Here's to you, 2012!

Oh my goodness. I stopped reading all the blogs I follow when we moved because we got so busy trying to adjust to things. I just skimmed over a couple and I can't believe I've made it without them so long! It's so great to read stories from other moms my age who are going through the same things as me.

My 2012 New Years resolutions:
1. Use a budget (the one designed by my wonderful man!)
2. Keep in touch! We value our friends and family so much, but we often neglect them because we're so busy. This year, I'm going to try to turn that around.
3. Blog more. I can't make any specific commitments, but I know that blogging and following others' blogs gives me joy and hope. I have put blogging on the bottom of my priority list while I worked on getting settled in to my new life as a mother of one and a family teacher of seven, but now it's time to get back to writing!
4. Stop over-committing! I keep adding projects to my to do list because they are things I know I can do, and I even want to do. The problem is just because I can and want to do something doesn't mean I have time for it!

As for the first few weeks of January and these resolutions... so far, so good. I'm making slow but sure progress! I have finally caught up with our personal email, we're doing great with our budget, and Joe and I have sketched out the whole years worth of travel plans (when you only have about 10 days to yourself each month, traveling to see your family that is spread out between 6 states gets tricky...not to mention expensive!)

And, with that, I will close, because Brenan just FILLED his diaper while sitting on my lap.

Happy New Year!

cherishing silence

Honestly, I can't believe I've let myself go so long without blogging. It really is a stress outlet for me - it's like journaling except with other people in mind. Of couse, some people use their blog as more of a journal than others. I'd say mine is a nice balance of written-for-self vs. written-for-others.

I'm finally sitting down for the first time in a while and focusing on myself. It sounds horribly selfish, but while Joe runs errands and Brenan sleeps in his swing, I'm just going to sit here and blog. The dishes sitting on the end tables and the laundry and baby toys strewn on the floor are just going to have to wait.

I've read so many other mom blogs that talk about days like these - where you get a few minutes to yourself and cherish each second of peace and quiet. I suspect that as Brenan gets older and our family grows bigger those moments will be fewer and farther between. I'm not going to worry about that right now though. For now, I'll just write, and rest.

My poor sick baby

Oh, I miss blogging! Things have been so busy for us lately, and now as things are finally settling down, Brenan has an ear infection... a double ear infection to be more precise.

We went to the doctor two weeks ago for his two-month appointment and found out that he had an ear infection. He was prescribed amoxicillin, which we gave to him faithfully for 10 days as prescribed. He still seemed like he was feeling badly so we took him back yesterday. It turns out that the antibiotic wasn't strong enough, so the infection has spread to both ears.

According to the nurse practitioner, Brenan is really young to have an ear infection. She had to look up what stronger antibiotic would be safe for him to take since he is so small. His first dose was yesterday morning, and today he's been spitting up a lot. It's hard to say whether it's vomiting or just more frequent, but normal, baby spit up. Either way, it does have me a bit concerned.

I called the doctor's office today at 2:30pm and again at 4:30pm. Both times they ASSURED me that they would call me back before the end of the day. Guess what? I haven't heard from them. I'm really frustrated.

Brenan is about the same this evening, so as long as nothing changes we're just going to wait until morning. Then I'll call the doctor's office again, I guess. But I'm also going to be calling another pediatrician so we can transfer care. I don't mess around when it comes to my baby!

Out for a stroll

After many long pauses in my blogging, I'm back. We made our big move to South Carolina on August 12th, with the help of Joe's parents. After two weeks here we're finally starting to settle in a bit.

We've taken B out in the stroller before with the travel system setup - him in the car seat, car seat in the stroller - but tonight we took him out in just the stroller part for the first time. He wasn't the biggest fan of the typical, straight-forward stroller walk, but he loved swerving. I guess I better watch out when he gets to be a teenager with a license!

We're baaaaacck!

We got our computer back from the Geek Squad on Wednesday! Joe said when he went in to pick it up the Geek Squad "agent" pulled out the service report and said, "Whoa, it looks like you got a lot done!"

--Plug for Best Buy: Our service plan with the Geek Squad has MORE than paid for itself. We have gotten 2 replacement batteries, a new motherboard, a new fan, and (in the words of the Geek Squad agent) "an ODD... whatever that is" ...all for free. Our plan has covered HUNDREDS of dollars in labor and parts.--

I have loads to blog about, now that our baby boy has arrived... it's hard to know where to start! Joe and I adore being parents. Absolutely nothing can compare to having your newborn lay sound asleep on your chest while you doze off watching TV. Having a baby at home doesn't come without its challenges though, and I'll be blogging about some of ours as well.

This is what happens when you combine lack of sleep with no A/C

 It's been a long week for us... I was the nurse at the camp where Joe works in the mornings this past week, and we had to get up at 5:45am to get there on time in the mornings. That gets a little taxing when you're unable to get uninterrupted sleep overnight! Next week things should be back to normal at home, thank goodness!

Can you see the resemblance?

Malfunctions

So, last night and this morning blogger has been "temporarily unavailable." That's not that big of a deal, except that I just logged in and my most recent post is nowhere to be found! Joe looked it up and apparently they are hoping to get the posts restored... hopefully it will reappear soon!

The days to come

I've been blogging since 2004, when I went on a mission trip to Senegal with some youth from my church. With every big life transition I've made, a new blog has been created to accompany me on the journey. Joe and I just finished a 9-month missions term in Bulgaria, and now we're moving back to the States and preparing for the birth of our first baby, so a new blog seemed appropriate.



A year ago I was working as an RN in a local doctor's office. I never could have imagined then what my future held for me. It's strange to think that there was ever any other plan, though. Motherhood is a new adventure for me, and it's unique in that it has no end. My heart is already overflowing with love for Joe and I's little baby, and I am filled with hope for the days to come.