kborchert

How I Know

May 20, 2013 By kborchert Leave a Comment

I have often wondered if I will really feel done, when I am done having children. Will my family feel complete without everyone here? Will I ever have that sense of peace that I hear other Mother’s talk about? Is it even possible?

Lately I have been feeling it. My hips hurt, my feet hurt, my back hurts. I am tired, cranky and hot. I revel in this, my last pregnancy though. I love feeling him move, I love wondering what position he is in and I know I will miss having him all to myself when he is born.

When I was pregnant with Elliott, I thought that was my last pregnancy. I was so sad that I would never get to do it again. As miserable as I could be, I just couldn’t imagine this chapter of my life closing. I mourned the loss of future pregnancies and births. This time, I do not feel that way. I am so glad I am never doing this again. I have been pregnant, nursing or both for the last 11 years. ELEVEN years people.

I finally have that sense of peace that this is my last pregnancy. This is my last baby. This is it, and I am so very glad. I am glad to close the chapter on the childbearing part of my life. I am ready to move on to the next chapter and see what it holds. I am excited to be able to go on dates with my husband, go away for a weekend, go to the gym and work hard. I am excited to see what my body looks like when I am not nursing or pregnant. I can’t wait to start training for a 5K, then a triathlon. I am ready to be out of the baby stage and move on.

While I sit here and type these words, I feel him moving, stretching, trying to find more room in his “room” that is growing smaller by the day. He is getting bigger and we are 8ish weeks away from meeting each other.

I am trying to love these last weeks and relish every kick, barrel roll and hiccup. Because even though I know I am done…I am sure I will miss this.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

A Mac Family in the Microsoft Store

May 13, 2013 By kborchert 15 Comments

Last Saturday, my family and I did the unthinkable. We went to the Domain in Austin, and purposely walked into the Microsoft store. For those who know my husband, you know this is a pretty big deal. He is a die hard Apple fan. I am typing this on a Mac, we have a Macbook, iPhones and iPods in our house.

So, what would get me, and my family, to go to the Microsoft store? I was given the opportunity to work with Microsoft and The Motherhood and learn more about their stores and what they have to offer. I went into this with an open mind, I really wanted to know what the fuss was about. I’ve been to the Apple store before, and knew that these types of stores offer help and support and you can buy great products from them.

The Microsoft store takes it even further though. The bloggers participating in this program had a conference call with Melinda George, Training and Development Specialist from Microsoft. She started the call telling us all about the offerings and products at the Microsoft store. Talking to us about the Answer desk, personal training (for your device, not your body heehee!), and even the availability of the staff to give you personal shopping sessions.

What really caught my attention though was the theater space they have for community events. As Melinda started talking about this, my curiosity was peaked. Summer camps, birthday parties, homeschool classes, Boy and Girl scout badges earned…what?? This was right up my alley.

I asked more about the theater space. I learned that Microsoft really wants to work with the community and help those in their midst. Melinda told us about summer camp for kids. The camps are for kids ages 8-13, start June 3 and are 2 hours a day M-F for a week at a time. Topics for camps include: Digital Movie Madness, Digital Art Smart, Gamemasters, and Storyteller Studio. For the teenage set some stores offer an App Builder Class. And, not to be forgotten, they even have a class for the preschool set! Tech for Tots Camp focuses on kids ages 2-5 and the little ones learn keyboard skills, how to use Kinect and about technology that impacts their lives.

Now, if you are like me you are thinking, Ok, this sounds great, but it is going to be pricey! Here’s the best part – this is all FREE! Seriously, no cost at all. The only thing they ask is that parents stay in the store while kids are having their classes. Another item that caught my attention was the ages allowed in the camps. 2-5 and 8-13. Um, I have a 6 year old, what can she do? When my family visited the store, I asked the manager about this. He said that the ages are just a guideline. Kids who fall in the 6-7 age range can go to either depending on their maturity and where the parents feel they would best fit.

