Confessions of the Working Mom

First of all, it is weird to think that I am a working mom. Second, it is very hard to juggle work and family. Third, I am so incredibly grateful for our families and friends who have offered to help us out during the first few weeks as we adjust to this new schedule.

Life has been way too busy for my taste. It has been difficult to balance a new job, training for the relay, figuring out a new calling (working with the Young Women) and trying to see my boys as much as possible.

I am not going to lie; there have been few mornings when I have woken up before 6 am and I just want to go back to the way life used to be. I hate being away from my little boy. Today I actually drove home to spend half an hour with him during my lunch break and it was so worth it. I seriously drive way too fast to get home as soon as possible after work. When Saku wakes up earlier than usual in the morning, I don't mind it because it means that I get to spend little more time with him.

I know it sounds contradictory, but I have also enjoyed using my nursing knowledge and learning more. I love using my brain in a different way than being a mom requires me to use it. If it wasn't for the fact that I was away from Saku, I would absolutely love my job.

Do I find working more enjoyable or full-filling than being at home? No way. If I had to work five days a week during the day, I think I would quit. However, I think that working three nights a week will be much better as I won't feel like I'm missing as much of my baby's life. Troy has asked me few times whether I regret my decision and I honestly don't. I feel like it is still the right decision for us. It is just a reminder that the right thing is not always the easy thing. I believe that Heavenly Father has blessed me with the knowledge and desire to take care of people when they are sick and need someone to show them kindness and help them heal both physically, emotionally and mentally.

Can I also just say how much I love the stage that Saku is in. He is so happy and fun all the time. Remember when I thought that he would be a "difficult or more demanding baby", I was wrong or maybe he has just grown out of it. My boy is such a sweet little man. My prayers have also been answered as he has done really well with Heather and my dad when they have taken care of him.

So i am tired, little sad each day as I leave home, excited about the opportunities, grateful and so in love with both of my boys.

Our ragnar relay is starting tomorrow at 10:30. Stay tuned for how our rocking relay team does!

Eight Months-Enormously Fun

Saku is eight months old. While life has been more than crazy in the last few weeks, I want to make sure to write down few things about this little boy because he just

gets better and better with each day.

Saku's eight month of life brought few fun experiences for him.

For a week, Saku got to experience what life would be like if he had an older brother. My dear friend Heather(and her hubby) and their son James stayed with us while they looked for a house.

James and Saku are 14 months apart and Saku obviously does not know how to play yet. However, he would get excited to see James in the morning and would crawl toward the bedroom where James was sleeping if he would hear James making noise.

I loved hearing James call for Saku and the boys shared the toys, binkys and the crib (not for sleeping) happily.

Saku also took his first driving lesson as we were stuck on I-10 in Phoenix after an incident of a flat tire. I was rather flustered as the semis drove 75 miles an hour passed us, but Saku loved the opportunity of crawling in the car and checking out the passing cars.

Saku gets more enjoyment out of playing with his binky than actually sucking it. He still uses it for comfort, but most of the time, he likes to be silly with it. He has figured out how to put his finger inside the sucking part and he loves to offer his binky to you. Actually he loves to offer everything and anything for you to put in your mouth and this silly mom often does put things in her mouth.

Look at this face! Even after eight months of having him in our home, I keep thinking "how in the world did I get to be so blessed to have him in my home and as a part of my eternal family".

Saku is very mobile. He crawls fast and crawls everywhere. He loves to crawl to the bathroom and stand up against the bath tub. He has learned to go down from standing up and his latest "trick" is standing in the tub and sitting down which creates a nice, big splash. Mom is not a fan of standing in the tub, but daddy thinks it's OK.

Saku can stand on his own pretty well. Sometimes he is holding onto something and just lets go and stands there on his own. He is very daring, which results in bumps here and there. His last adventure has been going down a slide in the park.

He finally got his first tooth few weeks ago, which makes his smile even more adorable.

Our first week of two working parents has gone well; however, I can't wait to be done with my day classes and be home with Saku during the day. Life is way too crazy when both of us are gone during the day. Heather has been an answer to prayers as she would come to our house and watch Saku while I was at work.

