Welcome Home!

John is most likely returning to work next week, so I'll get to phase back into being at home most days with the kids. (First I need to find a wonderful person to job share with, so send me resumes! It's a great flexible part-time office assistant job for a wonderful boss - a great find for someone with kids in school because it could be flexible around school hours. Tell your friends!)

Anyhow, some things have changed a bit since I was last spending weekdays at home. John's been doing an amazing job with the kids, but he does do things a bit differently. Here's what my children have learned:

(1) Meals are much tastier if they're had on the couch. They also apparently are much yummier if they're eaten directly out of Daddy's bowl. John tends to eat at the couch. Maybe because we have a tiny table with one chair taken over by Sara's high chair. Maybe because said table ends up being a dumping spot for clutter. I fixed myself lunch the other day while Sara watched closely, repeating "num num num" over & over. When I was done, she headed into the living room and patted the couch for me to hurry up.

(2) There are other ways to put a baby to sleep. I typically nurse Sara to sleep. John does not have the same, um, equipment as I do, and still Sara manages to get in a nap every day. Often even longer naps in her crib than she did on Mommy's lap. Maybe I'll have to give that a try, too - and actually have a few minutes to myself each day!

(3) Shoes now go on in the morning before cartoons come on. Due to a last-minute hunt for shoes and a coat that hadn't been forgotten in his cubby at school, the bus passed our home for the second (and final) time with no Liam aboard. Daddy had to hike to school with both kids, in the rain, because Mommy had the van (and car seats) at work. So John's implemented a new rule.

(4) Cloth diapers don't need to be worn EVERY day. Sara was wearing cloth diapers almost exclusively while I was home. We've bought two packages of disposable diapers in the last two months while John's been home. John has an active gag reflex, so I'm thrilled he's willing to change diapers at all.

(5) Matching is a relative term. John's been allowing Liam to dress himself in the morning. John steers him out of things that clearly clash, but John is also mostly colorblind. When Liam was in preschool, they encouraged us to let the kids pick out their own clothes to encourage independence. I hope Liam's kindergarten teacher is as understanding. Most of Sara's clothes are pink anyhow, so she generally matches. Or at least the clothes are clean.

(6) It's okay to prefer Daddy sometimes. Before I started working full-time, Sara had a very strong preference for Mommy. She would rarely choose to go to Daddy when I was around. I'm so touched to see her waddling down the hall after Daddy these days.

It's been a mixed blessing for John to be out of work for two months. He did an amazing job with the kids, got a peek into my life, and got lots of cuddle time with the kids. I got to wear clothes without baby food on them, talk to grown-ups all day, and miss my kids. I'm looking forward to more pajama days at home in my near future.

All About Mommy

I asked Liam (age 5) these questions on 3/1/09.


1. What is something I always say to you?
Hey Buddy.

2. What makes me happy?
When I bring you a present you really like.

3. What makes me sad?
When I do something bad.

4. How do I make you laugh?
By doing something funny.

5. What do you think I was like as a child?
Bald.

6. How old am I?
52. I mean 32. (I'm 33.)

7. How tall am I?
90 inches tall.

8. What is my favorite thing to do?
Spend time with me.

9. What do I do when you're not around?
I don't know because I'm not around. Play with Sara?

10. If I become famous, what will it be for?
Don't know.

11. What am I really good at?
Being a mom.

12. What am I not really good at?
Being a dad.

13. What is my job?
Working with Realtators.

14. What is my favorite food?
Ice cream.

15. What makes you proud of me?
That you're such a nice mom.

16. If I were a cartoon character, who would I be?
Tom (of Tom & Jerry).

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Go to the roller skating rink (We did, yesterday).

18. How are you and your mom the same?
There's a lot that's the same. We both have two eyebrows.

19. How are you and your mom different?
You have brown eyes and I have blue eyes.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She spends some time with me that's only me and her.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
That you're his wife.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
The park.

Blessed

Am I wierd that I'm thankful for both the obvious blessings and the supposed disasters that happen in my life?

John was laid off at his job last week, along with 1/4 of their work force. I'm thankful that now John gets a glimpse into my life as he stays home with the kids. I'm thankful that my boss needed extra help and I can now work 40 hours a week. I'm thankful that my boss is also my aunt, and a mom who allows me to be so flexible with my schedule.

