Sunday, March 29, 2015
Forgotten hopes and abandon wishes
Well, as you can see...I did not keep up with my regular posting of family life when I went back to work. I have come to realize that life as a working mom does not leave much/any time for your interests and hobbies. You spend your days working then your nights and weekends keeping everyone else happy, healthy, and making their hopes and dreams come true. As a mom, it is in our nature to put ourselves, hopes, and wishes on the back burner. I believe that when you work so hard to bring that baby to your home, a little bit of you leaves the priority list. Do not get me wrong, there is nothing I would rather do than be a mommy and wife. It makes my heart feel very full to spend time doing things for my family as a mommy and a wife, however I am worn out and forget to do things for me. So with all of that being said, I am going to try this pledge again... and see how well I do. If you happen to notice it has been awhile and I have not posted give me a nudge. ;)
Sunday, January 4, 2015
What a Merry Christmas it was
After having the craziness of going back to school, and sorting everyone's schedule out I was ready for the break. The Christmas season seemed to fly in and out this year which makes me very sad because it is my favorite time of the year. I love all of the fun activities that the season offers, I love the smiles and uplifting attitudes (why can't that last all year) and most of all, I love the family time. We were very blessed this year again to have pretty much all of our family present for Christmas. We had a slow start to the Christmas festivities because both boys ended up fairly sick with a nasty cold right before school got out. However, we still made the most of the time we had. Aaron had a fun Christmas party at day care that Mimi so graciously attended.
A few days before the holidays, the boys and I went to my moms house to make gingerbread houses.. My mom found Snoopy gingerbread house kits at the grocery store which were perfect, this season he was totally into Charlie Brown Christmas. Jacob sat in the high chair and watched as Aaron, Mommy and Mimi decorated, Aaron had the best house by far.
Then, the Wednesday before Christmas my Dad, Barbie and Spencer arrived for a few days. I feel so fortunate that they are willing to travel down here each year and spend Christmas with the boys. I love to have that time for them to wake up to them, play with them, and participate in the bedtime routine. We went to Church on Christmas Eve, and my mom and Rick met us there as well. It was a great service which was followed by "real snow" for the kids. Well last year we didn't even go out there because we knew Aaron was probably too young. This year we decided to give it a try and he was still not too sure. However we did get a cute picture or two.
Then we headed back to our house for our little family tradition of steaks and potatoes for Christmas Eve dinner. This year we started the ever so popular tradition of a Christmas Eve box. In the box both boys got new pj's, a stuffed animal, a movie and popcorn.
We woke up Christmas morning and did breakfast and Santa at our house, my mom and Rick came over. Then after we had showered we headed to my mom's house for the mass of presents and dinner. It was so nice because everyone including Jon's mom, dad, sister and grandma were there. I love that we can spend the holidays with all sides of our family together. I am also forever indebted to Nora and My mom who do a bulk of the prep and cooking for these holidays. I do not have pictures on this computer of the mother load of gifts we had but the boys were spoiled and love all of the new toys they were given. As we were loading up the gifts to haul home, Jon made the statement of "We are doing this at our house next year". So, I guess I will have the opportunity to repay them since we will host most of Christmas next year.
Here are some other random pictures from the season.
We hope everyone had as Merry of a Christmas as we did. We hope that the start of 2015 finds you rested and in good health. Our house is in pretty good shape in the rest and health category, we hope it stays that way for awhile.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Going back to work and daycare
Well we are 4 days in and it has been a bumpy road. I wanted to clarify some updates in reference to some Facebook posts I had put up and update on how everyone is adjusting.
Jacob: The first day was a little rough with some uneasy conversations that were had between the teacher and me in about Jacob's care. I was slightly bummed to find out that they wouldn't swaddle him because I knew that he would not sleep longer than about 20 minutes at a time. However, that was not a battle I was interested in fighting (unless he became so sleep deprived it was a problem) because he is a week shy of 5 months old and would soon outgrow it anyways. This was a transition I would not (and am not at home) have done now but by no means is it life threatening. They told me that it is not recommended by doctors to swaddle this old and it is apparently also a licensing issue. That is water under the bridge. The other concern was when the girl told me they don't rock babies to sleep. This kind of bothered me because then I looked at the room and quickly realized that he was spending most of his day laying on his back on the floor if they were rocking him to sleep. The next morning I spoke with the director and told her my concerns. She was completely understanding and said she had no idea why the teacher said that because they absolutely do rock babies. We went into the room and talked to the teacher and the director clarified that they do rock them and let the teacher know that needed to be happening (a different teacher than the one who I spoke to the day before). I also had expressed our concern about the amount of time he was spending on his back because he has a flat spot on one side of his head. When we went to Jacob's 4 month appointment the doctor expressed that if his head did not get better he might have to wear a helmet. I know it is silly but I was not very excited about that thought so I have been trying really hard to keep him off of it when he is awake. Well, at day care that was not going to work if he was laying on his back all day. The director was also very understanding about this and told the teachers in his room about our concern and they have made a great effort to move him around often and give him lots of time "sitting" up, he is a supported sitter so they have had to get creative about how to help hold him up. Based on the attention they gave to our concerns, we are feeling much better about his care and I really feel like the teachers like him. The past two evenings his afternoon teachers face lights up when she talks about his day and how happy he was. Ultimately, I want to know that my baby is happy and that he is being loved on....and sleeping and eating well.
