Summer Break Has Commenced!

The end of the school year was a doozy! It felt busy, hectic, and my kids were bursting with excitement for summer break (so was I)!

The first week of break was fabulous and calm. It's been so nice being home and being with Mason everyday. He seems like he's growing and learning so fast. He's babbling so much and picking up a lot of language lately. I love how big he is right now! He can climb up on the couch and now has "free reign" over the house for the most part. Two cute things he is doing right now that I don't want to forget:
#1 When he wants something, he sits down on his butt, nods his head, and says "more".
#2 He also points at an object and then points back at himself when he wants something.
Both of these things I find adorable!!! I also love the sound of his little voice and his little feet running around.

As usual, with good weather and more time comes the desire to be active. I've been walking and/or working out most days since school has gotten out and it feels really good. Gil and I have both been tracking our steps with our Fitbits and that's been motivating.

On Sunday, we celebrated Father's day with a present and cinnamon rolls in the morning and then we went to the park in the afternoon. Mason loved the splash pad, even though it was pretty busy. A lot of kids had buckets there and Mason kept following them around trying to play with them. After that, we walked the trails and checked out the little nature center at the park for the first time.

Happy Summer!!!

Life is Busy, Busy...

but I am trying to soak in the lovely moments everyday. From the time my alarm goes off, I feel like I run around like a chicken with its head cut off. That's kinda just the way things are right now with working full-time and a little guy who is almost one!

But everyday, I try to put a "to do" item to the side and replace it with a "want to do". Cleaning up after dinner can wait...playing with my little guy before bed cannot. Laundry can wait...rocking my little one cannot! I could just give him kisses and hugs all day long and never get tired of it. Really!

I know every mom probably feels like this, but it is going way too fast. I truly can't believe he is so big and can do so much. It's bittersweet to see the baby leave him, but it's so fun seeing the little boy he is turning into!

What a happy little guy. Love him!

Mixed Feelings

I know it's still June and I'm not going back to work until the end of August, but the wheels are already turning in my head thinking about school and everything I need to do before the year starts up again. It feels like so long since I have been in my own classroom since I did push-in this year and have been out of school since the end of February. I really hope I haven't lost my mojo! Ha!

Part of me feels excited to get back in the classroom. I'm excited to have a new group of kids, to decorate my new room, and to be back in the groove of working everyday. But...a big part of me feels terrible about the idea of Mason being with other people all day, everyday while I'm gone. Right now he is literally a different baby everyday when he wakes up. He's learning so fast and has new skills to show off everyday. I don't want to miss that! The idea that he will be at daycare for at least 8 hours a day is really depressing to me, even though we found a place that I'm sure he'll love. But oy...not fun to think about leaving my little baby, especially when I think of how fast four months has already flown by. I feel like I'm going to blink and he'll be 17.

Since I am definitely going back to work in August, I'm trying really hard to get myself excited about it, instead of concentrating on the bad parts. When Mason goes down for {very short} naps, I've been trying to work on back to school stuff. The best I can do is be very prepared and organized so that I don't feel stressed during the school year. Hopefully that'll help ease the blow.

Through it all, I can't help thinking that every woman should get a year maternity leave! All these poor little babies being separated from their mommas...doesn't seem right! I am thankful at least that I have a job that allows me to get out of work relatively early in the day, have holiday breaks, and the summer time off.

Working mommas, any tips for easing the guilt when your little one is away from you during the working day?!