Some thoughts...

First of all, I just wanted to tell Becca and Brianne that they've inspired me! I like to make tiles to give hostesses as gifts when they host workshops and this quote that Brianne G. shared at Girl's Camp is awesome. Not just because it's awesome, but because of where it comes from as well. Anyway, check this out:

This is actually a 12x12 piece of paper so there are 4 tiles on here. Anyway, here is the next bit o' inspiration that comes from Becca S's blog.

(Again, this is actually going to be 4 individual pieces)
I have thought of this over and over again since I read it on her blog. I've heard it before but now with a little baby of my own, it is so powerful to me. I have said that I feel badly because when we had Jack, we were just so overwhelmed..Scott was working and going to school full time, I was balancing work and mommyhood and we were both so new at the parenting thing. I know that we loved him as much as we love Lizzy but it's so different with her. I feel like I'm enjoying every second of her little life and I don't remember feeling that with Jack. With Jack, I felt more like the babysitter. My mother in law had him all day and I really only saw him for a couple of hours a day and then on weekends. I regret this so much more in retrospect even than I did when I was going through it. I always felt like I was missing so much of his life and now that I'm experiencing it with Lizzy, I know that I did. Sigh. Words do not express how grateful I am that I can be home with my kids. I know so many moms who aren't and who leave their hearts with their children while they go to work and do what they need to do to provide for their families. Of course each side has it's advantages--some days, I would love to be able to be at work again; to have a job that isn't instantly undone the second I do it like my work at home is. To be able to talk to ACTUAL grown ups, not just my 4 year old who thinks that he is. But then I remember how hard it was to leave Jack every morning and how grateful I am that we get to play during the day. I'll take my job over his!
Here's the other difference between Jack and Lizzy. Jack was a wonderful baby. Well, maybe not wonderful, but we loved him so much we were willing to overlook a lot. ;o) He was a happy baby and cooed and laughed just like any other bouncing baby boy..but Lizzy..gosh, I don't know how to explain it. There are some mornings that I lay her in bed with me and we just stare at each other. She just EXUDES love. The only thing that amazes me more than how much I am capable of loving her is feeling that she is capable of loving me just as much. Wow. I am the luckiest person in the world.
Anyway, enough gushing and more updating.
Jack got his casts off. (Pictures to follow...I'm too tired to upload them right now) He's doing pretty good, although I must say that I think he preferred his casts! Weird, yes? He's still figuring out how to walk without them and is kinda wobby but his feet are straighter (the Dr said they'll get even more straight as they grow) and he has a couple of pretty wicked scars that I'm sure someday he'll be very proud of. He started preschool this last week and loves it of course. He's always amazing us with the hilarious things he comes up with! (Yesterday, he made Scott a special treat that he invented in the pretend "restaurant-ay" he runs out of our pantry. In his words, "They're called "water chips" and they're so easy! You dip the (tortilla) chip in water like this and then eat it! Yum! You try it!") We're hoping he sticks with construction--clearly his cooking skills aren't as sweet as his building skills.
Scott is doing good--he's narrowing down his job offers and finally has an idea of what he might want to do. Of course, nothing is set in stone just yet but it's nice to at least have a direction and something to look forward to. I just want him to be happy doing whatever it is that he does.
I'm plugging along. Words do not express how stinkin' busy I am! Chasing kids, trying to get my Heritage Makers business back up and running (WOW is this a lot of work!!) and trying to keep a Primary organization afloat (thank the stars for wonderful counsellors--this means you, too Kristie!) is about to drive me to distraction. I feel like I just run in circles and don't actually get anything accomplished ever. Plus, I have this problem where when I feel overwhelmed I don't want to start because I don't know where to begin!
So that's it, kids. That's what's new with us!