Saturday, March 8, 2014

First Night of Baseball!

Tuesday night was our first ever attempt to play organized sports and Nicholas loved it! It was so cold, so we had to bundle up as best as we could for practice, so he had one 3 different shades of blue and 3 different sets of stripes, but he was warm and cute anyway! :-)  We got there just in time and he started out by learning how to let the ball roll between his legs.


Next they had batting practice. Oh. My. Word. It was adorable!  He swung 5 or 6 times but finally got a hit!  It was the first time he has ever hit a ball pitched to him, so excuse his loud, obnoxious mother cheering at the end of this video. :-)



They practiced running the bases and he said that was his favorite...possibly because they got a skittle every time they made it around! 

All in all it was a great practice. Nicholas definitely needs to work on waiting his turn and the concept of hitting the ball not on a tee, but otherwise he did great! He woke up the next morning and immediately asked if he could go to baseball today! We've had practice again since and he did great again!  He has two more practices and then their first game!  GO LIL' ROOKIES!!!!

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Learning A Lesson From Spider-man Valentines

The past month has been a struggle for me as a mom balancing a full time job, household chores, and a family. I've been out of work twice due to either a sick kid or snow, Michael has had to miss a day due to Nicholas having a rash and told he had to stay home from school, I've prepped over 100 items for consignment, cut over 20 newspaper articles and made a scrapbook for my Dad for his birthday, kept my house picked up, my family fed and clothed along with working on a big project at work, seeing patients and my daily tasks, and trying to keep up all of the above. I think all moms no matter if you stay home or work outside the home all face these times. Y'all, I want to be real here and let me say, I've struggled. I've lost sleep, overate, and shed a few tears over trying to stay afloat and I want those feeling the same way to know they aren't alone. 

Let's rewind a couple of weeks and recap a crazy day in my life. It was a Friday and my stress level and emotions were at a high because two days earlier day care administration decided that Nicholas should be sent home with a 24/hr sick suspension because they felt the rule we had been following related to the treatment of a rash was suddenly not good enough. Great. Then I find out that if I had just provided evidence we are using the medication we had been prescribed, he could have come back without a 24/hr leave. When he went back to school that Friday he cried and didn't want me to leave him. I had enough at that point. It was only 8am and I lost it. I had not sleep much for a few nights, spent 10 minutes trying to find the pants I wanted to wear to work that day, Nicholas spent 15 minutes while trying get leave lying in the kitchen floor crying over not wanting cereal, but rather oatmeal (after requesting the cereal), then a potty accident on the way to day care that led to me changing an embarrassed 3 year old in the bathroom at school first thing at drop off, who then cried because he was embarrassed and that I had to leave him, topped off with the news a day off for a "sick" child could have been avoided. I cried as I crossed the street from day care to work. I was stressed and it was only 8am! Then I was busting it to complete a section of my project by the end of the day when I ended up juggling some unexpected patient problems. Cue the tears number 2 by 10am. After work I spent 4 hours tagging for the sale and when it was done at 11:30pm. I crashed and had an ugly cry. I was emotionally and physically exhausted and thank goodness it was the end of the week. 

That was a week when I felt overwhelmed, that I could not balance all of my hats and that I was failing everyone: my employer, patients, husband, and mostly my child. Having to chose between a child unable to attend day care and work is torture. Leaving a crying child that just wants his Mommy is heartbreaking. Then came the big lesson when I learned that it is ok to let something go and set priorities. 

I was still planning to whip up some homemade Valentines to send the following week and as I finished the last two things on my list that Sunday, the scrapbook and meal prep. Michael could tell I was starting to stress over making Valentines. He told me to please just take N to the store and let him pick something he wants. Not stress over crafting something. I felt torn again. I kept seeing all these fabulous homemade Valentines on social media and I didn't want my child to feel like his Mommy let him down because we didn't spend time crafting his valentines. (Red flag, I'm clearly overthinking at this point. Keep in mind this child has no clue that creating our own Valentines was even an option. Let me also say that I think it's awesome that some of you made those cute valentines, so please do not think I have anything against you at all! Again, I was sleep deprived and clearly delirious!) Nicholas ended up taking Spider-Man valentines complete with a heart shaped lollipop and I'm pretty sure he couldn't have loved them more. 

(See also: I'm a crazy mom. I was so upset the 2 days we were home during the snow because that was prime crafting time...had we had any craft supplies. At this point I was really panicking that he would be the only one without cute little valentines, still not acknowledging the fact he could care less! I was surprised to see that no one handed out anything but valentines like we brought. Time for this crazy mom to calm down. No permanent psychological harm was done over Spider-Man valentines!)

The Valentine card lesson was definitely needed.  It showed me sometimes as moms we worry too much. We also need to know that there comes a time when we have to let something go and know that no one is let down by us when it is all said and done. I'm learning to let go of my need to please everyone and admit that I can't do it all sometimes. So, that fellow stressed out Mommies, was the day I leaned a lesson. From Spider-Man Valentines. 

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

The Day I Become A Sports Mom



Today is a BIG day at our house!  It's a day I've personally dreamed of for years (like 20 years) and a day I dreamed about while waiting on a baby...Nicholas has his first practice of little league baseball!  I'm excited but sad all in one rolled up ball of emotion. I can't believe this day is finally here and that my baby is old enough to own a bat and glove, wear a uniform, and play organized ball. Watching his excitement as he chose his bat and glove and proudly walked around the store with it was so fun and exciting, but also another sign he is growing up. Knowing that he will probably be my only baby makes this day even more bittersweet.  

When I found out he was a boy I automatically began dreaming of my little football and baseball player. I've spent my entire life watching high school athletes and their proud moms. I can't believe it is now my turn to be a sports mom! I've always said that I can see myself being THAT mom, the one who never misses a game, encourages and cheers for every player, hugs every player after a tough game, and is her child's biggest fan. We alway laugh that as loud and hard as I cheer on Friday nights for kids I don't really know, little league may not be ready for this Momma! Ha! (Kidding. Sort of. Not really.) (No one be surprised if my husband stands far away from me at games or if my child acts like he doesn't know me. I can't help it. I swear.) 

I pray that Nicholas always loves playing sports because I think it is a good, healthy activity and helps keep a lot of kids busy and out of trouble.  I pray that if God has granted my son the gift of athletic talent that he uses it and glorifies The Lord for giving it to him. Lord willing, maybe it will even provide a college education for him! (I know, I'm totally getting out of control now. He is only 3, but a mom can always hope, right?!)  With all of that being said, what I really want for my son is to be happy. If he loves playing, great, but if he doesn't, that is ok too. (Ok. Let's not lie here, I will be sad, but I'll get over it. Sorry, just being real.)

Today as we rush out of the door and to work and school with all of his gear, change of clothes for practice, and pray we haven't forgotten anything; then as we rush across town in a mad dash to baseball tonight, I'm praising God for my opportunity to be a mom and finally getting a chance to cheer on MY son. There were dark days during infertility when I never thought this day would come and it was just a part of my dream. It's days like today where part of me wants to sit down and ugly cry for my little baby turning into a little boy that no longer even resembles a baby, while the other part of me is excited with him for a new adventure! Thank you Lord for this day and for a healthy, spirited little boy who is growing and loves life, even if his Mommy wishes she could freeze time.