I've been meaning to write here for forever!!! Sorry if you've been checking my blog and thinking "sheesh, doesn't anyone ever update their stuff??" At least you've gotten a cute photo every few days :)
The boys have been doing so many new things and I want to make sure I share them on here for a few reasons. 1- to give other young moms hope that kids do grow up (I know I need the reminder often) 2- so all of you family members who aren't local can feel like you know what's going on and 3- so I can look back to remember all the stuff that was going on too!
Let's start with Asher. He sure is turning into a little boy... like a kid, instead of a baby. He's saying all kinds of things out of nowhere and he can repeat almost any short word or phrase you say! Just today Mark was walking with him to get the mail and Mark said "okay, time to cross" and Asher replied "cross the street?" Or lately, he's been wanting to snuggle with me more and more. A few weeks ago he started saying "snuggle" after bathtime, then one night Mark was tucking him into bed and Asher said "snuggle a mama." It was so stinking cute!! So now we snuggle every night before bed... so fun!
He also has been changing a lot of his 1-syllable words to 2-syllable words... well, the ones that are supposed to be. Like how Zebra used to be "bra" and is now actually "zebra" along with giraffe, soccer, funny, silly, steamer, sandwich and so many more! We also let Asher "drive" when we get home sometimes. He loves to sit in the driver seat and mess with all the buttons and pretend he's shifting gears. Now, when we are about 2 or 3 blocks from home he starts to say "drive a mit" (aka minute) or "drive a bit." He also has begun to recognize landmarks - all too well!! Whenever we drive past the Starbucks parking lot he starts saying "steamer, bucks, coffee!" When we drive past At&t he says "Matt, Grace" b/c uncle Matt works there and we have seen Matt's soon to be daughter Grace there too. And in case you didn't know, Matt is getting married in July and is inheriting a beautiful little gal Grace along with his love Shaana.
Just a couple other cute phrases... do it, some more juice (or whatever he wants at the time), soccer ball, I see you, drive a papa, papa drive, see a mower (or anything else really), help you, help me, up there, in there, get it, papa shower, another one, other one... we are really learning to watch what we say too!!
Cole is also learning all kinds of things. He's sitting up really well now, even in the tub!! Somehow, Cole learned how to do the pageant wave... it looks oh so graceful and just ADORABLE when he does it... especially b/c he smiles so big every time he does it! He has also figured out that when I leave the room, I am actually still around (object permanence) and cries big crocodile tears until I come back. He has also started throwing fits when he's full or doesn't want to eat his food... being only 7 months old, this is not the most fun ever :( He also throws fits the instant papa walks in the door... until papa picks him up that is. At least he smiles most of the day and is starting to really be enjoyable.
I'm pretty sad b/c Cole's hair thus far has been a really cool color of orange - very unique and super cute! But, most of his roots are the blondest blond I've seen... which is still cute, I just LOVE orange hair!! His eyebrows are still orange so we'll see what happens.
Despite all the fun things the boys are doing, I still find myself being exhausted and truthfully sad. It's hard being at home all day. Not only this, but I find myself crazy busy with lots of things and no outlet!! I'm always doing, trying to fit as much in my day as I can but then the next day I completely crash from being overwhelmed... I try to be efficient, doing things in a certain order to maximize my time but I am TIRED! Both boys are sleeping all night now, which helps, but I often feel like I don't even have the time to have a breakdown... not sure how to feel about that! Each day I knock a few things off my list, but I feel like each room I walk into, I see so many things yet to be taken care of that I just get depressed about it. It's been almost a full year since our Ford Escape stopped running... and I'm still stuck at home... that may change in the next month... we'll see. I feel like my sanity would improve if I could at least get out of the house during the day every once in a while. I can't really go for walks until after naps b/c Asher falls asleep ins the stroller and it messes up his afternoon nap... same with Cole, so if the weather is nice and the timing is right we can go for a walk later in the afternoon... when I should be cooking dinner...ugh! Other than that and Thursday morning bible study, we are completely homebound 8am-5pm.
So, I'm trying to sort all this stuff out. I enjoy most everything I do but I just don't know how to keep up... especially when the boys are a wreck. Hopefully I can start getting someone to watch the kids in the morning every once in a while so I can get a couple hours to catch up on stuff without other things/people interfering. Plus, I know things will just get easier as Cole gets bigger... I feel like I'm in survival mode but I am not very good at it. I'll let you know how all of this goes as it's an almost daily struggle lately. But, I know God knows what He is doing and He knows when I really am at the end of my rope.
Okay, so, to end all this babbling, here are a few cute photos of the boys from yesterday... enjoy!
The boys have been doing so many new things and I want to make sure I share them on here for a few reasons. 1- to give other young moms hope that kids do grow up (I know I need the reminder often) 2- so all of you family members who aren't local can feel like you know what's going on and 3- so I can look back to remember all the stuff that was going on too!
