Favorite Things: Watching Alaska play around you.
Special Talent: Rolling over and over and over. You don't have much direction, but you make up your fun as you go.
Favorite Pastime: Being on the floor. You learned to sit up maybe a week or two after turning 6 months and it's about time. I have been waiting and waiting. You are so incredibly heavy that I hate carrying the carseat with you in it everywhere we go. I have been waiting for you to sit up since you were 4 months and weighed 15 pounds. You now weigh 20 pounds and enough is enough of hauling the carseat around.
NickNames: T-Man and Bubby.
Sleep: Up at 7, down at 8. A couple naps, one at 9 am and another around 1 pm.
Eating: You are all switched to cereal and a baby food. I give you 4 oz of formula in a sippy cup when you are all done.
Crying: Never, never, never.
Dislikes: Green Beans.
Likes: Being with me. You make me feel so awesome and special because you are so smiley and happy. I am absolutely in love with the idea of me being your first love.
My favorite part: I think it is just the cutest when you push yourself up off the floor and suspend there, looking around and taking in the world.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Ooozy Love
Sometimes my dreams and hopes and wishes are so powerful and big that they make me forget to breathe. Sometimes I look at my little family - my babies - and I want so much more. More love, smiles, hugs, sharing, laughing, more stories. Adding Talmage into our family made me realize even more than ever before that our family is not complete. His sweetness and the diversity that just one more person can add has awakened all my senses. Perhaps I am being falsely coaxed because he is just so incredibly wonderful and relaxed and mellow and I always feel like, "I've got this." More so than the, "What am I doing? I can't go out in public at all." I am rocking this Mommy thing and I am not afraid to say it like it is, and I want more.
I always knew that I had more love than just Alaska could handle and that my love would be expanded equally for all the children I have because that's what love does. It just grows and develops and oozes all over the place. What I didn't expect was that my love for Alaska would grow so tremendously by having another baby around. But I look at her and how she treats her little brother and look at him, how he smiles big and bounces around when he sees her after a mini absence and my heart just fills. And I want more of that. I know that with each addition our family gets that the love will keep growing and oozing until there's hardly room for anything else. Sure, I know there will be fights and hair pulling and pinching and biting, but perhaps those things make room for more love by giving opportunity for "I'm sorries" and "It's okays".
But I do remember the feeling of only wanting to be Alaska's momma. I wanted to be able to give her all of me. Everything. To be there for just her when she had a class party or to be able to record her every move at a recital when in all reality, there's a big chance I could miss it by taking someone to the bathroom that needed to go. As much as I still want all of that - I can feel the love magnify between the two kids and I want that everyday love more than I want the perfection of giving 100% of my attention all of the time. I can do this.
I want more babies to keep proving to myself that I've got this handled. I feel so stagnant. So... boring when I have to stay at home with the two of them. They are so easy and I am grateful for that because I don't have to worry about them when they are at the babysitters. It makes it easier for me to leave them and go sub. Which I absolutely love. Love love love. I definitely picked the right degree. Just flexible enough with just enough reward for working all day, it is absolutely perfect. I am really loving it, especially since I know they are with people who love them (Steven's parents) and I have a great back-up babysitter that loves on them, too, when I am working. But when we move and I don't have all that, I am going to need another baby to keep me busy.
I always knew that I had more love than just Alaska could handle and that my love would be expanded equally for all the children I have because that's what love does. It just grows and develops and oozes all over the place. What I didn't expect was that my love for Alaska would grow so tremendously by having another baby around. But I look at her and how she treats her little brother and look at him, how he smiles big and bounces around when he sees her after a mini absence and my heart just fills. And I want more of that. I know that with each addition our family gets that the love will keep growing and oozing until there's hardly room for anything else. Sure, I know there will be fights and hair pulling and pinching and biting, but perhaps those things make room for more love by giving opportunity for "I'm sorries" and "It's okays".
But I do remember the feeling of only wanting to be Alaska's momma. I wanted to be able to give her all of me. Everything. To be there for just her when she had a class party or to be able to record her every move at a recital when in all reality, there's a big chance I could miss it by taking someone to the bathroom that needed to go. As much as I still want all of that - I can feel the love magnify between the two kids and I want that everyday love more than I want the perfection of giving 100% of my attention all of the time. I can do this.
