Once upon a time, Sam's room looked like this.
And while it wasn't that long ago, it seems like an eternity since the walls of his nursery were bare, the room waiting for it's new tiny occupant.
And now it's not even a nursery any more.
We had been wondering for a while when Sam was going to escape the crib and make a run for it. We worried about the right time to transition him to a big bed. But we didn't have to worry for long. Sam decided for us.
Over Thanksgiving, Sam chose the big bed over the crib at Pops and Nana's house and there was no turning back. We took down the crib a few days after we got home.
Some folks suggested converting the crib to a toddler bed. Others said to have both in the room for Sam to choose. I wanted to just move the crib in the spare bedroom for a while, just in case. But when it wouldn't fit through the door, down it came and up it went into the attic.
And now we have a big boy room.
Oh my goodness, I love the big boy room!
We made a few changes in here - got rid of an unsafe book case, took out the changing pad and updated the book rails (that can't hold books or Sam would never want to go to sleep), We didn't have to do too much baby proofing, because, honestly, there isn't much in here.
And I added another color into Sam's yellow room. I am very particularly when it comes to the colors of things, so a green bedspread meant the room needed other splashes of green. Frames and prints on the shelves, a few green baskets, and the curtains. I bought a set of green panels and literally cut them in half and put them on either side of the yellow blackout curtain, making sure to hide the cut edge because you better believe I did not hem anything.
Does it make me a bad mom because I am not really sad that Sam is growing up? I love that he's growing and learning and talking. I love that he climbs into his bed with his animal friends, or helps as I change his clothes. But I do still love that he wants to rock with his mommy in that chair.
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
05 February 2015
29 January 2015
dusting things off
I'm pretty sure I've used that metaphor before. When I leave this space quiet for too long I come in and dust it off and start working again.
So here I am, early spring cleaning.
I've been really getting into a few blogs lately. Reading back and back and back, learning women's stories. Seeing their lives. Getting inspired. Feeling a little creepy. But mostly, getting inspired.
So here I am.
The new year has come and gone. Unceremoniously. Digitally as I didn't mention it here. And literally as I fell asleep on the couch at 11pm on New Year's Eve.
I've dug into my new planner and so far, I feel fairly on top of the new year. My husband thinks it's ridiculous that I still use a paper planner. But most of the features of my smart phone are completely lost on me (and most of the time my phone is lost anyway) so paper it is.
Do you choose a word for the year? I have in the past but I never do anything with them. So I didn't pick one this year.
But if I did, it would have something to do with growing or flourishing or being intentional.
But mostly, I want to focus on small victories this year. Flossing my teeth. Washing my face. Eating real food. Not biting my nails. Forcing my child out of the bathroom while I pee because I deserve like 2 minutes by myself. The little things.
Maybe my word should be "self-care." I want to focus a tiny bit on being a better version of the already amazing self that I already am. I want to be able to take care of my family a bit better than I did last year. And I want to spend a bit more time as a hands-on mama of a crazy 2-year-old. Because, truly, he's the best thing there is.
So here I am, early spring cleaning.
I've been really getting into a few blogs lately. Reading back and back and back, learning women's stories. Seeing their lives. Getting inspired. Feeling a little creepy. But mostly, getting inspired.
So here I am.
The new year has come and gone. Unceremoniously. Digitally as I didn't mention it here. And literally as I fell asleep on the couch at 11pm on New Year's Eve.
I've dug into my new planner and so far, I feel fairly on top of the new year. My husband thinks it's ridiculous that I still use a paper planner. But most of the features of my smart phone are completely lost on me (and most of the time my phone is lost anyway) so paper it is.
Do you choose a word for the year? I have in the past but I never do anything with them. So I didn't pick one this year.
But if I did, it would have something to do with growing or flourishing or being intentional.
But mostly, I want to focus on small victories this year. Flossing my teeth. Washing my face. Eating real food. Not biting my nails. Forcing my child out of the bathroom while I pee because I deserve like 2 minutes by myself. The little things.
Maybe my word should be "self-care." I want to focus a tiny bit on being a better version of the already amazing self that I already am. I want to be able to take care of my family a bit better than I did last year. And I want to spend a bit more time as a hands-on mama of a crazy 2-year-old. Because, truly, he's the best thing there is.
17 October 2014
Happy Birthday My Little Human
Dear Samuel,
I can't believe you're already two! Boy, that sure happened fast.
I remember finding out about you. Hearing your little heartbeat. Watching you grow. And then welcoming you home. Spending your first year together.And then heading back to work full time, missing you every day.
It's been a hard two years. I don't have to tell you that not every moment of parenthood is a picnic.
But even when it's hard, it's usually better than I could have every imagined.
