Star Student

The ride home from daycare is a special kind of hell if I don't have a snack for Caleb. The whimper starts as we approach the car door. It's his warning sign. Ma! You better have some food. 

The other day I was buckling him in his car seat and his usual cry begins. I had goldfish with me, however it was a Costco size bag. I didn't want to just give him the entire bag because portion control and well, that would end up on the floor of my car in .323948 seconds. So Liam started handing him a few at a time. This, of course, was not good enough for Caleb and he was still crying. Nay, screaming. He screamed the 10 minutes home. He screamed on the walk into the house. He screamed all throughout dinner and refused to eat. He screamed if I held him. He screamed if I put him down. He screamed if I put him in his room with the door closed. He screamed if I opened the door. There was all the screaming.

And then there was Liam. Hands over his ears he tried to comfort Caleb. We got home and he quietly started cleaning up the house. Every toy. Every dish. Every object out of place was made right. He cleaned the house for thirty straight minutes. When I was at my whit's end, he immediately stepped right in.

Yesterday was his parent/teacher conference and I left the school teary eyed. Nothing but compliments and glowing remarks. He is his teacher's right hand guy. He is kind and loving. Socially and academically aware. Smart. Capable. Hard working. Shows initiative. While we see those qualities at home, it's amazing to hear he behaves similarly at school as well. The teacher hugged me as I left and said how much she appreciated what we're doing with him at home. I have to say though, that's all Liam. He is sure to do his homework the second we get home and loves math problems and reading. He's like his mama. Doesn't like to procrastinate and is a perfectionist.

Last week he earned the honor of being Star Student for the week. He was able to bring in a few things to show his class. On Wednesday, he brought his favorite book "Ninjago, The Green Ninja" because that is so Liam. Thursday, he brought in a picture of his family and explained who we all were and mama has a baby in her belly too! Another day he got to bring in a toy for show-and-tell and when I asked him how it went later that day he said, They were talking a lot when I was showing my car but don't worry, I told them they weren't respecting me.

 

He is growing up to be a fine young boy and has grown into the role of big brother well. I have no doubt he will excel at brothering his new baby brother. I'm go glad he's our first born. He's been such a privilege to parent.

Liam at Four

As my first born, Liam was our guinea pig. We figured out {kinda} how to parent with him. What was important to us, things we would let slide, and the man we wanted to raise. A grand responsibility and one we took so seriously.

Liam is also our biggest challenge. He's headstrong, stubborn, bold, knows what he wants, won't settle for less, and opinionated. I do believe these characteristics will serve him well in life if he channels them appropriately. He will change the world, this I am confident of. But he's put up a fight in the way we've raised him and I hoped that one day, one day, our parenting would sink in and he would grow out of the fits and the rage.

I think the real change in him started a few months into Caleb's life. He saw our needs and he yearned to help and care for his brother. The fits stopped, like immediately, and out came this mild tempered, sweet mannered, generous little boy. He stepped into the role of big brother seamlessly and took to the change better than the rest of us. He ran for diapers, burp clothes, whispered when necessary, and remains a constant giver of hugs and kissies.

I ask for him to get in jim jams. Ok mama, I'll do that right away!

Mama, Caleb boy spit up!

Can I please have a banana? I mean, may I? Actual words spoken to me yesterday.

When I give him goodnight kissies and tell him I love him. And Jesus too, Mama, and daddy and Caleb.

You never really know if you're mothering the right way. I mean, what is the right way? There isn't one. But when your kid seems defiant to everything you try, you feel desperate. I must be doing something wrong. Is it me? Is he learning these traits from me? Am I being a model parent? I still ask all the same questions, but I also know that's what makes a good parent.

I'm so proud of that little boy. We still hit bumps in the road and will forevermore, but he's made HUGE progress and I just beam with pride when I look at him.

You, my Liam, are a delight to mother. But you're too big to throw anymore.

On kindness and inclusion

It seems as life gets busier, the blog gets pushed to the side. And in a world where social media and electronics are thriving and taking over, I'm ok with the distance.

