I joined a gym....

So I didn’t really "join". I actually bought a 10 visit pass. Based on my intent to make it to the gym once or twice a week it was a better investment than a monthly membership. I have been going to yoga - making it to 4 class in the past 3 weeks. I’ve done yoga in the past, but this is a more relaxing, gentle yoga. I really love it.

The biggest struggle I have with going to the gym is guilt. Yep. I feel guilty when I actually go to the gym. I already have so few hours a week with Leland and I feel like every hour I spend doing anything - gym, bible study, errands, hair cut - are hours I could be spending with him. And mommy guilt can be intense. I am trying to focus on the fact that being a well rounded mom, with occasional interests and outings of my own, will make me a happier and better mother to Leland. I am also committing to making the most of my time with Leland - really engaging with him, reading to him, playing with him, etc; and not letting my time with him be diminished by distractions like TV, my phone, etc. Bottom line - this working full-time with a toddler thing is tough!

17 & 18 Months

I have fallen very behind in blogging these past few months. Last week marked 18 months for my little man!

Here are his stats from his check-up: 23lbs, 13 oz ( 22 percentile) 32 7/8 inches (65 percentile) and a head circumference of 18.7 inches (41 percentile). He continues to stay around the 20^th percentile on weight, but keeps climbing in the height department. Recently, our donors told me that their children (also born premature) caught up to their height percentiles and other milestones around the 18 month mark.

Highlights from his 17^th month include a day trip for Thanksgiving at his Great-great-grandmother’s home and his first camping trip. We took him primitive camping (yep...in November) with the scout troop we volunteer with through our church. Robert took the boys caving. Leland did great and had a really fun time.

Football with the "big boys"

Short hike with Daddy

 

Highlights from his 18^th month include Nana & Granddaddy coming to live with us, celebrating Christmas in our new home, and our first family vacation / cruise. We all had an excellent time. (I want to do a whole post about the cruise when I find time). And...Leland said goodbye to his daycare, starting last week a the Montessori school. He seemed a bit overwhelmed with all the changes on his first day, but has made the transition amazingly well.

Beach Baby!

Cruise Ship...ready to set sail!

Checking out Nana's stocking on Christmas morning

(PJ's Read: BEST GIFT EVER)

The biggest change in the last two months has been his vocabulary. He speaks so well. Just after 17 months I attempted to make a list of all the words he said on his own (he would repeat additional words). This list reached about 50 words, and I was adding new words everyday. At his point I would say the list is well over 200. He also speaks in short 2-3 word sentences. I am really enjoying how talkative he is and how much more his personality shines though when he is able to express himself.

Trying on Grandpa's Boots

Playing with Trains

And finally, for my records...he is still wearing size 4 diapers, mostly 18 month clothing (some 12 month pants & some 24 month tops); his favorite foods are olives, cheese, fruit, yogurt, and "cookies" (Fig.New.ton fruit thins) from Nana’s pantry; favorite toys are his trains, blocks, Mr. Potato head, and books; he still wakes 1-2 times per night to nurse; we nurse on demand on the weekends; since starting the Montessori school we no longer nurse at lunch during the week; his new nap schedule is one nap per day at 1 p.m. (based on the school’s schedule).

First Day of School

Today was Leland's first day at his new Montessori school. Drop off went great. He was fascinated by the birds and fish tank in the classroom. My mom picked him up about 2:45 pm today so he would have a short day. She said he was very happy to see her, but got upset when they got home and I wasn't here. Thankfully a snack made things better.
Some of the victories of the day were that I managed to pack everything he needed and get out the door on time. Leland also did great taking his first nap at school and ate almost all of the lunch I packed him.  The only major hiccup of the day was that his teacher must not have realized that there was a cap on his juice (under the nipple) so he didn't get anything to drink with his lunch and came home rather thirsty.
On a final note...in case you need a good laugh. I realized about halfway through that day at work today that there was about an inch long split in the butt seam of my pants.  Real classy!
And now some photos of Leland ready for school and his first home packed lunch...

New Job!

I start my new job in the morning. I'm nervous and excited. Tomorrow night we will celebrate with sushi!
My new office:

Love You, Bye!

