Sweetness and Light

I know I haven’t posted many thoughtful updates lately of the type I used to write. That’s because I still haven’t quite recovered the energy I need to actually think on a level that those pieces require, and also because most of my creative energy at the moment is going into behind-the-scenes work for Modern Love Long Distance.

I have three or four books on long distance relationships I’d like to put out next year and I’m hard at work on those every chance I get. Here’s the cover for the book I’ll be publishing in January – isn’t it fun?? The Modern Love website will also have a new look come January.

I’m also writing monthly for A Life Overseas. Here’s the link to my latest piece that I had some fun putting together: When Cross Cultural Differences Are Shocking

But enough about work, for now. I want to tell you about other things, as well. 

Things are good. Sure, there are moments most days when I have to take a deep breath and remind myself that Dominic is only two. Yesterday there was no nutmeg in the store. And my driver (who only speaks Lao) and I (whose Lao is pretty much limited to discussing how much the baby has been sleeping, or not sleeping as the case may be) have had several episodes of me trying to navigate us to the rotating playgroup meeting only to end up hopelessly lost and miles from where we should have been.

But, you know, those are the small things.

Most of the time I can grab onto a bigger perspective and see that even if Dominic has just enthusiastically dumped the entire canister of sugar into the cookie dough while my back was turned for one second, it’s great that we have both the time and the oven that facilitates baking cookies together.

I can switch to a different recipe that doesn’t call for nutmeg.

(Assuming I have remembered to charge it and bring it with me) I can use my cell phone to call someone who speaks Lao and who knows where I want to go, apologize for my navigational incompetence, and pass the phone over to my driver.

We’ve been back in Laos almost two months now, and most of that time has been of the “unexpectedly happy” variety.

Our house has so far been great.

The weather this last two weeks has been inexplicably and deliciously cool (right now I’m even wearing long sleeves!!).

I am grateful every time I can hand Alex to Pok, our maebaan, so that I can pay attention to Dominic, or do a little bit of work.

Mike and I have started going out to dinner every Wednesday night – he makes it home by 5:15, we head out the door by 5:30, and we’re back by 7:30 to put the kids to bed.

Alex might be the world’s worst napper, but he’s sleeping better at night, and the last two nights I haven’t even had to feed him between 8pm and 5am.

Now that Dominic is talking, I’m finding parenting much more enjoyable, and it’s a real delight to see him running to soothe Alex when he cries, or kiss him gently on the head.

Life feels good. I (mostly) feel buoyant in a way I haven’t felt for … a long time. And I am grateful for both that feeling and this season.

I’ve gotta run, but here are some recent photos. And have a great Christmas!!

Alex: “Yes, I’m barely four months old, but I’ll take that whole carrot right out of your hand daddy, thanks. Now, what about desert??”

Out for a walk near our house.

Dominic: “This nice monk just gave me a month’s worth of sugar, but now he’s demanded Mama take a photo of us and no one seems to care that the dogs ARE GOING TO TAKE MY TREATS!”

Dominic: “This always happens! Can’t the paparazzi see I just want to enjoy my ice cream in peace?”

Dominic: “When you said I could throw one more stone into the fishpond, you meant one HUNDRED, right?”

Walking down the lane towards our house.

Dominic: “Daddy, I’m telling you, just leave the tree decorating in my capable hands. You’re hovering. It’s throwing off my artistic genius.”

Alex: “Even Dominic adores me, as is my rightful due as the reigning Baby Fabulous.”