I want more babies to keep proving to myself that I've got this handled. I feel so stagnant. So... boring when I have to stay at home with the two of them. They are so easy and I am grateful for that because I don't have to worry about them when they are at the babysitters. It makes it easier for me to leave them and go sub. Which I absolutely love. Love love love. I definitely picked the right degree. Just flexible enough with just enough reward for working all day, it is absolutely perfect. I am really loving it, especially since I know they are with people who love them (Steven's parents) and I have a great back-up babysitter that loves on them, too, when I am working. But when we move and I don't have all that, I am going to need another baby to keep me busy.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Random Ponderings
I need more reflection. More quiet. More peace. Which I know will translate into more energy and more amazing things I am able to do. I feel like I need a little fire under my bum, a little wind in my sails and a little energy.
So this year, instead of aiming to blog every day (who did I think I was?) I will compromise with a little reflection time in my day. A little time where I can do what I want and grow in my spirituality, which in turn will be passed on to others. I know for a fact that if I am reading my scriptures every day then I am much more smiley and happy with other people and not so worried with what everyone is thinking - just happy jogging through life at my own pace, waving and cheering on to those around me.
Being part of the young women presidency in our ward (unofficial at this point, but whatevs) we have ordered study books and journals for the weekly yw lessons and I can already see it making a difference. I love journaling, I really do, but it's hard to do when I don't have a goal. These journals are absolutely amazing because they have fill in the blank questions. Questions with lines made just for my special answers. It's been really great. And the girls got journals for their lessons, complete with entry squares down in the bottom of each week that ask questions like, "How am I going to serve God this week" and "How will I apply what I learned this week" - I am really excited to use them and our goal is to make them a smash book style thing with lots of handouts and washi tape and colored ink. I hope the girls can catch the vision.
We are losing one of our girls to a boarding school where she supposedly is going to make up a lot of lost credits due to her being in and out of homeschooling and regular schooling and switching high schools and stuff. She's not a beehive, but we have a special connection because I helped her make a baby quilt when neither of us knew what we were doing. We worked merely be faith and a 'well, let's get this done' kind of attitude. Which is really the only kind of attitude that gets things done. We spent a whole day on it and concluded with binding it, as well, which I will never do again, and honestly, looking back, don't know how I did it the one time. She's super outgoing and the most interruptive of all the girls we have. Knowing the bigger picture of energy, I know she is the kind of girl who will actually go and do something and as she gets older that energy will tame and she will be an absolute joy to be around. It's just a lot of lessons to get through between now and then, ya know?
I am going to miss her and want to let her know we're all back here rooting for her. Some packages and letters and things. Don't let me forget, that's why I am writing this down.
So this year, instead of aiming to blog every day (who did I think I was?) I will compromise with a little reflection time in my day. A little time where I can do what I want and grow in my spirituality, which in turn will be passed on to others. I know for a fact that if I am reading my scriptures every day then I am much more smiley and happy with other people and not so worried with what everyone is thinking - just happy jogging through life at my own pace, waving and cheering on to those around me.
Being part of the young women presidency in our ward (unofficial at this point, but whatevs) we have ordered study books and journals for the weekly yw lessons and I can already see it making a difference. I love journaling, I really do, but it's hard to do when I don't have a goal. These journals are absolutely amazing because they have fill in the blank questions. Questions with lines made just for my special answers. It's been really great. And the girls got journals for their lessons, complete with entry squares down in the bottom of each week that ask questions like, "How am I going to serve God this week" and "How will I apply what I learned this week" - I am really excited to use them and our goal is to make them a smash book style thing with lots of handouts and washi tape and colored ink. I hope the girls can catch the vision.
We are losing one of our girls to a boarding school where she supposedly is going to make up a lot of lost credits due to her being in and out of homeschooling and regular schooling and switching high schools and stuff. She's not a beehive, but we have a special connection because I helped her make a baby quilt when neither of us knew what we were doing. We worked merely be faith and a 'well, let's get this done' kind of attitude. Which is really the only kind of attitude that gets things done. We spent a whole day on it and concluded with binding it, as well, which I will never do again, and honestly, looking back, don't know how I did it the one time. She's super outgoing and the most interruptive of all the girls we have. Knowing the bigger picture of energy, I know she is the kind of girl who will actually go and do something and as she gets older that energy will tame and she will be an absolute joy to be around. It's just a lot of lessons to get through between now and then, ya know?
