This week I have had to myself. My wonderful inlaws took all four girls for the whole week. We met them in Atlanta last Sunday. They took the kids back to Mississippi with them while John and I came home by ourselves.
The kids were so excited. They had been anticipating this trip for many days. They love time spent with their grandparents.
My biggest concern was Clara Bea. I had a hard time deciding whether or not to send her with the other girls. She is only 4 1/2 months old - I've never left any of the others this early before - but with all things considered, I am tired, crabby and just plain old needed a break! So off she went.
She has done well from the reports I have gotten. She went on formula for this week and seems to be doing just fine. Unfortunately for my mother-in-law she has not been able to break her of waking in the night to eat. Apparently she has been her usual self, requiring every one's attention 100% of the time. Honestly it has been nice for some else to "feel my pain" this week, realizing how demanding she can be - not to mention there are three other children in the mix as well.
This week I have taken full advantage of being by myself! I cleaned the house like it has never been cleaned before. Funny how things stay put afterwards, no one around to mess it up again. I also have worked on some sewing projects, cooking ahead for next week's company, worked on some new zumba routines, got a hair cut, lunch dates with my husband, and even an evening out to the movies! It has been great!
But as much as I have enjoyed it all, I miss my kids!!! The house seems cold and empty. There is no constant noise that seems to buzz at all times. In fact I never knew that I could hear the interstate traffic from inside my house, until this week. I've only had to run the dishwasher once and a trip to the grocery store was way too easy.
So I am anxiously awaiting their return. I am ready for all that is required of me. And I am so thankful for the blessings God has given me.
Thank you Bill and Glenda for a week of peace and rejuvenation!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Family Pictures
This past Sunday we planned to have a photographer meet us at the park for some family pictures. Now experience had taught us that waiting til late fall was best. This way most of the leaves have fallen to the ground with a few left on the trees for the "leaf shot" that I wanted. This proved to be true again.
John had given me the two weeks notice to get the outfits planned. I usually make some hand sewn matching skirts or dresses for the girls but I knew I couldn't produce them that quickly this year. So Old Navy to the rescue. I love this store and was able to find a white shirt for everyone in the family - one stop shopping! We had not done the blue jean / white shirt look yet and I honestly wasn't too sure I would like it, but it turned out great!
The photographer was wonderful and she took some really great shots of everybody. Praise God for a successful day, well behaved children and beautiful weather - couldn't have asked for more.
John had given me the two weeks notice to get the outfits planned. I usually make some hand sewn matching skirts or dresses for the girls but I knew I couldn't produce them that quickly this year. So Old Navy to the rescue. I love this store and was able to find a white shirt for everyone in the family - one stop shopping! We had not done the blue jean / white shirt look yet and I honestly wasn't too sure I would like it, but it turned out great!
The photographer was wonderful and she took some really great shots of everybody. Praise God for a successful day, well behaved children and beautiful weather - couldn't have asked for more.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
24 hour day
Yesterday was an eventful 24 hours - one in which my husband was awake for mostly the whole day! I had a couple of naps along the way.
It began at about 1:30 a.m. waking to begin our roadtrip. We decided to leave early in order to avoid rush hour traffic in two large cities: Atlanta and Birmingham. We were on our weekend whirlwind trip thru Nashville. Along the way we met my husband's parents in Birmingham to trade out vehicles with them. We traded our mini van for their full size van with a uhaul in tow, loaded down with furniture for our house. It is only a temporary trade in order to pull the uhaul trailor - I will make an addition trip in 2 weeks to trade back.
Leaving early was great as the kids slept for about the first 4 hours. We stopped and tok our time eating breakfast at Cracker Barrell. Then we had a little more time to kill in Birmingham waiting for John's parents. After a short visit with them we headed north to TN. This was definately the longest drive we have ever taken from Birmingham to Nashville. Pulling a uhaul really slows you down!
Our first stop in TN was to visit John's brother, dad and step mom at his old office. Then we headed to my mom's for dinner and to change. We left all the kids with her and my step dad for the evening to go to a costume party. On route to the party I also had to stop by a friends house for a quick pick up. Finally we got to the party around 9 p.m. central time - mind you we had started our day in eastern time.
We had fun mingling with old friends but were tired and ready to go around 11:30 but NO. We were stuck in the mud!!! We had borrowed my step dad's car to take to the party rather than driving the big van and uhaul around town. Several of the party guests were stuck, the tow truck didn't have a long enough cable to pull us out with so we weren't going anywhere. Fortunately, our dear friends took us back to my mom's house when we arrived around 1 p.m. - a full 24 hours later, since our day had begun.
Many other stories lay in between all of the above events but too many to mention for now. Now I know what a really long day feels like.
