- Breastfeeding makes you extremely hungry, thirsty, and sleepy...all at the same time. I forget about this until I've got my newborn good and latched on and then realize I forgot to grab a snack or drink.
- Speaking of hungry...breastfeeding "hunger" is much more intense than pregnancy "hunger."
- It's fun to play dress-up with a new baby...they look cute in everything. It is not much fun for the baby...she hates it.
- Nothing stimulates baby's bladder and bowels like a clean diaper. Nothing.
- Babies are little, but their cries are not. In the middle of the night, it is the loudest sound imaginable!
- Spit-up happens (always on a cute outfit or on my side of the bed).
- Apparently, Packard babies always look alike...boy or girl (see evidence below):
Exhibit A (Penn) 
Exhibit B (Jude)
Thank you and goodnight:)
Exhibit C (Anna)
Showing posts with label life as a mom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life as a mom. Show all posts
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Things I Already Forgot (about newborns)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Top This...
A good night's sleep.
Seriously. Those have been few and far between lately. Between my growing belly, my shrinking bladder, and an injured shoulder on my right side, I have not been able to get comfortable at night lately. I'm fine sleeping on my left side...for a while. But then, I need to turn. And there's nowhere to go. And it stinks.
Then there's my boys. Penn rarely has ever slept through the night and usually comes in our room at least once only to be sent back to his room. This usually wakes Jude up who is not so easily directed back to he bed, so he ends up snuggling with us for a while, which brings Penn back in the room because "that's not fair," and so forth. We sleep in a queen bed (although we REALLY REALLY want a king asap) and the problem is clear as to why four-across is not comfortable. Add into the mix that Jude INSISTS on sleeping on my right arm (hence the shoulder injury...thanks, kiddo), and I usually wake up into one grumpy mama!
But last night...I slept. No one woke me up in the middle of the night, my shoulder did not feel as if it was on fire when I laid on it, and I didn't have to go to the bathroom not even once! Heaven for this tired gal! I realize that tonight maybe just the opposite, but I am so thankful for one night of peaceful slumber...and these days, you can't top that!
Seriously. Those have been few and far between lately. Between my growing belly, my shrinking bladder, and an injured shoulder on my right side, I have not been able to get comfortable at night lately. I'm fine sleeping on my left side...for a while. But then, I need to turn. And there's nowhere to go. And it stinks.
Then there's my boys. Penn rarely has ever slept through the night and usually comes in our room at least once only to be sent back to his room. This usually wakes Jude up who is not so easily directed back to he bed, so he ends up snuggling with us for a while, which brings Penn back in the room because "that's not fair," and so forth. We sleep in a queen bed (although we REALLY REALLY want a king asap) and the problem is clear as to why four-across is not comfortable. Add into the mix that Jude INSISTS on sleeping on my right arm (hence the shoulder injury...thanks, kiddo), and I usually wake up into one grumpy mama!
But last night...I slept. No one woke me up in the middle of the night, my shoulder did not feel as if it was on fire when I laid on it, and I didn't have to go to the bathroom not even once! Heaven for this tired gal! I realize that tonight maybe just the opposite, but I am so thankful for one night of peaceful slumber...and these days, you can't top that!
Monday, August 8, 2011
What Works for Us...right now
A few weeks ago, I wrote this post, kind of dictating the struggle we were going through with Penn's current stage. After I wrote it, I really became conscious of what kinds of things I would say and do to try and get Penn to cooperate when we were in a tense situation. I thought I would share with you, a few things from my arsenal that have worked (although they may not work every time).
This first strategy is something that I've been doing a lot lately. I read about this idea on a blog months ago (but I don't remember which one). I can't help but think this would be beneficial for a lot of age groups. As a matter of fact, if I were still teaching fifth grade, I could see myself saying this a lot. It's just four simple words: "Let's try that again." What I realized is that children (and adults even) sometime say the first thing that comes to their mind. When my husband asks me if I can iron his clothes for work, my whole body wants to say, "No!" But I know he needs clean, neat clothes to wear to work and as much as I hate ironing, I do it because I want him to feel confident at work. But as an adult, I usually know how to bite my tongue an think about things before I share them (as Pack has told me, rightfully so..."Kimberly, you don't always have to say EVERTHING that's on your mind.") On the same note, when I ask Penn to pick up the blueberries off the kitchen floor that fell down there while he was eating, his first instinct is to tell me "No, you can do it." Why yes I can (and probably faster and better), but that doesn't teach a lot of responsibility, does it? When I say, "Let's try that again," it really helps him rethink the situation and make the decision on his own to do the right thing. Most times, that's all it takes.
There are times when the above strategy doesn't work. My next attempt is usually this quick question. "Are you going to choose to obey Mommy or to disobey by not doing what I've asked you?" It's amazing that he's old enough to understand these words, but what also impresses me is that every single time, he wants to obey. He wants to follow the rules. Whether it's cleaning his room or going to time out when he's sent, by giving him the chance to think about consciously breaking the rules (and getting consequences), this question will usually end whatever conflict has started. It also helps to keep me cool-headed in a tense situation.
My boy still hates to clean. Really hates it. So in that situation, I have started following the advice of another friend. Anything that has not been picked up in a reasonable amount of time goes in a trash bag. The trash bag goes in the garage. After a week (or so), I'll give him another chance to take the toys out of the trash bag and put them where they belong. If they don't end up where they supposed to go the second time around, they will get trashed or donated. Penn MIGHT get his Mobigo back today...
The same friend who suggested the above strategy, also told me months ago about something else that she does when her kids are fighting over toys. It works beautifully. It's called "toy time-out." When Penn and Jude are fighting over a toy, I don't try to figure out who had it first. I take it away and put it in a "spot" until they agree to share or take turns. They will almost always choose to share rather than not have the toy at all.
When all else fails...
Penn is finally old enough to know what it means when I tell him to go to his room and lay on his bed (or if we are in public, I tell him we're going to the car to sit). I try to save this one for when nothing else seems to work because I want it to have impact. This sometimes results in him screaming, crying, growling, or whatever else he might think would let me know how he really feels. As awful as these times are, I just remind him that it's okay to be mad at mommy or mad at his behavior, but he still has to have consequences. When something doesn't go my way, I get furious. Why do we adults think it's not acceptable for kids to get upset either? After I let him get some screaming out, I tell him to stop whenever he feels like talking and we can discuss. I never prompt this, but he almost always follows the crying with, "I'm sorry for breaking the rules, Mommy." And I always forgive him (even though it's hard to let go). And then there's usually a nap around the corner...all that crying really can wear a boy out;)
It's amazing the perspective that can change with some sleep. I have even found that when I can't seem to pull it together to stay calm enough to try anything that I mentioned above, it's usually because I'm the one that needs some sleep! Keeping that in mind, really changes my outlook.
