I wondered if she would just go from crawling around on her belly to straight walking. Today she just started to crawl on all fours.
I waited for this milestone hoping it would happen and now I am wondering what the heck was I thinking as it is harder to catch the little bugger now
She is much faster now and she knows it. She takes off with a surge to explore the house.
Pretty soon she will be walking or running all over the house getting into everything. My baby is not a baby anymore

Geneva (8 months) seems to be coming into her own now. The little dainty princess who hardly made a peep is now letting me know when something is unacceptable to her.
I usually tick her off when she has toiled so hard to get somewhere in the house crawling her little butt off then I go and get her ruining her fun. When I pick her up she starts flailing her little arms as if she is a bird and telling me off in her little baby language.
One thing is apparent now she will have her momma's temper I just knew her good nature was too good to be true. Don't get me wrong she is still a good natured baby it's just that you better not cross her

Geneva (8 months) is such a good baby. I link her peaceful attitude with the fact that she is my first child that I have stayed home with since they were a baby.
With my oldest Darian (13) I went to school when he was around 6 months so he was in daycare during the week. We also lived in a turbulent home with all the drama between my Mom and I. Plus it did not help then I was a young teen Mom trying to grow up myself and raise a child.
With Cullen (9) I was in a strange city after being uprooted due to problems with his Dad. This was the first time I was truly on my own with my children. We had a lot of hard times as I was working since he was 4 months so both of the kids were in daycare. We did not have a car at the time so public transportation was used. It would take hours to get home walking through the cold snow and ice at times.
Then Isaiah (4) I went back to work when he was 8 weeks old. The job that I held swallowed me whole but I could not see it. My career was my life first then came my kids. I found it hard to balance them both.
Things do happen for a reason. It took my company telling me that they did not want me back for me to wake up and realize that my priorities were off track.
Even after my company sided with an employee who had used the 'n' word towards my son, I still found myself wanting to be there to further my career. I did at times feel torn feeling as if I needed to side with my son as staying there at the job was sending the wrong message to my son.
I was lucky that I did have a good case against them as I am a paralegal by trade even though I do not use my degree I still have a lot of the skills embedded into me from school so I kept detailed evidence of what they were and were not doing.
Money was never a driving force in my case against my former employer just a simple appology which I never received. Receiving a settlememt and my walking papers from my former employer was the best thing that could have happened to myself and my kids.
I learned a very important lesson for when I go back to the workforce to never ever put more into your job then your family. This time I have had with my kids has showed me how much I was losing by constantly ripping and running do to work.
I am a much better mother then I was back then as I have more time, less stress and set my children as my priorities.

Isaiah (4) insisted on his own this afternoon to feed his little sister Geneva (8 1/2 months) her lunch. I tried to resist at first because my first thought was this will be a mess and lead to more of a pickup.
Then he gave me those puppy dog eyes and I could not say no. It was so cute watching him mother her. Neva soaked up every minute of her big brother feeding her. We all got something out of that deal

Whenever possible I ask the older boys if they would like to accompany me if I have errands to run just so they can get out of the house and we can have some personal time alone without the little ones around.
Last night I needed to go to the library to make some copies and also wanted to check in on Nonny. I asked both of the older boys but only Darian (13) wanted to come.
I really enjoy our time together I find it easier to talk to him alone then in the presence of his siblings. He opens up more to me. I can tell he really likes to spend this one on one time with me, for that I am greatful that as his Mom he still wants to spend time with me as he is getting into those teenage years.
He helped me navigate through the library knowing these little short cuts and what not from hanging out there with his friends here and there. That was a lot of help.
Then we went to see Nonny she is doing really good now eating and everything. She loves to see any of my kids she beams when she sees them. She kept pointing at Darian telling my Mom what a good kid he is. As for me Nonny looked at me with a confused look and said 'Who the hell are you?' I don't take it personal that's just the dementia talking. She does know who I am from time to time so that is all I need.
We spent about an hour or so up there so it was a nice get away for the both of us. When we got home Geneva seemed content with her Daddy until she heard my voice then she started to cry and push at him so she could get down. I LOVE THAT She MISSES me that is the best thing I swear