It began at about 1:30 a.m. waking to begin our roadtrip. We decided to leave early in order to avoid rush hour traffic in two large cities: Atlanta and Birmingham. We were on our weekend whirlwind trip thru Nashville. Along the way we met my husband's parents in Birmingham to trade out vehicles with them. We traded our mini van for their full size van with a uhaul in tow, loaded down with furniture for our house. It is only a temporary trade in order to pull the uhaul trailor - I will make an addition trip in 2 weeks to trade back.
Leaving early was great as the kids slept for about the first 4 hours. We stopped and tok our time eating breakfast at Cracker Barrell. Then we had a little more time to kill in Birmingham waiting for John's parents. After a short visit with them we headed north to TN. This was definately the longest drive we have ever taken from Birmingham to Nashville. Pulling a uhaul really slows you down!
Our first stop in TN was to visit John's brother, dad and step mom at his old office. Then we headed to my mom's for dinner and to change. We left all the kids with her and my step dad for the evening to go to a costume party. On route to the party I also had to stop by a friends house for a quick pick up. Finally we got to the party around 9 p.m. central time - mind you we had started our day in eastern time.
We had fun mingling with old friends but were tired and ready to go around 11:30 but NO. We were stuck in the mud!!! We had borrowed my step dad's car to take to the party rather than driving the big van and uhaul around town. Several of the party guests were stuck, the tow truck didn't have a long enough cable to pull us out with so we weren't going anywhere. Fortunately, our dear friends took us back to my mom's house when we arrived around 1 p.m. - a full 24 hours later, since our day had begun.
Many other stories lay in between all of the above events but too many to mention for now. Now I know what a really long day feels like.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Women's retreat
This past weekend I got to enjoy some time away in the beautiful mountains. I went on a women's retreat with some ladies from my church. It was sponsored by the WIC presbytery in the middle NC area. So I also got to meet ladies from other churches in the area. It was a beautiful setting and a much needed time of spiritual renewal. Plus I got to enjoy some girl talk and late nights playing games and just being silly. We are already to planning to go again next year.
I did take Clara Bea with me as I have decided to continue nursing her. I think the stress and responsibility of it all sometimes sets in and becomes overwhelming. She had some long nights before we left but is having to readjust since being home again. She doesn't have the luxury of sleeping with mommy anymore. I've decided that a bottle of formula every now and then is a fine alternative to a happy and less stressed mom. Sometimes when you step away from your life and look at it from a new perspective, things seem clearer. Thank you Lord for giving me answers!
I did take Clara Bea with me as I have decided to continue nursing her. I think the stress and responsibility of it all sometimes sets in and becomes overwhelming. She had some long nights before we left but is having to readjust since being home again. She doesn't have the luxury of sleeping with mommy anymore. I've decided that a bottle of formula every now and then is a fine alternative to a happy and less stressed mom. Sometimes when you step away from your life and look at it from a new perspective, things seem clearer. Thank you Lord for giving me answers!
Monday, October 12, 2009
FALL FIELD TRIPS
We have been enjoying the autumn weather with some outdoor field trips this fall. We first visited an apple orchard - one that grows many different kinds. We toured the orchard via wagon ride, got to enjoy the beauty of a sunflower maze, the kids jumped around at the playground, and we stayed to enjoy a picnic lunch. We stopped by the store on our way out for some extra purchases, like apple syrup and an apple crisp mix.
The very next week we went to the Biltmore Estate for their honeschool day activities. The kids learned about time period dress, games the children would have played, plus lawn games, table etiquette, dances, what a tussy mussy was and how it was used, and much more. We had such a wonderful time that we plan to go again in the spring and hopefully take the daddies with us next time.
The very next week we went to the Biltmore Estate for their honeschool day activities. The kids learned about time period dress, games the children would have played, plus lawn games, table etiquette, dances, what a tussy mussy was and how it was used, and much more. We had such a wonderful time that we plan to go again in the spring and hopefully take the daddies with us next time.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Decisions
Sometimes I hate making decisions, especially when they greatly affect the lives of my children. Right now I'm contemplating the length of time I will breastfeed Clara Bea. Of course the first thing to consider is her health and the benefits it gives her, second on my list is the expense that formula would add to our budget each week. But right now I'm feeling very selfish in the matter. She doesn't go long between feedings and gets very fussy at about 2 1/2 hours. This is an exhausting task throughout my day. She also still wakes in the night to be fed. The frustrating part is I know she's not starving, She's gaining weight fine but is just demanding of my time. I'm not sure that formula feeding would solve these issues but at least the burden would be shared. My other secret motivation is to "get my body back". It seems like such a small sacrifice that I should be able to give her me for the first year of her life, but for some reason right now it seems endless.