Saku, I love you. I could say it million times every day and it still wouldn't adequately express how blessed I feel to be your mother.

Sisterly Love

I love my sister Anna. We don't get to spend very much time together, but each year we seem to get closer. Every time I get an email from her, my day gets little bit better. We have very different personalities, yet we have many similar interest.

Here are few of my favorite things to share with Anna

Saku-Anna has an amazing ability to love my son. It gives me an idea of how my mom would love and treat him and I am grateful for Anna's love for my little boy.

Eating-we love to eat and we do not discriminate whether it is delicious dinners or baked goodies or just delicious Finnish candy.

Playing Games- few years ago we started to play Ticket to Ride and Settlers as a family and not a day goes by (seriously) when we are together without a good game (or three games) of these games. We talk, joke and play games.

Education-Anna and I both feel strongly about the importance of education and tend to get equally stressed about doing well. Anna has been a great support for me after I decided to go to work and she understands me and has faith in me, which makes all the difference in the world.

Talk-Many people notice that I tend to talk more than Anna does. However, I just love Anna's stories and hearing her opinion about things. When Anna gets excited about things, she just talks and talks and it makes me happy that she wants to share her life with me.

Anna will be visiting me in May and we will be taking a trip to the New York City. We are only 18 months apart in age and I know Heavenly Father knew that we would bless each other's lives as sisters and best friends.

Just What I needed...NOT

My niece and I were hanging out today and I was lucky enough to be part of this conversation

McKenna: "you are having another baby".

I can already tell where this is going, but I am hoping that I am wrong, so I ask her "do you think Saku needs a sibling"?

McKenna: "No your belly is way out here, there is another baby in there"

You have to love the brutal honesty of a four year old. I have to defend myself and say that I do not think my belly is "way out", but the sad truth is that my middle is just not the same. The numbers on the scale are actually below my pre-pregnancy weight and my legs are doing well because of all the running I do. But I do need tips of how to get rid of the softness in the waist area? I mean I know all about doing abs, but I would love to hear from people's personal experiences before I start torturing myself with crunches each morning.

And maybe I will give up sweets...tomorrow or the day after tomorrow..or not;)

So Good to Get Away and Even Better to Come Back

I had a nice and relaxing weekend with my girl friends. We ate out (and ate a lot), did some shopping, went to the movies, slept in and didn't have to worry about bringing the diaper bag with me or hurrying home for a nap time.

The first day and a half went by quickly and I was enjoying my days as a free woman. Of course I called Troy to see how things were going, but I was completely enjoying my time rather than wondering about things at home all the time. After two days, I was ready to come home (I just wish I could take these girls with me to Tucson). Let me explain. I loved having my girl friends with me and gossiping about this and that and talking about non-baby related things. I was able to just be me and not "Eevi the mom". And it was so refreshing, but after two days, I was ready to be "Eevi-the mom" again. While I believe it is so important to make time for things that don't involve Saku or even Troy, they really are the most important things in my life and it is nice to get a reminder of that.

I brought these beauties home with me. However, they ended up being little too big so I will have to return them. I am totally bummed because they are beautiful and make my legs look nice and long:)

What happened at home while I was gone?

Troy did a fabulous job. Saku started really cruising when he crawls. Troy sent me sweet text messages such as "I don't know how you ever get anything done". Our generous friends had the boys over so Troy wouldn't get too lonely or have to cook for himself. Thank You! Troy got annoyed with baby clothes and all the "cutsie" things are added on them. I thought this was so funny and I completely agree.

When I first got home, I was holding Saku and Troy was next to me and Saku pushed away from me to go to Troy. Troy asked me if I was OK with this. Fortunately, within seconds, Saku wanted me to hold him and he kept going back and forth between Troy and I. I think he was just happy to have his whole family there.

I am so grateful for this weekend and the ability to get little extra steam to tackle the next few months of chaos. And before you feel too bad for Troy, he will be going to Utah to ski this weekend.

What is the longest you have been away from your kids? Did you feel guilty or did you just enjoy yourself?