Category Archives: baby

Moving on

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It has been a while since I have posted. Many things have happened in our home and I had to take a step back and see it all fully.

I gave birth to an adorably chubby new addition to our family. Who has already stolen my heart. Smiling at every word I say and talking to sleep makes the back to back sleepless night worth it.

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My wonderful husband also deployed. It came so quickly and it passes just the same. Being involved fully with my children takes my mind from missing him. It is funny when you are separated you recall every day you spent together. These are days I have not thought of in some time. Only because the present has been so full. Luckily we have many many good days to fall back on and think of to make the separation shorter.

With the coming of the New Year I have realigned my goals to continue living purposefully in these quickly passing days. I am very excited to share them with everyone to be held accountable more so in the future.

God bless and happy Sunday family funday to all of you!

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Here we are…

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A few short weeks from delivery of our second little one and my excitement is finally rising. I have been excited but there is something about having child number two that puts family in perspective. My family. No longer are we a small group floating along we will be an even number. As many dependents as adults will reside in this home. It is sobering.

I can’t recall how many days out of the week my twenty something self feels like an adult, a functioning adult, but today is one. I look around at the home I reside in and am overwhelmed with the journey here. So many memories floating back. And it is good. Life is good. God is good.

The early years

The once fun man cave has been turned into a nursery complete with diaper genie. That will send you a wake up alone. Only an adults house has a diaper genie. Only a responsible home keeper thinks of diaper disposal. Where have the days gone?

And with the passing of more time we are closer to separation once again. Duty calls. I am so grateful to have an uplifting partner that knows the power of his words. Everyday a new affirmation of our life together. A new piece of love to keep me plowing on, down this unknown road. He is beautiful in that way.

I see friends struggle with the coming time apart. Spouses that have given their fair share of strength to the role of military wife shaken at the promise of another time apart. I have no words for them only faith. Faith that is growing with every dark thought swept aside and every reassuring word. In all things He is there. In all things He remains faithful.

Our newest addition!

What My Toddler Taught Me of Patience

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In this fly by the seat of our pants society where everything was created for immediate use the virtue of patience is not easily found. It seems my toddler, the same who enjoys his Cheerios more when spread on the floor, has mastered the art of teaching. In his young *year* I have learned more about myself as a person than I could have without his guidance. Delayed gratification takes on a whole new meaning. Waiting for what I perceive to want is not the toil I once believed it to be.

1. Take it one step at a time. Literally. My son has mastered the art of climbing and as with any new-found skill you want to do it constantly. He takes to the stairs hourly with me following behind. He giggles and coos as he climbs each step stopping occasionally to inspect a hair or mislaid cheerio intently. He doesn’t rush to his destination, the top, but saviors the climb. He enjoys the journey. I find climbing stairs laborious but necessary. Through his eyes I stop to enjoy each step. If that is not an intense baby Yoda metaphor in the making I am not sure what is!

2. One truck is enough. We have all heard of hoarders. My toddler would be perfect hoarding therapy. I have watched him play with one truck or block for upwards of an hour. He studies it. Bangs it on every surface to hear each noise it produces. Chews on it endlessly. I could be taken an amazing lesson of minimalism from enjoying each item as I receive them, fully. The greater lesson that stands out to me is once again his patience. He does not delve into the box for more toys after eying one. He enjoys fully what he has in the moment.

3. Savor every bite. As with the stairs he has another newly learned skill.  His love of texture and taste are making for meal time fun. Well for him at least. I tap my foot at each poke at the eggs or manipulation of that grape. He truly enjoys what he is eating. Not as a rush to the next bite but as understanding this one. A healthy habit to enjoy indeed.

4. Count the days. He used to fit in this last week. I remember when he required a paci to sleep. I used to swaddle him it that. All phrases I utter repeatedly to remind myself  when patience slips. This too shall pass so savor the moments.

 

 

A Great Discovery

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So in the midst of my sleep deprived state I welcomed such great excitement into our home. We are projected to have a GIRL! I never envisioned myself a mother of a girl. Always one to veer closer to the male dominated activities and further from the female as I get older. I hope to teach our love for camping, the outdoors and pursing many a museums as we broaden our horizons together.

Life is an ever changing lesson. Just when you feel you have read all the pages there comes a pop quiz.

So now to set our sites on making this home baby girl friendly. We already live in a sea of jungle animals and building blocks. Girls like those things right?

Five Final Things I Will Take From Nursing

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It has been 13 months that started with a beautiful baby struggling to nurse in the NICU. My Sweets was born with an elevated white blood count and was kept seven long days in the hospital. He thrived on antibiotics and the feedings of newborn formula. I thought my great plans of nursing would never take form due to our rocky start. Once my milk arrived we bonded and he never again wanted anything but Mama milk. Read about our start here.

The nursing relationship is so hard to explain to someone who has never been a part of it. The sweet quiet and hour long cuddling as my body actually creates food for my child. Even now on the occasional chance that he needs comfort to drift to sleep I savor the moments. Never were they easy. Nursing is hard and time consuming but we made it to our goal!

I haven’t feed him from me once today and believe this marks the end of this special amazing relationship we have had. It will evolve into something else but this beginning, this time together has been one of the most defining of my life.

