What changes and overhauls? Well, for one, I've been trying to get to bed earlier. We have typically gone to bed sometime between 12:30 and 1:00, but since last school year, I've been needing to get up by about 7:15 to start the day. The lack of sleep was really starting to catch up to me. So I've been shooting for eight hours of sleep each night since the beginning of January, but my body is seriously so confused. I either can't fall asleep, or I wake up stupidly early, or I wake up in the middle of the night, or all three. It's like I don't know how to sleep more than six hours at a time anymore! So I'm still trying to iron that out.
I've also been attempting to lose some weight, so I started back on a more regular exercise routine and the Trim Healthy Mama bandwagon, and I can proudly say that after four weeks of effort, I have lost exactly 0.0 pounds.
I'm starting to feel like all my New Years resolutions are doomed to failure.
Luckily, I've been (mostly) keeping up with my Bible reading goal. (The chronological Bible in a year.) My personal reading goal (3 books a month) is on thin ice - I have two days to finish one more book. It's looking unlikely.
Ugh. Way to start the year off with a strong record of mediocrity! But I'm not going to let it get me down... I think. Maybe I actually will. Idk we'll see.
Over Christmas break, I had so much time on my hands that I got optimistic about what I'm able to juggle. I even started a Substack! Which is how I even got on this tangent - last week during my blogging hours, I had to decide between finishing Substack article I'd already started, and blogging. You already know what I chose. Oops.
(How is Substack different than the blog? I think I'm going to start articulating topical thoughts over there, more long-form style, and keep on reporting the weekly news-with-photos here. So, for my thoughts on Christian living, philosophy, and parenting, you can follow me over there. So far I've answered the question, "Do I ever get overstimulated?", posted about whether I think all Christians should all have large families here and here, and addressed what you need to know about your birth control options as a Christian. I think my next post will be on parenting teenagers [which really starts when they're toddlers, so you should be paying attention now], so subscribe if you don't want to miss that.)
Anyway. That brings me to today, where I'll attempt to cover three weeks of news in one post. Normally that would feel like an intimidating amount, but to be honest, the weeks have just flown by with all of our back-to-school activities. Lots of the same-old, same-old. But it's been a good same-old, same-old, with a few items of special note, so let's dive in.
The day after I last posted, my sister and her family came down for Cousin Christmas. The kids played, we had a fun lunch, and we exchanged gifts. Such a fun time. I love their family so much.
The following Monday, we jumped into school after three weeks off. I have to say, the structure was welcome. I feel like I'm finally in the groove this school year - the work load is heavy, and the days are full, but I've finally gotten my footing, at least with the school element of things. The housekeeping and personal creative outlets have taken a lower rung on the ladder, but only one thing at a time can be the top priority, and I feel like the priority of this season is actually getting addressed in its proper order. Ordo amoris and all that. So it's good. I don't feel like it's too much to shoulder anymore. Maybe that's in part because the babies are getting older as well.
Todd has resumed Saturday Latin lessons when possible.
Anyway. The structure has been good. Term Two has been lighter than Term One, and we have hit our stride.
I had purchased a few "activity" gifts to open through Christmas break to keep everyone occupied during the down time, but there was still one gift we hadn't opened yet, so sometime that first week back I let them open that - Play Doh! Never discount the absorbing power of Play Doh. It was a hit.
The boys all got haircuts, including Knox. He always looks so funny when his hair is freshly cut because he's so fat and it just makes him look fatter. I cannot get enough of this rolypoly boy. He was so tiny for so long, and I was so worried about him and prayed so fervently that he would gain weight. All those prayers went straight to his thighs (and calves, and cheeks), and every single time I squish his soft little body, I feel so much joy. I can't get over how delightfully, wonderfully, adorably, squishably fat he is. Such a joy.
The babies are getting into everything. Everything. They are fast. They are coordinated. They each have a built-in sentry and partner-in-crime. They find markers, and school books, and my phone. They remove bookmarks. They rip boxes. They unburden entire shelves of books of their loads. They are loud. They are bottomless. They are legion.
BUT. They give the sweetest kisses and hugs. They share toys with each other. When one is crying, the other one will pat their head or belly to comfort them. They pull up their shirts to pat their own bellies when you ask, "Where's your drum? Play your drum!" Eulalie is finally big enough to wear her gold bangle bracelet she got for her baptism, and she thinks it is just the cat's pajamas. Knox loves trains, especially the flatbed cars, and he has a GI Joe named Guy Wow. They both love carrying around baby dolls and pushing them in a shopping cart. Eulalie loves stealing Knox's "ginky" (a pink blankie that he loves that we have tried in vain to trade for an otherwise-identical white one) so we've had to move their beds farther apart to prevent her reaching through the bars and taking it from him at night. Eulalie loves playing "making faces," and contorting her mouth into all kinds of funny shapes. They are just a constant delight in addition to being a constant source of chaos and mischief.
Speaking of chaos and mischief, look at this girl. It's like she was made to be missing her two front teeth. (Fresh losses. One is named Cherry for some reason, and I can't remember the name of the other one that fell out.)
And as for yet more chaos and mischief, we had an extreme cold snap with some snow last week and everyone is just the stir-craziest set of maniacs I've ever met in my life. It's finally starting to warm up enough to send them outside, thank goodness. (Now, what the cure is for my own restlessness, I can't yet say. I think it's going to have to involve painting our entire house. Inside and out. It is January and everything is ugly and boring and I just can't stand it.)
Anyway. Today is Friday, we are more than halfway done with the school year, and I just bought a trench coat and a bunch of plant baskets at Goodwill, so things are looking up. I'm hoping to finish a book this weekend, and maybe check out a local antique store on Saturday, to finish January strong. Prayers appreciated as I prepare to charge my way up the San Juan Hill that is February.