Two years ago you were a teeny tiny bundle, crying and eating and not much more.
Now you're running up and down the hall, talking up a storm, and being super silly. You're all like "look at me, I've got underpants on my head."
You're basically the silliest, funniest, cutest, wildest, most wonderful kid I know.
I love you, Sam. I love watching you grow and change. And I love seeing how you change me for the better. There are parts of my heart I didn't even know existed until I had you.
You're a gift. Even when you poop in the tub and throw it at me like a monkey at the zoo. You're a gift. And I cherish you.
Love, Momma
02 October 2014
Parenting is Hilarious!
I've talked about this before, but I'll say it again...
parenting in hilarious. Truly. It's the funniest thing I've ever done.
when your son wears underpants as a hat
when he insists on putting his face in his cereal bowl and eating like the cat
when he dances around the house naked
or poops in the hallway
I mean, come on, that's funny.
Last night I was wrestling with him to get him diapered. I took a break from the wrestling match and he quickly hid in his closet (hide and seek is his new favorite thing). I heard a strange noise, and when I opened the door he said "Mamma I pee peed. Look, pee pee) and pointed at the pool of pee he was standing in.
I cracked up!
Of course I cleaned it up and tried to explain why he shouldn't pee on the floor.
But I also started crying from laughing so hard.
Of course parenting is serious business, and our days as moms and dads are full of moments of pure joy and pure challenge. But as Sam gets older, I find more and more to laugh about. And not a "how is this happening, if I don't laugh I'll cry" kind of thing. But the kind of laughing you do when you are overwhelmed with happiness over the child you created. Over seeing him learn new things, get into silly situations, and make his way through the world one pee pee accident at a time.
parenting in hilarious. Truly. It's the funniest thing I've ever done.
when your son wears underpants as a hat
when he insists on putting his face in his cereal bowl and eating like the cat
when he dances around the house naked
or poops in the hallway
I mean, come on, that's funny.
Last night I was wrestling with him to get him diapered. I took a break from the wrestling match and he quickly hid in his closet (hide and seek is his new favorite thing). I heard a strange noise, and when I opened the door he said "Mamma I pee peed. Look, pee pee) and pointed at the pool of pee he was standing in.
I cracked up!
Of course I cleaned it up and tried to explain why he shouldn't pee on the floor.
But I also started crying from laughing so hard.
Of course parenting is serious business, and our days as moms and dads are full of moments of pure joy and pure challenge. But as Sam gets older, I find more and more to laugh about. And not a "how is this happening, if I don't laugh I'll cry" kind of thing. But the kind of laughing you do when you are overwhelmed with happiness over the child you created. Over seeing him learn new things, get into silly situations, and make his way through the world one pee pee accident at a time.
25 September 2014
Kid Crafts
[hoping Sam did not get his crayons confused with his veggie straw]
I absolutely love kiddy crafts, but I have not been very good at cultivating Sam as a young artist. It's sometimes hard to find the time to get messy or to find projects that are age appropriate. I did just order his birthday present, though, a bunch of fun art supplies!
Here's a few things I'd like to try (now and when Sam is older).
I'd love to know: what are some of your favorite kid crafts?
15 September 2014
Clutter
Do you ever feel like you're just drowning in clutter? Straight up fighting to get air from under the dirty dishes, piles of paper, laundry.
And books. So many books.
And it seems like I'm not alone. So many women on my instagram feed and blog roll are fighting the good fight against excess mess and excess stuff.
Two of my favorite ladies have talked about it this season.
Ruth (who is simply amazing) shares her perspective in At The Root of Clutter.
She starts off saying something that hits me hard.
And so I purchase baskets, and boxes, and labels, and sorters. And they help. But sometimes a chaotic home is a reflection of a chaotic mind, and sometimes a chaotic mind is a reflection of a chaotic home. Do you know the vicious cycle I speak of? Buying more tools for organization doesn't simply make the mess go away-- not on the dresser, not in the closet, and not in our overwhelmed minds and hearts.Oh.my.gosh. Truth right there. I can't help to feel anxious when I come home to a messy house - and I can't help but let my home go when my mind is elsewhere.
But how do we find a balance?
So many times I've looked where it seems Ruth has looked. I think "how can I better organize ____" and I come home with the tools that I think will help.
When really, I need to get to the root of clutter and send things out the door instead of bringing things in.
Rachel from Finding Joy (one of my daily reads) says what I need to hear in the first sentence of her post Clear the Clutter.
Stuff can suffocate joy.Oh my.
Rachel goes on to talk about taking charge of the clutter so it's "easier for us to operate out of joy."
I want to operate out of joy!!
I've done quite a bit already. Donated duplicates. Thought critically about my closet. Tried to limit my sentimentality towards objects and think more about function (which is really hard for me).