I am going to miss her and want to let her know we're all back here rooting for her. Some packages and letters and things. Don't let me forget, that's why I am writing this down.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
6 Months With Talmage
Favorite Things: People playing down on the ground with you.
Special Talent: Rolling in circles. Somehow you do it. I haven't payed much attention as I am always off doing something and then coming back to you, but one minute you'll be faced one way and the next you'll be 180 to it. You chewed your first item that you weren't supposed to be able to reach and make a big, paper and spit mess on the floor and whimpered as I dug it all out of your mouth.
Favorite Pastime: Tummy time. You absolutely love being on the ground.
NickNames: T-Man
Sleep: Winter break really threw a curve ball at us this past month and you were getting up around 8 am after going to bed closer to 9 and 10. Never did you throw a fit or anything about not being in your bed. You catch naps after being up for every two hours until the evening. Then you last from about 3 - bed time without a nap.
Eating: Maybe this is your favorite thing, actually. You love your food. I give you enough cereal to mix with 3 or 4 ounces of formula combined with one pea or carrot food jar. I was topping you off with 4 oz of water until Nana added some prune juice to your water and you haven't been happy with water since. So now you are a juice boy and then I remembered that you should probably still be getting more formula than just from your cereal so instead of juice I give you 4 oz of formula in a sippy cup after each meal to top you off.
Crying: Poopy diapers and when you're tired.
Dislikes: Loud noises and people in your face.
Likes: Toys. They have finally grabbed your attention and you love them. Especially a ball that you got 3 of this past Christmas. It's easy to grab onto because it is more like a wired together ball than an actual ball, so it is very easy to grasp and you love getting it and throwing it and getting it back.
My favorite part: Kissing your forehead goodnight. It is the perfect size and shape right now that my lips can just press against it perfectly. I also like getting you up in the morning. You are so happy to see me that you squirm and smile really big. No noise, just a lot of wiggling back and forth and big smiles.
Special Talent: Rolling in circles. Somehow you do it. I haven't payed much attention as I am always off doing something and then coming back to you, but one minute you'll be faced one way and the next you'll be 180 to it. You chewed your first item that you weren't supposed to be able to reach and make a big, paper and spit mess on the floor and whimpered as I dug it all out of your mouth.
Favorite Pastime: Tummy time. You absolutely love being on the ground.
NickNames: T-Man
Sleep: Winter break really threw a curve ball at us this past month and you were getting up around 8 am after going to bed closer to 9 and 10. Never did you throw a fit or anything about not being in your bed. You catch naps after being up for every two hours until the evening. Then you last from about 3 - bed time without a nap.
Eating: Maybe this is your favorite thing, actually. You love your food. I give you enough cereal to mix with 3 or 4 ounces of formula combined with one pea or carrot food jar. I was topping you off with 4 oz of water until Nana added some prune juice to your water and you haven't been happy with water since. So now you are a juice boy and then I remembered that you should probably still be getting more formula than just from your cereal so instead of juice I give you 4 oz of formula in a sippy cup after each meal to top you off.
Crying: Poopy diapers and when you're tired.
Dislikes: Loud noises and people in your face.
Likes: Toys. They have finally grabbed your attention and you love them. Especially a ball that you got 3 of this past Christmas. It's easy to grab onto because it is more like a wired together ball than an actual ball, so it is very easy to grasp and you love getting it and throwing it and getting it back.
My favorite part: Kissing your forehead goodnight. It is the perfect size and shape right now that my lips can just press against it perfectly. I also like getting you up in the morning. You are so happy to see me that you squirm and smile really big. No noise, just a lot of wiggling back and forth and big smiles.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
She's Still Got It
26. The magic age that years start to feel not so long. 6 months. The magic amount of time after having a baby that I feel like I can conquer the world, again. I might be able to do this, after all.
Days hold lots of smiles and memories, punctuated with pictures. Weeks fly by, measured by Sunday lessons taught and days spent at the gym. And the months. They add up with days of substitute teaching counted and students I have met. It's a good life right now. Maybe in an apartment that is too small and a car that is even smaller, but it's good.
