Time for an update

It's fall again and that means school has started.  I love that my husband is a teacher because it means a whole summer off where I can have him pretty much all to myself.  But being a teacher also means fall is a crazy, hectic time.  So here is a little about what we've been up to:

Joe got his teaching license this summer after two years of hard work.  I am so proud of you hubby!  He is still teaching middle school history but has added a ninth grade history class, plus a ninth grade English class to his list.  Hopefully after this year he can take yet another test and be certified to teach high school history if he ever wanted to teach at a public school.  He is also reffing football which I am glad to say he is really enjoying.  It is another big time commitment, but means a little extra money and knowing he is having fun makes it a little easier to have him gone.

Grace is growing like crazy.  She rolled over from her back to her front for the first time this week, but seems to have forgotten how to roll back onto her back.  Oh well, I know she'll be able to put it all together before I know it.  Pretty soon I am going to have to say goodbye to the days when I can lay her down and run to the bathroom, or enjoy my lunch while she plays next to me.  I don't know why, but I am still amazed at how fast she grows out of her clothes.  I barely get to wash an outfit twice before I have to put it away for our next little one (God willing we have another girl). 

I have started working at the church again.  It is only a few hours a week, and I must say, so far, it is nice to get out of the house.  Grace has been able to come with me and did pretty well this past week.  I think I may need to invest in a play-mat to keep her occupied and on her back.  Anyone have on old one they want to sell me?  Anyways... I am also involved in our MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) group at church.  We had our first meeting this past Thursday and it was a lot of fun.  I can't wait for our next one.

Two weekends ago my sister and I went down to the coast to visit the family and watch my brother Joel play soccer, and my brother Jonathan in his first football game.  Joel happens to be one of the fastest guys on the team and even played an entire game after he ripped off his big toenail.  I can't imagine running after that happened, let alone trying to kick a ball.  Jonathan is playing defense and is the main kicker for his football team.  Again I have to brag... he kicked a forty-five yard field goal in practice and regularly kicks the ball into the end-zone during game kick-offs.  My brothers are both studs, what can I say.

Unfortunately, my great-grandpa Friday also passed away that weekend. He was 96 years old and very lucid even at the end. He even drove himself to the emergency room the week before he died. You will be missed Grandpa. His funeral was packed and we all enjoyed the many stories told about this great man. He was quite the story-teller himself. I hope some day someone publishes a book about all his stories.

 

My brother Joel with my grandma

Jonathan in his football uniform

All Dressed-Up and Ready for Church

Three Months

Grace is three months old already. I can't believe it. Only three months ago, I was still pregnant; Grace had never seen the world, ever cried or smiled, and I had no idea what she looked like, or even what to do as a mother. We've both come a long way. :)
As a three month old, Grace, you:

• Love to smile and hear the sound of your voice. It's great to hear you wake up some mornings and greet the day.
• Like to hear mommy sing and even sing along sometimes.
• Can roll over from your stomach to your back, and can get half-way from your back to your stomach. Soon I'm sure you will master rolling over all the way.
• Move all over the crib at night. I often find you 180 degrees from the position I laid you down in. And you usually turn on your right side with your hands up near your face when you fall asleep. Very cute.
  
• Love to have your hands, the burp rag, your blankets, mommy's shoulder, or anything else within reaching distance, in your mouth.
• Can already bear your weight and love to stand on any one's lap who is willing to hold you up.
• Really like being on the changing table. It's as if you know you're about to get a clean diaper (except at night. At night you want to eat and go back to sleep, and that's all).
• Love to be outside. We try and go on walks almost every evening. I will be sad when the weather turns and it gets too dark outside to so this.
  
• Smile and coo at Mommy and Daddy. You especially like it when Daddy makes noises and blows raspberries for you. It is so cute to see you try and imitate him.

I cannot believe how much you have grown already and I love being able to spend everyday with you as you make new discoveries in this big world.

