In like a Lion

I can't believe March is upon us...where did February go?!? 

It seems with each passing year time just goes faster and faster...these long days while still long  get to bedtime before I know it. The morning is spent as school time the afternoon catching up on chores and games and giggles...on a good day. 

The past few days haven't been good. They've been the type of mothering days that bring tears of exhaustion from me, from the kids and quite possibly from the neighbors. (probably not the neighbors, but if the windows were open, I'm pretty sure they would cry too...)

So...here's to hoping that while the weather is fairly mild at the beginning of March (thunderstorms not snow?)...our attitudes have been quite lion like....

maybe as these colds leave us, as we all start sleeping again...

and as we can actually go outside...

maybe we'll be a bit more like lambs...

time...

Yesterday it was just about time for Lucy to head to gymnastics. She was dressed and I was putting her hair up when Nick commented that he didn't have anything to take with him to do while he sat there for just over an hour. 

Nonchalantly I said "I'll go and read my book, you'll just have to try and give Ginny a bottle when she wakes up..." (then I chuckled). 

(Ginny will not take a bottle, so this wasn't really an option.)

Nick's response was "That's ok, I'll find something."

To which I replied, "You know one day I will be able to just get up and leave the house without checking everyone's schedules before I do so.."

Nick said, "I know, I'm scared for that day."

Just then Lucy chimed in "Yeah mom, you'll be like a Grandma then..."

Good to know my kids have confidence in my ability to be without them...

Evangeline Kate ~ 7 Months Old

You did it again! You just keep getting older...and bigger too!

Just this week I ordered you some new clothes in 18 month size. You think you're so big!

Oh Ginny girl, I can see it happening. Even though you love snuggling close to me and are very much still my sweet baby girl I can see in your eyes that you're beginning to understand the world around you. The way your brother can make you laugh...or cry. The way you reach for toys, the way you now reach for me when someone else is holding you. 

You're beginning to understand the way the world around you works...

You LOVE sitting up like a big girl playing with the toys around you. Just in the past few days you've started reaching for ones just beyond your grasp until you're up on your knees. So far it's always resulted in a face plant and tears, but I know that soon enough you'll figure out how to get to those toys and then our world will really change!

You love jumping in your jumparoo and the exersaucer. You become so animated after Lucy and Murray are in bed, talking up a storm and laughing at me and daddy. I think you enjoy the quiet of the house at that time...

We still can't get you to eat much. We offer food to you every night and you do everything you can to keep it out of your mouth. You much prefer snuggling and getting meals from me than a spoon (although you do love chewing on the spoon after you've sufficiently shaken food off of it!)

You're 2 bottom teeth have come in and you enjoy biting toys and occasional fingers. I can tell the top teeth are going to follow soon, but we'll see if you prove to get your teeth quick like your big sister or teeth forever like your brother :) 

You're starting to sleep on a more consistent basis. This is something I really appreciate. You take 2 great naps during the day and sometimes a little catnap after dinner. At night after staying up to play you like to sleep in a 5-7 hour stretch and then another few hours after that, starting your day between 7 and 8 am. The Koschmann girls certainly like to sleep in!

We love you Ginny girl. I think back often to that day 7 months ago when you entered our world...I think back often to a year ago when I could only dream about what my little girl would be like. God certainly blessed us with such a sweet little girl. I look forward to watching you grow while I cling to the time I have left with you as my sweet baby girl! We can only guess what the next month of adventure will bring!

**Pictures will be posted soon once I get them on Nick's computer and then uploaded. Check back soon for incredibly wonderful chubby thighs!

Wordless Wednesday

We went ice skating January 27th for a field trip. It was the first time the kids had been and they had a BLAST to say the least. The pictures are long overdue...

Convicted

It's a quiet moment at my house...a moment I am sure will be gone faster than I can even imagine. I should be working through my "to do" list, accomplishing the things that are giving me grief around the house. Lucy informed me this morning that when she hid behind the door she got some dust stuck to her foot "So we better dust up there soon Mommy!" Don't worry Lucy, washing floors upstairs is on that long "to do" list. 