The "kids" playing MineCraft

While we are on the topic of free, they also host gaming events! When my family visited the store, a birthday party was just wrapping up. Mom and Dad brought their son and some of his friends, had pizza and cake and the boys got to play Kinect and XBox for the birthday party in the theater! This is a great party idea and something my kids want to do now.

When Melinda told us the Microsoft store was very kid friendly, I was dubious. I mean really? Kid friendly and computers don’t typically go together. So, we put it to the test. Middle of the afternoon on a Saturday, Jeremy and I took our 4 hooligans to the store to see what the fuss was all about.

We were pleasantly surprised! There was something for everyone! Seth and Amelia played MineCraft on a HUGE screen, Libby and Elliott played with the paint program. They all had a blast and didn’t want to leave when it was time. Jeremy and I enjoyed seeing the tablets, phones and computers. To see features on the Windows products we liked better than on our iPhones, and vice versa. We realized that both products are really great. I particularly love the touch screen options on all the computers. It made playing on the computer so much fun for my kids.

Whether you are a die hard Mac fan, or a Microsoft lover – there is something for everyone at the Microsoft store. Go check out your store and see all they have to offer. And be sure to take the kids, they will have a blast!

To learn even more about the Microsoft store and how they can make your life easier, join me and the other Microsoft bloggers for a Twitter Party!

When: Tuesday, May 14, at 1 p.m. ET (the party will last one hour)

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #GoMicrosoft hashtag to track the conversation. You can see the details and RSVP via this Twtvite: http://twtvite.com/GoMicrosoft

Hashtag: #GoMicrosoft

Prizes: We will be giving away six prizes to randomly selected winners. Five winners who answer trivia questions during the party will receive $25 Microsoft retail store gift cards, and one grand prize winner will be chosen for a $500 Microsoft retail store gift card!

Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

TweetGrid for the party: http://bit.ly/11SJxNf

To make this even better, Microsoft and The Motherhood have given me a $100 gift card to the Microsoft Store for one of you!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is sponsored by Microsoft and part of the Motherhood. I was compensated for this post, but all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: sponsored post Tagged With: microsoft, microsoft events, microsoft store

Missing Her

May 6, 2013 By kborchert 4 Comments

Every day at naptime and on the occasions I do bedtime with Elliott, I play a songlist for him. It has relaxing music, some of his favorites and some of mine. Many of the songs are ones I played for Emma. As I play them for Elliott, I feel him start to relax and the baby in my womb start to dance.

It makes me miss her so much. To hear the songs I used to play to calm her down, the ones I made words up to, the ones we listened to together – it makes the hole in my heart more pronounced. But it also makes me feel so much closer to her, so I continue to do it.

Sometimes I still close my eyes and imagine I am back in my apartment in Kansas. That she is asleep next to me and my life is as it was. I allow myself to pretend that she never left and that she is still by my side. I imagine I am 10 years younger and Jeremy and I are just starting out our lives together. None of the pain or heartache has happened and we are good, whole, complete.

Other times I will pretend she is still here, just at a friend’s house. I imagine what it would look like to have me leave the school with 5 children, very pregnant with the 6th. What would that be like? What would it be like to have a 10 1/2 year old to spend time with, get to know and have around the house? Today when a stranger asked how old all of my children were I told her 10 1/2, 8, 6, 4 and 2. I liked living that dream for a minute. I liked having someone think that was my reality. I liked not having their pity for a moment.

I have noticed this every pregnancy…as my birthing time draws nearer, I miss my oldest so much more. During my pregnancies I often look back to my previous pregnancies. I remember what it was like to carry each of my children in my womb. What it felt like, how active they were, how tired I was, what it was like. I reflect on each of them and my love for my children grows. As I remember Emma’s, I remember all the firsts – first pregnancy test, first movements, first time my water broke, first birth, first everything. And I miss her.

