Saturday, September 28, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday Update #39 (9/27/13)
Saturday: a nice day cuddled up at home. Mom stopped by for an hour on her way home from a wedding. Seth got home really late.
Sunday: Sunday School. Ezra didn't go to his class, but fell asleep during the service?!?, as did Isaac, so Seth and I both sat through the service. We went to Mom and Dad's for the Seahawk game, then Hannah and Ruth came over.
Monday: Happy birthday to me!
Tuesday: Seth had another super early job and was therefore home early. He made calls and I played with the boys and then we all went to Winco together. Ezra had a rough time getting in the car and shopping, but I guess he went to bed easily, so maybe it was worth it? Then we watched The Departed. I tried to iron and fold clothes, but Isaac kept waking up and Seth fell asleep.
The summer after we graduated from college, Seth suggested we work our way through a list of his 50 favorite movies that he had made his last semester. The Departed was actually on that list, though we never got to it then. I definitely would give some credit to that list of movies for "making" us spend time together that summer and eventually start dating. But I couldn't help notice the vast difference in how we watched movies then versus now. Like, then we actually tried to watch movies? I can't remember the last time we've tried to watch a movie together recently. It's probably been a few months. And then we finally try to? And I do chores and Seth sleeps. Ah, well.
Wednesday: We did a much better job of getting Ezra to BSF this week! I can't exactly celebrate, because mostly I feel like we just tricked him. We didn't tell him where we were going until we got out of the car at the church. And of course, he started screaming and had to be plucked off of my neck. But he said he had fun. (After he said "I cried a lot, Mommy".) Once again, a highlight was "standing in line"?
Wednesday afternoon he started to get a runny nose, so we were going to stay home from BEN, but he fell asleep at 5:30, so I thought he could just sleep through BEN so I could go to class still... but I didn't want to put Isaac in nursery either, since he would have been exposed to Ezra's germs. So Seth got to hold Isaac and I held Ezra for a while - until he woke up screaming that his "neck" (throat) hurt... and so we spent most of BEN sitting in the hallway trying to get Ezra to drink juice.
That night was pretty rough. Isaac woke up congested at midnight and cried and sniffled his way through the night, and Ezra woke up a few times.
Thursday: Of course I woke up congested and with a pounding headache. So the three of us laid on the couch all day. We were supposed to go to Arsenic and Old Lace, but tickets sold out. And it was nice to just stay home and try to recover. The boys fell asleep early! (but half woke up every few hours all night long), and Seth had a friend of ours over to watch the '49s vs. Rams while I bundled up on the couch and listened to them talk.
Friday: Dad came over and took Ezra away for the day. They went to Hannah's apartment and to Ruston Way (and saw seals and "big giant huge ships!") and then Dad determined Ezra should even spend the night with him! I wish I could say I was especially productive, but even though I did get some stuff done, I also laid in bed and held Isaac and read for a long time. Thankfully, "just resting" seems to be working and I do feel better finally. Better as in recovered/ing from this cold and as in just refreshed. Ezra is a lot of work and I spend most of my time with him and/or Isaac. I love my boys, but these days time apart from them is very rare.
Sunday: Sunday School. Ezra didn't go to his class, but fell asleep during the service?!?, as did Isaac, so Seth and I both sat through the service. We went to Mom and Dad's for the Seahawk game, then Hannah and Ruth came over.
Monday: Happy birthday to me!
Tuesday: Seth had another super early job and was therefore home early. He made calls and I played with the boys and then we all went to Winco together. Ezra had a rough time getting in the car and shopping, but I guess he went to bed easily, so maybe it was worth it? Then we watched The Departed. I tried to iron and fold clothes, but Isaac kept waking up and Seth fell asleep.
The summer after we graduated from college, Seth suggested we work our way through a list of his 50 favorite movies that he had made his last semester. The Departed was actually on that list, though we never got to it then. I definitely would give some credit to that list of movies for "making" us spend time together that summer and eventually start dating. But I couldn't help notice the vast difference in how we watched movies then versus now. Like, then we actually tried to watch movies? I can't remember the last time we've tried to watch a movie together recently. It's probably been a few months. And then we finally try to? And I do chores and Seth sleeps. Ah, well.
Wednesday: We did a much better job of getting Ezra to BSF this week! I can't exactly celebrate, because mostly I feel like we just tricked him. We didn't tell him where we were going until we got out of the car at the church. And of course, he started screaming and had to be plucked off of my neck. But he said he had fun. (After he said "I cried a lot, Mommy".) Once again, a highlight was "standing in line"?
