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! 

4 Months and Quarantined

Eli is 4 months old today and is starting to fill out the onesies for his monthly photo shoot! We are still exclusively breastfeeding, so although his weight gain has been slow, he is a healthy size, weighing in just under 12 pounds. For what he may lack in weight, he makes up for in length! He is all limbs and skinny arms and long legs. He is still wearing size 1 diapers and is in 3-6 month clothes. We are starting to get more smiles from him, and he is so very close to giving us that full belly laugh. Right now, he likes screeching and cooing and chuckling, especially at Daddy's funny faces and Emmy's songs. 

Eli's favorite things right now are watching his sister, talking with Daddy, and playing under the rainforest.  

Eli will take cat naps in his monkey chair...

...but he sleeps the best when he is swaddled in his crib. He is becoming quite skilled at wiggling out of his swaddle or at least getting his hands up to his mouth. I wrote before about how he had discovered his fingers and particularly likes to suck his middle and ring finger. It has become even more of a habit over the last few weeks. Even though I try to discourage him from doing so, he has found a way to soothe himself, which is helpful if Mommy is otherwise occupied. Being the second child is tough!

We have had quite an unexpected week. On any other Wednesday, I would have put in an 8-hour workday, pumped a minimum of 4 times, picked up both kids, and attempted to cook dinner. Instead, I was home all day today with both kids. Governor Cooper's mandate to close all public schools has meant that I am working from home for the foreseeable future. Yesterday I made a trip to school to grab all of my things, and it was a bit strange knowing that I would not be back in the building for awhile. While I was at school, my parents watched both kids, in addition to my nephews. It was a full house! (It was also St. Patrick's Day, hence all the green!)

Today was officially the first day of "Quarantine" at home. Boomer is continuing to go to his school, so it is just Emmy, Eli, and me from about 7AM to 5PM. As a 12-month employee, Boomer will likely still be required to report to work all throughout this time. I wish he could be home with us, too, but it has felt somewhat like an extension of my maternity leave. I am hoping that we can find a daily routine that is best for everyone. The schedule today was pretty good, and I am feeling optimistic about balancing work and mom duties. I most likely won't attempt to do any work during the morning, since both kids are awake and active during this time. I'm proud to say that we didn't turn on the TV even once today. Emmy was easily entertained with her flash cards and books; she also enjoyed coloring and playing make believe with her babies and kitchen set. She loves baking cookies (in the real oven and in her play oven) and making chocolate and "camilla" ice cream. I hope that these things continue to hold her interest in the days ahead! Shortly after lunch time around 12:30PM, I put Eli down first and then Emmy, giving me a window of time from about 1PM - 4PM to work. Emmy didn't really nap, but she was content to "rest" in her room so that I could work uninterrupted. I have set up a makeshift office space in our dining room. Since my top work priority right now is completing registration for next school year, I have been calling students and talking to them over the phone about their course selection. These conversations can be quite lengthy, and on this first day, I talked to three students. I also responded to emails and queued up Remind messages and Twitter posts. I hope to call more students each day, hopefully between 5 and 8. This number is similar to the number I would meet with if we were in school. There was soon movement on the video monitor from Eli's room, so I wrapped things up and put back on my "Mom" hat. Boomer arrived home with pizza a little after 5PM, and we were all excited to see him. As soon as Emmy hears the garage door, she will rush to the garage and wait on the door mat just outside. I plan to cook most nights, but pizza was a nice treat. It was from Blue Naples, a local Italian restaurant that, like all other restaurants right now, is only offering take-out. (All restaurants have been forced to close their dining rooms.) After dinner, we took a walk around the neighborhood. It was our first time going outside today, and the fresh air was wonderful. Temperatures were in the 60s, and it is staying light until around 7:30PM. The plan is to follow a similar schedule tomorrow and for the foreseeable future until schools reopen. I hope that we make good use of these days, accomplishing what needs to be done for work while also cherishing this extra time to spend with family. 

Mommy cooked!

An Unlikely Spring Break

Since the last time I wrote, there have been big and scary changes in our world. Several weeks ago, the media began covering the spread of a disease called COVID-19, known as "Coronavirus." As the virus moved from China to Italy to now the United States, our nation's leaders have began to take action in what they are terming "social distancing," essentially limiting gatherings to less than 100 people so that exposure to the virus is minimized. The biggest announcement came just a few hours ago as our governor issued a mandate that all public schools close for the next two weeks, with the possibility that schools will remain closed even longer. There is a feeling of uncertainty and fear as everyone is rushing to the grocery stores for staple items and preparing to be at home for an extended period of time. The announcement to close schools comes at the end of my Spring Break. I have been out this past week, and although it has been strange to have such an early break without any of my other teacher friends, I've enjoyed the days off. It has almost been a "bonus" maternity leave of sorts. I've especially enjoyed all the extra snuggles with my sweet boy. 

Eli is growing like crazy! One of the items on my Spring Break To-Do List was swapping out his clothes. I have packed away the Newborn - 3 month, and he is now wearing 3-6 month clothes. It is always quite a chore to swap out the clothes, but I am so thankful for all that we have been given. His drawers are once again full with the next size up. 

Emmy continued to go to school the first four days of the week, and each afternoon we fit in fun adventures like walks with Eli in the stroller, a trip to the library, playtime and a picnic at the park, and a special treat from the cupcake shop near her school. The temperatures were perfect for being outside, so we tried to get outdoors as much as possible. And because we did, it was necessary to do a bath almost every night this week! Then on Friday, Grammy joined us as we went to Kaleideum North, formerly known as SciWorks. Emmy loved dancing on the piano and playing games with Grammy. She is such a fun Grammy!

