The other day some friends and I were talking about blogs. Some blog owners seem to be perfect: every post is about some wonderful activity they did with their child, the perfect dinner they cooked for their family, or the beautiful sunset that made their day. Other bloggers talk about the good stuff and the bad stuff, which can be more encouraging to those of us who have a mix of good stuff and bad stuff going on in our lives (read: everybody). Sometimes it is nice to read ideas and recipes and wonderfulness. Other times it can be nice to know that we aren't alone in our "What do I do with this child now?" or "He's running naked through the house because he doesn't want a clean diaper," and "Oh look, he's playing in the toilet again," times.
Yesterday I had a mix of good and bad. I could not figure out how to wear my boy out for his nap - everything I could think of was messy and I had just gotten him in clean clothes and I just wanted to sit him down and let him watch Sesame Street. Then he had a poopy diaper and I had a good moment (yeah, those two things would not normally go together). See, lately J has been back and forth on diaper changes - sometimes he'll lie there just fine and sometimes (more often lately) he freaks out and squirms and generally attempts escape (remember the earlier comment about running naked through the house? Yeah, that). Well, he especially dislikes getting a poopy diaper changed. So yesterday, right before changing him, we "changed" his bear's diaper (read: we wiped his bear down and put a diaper on him). IT WORKED SO WELL. I cannot express how exciting it was to then change J's diaper while he lay there calmly and wiped Pooh Bear down again. So I tried it this morning when he was throwing his usually morning diaper fit and IT WORKED AGAIN.
I might not be the mom who can always find a cool, learning activity for my child, but darn it, I can change my child's diaper!
And sometimes, that's all the success I need for one day.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Home again, home again
Yes, we wore coordinating red and black the Sunday before Christmas :)
Mommy and J dancing Christmas Eve morning (which is when we celebrated just the 3 of us).
My Little Geek is an ABC book - for both of my boys to enjoy!
Little thief likes to steal Mommy's water.
We celebrated Christmas multiple times with multiple family members. Saw The Hubby's dad and his wife Sat, spent Christmas Eve with my wonderful mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Christmas Eve we went to the service at church which was very low key and wonderful. The Hubby and I sang, my sister read a Christmas story she had written a while back and my brother gave a sermonette (are you sensing a pattern here?). We sang lots and lots of carols and it was peaceful and happy and I loved it. Then Christmas Day we headed over to my folks' and spent the day there (and got to see MIL and SIL again when they gave for dinner!).
Then last weekend we headed up to see The Hubby's grandparents, and back here in time for New Year's Eve. Family is fantastic. Holidays are heavenly. I cherish the celebration of Christ's birth. And now I'm very happy to be home and settled back in.
Oh yeah, and we'll be moving at the end of the month. Guess there's not a whole lot of relaxing that's going to happen after all!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Christmas Time
I love Christmas Time.
I love my Christmas tree.
I love wrapping presents (ooh, I need to wrap presents!).
I love family time.
I love Christmas carols.
I love celebrating my Savior's birth.
As last year he was too little to do much, I am excited to really introduce things properly to my son this year!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Am I doing it wrong?
Am I doing it wrong? This whole "mother" thing - am I scarring my kid somehow and not even realizing it?
I read some baby books when I was pregnant and in the early days and when my son wouldn't sleep for more than 2 hours at a time and I was at my wits' end trying to figure out how to help him.
Then I stopped.
I find advice online sometimes, in fact that is how we finally got J to sleep through the night. But I don't read it regularly.
Am I doing it wrong?
The books and articles say we should have at least a 30 minute bedtime routine for our toddler and an hour of wind down time is even better. Our bedtime routine with pjs, diaper, brushing teeth, reading books and singing generally takes about 15 minutes. Bath days are longer of course, but J usually only gets a bath once or twice a week - I don't think he needs it more often than that.
Am I doing it wrong?
I know everyone is different. I know every parent is different and every child (even children of the same parents) is different. I know we all have to make decisions for our own children. But still I wonder:
Am I doing it wrong?
My child uses a binky (but only at bedtime), eats cookies (on occasion), watches Sesame Street (but only 30 or so minutes a day) and wears hats like no one else. He signs and talks and screams when another kid plays with the toy he-was-going-to-play-with-he-just-didn't-know-it-yet. He is a messy eater who generally eats about what I do which are not always the healthiest things I could give him. He has long hair in the back because I haven't gotten the courage/strength up enough to finish the haircut I started, and his bangs in the front are a little too short because I was apparently enthusiastic about the haircut when I started. He is adorable and funny and smart and dramatic and stubborn and he is growing up and I can't stop him!
