As many of you have probably noticed (or maybe you haven't?)....I haven't been posting much lately. Well, as much as I adore spending every minute of my day with Collen....I somehow doubt that you really want to hear about that all the time. We really don't get out all that much. If we do, it's too run errands, but these days I have had to limit our outings due to heat and my knack for spending money whenever we leave the house (I need a job, people....seriously...still haven't heard anything).
So, I thought (for my own records and perhaps your interest/boredom) I would detail a typical day for us. I know you're just burning to know what goes on around here.
(The times have been approximated)
6:15: Collen wakes up. Put him in bed with us; he sleeps until 7:45 on.the.dot.
7:45: Bottle (6-7 ounces) and breakfast - some kind of oatmeal or fruit/rice cereal
8:15 - 10:00 - play time - plays on the floor in the living room, getting into whatever he can. He likes to explore these days. I usually play with him and try to do any cleaning/straightening that needs to be done. Or I catch up on emails, facebook, and blogs. He entertains himself well, so this usually a good time for quick internet usage.
10:00 - 11:00: nap time. I usually lay down with him. I must go to bed earlier....
11:00 - 12:30: More play time. We play all sorts of games....hide and seek, peek-a-boo, read books, play with toys, take Tucker out to potty, watch Sid the Science Kid, and I may get some more cleaning and such done.
Between wake up and lunch time, I have probably changed 2 poopy diapers.....and have 2 more to anticipate throughout the rest of the day. Anyone else's baby poop this much??
12:00 - 1:00 - Somewhere in here, he gets another bottle (6 ounces, but usually only takes 4), then lunch time. A serving of a green veggie and a serving of a fruit. Usually gets some yogurt melts or veggie crunchies and water in his sippy cup.
1:00 - 2:00: More play time. This is when I am likely to attempt a shower (if it's a day when Jeremy is gone all day - thank you, God, for summer break! So nice to have him home Tues. and Thurs. mornings...and all day Friday). For this to work, I have to put him in the exersaucer long enough to get a shower, then once I'm out, he's ready to get out of it. So, he sits on the floor in our room and plays/explores (supervised of course!) while I get ready.
2:00 - 3:30 or 4:00: nap time. I lay down with him until he falls asleep (I know....I need to break this habit, but really....it's just me and him here all the time....and it works for him. But we'll have to change this once day care comes into the picture). I either use this time to quickly check email again (to find no job prospects), do some light cleaning, pick up toys, maybe watch a movie (with captioning....haha....our tvs have the captioning on all over the house), read, etc. I have been known to indulge in a little nap of my own as well....
4:00 - 5:30: More play time. We may run errands during this time or take a bath (if we just need to change it up), got get the mail, check on the garden outside, clean up, definitely get some more play time in. Around 4:30, he gets his 3rd bottle of the day (6 ounces...might drink it all).
5:30 - 6:00: Dinner time. An orange veggie and a fruit or yogurt. I've tried him on the stage 3 veggies, but he does not handle the texture/chunks well. So, we're still on stage 2 for the most part. He actually prefers whole, solid foods. So, I have been cooking him carrots until they are super soft and slicing them. He loves it! I cooked a sweet potato the other day and just scooped the inside out, mashed it up, and served. He loved that, too. So, maybe he just wants to skip the 3rd stage and move to the 4th. He still only has 2 little teeth (the top ones look close to coming in!!), but he's learned how to use those jaws!
6:00 - 7:30: This is when we may venture out (with Daddy) to run errands, go to a softball game, go out to dinner with grandparents/friends/just us. If we're home, Collen plays while we eat our dinner. And we usually end up on the floor with him and just play and play. :) This is also the typical time frame for bath time and the nighttime/before-bed routine.
7:30: He starts winding down. We brush his teeth, get his pjs on, and then it's me and him in the recliner for a story, a bottle, and a little rocking. I've been reading the Little Boys Bible Story Book for Moms and Sons to him. So, we read a bible story - he usually points at the pictures. Then he gets his last bottle for the day (6-8 ounces - usually takes it all...especially if he's super sleepy). I give him his paci, snuggle him all I can, we say our good nights, and then I put him down in his crib (awake). We recently got him one of those baby aquariums, and he LOVES it. It has really helped him self-soothe to get to sleep. I usually stay with him until he seems drowsy enough....he likes for me to hold his hand, stroke his face and hair, and rub his belly. Lately, though, I've just stood by his crib while he watches the aquarium and drifts off the sleep. Really...that thing works for us! Typically, he's asleep within 5 minutes of putting him down.
