I Have a Preschooler

My sweet Logan is now in preschool. Um...where did the last 3.5 years go?! My baby is now an active preschooler with his own thoughts, opinions, questions and discoveries. His starting preschool was something we were hoping would happen but as of the end of July, we had just assumed that it probably wouldn't work out based on our schedules. Then a few days before I was due back to work, I finally received word that my schedule was changing, one in which I would have the mornings open to take Logan to preschool. And not just any preschool...Logan is going to the preschool where his Lolly, my mom, is the director.

We have always known that Logan is really smart. I mean, what parent doesn't think their kid is smart? With Logan, however, he has always been into very technical, mechanical, electrical workings. Lights, erector sets, cords, putting things together, taking things apart, etc. He has exceptional hand-eye coordination and we have done everything we can to help foster this interest in him. He has many different light toys. B lets him help him when he's out working in the garage or putting something together. Logan is always asking how something works or letting us know when something isn't working or when lights are burnt out. ALL THE TIME. His curiosity is overflowing! So how do we foster this? And how do we encourage him to be more social and learn from his environment? Answer: preschool.

He goes to a play-based preschool. All their activities are play-based with many different learning tools integrated. For example, coloring the letter of their first name. Logan is slow going with his letters right now. He knows the alphabet well but doesn't quite recognize sounds and the look of each letter yet. However he can count backwards! I swear...left brained child I have here! The best part is that he is with 19 other kiddos which gives him a lot more opportunities to be social with a more diverse group of kids. His home daycare is great; but 6 other kids that you've known for a year doesn't exactly give enough socialization all the time.

Logan is excited to go each week. We got him a new backpack. He has his own cubby where he can hang up his things. He loves the sensory table, as that is where I usually end up saying goodbye to him. I just know this is going to be great for him. I cannot wait to see where he is next month with everything.

currently

I find that the best way to blog is to write as much when I have the time and schedule them out. This post was written on Tuesday. ;)

I am currently following my instinct. There is really no other way to get used to having two kids. You just do it and it works. I have my instinct to thank for that, despite all the mistakes I'm making along the way.

I am currently sipping on water. My stomach has been pretty sensitive lately and I think coffee and chocolate have a lot to do with it...so I have cut those things out (GASP)! Which in turn has me running on fumes.

I am currently thinking about my clinicals coming up next month for my CNA certification. I'm quite nervous, for many reasons, but the biggest reasons having to deal with toileting. And that's all I have to say about that.

I am currently smiling at all the cute little babies I've seen leave the hospital today. Lots of babies born over the weekend.

four months

This past month has gone by so fast, I really can't believe it is already September! Maybe it is because we have had unusually warm, wet weather which has made summer seem longer or maybe it's because my baby girl has gone from this tiny little newborn who just starred at us to an active and alert infant who coos and giggles. Amazing.

Evie girl is doing so well. She is an incredible baby. So many things about her are different than Logan and I often find myself thinking that I feel like a new mom all over again. The way I parent her is just different than the way I parented Logan, and I suppose that different children will do that to you. Not only do I feel more relaxed with her, but I also find her making me question more things, especially when it comes to breastfeeding. I never made it this long with Logan and every milestone we reach in that arena is new to me.

A little bit about our girl:

• Rolls from side to side, just not all the way yet
• Giggles and laughs when we tickle her or make silly sounds or give her raspberries on her belly
• Notices Logan as soon as he enters a room. Just the other day she was quite upset at daycare and our provider told us that as soon as she saw him, her entire body relaxed. 
• Reaches and grabs for things
• Puts things in her mouth
• Has noticed her toes, reaches for them but has yet to grab them
• Lifts head when on her belly
• Weighs 11.10 pounds and is 24 3/4 inches tall--peanut!

Overall, Evie is doing great. She has had her 3rd cold now and I guess that is just a product of having an older brother and going to daycare. Despite this, however, she is still growing and learning so much! I love having a little girl. I spend a lot of time deciding what she should wear and which bow to put on. Yesterday, I planned her outfit around the baby legs she is wearing in the photo above. Then she soiled it quickly! Oh well. I told B we should start dressing her in the "change of clothes" outfit first, that way she will be in her real outfit for the day. ;) Silly girl.

