I had a long day at work and when 5 o’clock hit I was eager to get out of the office. Things are busy for our family during the summer months. Dawson begs for long days at the beach and Owen just loves riding in the stroller on long walks. I’m just happy to spend time with my boys as they are growing so fast.
Dawson had T-ball right at 5 p.m. and thankfully my parents picked up the boys from daycare and I met them on the field for the game. Dawson had one fabulous hit at bat. He also played first base and caught a ball that was thrown to him. He was super excited.
After the game I took the boys to a concert at a local park. Tom Pease was playing at the band shell and what looked like hundreds of kids were eager to sing and dance to their favorite folk tunes. Tom is a wonderful entertainer. He sings, he has actions for his dances, he makes the most outrageous noises, and he can make up lyrics for a song in minutes. (And here’s a secret: he’s been performing since I was in elementary school. I still remember a concert he gave at Roosevelt School when I was in 3rd grade. You do the math!)
Owen was mesmerized by the music. The last Tom Pease concert we went to when he was just a few weeks old. This time he was able to dance, and it was so cute. I hope you enjoy the video.
Once again, the blogger formerly known as Dana (okay, I’m still going by Dana but that line just sounds cool), has come back to blog. I’m sure this will be like all the other times. Write a post. Give excuses. Apologize for lack of blogging. Promise to blog more regularly. Go back to life’s demands. Forget to blog for a dayweek month.
This shit is getting old. Yes, I said shit. I can’t help it. I’m reprimanding myself for not blogging. Again.
The big news of the past few months:
Dawson has finished his year of 4K (4-year-old kindergarten). He had a wonderful year. He started out shy and quiet and ended the school year as a bright, outgoing and super happy boy. He did miss half of the last day of school because he threw up. It was the day of his 4K concert and I’m thinking the usual nerves that come with stardom got the better of him. His teacher called for me to pick him up early. I was bummed to miss all the little ones singing songs and dancing the hokey pokey, but I was more nervous about my son being sick. Turns out he was fine the next day. I’m blaming stage fright.
Owen is almost 8 months old. He’s nearly 25 pounds, almost 29 inches in length and he eats a lot. We’re still nursing, too. My baby has no intentions of weaning and I’m okay with that. I just don’t know where he puts everything he consumes! He eats rice cereal in the morning, baby food 3 times a day and nurses quite a bit throughout the day and evening. He has been sleeping through the night, save for a few growth spurts that have caused him to wake up at 3 a.m. for a snack. He will be the child to eat us out of house and home. He is going to be a linebacker in the NFL. Mark my words. You should see his thighs. Massive.
I have gone back to work. I started a job with a temp agency back in February and have been working part-time hours ever since. I like the flexibility that this opportunity brings. I’m able to be home with my munchkins for the most part, but I also get to interact with adults and bring home a little cash, too. I’m still searching for a full time job (since my contract with BlogHer ended in October) but this economy hasn’t rebounded as quickly as I’d hoped. I’ve had interviews left and right, but the trouble is there are so many applicants for so few positions. I’m just taking my time, trying to find the right job. I had an interview last week that was fantastic and they will be contacting me this week with their decision. Wish me luck!
Our calendar has been packed with parties and events. We had two graduation parties we attended that last two Saturdays, not to mention church picnics, birthday parties and kids adventures. I have been taking Dawson to the Lowe’s Build & Grow project days and he has such fun building the kits. Yesterday he made a picture frame. It is really cool.
This summer is looking good, too. Two weddings, a bridal shower, baby shower and a mini-vacation are coming up. I’m very excited! I’m keeping the kids busy with swimming lessons, and Dawson is playing T-Ball and Soccer this summer. I want him to have as much fun as he can before kindergarten starts this fall.
What are you all doing these days? Any big summer plans?
In the last few days I’ve realized there is a difference between first-time motherhood and parenting a second child: I am so much calmer this time around.
When Dawson was born I was a nervous new mom. I never felt confident that I was “doing things right.” I questioned every decision I made and worried about ridiculous things. The funny thing is that everyone told me to just relax and trust my instincts, and this advice infuriated me, because I truly didn’t know if I had maternal instincts.
Sure, I have younger siblings and I spent many of my teen years babysitting, but it’s completely different when you have your own kids. A baby’s needs and his survival are completely dependent upon you, at least until they learn how to walk, feed themselves, and wipe their own butts.
