5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Preschool or Daycare

Hello! If you are reading this, it is likely because you are on the hunt for the perfect placement for your sweet babe(s). The thought of leaving your little one in someone else's hands may bring a sick feeling to your stomach, because, let's face it, no one can do what you do, the way you do it.

Point well taken, but unless you are lucky enough to be able to stay at home or have a trusted family member care for your child, you will very likely be finding yourself on the path to finding another type of care setting for your child.

I had to embark on this journey and to be quite honest, I dreaded it. How was I going to go back to work and let someone else care for my baby? I did not have a choice in returning to work, but I did have a choice in where I would send her. As a former Child Protective Services worker and now elementary school teacher, I knew what I did and did not want in a placement. I did a lot of praying during this season of searching and I was fortunate enough to find a woman within our church who cared for our daughter for three years and then our son for two years. She was amazing and will forever remain a precious jewel to our family.

Unfortunately, the time came to look for a preschool for our kids and I was faced with similar issues when looking for just the right one. I have since been assisting friends and family in discovering the best fit for childcare for their children and all of that has led me to this post. There are 5 main things to consider when choosing a preschool or daycare for your child.

1. Certification

Certification can be relevant in several areas, all of which you should consider. A lot of "at home" or "private" sitters are not certified through the state. If you are unfamiliar with what this means, you can check it out here (this is specific to VA but you can look up your state as well). Be aware that this means that no one is following up with the care, number of children, or the care-giving environment of this sitter. Our sitter was not licensed and we were okay with that. She had only a few children, her home was always well put together and she sincerely loved our children as her own. I had no concerns. I will say, as a former CPS worker, I have seen the repercussions of home daycares not being licensed, so use your best judgement. We were very fortunate.

Center based daycares/preschools should be licensed. Check credentials. CPR and First Aid may be another certification that you desire your caregivers to have. If your caregiver does not have this, you can always ask them to consider obtaining these certifications, but keep in mind, they may not.

2. Facility

There are regulations as to how many children a center can have. Our children's preschool recently became certified for a larger number of students because they expanded their facility size and the number of staff. Fortunately, their groups will still be relatively small. We preferred a smaller class size for our kids and this preschool fit the bill.

When you are considering a facility, TOUR it. Do not go on the word of workers or friends. See it for yourself. When I was initially looking for a daycare for my daughter, I had heard a lot of good things about a particular facility. I went to tour it and could not find a designated "front" entrance. I ended up taking a chance on a side door. I was able to just walk in. There were two older elementary students playing on a computer with no adult supervision.  I remember thinking that someone could have snatched one of them up and been down the road before someone could get to them. I walked past them and found a worker sitting with a small child in the hallway. I was barely acknowledged and asked if I could see the director, of whom I found out was not there even though we had set up the time to meet that day for the tour. The worker told me that I was welcome to just walk around and check things out. I did. The facility itself was fine, but I was far from impressed. My expectations had been so high based on the recommendations of my friends. I was concerned by the lack of supervision and security.

My background and maternal instinct prompted red flags. I was far from comfortable about leaving my child at this facility. The condition, set up, and security of a facility should not be taken lightly.

3. Staff

Some people are just not personable. However, if you are going to be having your child cared for by someone regularly, they need to be approachable. When trying to find a preschool for our daughter, I attempted several times to make contact with the director. I spoke with her on the phone and was told to contact her on specific day and time to find out if our daughter would be accepted or put on a wait list. I did as we agreed. No answer. I left a message. Nothing. Several days later I called again with the same outcome. I got out of work early one afternoon and stopped by the facility. The director was not there and no one was sure when she would return. I left a message for her there and once again, nothing. I took this as a sign that this was not the place for my child, but it also left a bad impression.

The facility itself was fine and I knew many of the children who attended. However, the fact that I could not get answers to my questions made me concerned about how things would be when my daughter attended. Would they readily get in touch with me if something happened? Would they answer questions as they came up throughout the year? To these questions, I still do not have answers. It is essential that you feel comfortable and confident in the caregivers.

4. Location

Does the location make sense? You'd think this was a given, but it's not. Are you willing to drive out of your way for a great daycare or preschool? Will your time only allow you to go within a small radius? These are things you need to consider as you begin looking at centers.  Our private sitter was on my way to and from work. It was beautiful. However, before finding her, the facility I almost went with was just down the road from my work. It was ideal for me, but not for anyone else who may need to come pick her up. In fact, it was about 30 minutes out of the way for anyone else.

I had to consider location as I began looking for a preschool as well. The one we went with is perfect (for us) in almost every way. It's close to our house and is easy access for everyone who would be responsible for picking up our little ones.

