Adeline Is Three Months or Where Has The Time Gone?

Dude, I feel like only yesterday I finally gave birth after being pregnant for an eternity.  It’s amazing, this relativity thing.  Adeline has been growing by leaps and bounds, upping her nightly feedings to prove it. *sigh*

It’s so much fun to watch her personality develop, to see how fascinated she is with the world around her, to discover how much of her hand she can actually fit in her mouth.  She’s at that stage where she’s drooling like a mini Saint Bernard at the mere sight of something that has the potential for being grabbed by her baby fist (if she has the dexterity to grab it in the first place… we’re working on that).

1 month

2 months

3 months

Of course, people always wonder who she looks like, and it’s fun to notice the resemblances for ourselves (for the record, I think the top half of her face is me and the bottom half is Phil)… but she’s definitely her own person!

Despite some of the not-so-fun things that come along with having a baby – sleepless nights, countless wardrobe changes on the account of spit-up and other bodily fluids, inconsolable cries when you’re trying to go to the bathroom or get dinner started or just get something done – I love having a baby in the house again.  Time, please slow down just a little!

Moms are Mighty

As a mother, I often get bogged down in the day-to-day stuff.  Most days I feel very alone – wondering how can I wash the same clothes over and over, how can I clean up the same messes that I’ve told my children not to make, how will I survive the day when it’s only ten o’clock in the morning and my patience is already worn thin, when will I have time to do anything else.

Oh, and try to do everything without scarring my children for life.  So often I question myself.  Am I talking too much, not enough?  Should I explain myself or just say “no.”  Do I try and plan an activity for my children or let them amuse themselves?  Am I feeding them right?  Am I being frugal?  Am I making them feel loved even though I feel like I’m YELLING all the time?  Will they grow confident in their abilities?  Will they learn enough since I’m homeschooling?  Tell me again why I’m homeschooling!?  Will they become good people?  Will other people like them?  Will I ever get any sleep?  Can I stand wiping another runny nose today?  Am I worrying too much?!

The list goes on and on…

Just today I was telling Phil that there are times – like when you’re looking out at the vast ocean, seeing a beautiful sunset, even witnessing something tragic like the Boston bombings – when you’re able to put everything into perspective.  Sometimes it really hits me – my life is just a little blip on a timeline and I want it to count; in the grand scheme of things these little every day challenges aren’t a big deal.  Even more so, I should be grateful for them!  But when you’re in the midst of them – when you’re trying to sleep at two o’clock in the morning and your 3-month old is awake all you care about is getting sleep!  - it’s hard to keep your head in the game.  When your kids have been playing tag team all day, taking turns fighting and complaining, it certainly doesn’t feel like a good place to be.

I saw this video on New Nostalgia, one of the blogs I frequent.  It reminded me that being a mom is one of the best jobs there is; it may not be the easiest, but it’s the most rewarding.

Lisa-Jo Baker also has some free printable bookmarks to go along with this video.

And being a mom has made me appreciate my own mom – and mothers everywhere – so much more.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there!

Time Out

I’m giving myself a time out, taking an indefinite break from posting.  I love writing here, recapping our homeschool moments and sharing tidbits of my life.  But I’m finding that it takes away from being present with my children; I’m constantly worried about when I’ll have time to update, when I’ll get a chance to work on pictures and make collages and write up everything we’ve been doing during the week.  Sometimes I get caught up with documenting the moments that I’m not fully enjoying the moment.  And since welcoming Adeline into our family I’m even more aware of needing to cherish those fleeting moments.

We will be continuing with our Five in a Row curriculum and hopefully the nicer weather will get us learning and exploring outdoors.  And we eagerly await the start of our camping season!  I have my six-week postpartum check-up this week and I’m scared to step on the scale; I really need to get down to the business of getting back into shape. *major sigh*  Wish me luck!

I leave you with some pictures of our wonderful Easter yesterday…

Can you believe it’s already April?  I keep telling Phil that Christmas is just around the corner.  Time’s a-flyin’.

Adeline Faith

My beautiful baby girl finally made her appearance!

Adeline Faith
February 20, 2013
6lbs 11oz 18″

I’m exhausted and happy and emotional and overwhelmed and sad and weepy and a host of other things.

38 Weeks and Chomping at the Bit

*Pregnancy musings interspersed with some pinspirations…

I am so done with this pregnancy!  I think it seems to be taking so much longer because it’s the middle of winter, I’m tired of taking care of the kiddos and working overtime every day and I’m almost always in some sort of discomfort or pain so I’m not getting any sleep.

“For this child I prayed.”
credit: flickr.com

The other day on the way home from an errand Gwen pipes up from the back seat, in a very serious voice: “When the baby comes I’m not going to get any sleep.”  What?!  I’ll be the one not getting any sleep, thank you very much, and I’ve had lots of practice!

Cute newborn photo; made some similar headbands.
credit: etsy.com

I’m trying to keep my spirits up, keep things in perspective, but these final weeks especially seem to be taking forever.  It doesn’t help that Josiah, my last one, was born at thirty-seven weeks and I’ve passed that mark. *sigh*

baby in cowboy boots
credit: iheartfaces.com

To be honest, there wasn’t a lot to prepare to get ready for the baby – “been there, done that.”  I had to borrow some things from friends, get things out of storage and so forth, but I don’t really need stuff.  If anything, I’ve been getting rid of things to simplify!

Organizing keepsakes
credit: aliedwards.com

My hospital bag is pretty much packed, everything is set – I’m just waiting till she’s ready to come out!  I asked my husband the other day, “Is it bad that I want to be in pain?”, hoping that contractions will pick up into actual labor.  Of course, I may feel differently once that times comes!  But it will be pain with a purpose, an excited anticipation as I await the arrival of my baby girl.

Photograph baby with a prop and use it when she’s older.
credit: tfjdesigns.bigcartel.com

And Gwen is so excited!  She keeps leaving little gifts and pictures in the baby’s crib.  She even refuses to put away certain toys, saying she’s going to share them with her sister.  I have to remind her that her sister isn’t even here yet and it will be a while before she’ll be able to play with those toys.

Still want to make some of these swaddle blankets.
credit: danamadeit.com

I’m lucky that this pregnancy has gone so well, being high-risk and all.  I’ll be glad when I’m done with two appointments every week, feeling like I’m always peeing in a cup and get weighed for the millionth time.  I keep hoping the next appointment will be my last!

Helpful labor positions… need to brush up!
credit: fitpregnancy.com

Now, for some reason, all I want is chocolate these days so I’m off to find me some…

Healthy Fudge
credit: our-everyday-art.com