Lessons In Life

Our cat Polly isn't doing very well.  I am afraid this is the end for her.  She is sleeping a lot, only coming out for a small drink of water but she is not eating.  After years of hyperthyroidism she is now going through renal (kidney) failure.  When she was first diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, I was told that this would probably be how "it" would happen.  I am just glad she is sleeping so much and while she doesn't look like she feels well, she isn't suffering so badly that I feel the need to intervene with the process.  I was with my childhood dog when she was put to sleep and that experience has weighed more heavily on me than any other experience with loosing a pet.  While it does make things go quicker for them, I do not really think it is peaceful.  I will do it if she is really suffering but letting nature take its course would be ideal...  We'll see what happens over the next couple of days.  

In the meantime, we are using this as an opportunity to teach Ayden more about death.  He has a pretty good idea from playing with bugs over the years.  Last Summer he liked to "catch" dead bugs the best because they were so easy to pick up.  We do not feel like death is something that should be kept from a child.  The way we see it, death is just as much a part of life as living.  It is sad but not a bad thing. We are hoping that the last gift that Polly will give our family is a lesson for Ayden about death and its true meaning.  

As for me, I am so sad to be loosing my very first baby (I got her when I was in the 8th grade). I wanted a lap cat and that she was and then some. She has been the most cuddly cat I could have ever asked for!  On the flip side, she has had chronic vomiting for years with her hyperthyroidism and since the renal failure began to set in she has been urinating all over the house.  Keeping it all cleaned up has been a lot to keep up with on top of everything else we have going on.  Not to mention, the house now smells like cat pee. I think this sort of thing happens toward the end of a life to pair some relief with the grief.  Nature always finds balance. We had a scare with her a couple of years ago and I was NOT ready. I followed my gut and refused to have her put down on the spot.  I brought her home and she made a full recovery within days. This time it feels so different... like it really is time.  I have had SO many wonderful years with her and she has been an amazing pet.  I only hope she can continue to be peaceful as she goes through it all.

We have been keeping ourselves busy so I can be distracted from what is going on with her.   I put up a small clothes line in the yard and Ayden has excitedly taken on the job of clothes pin clipper.  

More life lessons!

Logan has mastered the pincer grasp!  He was eating his peas with no problem at dinner tonight.

This boy is constantly bringing me flowers! His daddy has taught him well.

Another life lesson that will do him well.

We took TWO walks today.  It feels great to get out and get moving in the fresh air.  Logan rode in the Ergo for our morning walk and Ayden did for the evening walk.  The added weight kicks the exercise benefits up a notch for me which is a bonus.

We have a similar day on tap for tomorrow.  Another low key and Polly comforting day.

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Returns - UGH"
Two years ago today: "Homemade Glass Cleaner That Really Works"
And three years ago today: "I'm A Mommy On Mother's Day"

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Amazing Boy

This boy has grown up so much recently!   We have been watching videos from a year ago and can't believe how much his language has developed and how perceptive he is. He remembers the tiniest details and is an absolute sponge. He is memorizing books and reading them to Logan, hears a song once at story time and sings it all week. He amazes us every single day. 

While he does seem so big all of a sudden, there are still some little boy things that I am holding onto!  

1) He calls windshield wipers "whipper wipers"

2) Potatoes are "tatoes."  For example, Mr. Potato Head is "Mr. Tato Head"

3) He still says "Lello" for yellow

4) I hear him say, "I need you" at least once a day

5) He still loves to snuggle when he wakes up from naps. I LOVE the days when Logan is asleep during this time so I can sit with Ayden and soak it in. 

I spoke yesterday about how Logan's first year is flying by and time is flying by just as fast with Ayden!  A few of our playgroup friends are even registered for preschool and will be attending in the Fall. How is he old enough for his friends to be in preschool already?  He still has his moments, as most 3 year olds do, but he really has grown into such an amazing little boy!  

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "He Fed Me Like An Airplane"

Two years ago today: "Taking Initiative"

And three years ago today: "A Necessary Evil?"

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Happy 8 Months, Logan!

This little sweetie is 2/3 of a year old...

Read about logan at 7 months here.

I'll admit that makes me a little sad. With all we have going on, his first year is FLYING by. We try and do our best to savor it but it still feels like a blur. Yet another reason I am so glad I have put forth the effort to blog about it all. 

Logan is a fast crawler these days. He pulls to stand all the time and even will walk with anything he can push along. He has two teeth and took FOREVER to cut them. We recently discovered clove bud essential oil and use it on his gums wherever they seem to be irritated and it really seems to help (I tried it before giving it to him and it gives the same numbing sensation as orajel.  Who knew?? We use doTERRA brand oils and dilute it 50/50 with fractionated coconut oil).  He babbles in all kinds of consonant combinations and though "dada" came before "mama", as of right now, whenever David encourages him to say "dada," Logan smiles and says, "mama."  I'm not going to lie, I like it ;). He does not say it referring to me quite yet but I have a feeling it is on the way. If we ask, "What does a fish say?" He will open and close his mouth like an adorable little fish.  He does the same "fish face" for kisses.  If he wants us to pick him up he will crawl over to us and sit at our feet.  When we say, "up?" he will extend his little arms so we can pick him up.  

His relationship with David has blossomed this month.  David can get him back to sleep now if needed (which is AWESOME for me) and he lights up whenever he sees David in the morning or when he gets home from work.  

Dislikes: being tired, having a dirty diaper, having his hands/face wiped after meals (it is fine any other time for some reason), and his least favorite thing of all being put in his car seat anytime after 7:00.  He'd MUCH rather be snuggled up in bed! 

