Transition Update

I have a few seconds of free hands and so I'm going to blog.  I've been thinking about it forever!  But all of the little people whom I adore, have taken all my extra time lately.  Them and sleep that is.  Little power naps here and there have become more important than updating my sixth child...the blog.  But I'm sure, with a few more weeks under our belts, I'll get back to our regular programming here soon.

As for an update on our family, I'll do my best to give you a drive-by re-enactment of the last few weeks because I'm also quite smelly and need a shower and by the time I do all of the that, Nathan will be hollering at me to eat again.  Maybe I didn't need to admit my state of cleanliness on the world wide web but, I thought I'd be honest.  I'm determined to be dressed in something presentable by the time my husband comes home today.  And stretchy yoga pants don't count (even though I wish they did).  Nothing else fits.  My maternity clothes look like a lame attempt at ghetto "bagginess" (not a word but you know what I mean) but my regular jeans are still a far cry from being worn.  Alas the middle stage...soon I can start running again so that I can get back into those jeans.  But it still takes some time.  What have I done all of the other times? I don't know.  I can't remember.  In fact, I can't remember anything right now.  Ha!  I'll have to rustle up some sort of outfit that doesn't look totally hideous.  Wish me luck.

But anyhoo, Nathan and I have definitely turned a corner.  I have figured out (for the time being that is) what he needs to get a decent nap.  So he's been sleeping tremendously better and crying much less.  Yeah!  He wasn't ever horrible.  Just a newborn.  Wait, he's still a newborn.  Okay, he was just a really new newborn with a mom who didn't know what he needed yet.  But now, he's doing a bit better because we're getting the napping thing down a little more.  Nursing is also going much better.  The soreness is pretty much gone and I've graduated from having to use the My Breast Friend Pillow all the time.  I like graduating from that thing.  Even though it helps so much, it's pretty embarrassing to schlep around places.


Case in point- A few weeks ago at church (my first Sunday back) I mentioned to Steve that I'd just nurse Nathan in the car whenever he wanted to eat.  He looked at me like I was insane and said, "Why?  Just go in the nursing room."  I then explained that I didn't want to walk into church with the My Breast Friend nursing pillow in my arms like an idiot.  He laughed and then said, "You really are going to go all the way to the car so you don't have to bring the pillow in."  I responded very emphatically, "Yes.  I am.  So there."  To which he responded, "No.  Just bring it in.  Nobody's going to care or think you're weird.  We go to a church where the kids outnumber the adults.  Everybody understands about these things."  Easy for him to say.  He doesn't have to carry it around.  But he was right.  It wasn't that big of a deal.  However, after that, I got smart and had one of the boys carry it in for me.  They didn't mind one bit.  For some reason, it was much easier to have them do it than me.  Less strange.  But like I said, I'm glad to have graduated.

Steve and I are doing well.  Steve's studying a few nights a week and on Saturdays but his class this semester is much more mellow than the past few.  So it's not demanding quite as much of his time.  He's signed up for an exam at the end of October that he needs to brush up on but, other than that, this is our most relaxed season of grad school in awhile.  Or maybe I'm just more used to it.  I don't know.  It seems better to me.  After this, we've got just one semester left.  His real job is busy with the start of school but, that will subside a bit more in the coming weeks too.  He and I have been staying up late so I can feed Nathan one more time before I sleep and it's been fun to get that time with him.  And when he's gone, Season 1 and Season 2 of Downton Abbey have been my companions.  Them and The Office (seasons 1-3).  

All of the kids are doing well.  Things are wild here at times for sure but, still doable.  I keep telling myself that I just need to lower my standards sometimes so that we can all reach the standard I've set with smiles on our faces but I'm stubborn and proud.  And I want things done they way they should be done.  You'd think I'd have learned by now.  This scenario especially comes into play when Steve is gone studying and I'm managing the evening or Saturday by myself.  Sometimes I find myself pushing them all through a certain agenda and then there's a lot of tears in the end (even from me).  I need to remember that all of us need more grace right now.  All of us.

Awhile back I asked a friend who had five children what made them decide to go for a fifth and she said something I've never forgotten.  She said, "It's hard for the first two years but then, you think, hey this is hard now but, we've got this whole other person for the rest of their lives.  We can do these crazy two years.  It's worth it."  That's kinda how I feel right now.  It's crazy.  I don't quite know how to get everything done and get to every person.  I feel like everyone is clambering for my attention and it doesn't stop until I shut my eyes at night.  But I'm trying to remember the long view.  There's a precious, new little life we've been given. He's got his own unique personality with strengths, weaknesses and things for us to be proud of.  This time will fly fast.  And having another eternal soul added to our family in the long-run is just wonderful.  We'll all make it just fine.

So there it is.  Nothing special.  Just didn't want to leave you all hanging for too much longer.  We're transitioning.  We've turned a corner and soon, we'll be much more comfortable in our new skin as a family of seven.  And I know this because God is faithful.  He always is.