Updates on Life

So, one of my goals this summer is to keep our blog updated more regularly (of course if I post twice this whole summer that would technically be more regular than normal!). But hopefully about once a week. Things are going really well for us right now. We thought that we were going to be in Mesa, AZ for an internship, but things didn't pan out in time for us to make the move. We were disappointed at first, but we are excited to be here in Lexington this summer. Cora is growing up so fast we can't believe it. She's crawling all over the place, pulling up and couch cruising and chattering ALL the time. She has two teeth now, and those little buggers are sharp! she's constantly gnawing on everything she can fit in her mouth!
Gabe is an intern at a great mining consulting company in town, and really enjoys it. We are really blessed to have a job that he likes and that is so flexible with his schedule so that he has time to do his schoolwork and be home with us as well. I am starting at UK this summer and am really excited to get back into school. I only have about 40 credits left until I graduate, so I'm looking forward to putting a dent in it since I'll only be able to take one or two classes as semester in the fall and spring.
Not too much else to report right now...but here are some recent pictures of Cora, just because we love her so much and think she's the cutest! :)

Musings of a New Parent

As the mother of one 8 month old daughter, I am in no way an expert on parenting, motherhood or child-rearing. But as I was rocking Cora to sleep today and thinking about what life was like before we had her I was amused by how much is so different than I thought it would be and how drastically our lives have changed in the last 8 months. Here are just some of the things that I’ve observed about being a parent:

1. People who don’t have kids and say they are tired have no idea what they are talking about.

2. Trying to lay a sleeping baby in a crib is a time consuming and temperamental process that requires a careful hand so that body heat is not lost too quickly, therefore waking the sleeping baby and starting the process of getting them to sleep all over again.

3. I can tell how dirty my floors are by merely looking at the knees of Cora’s pants.

4. When we actually get a chance to go on a date and get a little time away from Cora, the whole time is spent talking or worrying about Cora.

5. When teaching a baby to crawl or walk you sound like you’re talking to a dog. (Come on Cora! Come on! Come to mommy!)

6. In the time it takes for labor to be over, everything you have to talk about with people that do not have kids disappears. Mostly because all you ever want to talk about again is your kids and how wonderful they are, and let’s be honest, even people that do have kids can only take so much of that.

7. Everyday chores, such as cleaning the kitchen floors become overwhelming tasks until they get on a good nap schedule. Even then, chances are they’ll wake up crying while you’re in the middle of mopping.

It’s exhausting, emotionally and physically draining and the most time consuming thing I’ve ever experienced. But at the same time it is so rewarding and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.