This was Ben's loooong week, so we've been on survival mode. I gave myself gold stars for feeding and bathing kids each day. I think I've lowered my expectations dramatically...
*Bows head in shame.*
Anyway.
Let's mix things up a bit, we'll start with the oldest this time.
Ben
Ben encouraged me to stop baby-sitting and picked up the second job to make up the difference. He is amazing. He wakes up before the sun rises and comes home well after it sets, still managing to have a great relationship with the kids and make sure I'm doing okay.
He really enjoys his second job as a TA in an autistic 1st and 2nd grade classroom. He has the best stories and always manages to get me really laughing with each telling. It is a physically demanding job, because some of the kids are very rough, but it is also very rewarding as he watches the progress they are making with their IEP's, many of them going far beyond the goals.
He loves his little girl and boy. Every night after we pick him up from work, he plays with the kids for half an hour. Hearing Emily's "Daddy!!" and Andrews "dada!" always melts my heart. I am so grateful for Ben in working hard at keeping us his priority.
Amber
A few weeks ago, we sold our Subaru.
Though we loved this car, we needed money for the medical school down payment. (A non-refundable deposit to save your seat in the class.) After selling the Subaru, we were back to being a one-car family. Since Ben is working two jobs, it can be tricky getting to everywhere we need to be. I usually drive Ben to a drop-off spot every morning for his first job, where he meets a friend and they carpool the rest of the way, then pick him up in the evenings after he is finished with his second job. Though it can be hassle, it's nice to have that extra time with Ben in the mornings and evenings.
To save on money, I am also making sure to pack Ben a lunch in the mornings. To make this easier, I actually make dinner the previous evening and save the leftovers for his next day's lunch. Ben is very appreciative of this effort and I like doing it because I love him.
This past week, I was able to watch a friend's kids as she went through a pretty difficult miscarriage. It felt nice to do for her what so many women did for me during my difficult time.
Something that is frustrating, is dealing with the aftereffects of the miscarriage. I am still in pain and still exhausted. It's kind of annoying, I'd rather not need a nap (or 2) everyday to function. Still, I am learning quite a bit about my body and about Jesus Christ. Trials can teach you a significant and humble lesson about the Atonement.
The time change has kind of messed up our schedules. I've decided that rather than keep them up, I just put them to bed when they would normally have gone to bed without the time change. So, they are in bed by 6 every night. It is a nice change to have an hour extra at night to clean and relax. Unfortunately, their meal times are harder to adjust. I'm still figuring out when to give them snacks and when to withhold them and whether I should have dinner at 4 instead of 5.
Emily
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| Enjoying a delicious Oreo. |
There are times when I feel so frustrated by this little toddler's assertions of independence. Like her constant demands of late--"Mom! I want cheese!" Yet, she gives me many opportunities to laugh.
Like a few nights ago, when I was singing "E-I-E-I-O" for her in a whiny voice (because she was being whiny), she came over, placed her finger on my lips and said, "Stop, okay?" I started laughing, she started laughing, and soon we were both slumped over with giggles.
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| She's not so sure about the cookie part. |
Here are a few of her words and their translations.
Limins (Vitamins)
yiyen (Lion)
read book (Read me a book)
Dilla (Quesadilla)
Hot gog (Hot dog)
Silly girl!
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| She really likes the cream. |
It snowed today and Emily was very excited. Though I was too much of a wimp to let her play in it, yet, she did enjoy it on the way to church. "Look, Mom! Snow! Snow is on the houses!"
She is done to one nap. She has been since like 15 months, but I forgot to mention that. Actually, I am just glad for when she actually takes a nap!
She is still a picky eater. I thought she was finally growing out of it. Instead, she has become more forceful (and vocal) about her dislikes. Frankly, she ends up eating cereal most nights for dinner, after she eats a couple bites of what I made. I just can't handle her going to bed hungry.
She now counts to ten all by herself! She still occasionally skips 6, but even that is less frequent! We are now working on counting to fifteen. She'll count to 14 with me, but refuses to say 15. Defiant child. (Slightly joking.)
I am working on getting her to spell Emily. By "working" I mean, I show the letters to her and she says, "No!" Awesome.
She has a couple friends that she adores: Owen and Braden.
We are frequent visitor's to Braden's house. They play well together (you know--hit, shove, and laugh). She also loves his mom. In church, she'd rather sit on her (Elizabeth's) lap than on mine or Ben's lap. Thought it's frustrating, it makes sense, she's still figuring out what to do when Ben is at church because he works every other Sunday.
Today, on the way to nursery, she held Owen's hand. It was so sweet.
Speaking of nursery, I guess she behaves somewhat angelically in there. Either that or all her teachers are lying to me.
She really likes fire trucks. She is also very scared of the siren. So, when outside, she often asks, "Fire truck?" when she hears any type of wail. We then identify what the sound was. She is getting better at telling the difference between a bus, a car, a truck, a bike, a lawn mower, and a fire truck.
It's become a bit of a struggle to brush her teeth (surprise, surprise!). Oh, well, practice makes perfect.
She takes off her shoes as soon as I put them on. This is not always cool--like when she throws them in the store or library.
Andrew
He is still not interested in walking, but is starting to stand without support from time to time.
He is starting to say some words. A couple nights ago, we were playing with the lamp in my room. Every time he went to touch it, I yelled "hot!" and he would giggle. Eventually he started saying "hot!" It was pretty cool.
He loves animals: dogs, pigs, horses, cows, cats, and all other kinds.
He also loves fire trucks. Whenever we hear the siren, he starts yelling, "ddadad!" It is so cute!
He is getting more selective with his eating, preferring a banana and toast in the morning rather than cereal, and a hot dog over a Quesadilla. He loves his milk, though. I am glad, he needs the extra calories.
He loves to read books and play blocks with me and Emily. He really likes it when I'm on the floor with him so that he can stand against me and give me kisses. I love it, too.
He's a happy baby and is also down to one nap. Oh well!
Family
We went to our last football game last night. We were lucky to be at a great game. Saying good-bye to that stadium that has given us so many good memories after enjoying the game was bittersweet. We are glad to be moving on, but sad to say good-bye.
That's it for us this week!
Peace out!
