Monthly Archives: August 2010

29 Things: An Update

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I have less than seven months to finish my 29 Things list.

Yikes.

I’ve checked off a few items, but I have a long way to go! And some of the things are definitely time sensitive (lightning bugs and lemon ice cream, for instance).

Others are just plain overwhelming (the half marathon and short story are good examples).

So, with seven months to go before the big 3-0, I’m checking in. It’s time to get serious!  Perhaps a monthly update will do some good.

Which things on my list do you think I should check off now before the real crunch time hits??

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

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At least that’s how the saying goes.

But a thousand? Really? I mean, it’s true a picture can very quickly show you a lot about a specific moment in time…

How big baby was at nine months.

How the family pet used to curl up on Dad’s lap.

The way Mom looked away from the camera to avoid being caught on film.

So, yeah. Pictures can say a lot without saying anything at all. But a thousand words worth?

I really like pictures. I do.

In fact, my little family recently had a photo shoot. I wanted to get that adorable little family member of ours on film at 8 months so I can always remember what she looked like at this stage. Her little expressions. Her smile. Her dimples.

But you know what I realized? A picture isn’t worth squat after a few generations if those involved don’t document their lives along the way.

I’m not talking about scrapbooking. (Though that’s a perfectly good way to document life!)

I’m talking about keeping a journal.

If a picture is worth a thousand words…how much more are a thousand words written by a loved one 50 years earlier worth?

While a picture captures images of a moment in time…the written word captures thoughts, feelings, emotions and happenings.

I’ve mentioned before that I keep a journal. Lately I’ve realized how much I enjoy it. Not only writing, but going back and reading it.

I’ve been diligently writing in a journal since the day I had a positive pregnancy test, and it’s been fun re-reading my thoughts during the pregnancy, right after theBABY was born and even just a few short weeks ago when she started crawling.

I’m surprised how often I’ve already forgotten the experience.

I imagine 60 years from now, when my granddaughter is looking at a picture of me and her mom as a baby (She’ll be expecting herself, I’m sure.), she’ll think it’s so neat to know that her mom (aka theBABY) was called “Cheeks” by her mama (aka theGIRL) and “Bean” by her papa (aka theBOY).  

Or maybe not.

Either way, I’m going to keep on writing and documenting this brief life. 

How about you? Do you write in a journal? If so, what’s your favorite part – the writing or the reading?

If you don’t, I encourage you to give it a try. If you know it’s not something you can stick with, do it a couple of times a week for a month (maybe in December when you’re bound to be making memories). Then, go back and read what you wrote the following year during the same month. I bet you won’t regret it.

theBABY is Growing Up

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It’s been quite awhile since I’ve bragged about theBABY, so I’ve decided it’s time.

First, let me just say…she’s the sweetest. She still wakes up with morning smiles each day. She still lights up when theBOY comes into the room. She still likes it when I sing.

But now?

Now, it’s even better.

Now, she waves and says “hi” in her sweet little voice.  Sometimes it even sounds like “hi dad.” (Though, I’m pretty sure she called a golfer AND a tree “dad” on the ride home today.)

Now, she pulls herself up into a standing position just to sit down and stand back up again.

Now, she drags her toy box out, takes out all of the toys and pushes the box back into its place.

Now, she peeks through the bars of her crib while she waits for me to come get her after a nap.

Yes, now it’s even better.