We had a celebration, today, for my upcoming birthday. There is nothing more I could have asked for than my beautiful daughter entertaining the crowd....
8.28.2011
8.27.2011
Toddler Tidbits
You know you are living with a toddler when...
...mowing the lawn is quite possibly the most amazing event ever invented.
...anything that has words on it or that could have words on it (ie: blank note cards) says Aria.
...pure joy comes from simple things like seeing not one, but TWO hot air balloons in the sky.
...you learn the hard way that strawberry snack bars are not a good snack unsupervised in the car.
...you have to explain that the stuff inside ravioli is meat, not dirt.
...you think you are living with the dog whisperer because she can bark in different tones to reflect the sound of whatever dog we encounter.
...mowing the lawn is quite possibly the most amazing event ever invented.
...anything that has words on it or that could have words on it (ie: blank note cards) says Aria.
...pure joy comes from simple things like seeing not one, but TWO hot air balloons in the sky.
...you learn the hard way that strawberry snack bars are not a good snack unsupervised in the car.
...you have to explain that the stuff inside ravioli is meat, not dirt.
...you think you are living with the dog whisperer because she can bark in different tones to reflect the sound of whatever dog we encounter.
8.26.2011
AMAZING Book Series!
I haven't done much of anything during my free time this week but read The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Wow! Easily one of my favorite series. The books are set in the future United States, only it is called Panem. What was originally the US rebelled against the government and lost. Now the "Capitol" enforces each of the 12 districts to send one boy and one girl per year to participate in a televised fight to the death. The Hunger Games happen in an arena created by the Capitol and the Gamemakers with all sorts of extra roadblocks to fight besides each other. The main character is Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to participate in the Games to take the place of her younger sister. Katniss is from the poorest district 12 and has learned how to survive and support her family after her father is killed in a mine explosion. She hunts illegally, trades on the black market, and trusts no one. She is intelligent, rough, and resilient; a very likable character!
This series fits in the same category as books like Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, and 1984. In my opinion it is better than all of those. I really like books with projections of the future, even if they seem a little far-fetched. I enjoyed this entire series a lot. I'm so glad I have a Kindle because as soon as I finished one, I had to start the next and I could by just downloading it! I loved the action and suspense created by the kill or be killed battle of the games. I also really liked that the main characters were teens. For some reason that made it more interesting to me than if the fighters had been adults. I liked how the story continued throughout the three books. Sometimes I don't like series because the books often don't feel related to each other by the end, but not this one. I couldn't put any of the books down and I enjoyed the entire story from start to finish! I haven't given much info beyond the start of the first book, but I don't want to give the story away for those that wish to read them! I would highly recommend it!
This series fits in the same category as books like Fahrenheit 451, The Giver, and 1984. In my opinion it is better than all of those. I really like books with projections of the future, even if they seem a little far-fetched. I enjoyed this entire series a lot. I'm so glad I have a Kindle because as soon as I finished one, I had to start the next and I could by just downloading it! I loved the action and suspense created by the kill or be killed battle of the games. I also really liked that the main characters were teens. For some reason that made it more interesting to me than if the fighters had been adults. I liked how the story continued throughout the three books. Sometimes I don't like series because the books often don't feel related to each other by the end, but not this one. I couldn't put any of the books down and I enjoyed the entire story from start to finish! I haven't given much info beyond the start of the first book, but I don't want to give the story away for those that wish to read them! I would highly recommend it!
8.22.2011
Upside Down Chicken Pot Pie
I haven't done a recipe in awhile. It isn't because we haven't tried some new and delicious ones, I just haven't got around to putting them up. However, last week we tried one that I liked a lot! Here is a link to the website where I got it. I always forget about the crock pot in the summer. I feel like it is just for cozy stews in the wintertime, but it was super nice to not have to make supper at 5ish. We could stay outside playing longer! I really liked this "chicken pot pie" because it seemed a bit lighter. I'm not big on real creamy things, so this worked for me. I also like making the biscuits and eating the chicken mixture on top of them. It was a nice twist. Aria and Justin also both liked it. I'm sure we'll be having it many times again!