8:00 pm - 6:15 am: Sleeps, tosses, turns, wakes up between 1-5 times during the night. I think his top teeth are bothering him right now; he cried out in his sleep about 4 times last night, but went right back to sleep. Last week, he only woke up once a night. This week....about 3-5. So, I'm thinking we'll be seeing teeth soon. :)
-- During this time of night, Jeremy and I can be found cleaning, straightening, washing bottles, putting up dishes and laundry, catching up on facebook/news/emails/football stuff (J...not me..haha), and some nights we'll watch a movie. This is also when we're able to catch up with each other - talk about our days and such. I usually don't go to bed until midnight (why I said I must go to bed earlier). Before bed, I read for about an hour....then drift off to sleep....and wake up whenever Collen needs to be soothed.
That's a typical day for us. Pretty boring, but I'll take boring any day!
What are you reading?
About 2 weeks ago, I decided to take on the monumental - but rewarding - task of reading through the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation. I realized....here I am... 28 years old and I have never read the entire Bible! Sad....such a shame. All I have ever known of the Old Testament has been what I learned in Sunday school or what I have read in a sermon on Sunday mornings. I had never actually read it and studied it for myself.
So, I began to read. I was ( and still am) so motivated and excited to read God's word! Even the begats....and all those measurements for the ark, table, altar, lamp stand, and tabernacle.....and priest garments. Whew...just got through all of that 2 nights ago. I am into Leviticus now, so I am reading about what kind of offering to give for sins. It is really interesting....and a bit repetitive at times. But I am approaching it with the spirit of excitement and learning.
At the same time, I am also reading The Color Purple. The English teacher in me had been craving some literature, and I had just watched the last episode of Oprah ( if I had been alone, I would have been boo-hooing!) and I realized I had never read The Color Purple! So...I took on that task as well. So far, it is an interesting read.....very interesting.
I am so excited about reading through the Bible! It's definitely a goal I know I will accomplish!
What are you reading?
So, I began to read. I was ( and still am) so motivated and excited to read God's word! Even the begats....and all those measurements for the ark, table, altar, lamp stand, and tabernacle.....and priest garments. Whew...just got through all of that 2 nights ago. I am into Leviticus now, so I am reading about what kind of offering to give for sins. It is really interesting....and a bit repetitive at times. But I am approaching it with the spirit of excitement and learning.
At the same time, I am also reading The Color Purple. The English teacher in me had been craving some literature, and I had just watched the last episode of Oprah ( if I had been alone, I would have been boo-hooing!) and I realized I had never read The Color Purple! So...I took on that task as well. So far, it is an interesting read.....very interesting.
I am so excited about reading through the Bible! It's definitely a goal I know I will accomplish!
What are you reading?
Randoms...
Not much going on around here this week. The drama for the week was taken care of with Collen's imitation of monkeys jumping off the bed on Monday. He is doing just fine and is acting like his same silly self. The little bruise on his face started fading Monday night and today you can hardly see it. So, so thankful that it wasn't any worse than that.
This week, my focus has been job hunting....again. I've sent about 25+ emails out to principals and such...expressing my interest in a job...any job...I'm capable of doing pretty much whatever they need. At this point, I'd teach Math if they'd let me (they'd have to be as desperate as I am....). Out of the 25-30 emails I sent, 2 people have responded - both with, "Thank you, but at this time we do not have a position available, but we will keep your information on file." Hey...at least they responded. There are a few positions I feel good about, but the outlook is grim around here for teachers. It's sad.
With the budget cuts going on, I'm hoping and praying to find something. I'm trying not to worry, but it's tough when I'm looking at our savings dropping every month....and that's our supplemental income. After it's gone....I don't even want to think about it. That's why I have to find a job. We have enough to make it to September...maybe October. I'm trusting that God is going to handle it. He has the right place chosen for me....He just has to work out the timing. I'm not above looking for a part time job, but I really want to get back into teaching or using my masters and working as a school librarian. As teachers, we need all the income we can get. Collen's insurance will change in August, so that's going to be extra money we'll have to find from somewhere, and with him getting older we could use the extra money.
