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Quite the title, uh? 🙂
Since Mabel was born, she’s had cradle cap. We had it under control for a while last Spring, but since her hair has gotten longer I’ve just sorta stopped caring. It’s a little gross nowadays, cause at this point it looks like dandruff that’s flaking off. Well, last night I figured I’d give it one more go and bought some lotion just for cradle cap. I tried it this afternoon, and it worked pretty well. It took off a majority of the scales and I’m guessing if I keep up with it, she might actually be “flake free”.
This week I started spin/yoga and Body Attack. I took my first spin/yoga class on Monday. Can I just say I had my butt thoroughly worked, literally! It was good, but really hard. And then tomorrow night I have Body Attack. The name alone scares me. 😉 But, I’ve heard it’s really good and a great way to lose weight and tone muscle. I’m all for it then! I’ve got about 5 pounds to pre-baby weight and 15 to my “goal” weight and then 20 to my “ideal goal” weight. Wish me luck!
As for Hannah – I am still impressed with how far she can spit up and poop. Changer be warned if that girl poops while your changing her diaper. You will find that not only does she need a new change of clothes, so do you, the changing table and most likely the wall and carpet. Woo. And the spit up. Wow. It can fly five feet from where I’m standing. It’s pretty impressive. I wonder if they could make an Olympic sport out of it, cause for sure she’d get a gold metal!
We’re heading out to Tennessee this week. Wanna know what? Packing is a big ole pain. Having to pack for myself and two kiddos for a week long trip; making sure the house is clean, we don’t forget anything, we have all necessary toys/blankets/videos/etc to survive is a tad overwhelming. Not to mention that I’ve put off doing much of anything for the trip, making, I am sure, the next two days a little crazy. Ah, alas, that is life.
*Edited: I should also add, that God has really been teaching me to lower my expectations. This is really hard. I am daily having to learn (and re-learn) that having a toddler (who doesn’t nap consistently or well) along with an infant, simply means that nothing productive will get done during the day. I will start lots of things, but they will never, ever actually get finished. Like writing a blog – my average blog writing takes 3+ days. Crazy, I know, but true. I start a blog one day and finish it sometimes several days later.
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“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” Psalm 139:13-18
Happy birthday, Jonathan! I love you and am so grateful for your life! You are truly a man of God and a wonderful husband, father, provider and friend. I am so blessed to call you my husband!
“Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.” Psalm 15
A change of seasons
Posted on: August 23, 2009
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By far my favorite season is fall. There is a relief from the summer heat, a crispness to the air, a growing warmth to homes. In many ways, I find a newness, a beginning, in fall. Perhaps it is that fall signifies a new school year, or perhaps it is inching closer and closer to the holidays, whatever it may be, I revel in it’s wonder.
The girls are tucked away in bed, Jonathan is out riding his motorcycle and I am sitting on the porch, listening to the crickets call, reading through Midwest Living and enjoying the chill in the air. Apple pie, hot cider, pumpkins and fall leaves are dwelling in my mind. I am daydreaming about a family roadtrip through southern Iowa to see the changing leaves, explore hidden towns and capture memories.
Perhaps that is just it. Fall is like a memory that is ever sweet. Fall speaks of families huddled together around bonfires. Reuniting with friends after a long summer’s break. An ability to enjoy the outdoors more leisurely. Fall speaks of warm pies and my mom’s homemade potpourri. Fall speaks of endless possibilities.
While there is still, deep within me, the desire to move back home to Texas, it would be difficult to part with an Iowan fall. The apple orchards, hay rides, pumpkin patches and cool evening nights. It’s times like this, nights like tonight, that I know, Iowa is and could always be, home.
Just say “Yes”
Posted on: August 22, 2009
- In: Life
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I read a post a while back about loosening up on some of our perfectionism and allowing our kids to just be kids. I realized that I say “No” a lot to Julia.
“No, you may not have that cookie.”
“No, you may not touch the that.”
“No, you may not turn the faucet on and off.”
Etc, etc, etc.
Even as I type this, we’re sitting in the car, preparing to go to the State Fair and I just said “No.” Julia just discovered the garage door opener and began pressing the button, watching the door close, then open, then close, then open. I started to take it away, when I thought “What harm is it really? What’s the big deal?” There are still ground rules, she must obey, cheerfully, even when I say “No.” For example, the keys are always off limits, since we have an alarm and the little red panic button is just too much temptation. “No” isn’t bad, it helps her learn boundaries, self-control, patience, but sometimes “No” is more for my convenience and less for her own good. But, for today, I’m going to try saying “Yes” more. Let Julia just be a toddler, exploring her world, learning about new things and realizing that mama will say “Yes” just as often as I say “No.”
Potty training, Day 11
Posted on: August 21, 2009
WOO-HOO!!
That is about all I can say right now.
Seriously. I am just too, too excited!
I took the girls to Chicago on Tuesday. Julia made it the whole way there without one accident (even though she was wearing a diaper). About 2 hours into our trip, she asked to go potty, so we made a stop. Once in Chicago, she did really well for the first half of the trip (about 2-3 hours) but then bathrooms became scarce she had a few accidents.
