tball

 

 

 

Tball season is in full swing over here. Connor is loving it. And another year older for him is proving him to have more focus on the game.

It's weird that we are at that point in parenthood that we have to start figuring out how to not let extra curricular activities dictate our lives. It's easy to say "each kid gets one", but then you think about how they also need swim lessons. And they show interest in other things. And blah, blah, blah. We have gotten to this point.

The point where your kid is a part of something they are proud of, and for that, you are proud. But, it is also a bit stressful. Because between driving across town for the games, arriving early to practice, then the game itself…not to mention getting home right at bedtime and doing all this with an almost four month old…it can feel like a bit much at times. Really, it just feels like I am always failing someone. The weather turned cold on us yesterday and I showed up at the game with everyone dressed in summer attire. That, combined with the game lasting plenty past Callum's bedtime, led to me sitting in the car, nursing Callum, while keeping him warm….watching Isla play with other kids in the grass…and jumping out of the car whenever it was Connor's turn to bat. It all just felt a bit like a juggling parent fail.

I know next year will be a bit easier…instead of a grumpy infant, I will have an I-want-to-be-independent one year old on my hands that will hopefully be happy playing in the dirt piles, like his big sister.

It's hard because I know at times I need to give myself a break and realize I can't do it all. Yet, on the flip side, I don't want to let my kids down and for Connor to some day be lamenting in counseling about how his mom sat in the car during his tball games.

But then again, this is only the beginning of this phase of life and I need to find something that works for our family. So, you know, we all survive the next 15+ years of life.

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California Science Center

Last week, the kids and I headed down to LA to hang out with my parents during spring break. One of the things we did was spend a day over at the California Science Center. Having never been there before, I didn't know what to expect. But, let me tell you, I will be singing this place praises from now on. First off, it's FREE. I love me something free. Now, we did pay for the Journey to Space exhibit, but everything else there is free. And the space exhibit was totally worth paying for…at least if you have a little space junkie like I do.

I was nervous that the museum was going to be totally packed, given it was spring break. I was happy (and somewhat surprised) that I was wrong about that. We got there not long after it opened and practically had the space exhibit to ourselves. We spent about five hours at the museum and didn't even see everything there. It is a very large museum with a lot of fun things to see and do. The kids got to pet starfish, play like they were on tv and watch a vulture stalk its lunch.

^^ In the Journey to Space exhibit, there was a space station simulator. Let's just say, I had to run out and stare at a wall because I literally thought I was going to fall over. I never knew I could get motion sick so quick.

^^ There was a space station with astronaut dolls for the kids to play with. Both Connor and Isla totally loved it and spent lots of time at it.

 

^^ While I thought we were going to get to go in the Endeavor (boo…), it still was fun to see a space shuttle up close. The coolest part was actually watching the video of them transporting the space shuttle to the museum through the streets of LA. They had to move power lines, take down traffic signals, etc. 

 

^^ What's more fascinating than watching yourself on tv?! 

On our way out, we took the kids into the museum store. Isla had been looking forward to this from the time we entered the museum. She picked out a stuffed animal to take home. Connor, on the other hand, got the space suit of his dreams. He was so excited about it. It was really stinking cute. So, we made a little photo of him looking like a real astronaut.

I definitely plan on going back here again…because, well, it's FREE and there is so much to see and do. Did I mention there are areas that are only for under the age of 7?! Yeah, it's a pretty awesome place.

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14/52

Connor: Sometimes you need quiet time to decompress, even when visiting Papa and Memaw. Also, Connor lost TWO TEETH this past week. 

 Isla: The saddest looking horse with the happiest looking little girl on it. 

 Callum: This kid was such a trooper. He did amazingly on the trek to LA and back. He was great going on adventures with us and was happy being in anyone's arms. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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three kids

 

 

 

Even though sometimes (ok, most of the time) I wish the older two would give Callum less "love" than they do, it's pictures like these that melt my mama heart. Just look at Isla's little hand resting on Callum's head!!! I'm pretty sure God made babies pliable because he knew so many would have older siblings and would constantly be manhandled. I about have a heart attack ten times a day for how ungentle they treat Callum. Yet, he reserves his biggest smiles for them, so I guess he loves it. But seriously, when you find your six year old having picked up your three month old, letting his head flop about, your heart literally jumps out of your chest. You rush over, only to find said three month old with a huge smile on his face and think to yourself, "What the heck?" then make said six year old promise not to do that again...because, you know, shaken baby syndrome.

I really shouldn't complain about all the love going on around here. Sure the older two are rather rough on Callum. It could be worse. They could be throwing toys at him in his bed and feeding him a lifesaver…both things my older brother did to me when I was a youngin. Or they could just not like him at all. So, for that, I truly am thankful for all the rough love that goes on around here.

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Easter Recap

I thought about sharing a bunch of photos from easter, but then realized this one sums things up rather nicely. It was a day of family, fun, food and a spunky child.

It was a beautiful day that we got to enjoy mostly outside. We got to spend time with both sets of grandparents. The kids got to do an easter egg hunt. And they even got to sneak in some play time with their cousin, who they hadn't seen since christmas. And, best of all, Ian and I got to sneak in a date…we didn't even take Callum! It was the cherry on top of a really good day.

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March 28

 

 

I've always wanted a big family. I've always envisioned a loud house, full of kids. For a few years, I didn't know if that would happen. I thought that maybe we were done at two. I had done mostly everything in my power and it just wasn't happening.

All that changed on March 28th last year. I saw my first glimmer of hope, my first little glimmer of Callum in the form of a pregnancy test. I was cautiously optimistic. I took several more tests over the coming weeks, just to watch the lines grow darker and the numbers grow bigger on the fancy digital ones. This is not something I had done with Connor or Isla; I only took one test each. But, like I said, I was cautiously optimistic. But on March 28th, I began a new journey. I was able to end a chapter of life that was very difficult and a constant internal struggle for me. And I started a new chapter.

Callum.

March 28th, you forever changed me. You forever changed my family. You added to us. You gave us a hope. You gave me a new lease on my dream.

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13/52

Connor: He brought home this hat from his school easter party and he was insanely proud of it. He doesn't seem to really get that way about school crafts anymore and I really enjoyed how much he enjoyed it. 

 Isla: She is pretty dang proud of the fact that she can once again have a side braid and pigtails in her hair. 

Callum: He is oh-so-close to rolling from tummy to back. That's big stuff in baby world.  

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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