Better Late than Never

Jayden at 3 months old

Jayden at 2 months old

Jayden at 1 month old

Wordless Wednesday

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What's Up with Us?

So here it is 10 days after my first post of the month and I am finally sitting down to write a second post.  I've never not posted as infrequently as I am posting right now...and I aim to do better!

SO what have we been up to recently?

End of June:  Kiddos went to VBS at church and had a Blast at the Beach Blast!  They had fun and I went and hung out with people and helped if needed.

First week of July:  Spent recovering from VBS and working on getting my house back in order...it's quite a chore and I am working hard at it...not really succeeding at maintaining it the way I would like but I am trying!

2nd week of July:  We had LOTS of family time!  With the 4th of July and all we were busy lighting fireworks, trying to keep Jaron from dying because I wouldn't take them to the new pool that just opened here in Belton,  and then on Friday we went to the Great Midwest Balloon Festival which was super fun and cool!  The kiddos also are both now in Summer School and I got to see my buddy Katy this week!

This past week:  I've been applying for a few jobs, spending time with the baby and working on the house.  I'm also ADDICTED TO watching the Tour de France! I'm going a little stir crazy at home and I do enjoy working so I am on the lookout for jobs but we know that it's in God's hands whether I get something or not so we are waiting to see what will happen.

Next week...last week of kids going to summer school.  It's so hot right now that I am not sure what next week will bring...the baby and I may be stuck inside since the van doesn't have A/C and we will be in an excessive heat warning all next week.

I'll be posting pics of Baby J at 3 months, and the Balloon Festival soon.

Where is Time Going??

WOW!  It's already the 5th of July!

I can't believe how quickly the summer is flying by!~ And what a bad blogger I am becoming! 

Will try and post more indepthly this week...lots happening.

Reverse Nesting

Usually you find yourself tyring to get the house super clean before you have the baby.  Well, I did that but I felt so terrible at times I didn't get as much done as I wanted to.  Then with a newborn in the house I simply didn't have the energy to get things accomplished the way I wanted too.  Now Jayden is almost 3 months old and I know i have a limited amount of time to get the house more baby proof than it is now I'm kinda re nesting.  Only now I'm doing it with the purpose of having the house more baby proof.  Today I accomplished the following in the kitchen.  Here's the before:        

                                                                     And the after

                                                                                 Before

                                                                               After

I really feel like I accomplished something today!  It really is a good feeling!

Wordless Wednesday

This is Jayden's Favorite thing in the house to look at!  It's right over the changing table and he talks to it all the time! 

So Big

Jayden is Growing and Growing and Growing.  We had our 2 month checkup today and he is 16 pounds, 25 inches long that's the 90-95 percentile for both height and weight.  He is in good proportion for his size.  He is a little bit bigger in head circumfrence and the doctor wants to keep an eye on that but otherwise he is growing really well.  He is definitely our biggest kid at this age!

Happy Father's Day!!!

 Happy Father's Day to my Loving Husband and the Father of my Kiddos!  We love you!

Medical Mayhem and Mishaps

I hate trying to figure out all the stuff with medical claims. 

We have bills because of Jayden's birth and we have planned for them by setting up a FSA account through Dan's work.  So now I am working on paying them and getting reimbursed for them...but you can't get reimbursed without receipts and getting a receipt is a challenge when your dealing with the mail!

UGGGGHHH...

We had great experiences with our doctors and the hospital but now the billing side is much much harder...hoping this gets easier!

My odd Summer

This summer is different than most summers. 

I love summer!  It's my favorite season, my favorite time of year and my favorite part of the school year.  I love getting to be off work and recharging my batteries.  I enjoy using the time to get my house back in order and get things organized.  I love hanging out with my kids, going swimming, reading books like they are going out of style, trying new things.  I love wearing shorts and tanktops and getting nice and tan!

This summer is different.  Why?  Well, I have been off work since the end of February.  I am not sure when I am going back to work and will have to job hunt again.  So this means I don't really need to recharge my batteries on the work front...they are recharged but I am not well rested. Now I am tired from feeding a newborn and being up a lot at night.    Second, I spend most of my time on the couch with a little boy who likes to eat...and eat...and eat...  I get very little done the way I want to.  I have many things on my to-do list and honestly if I get 2-3 done in a day I feel like I have accomplished great things and they are not big things its stuff like dishes, dinner, and laundry...today I cleaned up the living room and vacummed...WOW!!!

In a typical summer I don't make the kids go to summer school.  This summer they are both going.  Jaron for 6 weeks, Janea for 3 weeks.  I think it's important that they have something to do since I am not as active this summer due to the limitations with Baby Jayden.  I have forgotten how much time is spent at home with a baby...we go places but I have to think it out more...I know once he is bigger it won't be so limiting but since he's so young it's better to be home more. 
I'm hoping the big kids won't resent me in the long term for a different kind of summer.  We still have stuff to do...VBS at church, summer school and once the new pool opens we will go once or twice...or maybe even more than that...still haven't decided...have to see how things go...All in all this new baby has made life different...good but different.

Janea's Birthday!