5. Budget

Not to be throwing our business out there, but let me be real. Since our son was born, I have been spending in upwards of $900-$1000+ for daycare/preschool. I know a lot of people spend even more in any given month. Childcare is not cheap and GOOD childcare is that much more costly. Know your budget before checking into facilities. The sticker shock of childcare is one that hit us pretty hard...so much so that we decided to move our son a year early to the preschool in order to save some money (otherwise, he'd still be with his amazing sitter). It can be painful to write that check each week or month, but if you have a good, overall placement, you can consider it an investment. Also, when it comes tax time, be sure to have your receipts. Often times you can claim childcare on your taxes.

Of course, there are many other factors to consider, but the last thing I want to leave you with is this:

Go With Your Gut

You will know if where you are looking to place your child is the right fit. Good luck and I'd love to hear any tips you have from your searching experiences.

School Lunch Toddler Edition: October

October is one of my favorite months...definitely my favorite month in the fall. With a new month comes a new lunch menu. Prepacking their meals has been a major time saver throughout the week and I am determined to get better at it for myself. My lunch packing was hit or miss, but truly helpful when I was consistent. All that aside, I've gone through the last couple of months and pulled a few favorites and added a couple of new things.

Helpful tips:

Cook as many grilled ham and cheese sandwiches as you'll need for the month. Freeze them and thaw at the beginning of each week. Heat in the morning and wrap in foil or place in a thermos. Done!

Stock up on applesauce pouches/cups/fruit cups when they are on sale. They last for a long time and are great, easy ways to add some fruit to their meals.

Hard boil the number of eggs you'll need for the week at the beginning of the week. I go ahead and peel mine for the kiddos. This will save everyone some time in the long run.

Linking up for Mommy Moments

School Lunch Toddler Edition: August

School days are in full swing around here. Our 3 year old began preschool this year and is loving every minute. With three of us needing to leave the house by 7am so that I can drop off baby boy at the sitter and G at her preschool, I needed to find a way to shave off some minutes in the morning so that we aren't running frantically out the door. My friend was telling me how she has started prepping her kids' meals for the week. The week! I typically try to do them each night, but if I'm too tired, I convince myself that I can just get them done in the morning. This clearly has not been working...so I decided to give this weekly meal prep thing a go.

I try to carve out about an hour of time on Sunday evening to compile all of the meals. It does not typically take this long unless I need to make muffins or something else that needs to bake so that it can be frozen for future meals. We are going on week 3 and I like the way things have been playing out. The prep takes a little time but it is well worth it. I have chosen to rotate out the same 5 meals each week for the month. G eats breakfast at home before heading to preschool and N eats at the sitter. Their breakfasts vary but are quick (and I try to keep them generally healthy-protein packed and full of whole grains- as much as possible.)

Here are the meals that I've been rotating out for August. I hope this will help you save a little sanity in your crazy, beautiful life.

The Pumpkin Muffin recipe can be found here.

Linking up for Mommy Moments

It May Never Stop Hurting: An Infertility Truth

To those of you still waiting on your miracle, this post is in no way meant to seem selfish. The Lord has given the desires of my heart and I am trusting Him to give me a sense of completion when our family has reached His goal for us. I by no means want to come across as ungrateful or greedy. Our journey is part of our testimony, just as your journey is your own. Please know that my heart goes out to you in your time of waiting and possible loss. My experiences have led to a new ministry in which I try to serve as an example of hope for those who have yet to receive their miracle. We just never know where our journey will lead.

I have not blogged on infertility in a while. I've been pretty caught up in life and I've been trying to keep certain feelings at bay. To most, it may seem ridiculous that I am even blogging about infertility since we've been blessed to conceive two children. Most days, I do not think too much about how they came to be or else I find my mind wandering to places I do not want it to go. The anxiety and painful memories of the journey that led us to becoming parents only typically arise these days when I begin allowing myself to dream of adding another to our family. Do I want more children? I get asked this question regularly these days and the answer is "yes", but as soon as I say it out loud, the feelings come rushing back. Will the meds work? Am I being greedy? Is it selfish to want more? Will our dream of another child come to fruition? Will I learn to be content with what we have been blessed with if this is where our journey ends?

Honestly, I feel I've done well to work through the feelings of bitterness and longing that arise when "easy" conceptions are brought to my attention. I don't cry the instant I am alone, I do not allow my mind to dwell on their "luck" and I thank God for my own miracles repeatedly. I feel like I've come so far...and yet, there are still moments when I am not sure if I'll ever truly heal. There are moments when I still hurt, when I still feel the aches from the scars that our infertility journey has left on my heart. I was reminded of this earlier this week. I ran into a woman who gave birth not too terribly long ago and unbeknownst to me, she was expecting again...baby #4. I am elated for this little blessing that will soon be gracing the world, but for the first time in a while, I felt the old, familiar ache. I felt the jealousy, the anxiety, and the tears welling up. I attribute most of these emotions to hormones...but still.

