Stay At Home Moms

A friend and fellow stay at home mama wrote a blog post that I couldn’t help but share.  I have talked about Kylie’s beautiful writing before and this entry is no different.  http://kylieinglee.wordpress.com/

It brought tears to my eyes and is why when I was struggling almost a year a go with my decision to stay home or work she, along with other friends, were voices of reason.   Tiffany, said something that I repeat on an almost daily basis, “you can do anything you want and make whatever financial situation work.”   Although comfortable, neither Mike or I have the double income no kids lifestyle that was our life.  This is something that we both reminisce about, yet as both Tiffany and Kylie said wealth is what you make of it. 

I echo her words on feeling more blessed than ever by the decision that Mike and I made about me leaving a wonderful career to stay at home and nurture our child(ren).  Every day I am humbled that my husband continues to support our decision by excelling in his career, furthering his education, supporting Thomas and I emotionally and embracing his new somewhat less adventurous life. 

As for me, the picture that Kylie originally included on her blog sums up many of the comments you hear on a weekly basis.   I am blessed that I have both my Mom and my Mother in Law as fellow role models as they both stayed at home.   I feel more satisfaction teaching, watching and engaging Thomas in every day learning activities, even if those activities are held within my other responsibilities of cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping. 

Kylie also wrote it best when she said that staying at home or returning to a job outside of the home is a personal and family decision and neither is better than another.  I have friends who stay home, friends who work full and part time, all of us have struggles and all of us are mothers who are doing what is best for ourselves and our families.

A Surprise Birthday Visit

I figured out 1/2 of my surprise was my parents trying to book a trip out to Seattle without me knowing.  About the end of January, I had a pretty good hunch that something was up and to avoid me having a complete mental breakdown Mike finally told me.  The looming idea that my parents would show up and my house would be a disaster had this pregnant lady cleaning practically non stop. 

So Mike went to pick them up late Friday night and I thought I would see them in the morning, but the real surprise was my brother and sister and law also making the trip!   What a busy/fun weekend we had ahead of us!

With storms coming in off the West coast the weather was crummy and COLD, but we made the most of the dry times and got outside to see a few things.

Saturday we were up and off to the park to get Stella some exercise before heading down to Pike Place Market.   After battling all the traffic in the market we went and grabbed lunch before heading back to our place.  Grandma and Grandpa played with Thomas, while us big kids went to grab a few happy hour drinks.

Saturday night Mike cooked Paella and Max and Amy joined in the fun!  It just so happens that Mike’s birthday was on Sunday so it was a double birthday celebration! 

Sunday we were all up and ready to get the day going.  The boys undertook a massive basement project (more to come on that) and pulled out old cabinets and built a new wall.  Us ladies enjoyed a morning at the park and then later in the day Molly and I headed to the mall for some shopping.

Monday came quickly and Mike was back to work.  We made a quick trip to the park where Stella got to play with Troy and Molly and then it was off to the Aquarium.   Thomas showed the gang his favorite stuff and we finally got to see the baby sea otter born on January 14th, 2012.  She was really cute and Thomas loved watching the “Baby and her Mama.”

After lunch it was time for Troy and Molly to head back to Minnesota.    After getting back home, Thomas stayed with Grandma and Grandpa and I ran a few errands without lugging a very active toddler around, it was great! Tuesday my dad and I continued to work on the basement.  What an undertaking but it is all coming together!   Then Mike and I had a dinner date and Thomas crashed Grandma and Grandpa’s dinner date!   Mike and I went to a quaint little Italian place in Magnolia (another Seattle neighborhood).  It was a lot of fun for Mike and I to go to dinner without having to worry about Thomas.   It is a little bittersweet that family isn’t closer for more date nights!Wednesday we spent a sunny morning exploring the zoo.  This was Grandpa Jim’s first time at the zoo.  We made it 3/4ths of the way through before we grabbed lunch and headed out for naptime.  Just as we were leaving I saw the “feed the penguins” sign. 

Thomas grabbed the little fish without hesitation and tossed it into the awaiting penguins.  The 4 fish went very quickly and at the end he was hoping for “more.”    What a cool experience for him.

Thursday came too fast for everyone and it was time for Grandma and Grandpa to head back home.  Thomas and I drove them to the airport and after saying our goodbyes we were headed home again to recover from the crazy fun week.  This was the first time that Thomas was able to express being “sad” and that he wanted “Ban pa and Nana back home.”  After talking about them coming back in a few weeks when the baby was born he was satisfied and then we spent the rest of Thursday snuggling and playing until Daddy got home from work!

Flower and Garden Show

To get in the gardening mood we headed to the convention center to check it out.  It wasn’t what we expected, but it still was an adventure for the day.  There was a lot of beautiful flowers, and I forgot to bring my camera, so my phone pictures will have to do.

Thomas had a blast playing in the little kids garden area.    We can’t wait for him to help with the flowers/garden/yard this year.  Another favorite for Thomas was seeing all the chickens and a few bunnies too.  In Seattle, there are a lot of people who have chicken coops in their yards.  In fact, we have 3 at the end of our block that we go to see on our walks.  Thomas was also able to go and pet 2 friendly chickens.

Cavalia

 Cavalia, a Cirque De Sol type horse/acrobatic show, has been showing commercials on the local channels and a certain someone in our house goes nuts every time he hears the music start.  So after a little bribing of Daddy, he agreed that we could go.  What a treat, this really isn’t Mike’s thing, but he was a good sport.  Thomas and I really enjoyed it. 

