My little Jellybean is becoming such a big girl. She turned six months old last Friday and with that change has come several milestones. A couple weeks ago I had a non-mobile (except for rolling, which she's a pro at), toothless, exclusively breastfed baby (besides a few tastes of things). Not so anymore.
Jellybean's army crawling all over the house (nothing is safe!) and getting into everything. Like stickers that big sister leaves all over the place (I found one in her poo...guess she thought it might be tasty? Ew.). She's figured out how to get to the dvd player and push buttons. And her favorite activity now is to go where the carpet and tile meet by the back door and pick at the carpet. I'm not sure why this is so interesting but she's fascinated by it. It looks like she'll give Cbear a run for her money with her busyness and getting into stuff.
The first tooth has made it's appearance. I have to say J's been really good with teething...not very fussy at all and one day there it was! I think the second one's close behind. Let's hope she doesn't become a biter.
And finally I've started feeding her some solid food. I always put this off as long as I can, but now it's time. She still spits most of it out but the look on her face when she tries something new is priceless! So far we've done avocado, banana, sweet potatoes, rice cereal and butternut squash. Her favorite has been banana mixed with cereal but she enjoys biting the spoon more than anything else. Cbear is pretty excited that Jellybean gets to sit up in a high chair beside her and is constantly talking to her during dinner..."Hi Jellybean! You yike it? You yike it? Whatcha doin'?" A few days ago we were at a restaurant and they were sitting across the table from each other. Cbear was totally baby-talking to Jellybean like she's seen adults do ("A-boo-boo-goo-goo!") and baby girl thought it was hilarious. Nobody can make J laugh like C can and I love it! I hope they'll always be best buddies.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
DIY play kitchen
I was feeling crafty yesterday, so here's my first tutorial--a DIY play kitchen from a cardboard box! The best part is I only used materials I found around the house and garage so it didn't cost me a penny!
Cbear got a new carseat this week, and of course immediately wanted to play with the box. It was a really nice box so I started brainstorming what I could make with it...you know, 'cause I'm cheap, and after a quick google and pinterest search I decided to try and make a play kitchen. It's something I thought Cbear might like but I'm not willing to spend $100+ on something she *might* play with. Here's the box before...I ended up having to cut it open, turn it inside out and re-tape it so the spray paint would cover it.
Found some spray paint in the garage...thank you previous homeowners for leaving your paint behind!
I ran out of red so we ended up with a red/brown combo. That's okay, it matches my family room.
The burners are made of circles cut out of black plastic and glued to the box with Elmer's.
Cutting an opening for a curtain under the sink...why yes, that is a steak knife I'm using! The hubs' utility knife was dull and scissors were too difficult.
Knobs for the cooktop are made of plastic lids hot glued on. I really wanted to poke a hole in the middle and use brads so they would turn but I thought Cbear would figure out how to take them off and then the brads would be a nasty choking hazard to Jellybean.
I found an old loaf pan for the sink and a soap pump for the faucet. I traced around the pan and cut a hole in the box to fit. I also cut a small opening for the pump and hot glued around the base. If I can find red and blue plastic bottle lids I want to use them as hot and cold knobs.
Hot gluing an aluminum foil roll with my old kitchen curtains slung over them.
A command hook with a spare wash cloth.
All done! I'm considering cutting an opening under the burners for an oven.
A craft stick hot glued to a plastic bowl= pot. Cbear had some plastic picnic food and I donated some rarely used kitchen utensils and empty oatmeal and pasta boxes.
And after all that, she climbed in and thought I made her a fort. Maybe that will be the next project? I'm glad it didn't cost me anything!
Cbear got a new carseat this week, and of course immediately wanted to play with the box. It was a really nice box so I started brainstorming what I could make with it...you know, 'cause I'm cheap, and after a quick google and pinterest search I decided to try and make a play kitchen. It's something I thought Cbear might like but I'm not willing to spend $100+ on something she *might* play with. Here's the box before...I ended up having to cut it open, turn it inside out and re-tape it so the spray paint would cover it.
Found some spray paint in the garage...thank you previous homeowners for leaving your paint behind!
I ran out of red so we ended up with a red/brown combo. That's okay, it matches my family room.
The burners are made of circles cut out of black plastic and glued to the box with Elmer's.
