Cut yourself some slack

So lately I've been running on little food, even less sleep, and no fun! Between a two year-old (and yes, I know no one believes that sweet Lucy could ever be a "terrible two", but she is) and a baby, working full-time, learning the ropes of my new promotion, keeping the house clean and stocked, cooking, and training for a race...I just don't have a second to spare.
I kind of reached a breaking point last night. During my run my legs and arms were shaking like crazy. I kept going, telling myself I could just push through it. But each lap only got harder, and I never reached the "second wind". I was so disappointed in myself I almost started crying.
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks how silly I was being. Of course my body was giving out; I'm making all these demands of it, and giving it nothing in return!
So to all you "super moms" out there, trying to create this perfect life for yourselves and your family: don't. It's not possible, and you're just making yourself miserable trying. Juggle what you can, be great at a few things...but don't try to outdo yourself at everything all at once. It's not worth it!
Just be happy. That's what will make your family's life the best, anyway. Be happy, and give yourself a break!

Hawaiian party, Blue Ribbon Breakfast, and sleepy babies

Things just never seem to slow down around here, but that's how we like it! We had our big Blue Ribbon Breakfast, which is our one big fundraiser for the year. We do a few smaller ones, but this is the "mother" fundraiser. It went well; I'll be in charge of planning it for next year, and there are a few things I would like to do differently. But overall, I would call it a success. We awarded Mayor Peter Caroon with the Champion of Child Abuse Prevention Award.
In other news, Tom's parents had a Hawaiian party with dancers and everything for their neighborhood! It was so fun, and reminded me of our honeymoon in Maui :0)
The sleepy babies part of the title refers to Lucy falling asleep in the car on the way home from running erronds all morning. She got a sucker at the bank, and was so tired she fell asleep with the sucker in her mouth. It was cute.

Executive Director Bonnie Peters and Mayor Caroon
Diane Spencer (former Development Director aka the woman I'm replacing) and me...she is an incredible woman!!

Papa and Lucy at the party

Taylor, Tom's youngest brother, and his girlfriend Yessenia

Aloha!

The boys chillin'

Lucy loves holding Ethan. She calls herself "good big sister"

Tuckered out

in the news

Probably not a big deal to everyone else, but I was on the news today for the Family Support Center! It was a big deal to me :) Anyway, the footage is on ksl.com under news, if you want to see it.

We're still here!

I know it's been awhile! We're doing well. Mom's gone home, I've gone back to work, and the kids are LOVING their new babysitter. After three TERRIBLE interviews, I was beginning to really panic about childcare. But I found a woman who lives only a few minutes from my office, and has kids Lucy's age. She is FANTASTIC and I feel so blessed to have found her. On my days off, Lucy actually asks if she can go to Erin's, ha ha!
I recently got a big promotion at work! I'm taking my boss's position when she leaves in September. So I'm the new Development Director, in charge of Public Relations, Grant Writing, Fundraising, and Event Planning. I also sit on several community and government councils for stragetic planning to reduce homelessness in SLC. I love it! I've started training with the current director before she goes. She's been here 14 years, so I've got some big shoes to fill, and I'm a little scared, but very excited as well.
Ethan is growing so fast! He's a sweet baby and I love him more every day. Lucy is a wonderful big sister, and she is getting to the age where she says the funniest things! She is clearly getting into the "terrible two's", but she's still just a little tender heart, so I don't stay mad at her for very long.
These photos are kind of snippets of recent things (some more recent than others) that we've done, including a trip to the Hogle Zoo last weekend; a first for the kids and me!

Mixing cookies!

Lucy and her cousin Wyatt

All of my parents' grandkids

We repainted our room and let Lucy help

These are the biggest animals I've ever seen! Could not have been more excited!

