This Too, Shall Pass

I keep repeating that phrase this week. It has been an extraordinarily difficult 7 days and I'm so happy the weekend is almost here. For starters, Jim and I have been running on little or no sleep for days on end. Little Garrett is waking up twice a night and then my alarm goes off at 3am to start my day! Naps are a distant dream because Grant and Garrett are on different sleep schedules, and I can't lay down unless they are both out. With Gabe going to school I thought it would be easier, but it's actually been harder.

The real chaos begins when Gabe gets home from school. I have to pack up the kids, pick him up, make his snack, go over papers, start supper, make lunch for the next day, give baths, lay out clothes, get myself prepared for the next morning. I know that might sound like an easy-to-get done list but figure in feeding/changing and tending to an infant, plus dealing with temper tantrums and other issues, and it's hard to find relaxing family time, let alone ANY bonding time with Jim. Thank goodness he is such a wonderful husband, he is always pitching in with the dishes and whatever needs to be done.

Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I know my life is fantastically blessed, I guess we just have to fumble through until we find our new "normal". How did women back in the day do it with 7, 8 kids?! Even now I admire large families but especially before the days of double strollers and dishwashers....what's the secret?! So that is why I am anxiously awaiting to long Labor Day weekend. I have great expectations of SLEEP! After a few good hours of rest I'm sure it will make all the difference. Everything seems so much more dramatic and emotional when I'm sleep deprived and my nerves get frayed from being exhausted. I am also excited to see my brother Matt. He's coming down from WI and it will be the first time in almost 5 years that our entire family has been together. Better go, Jim is on the way home to take us out to dinner....oh how I love my husband!

Super Sales!

Yesterday I hit the mall to refresh my wardrobe a little. Still not 100% in my pre-preggo clothes so it's tough to know what size to buy, but luckily I'm not too far off (darn those few extra pounds). Anyway, we hit the mother load at New York & Co.! Excellent deals and some fabulous fall fashions to choose from! I like that store because they have a good mix of everything. It's tough as a mom to be hip, yet practical (low-slung jeans are not cool when you are picking up your toddler)! So that is one place that seems to just get it and has a nice variety. One tip: Redbook has a coupon inside the latest issue, if you rip it out you can save up to $25! Sweet.

Big Day

Today was a milestone. My first born, my son Gabriel entered kindergarten. I think I cried every day this week, and I keep breaking down today but as it was happening... I was strangely calm and Jim and I both held it together! We went to breakfast and talked to Gabe about the day, his new friends, his teacher, etc. Yesterday was probably more difficult than anything, he rode the bus for the first time and that was a big deal. We had orientation and afterwards the kids found their bus and rode it home. He will be switching at the middle school though, and that is a major thing for an almost-5 year old! Jim and I were so nervous he would get confused, or lost, but he had no problem (thank goodness). Here are a few pictures from our morning! He looks so grown up.


We just found out they had chocolate milk on the menu. Wohoo!



I love this photo. Father and son walking together.


Such a handsome guy!!:)

Wonderful, Wacky Birthday

I only have 2 minutes but I just had to post a photo of my birthday cake! This is mostly for my friend Linda who knows how much I loved it. So, one of my favorite movies ever is Steel Magnolias. Well, there is a scene (at Julia Robert's wedding) where they serve the groom's cake....called a "bleeding armadillo". Sounds gross and weird, I know. Even more bizarre was my craving for the cake....I thought it looked sooooo good for some reason! It had gray icing, and a red velvet center, my kind of dessert! Anyway, I have loved that cake for years but of course NO ONE makes something that out there...I must be the only weird one who thinks it looked good! My mom ran across a lady who could pull this off though and tonight they surprised me, big time!! Thanks to Gladys Owen who made the cake, it was FANTASTIC!!! It was a great way to top off the night. We went to Olive Garden for supper and I was traumatized to hear they no longer carry the chocolate lasagna dessert, I seriously almost shed a tear. So this was a great way to soften the blow (haha) thanks mom and Jim!!!

Cool Schoolfolio!

I love this idea! The schoolfolio is a huge 25 X19" box that holds up to 10 lbs of your child's artwork, and if you have kids in school, you know you they can easily bring home that much in a year (or less)! This is a great way to save project's and artwork, it was created by a mom, made in the USA, and proceeds support a great cause! I am definitely picking one up for Gabe, at $27... not bad. Go to www.schoolfolio.com for more info!

