Tonight, Fin rolled over for the first time. My first thought was, "Its all over now! The mobility has begun!" But my second was, "This is the last time I'll have a baby to experience these firsts with."
That isn't to say that we don't still have firsts left. All the boys do. Fin will probably start experiencing them in rapid succession soon. And of course we have first days of Kindergarten left (may they be better than Spencer's, please!), first days of middle school, first days of (*weep*) high school. Graduations. Weddings.
Ok, I better stop there before I really upset myself.
But my baby firsts are numbered. Very numbered. And I'll never get to experience them as a mother again.
That makes me sad.
It feels very strange to me, the fact that I know I'll never have another baby. I can't say that I'm sad about it, at least not the majority of the time. I'd say that 51% of the time I'm happy to be done and think that our family feels very complete. Those are usually the days when we are all still in our pajamas at 2 pm b/c the boys are so wild or when I was up half the night with someone who was sick or simply refusing to sleep. I still want to make the sign of the cross thinking about this time last year when Jack was up, literally, hourly to nurse.
Days like today, though, fall into the 49% when I think I'd have 10 babies if Jake would let me. We were still in our pjs at 2 pm, but it was b/c we were having a lazy day. Spencer and Jack were playing fairly well together. They watched a movie. Fin was super pleasant, even taking a passie and putting himself down for his nap. I sat at the computer, drinking a cup of tea and browsing a Hunger Games forum (don't judge me). We went to the store where everyone was quite well behaved and happy. Jack even put himself to sleep without someone laying down with him for the second night in a row (please, God, let that continue, Amen.).
I think that with time, maybe, I'll feel "done" all the time. Once everyone is out of diapers and I can sleep in on a Saturday morning. Or when I get to sleep all night without someone trying to nurse or climb into bed with me. Or when they are big enough to go stay with grandma so Jake and I can take a nice adult vacation. Maybe then.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Opportunity
Living where I live, the opportunity to work in my field (secondary education) doesn't often present itself. I think in the almost three years that I've lived here, I've seen one job opening for a junior high social studies position. The big district here has had several opening in the social studies, but they all had coaching attachments so I was never even called to interview.
When we first moved here in 2008, I was pretty sure I never wanted to go back to teaching, but over time I discovered that I really missed working in a professional field. I started pondering the idea of going back to work full time when Jack was about 6 months old, but pondering doesn't get you a job.
I've been working part time at our local Mother's Day Out program almost as long as I've lived here and I've loved pretty much every minute of it. It has been a job that allowed me to meet people in a town where it wouldn't have been very easy to do so otherwise. I met two of my closest friends there. My boss is amazing and doesn't blink an eye when you have a sick kid and have to stay home, even when you only work two days a week and have one kiddo sick on Thursday and the other sick on Monday.
Even so, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted to work in my field.
In an attempt to springboard off of my education degree, I decided about six months ago that I wanted to pursue my master's degree in library and information science. I found a great program at the University of North Texas that is all online and started readying myself to apply, although I knew I wouldn't be able to start until Fall '11. If I couldn't be actively working in my field, this was a great other option.
Then, God stepped in.
A few weeks ago, I was browsing our local classifieds online. For some reason, the listings were all jumbled that day and the employment section was full of car advertisements. If I clicked on a field, like education, though, the true job listings would pop up.
The middle listing of the three was an ad stating that the county library, the brand new, state of the art, amazing county library, was looking for a teen librarian. I couldn't get my resume together fast enough.
But I was worried. I'm not a true librarian. I don't have an MLS degree. All I've been is a teacher. I've never even worked in a library beyond my "library aid" duties in the seventh grade.
I submitted my resume anyway and, two days later, was granted a job interview. A week later, I was invited to attend a second interview. A week and a half after that, I was offered the position.
Excited doesn't even begin to cover how I feel about this job. I think it will be stimulating and fun and absolutely perfect. I can't wait to jump into it, feet first.
January 17th, here I come.
When we first moved here in 2008, I was pretty sure I never wanted to go back to teaching, but over time I discovered that I really missed working in a professional field. I started pondering the idea of going back to work full time when Jack was about 6 months old, but pondering doesn't get you a job.
I've been working part time at our local Mother's Day Out program almost as long as I've lived here and I've loved pretty much every minute of it. It has been a job that allowed me to meet people in a town where it wouldn't have been very easy to do so otherwise. I met two of my closest friends there. My boss is amazing and doesn't blink an eye when you have a sick kid and have to stay home, even when you only work two days a week and have one kiddo sick on Thursday and the other sick on Monday.
Even so, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted to work in my field.
In an attempt to springboard off of my education degree, I decided about six months ago that I wanted to pursue my master's degree in library and information science. I found a great program at the University of North Texas that is all online and started readying myself to apply, although I knew I wouldn't be able to start until Fall '11. If I couldn't be actively working in my field, this was a great other option.
Then, God stepped in.
