Transitions

Although our time before the next baby comes is dwindling down, it seems that things are only getting crazier around here. Since the holidays have ended, we’ve spent most of our time trying to get all of the last minute details ready. All of our procrastinating finally hit us, and we had the scary realization that she could be here within a matter of weeks {if she’s anything like her sister.}

My professional life hasn’t slowed down either. I now have three clients that I manage social media for as well as two writing jobs. So if you’ve noticed my absence on here lately, it’s because my day is consumed of trying to be both a stay at home mom and a work at home mom.

I’m slowly learning how to balance it all, but I have a feeling as soon as I “conquer” it {if that’s even possible,} the new baby will come and throw everything for a spin.

For now, we are trying to maintain our balance as a family of three. We are really doing our best to spend as much time as possible with Harlan.

A couple of weeks ago we had our first snow of the year. Harlan was giddy when she woke up that morning to see the city streets covered in fluffy white snow. We immediately put on our warmest clothes and made our way to the park for some fun.

The playground was virtually empty and untouched since the snow had fallen which made it even more fun for a mini snowball fight and to get to play on the slide.

Later that day I made my way over to the west side for a “mommy” shower that was thrown for me by my best friend from high school, Hope. It was so wonderful to celebrate with friends and it felt great to get gifts that were for the mommy, instead of for the baby {because she has PLENTY.} I plan on cashing in on my pre-natal massage this week and I can’t wait!

Last weekend MacKay and I finally ventured over to our storage unit to get out all of the baby items that we saved from Harlan. Of course everything that we needed was in the back of the unit, which required us to take everything out. What what we thought was going to be a quick and simple hour long task, turned into a daunting five hours of moving boxes and furniture.

Harlan came home that night to an apartment full of baby items and didn’t quite know what to think. This was the first thing that solidified that a baby will be with us very soon. She has taken her baby dolls and used many of them to help her practice being a big sister.

In a moment of jealousy {or maybe even anxiety} she’s even tried to get in the baby stuff herself, to pretend she is the baby. This has made for many conversations of “you are the best big sister and not a baby.”

Those conversations don’t always end well and sometimes she just gets angry at us for not letting her do what she wants to do. Lately she’s been in a hitting stage, where she starts to hit me when she gets really angry. I don’t know how to remedy it, except for put her on her naughty stool {which is her typical time out method.} When she is finished with her time out we talk about it and she always tells me that I “made her mad.”

Her sleep has been off, too, and she’s started to sit and cry at her door at bedtime telling us all she wants to do is cuddle.

I know she has a lot going on in her life right now and can’t help but think she might be a little overwhelmed. We’ve almost fully conquered potty training {she’s only wearing diapers when she sleeps,} and she hears a lot more of the “baby sister” talk now than before.

I am confident that, with time, this phase will pass. For the time being, I have to try to find my way through yet another obstacle in this crazy life we all know as parenting.