Am I doing it wrong? Will that question ever go away?
I love my son dearly and while I know that I (along with my husband) will ultimately make the decisions about J according to what we believe is right, I will always have moments (or days, or weeks, or...) of self-doubt. And sometimes I just need to hear:
You are doing it right.
Please?
I read some baby books when I was pregnant and in the early days and when my son wouldn't sleep for more than 2 hours at a time and I was at my wits' end trying to figure out how to help him.
Then I stopped.
I find advice online sometimes, in fact that is how we finally got J to sleep through the night. But I don't read it regularly.
Am I doing it wrong?
The books and articles say we should have at least a 30 minute bedtime routine for our toddler and an hour of wind down time is even better. Our bedtime routine with pjs, diaper, brushing teeth, reading books and singing generally takes about 15 minutes. Bath days are longer of course, but J usually only gets a bath once or twice a week - I don't think he needs it more often than that.
Am I doing it wrong?
I know everyone is different. I know every parent is different and every child (even children of the same parents) is different. I know we all have to make decisions for our own children. But still I wonder:
Am I doing it wrong?
My child uses a binky (but only at bedtime), eats cookies (on occasion), watches Sesame Street (but only 30 or so minutes a day) and wears hats like no one else. He signs and talks and screams when another kid plays with the toy he-was-going-to-play-with-he-just-didn't-know-it-yet. He is a messy eater who generally eats about what I do which are not always the healthiest things I could give him. He has long hair in the back because I haven't gotten the courage/strength up enough to finish the haircut I started, and his bangs in the front are a little too short because I was apparently enthusiastic about the haircut when I started. He is adorable and funny and smart and dramatic and stubborn and he is growing up and I can't stop him!
Am I doing it wrong? Will that question ever go away?
I love my son dearly and while I know that I (along with my husband) will ultimately make the decisions about J according to what we believe is right, I will always have moments (or days, or weeks, or...) of self-doubt. And sometimes I just need to hear:
You are doing it right.
Please?
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Blessed
So it has been an incredibly busy week. We spent Thanksgiving Day with my family which included breakfast, dinner and playing at the park.
Thursday evening we drove up the NE to spend the weekend with the Hubby's family.
While we were in NE, 3 1/2 hours from home, I got a call Saturday night that said my dad was in the hospital. Fighting down my immediate urge to drive back that very evening (he was not, after all, in critical condition), we stayed until Sunday afternoon before heading home. The Boy did not nap in the car as I had expected him to which caused the trip to seem longer than it actually was. And when we finally did get home I had to wait until my sister had finished nursing her newborn before we carpooled up to the hospital.
Walking into his room the first thing I noticed was that my mom was sitting in bed with him. It seemed the most natural thing in the world that instead of using the chair she wanted to be close to him, to give (and receive) that physical support. I almost cried.
It is now Tuesday and my dad is heading home. Want to know who's driving him? That's right, my mom, who has been by his side ever since this morning and as much as was physically possible the last few days.
Sometimes my parents drive each other crazy (as is natural for people who have been together for more than 30 years). But seeing how they care for each other is an encouragement that I take with me into my own marriage. Love and commitment to the good of the other person is the basis for relationships that stand the tests of time, kids and hospital stretches.
Thursday evening we drove up the NE to spend the weekend with the Hubby's family.
While we were in NE, 3 1/2 hours from home, I got a call Saturday night that said my dad was in the hospital. Fighting down my immediate urge to drive back that very evening (he was not, after all, in critical condition), we stayed until Sunday afternoon before heading home. The Boy did not nap in the car as I had expected him to which caused the trip to seem longer than it actually was. And when we finally did get home I had to wait until my sister had finished nursing her newborn before we carpooled up to the hospital.
Walking into his room the first thing I noticed was that my mom was sitting in bed with him. It seemed the most natural thing in the world that instead of using the chair she wanted to be close to him, to give (and receive) that physical support. I almost cried.
It is now Tuesday and my dad is heading home. Want to know who's driving him? That's right, my mom, who has been by his side ever since this morning and as much as was physically possible the last few days.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Birthday thoughts
Last year for my birthday I posted a list inspired by a friend of mine called "30 by 30". Today being my 29th birthday I figured I ought to update and see how things are going.
