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Author Archives: Dreawood

Week 18 – Baby #4

week18I meant to put this post up yesterday – but as you can tell from yesterdays post, I wasn’t really up for it. I did however take this photo on wednesday :) – so it is accurate for week 18 on the dot.

I do believe there is some growth, but not a huge amount. In the last week however, I have had a lot of people ask me about the bump. Caleb’s sunday school teacher was one of those people. She came up to me after church saying “soooo what is this I see?” :) – and congratulated me with a hug. I guess the bump is evident enough now, that people feel safe enough to ask me.

So I officially “look” pregnant :) – in most outfits. An occasional baggy shirt or hoodie will still hide the bump, but majority of my clothing is either becoming clingy or shorter. My pants VERY snug.

The only jeans I can still wear without unbuttoning them are my jeggings from target. Got to say, they are the most comfortable pants! I only wish I had 2 more pair’s. I would totally crop them and make shorts :)

Some of my favorite pants to wear right now, are some jean shorts Aliesha loaned me after our visit to NC recently. She gave me those to borrow as well as a skirt and a few shirts. The shorts are so comfortable! Although slightly loose still, they are fit enough that they stay up :)

I feel lots of baby kicks now. I can even lay my hand on my stomach when im laying in bed – and feel them on my hand now. They feel like little thumps :) – which is so sweet.

My energy levels have been better than last weeks, although I do crash around 1 or 2pm – and want nothing more than to lay down most days during the kids nap time. At night I am a total zombie. I asked Travis this morning if he ever came to bed, because I had no memory of it. He said “wow… you must of been out!” – for me not to wake up when he gets in bed, is rare. Im an extremely light sleeper. I think my body is just exhausted come bed time – that once im out, im out :)

I have had no issues lately tho, except for some contractions coming up…

It concerns me, because of my pregnancy with Owen… and the issues I had with contracting so early. It got so bad with him it required sleep meds at one point.

So here is hoping I can be mindful of my body… and when enough is enough. To be careful picking up Owen, which seems to really irritate my core right now… and hopefully no early labor this time.

Oh and incase I didn’t mention it before – the gender US is scheduled for May 31st at 3:30pm (I had to schedule it later in the day, in hopes Travis can make it from work to the office).

I still stand firm in saying BOY :)

See Week 17′s Photo

Strike

Well, day 1 and 2 went great.
Day 3…. big strike out!

I have cried twice before noon! Maybe its hormones but I am just so frustrated with Taite’s unwillingness to pay attention and comprehend his phonics. & Future older Taite who may one day read his moms struggles… do know I love you, you are precious… and dear to me… your mother is just struggling today.

We haven’t pushed phonics much this year – since he was 4 back in Aug – it was something I didn’t feel we needed to rush, since I knew he’d “officially” start working on kindergarten stuff at age 5 – the following year. We however taught him his letters and sounds – and he knew all of it, perfectly.

However, recently I started him on blends, which is the 2nd step… and you would think I was trying to read him chemistry or something… I spent 15 min. going over the vowel sounds very easily… basic, he got them. He understood those sounds.

I then got out his abeka blend book.

With simple blends like…

la

le

li

lo

lu

Not hard right?

Well, he just could not grasp the concept of putting things together.

I seriously worked with him for a solid hour this morning – and while I know you shouldnt work THAT long with a 5 year old, I was so just shocked and baffled that he could not put two sounds together.

The kid is smart!

Math he gets.

… but something about Phonics, stops him.

At one point I looked at Caleb who looked astonished that his brother could not put “A and T” together to make the sound “AT” – after I explained it 10 times, as simple as you could…. and I looked at Caleb and asked him “am I explaining this wrong? does it make sense?” – thinking that maybe a younger person, who has learned this just a year before – would be able to give me some insight lol – I was looking for any validation that I was doing this right and explaining it well. He said “No that makes total sense, that is how I would of taught him.”

I wanted to literally pull my hair out and throw the books in the trash.

I understand teaching takes time.

You have to be calm… and collective.

I WAS.

Until after pouring my every effort into teaching, and he acted as if I never said a word.

Rubbing his face, fidgeting and just not paying attention.

I even had Caleb at one point take Owen to his room, shut the door and play quietly with him, so we would have total silence… in order for Taite to pay attention better.

Nothing I did mattered.

TOTAL FAIL.

Days like today it really does make me want to throw in the towel.

Ship him off to public school and let someone else work with him. I honestly felt as if I had 3 contractions during that time teaching him, because I was so worked up and tense by the end. Reminder, Im only 18 weeks! Contracting this early freaks me out in itself, esp with my experience last go around with Owen.

