Dear Brody, 10 months...

Dear Brody,  

I feel like I just wrote your 9 month letter and here we are at 10 months.  Probably because I was way late writing your 9 month post but oh well. 

You were 10 months yesterday.  Double digits now.  Wow.  2 more months and you'll be a toddler. I can't believe how fast it's going. You're such a big boy now. You're pulling up on everything and trying to walk. I think you're going to be walking very soon. Probably within the next few weeks.  You are a daredevil. You pull yourself up on things and let go and just stand there. It's adorable. 

You smile at everyone! All the time. You are literally the smiliest baby I've ever seen. You can say Dada. But you won't do it on cue.  You just started saying Pop pop which is adorable.  You only say Mama when you get hurt or are crying. You can do the "how big is Brody? Sooooo big!" game. You can wave and clap too.  When Daddy gets home at the end of the day you sit on the floor and smile so big at him and then clap your hands. He loves how excited you are to see him.  

When I get you out of your crib in the morning I after nap time you always have a big smile on your face. It's so sweet. You sleep really well these days. You try to get up super early some mornings but its not all the time so it's ok. It's already time to start planning your first birthday party. It's crazy how fast that got here. I'm savoring these last two months of infancy since after you are a toddler, that part of my life is over. It makes me sad but happy at the same time for all that's still to come. I love you baby boy! To the moon and back!

Xoxoxo, 

Mommy

Hi ho, hi ho, It's back to work I go...

...and I am excited, nervous and sad.  I am going to miss seeing these two precious faces all day everyday.  

So, as a lot of you know, I taught 8th grade social studies for several years before having Brenna.  When Brenna was born, I only went back to work part-time so I could spend more time with her.  At the end of the 2012 school year, I was about 20 weeks pregnant with Brody and decided that, rather than take maternity leave at the beginning of the school year, i'd take a leave of absence.  My school system allows for up to two years of leave for childbirth and care of an infant.  I always knew in the back of my mind that it wasn't going to be forever, even though I hoped it could be.  And to be honest, if I want to have my career after my kids my go to school (which I do), I kind of need to go back.  I need to keep my certificate current and I need to work on my masters.  I can only do those things if I am working.

So an opportunity arose a few weeks ago at my old school.  A position teaching 6th grade social studies, in a familiar setting, close to home.  When I looked into daycare, I quickly realized I couldn't afford to send two kids to daycare and actually bring home any of my salary.  So that was out.  Until...I was nonchalantly talking to my neighbor about the opportunity and the cost of daycare (she has two little girls herself, close in age to my kids) and she said "Well i'd watch your kids for half of what a daycare would charge".  SOLD. They'll be with someone they know, kids their own age, and right next door to our house or even at our house some days.  It seemed like the stars were aligning for me to get this position.  So I emailed my old principal, applied, interviewed and was offered the position this week.  It's bittersweet.  I am seriously going to miss these kids so much.  But I keep telling myself "teaching is conducive to having a family.  You get lots of breaks and the kids will be happy to see you when you come home everyday".  Rinse and repeat often.  And of course there's the added bonus of a paycheck and adult conversation during the day.  So while I am positive I will spend the first week driving to school crying my eyes out (remember, I haven't worked full-time in 3 years), I know my kids will be in good hands, having fun and I am doing what's best for all of us right now.  Wish me luck, I have exactly 1 month until I go back.

Of course I can't end this without more pics of the kids...so here ya go!

How cute is my family?

Dear Brody, 9 months...

Dear Brody,

Ok ok ok , I'm a little late. I swear the days just get away from me anymore. And it's usually hot so we spend our days in the pool. But, I just put you to bed and now I'm relaxing after a stressful day (more on that another time) and I figured I'd grab the iPad and write you your 9 month letter.

Baby boy, I cannot even begin to express how in love I am with you. You are the sweetest baby. You are getting so big now. You were 21 lbs and 28.25 inches at your doctor appointment.  Still around the 50th percentile for everything. Which is quite a change from the off the charts numbers we always got for your sister. I love it because you still look like a baby even though your are hurdling at light speed towards toddlerhood. Daddy wants you to hurry up and get taller.  He thinks you're going to be short, but I doubt it. 

You are different from your sister in every way.  Most notably, you sir, are fearless. You are not in the least cautious. You have already started to try to walk. And you can't wait to do it on your own. You have taken about 7 steps on your own.  

You started crawling last month and now you are pulling up on everything.  You are also starting to eat table food. You've had ravioli, chicken nuggets, apples, carrots and spaghetti. You were skeptical at first it now you really like it. You LOVE snacks.  Like goldfish, puffs, yogurt melts, and mum-mums.  You have 1 tooth.  It's just starting to pop through. You finally sleep well.  You go to bed at 7pm and sleep until 7am. It's glorious.  

You actually tried to say Brenna today. At least that's what we're telling ourselves. You can say da-da too but you won't say it on command yet. You are a total flirt.  You LOVE flirting with the girls. You are such a cutie pie with your big blue eyes and blonde hair.  You're going to be a serious heartbreaker. You still look like a miniature version of your Dad. But you have my blue eyes.  

I love you so much big boy! I wish you would slow down a little bit.  I'm not ready for you to be a toddler. 

Xoxoxox, 

Mommy

These are, of course, getting progressively harder to take

Im telling you, he has the best smile!