Coming Out of the Fog

Baby P celebrated her first birthday a couple weeks ago.  It's hard to believe her first year went by so quickly.  It seemed just yesterday I was wearing her around town close to my body and she snuggled in like a little joey in her mama's pouch.  These days, she's still happy to snuggle, but not without poking at my face, playing with my jewelry or hair, or eventually twisting and turning to see the world behind her...

I am sad to see the baby phase over.  She is definitely going to be our last child so I do try to savor all the snuggles, chubby baby parts and milestones.  But I am glad to be moving onward with my life.  Just as Baby P started walking suddenly a couple weeks ago, I could feel myself coming out of that first-year fog.  Baby P has been sleeping through the night for months, so it hasn't been a sleep deprivation fog.  But it wasn't until her first birthday passed that I felt like I had the mental wherewithal to think about my future.

Our house is a wreck (toys for all ages in every nook and cranny of our little house), but I am slowly working on getting baby things out of the house.  This weekend, we donated our baby bouncer,  exersaucer, infant tub, and various other baby-related equipment to Goodwill.  Our house feels just a bit less cluttered.  Every time I spy a baby item that's no longer used, I mentally tag it for the next Goodwill box.

I'm looking forward to next fall when the two older girls will be at the same school all day long!  Just thinking about the possibilities for myself makes me excited.  Stopping in at the grocery store with just one child!  Woohoo!  Having large blocks of time to work out at the gym!!  Taking classes for myself instead of baby gym classes?!  Finally coming back to reading novels again?  I have no ambitious plans for my future (just yet), but even thinking about these small things in my near future feels pretty awesome.

In other news, big sister E is zooming off to become an independent little girl.  Girly-girl but definitely a bold tomboy as well who really wants to learn how to ride horses (!!! gulp).  In the meantime, the middle A is in need of extra-special attention these days as she enters her terrible 3s.  She is easily frustrated and breaks down in tears several times a day.  But when I am able to devote my full and undivided attention, she lights up from the inside.  I love seeing her like that and need to make those moments happen more often.

Overall, I am feeling pretty blessed these days.  Every day there are small challenges and tribulations.  But my children are healthy and so much fun these days, my husband is loving and fulfilled in his career, and I am finally at a place where I struggle less with my role as a mother and wife.  Finally.

I leave you with some pictures of spring in Oregon.  Who says it rains here all the time?