Becoming Homebodies

We are trying to find our new normal during a very uncertain time in history. After I last wrote, Governor Cooper made the declaration that public schools will remain closed through May 15th. School districts have adapted as quickly as possible with moving all instruction to an online format, in hopes that we will finish out the last few days of the school year face-to-face in our building. In addition to the spring sports seasons on hold, testing and proms have been postponed or cancelled. With all these changes, I feel like staff and students have responded as best as can be expected. I am fully working from home now. I work during the kids' naptime from around 1PM to 5PM and again after they go to bed after 9PM. Boomer is continuing to go to school each day, but beginning next week, he will go only 4 days, much like in the summer. One day a week, he will be able to work from home - yay! Right now, he has been leaving a little after 7AM and then arriving home around 4:30PM. When he gets home, he is very helpful to jump right in as I make the transition from "Mrs. Kennedy" back to "Mommy." Admittedly I am a little cranky during this time, as I try to juggle wrapping up my work and picking back up with mom duties. We are rotating nights of cooking dinner at home and Boomer picking up something on the way home. There is a shortage of some items at the grocery store, so I have tried to be strategic about using the fresh food in our refrigerator and our reserves of frozen food. We are still able to get most of the items that we need, with the exception of toilet paper. Thank goodness we have enough at home now, because the stores just can't seem to keep it in stock.

Emmy, Eli, and I have been home now for the last 10 days. As recommended by the CDC, we have been trying to limit our travel and social interactions. Several counties have even issued a "shelter in place" order, basically restricting any non-essential travel outside of the home. Emmy hasn't seemed to notice the drastic change in the amount of time we have been spending at home, or if she has, she just hasn't mentioned it. Each night we pray for the people that are sick in the world and for God's protection to keep us healthy. But otherwise, I don't know if she understands the pandemic that is facing our country. On the bright side, our self-quarantine has allowed for plenty of bonding time with our family unit. I've especially loved seeing Emmy continue to get to know her little brother. 

This past week, Grammy and her "Mary Poppins bag" came over on two different mornings. She just kept pulling out fun, educational activities for Emmy, and we were so thankful that she could spend some time with us. Sometimes I forget about my mom's expertise in education from her many years in the classroom, but everything that she did was very appropriate for Emmy's age: painting, practicing with scissors, patterns, and tracing. 

We are doing our best to carry on while under quarantine. Unfortunately the coronavirus cancelled a girls' weekend that I had planned, so in lieu of being together in person, we scheduled a video call to be together virtually. We've also had virtual church for the last two weeks. Emmy has enjoyed the singing portion, but she becomes a little antsy during the message - she had much more fun playing with her red balloon from Aunt Megan than sitting still. My big outing last week was running with my sister at Salem Lake (double digits - 10 miles!) Otherwise, we get fresh air from evening walks around the neighborhood. Emmy is a champ at making it around the entire 1-mile loop. 

My big outing this week was Eli's four-month appointment. While doctor's offices have been cancelling all other well visits, Eli's appointment was still deemed "essential" since he is under a year old and needs his vaccinations. The doctor's office took careful precautions, with a separate entrance and no wait time, to get us in and out as quickly as possible. Eli let out barely a squawk after his two shots - what a tough little guy! His weight was 12 pounds 0.5 ounces (5th percentile); his length was 25.5 inches (67th percentile); and he is still holding strong with an above average head circumference of 17 inches (87th percentile!) 

Dr. Albright commented on Eli's strong head control and his bright, observant eyes. He said that it would not be long before Eli is rolling from his back to his belly based on his hip movement. I assured him that we were no longer fully swaddling him, especially after I found him like this after his nap last week! 

We are now only swaddling him from below his armpits so that his arms are free. By doing so, he has easy access to his fingers, so I do notice him sucking his fingers often while he is in his crib. Dr. Albright was reassuring that there could be worse things! I am trying not to fret over this little habit he has developed. In addition to releasing Eli from the swaddle, we have been trying out the bouncer. He enjoys jumping around for a few minutes at a time. He is still a little wobbly, and he needs a pillow under his feet in order to get any air, but I think he likes it!

I'm not sure if I will have too much to write about in the days ahead. Although juggling work and parenthood has been a bit challenging, I am trying to cherish this time with Emmy and Eli. I love the joy and smiles that they have in simply staying at home and being together. I am also enjoying learning more about them. Fun fact: Emmy loves eating apples right off the core!