Wednesday afternoon he started to get a runny nose, so we were going to stay home from BEN, but he fell asleep at 5:30, so I thought he could just sleep through BEN so I could go to class still... but I didn't want to put Isaac in nursery either, since he would have been exposed to Ezra's germs. So Seth got to hold Isaac and I held Ezra for a while - until he woke up screaming that his "neck" (throat) hurt... and so we spent most of BEN sitting in the hallway trying to get Ezra to drink juice.
That night was pretty rough. Isaac woke up congested at midnight and cried and sniffled his way through the night, and Ezra woke up a few times.
Thursday: Of course I woke up congested and with a pounding headache. So the three of us laid on the couch all day. We were supposed to go to Arsenic and Old Lace, but tickets sold out. And it was nice to just stay home and try to recover. The boys fell asleep early! (but half woke up every few hours all night long), and Seth had a friend of ours over to watch the '49s vs. Rams while I bundled up on the couch and listened to them talk.
Friday: Dad came over and took Ezra away for the day. They went to Hannah's apartment and to Ruston Way (and saw seals and "big giant huge ships!") and then Dad determined Ezra should even spend the night with him! I wish I could say I was especially productive, but even though I did get some stuff done, I also laid in bed and held Isaac and read for a long time. Thankfully, "just resting" seems to be working and I do feel better finally. Better as in recovered/ing from this cold and as in just refreshed. Ezra is a lot of work and I spend most of my time with him and/or Isaac. I love my boys, but these days time apart from them is very rare.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Happy Birthday to Me!
The boys let me SLEEP IN until 8:15! What? When was the last time that ever happened? (Not since early bird Isaac was born!)
I had lots of "happy birthday" texts and emails and Facebook messages and cards already waiting for me when I woke up and they kept arriving throughout the day. I guess people have figured out by now not to call me, because no one did.
While the boys ate breakfast, I Magic Erasered my kitchen walls and ceiling! So sparkly brand new! And then they played while the rest of the house got cleaned!
Isaac went down for his morning nap and I read to Ezra for 45 minutes! He's sitting "still" longer and is getting really into reading books. I mean, we read every day, but I think he's getting into it more. Perhaps because we discovered Dr. Suess? My mom has read them to him before (or parts of them) but I've only looked at the pictures with him. This time, however, I read every sing songy word in three or four books. By the time we were done reading and cuddling and talking about the books we'd read, Isaac woke up, smiling and cooing.
Shortly thereafter, Seth came home with paninis and soup and cookies and grapes for a picnic! Sadly, it was pouring really hard, so we didn't go out to a park like he originally planned but had a picnic in our living room. It was so sweet and thoughtful of Seth to plan ahead and try to make one of my favorite things happen (especially because he's not the biggest fan of picnics).
Then we spent the rest of the day hanging out at the house together.
So basically all of my favorite things. Seth remembered my birthday + sleeping in + cleaning/cleaned house + reading + picnic.
Ezra helped make a birthday cake, but we actually didn't do candles or sing happy birthday until the next day. So two days of celebration! And we still haven't even celebrated our month of birthdays with my family yet. It feels so odd to group all of our birthdays together in one big celebration, because we've never done that before (in 27 years!) but it's getting harder and harder to get two or three of us together, let alone get everyone together. So that will come next week, with a big party up at Jack's house.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Friday Update #38 (9/20/13)
Well.
I did a bit more blogging this week, so I can link to more of our "adventures" this week instead of solely recapping here.
Last week and weekend were full of lots of small talk for me (BSF, BEN, two! baby showers!, church, etc.) and by Sunday morning's nursery fiasco I just broke down in tears. I don't really think of myself as an introvert except for when I get so depleted by the accumulation of these (already a bit daunting for me) social interactions.
I have been lonely for friendship and fellowship, so I did appreciate that we were spending more time with people... it was just too much, too close together. I think my introversion is exacerbated by the fact that I have no time alone to "recharge". Ever. In my previous life I thought of myself as more introverted than I do now, but I had more time alone. (As much as I wanted!) Now I'm a weepy, dependent mess, craving social interaction and then shriveling up when I get it.
Ezra's aversion to the church nursery and I suppose general disobedience have been particularly difficult for me to deal with this week too. Ezra has been endearingly cute, though. Despite himself. And I certainly can't fault him for how he loves his brother.
Thankfully Seth has been making a concerted effort to be especially helpful this week. I even got a nap on Sunday (albeit with Isaac)! Have you ever heard of such a thing?
I've been so grateful for that little nap all week long.
We had some friends over Monday to play and sew. Monday night Ezra woke up screaming! He's been having nightmares for the last few weeks, but this was a particularly distressed cry. Of course, about two minutes after Seth brought him to bed so I could comfort him, Ezra threw up. On my face and neck and hair.
