Needed

Today was needed. The past few weeks have been a flurry of highs, lows, and crazies. First, we found out mid-July that we were expecting again. MAJOR HIGH! We were able to share the news with some of our family, including my 90-ish year-old grandparents in person. Our one and only weekend away was cold and rainy. SOMEWHAT LOW.  Then, about 10 days ago, we suffered a miscarriage.  MAJOR LOW. Work has been pretty hectic for me. Claire has been having sleeping/go-to-bed issues. Both of which add to the crazy factor.
So yes, today was NEEDED.
It started with pancakes and bacon and went on like this:

My first pedicure in probably 7 months and Claire's first one (well, a polish change with base coat, two coats of color, and top coat - much better than Mommy does!)!

Lunch with my favorite girl at Crawford's in Old Village after a Costco run.

Two FULL bins of yard waste, results of work yesterday morning and this afternoon in my backyard, which, much to my relief, now looks like this:

We can distinguish the hydrangea from the hibiscus, see our gate, walk on wood chips instead of weeds, and actually use the walkway behind our dining room that had been taken over by cone flower! 

{P.S: If anyone is interested in yellow day lilies or purple cone flower, let me know...!}

Monkeying around - literally!

The day ended with a wedding rehearsal at church / pizza dinner at Grammie & Papa's with Joe, Tara & Baby Hunter / visit with old friends down my parents' street / an easier bedtime {read: no nap + car ride = basically asleep on the changing table} for Claire / bowl of ice cream with the end {boo!} of my homemade cherry topping.

All the dishes from dinner last night through tonight are still in the sink.  There is laundry in both the washer and dryer from last night.  My floors are so dirty that stuff sticks to my bare feet in a nasty way.  But all that can wait.  I NEEDED a day of relaxing and playing.  My mom has recited this poem for years and it is true:

Cleaning and scrubbing

can wait til tomorrow;

babies grow up

we've learnt to our sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs,

dust go to sleep,

for I'm rocking my baby

and babies don't keep.