Our New Normal

Last week while I was in the shower one morning the kids thought it would be a good idea to get together and have a party.   Too bad this party involved rubbing baby lotion all over their heads.  Poor Lincoln was confined to his crib, so I think he got the brunt of it.

Whenever Logan is asked a question, and he thinks he is going to get in trouble he pleads the 5th.  When I ask him what he is doing his response is always, "I don't know."

I am quite certain that little Miss Bella was the instigator, yet she came out of the experience pretty much unscathed.

Poor guy!  Look at that face.  At least they were all well moisturized for several days.

Now that we have been in Missouri for a few months I feel like we are starting to get into a 'normal' routine.  Logan is really enjoying the preschool program that he started.  He is making new friends and gaining confidence, which is wonderful to see.  Bella asks almost everyday if she can go to preschool with Logan.  We started the potty training again with her.  This has been a little frustrating for everyone involved.  She was so close to being done when we were in Oregon, but when we moved here I stopped. We didn't have a washing machine for over a month, and the thought of all the soiled underwear needing washing in the bathtub was not my idea of fun.  Looking back on it now, I wish I would have just sucked it up, and kept her going.  I know she will get it, it's just a matter of time, and teaching my strong willed daughter that it's a good thing.  Lincoln is doing really well with his walking or should I say running.  It feels like once a kid takes those first steps, you are constantly running behind them trying to keep up.  Lincoln is at the age where he is starting to pitch a fit when he doesn't get his way.  Evenings are hard because all he wants to do is be held.  On the rare moment when I can sneak away to my bedroom or try and take a shower he literally sits outside the door and cries and screams.  Although we have our ups and downs on a daily basis, I know that they are all really good kids.  We for sure have our moments when seven o'clock bedtime can't get here fast enough, but overall we have a home full of laughter and love.  I would take these crazy moments of being a mom any day compared to the years of struggling in a quiet house waiting for these little miracles to enter our lives.

 Jeff has been fully committed to school, and his finals that are coming up.  I'm not going to lie it's been hard, but I feel grateful that he is doing something that will get him to where he wants to be.  Right now he leaves before we wake up (usually around 5:00) and comes home around 10:00 or 11:00 at night.  These last few weeks have been hard, but once his finals are over this week we get him all to ourselves for a whole week.  I try not to complain too much, and just appreciate the times when he is home.  To be honest I think both Jeff and I are surprised at how well I have been doing.  I'm not trying to toot my own horn, I just think it has been easier lately.  I think when we were living on the East Coast it was much more of a difficult time for me.  The kids were so young, and I felt very lonely.  Not to say that I didn't have fantastic friends there, but I think it was the fact that the kids were so little.  I would go days or hours having no one to talk to.  I remember when Jeff would come home I would just want him to sit down and talk to me.  It didn't matter what the conversation was about, I just wanted to have a conversation with someone.  Now that the kids are bigger it's actually pretty fun to hear some of the things that come out of their mouths.   Jeff and I have been trying really hard to make date night a priority.  It is amazing how just having that one evening together can keep you connected, and it really helps me get through the rest of week.

I feel so fortunate to have my family, a home where there is love, our health, and small moments everyday where I stop and think to myself, "I love my life!"  Our new normal might not be perfect, but it's pretty spectacular.