Just because it's cute, doesn't mean it has a place in my home.
How have you struggled against clutter? And if you haven't, well, I'd love to know your secret.
Told you we had a lot of books.
09 September 2014
Shaping My Heart
October 18, 2013 (in my journal):
"Another morning in the playroom, watching Sam explore.
He's one now. So hard to believe we made it through those difficult days, Our connection has become so strong. I look at Sam and see a part of myself, the best part. The holy part. I see Christ is my son. I see the Lord using him to sanctify me. I know I have a big responsibility as his mom, but I almost think his responsibility to me is even bigger.
Lord, help me go gently through this day. Help me to be intentional and present."
Have you ever thought of that? The role of our children in our lives? And not what we do for them - but rather, how God is using our children to shape and grow us.
I see this play out more and more every day. As Sam winds up in the timeout chair for the 100th time today, I see God using this experience to grow my heart toward patience and obedience. As I care for Sam when he's sick, I see God using this experience to shape my spirit toward softness and compassion. As I teach Sam the values of our family, I see God using this experience to mold my spirit toward the Holy Spirit.
Parenting is funny like that. You get so wrapped up in what you need to do as a parent, God pulls one over on you. You realize that you are really the student. You are the one changing. You are the one becoming better.. As much as I try to lead my child toward God, God is using my child to guide me as well. I am closer to God because of my closeness with Sam.
Lord, help me go gently through this day. Help me to be intentional and present. Help me to be open to the lessons you have for me. Help me to see my son as a teacher, a molder of my heart. Help me to grow toward you through what he is teaching me.
01 July 2014
Sam Selfies and a note about Toddler Tech Time
We try hard to limit Sams exposure to our phones with a few exceptions: when we are face timing with our family, I need just a few seconds to get something done, or, like the picture above shows, he finds it while I'm not looking.
My husband will be the first person to tell you that I leave my phone all over the place. Pretty much wherever I am when I finish a call or am done looking at something, I just put it down and walk away. The bathroom, Sam's changing table, on the washing machine, whatever.
So of course, Sam sometimes finds it and loves to talk to pretend he's talking to Nana and Pops pup, Jesse (the love of his life). Recently I've been finding about a hundred photos and movies that's he accidentally taken. Like his little foot on our living room rug.
It's so hard to balance technology time with little ones. I can give Sam my phone and buy a little time, but at what cost? It's a little scary how instinctual it all seems to be for little ones. Sam knows how to swipe the screen and push the button for Siri.
How do you manage the technology thing with your kids? Do you allow them to play with your phone or Ipad? What limits have you set for them? I'd love to hear what works well for your family.
11 June 2014
Not Perfect, Better
Motherhood is funny, you know that? It's beautiful, and magical, and glorious. But at the end of the day, it's downright hilarious.
Of course there are the things you never thought you'd say, like "stop picking your nose," and "stop picking the cat's nose." There's things you never thought you'd see, like your newborn baby boy peeing in his own face and you're helpless because, frankly, you can't stop laughing. And there are things you never thought you'd do, like sneaking in to your son's room, ninja style, to trim him toenails while wearing a head lamp (because that's just downright brilliant).
Somewhere between the smiles of wonder and tears of exhaustion lives what I think is the most important lesson of motherhood.
Don't take it too seriously.
For example, this.
A moment enjoyed by a family. A wonderful weekend of memory-making. A father so happy. A mother so proud. And a child that just couldn't keep it together.
What you don't see behind us is a farm tractor that we so horribly ripped our son away from in an attempt to get a beautiful family photo.
It's not quite what I was hoping for. It's like a million times better.
Oh! There is the second most important lesson about motherhood - it's not always what we expect, but it's always way, way better.
Motherhood is funny. There are so many things about motherhood that will bring you to tears if you let them, but don't let them. Laugh instead. Ask for God's grace and patience instead. Thank Him instead. He's given you a beautiful, messy, blessed, hilarious life!
28 April 2014
Motherhood is Messy
Sam loves playing in the dirt. He loves using his garden tools to scoop it up. He loves sitting in it and covering up his legs. He throws dirt around. It gets in his hair. It sticks to his sloppy face. Baths are happening a lot to get off the dirt from the day's play.
And I love it!
But no matter how hard or frustrating or tiring the day was, when we get Sam to sleep, and hour later I want to go in and wake him up. I miss him.
And I love it!
It's no secret that motherhood is messy. From the poop and spit-up, spilled milk and every toy pulled down from the bookshelf.
It's also emotionally messy.
Patience is often in short supply. We say "I'm sorry" a lot, because mistakes seem to happen more frequently these days. You have to navigate "me" time and "us" time and "family" time, but realize, at the end of the day, that no matter what time it is, it's going too quickly.
