Almost walking

Elijah got a walker from his cousin this week that he tried using today and LOVED! We realized quite quickly that our house was too small for his walking adventures so we headed outside. Elijah had a good time. His parents had a good time. The people driving by watching him had a good time. It was a feel good moment.

I'm just wondering...

I'm just wondering, Is it possible to be passionate about something without being judgemental towards the opposing point of view?

I asked someone this question and they said that they thought it was. You just keep your opinions to yourself. But isn't that missing the point of being passionate? Can you be passionate about something without being vocal about it?

I got to thinking about this recently when a friend became very passionate about something that differed from the way I had done it. I understood her passion and at a different time and different place, perhaps I too would have felt that same passion. As it stood, I ended up allowing myself to feel judged because of that difference.

I wonder how often I share my views on things and end up making others feel judged. If I think that imports are the only cars to buy, does that mean that if you drive a domestic vehicle you're not quite as cool as me? If I think that I should go back to work after a year of mat leave, and you are choosing to stay home with your child, does that mean that I'm a better person? If I choose not to purchase lottery tickets because I think it helps fuel the vicious cycle of gambling issues, does that make you a bad person because you like to pick up a 6-49 every now and then?

I wonder how often I have inadvertently judged someone by my own passion without realizing how much my words could and did wound them. It makes my heart sick to think that I may have done that.

Do we give up passion to save feelings? I'm not sure.

I'm just wondering...

The little man

Optimism and the flowers down the street

There is a house that I pass when I walk to the mall. It makes me smile when I pass it.

In the spring there was an attempt made by the owners of the house make some changes to their front yard. One of the changes was to move the walkway from the side to the middle of the yard. Then they optimistically planted flowers down the sides of the walkway. They were maybe six inches at the time.

As summer has gone on, so have the flowers. They are probably three feet high and they have completely taken over the walkway. You couldn't walk down it even if you wanted to.

Sometimes our best intentions just don't work out the way we expect them to. Sometimes you just have to smile because what else can you do.

Last summer weekend at the lake

Only three more weeks till I head back to work. Just in time for one last long weekend at that lake.


This was the first time that Elijah willingly walked into the lake and enjoyed it. He spent some significant time in the water, playing with the fraying edge of the dock. (Not sure why we spend money on toys when a fraying dock will do...) This was also Elijah's first time in a canoe. He did surprisingly well. Only cried when he tried to stand and understandably hit his head on the canoe. There was no permanent damage.

Some recent pictures

When did he become a little boy?

I looked at this picture of Elijah and realized that he looks like a little boy. He's not a baby anymore.

There is a small part of me that is sad about that, but I have to admit that I like that he is becoming more and more independent. He doesn't need me like he once did. As long as I can keep the perspective that parenting is not about how my child makes me feel, I am good with this. I am proud with him when he tries something that he's never done before. The smile of accomplishment on his face never ceases to warm my heart.

I am also glad that that independance will give me the opportunity to once again use some of my non-mommy skills. To have something to add to a conversation besides his latest tooth (which popped out this morning) or the state of his bowel movements. It will be nice to going biking or cross country skiing without the thought that I have to hurry home to feed him. Someone else can do that. Yup. I think that this independence thing will be nice.