Days Go By

I'm busy and things don't seem to be slowing down so below is a quick look at what our Spring has been filled with. I hope you are all doing well. :) 

Jayden spent the day with me on one of our teacher work days this spring.

Pebbles is such a cute part of our family. 

Jayden's first time eating rice cereal. Woohoo for solid foods. 

Nap Time

Morning fun. The Johnny Jump Up is the best thing to use when Jayden is up before the boys in the morning.

The kiddos striking a pose with Granpa Mike and Grandma Carrie.

Spencer had a blast at Chris' birthday party. The party was at Jump Time in Meridian.

Jayden loves her baths.

Jayden and Autnie Devon

Big girl holds her own spoon. 

Oh no you didn't!

Happy Girl

We love the hat, we love the girl.

Spencer helped me make sugar cookie.

It was a messy event.

Jayden loves and hates this toy. She loves to chew it but becomes enraged when she can't control it. 

My beautiful children.

This was the costume of the week after we watched "Despicable Me".

Trying bananas in the rice cereal.

Not a big hit.

This is Jayden's spot while Spencer and I work on school stuff.

Spencer had an animal project at school that he did awesome with. We made a poster at home for his presentation.

The Annas are so gracious.

We celebrated Tammy's birthday in Hidden Springs. 

BBQ burgers and chocolate cake ala mode.

Our Beth Moore Bible Study crew.

Playing the Pride & Prejudice board game was a fun activity.

At Planet Kid in the ball bin.

We met up with the Cramers and had a lovely afternoon playing, talking and eating pizza.

Me and my girl.

Spence had a blast playing with all the kids there.

Trish and I chatted about baby stuff. She's holding little Mackenna.

The boys played chess and talked about work.

Boring!

After all of his hard work on reading this year, Spencer got Proficient on his Reading ISAT. 

We went to Starbucks to celebrate with warm drinks and cake pops.

I love my family and I love the life we have together.

Happy Spring!

OMG

Watching Drop Dead Diva episode 4 with Spencer (when she handles her parents' divorce) and at the end of the episode I heard Spencer say, "Oh crud, I'm about to cry", before he covered his eyes with his arm, took a bunch of deep breaths, and controlled the urge. I got chocked up because of his reaction. He looked over at me and said, "I won't tell Daddy that you cried over that if you won't tell him that I did." Ok, there has never been a more awesome kid than him.

Back in the Saddle

I love my colleagues. When I came in this morning I was greeted with a cute yellow sign along with lots of hugs. :) Thank you, I love you all.

I got up early, woke up Jayden to nurse, sing and read together and then, after crying on Steen's shoulder, I went to work. I spent first hour sorting through papers, pumping at the end of my prep. My students were awesome and it was fun to be in the classroom again. We had a fire drill during the last class, students kept peeking out the window at the snow and wishing for a snow day, and Leslie rescued me fourth hour for an "emergency" pump session. I still wish I could be home with Jayden but if I have to leave her, I realize how fortunate I am to work in an amazing department with such wonderful people.

Jayden was super tired when I got her up but she looked adorable.

Someone drew cute flowers on the board for me.

Coming back to a big yellow welcome sign was so nice. :) Thanks again Leslie.

Moments

Today is my last day with Jayden before I have to go back to work. I'm on the verge of tears as I think about someone else getting to share her cooing silliness in the early afternoons or getting to feed her before her afternoon nap. I love being at home with her and I would love to be a stay-at-home mom, at least for the first few years. Yikes. I never thought I would say that but it's the truth. There are just so many wonderful things that I will miss when I go back. At least I'll still get to be the one to walk in and get her out of her crib. She cries her pathetic "why doesn't anyone love me and hold me and why am I alone" cry in the morning and then I walk into her room, she sees me and the grin breaks across her face. She adores her mommy and the feeling is entirely mutual. I love this little bundle of baby goodness and am going to miss her for those hours I am at work.

So all you working moms out there, please share, what was the hardest part of going back to work and how did you cope? Also, does anyone have any great advice for pumping at work? Take care and have a happy Monday.

The Big 3-0

I confess that I pictured myself looking more like this on my thirtieth birthday (above). Decked out in a killer black dress in New York city with an amazing Louise Green hat to top off a posh evening. Instead, I was sporting the trademark sagging tummy of a new mommy and recent recipient of a cholecystectomy as well as grubby cloths and sleep deprived eyes (below). My life isn't what I imagined it would be and that is actually a wonderful thing. In place of the superficial joys I imagined for myself, I have some true blessings: a gorgeous husband who loves me, a sweet little boy with an amazing imagination and artistic sense, the world's cutest dog, and a beautiful baby girl that greets me every morning with a goofy smile and a snuggle. I have a job that I love and wonderful friends and family. Sometimes I think back on the dreams of my childhood and realize that many of them have come true, just not quite in the way I had originally imagined them. It's cliche, but I can't help but thinking about the saying that talks about getting what you want versus getting what you need. :) I love my life and hope to enjoy the next thirty as much as the last.