I've been reflecting on this experience. I don't want to be that woman. I don't want to constantly be reminded of my bouts with pain. Instead I want to constantly rejoice in all the good that He has done in our lives. I want to revel in the joy that is our children. The truth is, the emotions, memories, and aches from one's infertility journey don't just go away. In time, I believe they can soften, but from personal experience, I just don't know. I sincerely just don't know if they will ever stop surfacing. Maybe I'm just not strong enough yet...but I have hope.

  Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6

Linking up for Mommy Moments

Life Lately

Despite being summer break, things are going at warp speed. There has been very little down time. This has made these days go far too quickly. I'm hoping July will be a little more chill.

Here's a little of what is going on...

WHAT WE'RE EATING

I am constantly looking  for or creating recipes that fit into my Low Carb WOE. This week I threw together some ingredients that I had not used throughout this month. The result was delish!

Creamy Salsa Verde Chicken

1lb boneless, skinless chicken breast

1c salsa Verde

2oz cream cheese

In a slow cooker, spread a thin layer of salsa on the bottom. Lay your chicken on top and cover with the remaining salsa. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until your chicken is cooked through and easily shredded. Shred the chicken and add in the cream cheese. stir to combine well. The cream cheese will melt and add a creaminess to your already delicious chicken. When it is completely heated through, serve on tortillas, nacho chips or lettuce leaves with your favorite toppings.

WHAT IM REMINISCING ABOUT

Our little guy will be one on Friday. I can't help but look back at those first few days of newness.

WHAT I'M LOVING

I'm loving our new pool...while it is nothing grand and spectacular, we are having a blast in it. It's just big enough that we can all enjoy it together and yet it is small enough that G can fearlessly "swim like a mermaid".

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO

Honestly, there has not been too much excitement. We are currently working on packing up the house and completing much needed and long overdue projects. It looks like we may be moving into our temporary rental by the end of the summer (as long as all continues to go well) and we'll put the house up for sale at that point. We had the outside painted this past week and it has made a world of difference. My mom and I cleaned every window in the house, inside and out. We've bought paint to streamline the rooms and had our stairwell professionally painted. There are boxes everywhere but they serve as reminders that our dreams are slowly coming true.

WHAT I'M DREADING

Multiple moves and the start of school.

I wish we could just move into our forever home but we can't manage two mortgages. We'll eventually move into a rental and then move into our house once it is built (which will happen upon selling our current home). I'm also dreading the start of school. I LOVE being home with my littles, and despite loving my job, I miss them terribly when  I return to work.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON

Birthday décor...N will turn one on Friday and we'll have his first birthday party on Saturday. Crazy!

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

We finally decided to take a vacation. We were considering not doing one this year but with all that has gone on and all that will go on, we decided it would be a nice break.

WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING

I'm eagerly awaiting my hard copy of 31 Days of Prayer During Infertility by Lisa Newton. I've been getting to know her over the last couple of months, which has been such a treat considering I've been loving her blog for quite a while. I'll be reviewing this book and sharing my thoughts in the near future.

WHAT I'M LISTENIMG TO

Just about every time we get in the car, G asks for her "Jesus music". Thrive by Casting Crowns is by far her favorite song and it is the song that when she wants Jesus music must be played.

WHAT I'M WEARING

Anything light weight that won't cling in this summer heat and humidity.

WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND
Celebrating N's First Birthday!!!

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

Vacation

Getting settled in our new (temporary) place

Various birthday celebrations

4th of July celebrations

WHAT ELSE IS NEW

I've been working really hard to get my health back in order.  That primarily has consisted of my taking on a low carb woe to achieve my weight loss goals. I'm down over 20lbs and getting so close to my first weight loss goal of 30lbs. I hope to hit it before school starts this fall. I'm currently down 23.8lbs!

Linking up with Mel for What's Up Wednesday

10 Mommy-Daughter Dates

There are few things that I enjoy more than spending time with my kids...in fact, I really don't know of anything I would rather do. I jump at the chance to spend some quality time with both my daughter and son. For my son, who will soon be 9 months old, our time consists of lots of snuggles, rocking in the chair, playing outside, and working towards new milestones. I love every second.

My daughter, who will be three in April, is a whole new kind of fun. I adore my mini me more than words can say. I'm continually amazed by how much she picks up on, how her interests change, and how big her personality has become. We have the best time!

Since before N was born, I have made an intentional effort to spend one-on-one time with G. As she gets older, our outings become that much more fun. I thought I'd share a few of our favorite Mommy-Daughter dates.