Every minute Sam is awake, he is on the go! He has so much energy and can get into things he shouldn't in record time.
But no matter how hard or frustrating or tiring the day was, when we get Sam to sleep, and hour later I want to go in and wake him up. I miss him.
Playing in the dirt, sloppy kisses, dinner on the deck, scraped knees, grass stains - I'm loving this fun and messy life.
25 April 2014
A Growing Boy
Is it weird that Kyle and I were excited when Sam came home with his first scraped knee? We were happy that Sam had a great day playing at school and had the scrapes to prove it. And you could tell Sam was proud of his ouchie.
Maybe that's just the kind of parents we are. We don't see bumps and bruises as a bad thing. We see them as signs of an active growing boy. A boy who comes home with dirt in his fingers nails and mulch in his diaper (seriously though, how does it get in there?).
Sam is growing like a weed. A tall and skinny little man with beautiful blonde hair and a love of his kitty (both the stuffed and real varieties). He is talking up a storm these days and seems to say a new word every day. He loves digging in the dirt and comes alive when he's running around outside.
And boy can he dance. He's a natural.
As much as I love watching him grow and become more independent, I have also shed a few tears these last few weeks at the loss of my little baby.
Sam, you bring me and your daddy such joy. Like immeasurable joy that we didn't even know was possible. The kind of joy that exists while we're watching you dance in the front of church with all the big kids, no fear, just moving to the music like you were born to do it. You were born to dance. You were born for so many things. I can't wait to watch life unfold.
04 March 2014
...And I don't even feel bad about it
[Some days my living room looks like this, and I don't even feel bad about it. This is just our collection of board books, by the way.]
I recently read an article on The Bump about various confessions from new moms. Hilarious!
Some of my favorites:
"I am rear-facing my kid as long as possible, not really for the safety benefits, but so she can't see me eating snacks and drinking soda." -- Marsha W. I can relate. Sam knows what the milkshakes from Chick-Fil-A look like and I have to be all secretive and drink them in the kitchen while he plays in the living room. Momma doesn't always like to share.
"Once, when my baby was asleep, I took the baby monitor to my neighbor’s house so that I could get out of the house and have some girly time (and a glass of wine with my friend)." --Susan O. Yup, done that. I was closer to Sam sitting in my neighbor's living room than I am when I sit in my own living room.
"I teach my boys how to make armpit farts while they are in the bathtub (a life skill all boys need to have!)." -- Shelly C. We taught Sam how to say the word "poop" the other day.
“I accidentally walked outside with one of my boobs hanging out about once a week or so. My teenage neighbors are going to be sad when my son weans.” -- Aimee K. Ok, I've never done that before. But, back when I was nursing, I walked around the mall for a good 10 minutes before I realized my nursing pad was hanging out of my shirt.
And, I don't even feel bad about it.
I'd love to know: anything you want to fess up to?
27 February 2014
Kitties and Babies
There's nothing people love more than kitties and babies. Seriously, how could you not?
But sometimes, in life away from cute internet memes, kitties and babies can be a tricky combination.
But somehow, in my house, I have cultivated a beautiful relationship between cat and child. Well, it's part things that I did and part luck and magic and the best cat in the universe.
For historical purposes, here's a picture of baby Sam and his kitty cat Jupiter.
Aww kitty. Nice kitty. What you don't see is Sam's mouth full of kitty hair. Yea, that happened daily. But in general, things were pretty quiet.
Fast forward,and here is Jupiter with her toddler older brother.
Oh my gosh. Sam and Jupiter just laid like that for quite some time, until Jupiter wiggled out from Sam's death grip.
So what did I do to develop such a close relationship between my fur baby and human baby? Well, I have no clue. But here are some things that are worth a shot!
- Bring a blanket to the hospital, get it all smelly with the sweet aroma of new baby, and then bring it home to your cat. Let her smell it and get acquainted with the new scent.
- Let your baby and cat explore one another safely with you right by their side. When Sam was a newborn, I would let Jupiter rub up against him and get her kitty smell all over him. I wanted her to mark him up as hers (without feeling like she needed to pee on him). If he smelled a bit like her, I thought that would help her not want to suck out his breath during nap time.
- Be aware of what changes a baby brings to your home and try to make them gradually (as best you can). When we came home with Sam we were faced with a sleeping dilemma. Sam was going to sleep in our room for a while. The cat sleeps on our bed. We didn't want the cat to jump in the pack-n-play with Sam. We didn't want to lock the cat out for fear she would resent the little human sleeping in her room. So the first night home we just left the door of the room open, put Sam to sleep, and I slept with one eye open. Jupiter jumped in with Sam once, was scared almost to death by what she found (a baby), and never did it again.