Mothering a daughter is also different. The connection I feel with her is beyond anything I can even put into words. As I type this I can just feel my heart expand. It's a feeling unlike any other. And mothering her and her brother is also more than words. Watching those two together melts my heart more than anything. He loves her unconditionally. Today, when I dropped him off at preschool, I saw for the first time his protectiveness over her. A little girl in his class came up to us and said hi to her. Logan immediately put his arms around her and held her close until it was time to go into class. Such a sweet, loving, protective brother!

Of course, an update post is not quite an update without lots of photos....enjoy!

the nursing strike is over

Over two weeks ago, Evie started to show a lot more signs of her development by becoming more distracted while nursing. The TV, her brother and even a sneeze would have her unlatched and arching her neck to see what was going on. At first, I had no idea what was going on. I realized she was distracted, but it really didn't dawn on me that she was starting a strike. She has been in daycare for over a month now and during the day was when she seemed to have the hardest time nursing. We tried over and over until we were both in a fit of frustration and tears until I finally pumped and gave her a bottle. I called our lactation consultant twice. We saw her three times in two weeks and Evie gained a total of 4oz. My little petite girl! Trust me, I was concerned at first with how little she was gaining but there are a few things I had to remember: 1) she IS gaining weight and not loosing and 2) she is healthy! She has little rolls in her legs, chubby cheeks, and eats often enough that she is healthy. But the nursing strike was quickly becoming discouraging. There's nothing quite like getting her to latch for 20 seconds until the let down and then she unlatches and, well, milk goes everywhere!

Everyday was different. I continued to pump and she ate well at daycare. It has been such trial and error in trying to decipher if she is truly hungry or just really tired. Her cries are nearly the same for both, at least for now. She is such a different baby than Logan. I feel like a new mama all over again.

So a few days passed and she started to nurse a little more during the day. Then early last week, on Monday, she nursed in the morning when we went to our lactation appointment and then refused to nurse until the next night. Over twenty four hours. I was so worried she was over the breast. That night after work, I took her into my arms, shushed into her ear, turned off the TV, set my phone aside, took our tops off and said a prayer. She latched. I nearly cried I was so happy! And not just for a few minutes. She nursed for a solid 10 minutes without stopping, something which she had not done in well over a week. We continued to nurse better and better each day this week.

Then Logan got a cold and gave it to all of us. I faired the best of everyone while Evie and B seemed to get it the worst. She is very congested so for the first day she had trouble staying latched because it was so hard for her to nurse and breath through her nose. Thankfully, I believe this little cold of hers has brought our nursing relationship closer. We are nursing laying down, which seems to be her favorite position (mine too!) and overall I think it's safe to say the strike is over. I am so happy that this is really the first time we have had any issue with nursing in 4 months. No mastitis, clogged ducts, thrush...a strike seems so much easier than all of those things!

Here's to another month down! My next goal is 6 months.

currently

** I will enlighten you all on Evie's nursing strike in another post...among other things.**

I'm NEEDING an answer as to why I have daily headaches that are sometimes migraines and usually make me feel dizzy, loopy and altogether a flighty, wobbly, cranky mess. Could be the anxiety medication I take. Could be my hormones out of whack. Could be both...I will see my doctor on Monday. Can't wait.

I'm READING up on the skills and such to become a CNA. I'm already half way through the 10 week course so by the end of November I should have my state certification. I know you are all really worried about me learning how to clean bed pans and measure urine output, amiright? ;)

I'm WEARING my post-baby clothes-still. However, I think I am almost back into my pre-preg pants but if I'm really being honest I know that they really don't fit even if I squeeze them on.

I'm PICTURING what it will be like when I have a tattoo on my foot. YES, you all read that right. I am getting a tattoo soon. I'm pretty excited and nervous. My first ever...yikes!

