Jewels

I've been in survival mode recently.  Yes, it's been busy since I've been back to work after my maternity leave, what with the never-ending to do list, the baby that insists on being held almost every hour of the day, and the many activities we tote our family to and from throughout the week.  These past few weeks, however, the challenges have intensified even further with the onset of some major sleep disturbances in our four-month-old.

Brooks' six-hour nighttime stretch that I had previously become accustomed to, recently shortened to four hours and then shortly after he turned three months old, his first evening with a babysitter somehow set off a pattern of waking every hour or two.  Every night.  Exhausting.  Utterly and completely.

I've seen this poem here and there a few times during the last several months.  And I'm pretty sure it has made me tear up every time.

I remember the deep sense of loneliness in the weeks following the birth of my first baby; the feeling that the sleepless nights and constant crying would never end.

But they do and it does.

And with each tiny newborn baby, I have become more and more aware of the fleeting moments I have while they're young.

And so this morning, both fresh from the second consecutive night of only one night-time feeding, Brooks and I made our way downstairs before the other two got up.  Shortly thereafter, my sweet three-year-old shuffled into the dimly lit living room.  As we plopped onto the couch with Elmo on TV, I closed my eyes and relished his warm hug and cuddles for a few minutes, remembering the early mornings from a couple years ago when the quiet house would be ours.

I then tiptoed to the children's room and softly peeked inside.  My spunky daughter was just starting to stir.  I swiftly climbed onto the top bunk and curled around my still-sleepy first born as she giggled conspiratorially about our girl time.

I feel like I don't, or even can't, cherish these moments as much as I want to.  Life gets in the way.  Chores need to get done; work needs to be completed; each child vies for my attention in demanding and draining ways.  But on days such as today, armed with a good night's sleep (and coffee, of course), I am trying to treasure each special jewel of time that will be gone all too soon.

Megan and Cody

"Mom, when I grow up, I want to be a mom just like you."

Heart. Melting.

"And I'll name my babies Megan and Cody."

Thankful

There are three things that I'm especially thankful for today (on top of the thousands of others!):

1.  A baby that only woke up twice last night.  You wouldn't believe what sleep does to a person's energy level and overall outlook on life.

2.  A two-year-old that tells me I'm the best mommy in the whole wide world.

3.  My new sewing machine.  Steve ordered this for me for my birthday, and it just arrived at our door yesterday.  I have so many projects in my head, and I can't wait to try to make them materialize.  Now I just need supplies and a crash course in how to use the thing...Mom?

Too Cute

Here are some pictures of my little Boo just 'cause he's too cute.

B loves to stick out his tongue now.

 That sweet face almost makes up for the fact that he started waking me up at night again now that I'm getting up early for work every day.  He had FINALLY started sleeping through the night a few weeks ago.  *sigh*  Here's to hoping he returns to that habit when my two-week sub job ends on Friday.

And here's one from last weekend of big sister Maggie enjoying the tire swing at the park.  'Cause she's just too cute, too.

I Forgot How Great Fridays Are

I had an extra spring in my step yesterday (Friday) afternoon.  Sure, part of it was due to the AMAZING warm weather we've had this week.  Seriously, is this really March?  But I was mostly excited for the weekend and the chance to spend time with my sweet little family!  I've been filling in for a biology teacher at C-I High School this past week, and I had forgotten the welcome feeling of the weekend finally being here after a week of work.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy teaching, and I'm so thankful for two sets of grandparents that love and selflessly watch our children while I sub, but my decision to be a stay-at-home-mom has been even further cemented this week away from home.  So this is what we did Friday and today:

I still have three to five more consecutive days of subbing this coming week, but I will enjoy it knowing that it's not permanent and I will be home again with my sweeties very soon!

Oh, and today little B is five months old.  Wow!

And We're Back

Ok, take two on this whole blog thing. I just realized my last post was over a year ago. So much has happened this past year! I need to start documenting this stuff, not just for friends and family, but also for my own memory.