Now I'm going to put a disclaimer out there and tell you that this hasn't solved every discipline problem we've had and good parenting, is all about learning what works best for you and your family. I also hope that some of my mom friends that have struggled with not knowing how to discipline their preschoolers find something here that will work for them (or if you've tried any of these, please share your experience). Please remember, although I'm not up for a parenting debate (it's hard enough being a parent without having to defend every decision that you make), I'm always open to new advice, so please share YOUR strategies for dealing with conflicts with your kiddos also. It never hurts to share what works...it may help someone else!
This first strategy is something that I've been doing a lot lately. I read about this idea on a blog months ago (but I don't remember which one). I can't help but think this would be beneficial for a lot of age groups. As a matter of fact, if I were still teaching fifth grade, I could see myself saying this a lot. It's just four simple words: "Let's try that again." What I realized is that children (and adults even) sometime say the first thing that comes to their mind. When my husband asks me if I can iron his clothes for work, my whole body wants to say, "No!" But I know he needs clean, neat clothes to wear to work and as much as I hate ironing, I do it because I want him to feel confident at work. But as an adult, I usually know how to bite my tongue an think about things before I share them (as Pack has told me, rightfully so..."Kimberly, you don't always have to say EVERTHING that's on your mind.") On the same note, when I ask Penn to pick up the blueberries off the kitchen floor that fell down there while he was eating, his first instinct is to tell me "No, you can do it." Why yes I can (and probably faster and better), but that doesn't teach a lot of responsibility, does it? When I say, "Let's try that again," it really helps him rethink the situation and make the decision on his own to do the right thing. Most times, that's all it takes.
There are times when the above strategy doesn't work. My next attempt is usually this quick question. "Are you going to choose to obey Mommy or to disobey by not doing what I've asked you?" It's amazing that he's old enough to understand these words, but what also impresses me is that every single time, he wants to obey. He wants to follow the rules. Whether it's cleaning his room or going to time out when he's sent, by giving him the chance to think about consciously breaking the rules (and getting consequences), this question will usually end whatever conflict has started. It also helps to keep me cool-headed in a tense situation.
My boy still hates to clean. Really hates it. So in that situation, I have started following the advice of another friend. Anything that has not been picked up in a reasonable amount of time goes in a trash bag. The trash bag goes in the garage. After a week (or so), I'll give him another chance to take the toys out of the trash bag and put them where they belong. If they don't end up where they supposed to go the second time around, they will get trashed or donated. Penn MIGHT get his Mobigo back today...
The same friend who suggested the above strategy, also told me months ago about something else that she does when her kids are fighting over toys. It works beautifully. It's called "toy time-out." When Penn and Jude are fighting over a toy, I don't try to figure out who had it first. I take it away and put it in a "spot" until they agree to share or take turns. They will almost always choose to share rather than not have the toy at all.
When all else fails...
Penn is finally old enough to know what it means when I tell him to go to his room and lay on his bed (or if we are in public, I tell him we're going to the car to sit). I try to save this one for when nothing else seems to work because I want it to have impact. This sometimes results in him screaming, crying, growling, or whatever else he might think would let me know how he really feels. As awful as these times are, I just remind him that it's okay to be mad at mommy or mad at his behavior, but he still has to have consequences. When something doesn't go my way, I get furious. Why do we adults think it's not acceptable for kids to get upset either? After I let him get some screaming out, I tell him to stop whenever he feels like talking and we can discuss. I never prompt this, but he almost always follows the crying with, "I'm sorry for breaking the rules, Mommy." And I always forgive him (even though it's hard to let go). And then there's usually a nap around the corner...all that crying really can wear a boy out;)
It's amazing the perspective that can change with some sleep. I have even found that when I can't seem to pull it together to stay calm enough to try anything that I mentioned above, it's usually because I'm the one that needs some sleep! Keeping that in mind, really changes my outlook.
Now I'm going to put a disclaimer out there and tell you that this hasn't solved every discipline problem we've had and good parenting, is all about learning what works best for you and your family. I also hope that some of my mom friends that have struggled with not knowing how to discipline their preschoolers find something here that will work for them (or if you've tried any of these, please share your experience). Please remember, although I'm not up for a parenting debate (it's hard enough being a parent without having to defend every decision that you make), I'm always open to new advice, so please share YOUR strategies for dealing with conflicts with your kiddos also. It never hurts to share what works...it may help someone else!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Typical Jude
We're in Florence now, which means I get to sleep in while the kids wake up and watch cartoons with Grandaddy and gorge themselves on chocolate chip cookies every morning (Why fight it when we're staying at Grandma's for free???). Anyway, I was happy that this trip home coincided with some other fun things like Vacation Bible School at "the old church" and my Daddy's birthday (which is today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!). Mom asked me if I would decorate a sheet cake for him if she made it and since I LOVE my daddy AND my mom's cakes, I said, "Certainly!" Now I don't do cakes very often...mainly just family birthdays and I've always known that I could never sell them. There are three main reasons for this:
1. I don't think my cakes look good enough to sell (and I'm not just being modest.)
2. I get tired of doing it VERY quickly.
3. Jude...read on.
I thought originally that I should wait until the boys were napping to give it a go (that "thought" was actually the voice of reason and good sense), but then I reconsidered thinking that I might want a nap as well. Bad idea. The cake itself didn't take very long and I thought it turned out pretty cute since I only had three colors to work with. I sent Pack a picture of it with the message, "How does this look? By the way, it's too late to make changes, so tell me good things:)" Here was the finished product with some wonky stripes.
Less than one minute after I took this picture, I left the kitchen to find the large cake box that my mom had put in a hallway closet for me to put the cake it. I new it didn't have a chance to stay uncovered. I was gone two minutes...two minutes too long. When I came back, Jude was holding a broom and the cake looked like this...
I sent Pack a picture with another message that said, "I could cry." I really almost did. After reminding myself that I am NOT an abusive parent, I "monitored and adjusted." This was my best attempt at fixing it...
And it's not even lunch time yet... Oh well, Happy Birthday to my sweet, loving, handy-man Daddy. Hope you like the cake that YOUR grandson and I made together;) Love you tons!