Aaron: Aaron has been to day care for two years now so it is not new to him however, he had been home with me for almost 6 months (that is a long time in his short little life). He had grown to know the life that he went to school 3 days a week and was only there for 4 and a half hours, then we went home and played. Well Monday when I took the boys in, it broke my heart because Aaron was not happy. As we were walking down the hallway he was holding on to my leg saying "no mama no!". I got him into his classroom and really like his teacher, she was very sweet and welcoming to him. I knew once he was there a little bit he would have a good day. I was not surprised that when I picked him up, he was happily playing. Due to the adjustment in activity level and nap time he was a tired boy that night. We have had a challenging week with both boys being over tired but some night have gone pretty smoothly despite all of that.
Mommy: Well, it has been a roller-coaster to say the least. I have experienced many emotions, some more than others. I had forgotten how hard it was to step into the school year right in the middle of things. I am slowly but surely sifting through all of the things I need to learn, know and do for work. I feel like I run a marathon every day from the moment I wake up to the moment I close my eyes. I have been logging about 5 miles a day on my fitbit, and that is just walking to do life not any exercise. I hope that in time we become more efficient at our prep work for dinner and each day. I have become the queen of to do lists and sticky notes. I have sticky notes and to do lists for every part of my life so I don't forget anything. I even have a sticky note smack dab in the middle of my back door.
Daddy: He is taking life in stride and juggling the chaos and his crazy wife. He has been a good ear for me to vent and move on with all of the frustrations the last few days have held and a great help in all of the prep work.
Here's to hoping each day gets better.
Jacob: The first day was a little rough with some uneasy conversations that were had between the teacher and me in about Jacob's care. I was slightly bummed to find out that they wouldn't swaddle him because I knew that he would not sleep longer than about 20 minutes at a time. However, that was not a battle I was interested in fighting (unless he became so sleep deprived it was a problem) because he is a week shy of 5 months old and would soon outgrow it anyways. This was a transition I would not (and am not at home) have done now but by no means is it life threatening. They told me that it is not recommended by doctors to swaddle this old and it is apparently also a licensing issue. That is water under the bridge. The other concern was when the girl told me they don't rock babies to sleep. This kind of bothered me because then I looked at the room and quickly realized that he was spending most of his day laying on his back on the floor if they were rocking him to sleep. The next morning I spoke with the director and told her my concerns. She was completely understanding and said she had no idea why the teacher said that because they absolutely do rock babies. We went into the room and talked to the teacher and the director clarified that they do rock them and let the teacher know that needed to be happening (a different teacher than the one who I spoke to the day before). I also had expressed our concern about the amount of time he was spending on his back because he has a flat spot on one side of his head. When we went to Jacob's 4 month appointment the doctor expressed that if his head did not get better he might have to wear a helmet. I know it is silly but I was not very excited about that thought so I have been trying really hard to keep him off of it when he is awake. Well, at day care that was not going to work if he was laying on his back all day. The director was also very understanding about this and told the teachers in his room about our concern and they have made a great effort to move him around often and give him lots of time "sitting" up, he is a supported sitter so they have had to get creative about how to help hold him up. Based on the attention they gave to our concerns, we are feeling much better about his care and I really feel like the teachers like him. The past two evenings his afternoon teachers face lights up when she talks about his day and how happy he was. Ultimately, I want to know that my baby is happy and that he is being loved on....and sleeping and eating well.
Aaron: Aaron has been to day care for two years now so it is not new to him however, he had been home with me for almost 6 months (that is a long time in his short little life). He had grown to know the life that he went to school 3 days a week and was only there for 4 and a half hours, then we went home and played. Well Monday when I took the boys in, it broke my heart because Aaron was not happy. As we were walking down the hallway he was holding on to my leg saying "no mama no!". I got him into his classroom and really like his teacher, she was very sweet and welcoming to him. I knew once he was there a little bit he would have a good day. I was not surprised that when I picked him up, he was happily playing. Due to the adjustment in activity level and nap time he was a tired boy that night. We have had a challenging week with both boys being over tired but some night have gone pretty smoothly despite all of that.
Mommy: Well, it has been a roller-coaster to say the least. I have experienced many emotions, some more than others. I had forgotten how hard it was to step into the school year right in the middle of things. I am slowly but surely sifting through all of the things I need to learn, know and do for work. I feel like I run a marathon every day from the moment I wake up to the moment I close my eyes. I have been logging about 5 miles a day on my fitbit, and that is just walking to do life not any exercise. I hope that in time we become more efficient at our prep work for dinner and each day. I have become the queen of to do lists and sticky notes. I have sticky notes and to do lists for every part of my life so I don't forget anything. I even have a sticky note smack dab in the middle of my back door.
Daddy: He is taking life in stride and juggling the chaos and his crazy wife. He has been a good ear for me to vent and move on with all of the frustrations the last few days have held and a great help in all of the prep work.
Here's to hoping each day gets better.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
A Slice of Halloween
This year Halloween was a lot of fun because Aaron had so much fun and understood more of it. In the beginning I was not sure how he would take to a costume, he is kind of finicky about "new" clothes. So we bought the costume early and had to have may practice runs. He became obsessed with the Toy Story movies leading up to Halloween so we went with a character he knew in hopes of that helping ease the blow. Mommy could not decide between Buzz and Woody so we bought both.
Our first opportunity to wear costumes came when we went to the Zoo for Zoo Boo. We met up with some friends and had a great day wandering around observing the animals.
And we finished up the season with trick or treating on Halloween night. We went to my mom's neighborhood and hit up a handful of houses. My Aunt was in town and came with us.
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