caring for a newborn is my kind of schedule. a finite set of things to do every day, feedings and changings and nap times and snuggles . . . it's not particularly challenging, but you do go to bed tired to the bone and really feeling like you accomplished something.
the twos are a whole different kind of deal. rewarding, yes. but nebulous. sometimes you're sort of not sure if you're really accomplishing anything from day to day, even though you mostly suspect that you are. toddlers have their own time table, so it's hard to measure your progress. instead of counting feedings and naps and diapers, i've started to count whole-face smiles, good belly laughs (the kind that make the whole air feel lighter), flushed cheeks from running so fast, and that proud spark huck gets in his eye when he's learned something new. it's more involved, and it's harder to track, but deeply satisfying in a whole new crazy way.
here's what we did today with our do-nothing-tuesday:
♥ split a lamb platter from the truck on 67th for lunch.
♥ had a conversation with an astrologist, who told me huck was a classic scorpio. "he has such dark, turbulent eyes."
♥ split a black and white cookie because we are on a major black and white jag these days
♥ helped a tourist find the coffee bean and tea leaf on broadway (we were standing right in front of it).
♥ walked up to the playground to sit in some swings and slide down some slides and say "remember, mama said no sand" five (hundred) times.
♥ met up with a girlfriend and accompanied her to h&m.
♥ tested out my old tripod with huck and his toy subway train.
♥ came home just in time for huck to catch a little nap and for mama to catch a few handfuls of peace and quiet peanut m&ms.
♥ came home just in time for huck to catch a little nap and for mama to catch a few handfuls of peace and quiet peanut m&ms.
i'm gonna love yo up all over, two! just you try and stop me!
That sounds like a very productive day to me! Great to hear you're making the most of this precious time. x
ReplyDeletethe sweetest. those toddler days are hard to measure productivity wise. perhaps measure them in smiles, and sighs and all the "melt downs" averted... or just forgo the measuring and get on with the living, most days, perhaps...
ReplyDeleteOh, I can so relate! Adair is in the same stage. What exactly did we do today? I can't even remember.
ReplyDelete:)
Wow that's my kind of day. Eating cookies, catching up with friends and shopping? Awesome. And loved how you talked to an astrologist.. how random! x
ReplyDeleteWatch out twos, Natalie and Henny are prepared to take you on full force!
ReplyDeleteI love the word "nebulous" and haven't used it in quite some time.
ReplyDeleteAhem.
That is all.
WAIT! No, 'cept it's totally not. Heh. Your writing in this post kicks ass (then again, when does it not?), as do your super-fabulous hightops. I wanna! Those are some bitchin' hightop sneakers, I gotta say.
And you look fabulous yourself, of course!
vagary nebulousness. most descriptive of all the descriptors. sounds scarily close to a phrase that could describe my last month at work.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely day with your boy! xo
ReplyDeleteI think it sounds like a great day! Especially the black and white cookie part. And you have to draw the line there, because it's your job to teach him manners, right? If you give away your half of the cookie, your child could end up not giving up his subway seat to old men. (Not that Huck would ever do that, I'm just saying cookie retention is important).
ReplyDeleteyou are just the sweetest. so much love in your posts! as always, beautiful writing :)
ReplyDeletei totally feel you.
ReplyDeletemy thoughts, cause you asked.
black and white cookies. one half is better than the other. i think it's the white i prefer which surprises me, i feel like i'd like the black better.
i looked up vagary.
and finally, the baby schedule--i hope you're on it. and soonish too. you deserve it. not that we don't all deserve it but you seem to seriously relish in life with huck (something not all people do!)--and i think this next baby would be a lucky one, like huck is.
Huck is just too ridiculously cute. I wouldn't have split the cookie either.
ReplyDeleteoh i know that type-a itch. it's the same itch that makes lists and plans for every weekend (heaven forbid we do nothing) and it's the same itch that is nervous to have babies. i NEED that checklist! but if i had a huck? hmm...i could survive without a checklist. you two are darling.
ReplyDeleteYes, the toddler years are hard. I was soooo much more productive last year than this year. But now I am content(ish) to spend an afternoon knee deep in playmobile
ReplyDeleteOh boy, I hate sand so I cannot imagine wet sand! Yuck.
ReplyDeleteYou two are so adorable!!
