Update on my last blog

This cracked me up.  I stole it from Cara's blog.  Mom, you'll have to show Dad because I think he will get a kick out of this.

I'm doing lots better with Kinsey.  I mean LOTS.  It had been a pretty rough two months, but we seemed to have crossed some bridge for the time being.  I've figured out how much alternating I need to do between holding her/giving her my undivided attention and letting her play by herself.  I can tell when the only thing that will help is holding her, so I just do it and hold her for however long I need.  That way, I don't have an expectation that I will be able to set her down in a few minutes, only to have her start crying again.  Then, when there are times she can entertain herself for more than 15 minutes, I just cherish the time and get excited for her that she is able to be independent in that moment.

I'm a little concerned about her sleep.  As in, I don't think she's getting enough overall.  She seems tired almost constantly.  Maybe she is good for the first hour and a half after a nap, but then she'll already start raking her eyes and yawning.  I'm going to read another book recommended by a friend, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby.  I'll see if it has any additional tips, although I don't have high expectations.  Can't hurt to try, though!  I feel bad for her when she seems to be so tired all the time, but I can't get her napping consistent.  Two days ago she took a 45 minute nap in the morning, then a 2 hour nap in the afternoon.  Then yesterday (granted, she was out running errands with David, who had to watch her all day while I worked a very long shift) she napped only about 45 minutes the entire day.  I tried to give her an evening nap at 6:30 when I got home but she resisted. 

As for me, I have been working A LOT.  At least compared to what I have been the last several months.  I have two per diem jobs right now.  In one job I am covering the month of December for vacations, and in my other job I am about to pick up more hours because one of the staff members is resigning this month.  It is a whole different feeling to go to work every day and come home to David and Kinsey.  I actually really like it, because when I come home I can't wait to see my baby and spend the rest of the evening with her.  Working is a LOT easier for me than staying home full time.  I don't necessarily want to go back to work full time though, but if I need to at least I know what it will be like.

Working so much has been a help financially since David has no job prospects at this point.  He's sending out resumes and working really hard to find something.  I'm confident that something will eventually come along, and I feel very patient most days.  Occasionally I get a sinking feeling in my stomach, but I remind myself about friends who have faced the same situation and made it through.  I am completely confident that God is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives, this being no exception.  I know there are things He will teach us along the way.  Already I am learning to let go of material obsessions.  That is a good thing.  I think about what is the "worst" that could happen through all of this, we have to foreclose on our house eventually?  Big deal.  I mean, it is a big deal, but in the grand scheme of things we will still have each other, we'll have food to eat, we'll find a place to live, we'll have our friends, and we'll continue to move forward in life.  We'll have everything that really matters.