I also had the lovely experience of being confined to the couch with just about the most severe cramping I've ever had on Tuesday.
By Wednesday, we had just about the biggest pile of dirty laundry and dirty dishes were piling up (because of course no one could just drink out of one glass!?) But we were gone all day Wednesday! attempting to go to BSF and then spending some time at my parents' house and then going to dinner for my dad's 56th birthday.
It's been very strange to not celebrate anyone's birthday yet. I mean, we went to dinner for Dad's, but we didn't even do cake and ice cream! Hannah spent her birthday working and then at dinner with Andrew and David had his first apprenticeship class on his birthday... I was really sad about it last year: we no longer celebrate everyone's birthday on their birthday, all together. This year I guess I'm just resigned. We are going to do a lump-everyone-together celebration at Jack's next week though.
Today we finally made it to the fair! I really needed a family date; it was lovely.
I did a bit more blogging this week, so I can link to more of our "adventures" this week instead of solely recapping here.
Last week and weekend were full of lots of small talk for me (BSF, BEN, two! baby showers!, church, etc.) and by Sunday morning's nursery fiasco I just broke down in tears. I don't really think of myself as an introvert except for when I get so depleted by the accumulation of these (already a bit daunting for me) social interactions.
I have been lonely for friendship and fellowship, so I did appreciate that we were spending more time with people... it was just too much, too close together. I think my introversion is exacerbated by the fact that I have no time alone to "recharge". Ever. In my previous life I thought of myself as more introverted than I do now, but I had more time alone. (As much as I wanted!) Now I'm a weepy, dependent mess, craving social interaction and then shriveling up when I get it.
Ezra's aversion to the church nursery and I suppose general disobedience have been particularly difficult for me to deal with this week too. Ezra has been endearingly cute, though. Despite himself. And I certainly can't fault him for how he loves his brother.
Thankfully Seth has been making a concerted effort to be especially helpful this week. I even got a nap on Sunday (albeit with Isaac)! Have you ever heard of such a thing?
I've been so grateful for that little nap all week long.
We had some friends over Monday to play and sew. Monday night Ezra woke up screaming! He's been having nightmares for the last few weeks, but this was a particularly distressed cry. Of course, about two minutes after Seth brought him to bed so I could comfort him, Ezra threw up. On my face and neck and hair.
I also had the lovely experience of being confined to the couch with just about the most severe cramping I've ever had on Tuesday.
By Wednesday, we had just about the biggest pile of dirty laundry and dirty dishes were piling up (because of course no one could just drink out of one glass!?) But we were gone all day Wednesday! attempting to go to BSF and then spending some time at my parents' house and then going to dinner for my dad's 56th birthday.
It's been very strange to not celebrate anyone's birthday yet. I mean, we went to dinner for Dad's, but we didn't even do cake and ice cream! Hannah spent her birthday working and then at dinner with Andrew and David had his first apprenticeship class on his birthday... I was really sad about it last year: we no longer celebrate everyone's birthday on their birthday, all together. This year I guess I'm just resigned. We are going to do a lump-everyone-together celebration at Jack's next week though.
Today we finally made it to the fair! I really needed a family date; it was lovely.
God is Still Sovereign
This week Ezra had two HUGE tantrums when he realized he had to obey us and put on real clothes and sit in his carseat and go where we wanted to go (BSF, which he loved last week, and to the fair, which we know he will love - terrible destinations, right?).
As it turned out, we didn't go to either. And as difficult as it was to parent Ezra in the moment, it's been harder to deal with our feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty in the aftermath.
I felt discouraged that my little two year old "won" both battles (by screaming just long enough on Wednesday that we were too late to get to BSF on time and by screaming himself to sleep on the way to the fair today).
Of course, because Ezra took a nap today he's still awake now, past midnight. We're laying in bed together watching Curious George in one open browser window and in another I'm reading various articles from my Feedly. Seth left for work this morning at 4:30 and leaves tomorrow morning at 6, so it's important that I contain Ezra and keep him quiet so Seth can sleep. But even laying here, cuddling, I'm frustrated that two whole years later we still don't have a handle on Ezra's sleeping habits and that this! TV! is our coping mechanism for nights like this, because nothing else works.
All of that background information wasn't supposed to fill up so much space, oops. But! I guess it sets the tone?
Our church recently experienced great tragedy and perhaps because of that I clicked on this article, about shepherding a congregation through tragedy. And I'm glad I did, because I was very encouraged by this short "truth hammered home":
I, of course, hadn't even finished copying and pasting that quotation before I had to remind myself of its truth: God is still sovereign, even over bossy two year olds!
