Swimming lessons and general business

Well, these next two weeks prove to be very busy. Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next two weeks Elizabeth has swimming lessons. She had her first lesson and did wonderfully. She was not afraid at all. The problem was that I had to deal with the babies while she was in the water. Ms. Sarah had a very hard time with not being able to be in the water with her sister. As far as she's concerned she's just as big as Elizabeth. She pitched a monster fit and I finally took her and Cole to the car. Before Sarah was even buckled in her car seat she was asleep! Now I just have to figure out what to do with the babies next time. I think that if I have the stroller for Cole Sarah and I can walk around outside and maybe I can peek in the window and see Elizabeth from time to time.

I love all of my kids very much but I struggle with not being able to do as much with Elizabeth as I would like. I don't have anyone to watch the little ones at this time so it's very hard for me to volunteer to do things with her preschool class and even watch her swimming lessons. All the other moms or grandmothers were there to watch their kids and I had to take the babies outside in order to keep the peace. I just wish I could be there for her more.

Anyway, she has swimming lessons on the days she doesn't have school giving her something to do every day which is great! It just keeps me very busy. If I go to water aerobics on Monday and Friday then we're at the gym from 8:30 to 11. There's no point in coming home and unloading everyone just to turn around and go back which leads me to my next problem. Well, two problems. By the time we get home on those days it's lunch time, then nap time and even if I don't take a nap (which is hard not to do since Elizabeth wants me to lay down with her) I still lack the motivation and time to keep up with my house work. I'm glad I don't work right now. After I finish dinner I have to clean the dining room and the kitchen and wash dishes then it's bath time and bed time and I have to sit with Elizabeth till she goes to sleep. Evenings are very busy and that's a time when I just want to sit and relax with my husband and the kids. No rest for me though. If you have a solution to my problem just let me know.

As I sit here without having had a shower and with a major pile of dishes in the sink I wonder how in the world we'll manage keeping the house straight if I go back to work!

SARAH GRACE SHEDD!!!!!!!!

I am trying to get out of the habit of taking a nap which is proving to be really hard for me. I laid down to rest for just a minute today and Sarah woke up. She aparently found her sippy cup and since I didn't seem to be paying any attention to her she proceeded to throw it at me. I now have a big blue knot beside my right eye from my one year old! It's crazy I know!

On a lighter note her vocabulary is increasing greatly every day. Here in Clanton there is a man that puts on a Shreck mask and waves at an intersection to promote a weekly auction at a local store. As we drove by Shreck today Sarah said, "Mommy, eck!" She tried hard. When we got home she pointed to our snack drawet and said "Kacker". I am so proud of her!

Cole is growing up too. I am beginning to see little buds of teeth forming just under his gums and it make me sad. I'd kind of like for him to be a baby for a while, but I don't think he really cares. We put him to sleep on his tummy at night. It's a no-no. I know, but it's the only way any of my kids will sleep. Anyway when I went in his room this morning to get his clothes not only was he already awake which never happens, but he was laying on his back! He rolled over at some point! I was impressed and sad at the same time. He stayed in his bed and never made a sound until I came and got him to get him dressed.

Elizabeth is a struggle for me right now. She sleeps like my brother which is not much at all and thinks that I need to be with her when she's awake. The getting her to sleep process has been taking up to 2 hours lately and it is really starting to take it's toll on me.

I have started praying with the girls at bed time. Elizabeth always wants to say a special prayer for her freinds from school which doesn't surprise me. She really seems to love them. I've prayed with Cole some, but by the time I get Elizabeth to sleep he's already passed out in his bed. At least I have 2 that I can just put in their beds. The unfortunate thing is that it's the oldest one that's the problem. She continues to tell me that she's still learning to go to sleep!

Bronchitis

Well, Sarah Grace and I have had a cough for quite some time now. I finally got around to taking us both to the doctor which ends in me taking all 3 kids because Jonathan was working. Anyway she said that I had bronchitis and didn't say the same for Sarah, but gave her the kid's version of the Z Pack which is what she gave me. Sarah also has an ear infection which explains why she tried to poor her juice in her ear the other day.

I'm telling you strange things have been happening around here. I looked iside Cole's mouth the other day and could've sworn I saw the corner speck of a tooth. I was really hoping it was Whoville and not a tooth because he's only 4 months old! Sarah started teething early, but Cole is my last baby and I'd kinda like him to stay little for a while. I call him my little man, but the emphasis is on the LITTLE part.

Elizabeth has a busy month this month. We had family fun night at preschool. It had a nursery rhyme theme, so she and her friends played games to help them remember the nursery rhymes they'd learned in school. She had Goodies with Grandparents day next week, so my dad is coming down. Next Friday we leave for a trip to Tennessee and then a few days in Cullman and when we get back she starts swimming lessons. Busy people we are. Her swimming lessons will end just in time for our trip to the beach with my family.

And to top it all off. We had snow last Sunday and it will be in the 70's tomorrow. How's that Alabama weather for ya!