Cutting an opening for a curtain under the sink...why yes, that is a steak knife I'm using! The hubs' utility knife was dull and scissors were too difficult.
Knobs for the cooktop are made of plastic lids hot glued on. I really wanted to poke a hole in the middle and use brads so they would turn but I thought Cbear would figure out how to take them off and then the brads would be a nasty choking hazard to Jellybean.
I found an old loaf pan for the sink and a soap pump for the faucet. I traced around the pan and cut a hole in the box to fit. I also cut a small opening for the pump and hot glued around the base. If I can find red and blue plastic bottle lids I want to use them as hot and cold knobs.
Hot gluing an aluminum foil roll with my old kitchen curtains slung over them.
A command hook with a spare wash cloth.
All done! I'm considering cutting an opening under the burners for an oven.
A craft stick hot glued to a plastic bowl= pot. Cbear had some plastic picnic food and I donated some rarely used kitchen utensils and empty oatmeal and pasta boxes.
And after all that, she climbed in and thought I made her a fort. Maybe that will be the next project? I'm glad it didn't cost me anything!
Monday, April 2, 2012
A little perspective
Dear God,
Thank you for the incredible blessing of my children. I know they drive me crazy sometimes and I complain too much, so I'm putting a new spin on their habits and situations that make me get twitchy. Here goes:
Thank you for making me a mother. I know some don't get this privilege and it's an honor to raise our little girls. Thank you that they are healthy and energetic and outgrowing clothes too fast. Thank you for their curiosity about the world and wanting to explore every bit of it. Thank you for Jellybean's new tooth and for how much she wants to be just like her big sister, so she is trying her darnedest to learn to crawl. It will be any day now. Thank you that Cbear wants to make Jellybean happy, so she shares all her favorite things with her: stickers, playdough, crayons, milk, Cheerios...among other things. Thank you that my girls are delighted by the simplest things, like clapping hands (Jellybean) or a game of chase (Cbear) and please give me a little extra energy for the latter. Thank you for their utter joy at being outside and playing in the dirt and grass, for dirty bare feet and sticky hands. Thanks for their drooly kisses. Thank you for the hundreds (thousands?) of dirty diapers I have changed and washed, along with plates and sippy cups--it means they are well-fed and have plenty to drink. Thank you for piles of laundry and dishes, which are helping me to develop a servant's heart. Thank you for making me (or their daddy) the person they want when they are scared or hurt, no matter what time of day it is. Thank you for creating children to make joyful noises...even when it means Jellybean excitedly shrieking JUST BECAUSE SHE CAN and catching Cbear in her crib singing songs that go, "jumping on the beddie beddie bed!" while doing just that even though she should be sleeping. Thank you that Cbear reminds us to pray before dinner when we've gotten too busy and just want to eat without catastrophe. Thank you for their extreme independence and sensitivity. I'm hoping that means they'll be confident in who they are and compassionate as adults. Thank you for the utter exhaustion that means a day full of hard work and play. Thank you that my kids make me rely on you more than I ever have because without you I simply couldn't do this.
And God, thank you for my husband and partner in this...that he loved me before the kids and will be by my side long after they've left home. Thank you that he not only works hard to provide for us, but that he kisses me and then gets on the floor and plays with the girls even after a long day of work. Thank you that we KNOW him and he's not just the man that leaves in the morning and comes home in the evening. Thank you that he's not afraid to make messes with them and let them be the kids they are. Thank you that Cbear wants nothing more than shoulder rides from daddy when he comes home and that he's the first person she wants to show when she puts on a pretty new dress. Thank you for making the two of us a family seven years ago and growing us by two more now. Please give us the grace, patience and wisdom to raise these little stinkers in a way that would glorify you, especially because we feel like we have no idea what we're doing most of the time.
Amen.
P.S. Oh, and thanks for all things Curious George--he's a lifesaver sometimes!