- At first I would intervene every time I sensed Jupiter getting upset. And rightly so. I wanted to keep Sam and Jupiter safe. But as Sam got older, I paused a bit more when they were "playing" to see if they could work it out. (I recognize I sound ridiculous in that I'm writing about my cat and baby as though they are siblings, but, aren't they?) I watched as Sam walked up to Jupiter, stuck her tail in his mouth, and bit her. I watched as Jupiter got mad and nibbled back. I watched as Sam didn't like being "bit" himself. And I watched as he left her alone.
- Before letting your cat "bite" your son, know your cat. Jupiter has never bit Sam; she has only "bit" him. She would never bite him or anyone. She has only hissed once, when Sam slammed the front door on her, nearly breaking her tail. I know our cat well and have confidence in how she is going to respond. If I sense she's getting upset and it's time to leave her alone, we leave her alone.
There you have it, my not-so-scientific way of developing a kitty/baby friendship.
All this being said, I don't really like cats all the much, and some cats are just not very nice.
Mine is very nice.
When Sam was little and I was still nursing, Jupiter would jump in my lap and rest her head on Sam. She was smitten just like we were.
But sometimes, in life away from cute internet memes, kitties and babies can be a tricky combination.
But somehow, in my house, I have cultivated a beautiful relationship between cat and child. Well, it's part things that I did and part luck and magic and the best cat in the universe.
For historical purposes, here's a picture of baby Sam and his kitty cat Jupiter.
Aww kitty. Nice kitty. What you don't see is Sam's mouth full of kitty hair. Yea, that happened daily. But in general, things were pretty quiet.
Fast forward,and here is Jupiter with her toddler older brother.
Oh my gosh. Sam and Jupiter just laid like that for quite some time, until Jupiter wiggled out from Sam's death grip.
So what did I do to develop such a close relationship between my fur baby and human baby? Well, I have no clue. But here are some things that are worth a shot!
- Bring a blanket to the hospital, get it all smelly with the sweet aroma of new baby, and then bring it home to your cat. Let her smell it and get acquainted with the new scent.
- Let your baby and cat explore one another safely with you right by their side. When Sam was a newborn, I would let Jupiter rub up against him and get her kitty smell all over him. I wanted her to mark him up as hers (without feeling like she needed to pee on him). If he smelled a bit like her, I thought that would help her not want to suck out his breath during nap time.
- Be aware of what changes a baby brings to your home and try to make them gradually (as best you can). When we came home with Sam we were faced with a sleeping dilemma. Sam was going to sleep in our room for a while. The cat sleeps on our bed. We didn't want the cat to jump in the pack-n-play with Sam. We didn't want to lock the cat out for fear she would resent the little human sleeping in her room. So the first night home we just left the door of the room open, put Sam to sleep, and I slept with one eye open. Jupiter jumped in with Sam once, was scared almost to death by what she found (a baby), and never did it again.
- At first I would intervene every time I sensed Jupiter getting upset. And rightly so. I wanted to keep Sam and Jupiter safe. But as Sam got older, I paused a bit more when they were "playing" to see if they could work it out. (I recognize I sound ridiculous in that I'm writing about my cat and baby as though they are siblings, but, aren't they?) I watched as Sam walked up to Jupiter, stuck her tail in his mouth, and bit her. I watched as Jupiter got mad and nibbled back. I watched as Sam didn't like being "bit" himself. And I watched as he left her alone.
- Before letting your cat "bite" your son, know your cat. Jupiter has never bit Sam; she has only "bit" him. She would never bite him or anyone. She has only hissed once, when Sam slammed the front door on her, nearly breaking her tail. I know our cat well and have confidence in how she is going to respond. If I sense she's getting upset and it's time to leave her alone, we leave her alone.
There you have it, my not-so-scientific way of developing a kitty/baby friendship.
All this being said, I don't really like cats all the much, and some cats are just not very nice.
Mine is very nice.
When Sam was little and I was still nursing, Jupiter would jump in my lap and rest her head on Sam. She was smitten just like we were.
26 February 2014
The Season That Almost Broke Us
"O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress." Isaiah 33:2
For those of you who may not know, I went back to work outside the home in November. Sam went into full-time daycare.
I was ready to go back to work. Ready for the challenge. Ready for the meal planning and crock pot cooking. Ready for carpooling and daycare drop off.
I was not ready for the germs.
Kyle and I feel strongly about full-time daycare. We love that Sam is part of a class. We love that there is an intentional curriculum and opportunities that we couldn't provide Sam outside of his classroom.
But oh man, the germs have kicked our butts.