TheJustInCases.Blogspot.com
i soooooo get you. my little guy is 13 months and what did we do today? read the same books, played with the same toys, and sang the same songs that we did yesterday. and the day before. there's a whole lot of nothing going on when you're stuck in the house with 8+ inches of snow coming down!
ReplyDeletei'm only a nanny, but i totally get your type A itch... the "we did A LOT, but did we do anything of lasting value today" itch.
ReplyDeletealso, i can smell the wet sand now.. gross.
i'm rooting for your vagary. there is too much love in that last photo for the higher powers not to give a mama like you another baby to praise.
Toddlers are so much work... newborns seem to me a piece of cake to me now... kkk
ReplyDeleteLove your writing Natalie, you rock lady!
Agree with you. The way we look after our babies every year greatly differs. When my boy was a newborn, all I worried was about his well-being and if I was feeding him enough. Now, I'm worried about his education (you know, typical asian parent). It's never easy looking after our children, but it's the most rewarding "job" ever. :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a pretty productive day to me - we never made it to the park after Kitty crashed out on the sofa and Elma staged a nurse-in so you're doing better than me!
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on - I felt like I had to tell my mom all about how I shared a cookie at subway with my little guy today just so I felt like we did SOMETHING
ReplyDeleteCute cute cute photos!!! :) They captured the silly little twos perfectly, I say!
ReplyDeletexo
sounds productive to me! our non-productive days are sitting the house being utterly bored. doing the same things over and over and my 2 yr old begging for tv and I keep saying no.
ReplyDeletethat's why even though we've had gale force winds and rain here in Scotland this past week we've gone out in it. To the pool! To a friends! To the pool again because he peed on everything in sight last time and we didn't even get in the water!
Toddler stage is a whole nother ball game. I don't know what I'm doing every day. I hope I'm making progress but I'm not sure I am.
Nat, great posts, but please STOP saying you're infertile. you are NOT you have a gorgeous baby and there is nothing medically wrong with you that's rendered you medically unable to have kids. So please, stop using a word that is referred for women out there who are truly living this, it is embarrassing for you and disrepectful to them.
ReplyDeleteI undrestand that trying and waiting is hard and frustrating and that it's taken you years to get Huck. So why not enjoy him? thank god you are actually FERTILE and you can have kids and please STOP using that word. it does not apply to you. you are just trying to conveive.
Other than that, your blog is fabulous.
Actually, please don't insult Natalie like that. The World Health Organisation defines infertility as:
Delete"Infertility is the inability to conceive a child. A couple may be considered infertile if, after two years of regular sexual intercourse, without contraception, the woman has not become pregnant (and there is no other reason, such as breastfeeding or postpartum amenorrhoea). Primary infertility is infertility in a couple who have never had a child. Secondary infertility is failure to conceive following a previous pregnancy."
It could also apply to a couple where the man is infertile, but the woman is not. As a couple, they are infertile as they would be unable to conceive a child together, even though the woman may have fantastic reproductive health.
Natalie may ovulate, and she may have had Huck, but she can also be infertile. They are not exclusive terms.
And it's obvious Natalie enjoys Huck. It also doesn't mean she isn't allowed to feel sad and frustrated at being unable to conceive.
look at your outfit, you edgy nyc mama!!!
ReplyDeleteyou make motherhood sound so lovely! I can't wait to have a little one of my own! xo
ReplyDeletehttp://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/
Hey, maybe it's just me, but I love moments like these during my day and I still feel like I've accomplished a whole bunch, even if it wasn't particularly significant. You make me miss my days with Seamus.
ReplyDeleteMm. My husband and I were talking earlier this week about WHY does it seem like the baby-stage... the newness, lonng naps, sweet tinyness, ect, - the precious innocence and wonder last the shortest amount of time?
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that we look back and 'remember when' our kids were so sweet and small and easy? ( compared to when they are adults or teenagers, i'm assuming?)
Why IS IT we are so darn sleep deprived and sluggish and have a hard time remembering what happened all day if we've been up since 4:42am, when this is such a delightful time of life?
The only reason I could come up with is it's some kind of cosmic birth control . Or something.
Anyways, with my 21 month and 3 month old boys, I concur to your day! Buuut, I do think doing 'nothing' is pretty dang awesome. And you're doing an awesome job with Henny!!! :)
I am the same way! I always feel like some box needs to be checked for things to count, but maybe that just isn't always how it goes with mother-hood, and "doing nothing" sometimes can be so fun!