Once in the entrance, Thomas couldn’t wait to go in and see the horses.  The show started and he sat, clapped, and stared in awe for both the one hour long performances.  All he wanted during the 30 minute intermission was more.   He was pretty concerned about the guy being safe as he balanced on top of a giant ball and the ladies in flying in the air on ropes, but with reassurance that they were safe and had practiced he was at peace.

It was a great show and watching Thomas enjoy it made it all the more fun for Mike and I.   Thomas continues to love looking at the brochure and talking about the guys, ladies, horses, and how they were flying, jumping, running, and going so fast.  

Glow Sticks

While looking at Pinterest I got this idea for glow stick bath fun.  It just happened that Grandma and Grandpa McConachie sent Thomas glow sticks and I thought we would give it a try.  Thomas loved finding and throwing the glowing sticks that were hiding under the bubbles.  What a fun way to change up bath time!

It happened…

Thomas rocked to sleep with his Daddy on Thursday February 2nd, 2011!  No tears, no crying, no asking for Mama, just like that it happened.  One night, without any planning, he was tired and wasn’t wanting to lay in bed next to me, or to nurse, so Mike took him in to rock. 

I was afraid to move, make any noise or breathe in our room and then all of a sudden I see this…ta da! 

Now, just because he did it once doesn’t mean it will happen every night.  Nor do Mike or I expect it to, but this is huge in all 3 of our worlds! 

I can say that since then it has happened again, Sunday night!  Way to go Daddy and Thomas.  Another step in growing up!

We also started the big shuffle of rooms over the weekend.  We moved the old guest bed into Thomas’ new big boy room.  He had his new dresser and night stand delivered on Tuesday.   Since we did this a little sooner than we thought, to go with his growing desire for independence, we still have some accessories to get.  Stay tuned for his big boy room reveal!

Mama’s thoughts…

I don’t know if I am ready for this or not, but it has not been as hard for me as I would have thought a few months ago.  I can recall bawling, sobbing and curling up in Mike’s arms, after Thomas fell asleep one night in late November.  At that time I was scared, petrified about how we would both do with our changing relationship, scared he (and I) wasn’t going to be ready for him to be BIG and a new baby to come into our lives.

It is so bittersweet, knowing what I have been able to do and provide thus far for my sweet little boy.   There is such a sense of pride that all the effort that was put into nursing for this long, the nights of waking up with a growing newborn/infant/toddler due to hunger, thirst, pain or comfort are all just steps in development.   Mike and I have both worked very hard and stayed very committed to following his lead even when the nights got long and our nerves were frayed.

It also recharges me for the long nights/days we have coming ahead with our new little one.  I won’t say it has been easy, but we both believe whole heartedly in following each of our baby’s leads and letting them show us what their body needs.  What an amazing experience it has been to watch him change and grow thus far and I can’t wait to continue to see where his path and ours will lead us.

p.s. the more I am open with people about where we are at with Thomas, him still in our bed, still nursing, ect the more others open up and say that they have something similar going on.  It always makes me feel like we are a little less “out of the perceived norm.”

Sunshine!

For the last week the SUN has made daily appearances in Seattle!  The weather here is not what I would have expected before I moved here, yet the grey days (even without rain) do get a little redundant. 

So every time it is sunny, we try to get outside to soak up some vitamin D.  Thursday we headed down to the beach with Whitney and Dahlia.

Friday we went for an adventure walk to Lake Washington with Stella.  Also in this collage is pictures from our walk Tuesday to see all the garbage trucks and “wooommsss” or worms under rocks. 

Saturday the whole family spent the morning at Discovery Park walking down to the Sound in search of the “wawa” and “seals.”   We could hear the seals, but couldn’t see any.  We did see a lot of birds and found shells on the beach.  Thomas was determined to hike and run the whole way in and out.  At the end he finally was carried for the last quarter of a mile.  He crashed on the car ride home and was ready for more once we were there!

Sunday Sweet Tooth

During the summer and occasionally in the rainy winter months you can find my family out on a stroll in the morning to the bakery.  This is where we get several comments on how “big and beautiful” our dog is.  Stella gets her morning treats and greetings from the workers at the fish market, and we all get our share of sweets!   

After riding to the bakery in the wagon, our independent big boy decided he wanted to pull it on the way home.  After a few minutes of struggling to pull it a couple feet he let Daddy help.  Oh how cute it was to watch the two of them walk home holding hands and pulling the wagon!

27 Weeks…hello 3rd Trimester

Seems like in a flash I am in the 3rd trimester. Then I look back at pictures and see that we started this journey in August and many memories ago. Truthfully, the pregnancy has been flying by and I hope it continues!

I just had another appointment and all is going well in baby growing land. Every day she is getting stronger and stronger and I am starting to see, rather feel, a pattern to her schedule. It also feels a lot more real as I have all my appointments on the schedule from now until baby time.

She has a very excited brother who loves to talk to his baby, blow raspberries at her (I wonder what she thinks), and talk about how she kicks him. He has also started to ask to say goodnight to her and wants to talk to her randomly on his own through out the day. Thomas is ever increasing his excitement when he sees a baby and then tells us what they are doing and if they are with their mommy or daddy.

I am holding up pretty well, I wish I could trade out my hips as they HURT and by the end of the day I am done. I have to admit I have to focus much more on trying to find time to think, reflect and just be with the baby. So far I think she is going to be a healthy eater as I am craving vegetables and fruits. My latest favorites are cantaloupe and cucumbers. I also feel like salads are the only thing that sounds appealing. Regardless, I am having no problem with getting a belly and am very excited to have her and try to regain my normal shape and size again. The picture to the left is how I feel…BIG and I know she and I only need to get bigger from here on out!