1. I don't think my cakes look good enough to sell (and I'm not just being modest.)
2. I get tired of doing it VERY quickly.
3. Jude...read on.
I thought originally that I should wait until the boys were napping to give it a go (that "thought" was actually the voice of reason and good sense), but then I reconsidered thinking that I might want a nap as well. Bad idea. The cake itself didn't take very long and I thought it turned out pretty cute since I only had three colors to work with. I sent Pack a picture of it with the message, "How does this look? By the way, it's too late to make changes, so tell me good things:)" Here was the finished product with some wonky stripes.
Less than one minute after I took this picture, I left the kitchen to find the large cake box that my mom had put in a hallway closet for me to put the cake it. I new it didn't have a chance to stay uncovered. I was gone two minutes...two minutes too long. When I came back, Jude was holding a broom and the cake looked like this...
I sent Pack a picture with another message that said, "I could cry." I really almost did. After reminding myself that I am NOT an abusive parent, I "monitored and adjusted." This was my best attempt at fixing it...
And it's not even lunch time yet... Oh well, Happy Birthday to my sweet, loving, handy-man Daddy. Hope you like the cake that YOUR grandson and I made together;) Love you tons!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Where I Am
For me, it doesn't matter how many times I've been through this, I'm always reminded of how precious and fragile a baby is. I'm 10 weeks now and although my morning sickness is not completely gone yet, I'm definitely feeling good more than bad. But I'm painfully aware of how welcome even the bad is for women that are longing for their babies. I'm really trying hard not to focus on my sickness, but to give thanks for each week that passes. This baby is growing and I have the muffin top to prove it;)
My two little big boys though are really...ummmm...teaching me a lot lately about discipline. You can hear me yelling "NO, JUDE!!!!!!!!" all throughout the house lately because little man has either spilled powder all over the bathroom, gotten a stubborn stain on the carpet, dumped the sugar dish in the kitchen, or some done something else that my hormones perceive as a disaster. And a conversations with Penn lately goes something like this:
Me: Penn, please clean up your room.
Penn: Um, no thanks, but thanks for asking.
Me: I wasn't asking, Penn...clean it!
Penn: No...you can do it.
And that's usually as far as I make it before I start losing it...I am not known for my patience. I feel like I've tried all my tricks. I've asked nicely, I've made it a game, I've done time out, I've taken away his costumes (which is huge), I've put him on t.v. and computer restriction, and I've spanked (which doesn't seem to work for us, by the way), but nothing seems to work and I'm exhausted. So if you've got any fresh thoughts on the "Penn refuses to follow directions" situation, I would be most willing to try. I'm pretty desperate.
I do however, LOVE my boys and I know God is using them to help point out a lot of flaws in my own character. Maybe I'm the one that needs to be worked on the most. Well...I guess that's all I've got for now. And Jude just got too quiet, so I should probably check that out...
My two little big boys though are really...ummmm...teaching me a lot lately about discipline. You can hear me yelling "NO, JUDE!!!!!!!!" all throughout the house lately because little man has either spilled powder all over the bathroom, gotten a stubborn stain on the carpet, dumped the sugar dish in the kitchen, or some done something else that my hormones perceive as a disaster. And a conversations with Penn lately goes something like this:
Me: Penn, please clean up your room.
Penn: Um, no thanks, but thanks for asking.
Me: I wasn't asking, Penn...clean it!
Penn: No...you can do it.
And that's usually as far as I make it before I start losing it...I am not known for my patience. I feel like I've tried all my tricks. I've asked nicely, I've made it a game, I've done time out, I've taken away his costumes (which is huge), I've put him on t.v. and computer restriction, and I've spanked (which doesn't seem to work for us, by the way), but nothing seems to work and I'm exhausted. So if you've got any fresh thoughts on the "Penn refuses to follow directions" situation, I would be most willing to try. I'm pretty desperate.
I do however, LOVE my boys and I know God is using them to help point out a lot of flaws in my own character. Maybe I'm the one that needs to be worked on the most. Well...I guess that's all I've got for now. And Jude just got too quiet, so I should probably check that out...
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Our Guinea Pig is Four!
Sweet, sweet Penn...I don't want to believe he's four. I distinctly remember telling Pack when we had just brought our baby home from the hospital that I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have a four-year-old. He seemed so still, good, quiet, and perfect, and I loved him so much more that I ever imagined I could.
Now that he's...I hate to say it...FOUR, I love him exponentially more than I did then, but I've learned that he is RARELY still, HARDLY EVER quiet, NOT-QUITE perfect, and sometimes...he's just the OPPOSITE of good...you know, like a regular human being (but, shhhhhh, don't tell anyone) ;-) But I can't imagine him any other way.
So, this is what "four" looks like at our house:
Yep, those sweet blue eyes that have won me over since day one. We think they look like little teardrops when he smiles really big. And he's got the cutest little eye dimples on the outside corners of each eye that also make an appearance when he flashes a genuine grin. And that cute little nose! Oh, and check out those sweet rosy cheeks...if you can kiss the skin off someone's face, his are well on their way to being worn out. Man, I love that face!!!!
The kid is learning so much! I know some of it is from the TV shows that we probably let him watch too much of, but he is forever naming dinosaurs that I never knew existed, telling us what pulleys are and finding them all over the place, explaining the difference between a chrysalis and and a coccoon (making his mom--the teacher--feel like an idiot), and learning millions of other new things each day. Basically, he knows "a-wot" about stuff...
He loves his brother, Baba Jude. I love when I come into the room unnoticed and see my big boy helping his brother. Of course, he's not always helping him do something constructive (and I'm thinking of how he taught Jude to jump off the coffee table onto the couch). He prays every night for God to help him "be thoughtful to his wittaw brover. I don't always think he know what thoughtful means...like when he tries to coax Jude to sneak downstairs during naptime to see him get in trouble), but I know they are best friends...most of the time;-)
Oh man...he is such a GAMER! Obviously, a trait he got from his dad and not his "I'm good at trivia" mom. Penn could have named all the elements of the Periodic Table and his daddy would not have been prouder than the first time he typed in the web address for PBS Kids all by himself. And not only is he good at computer games, but he's also better than me at all the games on my phone (that don't require reading), he's taken over my pink Nintendo DS as his own, and has mastered all the games on his Mobigo. Just look at that face...he cheats, right?
He loves making friends, whether it's the 10 year-old kids in our neighborhood, the kids his age from church, or just the shoppers at at our garage sale. He never meets a stranger. And if someone refuses to wave back at him, he takes it as a personal insult.
Although he names his brother and cousins (ALL of them) as being his best friends, he also talks regularly about...GET THIS...his future WIFE (Sweet Samantha). Yep...apparently the two of them have this all planned out. They are going to get married, at which time, Penn says he will wear "a fancy shirt, a fancy jacket, and tap shoes (????)," and his betrothed will be clad in a beautiful princess dress. After that, they will both be firefighters. Sounds completely logical to me!