ReplyDeleteI love non-useful days.
ReplyDeletewhat a cute post!
ReplyDeletemy best friend and i used to miss lectures at uni and have what we called "non-sick sick days" where we watched DVDs and ate chocolate in bed all day.
now i have a nine month old baby there's no time for those type of do-nothing days! but we have a new kind that i like just as much, mainly playing at home and out for walks.
http://thislittlemum.blogspot.co.uk
Well, I love everything about this post. Mainly because I don't have children but I'm so Type A and I'm already looking forward to that first year (some day near or far or whatever)... It sounds like my kind of year, not to mention the whole CUTE BABY THAT IS MINE thing. He is wonderful and I love that you saw an astrologist. Also love your outfit here! Ok I'm done XOX
ReplyDeleteOn having another baby...I have realized that things come to us at that precise moment when we need them the most and/or when we are really ready to manage. Beautiful and awesome events don't occur everyday or often...they take their time. In the meantime continue to enjoy your beautiful boy! Love your outfit by the way!
ReplyDeletePrepare yourself follow Type A: It's the threes that are the turbulant, cray-cray days. To say the absolute least.;)
ReplyDeletei adore this post! i just love these kind of days, and you make me so excited to me a mom one day!
ReplyDeletelindsey louise
hellomrrabbit.blogspot.com
I love every post with Huck. He's adorable. My blog
ReplyDeleteToo cool for school, all around (and in the best of ways).
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteToddler days should be measured in grass stained knees, muddy clothes and chocolate-ice-cream-mouths. The day was only as successful as the bath water is dirty ;)
ReplyDeleteC
Nat, I wanted to let you know that your earlier blogs about struggling to conceive, and finally conceiving Huck are one of the places I turn when I'm feeling low. I've been trying to get pregnant for 18 months, and am just about to try Clomid. I'm in a different place to you cause I'm 38, but I'm hoping I've time left, God willing. I wanted you to know that I send positive thoughts your way whenever you say that you're still not there yet, just as I get positive feelings when I read your words.
ReplyDeleteHuck is too sporty for words. I prefer the toddler stage, as frustrating as it can be, to the newborn stage. I was so terrified I would do something wrong during that time. My son seemed so little and fragile. Now that he is a sturdy little guy, it's a lot more fun and less worrisome.
ReplyDeleteYou are just so blessed to not have to work. I have a 2 yo and a full time crazy job. I'd adore to have useless days!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy 'em!
Im a little irritated I dont have a baby. Its nonsense to have to endure such a trial, isn't it!
ReplyDeleteI think you can love the two's that don't suit you at all because of that old temporary infertility thing. For years for us this year, hoping to get my temporary status too one day. LOVE these pics. Gorgeous!
ReplyDelete*Four, not for And I'm not even sure that made sense. Whatever.
Deletewell that sounds like an amazing 'nothing' day
ReplyDeleteJust you wait until three. Then the real fun begins! and you need to stop being so cute all the time. I always say I will NEVER wear a certain trend until I come stop by your lovely blog here. and now I am convinced that I NEED those shoes. like stat. heh...never say never I guess. Come dress me anytime.
ReplyDeleteTwo iscthe best. My last baby is almost 3. I'm really going to miss 2.
ReplyDeletei love your take on the baby year. we're in month 5 right now and im just starting to feel good about our days. was the transition easy for you? from working lady to mama lady? i had a hard time with it but ya know, im getting there! :) 7 more months and im going to embrace them - thanks for the perspective. :) huck is the cutest, btw.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to pry, but if you are still nursing, that really messes up your hormones, and all the prolactin can act as an effective birth control. But you probably already knew that!
ReplyDeletePeace and quiet peanut m&m's are my favorite! You two are adorable ;)
ReplyDeletexo TJ
A classic Scorpio with dark, turbulent eyes... haha I love it!
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for being transparent about your life. Although I am baffled at how semi-popular growing blogs like yours that are overwhelmingly positive, cute, and well-written, can still attract the obnoxious and mean-spirited comments of trolls who have no life and are jealous that yours is so adorable. As if it somehow diminishes them.
Keep doing what your doing, Natalie. I like you. :)
I need to know where these shoes are from!!!
ReplyDelete