Ethan at the Zoo

Pictures of Baby Ethan

These aren't even close to all the photos I wanted to post, but it's a start. Ethan is doing well at home. He's not much of an eater, so we worry a little about his weight, but I'm sure that's just me being a natural-born worrier :)
He sleeps most of the time, still, but I live for those short moments when his sweet little eyes are open and looking around. He has slight jaundice (sp?) so he's on lights for a few more days. But they are just blanket lights instead of the suitcase lights Lucy had to be under, so that's good.
Lucy is doing fairly well with the new addition to our family. She is very careful and gentle with him, but now wants CONSTANT attention. I'm used to her entertaining herself, so it has been a challenge to have her engaging in attention-seeking behaviors all the time. I'm sure she'll adjust soon.
Tom has been an incredible help to me, and took off work until Mom could get here. Now Mom is here, and between Tom and Mom, I'm being very well taken care of. I feel so blessed to have so much help and support.

Lucy meeting Ethan for the first time

A few hours old

Delivery arrived!

Ethan Thomas Griffith is here!

Well, I don't have pictures yet (I'm still in the hospital bed) but I'll post them soon. I just wanted to get the story down while it's all still fresh.
Sunday afternoon I started feeling really sick, having hot flashes, and irregular contractions. I was miserable enough I pulled Tom out of his class and we went home early. I continued feeling pretty crumby the rest of the day. I felt bad because it was Father's Day and I couldn't do as much for Tom as I'd hoped. I was getting so frustrated, thinking "I wish I would go into labor, or not! This in-between, contractions but not in labor sucks!"
I had a doctors apt. scheduled Wed, where I hoped to convince my doctor to induce me a few days early (about 4 days early was my plan). Yes, I know I'm a big baby.
Contractions continued into the night, waking me a few times. At about 3:30 my water finally broke! I had to have my water broken with Lucy so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was excited because it's a for sure sign, instead of having to time the contractions and hope they are long or hard enough to be the real thing.
I jumped out of bed, excitedly woke Tom, called Grandma Griffith to come stay with Lucy, and frantically packed our bags. For some reason, vacuuming the house seemed really important, so my WONDERFUL husband vacuumed our house at 4 a.m. for me :)
The lady checking us in was SUPER annoying because she kept saying things like, "Well we'll have a nurse come look at you and see if we can figure out what's going on."
What does that mean?? My water broke, I"m having contractions, I'm 39 weeks pregnant...I'm freakin' in labor! That's what's going on. I'm not imagining this.
ANYWAY, labor started progressing pretty quickly. Contractions were making me shake and sweat with every single one. I got an epidural, and was AMAZED at how well it worked. With Lucy it was placed wrong and it didn't numb me at all, and HURT going in. But this time, it worked like a charm. I had no idea that much pain could be taken out of labor.
For the last hour, when the labor moved to my back, I started feeling the pain again. Shortly it was time to push.
1 hour of pushing (much longer than Lucy's 20 min of pushing, but he was much bigger), and he was here! We're all healthy and happy. I'm sore and tired of course, and Lucy has a stomach bug that prevented her from meeting Ethan today, but she'll meet him tomorrow.
I'm so excited to have our son here...and to no longer be pregnant. My mom flies in Thursday, so Tom will stay with me until she gets here.
Having a baby is like graduating high school or college; you spend so much time doing this one thing, then all of the sudden it's over! It's an incredible feeling.
Wish me luck adjusting to a family of four! Feel free to pass any advice my way.

Lucy and her best friend Genevieve

For the past 8 months Lucy has been going to Genevieve's house three times a week while I work. She LOVES playing there, loves Becky (Genevieve's mama), loves everything about it. It made going back to work possible because I know Lucy is loved and taken very well care of while she's there.
But life happens, and Becky and her husband are moving their little family across the country for a new adventure; Neil (said husband) got into law school, and will be starting in the fall! I am so excited for them. But, a selfish part of me is SOOOOO sad to see them go. I've been crying for a week, ha ha. Lucy will ask for "Bucky" and "Baby" (even though Genevieve is her same size, she still calls her baby) for a long time after they've gone, I'm sure. I will miss Becky very dearly, as she has become a very good friend, a wonderful example of womanhood, and someone I trust very much.

Because of the way my maternity leave falls, today is Lucy's last day there. It won't be easy to find another place as good as Becky's for Lucy, but I'll have some time while I'm on leave to look around and test a few places out. I know we'll find somewhere she and the new baby will love, and Lucy will make new friends. But gosh, it's hard to let a good thing go!
So, this is a shout out to Genevieve, Lucy's best friend, and Becky, one of mine :0)

We love you!