Where the Wild Things Grow

It's been hiding in my backyard for awhile now. I don't let friends, family or guests go back there for fear they will either judge me or get lost forever in the jungle of foliage.

I love my garden, but you'd never be able to tell. Actually, I love the thought of my garden. I love the thought of strolling through the perfect rows, not a weed in sight, while sipping my coffee on early, dewy mornings. I bend over occasionally to check the status of a budding tomato or infant squash. As I make my way back through the lush, productive vegetation I pluck off ripe and ready fruits with glorious summer recipes in mind. I am wearing a summer dress. I am barefoot.  

(the haze around the edge of the screen slowly disappears and the sounds of wind chimes dissipate in the background)

I have weeds. The poky kind and the tall kind. I have to wear combat boots to get to the corn, which is infested with grasshoppers, and the broccoli, which has lace-like leaves. I'm pretty sure they aren't supposed to be that way. My herb garden, while producing, shares much of it's space with ants and, of course, weeds.

So here I am, confessing my green thumb sins and wiping the slate clean.

Green Thumb Sin #1: Believing I had a green thumb

Okay. I never really thought I had a green thumb, but, like many of things I've wanted in life, I thought I could change the parts that were never really in my control anyway. I scoff at people who buy all the latest scrap booking, stamping, photography paraphernalia, who sign up for an entire year's worth of subscriptions and classes on the subject, who start off so strong and who have nothing to show for it all, but a closet full of hobby and a half-finished memory book you can't even open because the pages stick together from the glue.

I am that person.

Green Thumb Sin #2: Being a time-whore

There are things you must devote your time to and then there are things you choose to devote your time to. I must devote my time to my son, my job, my relationships, my animals, my business, my sleep. These things leave roughly -5 (as in "negative five") hours for me to devote my chosen time to- things like recreational activities, facebook (she says sheepishly), my blog, community activities, vacation, yoga, my garden. Of course, I fit some of these activities in, but they are on a priority only basis. Sadly, facebook is easier than gardening at the end of a long day. (she says even more sheepishly)

Green Thumb Sin #3: Doing it the hard way

I wanted organic. I didn't own a hoe. I have an 18 month old child who has an uncontrollable attraction to tractors. The tractor is on the opposite side of the farm from the garden. Going on vacation for a week (or a weekend) is not good for gardens.

I like to think these were hurdles that kept me from my dream garden, but reading back over them I know they are just excuses. I mean, they really did hinder my efforts toward a bountiful harvest as going organic means pulling more weeds,means necessity for a hoe, means more time spent in the garden,  means chasing Jackson down the driveway toward the "tracka", means no time for vacations anyway. But deep down I know that if my garden was a priority then these would not have been hurdles.

Green Thumb Sin #4: Expectation of inheritance

You should see my mom's garden. Strategically placed Sunflowers and a white fence frame fruit trees and perfect rows of lush vegetables. When I call her house before 8pm in the summers I don't expect her to answer because I know she's out in the garden.

My fault is in thinking some of this would be passed on to me- that somehow because we share the same kind of knees that we would also share the same kind of thumbs... the green kind.

Also, my dad is a farmer. 'Nuff said.

I know I committed more than four green thumb transgressions. However, I feel I have been forgiven because there is a farmers market in my front yard every Friday. Thank the garden gods...

There are two roads I can take from here. I can forever be a one-tomato-plant-in-a-pot kind of girl and never try to plant a garden again- solely relying on the talents of those around me, or, I can try again next year and probably fail, but be one lesson learned closer to the sun shining on my shoulders as I bend over and pluck my first successful cucumber from its leafy bed on the ground. I will be wearing a summer dress. I will be barefoot. I will use Preen.  

Grab some tea and we'll catch up.

I know. It's been months, but I refuse to apologize. I have the same excuse everyone else does; Life just gets too busy.

I will, however, try to catch you up.

My last post was Jackson's first birthday. He is now 15 months old and has 8 teeth. He has learned some basic signs for things and will immitate the sounds of words. He's a completely different child from 3 months ago and for me, this is bittersweet.

Oh, and he's walking as of a week ago. It's hilarious and terrifying as he totters his way around the living room, navigating every hurdle with determination. He's such a sweet boy and the more independent he becomes the more I appreciate the times he needs his mommy. I hope that he will forever need his mommy.

