How I Probably Will Feel All Semester

Somehow, I get to teach Pchem right after having a baby again. 

Here's to thermodynamics, calculus, quantum mechanics, and kinetics!

Super Women

I've had moments of time when I felt like a super woman. Despite a busy life, I was accomplishing a lot. I was doing a good job (professionally, personally, and spiritually). Life is good.

Then there are the moments that I don't feel so super. Adjustment periods really make me feel super-less. I start to believe the lie: Shouldn't a super woman be able to bounce right through adjustment periods?

Having a baby means life adjustment. With each child we've had, there was a period of time where life felt toooooo crazy. Even though, our adjustment to Button's arrival has been pretty easy, we are all still getting into the groove. The adjustment isn't just involving Josh, the boys, and I, but Button, too. She is adjusting to life outside the comfy womb and to our family. Throw in me going back to work last week, and the adjustment period is still going on strong. I say all that to say how blessed I feel on a daily basis.  So many people, men and women, have been so encouraging and happy for us. Josh in particular has been awesome, too. Presently though, I just want to give a shout-out to all my women friends who make my life easier. Whether you've helped us out physically or offered a kind word, I appreciate it!

I started this blog weeks ago because of a few instances where I was observing super women.

I'm thankful for my moms. Especially when I was cleaning up Casen's vomit the first week of school. How many times did my mom and Josh's mom clean our messes growing up?

I'm thankful for my sis-in-law who, when she came to visit when Haddie was a few weeks old said, "You look tired. Go take a nap. We got this." And I happily obliged and got a couple extra hours of sleep.

I'm thankful for my other sis-in-law who loves my kids like her own. She even cleans my house and organizes my cabinets when she's here. I felt at complete ease knowing that she was taking care of my boys while I was in labor with Button.

I'm thankful for all the friends and family who brought food and gifts, sent sweet texts and facebook messages/wall posts, watched the boys when needed, and offered up PRAYERS.

I'm surrounded by super women. Women who take time out to serve and encourage.

Finally, I'm really thankful for the special support I have from friends and family when I returned back to my job. You see, I love my work. It's a part of my identity. Even so, it was especially hard this go-around to leave Haddie part of the day even though I know she's in good hands. Maybe it's because by the third kid, I've learned to slow down and enjoy the newborn phase more. I know that it doesn't seem to last long enough. Maybe after losing our baby before Haddie,  I realize how special it is that we were blessed with another child. Whatever the reason, the last week has been a bit emotional. When I texted a fellow working mom to pray for me because I was having a rough first day back to work, here was the reply back:

The next week or two will suck. You're a good mom who takes great care of her kids. Gotta get those brain juices to balance the working mom guilt.
Saying a prayer. Remember that you are being the kind of strong and smart woman you want your little girl to be.

Just what I needed to be reminded. I want Haddie to one day be brave enough to do what she feels called to do. That might mean she works outside the home like me. That might mean she stays home with her kids like my mom did. It might mean that she doesn't want to become a mother. There will probably always be a debate about what's best to do. Despite when people say not-so-very-nice-things to you about your decision - whether you work outside or inside the home, whether you have children or not. I just want my little girl to become a woman in love with God and is happy with herself.

So, to all you super women out there: Keep up the amazing job you are doing!

And as a young mom, I loved this:

Things We Love

Snuggling in the morning

Going for walks - all of us!

Reading

More snuggling

Bike Riding

Enjoying the outdoors

Watching the kite surfers practice

I Can't Think of a Clever Title of This Mish-Mash of Pictures

Family of Five: First time for Haddie to go to church (Sunday evening)

Liam trying out his new blanket and pillow. He brought it to school for nap time.

So of course, both boys' open houses were on the same night. We ended up not getting to go to Casen's, but it got canceled anyway. I'm thankful Mom and Dad went with us. Lugging in three kids and all of Liam's supplies into his school would NOT have been fun by myself. I'm also glad they were there to take pictures. This is the one picture I got of Liam at his Open House/Meet the Teacher.

L, C, and Bunny had fun at the construction center!

Haddie was a trooper. In and out of the car several times, being carried a lot and passed between the three adults: she never fussed. When we got home, it all caught up with her. She had a rough night so Mama and Daddy had a rough night. Lesson? She can't be out much past 6 right now. She's a little ol' thing who needs her beauty sleep.

Peter Parker (he's not spiderman unless the mask is on) next to Button. Prior to this picture, Spiderman took Button and me on his motorcycle. Then while Baby was eating, Peter Parker went to the store and bought us food. He's such a nice superhero!


The boys started feeding Baby some. They are so cute to watch - they love helping her. Button loves it because she doesn't have to wait on me if I have to take care of something.

 Casen told me tonight that he would feed Baby when she got hungry. I told him that she was going to nurse this time around. He was all disappointed so I told him that he could feed her the next bottle. Such big helpers!

Mom, Button, and I spent the day together shopping and eating at girlie places. It was a nice treat before I go back to work! Button did awesome. Apparently, she takes after her brothers and likes to shop!

After school, Liam has requested each day that Haddie lay down by him while he watches a movie. Haddie gladly obliges.

C and Bunny playing Mario Kart after school. C enjoyed having somebody to play.

This is what happens when Mama leaves Haddie in a room with Liam and Immie.

L Child Starts School

When our beloved Mimi retired from childcare this summer, I wasn't sure what Liam would do this fall. I'm so thankful we found a great school for him! 