The Park

Free is always good. We have a couple of local parks near us, but their playground equipment is limited. We have to venture a little further into town to get to the "good" playgrounds and I must say, they are totally worth it. During the summer, we take full advantage of early morning romps and a light lunch under the shade of the trees.

Plays

G has finally become old enough that she can sit through and enjoy movies. I decided to take advantage of this new milestone and took her to a play. Recently, our local high school presented The Little Mermaid. The students did an AMAZING job. They captivated her for almost the entire length of the play. I definitely look forward to taking her to more in the future.

Educational Centers

We have a local educational center geared towards children. I would be a full time member if I was a SAHM. It would be well worth the money. I've taken her up there a few times and her favorite parts of the center are the paint room and the farm area. My girl loves some art and animals.

Zoos and Aquariums

These outings almost always include the whole family. We all LOVE animals and these trips are some of my favorites. We make amazing memories as she learns about new animals and we are able to share God's creation with her in such a fun way.

The Spray Park

On the grounds of one of the "good" parks, there is a Spray Park. It is awesome and free. She gets to sport her cute bathing suit while playing with other children in various sprinklers and waterfalls. It is a blast. We typically pack a lunch and make a full morning of it.

The Movies

Before our dollar theater closed down, it was the place to go. We had no problem waiting for new releases to become a little older so that we could pay $1.50 to watch them. In fact, it was at that theater that G had her first movie watching experience. Unfortunately, we only have the "high dollar" theaters left so our movie outings are very few and in between. They do make for a fun treat though.

The Library

During the summer, our library usually hosts various kid centered activities. If you are able to make things work, they also have weekly programs for babies and toddlers. Unfortunately, the morning hours that these are held do not work with my schedule. All that aside, we love taking trips to the library. We venture out early, grab something fresh, and homemade from the local bakery and then head over. She has the best time picking her selections and playing with the sensory bins. We both love reading so it is a definite win.

Homebound

Every now and then my hubby will take N out for the day. This allows some down time at home. She and I enjoy doing little crafts, making hot chocolate or cookies, and watching whatever Disney movie is currently her favorite. We may get a good little nap in together before heading out to play with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

Playdates

G is at the perfect age for playdates. We love getting together with her little friends and their moms for an afternoon of play. I enjoy the adult conversation and seeing G interact with other children her age.

Frozen Yogurt

G has acquired my love of ice cream. We have a few sweet spots that we love. However, one of her favorites is our local frozen yogurt shop. She gets a kick out of picking her flavors and then adding toppings.

These dates are simple and generally inexpensive. The most important thing is that quality time is spent together. I want her memories to be filled with good things. I want her to feel loved and invested in. She is a precious gift and it is such an honor to be her mom.

What types of places do you enjoy taking your littles ones to?

Linking up with September Farm

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Mommy Moments

It's a Boy...

This time last year was super exciting. We were eagerly awaiting the time that we would share the news of our second pregnancy with our families. We knew we'd do it at Christmas and we chose just how we'd make it an extra special surprise for everyone.

A couple months later we got the news that we were having a boy!

I remember hearing those words and watching my husband literally come out of his seat with excitement. I was thrilled at what this meant for us, but a little anxious as I had been a "girl mom" for the last year and a half. It was a journey I was ready to take and I could not wait to add him to our little family.

Over this last week I've been struck with some pretty strong emotions as I reflect, not only on these things, but on advent and the birth of our Savior. I've always been drawn to Mary's story and this year was no exception. However this year, I saw things a little differently.

I imagine Mary. She was a modest, humble girl whose life and faith had found her favor with God. I cannot imagine Mary's whirlwind of emotions as an angel of the Lord explained the coming events. She would become pregnant by the way of a miraculous conception. She would give birth to a son, the Son of God and He would be called Jesus.

When we found out we were expecting, we were elated. We couldn't wait to share the news with family and friends because we knew we would be met with love and congratulatory remarks. However, as you read through Mary's story, she and Joseph were less likely to be met with open arms. They were yet to be married and they could not explain how or why this miracle was laid upon them. I cannot conceive the weight upon their shoulders.

Mary, along with her husband, eventually experienced this world altering birth. However, in those quiet moments after His arrival, I see them just as any other couple. I see a proud father in awe of the tiny fingers that wrap around his pinky. I imagine Mary, holding her baby boy closely to her chest, breathing him in as he settles down to the sound of her familiar heartbeat. I think back to those sweet, silent moments with my own son.

These thoughts have been touching my heart especially tenderly this year. Mary knew from the time of Jesus' conception that He would become the greatest sacrifice and gift that this world has ever known. She would become the mother who would have to watch her son suffer and die on a cross for those who would hate Him. I look into the face of my son and I cannot imagine living with that reality.

