Monday, December 22, 2008
So, I'm back from my blogging hiatus. There are so many things to catch up on. Here are a few highlights.
- I am once again working as a full-time legal assistant for a small firm in Salem, VA. It is hands down the best job I've ever had. God has definitely blessed in this area.
- Grant started preschool at South Roanoke United Methodist.
- After several ear infections in a row, Ben has finally had tubes put in his ears.
- Chris completed his move into a commercial store.
The boys have adjusted to our new schedule even better than I could have hoped. My new job is absolutely wonderful. It is nice to feel like I am genuinely valued and that I have something to offer. I even have my own office! Not a cubicle - AN OFFICE! This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but I for one have lived in a cubicle for most of my adult life. It's not all that fun. They are an amazing group of people to work for.
Grant has officially crossed over into big boy status. He loves going to preschool. He has a wonderful teacher, Ms. Bridget, who he absolutely adores. He talks constantly about his new friends, Conner and Caroline. He sang his little heart out last Friday in his Christmas program. He was such a handsome little man! He rocked the baby Jesus, stomped like a reindeer, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, and by the end was making his funny faces for everyone. I thought he would get the typical Grant "deer caught in the headlights stare" once on stage, but he didn't. He was so proud of himself. I was a little sad in the beginning when I looked around and saw all of the grandparents and families there, and it was just me, Chris, and Bean, but I guess that's just part of living away from your family. As soon as they opened the curtains Grant was looking around in the crowd for us. Upon spotting us he started waving frantically and smiling. I was definitely a proud mommy! Since starting preschool Grant has just bloomed. We see more of his personality everyday. He has such an imagination and is so creative. I love talking to him about his day. I love that he's experiencing new things and meeting new people.
After doing some research about Grant's allergy medication, I talked to his doctor about taking him off of it. I thought it may be to blame for some of his aggression and behavioral issues. He had been taking Zyrtec since he turned 2. It seemed like his behavioral issues really started around the time he turned 2, but I just figured it was typical two-year-old behavior. His doctor said that they only way we'd know was to take him off of it. Well, I did and within a week my sweet, loving little boy had returned. I couldn't believe what a difference it made. There for a while I was about at my ropes end when it came to his aggression issues. He's been off of it for three months now and we're loving life. He's such a sweet little man. He consistently says "please" and "thank you" and just out of the blue will give hugs and kisses and tell us he loves us - Bean included. He's very gentle with Ben and very attentive to helping him out. He had an allergy attack about a month ago and I decided to try him on Claritin. It wasn't but a week and he was just crying at the drop of a hat over nothing at all. After being on the Claritin for a couple of weeks, I took him off and he returned to himself again. It's amazing what medication can do to a little one.
Ben is 20 months going on three years old. I swear the kid thinks he can do everything that big brother does. He's amazing. He blows our minds everyday with the things he comes up with and can say and do. He even talks in sentences already. His most frequently used phrases/words are "here go" (interpreted: "here you go"), "thank you." "pease," "I wud that" (interpreted: "I want that"), or "I wud sum." His latest is singing the theme song to "Caillou" (Grant's favorite cartoon). He's just the cutest! I was saying to Chris last night that even though Ben was a bit of a surprise for us, I can't imagine our lives without him. Our family definitely feels complete with him in it. He keeps us all laughing 24/7. Good old Bean!
In November I traveled to Pigeon Forge and met up with my great friends Kim and Susan for an all girls scrapbooking weekend. I have to say that this was the most fun I have had in a long time. It was incredibly relaxing to have an entire weekend to myself to do what I wanted, when I wanted. I got a lot of scrapbooking accomplished and had so much fun. However, I didn't get to catch up on my sleep because of someone (who shall remain nameless) sawing some serious logs. LOL! So, we're headed back to Pigeon Forge in March for another long weekend. I can't wait!
We put our Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving Day. Ben got the pukes that Friday, I had them Saturday, and Grant had them on Sunday. That was definitely an eventful, laundry filled weekend. Ick. Believe it or not, it was still a somewhat relaxing four-day weekend.