Work Buddy

Today was Garrett's last day to come to work with me! I keep getting choked up whenever I think about it, I am going to miss my little man next to me in the mornings! Thankfully he will be in good hands with daddy, then grandma until I get home. Here is a picture of us in the studio, then as he is getting lots of sugar from Patty and Candy in the office!!

New Pics!

Here are Gabe and Grant next to one of our new planters, aren't the colors just gorgeous? They did such a great job. We landscaped our first house but this time we knew we needed help.:) I'm so happy we had someone do it, they did way better than we could have! Lol. It's so nice to look out the window and see the pretty flowers...beats the mud pit we had any day!



Here is baby Garrett hanging out in his new high chair! In a short few weeks I'll be starting to introduce cereal, looks like he's ready to eat!:)

Dapper Dude

I just love these shoes for Gabe. I just think that this would go well with all of his clothes and tie into his clothes we got him for school. He should be just about set for school now, he's got the Spidey backpack, Superman lunchbox, school supplies, and clothes.

Well, it looks like I'll have to shelf my marathon dreams for this year. There ended up being a few snags in the planning process and I don't think it's going to work. To be honest, a part of me is relieved because I just felt so uneasy about focusing so much time on training. This fall/winter is going to be so hectic with Gabe's school, events, swimming lessons, family stuff, etc. plus I'm still breastfeeding and I don't want to jeopardize that. Besides, I've been thinking more and more about doing the Cleveland Marathon. It's local, and my boys could all be there at the finish line. Plus it gives me a little more time before I start training (it's not until next year). I WILL do it though, even if it's not in Hawaii.

Observations

Well, yesterday my sweet baby Garrett turned 3 months old! He is filling out so much and changing more each day. The next few weeks are going to be emotional as the boys transition into new chapters. This will be the last week I'll be taking Garrett into work with me and I tear up every time I think about it. I have gotten so attached to bringing him with me, he's been such a great travel buddy during the early morning commutes. It just brightens my day to look over at him during the show and see him sleeping or smiling at me. We have gotten into a great routine so it will be hard for me to leave him every day now.
At the same time, we are also preparing for Gabe's new life as a kindergartner. Five years ago I was pregnant with him, and Jim and I were anticipating life as first-time parents. People say time flies but I had no idea it would go this fast. It's like a slide show in my brain. I remember giving birth and hearing "it's a BOY" and I knew it was our little Gabriel. Then I remember how fast he grew out of the little baby tub, crawling, walking, and not being quite big enough to reach the light switch or the sink.:) Now of course he's a tall, independent 4 1/2 year old, and will be starting a new phase of his life. He went to preschool last year but this just feels different, and I'm a wreck! At the same time I am excited to spend more focused time with Grant. Gabe will be at school every day, all day, and it will change the dynamic a little. Grant will now be the "big brother" of the house while Garrett tags along.:)
Oh yeah, I also have a "Marathon Update": I'm in a holding pattern right now as I wait to see if a few things pan out. I should know by Monday, I hope!

Like, Gag Me With a Spoon

No no no no, this atrocious 80's fashion can NOT happen! Lol. Just take a guess at how much these barf ugly leggings will set you back?! .25 cents? 2 bucks? Try $110.00 to look like a prisoner escapee?!?! I don't know, maybe I am getting old but I cannot see the fashion sense in the new fall looks this year. Usually I really love looking through the magazines, and checking out what the "in" things will be but this year I just want to cover my eyes and look away from the madness! haha.
In one of the catalogs I get, they advertised an outfit with: fishnet hose, underneath leggings, underneath a poofy skirt, with heels, arm warmers, and a jean jacket. WHO has time to even WEAR that much clothing?!:) Yikes. I guess this year I'll just have to fall behind the times and wear last year's stuff because I refuse to go there. How disappointing!

Encouragement

Today was a wonderful day! This morning on the show we took calls about the marathon dilemma (per my last entry). To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect and felt a little guarded and insecure about asking for insight. It ended up being such a blessing, I heard so many amazing stories and people saying "GO for it"! I wish I could share all of the e-mails because they are all so inspiring. I just love hearing people's stories and I really believe you could write a book on EVERYONE'S life, every single human being has a fascinating story! This might seem a little dramatic but it ended up being about much more than the marathon, it was really more about going for your dreams and achieving different goals. Anyway, one of the e-mails in particular really hit home for me, and I have a feeling it could motivate others as well. It's from Tiffany and I thought I would share a portion:

Brooke~

Even though I am not a mother, I am an brand new running junkie, which is really funny because I have been around track and field all of my life. Anyways, being able to run a long distance event is a dream of mine, but I know it will take a LOT of training, discipline, courage and faith - but I know one day I will do it. Running a marathon is one of those "life-changing" or "full-circle" moments, as Oprah calls them, and every person should have one of those moments, even three or four, if they are blessed enough. The fact that you, a working-mother of three beautiful boys (all under the age of 6), has the desire to run a marathon is admirable and it takes a lot of courage to express that desire aloud and in front of a large listening audience! You should not look at the training and discipline it takes to run a marathon as "guilt" because you feel you are taking time away from your boys. You should look at it as an adventure, not just for you, but your whole family.

