Farewell...

My Grandparents are headed to Utah today for a "trial" run at a retirement center down there. The cost was less and there were a few family weddings in the next vicinity, so they thought it would feel a little like a vacation for them. I went to say goodbye to my Grandma, but she was visiting her friends, so I missed her but did at least get to leave her a note, and Launa had colored she and Grandpa a picture. As I was leaving, I found myself teary-eyed. Just three short years ago when I moved back to Washington, I would go to visit my Grandma and she would seriously outwork me. She could still haul Launa around, and was washing windows, working in the yard, and canning like a mad woman.

I have so many good memories wrapped up in that house. Easter egg hunts, Christmases, Rook tournaments (I was more of a spectator), homemade ice cream and brownies, graham crackers and frosting, raspberries, the tire swing in the back, fresh roses, and just a sense of my Grandmother's warmth and kindness. I wanted to see my cousin, Kimberly, because my memories of my Grandparents house are so entertwined with her. I knew she would have the same memories and probably also be teary-eyed at the thought that Grandma's house would never be quite the same. We are the same age, so we chummed around at Grandma's all the time - so Kimberly, if you read this, I miss you.

Change is supposed to be a good thing, and usually, I am good with change in my own life. However, where things from my childhood have been constant, change is hard. I hope my Grandparents are happy in this new adventure. Launa is going to be Grandma's pen pal and is really excited. But, I think it's going to be a long time until I drive by their house and don't feel a little wistful...

Another Visit to Urgent Care

Saturday, we were at Bob's getting some snacks and I had my hands full and Kate was throwing a tantrum on the floor, so I went to grab her and pull her to her feet and she flailed the other way and I heard a pop! I knew instantly something was wrong with her arm, but I thought it was her wrist because she was hanging it limp. I placed yet another call to my sister, who said I'd better hurry and take her to Urgent Care in Moses so I wouldn't have to take her to the ER. Sure enough, she had dislocated her elbow. The doctor popped it back in place and we were out of there in like 20-30 minutes. I was so relieved. I was anticipating x-rays, a long wait, a cast, etc. Thank goodness!!! How many visits has Kate had over things like this already, and she's not even 2 years old!! It took about 20 minutes and she was fighting with Launa back to her old self in no time.

Potty Training

So, Kate has decided she wants to be potty trained. I have no interest in potty training her whatsoever, she has just been taking off her diaper, demanding to be put on the toilet, and trying to put on pannies. Launa has now taken it upon herself to potty train Kate. I have independent children (which today seems to be wonderful). Today I finally caved and went to Walmart and bought an official potty chair. We got it out of the box, Launa did a demonstration for Kate to show her how it was done and I went in the office to work (after I did the clean-up work of course). I came back out 15 minutes later, and Kate had pooped and peed in the potty and put on pannies herself, and didn't even tell me. She acted like it was no big deal. My baby is officially growing up. I have a sneaky suspicion that this might be a little beginner's luck, but still, WOW!! Who knew you were better off to have a 4 year potty train the little ones?!!

Motherhood

Today, I had a conversation with my 87 year old grandmother. My grandfather is 92 and is getting hard for her to care for. My Dad suggested that maybe they do a retirement center where she could get some help and a break. She was so worried about expense. It basically came down to the fact that, she wanted to be able to leave her children something -- essentially to be able to continue to take care of them after she was gone. I thought it was crazy how one day you're selfish and the next a baby comes into your life and you live your entire life thinking about how in the long run you are going to take care of another human being, in every aspect -- and evidently, it never goes away. It's such an extraordinary kind of love. While mothers get frustrated and don't necessary always "like" children, their love is at times unconditional to a fault. Did God inherently make women this way or is it the sacrifices that make them love so much?

