Weeks in Review ~ 7/21 and 7/28

What a couple of weeks.  I'm going to catch up with lots of pictures and {hopefully} few words.

The week of 7/21 was our after-vacation week, and we were getting ready for Avery's party.  We were home most days other than going to the library on Tuesday.  That Wednesday afternoon I went to Rocky Mount to Target and the new Hobby Lobby.  That was my first Hobby Lobby experience and I was pleased with the deals I found.  That was not my first Target and experience, and while I did not go in with intentions of buying a microfiber mop, I sure did leave with one.  My mom came for awhile that Thursday morning so that I could get the groceries I needed for the party.  She found Sam's first tooth.  Nothing like being on the ball as a mama.

I feel like the majority of the week was spent cleaning, and I still didn't manage to get to everything that needed to be done.  We also had someone come spray for spiders that Friday.  Apparently we built among many spiders and they preferred our house to the outside.  Cobwebs everywhere.  We started with spraying outside to see if that would take care of it, and I spent the majority of the day praying it wouldn't just chase more spiders indoors.

We had Avery's party Saturday.

Ned and Avery went to church Sunday.  After Avery did not take a nap, we headed to Levi's first birthday party.  It was a beach party, and halfway across town I realized I hadn't gotten her towel.  I didn't want to be the mom who showed up with no towel, which ended up making me the mom who's 20 minutes late.  That and Avery not napping were a good prelude to how the week would go.  The party was fun and Avery had a great time.  I think a water table and bigger pool for the yard might be in order around here.  Once we got home, her play set was finally dry enough for her to play a bit.

Monday was Avery's birthday.  We wanted to fix pancakes for her, and since Ned had to get to work, we had to wake her a little after 7.  I think she was awake but had not started talking, and we realized that Avery not talking means not ready to get up.  She perked up with her cake batter pancakes but didn't actually eat them.

We managed to get a nap out of her that afternoon, then we set off for my parents'.  We ate dinner there and had our traditional cake from Mrs. Kitchen.

I think we had a little too much celebrating for everyone.  While the following pictures don't show it, it just wasn't a great week.  For some reason, it was a particularly difficult week for me.  I'm not sure what the problem was with me, other than I think my children had decided to drive me nuts.

 I do know I was tired...we came home from vacation only to go right into party mode.  We've also been staying up late, and that's not working well with Sam's normal 6 a.m. wake up.

Avery was particularly whiny at the beginning of the week and had some talking back and listening issues.  She didn't nap Tuesday or Wednesday, and had never not napped twice in a row or three times in a week.  She wasn't just hanging out quietly either.  She'd yell and moan like she's started doing when she wakes up.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, sleep is my crazy mother issue.  Rest time here is from 1-3 p.m. though no matter what's taking place.  She did get better toward the end of the week, but Thursday was the only other day she took a normal nap.  Friday and Saturday it took her forever to fall asleep.  I think she had far too much birthday this year.  Also, I don't know if it was my mood or the particular episode that was on, but I decided that Caillou was too whiny and has a sometimes unkind tone of voice to be seen too often in this household.

Sam was not going to be left out of the action.  I pray that it's the 2nd bottom tooth working it's way to the surface, but he was so hard to get down for naps.  He also woke up in the middle of the night 2 nights and had one early morning wake up.  There was very little fussing getting him to bed, but it still took a long time.  Except for Saturday, he was perfectly fine, unless we were trying to get him to sleep.  Saturday he just seemed to grumble a lot...not cry, just complain.  That's very abnormal for him, so we're going to pray for a tooth and also talk to the pediatrician at Avery's appointment.

To be quite honest, I handled none of this well.  I was tired, I had no patience, I was very glass completely empty, and I just felt worn down.  The more frustrated I would get with what was going on, the more frustrated I would get with myself, because this is life with small children.  Some people have it easier, and some people have it harder.  Some people are all rainbows and roses and are really just full of poop.  I'm telling you that had Thursday not been a good day for everyone, I would have been over the edge by Saturday.  I was close as it was.

Ned was home most of the day Saturday and got up with the kids since I had been up with Sam in the night.  I went to the grocery store in the morning, he cut grass in the afternoon, then he cooked on the grill.  After dinner, Avery and I headed to the pool for a quick swim.  I figured some out-of-the-ordinary might be good for both of us, and we had a fun time.

The pictures are kind of random and don't fit in completely with my rant.

Sam decided at the beach that he could break out of the swaddle and still sleep, so we're now swaddle-free {at night}.

Avery insisted that Sam swing with her on a rare cool day.  He just slumped a bit but didn't seem to mind.

We continued to enjoy the cool day with a stroll to the pond after dinner.

The ice cream truck did not come by.  Thank goodness for Popsicles in the freezer.

When Sam didn't care for this pacifier as a newborn, it got reclaimed for Bitty.  A certain 3-year-old reclaimed it for a minute.  Had it made her happy, quiet, and/or calm for part of the week, I would have considered letting her keep it.

I picked up a tray for the Bumbo Saturday morning.  Sam seems to enjoy the Bumbo more than Avery, so I thought he might like the tray to help with entertainment.

Avery rode her Gator for the first time Saturday morning, only 7 months after Ho Ho dropped it off.  She is a constant reminder that she'll do things on her own time, and they'll be great when she does.  Now she just needs some steering instruction.  She can either go straight or in circles.

She's my little fish.

We have a busy week coming up, so we'll see if that helps or hurts.  Activities to keep us busy, a few rare moments of me time, and more rest will hopefully be just what we {especially me} need.  Today was a good day, so I'm confident we're off in the right direction.