Even though your boys are a little young to run long distances, there is no reason why they couldn't join you on a little cool down jog/stroll once you make it back home. Have them be apart of your journey - put a big running board in your house somewhere and have the boys draw pictures on it and help keep track of your distances. The fact that you could say at the age of 28, (just a six months after giving birth to your 3rd little boy under age 6 and working full-time), you had the opportunity to accomplish a HUGE goal of running a marathon in Hawaii (Home of the Iron Man) before age 30 is a great confidence and strength builder for you as a mother, woman and child of God. If you can master 26.2 miles of hard, physical endurance--you can handle anything that comes in your way in the future. I guarantee that you will reap the benefits of the experience for the rest of your life.

Don't look at it as time away from your family, but as time INVESTED in your family, because you were able to master one more thing that built you up, making you a stronger woman and mother who knows how much she loves her family. Your boys will know, at a very early age, that their mother is a strong woman and they have a mother who will go to the ends of the earth to make their lives better. At the end of the day, I don't think they will remember the time you were away from them, but they will remember the time they got to spend with you on this journey and they can go and tell their friends "that my mommy ran a marathon and I helped!" The good times keep you happy and fulfilled and the bad times make you stronger and help you to persevere. What better example of perseverance is there than a marathon??

Pray about it and see where God leads you. Blessings on your journey- whether it'll be this year or 10 years from now!

Thanks Tiffany! I guess that e-mail could apply to any goal we set in life as parents, thanks for the perspective.

Zoo Day & Dilemma

Here is a pic from our fun weekend at the zoo! We went to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo had a great family day. Have I mentioned how fabulous it is to have Jim off every weekend?! It's the best! Also, we finally got the new "Joovy" tandem stroller and love it, it's really worth every penny! I blogged about it earlier in the year and have had my eye on it for a while. It's about the size of a regular single stroller (just a tad longer), an it has a little mini-seat for a toddler to ride along, or stand in the back. Love it!
So, I have a dilemma. A lot has happened since my last entry but I just haven't written about it because I've been so busy. Several months ago I decided that I was ready to, someday, finish a marathon (I wrote in my blog last year). So it's a bona fide item on my "to-do before-I-die" list you could say. Well, my good friend JJ lives in Hawaii and last week asked me if I wanted to do the Honolulu Marathon with her! I thought "yeah, in a DREAM world" because for one, we just don't have that kind of money to fly and stay in Hawaii! I mentioned it to Jim (in passing) but it turns out he has sky miles he forgot about and JUST ENOUGH for a free round-trip ticket to Hawaii! Plus I could stay with JJ for free also! So I figured it was meant to be and my opportunity to seize the moment and go for it.
Well, reality has set in and now I am really not sure. I don't doubt I could do it, I just have major guilt issues about training for such a feat while my kids are so little. It would mean a 4-5 day a week workout, sometimes 4 hours at a time (although that would be a rare occasion). I just feel like that is incredibly selfish to spend so much time on myself when my boys (including Jim) need me at home. I have the rest of my life to run a marathon, but my kids will only be at this stage such a short time, why miss out at all? Jim says I should just do it. He says it would inspire the boys and set a good example about achieving goals in life. He's been so supportive. Plus my mom was going to come to Hawaii and it would be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for us to have a mother/daughter trip like this. Still, I just can't get past the guilt aspect and I don't know what to do. Thank goodness it's in December and I have a little while to figure this out. Hmmm. Anyway, my time is up, gotta run!

Gotta Love Big Brothers

Poor Garrett! Last week he went in for his 2-month checkup and had to get shots. His band-aid was coming off so Grant decided to remove it altogether and replace it on his forehead! I just love how he's sitting there oblivious to what his brothers just did, laid back and without a care in the world! Lol.:) They boys are usually very gentle with him and it's brought out a whole new, sensitive side (especially with Grant). Still, we also have moments like these where the boys decide to take advantage of the fact their brother can't chase after them yet.:) I have more pictures but as usual my time is limited. I'll try to post them soon!