Thank you for the incredible blessing of my children. I know they drive me crazy sometimes and I complain too much, so I'm putting a new spin on their habits and situations that make me get twitchy. Here goes:
Thank you for making me a mother. I know some don't get this privilege and it's an honor to raise our little girls. Thank you that they are healthy and energetic and outgrowing clothes too fast. Thank you for their curiosity about the world and wanting to explore every bit of it. Thank you for Jellybean's new tooth and for how much she wants to be just like her big sister, so she is trying her darnedest to learn to crawl. It will be any day now. Thank you that Cbear wants to make Jellybean happy, so she shares all her favorite things with her: stickers, playdough, crayons, milk, Cheerios...among other things. Thank you that my girls are delighted by the simplest things, like clapping hands (Jellybean) or a game of chase (Cbear) and please give me a little extra energy for the latter. Thank you for their utter joy at being outside and playing in the dirt and grass, for dirty bare feet and sticky hands. Thanks for their drooly kisses. Thank you for the hundreds (thousands?) of dirty diapers I have changed and washed, along with plates and sippy cups--it means they are well-fed and have plenty to drink. Thank you for piles of laundry and dishes, which are helping me to develop a servant's heart. Thank you for making me (or their daddy) the person they want when they are scared or hurt, no matter what time of day it is. Thank you for creating children to make joyful noises...even when it means Jellybean excitedly shrieking JUST BECAUSE SHE CAN and catching Cbear in her crib singing songs that go, "jumping on the beddie beddie bed!" while doing just that even though she should be sleeping. Thank you that Cbear reminds us to pray before dinner when we've gotten too busy and just want to eat without catastrophe. Thank you for their extreme independence and sensitivity. I'm hoping that means they'll be confident in who they are and compassionate as adults. Thank you for the utter exhaustion that means a day full of hard work and play. Thank you that my kids make me rely on you more than I ever have because without you I simply couldn't do this.
And God, thank you for my husband and partner in this...that he loved me before the kids and will be by my side long after they've left home. Thank you that he not only works hard to provide for us, but that he kisses me and then gets on the floor and plays with the girls even after a long day of work. Thank you that we KNOW him and he's not just the man that leaves in the morning and comes home in the evening. Thank you that he's not afraid to make messes with them and let them be the kids they are. Thank you that Cbear wants nothing more than shoulder rides from daddy when he comes home and that he's the first person she wants to show when she puts on a pretty new dress. Thank you for making the two of us a family seven years ago and growing us by two more now. Please give us the grace, patience and wisdom to raise these little stinkers in a way that would glorify you, especially because we feel like we have no idea what we're doing most of the time.
Amen.
P.S. Oh, and thanks for all things Curious George--he's a lifesaver sometimes!
Friday, March 23, 2012
"Green" Smoothies
I'm taking a break this morning from my usual blog fare of kid stories to share a recipe (and procrastinating getting things ready for Cbear's birthday party tomorrow). There's been a lot of talk lately about green smoothies, how healthy they are and a good way to get your greens, detox, etc. Recently I had a conversation with a friend about these smoothie recipes and how people are all, "you can't taste them (the greens) at all!" and we were skeptical (it certainly can't be as good as ice cream, right, friend?! You know who you are. :)) Well, while I still maintain that it's not quite as yummy as ice cream, I made up my own recipe (because, not to brag, but I love smoothies and I'm pretty good at making them) and you can't taste the spinach and it's really delicious and guilt-free. Oh, and my smoothie ended up purple, not green.
half a banana
4 oz Greek yogurt (I used strawberry)
handful of raw spinach (maybe about a cup? I didn't measure)
handful of frozen blueberries
3-5 frozen strawberries
1-2 Tbsp. milled flax seed
milk
orange juice
Add the first six ingredients to your magic bullet (this is what I use, but of course you can use a blender) and then fill almost to top with half milk and half juice. Blend and enjoy!
All right, now I must be off to clean and make cupcakes. :)
half a banana
4 oz Greek yogurt (I used strawberry)
handful of raw spinach (maybe about a cup? I didn't measure)
handful of frozen blueberries
3-5 frozen strawberries
1-2 Tbsp. milled flax seed
milk
orange juice
Add the first six ingredients to your magic bullet (this is what I use, but of course you can use a blender) and then fill almost to top with half milk and half juice. Blend and enjoy!
All right, now I must be off to clean and make cupcakes. :)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
First foods
This is not a post about Jellybean starting solids, although that is right around the corner! Rather, I'm writing today about the big sister helper who likes to share everything with Jellybean. Poor Cbear...the concept of sharing is difficult for her to understand. She is told over and over to share with her sister and friends, except food and drinks! Unfortunately those are the things she is quickest to share with others. As a result, Jellybean has experienced quite a few tastes of things she shouldn't have eaten yet and Cbear may have also inadvertently built up a few of her little buddies' immune systems.