Jackson's new best friend is a German Sheppherd/St. Bernard/Golden Retriever named Mouse. (I don't know if dogs can actually come from three different breeds, but she's a mutt and these are the dogs she resembles.) She has what I like to call "Marley and Me moments". These moments usually come in threes and (so far) I don't get mad at her about them because I know she can't help that she's huge and hairy. She knocks over plants and tracks mud inside and jumps up on the sofa. She slobbers and drools with the best of them and she can't help but want to constantly be petted. Despite all of this, she is the sweetest dog I've ever met and she has a soft spirit that you can't help but notice. We love her.

About a week ago we packed Jackson, Mouse, Kiki (the cat) and all of our things into the car/trailer and moved. The house we moved into is the house I grew up in and a family homestead site that is over 100 years old. It's also the site for the upcoming farmers market that I'm starting in Davenport. "The Big Red Barn Farmers Market" will have its grand opening on June 4th and run through October, if I'm still alive at that point.

The market will be in the barn that my grandpa restored last summer (which he just won a state-wide award for the restoration during a conference in Walla Walla this past weekend- I'm so proud of him!). I have so many memories in that barn and I'm so appreciative of the fact that my grandpa spent the time and money to preserve that piece of history. Now Jackson can create his own childhood memories there! My hope is that the farmers market contributes to the history of agriculture in our area and honors the rural lifestyle while bringing new opportunities to the community.

Aside from a newly mobile toddler, a new dog, a new house and a new business, life is as usual. I'm settling into my job at Lincoln Hospital as the PR/Marketing Coordinator and Jackson and I are going to plant a big garden in our new backyard as soon as I find all those seeds I bought a few week ago...

Things are busy, but blissful.

Monkeys and chocolate cupcakes!

Jackson turned one on February 9th. (I’m a little late in posting this.) I was able to keep him alive for an entire year and that deserves a celebration!

One year ago on the 9th  I woke up being as pregnant as ever and ready to hold Jackson in my arms and not in my belly. We left the house very early that morning in order to be at Sacred Heart in time for my scheduled c-section and a few hours later I saw Jackson for the first time! It was completely surreal and one can never prepare themselves for that moment, but when it happens you know that what you’re feeling is real.

Since that day Jackson has given me many moments of “real”-ness. I’m proud of completing the first year of parenthood and even more proud of how Jackson has grown and developed. So we celebrated with balloons, monkeys and chocolate cupcakes!

Thanks to Holly for helping me out with all the preparations and to everyone who came to celebrate Jackson’s first birthday!    

A lock of hair…

 

Above, you see Jackson’s new haircut. Now, let me tell you the story…

For weeks now my dad (papa) and my Grandpa have been telling me that “Jackson needs a haircut.” I would respond by saying, “maybe…”, but secretly hoped that Jackson would grow cute little curls at the end of his stick-straight hair. Well, he didn’t.

On Tuesday I went to pick Jackson up from daycare and as I walked into the room I saw the back of his head and thought, “that boy needs a haircut.” As cute as Jackson was with a moppy head of stick-straight hair I knew he’d be even cuter with a Sunday School Charlie haircut.

That night I called my Grandpa to admit defeat, but come to find out he was one step ahead of me. He had already purchased a haircutting set for Jackson. I won’t deny that this made me nervous. “Now, who will be operating the trimmers?” I had planned to take him to Barber Bob in town- where all the farmers go to get their haircuts. He has an old-fashioned chair and I was thinking photo opp. to be perfectly honest. 

I didn’t have the heart to say no. Besides, how great of a story is it that Jackson got his first haircut from his Papa and Great Grandpa?

So on Thursday night, with Papa on one side and Great Grandpa on the other, we strapped Jackson into his highchair for his first of many haircuts . Jackson didn’t cry, I only had to step in one time and it’s not a good haircut at all, but it’ll grow out soon enough. Until then I need to learn how to give Jackson a haircut.

(Left) This picture was taken while Papa was trying to figure out how to use the trimmers. It wasn’t very comforting for me and, obviously, not for Jackson either. “Um, excuse me. What do you think you’re doing?”

 

 

 

 

(Right) I guess my dad thought it would be helpful to show Jackson that the cover wouldn’t choke him. Again, we were both terrified.  

(Left)  The first snip! Like I said, Jackson didn’t cry, but that doesn’t mean he was happy about the whole experience.

 

 

 

 

(Right) Three generations of Guhlke’s. They now all have the same haircut. 