Monday, September 28, 2009
It's hard to blog with one hand
Hey everybody,
Life has been busy around here. Most of the time that I sit down at the computer is a multi-tasking situation. I nurse Clara Bea in one arm and scroll the cursor through my emails and facebook with the other free hand. Therefore I have not had two free hands to type or blog lately. So in a few quick minutes, while the baby is otherwise entertained, I decided to try and catch up on my blogging.
The older girls are well into their school year in the second and fourth grades this year. We are enjoying a new science class every other Thursday, taught by a husband and wife team. They get lots of hands on and crafy science projects to bring home each week. I love it because I drop them off and get an hour and a half break from being the teacher. We enjoyed one field trip to an apple orchard last week and will taking another field trip to the Biltmore Plantation this week. I'm trying to not let opportunities pass me by this year. I wanted to do so many fun things last year but never committed to them, SO this year I'm trying to take advantage of as many as I possibly can.
Clara Bea is now 3 months old. She is so much more alert and interactive. She is however a bit spoiled - likes to be held a lot, and doesn't go long without nursing. She likes for her momma to be very nearby at all times. Last night was her first night to sleep in her crib. She did very well. So this month I am going to work on transitioning her into Kelsey's room. Well techinically it is both Clara and Kelsey's room, but Kelsey has been waiting for her sister to join her for some time now. Kelsey cries at night because she doesn't want to sleep by herself. She for the past year had shared a room with her big sister until we moved into the house. Now the two older girls are sharing again and Kelsey misses the company.
John has picked up an extra job on the nights and weekends. He is waiting tables again at a Lonestar Steakhouse. We are trying to catch up on some medical and other financial debt that we incurred with the move to NC. I am again teaching zumba at the YMCA and also teaching homeschool PE classes. So along with nursing a baby, working outside the home, schooling the children, general housework and mothering, soccer practices, and filling in with music at church we stay on the go. Evenings and bedtime routine are the hardest when John is not around. My 7 yr old has started crying at night because she's scared. She doesn't like it when her older sister falls asleep before her. They do sleep downstairs and she says she's afraid of the spiders - I feel sad for her, don't want her to be scared and yet I get really frustrated with her as well. I am usually nursing when she comes up crying and can't give her my sole attention to lay with her or comfort her. Please pray that her fears will subside.
Well that's it for now - next time I will be sure to include pictures with my post and hopefully it won't be so long in between times!
Life has been busy around here. Most of the time that I sit down at the computer is a multi-tasking situation. I nurse Clara Bea in one arm and scroll the cursor through my emails and facebook with the other free hand. Therefore I have not had two free hands to type or blog lately. So in a few quick minutes, while the baby is otherwise entertained, I decided to try and catch up on my blogging.
The older girls are well into their school year in the second and fourth grades this year. We are enjoying a new science class every other Thursday, taught by a husband and wife team. They get lots of hands on and crafy science projects to bring home each week. I love it because I drop them off and get an hour and a half break from being the teacher. We enjoyed one field trip to an apple orchard last week and will taking another field trip to the Biltmore Plantation this week. I'm trying to not let opportunities pass me by this year. I wanted to do so many fun things last year but never committed to them, SO this year I'm trying to take advantage of as many as I possibly can.
Clara Bea is now 3 months old. She is so much more alert and interactive. She is however a bit spoiled - likes to be held a lot, and doesn't go long without nursing. She likes for her momma to be very nearby at all times. Last night was her first night to sleep in her crib. She did very well. So this month I am going to work on transitioning her into Kelsey's room. Well techinically it is both Clara and Kelsey's room, but Kelsey has been waiting for her sister to join her for some time now. Kelsey cries at night because she doesn't want to sleep by herself. She for the past year had shared a room with her big sister until we moved into the house. Now the two older girls are sharing again and Kelsey misses the company.
John has picked up an extra job on the nights and weekends. He is waiting tables again at a Lonestar Steakhouse. We are trying to catch up on some medical and other financial debt that we incurred with the move to NC. I am again teaching zumba at the YMCA and also teaching homeschool PE classes. So along with nursing a baby, working outside the home, schooling the children, general housework and mothering, soccer practices, and filling in with music at church we stay on the go. Evenings and bedtime routine are the hardest when John is not around. My 7 yr old has started crying at night because she's scared. She doesn't like it when her older sister falls asleep before her. They do sleep downstairs and she says she's afraid of the spiders - I feel sad for her, don't want her to be scared and yet I get really frustrated with her as well. I am usually nursing when she comes up crying and can't give her my sole attention to lay with her or comfort her. Please pray that her fears will subside.
Well that's it for now - next time I will be sure to include pictures with my post and hopefully it won't be so long in between times!
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