Parenting is hard, says every parent ever. But as this world is getting scarier and more chaotic I have this need to preserve my children's innocence while explaining to them what's going on in the world and their part to change it. I don't want to shield them and I don't want them to feel ill-equipped.

Liam said yesterday,

Mama, I have bright white skin. But my friends have dark skin. They're my best friends. 

He is becoming aware of people who are different than him and I don't want him to be color blind. I want him to see the diversity and embrace it, even seek it. I don't have answers but I sure hope I don't have my blinders on. My heart aches and is angry about Vegas, Charlottesville, Dallas, and on and on. It seems that saying "prayers for Vegas" is enough for some. And prayer is good. Yes, necessary. But what can we DO? Raise children who are kind, open, and on the front lines.m

Anywho. Here's some pics that are irrelevant. Off to hug my kiddies a little harder.

Boy Mom

I knew once my maternity leave was over, the laissez faire lifestyle we had all grown accustomed to would soon end. And oh, how quickly it did. Once back at work, I got a promotion which has proven to be challenging and rewarding in every way. (Side note: hip hip for getting a promotion two weeks after being back at work, eh?) Thomas' schedule got more intense as a UPS driver and his hours have been longer and longer. Caleb is teething and eating solids (which makes dinner time more interesting), and Liam is soaking up learning letters, spelling and reading books every day.

All wonderful things but the challenge of being a working mom has been more prevalent than ever. I don't get home with the boys until about 5:30 and from there I hit the ground running. Dinner, packing the next day's lunches, making sure Caleb has enough milk to bring to daycare, baths, and laundry all greet me the second I get home. And then there's that little bit of trying to spend quality time with the boys.

Some days it feels seamless and others....well, not. Liam is grumpy, Caleb is hungry and wanting to nurse for an hour and my arms are stretched thin. When one of the boys has a bad day, it wears on us all. We are all tired at the end of the day and it can be difficult to be patient. I can get so focused on all the things I need to get done before I go to bed that I forget to just love on my boys.

Like when I keep saying "later" to Liam after his incessant requests to read a book together.

When I let Caleb play too long in his gym instead of cuddling him.

When I take things too seriously instead of remembering that in 5 years, the tempter tantrums will diminish.

Since Caleb was born, I've learned how different my personality is from Liam's. Caleb has my temperament and Liam has Thomas'. He's emotional, dramatic, sensitive, pushes boundaries, needy, and so NOT a people pleaser. He has been my greatest challenge. On a particular difficult night, I called my mom in desperation. She reminded me that I am exactly the mother that he needs. When God created Liam, he knew I would be the perfect mama for him. Perhaps it's good for him that I'm easy going. Imagine the tiffs we would have if we were both tornadoes!

As Caleb matures I notice how him and Liam balance each other out. They are so different from each other and I'm so thankful for that. Caleb LOVES Liam and does not care that he lays on him, pretends to be Batman and fight the bad guys with him, or squishes the crap out of his cheeks (I don't blame him for that one). I hope that love for each other never ends.

First Day of Summer

These days we've been barbecuing almost every other night which basically means we've been eating like kings. Chicken, baked potatoes, veggie skewers, salmon burgers, turkey burgers, hot dogs, sausage, we've had it all and I'm loving it. Thomas will swim with Liam in between checking the grill and slowly Liam has been learning how to swim. If I can get my act together, I'll put him in swim lessons in the next month or so but life with a newborn really changes things. Working on it.

This little guy has been loving his play gym. I DIYed this which now looks much different and more how I intended it to look. I was waiting on a few wooden teethers that I ordered from Etsy to come in. He loves batting them and smiles and laughs at them. It's the cutest when I catch him cracking himself up. Caleb is such a joyful baby and it's such a pleasure spending our days together.

