Play Dates

Josiah and I love our play dates!! We have 3 little boys that we love to get together with; Noah, Cody and Gabe. We get to see Noah and Cody quite often and we finally met Gabe.

We need an updated picture of Cody and Josiah, but here is an old one...tooo cute!! Josiah was only a month old there and Cody was 5 months. Josiah is slowly but surely catching up though:)

This is from a play date in February with Noah. He is almost a year old in this picture. We found out we were pregnant with Josiah when Noah was a week old!!

We finally got to meet Gabe. He was due 11 days before Josiah, but because Gabe was early and Josiah was late...they are exactly 1 month apart!! We had fun at Applebee's last week. It was as if we moved right in. With both infant car seats and diaper bags and purses...we filled an entire large booth. The boys were great and really interacted...it was fun to see Josiah with someone so close in age.

Ladies Night

All time record...4 posts in one day!

I just wanted to say how much I truly love ladies night! A good friend has started this once a month get together of all of her girlfriends from various circles. I know I have talked about it a bit before. But I just want to reiterate how much I need them and look forward to them every month. It is a great time to get out without Josiah and a great time for fellowship with other women my age dealing with the same issues, be it with our spouses or children or friendships. There is always someone can relate to me about.

Can't wait til next time!!

New Look!

What do you think about the new look? I was having trouble with the old template. I thought it was just my computer but after chatting with a few loyal visiters to the blog, I realized that others were having trouble too...so I thought it was time for a new look! Let me know what you think!!!

Mom's 1st night away!!

I had a bacherlorette party to go to for a good friend from college last weekend. There are 5 of us from MSU that have stayed in close touch over the years and through thick and thin we have supported each other when we were up and given a listening ear when down. We even have a name for ourselves...The Yaya's! No, not original, but it was a story that brought us all closer together for some reason. At any rate! Dan and I were the first to get married 6 years ago...then Beth and Kari in the same year and now Brandi is getting married this year.

I decided not to drink because I was already very nervous about leaving Josiah over night and I figured alcohal would just make things worse. Plus I didn't do all that work storing up my breastmilk...just to have to pump and dump. I think it would have broken my heart to dump my milk down the drain...as funny as that sounds. It would have made me sick to see it all go to waste (I am sure breastfeeding moms understand that 100%:)

At any rate we had a great time at the house before hand, eating and getting ready. We made Brandi dress up like a Detroit Lion's cheerleader:) (Her fiance is a Lion's nut and that is putting it mildly, so we thought it would be a fun theme). Ok we didn't make her...she very willingly put on the cheerleading skirt and shirt that we got for her. She looked to cute!! Then we all had black lions t-shirts and put black make-up under our eyes. We were her "team" or her "bouncers" however you looked at it!! All in all we had a great time!!

And I even got to sleep in the next day!! Although when I woke up at 9:30am I was in tremendous pain...I needed to pump badly. My body was not used to sleeping in that late!! It was ready for a 7:00am feeding and I slept right through it:) Funny how your body continues right along on the same schedule regardless of what you have planned!!!

To Peep or Not to Peep!!

Just a question for all those of you out there that enjoy holiday candy!! I was not always a peep lover, but now that I can't eat chocolate, I have grown rather fond of peeps. Does anyone out there agree with me that peeps are better when left out for a bit...gives them some weight or something. Not really sure!!

Big Neon Sign

Most everyone knows that I have been able to stay home with Josiah up until this point, but have always known that I would have to return to work at some point. Well that point quickly approached. Time pretty much flew these past 3 and a half months. And all of the sudden I need a job.

So I interviewed at Home Depot and was offered a position for nights and weekends for minimal pay, but potential benefits at the end of my 90 day period. LCC was also a possibility for part time but no benefits. Neither one of these seemed like great solutions to the situation at hand. We don't want Josiah in day care full time if we can help it. If it turns out that way some day then so be it, we will cross that bridge when we come to it, but for right now we really wanted to try and make it work with part time employment.

So I have been praying and I know people have been praying for us (thank you) and Home Depot seemed to be the answer...but we also felt like it was something where we just didn't have any other choice. I happened to stop by Dan's bosses house last Friday on my way home from having lunch with my girlfriends. His wife had made Josiah a quilt and we just hadn't crossed paths since he was born to get to see her or the quilt. Well that stop was no coincidence!!! First of all the quilt is absolutely incredible...I will have to get a picture of it and post it because I was in awe when I saw it and will most likely have Josiah's room patterend after it when he gets a little older:) It's that good!!! At any rate. Dan's boss got home and we were sitting around chit chatting and I just threw out there "You don't by any chance have any part time work at the office do you?" And he said no, not at this time...but he said he thought about it for alittle while and he thought I would be a good fit for the marketing person for the company.