Likes: Splashing in the dog water, taking baths, anything that resembles a stick (actual sticks, straws, the long tinker toy pieces, wooden pegs, etc), the pets, turning off light switches, being worn, banging on Ayden's new drum set, using the bar stools, the bottom step or the dishwasher door to stand up and play, being tickled, lots of kisses, the list goes on and on.

While the likes list is still much longer than the dislikes list, Logan has cried more in the past month than he EVER did as a newborn.  In his first 3 or 4 months he would literally go days without full on crying.  He may have whimpered or whined here or there to let us know that needs needed to be met but it took a while for him to escalate.  Now that he is mobile and more in tune with his environment, he is making up lost time in the tears department.  He cries several times a day now but luckily he gets happy as soon as we pick him up.  On the flip side, he is FULL of personality.  He doesn't know a stranger and squeals in delight just as often, if not more, than he cries.

Read about Ayden at 8 months old here.

Life definitely got more hectic over the past month with the teething and the crawling and everything else.  We are still adjusting to the new level of crazy but whenever there is crazy, there is fun!  The boys are starting to play more and Logan is building up his strength and balance skills which makes him more sturdy when they do play.  Ayden has been a big help and alerts us when Logan is doing or has something he shouldn't. He asks us if toys are big enough for Logan to play with before sharing them and just really cares about him.  That is not to say that he doesn't still have "moments" where Logan is concerned but we can tell that there is lots of brotherly love between these two.  

The boys napped at the same time today.  Logan woke a little early from his so I brought him out with me where he fell back to sleep.  I'm on the go so much around here that Logan and I don't get to share these special moments as much as Ayden and I did (at least not during the day when I am awake to enjoy them) so I put everything on pause and soaked it in.  It was amazing.

I say it every month and I'll say it again, Logan has been a perfect fit.  He balances everything out and we just don't know what we ever did without him.  He is amazing.

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Choosing Happiness"
Two years ago today: "Mother's Day #2"
And three years ago today: "Daddy Day"

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Fly By

Today was playgroup day!

We always look forward to visiting with or friends. I usually stop by the grocery on our way home so by the time we leave there, get home/unloaded, eat lunch and get Ayden down for his nap, the whole day has practically passed us by!  Mondays really fly by around here. I was able to put the house back together after a whirlwind weekend which was my biggest priority for the day so I'll call that a win. 

Hope everyone had a happy Monday!

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Join A CSA"

Two years ago today: "When We Medicate"

And three years ago today: "Take Me Out To The Ballgame"

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Mother To Two

This was my first Mother's Day as a mother of 2 children and it was very... mom like. Logan, at 8 months old, had his first bout of tummy troubles and spent his day either crying or asleep on me in the Ergo.  And I would not have had it any other way.

We did a couple of fun extra things to celebrate:

Picnic breakfast outside of our favorite bakery.

Family trips to Home Depot and the Farmer's Market.
(We'll take what we can get as far as family outings go these days...)

Dinner with each set of our parents and my sister's family.

This has been the most challenging year of my motherhood journey thus far and also the most challenging year as a person in general. It has also been the most fulfilling and rewarding year. I am in that season of life with young children where you want to pull your hair out half the time yet you wouldn't change a thing.

I love how no matter what kind of day we have had, I crawl into bed with Ayden to kiss him goodnight and he wraps his little arms around my neck and pulls me in so tight. In those moments I love how Logan likes to play so gently with my necklaces when I wear or hold him and how he bashfully buries his face into my neck when someone is talking to him. These boys need me so much and while there are days where I can feel tired or worn down, at my core I LOVE being needed so fiercely. There will come a day when they don't need their mother so much and I am in no hurry for that.

In a child's world, Mother's Day is just like any other. They need me each and every day and I need them too just as much. 

I hope all of you mother's out there got to have quality time with your babies today, no matter how old they are!

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Tips For Window Boxes"

Two years ago today: "Take A Break!"

And three years ago today: "Kindness All Around"

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Little Volunteer

The boys and I helped raise money for St. Jude's Children's Hospital today!

The pet store where I worked while in college puts on promotional events twice a year and I always volunteer and run a tie dye T-shirt station. All proceeds from the T-shirts go to St Jude's. 

I wasn't sure how it was going to go with having both boys with me all day.  Ayden did GREAT and Logan just hung out on my back and slept most of the time.  He had a rough night last night so I think a day with lots of baby wearing was just what he needed today.  It allowed him to really catch up on his sleep!

Snack time.

Watching the races!

Any long time readers remember "Little Miss?"

Ayden found a cave under the T-shirt table.

Petting zoo.

While we were having all that fun, David and his dad were putting up the rafters for our front porch!

LOVE it!  So many memories to come on that porch...

The view of our house from my parents' yard.

~Sarah

PS.  Happy 8 month birthday to Logan!  We are having a jam packed weekend so his 8 month update will be up on Monday :).  He did learn a new trick today that I'll share in the meantime:

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "My Mother's Day In Photos"

Two years ago today: "5 Mother's Day Gift Ideas {and a bonus tutorial}"

And three years ago today: "Moving Right Along"

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Drummer Boy

The boys and I went to a couple of garage sales this morning and look what we found!!

We were planning on getting him a set in a year or so.  We got a deal on this one so I couldn't pass it up!

He couldn't stop smiling.  And he was so grateful. SO cute.

This little one officially cut his second tooth in the night.

See it in there??
And he's been exploring biting.  Not so fun for Mommy...

Big helper!

Little MacDonald had a farm!
I picked up that big basket today to for $1.

Ayden helped David mow after dinner and I cleaned up the kitchen and played with this little one.

He loves his brother but has so much fun when he gets to explore on his own.

~Sarah

Flashback!  Here's what we were up to one year ago today: "Dancing In The Rain"
Two years ago today: "5 Happy Things"
And three years ago today: "Off To Dreamland"

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