The Lofgren Family Homestead: Summertime, and the living's... not always that easy

June 30, 2017

It's been pretty much nonstop since January... me going back to work, Brett coaching track, two kids... that might not seem like a lot on paper, and Brett being done with his Master's is definitely a huge relief (we pretty much replaced that with child number two haha) but it is definitely physically and emotionally draining. We attended my brother's graduation in Bozeman which is not the shortest of drives and we both only took Friday off so it was a super whirlwind trip and with one child not doing as well in the car, it was an exhausting trip. We did bring Ali back for two weeks which was fun, but we were just so busy at that point in the school year that I wish she could have been here for a couple weeks during the summer.

Towards the end of the school year, I was really looking forward to spending the summer staying home with the kids. I really like my job but was missing all that quality time I felt I was missing since essentially I saw them for a bit in the morning but then when we came home, it was a little downtime then I was cooking dinner, getting them ready for bed, and then getting myself into bed. We'd do stuff on the weekends but by Sunday night we were all still exhausted trying to catch up on chores (which were never fully caught up on) as well as fit in some fun family time while also balancing the nap and feeding schedule of Lucy.

I knew staying at home wasn't going to be easy but it definitely took more of an adjustment than I expected! One kid is up and ready for breakfast. Ok they're done, now the other one is up and ready to eat. Ok Lucy is ready for a nap so gotta get her down real quick so she can sleep before scooting off to Finn's swim lessons. Now back home and rush to get everyone lunch but probably nurse Lucy first so she can take a nap but I am really trying to stop breastfeeding so now I need to make a bottle and Finn is also hungry and I am also hungry. Ok Lucy is down, Finn's lunch is in the making, I am snacking as healthily as I can so I don't get too hangry. Finn's lunch is eaten, time for his rest and now time for my rest. Oh, there's Lucy up from her nap...

So... it's been busy! And it's like, I'm home all day, why does the house look like such a mess? When is the last time I did laundry? The dishwasher is also probably full... clean or dirty, who knows but definitely one or the other. We are getting better adjusted now and Lucy hasn't breastfeed in at least 3 or 4 days! I was a little nervous with her since she is such a little cuddler/clinger but I feel like I had a good mix of going cold turkey and easing out of it. I do not want to be pumping when I go back to school and she honestly is getting so tall that it can feel very cumbersome trying to nurse her. Plus, she kept smacking me in the face, pulling my hair, poking me in the mouth, eyes, etc., etc. Those are silly reasons, but she is also really digging solid foods and enjoys a wide variety so I know she is getting the nutrients she needs. She also likes formula which she will really only have to have for about another month until we can switch to regular milk. I felt the timing was right and it's working out. Finn also stopped at 10 months so I don't have to feel guilty if I went longer with one than the other.

Another bigger milestone, well, two, actually, Lucy finally has some teeth! Holy smokes they took forever to pop through but they are there! Still slowly making their appearance but they are there alright. She has also officially started walking. She has been taking a few steps here and there but the most was today at the library when she took about 8! She stood up on her own, took a few steps, kind of stumbled, stood back up, took a few more then decided to crawl again since that is still faster, but wow! Another early walker!

We are headed off on the family's first camping trip of the summer and Lucy's first ever! Well, we are hoping there are some campsites tomorrow. We are headed to Craters of the Moon on our way to Tetonia for the 4th and decided that would be a good kind of halfway point to stop and camp! Lucy has been pretty much sleeping through the night now (7-5) so I am hoping she still does well on the road. We are at least beginning the trip a little more rested than at the beginning of the summer!