A balancing act.

It's an ongoing conversation I have with girlfriends: how to "figure out the work-life balance." It's only slowly dawning on most of us, as we have more kids, more demanding jobs, ever-lengthening commutes (in order to accommodate both), more laundry, less time with our spouses, and on and on and on... that we have it figured out. That is to say, we now realize that it's a perpetual balancing act, a little bit like walking a tightrope with no discernible solid ground on either side. While carrying two kids. Who will not. sit. still. And also balancing a bottle of laundry detergent on your head. Which doesn't have a lid on it because your toddler is obsessed with lids and likely removed it and hid it under your sink. Which is, for some damn reason, leaking on the floor. Or is that spilled milk...?

... I digress. At any rate, while navigating this balancing act, you are never really even-keeled. Some weeks you get behind on work stuff and catching back up takes over. Seth had one of those weeks, as his knapsack currently includes all kinds of certifications he needs for work plus his ridiculous AOC course, neither of which he can manage to squeeze into his work day.

As a result, I had a "didn't get much schoolwork done" week. I'd call that kids winning, but we like to think the kids always win in a pinch. It may not be strictly true, but it helps us sleep at night. In the case of my week, the pendulum swung wildly in favor of CDC. (I know that's mixing metaphors in a big way, but sleep never makes the "winning" or even "breaking even" list.) I definitely didn't mind setting aside my voluminous reading to get us all back and forth a dozen times to accommodate CDC Open House. (Since it was an adorable family night culminating in the worst Mexican food I have ever had at "La Hacienda," but hey- I didn't have to cook. And hearing Finley scream "TA-cos!" was worth choking down whatever passes for tinga in Highland Falls.)

I was less thrilled about the half day of paper writing I lost due to the CDC nurse's mistaken belief that Finley was due for more shots, the fact that Seth just took her in for one she was allegedly missing two weeks ago notwithstanding. 

Finley, on the other hand, was thrilled, since she got a morning reprieve from "school" to wait around at the doctor's with Mom, a sticker for her troubles, and a DFAC breakfast date-- and didn't have to have any shots to boot.

Seth and I both had good intentions of getting caught up on a rainy weekend at home, having cancelled our trip to the Berkshires due to the forecast and the need for a no-travel/ no-company/ no-excuse not to study weekend between the Buffalo trek and a slew of upcoming houseguests (about which we're super excited! but desperately want to be able to enjoy without worrying about deadlines.) Naturally, we didn't get as much done as we wanted and I think Seth pulled an all-nighter last night as penance. 

But we had a blast hanging out at home. Finley got to go to her first birthday party, which was complete with a Tumblebus and face stickers and cake pops. (And, much to Seth's delight, Bloody Marys.) The Ryan family definitely set the birthday party gold standard.

I got in a long-ish run (a real treat these days), and even snagged a quick nap on the couch with our snuggly little guy.

Who gets his fair share of Mom & Dad naptime, actually. 

We peeled ourselves off the couch on a rain break long enough to check out the Wildlife Education Center (Finley liked the snakes. Ford snoozed.) The StoryWalk was a big hit too, although you wouldn't know it from this picture.

Although the Cornwall Park was the highlight for Finley, who learned "giddyap" this weekend (obnoxiously, she has also learned that it's funny to shout it while I'm pushing the jogging stroller uphill) and is getting big enough to make us nervous on the springy horses.

Annddd we finally finished off the garage, just in time for it to get chilly enough out to require winter wear inside it. Which made for this adorable sequence of pictures in which Finley and Ford "shared" a football toy in Dad's recliner.

Before we knew it, it was Monday morning, and we're off again. Grandma Jayne arrives for the long weekend on Thursday, and these little guys are almost as excited as Seth & I. We're planning a date night, and don't even care that we will probably spend it at the library.

Cheers to everybody else on the tightrope! I have a couple favorite photos this week, but the clear winner is this one, a glimpse into what makes double diaper duty and the circus that is twoundertwo life worth it:

Naturally, there are also plenty of these moments. ("Ford, do not touch my baby!")

And because I keep forgetting to send the following kid updates, Finley's hair is finally growing, and she's working an impressive rat tail right now. It cracks us up.

And Ford has two teeth! (This was my attempt to capture them on camera, which largely failed although if you squint at the bottom right one you may catch a glimpse.) His steak days are right around the corner.