Well, apparently I’m on the once-a-month schedule.

This past weekend, we stayed at home and started to tackle the organizational problems we seem to have everywhere. What this generally means is the need for more bookcases. Jessica has a ton of books - so many that they fill up the shelves in our library and then continue to piles on the floor. More on that later.

The weekend before, I made my annual trek to King’s Assessment. I’ve only ever missed this event once or twice the entire time I’ve been in the SCA, so it’s almost like punching a ticket. Served the king: check. Jessica and I went alone, leaving the boy with his grandparents about an hour from site.

When we got there, Sir Bryan asked me where Tommy was. I didn’t really think he had an interest in my son (though he is the cutest boy ever), so after I told him, I asked why the question? The answer I got was a pleasant surprise. He said that any time he sees me at an event when I’m not fighting, I’m with him. Like we’re inseparable. (Well, I am pretty crazy about him.) I mentioned to Bryan that with me in the north, and he in the south, that perhaps his sample size was a little small. He conceded that point, but then pointed out Ursus’s web site along with many other photo sites. I’m either swinging a stick or holding Tommy. Maybe those are the only things worthy of capturing, but I like being thought of as doting on my son.

I’ve completely stopped fighting pick-ups after tournaments. Once I’m out of the main activity, I take over childcare. I didn’t even touch my armor the second day of Sapphire Joust, opting instead to watch over Tommy. It’s times like these (and other events where the boys stay home while Mommy plays) that I really feel like I bond with him. My work schedule is such that I have three days off per week, for the express purpose of being around him. Those other four days, though… that’s hard. I see him briefly in the morning (he wakes at 0530 generally), maybe at lunch if I can swing a visit, and then briefly in the evenings while I work on cooking dinner. This week will be especially tough because of a huge project I’m working. Tonight, by the time I got home, all I had time to do was to throw food in the microwave, change a diaper and dress Tommy in his pajamas, brush his teeth for him and hand him off to Mommy to put him to bed.

So yes, storage. We bought a bunch new bookcases to both augment the library (filling in the corner) and to replace the overflowing bookcase in the kitchen. The really cool thing about the new kitchen bookcase is that we’re using the wide top shelves for all the cookbooks, and the bottom shelves for small appliances and paraphernalia that rarely get used. The bookcase is from IKEA, and we bought half-doors for the lower half to hide away the objects. Of course, it also prevents Tommy from getting at the items and climbing the shelves. He climbs everything these days.

I’m pretty pleased with what we’ve got, though it will take a huge effort to re-do the library. It’ll have to be done a little at a time, because we don’t get much peace except for nap times and after bedtime. And those are frequently used for more engaging activities.

…and some not so engaging. I need to do some studying for my political science class.