Up All Night..

I'm assuming most of you have seen or at least heard of the sitcom. Cameron and I just finished the latest episode and even though we are reality TV junkies, this is probably our new favorite. And the name nails it. You may not be up every minute of every night, but you're up a whole lot more than you would like the first few months.

And even though holding this precious boy brings me more joy than anything I've ever been a part of.....being up at midnight/4AM isn't what I call fun. :)

I'd much rather it be Lincoln that were keeping me awake tonight, however. Instead, it's my mind that won't let me sleep. Remember those decisions I mentioned before? Well, this time it's a big one. We've recently had some major changes in the work department. A week before Cameron was to start his new job, I lost mine. In no way were we prepared for this financially, but still I thank God for a blessing in disguise. It not only eliminated a huge source of negativity from our lives, but it also seemed to be the answer to my prayers about being a stay at home mom.

The next day each time Lincoln was napping I was going through our bills trying to put together how we would manage. Pay off some debt with savings, cut cable, start couponing..... before I knew it I was gathering things to sell on Ebay and/or at a garage sale. No matter how I calculated though, we would still be cutting it close if I chose to stay home. Making it, but barely. I started praying and enlisted my family to help. What I really wanted to ask for was a handout, a magical money tree or to finally be chosen as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune (I rock at guessing those phrases). But, instead I asked for guidance......ok, I still prayed to be on Wheel of Fortune, a girl can dream. 

The remainder of that week it seemed I received a phone call or e-mail everyday about jobs I was qualified for. Hesitantly, I applied. Yesterday, I was called and asked to come in for an interview for a job I hadn't even applied for. Are you kidding me, God?!? I was ready for my prayers to be answered by the Prize Patrol from the Clearing House Sweepstakes!

Unfortunately, that's what's keeping me up tonight. This interview tomorrow. I want so badly to be able to stay home, but it's seems as if the answer to my prayers may be to go back to work. While it is going to be so hard to leave my little man once again, it might just be what is best for our family right now. I guess we'll find out soon enough. 

Who knows, maybe they won't offer me the job and Friday Vanna White will call....just sayin.

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
   and lean not on your own understanding; 
 in all your ways submit to him, 
   and he will make your paths straight. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Decisions...Decisions...

  Before we had Lincoln the things we had to make decisions about were pretty simple….how we would spend holidays, would we have joint bank accounts, Blue Moon or Bud Light? Our most difficult decision, by far though, was what we would have for dinner. Seriously.
Boy, did things change on December 14^th. Dinner is whatever is easiest and as long as there is money in the bank, who cares how the accounts are set up! We now have more important decisions to make.

For example…..

  This week we’re confronted with “sleep training”. Lincoln just isn’t great at naptime right now. I lay him down just as he gets tired and as soon as I step out the door he cries. I come back in, he stops. We don’t want to spoil him by always rocking him; it’s just so hard not to do. But, we’ve decided we have to try something. There are so many different methods moms swear by: crying-it-out, patting their belly until they fall asleep, simply standing or sitting in eyesight. This part has been pretty difficult. Any advice, moms?

Speaking of naptime, I was rocking him on Tuesday and just as he had dozed off I realized I was watching some ridiculous soap opera. Definitely not my style, so I reach for the remote…which is, of course, just out of reach. Now what? Do I go for it and risk waking him, or do I wait the fifteen minutes until I know I won’t bother him? Well, I hate soaps. So, I went for it. Not the right choice, Cait. I might’ve gotten away with it had I not clumsily dropped the remote on the wood floor. Fail. Cue wide awake cranky Lincoln.

   And then there’s the pacifier.
They’re a sleep prop. 
It will cause baby’s teeth to grow outward. 
Your baby will become too dependent…. 
Wow. I had no idea it mattered so much…. So I decided we would not be using a pacifier. And we did great. For about four days. The third night home if Lincoln was not “comfort nursing”, he was crying. I’d say pretty much all night. So, thank you, MRMC for sending us home with a pacifier. We now have six. I was either going to lose my hearing or lose a nipple, possibly both. I have no idea why it helps, but it does. Plus, I’m sure his teeth will be just fine.

  

So many new decisions I just didn’t prepare for. Should I try to stay home or work? If I work, what about daycare? What kind of formula do we use? What kind of schedule should we set? Did you know babies had schedules??...Me either!  If someone gives us an OSU onsie, do we just take a picture and pretend he wore it all day?

  So. Many. Decisions.