Let's start with Asher. He sure is turning into a little boy... like a kid, instead of a baby. He's saying all kinds of things out of nowhere and he can repeat almost any short word or phrase you say! Just today Mark was walking with him to get the mail and Mark said "okay, time to cross" and Asher replied "cross the street?" Or lately, he's been wanting to snuggle with me more and more. A few weeks ago he started saying "snuggle" after bathtime, then one night Mark was tucking him into bed and Asher said "snuggle a mama." It was so stinking cute!! So now we snuggle every night before bed... so fun!
He also has been changing a lot of his 1-syllable words to 2-syllable words... well, the ones that are supposed to be. Like how Zebra used to be "bra" and is now actually "zebra" along with giraffe, soccer, funny, silly, steamer, sandwich and so many more! We also let Asher "drive" when we get home sometimes. He loves to sit in the driver seat and mess with all the buttons and pretend he's shifting gears. Now, when we are about 2 or 3 blocks from home he starts to say "drive a mit" (aka minute) or "drive a bit." He also has begun to recognize landmarks - all too well!! Whenever we drive past the Starbucks parking lot he starts saying "steamer, bucks, coffee!" When we drive past At&t he says "Matt, Grace" b/c uncle Matt works there and we have seen Matt's soon to be daughter Grace there too. And in case you didn't know, Matt is getting married in July and is inheriting a beautiful little gal Grace along with his love Shaana.
Just a couple other cute phrases... do it, some more juice (or whatever he wants at the time), soccer ball, I see you, drive a papa, papa drive, see a mower (or anything else really), help you, help me, up there, in there, get it, papa shower, another one, other one... we are really learning to watch what we say too!!
Cole is also learning all kinds of things. He's sitting up really well now, even in the tub!! Somehow, Cole learned how to do the pageant wave... it looks oh so graceful and just ADORABLE when he does it... especially b/c he smiles so big every time he does it! He has also figured out that when I leave the room, I am actually still around (object permanence) and cries big crocodile tears until I come back. He has also started throwing fits when he's full or doesn't want to eat his food... being only 7 months old, this is not the most fun ever :( He also throws fits the instant papa walks in the door... until papa picks him up that is. At least he smiles most of the day and is starting to really be enjoyable.
I'm pretty sad b/c Cole's hair thus far has been a really cool color of orange - very unique and super cute! But, most of his roots are the blondest blond I've seen... which is still cute, I just LOVE orange hair!! His eyebrows are still orange so we'll see what happens.
Despite all the fun things the boys are doing, I still find myself being exhausted and truthfully sad. It's hard being at home all day. Not only this, but I find myself crazy busy with lots of things and no outlet!! I'm always doing, trying to fit as much in my day as I can but then the next day I completely crash from being overwhelmed... I try to be efficient, doing things in a certain order to maximize my time but I am TIRED! Both boys are sleeping all night now, which helps, but I often feel like I don't even have the time to have a breakdown... not sure how to feel about that! Each day I knock a few things off my list, but I feel like each room I walk into, I see so many things yet to be taken care of that I just get depressed about it. It's been almost a full year since our Ford Escape stopped running... and I'm still stuck at home... that may change in the next month... we'll see. I feel like my sanity would improve if I could at least get out of the house during the day every once in a while. I can't really go for walks until after naps b/c Asher falls asleep ins the stroller and it messes up his afternoon nap... same with Cole, so if the weather is nice and the timing is right we can go for a walk later in the afternoon... when I should be cooking dinner...ugh! Other than that and Thursday morning bible study, we are completely homebound 8am-5pm.
So, I'm trying to sort all this stuff out. I enjoy most everything I do but I just don't know how to keep up... especially when the boys are a wreck. Hopefully I can start getting someone to watch the kids in the morning every once in a while so I can get a couple hours to catch up on stuff without other things/people interfering. Plus, I know things will just get easier as Cole gets bigger... I feel like I'm in survival mode but I am not very good at it. I'll let you know how all of this goes as it's an almost daily struggle lately. But, I know God knows what He is doing and He knows when I really am at the end of my rope.
Okay, so, to end all this babbling, here are a few cute photos of the boys from yesterday... enjoy!
Picking grass.
Asher usually has his shoes off within 5 minutes. Cole usually chews on them within 5 seconds.
A little unsure about the camera... but still cute!
Click on this and view full-size... just a perfectly, adorable action shot of our little man. Such a fun expression caught mid-run... gotta love this kid.
April 14, 2010 at 7:01 AM
Hey Joellen~
Thanks for the update...they are getting so big!
I remember feeling all those same feelings at times...as much as I sound like a broken record :)...try your best to LOVE the season that you are in and cherish each moment...the dishes and to -do list WILL wait...I PROMISE! They will still be there when you get back...BUT, those kids are going to grow up so fast you won't know what hit you. Coming from the mother of an almost 13 year old!! YIKES! Where has the time gone. What I wouldn't give to hold that guy as a little one again and do it all over again. Remember that God designed you to be a mom and a wife, and those two things are a BIG priority...you won't regret focusing on them. You will have time to get back to your interests and hobbies soon...there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
Good luck! You are doing a great job!