I do not know what the Lord has in store for our son. I do not know where the Lord will take him or the lives he will impact. I do, however, know that my son has purpose and promise and that I daily strive to raise him to know and love the Lord.

Mary most certainly faced the same emotions as all mothers. I feel we would have a lot of things in common. Most importantly, we want our children to be raised to know the love of our Savior, to do good for others and to make a difference. So while our responses and lives may vary, our worlds changed forever on the day we heard, "it's a boy!"

Linking up with Mommy Momments

Tips on Raising a Well Mannered Toddler

I have to preface this. We are far from perfect parents as is our toddler. However, we've found a few things that actually seem to be working in our parenting, and one of them is raising a child with manners. It goes without saying that she still has her moments. We've had a few fits and the typical testing of boundaries, but her manners continue to increase. In fact, she's at the point that we rarely have to prompt the appropriate response.

Here are a few tips that we feel have helped us get to this point.

1. Set the example. If you want your child to naturally begin to pick up on the please and thank you cues, you need to be using them yourself. As a teacher, this is one of my biggest pet peeves. I'm always astonished at how many children don't even think to use these when asking or receiving. In fact, with each passing year, the sense of entitlement that comes with each new group seems to be more and more. I won't even go into the lack of respect for adults...I digress. As I said, it has to start at home with you.

2. Encourage. Encourage your child to say please and thank you in everyday activities. Before our daughter gets anything she requests, she has to say please. There have been times that she refuses and quickly finds out that we do not respond to that type of behavior. Side note: She has also learned that just because she says please does not mean she'll always get what she wants. This opens up a new area of learning for our little ones, but she seems to handle it pretty well. We've worked hard with her on learning to say thank you when she is given something. Sometimes we have to prompt her with "what do you say?" and she responds appropriately.  It's even seeped into compliments. She now says thank you when someone compliments her on something. I was surprised when she first did this. It just goes to show that you should never underestimate the abilities of out little ones.

3. Don't give in. Those tantrums can be killer. However, it's better to bear the moment than to set yourself back. I was once told that the tantrums always seem worse to you than others. I learned this to be true the first time she showed her bad attitude at a local store. I felt so embarrassed, but as I looked around, no one was even paying attention to us. With any behavior, consistency and boundaries are key. Say what you mean and mean what you say. As a former behavior specialist and now mother, these things have proven true for any age I've worked with.

4. Start small. Learning common courtesies needs to begin from the time your child is super little. They need to hear these words, observe these actions and be included when possible. The scope of being well mannered and respectful goes far beyond just please and thank you. Beginning to teach your child these things while little can lead to even bigger and better things. It's hard for my first graders to get used to saying please and thank you when they have not been taught it at home. These itty bitty years are so vital in helping them become who they will be in the future.

Think of it this way, if we want kinder, more respectful adults, we need to be raising kinder, more respectful children...and that starts with us.

Linking up with Waiting on Wednesday

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Mommy Moments

Currently : October

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I love fall and October is generally my favorite month. Everything about it is wonderful!  This October however has been particularly difficult.

Thinking About: I used to sleep. I don't mean a few hours at a time...I mean all night. Since N's birth, those days of restful, restorative sleep are but a distant memory. This October has been full of sickness in our family. This has greatly contributed to many sleepless nights. For instance, we've experienced the following:
-My diagnosis of octal migraines (yes, my eyes have migraines)
-Teething
-Fevers
-Strep
-Common cold (which is miserable for the babes)

Working On: November's meal menu. I love breaking out the crock pot this time of year.

Learning: It's an ongoing process when it comes to learning how to accept things that are beyond my control. I want to learn how to really slow down and embrace the now instead of constantly feeling like I need to be prepping for the next thing.

Watching: The leaves are turning. It's peak season here and everything is gorgeous. How quickly time flies.

Listening to: G console her baby brother. They both have colds and when he coughs she does what she can to comfort him.

Trying: I'm really trying to get some order back in our home. Between myself and the kids being sick, I've been trying to disinfect but haven't done well to keep things organized.

Loving: I'm loving all the little things. Life goes by far too quickly and every moment we have is a gift.

Countdown to Halloween Link-up : Week 3

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I really wish I had something spooktacular to share. I had every intention of enjoying some of the fall activities in the local area. Instead, this week was filled with doctor appointments and I can still be found laid up on the couch, waiting for the antibiotics to kick in.

N waiting on the doctor earlier this week.

I woke up Friday morning with a dry throat. I assumed with the change in weather I simply needed to run the humidifier. As the day went on, I still felt ok, just really tired. However, I attributed that to two children who are not sleeping like normal.

