Nope not talking about that balloon boy... For S and E's first birthday I sent Daddy to the store to pick up last minute food and added balloons to the list. I didn't think he would really pick any up and if I did I wasn't sure what to expect. Well he did come home with two balloons... one blue and one orange. We know a store manager and the Broncos had just lost a playoff game the day before and the balloons were free. I guess I need to be more specific next time. So we had these balloons and the kids really hadn't been around any before so we didn't know what to expect. S was terrified. He wanted nothing to do with the balloons. E on the other hand thought they were great.
Well those balloons lasted for at least 3 weeks. They were just normal balloons but they must have had something added. We had them FOREVER! This turned out to be a good thing because those balloons started to grow on S. He slowly warmed up to them and then it became more than just a tolerance, he loved those balloons. He liked to hold on to the string, hit them and swing them around. Well finally they popped I let the air out of them.
Well last week our babysitter, brought over a balloon that she gave her dad for his birthday but he let the kids keep. Our baby boy is back in balloon love. He walks ALL over the house holding on to that balloon. So next time he needs a present I know just what to get him. That boy loves balloons. (His sister is another story.)
Mother's Day is a lot like a birthday. I want to do something fun and different but I don't have any ideas. I struggle with coming up with the "perfect day", mostly because it would need to be more than 24 hours long. So here is a list of things I'd like to do to celebrate Mother's Day and what I don't want to do.
I want to:
Go to breakfast. This is one of those things that we rarely, if ever do. I didn't use to be a breakfast out person but once I go pregnant with S and E I craved breakfast food. So, a little breakfast food is a great way to be reminded of those cravings of French toast, eggs, pancakes... Sam's Club was also out of my coffee syrup so we'll need to get coffee somewhere in the morning. Done. We made it to breakfast at about 8. We ended up having to wait but not for too long. S and E were kept busy by walking around the outside of the restaurant.
Take a nap. I'd love to sleep in but it would interfere with going to breakfast. Luckily during the weekend I can usually get at least one nap a day in. The last couple of days have been dreary and perfect napping weather. We will see what tomorrow brings. Check it off the list.
Snuggle with my babies. This morning E woke up crying at about 6:15. She normally isn't the first one up and doesn't usually cry when she gets up. I was able to snuggle with her in our bed and she went back to sleep. We used to do this a lot when the kids were still little. We don't get many morning snuggles anymore. They would much rather be playing than sleeping in bed. I miss my snuggle time and would love more tomorrow. S was up early. I managed to get him to snuggle for about 15 minutes. He seemed a little out of sorts tonight. He didn't eat much at dinner. I sure hope he is okay.
Do something new with the kids. I have no idea what this would be or if we'll do anything but I love it when we get to introduce them to something new. A couple of weeks ago it was feeding the ducks. They didn't really feed the ducks because S ate every piece of bread we gave him to feed to the ducks, but the idea was there. Then the geese showed up. I was saying, "Honk, Honk" like the geese and S grabbed his nose. Silly boy... he made the connection to what we've been saying when he grabs our noses. Ran out of time and ideas for this one.
Spend time with my mom. My mom and I got some time to do some shopping before dinner tonight. A nearby very small town has a store that is only open one weekend a month and this was the weekend! I found a cute neckalace and bracelet. We then headed to HomeGoods which just opened in our town last weekend. We then went to dinner with my dad and Mr. P and the kids.
I don't want to:
Do laundry. Boo... had to do laundry. Still waiting on a load to finish as I type this. That is why I'm awake and not in bed.
Worry about work. (I will have to because I'm probably taking Monday off and I will need to make sub plans.) I worried about work and spent too much time deciding if I was going to take the day off. I couldn't get myself to go in a make sub plans (I took a nap instead) so I will be working tomorrow.
Clean. I don't want to pick up or clean cups. These are two of my least favorite "mom" duties. I put mom in quotes because Daddy usually cleans all the sippy cups. I trained him early. Success!
Change poopy diapers because it is just not my favorite. Couldn't get out of this one either.
I've never done one of these but here we go.
- Occasionally we'll run out of clean pjs for S and he has to wear his sister's. He's such a cute little girl though.
Sorry buddy...
Now that my husband is home by dinner time we eat out a lot. I always have great intentions but when dinner time gets here I'm too tired (or lazy) to cook.
