SAHM Journey

My journey as a stay at home mom has come to an end.

Let me start from the beginning.

When I was pregnant with Emersyn we had endless childcare conversations. I loved teaching Kindergarten but the negatives completely outweighed the positives. On a nightly basis I would bring home hours worth of work. Pay increases in Wake County are non-existent while child care costs continue to rise. I wanted to give 100% to both my job and family but I couldn't do both. My family is far more important to me and a priority. Financially to put 2 kids in daycare would cost us close to $2100, which is slightly more than what I was bringing home a month. So after months of weighing pros vs. Cons, we decided I'd stay at home. I was elated to have the opportunity to stay at home and raise my babies. A dream come true!!!!

Now keep in mind, we made this decision prior to finding out Emersyn needed surgery. Life throws curve balls when we least expect it. So as the medical bills pour in, and that is putting it lightly, we started to panic. Yes we have insurance BUT the surgery is still costing us thousands. So our only option was for me to get a job. My 5 month reign as a SAHM is over. For me this is heart wrenching. I love being at home with Dylan & Emersyn more than any job. But providing for them is essential.

With that being said, I took a job at Dylans daycare (Holly Springs Learning Center). He loves it there, the staff is friendly, and it seems

like a great place to work. The facility is 5 minutes from our house and I cut through a neighborhood to get there. As an employee I get a Tuition discount. It's a wonderful rate which means I will take home a pay check and medical bills will eventually be paid off. I'm working with the 3 1/2 year olds. It's a new age group for me but I'm up for the challenge.

Having Dylan & Emersyn in the same building is the next best thing to staying at home. While I'm not directly with them, I can see them and know they are okay.

Life throws curve balls sometimes and this is how we are handling it. Hopefully one day I will have another opportunity to stay at home. That is where my heart is.

As one door closes, another opens. I guess that's life right?

Golf Outing

Zack had been asking for a set of golf clubs for months. So for his birthday we bought him some. He has been golfing bi-weekly after work with a few guys from Pentair. Not only is this his new hobby but it also allows him some much needed guy time.

This past Saturday he went with three other guys from work and played 18 holes. During the week they only play 9 since that is all day light will allow for. I had one of his buddies take some pictures of him. They were taken from a cell phone so the quality isn't great but you can get the idea. I never really post about Zack's work or hobbies so I thought it was time.

I love the above pictures. The beams of sunlight make it look neat, oh and yes my honey is looking great too! Check out his sweet golf shoes!

For whatever reason this picture is clear. They golfed at a course in Clayton. The homes that back up to golf courses always amaze me. They are so beautiful, why would they want a golf course in their yard??? Anyway, Zack had a great time and will continue his golf adventures during the week. I like him home on Saturdays :-)

Cereal

I started Emersyn on rice cereal a few weeks back. I've been meaning to post about it but somehow there is just not enough time in the day. Anyway, with Dylan we waited until he was closer to 6 months. Emersyn is a hungry girl so I thought I'd give it a shot. Rice cereal didn't sit well with her belly as it was causing diarrhea. The pediatrician suggested going off of cereal all together for a few days to clear up her GI track. We just recently started up again, this time trying a single grain oatmeal. I think she actually prefers the oatmeal rather than the rice. I would as well since the rice cereal is so bland and doesn't look appetizing at all. She gobbles the oatmeal right up. I'm hoping her belly agrees with this one. Then we can start on some fruit. I'm not in a rush to buy baby food, but I feel like she wants something else other than formula. Most babies her age can go 3-4 hours in between feedings. Not Emersyn! My baby girl loves to eat. She goes anywhere between 2-3 hours. If I try to hold her off she becomes a very cute looking monster.

I tried to capture her eating cereal but the pictures are not the greatest. I took them with my phone and I took them by myself while trying to feed her. Not a good combination. I probably should have waited for Zack to come home. Oh well.

Let me tell you about these hands of hers! They are ALWAYS in her mouth. So after every spoonful of cereal, she'd shove her hands in her mouth and suck on them. Very interesting to watch and a bit frustrating for the person feeding her. The cereal ends up all over her face, bib, hands, legs, shirt and many other places. Fun, fun for everyone!

I had to include a picture of these sexy legs! I LOVE THEM!! Including solids in her meals will only make the rolls bigger. Wahoo! Gotta' love the chub!

National Geographic

National Geographic for Kids came in the mail today. I think I was more excited than Dylan. He was excited once he knew it was his and saw it had animals in it. He loves to get mail so this is a great start. His Nana purchased a subscription to High Five magazine as well and that will start in December. My goal is for the mailbox to have more in it for Dylan than for us.

Smile

A smile is contagious, be a carrier!

At the Playground

This afternoon I took the kids to the neighborhood playground. It was beautiful out and we needed to get some fresh air. Or should I say, Dylan needed to release some energy. I put the kids in the stroller and we walked to the playground rockin' out to the Barenaked Ladies Snacktime CD. I forgot to mention that our new jogging stroller has an input for my iPhone.

Dylan was deciding if this tunnel slide was scary or not. He just started going down slides independently. Something about them would scare him. He is NOT a risk taker like his Daddy.

Emersyn hanging out in the stroller. This bib is funny because I despise glitter. It was part of the bib pack.

Well folks...he is actually 'tooting' here. After he yells "Excuse me Mommy, I tooted"

A beautiful day in the neighborhood.

A slide just his size.

A beautiful Monday afternoon with my kids. I LOVE every second of it!

A Taste of Fall

I already had this post typed and published until I realized the titled said "At Taste of Fall". That is what I get for typing with an infant on my lap. I was so annoyed that I had to delete the entire post. I tried to edit it, but for some reason my computer doesn't like me. So here I am typing this all over again, hoping to remember what I wrote. ARRR!

So lets try again.......

We welcomed the month of October with cool weather, cookie making, football, cleaning and decorating for Halloween. Dylan loves to help me clean so he assisted in dusting. His favorite part is going outside to shake out his 'duster' as he calls it. We made cookies together and did some decorating for Halloween. Holidays are becoming more fun as the kids grow. It makes us feel like kids again which is such a wonderful feeling. The 'giddy' comes over me as I think of all the fun activities in the months to come.

Ladybug in her capri-overalls. They are 3-6 months and she barely fits in them. Keep in mind she is only 4 1/2m.

My cleaning buddy shaking out his duster.

Decorating the front door.

Assisting in decorating for Halloween or shall I say playing with everything as I decorate.

Anxiously awaiting his cookies to finish baking.

Taste tester Dylan!

Emersyn will probably be a ladybug for Halloween and Dylan wants to be a pirate. Stay tuned....

So we've had a taste of Fall, lets hope it's here to stay!