I try to remember that Taite turned 5 – 6 months ago. Caleb was 6 before he started kindergarten and he also was 6 1/2 before blends really became a grasped concept. Now at 7 1/2 he reads beautifully. He could probably read this entire post if I let him, he has grown that much in his ability to read, in just a years time. I just figured Taite was ready – but maybe not.

All this being said.

This is me, real and today.

I am not perfect.

I struggle.

I want to toss in the towel.

I wonder if its really worth it.

Will it ultimately matter if he is home schooled?

Can I do this once a new baby is in the mix?

It even brings up emotions of anger when I think about so many people who criticize those who home school. Thinking they don’t do much, thinking they don’t work as hard as “real” teachers… and whatever else they attach to the home school mom labels. IT IS THE HARDEST THING for me right now. Entertaining 3 boys, feeding them meals, cleaning a house. That is work, but it is something that I can do without really pushing. It comes naturally. Schooling – NOT NATURAL lol – at least not for me.

Yet I have such a strong desire to do it for my children.

I just don’t know what we will do.

I have our curriculum laid out for this coming year. It all looks great -makes total sense…. but can I handle it? Is it the best choice?

I hate decisions.

Today’s school day is over.
Caleb will do the rest of his seat work and reading with me once the other two are in bed and I have a chance to clear my head…. I am locked away in my room while they play legos and destroy theirs…. hoping I can muster up some sanity in my thinking – before going downstairs to cook lunch.

This isn’t a pitty post either.

Its just real.life.as.a.home.schooling.mother…. who at times questions herself.

Go Daddy, Did you Know?

Moved my desk to open up the windows in our bedroom. We both love it here.I was asked the question a few weeks ago…. to write about one specific thing some people may not know about me.

If you don’t read my blog on a normal basis you may not know about any specifics :) – but those who have read for years, probably know more than I can remember. 

So I tried to think of one thing I have not shared yet on my blog… and this was what came to mind.

In 7th grade when all my peers were taking basic typing in school, most starting out like chickens pecking at a keyboard – I was instructing it in my class. In fact I typed faster than the actual teacher! From the time I can remember, we had a computer. I remember learning the basics of HTML coding and building websites before I was even in high school. I suppose that is why it is 2nd nature to me now as an adult many years later. Goes to show, learning it young, really sets it in. 

A company that has been around for a very long time - In fact my very 1st website many many many years ago was hosted through this company.

It is one I am sure most of you have at least heard of :) Go Daddy.

Little did I realize though that Go Daddy did a lot more than just provide us with inexpensive domain names and great service…

In 2011 Go Daddy donated more than $5 million to 56 charities both at home and around the world. One of those being Hope for Haiti. You can learn more about who Go Daddy supports at www.GoDaddyCares.com. Who knew! :)

There’s a lot you don’t know about Go Daddy! Including all the tools they have for bloggers! Check out www.godaddy.com to learn more!

Join the conversation for your chance to win 3 year Unlimited 4GH Hosting from Go Daddy! 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Go Daddy. The opinions and text are all mine.

School Post Prep

I purchased a laminator for schooling. It's so fun. I want to laminate everything :-)I hope to have a post up this week – letting you all know what we plan to use for our next school year. I hope to start it 1st of July… HOPE is the keyword btw ;-) – I got to get things organized and ordered 1st.

I was going to put the post up tonight but im just to tired.

1st day home without my usual Travis help ;-) – posed to be more exhausting than I had remembered. Not so much BAD, just something I have not been use to in some time. I mean even before moving here, Travis’ schedule was so incredibly flexible… he worked in our backyard at the church, I mean really – I was spoiled :) – he was always there if I needed him.

The day went well, minus Owen not napping.
I got a lot done as far as house work goes and school work… but you can forget working on blog post – or any other “me” stuff. I managed to read a portion of my marriage book we are working through… but thats about it.

I got my shower at 8:15pm tonight…

I feel better :) – but not energized enough to write out a long home school post.

Its off to dry my hair then kick back and relax before I zonk out for the night.

Tomorrow is a busy day with COR group at 9:30am – cool thing about COR group – they provide the child care – and the workers will even do school with your older kids, as long as you pack it and leave instructions. Caleb’s bags are already packed ;-) – Taites, not so much. I think he will have the day off tomorrow.

So heres, to hopefully a smooth day tomorrow – WITH a nap from Owen ;-)

Loose, Mother, 1st Day

This weekend was an interesting one. Although, it felt longer than normal. Maybe because we had anticipation going into it, of what was about to start.

Between all that though, we had a good weekend.

