Christmas 2008

It was truly a wonderful Christmas. It was our first year as a family of four, and I feel blessed beyond measure when I think back now. It didn't get off to a flawless start, however, when Coley got an ear infection the Sunday before. Three days of scary high fevers, sleepless nights, and needy cries made things a little tough. But I know that it is just part of the parenthood journey. My children manage to find inconvenient times to fall ill. Last year, when Chris went to Orlando and the ice storm hit, Mia got really sick with a bad virus. With no power at our house or the doctor's office, we just toughed it out. Oh yeah, and I was 8 months pregnant with Coley too. So, when Cole got sick and we had to take him in on Christmas Eve Eve, I was not surprised to find the after-hours clinic closed for the Holiday a day early, and we ended up in the ER. The doctor reassured us that he did not have pneumonia (which was a fear of our pediatrician's, and why we took him in that night), and we went home. But, I digress. This was my post about Christmas!

This year, our church had a Christmas Eve experience, and we were so happy to get to attend. That was after a frenzied morning of cooking for dinner and wrapping presents, and it was a much needed time of re-focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas Eve is traditionally spent at Momo's house.

Kenny, Alyssa, Ana, Helen, and my Dad all joined the four of us and Momo. We ate a delicious dinner of smoked turkey (Chris had to go to her house at 3 am to get it started - and it was worth it!) and ham...plus a bunch of other great items. Then, after the dishes were cleaned, we started into the presents!


The highlights for us:
Chris - his helicopter from Brookstone - he and Kenny flew it all over the place, even hitting Ana in the eye

Mia - her Princess tent from my dad
Cole - his ride on/push train from Momo
Me - my new purse from Momo
After all of that plus dessert, we headed home...for Santa had a busy night ahead of him! We left Santa cookies and chocolate milk (according to Ruby from "Max and Ruby," chocolate milk is his favorite) and we left the reindeer food on the front lawn. We put the kids to bed, and Cole stayed in his long enough to let us fix the breakfast for the morning, assemble his train table and train, and wrap all the presents for the kids and each other. Of course, we got into bed at 1:15, and he was awake at 1:30 - still with a fever, and still really fussy. We brought him down with us and slept off and on until about 8:00.

Christmas morning was so wonderful! Mia was SO EXCITED to see if Santa had come. All she wanted was a singing Sleeping Beauty doll, and her little face was so thrilled to see it sitting there on the fire place. We opened all our presents and ate breakfast pizza. My parents came by for a brief time, and we spent the day playing and playing and playing.
The highlights for us:
Chris - I think it was his thin wallet
Mia - the singing Sleeping Beauty, of course - with the princess dress-up shoes a close second place
Coley - his dump truck - he will have to grow into the train table
Me - my earrings from New York - Chris had Megan pick them up for me when she was there :)
That evening, we went to Faye's house to see Tim, Jenn, and Sarah. It was a great day and a great evening. Even better, Cole slept all night in his bed (although not without an hour and a half of crying first - me going up every 15 minutes or so). Since he was finally fever-free, we knew he just had to tough it out.

The next day brought our third Christmas celebration. The Poseys all came over and we opened presents with them.

Cole slept through the opening ceremony, and awakened just in time for lunch of smoked pork tenderloin. Then, he had his own present-opening time.


The highlights for us:
Chris - I am guessing his gift cards
Mia - her Sleeping Beauty barbie
Coley - his much-needed clothes
Me - my gift cards, of course

After all of that was over, all four of us rested for quite awhile. It was an exhausting three days, and we needed some down-time.

All in all, this Christmas has been the best one I have ever had. Mia is at the age where everything is so exciting, and just having Coley here makes it feel complete. I know that this post is lengthy, but it is more for me and my memory. Sorry if I bored anyone! :) I just know that Christmas is supposed to be a time of togetherness and worship for our wonderful God. This year, it was exactly that for the Posey family. I hope that yours was just as remarkable.

Freedom...and Boredom

So, we have officially had our first day out of school due to snow/ice. And I was really excited about it this morning. Until I realized that I still was up at the same time (11 month olds do not exactly go back to bed just because it is a possibility)...and that Chris still had to go to work...and that I would probably be home-bound all day. Don't get me wrong, I have been rather productive (laundry, dishes, more laundry, etc.), but I get a little crazy just being at home. It reminds me of the first month or so of both kids' lives. We stuck to the house, since it was the middle of winter and RSV season, and I just felt cooped up and anxious. Today, I have so much I need to do, like Christmas shopping, and it is like my body knows that I need to be doing things so it leaves me feeling uncomfortable. Anyhow, I think I would be much less moody if Chris were here. But he, like most other people, still had to work today. Boo.