Today I miss her. Tomorrow I will miss her, just as I did yesterday and everyday before that. Grief is never ending. While it is not always in the forefront of my mind, there are days, moments and stretches of time when it is particularly difficult. The last few days have been like that. I just miss my girl.

Filed Under: angel baby, grief, my life

Where has the week gone?

May 3, 2013 By kborchert 1 Comment

This morning as I was driving the kids to school Amelia said, “Mom? Sometimes I can’t believe how fast the week goes.” I laughed and told her I completely understood. Time flies on wings of lightning. Sometimes I just can’t believe that I have had 5 children, and waiting for my 6th. I can’t believe that these are my people, the ones that rely on me for everything, need me, want me, love me, hate me…they are mine and I am theirs.

This week the saying, “the days are long but the years are short” went through my mind multiple times. I wasn’t feeling good much of the week, Jeremy was out of town, and therefore all responsibilities fell on my shoulders.

Last night we had cereal or leftovers for dinner. The night before we went out and the night before that…well, I can’t remember now because I was feeling so yucky.

I don’t think my kids will remember this week as a great parental failure though. While I did lose my cool once (think poop on the floor, toddler covered head to toe in it as I am trying to help a certain 6 year old find her swim suit so we can go to swim practice) the rest of the time I was pretty even keeled.

Now that Jeremy is home and I have all hands on deck once again, I can look back and say the week was pretty short. Where did it go?

I try to make lasting memories with my children. I can’t buy them everything their little hearts desire. We don’t go on big vacations, we can’t do the things their friends with 2 or 3 kids in their families can do, but we try to give them the best we can. And most of the time it works out really well. We go swimming, we go on walks, we fly kites and try to have fun when we can.

This week has flown by, just as all the others to come are sure to do. I’ve said it before, this time is fleeting so I will try my hardest to enjoy it as much as I can.

Filed Under: my life, the kidlets

He is 2

April 28, 2013 By kborchert 2 Comments

My dear sweet Elliott,

Today you are two. You are my sweet sweet boy. You are so happy, so loving, so kind…except when you’re being 2, and then you are a spitfire. You love your sisters and brother, love your Mama and Daddy and love your friends.

You love to sing. Your favorites are Hourglass, Golden Slumbers, Firework, and anything from Tangled. You definitely play with Libby the most, because you know the names of all the ponies from My Little Pony, you love all Princesses and you like to wear headbands.

Today you woke up so happy. Seth came into my room and you lifted your arms and left with him. What you played I’m not sure, I was sleeping blissfully. It wasn’t until Seth brought you back to my room only to leave and shut the door did I realize why. That is when you informed me that you pooped. After a diaper change, I gave you your favorite breakfast treat – Pop Tarts. Yep, I’m an awesome Mom. Don’t ever forget that you got Pop Tarts for your 2nd birthday!

After opening presents, bath time with Libby and some snuggles with Mama, you were ready for a nap. I love that you still love napping. You love your 2 1/2 hours of sleep, and so do I.

We had such a great day, you had fun at Church, ate yummy pizza and thoroughly enjoyed your cupcakes. All in all, it was a fantastic day to celebrate my sweet baby boy.

I am so incredibly grateful that you are mine. The Lord knew we needed such a sweet child in our home when He sent you to us. You bring such laughter, peace and love to all around you. You love with all your heart, give hugs and kisses and “I love you’s” unprompted. You get so excited when it’s time to get the big kids from school and get sad on days when they are gone.

You are increasingly independent and when you do something you proudly proclaim, “I did it!”. Your love knows no boundaries and you are often heard saying, “I love it!”. While you absolutely have the 2 year old temper, you quickly forget who did you wrong and will tackle them with hugs.

You are my snuggle bug and love to “nuggle Mama”. Most the time I love it too. Except at 5 am…then it’s not my favorite . I can’t wait to see you be a big brother and how wonderful you will be. I just know you will love to take care of your new little brother.