Preparing…routines…

We moved into our new home June 26. Since that date, we’ve had guests in our home every day save 3 weeks. Wow…and I was wondering why it seemed that we never seemed to get into a routine around here?!

The past few weeks have been hard on Tobin, our three year old. Too many people (don’t get me wrong, we loved all our guests) and not enough routine, not enough time with just Mom and Dad. It’s been an adjustment for Tobin to get back into a routine. And I’ve realized that parenting is about creating a place of safety and security…and routine brings that. So for the next months, that’s what I’m working on. I’m trying to prepare Caroline and Tobin for their new baby sister by bringing routine into our new home.

I’ve been trying simple things. Pulled out the board games and found out that Tobin loves playing Hi Ho Cheerio! I’m making a menu each week, cutting down on the trips to the store (which add up fast!) and trying to make meals that the kids can help prepare. Caroline was ecstatic the day I let her stir the onions over the hot flame! We’ve been reading even more, watching even less TV. Matt and I tossed in our Direct TV monthly bill for a few local channels…and aside from The Amazing Race, haven’t put the TV on much.

We live in such a busy, fast paced, hectic world. I want our children to experience life as I knew it. And while they won’t have the joys of tromping through the jungles of Liberia or going on the surfboard in the brown lagoon (How we ever were allowed to do that I don’t know!), they can have their own childhood…making forts in the basement, helping plant flowers in the yard, living in the world of fantasy through books.

I’m looking forward to bringing our Ethiopian daughter into this world. Hopefully sooner than later!