Sam has had runny noses. He has had coughs. He has had short-lived fevers. He has had a mysterious virus that included 6 days of a crazy-high fever, a trip to the ER, chest x-rays, and blood work.
Because we share in our family, I have had coughs and colds. Kyle and I both had a crazy 12 hour stomach bug that had us begging the other person to hurry up in the bathroom.
And because we are special, Sam got hand-foot-and-mouth which turned into a rare skin infection that had the potential to be super serious and scary (I made the mistake of googling it). And of course, Sam shared his HFM with me. What a guy!
This season of sickness has almost been too much. The bills have almost been too much. I swear I went to the pharmacy every day for a week during the most recent illness.
Illness breeds frustration. It tries your patience. It has husbands and wives making rude comments about each others' work schedule as they try to figure out who should stay home with a sick baby. Kyle has slept in the spare bedroom to avoid germs. I have cried more than once at the reading on the thermometer.
But it was during my sleepless night with hand-foot-and-mouth where it started to make sense. I literally could not do anything to stop my blisters from itching and my mouth from hurting. I had done it all and nothing helped. All that was left was prayer. I asked God to bring relief, to bring comfort, to bring healing.
And that's when He let me in on his not-so-secret secret. At the end of the day, God wants us to need Him. He wants us to rely solely on His provision. To be dependent on what only He can provide.
So, for now we're healthy. My mom came to visit last week and Clorox wiped every surface possible. I am washing my hands like a mad woman. Taking care to ensure a few more days of good health.
But I am also praying for patience and grace and, in sickness and in healthy, an utter dependence on the ultimate healer.
27 January 2014
For the Love of Books
We have been blessed with a baby who loves books. He is constantly pulling them off the shelf, dragging them over to us, and plopping down in our laps for a story. With a librarian for a dad, books may just be in Sam's DNA, but there are a few things I think we can do as parents to help foster the love of reading at an early age.
Read with your children every day.
Make time to read with your child every day. Maybe it's part of your bedtime routine. Maybe you're family settles in for spontaneous story time. Sam loves sitting in my nap and turning the pages. We rarely read a story front to back. We shift around, read words here or there, talk about the pictures. Most of the time when Sam reads by himself the books are upside down. Whatever it looks like, make sure it's happening in your home daily.
Make books available in your home. All over your home.
We have lots and lots of books in our house, in every room. We want to make sure reading is a part of play no matter where Sam runs off to. Most of our books live in a create on the playroom floor. And most of the time Sam can be found surrounded by his favorite stories.
Don't stress about most.
We are in the phase where, given the chance, Sam will destroy books with paper pages. Because of that we keep lots of heavy-duty board books on hand. And we keep them at his level. I get so much joy seeing Sam engage with books, even if it's just pulling one after another off the lowest shelf.
Keep some special.
That being said, we don't keep every book at Sam's level. We have lots of paper-back books waiting to be moved down (once eating paper has lost its appeal). We also have a growing stack of really special books. These are ones we want to keep nice, pass down to our grand-kids, etc. Sometimes books can be works of art and we love displaying Sam's collection.
Share in the reading.
It's so important for us as parents to read, read, read! And not to them, but with them. Ask them questions. Have them point out various things. Let them turn the pages, read words if they're able. Share in the reading experience. It's not a lecture. It's an adventure!
Model reading.
If we want our kiddos to grow up to be readers, we must first be readers ourselves. Let your kids catch you reading the morning paper. Talk about your favorite books. Organize family reading time and make it a special event. Show your kids that you love reading and empower them to fall in love with reading, too.
Read with your children every day.
Make time to read with your child every day. Maybe it's part of your bedtime routine. Maybe you're family settles in for spontaneous story time. Sam loves sitting in my nap and turning the pages. We rarely read a story front to back. We shift around, read words here or there, talk about the pictures. Most of the time when Sam reads by himself the books are upside down. Whatever it looks like, make sure it's happening in your home daily.
Make books available in your home. All over your home.
We have lots and lots of books in our house, in every room. We want to make sure reading is a part of play no matter where Sam runs off to. Most of our books live in a create on the playroom floor. And most of the time Sam can be found surrounded by his favorite stories.
Don't stress about most.
We are in the phase where, given the chance, Sam will destroy books with paper pages. Because of that we keep lots of heavy-duty board books on hand. And we keep them at his level. I get so much joy seeing Sam engage with books, even if it's just pulling one after another off the lowest shelf.
Keep some special.
That being said, we don't keep every book at Sam's level. We have lots of paper-back books waiting to be moved down (once eating paper has lost its appeal). We also have a growing stack of really special books. These are ones we want to keep nice, pass down to our grand-kids, etc. Sometimes books can be works of art and we love displaying Sam's collection.
Share in the reading.
