One of the big things emphasized while I was going to school for my education degree was reflection. I have found myself doing that a lot with my parenting. I keep coming up with things that I would like to try differently with Laura, or do differently with Warren, or things that I feel I am doing well as a parent. With the weather getting nicer this week, I was able to get out last yesterday and today with the kids. Well, yesterday with just Laura. I am finding that I need to either find from last year or buy some more outdoor toys for her. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll have a playset this summer. However, that is still a ways out. Watching Laura play today compared to what she was doing last summer was amusing. She is doing so much more. She has also gotten bigger (as kids tend to do) so she is able to do more. But while all that is changing, she is still the same in other ways. She is cautious about the step out front. She won’t go far from me. She still cries when it is time to come inside. As Mom pointed out while she was here, the gate at the top of the stairs will be more for Laura than Warren this summer. It may be all I can do to keep her from going outside by herself some days. I learned today that I will also need to lock the front door so she won’t go out alone. She can pull the handle on the door quite easily.
In other news, it seems like we will be moving forward with the basement this year. We had a friend who is a general contractor come out to the house yesterday to give us an estimate. While I realize that it isn’t firm and things can change yet (nothing in writing), it is so close to happening. We need to take care of a few bills first, but once those are taken care of we should be able to move forward. The current plan is to have Troy (contractor) do the framing and drywall for us. We’ll do the painting, trim, and flooring on our own. I am so anxious to get going on it. I am ready to have our room to ourselves again. I think Warren will do better in a room of his own too, instead of being in with us.
Speaking of the little boy, he is now rolling both directions very easily. He will roll all around the living room. The gate at the top of the stairs is back up so I don’t have to worry about him rolling down the stairs. Neither one of us would be real thrilled if that happened. He has two teeth in (both on the bottom). I think top teeth are getting close. He is getting bigger each day. I feel like I am losing my baby boy already. :(
I know so many women gripe about their husbands. Robert is far from perfect (as am I). However, I am so blessed to have him in my life. I honestly don’t know what I would do without him. His day started at 4:30 this morning. Just as he finished up stuff for work, Warren was up. Robert stayed up with him so I could sleep. After working a full day and getting the oil in the car changed on his way home, he immediately jumped into the daddy role. He brought Warren into the house while Laura and I stayed outside. He washed up the dishes, unpacked the dishwasher, and reloaded it. He also took out the garbage that was full. I know he is tired, and yet he is still taking the diapers downstairs to get them started in the washer. All of those little things really add up. I know that if it all fell on me, things wouldn’t get done nearly as much as they should. Like I said, he isn’t perfect and neither am I. We have our disagreements, he does things that I feel are “wrong”. But in the end, I’d say we are perfect for each other. That is what truly counts the most.
Tomorrow will be a full day for the kids. We have coffee in the morning, then we are heading to the Mall of America with Mandy. I am not sure what time we’ll be back. I would really like to get a new pair of shoes, or two. I know they aren’t in the budget though. :( Saturday I have another scrapbooking day planned with Mandy. I don’t remember if Jess will be joining us for it or not. I haven’t heard from her yet. I know that it will be nice to get out and recharge before the craziness of Dance Theatre resumes next week.
Speaking of Dance Theatre, I haven’t said anything about how that has been going. My kids never cease to amaze me. We are usually out the door around 9 or shortly after. We get to the box office and are in there until 2. On Friday I was in there a little later since I had to deal with a deposit and the money over spring break. During the long hours/days, the kids have been awesome. Laura plays with some of the toys I bring with. I make sure my iPod is charged and ready to go for the day. She spends a lot of time watching the Dora movies that are on there and the various games. Warren is really good about going with the flow. He just hangs out with whoever grabs him from me (which is more than ok with me) and then sleeps in the snuggli that I have. Laura sometimes will crash in the car on the way home, but she will still nap when we get home. I have learned to just let her sleep until she is done sleeping. If she gets short on sleep, her days start even earlier, as in 5:15am. Yes, she is up until 9 or 9:30 then, but if she will sleep past 5:30, it is worth it for one week. Laura is definitely tired by the end of our week in the box office, but she is always so well behaved while we are there. She gets whiny at home, but at least publicly she acts like an angel.
Time to wrap this up and head to bed. Tomorrow will be a big day for the kids. I will need to be rested to keep up!