Summer 2014

I've only been a stay at home mom for about 2.5 months.  But that's enough to know that this job is tough.  I'm tired, I've swayed, carried, held and consoled a teething baby through the months 7-10 and through his first five teeth (one more coming very soon by the sounds of him.)  I've been the recipient of several a huge, massive, angry, meltdown from my 3.5 year old.  I've cleaned up accidents, changed many a stinky diaper, and gone to bed crying over how rough of a day I've had.  I've also laughed, cried, and hugged harder than ever before this summer.  Today during a conversation with Emerson I realized that in those 2.5 months of what sometimes feels is just surviving, I've been blessed to witness so much growth in her (of course Easton too, but that will come at a later post).  These are the firsts/new things I never want to forget from this hazy, hot, and loooooong summer at home with my two babies.

• This summer she learned to full on SWIM.  From not wanting to even wear the goggles and put her head in the water the first day of lessons back at the beginning of June to swimming out in the ocean with her momma and daddy looking for fish and sand dollars, wow, what growth. I'm so proud of how far she's come facing her own fear of the water to master such an important life skill.

                                                  
                                                 

• Swinging: my girl was ADAMENT that the bucket swing was hers-only hers at the beginning of the summer. We had many a quick trip on the big kid swing on our play scape-many of which ended in tears because she WOULD.NOT. pump her legs.  She was scared to swing on it, not in the mood to put forth the effort to pump her legs.  Not having it.  Fast forward to today when she happily let her brother swing in the bucket swing while she asked to have a boost to swing "high enough to see over the fence" while she pumped her legs.

• Writing her name: this was my goal at the beginning of the summer.  She has had excellent fine motor skills for about a year now (thank you hours of play dough, coloring, beading, and anything crafty), so I knew it was possible.  And it is.  And she's learning to write her name on any work of art she creates.  And I love it!

• Riding her bike/Using the brakes: When she got the bike from Santa two Christmas's ago, she was all about it.  Then it faded after we moved into our current home last August.  My goal in July was to spend more time with her biking/using her scoooter outside after realizing that I was doing the stroller pushing for both of them. Why was I the only one getting a ton of exercise?  Well after realizing that her tires desperately needed air, we put her on the bike and let her fly!  She has done many a 2 mile bike ride and is now VERY confident with her brakes-even preferring to look back and see how long her tire marks are on the sidewalk behind her. :)  One night she even told me she didn't want to talk on her ride, she just wanted to ride her bike.  I like and respect that kind of focus. 

• Riding her scooter: Man, it's scary to watch her at times, but again that persistance. She.She is on a mission and huffs and puffs to stay "the leader" of our family walks.  She was pretty fearful of the scooter at the beginning of the summer and only this past week decided to get on it again.
• Firsts: first time in VBS without me as her crew leader, first time at the beach, first summer to cut out the nap altogether, first summer to occupy herself off and on throughout the day, first time to play with real legos and Lincoln Logs, first time to do yoga, first summer as a big sister, first time to do real chores for an allowance, first (and likely last according to her) dance class session.

This girl is growing before my eyes.  Some days seem to drag on and I find myself feeling like I'm a broken record repeating the same things over and over again, wondering if it's even worth it.  Sometimes I feel like throwing in the towel and just letting her watch TV all day and "relaxing." Some days I long to be back at work because I feel like I was better at that than this. But what I'm realizing is throughout it all she's soaking things in, growing, becoming stronger, braver, and wiser.  I'm her mirror and I'm trying my best to let her see the good in me, and man, is that tough at all times. She's learning gratitude and beginning to acknowledge her blessings, which to me-is the most important things that I as a parent can impart on her.  It's hard, the days are long, but it is so worth it. Thank you sweet girl, for letting me be a witness to your growth. :)