Getting settled...

I’m finding it hard to get back into blogging. We’ve been really busy with the move, illness, work, etc. Kenzie has had a cold for a few days and has been amazingly whiney and clingy. I subsequently inherited the cold and immediately feel like a horrible mother. I’ve got the full body aches, a horribly swollen throat and a shocking headache. The cold medication does a wonderful job of managing the symptoms, but leaves me quite drowsy. I now have a better appreciation for Kenzie’s complaints over the past few days – and feel like a horrible failure as a mother…having placed Kenzie on the naughty step a lot over the past few days when she was clearly telling me – Mama, I feel like HELL. I've never been a believer in medicating colds, and this one is just bad enough to make me reconsider that position.

The house is coming along nicely. I was moving at a frenetic pace and had all of the boxes unpacked quickly. A few rooms look rather great, while the others still need arranging, etc. With the arrival of the colds – my motivation level disappeared and I’ve gotten no where with it for the past two days. I’m still working part-time for my old company and have been squishing that in – where I can. I haven’t fully experienced being an at-home parent yet, and am getting a nice transition from full-time work to a bit less…to none at all. We’ve held lots of "dinner parties" for her stuffed animals (at her play kitchen), done lots of art, and watched our fair share of DVD’s while I unpack boxes. I’ve located a few programs for Kenzie and I to access, and we’ve had a great time at “My gym” where there are structured and free play activities for children. Kenzie goes absolutely nuts on the trampoline and ball pit and I've already seen a dramatic improvement in her coordination and motor skills. We’ll be doing that on Wednesdays and are looking into one of their gymnastics classes to join as well. For a child who has always experienced at home childcare and hasn’t socialized with other children a great deal – I’m proud of how well she does at the Gym. At not quite two years old, she patiently waits her turn and is easily redirectable. (most of her colleagues aren’t quite there yet).

Before getting ill, I did manage to take Kenzie for a morning run – on one day that the weather was quite California-like (the remainder of the days have been ugly and rainy). We had a great run into our neighboring hood to discover pretty sophisticated walking trails that wind through some fairly amazing houses. I love it. I can run and run when I have enticing scenery to ponder and it appears that my inspiration to do so, is right where I need it to be. Unfortunately, Doug and I are the types who always covet the niceties that are just out of our reach – so we’re already joking about moving to that neighborhood. Just can’t leave well enough alone!!

We’ve also moved into an area that is filled with children. Living on a cul-de-sac finds us an easy target with the largest driveway in the area. They all want to be on our drive, or playing with the new-kid-on-the-block (namely ME.) It’s been a rare day that I can go for the mail and not have to spend several hours outside playing with the kids. Kenzie hears the giggles from outside and immediately awakens from naps or runs to the windows – just wiggling to get outside. We’ve never lived in a community quite like this..and nearly all households have an at-home parent. Nearly every house has a giant play structure in the backyard and Kenzie has repeatedly frothed at the mouth to go play at all the parks that she can see from our backyard. She’ll have her very own this Saturday…….!