The Adventures of Michael's Dedication

I thought that I would take a moment to write down a memory that I am sure will lose it’s humor and details over the years… but in this moment is vivid and funny.  The adventures we have with babies in tow are always surprising and keep me guessing.

Things around here have been pretty busy in the past few days.   Yesterday was my son Michael’s dedication and went off without a hitch, well as much so as anyone can expect with my husband Sean and I first time parents and a 4 month old!  

In an effort to have a content baby for his dedication I left our church service 15 minutes before it ended to get Michael from nursery and feed him.  As we all know, a full baby is ALWAYS a happier baby.  Leave it to me to leave my sticker to retrieve Michael with my husband.  You see our church has very strict childcare facility security, and I needed this sticker to be able to retrieve him.  We attend a very large church with 3 venues each holding 2 services a Sunday, so the childcare cannot know every parent without their child’s code.  After pleading with the woman to not make me go back into the service (Sean was sitting in the very front of the sanctuary!), showing my i.d. and answering some security questions they finally let me get Michael out.

After an uneventful lunch for him, a diaper change and some burping, we were all set for the dedication service to start.  Thanks to my sister in law’s genius, we got everyone’s seats in the front row for better pictures and videos (soon to come).  Michael fell asleep in my arms waiting for his turn and all was well… or so I thought!

Right before we went up, Michael unloaded a rather large and smelly package into his diaper for me.  Having no time to change him, I stood, holding in the giggles as the smell wafted around us and the Pastor as he asked us a few questions and prayed for Michael.  It was a humorous moment for Sean and I, bettered by the fact that Michael tried to pull down my top while we were up in front of everyone as well.  Thankfully we kept the giggles (and my bosom) all hidden away and made it through his dedication in one piece.

After a few more photos and some hugs, we all parted ways at the church and it was off to the races again for us, as we still had a family dinner and a wedding shower to attend to.  Needless to say, the day ended with many great memories and 3 very tires members of my family!

Who would have thought that a baby dedication could be so chaotic, fun and exhillerating?

Ahhhh the fun never ends around here…

Cheers!

Bek

p.s. I just read this latest instalment of my blog aloud to Michael (my 4 month old), as he sits here chewing a hanging Tigger toy attached to his vibrating chair (what a life!).  Michael jabbered away as I read to him, I would like to assume that my child is a baby genius and he was commenting on my wonderful writing abilities.  Unfortunately, reality has a better grasp on me, so I will assume that he was just talking with Tigger.  Although if he could talk, I am sure he would be asking me to pass on his hellos to all of you who faithfuly read me!  Thank you for your support -  

A Sneak Peek of our first Moments as a Family of 3

You can’t fit 10 pounds of potatoes into a 5 pound sack...

It often seems to me that the hardest part of life is learning how to prioritize everything. How do you balance work, home, parenting, social life...?!  I often sit and wonder if the saying that you “can’t fit 10 pounds of potatoes into a 5 pound sack” was actually said by someone who felt they were being pulled in 100 different directions?  Not one who was over weight?

I think that I am fairly good at balancing my life… I am always learning, and growing, but in all I think that I do a fairly good job. But how do we ever know? Who teaches us how to balance our lives? Once you think you have it all under control something always changes, marriage, having children, buying a house, jobs (yours or your spouses) become more demanding or change… Life is definitely a journey full of twists and turns.

My biggest challenge used to be balancing my work and home life (I tended to work a lot…) and balancing families. My side of the family is huge, where my husband’s side is very small… Now I am in a new season of life with my son.  How do I balance his needs, my needs and my husband’s needs while still catering to other family and friends?  Jheesh!

Now being a mother myself to a 12.5 week old – I have to say that I admire and love my own mother so much more!  How she did it all is something that I do not yet understand, but hope to get a grasp of soon.  My husband is one to watch – he is the master at having too much to do but still getting it all done.  He not only works full time, but us currently getting his M.B.A – not to mention always helping when I need it and being a great first time Dad.

The one thing I have found helpful over the last few years is to always have my general list of priorities in my head ( and the more detailed day to day in my black berry).  I use them as a “check list” when it feels like life is spinning out of control!  For Example (in nor particular order) my general priorities include; my family, myself, my home, my faith… Within those there are the smaller things like; laundry, cleaning, groceries…  Gah!  Just writing it down makes me feel as though I am spinning out of control.

My new motto in life is – if it doesn’t get done because the baby is crying, I will just have to do it tomorrow.

Anyways that is all I have for today.  Just thinking and thought I would write it down.  I know that many of my friends are going through these same things, so i thought you may be too.  Or perhaps you have gone through this stage in life and you have some words of wisdom for me?  Help!?


Cheers!
Bek

My men ... and my current #1 priority