The in laws came to watch the kids so we could head to our friend's wedding dinner party. With each passing hour I began to feel worse and worse. I was suddenly cold and achy and my throat was becoming more sore. By the time I got home I had a fever and was feeling miserable. I slept on the couch so as not to have additional contact with my kids and hubby.

I woke up Saturday morning feeling awful. I went to my doctor's office to discover what I had feared. I had strep throat. A few kids at school had been diagnosed and I assume that with my pitiful immune system, it was inevitable.

So...instead of taking the kids to the annual Apple Festival on Saturday and to the orchard Sunday after church,  I spent my time resting. My hubby took the kids so that I could rest child free. Prayerfully this week will go better and the meds will kick in quickly. So far this fall has been a bust and I want that to change.

Linking up for the Countdown to Halloween Link-up

Momma said there'd be days like this...

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Last night we hired a sitter for a much needed night out. We headed to my husband's 10 year high school graduation. We had a blast and felt like rebels being up past 10pm.

We got home to find both kids asleep and for that we were elated. N has had a phlemy cough the last few days, and while it's getting better, he hasn't been sleeping like normal. We paid the sitter and crept quietly to bed.

Not more than 15 minutes later N wakes up crying. I lay there a few minutes hoping he'd fall back asleep. Nope. I change his dirty diaper and lay him back down. I can hear him tossing and turning and what I'm certain was him mumbling under his breath (because we know 3 month olds do that.) Every 30 minutes or so after that he was up despite feeding, rocking and snuggling. Of course this means Mommy was also up all night.

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At 630 G wakes up and my husband takes both kids downstairs so I  can sleep. Not 15 minutes later my 2 year old comes barreling into my room. I get a few snuggles in between her squealing and jumping on the bed. Over the next hour she made her way in and out of the room. Guess who fell asleep downstairs?

I got up and got us ready for church. We were running late and rushing, which is not the way I like to have our Sunday mornings go. On our way to church my husband got a search and rescue call so we turned around so he could respond. More late. More rushing. At least we eventually made it to church. In the midst of it all I just kept reminding myself of two things : Momma said there'd be days like this and that this too shall pass.

Days like today prove that I am completely human and desperately in need of a Savior. He does not rush and He is never late. His grace and mercy are always right on time.

Linking up for Mommy Moments

Bouncing Back After Baby - Post Baby Goals

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I'm 2 months post birth and I'm still not feeling 100% myself. N's pregnancy was much more difficult and his labor was 2 times longer than that of his sister's. Let's just say my body feels like it has been through a war. I'm still healing and the various issues I've had since his birth have not been as easy to deal with at times. There have been multiple doctor/dentist visits and quite frankly, I'm over it. I want to feel good again.

Prior to his conception,  I had lost 20lbs. I only gained 17 during his pregnancy and lost that pretty immediately. However, just as before, there were things that made it difficult to breastfeed and after a couple weeks, I was unable to do so any longer. Some of the weight creeped back on. ::sigh::

We've been asked if we're done having kids and to that I don't have a solid answer...but I can say I have goals until then. These goals are meant to carry me over the next couple of years and mini goals will be implemented along the way. I don't want to rush my body but I don't want that to stop me from moving forward.

Goals

1. Lose 30lbs. I am actively using FitnessPal again and I'm eager to see some change. I'll be once again blogging about my progress soon.

2. Put our house up for sale. We have a few projects left prior to officially putting the house on the market but we're well on our way.

3. Get reconnected. The last few months have been difficult in the way of personal relationships and my relationships with friends, family and Christ have suffered. It's time to get more involved again and fix what can be fixed and find closure with what can't.

4. Build our forever home. I desperately long to build our new house. Our land is just begging to be settled upon. We can't begin that venture however until our current home is sold. It's so close and yet so far...

5. Survive financially over the next 12 months. My maternity leave is cutting my pay by several hundred dollars each month for the next year. We've been saving, making cuts and trying to just prepare ourselves all the way around. This next year will be super tight and we are trusting in the Lord's provision. He's never failed us.

::via::

6. Live intentionally. As of late I have known or read about too many people passing away unexpectedly and it really gets you thinking. I want to make memories, live fully, overcome my fears and anxieties and show my children what an amazing life the Lord has blessed us with.

7. Date my husband. I have a really hard time leaving my kids. I admit it. After being gone from them all day, all I want to do is be with them. However,  this doesn't grow my relationship with my phenomenal husband. I need to let go and let others help us more. I need to go on dates with my husband minus both kids and relax. (Can you sense my type A personality?)

::via::

8. Revamp my teaching style. I love what I do as a teacher. Every year I say there are things I want to do or change and rarely do I do them. It's time to fix that.

What goals do you have?