One of my favorite things about Penn is how much he loves his mommy and daddy. We often wonder at what point he'll figure out that we don't really know what we're doing...we're kind of playing it all by ear. Maybe he's humoring us, I don't know. On thing I do know is that I simply melt when I walk out the bathroom with a robe on and a towel on my head and immediately hear, "Mommy, you're beautiful AND pretty. And you smell good." And I'm sure it doesn't hurt Pack's ego a bit when Penn says, "Daddy, YOU'RE COOL!" It's so easy to love that boy (even though nothing else about parenting is easy). I can't imagine what the Love of God must feel like!
So, whether I'm ready or not...he's four. And although he barely fits in my lap anymore, he's my first baby and I'll always make room for him. I hope he'll always know that we couldn't give him everything he ever wanted (and we wouldn't if we could...a boy's gotta have dreams, right?), but that we have prayed our hearts out for him!!!
Now that he's...I hate to say it...FOUR, I love him exponentially more than I did then, but I've learned that he is RARELY still, HARDLY EVER quiet, NOT-QUITE perfect, and sometimes...he's just the OPPOSITE of good...you know, like a regular human being (but, shhhhhh, don't tell anyone) ;-) But I can't imagine him any other way.
So, this is what "four" looks like at our house:
The kid is learning so much! I know some of it is from the TV shows that we probably let him watch too much of, but he is forever naming dinosaurs that I never knew existed, telling us what pulleys are and finding them all over the place, explaining the difference between a chrysalis and and a coccoon (making his mom--the teacher--feel like an idiot), and learning millions of other new things each day. Basically, he knows "a-wot" about stuff...
He loves his brother, Baba Jude. I love when I come into the room unnoticed and see my big boy helping his brother. Of course, he's not always helping him do something constructive (and I'm thinking of how he taught Jude to jump off the coffee table onto the couch). He prays every night for God to help him "be thoughtful to his wittaw brover. I don't always think he know what thoughtful means...like when he tries to coax Jude to sneak downstairs during naptime to see him get in trouble), but I know they are best friends...most of the time;-)
He loves making friends, whether it's the 10 year-old kids in our neighborhood, the kids his age from church, or just the shoppers at at our garage sale. He never meets a stranger. And if someone refuses to wave back at him, he takes it as a personal insult.
Although he names his brother and cousins (ALL of them) as being his best friends, he also talks regularly about...GET THIS...his future WIFE (Sweet Samantha). Yep...apparently the two of them have this all planned out. They are going to get married, at which time, Penn says he will wear "a fancy shirt, a fancy jacket, and tap shoes (????)," and his betrothed will be clad in a beautiful princess dress. After that, they will both be firefighters. Sounds completely logical to me!
One of my favorite things about Penn is how much he loves his mommy and daddy. We often wonder at what point he'll figure out that we don't really know what we're doing...we're kind of playing it all by ear. Maybe he's humoring us, I don't know. On thing I do know is that I simply melt when I walk out the bathroom with a robe on and a towel on my head and immediately hear, "Mommy, you're beautiful AND pretty. And you smell good." And I'm sure it doesn't hurt Pack's ego a bit when Penn says, "Daddy, YOU'RE COOL!" It's so easy to love that boy (even though nothing else about parenting is easy). I can't imagine what the Love of God must feel like!
So, whether I'm ready or not...he's four. And although he barely fits in my lap anymore, he's my first baby and I'll always make room for him. I hope he'll always know that we couldn't give him everything he ever wanted (and we wouldn't if we could...a boy's gotta have dreams, right?), but that we have prayed our hearts out for him!!!
Happy Birthday to our (not-so) Little Penn!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Lipstick Kisses
When I was young, my sister Karen and I used to wake up early in the morning before our mom went to work. She'd make us breakfast and we'd fall back asleep until it was time to get ready for school. While we were asleep, mom would sneak off to go to work, but not before planting a freshly lipsticked kiss on each of our faces. We were, of course, careful to remove the lip stains off our faces before going to school, but it always made me feel good to know my mom didn't want us to think she had forgotten to tell us goodbye.
Now that I'm a parent, I realize that I will never be able to kiss my babies enough. I think, on the conservative side, I probably give them around 1000 kisses a day, each. They never seem to mind, but they don't usually ask for it either (as if I'd give them a chance...). And I'm noticing that I'm starting to have to fight for some of those kisses as they get older.
Lately, Penn has not wanted to go to bed without "a snuggle." Our deal is that if he and Jude lay down quietly for a few minutes without playing, knocking on the door, or turning the lights on, I'll come back in for a kiss and a snuggle. Usually, they are both asleep by the time I get back in there. So, reminded of my sweet mom, I started going back in and planting a set of fresh, pink lips on their foreheads or cheeks so I have proof that I actually kept my word.
I know that one day, lipstick kisses (from mom) won't seem so cool, but for now, I'll take 'em however I can get 'em!
Now that I'm a parent, I realize that I will never be able to kiss my babies enough. I think, on the conservative side, I probably give them around 1000 kisses a day, each. They never seem to mind, but they don't usually ask for it either (as if I'd give them a chance...). And I'm noticing that I'm starting to have to fight for some of those kisses as they get older.
Lately, Penn has not wanted to go to bed without "a snuggle." Our deal is that if he and Jude lay down quietly for a few minutes without playing, knocking on the door, or turning the lights on, I'll come back in for a kiss and a snuggle. Usually, they are both asleep by the time I get back in there. So, reminded of my sweet mom, I started going back in and planting a set of fresh, pink lips on their foreheads or cheeks so I have proof that I actually kept my word.
 |
| I promised them candy if they sat still for me to take this picture:) It almost worked. |
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Things I Dig
In response to my grump list...here are some "things I dig."
- Lists (obviously...)
- Babies (my twin sis is having one RIGHT NOW...there will be another post on this)
- Camping
- Window shopping
- My boys
- Having a husband who tours VA wineries when he travels on his off time.
- White Merlot (see above)
- Dessert
- Bubbles
- Reading
- Trying new foods
- Seeing moms breastfeed in public (go ahead and roll your eyes, I'm cool with that)
- Ice (preferably from Jumpin' J's in Florence)
- Making my husband a meal that he requests to eat again (chicken spaghetti, baked eggrolls, Ramen casserole???)
