Mine

Sometimes I take him location scouting with me.

I'm always glad that I do. 

I love him.

Space

Today Griffin said, "Mom, wouldn't it be just so great if we could have a house.

A real house with space and we can have lots of guests?".

That hit me so hard. 

So much has changed for us in the past year and a half and I thought Matt

and I were the only ones having to "deal" with this small apartment. 

I've worked really hard to make this apartment feel like a home and I think I just

assumed that most kids don't feel "space". I thought Griffin just saw this place as his home.

And I was wrong.

 Maybe he hears me talk of my dreams to Matt. 

My dreams of a place for Griffin to run and play.

Space to create and craft.

Space for Jasper to roam.

Space for Matt to build things with Man Tools.

A space for guests.

I guess I need to speak less of my dreams and more of our realities when Griffin is listening.

Our reality is we have everything we could possibly need within the walls of this tiny space.

There's barely enough room to fit two people in the kitchen to bake cookies

but there's room.

There's barely enough room for dance parties

but there's room.

There's barely enough room to run and play outside

but down the hill a ways there's room.

There's barely enough room for all of us to play in the living room together

but there's room.

There's barely enough space for both boys to share a bedroom with space to play

but there's room.

Because there's a time in I think everyone's lives where they have to learn to let go of what

doesn't matter and learn about what truly does matter.

For us, right now, this tiny space will suit us just fine.

And when we are ready to spread our wings and fly, God will provide the wind.

This is what I must teach Griffin.

I love the little ways that he teaches me by me having to deal with my demons

in order to teach him.

Little stinker.

Project *JOY*, Week 8

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is still

my favorite times of the day with him.

It brings me so much joy just to sit and watch him.

Instant Happy

After reading this post from Meg's blog I knew Griffin would love these.

So we made them. 

Pretty self explanatory.

Good stuff. 

I hot glued the Popsicle stick stars to some baker's twine and I strung some up in the 

boys' room and some up in the living room. 

Instant happy!

Get your craft on!

*Project Joy* Weeks 4, 5, 6, & 7

So yes.

A little bit of catch up.

Here are my joys from these past few weeks.

Peaceful naps

Hairs!

My nook. This little spot on the couch is where I crochet, edit pictures, blog, read, and generally relax. 

Everyone needs a nook.

Teensy crocheted balls

Jasper giving me the business during an impromptu Valentine shoot.

New fishy friends. Teepee and Sammy.

Teepee was only with us for a few days before passing on.

Talks with Griffin about tomorrow not being guaranteed is not a joy for me.

But the tender heart of my child is.

Him.

Oh happy day!

 

Scar

A few days before Christmas, I let Griffin do laps 

up and down the hallway to burn off some energy.

He tripped into his room and split his eyebrow open 

on his loft bed post. 

In 5 years, that was the first moment my heart plummeted into my stomach. 

Luckily my mother hadn't moved to Texas yet. 

She came right over to stay with Jasper (who was already down for the night) while we 

took a trip to the ER.

Three stitches.

Griffin lived up to his name and was a total Rockstar while enduring the shots (which went deep into the open wound) and stitches.

It has been a few weeks since the final butterfly strips fell off.

I've got to admit.

I was freaked out about "MY BABY'S BEAUTIFUL FACE"!!

But nothing has changed.

He's just as handsome.

If not, more so now.

I got a glimpse of what he is like under pressure.

When he knew that something had gone horribly wrong, he was uncontrollable.

Then I started counting.

So did he.

By #4, he was calmly ticking off numbers without even a whimper.

My son amazes me.

So here he is.

The new

and improved

Griffin Rockstar Allen.

Project JOY *Week 3*

A little late for week 3 but hey...

Only one picture pretty much summed up last week. 

Teething.

Jasper finally had his first tooth pop through.

It was a rough week for him. 

For me too.

This little furrowed brow was all I saw for an entire week.

Cutest furrowed brow EVER.

It is truly my joy to be able to stay at home during these milestones.

There are rough days.

Rough weeks.

But I'm here for every second of it and I wouldn't have it any other way.