take back the summer | part 1 : the backyard adventure

Sweet Nicole from Today is My Favorite recently asked a few of us bloggers with babies to join her in a little project she dreamed up called Take Back the Summer. The concept, in her words, is this: My idea is to collaborate on a project called Take Back The Summer: with the idea of us as mamas taking back our summer days from the mundane, hiding out in our air conditioned houses to making these days with our little something to be remembered. I loved the idea, and couldn't wait to get started.

As a stay-at-home-mom, I'll be the first to admit that some days can feel awfully long and mundane. It's just too easy to get into a rut of chores, naps, toys, repeat, especially on the days when Ryan takes the car to work and Ralph and I are stuck at home. Making the day something to be remembered, like Nicole mentioned, is something I want so badly to do everyday with Ralphie, and yet, too often I get bogged down with the idea that grand gestures have to be made in order for the day to feel like a success. I keep forgetting that sometimes the smallest and simplest activities can hold big amounts of wonder for a growing baby boy. 

So, when that time of day rolls around where Ralph is bored with his toys and my legs feel restless, the first thing we do is open the back door and step outside. We feel the sun on our cheeks, and point to birdies, and blink and squint up at the leaves. We check the garden and smell the tomato vines and wave to Tugger, the fluffy dog who lives next door. Ralph eats the grass, and I fish it out of his mouth. Sometimes we pick flowers to take back inside. We crawl and walk and twirl till we're tired. It's simple, and it's good enough for us.

Shelby:: Brandon and Shelby

Nicole:: Today Is My Favorite