- Making my kids a healthy meal that they will actually eat
- Sappy, romantic, cheesy stuff
- Perfume, blush, and lip gloss (on a deserted island, this is what I'd miss)
- My parents, siblings, and in-laws
- Having a friend nearby to do free date night exchanges with
- The "rainbow" selection at the car wash
- Coffee someone else makes
- Having a husband who is "not a natural," but gives it all he's got ;)
- Learning to make my own "stuff"
- Peace (the groovy, hippie kind)
- Peace (that passes understanding)
- Having a Savior. Enough said.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Jude...you make it better!
My sweet baby is turning TWO! I can't believe it. I'll probably say that every birthday that passes, but it seriously seems IMPOSSIBLE that he's that big. Big enough to say how old he is. Here are some things that make our Jude...OUR JUDE!
Jude LIVES BIG. I say this a lot. Meaning, he's fearless. Nothing scares my baby boy, which means that everything he does terrifies me. Seriously, I see medical bills in our future.
He's a flirt! This kids LOVES girls. It makes no matter whether she's 8 days or 80 years old. And they seem to love him (it's those eyes, for real!).
He sleeps! After he actually STARTED sleeping at 9 months, he has been the perfect little boy at night. If he and Penn didn't share a room, he would never wake up in the middle of the night.
He wants to be just like his big brother and he cries for Penn more often than anyone else in the family. If we want him to do something and he's reluctant, we tell him, "Do ____ just like Penn!" That usually does the trick ;-)
He is so unique. For so long, he seemed like Penn's twin (not that twins can't be different...). It was so hard NOT to compare the two look-alikes! Now, God's creativity is clear. Jude is a masterpiece and we are having so much fun getting to know this little boy.
Our sweet "Baby Jude" makes our family so much better. Simply put...HE'S AWESOME, and I'm so thankful to be his mommy! Happy birthday, sweet boy!
He has the sweetest hazel eyes that come directly from his Daddy. They melt me.
He is definitely a man of many moods. Which is why we often call him "Moody Judey." And I can take full credit for that ;-)
Jude LIVES BIG. I say this a lot. Meaning, he's fearless. Nothing scares my baby boy, which means that everything he does terrifies me. Seriously, I see medical bills in our future.
He has the cutest baby words. Penn didn't really have a whole lot of baby words, so I really love hearing Jude say things like, "Tank choo (thank you)," "Wootsh (oops), "Sowy (sorry)," and "Too (I love you, too)" among many others. He didn't talk for a long time, but now he's saying new words every day. He also loves sign language, so I try to learn new things to teach him as often as possible.
He's scared of noises like dogs barking at night, airplanes or jets, and motorcycles...even if they are far away and we can barely hear them. And he runs straight for moi when he hears them. I eat up every second! Yep, he's a mama's boy:)
Speaking of eating, he loves vegetables and grains and eats WAY more than Penn. Meat, not so much. He likes the idea of meat, but will chew it up for a while and then spit it out. It's pretty gross.
Baby Boy plays hard! He is constantly on the move, usually trying to do something dangerous or making the biggest mess possible in the shortest amount of time. No joke. I've never seen a kid that can make a mess this fast!
He's a flirt! This kids LOVES girls. It makes no matter whether she's 8 days or 80 years old. And they seem to love him (it's those eyes, for real!).
Mr. Independent. He has no idea that he's any younger than his big brother or the grade school daredevil boys that live in our neighborhood for that matter. And if you try to tell him that he's not big enough, he'll show you the biggest tantrum he can muster!
He sleeps! After he actually STARTED sleeping at 9 months, he has been the perfect little boy at night. If he and Penn didn't share a room, he would never wake up in the middle of the night.
He wants to be just like his big brother and he cries for Penn more often than anyone else in the family. If we want him to do something and he's reluctant, we tell him, "Do ____ just like Penn!" That usually does the trick ;-)
He is so unique. For so long, he seemed like Penn's twin (not that twins can't be different...). It was so hard NOT to compare the two look-alikes! Now, God's creativity is clear. Jude is a masterpiece and we are having so much fun getting to know this little boy.
Our sweet "Baby Jude" makes our family so much better. Simply put...HE'S AWESOME, and I'm so thankful to be his mommy! Happy birthday, sweet boy!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
P is for Patience.
Week one of "home-preschooling" is over! On Monday, we started this simple little curriculum I bought from Laura Coppinger at www.heavenlyhomemakers.com, called, "Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve." It's as simple as it sounds and I loved it as soon as I saw it because it gave me an opportunity to try out homeschooling without dishing out tons of cash for a preschool curriculum that was totally unnecessary. I also loved that I could take this and run with it completely or just use bits and pieces of it that would fit into our days. I am all about using someone else's good ideas:) And who doesn't want to teach their children to have a servant's heart???
I was going to tell you all about it...how I bought it, what we did day by day, why I chose not go linearly through the alphabet...you know, stuff you're probably not that interested in. Instead, I'll tell you this story and you will hopefully see the heart behind the lessons.
Day One. We talked the Letter "P" to death. Penn really liked the idea of "school" so I thought things were going pretty well. Then, we tried to think of people that we could pray for that started with "P." Unfortunately, we could only think of four people (bet you can guess two of them...). It suddenly occurred to me that "penny" starts with "P" and when I worked in a public school, we took up a collection for "Pennies for Patients." That sounded perfect to me! I told Penn that we would be on the lookout for pennies for a while and that we would give them to sick people in the hospital. Shortly after, I found him in his room, dumping out all of his money from his banks. He was separating all the pennies so he could give them to the sick people. I think I might have cried.
I see a ton of lessons about serving in that face right there...and I'm the one who needs to learn them.
I was going to tell you all about it...how I bought it, what we did day by day, why I chose not go linearly through the alphabet...you know, stuff you're probably not that interested in. Instead, I'll tell you this story and you will hopefully see the heart behind the lessons.
Day One. We talked the Letter "P" to death. Penn really liked the idea of "school" so I thought things were going pretty well. Then, we tried to think of people that we could pray for that started with "P." Unfortunately, we could only think of four people (bet you can guess two of them...). It suddenly occurred to me that "penny" starts with "P" and when I worked in a public school, we took up a collection for "Pennies for Patients." That sounded perfect to me! I told Penn that we would be on the lookout for pennies for a while and that we would give them to sick people in the hospital. Shortly after, I found him in his room, dumping out all of his money from his banks. He was separating all the pennies so he could give them to the sick people. I think I might have cried.
Friday, February 18, 2011
It started with an alarm at 6 am...
Anyway, so I did that last night and set my alarm for probably the first time in months
Would it matter? Would I keep hitting the snooze until the kids woke up? Why was I doing this again?