Linking up for Mommy Moments  and Waiting on Wednesday

The Power of a Shower

I'm still adjusting to being a mom of two. Schedules differ, needs are vastly different and the demand varies. With N at 8 weeks old, he still requires so much.G has her own needs and wants that inevitably should take priority just at the time I'm feeding the baby. My house is never together or completely clean and my list of to-dos is not getting smaller.

I'm learning to give myself some grace.

My body is still not my own, the healing is still happening and the one night of solid sleep I had last week is but a distant memory. Since life is a beautiful mess everyday there is very little I get to do for myself. As this is my 2nd time around, I'm well aware of the importance of focusing on myself from time to time.

In comes the shower. Never underestimate what the spray of hot water and some sudsy, aromatic body wash can do. Typically I have at least one kid hanging out in the bathroom with me but on the special occasion that they both nap at the same time...bliss! The rejuvenation that can come from washing away the smell of spit up, sweat and mommy fog is essential to being able to bring your best...even if your best isn't back to normal.

::via::

Whether you're a new mom or just new to baby #4, remember to take a little time for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

Linking up with Waiting on...Wednesday

and

Mommy Moments

Currently: August

N's first Sunday at church 8.16.2015

I can't wrap my brain around the fact that it is August...and half way in at that! Here's what is going on currently...

Thinking about...
how this first week of school will go. It's so strange not to be starting out the year with my students. However, I would not trade this time with our new son and toddler daughter for anything.

Working on...
gathering consignment items and prepping them for the sale in September. I've participated in this particular consignment sale the last couple of times and I typically do pretty well. With our finances taking a major hit thanks to my maternity leave, every little bit will help. I'm also trying to finish up a photo book project for our son. I'm determined to have the same photo books for both of my children...I forgot what an undertaking this can be.

Learning...
how to be a mother of two. It has definitely been an adjustment. I feel like we're starting to adjust to our new normal, only to have to readjust when I begin back to work in October.

Courtesy of Frank Crocker Photography

Watching...
reruns of The Middle. It cracks me up and I'm amazed how much I can relate.

Listening to...
my two year old sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "Jesus Loves Me".

Reading...
the latest Parents magazine and frugal cooking blogs. I'm also revisiting potty training tidbits since we've begun this venture (again) this week.

Dreaming about...
our new house. Every time I drive past our property my heart longs to pull into the driveway. With the changes we will be experiencing this year, it is unlikely the building process will be able to begin since our house has to sell first. I could be surprised but I'm accepting the fact that this dream will be postponed a while longer.

Wanting...
a cleaning fairy to come to my home. I just can't get this house together! I'm also wanting this potty training experience to be more fruitful than our last attempt...

Feeling...
a multitude of emotions. We have so much coming up that I am having to slow myself down and remember that 1. God is in control, 2. God will provide, 3. I am too blessed to be stressed.

Loving...
my life. Despite the challenges we're facing, I am so in love with this crazy, beautiful mess that I call mine. My children are healthy, my husband is amazing, my job is secure for another school year and the sun is shining. I think overall, things are pretty good.

What are you up to currently?

Linking up for Tuesday Talk and Waiting on...Wednesday

Baby N's Trip to the Emergency Department

::via::

A mother's intuition is often a force too be reckoned and rarely disagreed with. I almost never forgo my gut instinct but of course, the one day I do, serious happens. Never again.

I noticed a couple days ago that N's right pectoral muscle seemed a bit hard and slightly larger than his left. We had this happen with G the week after her birth, not 5 weeks later, but even so, I did not read too much into it since with G, the condition was considered normal. It generallly occurs because of hormones passed on from the mother.

When I woke up with him on Friday morning I noticed he was more fussy than normal. He's typically a pretty chill baby. Nothing seemed to make him happy, he wasn't eating well and the swelling in his chest became concerning, especially since he had developed a couple new symptoms.

I was freaking out a little in my head and eagerly awaited my husband to get home from work. When he got home I called our pediatrician, and while she said it could be "normal", she thought it best to bring him in. I wanted to go but with my classroom unfinished and my sub plans needing to be complete, against my better judgment I took G to school to work while my husband took N to the doctor. Even on my drive to school I felt like I should have gone with them.

His appointment was at 10:30 and around 11 I got a call from my hubby. He didn't say anything other than the doctor wanted to talk to me. My heart sunk to my stomache. She proceeded to inform me that she was concerned that he had an infection. She thought it best to send him to the hospital for further testing since it could be potentially harmful. This would mean blood work, possibly a spinal tap and potentially a couple days in the hospital. I know she had to provide the possibilities but I was terrified of the unknown. Afterall, he's only 5 weeks old!

I immediately packed up my work, got G and headed down the hallway towards the exit. I felt prompted to stop in my friend's classroom. I asked her to pray with me over the situation. As she prayed I felt a peace come over me. The Lord was making His presence known.