We carried on my mom's tradition of making roll-out sugar cookies for Christmas. We had a blast. Ben didn't do much cookie cutting but loved playing in the flour. He was covered with it. We had the most fun icing the cookies. (I wish we could have made it to the cookie baking extravaganza at mom's last night with you guys, Kimmie! I would've loved to have had me some Giovanni's with my cookies. Mmmmmm.) I also tried my hand at making old fashioned hard candy. Five batches turned out good and I only messed up one. Cotton Candy is the best flavor. It is delicious!
I love this time of year! Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. Now that I have kids it's even more exciting. Grant and Ben sat on Santa's lap last Friday evening. Grant wasn't scared of Santa this year and actually told him he wanted a Lightning McQueen car (which I hadn't bought and had to run out and get - eeek!). Ben didn't cry but just looked at Santa like "who the heck is this man?" We're going to do our Christmas Day with the boys on Christmas Eve morning since we'll be traveling to Ohio on Christmas Day. I finished my wrapping last night and got so excited about the boys opening their gifts. I can't wait to see their faces! We have to make some Christmas cookies tomorrow evening to leave out for Santa and Grant insists on getting the reindeer some carrots. He cracks me up.
I'm looking forward to a long weekend. The firm I work for is giving us three days off this week and two days at New Year's. Absolutely the best!
I guess we'll be seeing everyone in Ohio later this week. Can't wait! Relax and enjoy the time with your families. We love and miss you!
Love,
Chris, Jen, Grant and Ben
Monday, August 18, 2008
The final weeks of summer are closing in on us, and I find myself wishing for more time. The next few weeks are going to be pretty crazy for our family. Chris is in the midst of moving his entire store to another location (combining with another store), Grant starts preschool on September 3rd, and I begin work at my new job on September 8th. I think I'm nervous enough for all of us.
Chris stays exhausted these days, and we don't get to see him very much. God bless him. He's such a hard worker and does a great job providing for our family. He's such a trooper. Even when he gets home in the evening worn out, he asks what he can help me with knowing that I'm tired from going all day with the boys. "Stay-at-home," I've learned, doesn't by any means mean "bored-at-home." He will never understand how much it means to me that he is willing to help out. Yeah, I'm pretty proud he's my husband!
Grant is officially a big boy! Potty training finally took and he's going #1 and #2 in the potty. He rarely has accidents and stays dry most nights. Going #2 on a big toilet is still iffy, but he's working through it. He's so proud of himself - as he should be! It's soooo nice to not have to change Pull-Ups, or to buy them for that matter. He's the cutest thing ever in his big boy "unawears." He's still as excited as ever to start preschool. He asks about it at least once a week. Kathy (the boys' new babysitter) invited Grant to Vacation Bible School a couple of weeks ago at her church (she was also his teacher), and he had an absolute blast. She wanted to get to know him better, and we both agreed that would be a good opportunity. He had so much fun! He loved painting, making crafts, playing on the playground, and playing with the other kids. It was a good trial for him as to what the structure of preschool will bring. She said he did wonderfully and was the sweetest one in the class. She commented on his good manners and willingness to share and to get along with others. I'm so glad! He seems to really mesh with her and loves playing with her grandkids (we do play dates every now and again).
Bean is still our lovable, huggable, constant-moving, Bean. There are no more traces of babyhood, and I do believe he's trying his best to quickly surpass toddlerhood and move straight into big boy status. He loves his "budda" and mimics everything he does. It amazes me the things that Ben can do at 16 months that Grant didn't do until 20-24 months. He's definitely a motivated little boy. He's not happy unless he has a big boy sippy (no handles on his cup, please) just like Grant, has a fork to eat with just like Grant, and gets a jelly bean like Grant does every time Grant goes potty. He's such a little man! He's the most cuddly little thing. However, I rarely get to cuddle him because he never stops moving. He keeps me on my toes but still is as good natured as ever. He loves making us laugh. If we laugh at something he does, he will do it 50 times again just to keep us laughing at him. He's already a "class clown." I see many parent/teacher conferences in our future.
