The Daddy
Jonathan is doing fantastic and is such a hard worker. He is teaching two 9th grade Honors English classes and one regular 9th grade English at Mount Nebo Junior while, at the same time, working as an administrator in the office. These last three days he has been the only administrator on duty while the principal and assistant were at the annual workshop in St. George. He is also teaching a class at UVU for two nights a week this semester. Last semester was his first class at UVU and he loved it! He really enjoys do adjunct and seeing that whole other aspect of teaching.
Of course, balancing all of this, he is also continuing with his PhD after taking a semester off to help me with the baby. He really enjoyed that semester off! But... it was time to go back and hit the books. He says the current class (which will remain nameless) is really boring, but he will trudge along with it.
He still remains in scouting at church. I think he will be in that role forever. He is so terrific at it and the kids love him. I also know that the parents really appreciate all he does.
Jonathan continues to spoil me and takes care of all of us. He is a great help with Blythe and, of course Ethan. I can always count on him to help with anything I need.
He is still goofy as ever and is such a sweet daddy. I love him.
The Mama
I am acclimating to the domestic arts! I love to be at home with Blythe and even though I still don't have a real routine yet, I love to be a homemaker. Years ago I never thought I would be able to say that, and I think it was because I was trying to make myself feel better for not being able to have a baby. But I can definitely say that my days are filled with so much joy and excitement.
When I am not tending the baby, I am working on my writing. I have come to be involved with other writers who encourage me to develop my creativity. I am working on a short story right now and have an idea for a picture book already. I have taken this school year off from UVU right now so I can be home with the baby and I've really enjoyed it. I aim to go back in the fall and hopefully take on a night class.
I'm cooking more than ever before and embracing the ideology to make things homemade if I can. I make as much of Blythe's baby food as I can, and I rarely buy anything canned or boxed. I try to figure out how to make things from scratch if possible. I even learned how to make my own brown sugar! (That was more out of necessity, though.) I have become, you could say, domestic.
I am also -- finally -- getting my craft room organized and reloading my glue gun. I am a new convert to Hobby Lobby and can testify to the dollar store. I am a believer!
The baby and I have a lot of fun together, dancing around the house and reading books, and we also take bubble baths together where I try to make sure she doesn't eat the bubbles.
The Big Brother
Ethan is awesome. He is the 5th grade this year and just turned 11 years old! He crossed the bridge and is no longer a cub scout. He isn't completely in love with school, but we recently had a come to Jesus moment, and I think we are on the right track now. I am very proud of him and all that he accomplishing. Just today he was given a note by his teacher thanking him for his hard work this week and for helping to clean up the hallways.
I admire Ethan a great deal for always sticking up for people at school. He is always the first to come to "the underdog's" defense. He is a true advocate and is a sweetheart. Ethan is also very funny, which can sometimes get him into trouble! But, that comes with the territory I suppose. I adore him! I go to his class every Monday to volunteer and I enjoy watching him interact with his classmates. They all like him a lot. About a month ago his teacher did an exercise where they passed around a paper with their names at the top. Each student had to write a nice thing about each kid. Ethan was thrilled because he had no idea how his classmates felt about him! He has always been a little insecure and worried about how others perceived him -- and here was a whole sheet of paper, front of back, of compliments! My favorite one said something like, "Ethan. I like you because you are so funny but are never mean about it." That made my heart burst with pride.
Ethan is in basketball this year and it is something he enjoys very much. It is very engaging and he always gets into the game. He also starts Jump Club next week at his school which is where kids are taught all sorts of jump-roping tricks and things. At the end they hold a Spectacular set to music. It is so fun. Ethan is excited because next year, as a 6th grader, he gets to be a student coach.
Ethan is an awesome big brother. He loves his little sister so much and takes his role very seriously. Blythe will laugh all the time just for him and loves to play with him. She truly is over the moon for her brother and he is for her as well. As far as I can tell, they are two very sweet peas in a pod.
The Baby
Blythe is now six months and still a tiny little pixie. As her doctor says though, "I know her parents so I am not concerned." As I write this, she is laying beside me and snoring. She can really belt it out. Right now, she is rolling over onto her tummy and loves to kick her feet. She also loves to chew like crazy. The teething process has definitely started and the strings of drool are a testament to that!
Her favorite foods so far are carrots and bananas and she doesn't like Diet Coke. (Don't ask how I know.) Thankfully, she has stopped calling me Moo-Moo and started calling me Mama. Blythe has the sweetest disposition and is almost always smiling and happy. When she is fussy then I absolutely know there is something wrong.
The last few days she has had an ear infection so she hasn't been herself. But I have never seen a baby who likes medicine so much! I will definitely need to keep everything locked away with this one. Ethan never paid it any attention, but not Blythe. She notices everything.
I didn't need to really get her anything for Christmas. She was happiest with a box of Kleenex. I can't believe how fast she can pull out Kleenex. But we got her toys anyway and all was happy. I will write a separate post for Christmas (yes, I will).
All told, Blythe is happy and healthy. She is showing no signs of any sort of developmental delay from being born early. The doctor says she is on schedule for everything, her eyesight, hearing, etc. is right on for her age. I couldn't be happier and feel more blessed. She truly is our little miracle baby in so many more ways than one.
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