Hopping on the Bandwagon!

My big boy, already starting kindergarten!

Ok, I am totally going out on a limb here at starting a family blog!!! This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but "time" is hard to come by these days. And not to mention the fact that I'm the most computer savvy person out there...but I'll give it a try! I hope this can be a place where I can share our "family news" and stay more connected with our dear friends and family who are too far away!

This summer has been a complete whirlwind of travel and activity, and I can hardly believe that the end is nearing, in a mere 4 days that is. My sweet firstborn, Rees, will be starting KINDERGARTEN on Monday! It feels like such a landmark occasion, not only for his life, but for me in my motherhood journey and for our whole family. I know, I know, it may be "just kindergarten" but this milestone symbolizes so much more for me. There is part of me that feels a sense of relief, realizing that I survived the first 5 years of this wild journey into Motherhood. But there is also a feeling of sadness knowing that every year from here on out will be one more step towards independence and adulthood that my son will take. Over the past couple weeks, I have been so acutely aware of how much Rees is becoming his own person, complete with his own unique likes, dislikes, opinions, personality, quirks, and priorities. As newborns, infants, and even toddlers, these little ones feel so much like an extension of myself...they grow within me and then for the first couple years are attached to me in some way whether it's being nursed, carried, or cuddled. But little by little that begins to change and one day there's the realization, "Wow, this little body, this little boy is his OWN PERSON." And this person is so much different from myself and that's ok! My prayer for Rees over the past month has been "Lord, teach me how to parent and instruct this child of mine. Teach me how to speak to him in a way that connects with his heart." I have been amazed at how God has answered this prayer. He is showing me how to connect with his heart, how to validate his ideas, and how to release him to make his own choices, instead of controlling him (where appropriate of course). It brings such joy to my heart to to feel that heart connection with my little boy when so many times it just felt as if we would do nothing except butt heads! Thank you Lord for teaching me how to love this precious life that you created!