1. Read 20 new books (not including children’s books which I can easily go through 5 at a time)
- This started out really well and then my child went mobile. I've done several but probably not 10 - which means I have some catching up to do!
2. Read 10 classics (I’ve realized how many of these I own compared to how many I’ve read and it’s rather embarrassing)
- Um. Yes. I am behind.
3. Finish organizing old photographs into albums or scrapbooks
- I'm very close! Well, much closer than I was which is happy.
4. Get rid of all those shirts that I keep saying I might wear someday but never do
- Did a little bit but the full culling has yet to happen.
5. Learn to follow a sewing pattern
- Not a pattern yet, but I am learning more about my sewing machine and trying new projects.
6. Learn to walk on 5’ peg stilts
- These have not yet been completed so I have not had the opportunity yet.
7. Try 50 new recipes (this so far is going better than I thought it would, but I don’t know how that’s going to change when I have a toddler)
- Still going well, although some weeks are better than others. I am sure I have hit nearly 50 already so now it will be how many total I can do!
8. Design and create my own costume
- Done!
9. Learn to crochet
- I completely forgot this was here.
10. Direct Godspell
- I thought I had my chance this spring but things did not work out. We shall see what the future holds.
11. Perform in another stage show
- Technically this did happen - I played drum for a dance show out at festival. Not exactly what I meant when I made the goal.
12. Take a dance class
- Not even close yet.
13. Learn 3 swing dance aerials to do with my husband
- This sounds like fun, I should do this.
14. Simplify my life by getting rid of STUFF– I’m not sure yet what measureable to put on this to know whether or not I have succeeded
- It has begun.
15. Take walks at least 3 times a week – not sure how I’m going to do this in the winter time, maybe become a mall walker mom during the cold months?
- Walking more than nothing but less than I would like.
16. Set up a will/custody documents for J should anything happen to me and the hubby
- This would be a nice thing to have.
17. Spend time at least once a week with a friend
- Yup.
18. Maintain an active prayer journal
- Completely forgot this was here. I should do this.
19. Lead a Bible study
- Not yet.
20. Read through the Bible completely (haven’t done this since Bible college and it needs to happen again)
- Did part of this with my husband, need to keep working on it on my own.
21. Buy a house (yeah, I’m not totally optimistic about this one, but I can try)
- Working on it.
22. Memorize 30 Bible verses
- If I keep up with the Bible Study memory plan at church this will be done.
23. Memorize 3 sonnets
- Nope.
24. Get to know the ladies at my church better (ie: be more sociable)
- Working on it.
25. Clean out the garage enough to consider getting a deep freeze
- My husband is amazing with the work he has put into our garage but the lead we had on a deep freeze has dried up. We will keep looking.
26. Consistently maintain an active blog
- Not as consistent as I would like.
27. Stick with cloth diapering
- Not a problem. We use disposables occasionally but for the most part the cloth diapers are working out wonderfully.
28. Teach a sign language class
- Oh, this sounds like fun! Have I done it yet? Not in a loooong time...
29. Travel to a state I’ve never been
- Well I went to CA...technically I have been there before but I was just a toddler and I didn't remember it - does that count?
30. Feel organized – if only briefly
- Not really, but some days I feel hints.
Today was my birthday. I am 29. More on that later. It is late and this old lady is ready for bed.
1. Read 20 new books (not including children’s books which I can easily go through 5 at a time)
- This started out really well and then my child went mobile. I've done several but probably not 10 - which means I have some catching up to do!
2. Read 10 classics (I’ve realized how many of these I own compared to how many I’ve read and it’s rather embarrassing)
- Um. Yes. I am behind.
3. Finish organizing old photographs into albums or scrapbooks
- I'm very close! Well, much closer than I was which is happy.
4. Get rid of all those shirts that I keep saying I might wear someday but never do
- Did a little bit but the full culling has yet to happen.
5. Learn to follow a sewing pattern
- Not a pattern yet, but I am learning more about my sewing machine and trying new projects.
6. Learn to walk on 5’ peg stilts
- These have not yet been completed so I have not had the opportunity yet.
7. Try 50 new recipes (this so far is going better than I thought it would, but I don’t know how that’s going to change when I have a toddler)
- Still going well, although some weeks are better than others. I am sure I have hit nearly 50 already so now it will be how many total I can do!
8. Design and create my own costume
- Done!
- I completely forgot this was here.