It's so important for us as parents to read, read, read! And not to them, but with them. Ask them questions. Have them point out various things. Let them turn the pages, read words if they're able. Share in the reading experience. It's not a lecture. It's an adventure!
Model reading.
If we want our kiddos to grow up to be readers, we must first be readers ourselves. Let your kids catch you reading the morning paper. Talk about your favorite books. Organize family reading time and make it a special event. Show your kids that you love reading and empower them to fall in love with reading, too.
23 January 2014
Going Green(ish)
I've been trying to find ways for our family to go green. We do a lot, but I'm always on the look out for more ways I can buy and waste less, recycle and reuse more.
Here's what we've got going on in our house:
- Kyle and I both take lunch boxes to work and try to limit sandwich bags with reusable ones.
- We compost (I've failed at this lately, mostly because our compost bin smells and I don't like lifting the lid. No excuse!).
- I use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets.
- I use crocheted "swiffer" covers when I actually get around to cleaning the floors.
- I use cloth panty liners and head-over-heels love them!
- I use our clothes line during warmer months.
- Cloth diapers, y'all!
- I used washable nursing pads while Sam and I were in that season.
- We recycle all we can. Our city only accepts plastic where the neck is smaller than the base/widest part. Think pop bottles but not yogurt cups. I save all 5 and 6 plastics (plus corks and batteries) and take them to Whole Foods (the only thing I can afford to do at Whole Foods).
- I work full time now (did you know that?). Kyle and I work at the same university in the same building. We drive together to save money and because it would just be silly not to.
- We hardly ever use paper towels. One roll lasts forever and I keep it hidden away for emergencies. We use cheap white washcloths instead.
Things I'd like to try/get back on board with:
- I used to go to the grocery store armed with reusable grocery bags, but I've totally been a slacker here. Makes me sad.
- I have been considering getting a Diva cup. Totally weird or totally amazing?
- For a while I was cutting our kleenex in half. I blow my nose a lot and it was getting out of hand. I think I just need to invest in a few hankies.
- Cloth toilet paper? Totally crazy I know, but I am an aggressive toilet paper user and it's just so darn wasteful. (Aren't you glad I came back to blogging? You're learning more about me than you ever thought possible)
- I would like our family to take shorter showers and save water when brushing teeth and washing the dishes. I'm so bad at just letting the water run while I wash dishes.
- Reusable cotton balls. They are just too cute!
- I'm toying with the idea of not dying my hair anymore. Hair dye is super terrible for you and the environment. I tried natural stuff but it did a terrible job. I absolutely hate dying my hair at home but it's stupid expensive to have someone else do it. The only thing keeping me from letting my hair go...I have more gray hair that any 28.5 year old ever. Seriously. Oh decisions.
- I've gotten lazy and stopped washing out Ziploc bags. I used to rinse them out and hang them on the fridge to dry. For things that I consistently keep in bags (brown sugar for example), I empty out the crumbs and keep it in the freezer until I buy more.
- We have lots of cloth wipes but I've gotten away from using them. Need to start again for wet diapers (and a solution of water, tea tree oil, and castile soap).
20 January 2014
Back to Work
On November first God opened a new door for our family, and I went back to work, full-time, outside of the home. [I've been trying hard to add the "outside of the home" part because being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time job and a half for sure.]
I was a pretty bad stay-at-home mom. I had my good moments. Good days, even. But all in all, I don't think I was cut out for the job.
It's taken a lot of prayer and searching to let go of the guilt I had surrounding those feelings. But once I did -- once I woke up and put on dress pants and heels, once I had meetings and responsibilities to other adults, once I was being relied on in a way that didn't include wiping bums -- once I got rid of the guilt, I never looked back.
So here's a bit of my professional history for those who care to know it:
School
Grad school
Full-time hall coordinator [living in the middle of 400 students, supervising staff, providing for the safety of human beings, making high stress decision, having really hard conversations]
Full-time mom (managing the house, cuddling, cleaning poop, preventing Sam from eating the cat's tail]
Full-time mom PLUS full-time administrative assistant [making copies, making coffee]
I joke with Kyle that I used to attend suicide prevention training. Now I attend training on how to use the Xerox machine.
It has been a very humbling experience for sure. I have a masters degree in college student development. I saw myself moving up the ladder at a university, gaining a broader and more complex set of responsibilities, going back for my PhD, all that jazz.
But that's just not where we are right now in our story. And although there are definitely days I need to check my ego at my office door [which is a joke because I don't have an office, I have a desk], I am head-over-heels in love with my job.
I love the people.
I love the level of responsibility I have [and that I don't have].
I love the flexibility I am given for family stuff.
I love the work I do.
I love the university.
I love commuting with my husband [we actually work in the same building].
