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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

No Cabin Fever Here!

We knew when we moved back to chilly Michigan from warm sunny Georgia that the winters were going to take some adjusting. We knew that we were going to have to learn to deal with snow and ice and single digit temperatures. But never did we think we were going to have to deal with -17 degrees temperatures.

Long before this Arctic blast, ring, cyclone whatever your weather station calls it arrived, I vowed to hibernate. Not only to keep the yucky sick germs far far away from my toddler and soon to be newborn, but also just because I don't like the cold.

Don't get me wrong, there is something nostalgic about having a snowy blowy white Christmas and New Years. After the first few weeks in January...most people are over the cold, slick, icy, snowy roads and grey skies. The sun came out for probably 5 minuets this morning and Parson and I found ourselves in front of the biggest window in the house. Faces turned towards the sun soaking in the warmth and vitamin D. The sad part is....we still have at least 12 more weeks of this stuff. Thats right this baby thats still in my belly will spend the better part of his first two months in our house.

When Parson was two weeks old I was out pushing the stroller twice a day because I was getting "Cabin Fever"...funny how a few years can change things...and people. I giggle because all across Facebook I see status about people getting stir crazy because they are on day 2 or 3 of being "stuck" in their homes. 3 years ago this also would have been me.

When I came home from the hospital after giving birth to Parson I remember being SO board. Lets be honest, newborns sleep ALOT. Sure I was tired from being up every 2-3 hours but not tiered enough (yet) to want to sleep the day away. I was home for two weeks unable to drive, one of which Aaron was working. So it was me and a newborn baby...in a house. After working full time for a few years and then before that working two jobs, going to school and choreographing musicals, this new found life of "slow" was just not for me! After my 2 weeks no driving rule was lifted I was FREE. By free I mean able to go to Target, Kroger, or for a simple car ride just to get out of the house. Granted this was April in Georgia so we are talking capris and short sleeve shirt weather.

Anyway fast forward about a year...we decided that its was time for me to stop working for pay full time and to stay home with Parson. After we made the decision for me to stay home we had 6 months of "surprise" "big" expenses...which made us broke...and by broke I mean BROKE. Like at one point I was going through all my old purses, cars, laundry, couches, and junk drawers looking for any change I could find to add up and buy groceries with. During this season of broke...my car broke down. We had one functioning car and it was a manual transmission which I do not no how to drive. So...this lack of money and a working car cured me of my cabin fever. Fall and Winter in Georgia means rain..and lots of it. So very limited outside time, literally no cash, and a car I couldn't drive...I had to learn to entertain myself and my toddler in the same few rooms with the same things over and over and over day after day. At first it was awful. I hated it, I was mad, I was sick of house work and I was sick of being unable to do anything. I made myself a schedule our a routine for each day and stuck to it...and I like routine. I thrived on weekends when Aaron was off so we could go to the mall play park, go to church on Sundays, and once a week evening small group bible study...those were my outs. I also got connected online with a group of Moms that all had kids the same age as P, in fact I still talk daily with them. I learned quickly that that was all I needed.

So...back to cold Michigan and cabin fever. I vowed to hibernate...which I love to do now. I am just as happy waking up and going through Parson and I's routine then I would be getting up and "going" somewhere. I love spending all my time with this sweet little boy child. So this winter storm has been great for me/us because it has given me and excuse to NOT leave the house. Here are a few pictures from the past 3 days of hibernation:









So even though slowing down is not in most of our natures...maybe we need to stop and enjoy, snuggle, slow, and enjoy being in for just a few days. 

Patty