Hi Ho Hi Ho Its Off To Work I Go

Last week I started working again, and I love it! God blessed me with a job that fit my needs, desires, and passions. Can you imagine working as a speech therapist at a school three hours a week and not having to do any IEPs? Well, neither could I. All I have to do is show up and do therapy, the best part of the job. Because we share clients, the other therapist at the site is taking care of the IEPs. As of right now this position is only through December, but we will see if that changes. Everything just fell in to place with a little patience and prayer. I truly believe God provided this tailor made position for me.

You might be thinking this sounds perfect, well here is the downside in one word - Rachel. She is no totally thrilled with this change. Her grammy watches her. It is a blessing to have them so close and Rachel loves spending time with her Grammy and Grandpa. In the morning I have to get ready for work which includes getting dressed, making sure I have all my materials, and making lunch for both of us. While I still have time to sit and play with Rachel for most of the morning, she notices that about an hour before we leave she no longer has my undivided attention. She tends to become whiny and clingy. Also she refuses to nap at Grammy's house so by the time I pick her up she is exhausted and makes it about halfway home before she is out cold till almost dinner time. By the time she wakes up she is beside herself with mommy deprivation. The rest of the evening is filled with fussiness, tears, and needing extra hugs and cuddles interspersed with some play. I am praying and telling myself it will get better and Rachel will adjust, but the guilt still creeps in as I question my decision. Am I being selfish? It is not like I have to work. We have set up our lifestyle to comfortably live on a single income. Because I truly believe God has provided this opportunity for me it is time for me to have faith that all the kinks will resolve and to remain in communication with God about my concerns. He will make my path clear.

First Steps

Check out Miss Rachel's first steps!



There were like 10 in a row, but who's counting. I am one proud mama.

Look Mom, no hands!

Rachel has reached yet another milestone. She is able to pull up on something, let go, and stand there for a short time. Pretty impressive. She has even taken a couple steps. Walking is just around the corner. I am excited for each new milestone she reaches, but some of them leave me a little sad because I know certain things must end. I love her 1 knee 1 foot speedy crawl. It is cute and efficient and I am not ready to say good bye to it even though I want her to learn to walk and to keep developing new skills. Watching her stand a take a couple steps reminds me yet again to treasure every moment because she is changing so fast.

Happy Birthday Rebekah

DSC_5171.jpg, originally uploaded by Brian Bjork.

Rachel and I hope you have a special day today Rebekah. We love you!

1st Camping Trip

We just returned from Rachel's first camping trip. Rachel loved it. There were trees, dogs, water, and dirt which are some of her favorite things. See previous post to learn how much she loves dirt. Camping with a crawling baby was not a bad as I thought it would be. She enjoyed crawling around and exploring the site, but a lot of the time she was content just to sit on my lap and watch everything going on. I left saying I could definitely do this again which is a very good thing. Things I learned (or was reminded of again): dirt washes off, vault toilets are not a fate worse than death, even if it is warm when you fall asleep it will get cold, Rachel sometimes has a plan of her own, and sadly my somewhat pleasant smelling natural bug spray is not nearly as effective as the icky stinky chemical ones (although it seemed to work fine for Brian and Rachel).


I love the ears! I think she looks like a baby Ewok.


Water is really fun...


Especially upside down!


I love the look of wonder on her face and the peaceful feeling in this picture.

Dirt

Rachel really likes dirt. Touching it, digging in it, picking it up, tossing it, and trying to taste it all top her list of fun things to do with dirt. I do not like dirt. It is, well, dirty. It tops my list of things to avoid playing with. A friend once said something along the lines of my kids would go over to her house to get dirty and then she would send them home to me. She knows me so well. However, I have chosen not to impose my neurosis on Rachel and am allowing her to play with dirt. A little dirt never hurt anyone unless maybe one eats it.



The sprinkler adds a whole new level of fun to dirt.



Hosing off all the mud. I will put my foot down to tracking mud in the house.

5 Years and Counting

Brian and I just celebrated our 5 year anniversary. I like to get creative with celebrations and have a theme. For 5 years the traditional gift is wood. Wood, what could I do with that? Make decorations out of sticks and pine cones? Um no, that is not where my creative passions lie. Then the phrase, "This anniversary brought to you by the number five" popped into my head and a theme was born. Sesame Street! Who doesn't love Sesame Street. Sesame Street may not scream romance, but it does scream fun which matches our personalities better. Don't misread and think there is no romance because there is, but we have never been a candlelight dinner with a dozen long stem roses kind of couple. So the week long decoration making began. A week sounds like a long time, but when nap time is the only time I actually get to sit down and work it comes out to about 4 hours (Nap time is also dedicated to completing household chores).

The theme included ABC streamers, Sesame Street Quotes, a big number 5, 5 gifts, and of course cookies.







Oh, and we also went on a baby free bike ride the next morning.