I'm EXPECTING nothing right now. Our state is drowning in flood rains and burn-scar mudslides so I'm just praying. Praying everyone stays safe. I'm about 98% certain our house is fine. We are close to the river, but not THAT close.  The roads where my parents used to live are totally closed off. Pretty crazy.

there's a lot

There's a lot going on right now. So much so that I really cannot gather my thoughts the way I want to. All I really want to do is write a bitchy vent about how frustrated I am with Evie's nursing strike or how I have a headache almost every single day or how I literally have no time during my work week to do anything other than work and then snuggle my babies. I'm exhausted, tired, frustrated and...whatever else.

the fear thing

DAY 4
A story about a time you were very afraid.
Since me and anxiety rub elbows quite often, I have too many stories where I was quite afraid, but in hindsight  it really wasn't that big of a deal. However, if you have anxiety then you know that it's always a big deal! I hate driving on the highway. A few summers ago I traveled over the mountains to visit some friends with Logan. B stayed behind. I had done that drive a hundred times while in college. I knew where every curve of the Glenwood Canyon hugged the rocky face of the mountain and exactly how many tunnels we'd pass through. No big deal. There was construction in the canyon and this particular drive while beautiful, is really unique in that the highway is between a river and the mountain and there are few spots where one direction is on top of the opposite direction. See?

(source)

Well that weekend they had moved all traffic to one side of the highway so there was one lane each direction. For some reason, this gave me terrible claustrophobia. I began to get really nervous and felt like I was going to pass out. I was dizzy and worried about how there is NOWHERE to pull over for nearly 13 miles of highway. I was literally hanging my head out the window to keep me alert. I was terrified something bad would happen and I'd be all alone with Logan. It was by far one of the hardest and scariest driving experiences I'd ever had. And I have driven through blizzards. Not even those were this bad.

currently

Growing...my nails. They are killer right now. Healthy, strong and I'm keeping them painted and filed so no chipping happens. Seriously, my nails have never been healthier. Thank you breastfeeding hormones!

Buying...time. We are just in limbo land waiting for our finances to get back to where it was. This week should be THAT week. I seriously don't know how some people live off one income. It's nearly impossible for us.

Earning...the birth junkie rep at work which, of course, is awesome! I love that there are a few other junkies out there and that we can talk all thinks birthy together.

Judging...the way I ware my hair. I really am not a fan of this length. It's too "in-between". Too short for cute buns and too long for a beachy, bob look. Grow hair grow!

Embracing...the cooler-ish almost fall weather! And when I say "cooler" I mean somewhere below 90*. And when it is above 90* I am embracing the AC I have in my house and, as of last week, in my car! Finally! Thanks to B for fixing that up for me.

word.

DAY 3
Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered. 

Safety first. That was and still is our family motto. 

Let it go and forgive.

Sleep when baby sleeps.

Don't worry, be happy.

Sing in your car.

Do something for yourself every once in awhile.

Be selfish sometimes.

Learn to say "no" every now and then.

Pray.

3 months off

DAY 2 If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?
Well. I feel like maternity leave was 3 months off from many current things in my life, however if I wanted to take time off and do anything? Travel. Hands down. I would pack up a bag, grab my passport and travel the world. 
Witness the Northern Lights in Alaska

(source)
Hold a Koala Bear in Sydney

(source)

Place a Lock on Lover's Bridge in Paris

(source)
I'd want my best friend and partner right there with me because I can't really have fun without B. I'd eat really amazing food, sleep out on the beach, drink out of a coconut, zip line through the forest, and make a new friend in every city. I'd want to travel by boat, plane, and train. 

(source)
I'd want to get lost somewhere really fun, like inside of a castle. 

(source)
I would visit local birth centers and witness a few births to see how the rest of the world views labor and delivery. 

(source)

I'd catch a baby, too, if they'd let me. Because traveling without seeing how the rest of the world births babies would only be half the fun. ;)

I never finish these things

But why not? Prompts always help me to write more. Hopefully September will be the month I actually finish a blog posting every day...thing. Yeah.



Yesterday's prompt today: 
Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.
I come from a family that was never broken, where education was prized above almost everything else, where parents were overly-involved with on-goings and were easily pleased by musical tastes that included Pat Benatar and Shawn Colvin. I come from a place where the sun shines almost every day of the year, where the mountains are our playground, where the air is crisp and dry, and where the people are the nicest you'll ever meet. I come from values that reflect a desire to love my brothers and sisters in Christ, that believe in good things and who has a moral compass stronger than anyone you'll ever meet. My family, children, husband, and home make up who I am and where I will go. My passion is what drives me to be the best wife and mom I can be.
Where do YOU come from?

Evelyn's Armoire updates

Hey there friends and fans. I have a special coupon code up on the shop you can ONLY get by liking our facebook page. Check it out!

Evelyn's Armoire (etsy)

Evelyn's Armoire (facebook)

We will have some really cute fall items up very soon. Keep checking back.