Thinking about...

I've been thinking lots of thoughts lately, but haven't had much opportunity to write. Well, here I am now but I don't remember half of what I've been thinking. Here, in fancy bullet points, are a few things that are on my mind.

*How do I meet the needs that each of my children have at their particular developmental stages? I've been reading up on some age-related developments, particularly for 4 year olds, and I feel that has been helpful. I've also been trying to be attuned to Anastasia more. Poor middle child-- I tend to lump her in with Elizabeth as one of the big kids since their needs are much more similar to one another than Anastasia and Jameson's needs. And yet, she's still such a young thing in many ways. She has always had a great vocabulary, was walking and talking early, was day and night potty trained by 2.5, and she's tall for her age. She seems older than she is, and even though I am aware of that fact I still sometimes overlook her early-preschooler needs. Sigh. I'm working on it, this being aware of their deeper needs. All I can do is try, right?

Anastasia's first recognizable smiley face drawing, last month

*It is just over a year since Jameson was conceived and I have been reflecting on the pregnancy, particularly in regards to Hyperemesis Gravidarum. The change in seasons is bringing up memories of triggers; things that made me feel particularly sick last year and are seeming to tickle my brain and are periodically making me feel gross or uneasy. The big one at the time is the garden bed outside my window and the freshly mown lawn. Last year the smells of the recently turned earth and cut grass really sent me over the edge. It makes no sense, the triggers that come with HG,  but what can you do? I am thankful that this year I am healthy and not experiencing illness.

*Similarly, as I was emptying and reloading the dishwasher and washing some dishes in the sink I was recalling that when I was at my sickest I had only enough energy and strength to a) empty the dishwasher, b) load the dishwasher or c) wash dishes by hand. And that's not in one sitting, that's in a day. I could barely drag myself to the kitchen to do just one of those things. I don't say any of this to gain pity from others but to celebrate my health at the moment. Pregnancy is hard, no doubt about it, but life carries on afterwards (meaning I hope to have more kids despite HG), and I am thankful for the days of good health and energy that I have now.