I've been posting pictures because I think my kids are the cutest in the world! Also, it's faster than writing a post. I use my spare computer time during the kids' naps to nap myself.
But I wanted to check in and share how things are going in the Vore household.
I have to say they are going great!
Emma and I went puddle jumping in the rain yesterday late afternoon. Immediately after we got back inside she started sneezing. I know it's not from playing in the rain, it's from Sunday school germs. Still... I'm sure playing in the rain didn't help her cold. She has the runny nose and glassy eyes today. She's still playing fine though. I'm praying (literally) that none of us get sick and saying an extra prayer that Greyson doesn't get it.
Speaking of the little man. He's over six pounds these days! Quite the little chub... ok, not a chub yet. But he'll get there! He is gaining so well that I don't have to wake him up to feed him any more. He eats about every 4 or 5 hours during the night and a little more often during the day. He's so much fun. He's cooing now and making more noises which I love! I don't get tired of looking at him. Don't get me wrong, I miss the sleep but even when I'm up to feed him in the night I take extra time to just sit and watch him. The days and weeks go by so fast. And since this is our last baby in the house we are soaking up all we can get.
Jon is still in training at work. However we think that's coming to a close. I say *think* because they don't seem to keep Jon in the loop about what he will be doing and when. So far that's not been a problem, but we hope communication gets better as he moves to third shift and has regular employee responsibilities.
I'm doing well. I feel so much better after this birth. I think, looking back, that my body went through so much more after Emma's birth that I can see it only now. Back then I didn't know any different so I figured it was like that for everyone. Guess it's not! This time is great. I am back to doing light exercise which feels wonderful and my scar is fading quicker this time too. Nursing is better. I realize now how hard it was for me to transition to being a mom after I had Emma. Along with that, emotionally nursing with Emma was just too much. I hated admitting that because I have self-inflicted guilt about not nursing her exclusively, but it's the truth. It was just too much for me. And except for the guilt I was much happier once we switched her to formula. We will eventually have formula for Greyson too. I am freezing milk like crazy (my body still doesnt' know that he only eats 2 ounces as a time I guess). So I'll have some for the two feedings per day that I'll be gone for during tax season. But I don't think I'll have enough so we'll supplement then. Also, I'm trying very hard to be open and not have any guilt if at that time the change in nursing causes my body to just be done. I don't think it will but we will see. I have made the hard decision (only hard because I made it hard, it should be an easy one) not to pump while I'm at work during tax season. It will just stress me out and there isn't an easy way to do that at work. Since I only do six hour days it's not worth adding 20-30 minutes to my time at work only to be sitting in the bathroom pumping. SO, I'm not going to do it. Any one who knows me well knows that is a big step for me to choose something like that instead of falling to the "guilt" world and thinking I'm a bad mom for not doing that. I can assure you, Greyson likes to eat when he's hungry, I doubt he'll be choosy.
I hope to be home until tax season. I might have to go back a few days here and there in December but my work won't really know if they need me in December until... well... December. So until then I am choosing to enjoy my days home with the kids. I do think Emma is getting a little bored with just me though. Also, we are really working on her obedience so since I'm home everyday all day with her, we get a lot more chances to work on it than if I were at work. I can tell it's hard for her some days. I think she feels picked on. Jon says I'm transferring my emotions and what I think I would feel rather than what she is really feeling. We do a lot of reassuring and loving along with the discipline but I'm learning how to do it as I go, so it's not perfect. But I remind myself when I remind Emma that God requires obedience all the time from all His children. Even mommy's and daddy's have to obey. Our motto here is "obey right away".
The other big thing we started with Emma this past weekend was a chore chart and along with that she gets an allowance! She was very excited about it and immediately went over to Jarrah and told her all about it. It was very cute- plus I got to hear what her take-away was from our conversation. She explained it to Jarrah pretty much how we explained it to her. She gets $2 per week in quarters. One quarter goes in her humpty dumpty bank for saving. One quarter goes in her container to give to Jesus at church and the rest goes in her little purse for her to spend. I thought it was going swimmingly until we got all done and she looked at Jon and I and said "Emma wants to go to the store and buy a toy!". We had told her we weren't going to the store for awhile very early in the conversation. A small melt down ensued but daddy headed it off with lots of hugs and snuggles and some distraction with reading books. She has now said she's saving money for a Clifford stuffed animal. It will take her 3 weeks to save though, so we'll see if she holds out that long.
She's growing up right in front of me. I don't think I can keep up some days... I think she grows up faster and changes faster than I can keep up with. I'm sure most parents think that way, but this is MY kid so it seems bigger to me.
I am feeling challenged to be more patient, even in my sleep-deprived state. I need to take the time to play with Emma and laugh and be silly as much as I am taking the time to be diligent about her discipline. I have to be honest that it is hard these days to make time to just play. It's easier to have her go play by herself or next to me. But I don't want to regret missing these days. So I am trying to plan to play with her rather than fill my time with household chores and such.
I hope I conquer that challenge.
That's the latest from the Vore's!
More pictures to come soon because, like I said, I have the cutest kids in the world.
