Number Eight
Lydia,
I find it strangely hilarious yet also unsurprising that you went to a concert with Baggins. Hopefully you had a good time! I understand the guilt of leaving the kids behind to do something on your own but it’s good to do that from time to time (in my opinion) getting to do things on my own usually makes me feel like a better mom in the long run. I am so happy to come back to my kids and it provides a nice reset of sorts.
Parenting is not for the faint of heart. There are lots of seasons where everything feels hard and even miserable. I am glad that this recent sleep regression is behind you and hope that it helps you get back into a better prayer routine and mindset!
I’ve been so exhausted and stressed lately–just the typical parenting challenges plus some other major stressors that will likely resolve in the next few months–but it has been pretty rough. I feel constantly at the end of my ropes and have not been as patient as I’d like to be. Alder is having a hard time, too, and his heightened aggression and whininess has been really hard to deal with. I am doing my best and it seems like things are getting a bit better.
Crocheting has been a nice way to decompress and relax at the end of the day. I had to unravel my blanket and start over with a different stitch but this time it’s going a lot better. I made a couple of raspberries which turned out pretty well, too! And by the way, I’ve seen your crocheted coffee bag and think it turned out great!
Kayaking is another thing I’ve been doing more and it is honestly one of my favorite things. There’s just something about getting out in the water under the sun and it’s a great blend of adventure and relaxation. Over the weekend my parents, Eliza and I took Alder and Poppy out kayaking for the first time! I was thrilled to take them out and they were really excited, too. Well, Poppy started getting a little upset towards the end of our time on the water, but other than that the kids were happy to be there and we all had a lovely time. The day made me feel so excited to take the kids on more adventures.
It will be a bit sad when the weather gets too cold for kayaking, but I recently learned about an outdoor ice skating trail not too far away. Maybe I’ll really embrace the winter wonderland of Michigan this year and try my hand at snowy activities.
When do you officially move to your house? I can’t wait to hear more about that!
Janie