Ezra flipped out because an episode of George started that he didn't like. Then, when I chastised him, he told me to stop talking. That of course was unacceptable and I disciplined him, but then he took off his diaper and started kicking off the blanket. My attempts to put a new diaper on him and tell him to speak kindly only antagonized him and ever so quickly he woke up Seth and Isaac!
Isaac just needed a reassuring pat on the back, but Seth wanted to step in to discipline Ezra. However, their relationship is so fraught, I really try to use Seth as little as possible to be the "heavy hand" to back me up. Of course, Seth stayed awake throughout the following 15 minutes of the discipline process (Ezra can be very stubborn!).
Thankfully, however, once he'd apologized and "allowed" me to put a new diaper on him, he also "allowed" me to put him to bed and he fell asleep shortly thereafter. Now I just can't sleep.
But I know that these trials are molding and shaping Ezra's little heart and mine too. It's just really painful at times. In part because it often means sleep deprivation and in part (of course! most of all!) because I hate to see such defiance in my sweet little boy.
As it turned out, we didn't go to either. And as difficult as it was to parent Ezra in the moment, it's been harder to deal with our feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty in the aftermath.
I felt discouraged that my little two year old "won" both battles (by screaming just long enough on Wednesday that we were too late to get to BSF on time and by screaming himself to sleep on the way to the fair today).
Of course, because Ezra took a nap today he's still awake now, past midnight. We're laying in bed together watching Curious George in one open browser window and in another I'm reading various articles from my Feedly. Seth left for work this morning at 4:30 and leaves tomorrow morning at 6, so it's important that I contain Ezra and keep him quiet so Seth can sleep. But even laying here, cuddling, I'm frustrated that two whole years later we still don't have a handle on Ezra's sleeping habits and that this! TV! is our coping mechanism for nights like this, because nothing else works.
All of that background information wasn't supposed to fill up so much space, oops. But! I guess it sets the tone?
Our church recently experienced great tragedy and perhaps because of that I clicked on this article, about shepherding a congregation through tragedy. And I'm glad I did, because I was very encouraged by this short "truth hammered home":
As inadequate as I may feel, still, God is using my gifts, strengths, and even weaknesses to accomplish His plan.
* * * * *
I, of course, hadn't even finished copying and pasting that quotation before I had to remind myself of its truth: God is still sovereign, even over bossy two year olds!
Ezra flipped out because an episode of George started that he didn't like. Then, when I chastised him, he told me to stop talking. That of course was unacceptable and I disciplined him, but then he took off his diaper and started kicking off the blanket. My attempts to put a new diaper on him and tell him to speak kindly only antagonized him and ever so quickly he woke up Seth and Isaac!
Isaac just needed a reassuring pat on the back, but Seth wanted to step in to discipline Ezra. However, their relationship is so fraught, I really try to use Seth as little as possible to be the "heavy hand" to back me up. Of course, Seth stayed awake throughout the following 15 minutes of the discipline process (Ezra can be very stubborn!).
Thankfully, however, once he'd apologized and "allowed" me to put a new diaper on him, he also "allowed" me to put him to bed and he fell asleep shortly thereafter. Now I just can't sleep.
But I know that these trials are molding and shaping Ezra's little heart and mine too. It's just really painful at times. In part because it often means sleep deprivation and in part (of course! most of all!) because I hate to see such defiance in my sweet little boy.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Brotherly Love
The thing I was most worried about regarding kid #2 was how Ezra would think of him/treat him/feel about him. I think it's been the easiest/best transition!
With about two two minute exceptions, Ezra has been so loving to Isaac. (Well, besides that first week when he didn't know what was going on.)
It has been so sweet, this last month in particular, to watch the two of them interact. Now that Isaac crawls and sits up, he is always crawling over to see what Ezra is doing has been just sitting and watching Ezra for such long periods of time! (That is, until Ezra moves so much that Isaac has to crane his neck so much that he eventually topples over...)
 |
| This blurry camera phone photo showcases all too much about life right now. |
Lately he's been explaining everything to Isaac. "Look, baby Isaac, this is my puzzle. This one is a pig. This one is a chicken..." and "Baby Isaac, it going be fall soon. The leaves will be orange and 'lellow and red and they fall down. Then we going to rake them and then jump in them!" and ad nauseum.
Ezra is also very quick to get a toy for Isaac or to get a wipe for me when Isaac spits up. He's really pretty helpful, especially whenever I ask him to do is for Isaac.
Lately we've been reminding Ezra that Isaac watches whatever he does, so he needs to be a good example for his little brother. It's been working really well to make Ezra think twice about his behavior and to feel more responsibility about his actions, but I also don't want to overuse the phrase/concept. I don't want Ezra to feel overly burdened for his brother's behavior and I don't want his primary reason for obeying to be to show Isaac how to obey.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)