On a positive note, however, the weekend trip went well for Daddy and the kiddos. I got home on Saturday night, and both kids were in bed fast asleep. And it was wonderful to spend some time with friends and away from the house.

Right now, Cole is asleep in his bed for his second nap today. Mia, on the other hand, is throwing a fit in her room. She is still required to "rest" most days for at least an hour. It lasted about 5 minutes before she started yelling for me. Thankfully, Coley sleeps through her yelling. She will remain up there for the entire time regardless, so I may just go into the bedroom, shut the door, and fold laundry.

Oh, and a few more random things. Recently, I asked Mia what she wanted to be when she grew up. I knew that she might not even have a concept of the idea, but I wanted to see what she'd say. Her reply? A gingerbread man! :) HAHAHA! And for the record, I love the Oxford comma. You know, the one that is used in lists before the and. Reading sentences without it makes me feel weird, and even though it is grammatically acceptable, I don't like it.

That's all from the Posey household for now. On to fold some of that glorious laundry.

A Momma's Boy He Is

Well, here I am! I know that you have missed me, and I have missed you too! I have been reading, but not writing lately. I have been formulating blog posts in my head, but not taking the time to put them down. Anyhow, I am now.

Coley is a Momma's boy. I have always heard about the special relationship between mothers and sons. And I believe it now! I am sure that my working at the preschool has much to do with it. The fact that I am in there with him all the time (when he cries or eats, or when he won't sleep, or when I want to see him) probably also contributes to it. I often carry him on my hip, making copies or delivering things to classrooms. Most of the kids know him (although some can't get his name quite right..."Cool" is what one little girl call him), and he is happy to be my helper. He is truly a joy, and seeing his little not-so-toothless smile (4 teeth now) makes me happy in ways I never knew.

But having a Momma's boy comes with some strings. I can't miss bedtime. He will not go to sleep with a bottle. He also will not (usually) calm down in the middle of the night for anyone but me. Dinners out (I have only had two, I think, since he was born) are often ended abruptly, with my having to return home to feed him and put him to bed. And I don't mind it all in the grand scheme of things - it was my choice to be a nursing mom. But there are times when a glass of wine and an adult dinner with my husband would be awfully nice.

And all of this makes my over-night trip to Oklahoma City this weekend a little more than nerve-wracking. I may come home to a sleep-deprived husband and a son who has not slept or eaten in 24 hours. It should be really fun!

My Little Dancer

So, I have officially watched my daughter in her first performance. The studio performed at my great aunt's assisted living home this weekend, and it was pretty darn precious. As you will see, Mia was a little disoriented at the beginning, and the cuteness of it brought tears to my eyes! I know that I watched the entire song with a goofy-looking grin on my face. She loves to watch it on video and sing along with herself. Ahh...it's only just begun...and I love it!

Both Sides of the Coin

So, I feel like I have had the unusual blessing of experiencing three different work/kid scenarios. First off, for two school years, I was a teacher and dance team director. So, that was a full-time (plus some) job. Mia was in preschool every school day. It was really hard. I missed her in a way that I didn't know I would. While I enjoyed teaching, I felt like a piece of me was sitting about 4.5 miles away and I did not know what that piece was doing. Sure, I called every day on my lunchbreak that first year (while simultaneously pumping and watching Days of our Lives...I know you are impressed). But it never felt good when I would leave her in the mornings. Since I was teaching, I had summers off, so I did not have to take her to preschool and I was able to wear the stay-at-home-mom hat. I could pretend, for about two and a half months, that play-dates and afternoon swims were possible. And while I loved every minute of the past two summers, I knew that we could not afford for me to not work. So, I now have a job where I take my kids with me. They spend time in their respective classes (Mia more-so than Cole...he ends up on my hip about half the day) and I spend time in the office or helping teachers or doing other administrative duties. I know what a gift this job has been. Because while it is frustrating in many ways, I have my babies with me. I can see what they are doing at any moment. Two pieces of me are not 4.5 miles away, they are about 25-50 feet away.

But I think that I have the perspective to understand both sides of motherhood. For working moms, it is hard. Really, really hard. Not being with them all day and leaving them in someone else's care is uncomfortable and disconcerting. What if one chokes? What if one gets so upset that he can't sleep, and only mommy can comfort him? The good side of working is how thrilled you are to see them afterwards. And, even if it is not always pleasant (remember, I taught 9th graders), work gives moms a break. All moms need a break. Sure, the house cleanliness may suffer, but the time you do have with your children is quality...in order to make up for the lack of quantity.