As soon as Dawson learned to roll over and eventually crawl, I became obsessed with childproofing and making sure nothing harmful would come in contact with him. I sanitized toys. If he dropped a spoon or fork I’d immediately wash it off or get him a new one. I went through baby wipes faster than anyone I know.
It’s different with Owen. I’m not saying I’m an expert, but I feel more confident in my parenting this time around. I know it’s okay for him to fuss for a few minutes while I use the restroom (he LOVES to be held). If his favorite toy falls on the living room floor I hand it back to him (unless it’s truly dirty of course).
My mom came over yesterday and commented on how good-natured Owen is. She was amazed at how calm and happy he is. ”He’s such a good baby,” she said. ”He doesn’t cry about anything.”
I wanted to tell her to come over just before bedtime when he’s super fussy as he tries to fall asleep. But I realized she’s right. He is a much calmer baby. I don’t want to compare my children because I know they are two amazing individuals. I do want to point out that Dawson was a little more high strung and I think it’s because he could sense my anxiety. Maybe Owen is content because I’m more relaxed and confident.
It seems as though firstborn children are the guinea pigs. It’s almost unfair, yet truly, we learn to become parents with them. They train us. Dawson made me a mother. The lessons he has taught me have made me the caring and attentive parent that I am today. Sometimes I feel like I’ve made mistakes with him that I won’t make with Owen. My experiences with Dawson are like a check list. Okay, I did this and that happened, and I won’t be handling things like that again. I often wonder if Owen has an advantage in being second-born. I have a better grasp on childrearing this go-round, and he reaps the benefits.
I know that’s crazy, because all that matters is I have two wonderful boys, each with their own awesome personalities. Dawson is well-rounded and kind. He has a fantastic sense of humor. His smile lights up a room. Owen is my little ham. He giggles at his big brother’s antics. He is fascinated with Murphy, our dog, and watches him with such intense concentration.
Yes, there truly are differences in raising one child versus two children, but one thing is the same: both my babies love to cuddle with their mama. Maybe I’m doing this parenting thing right after all.
The thing about second-time motherhood that most amazes me is how much calmer I seem to be when it comes to performing my motherly duties. When Dawson was born I felt as though I were in a constant state of panic.
Is he eating enough? Should I let him cry for more than a minute? Is his umbilical cord stump healing okay? Why is breastfeeding so damn difficult?
With Owen I feel more like an expert, save for those first eight weeks of breastfeeding when nothing seemed to be going right, but I stuck with it (and prayed and cursed and cried a lot) and now I feel like a pro at nursing my sweet baby. In fact, I look forward to nursing Owen because he is so cuddly and he loves to grab my nose or my cheek while he eats, and he smiles with his eyes when I gaze at him. It’s these special quiet moments that I want to burn into my mind so that I can remember them for the rest of my life.
Owen is five months old now and he has suddenly become very attached to me. He used to have no trouble being held by others but suddenly he began crying when I left the room and has learned to reach for me if I’m standing next to him while Doug or Grandma is holding him. It’s sweet yet annoying because I have no time to get things done around here. On occasion I employ Dawson to play with Owen and the “baby toys” for five minutes so I can fold laundry or vacuum the floors.
Speaking of vacuums, Owen loves it. He is fascinated by the noise and he follows me with his eyes as I move about the room. The minute I turn off the machine he fusses. Just like his big brother. Dawson loved the vacuum when he was an infant, too. Now he just likes to do the actual vacuuming. I let him help a few days ago and he accidently (or so he says) sucked up a Lego or two. Thanfully we have a bagless vac which makes it easy to retrieve the tiny toys.
I’m really enjoying my boys. They are learning and growing and becoming wonderful little people. Owen’s personality is showing. Dawson is evolving from preschooler to kindergärtner. Each day is a new adventure. I’m a very lucky woman.
Dana began her Mom career in 2004 with the birth of her eldest son, Dawson, aka The Doodlebug. She spends her days catering to a 5-year-old, she denies her habit of compulsive vacuuming, and just recently gave birth to Owen, aka Monster Baby. She's definitely living La Vida Loca and wouldn't want it any other way. More About Dana.
Contact: thedanafilesblog [at] gmail [dot] com RSS Feed
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