So at 8:30 this morning I got a call asking me if I would be interested in the position. He explained a little bit to me, but not in great detail and then asked if I wanted to come in and talk about it more. He knew that I had to give my answer to Home Depot tomorrow, so we set up a meeting for 4:00pm today. I called Dan right away, I could hardly believe it!!! Pretty crazy! But then the worry set in about what they would offer me and is it smart to have 2 people at the same company...lots to think about...lots to worry about. Then Dan told me that there would be a hike in our insurance...$90 a month. Even more to worry about! I almost had a break down, but luckily, I was able to turn to prayer. Most of the time, I just cry and like to wallow in my self pitty, but for some reason today, I was able to pray and let it all go. I was able to put the burden back to God. And I felt a real sense of peace. I knew that whatever happened, God would have His hand in it. I also asked for a great big Neon sign to direct me in my decision making process:) And God did just that! I knew without a doubt after I got out of my meeting today at 4:00pm what I would do.

I will be starting on a new adventure and opportunity on May 1st. I am going to start out working part time (20 hours a week) and if in time I start to bring the company in more money and I would like to go to more hours we can talk about more hours at that time or I can stay part time. I will have a flexible schedule which means I can set the hours that I work. Which is great with a child!!! I will be able to work some from home also which may cut down on day care...this will all have to just be worked out when I start working. There are a few other really great benefits also...the big Neon sign was glowing strong!! I came home and talked to Dan, who seemed very excited about what they were offering me. I read over the job description and really felt like I could do this job and do it well. So I (we) are very excited about this job opportunity!! And truly feel like this was an answer to prayer!!

Now we need prayers to find the right day care. My number one choice doesn't have any openings at this time, so we have to really start looking around. But thank goodness I have time to do that since I don't start until May 1st, so I should have time to get things in order!!!

God is so good to me!

Rice Cereal

He did sooo great with the cereal. Grandma and Grandpa Weaver came to visit on Thursday and got to see Josiah for the first time since January...I know they were just dying to see him. So it was fun to have them there for his first time eating cereal:) Dan actually fed him first but that picture is stuck on the camera...forgot to put a memory card in, so we have to figure out how to get those pictures off the camera. So on the second night he had cereal I got to feed him and we took more pictures. The first night he made all the funny faces and we captured those, but like I said they are stuck on the camera, so these will have to do:)

A smile makes everything OK!!

It is truly amazing how a smile can make everything ok!! And even better yet a giggle or especially a belly laugh. Yesterday was a tough day and Josiah cried alot and slept little...but when it comes right down to it...he may just not need to sleep as much during the day because he is sleeping so well at night. At any rate...just when I thought I was at wits end I would get a smile and even a laugh from him. I was almost in tears (the good kind) last night when we were getting ready for bath time. I strip him down to his diaper and let him just hang out on the changing table and we always have a good time chatting their. I gave him a zerbert on his belly and he just thought that was hilarious and tried to make the same sound with his lips and spit...toooo cute!!! We were laughing so hard...I hardly wanted to hand him over to dad for a bath!! God did a good thing when he made babies soooo cute!!!

Last night we decided to get the high chair and the excersaucer out and put together. Dan just went to town and got everything put together and Josiah's pictures hung in the living room:) Since I am sooo crazy about pictures, you knew I had to have pictures of his first time in a high chair and first time in the excersaucer. He loved them both. Grammy Dianne you did a great job picking out just the right excersaucer...he was just so excited when we put him in it. It only took him a couple of minutes to figure out that he could reach out and grab things and put them in his mouth:)

First time in his excersaucer!!

First time in his high chair!!

Tonight we try rice cereal for the first time..so stay tuned for pictures of that:)

2nd Interview

I have a 2nd interview at Home Depot today at 6:00pm...so say a prayer for me. My concern that is even if they offer the job the pay may be so low that we can't afford to take the job.

I also have a meeting with the LCC professor about teaching a course at LCC this summer. I couldn't do both, because teaching this course would be a fulltime job.

I have my resume in at a biotech company also...but have not heard anything from them. I am going to try and contact them to see if the position has been filled already or not.

The huge dilemma is not wanting to work, but having no choice. It breaks my heart to have to put him in day care. I never anticipated feeling this way. So I don't know how to deal with it on most days. It scares me and makes me sad to think about someone else raising him. Not in a million years would I have thought I would have such strong feelings. So I need prayers for me to know that Josiah will be well taken care of wherever he is.

Trials

Struggling: We have decided that Josiah needs to start trying to go to sleep more on his own. When he got sick a couple of weeks ago we started to rock him to sleep and he got used to it and now won't go to sleep without rocking him. He has also started to wake up half way into his nap and wanting to eat...mostly because that is his routine to wake..eat...play...sleep. So when he wakes up early he wants to eat. I also think that he wasn't getting enough to eat, so I have started to give him some supplemental formula. Dan also reminded me that I need to be drinking lots of water, which I had slacked on lately. So maybe that will be what I need to build up my milk supply. The doctor also suggested to start him on some cereal. He is a big boy and just may need to start eating foods now. So we are going to try some tomorrow night!!! I will let you know how it goes:)

So the crying jags are almost unbearable...but I know it will get better. Sometimes he does a good job putting himself to sleep and other times like now...he does not. So the big question is, how long to let him cry...huge dilema for us right now. Right now I am letting him cry for no longer than 10 minutes and going in to put his pacifier in. We will see how that goes. If he is histerical...then I will do what I have to. But I would really like him to have the ability to go to sleep on his own. It is an important skill to have.