I've had a revelation (yes, another one) as of late. I don't work outside the home anymore and I've found that I've been
So I made a decision: I would start getting up at 6 am, BEFORE the kids woke up, so I would have some time to "group" before they began their job of
You know what? It made my day start out so much easier than rolling out of bed onto the feet of a demanding toddler and preschooler. These are just a few of the things I did while the boys were still sleeping:
- I took my time getting dressed (a pure luxury).
- I put on make up and straightened my hair (without having to chase down and wrestle cosmetics and hair tools from the boys).
- I made up the bed before I left the room.
- I made a pot of coffee (that I started last night so all I had to to was mash the "on" button).
- I took out the trash...including ALL the bathrooms.
- I listened to "The Counter-Cultural Woman" in peace and quiet.
- I made a breakfast that I've been wanting to try, but haven't because it takes 40 minutes.
- I ironed Pack's work clothes.
- I did the dishes (that I should have done last night.......).
Being this productive so early in the day, left me some time to actually SIT with Penn and Jude for breakfast AND lunch, sweep and mop downstairs (I know...fun fun, right?), take the boys to the library, and read a book outside while the boys played in the "bounce house." Simple things, but nonetheless, things I never get to do without "multitasking" (aka, "something I'm not very good at"). And I might even get a chance to have some "couch time" with my MAIN MAN later without a pile of laundry that needs to be folded between us! (That sounds like a date night, don't you think? Why, yes...I think it does *wink, wink*)
I am so grateful for this day of productivity and I think it has helped me be more patient with the source of my work. My job is not to keep the house spotless...it's to raise up the two little boys that I've been entrusted with. And by giving myself that extra little bit of time to "breathe," I've actually had the heart to work harder and better than I've been able to in a long time.
Now the question remains...can I do it again tomorrow???
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Dirty-Dirty On GDiapers
Note: This is a long (I'm serious...I can't help it. It's just how I am.) story to go along with a basic review of Gdiapers. If you don't want all the "backstory," skip to the "REVIEW" at the bottom...which is also very long:)
I'm the type of person who, when I spend money on something, will use/wear/eat it no matter if I LOVE it or not. I'm pretty easy to please that way (you're welcome, Pack). So I had been making do with the diaper choice that I made back when Penn was a baby (disposables, mostly the cheapest I could get that did the job). I researched cloth diapers a little bit when I was pregnant with Penn, but honestly didn't even consider it fairly. After all, I knew NO ONE that cloth diapered and that's a pretty big jump to make without having some support or advice.
When I was pregnant with Jude, I had several friends who began cloth diapering and I was seriously considering doing it with him. I found out about Gdiapers, which are basically a hybrid form of cloth diaper with a thin cloth cover, a nylon snap-in liner (which is waterproof...that's important), an an insert (a flushable, biodegradable,disposable insert or a hemp/fleece liner--which I didn't know about then). I basically concluded that using Gdiapers was going to be a pretty steep investment since the flushable liners generally cost 14-15 dollars for a 30 pack...so we wouldn't be saving any money by using them. Not only that, but my dear husband was NOT. ON. BOARD. He basically said that as an active diaper changer, he felt he could throw in a veto card. I conceded without too much of a fight.
Months went by (a year and nine months to be exact) and I began thinking of ways that our family could make less waste as part of my New Year's Resolution. I also had a friend that started cloth diapering her toddler at about the same time. I asked her a lot of questions and then found out that she was going to a cloth diaper buy/sell/swap at a local cloth diaper store in Carytown, so I asked her if I could join her. A lady there sold me two Gdiapers for 10 bucks! That may seem like a lot for two diapers, but I figured that I would use them and get my money's worth out of them no matter what (see paragraph 1). I felt a little silly being a new cloth diaperer (possible made-up word alert) and buying them for my 20 month-old, but I figured this wasn't that much of a risk and (hopefully) no one judged me.
That night, I went to the store and bought the flushable liners. I wasn't totally impressed with the disposibles and chalked it up to "I'm glad I didn't get these brand new...lesson learned." But then I did some research and found out about the cloth inserts. Since I had an Amazon gift card, I ordered a pack to try.
LOVED THEM! It was way easier than I thought it would be! Jude loves them, he looks adorable in them, and I've collected a total of 23 diapers (size small--for the future--to large). I also bought another pack of cloth liners because what child only goes through six diapers a day??? Here's the review so you can see why I love them so much and why I regret not doing this two babies ago!
REVIEW
- The Gpants (cover). Really. There is something just adorable about their simplicity. I love the bold simple colors, and I've been known to try to match the diaper to Jude's PJ's at night. They actually come in several patterns (even ruffles for a girl!!!), but the solids are still my favorite look. They are also very thin and not cumbersome at all. You can barely tell he's even wearing a diaper most of the time, so his 2T clothes fit him a little better. Also, unlike most diapers, these velcro around the back and decrease (although theY do not eliminate) the incidence of baby pulling on diaper tabs to remove it (UGGGGGHHHH!). They are also simple to clean. You can toss them in your regular laundry because they don't (shouldn't) come in contact with poo!
- The Nylon Liner. This is where the magic happens. This thin little layer that snaps into the cover forms a seal that protects the cover from getting wet/poopy, although you must first learn "the tuck." If (when) the liner gets dirty, just snap it out, snap a new one in, and you're able to reuse your cover. If the diaper was just wet, no problem, wipe it out (if you want...I usually don't), put in a new insert, and you're ready to roll. All cloth diapers should be this easy. (Note, as if I know anything...gdiapers are the ONLY cloth diapers we've used and we're happy with them...I've found that people are VERY passionate about THEIR favorite brand of cloth diapers.)
- The Inserts. Like I said earlier, I was a little disappointed with the flushable insert. It was very absorbent, which is the most important feature, I guess, but the disposal was the disappointing part. It was a little messy because in order to flush it, you have to rip it apart, swish it around, and (in my case) let it sit in the toilet for 15 minutes before flushing so it won't clog the toilet. Not only that, but these babies are expensive and that still bothered me a lot. The cloth inserts, on the other hand are the exact opposite. They fit so nicely in the liner and are a cinch to clean. I "dump" in the toilet and whatever doesn't come off, goes in a hot wash (prewash, hot wash, followed by extra rinse, to be exact), and come out looking BRAND NEW! And (in case you're wondering), I have had to deal with every...ummm....consistency of poop that my sweet Jude makes, and they passed the test:). Not to mention, right before I started using them, Jude (unusually) came down with a diaper rash, and once I started using the cloth inserts, it got better IN THE SAME DAY. I was sold. Oh yeah...and these babies will pay for themselves QUICKLY!
