Tree Farm

I wanted to go to a tree farm to pick out our tree this year.  It's something I've been wanting to do the last couple of years.  I know I've mentioned in the past how I want to have family traditions that the kids will remember and even pass down to their own kids.  So, the day after Thanksgiving, we got dressed up (in hopes to get some good pictures) and headed to the tree farm.  As we drove up we talked about our favorite part of thanksgiving.  It made my heart so glad to hear everyone's laughter fill the van.

When we got to the farm, it was very picturesque.  There were farm animals, a nice lake, with the backdrop of Christmas trees in perfect little rows.  We attempted to get a few family pictures with the help of our tripod, then were on a mission to find the right tree.  It felt like Goldilocks, the tree was too tall, or too bare, or too trimmed.  Then we found the right tree, a tree that wasn't perfect but had some character, a tree that looked like our family.  So, Jimmy got down and sawed it down.  After we got the tree on top of our car, we went for a hayride, watched the farm animals, and roasted some marshmallows.  It was a lot of fun!

When we got home, the kiddos took an afternoon nap, and when they woke up we decorated the tree together with Christmas music filling the air.  We had Thanksgiving balls for dinner and the smell of sweet pine filled the house.  These are the memories I want to savor and makes me wish time would pass just a little slower so that I can hold onto these moments.

Best Buddies

One of the many reasons we wanted a second child is so that EV would not be alone.  We were perfectly happy with our one beautiful little girl but our family just did not feel complete.  In addition, EV would always ask for a little sibling, okay fine, a little sister.  She would say "my other friends have little sisters and brothers" can I have one too?  Then she started praying for one.  But it wasn't as easy as she had hoped and required a fair amount of waiting.  When we found out we were having a second, we were ecstatic!  Then we found out we were having a boy and had no idea how we would break this news to EV, but we were grateful when she wasn't disappointed or upset.  And felt such a sigh of relief and joy when we saw her getting excited for the arrival of her baby brother.

We all eagerly anticipated the birth of this baby and I think EV's expectation was let down the most.  Say what?! The baby can't play with me and do all the things I dreamed he would do?  All he is going to do is eat, sleep, and take away my precious time with mommy??  Oh yeah, the first three months were tough on everyone, especially EV.  Our precocious, independent, sassy little 4 year old became a whining, needy, baby herself.  Then one day, EV walks into a room and Emmett flashes her the biggest smile ever and everything changes.

EV starts to acknowledge her little brother, she sings to him, dances for him, plays with him.  If he drops a toy, she picks it up for him.  If he drools, she gets his burp cloth to wipe his mouth for him.  If he cries, she goes over and comforts him.  She's also back to her normal self, she's able to play by herself again, she's less whiny and needy, and she's back to doing everything by herself again. 

It warms my heart to see these two get to know each other.  I know they will have their fair amount of arguing and fighting (especially the day Emmett stands up to his sister and doesn't do what she tells him to do).  But I pray that even in those moments, they will grow closer to one another and become the best of buddies.  EV calls Emmett her baby (primarily because she doesn't want to acknowledge that I am his momma) and says that when she grows up she's going to marry Emmett.  I know that it was not instantaneous but I love that she is loving her brother a little more every day. 

Baby boy

I never thought I would love having a little boy.  My family is all girls and I've only really been around girl babies.  Plus, after having such a difficult pregnancy, I was sure to resent the little boy growing in my belly.  But let me tell you, I LOVE my little baby boy!

My love for Emmett is different than my love for EV.  EV is my pride and joy.  She's a reflection of who I am and everyday I am amazed at how loving, graceful, passionate, considerate, thoughtful, and smart she is.  Emmett is my heart.  He makes my heart melt and I become putty when I'm around him.  He makes me feel at ease and I feel like he just gets me.  He doesn't have to say anything, he just puts his head on my chest and everything is okay.  He thinks everything is funny and it makes all your troubles go away. 

At five months, he loves to be a part of the family.  He sits with us during mealtime and drools away.  He's chatty, always has something to say from the moment he wakes up to the moment he falls back asleep.  He also loves his sleep (EV wakes up at 5am while Emmett sleeps till 8am or until we wake him up).  He loves holding his hands together and trying to get them both into his mouth.  He's a thumb-sucker.  The moment you lay him on his back he rolls to his tummy cause he wants to see what's going on.  He loves weird and loud noises, being tickled, and startled.  EV was roaring at him with a dinosaur mask on and he thought it was the funniest thing.  He loves his sister.  His eyes widen and the biggest smile comes across his face when she enters the room.  He doesn't want to miss a thing and unless he's really hungry can't be bothered with eating or being changed.  He likes to grab hair, shirts, necklaces, skin, pretty much anything he can get his little hands around.  But the sweetest moments are when I'm nursing him and he is grasping my finger.  Yes, I hold his little hand while I nurse him. 

Emmett, thank you for being our little boy.  Grandma calls you a little angel and I completely agree.  We are so blessed to have you in our lives and are so thankful to call you our own.  I look forward to every new discovery and adventure with you.  We love you, sweet boy!

Pumping and Traveling

Last week I went on my first work trip since the baby's been born.  Originally, I was planning on just pumping and dumping but a co-worker gave me some great tips on how I can save my milk.  So, I thought I would pass along some tips.

1.  Preparation is key.  Take a cooler, the kind you can fold, so you can pack into your suitcase when heading to your destination.  Take tons of ziplock bags (I'll explain why later).  Take hand sanitizer.  And of course take your pump, your bottles, an ice pack, and your milkbags.