2009: A Year of Firsts

    Much like everyone else, I spent New Year's day reflecting on the past year and planning for the next. I feel, however, that 2009 was one of the biggest and best years I've had so far. While I had many hurdles to overcome throughout the year, I overcame them and am better for it. I love being able to look back and see personal growth!

    Jackson's arrival, of course, was the best part of 2009. I can't even put into words the mix of emotions I felt that day- the strongest of which was joy and pride. I'll never forget seeing him for the first time or that first night in the hospital. Our trip home was scary; our first month of sleepless nights was rough; his first smile was so incredibly precious. With each first he got closer and closer to the loveable, joyful, easy-going, always hungry, slightly mischievious, beautiful little baby boy he is now. I can't wait to see what he'll become in 2010.

Our first road trip was in March when Jackson was only 5 weeks old. We drove the 10+ hour drive to Jackson Hole, WY to visit friends and Jackson's dad. That tiny baby was a trooper. He slept most of the way and put up with mommy's singing in the car. And speaking of trooper; on the way back I was pulled over for speeding. As soon as the officer walked up to my car window Jackson started screaming. I promptly got out of a speeding ticket and as we pulled away Jackson stopped. Thank you, Jackson.

Jackson's first tooth- his lower, front, left tooth- came in September with it's next door neighbor soon following. About a week ago he started getting his upper front teeth so pretty soon he'll look a little bit like a beaver, but they'll be good for chomping on more advanced foods.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New years were all firsts, of course, and pretty soon he'll have his first birthday (February 9th). I swore I'd never be that person who throws their child a themed birthday party, but don't you think a little monkey birthday would be the cutest?

In summary, 2009 was great. I have a new and perfect little human in my life, a new job that doesn't involve coffee and does involve my expensive degree and family and friends who I appreciate more than ever.

Here are a few snapshots of the end of the year:

Blueberry pancakes!

Papa's hat.

Jackson's first birthday party attendance.             Sippy Cup!!

We weren't thrilled about our first snowsuit.

Toophs!

Our first Fall...er, few falls

It is one of the most heartbreaking things when I see Jackson get hurt. I will be that mom that runs out onto the field and embarrasses herself -and her child- when they get hit in the face with a baseball. My mom was. Even though I was embarrassed, I loved it.

Jackson is pulling himself up and exploring his mobility options. With that comes the inevitability of falling. All I know to do is to scoop him up and let him know he is safe when that happens. It's a helpless and yet fulfilling feeling.

As I mentioned before, Jackson is becoming mobile. He's even starting to walk with assistance. We also have two teeth and more coming... the drool is unstoppable! His noises are becoming a little more organized and he's learned that if he uses his miserable cry at 5am that mommy will come put him in bed with her. Nearly every morning this happens and as soon as I open the door to his room he starts grinning. I know it's a game, but I love cuddling with him.

October is my favorite month. I loved sharing it with Jackson for the first time. We went to Greenbluff and picked out pumpkins, played with leaves, carved pumpkins, dressed up for Halloween (well, he did), made pumpkin-apple teething biscuits... I enjoyed my favorite month more than I have in a long time. Jackson seemed to enjoy it too!

August 2009 = Craziness

So Jackson's sixth month flew by. We had so much going on that I barely had time to appreciate all his new developments. The one I'm especially excited about is that he now sleeps through the night! Every time those words come out of my mouth I want to dance in place really hard.

Jackson is so close to crawling that it could literally happen any day. He scoots himself around the floor and can pretty much get to whatever seems the most appealing to him. Confession time: One day I was in the kitchen cooking harvest dinner (one of the things that made our month so crazy) and Jackson was in the living room playing with cousin Kaitlynne. I could hear him playing and talking and could see them around the corner, but since I'm not the greatest cook in the world, I have to admit that I was focusing mostly on the pot roast. Kaitlynne toddled around the corner looking a little suspicious so I decided to go to the living room to check things out. I could still hear Jackson, but when I looked around I didn't see him anywhere! I instantly panicked and felt guilty for not keeping a closer eye on him. After a couple more playful squeaks from Jackson I located him under the couch. Completely under the couch. He was content to be under there, but I still felt guilty...

I'm proud (and relieved) to say that we FINALLY bought a new (to me) car. After touring what seems like every car lot in Spokane I found the perfect car for us- a Mazda Tribute. It's not too big, but big enough to hold all of Jackson's stuff (for being so little he has a lot of stuff). It gets good gas mileage for an SUV (around 25), it was very well taken care, doesn't have too many miles on it and was in our price range. Yay!!! I officially hate car shopping.