Ok I know I know I've fallen way off the wagon again. Things are so totally out of control here these days that I'm lucky to locate the computer, much less sit down and type a word or two. And despite all the things I'd love to blog about, like my thoughts on gun control and same sex-marraige, my distaste for hard pretzels and all the silly antics of my kids, all I can really muster is an update. Here goes:
Since the last post, we had a baby (A BABY - and she's beautiful, we named her Caroline, but we call her Coco and she totally looks the part of a french fashion icon already), had her baptized (one of the last opportunities to be together with all of our family before flying west, it was a very special day), took a trip to Louisiana for a funeral (it was very important to me that we all go - even two-week-old Coco - and I'm so glad we could got to see the extended family we will miss so much when we are in CA. My grandfather passed before he got to meet Coco, but we did talk on the phone when I was still in the hospital with her, so that was important), and found a house (as in signed a lease and paid an exorbitant amount of money - via PayPal no less - to a guy we've only ever spoken to on the phone...um, craigslist scam?? i sure hope not).
Now, we're packing (it's a painful and protracted process), adjusting to life as five (some are having an easier time than others, but Coco has been and remains the lowest maintenance Perrinez - and that includes adults), saying goodbye (we haven't really started doing this actively, but it is always in the back of my head, that this time could be the last time, for a while), trying to navigate the California school system to get cleveland enrolled in kindergarten (school choice?? who knew?), train for the marathon (look for my plea for donations on Facebook coming this week), prepare for graduation (which basically just means finding something I fit in to wear), and generally find time to remind all the kids how much we love them, that they will see their books and toys again and that no, sleeping on the floor and living in the purgatory of our home will not last forever.
As for me, I feel like I'm being challenged to live in the moment; to embrace the rapid change and chaos that we've brought upon ourselves by introducing a new baby and a total life change in the last months of our time here. I find myself at times wishing moving day was here, just so we could put an end to this limbo-living we're doing. But I've lived long enough (and had enough psychotherapy) to know that embracing uncertainty, chaos, and change are essential to finding peace in any moment. And I. Need. Peace. And there's nothing not to like about my life.
Maybe my mom belly, but it's sunny out, so even that's tolerable.