- The Verdict. Gdiapers with cloth 4eva!!!!! Well, except at night when we use the disposable liners (because they really are absorbent!), and disposables when we are at church. It's what's working for us and even my "conscientious objector" is into them now! Who would have thought...
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Rough night
It sucks when your feverish three-year-old wakes up several times because he doesn't feel well.
It sucks when that same child wakes up at 2 a. m. screaming bloody murder and hitting you because he thinks you're a monster.
And you can't sleeep well because there is a child laying on each arm, cutting off the circulation, and begging you to "do my back" all the while you are freezing and can't get up to turn off the fan without disturbing them
And then when your one-year-old decides he wants to get up before 6 am.
And also when they are both so sleep deprived, they fight through breakfast and the only respite you can get is to plop them in front of the T.V. for 30 minutes (at least).
When will my husband be home???
It sucks when that same child wakes up at 2 a. m. screaming bloody murder and hitting you because he thinks you're a monster.
And you can't sleeep well because there is a child laying on each arm, cutting off the circulation, and begging you to "do my back" all the while you are freezing and can't get up to turn off the fan without disturbing them
And then when your one-year-old decides he wants to get up before 6 am.
And also when they are both so sleep deprived, they fight through breakfast and the only respite you can get is to plop them in front of the T.V. for 30 minutes (at least).
When will my husband be home???
Sunday, January 30, 2011
I'm there.
You know those seasons of life, where you're just happy where you are and not wishing you could be at a different place? You know, the ones you just want to pause and soak up for a while?
I'm there.
I love this life.
Those boys....sigh...
I'm there.
I love this life.
Those boys....sigh...
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Preschool???
Am I being unconventional when I say that I don't think it's necessary to go to preschool? I've been getting a lot of information lately that is supposed to make me decide I should send my 3.5 year old to preschool to "get him ready" for regular school.
I'm not buying it.
I understand that a lot of kids end up in preschool because both parents work or because maybe the child requires some special instruction (like language, for example) that the parents cannot provide, but besides that...I don't get it.
These are the two guilt trigger phrases that I feel are thrown at parents the most:
I'm not buying it.
I understand that a lot of kids end up in preschool because both parents work or because maybe the child requires some special instruction (like language, for example) that the parents cannot provide, but besides that...I don't get it.
These are the two guilt trigger phrases that I feel are thrown at parents the most:
- Your children need the socialization that they will get from other kids at a daycare/preschool. Uh....no they don't! If mom needs some socialization away from the kids, that's one thing, but my 3.5 year old doesn't need to socialize with anyone except me. No one will deny that kids model their behavior after the behavior of the parents more often than not. With good role models as parents, your children will be plenty fine learning from socializing with you! I'm not saying that you should keep your kids away from opportunities to play and engage with other children; I think that it's vitally important that kids know how to react with their peers. Instead, I'm suggesting that your kids will benefit from as much quality time with you as possible in the early years. Don't feel that you're depriving your kids of a necessary experience by choosing to forgo preschool.
- Kids who go to preschool do better in school and are more ready for it. There are a couple of reasons that I take issue with this. First of all, I didn't go to preschool and I think I was plenty prepared for school when I started after adjusting for a couple of days. That makes this argument personal. Secondly, from an educational background, your kids aren't learning that much in preschool that you couldn't teach at home. Don't believe me? Read up on What Your Child Should Learn in Preschool and ask yourself if you have basic knowledge of those skills (That's a joke. You know how to do all of it...hopefully...if not, you might want to think about preschool).
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
To-Do List
I thought about making a to-do list today. Pack will be home tomorrow and there was a lot I wanted to get done while he was away. Then, yesterday came rushing back to my memory and I went with my better judgement by just going with the flow today.
This morning, my shower was still cold, drinks were spilled, messes were made, cleaned up, and made again, and yes...I fussed (hey...my kids are 1.5 and 3.5...it happens). The difference is that today I kept reminding myself of those words that He brought to my heart yesterday, "You're doing this because you love them--you don't have to be a natural!"
And do you know what? It made all the difference!
So instead of focusing on all the things I might not have checked off on my would-be to-do list, here are some things that I actually got done:
Tomorrow, I don't see any blogging on the horizon. I'll be busy doing most all of the above and getting ready for my sweet, sweet husband to get home and release me for a long overdue girls' night (yippeee!!!). I'm so thankful for today and this breath of fresh air!
This morning, my shower was still cold, drinks were spilled, messes were made, cleaned up, and made again, and yes...I fussed (hey...my kids are 1.5 and 3.5...it happens). The difference is that today I kept reminding myself of those words that He brought to my heart yesterday, "You're doing this because you love them--you don't have to be a natural!"
And do you know what? It made all the difference!
So instead of focusing on all the things I might not have checked off on my would-be to-do list, here are some things that I actually got done:
- I made up my bed.
- I swept and mopped the entire downstairs (a rare feat!)
- I separated all the clothes that were too small for Jude.
- I got the boys to take a nap from 2:00 to 4:30 (!!!!!!!)
- I found a good recipe for whole wheat bread and made it.
- I played with the boys outside (well, in the garage...it was COLD!)
- I made three meals.
- I kept the sink empty.
Tomorrow, I don't see any blogging on the horizon. I'll be busy doing most all of the above and getting ready for my sweet, sweet husband to get home and release me for a long overdue girls' night (yippeee!!!). I'm so thankful for today and this breath of fresh air!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Not a Natural
For stay-at-home-moms, it gets easy to forget that your children are just that...children. After spending all day "working" (yes, it's work...a lot of it), sometimes I have the tendency to treat my sweet little babes like they're annoying co-workers that I'm glad to say goodbye to at the end of the day. I love my boys. I REALLY do. Being with them is my joy and it's 100 percent what I want to be doing right now, but it's still hard.
Can you tell I've had a rough day?
Here's a little Cliff's Notes version of my day.
Cold shower. Some things got broken. Food was wasted. Lots of crying could be heard ALL DAY. No naps. Late to the bank. Jude tried to eat my chap stick. Penn won't eat supper. Jude wants to eat supper while walking around the house. Bath time floods the bath room. No story time as punishment. Jude hops the baby gate three times (at least). I yell (A LOT). I end up feeling like the worst mommy in the world.
I think I'm a pretty good mom. I have a lot of fun with my boys and I like to post and get feedback on some of the activities we do together. I think some of the time, I try to make other people think that I'm a natural at being a mom.