He was excited about going to his OWN school.

Though I was nervous about him going somewhere that big brother hadn't trailblazed before, it seems to be just what L needed right now. A new place of his OWN.
(Haddie wasn't too happy with the photo shoot, can you tell?)

I wish I could see footage of Josh as a kid doing simple things like going to school. I'm thinking L Child can be a clown just like his Daddy probably was!

L Child and Daddy

L Child and Mama

I'm thankful for a special place for our Liam...here's to a great year!

So Tired. But Only Sometimes Now.

This post was originally titled, So Tired. So Tired. And the draft was a jumbled collection of thoughts about sleep. I think I began it about three weeks ago. Thankfully. I didn't try to blog with my zombie brain. It probably wouldn't have made any sense. Around the same time, a past student of mine asked me if I could write her a letter of recommendation. She was a really good student so I agreed. I just told her to email me again before the deadline to remind me. I got a reply back that she found someone else and if it was too hard right now, I could decline. I hated telling her no, but I was thankful for the out. Looking back, the letter probably wouldn't have been very helpful - the committee probably wouldn't have been able to understand it!

Even though Haddie has slept great from the beginning, she still has had some hard nights (or days). Also, I think the pregnancy and delivery wore me out. I also had insomnia some nights for the first two weeks. I couldn't turn my brain off from the worries and to-do lists. And maybe, just maybe, it's because I'm older this time. Whatever the reason, I couldn't seem to get enough sleep.

Thankfully, I'm catching up on my sleep. If I am really tired, I can take a quick cat nap (or a long one depending if Josh is home), and I feel fantastic. Okay, not fantastic. But pretty fantastic for a mom of a newborn and two wild little boys.

Nothing sweeter than a baby in just a diaper. Not a bad deal to take a snooze with Miss Button on the couch one fussy afternoon.

Button's face around midnight. She had slept six hours so I especially enjoyed being up with her awhile this time.

Happy 1-Month Button!

Her eyes are bluer. Her hair is lightening up but still sticking around. She can hold her head up longer. She knows all our voices and finds us in the room when she hears us. Button is a growin' baby!

L Child, Spiderman, and Baby Button

While C was sick on the couch watching Donal Duck, L Child and I played one of his games. One of his games that involve HIS rules and instructions. He agreed to let Baby Button (what he calls her) play as well.

Baby Button liked playing too. She loves her Liam!

And she loves her Spiderman too. 

Well, maybe she is just wondering about this superhero sitting next to her.

Wild Week

It's been a wild week. A stomach virus hit our house and won't go away. It's not a bad stomach virus, more inconvenient than anything else. With school gearing up for all three of us (C already, but soon for L Child and me), I feel like there is a million things I need to get done yesterday.  But amidst the vomit (and worse) and a fussy, growing baby, I've gotten to watch karate fights and hear these gems:

Casen: Please, Liam, play the game with me. I promise I won't cheat.

and while watching Shark Week (and fielding 310 questions from the three-year-old about everything a day):

Liam: What kind of shark is that? 

Me: Shhh. Listen.

Liam: It's a wisten shark?

Me: No. Listen.

Liam: It's a listen shark?

Some additional quotes from tonight...

Casen: Liam, listen to me. The person that gives Hadassah Jayne the most kisses gets to pick the movie.  
            And I gave her the most kisses today. So we are watching my movie.
Liam: I give her kisses too!
Casen: I give her more.
(Josh intervenes on this one.)

Liam (during our devo & prayer time): When we get to Heaven again, can God play basketball with 
                                                                us?
Then he prayed about God playing with basketball with us.

The Good Part of the 1st Day of Kindergarten

This is the blog post I planned on doing last night instead of this.

All Ready to Go!

 

Liam, Haddie's protector

Family of 5

In front of his classroom

Not sure exactly what L Child is thinking. Could be that he is already missing C here.

Going in as a big Kindergartener

One of the things L Child and I did while C was at school. He missed his brother!

I thought C was just worn out from his full day. Actually, he was getting sick. 

A Kinda Awesome First Day of School

C started full-day Kindergarten today. He had a good day, but it didn't end so good. A stomach virus hit C, and L is showing some symptoms too.

While C was at school, L Child had a rough day missing C.

Then to top it off, I wouldn't let C or L Child love on Haddie just in case they are contagious.
Picture sad brother faces.
Very sad brother faces.
Sigh.

It definitely could be worse though. The vomiting has subsided for now, and Daddy is home to help with Haddie. For now, the boys are NOT vomiting and are sleeping.

Some things I want to remember...

After we got home from visiting L Child's preschool and had lunch, he got the marbles out to play. I told him I would play with him. He replied, "No, I'm gonna play with Casen. When's he gonna be back?"
He still had another three hours to go.
They will miss each other now that they are both in full day school.

During Haddie's afternoon nap, L asked about twenty times if I could go wake her up. When I did get her up to feed her before we picked C up, she had to lay next to L Child on the couch for awhile first.

Me: How was your first day of Kindergarten?
C: Good.
Me: What did you do?
C: Oh...I don't remember. Mama, I was there a looong time. Like three hours.

Once the sickness leaves our house, I'll post pics of the big day.  The good part of the big day.

Summer is About Over

It's been fun being home with these boys this summer. I'm glad we all got time together at home with Button. And though I'll miss these sweet faces during the day...

...and seeing their superhero battles....

....the boys are ready for some learning and friend time.