A few weeks ago, I was browsing our local classifieds online. For some reason, the listings were all jumbled that day and the employment section was full of car advertisements. If I clicked on a field, like education, though, the true job listings would pop up.
The middle listing of the three was an ad stating that the county library, the brand new, state of the art, amazing county library, was looking for a teen librarian. I couldn't get my resume together fast enough.
But I was worried. I'm not a true librarian. I don't have an MLS degree. All I've been is a teacher. I've never even worked in a library beyond my "library aid" duties in the seventh grade.
I submitted my resume anyway and, two days later, was granted a job interview. A week later, I was invited to attend a second interview. A week and a half after that, I was offered the position.
Excited doesn't even begin to cover how I feel about this job. I think it will be stimulating and fun and absolutely perfect. I can't wait to jump into it, feet first.
January 17th, here I come.
Friday, December 31, 2010
The Walters' Year In Pictures
January
February
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Solicitors of the World:
Take note!
It is best not to solicit women who come out of the grocery store with carts that look like this:
And arms that each look like this:
I assure you her main goal is to get into her car with as much speed as possible, especially if either of her children are crying. Trying to get her to stop to give you time and/or money is not in your best interest if you want to get through the day without being verbally assaulted.
Thanks for your time and attention to this matter.
It is best not to solicit women who come out of the grocery store with carts that look like this:
 |
| He was blowing out something he perceived to be hot (in this case, car exhaust, LOL). |
And arms that each look like this:
I assure you her main goal is to get into her car with as much speed as possible, especially if either of her children are crying. Trying to get her to stop to give you time and/or money is not in your best interest if you want to get through the day without being verbally assaulted.
Thanks for your time and attention to this matter.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Naturally.
Amidst all the drama of last weekend (you know, husband gone, kids sick, yadda, yadda...) we had another bit of excitement thrown in the mix.
Naturally.
Picture it: You've just walked into your house after hauling 3 kids to the Wal-Mart clinic (think practically no waiting room and no place for kids to sit in the examining room, basically chaos) and to the pharmacy (where despite being first in line your prescription still takes a half hour to fill).
So you've just come in the door and are peeling coats off of two kids who are running around like wild banshees while trying to get the screaming baby out of his car seat. At this point, one of your kids (the toddler, so it is extra cute) crouches down next to the kitchen table and points, laughing hysterically. You had seen the cat run by but you can't quite figure out why he's laughing at the cat, who he sees zooming around the house most of the day.
Then, the warning cry by your kindergartner: "Mommy, Poo Kitty has a mouse!"
No way, you think.
You crouch down to check and, sure enough, there is a mouse doing his very best to run away from this large orange predator. You expected to see something grotesque and rat-like, but instead you see something that, being the softie you are, you want to protect: a cute, teeny, brown mouse. Unfortunately, you don't want to protect it enough to let it roam free in your house, so out it must go.
You make a panicked phone call to your husband, who laughs at you, enjoying your high pitched freak out voice. You wag your fist of fury at him and hang up the phone. HOW are you going to get this thing out of the house?
Suddenly, the cat makes a power play and snatches the mouse up in his mouth, turning to stare at you as he does so.
A moment of brilliance: Get the cat to take the mouse outside.
You run to the door and throw it open, calling "Poo Kitty, come outside! Come on, kitty! Come outside!" He looks at you like you've lost your mind. You plead with him in your mind not to drop the mouse. Finally, after several minutes of coaxing, he carries the mouse outside.
Victory!
The worst part: the animals were locked in the house, so the mouse came from somewhere on the inside.
Oy.
Naturally.
Picture it: You've just walked into your house after hauling 3 kids to the Wal-Mart clinic (think practically no waiting room and no place for kids to sit in the examining room, basically chaos) and to the pharmacy (where despite being first in line your prescription still takes a half hour to fill).
So you've just come in the door and are peeling coats off of two kids who are running around like wild banshees while trying to get the screaming baby out of his car seat. At this point, one of your kids (the toddler, so it is extra cute) crouches down next to the kitchen table and points, laughing hysterically. You had seen the cat run by but you can't quite figure out why he's laughing at the cat, who he sees zooming around the house most of the day.
Then, the warning cry by your kindergartner: "Mommy, Poo Kitty has a mouse!"
No way, you think.
You crouch down to check and, sure enough, there is a mouse doing his very best to run away from this large orange predator. You expected to see something grotesque and rat-like, but instead you see something that, being the softie you are, you want to protect: a cute, teeny, brown mouse. Unfortunately, you don't want to protect it enough to let it roam free in your house, so out it must go.
You make a panicked phone call to your husband, who laughs at you, enjoying your high pitched freak out voice. You wag your fist of fury at him and hang up the phone. HOW are you going to get this thing out of the house?
Suddenly, the cat makes a power play and snatches the mouse up in his mouth, turning to stare at you as he does so.
A moment of brilliance: Get the cat to take the mouse outside.