Ben has yet another ear infection so we are off to see the ENT this week. Yes, they tell me he will need tubes as well. The thought of surgery still scares me, but tubes did wonders for Grant so I'm sure they will save Bean from a lot of antibiotics and pain in the future. Every time I take Ben to the doctor for an ear infection they ask, "does he go to daycare?" When I say "no," they say "well, he must just have short Eustachian tubes." Laughable.
As I said before, I will be starting work on September 8th. I'm so excited about this new job. I will be working for a smaller firm. My interview with them was probably the most laid back, positive interview I've ever been on. I've heard wonderful things about them, and from what I've heard thus far, they are very family oriented and flexible. What a blessing!
I'm still extremely bummed that I can't keep staying at home with the boys because this summer has been absolutely wonderful. I have to say, I'm probably the most content now than I have ever been. They make me laugh everyday, several times a day. There's nothing like taking picnic lunches to the park, going for walks, making crafts, playing in the pool, reading a book, going to story time at the library, or just hanging out at the house with my boys. My cup runneth over!
On a personal note, I'm finally taking some initiative to lose this stinkin' weight. I'm down 17 lbs. and even though I still have a lot to go, I'm motivated to do it and know I can. I don't want to turn 30 years old next year and still be fat and feel miserable about how I look. What a struggle! I know I can do this! Look out! LOL!
I hope everyone is doing well. It was nice to see everyone a couple of weeks ago, and, as always, I found myself wishing we had more time to spend.
We love you!
Jen
Monday, May 26, 2008
We've been enjoying a long, lazy weekend here at home. I thought I'd post some new pics of the boys. Have a wonderful Memorial Day everyone!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Our friends and neighbors, Heather and Mark, told us about this cute little amusement park in Blowing Rock, NC called Tweetsie Railroad. Knowing Grant's love of trains right now, we thought this would be the perfect time to take him. So we decided kind of last minute to leave Friday evening, stay overnight, go to Tweetsie on Saturday, and return on Sunday morning. I had so much fun just being with my family, no phones, no outside distractions... just us. It was a much needed breath of fresh air. The rides at Tweetsie were age appropriate for Grant as well as Ben. They both got to ride quite a few rides, see lots of animals, and ride a huge locomotive (however, they didn't like the cowboy and Indian gunfight on the train). Grant has always been quite cautious so I didn't know what kind of rides he would really like. He liked the smaller, slower rides, of course, but didn't much care for the faster, get-your-belly kind of rides. Chris got him on the Tweetsie Twister, and while he wasn't horrified, I don't believe he liked it very well. Later, I got him on the Tilt-a-Whirl and he screamed in horror the entire time. He definitely hated that one. My stomach didn't like it so much either. Ben, on the other hand, is our little daredevil. He rode all of the rides with Grant and was dying to get on the Tweetsie Twister. So, Chris took him on the Tweetsie Twister. The look on his face was priceless! It was kind of in between sick and shock, but Chris said that when they went to get off of the ride that he acted like he didn't want to get off.
Later in the day Ben wound up with a fever and fell asleep in the stroller. I figured he had an ear infection and was just going to take him to the doc on Monday when we returned. By early Sunday morning his fever had reached 102.8, and he was miserable. We were planning on grabbing some lunch and then heading back to VA. We were all eating our food when I noticed that Ben was grunting like he was trying to fill his diaper. He kept eating, so I just figured I'd go change him when he was finished. About ten minutes later, he started acting strange even though he still kept eating. I picked him up, fed him a few more bites of applesauce and noticed that his fingernails were purple and his lips were blue. Since Grant has horrible breathing problems every time he gets a cold, etc., I just figured it was the same with Ben. I thought that maybe his blood oxygen level was low or something. We immediately left and took Bean to the emergency room. By the time we got there his fever was up to 103.3 and he was very lethargic, but his color had returned to normal and he was breathing fine. He does have a double ear infection and the doctor didn't know what would have caused his lips to turn blue. In hindsight, I figure now that he must have had something caught in his throat since he didn't ever dirty his diaper. Dummy me, never even thought about something being caught in his throat since he still kept eating. I figure that maybe when I picked him up and fed him some applesauce it helped to wash whatever it was down. All I know is that it scared Chris and I to death.