Throughout my break, there has been an underlying feeling of nervousness and unknown. With all of the uncertainty right now, I am not sure what the next days ahead look like. We can only pray: for our neighbors already in need, for the elderly that are most susceptible to this virus, for our leaders as they continue to make decisions for our country, and for our entire nation as we face this crisis together. 

Life These Days

I have been back to work for two weeks now, and we've developed somewhat of a routine with our family of four. The mornings and evenings still tend to be a bit unpredictable with sleep schedules, toddler tantrums, and hold-ups at work, but we are surviving! Here is what a typical week has looked like so far....

Although I set my alarm for 5AM, only once in the last 10 workdays has Eli slept until then. We have typically been getting up any time between 2AM and 4AM for a nighttime feeding. These feedings are fairly quick as Eli has become more focused and efficient while nursing. Sometimes I do a diaper change, but other times, I put my faith in the nighttime diapers and he is back in his crib in under 30 minutes. 

I am usually able to go back to sleep pretty easily until that 5AM alarm. Some mornings I have squeezed in a DVD workout before hopping in the shower and getting myself ready. Boomer gets up during this time and also gets ready. Then he wakes Emmy around 6AM. He takes care of getting her dressed and brushing her teeth before they head downstairs. I join them downstairs to finish any final prep and packing for the day. My mom arrives around 6:30AM before we all head out the door. It is quite an early morning for everyone, but both Boomer and I have to be at our schools by 7:30AM, so it generally means driving to work as the sun is rising. I am so thankful that my mom comes over to our house so that we don't have to rouse Eli from his crib. There have been a couple of mornings when Eli was awake when my mom arrived, but generally he is still sleeping. If he is sleeping, then my mom will stay at our house until he wakes up. They are usually heading to her house between 8AM and 9AM, where they spend the rest of the day. I love getting pictures from my parents throughout the day. Eli gets a lot of exercise from tummy time and his music ring mobile. 

Grammy has also introduced Eli to new things, like reading...

...and going for walks around the neighborhood. 

If Grammy has any errands that day, Eli will tag along and take his nap in the car seat. If they are at home, he takes his naps in the pack-n-play, wrapped up tightly in a swaddle. 

In the afternoons, Grandpa will often get big sister Emmy from daycare around 3:30PM. It is so helpful to only make one stop to pick up both kids. On a particularly pretty day, Emmy joined Eli and Grammy on a walk around the neighborhood. Luckily Grammy has a double stroller just for this reason. She has all the toys and gadgets!  

On some occasions, it is a full house at Grammy and Grandpa's in the afternoons, with cousins Zander and Maddox there, too. The cousins play pretty well together until all the Mommies and Daddies get off work. 

Speaking of work, things at East Surry have been going well! I've received such a warm welcome back from my coworkers and my students, and I am adjusting to being a working, nursing mom again. I feel like I am often multitasking and rushing from one thing to the other since pumping twice during the work day requires a total halt to any productivity. I am currently pumping around 9:30AM and 12:30PM. I have luckily found two different places that are conveniently located to the teacher workroom where I then store my pumped milk in a small cooler in the refrigerator. The locations (a storage closet and an empty classroom) are far from glamorous, but they do the trick.  

In addition to pumping twice during the workday, I am also pumping on the way to and from school. When I arrive home, my front seat and back seat are full: the back seat with kiddos and then the front seat with all of my gear. The unloading process is a bit daunting, but I make quick work of getting everything inside and prepped for the next day. 

Dinner has been a bit tricky. I haven't quite figured out how to work an 8-hour workday and still have a home-cooked, nutritious meal on the table by 6PM. Our dinners are somewhat spontaneous and sometimes decided via text messages just minutes beforehand. Currently we have rotated between a few of our favorite fast food restaurants. On Friday, we had dinner with Grammy and Grandpa at Big Burger Spot. I did cook at home one night, which was worth documenting. 

The time after dinner and before bedtime passes quickly in a whirlwind of dishes, laundry, baths, and diaper changes. Boomer and I divide and conquer all the tasks, and we have fallen in to a pretty smooth rhythm to be as efficient as possible. We joke that having two kids means you never get to sit down ever again! My mom has been giving Eli his baths during the day, usually twice a week (such a big help!), so that leaves only one kiddo to bathe. We bathe Emmy every other day. She loves the time to play with her bath toys and make-up silly conversations between them. 

Then it's my favorite time of the day, when Emmy and I read together in her room. Her favorite books continue to be the Fancy Nancy books that we get from the library, as well as her Little Red Riding Hood puzzle book. Tonight, she threw me a curveball by pulling out one of her old favorites, Richard Scary's The Greatest Little Word Book Ever. Despite it being months since we last read it, she still remembered several of the sentences and words. 

 

We end the day with one final feeding for Eli, which includes nursing plus a little extra from the bottle. Once both kids are in their beds, there is a sigh of relief - we have completed another day! 

After the work week is done, I wouldn't say that our weekends have been any slower. Two weekends ago, while I went to Raleigh for a wedding shower for my friend Jen, Boomer and the kids went to Star to see Granny. (Paw Paw was visiting his parents in Woodstock.)  

This past weekend, we went to the Science Center, where we got to see the two new tigers, as well as the meerkats, sharks, and wolves. 

This Sunday, rather than gearing up for another week at work, I'm at the start of my Spring Break! Emmy and I went for a stroll around the neighborhood this afternoon. The temps were in the low 60s, and it seems that spring may finally be on its way. Yay for Spring Break!