It Won't Be Like This for Long

I am finding, as of late, that being a mother is one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life (It also happens to be one of the most rewarding but this blog happens to be about the challenges.). It took the birth and subsequent new job of raising my daughter to show me just how selfish of a person I am. Marriage was the first step in this journey of self awareness, but I could still basically do what I wanted when I wanted to; I just had to ask for another's input before gallivanting off to my next adventure. Motherhood is a completely different story. I am now in charge of this adorable yet helpless little person, who is relying completely on me for everything. No more are the days when I could take a nap when I wanted to take a nap, or sit down to read a book and get lost in the pages for hours on end. Instead I take naps when she takes naps and they never seem to be long enough as I seem to be perpetually in a state of what I will term "motherhood insomnia;" and reading, ha, maybe I can get a few chapters in before I hear her little cries, maybe. And housework... oh man is it a job keeping up on things and she isn't even moving on her own yet. But the most challenging thing of all has been the nights. I am one who greatly values my sleep. My first college roommate could get by on a few hours of sleep at night and seem to be just fine (I am still jealous of this Sarah). I, on the other hand, couldn't function unless I got at least eight hours of sleep but was at my best with nine to ten hours a night. Little Grace has thrown those ideals out the window. Instead I find myself longing for six straight hours. Oh please God, let her sleep until four in the morning. Wouldn't that be glorious? And one of the hardest parts about this lack of sleep, is that I have really no control over it. Sure I can do my best to keep Grace on a schedule and feed her every three hours, follow strategies to a T and when that doesn't work try yet another approach, but somehow she still wakes me up at one in the morning one day and the next I find myself up every hour beginning at two. I have pleaded with God time and again to let her sleep, no make her sleep longer. I have to admit that last night was better than it has been in a long time. I only got up twice and had to feed her only once. (I really hope this trend continues.) I must be going crazy to think waking up at four am is a blessing. But through it all, God gives me just enough strength to make it through each day (that and a very patient, supportive husband). And every once and awhile I get encouragement from someone or something that comes at just the right moment - a gift from God I am sure. This past weekend it was a song. Saturday night was brutal. I got up every hour starting at 1:22 and ending at 8:00 when I finally resigned to start the day. But amazingly enough a song by country singer Darius Rucker popped into my head making it possible to get up time and again. It's called It Won't Be Like This For Long - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Rm-Vgf7h8 .
Even after all that, one smile from that little girl makes it all somehow worth it. Let's hope she doesn't discover her great powers too soon :).

Thank you Lord for the strength to make it through the day, for the smiles and coos of my little girl, and for mercies new every morning.

New Shoes and Chair

Grace is growing so fast I can't even believe it. I was warned this was going to happen. She has outgrown all her newborn clothes, but that also means she has grown into the cutest pair of shoes compliments of my aunt Laurie. Thanks Laurie, they look adorable on her.


We were also given a high chair from Joe's Grandma (Grace's Great-Grandma). It is dark wood with a removable, washable pad, and it even has a storage compartment in the back. I love it. Thanks Great-Grandma Mogford. She hasn't quite grown into this one yet, but I know she will be able to use it before I know it.
And I couldn't resist posting this adorable picture of the two loves of my life.

2 Month Check-Up

Grace had her two month check-up last Monday. She's a healthy and happy little girl. She now weighs 10 lbs 7 oz, and is 22 1/4 in. long, which puts her in the 38th percentile for weight and 45th percentile for length. Poor girl also had to have two shots and a heel prick. She was a little more cranky than usual, but so much better than I expected. I was ready for crying most of the day but she surprised me and was only a little fussy. Can I tell you how incredible my baby is? Isn't it a mothers prerogative to brag a bit about her little one?

And speaking of being able to brag... Grace started rolling over last week. I never get tired of watching her. If we put her on her stomach, she eventually rolls to her back. I was able to capture the event on camera and have posted it below for your viewing pleasure. On this particular occasion, she bonked her head on her way over and if you listen really closely, she farts just as she starts crying. I couldn't help but laugh. But don't worry after a hug and a kiss, she was just fine.

Today's high temperature - 108 degrees. Wow!

Also wanted to try adding a couple videos. We'll see how it goes.