The boys were exhausted and slept almost the whole way home. We had a blast in NC, but were ready to sleep in our own beds again. Today, I've enjoyed a nice, quiet day at home with just the boys.
My plan to return to work is still in full swing, however, I won't be going back until August more than likely. Once visiting her home, I realized that the babysitter I had in mind before wasn't going to work out. So, I searched some more and found a 60-year-old lady in our neighborhood who has watched children most of her adult life. She mostly just watches her grandkids now, but agreed to watch Grant and Ben as well. Grant will have her 3-year-old grandson, Shane, to play with. We met them at the park one day and all of the kids got to play together. Grant is kind of backwards so we're going to get them together a few more times before August just so the transition is easier on the boys. She seems like a wonderful person and is very easy to talk to. Now that I know what it's like to be a full time babysitter for someone else's child, I found it easier to relate to her and found that we have a lot in common. Also, Grant will be starting in the older two-year-old's class at South Roanoke United Methodist Pre-School. I was able to go and meet with his teacher and see his classroom and what he'll be doing three half days a week. He's so excited to go and is constantly asking to see his school. I will be taking him on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and since Kathy's (the babysitter) grandson, Shane, attends there as well, she will be able to pick him up for me. It's all worked out very well, and I hope it'll be a smooth transition for all of us. I would love to be able to stay home with Grant and Ben, and hope that I will be able to again some time in the future without having to watch other kids for income.
I have learned many life lessons since I started staying home last year. I have found a new appreciation and respect for my own mom and wonder how she did it all those years with three girls everyday. Stay at home moms don't get near enough appreciation for the things they do. It's a 24/7 job - for sure! I've learned that kids and keeping a house are WAY more demanding than any employer I've ever had, hands down. Managing stress and frustration has been a toughy for me lately. My friend, Kari, who recently moved to NC is struggling with these very things as well and has been a great listening ear. It's nice to be able to confide in someone who is going through the very same thing at the same time. Advice is wonderful, but NOT so much when it's coming from someone who's never been there.
I hope this finds everyone well. As for you Ohioans, the boys and I will see you the first week of June.
Later Gaters!
Jen
Thursday, April 17, 2008
I cannot believe it's been an entire year since you came into our world. Daddy and I were talking last night about how we couldn't believe how fast this last year has gone by and how quickly you have grown. It just seems like it was yesterday when I was admitted into the hospital to be induced. I remember lying in the hospital bed on April 16, 2007 watching the news regarding the Virginia Tech shootings. Horrible. The next day, you were born at 4:00 p.m. exactly. What a miracle God gave to us. Sure, we weren't expecting another baby so soon, but what a blessing you are to us every single day. I just remember thinking shortly after you were born about how God takes lives and gives new ones. The circle of life, I suppose.
You are an amazing little boy, Benjamin Mitchell Simpkins. You are the complete opposite of Grant and are determined to keep me on my toes and guessing. You are always smiling and laughing, and are always into something. I feel very blessed to have been able to spend every day of your first year with you. It's amazing to watch you grow, to watch you experience things for the first time, to watch you interact with Grant and daddy, and to see your personality unfold. I can't imagine my life without you - ever. It's definitely true that you and Grant are special, but in different ways. Grant is special because he made me a mommy, whereas you are special, Ben, because you made me a better mommy. Being my second child, you have taught me to relax a little and to take life for what it is. You fill each day with giggles, slobbery kisses, and your irrisistible, magnetic personality.
We love you "Bean!" HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Love always,
Mommy
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Well, things around here have been busy, busy, busy. It seems like there is something going on every week and every weekend. Chris has been having to work very long hours and six days a week. So, me and the boys have been taking advantage of what little time we have with him lately. It's been nice to have evenings where we can all sit down and eat dinner together, and then play, talk, and laugh with each other. It's so relaxing to be spending quality time together with the tv off.