The word Adorable comes to Mind

Dad and Josiah

Mom and Josiah

First Family Photo Outside

It was so beautiful out this weekend...I can hardly wait for spring. Not looking forward to the cold weather they have predicted for this week. But I suppose that will make us all appreciate the warm weather all the more. This picture was taken after Josiah's buddy's 1st birthday party.

Noah's birthday was the first day we were able to take Josiah outside not bundled up:) He sneezed 4 times in a row...takes after his mother:)

He was very serious about his cake!! Like most men are:)

Potential work

We have done everything we can do to try and keep me home...but alas we will be unable to make our finances work out! So I am trying to find part time work that would only require minimal day care or work that would require no day care (nights and weekends).

Lansing Community College might have an opening...but not sure yet. It would be teaching Nature Studies for Educators. Which sounds fun!! It would be Mon through Thurs from 1-4. So the hours would be good and the pay is always good...but alot of prep time. I will just have to wait and see if there is an opening...I should know next week!

Home Depot: I have an interview for Sunday at 1:00pm to work as a sales associate in the Lawn and Garden or paint sections. The main reason I applied here is because they offer benefits for part time employees. Which would be great! And who knows, maybe it will be something I will enjoy doing.

At least some things are coming to light! I am starting to get nervous as time runs thin with finances. But I also know that God will take care of us as long as we are faithful to Him. So keep me in your prayers please.

New Blog Picture

Busy Week

TUESDAY: We spent the whole day out and about...we went to MOPS in the morning, had lunch with Mindy and played with Noah D. What a fun day!! The boys both took great afternoon naps, so we got to scrapbook for a couple of hours. That never happens!!!

WEDNESDAY: Josiah and I did some video tapping...I called it "A Day in the Life of Mom and Josiah" We had a lot of fun (OK so I had fun doing it:). I think I ended up with almost 2 hours of video tape. I started first thing in the morning and taped all the way through his bath. We even got some video of Dan and I singing to Josiah:) That was fun.

THURSDAY: Josiah turned 3 months old...I can hardly believe it!!!! We took a bunch of pictures, but this one is one that we are taking every month and eventually once a year. We got a picture of him in this chair when he was only 2 days old and have gotten one every month since...so it will be fun to watch him grow:)

THURS. (cont.) Even with the snow and ice, we decided to keep our plan to head north to visit some friends and family. Our first stop was at my brothers to feed Josiah and then off to lunch with my old pal Weezie. We had a great time catching up and it was fun to show off my son:) Always is! And he was such a peach throughout dinner. When he started to get tired he went right to sleep so I could eat (this doesn't happen very often, as most mother's know:)

FRIDAY: We spent the night at Doug and Dawns (my brother and sister in laws) and had fun playing with the kids (Samantha and Nathan). Josiah is really starting to see people and watch them...very curious little fella! I had to give him a bath early Thursday night because he was just to fussy to go down for his last nap...which worked out great because that meant that he went to sleep early and so is was nice to have time to visit. After he ate, his cousins were up and getting ready for the day. So we joined them for a little while until they had to leave...and then we went back to bed for a couple fo hours;) That's my boy!!!

FRIDAY (cont.) Once we got up and around we went to visit my good friend way back from 6th grade Christy. She fixed us an awsome brunch and we just had a nice day! Her boys loved playing with Josiah. Sully was always helping find Josiah's pacifier and Clay just wanted to snuggle with him:) Too cute!! I owe her big time though...she gave me more clothes from her boys. Sometimes I don't even know how to repay people for their kindness. Money is always nice, but it doesn't always say everything you'd like it too. Dawn also gave us clothes from Nathan. So I came home with 7 diaper boxes of clothes. This kid will be the best dressed kid ever:) It makes it fun to just go and buy one special outfit every once and a great while...makes it mean more and it makes me not go crazy buying clothes...they are all so darn cute:) Christy took a few pictures, which is always alot of fun. He liked these a little better than the naked ones:) And they all turned out super cute...but I am not going to post them because they are a surprise (at least what they look like) for the Grandparents:) I can't wait for them to see them.

Weekend: We just hung out as a family all weekend!! On Saturday we went shopping, out do dinner and visited Kari and Tommy to see their new home. Then Sunday we cleaned the house and made a pot roast!! The cleaning was much needed and much appreciated...there is nothing better than coming down in the morning to a clean house!!! All in all a great week!!!