I feel like I just posted, but after seeing it was nearly a week ago, I want to bring ya'll up to speed on our happenings as dull as they may be!
I have given up on trying to keep the house spotless 24/7. Why has it taken me so long, being the mother of a 20 month old and a 3 1/2 year old, well I just don't know. I'm not saying the house is dirty by any means, I'm just beginning to be okay with everything not having to be in it's proper place at all times. It's a big step for me, some may think forward and others backward, but I think it's a step in the right direction. It allows me to actually enjoy more time throughout my day, especially my time with the girls. I'm sure I'll get back into my freakishly-clean-obsessive mind frame once my energy returns, but I'm not sure when that'll happen. Soon enough I'll be meeting the little boy growing and, currently wriggling into an very awkward position, but then I'll be incredibly outnumbered here 3-1. I'm trying not to over think that whole scenario, but you can see where I am going, right? And even when Mike is finished "playing in the sandbox" I'll still be outnumbered. Don't get me wrong, he's mighty helpful, but he's also a busy guy with work, so his last priority is the house, seeing as how it is one of my top priorities. Enough of my ramblings..... I have decided that listening to my body is a better solution for me right now. If it says, "rest, I'm sleepy", I do. If is wants to be crazy busy, I am. I tend to have quicker energy recoveries when I don't push myself to do more than what I am physically capable of doing at 8+ months pregnant. It's a good arrangement. I've managed to keep up with laundry and the little things around the house and have had the energy to reseed, feed and weed the front yard and I also put the second coat of paint on the walls of our little man's room. For me, that's a huge accomplishment. I still have a few things to finish up in there, and then I'll be ready for Mike and the little guy's arrival, mostly. All the big stuff will be crossed off my to-do list and I just have to keep up with the housework and work on my last minute baby things; packing for the hospital, packing the girls' bags for their stay with C, making sure I have everything ready to bring little man home, etc. It's enough of a to-do list to keep me occupied as I eagerly anticipate Mike's arrival yet nothing too overwhelming to send me into a crazed, panic mode (at least for now).
On Saturday, the school district held their annual Art Show and our little preschooler had a piece on display! I originally assumed all the wee ones from her school would have something there (being fair to everyone) but that wasn't the case. I'm not trying to brag, but I was very proud of her and her work. She seemed pretty happy too. We enjoyed waling around and seeing all that was there and the girls really enjoyed the gigantic, yummy cookies to snack on while we strolled around. Sunday we spent time with C and her family. We really enjoy that. Her home is home to us. the girls are super comfortable hanging out there, don't usually get into trouble (wink, wink) and it's semi-relaxing for me because her girls dote on mine. Usually the only fuss is her girls fighting over who gets to play/carry/entertain/help with my girls! It's kinda cute! Other than that, we've enjoyed some relaxing times, lots of playing, and just being us.
The countdown continues, with Mike leaving BIAP in just 9 days! I admitted to him I'm growing a little nervous about his return. Some may think I'm nuts for saying or admitting that; shouldn't I be excited that my husband who is in month 5 of a 15 month deployment is on his way home, even for just 18 days, and knowing for that time frame he isn't being shot at, blown up or lacking major sleep and food? Sure, it may seem that way, but for those of you not completely familiar with a military family and all that they endure during a deployment, Mike coming home is like a first date and a honeymoon rolled into one for us. For the girls, it's getting reacquainted with a guy we talk about, see in photos, sometimes talk to on the phone, and watch on TV, but aren't really sure what to make of the whole situation. Learning from our last experience, it's best not to have any plans/expectations about this time period. Again, not really an easy thing to do, at least for me. But, we also add the wonderful stress of welcoming our third child into our family during this time. Yes, it was our choice and one with no regrets, but maybe you can understand a little more of why this can be an overwhelming time. Then there's the process of sending him back. That sucks (sorry for the harsh term) but it truly and genuinely does. It's hard to not think about that before the time comes. It's one of the first things to know, when his flight is, but hopefully something soon shoved back into our brains so we can just enjoy what we have right now. But, all of this is a part of who we are now. And, knowing that we're where God has led us makes it a heck of a lot easier to deal with all the downs of the Army life. He's in charge, now if only I can remember that on a daily, I mean "minutely" basis!
I have a couple pics from Saturday on our flickr site, so check it out if you think you can handle the amazing complexity of Ivie's "Painted Egg"!
Until next time.....
2 comments:
One of the things that helps our house stay in order is that the boys have to put all of their toys away before meals. Bedroom, living room, doesn't matter--they all have to be put away before we eat. It makes for a much nicer home to me since things are only chaotic for a few hours at a time! ;) If you guys don't do that and you wanted to start, you might just start with having the girls pick up all of the toys in one room before they eat, to get used to it. Oh, and I don't help the boys at all. I figure if they're capable of getting them out they're capably of putting them back! LOL
You're doing great--hang in there and rest in His loving arms!!
I definitely understand being a little nervous after being apart for so long. I know you've done this before, so you know how it goes, but we found that it took a little while to get back into a routine together and get used to each other being around again. We definitely had some communication issues because I was so used to not talking to Dave every day anymore and forgot to tell him about important things. It's even harder when he leaves again just as you get back into the swing of things. All that is to say that you are totally normal.
Another big thing for me is that I got it into my head that Dave was super-human while we were apart, so it was a bit of a bummer when he turned out to be only human in the end.
We'll be praying particularly for your relationships and the adjustment, and that you'll all be able to enjoy the time you have together as you're together. Love you guys!
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