Liam is his usual self again. Right after Caleb was born, he was super defiant and threw a lot of tantrums. Thankfully, I think he's fully adjusted to life with Caleb and his attitude has shifted. As the weather heats up (or is already hot rather!) it's hard playing outside since Caleb is still so little so I've had to get creative with daily activities. Sometimes that means jumping on the bed, playing in a tub of water outside, packing boxes with me (he strangely loves this), coloring together, activity worksheets from education.com , etc. And some days I just send him off to daycare for some socialization. 🙈 

^^^Always watching big brother^^^

He's Here!

Our new little bundle joined us just a few days ago and our lives have felt so enriched. Though tired and adjusting to life as a family of four, it has been a joyful first week.

Caleb Hendrick was born Tuesday, April 4 at 6:28AM weighing 10 lbs, 1 oz and 21 inches long. 6 days before his due date. I was scheduled early Monday morning to be induced but as luck would have it, it got pushed back to 1pm due to lack of rooms. After checking in, I was given Pitocin pretty quickly. My doctor thankfully knew Liam's birth story and wasn't willing to prolong labor any longer than necessary. So thankful for her. 😉

When I checked in, I was already dilated to 3 centimeters and I was hoping that would quicken labor. It took about 13 hours to progress much past 3.5 centimeters. Though contractions were regular, they weren't intense enough. Thankfully I had been given an epidural around 6pm so I mostly battled boredom. My mom, Rick, Thomas and I spent most of the day watching HGTV and Criminal Minds and chatted. I consumed cherry popsicles and ice chips like no tomorrow.

My mom and Thomas were in the room the entire night, both sleeping. I slept about 20 minutes at a time usually waking up to my blood pressure cuff sucking the life out of my arm or a nurse coming in. I had moments where I felt great and didn't feel a need to sleep and others where nausea would hit and would randomly throw up.

Close to 2am, the epidural seemed to not be having much of an effect. I was in excruciating pain. Contractions were coming every minute, minute and a half. The anesthesiologist came to pump more medicine and for a brief hour and a half, the pain seemed manageable again.

I slept for about an hour and suddenly woke up to PAIN. The night nurse came in, checked me and saw I was still only at 4 cm. She was calm and said if I needed anything to let her know. It was probably just pressure that I was feeling. This did not just feel like pressure and she was not understanding. My mom had woken up at this point and saw the look on my face and knew I wasn't doing well. Less than two minutes after the nurse left, I called her back in and said that my pain level was literally at a 10. She checked me again and I was 7cm. Within two minutes I had gone from 4cm to 7cm. I wanted to scream. Side note: when I am in unbearable pain I am silent. I literally do not utter a word. Do not touch me, do not talk to me.

I looked over at Thomas who was still sound asleep and yelled with tears rolling down my face, WHY IN THE WORLD IS HE STILL ASLEEP?!?!?! I also apparently get really mad when I'm in pain.

The nurse called the anesthesiologist back in the room and that's when I knew I was justified. As if a woman in labor needs any sort of justification for her pain level.

Why is she in this much pain? she exclaimed. She was given an epidural! You (nurse) should have called me an hour ago! Unacceptable.

God bless her.

Though the pain "lessened" I knew push time was rapidly approaching.

My doctor came in and seeing her familiar face was a relief. I heard her say I was at 9.5 cm and we literally all watched the contraction monitor waiting for the right moment to push. I pushed a few times and suddenly, 4-5 nurses filled the room, leg straddles were put in place, and my doctor was putting on what seemed like a hazmat suit.

I pushed for 8 minutes, determined to be relieved of the pain, and our boy was here. He was perfection.

We've been home for a few days now and we're settling into a new routine. Caleb is a happy boy and really only cries when he's wet, hungry or wants his pacifier. Liam has been such a help and though I worried about him being jealous, he has settled into the role of big brother beautifully. He loves to hold him and give kisses and is slowly learning that the pacifier cannot be shoved into the baby's mouth and does not want smothering hugs. It's endearing watching him love on Caleb.

Thank you so much for all your well wishes and congratulations. We have felt your love and are so encouraged by you!