On a happier note, Collen has officially spoken his first word. You all heard it with the "Momma" videos, but he is now...for real...saying Momma and associating it with me. And you have no idea how happy this Momma is to be hearing that little word coming out of his mouth! It melts my heart. Now we have to work on Da Da.
We planted a garden a few weeks ago. It's actually growing really well! It has been HOT here this week. Upper 90s all week long. I don't do hot very well. I'm not a summer girl. I don't like summer wardrobe. I'd much rather be in jeans and nice, comfy sweater than covers all the lumps and bumps motherhood has provided me. I hang out in a lot of dresses and skirts...sometimes capris. No shorts for me. And I don't do tank tops....and rarely a lot of t-shirts. I'm already wishing for fall.
Football has started up for Jeremy...summer work outs and practices. This means our schedule is flip-flopped. He is here during the day (most days) and then at school in the evenings. Not sure how supper is going to go...I don't like cooking for one, but I'm trying to stay motivated with the idea of left-overs. He does have Fridays off, which is great. It has taken some getting used to have him here during the day instead of later in the evenings, but Collen sure does enjoy it. My mom has been here with me this week, so we've enjoyed ourselves. I hope she'll make it common occurence!
I met a blog reader today - at Target. Isn't there where you normally see people who you know/who know you? Always nice to meet someone who is praying for us and reading about our ordinary )well...not-so-ordinary if you think about it) little life.
That's about it. Been a pretty quiet week. Please, please pray that something comes along on the job front. Pray that I'll leave it to God and trust Him to work it out. I tend to stress out....and I can feel it coming. Just trying to pray against it. Hope you are all having a great week. Friday is almost here!
This week, my focus has been job hunting....again. I've sent about 25+ emails out to principals and such...expressing my interest in a job...any job...I'm capable of doing pretty much whatever they need. At this point, I'd teach Math if they'd let me (they'd have to be as desperate as I am....). Out of the 25-30 emails I sent, 2 people have responded - both with, "Thank you, but at this time we do not have a position available, but we will keep your information on file." Hey...at least they responded. There are a few positions I feel good about, but the outlook is grim around here for teachers. It's sad.
With the budget cuts going on, I'm hoping and praying to find something. I'm trying not to worry, but it's tough when I'm looking at our savings dropping every month....and that's our supplemental income. After it's gone....I don't even want to think about it. That's why I have to find a job. We have enough to make it to September...maybe October. I'm trusting that God is going to handle it. He has the right place chosen for me....He just has to work out the timing. I'm not above looking for a part time job, but I really want to get back into teaching or using my masters and working as a school librarian. As teachers, we need all the income we can get. Collen's insurance will change in August, so that's going to be extra money we'll have to find from somewhere, and with him getting older we could use the extra money.
On a happier note, Collen has officially spoken his first word. You all heard it with the "Momma" videos, but he is now...for real...saying Momma and associating it with me. And you have no idea how happy this Momma is to be hearing that little word coming out of his mouth! It melts my heart. Now we have to work on Da Da.
We planted a garden a few weeks ago. It's actually growing really well! It has been HOT here this week. Upper 90s all week long. I don't do hot very well. I'm not a summer girl. I don't like summer wardrobe. I'd much rather be in jeans and nice, comfy sweater than covers all the lumps and bumps motherhood has provided me. I hang out in a lot of dresses and skirts...sometimes capris. No shorts for me. And I don't do tank tops....and rarely a lot of t-shirts. I'm already wishing for fall.
Football has started up for Jeremy...summer work outs and practices. This means our schedule is flip-flopped. He is here during the day (most days) and then at school in the evenings. Not sure how supper is going to go...I don't like cooking for one, but I'm trying to stay motivated with the idea of left-overs. He does have Fridays off, which is great. It has taken some getting used to have him here during the day instead of later in the evenings, but Collen sure does enjoy it. My mom has been here with me this week, so we've enjoyed ourselves. I hope she'll make it common occurence!
I met a blog reader today - at Target. Isn't there where you normally see people who you know/who know you? Always nice to meet someone who is praying for us and reading about our ordinary )well...not-so-ordinary if you think about it) little life.
That's about it. Been a pretty quiet week. Please, please pray that something comes along on the job front. Pray that I'll leave it to God and trust Him to work it out. I tend to stress out....and I can feel it coming. Just trying to pray against it. Hope you are all having a great week. Friday is almost here!
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