Stay-At-Home-Mom

Today I was relieved to read a friends blog, when she stated that being a stay-at-home-mom is hard. That's right. She admitted it. Which got me thinking, why is it so hard to admit that being at home isn't always as easy as it sounds? Before I had Axel, I thought being at home with him all day, every day would mean endless freedom to do whatever we wanted. We would go on walks, do art projects, sew, watch movies, cuddle, go shopping, and Jordan would always come home to a delicious cooked meal.

WRONG!

Although there are good days, and even great days, being at home is hard work. I'm sure there might be someone reading this who would kill to be a stay-at-home-mom, and hates me for "complaining". Don't get me wrong. I LOVE being able to stay at home with Axel, however I'm also admitting that it isn't always a walk in the park. My son, who is perfect in every which way, is messy, active, clingy, and whiney at times. When the house is a mess, I can't always get up and clean it. When I try to load or unload the dishwasher I am interrupted by a little boy who is determined to climb onto the door of the dishwasher. When I try to cook, I have a sweet little set of hands tugging at my leg. When, on an ambitious day I attempt to do my hair or makeup my bathroom becomes a war-zone! Nap-time for him means rushing around and getting as much cleaning and organizing done as possible, and in my recent case, homework! Once Jordan gets home, mouths are fed, a bath is given, and Axel goes to sleep. At this point, I clean up his toys, clean up after dinner, and fold laundry if needed.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not bragging or looking for sympathy. I know people have it tougher than I do. I know that. I just think it is interesting to realize how much a mother does. Even mothers who work. They are gone all day and once they come home the job continues, and break time only comes during the wee hours of the night when Mr. Sandman comes to put us to sleep. Sometimes, he brings a tylenol PM.

Although becoming a Mother has somehow taken away all fashion sense, dancing abilities, and sexiness I may have once had.. I wouldn't trade my time with my Axie for anything in the world! Plus, all of my jobs at home make for a pretty decent work out! I'm sure Jilliam Michaels wouldn't agree, but suck it Jill! This job get's my heart pumpin!




Recently I came to a conclusion regarding stay-at-home-moms; We all need a hobby! I have a sewing machine, and a whole box full of craft/sewing supplies, but time doesn't always allow for that kind of hobby. Recently I started BYU-Idaho's online degree program to finish my bachelors. It is something I've always wanted to do, but after I went to beauty school, I decided I was happy with my education and would leave it at that. About a month ago I changed my mind. Last week my courses started and my spirits have already lifted. Yes, I know my life has great purpose. I am a wife and mother, and those are great things to be. However, knowing I need to carry some weight in another domain has given me a strange new confidence. Maybe it's just the distraction from the same ol' same ol'. Instead of speaking to a 1-year-old, I am reporting to an educated person. I am reading insightful essays and writing for a grade. My major is English and I'm doing a minor in Marriage and Family Studies. I know it will get more chaotic as the semester progresses, but I am really enjoying these first few weeks while I have the motivation.

Labor Day!

This past weekend was fun and eventful! We had Jordan to ourselves for 3 days! On Friday afternoon we took Axel to his 1-year-check up! Luckily, our family doctor is also a family friend and the Branch President in our ward, so we have a great relationship with him and he is a fantastic doctor. We've actually been really lucky so far, and with all of our moves we've found great Doctors for Axel, but this time it's really nice to know ours outside of the clinic.

Anyways, Axel did really well and we learned some new techniques in "discipline" and bottle weaning. Of course, they took his measurements and, well our child definitely does not have any issues with malnourishment. His head is in the 100th percentile haha! I didn't realize his head was so big! His weight is in the 99th percentile, and his height is in the 87th percentile! I remember about two weeks after he was born I was worried he would never get back to his birth weight because he was having trouble nursing. Obviously that was not the case as his birth weight has more than tripled! I am more than grateful that I have a strong, healthy child. Especially after his colicky infancy. Yet, I know things could be worse, and I know we are very lucky.

On Saturday we pretty much had a lazy day in. I had big plans of going to The Taste of Madison festivities on the square but the weather was really bad. It rained most of the day and was extremely muggy. We had fun staying indoors, and I made a yummy chicken stroganoff in my trusty crock pot.

Sunday was the start of my favorite weather. It was 45 degrees when we woke up! The day capped off at around 69 degrees and it put me in the best mood ever! Yes, the weather does indeed affect my state of mind that much! It was so nice to bundle up a little instead of looking through my closet wondering how to keep myself cool in the heat. Towards the end of church I was hit with a massive migraine and we left a little early. Jordan was so sweet to put me to bed when we got home and watch Axel (and put him to sleep too!) while I slept for 3 hours. THREE HOURS! I haven't taken a three hour nap in ages. It felt so good and really helped with my headache (which is still lingering :S).

Monday was Labor Day, so most Americans had the day off, including Jordan and we were able to spend a wonderful day together. We started the day off with a yummy breakfast and then packed up for the Labor Day Parade in Jordan's hometown of Randolph. It was so fun getting to dress Axel in some of his new Fall clothing! He looked so cute! Jordan's little sister, Jenna is in her middle school marching band, so we watched her March, and enjoyed watching all of the other pieces of the parade go by. The Mommy in me kicked in when the fire trucks went by and blasted their horns. Hello! Didn't they see my child? Haha, but I seemed more bothered by it than Axel even did. He was such a good boy and had a lot of fun!





After the parade we walked down to a Corn Carnival (I think that's what it was called) in a local park and enjoyed some free sweetcorn and walked around to look at some of the booths that were set up by local vendors. There really wasn't much other than beer mirrors and clocks, but hey.. it's Randolph. After the carnival we went over to Jordan's parents house and his Dad bbq'd some burgers, hot dogs, and brats. We had a nice lunch, and Axel had a great time playing with his Uncles Landon, and Evan. He worships those boys (and they him)!





After we left the Stanley's, we all went home and relaxed and tried to rest. Around dinner time I asked Jordan if he wanted to go to the Chinese Restaurant down the street. Normally, I really don't like Chinese food, but occasionally I get a weird craving for it. It's like a gross comfort food or something. Jordan always winces when I ask if we can go so we've never gone! But last night, he agreed. It was extra sweet of him because I know he only said "yes" so that I could have what I wanted, and he had such a sweet attitude about it. He was a great sport and cleared his plate, although we left feeling so disgusting!!

It was a fabulous weekend and I am sad to have Jordan away at work today! Love my boys!!

Finally!

The day has come. The glory day. The day where the opera vvoices "aaaahhhhh" and rays of sun shine down... on our bedroom. Haha, where am I going with this? We have a bed. A BED! For the first time in almost a year. We are once again sleeping on a real bed. When we moved back to Wisconsin from Idaho, we sold our bed to keep moving costs down. Thinking we'd get by on an air mattress for a few weeks, we were fine with the idea. Well, weeks turned into months, and still.. no bed! The other day, my sweet, thoughtful cousin Drew called me and asked if Jordan and I want their Queen Tempurpedic bed. For FREE! They decided to upgrade to a King and were going to put their Queen on the curb. Instead of the curb, it came to us.. and it is not a curb piece! Oh the comfort I felt as I lay in bed last night without the sound of the canvas air mattress in my ear, and without the worry of having to re-inflate the bed the next morning.

Thank you Drew! We love our new bed!