Yesterday around, 11, I realized that Julia had made it through the whole morning without one accident. Multiple times she told me when she needed to go to the potty, without any prompting. Then 5 rolled around and she still hadn’t had any accidents. We had been out twice running errands, one of which she informed me she needed to go, but had to wait till we got home (15 minutes later). Things are going just as well today. No accidents, she’s telling me when she needs to go or I take her when I think enough time has passed that she might need to go.
We’re still working on a system of going before we ever leave the house, going as soon as we come home. I’ve found that she has the most accidents when she’s outside and too distracted. Usually, she’ll start going and come running to me saying “Uh-oh, potty”. So, when she’s outside I have to stay on top of it with her, to help her out.
She’s been staying dry overnight for at least a week and has only had one wet diaper during naps. Holy cow, I am thrilled! We got this book from the library, “No More Diapers for Ducky!” and she wants to read it all the time. Which, hey, if it’s gonna help her and be even more of an encouragement, then I am all for it! Kinda like her obsession with “Zoo Poo” (which I kinda like, because she always asks for it when she needs to poo, so I know what to expect 😉 ).
Here’s two questions I’ve got for all you moms who have potty trained:
1. What did you use during naps/overnight when your kiddo was staying dry, but you wanted back up just in case?
2. What did you use during trips/longer outings, when a bathroom might not be available all the time and accidents might be more likely to happen?
So far, we’ve gone with the no-diapers-except-for-sleeping-or-long-trips (aka, our trip to Chicago this week), but I’d really love to try no-diapers-ever and see how we do. I have waterproof trainers, but for some reason Julia HATES them and cries whenever she has to wear them. Any suggestions would be awesome.
Truthful Thursday – Galatians 6
Posted on: August 20, 2009
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“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.” Galatians 6:14-15
Pictures
Posted on: August 14, 2009
This one makes me laugh - she was crying because I wouldn't give her the camera.
*Thanks Holly, for flipping my pictures!!
Random kiddo updates
Posted on: August 14, 2009
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Julia:
We’ve made it through 5 days of potty training with more success than failure! We’ve ventured out several times without any accidents. Wednesday night, on the way home from church she told us she needed to go potty. We had just passed the last gas station before getting on the interstate, so we pulled over and let her go in the grass. She thought it was a riot. I figure it’s good training for us on our trip to Nashville. Last night Jonathan and I went out on a date and dropped Julia off with some friends. On the way there she had an accident (which was more my fault – too rushed getting out the door before hand to remember to ask her to go) and then had an accident once she was there. But, hey, that’s okay. Also, today she started telling me again when she needs to go. Several months back she had been doing this, but then stopped. But since this morning she’s told me two or three times without being asked. Woot-woot!
Hannah:
Hannah had her 2 month appointment yesterday. She’s weighing in at 12 pounds! She hated the shots (obviously) but handling the aftermath like a champ. Yesterday I started her on no-swaddle during naps. This is a big deal in my mind. With Julia, she would never sleep without being swaddled, but would always manage to come unswaddled, thus waking up before she was really ready. But so far, Hannah has done well napping without the swaddle. Part of me thinks it might be in part to her sleeping with us at night – I usually unswaddle her when she’s in our bed and in the mornings she’s asleep in our bed for about an hour on her own, so the transition hasn’t been rough. I’m hopeful that Hannah will be napping and sleeping overnight unswaddled by four months (again – to most this might not be a big deal, but with me it’s HUGE!).
Jack:
Jack is a dog. There’s not much to report, other than he’s gotten a little pudgy in the middle over the last few weeks. About 4 weeks ago, Jack got a nasty hot spot on his neck. The vet gave him some steroids, warning that they might make him more hungry/thirsty. Um, yeah, Jack is really hungry. All. The. Time. At first I was feeding him whenever he’d seem hungry – never a good idea. We’re back to his normal feeding schedule, but he’s still pudgy. But, I have to admit, it’s kinda cute. 😉
Truthful Thursday – Galatians 5
Posted on: August 13, 2009
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“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives…Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:16a; 24-25
Comic relief
Posted on: August 13, 2009
My friend, Dana, once wrote a post about how she thinks her life is an episode from Seinfeld. I decided that whatever show my life takes after, I must be the comic relief.
Tuesday morning I took the girls to run a few errands. One of them was going to the library to pay a few late fines (they really should have a new mom leniency program). When we first got there, I took Mabel to the potty. As I’m steering my ginormous double stroller into the restroom, Jonathan calls. I walk into the family bathroom (it’s not a stall, but actual bathroom) and the automatic light doesn’t come on. The stroller is so huge, that I’m struggling to push it all the way into the restroom. All the while, talking on the phone, trying to turn on the light (that is, again, suppose to be automatic and has no real switch), and keep Mabel from peeing in her big girl pants. I toss my purse off my shoulder onto the counter (still in the dark), when I hear water.
Water is never a good sign.
The light finally comes on, I turn around to see my purse, laying in the toddler sink, water running. Because, clearly, the automatic light won’t work when I need it, but the sink will! I grab my purse, just to see that the bag of M&M’s I brought as potty rewards is sitting in the sink soaking wet. Perfect.
For about 10 seconds I was pretty irritated. Then I realized just how ridiculously funny the situation really was, and I laughed. My life might not be an episode from Seinfeld, but one thing is for sure; if there is ever a show about the ridiculous things that happens to moms, my life could supply ample amounts of material.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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