You run to the door and throw it open, calling "Poo Kitty, come outside! Come on, kitty! Come outside!" He looks at you like you've lost your mind. You plead with him in your mind not to drop the mouse. Finally, after several minutes of coaxing, he carries the mouse outside.
Victory!
The worst part: the animals were locked in the house, so the mouse came from somewhere on the inside.
Oy.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
The Plague
I was going to make a new post about the book series I'm reading, but the plague has apparently infected my house so I decided to write about it instead.
To begin, Jack has had some crud for at least a week. A progressively worsening cough and snot that began turning neon green. I assumed it was just a cold and it would pass.
On Wednesday evening, Spencer told me his stomach hurt. A doctor once told me that kids will often complain about stomach pain with strep throat (although I have no idea why), so I felt his noggin to find a fever of over 101.
The next day, I haul my gaggle of children to the doctor's office and we get a diagnosis of strep throat, Spencer's second round of it in as many months. My dear husband will get strep if anyone in a 10 mile radius has it, so I call him to give him warning and lo and behold he's been feeling puny all day. Awesome.
That night, Jake said that Jack was burning up and really restless. By the time Jack found me and I felt his head, he felt cool so I brushed the idea of him having a fever aside.
The same night, Fin had been quite warm to the touch and tossing and turning all night, so I had given him a wee baby sized dose of tylenol. The next day he barely even coughed. I had made both of them a doctor's appointment early in the day, but when they both seemed to improve I canceled it assuming I was overreacting.
Wrong choice.
Last night was miserable. Spencer is on the mend, thank God for small miracles, but Jack was burning with a fever and Fin was hacking and so stuffed up that he was screaming with frustration and hunger.
Did I mention Jake is away at drill?
I got us up and moving this morning and we went to the new clinic at Wal-Mart. I generally really dislike Wal-Mart, but their clinic is open late and on weekends when NO OTHER office in my whole town is. Before this clinic opened, any illness that occurred on the weekend and needed medical attention was directed to the emergency room. Talk about a waste of the ER's time.
The NP (I love NPs, BTW) looked, listened and probed the boys while Spencer, reviling in his new found post-illness energy, acted like a wild animal, and diagnosed Jack with strep and Fin with a minor ear infection and an irritated throat.
Antibiotics all around.
While I was at the pharmacy getting the medicine filled, I picked up some Vitamin C w/echinacea hoping that it will help with the boys' immune systems. I'm also dosing Jack with motrin and tylenol for the pain and everyone (including Jake, although he doesn't know it yet) is going to start taking probiotics.
I feel like a nurse.
Hopefully by tomorrow everyone will feel at least 50% better and we can go to Branson to see Santa. Spencer was so disappointed that we had to delay our trip, which was scheduled for today.
Now I'm going to go lysol my house.
To begin, Jack has had some crud for at least a week. A progressively worsening cough and snot that began turning neon green. I assumed it was just a cold and it would pass.
On Wednesday evening, Spencer told me his stomach hurt. A doctor once told me that kids will often complain about stomach pain with strep throat (although I have no idea why), so I felt his noggin to find a fever of over 101.
The next day, I haul my gaggle of children to the doctor's office and we get a diagnosis of strep throat, Spencer's second round of it in as many months. My dear husband will get strep if anyone in a 10 mile radius has it, so I call him to give him warning and lo and behold he's been feeling puny all day. Awesome.
That night, Jake said that Jack was burning up and really restless. By the time Jack found me and I felt his head, he felt cool so I brushed the idea of him having a fever aside.
The same night, Fin had been quite warm to the touch and tossing and turning all night, so I had given him a wee baby sized dose of tylenol. The next day he barely even coughed. I had made both of them a doctor's appointment early in the day, but when they both seemed to improve I canceled it assuming I was overreacting.
Wrong choice.
Last night was miserable. Spencer is on the mend, thank God for small miracles, but Jack was burning with a fever and Fin was hacking and so stuffed up that he was screaming with frustration and hunger.
Did I mention Jake is away at drill?
I got us up and moving this morning and we went to the new clinic at Wal-Mart. I generally really dislike Wal-Mart, but their clinic is open late and on weekends when NO OTHER office in my whole town is. Before this clinic opened, any illness that occurred on the weekend and needed medical attention was directed to the emergency room. Talk about a waste of the ER's time.
The NP (I love NPs, BTW) looked, listened and probed the boys while Spencer, reviling in his new found post-illness energy, acted like a wild animal, and diagnosed Jack with strep and Fin with a minor ear infection and an irritated throat.
Antibiotics all around.
While I was at the pharmacy getting the medicine filled, I picked up some Vitamin C w/echinacea hoping that it will help with the boys' immune systems. I'm also dosing Jack with motrin and tylenol for the pain and everyone (including Jake, although he doesn't know it yet) is going to start taking probiotics.
I feel like a nurse.
Hopefully by tomorrow everyone will feel at least 50% better and we can go to Branson to see Santa. Spencer was so disappointed that we had to delay our trip, which was scheduled for today.
Now I'm going to go lysol my house.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