I called G's baby sitter and made plans to drop her off on my way to the hospital. I dropped her off and quickly stopped at home to grab extra clothes in case he was admitted. As I tried to stop crying I kept praying for his health and wisdom for his doctors. In the midst of my tears and fear, I was led to this verse:

::via::

It served as such a source of reassurance as I waited to hear updates. On my way to the hospital my husband let me know that they had taken blood and were prepping him for an ultrasound. It was killing me to not be there.

Upon arriving at the hospital, I could not get in touch with my husband to find out where I needed to go. I must have called his phone a dozen times. No answer. I finally made my way to the Emergency Department where I spoke with a hospital volunteer at the desk. I informed her that I was there to be with my infant son who had been brought in earlier. She called a nurse to ask if I could "visit" the patient. I kindly made it clear that I was not there to merely visit. I was his mother and needed to be with him. Shortly after I was escorted back to his room.

No one was in there but the relief of finally being there hit me hard. I just started crying (for the 20th time). A med student came and checked on me and did not seem confident in me when I told him that I really was ok. He gave me a brief update and eventually allowed me to just sit in peace. After what seemed like forever,  my husband and baby were wheeled back into the room. I immediately picked up my son and of course,  cried again.

We waited for a long while on the results. The doctors were surprised, but pleased to announce that his tests came back clear. He had NO sign of infection. He did have some inflammation but could not find an infectious cause. They eventually allowed us to be discharged with the understanding that we would need to maintain monitoring and follow up with our pediatrician.

We 100% attribute the good news to the Lord's healing. The doctors can't explain the lack of infection but we know that it is God's intervention and response to numerous prayers. Afterall, He is the Great Physician.

Linking up with Mommy Momments

Love, Hate, Tag

I was excited to see that I was tagged in Sarita's post. She blogs over at It's My Girls' World and always shares such sweet sentiments. In her last post she shared 10 things she loved, hated and then tagged 10 blogs that she likes to follow. I'm up next, so here I go!

Love

 

1. My kids. Seriously. I'm completely, unconditionally in love.

Frank Crocker Photography

 

2. My husband. He's truly my better half.

::via::

3. Pizza. It's my favorite food. I could literally eat it at every meal.

 

4.Country living. We live at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We enjoy beautiful views all year long.

 

5. Reading. While I don't get to do it nearly as much as I'd like, it is something I love to do in my "spare" time.

 

6. Baking/Cooking. The kitchen is my happy place.

::via::

7. Sunglasses. I am a huge fan of sunglasses and have coincidentally passed this down to my daughter.

 

8. Rainy days. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE sunshine, but there is something about a rainy day that seems to say, "take it easy" and makes me feel less guilty about taking some down time.

 

9. Jesus. He is the reason for my existence.

::via::

 

10. Planning our dream home. I've been eagerly pinning ideas for our new house. We're getting closer to putting our current home on the market and once it sells, we'll be able to move forward with building our new home.

 

Hate

 

 1. Taking medicine. That goes for headaches, illness, etc. I just hate it. I have to be pretty bad off before I'll break down and swallow a pill.

 

2. Going to the dentist. I've never been a fan, and while I love my dentist as a person, I am not a fan of going to his office.

 

3. Profanity. I just feel that if you have any type of decent vocabulary and intellect, you should be able to find other adjectives and verbs to get your point across.

::via::

4. Feet. I am grateful to have a pair to walk with but I do not like others touching them...and I'm definitely not the person to ask for a foot massage. I won't touch them.

 

5. Washing silverware. We do not have a dishwasher and if there is one thing that I will love most about having one in our new home, it's that I will not have to hand wash our eating utensils by  hand anymore!

 

6. Rude people. Kindness goes a long way.

::via::

7. Poopy diapers. This is the world I currently live in. Both of my children seem to be in sync with one another and time their poopy diapers simultaneously. It's as if they are trying to outdo one another.

 

8. Satellite Internet. It's the only type of Internet we can get out here. Streaming is not something we can do and it limits us on "cheaper" options.

 

9. My husband's firefighter pager. He is aware of my disdain for his volunteer pager. He lives by the tone and I can't tell you how many family moments have been ruined or disrupted because of it. (I am proud of his willingness to serve...but I could do without it 24/7).

 

10. Last minute changes in plans. My type A personality really struggles with this.

 

 

Tagged

 

 

Check them out!

Lindsey at A Little Bit Western

Elena at Baby Ridley Bump

Shay at Creating Our Family Tree

Faith at The Life of Faith

Ashley at Running MOMentum

Sarah at Taber Family Travels

Lindsey at Vapor and Mist

Amanda at Tickled Pink

Leslyn at Leslyn's Lovely Life

Holly at While I'm Waiting