We went to a new year's party last night. A 1920s murder mystery. The most fun part: dressing up. I scoured a couple of thrift stores before settling on what was once the most ugliest piece of clothing invented. But it was sparkly and that's what I needed. And, guess who pulled off 'Best Dressed' for the night? Yeah, this girl right here. I've still got it. Take that. And I was able to do it modestly, neckline, sleeves, and length. You can do that when the piece you originally start working with is a long sleeved, floor length, turtle-neck. I have the before and after pictures to prove my awesomeness.
Days hold lots of smiles and memories, punctuated with pictures. Weeks fly by, measured by Sunday lessons taught and days spent at the gym. And the months. They add up with days of substitute teaching counted and students I have met. It's a good life right now. Maybe in an apartment that is too small and a car that is even smaller, but it's good.
We went to a new year's party last night. A 1920s murder mystery. The most fun part: dressing up. I scoured a couple of thrift stores before settling on what was once the most ugliest piece of clothing invented. But it was sparkly and that's what I needed. And, guess who pulled off 'Best Dressed' for the night? Yeah, this girl right here. I've still got it. Take that. And I was able to do it modestly, neckline, sleeves, and length. You can do that when the piece you originally start working with is a long sleeved, floor length, turtle-neck. I have the before and after pictures to prove my awesomeness.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
I Already do the Least Amount Required
It seems that there are times when I cannot get enough of pinterest and then other times when I don't visit for weeks at a time. Sometimes I am just picture surfing, other times I will click a link and actually read it. This past week I opened a link titled 'How to cut your laundry time in half.' I am all about saving some time and most definitely could use anyone's ideas on how to most effectively get the clothes off the couch after they have landed all warm and nice smelling and tend to stay there enough days to get sat upon and crumpled and tossed off and back on a time or two.
Well, turns out, after reading about pre-sorting darks and lights as you wear them, as in having a light and dark basket, and then being able to dump all like clothes in the washer, being sure to pay attention to when it stops and change efficiently to the dryer and then sorting the clothes into who's is who's piles and putting their baskets in their room, having them fold and put away their own clothes and bring baskets back to the home base of the laundry room - I am already doing the least amount of work required. I have that system nailed. Thank you, not thank you. I need MORE!
I have even gone so far as to have a system of clothes. Being in a too-small apartment makes me absolutely loathe excess and I have the kids' clothes cut down to the bare minimum. Yes, they are nice clothes, but they need to be when I see them being worn once a week. I don't have a pile of clothes hidden in their dresser drawers that they only wear in emergency or when things need to be switched up because I can't stand a striped shirt. Nope. They basically have their Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday outfits. And it's not like I have titled them that way, that's just the way it goes. That they wear my more favorite outfits earlier in the week and then they get less and less favorited until a day comes that we're going grocery shopping and then I be sure to have my favorite outfit of theirs washed and ready to go out in public.
I only buy clothes on sale because I have a curse that follows me - but it tends to be the case that if I get an outfit full price it is the first outfit to get a hole or a stain. So, out of pure intent to keep their clothes looking as nice as possible, I only buy clothes on sale and for some reason or another they tend to stay nice. Sure, I've had my laundry battles, but a good bottle of spray and wash or a biz soak conquers most all. Talmage has just started eating baby food and I already know he will never know the sweetness of yams or sweet potatoes because those orange foods stain harder than I have the energy to get out. Carrots are borderline, but I can usually get them out after a second wash.
It's processes like these. Articles that promise more time and then turns out I am already doing as the article prescribes and there's nothing to win from reading. The other articles that I always scour and then end frustrated is how to cut your grocery bill in half. You know, things like only buying the basics, only buying what is on sale, only buying what is on your list, only buying store brand, blah blah blah. I have yet to read one of these articles that actually helps me because I am not already doing whatever it lists above.
Well, turns out, after reading about pre-sorting darks and lights as you wear them, as in having a light and dark basket, and then being able to dump all like clothes in the washer, being sure to pay attention to when it stops and change efficiently to the dryer and then sorting the clothes into who's is who's piles and putting their baskets in their room, having them fold and put away their own clothes and bring baskets back to the home base of the laundry room - I am already doing the least amount of work required. I have that system nailed. Thank you, not thank you. I need MORE!
