My second born

Today he turns 5. And I can remember what the day was like 5 years ago. Man, it seems like yesterday. Aaron was working the midnight shift, so I was home alone with Ethan(17 months old). I woke about 2 with mild contractions and since I was 6 days past my due date I thought this might be it. I wrote the time down every time one woke me up. I finally got up and showered around 6:30. Started getting last minute stuff together for my stay and waited for Aaron to get home a little after 7. When he walked in the door I bypassed the "Hi babe. How was work?" and went straight to," you better get some sleep 'cause we're having a baby today." So, Aaron went to bed and I waited for his mom to come and stay with Ethan. We took our time because I wasn't hurting too bad. My mil got to our house about 11 and I woke Aaron. We got checked in and they broke my water around 12:30. Still not hurting too bad we watched the Cubs play and I had visitors and talked on the phone to pass the time. However, about 4:00 I started feeling LOTS of pain. I made it until 5:30 before I asked for Stadol and out came Levi at 5:46! He weighed in at a hefty 6.4 pounds and was in such a hurry he didn't even wait for the doc to get in the room. I must say he was the easiest delivery of the 4 I've been through. He was just the tiniest, cutest thing. And now? He's still cute but not so little. He can ride a bike with no training wheels and do flips on the trampoline and swim with no floaties. And he lost his first tooth 2 days ago with number 2 coming out in a week or so. He loves to help and does most everything I ask of him. He also can throw a pretty good fit. But after all is said and done, my second born is a great kid with a big heart and I love him more with every breath. Happy Birthday, Levi!!

9 months!

My baby turned 9 months on the 25th. Sounds cheezy but time sure flies! At 9 months baby E is doing tons. He's now walking more than crawling, he made his first trip to the lake and went on his first boat ride. He had his first taste of watermelon, cut 2 teeth and is working on a 3rd. He's very vocal and he LOVES his momma! Here are some of my favorite pics from the past few weeks. Enjoy!!

Getting a feel for the lake.

I think he had about 3 pieces of watermelon =)

Hanging out looking cute.

I just love him so much!!

Wordless Wednesday

Sometimes

Lately I've been having a hard time being a mom. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a mom but sometimes it's just so hard. It seems harder when I'm super busy like I was last week. We started VBS on Sunday evening. I was helping and in charge of about 25-30 kids(5-10 yr. olds). On this Sunday, however, Aaron was working. And had also worked the day before. So I get myself and 4 kids ready for and to church ON TIME. It was easier than I thought it was going to be. The boys dressed themselves and Katie picked out what she wanted to wear. After our nap and Aaron coming home we went for pizza like we do every week. Had to be back at the church a little before 6 and didn't get home until close to 9. It's a good thing we live 2 minutes from the church. Monday it rained ALL day and even through VBS that night so I was INSIDE all day with my 4 precious angels and then back to the church at 6. Tuesday I had an out-of-state- friend come for a visit while she was in town. It was so good to see her and her 3 yr. old son played great with my kids. 6 hours later and we're pulling out of my driveway at the same time. She was going home and I was taking 5 kids to VBS. Wednesday I took the kids to the zoo to meet up with another friend who is also crazy and had 4 kids closer in age than mine. We were two moms with 8 kids ages 6 yrs.-6 months. We got home sometime after 1 and almost everyone took a nap. Then on to VBS at 6. Thursday was our final day for VBS and I made a point to do NOTHING. I was so tired I could tell I needed all the grace God could spare. I felt spent and Ethan almost didn't go for the last night because of how he behaved that day. Not sure what happened Friday but I know we did something. I was up and out of the house Saturday morning at 8 to give blood and Sunday was Fathers Day.

Sometimes I want to give up.
Sometimes I want to cry and cry and cry and....
Sometimes I was to hit the wall or break something.
Sometimes I wish someone would offer to take just ONE so I can get myself together.
Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking have 4 kids in less than 6 years(I wasn't)
Sometimes I wonder if I can do this parenting thing.

And then someone tells me that I'm doing a great job with my kids. Aaron is awesome and tells me he's proud of me and that the kids have a great mom and that I'm doing awesome. I get encouragement from friends who feel the same way and I don't feel so awful about ME feeling that way. I wish I never felt like I was going to lose it but that's not my life. All I can do is try to make every day the best day. In the past 6 months or so I've learned to admit that the problem is not my kids or that I had 4 so close together. The problem is me and my expectations I have for the kids. Sometimes I forget that Ethan is ONLY 6. I need to back off and let him be 6. I need to not put so much pressure on him to act older than he is. Sometimes I forget that Levi isn't as old as Ethan. I need to back off on him, too. Katie and Evan might turn out ok if I can get a grip on my attitude with the older ones ;) Sometimes I wish it was just easy....

Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up!!

Wordless Wednesday

Who's idea was it?

Katie has a new favorite question....'How 'bout we do that?' And she'll ask it whenever I give a suggestion to a want of hers. For instance, she'll ask for a popsicle and this is the conversation we have....

Katie-Can I have a popsicle?

me- how about we wait til after lunch? Then maybe you can have a popsicle.

Katie- How bout we do that, mom?

me- how bout we do what?

Katie- How bout we have lunch first then we can have a popsicle? How bout that?

me- I think that sounds like a great idea, Katie!

Now, you tell me who's idea that was. Mine or Katie's?

Wordless Wednesday