Grae is now squealing like a little piggy!! Oh, it is just the best little sound- we crack up laughing every time.  Then, he wrinkles up that perfect little nose and laughs with us.  Boy, does he have us wrapped around his tiny little finger already.

My Dad has started calling Grae a BLOB, because he still hasn’t rolled over, and really shows no intention of learning.  He prefers to be carried by his Momma, and that is perfectly fine by me.  We just remind Grae that Grandpa’s nickname is Big Ugly.  🙂

He’s not so good with tummy time, but his little legs make up for it.  He can support all of his weight, if only he could keep his balance…

And, the biggest accomplishment this week- HE FOUND HIS FEET!!  He now lifts his legs up and grabs those little piggy toes every time he sees ’em.  🙂

I often hear other parents comparing their baby’s progress to his or her peers or complaining about the fact that their baby hasn’t “slept through the night yet” or that they “can’t wait until he starts solids”.  I have come to a revelation.  I will never be THAT Mom.    Don’t get me wrong, with each new milestone Grae achieves, I am more proud than the last.  I will tell every stranger on the street about his newest accomplishment.  But, seriously, what is the rush? I couldn’t imagine wishing away one single moment of Baby Grae.

It’s human nature to look towards the future – to imagine all the fun that comes with the next milestone in your child’s life… but Grae is only 3 months old and I can’t begin to wrap my brain around where those three months have gone! I don’t even want to think about those chunky thigh rolls disappearing or acknowledge that there might in fact be a time when he stops smelling like a baby.

When Baby achieves milestones is not a reflection of how “advanced” he is, or how wonderful of a parent he has.  In the end, all babies will walk, talk, crawl, and roll over, it just might be on their own schedule. One thing I have learned in just the first few months of being a momma is to live in the moment. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not in anyway saying its not important to stimulate, encourage and have high expectations for children.  I simply don’t want to take one single second for granted.

I never, ever want to look back and regret not taking enough time to enjoy every part of my wonderful baby.  I want to do more watching and memory making than pushing him into the next stage of his development. I purely want to fill his life with love and expose him to as many things I possibly can as often as I can, and watch him do with it what he will.

So, that’s what I’m thinking about these days.

Here’s to slowing down and smelling the roses, my dear friends.

Please support TheMielkeWay- One click on the box below is all it takes to keep us in the Top 20.  🙂 XOXO

I have learned that as you make your way through life, there are cycles of times when you feel like you have it all figured out and at other times you couldn’t feel more lost.

For the last month or two, I have been excessively anxious.  I was absolutely terrified to return to work after three months of maternity leave.  I didn’t know how Grae would handle a daycare situation.  I was unsure how I would be able to adjust to lesson planning, teaching, and being a mommy at the same time.  I didn’t know if I had the strength to deal with any unforeseen crises that always tend to arise during already stressful situations.

Typically, I would advise anyone with these feelings to prioritize and cut down on the number of daily tasks in order to do the important things well instead of doing everything half heartedly.

But, instead, I did exactly the opposite.

I signed up for another semester of Ph.D. school, I put our name back on the list to foster children, I started a workout program, we moved a four year old boy into our home, and I decided that now is as good of a time as any to start piloting a new science program at work.

And the results?

Fabulous.

I’ve been in this foreign, yet wonderful place where I feel like all the right answers are falling into my lap, and even though our lives are crazier than they ever have been, I’m feeling more and more confident each day.  I have less time to sit and stew about all of the things that I need to accomplish the next day and instead I focus on what needs to get done today.  I’m sleeping better than I have for over a year now (who can say that with a 3 month old baby?!) and I feel like, together, we have gotten so good at this new “hectic” life, that it is starting to feel just like an every day routine.  The most unexpected result is that I have more time in my day now than I did before.  I believe that in trying to deal with my nervousness and anxiety, I was spending a lot of time “decompressing” in front of the T.V.-or the bath, or any number of other unproductive places, which in turn, just made less time to do things and more time for me to dwell on all those lovely things that had my mind going a mile a minute every minute of the day.