I'm fairly strict about the "no solids before 6 months" rule for babies. At least, that was the plan. Also, we always make Cbear sit in her chair for meal time. My downfall has been that darn snack cup of Cheerios, which she insisted on carrying around for several months like a security blanket (we've finally kicked the habit, thankfully) and getting too relaxed during her afternoon snack, letting her sit on the bench at the table instead of strapped in her booster. As soon as I leave the room to do something, she's off the bench and sharing with Jellybean. The thing that gets me is she KNOWS she's not supposed to feed Jellybean because she runs away if I catch her!
Here are a few of Jellybean's first foods, thanks to big sister. She appears to have no adverse effects, so don't judge me...
1. Cheerios. Several times I've had to dig out those little O's.
2. Graham crackers (The looks on Jellybean's face was priceless...what is this mush?)
3. Whole milk...Jellybean was latched on to that sippy cup like she owned it!
4. Fruit snacks. I just about had a heart attack thinking she would choke but she appeared to really like the flavor and was mad I dug it out of her mouth.
5. Smoothie (I was being lazy and giving Cbear breakfast in a cup with a straw...oops!)
And since everything goes straight into Jellybean's mouth, I suppose I could add that stack of sticky notes and daddy's drill that Cbear gave her...yikes. We really are good parents, I promise...but sometimes are outsmarted by our (almost) two year old. Please tell me we're not alone here!
So, now Cbear is under close supervision or in her booster when eating. But it looks like those efforts were in vain, because I just changed Jellybean's diaper and found...a bit of grass and a small leaf among the stinky contents. That's right...Jellybean found a snack of her own when we were having a picnic last night. Lord help me!
I'm fairly strict about the "no solids before 6 months" rule for babies. At least, that was the plan. Also, we always make Cbear sit in her chair for meal time. My downfall has been that darn snack cup of Cheerios, which she insisted on carrying around for several months like a security blanket (we've finally kicked the habit, thankfully) and getting too relaxed during her afternoon snack, letting her sit on the bench at the table instead of strapped in her booster. As soon as I leave the room to do something, she's off the bench and sharing with Jellybean. The thing that gets me is she KNOWS she's not supposed to feed Jellybean because she runs away if I catch her!
Here are a few of Jellybean's first foods, thanks to big sister. She appears to have no adverse effects, so don't judge me...
1. Cheerios. Several times I've had to dig out those little O's.
2. Graham crackers (The looks on Jellybean's face was priceless...what is this mush?)
3. Whole milk...Jellybean was latched on to that sippy cup like she owned it!
4. Fruit snacks. I just about had a heart attack thinking she would choke but she appeared to really like the flavor and was mad I dug it out of her mouth.
5. Smoothie (I was being lazy and giving Cbear breakfast in a cup with a straw...oops!)
And since everything goes straight into Jellybean's mouth, I suppose I could add that stack of sticky notes and daddy's drill that Cbear gave her...yikes. We really are good parents, I promise...but sometimes are outsmarted by our (almost) two year old. Please tell me we're not alone here!
So, now Cbear is under close supervision or in her booster when eating. But it looks like those efforts were in vain, because I just changed Jellybean's diaper and found...a bit of grass and a small leaf among the stinky contents. That's right...Jellybean found a snack of her own when we were having a picnic last night. Lord help me!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Changes
It's been several weeks since I've written and it seems that life is changing rapidly...just when I think I've gotten things figured out these darn kids go changing their habits and routines again!
My excitement that Jellybean was going to be a super mellow baby has gone by the wayside, but I wouldn't change her at all. Right now she's a busy, busy almost five month old! She's happy most of the time but is rarely still, I'm like, seriously, kid, relax once in a while. Apparently life is just too delightful and she's afraid she'll miss something! I love that about her, though...she gets so excited about every little thing...like bursting out of her skin joyful and she just can't contain it. She's interested in everything big sister is doing and can't wait to be able to do it herself. Yesterday Cbear had left a sippy cup on the floor just out of Jellybean's reach and I caught her trying to crawl toward it...what what?! I managed to grab my phone to record it and after my initial proud mommy moment I thought..."Noooo!" I'm so not ready for her to be mobile yet! It's happening, though...she definitely thinks she's big stuff.
