Our life | In Focus

Back to School, Back to School

// October 31st, 2009 // 2 Comments » // blog

please excuse this wonderful photo…but it does encompass what I do

So, Oct. 19th, the dreaded day, came and went without a hitch. Luckily, I’d had time to prepare for the first day/week back the two weeks before since we had Gavin start Daycare the two weeks previous to my return to work.  I felt prepared and anxious. I was ready to meet my classes (though I’d technically already met them the first week of school) and get back doing what I really do love. What I wasn’t ready for was being asked, around every corner, “So how hard was it to leave this morning?” “Do you miss being at home?” “Didn’t it stink to come back?” etc, etc, etc. I know all was with good intention.  People knew I’d had a baby, been home with him for his first two months and suddenly wasn’t going to be home 24/7. BUT, I kept feeling more and more like my feelings weren’t appropriate.  I didn’t cry when I left home that morning. I didn’t drag me feet as I walked from the house to the car and the car to the school and into my classroom.  I didn’t call to check on my son. I didn’t rush out the building at 3:30 on the nose to go get him.  Instead, I eagerly got ready for the day. I kissed my sleeping baby goodbye for the day knowing he’d be well cared for. I tidied up my classroom and made sure I was ready for the first day back.  I smiled and greeted students and teachers as I walked down the hallway. I am a teacher. Even though there have been times in college and after when I wondered how long I’d really do it, I find that it is where I belong.  Don’t get me wrong, I am LOVING being a mother. I LOVE my son more than I thought possible. I don’t want to miss out on milestones like him rolling over, crawling, walking, and talking for the first time. I WILL thoroughly enjoy my days off, weekends, and breaks.  BUT I have been blessed with the opportunity to touch the lives of so many doing a job that I sometimes complain about really do enjoy. So, “no, it wasn’t hard to leave this morning.” “No, I really don’t terribly miss being at home.” “No, it doesn’t stink to be back; I’ve actually been looking forward to it!” It’s okay to like your job, right? Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?

2 months

// October 21st, 2009 // No Comments » // blog

It’s already been 2 months.  Time is a funny thing. The past two months has seemingly flown by, yet it seems like we’ve been a family of three for much longer.  The last month has brought more exciting developments in our little guy.

He now smiles responsively.  We can often get him to smile using various tactics…Daddy “honking” Gavin’s nose, Daddy making car noises while playing with Gavin’s legs, well, Daddy making sound effects can often prompt a smile.  What I love about Gavin’s smile is that sometimes it’s almost like he’s holding it back…but you can see it coming in his eyes.  Then he lets one half start to grin…kind of a smirk…and finally he’ll erupt into an ear-to-ear gummy smile! It’s definitely something that doesn’t get old.  Every time he busts out one of these beauties, it’s as if it’s the first time I’ve seen it and I can’t help but to smile from ear to ear as well.  Baby smiles are just contagious!

Other than smiling, Gavin has also found his thumb.  We’re not using a pacifier with him, and I find it cute when he finds his thumb to soothe himself.  Maybe that’s not good and he’ll suck his thumb forever…but right now he uses it to calm cries and to get himself to sleep.  There have been a couple of mornings the last week where we go to get hi up and he’s laying in there, sleeping while sucking on his finger.  He doesn’t quite make a fist when he sucks his thumb, generally, but instead has his remaining 4 fingers palming/clawing his face! Again, pretty stinking cute .

He seems to be drooling like crazy, as well as making spit bubbles (as evidenced in this picture). Though the drool means messy wetness for most of the day, the spit bubbles crack me up!

This month we were able to make a few trips back home to visit.  We were even able to spend a Sunday at home and visit our church there.  It was nice to introduce Gavin to people who have meant a lot to us.  Gavin also started daycare twice a week, and he has handled it very well. He’s being as good there as he has been for us at home.

Another month has passed…and we are trying to treasure every minute as time seems to pass so quickly!

Sister Sister!

// October 15th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // blog

One of our goals in this website is to talk about relationships.  This picture speaks multitudes to this word.  Within it are so many: Mother-Son, Aunt-Nephew, Sister-Sister (remember that show?!?!…I know you’re singing the theme song right now.)  I love that we are genuinely smiling and interacting with each other.  Each relationship has a special bond…being a mother is something that is really unexplainable.

You can’t describe the tie between me and my young son, but hopefully you can see just a piece of it.  This little boy has changed me, changed my perspective, made life even more fulfilling.

My sister is in love with her nephew, also evident in the photo.  She loves to cuddle with him, was pretty excited to see him smile responsively the last time she saw him, and cringes when he cries.  I’m pretty sure he loves his Aunt Kenzie quite a bit, too!

It’s funny to think about the fact that I didn’t have a sister for the first 10 years of my life. I can remember a time without her, and definitely remember all of the years we’ve shared together.  Amazingly, the 10 year difference in age doesn’t adversely affect our relationship. Maybe it’s because I’d always wanted a sister and was stuck with blessed with two brothers prior to 3.24.93.  Maybe it’s because I was entrusted to care for her many times in my Jr. High/High School years.  Maybe it’s because she hung out at all of my games and with my friends and I when they came over (many of them could tell you some great stories of her during these times!). Whatever the cause, our sisterly bond is probably as strong as it possibly could be.  I am so proud of the young woman she is becoming and hope that I can be a great example to her as time goes by.

All of this in one picture? Absolutely.

and i’ll try not to make my next post all sappy…though i go back to school next week and Gavin’s 2 month birthday is Monday…so no promises