Well let's start a year ago. Last January (the 29th, to be exact) I discovered I was expecting again. In May we learned it was a boy, and we welcomed sweet Bode Christian on October 17th, 2011 at 12:10 pm. He was 8 lbs 7 oz and 21.5 in long.

Taken by Lemon Peel Photography

Slightly lower maintenance than his sister as an infant, he still loves to be held whenever possible. We *almost* perfected the jiggling, swaddling, white noise routine for baby soothing as suggested by Dr. Harvey Karp. Maggie has stepped up to the plate as a very loving and helpful big sister, and despite Bode still not sleeping through the night at 4 months, we're all adjusting quite well to our precious addition.

Other notable occurrences of 2011:

• Just over a year ago Steve accepted a job as Assistant to the Principal at Isanti Middle School/Minnesota Center (basically Assistant Principal on teacher contract). It has been a good fit for Steve as he finishes up his administrative license. He has brought PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports) to the school and works hard to emphasize what kids are doing well rather than focusing solely on the negative behavior. Below is an example of his dedication to his job!

• Maggie turned 2 in September! She continues to be a constant source of entertainment in our family, and we are perpetually amazed by her energy. She loves singing, animals, and going to ECFE on Tuesdays.

Dora-themed birthday celebration.

The happy 2 year old.

• As for me, I'm enjoying being a stay-at-home-mom. I still love sharing healthy living with Shaklee. My online teaching gig fell through for this year, but I sub on the side a few times a month, when possible. I stay plenty busy, trust me.

I'm inspired to keep this blog going, so stay tuned!

Happy Birthday, Maggie!

Wow. One year ago today, at 9:42 AM, Maggie Allyson Gibbs entered the world. Before she was born, I always heard people say that life changes with a baby. Duh, that seemed pretty obvious. But I didn't really know how TRUE it is. I mean things really changed!

There have been times in the past year when I've wondered about this whole parenthood thing. There was mastitis, the first 2-3 months of fussiness that would never end, the sleepless nights, the teething, and everything else that goes along with a baby. It was (is) HARD sometimes.

But I know I speak for Steve when I say that we are blessed (and I don't use that term lightly) beyond belief with Maggie. A year ago, she was this precious, tiny, helpless thing with little hands and feet and beautiful dark hair. It has been amazing to see her grow into an inquisitive, take-charge sweetheart with an incredible sense of humor, who says "hi" to everyone she meets (that's her daddy)! She loves books and flowers, loves to give kisses and hugs and is always ready to point out when she sees a doggy or kitty. She is such a joy, and it is so fun to look at the world through her eyes. Her smiles and giggles are absolutely priceless.

So today has been a day of reflection for me, thinking back over this past year with all its ups and downs. What a year. And I look forward to what this next year will bring for Maggie and for us.

Happy Birthday, Maggie! Mommy and Daddy love you soooo much!

Backwards and Forward

Maggie's new thing this week is walking backwards. It's really more like shuffling backwards. As with everything new, she gets a huge grin on her face as she moves. I've been trying to get a video of her doing it, but the minute I turn the video camera on she's more interested in that.

In other news, it was strange to start the school year and not be at school. This is the first school year since I was 5 that I haven't gone back to school in some aspect. The first week of the school year this year had me picturing what I'd be doing if I was working. 7:40 - School would be starting. Students would be in their desks working on bell work. Noon - ok, we'd be in the middle of 3rd block. 2:15 - Students would be getting antsy as the school day is about to end. The first week we'd be covering the scientific method and measurements in Physical Science, intro biology and biochemistry in Biology, and classification in Small Animal Science.

I definitely miss teaching, but I know I made the right decision for myself and for Maggie. As we're coming up to her 1st birthday I'm amazed at how quickly the time has gone but also all the incredible changes and milestones that have taken place this year. I'm looking forward to all the new things we have yet to experience!