Cbear is being extremely ornery lately and getting into all sorts of shenanigans. I only had to call poison control once (I came in the room and she was sucking on a neon orange highlighter...does this girl have functioning taste buds?) but that's only because I knew the rest of what she's gotten into was nontoxic...including but not limited to diaper rash cream, crayola marker, and a wash rag dunked in toilet water. And that's only what she's eaten, not the messes she's made. Apparently even if you think your house is childproof...think again.
We're in the process of potty-training Cbear (yay!) and she's getting there. One day a couple weeks ago out of the blue she asked to go potty so we're running with it. Along with this, though, has come a new challenge: she's become very fond of taking her clothes off all. the. time. I don't know why. She'll strip down and say things like "I cold! I need blankie!" Um, why don't you just leave your clothes on then? A few times I've been busy and found her naked with puddles nearby...ew! So she's been getting into trouble for stripping down all the time but I'm not sure it's doing any good, because I went into her room to get her up for the morning last week and she was sitting there, naked as a jaybird and super happy about it. When I asked why she did it, with absolutely no remorse she replied, "I naughty!" Sigh. I think I'm going about this wrong. The best one is this, though: I always go check on her before I go to bed and several times I've found her, dead asleep and stark naked. Lucky for her she's too precious when she's asleep for me to be angry. Daddy and I had trouble keeping our laughter quiet as we re-dressed the naked, sleeping baby in her jammies!
My excitement that Jellybean was going to be a super mellow baby has gone by the wayside, but I wouldn't change her at all. Right now she's a busy, busy almost five month old! She's happy most of the time but is rarely still, I'm like, seriously, kid, relax once in a while. Apparently life is just too delightful and she's afraid she'll miss something! I love that about her, though...she gets so excited about every little thing...like bursting out of her skin joyful and she just can't contain it. She's interested in everything big sister is doing and can't wait to be able to do it herself. Yesterday Cbear had left a sippy cup on the floor just out of Jellybean's reach and I caught her trying to crawl toward it...what what?! I managed to grab my phone to record it and after my initial proud mommy moment I thought..."Noooo!" I'm so not ready for her to be mobile yet! It's happening, though...she definitely thinks she's big stuff.
Cbear is being extremely ornery lately and getting into all sorts of shenanigans. I only had to call poison control once (I came in the room and she was sucking on a neon orange highlighter...does this girl have functioning taste buds?) but that's only because I knew the rest of what she's gotten into was nontoxic...including but not limited to diaper rash cream, crayola marker, and a wash rag dunked in toilet water. And that's only what she's eaten, not the messes she's made. Apparently even if you think your house is childproof...think again.
We're in the process of potty-training Cbear (yay!) and she's getting there. One day a couple weeks ago out of the blue she asked to go potty so we're running with it. Along with this, though, has come a new challenge: she's become very fond of taking her clothes off all. the. time. I don't know why. She'll strip down and say things like "I cold! I need blankie!" Um, why don't you just leave your clothes on then? A few times I've been busy and found her naked with puddles nearby...ew! So she's been getting into trouble for stripping down all the time but I'm not sure it's doing any good, because I went into her room to get her up for the morning last week and she was sitting there, naked as a jaybird and super happy about it. When I asked why she did it, with absolutely no remorse she replied, "I naughty!" Sigh. I think I'm going about this wrong. The best one is this, though: I always go check on her before I go to bed and several times I've found her, dead asleep and stark naked. Lucky for her she's too precious when she's asleep for me to be angry. Daddy and I had trouble keeping our laughter quiet as we re-dressed the naked, sleeping baby in her jammies!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Finding balance
Tomorrow my baby girl will be four months old and next month Cbear will be two. I'm finally starting to feel like the chaotic fog/survival mode that I've been living in the past few months is starting to lift and I'm working on figuring out life as a stay at home mom of two small children. One thing is for sure- it's kind of messy but I'm doing my best to find balance.
