It’s 6:53 as I begin typing this and all 4 kids are in
bed. Not asleep yet, but on their
way. Dave had to travel for a meeting
tonight, and so I had to do the last stretch of the day by myself, which is always
a bit much after a full day with 6 kids in the house.
I woke up this morning feeling very much like I needed to
blog tonight. I’m not sure why, to be
honest. I took a bit of break from
blogging for a while. First off, I felt
like everyone knew a ton about me from my blog, and as a result neglected to
reach out. Maybe that was my bad. Maybe I should have been reaching out to those
people I felt like I wanted more of a relationship with. I’m not sure.
But, I just took a break for a bit, and then the crazy fall happened,
and I really just have not had many spare moments.
In November when my nana passed away and I traveled back to
NB for her funeral, though, I ran into a lot of different people who commented
to me how faithfully my nana read my blog and spoke of it to others - how she
sent it along to different people, how she loved it, and enjoyed it. And so ..... I kind of felt like I was being
too selfish and pity-party-ish in my prior analysis of the blog repercussions. And so! Here I sit, giving an update on my
life to whoever feels like listening in. And that picture was just taken a few days ago, for those of you who may have forgotten how I look.
And so here are my thoughts from the day. I feel like I’m moving into a slightly new
stage of life I have to say. Not that
today is any different than a few months ago, or that things will change
drastically over the next couple of months- but there are a few big things I thought
were note worthy.
SLEEP. I get full nights of sleep almost every night
now. Like, without a single
interruption. It’s been 7 years coming to me with the all the babies and
uncomfortable pregnancies so close together.
And so I hope any mamas reading who are in the midst of sleepless nights
with their babies don’t feel envious.
You will get there! But really, I
sleep hard and heavy, and all 4 kids do too. And so does Dave. And it’s a nice place to be I gotta say.
GEAR. I’m cleaning out the house of gear that has
been cluttering things up for a while. I
sold my jumperoo on kijjiji this morning, and while it felt oddly good to clear
up a corner, I felt a bit sad. All of my
babies have used that thing (and oodles of daycare kids in between). But, I feel like I’m able to let go of
different kinds of things I didn’t see ever happening.
And the space it creates is a good thing. I give you permission to read into this
paragraph metaphorically if you’d like.
MOBILITY . So, Asher is now almost 19 months old, and
at this point in the past with Jesse, Janna, and Robyn- a new baby was just
about to enter the scene. I was oober- waddly,
and had a hard time lifting and lugging a toddler around....and then once I had
the baby, it was hauling around the carseat, or just having a kid strapped to
my boob, back, front, or in my arms while trying to tackle everything else in
life. Asher is walking (and running)
steadily. He likes to do his own thing,
and while he loves to cuddle, he is not at all the kind of kid that needs held much. I have
2 arms MOST of the day- and my full body strength! It’s kinda nice I have to admit. Now I know people will tell me I will long for those days with full arms once they are all grown up. But for Today! I really like having both arms. I also really love having more time to enjoy
Asher. I had many people flat our tell (or hint to) me that I should space the kids out so I could enjoy them while they were so
little. And I wanted to tell them to
shut-up. I don’t regret a single baby,
or the timing, and there are certainly pros and cauns to both close or far
spacing. But, I do see, now, how it’s
nice to have more attention for Asher at this stage. Where, with the others, it was new baby on
the scene, and more intense juggling with 2 little ones so close.
DREAMS. I have let myself start dreaming a little
more these days. I remember Dave asking
me on and off for the past several years if I’d like to start a hobby or take
up a new class, and having NO desire to even think about it, because there was
no time for it, no money for it, no energy for it. I felt like entertaining any of that kind of
thing would lead to frustration and disappointment. And it probably would have. But, I feel like I’m at a place in my life,
where I’m rested and healthy enough to do new things, think a bit outside of
the box, and plan and dream in a way I haven’t in a while. This has led me to a new business venture in
the essential oil industry, and I have just LOVED all aspects of it. From learning new skills, educating myself, working
with a great team of adults, and interacting and teaching grown-ups a few
nights a week, it’s a really nice change of pace from my daytime hours of
singing twinkle-twinkle, kissing boo-boos, cleaning up soggy cereal from the
floor, and trying not to strangle the kids for all their whining (although
really- I wouldn’t trade ANY of this, for anything! Being a mom is great. )
HEALTH. We’ve had really fantastic health this fall
and winter since starting in with essential oils, and some new
supplements. It’s been incredible not to
have had to clean up one puke, sit with anyone having runs for hours, go
through pounds of Kleenex boxes for constant colds and viral issues. In fact, I have had the same 6 pack since the
fall time. I have also had much better energy
and mental health, and that has been priceless. Not to say we haven’t felt
stretched and low and had hard or bad days....but they have all been more manageable
having a good base line starting point.
So...these are all good things and there is so much to
Praise God for. Even though Dave and I feel stretched pretty
thin on a day to day basis (poor Guy has 2 new courses to teach this semester) and
we are trying to find time for things and make adjustments, and are far from
perfect or have things all together.... life is sweet, and ever changing. And I like that. Change and motion is good.
Well, that is all for now.
I must be on my merry way and get some dishes done. Thanks for reading. I’m out.
