Random August thoughts

Just what I'm thinking about...

Max is busy. Like SO busy. Like I feel like I am the only parent whose kid would run 50 feet away and wouldn't even turn back to see if I was still there or following. He just wants to roam and run free. It's his fearlessness that scares me the most. No Fear = Trouble. And if you are going to tell me that every kid is like this... they aren't. I just went to my work summer party and there are like 5 women with children around Max's age and the majority are boys, and I was the only one running up the hill to capture my child before he joined the pee-wee footballers or ran into the street. I feel completely exhausted if I take him anywhere. I feel bad sometimes because I feel like I have to conjure enough energy/motivation to take him anywhere. Anyway, I'm exhausted.

Sometimes I feel like I am ready for another baby. Then I have an exhausting day with Max and I can't even fathom ever having any more. The women who have 5 kids under the age of 5 must have really good babies, or are really brave (or CrAzY). I can't even imagine being pregnant/having a newborn with Max the way he is. It makes me tired just thinking about it.

Max is smarter then I realize sometimes. Every night before he goes to bed (between 7:30 and 8:00) he gets a bath. So every night before his bath I do the sign (as in sign language) "bath" as I run his tub. Well last night it was about 7:20 and he comes up to me and does the "bath" sign. I was like, "Oh it's time for your bath!" So I ran his bath. I thought it was so cute. He knows his routine well. He also tells me when he wants to eat and when he wants his milk without any prompts. He just signs. He has also learned the word Dog, Cookie, "What's that?", All done (he also sorta knows the sign), Bubble, Key (for blankie), and he jumps if you tell him to. He loves to jump.

I feel less stress now that Chris is working. The unknown was always hard for me, as well as the pressure to provide the primary income for our family. Especially with my work being slow and them calling off nurses often. I was getting more stressed about money, but I don't feel that pressure as much anymore. While we still have Chris's student loans to worry about, I feel better having both our income's to manage that. And we are working on getting me to 2 days a week.

We, like many other Americans, are stuck where we live. Not that we don't like where we live. It is actually a pretty good place, with a great ward, and a lot of amenities. But we want a house, with a back yard. Alas, if we sold our place now we would probably lose money, money we don't necessarily have. So we are stuck here. We have a little room to grow, but not much more. And I want a yard. A FENCED IN YARD, to keep my adventurous child from wandering into the road, or the Jordan River, or out of my sight.

Chris is enthusiastic about his job. I love that. He is studying hard for a certification test right now. He is getting paid to get certified/educated instead of us paying for it. I like that too. It seems like EMC is a good fit for him and I think he will do well, be happy, and have great opportunities for growth and advancement. It is crazy, in this economy, that this company is doing so well. They are a powerhouse for technology. I'm so grateful this opportunity came to us.

Anyway, life is good. I'm grateful for what we have, for Max (even if he is exhausting), for Chris and his hard work and intelligence, and for my parents and Chris's mom who have been so great at helping us with the transition to 2 full time working parents (for the moment) and being able to watch Max. Instead of being scared of the future, I'm actually excited for it!