I was headed out the door this morning to run errands with my mother. I was saying bye to Leland when he said back to me "love you, bye". This is the first time Leland told me he loved me. Sweetest thing ever! Such a wonderful way to close out a wonderful year!
Wishing you all a blessed and happy new year. Wherever you are in your journey, the new year can bring lots of emotions. And whether this year has been the best or worst ever, I pray next year is better than ever!

Changes

This past week marked the end of many chapters in our life. We have been blessed with new adventures, but that doesn't make goodbyes any less bittersweet.

Leland had been accepted early into a Montessori program. We went in to discuss admission for the fall in their full day two year old program. They typically admit 18 month old children for only a morning program. After meeting Leland they said they thought he was ready for the full day program and offered to let him start in January (he will be 18 months January 3). Because of our cruise next week and the holidays, last Friday was his last day at the daycare he has been at since he was 12 weeks. This is such a great opportunity and we are so proud of his "early admissions" but leaving the security of the tiny church daycare is a huge step.

This past week was my last at my current job. I recently accepted a new job with a law firm. I will still practice juvenile law primarily, but from a different perspective. I still plan to go into my old office a few days after Christmas to wrap up files, but there will be no court hearings,  client meetings, etc.

Because my new job will be more demanding - and will pay more - I also quit my teaching job. I have been teaching at a technical college for the past four years in their paralegal program. I enjoy teaching and the extra money had helped, but with my new job I just won't have the time.

Also because of our job and school change, Friday marked mine and Leland's last lunch date for lunch time nursing. We will be together almost all day everyday for the next two weeks which eases the shock a bit, but come January we will only nurse mornings, evenings, and weekends. Sometimes I cry when I think about it, but I have faith that God had orchestrated this transition perfectly!

Finally.... if all that change isn't enough... as of last Monday, my parents reside in our basement. We have worked tirelessly to finish an approximately 1000 sq ft 2 bedroom apartment in our basement. It is finally complete and they are here.

I have had moments of pure anxiety this week. All of these changes are blessings but still change is scary. I have diligently tried to keep my focus on God and His plan for our lives.

And now...as I typed this on my phone... I am getting a pedicure is preparation for our cruise embarkation tomorrow!

A Season of Waiting

Advent marks the beginning of the new church year. It is the time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. It is a season of waiting.

 Two years ago at this time we were in a season of waiting. Infertility in generally is much a season of waiting. In 2010, just after Thanksgiving, we had received very strong Beta level results. Our levels were not only high but tripled during the 48 hours between Beta 1 and Beta 2. Our first ultrasound was scheduled for December 15^th. As we waited on the first ultrasound we prayed, we hoped and we wondered about the three precious embryos we had transferred. We wondered if those high numbers had resulted in two – or even  three – implantations. We worried that in spite of the blood levels that our first ultrasound could bring bad news. We were waiting and praying.

God used our time of waiting then to give me a whole new perspective on the season of Advent. I reflected a lot on how Mary must have felt waiting on the arrival of her son, of God’s Son. The magnitude of her waiting and her wondering really impacted me. For the past two years Advent has had a much deeper meaning for me and what it means to prepare our hearts, our minds, and our homes for the arrival for Christ.  

I have been planning and thinking for weeks on how to execute an Advent calendar with Leland in a meaningful, but age appropriate way. I searched online, and went to Pin*terest and Etsy for inspiration. And finally it has all come together. The first struggle was to find or make an advent calendar. All the ones I liked were too expensive and all the ones I could afford either didn’t have a big enough opening or were Santa themed. Finally, I found a beautiful wooden advent calendar with little doors for a great deal at TJ*Ma*xx (the boxes are about 2in x 2in).

 

The next challenge was to develop an age appropriate curriculum.  And to account for the fact that we will be on vacation (a cruise) from December 17-22. I saw these nativity stickers at the store this weekend and was finally inspired. I am cutting them up and putting a sticker in each day. I have also copied pages out of a daily Advent devotional (each devotional is really short with two Bible verses and a short paragraph) I got from church. I will tuck the copied pages (I shrunk them a bit) into the boxes as well. Finally, in addition the short devotional and talking about the new sticker as we add it to our nativity scene I hope to read a Christmas themed book each day at bed time.

My plan is to do this for two week before going on vacation and then pick back up on December 24^th & 25^th with stickers of baby Jesus and the star.