknesses and often knows me better than I know myself. He truly listens. He inspires me because he acts on his beliefs and in so doing, he willingly makes sacrifices so that complete strangers can have the ability to act on their own. His creativity sparks my own.
So, happy anniversary, Sweetheart! I love you more than I can ever say, and I'm so happy to be walking this road with you.
You are two months old today! Woo hoo! This month has brought so many changes, I can hardly keep up with them all. I know the old addage about not seeing the forest for the trees applies here. Because I spend all day, every day with you, I know I'm taking some of the gradual, miniscule miracles you're accumulating everyday for granted. First of all, you weigh 11.4 lbs! Your hair is still as full and fun as the day you were born, maybe even more so, and your eyes remain the beautiful steel-grey you were born with as well. Your growth physically is astounding, but that's only the beginning.
Lately while I'm talking to your Daddy on the phone, you'll make a noise and he'll stop the conversation with, "Was that Evelyn??" Your repertoire of noises has expanded greatly this month. You've gone from only "WAAAAAA!!!!!" (when your father was here) to more expressive and varied crying, gurgles, and here in the last few days, coos. It's incredible to listen to you because I can tell you're actually experimenting, and you get a real kick out of it.
This month you've begun to actually look at me. There were inklings of it last month, but mostly you just stared into space in August. Now, in glorious September, you actually look, no, dare I say, STARE at me! You can fix your eyes on an object and follow it in all kinds of directions--up, down, left, right, in arcs--ARCS, Evelyn! I know this seems small to you, but believe me, last month you couldn't handle the arc.
A little while after eye contact became the trendy thing to do, you dazzled me with another new trick: you smiled. And not just an "Mmmmmm-I-just-pooped" smile, but an honest-to-goodness "I-can-see-you-and-I-actually-like-you" smile. You greet me this way when I gather you in my arms for night time feedings and again in the morning. Your father moaned when I told him this. "Great! She's a morning person!" he sighed. When you get older, I think you and Chokydar could combine your forces to wake him up in the mornings. If you say this was my idea, I will deny it. Your smile lights up your entire face, from your adorable double chin to the tips of your electrified hair. You flash your toothless, gummy smile at me and my heart melts.
Nap time has been a sticky subject for us this month. You, on occasion, have decided to boycott The Nap, and then (GASP) find yourself irritatingly tired. The concept of cause and effect was obviously not one of your learned skills this month. Usually, however, you can be persuaded to catch forty winks with the aid of our dear, dear friend, The Swing Chair. This beautiful device allows Mommy to do things like, catch a bathroom break, run outside to take the dog out, grab something to eat (two handed!), or even squeeze in a workout. Although you don't always nap regularly during the day, you are a champ at sleeping at night. Usually you're in bed asleep for the night by 11 and can sleep until 3 or 4. You wake up again around 6 or 7 usually, and will sometimes let me catch another hour or so after that before we get up for the day. This weekend, after a particularly napless day, you managed to sleep through the night, from midnight to 7 am. This is not a regular occurance, but honey, 7 hours of straight sleep was one of the nicest presents you could give to Mommy. Thank you!
Your hands have become much more active this month, especially in the last week. You are starting to seek out things to grab on to, and you really enjoy sucking on your fist. That's right, not just a finger or two, the entire fist. You get it nice and slobbery and then smear some more drool all around your chin for good measure. When I wipe you dry with the spitty cloth you often flash me a grin. I say "flash" because typically about a second later you've jammed your fist back in your mouth to do more drool fishing.
There's so much more, Evelyn, but I can't even begin to put it all into words, and besides that, I've got to get to bed so I can keep up with you tomorrow.