My Baby isn't a baby anymore...actually she hasn't been a baby for many years. 

She turned 11 this month..Boy does she make me feel old!  I can't believe she is a tween already! 

We had a small get together with cake at Grandma's house.  

For her birthday she also got to go and see a movie with Dad and brother and we will be updating the decor in her room and making it a little bit cooler! 

All in all a great day!

  

 

11 years old...Janea is

ambitious,

brilliant,

 a little mother to her baby brother,

 creative,

interesting,

opinionated,

 dramatic,

Lover of Jesus,

praise singer,

awesome kid!

Two Month Pics...

Better late than never I always say!  Jayden turned 2 months old on Friday and while I got his pics taken I didn't get them posted...Saturday we went to pick up the kiddos from camping with my parents and spent a lovely day outside by the stream enjoying the wonderful beauty of God's Creation and cool weather! Sunday was jampacked and I have been fighting heartburn recently so that is my excuse for that...so here he is at 2 month's old.

Click here for his one month old pictures

Last Day of School

Finally!  Summer Vacation is Here!  Here's a Comparison of the Kids on the First and Last Days of Second and Fifth Grade!  I can't believe the school year is over!





Jaron at the Start of 2nd Grade

Jaron on the Last Day of 2nd Grade

Looking forward to 5th Grade!












Miss Attitude at the end of 5th grade



So much for good intentions

I started May with the intent to be a good blogger and for the beginning of the month I was.

However, life got more hectic and I kept putting it off and here we are the last day of May and I haven't blogged in over a week.

Some of life's little things this month

Jayden turned 1 month old, found out he's growing great was 12.6 pounds at his one month checkup which was actually when he was 5 weeks old.  He got his first shot...poor thing and he's starting to smile and be more awake for us.

Janea is finishing up 5th grade.  I got to go with her on a field trip fishing with her class, such a pretty day for that.  She has been privileged to have lots of field trips this quarter and has 2 this week...the last week of school.  She also was in the school talent show and did a good job in a magic act with a friend.  On a side note, she is learning to knit and does a great job.

Jaron is finishing 2nd grade.  He's reading at an advanced level for his grade and we are very proud of him.  He needs to work on his spelling but for the most part is doing well.  He can be really squirrelly  but that is part of being a boy I think... He's looking forward to summer vacation but will be going to Summer School to help mom out and make some friends since he will be switching schools in the district next year.

So that's a little bit of what's going on with us...hope life is treating you well and i hope to do better for the month of JUNE!

Life with a Newborn

I forgot the tiredness of having a newborn.

Here's a rundown of my day and I am exhausted...

wake up---change and feed baby

put Dan's lunch together in the lunchbox

get big kids ready for school...strap in crying baby and drive Jaron to school.

Get home...feed baby.

Nap with Baby....

Change and feed baby again

Attempt to get laundry and chores done...baby is fussy so you carry baby and try to keep baby calm...chores don't really get done

Change and feed baby again

Go and pick up Jaron from school

Try to keep baby happy...give up and strap him in Moby and have him sleep...start praying he still sleeps tonight.

Cook dinner...then eat dinner while feeding baby

Attempt to hang with kids and husband...all while trying to keep baby happy...maybe bathe baby.

Fall asleep exhausted to wake up ever 2-3 hours to feed baby and pray that he will sleep alone.

I know that I am tired from lack of sleep and feedings...may not have had enough calories today...but man a newborn is tiring...looking forward to him sleeping more!

Wordless Wednesday

You Know Your a Mom when...

* you have to relearn Math in order to help with Homework.

* you try to decide if you should take a nap or make the Big kids do chores.

* your life revolves around laundry...and the hugeness of it all.

* your newborn spits up on you and you simply use a wipe to clean it up.

* you shower at weird times because the baby is sleeping and you need to feel human again.

* your refrigerator is full of foods your kids like.

* hugs and kisses make you feel like queen of the universe.

* the little things your husband does for you make you feel super special!

One Month Old

Hard to believe it but Jayden is a month old today!  He's getting bigger and growing.  The plan is to take his picture on his monthly birthday with this Teddy Bear that we got as a shower gift from Dan's coworker.  This way we can see how he grows from month to month...only bad thing is we didn't get a newborn shot with it...oh well...we will see how he changes from 1 month on! 

Happy Birthday Dan!

I love you and appreciate all you do for me and the family.  I pray you are blessed with many more years and many years of good health!  The kids and I appreciate you!  Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Finding the Balance

We are working on making sure that the big kids stay active in their lives even with the baby being here.  We don't want to shut down and have them become resentful of their brother simply because he is a baby and we are trying to be careful with him.

Yesterday Janea had tryouts for the Talent Show at school and we let her tryout...even though it meant picking her up later...fortunately for me that meant Daddy could go and get her.

Today was Muffins with Mom at Jaron's school...so Jaron, Jayden and I headed to his school and Jayden slept while Jaron and I enjoyed eating Doughnuts(no muffins at this event) together before his school day.

The babies schedule is now thrown off some and I may pay for it later but it's important for me to spend time with Jaron too

It's all about finding the balance of it all.