With each new undertaking, I’m made more aware of the phenomenal support system I have in my husband and parents.  I know my feelings would be very different if it wasn’t for the three of you.  I love you all and can’t thank you enough for supporting me through all of the insanity.  😉

I’m sure I will soon cycle back to the stage of life where I question every decision I have made, so I’m just going to live it up for the short time that it lasts- but I wanted to share my new coping strategy, because for right now- it is working wonders. 😉

Grae is so much fun and oh-so-happy!  He goos, gahs, oohs, and ahhs all the time.  His biggest “achievement” (well, in his eyes anyway) this week is discovering that his thumb is way more fun to suck on than his entire fist.  He is also learning how to play nicely with friends.  It is amazing to watch all eight of the babies interact.  They each have their own personalities that are already very apparent.  Grae is really enjoying the company of three babies specifically, and obviously doesn’t mesh so well with another. (He actually GROWLS, squints his eyes, and becomes agitated at the sight of said baby! Bahaha!)

We always appreciate your votes, just click the link below if ya want to help us out.  🙂 Thanks a bunch!

When our four year old foster son, RJ, was asked what he wanted to be when he grows up, his answer was simply, “A good person”.  What a novel response.  If only we all strived for this unembellished, candid hope, think what a wonderful world we would live in.

G and Miss B have bonded.  Miss B cries when Grae has to leave her side to get his diaper changed.  Graeson reaches out for her when they are sitting in the double stroller going for walks.  And you should hear him grunt when he sees her first thing in the morning. They have been best friends since they were in Mommies’ bellies and probably will continue to be friends for life.  🙂 I’m so happy Grae has such a great group of babies to hang out with while I’m at work.

G and B ❤

Nap time 🙂

We need votes 🙂 Click below if you got the Lovin’ feelin’ 🙂  

HE IS HERE!! And, he is adorable beyond words.  For the sake of his privacy, I will be calling the little dude RJ.  He arrived around 4:30, with clothes!  AND, we really got spoiled this time- not only were his clothes NOT covered in lice and who knows what else- they were clean and folded nicely, and he came with a beautifully written letter from his previous foster parents about all the little things that we need to know so we can best care for him.  He seems happy and well adjusted- and full of life and personality.  After introducing him to all of our hairy, feathered, and scaly beasts (and showing him his new room and new toys), we headed to his new school where he will be attending Pre-K.  I wanted to introduce him to his teachers and show him his classroom before dropping him off there tomorrow morning.  He said, “Wow- this looks like FUN!”  I’m sure he’s going to make LOTS of friends in no time.  We then went to the grocery store and I let him pick out a bunch of goodies that he likes to eat.  He got cupcakes and chocolate milk, but also picked out salad, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and chicken breasts.  We came home, made dinner, took a bath, read a bedtime story and then he was OUT LIKE A LIGHT.  He’s  had a big day, who can blame him.

RJ

On a different note, I’d like to point out Mr. Green, the frog stuffed animal, in the picture above. He comes with a short, heart warming story.

It was our very first time being foster parents.  We had completed all of the requirements and classes, and we waited and waited to be contacted about having children placed in our home.  Finally, we were contacted a week before Christmas with three siblings needing a home.  We quickly snatched them up.  Before it had even dawned on us that we would need to do some serious Christmas shopping in an extremely short period of time, two ANGELS from my mom’s work asked if they could “adopt” the children and buy Christmas gifts for them.  The frog was given to our 5 year old boy, and he affectionately named him Mr. Green.  He was the little guy’s best buddy.  He couldn’t sleep without him and he kept all the bad dreams away.  When it was time for that little boy (who was wise beyond his years) to go back to live with his own family, he requested that Mr. Green stay here and keep all of the kids that come to live with us safe and happy. Ever since, we keep Mr. Green sitting on the bed in our guest room, and he is given to the youngest child in the sibling group that comes to live with us, and we retell his story with each new group of children.   THANK YOU SO MUCH CLARE AND ROSLYN- You have impacted so many kid’s lives with your kindness and generosity.

Also, I want to send a BIG THANK YOU out to everyone who left the wonderful, supportive messages.  You all truly inspire me and I cannot tell you just how much you warmed my heart.  I had a smile on my face all day, that just kept growing as I read each and every comment and email.  I needed to be reminded that there are great people out there after my day yesterday… and y’all definitely provided that for me.  Lots of love to you all!! XO

“Whatever has happened to you in your past has no power over this present moment, because life is now.”

—Oprah Winfrey