I have decided to go back to work and, God willing, I will be going back some time in June. Luckily, I have found a sitter for the boys who watches only one other little girl at her house who is about Grant's age. It will be a lot cheaper than daycare and, hopefully, the boys won't be as sick as Grant was when he was in daycare. What a nightmare that was. I'm supposed to meet with her tomorrow afternoon and am hoping that everything pans out. After being out of a regular job for a year and a half I have to say that I do feel a bit "behind" on things now. I hope that easing back into a regular job won't be difficult. There are a few reasons I have decided to go back to work - money, sanity, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but having to watch four other kids on top of my two has made me question my sanity several times. If I could stay home with just my kids I would be ecstatic, but that's not a realistic situation right now or in the foreseeable future. Being a mommy is definitely a hard job, but I'd have to say that sitting for other children has topped my list of hard jobs. I feel as though I'm going to lose my mind some days and cannot wait for 6:00 p.m. to come so I can have my house back and some quiet time with my boys and Chris. I feel like my going back to work is the right decision and am praying that everything will fall into place.
We had a wonderful Easter! We went for our second visit at Lakeside Baptist Church and got to enjoy a wonderful service. They had great music and great preaching. Grant really seems to enjoy his class and we're going again in the morning. He loves going to church. I'll have to say that since we left TBC we haven't been as faithful to church as we should have been, but we really like Lakeside and are praying that God would put us where we should be.
Grant and Ben loved the baskets the Easter Bunny brought to them. Grant was so excited the night before he could barely fall asleep. I missed having my family around for Easter, but we still had a good time at KFC after church. It was the best food I've ever eaten at a KFC before. We all pigged out.
Grant and Ben are both growing like weeds. Ben is a bottomless pit. He likes to eat, but is kind of funny about different textures of food. If he's hungry enough, though, he'll eat it. He's become a very fast crawler and is pulling up on things and is in the beginning stages of cruising around on the furniture. There's nothing that those little arms and tippy toes can't reach. We laugh and say he has "Go-Go Gadget Arms." You think something is far enough away from him, but it's like his arm length extends just enough to reach what he wants. Ben is a bundle of energy who has this hilarious, infectious giggle. If you've heard it, you know what I mean. I just love his apple cheeks, tender smile, and crazy laugh. I swear, I want him to stay this age forever. He's so sweet and is hardly ever fussy unless he's sleepy or if Grant is picking on him (which these days, is fairly often).
Grant has grown another two inches in the last month or two it seems. All of a sudden none of his clothes fit him. His shirts have become belly shirts and his pants, high water pants. I usually buy clothes on clearance a season or two ahead, and since he has sprouted into a 3T, I had to dip into next fall/winter's clothes to get him through to spring/summer. Oh well! Everyone calls him the little linebacker. He's just thick and muscular all over. He's thinned out a little since he's getting taller by the minute. He too, is a bundle of energy. Thankfully, it's been warm the last few days and we could go outside and play. He still loves playing outside and would stay outside for hours if I let him. He's been very attached at my hip lately, and wants nothing to do with daddy. If Chris tries to help him or even get on him about something, he starts hollering "mommy, mommy." I love my kid and all and love the attention, but sometimes it would be easier if he would allow Chris to help him out. We've also been working on potty training. We've been at it for two weeks now and up until a couple of days ago, he was doing awesome. He was using the potty for numbers 1 and 2 and was even telling me when he needed to go. Then, a couple days ago, he didn't want to wear his big boy underwear anymore and wanted to wear a pull-up. If he did have big boy underwear on he would just stand there and pee and watch it run down his legs and then tell me "I pee on floor!" like it was something to be proud of. Oh well. I'm trying my best to be consistent, but I still wonder if he's really ready. I guess we'll see.
Anyway, once again, I've gotten on the computer and time has gotten away from me. I swear this thing's like a time warp! I'm pooped! Me and the boys have been running around town all day, I came home and fixed Chris some chicken and dumplins (I promised him a favorite meal since he's been working so hard), now the boys are in bed, and we have to get up early for church. My bed is calling my name.
Toodles!
Jen
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