I love missing my son and rejoicing every day when we pick him up at daycare.
I love that I have more energy for him when we're together.
I love that I feel a new sense of purpose when we're apart.
I definitely did not imagine this when I was sitting in my graduate school classrooms. But God knew it. It has been His plan all along.
I was a pretty bad stay-at-home mom. I had my good moments. Good days, even. But all in all, I don't think I was cut out for the job.
It's taken a lot of prayer and searching to let go of the guilt I had surrounding those feelings. But once I did -- once I woke up and put on dress pants and heels, once I had meetings and responsibilities to other adults, once I was being relied on in a way that didn't include wiping bums -- once I got rid of the guilt, I never looked back.
So here's a bit of my professional history for those who care to know it:
School
Grad school
Full-time hall coordinator [living in the middle of 400 students, supervising staff, providing for the safety of human beings, making high stress decision, having really hard conversations]
Full-time mom (managing the house, cuddling, cleaning poop, preventing Sam from eating the cat's tail]
Full-time mom PLUS full-time administrative assistant [making copies, making coffee]
I joke with Kyle that I used to attend suicide prevention training. Now I attend training on how to use the Xerox machine.
It has been a very humbling experience for sure. I have a masters degree in college student development. I saw myself moving up the ladder at a university, gaining a broader and more complex set of responsibilities, going back for my PhD, all that jazz.
But that's just not where we are right now in our story. And although there are definitely days I need to check my ego at my office door [which is a joke because I don't have an office, I have a desk], I am head-over-heels in love with my job.
[lunch break material]
I love the people.
I love the level of responsibility I have [and that I don't have].
I love the flexibility I am given for family stuff.
I love the work I do.
I love the university.
I love commuting with my husband [we actually work in the same building].
I love missing my son and rejoicing every day when we pick him up at daycare.
I love that I have more energy for him when we're together.
I love that I feel a new sense of purpose when we're apart.
I definitely did not imagine this when I was sitting in my graduate school classrooms. But God knew it. It has been His plan all along.
13 January 2014
Worth 1000 Words
1/6/14: I attempted a green smoothie with Kale, strawberries, peaches, and other goodies. Yummy but turns out it's terrible for me and my thyroid. Anyone want some kale?
1/7/14: Sam had a fever for a week (more on that later) and out house was out of control. Sam's new favorite game is to put his hands on books and slide down the hallway. Pretty cute.
1/8/14: My new planner came in. Happy mail indeed.
1/9/14: I've been stitching up a storm and love the things I'm working on right now. This pattern is from The Tiny Modernist.
1/10/14: We spent the morning at the doctor with Sam on Friday. He was champ through blood work, nose swabs, and chest x-rays.
1/11/14: Sam is a huge fan of sitting like a big guy. He puts a book on the chair or couch and then pulls himself up to read it (usually has the book upside down).
1/12/14: What most of our mornings look like. PJs, milk, and cheerios. Sam's iron was low and we were told to push the cheerios, however, he's not a fan anymore (I don't blame him, he's been eating them everyday since he was 6 months). I got him Kix and he thinks he's in heaven.
I'd love to know: what have you been up to, friends?
13 July 2013
A New Perspective @ Fancy Little Things
"If there’s one thing that motherhood gives you [although it gives you about a million], it is perspective."
Join me at Fancy Little Things today!
10 July 2013
I Am His
I remember the instant Sam was born, after he was cleaned and warmed up and wrapped tightly, I reached out my arms for my baby.
Time stood still. He was really here. A tiny baby boy.
He was mine.
That is my greatest moment as mother.
I think the second greatest moment as a mother happened yesterday, in Target, in the cereal aisle.
Sam was in the cart, and he started getting a little fussy. I pulled out his felt hammer. I searched for Sophie the giraffe. I was close to grabbing the puffs.
I asked again, "what's wrong buddy," and that's when it happened.
He reached out his arms for his mommy.
I unbuckled him and pulled him out of the cart. He wrapped his arms tightly around my neck and held on. We stayed that way for the rest of our trip around the store, through the produce and the personal care items.
Time stood still. He knew exactly what he wanted in that moment and he was telling it to the world.
I was his.
I may have cried a little.
Sam has "wanted" me before. He makes a sluggish movement toward me when people holding him ask "do you want your mommy?" He makes a tiny motion with his hand if he wants lifted out of his jumper or high chair.
But it's never been like this. So blatantly obvious that he wanted to be held, by me, his favorite momma in the whole world.
It took us a lot longer to navigate through Target yesterday, pushing a cart with one arm and carrying a heavy-for-his-age baby in the other. I may have almost hit two people and an end cap of Kleenex, but I could have walked around like that all day.
Just me and Sam.
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