Ashworth Alcove

I've carried with me the details of a recurring dream for as long as I can remember. Literally, as long as I can remember. In the dream I am on an airplane. I know because there are rows of seats and a single aisle in the middle. The seats are paired in groups of two. The plane seems small and I can tell we are moving. There are a few things that stand out greatly to me: 1. I am very young. I'm not sure how I know this, for I am seeing the dream through my own eyes. Therefore I can't actually see myself, but I am certain that I am a young child. 2. It is very bright. Unlike traditional airplane windows, there are huge windows. It seems as if the cabin itself is made of glass. There is light streaming through, illuminating everything in a very magical fashion. 3. Everything sounds distant. There are other people in the seats and they are all talking, but it sounds as if their voices have been slowed down and are far away. Think along the lines of how you sometimes see...

  Growth & Appearance: Your skin is perfect and fair. Sometimes your cheeks are rosy as if you've put a bit of blush on. When you sleep you look like a porcelain doll. Your eyes are small and delicate. Your hair is longer, especially in the front. You've also got a little big of shag over the top of your ears. You weigh 19.5 lbs and are 28 inches long. You're still in size 3 diapers, but you'll be in size 4 soon. You're wearing 9-12 month everything.   Teeth: Still only two. Development: You're typically good-natured and very affectionate. You love snuggling and rolling around in bed with me. You'll bury your face in the covers for a few seconds and then pop up grinning. You're really ticklish and you laugh a lot. You've also developed a sense of humor, so you're officially part of the family. You keep tabs on everything that's going on. Your eyes are always tracking. If I'm nursing you and your dad is around you wi...

We're moving across the country in a month and a half. I've started packing. In general, packing sucks. However, I don't really feel too sad about boxing our stuff up to be opened up once again in another home, another state, another time zone. I've done it multiple times by now. Then I got to the nursery. I walked in with a couple of boxes and some newspaper and just looked around. I tenderly touched her books and trinkets. The vintage cat figurines from Aunt Sissy. The delicate fabric we framed and hung above the crib. The handles on the dresser that was once mine than I left tarnished because I liked the character. That was three days ago and the boxes are still sitting in the corner of the room - empty. The nursery hasn't been touched. For whatever reason, I just don't want to pack it away. It's not like we're getting rid of Violet's things, but the thought of dismantling her room, her very first room, deeply disrupted my spirit. I do...

Yes, I let her put a pine needle in her mouth. I'm trying not to be the mother that freaks out about everything. Violet loves being outside. That is understated. Violet likes being outside more than my boobs (maybe). I always put a blanket or quilt down for her to play on, but there's no point. She shimmies her way to the edge in search of the magnificent ground covered in goodies - grass, dirt, pine needles, leaves. Luckily, no dog poop. Yet.

  Growth & Appearance: Your face is perfectly round. Your cheeks are so soft and squisy, I want to bite them. Your hair is a little longer. It's dark brown and soft. Your eyes seem bluer than ever. The pediatrician drew a punnet square at your 6 month checkup to show that both your Daddy and I must both carry a recessive gene for blue eyes for you have them. It still seems impossible, but it must be true because it's pretty obvious you're not the milkman's child. You weigh 18.5 lbs (90th percentile) and are 29 inches long (92nd percentile). You're still wearing size 3 diapers, size 9 month onesies/shirts, 9 month pants/bloomers, and 9-12 month sleepers. You got some news shoes recently and you wear size 2 - for a second, before they're kicked/ripped off.   Teeth: Two teeth still. I've been waiting for a top one to show up any day because you've been pa-retty grumpy in the evenings and you're drooling a lot again. Alas, still only two....