Hey, everybody. It’s Kristen checking in!

T-11 days until pure insanity. Last you heard, I was going back to work on August 21st. Well, that is certainly still true… and here are the complications: daycare has no opening until the 25th and we are closing on a new house on 22nd. Yep. You read that right. And since my life is crazy, the flow of this post may be non-existent. Sorry about that.

Timeline:
Thursday, August 21st – Mommy starts work again, Daddy took off…
Friday, August 22nd – Daddy signs the paperwork for the new house and moving begins, Mommy is at work, Gammie will be with Baby A…
Saturday, August 23rd – A turns 1!! Oh, we are moving the rest of our stuff and starting the unpacking process…
Sunday, August 24th – Keep unpacking and get ready for the week…
Monday, August 25th – Mommy’s school year officially begins, A starts daycare…

So, where are we now? In hell. OK, not hell, but pretty close to it. I am spending as much time as possible snuggling my girl and then racing around like a chicken without its head during naptime (which is successfully only once most days – but, SERIOUSLY, only 1 nap!? I have stuff to do!!), trying to pack and finish my online trainings to get ready for school (and squeezing in this blog post today). I am also finding that it is hard for me to pack since I am still home. The place looks barren and depressing… but it’s all got to get packed at this point. 11 days, peeps. 11 days.
Naturally, A is JUST about to walk any second so there is no progress during her awake time. She is also ready to grow out of her current clothing, so I have the next size bin just hanging out and waiting. I was thinking we might make it to the new house in the current size (which is still 9mos, by the way) but I may have to rip off the band aid and just make the switch to 12mos. TWELVE MONTHS. As in, a whole year. My baby is (almost, don’t rush me) a year old. Which I’m clearly handling real well. Waaahhhhhh!
My friends and family have been super supportive, and I have even gotten a few back to school gifts to ease my pain! (School supplies help. They just do.) But, that said, I kind of want to lose my mind when I hear, “She’s going to do great!” and/or “You’ll be fine once you get back into your routine.” I know she is going to do great. I know it will be an adjustment in the beginning and then she is going to rock her new routine. I know that being back in my old routine is going to be great. I know we are both going to make it. I also know that I was super blessed to have a full year home with her. But I am still just sad about it.
On the flip side, while getting ready for school has been super stressful with trying to get a sitter and get into my classroom, I am feeling OK about it while I am there. I am excited to have a schedule that is pretty awesome this year, thanks ML (vice principal) – you rock, with lower than normal numbers in my classes, but it is a ton of work. My stuff isn’t where I left it! I have to find everything before I can do what needs to be done with it. As frustrating as that can be, it feels so familiar to be back in my room, moving desks, making copies, etc.

Familiar is a welcome feeling since motherhood can feel so alien. I have always loved kids; I babysat, nannied… and I’m a teacher for crying out loud. But none of those activities were 24/7 and I am certainly no stranger to the mommy guilt. It comes over all sorts of ridiculousness that I realize is ridiculous and still feel none-the-less. So pair that with the super fun process of moving with a mobile infant (almost a toddler – when does the title change?) and familiar is looking and sounding pretty darn good.

So, send me some prayers, some happy thoughts, positive vibes, whatever you have going on.

THANKS, ALL!