How is it already August!

Time just seems to be flying by. I can hardly believe that we have already turned the calendar to August and kids are ready to head back to school!

We recently just celebrated my birthday- for a whole week and we have been pretty busy! I got totally spoiled for my birthday as my mom and Ryan both took me shopping. I got tons of new clothes, accessories and things to make me feel, look and smell pretty. Great fun! I also had a little party with friends and both sets of family, so the past week was full of celebrations and fun!

We have also been working hard on sleep training Sheldon. He had been sleeping through the night and then really digressed and was waking up at least once every night. So, we decided to stop using the swing during the day for naps, as we wondered if it was making it hard for him to fall back asleep at night without the familiar swinging motion. So, all last week I worked diligently at putting him down for most naps(unless we were out and about), in his crib. He has the hardest time getting from one 45 min sleep cycle into the next without help. I hope he learns this soon, as going up to help him after 40 min of every nap is making me a bit crazy (and it makes it hard to rest or get anything done during naps). He often requires rocking, patting, the pacifier and about 20 min of time to get back to sleep. But, I know that this, as everything else, is just a stage and we'll get through it. Overall, he is sleeping better at night and that is great for all of us! We've been putting him down for a catnap between 4-6 and then keeping him up until 8:30, hoping that will help him sleep later than 5:30. He is an early riser!

Other than sleep, he is doing great! He is smiling and laughing and getting stronger. No rolling yet, but he is grasping and playing with toys, trying to put his pacifier in his mouth, standing with help and kicking and moving like crazy. He loves watching Coranelle and she always makes him smile. She is always trying to help out and take care of him. I cannot wait until they can play together!

A friend of mine, who doesn't have kids of her own yet, recently was at our house with a few other couples with kids. She was watching the madness that ensues when you have two children of our own and are trying to enjoy an evening get together. She commented on how overwhelming it was that I was constantly on the go- nursing Sheldon, feeding Coranelle, chasing Coranelle, disciplining Coranelle, comforting and holding Sheldon, getting both bathed and ready for bed... etc. She noted that I didn't have a chance to eat, sit down, have a drink or even finish a single sentence. It seemed so overwhelming and stressful to her. And it is... or can be. Life as a mom is like that- non stop and so so busy. But, I really cannot complain. I thought about our conversation over the next few days and just realized that it is SO worth the sleep deprivation, the busyness and selflessness. Hearing your own child laugh makes all of that seem completely worth it. Watching Coranelle learn to ride a bike, hearing her growing vocabulary, seeing Sheldon smile and talk, watching my two kids interact- all of that is priceless! Life can be hard and tiring, but there are so many joyful moments in everyday that I wouldn't trade for more free time. I am so thankful that I have two healthy kids and a husband that loves to play with them and take care of us.

As this is the third time I've tried to finish this post end keep being interrupted, I have to end there. Happy August!