10. Direct Godspell
- I thought I had my chance this spring but things did not work out. We shall see what the future holds.
11. Perform in another stage show
- Technically this did happen - I played drum for a dance show out at festival. Not exactly what I meant when I made the goal.
12. Take a dance class
- Not even close yet.
13. Learn 3 swing dance aerials to do with my husband
- This sounds like fun, I should do this.
14. Simplify my life by getting rid of STUFF– I’m not sure yet what measureable to put on this to know whether or not I have succeeded
- It has begun.
15. Take walks at least 3 times a week – not sure how I’m going to do this in the winter time, maybe become a mall walker mom during the cold months?
- Walking more than nothing but less than I would like.
16. Set up a will/custody documents for J should anything happen to me and the hubby
- This would be a nice thing to have.
17. Spend time at least once a week with a friend
- Yup.
18. Maintain an active prayer journal
- Completely forgot this was here. I should do this.
19. Lead a Bible study
- Not yet.
20. Read through the Bible completely (haven’t done this since Bible college and it needs to happen again)
- Did part of this with my husband, need to keep working on it on my own.
21. Buy a house (yeah, I’m not totally optimistic about this one, but I can try)
- Working on it.
22. Memorize 30 Bible verses
- If I keep up with the Bible Study memory plan at church this will be done.
23. Memorize 3 sonnets
- Nope.
24. Get to know the ladies at my church better (ie: be more sociable)
- Working on it.
25. Clean out the garage enough to consider getting a deep freeze
- My husband is amazing with the work he has put into our garage but the lead we had on a deep freeze has dried up. We will keep looking.
26. Consistently maintain an active blog
- Not as consistent as I would like.
27. Stick with cloth diapering
- Not a problem. We use disposables occasionally but for the most part the cloth diapers are working out wonderfully.
28. Teach a sign language class
- Oh, this sounds like fun! Have I done it yet? Not in a loooong time...
29. Travel to a state I’ve never been
- Well I went to CA...technically I have been there before but I was just a toddler and I didn't remember it - does that count?
30. Feel organized – if only briefly
- Not really, but some days I feel hints.
Today was my birthday. I am 29. More on that later. It is late and this old lady is ready for bed.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Cheesy goodness?
Growing up, my mom made the BEST scalloped potatoes: cheesy, soft potatoes accompanied by ham and, later, broccoli. I could never understand why she added the broccoli - I felt it interrupted the basic purity of the dish.
(Now that I am a functioning adult with a husband and child to cook for I understand the need to get veggies in whenever and wherever possible. I don't always succeed, but I understand why they are important.)
Last night I made...a dish. I hate to call it scalloped potatoes but that is what the recipe I used called it. Um. Well. Instead of making up a cheese sauce and pouring it over the potatoes this recipe told me to layer the potatoes, cheese, cream (milk) and butter. I figured they would meld in the oven and become something similar to the creamy goodness I knew as a child.
(Minus the broccoli because Dear Hubby won't go near the stuff.)
When the dish came out of the oven (after having been left there an extra 25 minutes because the potatoes were still raw) my hopes of creamy childhood goodness were dashed.
Nothing had melded. Everything was still separate. The cheese was mostly melted but it refused to adhere to the potatoes. The milk was still...wet. I thought it would absorb or evaporate or something!
Distress.
Next time I try scalloped potatoes I will look for a recipe that makes the cheese sauce up ahead of time.
Come to think of it, perhaps I'll just ask my mom.
(Now that I am a functioning adult with a husband and child to cook for I understand the need to get veggies in whenever and wherever possible. I don't always succeed, but I understand why they are important.)
Last night I made...a dish. I hate to call it scalloped potatoes but that is what the recipe I used called it. Um. Well. Instead of making up a cheese sauce and pouring it over the potatoes this recipe told me to layer the potatoes, cheese, cream (milk) and butter. I figured they would meld in the oven and become something similar to the creamy goodness I knew as a child.
(Minus the broccoli because Dear Hubby won't go near the stuff.)
When the dish came out of the oven (after having been left there an extra 25 minutes because the potatoes were still raw) my hopes of creamy childhood goodness were dashed.
Nothing had melded. Everything was still separate. The cheese was mostly melted but it refused to adhere to the potatoes. The milk was still...wet. I thought it would absorb or evaporate or something!
Distress.
Next time I try scalloped potatoes I will look for a recipe that makes the cheese sauce up ahead of time.
Come to think of it, perhaps I'll just ask my mom.
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