The sickness has seemed to leave our home, finally. This is the 1st time in weeks Owen doesnt seem to have green gunk coming out of his nose, and his diaper issues are clearing up. Yea…. didn’t blog about those, but really, there’s no need :) – most moms know how that goes. – Diapers btw come June I hope to rid our house of! until Oct of course ;-)

Taite at dinner on friday night bit into a piece of chicken (I think?) – and began to cry as if someone kicked him in the face. He told us something was jabbing him in the tooth. Travis looked, I looked, we couldn’t see anything… until we realized there was a hint of blood around the back rim of his front bottom tooth. We then gave it a wiggle. Sure enough, it was loose. Taite must have bit down on something hard, and the tooth was loose, so when he bit, it just really hurt. He literally cried for 10 minutes over this tooth. He’d stop, then would start back up. We’d ask “what is wrong?” – he would say “I just keep thinking about it and it makes me cry!” – there really was not much to do, except change the subject and hope he moved on quickly.

Since that friday, we’ve had to cut his food up, so he doesn’t “hurt himself” :) – But since that friday, the tears have stopped and now he just goes around showing everyone his loose tooth. Literally, up close and personally. Our poor neighbors son Noah has gotten a mouth full of Taite over the past 48 hours.

IMG_2194Sunday was very wet and rainy… but we managed making it to church :) – enjoying a great sermon, sitting with some old friends from my home church back in NC (I hadn’t seen them since Caleb was 2!) – They knew me though pre-kids, pre-marriage, pre-salvation even! I went to youth group with their son.

After church, we enjoyed a quick left over lunch ;-) – and then naps. Must admit, sunday naps are a tradition in our home and with rainy weather, it makes those times even more restful.

Travis cooked us dinner.

Marinated Chicken Kabobs w/ Zucchini and Onion. It was great!

IMG_2932

Despite the rain, we let the kids play outside – and over all the day felt very calm.

It was nothing fancy… but there really is no need for much more.

This morning marks the 1st day of a very new and different life for us. Travis starts his training for his new job… He is excited – and nervous :) – Because he is in the training process, his days will be shorter right now. He will work from like 8am-3pm until July – to me its as if God knew I needed “time” to adjust to being a SAHM again of 3 busy little boys ;-) – and having to get use to not having a husband around 24-7 again. Travis getting home around 3:30 or 4, will be a lot easier to adjust to, than 5:30 or 6.

Come July he will begin working 8-5 – until he finishes his training – which will take until Christmas or so.

The morning has gone well today.

Although I hate getting up before 7 :)

6:30am I heard the boys get up… I specifically told them to stay in bed until 7… they were only allowed up to go pee.

But lights were to remain off. My boys btw, will sometimes get up as early as 6am – even if they go to bed at 10! It does not matter what time they make it to bed, they are up early.

IMG_2909I can tell it is going to take some retraining in this area. With Travis being home, we got out of that routine – and our boys had a lot more freedom to just go downstairs, cut PBS on and fix themselves their own breakfast. It was “easy” for us – and since we had “all day” together – it didn’t seem like a real high priority to keep them to much of a routine.

With Travis gone now, that is going to change.

I joked with the kids “Mama’s Back” :)

I woke up feeling rested regardless of the 6:30am wake up call… went downstairs and fixed myself a half a blue berry bagel – enjoyed it alone on the sofa, as I read some scripture and just prayed the day would go as smooth as possible.

I really just desire to be calm in my spirit when the day gets hard.

At 7am – once the older two came down.

I fixed them some whole grain pancakes – milk and OJ… then after 15 min. of peaceful talking :) – I discover Taite wet his bed (after I just made it the night before) – and that the dish washer had yet to be started from yesterday.

So before even 7:30am – I have a full load of laundry to wash, dry and put away… as well as a full load of dishes to get washed and put away as well.

It wasn’t exactly the routine I was hoping for this morning. I am thankful I remained peaceful throughout the discoveries… and we finished up breakfast happily.

I was able to finish cleaning the kitchen, starting the wash and even got the boys school totally prepped… all the while Owen still slept, which is a huge blessing! and now im playing catch up on blog work, while the boys play a game on the ipad. Id rather them sit quietly downstairs – than to come up stairs doing chores before school and risking Owen waking :) – hopefully by 9am though we can start school.

So here is to a different start to our lives :)

An exciting, scary, yet one we know is good start.

To a week filled with obligations that I will now fill on my own again… without a lending hand from a husband.

Here is to happy hearts and a soft answer when the times aren’t so peaceful.

IMG_2901

I’m so far from the perfect mom… but I really desire to try hard to be the best I can for my children. Like our Associate Pastor spoke on yesterday… I really hope when I am old and gone, my children can speak words of praise like he did yesterday morning about his mother.


“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30