Fun February

 

Who doesn't love secret tomato messages? (left for me by Emily). Today's been good, so I'm anxious to record things while my focus is clear and positive.  In an effort to balance things, not being pregnant means my body, though SO much more mobile and energetic, is fitting back into its hormones and cycles, and sometimes they are WAY oversized, and I'll have a cloudy day or two, which, when my husband is striving valiantly himself to stay on top of things when his job anxiety coupled with horrible sleeping and financial stress, combines to spell disaster--or disaster for a day--I just tell myself we've been here before, and almost always, waiting 24 hours (sometimes 48) makes a world of difference, and to just not think too hard or make too many important decisions under such stress.  Inevitably, things do turn around, and I'm looking at my life wondering how I got so lucky (which is part of why I blog--because when I read it on those glum days, it makes things look so beautiful to me, and reminds me things can't be all bad!--it's also part of why I read books, partly to find other lives that hurt like, or usually, worse than mine, and partly to just leave my sorrow for a bit, and it so soothes me!).  Overall, I am LOVING these newborn-ish days with Jane! I often feel like I could do this forever (until I think of being pregnant, potty-training, or teaching to drive!).  It SO helps to have such a patient, GREATSLEEPING child!

Aside from all of my emotional events, February saw us at basketball games (Brent's continued to improve, getting more confident w/ his shooting, and plays some awesome Teacher ball w/ his quorum).

sending missionary and cousin valentines (what?!--I've wanted to do this for years, and it happened right after a baby?!?!--weird alignment of the stars for sure; the house was a wreck for a week due to one FHE of activity, and they were almost all late thanks to ice storms, but it felt GREAT to expand my horizons past nursing, cooking, nursing, laundry, nursing--It also felt great to revert back to that schedule of simplicity :) )

We celebrated Valentine's Day w/ heart pancakes, a Heart pizza (thanks Papa Murphy's), chocolate covered strawberrys, and (due to a wee one and crowded places) making Brian watch Life of Pi  w/ me since I'd just re-finished the book.  Brian also brought home some fantastic chocolates w/ FRESH raspberries on top!!--we felt obliged to eat them too, since they would go bad so quickly :)--YUMMMM.  I don't remember ever doing this, but in Elementary School, the older grades all decorate boxes to put the Valentines in, and it's quite the competitive affair! Thank goodness my children follow me in delighting in SIMPLE things :)--these were there creations for this year (Emily's is a "Box of Shame" reference to Despicable Me that I barely remembered) and though our printer was running out of ink for Spencer's, the sweetheart said, "Oh this is great--a pink tint will be perfect for Valentine's! :)

Then there was Blue and Gold Banquet: "Cubapolis"--racing around in boxes-turned-cars with parents providing "pit stops" after each lap to wash windshields (squirt goggles), refuel (give drinks), etc.--so hilarious!

 Then there was the ward "Daddy Daughter Night" so I took the boys out for a night on the town to Nickelcade and Del Taco (50 cent tacos!!).  I kept feeling kind of badly since it seemed a bit lame-o to me, but even Brent reassured me he was having a blast--the mystery of arcades to me, I guess!--they blew most of their nickels at the end on a Ticket Jackpot game, and Spencer got a big pay off, which he used to trade for 74 Root Beer Barrells :).  (they lasted about 12 hours)

We've also had to start working with Anne on teasing at school (she's doing the teasing, not being teased!--and as one who relates far more to the teased than the teaser this has been VERY trying!).  I got the email from her very balanced and fabulous teacher on what was probably NOT the best day, and I may or may not have worried that I was raising a potential murderer after having recently read In Cold Blood which was the true story of 2 seemingly normal people that killed a family (I know, my book club is crazy!).  After a couple of days, it felt more like a Kindergarten problem again, and I check regularly with Anne and her teacher now on nice things that she's doing for others.  Sheesh!!

I also had Jane on a DREAM schedule--sleeping through the night and eating every 3-4 hours, when we went in for a checkup, and I checked to see if that WAS enough food for her.  The Dr. then noted that her weight had dropped from 70th %-ile to 47th, so he'd be adding feedings, not dropping them.  Again, my ability to make mountains out of molehills is astounding, and I beacme pretty sure I was responsible for starving my once perfect baby! (she's still sleeping through the night, but I feed her every 3 hours now, and she's truly looking chubbier already).  The fact that she had a spot of eczema on the back of her neck did not add to my joy either.  When the Dr. said it was either eczema or a vascular hemangioma, I wasn't sure which to hope for! (it's eczema)

Those are just some silly STRESS highlights! Otherwise, we've had lots of playgroup dates at our house, visited a couple of friends, started cleaning out drawers and cupboards that were organized "Pre-Pregnancy," and enjoyed keeping things fairly simple.  Brian and I were able to make it to the temple one Saturday afternoon (hooray for Jane's great naps and great older siblings!), and got to have Elder Eyring in the session with us! For both of us, it was SO nice to have that taste of peace :). Those good moments and fun things like tomato messages far outweigh my (ridiculous) stressing--it is a fun, full stage of life we are in, and hopefully the bumps just help us appreciate the smooth days more :).  And I'm continually grateful just to have strength and energy to enjoy being able to do simple things like dishes and laundry and jumping on the tramp w/ the girls, that for the last year have been nearly grueling (or, in the case of jumping, impossible!)!!