I'm one of those people who enjoy having time home alone and I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm rarely alone anymore. Showering and sleeping (sometimes, although lately I wake up in the rocker in the middle of the night, with a sleeping Jellybean in my arms wondering how I got here?) are about the extent of my "me time". It's okay for now; someday I'd like to pick my hobbies back up again, though! I have two or three novels waiting to be written and artsy crafty things to make. Not to mention a house to organize. And books to read. For now, though, I try to work in a little bloggin' as a creative outlet and read on my phone when I get a few minutes. This is an area that needs improvement, as sometimes I feel my brain cells start committing suicide after one too many episodes of Word World, but I'm still figuring out how to have happy, clean children and make dinner and have clean clothes. Hmph. Similarly, the hubs and I are trying to find "we time" where one or both of us doesn't fall asleep on the couch just trying to watch a show together. But I digress...back to the subject.
When Cbear was born, we were living in the country and I took this love of being at home and alone a little too extreme, partly because it was such a hassle to go anywhere. It was an hour of driving, plus figuring out when and where to feed her while in town and work around naps...it made me crazy so we only left the house like once a week, if that. I didn't cultivate friendships like I could have and I regret that, but I've learned from it. I was happy being with my baby but I was also lonely and stir-crazy so when we moved to town I was determined that things would be different.
I've heard some stay at home moms say that they make sure to go somewhere every day, and up until a few weeks before Jellybean was born we were almost doing that. I got involved in MOPS, attended a Bible Study, took CBear to library story time and playdates, plus grocery shopping and running errands. While that was fine for a while, I'm finding that that approach doesn't work for us now. I can't stay home with the kids all day every day, but I also can't schlepp them around town constantly either. Balance. Now I'm trying to pick and choose our activities so about half of the week we have a morning activity (because I'm not messing with afternoon naps!) and the other half we stay home. For one thing, I don't like who I become when we are on the go too much...I get all naggy and rushed and flustered when my kids are just kids and it takes FOR.EV.ER. to get out the door and we're perpetually late. And I think hyperscheduling is rampant in our culture and although I do want my kids to have a variety of activities, I think there is also value in learning to slow down and enjoy a life that is a little more quiet at times. I'm still debating on whether putting Claire in a toddler gymnastics class is a good idea...hmmm.
I've learned a few things in the two short years I've been a mom and especially in the last few months since we became a family of four. First of all, a sense of humor is essential to my survival...otherwise I'd be crying by the end of every day (or by 10 a.m., possibly). I don't always succeed at this but I'm trying not to take life too seriously and enjoy the funny things my kids do and the humorous circumstances in which we find ourselves (like the time I thought it would be a good idea to put Jellybean in the stroller and Cbear in her monkey "backpack", a.k.a. leash, and run into Walgreens really quick. Let's just say the line was too long and I got all sorts of judgy looks as my toddler tried to run away and ended up rolling around on the germy floor trying to free herself of the harness. Nice.).
Teamwork between the hubs and myself is also turning out to be pretty important as we figure out this parenting thing. I'm lucky that he is a great daddy and husband and puts up with our messes and pitches in when he comes home from work, playing with the kiddos and doing CBear's bedtime routine and going on random cleaning frenzies when the house is too much of a wreck. The girls' nightly baths are becoming one of my favorite family times as we all crowd into the bathroom, each take a kid and talk about the day or laugh at the kids' antics.
More than anything else, I think I'm learning patience...mostly how I'm sorely lacking in it. It takes exercise to build muscles, though, and my patience is tested and stretched every minute of the day (so it seems). Trying to get a baby to sleep, a toddler to eat healthy food, discipline, never ever being able to finish a task I've started due to a million interruptions...these are just a few of the situations that make me feel incredibly IMpatient with my kids and circumstances. I wonder if in some ways this is how God feels about me...dealing with my same shortcomings over and over again. Thankfully he is infinitely patient and loves me anyway. Most of the time I feel like I fail miserably but it's all a work in progress and I get tomorrow to start fresh and try to do better. I'm so glad I have people in my life that I can depend on, but more than anything I wish my mom could be here to give me a hug and bestow some wisdom on my life...like how did she survive staying home with three kids without totally losing it? She always seemed to know just what to do in each situation, how to respond to us in a loving manner...I wonder if I will ever get there? I don't know...but I hope each day I get a little closer, find a little more balance, and become a better mom.
