Getting bigger!!

Reed is growing so fast and we have started trying new things with him. It’s fun seeing him do something new!

He’s been sitting in the bumbo for a while but is getting so much better at sitting like a big boy! 

Saturday he played in his exersaucer for the first time and he was definitely a fan!

And this is just picture I love! I love his profile and his sweet little nose! He fell asleep during tummy time while sucking his fist. Such a precious little guy!!!! 

Reed, we are enjoying watching you grow and learn new things!

Project 366: Week 6

 

Being a mom is the most important job.. but I have another one too

Hi friends! It’s no secret that I’m a working mom. I’ve also not hidden my feelings about my desire for more time with my children. This post tells you where we are today. :)

For those who are new visitors from SUYL, I’m mom to Ava (3) and Reed (4 months). I work full time as an accountant for a local utility company. My husband is a teacher and we just can’t stretch the money far enough without my income. I was incredibly blessed last year when Reed was born by getting to stay home with him for 12 weeks. The first weeks were a little hard because I went from being around people all day to spending my day with someone who could only cry, but by the end of the time, I was in a groove and LOVED it. I don’t think the desire to be with my children more will ever go away, but I have to count the blessings I DO have or else I would spend my time severely depressed.

It’s definitely hard juggling working and getting things done around the house. Our day starts around 5:30 when we hit the ground running and it’s late when we finally get to rest at the end of the day! I spend lots of my lunch hours running errands so that is one less thing to do when my babies are around. I also use my lunch hour to come home and get a chore done if needed.  We have gotten in a good system of menu planning and having dinners more or less prepped so that we can get home in the evening and eat at a decent hour, so the majority of the time can be spent with Reed and Ava. After dinner there is bath time and play time and bed time. In between it all, we find the time to grocery shop, pay bills, balance checkbooks, clean the house (once a week!), and many other things. I have to say that I’m blessed beyond belief with a husband who steps in a does any and every chore to make sure we all get lots of family time. And it also does help that Zach is off during the summer – though let me tell you how hard it is to go to work when my whole family is at home without me!!!

While I don’t get to be with my kids, I am SO thankful we have a wonderful place to send them. Our church has an elementary school and Ava started preschool there this year. She’ll continue there through 6th grade. They also opened an infant program this year which was a HUGE blessing and Reed started there in January. We love this school and our children are so happy and receive such wonderful care and instruction there.

And honestly, if I do have to work, I’m so glad I work with the group of people I do. I’m blessed to have co-workers that I consider friends because I know that isn’t always the case.

The hope is there that one day things might change for us, but until they do, I just count my blessings that since I need a job, I HAVE a job. It helps provides the needs we have, as well as a lot of wants.

I look forward to meeting any other working moms stopping by! I know it’s hard being at home with children all day, but it is a different kind of hard for a mom who works and then goes home to the most important job, taking care of my family!

{These faces are what get me through my day!}

Sick Reed!

Last week, Reed starting getting a yucky cough. We could tell he didn’t feel well, but he wasn’t too bad. Even so, my grandma offered to watch him on Monday so he could have some one on one care. He did great and I know she enjoyed the time with him. She offered to watch him again on Tuesday and we let her.

He seemed better Tuesday evening so we decided to send him to school on Wednesday. He came home that evening and we could tell he didn’t feel well, but it’s so hard to judge how bad he is when he goes to bed so early and we don’t see him awake for more than a couple hours. A lot of the kids at his school all were sick with the same symptoms and many of them visited the doctor to find out they just had colds. We thought it was the same case with Reed. Thursday we sent him to school and I got this video from his teacher.

Talk about breaking my heart! I called the doctor and thankfully they were able to see us a couple hours later. I picked him up and took him to the doctor. At this point, he wasn’t quite so sad, but you could tell he didn’t feel well.

Waiting on the doctor.

The doctor determined he had an ear infection, mild bronchitis, and an upper respiratory infection! :( poor little guy! He never ran any fever and it took him several days to get bad. I’m glad I took in him at the first sign of it being more than just a cold. He definitely seems much better and is almost back to his normal self! I’m glad the guy is feeling better. Sick babies are NO fun!

Happy Four Months, Reed!

Reed, how in the world can you already be four months old? I feel like I blinked and here we are. You are SUCH a joy, baby boy! You are incredibly laid back and just go with the flow. We love you SO much!

• At the doctor on 2/3/12, you weighed 15 lbs 7 oz.
• You wear Size 2 diapers.
• We are about to retire most of your 3 month clothes.
• You are laughing out loud a lot more and it is the cutest little sound ever.
• When you see someone you recognize, you get excited and start kicking your legs and arms.
• You have gotten good at grabbing things with your hands.
• You had your first sickness last week and were such a trooper even though you didn’t feel well.
• You are still sleeping well. Being sick messed you up a little but you are back on track.
• You eat 25-30 ounces a day.
• On 2/5/12, you tried cereal for the first time. You weren’t so sure what to think. I’m sure it will grow on you
  .
• You still love Ava. If she is around you, you look at her and only her.
• You smile a lot and you have the biggest wide open mouth when you smile.
• I love your little nose. It is one of my favorite features on you.
• You are starting to splash a lot during bath time.
• You love to hold onto our fingers and it melts my heart!
• You LOVE to eat your hands!
• You had your four month shots today and your daddy said you didn’t even cry!!

We love you SO much sweet little Reed!!!!It appears you aren’t going to be cooperative with me on this much longer!! :) HAPPY FOUR MONTHS, REED!!!!!

Cupcake suckers!

Or cake pops if you prefer. Cupcake suckers is what Ava calls them. :) Or I have a friend who refers to them as SOAS. ;)

Anyway, I in no way came up with the concept (duh), but enjoy making them and thought I’d share my tips. I think these are tons easier than just making cake balls. Having them on a stick makes them so much easier to dip.

So, make your cake. You can pick any flavor. I went with funfetti. While it’s still warm, break it up into a bowl. Add your frosting.Mix it all together. I used my Pampered Chef potato masher and it works wonderfully for this! Looks lovely at this point. Once you get to this point, I highly recommend putting it in the refrigerator or freezer. It’s much easier to shape and mold if it’s cold. Then shape it into balls or whatever shape you prefer. I did some Valentine’s shapes in this batch. Once they are shaped, I cover them and put them in the freezer. I let them get good and cold before trying to stick the sticks in and dipping them. They are 10x easier to work with after some time in the freezer. I put the sticks in mine and stick them back in the freezer before starting the dipping process. For the outside coating, you can use vanilla or chocolate almond bark or colored candy melts.Melt your coating per the directions. I add a bit of shortening to mine to smooth it out and make it a little more runny. While that is melting, I set up my workstation. Yes, that is a strainer! I needed something to put them in after dipping to avoid a flat bottom. This works perfectly and it is something most everyone already has on hand!

Ava dipped for me while I took pictures. Just take  your cake pop and swirl it in the melted coating. I also tilt the bowl to help get the bottom covered.   Then add your decorations and stick it in the strainer to dry. This is how Ava’s ended up. I was very impressed! Finished product!!! Normal round ones, hearts, and lips!

These are a fun and easy treat and everyone loves them! They are also great at satisfying a sweet tooth with a small portion! Have fun making yours!!!!

Project 366: Week 5