So many things I learned of myself while feeding my son. That I didn’t need that much sleep to survive, that my patience could be ten fold when he needs me…that I would one day cry at this little bit of letting go.

1. It is about quality and quantity. Many hours passed when he just would not let go and needed comfort. Teething hours, sick hours or new home hours and that was fine because I will never get them back. Savor the time, even on the days it becomes unending. It does eventually end.

2. Babies become adults. I like to think the sweet times between Mother and son or Mother and daughter in the beginning will wholly impact their ability to recognize sweet moments in the future. The days my little one nursed away while pressing in my neck freckles and laughing may have tilted his heart toward showing greater love to others.

3. Showing makes more loved. The giggles and laughter of catching his hand as he reached for my nose or the quick end to sobs reminded me of a Mother’s position. Just as God does for us we are to love before being loved. We are to set the standard for all things in that regard. Make it a good lesson.

4. There are only so many babies. We never know how many children we will be blessed with enjoy the ones you have now. Be an in the moment Mom or Dad.

5. Not all lessons in life are pain free. The good Lord knew what he was doing as He created each and every relationship and as I let go a little bit He is gently reminding me of how fleeting life is, how quickly it all goes. Daddy’s deployment day is approaching, the new baby will be arriving and a new season comes. Nothing is permanent and the troubles I had day one are a distant reminder of the person He has shaped me to be.

The Heart of a Mother(‘s Day)

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One of the things I, conveniently, had forgotten about pregnancy was the dreadful insomnia. When My Sweets is sleeping I lay awake unable to sleep, when he is awake I can barely keep my eyes open. This too shall pass but I am just now remembering my previous pregnancy clearly. I have to say that a healthy baby is one of the greatest blessings I have received but it still brings back memories. Memories of sitting through NSTs galore and memorizing magazines on my OBs waiting room wall. I worried so much with baby number one. Do I feel the baby move as much today? Did I sleep on the wrong side last night? Did that have caffeine in it? So much worry.
After it all was said and done I remember taking in my little wrinkly peaches leg folds and yawn creases. I remember the huge relief that this baby was so healthy and here. He was and still is my baby that God has gifted me, entrusted to me. To raise and protect until the end of my days. It is these thoughts that probably have contributed to my insomnia this go around. Not thoughts of worry this time but enormous thoughts of gratitude.
This week has been exhausting and still I lay awake sometimes staring at him. Thanking God for giving me the opportunity of such a great love. Thanking God for loving me that much.

Things ARE Returning to Normal

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The husband is back from far away ville (for now). My little ones Birthday party went off without a hitch and our family has since left. The home is turned upside down from unending commotion but we enjoyed ourselves. Now back to real life. After the unending family time with my husband I am sad to return to routine. It is always “feast or famine” when it comes to time together, just like the civilian world I am sure, though our “famines” are quite a bit different.

This past bit we were able to hear the new little one’s heartbeat. It sounded strong! The baby also sounded very active. I could hear him or her swishing about as we listened. Such a blessing to have been able to hear the little one growing inside me. I feel renewed even through this worsening morning sickness and what I fear may be strep throat. Eep!

 

But onto the week ahead and my lingering goals!

I have decided after taking stock of my pantry that I could be making so many of the things I normally purchase. My goals this week will reflect a new sense of wanted domestic goodness.

Home Goals:

1. Go through pantry and outline things to make by hand.

2. Spend 2 hours “freezer cooking”.  My new devotion to weekly meal preparation!

3. Menu plan for the weeks ahead.

4. Have a baking session to replace at least 3 pantry staples with from scratch options.

Family Goals:

5. Start on my husband’s requested blanket

6. Mail Grandparents Birthday pictures

Mothering Goals:

7. Attempt to wean, again.

8. Find a Mommy and Me class locally.

Self Goals:

9. Read “Life on Planet Mom”

10. Make an Ultra Sound appointment!

 

Kid’s Cowboy Party Idea!

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My little man turned one this week and I had so much fun planning his party. We were creative with the cowboy theme and turned some old cardboard boxes into an “outlaw city” that the kids loved. We also started up the fire pit for Smores that were a huge hit. I made almost fifty packages and had only one left post party!  The men folk had a friendly apple bobbin’ competition that brought lots of laughs and our dime store mustaches were a bigger hit than I thought they would be. It just goes to show you that you do not have to spend a ton to make big memories.

Do you have any great Birthday party tips or ideas? I would love to hear them!

Some More Things…

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Last night was HARD. I was up until 3 am with My Sweets comforting him through my nauseous haze. We sat and rocked in every chair in the house and cuddled until he finally found comfort.  Through it all I remembered back to the days before he was a part of our lives. I remember the loss of our first baby. Being told we could not conceive naturally. Having my beautiful loving sister offer to one day, if we needed her to, carry our child.

So much is taken for granted in the waking hours. When sleep is few and far between I could catch my breath to curse the clock or I could soak in this little blessing. He only found comfort in me last night. No matter what we went through to reach this day it was worth it. I know everyday that passes with him in our life is a gift. I hope to smile in all the bad times for the memories I made last night. Carrying our second blessing while holding our first, I looked around and found myself so grateful for where I am in life.

Never give up in your journey towards what you want. It will come when you are ready to receive it in gratitude.