The Here and Now

As life gets back into a semi-normal routine, I am emerging from the enveloping fog that is life with a newborn. Slowly, the dust is settling and the new begins to take shape. 

Just last night I branched out and left Dillon with a bottle of pumped milk to pick up a girlfriend for the movies ('Moms Night Out' ironically enough). And today we (me and youngins) made a successful (as evidenced by no melt downs and out in an hour) trip to Kohls where I purchased a few new tops (our schedule isnt the only thing that has changed since Lee was born- hello jelly roll).

Essentially I am realizing, as I did with Reese, that although daunting at first, I can do this! It is all a balancing act of course and I don't mean to say I can do it all- but I am realizing I can still do most normal activities, just in a different way. Such a freeing realization indeed. 

Lee is a sweetheart. He sleeps best when he is cuddling or on the go, he eats well and somewhat routinely and gets lots of kisses from Reese. He started smiling about a week ago and is becoming more alert. 2 weeks ago he was baptized by his daddy and both sets of grandparents witnessed the special moment. 

Reese is so old to me now! I can't get over the fact that we can now carry on a conversation together. She can ask me questions, put on her shoes, pick out her clothes, brush her teeth- she seems especially mature now that she is a big sister, a sweet and loving one at that.

While winters in Rapid City aren't necessarily my favorite thing ever (to put it nicely), I do so love the anticipation of summer in the Black Hills. Dare I say, the cold is almost worth it when finally at long last, the warm sun kisses my skin as we hike through the pine trees amid turkey or bighorn sheep or gaze upon a herd of bison roaming the plains at Custer Park. Pactola and Sylvan lake lay sparkling in the hills waiting for a dip. The creek by our house flows with life as fly fishers cast their lines from dawn til dusk. Mount Rushmore sits proudly atop the rolling hills, a beacon that takes my breath away every time we round the corner just past Keystone and George Washingtons profile comes into view. My summer bucket list is more like a summer barrel list (cheesy grin). This land is perhaps moving up in my book as one of the most beautiful places in the world. 

So there you have it- these are (but a few) of the (ordinary yet precious) elements making up the Ferguson Adventures, a life I love and thank God for every day!