A little competition never hurt anyone...

I have decided to join a challenge that is sponsored by "Living with Lindsay". Please click here to learn all about it!!! I must confess, I wish I lived next door to this girl. I would have her help me make a craft room in a little nook we have in our closet. I love her ideas, and she does things on a budget! Dave Ramsey would be proud. (Click here to find out Dave's story).
For those of you who have caught on to one of my obsessions, no, I will not be doing another wreath!!! I have some ideas, so comment on this blog if you have ideas after visiting the challenge.
Are you brave enough to add this button to your blog?? Stay tuned....

Letting Go continues...

Although it is Wednesday, I wanted to give a little recap about yesterday's adventure. I left Jonah at "school". I call it "school" because it makes me feel better. He still had a wide-eyed look, and he wasn't my same smiley baby. I cried harder leaving that day than the first time! I tortured myself by peeking through the windows where no one knew I was looking. He was just staring at his hands in the bouncy seat. Where did my joyful baby go?
I called around 12pm that day to check on him. "It's me...again", I said. Of course, they were as nice as they could be. A miracle happened, for Jonah slept IN THE CRIB for an hour! He hates sleeping in the crib during the day. If it is night, he will go right to bed. That was a huge milestone:)
Patrick picked him up as usual, and Jonah gave him that big "AH HAH!" look and smile. He has a little snort/laugh/weird noise he makes when he sees us. I will have to capture this on camera soon.
Today, Wednesday, I left him and felt at peace. I'm not sure what changed in just three days. Perhaps, it is because he has lost that "deer in the headlights" look. Today, I put him in a swing before I left. I could tell he was very tired. He looked at me and raised his eyebrows. I could almost hear him saying, "Ok, Mom, why are you still here? I am in good hands, and I'd like to get back to focusing on this swing and my fingers." Well, I left, shed no tears, and arrived to work on time.
This week is full of firsts:)

Letting Go

Today was the first real test for me. Today was the day I had to leave my child in the care of another person that I had just met. Today was the day I had to physically let go. I have been back at work since December 7th, but we have been fortunate to have one-on-one care for several months. The daycare couldn't take Jonah until today, February 22nd. Our first blessing was Aunt Lindsay. She took care of Jonah till January 15th. I felt like Lindsay was like a second mom to Jonah, and Jonah sure loves Aunt Lindsay. We then had Miss Kendall, who recently completed nursing school and is officially working as a nurse!! Congrats, Kendall! Jonah sure loved Miss Kendall, too. We then had Patrick's parents come and stay for the last week. Of course, Jonah lovessss his Mimi and Grandaddy! I am glad they got to share that special tiem. I had been dreading this day for awhile, but it was not as traumatic as I thought.
I really do love the daycare we have for Jonah. It is called Reimage, and I know he will be surrounded with love and be taught in a Christian atmosphere. One of the best things is my old roomie, Anna Lee, has a little girl in the daycare as well. Jonah and Annabel will be in the same classroom in about a month! Jonah sure does think Annabel is one pretty girl.
I know God worked it out for Anna Lee to be standing in the parking lot as I pulled up. I was a nervous wreck, and she helped carry his bag inside. She showed me where to put everything, and then she went off to work while I tried to organize all of Jonah's stuff. I didn't realize how crazy the first day can be! Everything was labeled to death, and I was busy putting away bottles in the fridge, stacking diapers in the cubby, and trying to keep from crying. Little Jonah was just watching from his carseat with a wide-eyed expression.
I finally was done putting away his things, and I put him in a bouncy seat. He normally lights up and plays with these types of things, but I think he knew he was in a different place. I kissed him and told him I loved him, and out the door I went. I had barely pulled onto Memorial Drive when I felt a hot stream of tears running down my cheeks. My little peanut was in a room with 5 other babies and 2 adults. No one-on-one time here! It will be good for him, and as he grows, friendships will grow, too. Who knows, maybe he will have a little girlfriend named Annabel (Not until you are 30, by the way)
The teachers said he was a tad fussy, which is to be expected. He refused to sleep in his crib, which is nothing new. I sure do love swings, but the next baby will learn how to nap in his or her crib:) We all survived, and I hope he gets the hang of this quickly. Happy First Day of School, Jonah! We are proud of you!


Mommy and Me before rushing out the door!



I love Daddy's kisses...

There's SNOW place like home

As you all know, it snowed this past weekend. Not the kind of usual snow us easterners get, but the deeper than 1 inch snow minus the ice. The great snow! Patrick's parents are in town, and his mom called to us Friday night: "It's SNOWING!!" "No it's not!" we both exclaimed. Patrick and I ran to the windows in our kitchen to look at the backyard. Patrick took one glance outside, then he stifled a yell and jumped up and down (Jonah was asleep so we were trying to be sorta quiet). He grabbed me and kept jumping up and down. We were like two kids at Christmas. We ran to the front of the house to see the view in the front yard. Yep, still snowing.

The next day, we had a good 4+ inches of soft snow on the ground. I was determined to build snowmen and a snowwoman. I have never been the kind of person that loved to roll those round things into beings but having Jonah has changed my perception of fun. We fashioned the homeliest looking snowmen and snowwoman. I was really proud of them until I looked on facebook and saw all of the other snow people. My only comfort was that we had fun doing it!! Jonah loved the snow as usual; I think that his hot-natured self thrives in freezing temperatures.

I realized today that I have changed dramatically since having a child. I remember when it snowed as a teenager and even in college; I dreaded seeing footprints on the fresh snow. I hated to see sled marks everywhere. The worst was when people unknowingly trampled through my yard at home; they were so happy and carefree, but I was so distraught that the beauty of the snow was changed. Now, things are different...

As I was making the snow people, I saw our yard become one of the yards I used to dread. We were making crazy trails in the snow, and footprints were everywhere! It was then that I realized my perception of beauty had changed. I looked at my yard, and I realized that love had been there. Sure, it would be postcard perfect to keep everything confined to a small space in a hidden corner, but I want Jonah to grow up with memories that will reinforce the importance of family and togetherness. 20 years from now, Patrick and I may be sitting on the front porch in the snow, wishing that footprints were in our yard. I want to enjoy the here and now, and my only regret is I didn't make snow cream!!!!