Here's the thing. It convicted me...it really convicted me. But, not for the reason you may think. I didn't feel convicted to clean more...I felt convicted for feeling like I don't do enough. 

Lately I've been researching curriculum for us to use next year. I like what we're doing this year, but I don't love it, and it's one of the most expensive options out there. If I'm going to fork out the money, I want to LOVE what we're using everyday. Lately Lucy's been a ball of energy, needing constant attention, needing direction in her school and play. Lately I've been thinking "wouldn't it just be easier to send her to school next year". 

I knew I would have these thoughts, I knew this year would be hard. I knew I would second guess my decisions. Which is why when we started this journey we committed to a minimum two year trial period. Just a few weeks ago I was in love with homeschooling and couldn't imagine our lives any other way. Then I hurt my neck, Murray got a cold, I got a cold,Ginny got a cold....and Lucy got uncontrollable energy. 

This morning when Lucy found a dust bunny the size of Texas behind the door while I changed a diaper I went on and on to her about all the things on our "to do" list and how there was only so much time in a day. She wants to help me wash the floors...I'm happy to have her help. In the midst of this, my mind wandered...to what it would be like if she was at school while Murray was a preschool and Ginny possibly took a morning nap (even a short one)...what would my world be like. Imagine what I could get done!

and then it hit me...get what done? for what purpose? What's the point of picking toys up off the floors if there's no one to pull them out to play with them? What's the point of organizing the craft cabinet if there's no time for Lucy to delve in and be creative? and who really cares if all of the recycling makes it out to the bins when really it being used for crafts and activities and "super cool building things" is probably way more important than taking it to the dump (and let's be honest...it will sit in the garage for a month anyway). 

So, here I am...still purging my house...still working my way through those  chores and "to do" lists. But with a bit of conviction...a bit of thankfulness that there's a painted spaghetti sauce jar and paint tubs out in the dining room, because it means a little girl was there...and puzzle pieces strewn throughout the living room means a little boy is learning spacial awareness...and don't even get me started on the pile of clothes sitting by the top of the stairs...that means my baby girl is growing again...

One day these messes will be gone, and I will miss them. So I won't trade the energy, the noise and the mess in my house for anything...but I will try to organize a bit more...because, well...that's what I enjoy! Maybe one day my kids will go on some wonderful adventure for a week and I'll get my house set all perfect and get to enjoy a toy free moment to sit down, look around and realize I like it a lot more when they're here!

Thankful Thursday

Sometimes it's easy to know what we're thankful for. 

Today I'm thankful for SLEEP!

 A good, old fashioned, almost sleep through the night type of sleep. Ginny is almost 7 months old, and we're still not sleeping through the night. 

It's ok, I don't mind...I enjoy the time I get with her in the middle of the night. Really. I DO.

I enjoy seeing her fuzzy little head illuminated by the night light. 

I enjoy listening to her snort and suckle as she eats. 

These are things I don't always see and hear in my busy house during the day. 

But, sometimes she gets up A LOT! For about 6 days she was up almost every 2 hours...that combined with my sore neck and fighting off a cold = exhaustion. 

Actually....BEYOND EXHAUSTED. 

I was going to bed before 9 and still waking up tired. 

Last night I put a sick little girl to bed. She had a runny nose, a cough (we had just done a breathing treatment) and a low grade temp. I figured I'd be up with her ALL NIGHT!

I prepared myself for another exhausting day.

Then...

it happened...

SHE SLEPT! 

She slept from just after 10 until 2:30 am and then slept again until just before 7 when her big brother decided we should all wake up. 

It was AMAZING!

I am so thankful for a night of sleep. A night that is enabling me to think complete thoughts. To remember the things on my to do list. To enjoy my day. 

We're still fighting colds. We're coughing, my throat hurts and there's lots of tissue using and hand  washing going on here...

But, my neck is better and I slept last night...with 1 very sweet visit with my baby girl!

2:30 am snuggles while we both fought a fever...we were one warm sweaty bunch sitting in the glow of the nightlight basking in the 4.5 hours of sleep we had just enjoyed. 

AMAZING!

and so much to be thankful for...