Lately though, frequent third trimester Doctor appointments, as well as a few new things on our calendar have completely eliminated my cherished uninterrupted days at home. As someone who is usually very careful about how full my week is, I am a little surprised by how quickly life has turned into a whirlwind for us. The busyness is mostly temporary and I remind myself often that it's serving as good training ground for the extra energy I'll be expending once our baby boy is born.
One of the new things we added to our calendar are gymnastics lessons for Nicole. I would have never imagined enrolling a 2 year old in any kind of formal sport but one of my good friends is having twin boys only a few weeks after my baby is due and she asked me if I would be interested in doing something fun with our daughters as one last pre-baby hurrah. My friend suggested a mommy & me gymnastics class and after talking it over, Shawn and I were fairly certain that Nicole's spunk, strength, energy and bravery would equip her to take the sport in stride. We signed her up for a trial class before the new year and I was completely amazed at what a natural little gymnast she is!
Her absolute favorite thing to do is to hang from any kind of bar, beam or ring in the gym which has resulted in her looking for places to hang from at our house. Since I am convinced that her attempts of hanging on the handle of our dishwasher will result in a trip to the emergency room at some point in time, Shawn and I have had to actively discourage all hanging activities in our home. Our new policy is that hanging is for gymnastics lessons and the park only. It's been a difficult (and disappointing) concept to grasp but Nicole is usually very obedient so we're getting there.
The other new thing we added to our calendar is providing childcare at our church one morning a week. I've been on the childcare substitute list for a little over a year now, but I usually only end up working about once every two months or so. I decided not to take on a class of my own because the class runs right into our regular lunch and nap time and it just didn't seem worth it to disrupt our "normal" week after week. But, I got a call a few days after we got back from the holidays asking if I could temporarily step in one morning a week since two of the regular people had just stepped down. I love spending time with kids and I get to bring Nicole with me so I enthusiastically said yes. There has been something extra special about playing alongside of Nicole in a neutral environment and watching her interact with the other kids. It's been fun for both of us and a good change of pace, but I think we'll both be glad to return to our quiet lives at home once the position has been permanently filled by someone new.
To counteract our mornings being jam-packed, I have made sure our afternoons have been low-key and fun. In addition to finally growing the wildest hair on the block, Nicole has also been growing her ability to play independently and imaginatively. It's been really fun to watch (and listen in on!) and I find myself feeling thankful for Gods perfect timing every single day. As any mom of young kids will tell you, these years with littles underfoot are very hands on. It was hard to see past Nicole's need for constant supervision, assistance or instruction but somehow, I suddenly find myself listening in on independent, safe and appropriate play that doesn't require my attention at all. This newfound independence has been a gift to me both practically and emotionally. Practically, I've been able to spend more uninterrupted time on a single task than I have in well over 2 years but emotionally, I can feel my heart filling as I listen to the sweetest little voice speak kind and gentle words to her beloved stuffed animals as she involves them in the games she's created. It's such a treat!
What new things have you been up to this year?
Love,
Erica
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