My little girl's baby fangs are kind of growing on me. They've gone from little nubs to big teeth lately and they are becoming more noticeable. I guess it is just something else that makes her unique. (I've been trying to get a picture of them for WEEKS!)
School is out in 3 and a half weeks and I can barely stand it. It is taking everything in me not to take some of the part time positions availabe at my building. I think they would be heavenly.
I'm worried about my laundry this summer. Our babysitter/nanny usually puts away the kid clothes on Monday. I sure hope we don't have to dress them out of the laundry hamper all summer long.
I LOVE taking mommy and baby pictures. They'd be a lot better with out up close mom in them but still so cute.
I'm hooked on SMASH and I'm afraid I might be the only one. I never was a fan of Glee but I do love musicals. It seems like every week Katharine McPhee sings this amazing song and I look all over to try and buy it and you can't. So frustrating. Here is my current favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svof1bouXDk
My friend who went through IVF shortly after me and who has a beautiful little girl, is pregnant. It was a surprise and natural and I am beyound jealous. I'm happy, so very happy for her but incredibly jealous. I want to be pregnant again too.
Growing up we attended church sporadically. My siblings and I were active in sports...mostly swimming and so we spent many, many weekends away at meets. My parents weren't really religious but passed on traditional "Christian" values. Other words they taught us to be good, kind members of society.
Fast forward about 10 years... I met my husband in college. Well that is not entirely true. We met online, AOL Instant Messenger to be exact. You know, back in the day, when you could search for people. Anyway, we "talked" and we found that we had similar values. The funny thing is that our church backgrounds are very different. You see, my husband grew up Mormon. His parents are still practicing and so is one of his other 3 siblings. He hasn't attended church since he left home.
During our time before kids (12 years...wow, I hadn't thought it about that way before) we talked a lot about raising our kids in a church. We both like the sense of community and the values that are taught and hopefully modeled. Also, it never hurts to surround them with other families who think the same way. That being said, neither one of us really is into going to church or becoming very involved.
After I left home my parents became more active in churches. My dad even worked for one once he retired. They, of course, would love for us to attend and belong to one. After they moved up to our town last fall they have been church shopping and recently have found one that fits what they are looking for. We have attended twice with them. (Neither time has gone well for little girl, bawling both times when we picked them up. Service times don't really work well with our nap/eating schedules.) The hardest part about coming from different church backgrounds is that what feels "normal" to my husband and I is completely different. Guitars and modern music not so normal for the husband. BUT he does really like the pastor at my parents new church.
So all this is a lot of background about church today. I find that I cry frequently at church. Something just gets to me. (In the past it has been about Mother's Day, no fun.) Today they had a video clip of a couple at the church who happen to be in the church band. They spoke about their twin boys who were in the NICU and how they looked to God during that hard time. I felt like it was directed to me. Then they sang this song:
Cue the tears... "Oh, my baby, when you're older Maybe then you'll understand You have angels to dance around your shoulders 'Cause at times in life you need a helping hand"
There are certain times in my life when I did look to a higher power. I had to let all of it go, let someone else be in control. That was hard for me when all I wanted was a baby. Or when all I wanted was to stay pregnant for a little longer. I couldn't do anything about it so I didn't worry. Laying in the hospital with my water broken at 32 weeks pregnant, I just let it go. What would be, would be. Waiting, for those almost 8 horrible weeks for S to come home... ugh. I often feel like my babies are a gift from God. I know, I know...but they are a blessing. And I know they have someone looking out for them.
After awhile of struggling with infertility I started to hear about friends and acquaintances that had miscarriages. I've always thought that it was better to be a never than a was. I can't imagine the pain and heartbreak that a miscarriage would cause. To have your hopes and dreams and future being planned and then taken from you. Heartbreaking.
I have 3 high school friends, that I know of, that have lost babies. No, not due to a miscarriage but shortly after they were born. The most recent, a 3 week old to apendicitis. I haven't talked to her since high school but from what I know this little boy was not an accident but an answer to prayers. Prayers 3 years in the making. My heart aches for her. I cannot imagine the grief that she feels. To have, and to have held and cared for and loved this little boy and all that he was to become... ugh. Heartwrenching.
I read stories (they're all over on blogs) and I just cry. Being a mother I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child, at any age.
I'm so thankful to have these two beautiful, spunky, funny little people. I am constantly reminded how lucky I am.