I have even gone so far as to have a system of clothes. Being in a too-small apartment makes me absolutely loathe excess and I have the kids' clothes cut down to the bare minimum. Yes, they are nice clothes, but they need to be when I see them being worn once a week. I don't have a pile of clothes hidden in their dresser drawers that they only wear in emergency or when things need to be switched up because I can't stand a striped shirt. Nope. They basically have their Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday outfits. And it's not like I have titled them that way, that's just the way it goes. That they wear my more favorite outfits earlier in the week and then they get less and less favorited until a day comes that we're going grocery shopping and then I be sure to have my favorite outfit of theirs washed and ready to go out in public.
I only buy clothes on sale because I have a curse that follows me - but it tends to be the case that if I get an outfit full price it is the first outfit to get a hole or a stain. So, out of pure intent to keep their clothes looking as nice as possible, I only buy clothes on sale and for some reason or another they tend to stay nice. Sure, I've had my laundry battles, but a good bottle of spray and wash or a biz soak conquers most all. Talmage has just started eating baby food and I already know he will never know the sweetness of yams or sweet potatoes because those orange foods stain harder than I have the energy to get out. Carrots are borderline, but I can usually get them out after a second wash.
It's processes like these. Articles that promise more time and then turns out I am already doing as the article prescribes and there's nothing to win from reading. The other articles that I always scour and then end frustrated is how to cut your grocery bill in half. You know, things like only buying the basics, only buying what is on sale, only buying what is on your list, only buying store brand, blah blah blah. I have yet to read one of these articles that actually helps me because I am not already doing whatever it lists above.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
5 months with Talmage
Favorite Things: People smiling at you. You get so excited about it. You'll smile super big at someone and then turn your head down and shake it like your hungry, burrying it into whatever is nearest. It seems to me as if that is a way you have found to communicate how tickled you are that someone is paying so much attention to you. You just can't hold it all in and give them a little show.
Special Talent: Rolling over. But just one way. I always have to remember which way you roll when I put you down so that you don't end up pinned next to a wall too quickly.
Favorite Pastime: Scooting around on the floor and rolling around. It happens so slowly I can't even watch it, but you will be on one side of the room and then tucked up against the couch or the chair that gets in your way occasionally. You don't really seem too interested in scooting around for things, but prefer moving just for the moving part.
NickNames: T-Man - this one is sticking.
Sleep: Up at 7, down at 8. A couple naps thrown in and you still have a tendency to need a nap around 5 pm if we are home.
Eating: At your 4 month appointment the doctor suggested that we switch you from 8 oz to 7 oz. You cry after every feeding, wanting more, but as soon as you are burped you are just fine. I have started giving you cereal and vegetables every once in awhile and you are pro already. You love to eat and are good at keeping it in your mouth and down your throat.
Crying: When you need a diaper change. If you start to fuss a little I look at the clock and can usually predict what's going on by knowing your schedule.
Dislikes: Poopy diapers. These are a big deal around here. Considering that you don't fuss all that much and when you are poopy you let us all know in a big way.
Likes: Your sister. You two are adorable together.
My favorite part: Your chunker thighs. I love squeezing them and holding onto them when I carry your around. You are a sturdy little guy. My little rock.
Special Talent: Rolling over. But just one way. I always have to remember which way you roll when I put you down so that you don't end up pinned next to a wall too quickly.
Favorite Pastime: Scooting around on the floor and rolling around. It happens so slowly I can't even watch it, but you will be on one side of the room and then tucked up against the couch or the chair that gets in your way occasionally. You don't really seem too interested in scooting around for things, but prefer moving just for the moving part.
NickNames: T-Man - this one is sticking.
Sleep: Up at 7, down at 8. A couple naps thrown in and you still have a tendency to need a nap around 5 pm if we are home.
Eating: At your 4 month appointment the doctor suggested that we switch you from 8 oz to 7 oz. You cry after every feeding, wanting more, but as soon as you are burped you are just fine. I have started giving you cereal and vegetables every once in awhile and you are pro already. You love to eat and are good at keeping it in your mouth and down your throat.
Crying: When you need a diaper change. If you start to fuss a little I look at the clock and can usually predict what's going on by knowing your schedule.
Dislikes: Poopy diapers. These are a big deal around here. Considering that you don't fuss all that much and when you are poopy you let us all know in a big way.
Likes: Your sister. You two are adorable together.
My favorite part: Your chunker thighs. I love squeezing them and holding onto them when I carry your around. You are a sturdy little guy. My little rock.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)