Reasons, good reasons, and a very good reason for why I haven’t blogged….

Reason #1:  Work

Ok, this is a lame reason, because I really enjoy the work I do, but it does take time!  I have 13 music students (piano and voice) and I teach 1.5 days out of the week.  It is such a blessing to have this work that pays well and uses the talents God has given me.  I am finally teaching at my full capacity and that is very nice too.  We have a wonderful babysitter who fills in on Saturdays since that is my full day of teaching.  She takes care of Charlie with careful love and I would pay her double the going rate if I could afford it! 

Twice a week, Charlie and I spend a good portion of our day with Alaythia.  She is so cute.  She has taught Charlie to say “OK, sure!”  and the joy of putting “oh” before every utterance.   (I asked him if he wanted cheese for his snack the other day and he looked at me and said, “ohhh… yep!” ) They love each other dearly and can’t stop talking about each other.  I frequently catch Charlie muttering “Eya toon” (Alathia’s turn) as he plays by himself, even if its been days since they’ve seen each other. 

Spending time regularly with another toddler is really a blessing for Charlie right now.  He is getting good experience, which he dearly needs, at learning how to be kind, how to share—what it means to have a friend.  I’m so thankful that Alaythia is in our lives!

Reason #2: Charlie

Charlie keeps me going all day.  He has a great attention span and loves to read and draw.  But really, when it comes down to it, he needs to spend several hours outside each day MOVING--running, kicking and getting all kinds of grubby.  That means I’m out there too, playing “whack ball” (involves any permutation of a stick and a ball that you can think of and has no rules, or purpose really, come to think of it)  or whatever the activity du jour is.  Thank goodness he collapses for an hour nap or so in the afternoon, or I would be toast! 

Charlie talks all, and I mean all the time.  He calls himself “Cha” and he narrates his own activities as he goes.  “Cha wak” (Charlie walk), “Cha won” (Charlie run), “Cha hit”, Cha sit…etc.   It is really funny to see his sense of grammar develop (or not as the case may be).  If he is looking for something and finds it he says, “Der are!”   If he is calling my name he says Mama with two syllables, but if he is putting my name in a sentence he shortens it to “ma.” “Ma doo itch” (Mama do it).  This rule holds true for any two-syllable name.  It makes understanding the subject of his sentences somewhat challenging.  My favorite thing he says right now is, “Ma howd you,” which really means “Mama, hold me.”

Reason #3:  the belly

Um, yep!   It certainly popped out quickly this time!  The next baby Marzinke is slotted to arrive at the end of April.  And if morning sickness and fatigue in combination with chasing a toddler, house chores and work don’t give me a valid excuse for leaving you all hanging, I don’t know what would!

The good news is that I’m not feeling sick anymore and getting some energy back…so there is hope for our blogging relationship’s future!  Here’s to many more posts!