The truth is, I'm not a natural mom and days like today remind me of that in a very obvious way. How I reacted today was pretty much what comes natural to me. Being a fun, loving, and patient mom is an effort and sometimes I'm a lot better at it than others. If it came natural to me, I would never have to make the decision to rise above my "nature" and do things for no other reason than because I love my kids. I could do it all without an ounce of affection because I was "a natural." I'm thankful to "work" at being a mom. These days (although I don't wish them to come any more often) remind me of the heart of my work and the importance of making the conscious decision to be the best mom I can be. Those two little boys don't deserve anything less.
Now excuse me while I go snuggle with my now-sleeping babies and try to earn their forgiveness. Something tells me I'll be instantly forgiven:)
Can you tell I've had a rough day?
Here's a little Cliff's Notes version of my day.
Cold shower. Some things got broken. Food was wasted. Lots of crying could be heard ALL DAY. No naps. Late to the bank. Jude tried to eat my chap stick. Penn won't eat supper. Jude wants to eat supper while walking around the house. Bath time floods the bath room. No story time as punishment. Jude hops the baby gate three times (at least). I yell (A LOT). I end up feeling like the worst mommy in the world.
I think I'm a pretty good mom. I have a lot of fun with my boys and I like to post and get feedback on some of the activities we do together. I think some of the time, I try to make other people think that I'm a natural at being a mom.
The truth is, I'm not a natural mom and days like today remind me of that in a very obvious way. How I reacted today was pretty much what comes natural to me. Being a fun, loving, and patient mom is an effort and sometimes I'm a lot better at it than others. If it came natural to me, I would never have to make the decision to rise above my "nature" and do things for no other reason than because I love my kids. I could do it all without an ounce of affection because I was "a natural." I'm thankful to "work" at being a mom. These days (although I don't wish them to come any more often) remind me of the heart of my work and the importance of making the conscious decision to be the best mom I can be. Those two little boys don't deserve anything less.
Now excuse me while I go snuggle with my now-sleeping babies and try to earn their forgiveness. Something tells me I'll be instantly forgiven:)
Monday, November 22, 2010
A moment that might have been forgotten.
A cloudless, fall, Friday afternoon. I rake instead of mulching/bagging our leaves.
Best decision ever.
My boys, Pack, and I spend about 30 minutes playing in a pile of "almost trash." Nothing special. No planned activity. Just a spur-of-the-moment "this might be fun" type of thing. Turns out, we made a memory.
I'll always think of that as my first favorite Virginia memory. I've had a lot of good family times already, but this one is captured in my heart forever.
And on my Flip video camera. Unfortunately, the video wouldn't load to the blog, so here's a link to our moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC4CoEahwUo
Best decision ever.
My boys, Pack, and I spend about 30 minutes playing in a pile of "almost trash." Nothing special. No planned activity. Just a spur-of-the-moment "this might be fun" type of thing. Turns out, we made a memory.
I'll always think of that as my first favorite Virginia memory. I've had a lot of good family times already, but this one is captured in my heart forever.
And on my Flip video camera. Unfortunately, the video wouldn't load to the blog, so here's a link to our moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC4CoEahwUo
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Woe is me...
I can't think of much right now that is more stressful than meal time. I realize that I'm not the first person to have to cross this bridge and I'll probably think fondly upon these days when I'm having to deal with more "big boy issues," but I am at my wit's end! Between Jude's utter destruction of any element of neatness in my kitchen and Penn's finickiness (that's putting it lightly...), I wonder if we will ever emerge to a season of life that doesn't require begging, threatening, and baths during and immediately following meals.
Here's the scoop. Penn eats nothing (okay, very little). I've seen birds that have bigger appetites than this kid! The only time we don't have to argue with him about eating is when we're having breakfast foods, some form of chicken (plain), bologna, hot dogs, fruit, or sweets. Oh yeah...celery. This boy eats celery. You know all the foods that they say all kids eat--like mac and cheese, spaghetti, french fries, peas and beans??? Mr. Firstborn won't touch any of these unless you force them into his mouth and then be prepared for it to come back up. I was trying to lose weight so I decided to eat portions of food that I would give to the children. Unfortunately, I have discovered that I would not survive on what Penn eats. Seriously. And don't even think about taking this boy to a restaurant to "try something new." He's as stubborn as his momma and it isn't going to happen.
Jude, on the other hand, is my "good eater." He'll literally eat almost anything I put in front of him. Well, I take that back. He'll try to eat anything I put in front of him, but at least half of it will end up on the floor, on his head, the walls, in his diaper...you get it. Then when he's starving all the time and we're wondering how he could possibly be hungry again, you remember that he only was able to get half the meal you offered him into his mouth. Poor guy. I know you're thinking, "Can't you just help him out and spoon-feed him a little?" Nope. Not only is Jude my "good eater," he's also "Mr. Independent." He'd sooner starve than let you help him--with anything. Give him a spoon and it may as well be a piece of jewelry, nice, but not necessary. Fisting food is much more efficient to him.
Therefore, after meals, you will usually find me near my breaking point. Wanna help? Got advice for either of these scenarios? Let me know. I'll be the one under the table threatening Penn if he doesn't eat something, while vacuuming cous-cous with ketchup up my arm.
Here's the scoop. Penn eats nothing (okay, very little). I've seen birds that have bigger appetites than this kid! The only time we don't have to argue with him about eating is when we're having breakfast foods, some form of chicken (plain), bologna, hot dogs, fruit, or sweets. Oh yeah...celery. This boy eats celery. You know all the foods that they say all kids eat--like mac and cheese, spaghetti, french fries, peas and beans??? Mr. Firstborn won't touch any of these unless you force them into his mouth and then be prepared for it to come back up. I was trying to lose weight so I decided to eat portions of food that I would give to the children. Unfortunately, I have discovered that I would not survive on what Penn eats. Seriously. And don't even think about taking this boy to a restaurant to "try something new." He's as stubborn as his momma and it isn't going to happen.
Jude, on the other hand, is my "good eater." He'll literally eat almost anything I put in front of him. Well, I take that back. He'll try to eat anything I put in front of him, but at least half of it will end up on the floor, on his head, the walls, in his diaper...you get it. Then when he's starving all the time and we're wondering how he could possibly be hungry again, you remember that he only was able to get half the meal you offered him into his mouth. Poor guy. I know you're thinking, "Can't you just help him out and spoon-feed him a little?" Nope. Not only is Jude my "good eater," he's also "Mr. Independent." He'd sooner starve than let you help him--with anything. Give him a spoon and it may as well be a piece of jewelry, nice, but not necessary. Fisting food is much more efficient to him.
Therefore, after meals, you will usually find me near my breaking point. Wanna help? Got advice for either of these scenarios? Let me know. I'll be the one under the table threatening Penn if he doesn't eat something, while vacuuming cous-cous with ketchup up my arm.
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