I'm one of those people who enjoy having time home alone and I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm rarely alone anymore. Showering and sleeping (sometimes, although lately I wake up in the rocker in the middle of the night, with a sleeping Jellybean in my arms wondering how I got here?) are about the extent of my "me time". It's okay for now; someday I'd like to pick my hobbies back up again, though! I have two or three novels waiting to be written and artsy crafty things to make. Not to mention a house to organize. And books to read. For now, though, I try to work in a little bloggin' as a creative outlet and read on my phone when I get a few minutes. This is an area that needs improvement, as sometimes I feel my brain cells start committing suicide after one too many episodes of Word World, but I'm still figuring out how to have happy, clean children and make dinner and have clean clothes. Hmph. Similarly, the hubs and I are trying to find "we time" where one or both of us doesn't fall asleep on the couch just trying to watch a show together. But I digress...back to the subject.
When Cbear was born, we were living in the country and I took this love of being at home and alone a little too extreme, partly because it was such a hassle to go anywhere. It was an hour of driving, plus figuring out when and where to feed her while in town and work around naps...it made me crazy so we only left the house like once a week, if that. I didn't cultivate friendships like I could have and I regret that, but I've learned from it. I was happy being with my baby but I was also lonely and stir-crazy so when we moved to town I was determined that things would be different.
I've heard some stay at home moms say that they make sure to go somewhere every day, and up until a few weeks before Jellybean was born we were almost doing that. I got involved in MOPS, attended a Bible Study, took CBear to library story time and playdates, plus grocery shopping and running errands. While that was fine for a while, I'm finding that that approach doesn't work for us now. I can't stay home with the kids all day every day, but I also can't schlepp them around town constantly either. Balance. Now I'm trying to pick and choose our activities so about half of the week we have a morning activity (because I'm not messing with afternoon naps!) and the other half we stay home. For one thing, I don't like who I become when we are on the go too much...I get all naggy and rushed and flustered when my kids are just kids and it takes FOR.EV.ER. to get out the door and we're perpetually late. And I think hyperscheduling is rampant in our culture and although I do want my kids to have a variety of activities, I think there is also value in learning to slow down and enjoy a life that is a little more quiet at times. I'm still debating on whether putting Claire in a toddler gymnastics class is a good idea...hmmm.
I've learned a few things in the two short years I've been a mom and especially in the last few months since we became a family of four. First of all, a sense of humor is essential to my survival...otherwise I'd be crying by the end of every day (or by 10 a.m., possibly). I don't always succeed at this but I'm trying not to take life too seriously and enjoy the funny things my kids do and the humorous circumstances in which we find ourselves (like the time I thought it would be a good idea to put Jellybean in the stroller and Cbear in her monkey "backpack", a.k.a. leash, and run into Walgreens really quick. Let's just say the line was too long and I got all sorts of judgy looks as my toddler tried to run away and ended up rolling around on the germy floor trying to free herself of the harness. Nice.).
Teamwork between the hubs and myself is also turning out to be pretty important as we figure out this parenting thing. I'm lucky that he is a great daddy and husband and puts up with our messes and pitches in when he comes home from work, playing with the kiddos and doing CBear's bedtime routine and going on random cleaning frenzies when the house is too much of a wreck. The girls' nightly baths are becoming one of my favorite family times as we all crowd into the bathroom, each take a kid and talk about the day or laugh at the kids' antics.
More than anything else, I think I'm learning patience...mostly how I'm sorely lacking in it. It takes exercise to build muscles, though, and my patience is tested and stretched every minute of the day (so it seems). Trying to get a baby to sleep, a toddler to eat healthy food, discipline, never ever being able to finish a task I've started due to a million interruptions...these are just a few of the situations that make me feel incredibly IMpatient with my kids and circumstances. I wonder if in some ways this is how God feels about me...dealing with my same shortcomings over and over again. Thankfully he is infinitely patient and loves me anyway. Most of the time I feel like I fail miserably but it's all a work in progress and I get tomorrow to start fresh and try to do better. I'm so glad I have people in my life that I can depend on, but more than anything I wish my mom could be here to give me a hug and bestow some wisdom on my life...like how did she survive staying home with three kids without totally losing it? She always seemed to know just what to do in each situation, how to respond to us in a loving manner...I wonder if I will ever get there? I don't know...but I hope each day I get a little closer, find a little more balance, and become a better mom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)