My life as a Mommy

It's nice to know I'm not alone. Nobody ever told me that when Zach was born he would become number one in my life. Don't get me wrong, I love Aaron more than ever, but Zach seems to take priority these days. Nobody ever told me that would happen... until after it did. I've been praying for a rearrangement of priorities these days, that God would be first, then Aaron, then Zach. It seems lately I've got that upside down and that's how life goes (upside down) when you get things mixed up. Zach's just so darn cute, along with everything he does, it's hard to put him in his place, but that's how it should be. After all, I would want my parents to love God and eachother more than me. It seems like my love for God, Aaron, and Zach are all very different. Is this normal? I don't know. But what I do know is that for any mom out there, going through this impossible pull of emotions, just know that you're not alone, and that I'll pray for you too.

Through a child's eyes...

There are many reasons why I am thankful Zach entered our lives. Not only is he the cutest baby in the world, he lightens any moment with his giggles, his rolling makes you want to join in the play, and his growling noises bring out the lion in all of us! Another main reason is how much he makes me slow down in my daily life. Zach makes me realize what's important when other things are trying to push my priorities out of whack. When my job seems tiresome and pointless, I come home and get to experience what all the parents of my students have been through. When I get angry at a student for not listening or being disrespectful I try to image how I would want Zach to be treated in that situation. As a teacher, Zach has made me rethink a LOT of situations. I sympathize with giving too much homework and I realize just how important family time and unorganized play really is. Zach has helped me slow down, enjoy the lazy evenings and playing make believe with cars, trucks, and duckies. He's helped me see how even the simplest things can be fun and enjoyable if you look at them the right way. My successes no longer come from my job, they come from the simple pleasures like having a splashing fight with Zach in the bathtub, cuddling up with Aaron during a movie, or staying up an extra hour to play a competitive game of Scrabble (we've gotten good). Life IS good. :)

Tis the Season

Zach's first Christmas has been building with anticipation. With our Christmas parties, Advent services, decorative lights, holiday baking, and last minute shopping, it's been a busy month. We headed northwest in search of the perfect Christmas tree. We found a great blue spruce (20 ft) which Aaron single handedly took down and drug back to the Jeep. Zach enjoyed riding in his sled while mom and dad searched and searched and searched. I think we'll do it again next year! Christmas sure seems a lot more fun now with Zach, he adds a whole new dimension and feeling to the season. Shopping for presents seems more fun now that we get to find ourselves back in the toy department! :) (Aaron's already checking out the latest Lego collections.) This year has been one of the most amazing and I can only imagine the joy that Mary felt as she held her newborn baby close. To know the power he had and the task ahead I can only image what thoughts went through her head. As a mom I like to think about how much happiness and excitement she had that first Christmas season.

Mental Health Day

I had the opportunity to take a day off this week as my mental health day. I stayed home, slept in until 7am, and enjoyed hanging out with my little one for the day. It was so wonderful to go for walks, play at the park, and just take time to be with him. I wish I could do this once a week (I'm afraid my sick days would run out pretty fast though). Wednesday really made me think about the summer and how lucky I was/am to have all that time to just bond with Zach. I am already looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring, and Summer breaks. Sometimes I feel as though teaching isn't my career of choice, but who doesn't get tired of their career every once in a while. My heart belongs with my family and I just have to remember how blessed I am to have such a great job. Although my job may not be my life, it definately helps make an enjoyable one. Don't get me wrong, I like teaching, but being a mommy and wife is really the only career I want.

Conservation

So I just finished my Hunter Safety course and it was a very worthwhile endeavor. I think that if everyone were to go through a course on firearm safety and habitat conservation like the one that the DOW offers, we would see a tremendous drop in accidents involving firearms and an increase in funding for the environment. (Hunters provide an overwhelming majority of the funding for increasing wildlife habitat.) I am looking forward to someday share this knowlege and love of the outdoors with my son Zach! I value the times that my father has taken me shooting and I think it has given me a resonsible respect for not only firearms but for the wildlife that share our space.

Sooooooooooo big...

Zach is now going on 6 1/2 months old! I can't believe he's been here that long and yet I can't remember life without him (nor do I want to)! He went in for his 6 month pictures on Sunday, very cute indeed. If you'd like to see them, send me an email and I'll forward you the link to the Sears website. We took Zach to a pumpkin farm today to find the great pumpkin. Apparently we waited too long and there really weren't any good ones left. Aaron managed to find one that worked and wasn't too squishy or over 50% green. Maybe it was the weather this fall? Who knows, but tomorrow we've got a pumpkin to carve. :) We're almost ready for Halloween now!

Roly-Poly

Not counting the Roly-Poly lab I had my 7th graders do a few weeks ago, we've been seeing a lot of roly-polying around our house... Zach's rolled over! He went from his back to his tummy. It's kind of funny, though, because once he makes it over he doesn't like being on his tummy much. We've started sitting him in his high chair while we're eating and are debating starting cereal soon. It's crazy to think he's already 5 months old. In some ways it feels like he's always been with us, in other ways it feels like time has flown by and he's only been here for a few days. It's hard to explain, and I think it's another one of those situations that only parents can understand. I had a meeting with a student's parents this morning and were discussing how the student talks badly of/to her parents at home. I wanted to pipe up and help the student understand how much work and love her parents had invested in her throughout her life and that she shouldn't be disrespectful to them like that. But then I realized she's a 12 year old and figured she wouldn't understand anyway. To anyone who doesn't have kids, you have no idea what your parents went through to keep you alive and happy when you were young. It's so worth it, but it definately wasn't easy. Thanks Mom and Dad for all you've done for me!!! I love you!!!