I'm thankful that this happened when Sara's nearly one year old and can manage days with Daddy. I'm thankful Liam is such a big helper for Daddy when he gets home from school after lunch, and I'm thankful he can dress himself and brush his own teeth so mornings are easier for John than they once were for me.

I'm thankful that I was rear-ended while driving John's truck in early January, so we got a lovely check from the driver's insurance that's tiding us over now. I'm thankful it's an old beater truck that we plan to run into the ground, and don't need to spend the check on fixing a couple dents and paint chips. I'm thankful we were able to do some emergency repairs on the van with some of the money from the truck's accident.

I'm thankful for the giddy squeals Sara lets out each night when I come home from work, and that Liam says he'd rather have Daddy home because they can read through the Magic Tree House books together faster.

I'm thankful that John and I are really at peace with the situation, and are sleeping as well as our kids and our new schedule allow us to. I'm thankful for the prayers and thoughfulness of friends & famly while we adjust to this temporary change, until John either finds another job or his old work can re-hire.

It may seem a little backwards to feel so blessed in these times, but it's really made me appreciate all we do have. Love, laughter, and a blessed life.

Have You Ever?

I caught this on Tiff's blog, and it involves very little thinking on my part. So if my kids cooperate (i.e., don't fuss at me while I try to do this), I'll play along. You are supposed to highlight the things you have done, and supposedly this is a list of things that people should do in life before they die. The red items are what I've accomplished (so far!) in my life.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (on our friend's roof!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/ world
8. Climbed a mountain (if Sumas Mtn. counts)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (in the 3rd grade Christmas program. Back when they were called Christmas programs)
11. Bungee jumped (this item will never be check off on my list)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (sorry Mom! It was someone I knew. Does that count?)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (it doesn't take money)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving/ snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served in a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood/ platelets (Nope, I get nauseous. But I have volunteered & given out cookies & juice!)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar (nasty stuff)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Been to the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (One fish. And then I couldn't eat fish for nearly 20 years.)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Potpourri

I've been busy with our new schedule in the new year. I work two long days, and John's taken on additional work a few nights a week, so we don't see each other (or have help with kids) Monday through Thursday. It's temporary and necessary, and probably makes us appreciate each other more when we are all together. This means my house is (incredibly) messier, dinners are less homemade, and I'll probably be blogging less.

Here are a couple photos from the last few weeks, to catch you up on our lives.

Sara has started climbing everything, and is so fascinated with our dishwasher. Daddy wasn't watching quite as closely, and suddenly she was up & inside it.

Sara is definitely an avid eater. She can polish off a banana at speeds you wouldn't believe, and here you can see her munching on whole wheat pasta circles, and begging for more of John's Blizzard ice cream (he was too slow!).

Liam got some Christmas money, so we went to a great toy store in Lynden. He had his choice of so many great educational toys. THIS is what he chose. Yep. He's a five year old.

Liam was a shepherd in our church's Christmas program. He had several verses to read, and did a great job.

Look Out World!

Sara has figured out that she can walk, and is putting those feet to good work. Here's a video John caught this evening while I was at work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd6D3YWnc8k

My Two Oldest Kids Sledding

So I've been a bad blogger - it's been too long since I've put anything up on here. That's what happens when your baby has a fever & clings to you for a couple days straight - not a lot of free time to type (plus it's even more challenging when Sara tries to "help" me type). I'm not going to make up for it all tonight, but I'll try to put up this great video from a snowy Christmas day at my Mom's, plus a few photos.

We had a very white Christmas, up to two feet deep by some accounts. This, of course, meant that the kids (Liam and my cousin Jack, all bundled up in the photo), and the "big kids" (my husband John, Alison, Emily, Jacob & Jeff) had to go out and play in it. I love that John's right out there in the middle of the action, because (1) Liam loves playing with Daddy, and (2) it means Mommy gets to stay inside where it's warm & dry.

The video is from John's point of view as he and Liam go down the hill at Grandma's house on our sled. Well, John goes all the way down. Liam gets lost on the way, but both of them laugh through the whole trip. I'm so thrilled they captured this moment on video, so we can listen to the giggles over & over again.

Alright, it's too late at night for me to be fussing with a video that doesn't want to upload. So if you want to see the video, go to http://www.youtube.com/ and search for '4swedbergs'. Or see if this link works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N1Y3i1NVrM . Enjoy!