First Day of School 2015-2016

We were up bright and early for this day. School clothes all picked out. Baths at night and shower in the morning for mom. Here I was standing in front of the mirror looking at myself thinking, “today I dress two boys for school and drop both of them off. Lord, please let me get there on time with no hiccups. Let me be strong when I drop both Bridge and Colt off. Let me have no tears so that I look presentable to all of my students and parents. Lord, just please be with me today.” And he was.

Bridger walked into his 3’s preschool class excited and glad to be back, Colter was swooped away by all the teachers wanting to hold him and love on him and this mama quickly kissed their foreheads and walked out the door.

I may have spit the couscous in the pickup while taking a turn and the bowl rolled over, I may have only arrived 3 minutes before 8am when I am due to report, but I did it. I made it. Heavy heart, watery eyes, but no crying and no tardiness.

When I walked into my classroom and looked around I quickly took it all in and wonder what this year would hold for me. Being back in first grade I was nervous, excited and I anticipated so much for the future.

Today I can say after two weeks into the new school year, I know why I became a teacher. It’s never been so clear in my life. I always heard from other people that, “doing what you love never feels like work.” Today I know that feeling. Today I wake up each and every day because I have found my passion. It’s always been in front of me but this year, this year it is so clear and so obvious that God truly has a way of showing himself when you least expect it.

For all of that I am grateful!

We are excited for this year. I finish my master’s, Briger will be in preschool, Colt is in the baby room and we are ready to rock and roll this year!

5 months old

Our little guy turned 5 months on the day before school started, August 17th.

He is an amazing baby.

Colter is such a calm, easy baby.

He laughs when you blow on his neck or nuzzle against his rib cage.

He is a great little eater although still prefers the breast.

He loves to snuggle.

He loves to be held.

He can roll over from back to tummy.

He has a strong neck.

Loves his baths.

His brother lays in bed with him in the morning and plays with him.

The coo’s are so contagious.

He is a great napper and sleeper.

This little guy is truly the perfect baby! He just goes with the flow. We haven’t tried any purees yet (holding off till at least 6 months) but he grabs at everything! He is chunky, cuddly and perfect.

The Ending

It wasn’t a day I was looking forward to.
It was a day in my mind that had a big red circle around it.

It was something that I stored way back in the back of my brain and always pressed it down whenever it would start to reappear.

It was the day my maternity leave would be over.

That day came, there were a flood of emotions. I cried laying in bed when everyone else was asleep. I pulled my baby in closer to me then I had done in a very long time. I smelled him, kissed him, loved him like any mother would but only this time I knew that my days of holding him, rocking him, kissing him, loving him were coming to an end. My day wouldn’t be taking care of his every need.

It was tough, painful, mad me mad, sad. It just plain sucked.

But I knew that I had to be grateful. and I was. 5 months home with my little guy was the most amazing, bonding, time I have ever had. I didn’t miss those milestones that I did with Bridge. I never lacked being able to nourish him. My supply was, and still is, strong. I know his cries, I know his schedule, I got to be completely in the moment with Colter Ray for 5 months and for that I am so thankful.

No matter the heartache, the long nights, the tough not knowing I grew as a mother, Colter taught me so much in 5 months about who I am as a person and my maternity leave will always be one of gratefulness, growing, learning and loving. My leave will always be a cherished memory that I will never forget.

Gaga’s in town!

We were so lucky to have planned it perfectly for Gaga to come out while Ben was gone for a week for OR. I needed the help, we all needed the company and the boys were thrilled that they would get to have Gaga one on one.

We did it all. Or maybe I should say, she did it all. From cooking to cleaning, to shopping and dining, to playing and building, Gaga is truly wonder woman. O did I mention teaching Colt to drink from a bottle. I was beyond grateful that we got to spend a week and half with her before we all headed back to school/work.

We snuck in some new adventures and some old ones too. We played mini golf with Bridge, went swimming at The Springs, did Jahaldi celebration in the Basque block, enjoyed some beer at Alive After Five, explored The Village and stocked up at Chicco’s and had a nice meal at Twigs! Delightful. O and even managed to FINALLY get my passport photo’s taken and apply for my passport, all with the help of having Gaga in town. I told her when she was here that if I tried to even do half of everything we did in a week it would’ve taken me two months to complete by myself. It’s amazing what an extra set of hands can do to help check everything off my “to do” list.

Gaga helped me finish my classroom this year too which was such a big undertaking and for that I am beyond thankful. The feeling I get when I am prepared, organized and ready is like an adrenaline rush for me. And to be honest with two little boys it's difficult to stay like that all the time. So being able to start the year in this fashion has been more of a gift then one realizes. Thank you mom!

Although Gaga doesn’t live close I am so grateful for when she is able to sneak away from her job and spend time out here with us. There is something about just having one on one time that makes it feel like a real vacation.

We all miss her so much and I know the boys can’t wait to see her again soon! November better come fast according to what Bridger said!

Fire season continues

Yesterday after dropping mom off the airport, and then turning around to go back and get her since her flight was delayed that she was going to miss her connecting flight, we finally made it back home and when we pulled off the interstate we noticed the massive amount of smoke from the Soda fire that the news had talk about.

However it wasn't until dark that you could truly see the size and impact of what 80,000 burning acres looked like. This fire is massive. We are praying for  all who are impacted buy this fire and the safety of the fire crews battling this blaze.