2.  When you arrive at the hotel.  If you can book a room with a kitchenette that has a fridge with a freezer is best.  You can also ask for a mini fridge but those don't always have freezers and depending on how much milk you need to freeze may not be big enough.  I was supposed to get a suite with a kitchenette but they put me in a regular room.  So, I told them I needed to freeze my milk and they let me use the hotel freezer.

3.  Here's where the ziplock bags come in handy.  I placed 2-3 milkbags into a sandwich ziplock bag then put the sandwich bag into a gallon ziplock.  I labeled everything and then placed a piece of paper into the gallon bag with my information (you know just in case my milk gets lost somehow).

4.  Sanitize your bottles.  Again, if you are in a room with a kitchenette you can sanitize your bottles on the stove or using the microwave but if you're in a regular hotel room then usually the hot water doesn't get hot enough.  So I used the coffee maker to boil my water and poured it over my bottles and pump pieces.

5. Coming home.  I placed my frozen bags into the cooler I packed with me and carried it through security.  I placed them in the cooler at 8am and got home at 4pm and they were still frozen.

Elsa and Olaf

I have been a little lax with my no TV rule with EV.  That doesn't mean we let her go to town with it, but we do let her get about an hours worth of screen time a week.  I've also been lax with movies.  I myself enjoy a good movie and I don't want to deprive EV completely.  So, I've given into this whole Frozen obsession.  She's now seen the movie, gone to see Frozen on Ice, and has Frozen paraphernalia.  So when EV said she wanted to be Elsa for Halloween, I said okay and started looking at possible ways to make her an Elsa dress.  Although EV was insistent that Emmett be Anna, I did have to put my foot down and gently suggest to her that he may be a better Olaf than an Anna. 

Making an Elsa dress was hard and I was ready to cut a vein doing it, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. [Although through this experience I do not think I am capable of making a homecoming or prom dress or at least anything that has a sweetheart neckline].  I had an "angel" costume that I sewed the Elsa dress on top of and it turned out really nicely.  I love making their costumes and clothes because I get to put a little of myself into it.  I also find tremendous satisfaction in her joy when I create something new for her.  Although I haven't been able to sew as much since Emmett's been born, it still is something I hope to keep up as much as I can.

So, I would like to now introduce to you, Elsa and Olaf.  [Please ignore the fact that the Olaf hat is a little too small on Emmett's big head, I swear I measured before I ordered].

EV's first crush

I can't believe she's only 4 years old and she already has her first crush.  His name is Byron.  He goes to EV's school and wears a gold chain.  She giggles every time she talks about him.  I asked her what she likes about him and she says she just does.  I asked her if he's smart and she giggles then says "no."  I ask her if he's good-looking and she giggles again then shrugs.  I ask her if he's funny and she giggles then says "yes."  

Jimmy made a comment about how he wasn't expecting this until EV was 14.  EV gasps and says, "Byron's cubby number is 14!!"  Oh boy!!

A few weeks ago, Jimmy got the opportunity to meet this kid Byron.  EV went up to him to say bye and he ignored her.  He wouldn't even look her way.  I asked EV if she still liked him even though he isn't very nice to her and she said "yes."

Then this week she confronted him.  She said she asked him "why are you shutting me out?" but he never responded.  She said she was sad but later that day he played with her and that made her happy. 

I tell you, I have no idea how to handle this situation and so all I do is talk to her and try to understand her feelings and why she feels the way she does.  It's actually more amusing to me than anything.  She's so young and she can't really articulate her feelings but she has these feelings and they just make her giggle.  I know that this is the first of many crushes she will have and I just hope that as she gets older, we will have the wisdom and patience to deal with all the drama that will come with it.  But most importantly, I hope that she will feel secure in not only sharing her feelings with us but know that she is special and loved no matter what some boy says or does not say to her.  I want her to be confident in who she is in Christ.

I have asked EV repeatedly to stop growing up, to be my baby forever, but she refuses.  It's not easy being a parent.

And now we are four

Yes, it has been 6 months since my last post. I guess that's how long it has taken me to finally get into a good routine. It's Saturday afternoon and both kiddos are taking a nap while jimmy is running an errand. I feel blessed, my heart is at peace. 

It's been so long since I have last written a post. And like many things the longer time passes, it gets harder to get back into it.  But then I remembered why I started in the first place, because I wanted my kids to read about their childhood and to keep my friends and family connected. So, I'm back, for now. 

In all honesty, I thought having a baby would be easy. I've done it once, EV is older and mature for her age, and I have a lot of help. But the most challenging parts have been the most unexpected. Emmett had health issues--in hindsight none of them were major but it was draining emotionally and mentally, nonetheless. Thankfully his health issues have resolved and he's doing really well. Second, EV has been really jealous and has struggled a lot with going from being an only child for four years to sharing us with the baby. She's digressed and acts really whiny and wants everything done for her. My spunky, independent, always smiling little girl has been replaced by a whiny, moody, clingy little girl. Throughout the day I never know how she will react.  Maybe this is just a glimpse of what the teenage years will be like. Last, going back to work has been challenging. My brain does not seem to function the way it used to. I'm forgetful and I feel like I'm always two steps behind. 

The last 6 months has been about trial and error, transitions, and finding balance. Not only do we have a new baby, but EV started preschool at a new school and goes 5 days a week, I'm back at work busier than ever and even getting ready to start traveling again. We have our bad days and our good days, but I in the midst of it all I have been feeling grateful and blessed. 

I love watching EV and Emmett getting to know each other.  I love discovering new personality traits in EV that I never knew about that Emmett brings out in her (good and bad). I love seeing Emmett's face light up when he sees his big sister.  And everyday I look forward to seeing the new things EV and Emmett will learn.