Please Stop By

In the last few months I have been feeling kind of restless in our house. While it was the perfect size for Barry and I when we were first married we are outgrowing it quickly with the addition of Abram. There seems to never be enough space: to store things, for Abram's toys, to walk... However, while thinking of all the things I could do with another 1000 or so sq feet I was convicted by the thought that we don't keep our small house picked up, how would we do it with a big house?!?

That's when I found www.flylady.net It is a fabulous website that helps Barry and I set up a routine to keep our surroundings company ready. (the thing that brought me to the site was the term CHAOS or Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). It starts slow and goes from there. The last week on the "plan" has been fun and overwhelming. It's amazing how much mess can be made by two adults and a 5 month old. But we take it day by day. I have flynet to encourage me when I am feeling like I do the same things constantly throughout the day!

So, if you are in the neighborhood, please stop by. We will be ready for you!

The Pacifier Please

Barry and I do a lot of sleepy parenting in the middle of the night. One of Barry's main tasks is to put Abram back to bed with his pacifier after he is done eating. This is what led to our current scenario:

In the middle of the night I woke up to my husband gently patting my face. When I inquired as to what, exactly, he was doing he mumbled, "oh, I thought you were baby". We both returned to sleep and forgot about it. During one of my cotherapy sessions today I suddenly remembered the event and tried very hard not to smile during the session. Turns out Barry was attempting to find my mouth (hence the patting) and insert the pacifier assumingly so I would sleep. I can't imagine what I would have done if he was successful and I woke up with a pacifier in my mouth!

He's on a roll

Then...

Now...

That's right Abram has perfected the roll over from tummy to back. He and Barry were playing on the floor yesterday when Abram demonstrated his new ability. Ever since then we can't keep the kid on his belly. He just flips right over...I guess I expected this since he hates tummy time so much! I was at class when Abram decided to show Barry his skills so I missed it but got to watch this morning. I feel like we are on the verge of all kinds of exciting new skills for Abram. I am also feeling a little nostalgic for the little tiny baby he was, just looking up at us with his "cabbage patch doll" impressions!

On the school front, I just finished a huge project and presented it to my class yesterday. It feels so great to be done with it. Now I just have to take Research and Assessment and complete a portfolio with samples of the work I have done over the two years along with summaries of how I have progressed with each section. Look for an invite to a graduation fiesta in Aug/Sept!!

One Positive About a Baby Who Doesn't Sleep

It definitely helps to be able to survive on little sleep when papers are due! I would scold myself on procrastinating but really, I tried hard to get bits of the paper done along the way. It's just hard and unpredictable with a baby.

A therapy tidbit for you: there is a theory that procrastination is a way to avoid relationships. Hmmm, I think the only relationship I am avoiding is with my pillow.

Back to work!

Almost Finished

I am working on my Clinical Competency Evaluation right now while my wonderful mother is here watching Abram. I have a draft that needs to be sent out tonight and I present the paper along with video of a therapy session next Wednesday. Did you know that APA style writing allows only one space between sentences. Every paper I have ever written I have double spaced between sentences. So, I am spending much of my writing time backspacing to delete the double space.

I can't believe that I am nearing the end of my master's program. I have class this weekend then only one course and preparing my portfolio left. It's exciting and scary to be this close to finished. I now feel a lot of responsibility towards getting a good paying job to repay my husbands hard work over the last two years!

Ok, I better get back to work and utilize this time while I have a babysitter.