I think about my little Launa. Mark has at times referred to her as a little pit viper. She was a hard baby (and a hard toddler, and a hard little girl:), but... I have such a deep love for her. When she was born, I wondered what I had gotten myself into, but felt I loved her so much and she needed me so much, I almost couldn't part with her. She literally slept in my arm pit for the first 7 months of her life. Throughout the days, in between me growling and scolding, I still have moments of deep love, in which I can look at her and even though I know she's not perfect, she seems... perfect. It's like looking through rose colored glasses for a small moment of time and experiencing joy. After the 30 seconds, she probably does something to make me crazy and then I come back to reality, so I am always grateful for those moments :)

My highlights in the morning are getting Kate out of bed. She screams "Mommy!!" and hugs me like the night was so long she missed me terribly and for five minutes (after that craziness ensues) she lets me kiss her little cheeks and play with her hair as much as I want while we snuggle. Every time she learns a new word or I see her jibber jabbering as she reads her own book, I feel overcome with love and gratitude that she gets to be mine. I love seeing her walk on her tippy toes with her little curls bouncing in the back, and I LOVE her pouty face.

I am now expecting baby #3 (ETA January 29th). I admit, in the beginning I was not overcome with joy at the idea of added insanity but as time goes on, I wonder what I will love about this new baby,what will he/she be like, what will they what they will add to our family dynamic, and I know I will be amazed at how my heart expands to have such love for another individual.

To explain to someone who doesn't want kids why you want kids is hard. The hours are un-ending, your sanity is tested, your body goes downhill, you have less time for the things you personally like and it certainly is not boundless joy and smiles while you make cupcakes all day, but... motherhood is motherhood. I can't find words to explain what it's like in small moments when you see your children through rose colored glasses and you know that all the craziness is worth it. You are content to live your life forever worrying about the well-being of another person because you just love them that much.

Now in three days when I am ranting and raving about all the messes and screaming going on around my house, you can feel free to direct me back to this blog post. :)

Who Am I?

With all this house building and decorating, I barely recognize myself. Don't get me wrong, my personality is the same, it's my interests that have taken a drastic turn. In my past life (premarriage, prechildren) I would not have classified myself as "domestic" (alright, I think I had a boy sew most of my home ec projects). Cooking, sewing, cleaning, learning how to french braid hair, etc... none of those were really my strong points. I spent most of my childhood running around outside or hiding under the tunnel with a book so I could avoid all of the above. Now I find myself sewing curtains (with minimal swearing -- this is a HUGE development, Mark used to hide when I got out the sewing machine), repainting tables and dressers (because evidently I have some serious ADD), rearranging furniture, moving pictures on the wall around, checking out the garden section for plants, being livid at people making messes -- it's like overnight I turned into my mother! Just kidding. She's a saint and would never swear while sewing...

The Three K's

These are all the babies that were born within one year of each other in the Jenks Family. Kutter (middle) is the oldest, then Krew, then Kate. Katie Bug loves both of her cousins and I love to see them all together creating fun memories.


My baby girls and I -- Some proof that I was actually around when were celebrating the holidays. For some reason, the Mom rarely ends up in the pictures.

Easter Pictures

I received the Easter pictures my niece sent me -- yay!! They are posted.


We had a fun Mother's Day as my brother and sister-in-law had their first baby girl (this is their fifth child) and we got to go meet sweet Elizabeth Bell Jenks. Being in Samaritan made me sick to my stomach as it rekindled my own memories of labor, but the baby was sweet, tiny, and so beautiful.

Launa's latest funny comment: She wanted to call my sister-in-law at college to talk to her. Kylee didn't answer so Launa left a message. A day later, Launa said "Kylee said on her message that she would call me right back. Kylee lied!" I never thought of it like that before. Things work differently in a child's mind.

Kate has picked up the habit of eating dirt. I've never seen anything like it. She literally hides from me so that she can suck on rocks and spit them out. I've considered asking her pediatrician if I should be giving her worm pills. Yuck!! She is so loveable but so rough. She is always filthy and I have a sneaky suspicion she will probably be my little tom boy.