Mommy And Me Update: 7 Years Later

Usually you get these updates every month in the early days of parenting but my original running buddy is turning 7 and I’m in a little bit of disbelief.  After all, he was the catalyst for creating my little place here on the interwebs.  The fact that I’ve got those pregnancy days and early days documented makes me so thankful to have embraced the idea of a blog.  Back then, I had NO idea what it would become.

If you’re just tuning in, a little back story might be helpful.

Scott and I have been married almost 9 years and way back when we were dating, I wasn’t sure I wanted kids.  I could recognize in myself that I was selfish and I struggled to figure out how I was going to balance my personal interests while tending to another life.  Even when we found out we were pregnant with Ian after being married almost two years, I was in shock.  I took 4 pregnancy tests and cried for days.  I wasn’t ready, or at least I didn’t think I was.  I spent the next 9 months prepping the house, taking the classes, and going through some needed therapy sessions to learn that my expectations of what life as a mom would be like were unreal and unfair.  The emotions you go through when making the transition to mother is unreal and it took all 9 months to come to terms with it.

Baby Update

Ian was a colicky baby, very sensitive and difficult at times.  He didn’t sleep through the night till he was 2 and we went through formal sleep training.  He learned to walk around the 10 month mark and was kicking a soccer ball at 11 months.

He visited the ER four times within his first 2 years of life, once for RSV, twice for Nursemaids elbow and once for a mystery stomach issue that was causing his abdomen to seizure.  As a mother, the feels of going through these with him will never leave me.

He has grown up into my favorite little boy.  He and I have a bond that I just can’t explain.  He’s sensitive and empathetic beyond his age.  His laugh is contagious and doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.

Every night, I tuck him in, we talk and as I’m leaving he asks me to cuddle him later.  He’s asked me this question since he was old enough to talk.  At this point, I think he just does it because I love it so much.

I love watching his passion develop.  He’s into architecture and math and don’t stand between him and his sports.  Does he have a favorite?  Whatever one he’s playing at the moment.  Soccer is the sport of the moment and right now it’s soccer.  And while I’m impressed with his intensity and ability, what I’m really proud of is his awareness of what it is to be a good teammate.  It helps that he’s surrounded by great kids!

I’m excited to watch him grow up.  I’m proud to call myself his mom.  I’m happy I got over the hump of being afraid of motherhood because I would’ve been missing out HUGE.

Mommy Update

I can’t believe I have a seven year old.  In my head I’m only 25 so it seems a little impossible.  🙂  Life has definitely changed over the years and when Ian went to school last year and more so this year, I feel like we’re pivoting into a different phase of life.  The pre-school days are so much fun and so carefree but once school started, we were held to a schedule outside our own and that’s a very different experience.  I despise the morning rush, the homework every night but I it’s all good.

I’m sure you’ve been able to tell but blogging has become harder and harder.  People often ask me how do I do it all, well, you have probably noticed that I don’t.  Things fall off the list of priorities and right now, while I still love it, blogging is a back burner item.  I don’t plan on calling it quits but I do intend to focus on what it’s like to be a mom of a school age kid.  It’s different.

Running is also different lately.  Even before the surgery, I was noticing that while I’m still able to run, racing is a luxury.  Getting to races is harder to do now that we’re coordinating 4 people’s schedules versus just the two that used to be when it was just Scott and I or when the kids were younger.

Do I love running any less?

No, in fact, I probably love it more right now because I’m running for the love of the sport and not for any goals right now.  I’m running because it is truly a part of who I am and life without it isn’t an option right now.  I do miss racing but not enough to miss a soccer game or a chance to be there for the kids. I’m looking forward to sweating every day again.  I need it.

In addition to all the other life events going on right now, we also bought a house and are selling one.  We came across an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.  So it’s an exciting time and the idea of decorating a new house is kind of exciting too.  I love the transformation houses take when they become our homes and this new one will be no different.  To document the journey, I bought a new domain and will post about it over at HealthyHomeWithHeart.com.  I’ll let you know when the site is up but for now if you want to see the kind of ideas I have, you can go over to Instagram and see it there.  Follow the account would you?  🙂

For the young mothers reading this, enjoy the early days.  Enjoy the diapers, the late nights and all the cuddles but look forward to the next stage of life because like they say, it keeps getting better and better!

 

 

Happy birthday dear baby…happy birthday to you!