Being a Parent

After a short 11 months of parenting, I feel like I have already learned so much.

I have learned unconditional love. Never before have I been so level minded when someone is screaming, on the top of their lungs, right into my face.

I have learned how to live without looking forward to the next time you get to sleep in. With a baby, and with children in general I'm assuming, sleeping in is just not what us moms get to do. At the beginning I used to long for a good sleep in, read a book, morning. I don't let myself think that way anymore. It's funny though, even if part of me wants to stay in bed just a little bit longer, Brody's happy, excited face as sees me coming to get him from his bed makes waking up not so bad.

I have learned how to care for someone. On April 12, 2012, I was blessed with sweet, innocent Brody. I was given the responsibility to care for his every need. This totally freaked me out at first. But after 11 months, I can honestly say I love it now. It is a wonderful feeling to know that someone completely trusts and depends on you. It is a huge responsibility, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Right now I am working in the Nursery in my ward. It is the perfect calling because I get to bring Brody with me and he gets to socialize with all of the kids. Brody is still unsure about them all and the whole situation. Although, I have to admit I love when Brody gets a little unsettled and I can look down and see Brody looking up at me with his worried little blue eyes. His tiny hands grasp my dress as he pulls himself up and closer so that I can bend down pick him up. Once he is in my arms, he feels safe. I have never felt such a satisfying feeling before. To be the person someone looks for when they feel they are in danger. It is overwhelmingly crazy to think that I am that person to Brody.

I'm back, and Brody is big.

In nearly a month I will have a one year old. Let me take a moment to let this soak in. 

Let me also take a moment to say what a horrible blogger I've been lately.

I have a tendency to want to be so efficient, so much that I drive myself crazy at times.

I found myself keeping a running list of all of the events that I needed to blog of Brody.

And we were/are so busy.

And I was not having any time to sit and blog.

And the list was growing and the dates were increasing.

And I was stressing. 

So I decided to put the blog to the side for a little, until it felt fun again.

Now I'm okay. :)

I'm going to try my best not to feel to guilty about not writing about all the precious moments we have had with our sweet boy, and focus on documenting moments that are happening now.

He is getting so big!! 

Brody is crawling, ripping books, digging through trash, eating adult food, and starting to talk.

Today, I was driving home from work, thinking about how much he has grown, 

and I started to think about how soon he will be able to play with other kids and run around with them.

It literally brought a tear to my eye.

A few weeks ago I babysat two of the sweetest kids and learned that Brody does not understand sharing.

While the kids were a bit older than him, and were used to sharing with each other, Brody did not want them touching his toys. He therefore would grab the toy with both hands and push them away with his, not so small, head. Oh gosh, it was so cute.

Right now he loves to shake his head, "no." We aren't sure if that is what he means when he does it, but any question we ask him, there he is, shaking his head. 

"Brody, have you been good today?" Shakes head.

"Brody, do you want a bath?" Shake shead.

"Brody, how old are you?" Shakes head. 

It's the cutest thing.

I took him to the doctor a few days ago and while he is grower taller at an ideal rate, his weight is not increasing very much. 

The doctor seemed worried, which made me worried, and so we are offering him even MORE food, without forcing it. However I feel like he eats SO much already. We are adding a formula feeding per day as well. I guess I may not be cutting it any more.

Life is crazy lately. I'm anxious for it all to slow down, but I'm realizing that life doesn't exactly do that.

We are managing an apartment complex and trying to get through the semester as smoothly as possible. 

Jeff is still at McDonalds, 

and in school full time working on an Exercise Science Degree now.

I'm still teaching 7th grade every other day for two periods, 

and now we both have this added management job on our to-do list. 

Once this school year is over though, I've decided to stop teaching for awhile. Which is why we accepted the management job. It is such a blessing. It covers our rent and I am allowed to bring Brody with me during office hours. The office is connected to our apartment, so I have arranged it so Brody takes his nap during our office hours, which is so ideal in every way. 

Well, that is a bit of what we have been up to lately. I'll be back to blogging now because Brody is growing way too fast and I don't want to forget a thing.