Staying home is also tough. There were days this summer, with a 2 year old and a newborn, that we didn't even make it out of the house. And Chris would come home, and all I would want to do was go anywhere...go get gas in the car in 105 degree heat...just to escape for 5 minutes. There are times that you become resentful of the fact that you can't get a shower or a nap or a meal. Kids are needy, and your one, sole job is to fulfill their needs. So, I get that staying at home is a job. It is not not working. And many of the parents at our preschool are stay-at-home moms who bring their kids a few days a week in order to get a much needed break.

And then there is the third option - working with the kids. It is, like I said, a complete gift. And I would not trade it for anything right now. But, I also realize that it does not allow me the chance to miss them. It is just a part of adjusting to a new lifestyle and a new normal. And we are getting there...but I sure could use a trip to the mall (with money to spend, of course) solo! :)

Thirty-five Things (You Never Cared to Know)

1. I have a paralyzing fear of arachnids. I can't even type the specific name.

2. I wanted DeAnna to choose Jason.

3. I can still kick my face. Did it recently, and was very sore the next day.

4. I don't like steak.

5. Although I had fun in high school and college, it was nothing compared to the joy in my life right now.

6. I procrastinate.

7. I like sugar and cream with a little bit of coffee in the mornings.

8. Aside from my family (and not all of my family), there are only 2 people with whom I can completely be myself.

9. I do not cuss.

10. I get angry at smokers.

11. I tip well...usually.

12. I am insecure around new people.

13. I love to shop for my kids.

14. I can sing the entire intro song to Max and Ruby.

15. I wanted Will to win, and Katee to be runner-up. So, Joshua was a disappointment to me.

16. I am obsessive about having my nails painted. Since Coley has come along, that often doesn't happen as much as I want it to, and it drives me nuts!

17. I love to read.

18. I judge people. And I know that I shouldn't, but I do.

19. I do not think I am good with kids in general. I do OK with mine, however.

20. I know that I should want to exercise, but I don't want to.

21. I like to be in charge. I am a self-proclaimed "Bossy Pants."

22. I would go to Starbucks everyday if I could.

23. I am pretty darn excited for Thursday - the prospect of a new Office and a new Grey's makes me smile.

24. I prefer to write in a calendar as opposed to using my phone's calendar.

25. My favorite food is Italian.

26. I have never liked my legs.

27. I can hardly remember my life six years ago.

28. Medication works too well on me (unrelated to the fact that I can hardly remember my life six years ago - I am talking about small-time stuff like Tylenol PM or cold medicine).

29. I believe that a kidney stone is more painful than labor (with an epideral, mind you).

30. I hate buying/wearing jeans.

31. I cry at almost every episode of Grey's Anatomy and ER. And at almost every novel I read.

32. I tend to over-commit.

33. I want to read the bible, but I am overwhelmed. (I hope my devotion book will help with that feeling.)

34. I don't know how anyone could not believe in God after experiencing the miracle of children.

35. I am happy - genuinely happy.

Ahhhh....

Well, it has been an absolutely insane couple of weeks. I started my new job, and as with all new jobs, there are good and bad things. The good things are that I work with some really wonderful people, I am close to my kids (in a very literal sense), and I am growing to love all the other preschool kids. The bad things...well, they are just going to take some time to work out.

In the course of my first two weeks of school, I have hired three teachers and fired (sort of) one of those three. She didn't show, so I take it she was quitting anyway. It was a blessing, believe me! I have helped more children use the bathroom that I have ever thought I would help. And I mean really help. I have rubbed backs and patted heads, in an attempt to help sleepy babies take their naps. I have answered a million calls and emails - most of which amount to nothing. And I have conducted a fire and tornado drill - a difficult feat with 40ish children under the age of 5.

But I have also peeked in on Mia while she is in class, playing and oblivious to my watching. I have hugged and kissed her many times - in fact, every time I see her in the hall or outside. I have fed Coley everyday. I have rocked him to sleep and sat on the floor playing with him. And those things make it more than worth it.

Some other recent happenings...
1 - Mia started dance class. I will post pictures soon. But she is really enjoying it and I am too. She is taking from my dance teacher, which is pretty neat.
2 - Cole is sitting up alone. He loves for me to turn his tub of toys sideways so he can just dig in.
3 - Cole is almost crawling. He gets on all fours and rocks back and forth.
4 - Mia is singing all the time. Some of her favorite songs are "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid and "Mama Mia" from the movie. She also sings "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" with a twist...
Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily life is butter dream.
It makes me laugh every single time.

That's about all from us! I am so looking forward to the long weekend. Happy Labor Day!