8.20.2011
House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker
I read a lot. In my mind, I'm always going to blog about the books I read because maybe some of you out there will be interested in them and it is a good way for me to reflect on what I took away from the story. However, I am often halfway through my next book by the time I blog about the previous one and then I just get confused. Usually I only blog about books I really enjoyed. Actually, I don't often read an entire book I don't enjoy unless it is for some sort of class or with a group. But this time, not so much. I really was not a fan of House. Yet for some reason, I just kept reading. It is kind of hard to explain without just telling the whole story. I enjoyed the suspense and the over-arching theme of good versus evil, but I really did not like the supernatural details. I kept reading because I did want to know how good would win (because good always has to win). The story is about two separate couples whose tires are slashed on a back road in Alabama. The only place to go for help is a lone house, which is where they meet each other. Once inside the house a whole slew of strange things begin happening to them, including learning they are a part of a game with these rules: 1. God came to my house and I killed him. 2. I will kill anyone who comes to my house like I killed God. 3. Give me one dead body and I might let rule #2 slide. The reader can tell throughout the book that the four main characters must repent of their sins and trust God and the evil will go away. I like that part. I just didn't like all the weird supernatural parts like there all of a sudden being multiples of the same character. I can see how this type of book would appeal to many readers out there, it just wasn't for me. I like fantasy and strange beyond belief type stories, but this one was a little too much. Needless to say, I'm glad I stuck it out because I did like it a small fraction better once I actually got to the end and now I know to avoid these types of books in the future. My list of 'want to read' is certainly long enough already that I should be able to do just that.
8.17.2011
Snacks and Stories
This summer I've started to realize an 'accidental parenting' moment. I'm a big fan of Aria using these cups for her snacks. There is much less mess, they are easy to take on the go, and she really likes them. However, I discovered I was always using those cups for snack time, even if we weren't on the go. That brought two problems. First, those cups limit the type of snack to small, dry items like cereal or goldfish. Second, Aria thought she needed to carry that snack cup around all morning and all afternoon slowly snacking on the contents. I did limit the amount in the cup, but it felt like she was just eating all day. I've actually read that it is good for toddlers to eat small amounts multiple times throughout the day, but I felt we had taken that a little too far. So, I decided to break her of the snack cup carrying routine. It actually went much better than I anticipated. I did it by offering her some really fun snacks like blueberries (one of her favorites), crackers and cheese, and fruit bars. None of those snacks would work in her little cup, so we had to sit at the table to eat them. She immediately caught on. Now, I give her a choice between a couple different snacks. She chooses one, runs over to the tupperware cupboard, gets out her bowl, and takes it to her seat at the table! I love how independent she is becoming!
After a few days of our new routine, I thought I would try to fix another problem we'd been having lately...sitting still for stories. Aria still really loves books, but she is so busy she often doesn't want to sit and read an entire book. One day, while she was eating her snack at the table, I decided to try reading her a story. Caught on like wild fire! Now we have snack and story time every afternoon and it is one of my favorite times of the day. Aria explores the books way more than she does when we aren't at the table. We can spend several minutes looking at the pictures on each page and talking about the story!
I know these are simple concepts that other parents probably figured out from the start, but for some reason they just registered in my brain. They have definitely been positive transitions in my house! And even though the type of snacks and stories will change, I think it is a habit that can last forever!
After a few days of our new routine, I thought I would try to fix another problem we'd been having lately...sitting still for stories. Aria still really loves books, but she is so busy she often doesn't want to sit and read an entire book. One day, while she was eating her snack at the table, I decided to try reading her a story. Caught on like wild fire! Now we have snack and story time every afternoon and it is one of my favorite times of the day. Aria explores the books way more than she does when we aren't at the table. We can spend several minutes looking at the pictures on each page and talking about the story!
I know these are simple concepts that other parents probably figured out from the start, but for some reason they just registered in my brain. They have definitely been positive transitions in my house! And even though the type of snacks and stories will change, I think it is a habit that can last forever!
8.14.2011
Top 5 Reasons Why I Should Not Clean My House
5. I don't like it.
4. It really is kind of gross to clean up toilets, dog hair, left over food pieces, grass, dust, and other weird items.
3. Why clean when it is just going to get dirty again a few minutes later?
2. I could be spending my time and way more important things!
1. Why clean when you have someone else so eager to do it?
4. It really is kind of gross to clean up toilets, dog hair, left over food pieces, grass, dust, and other weird items.
3. Why clean when it is just going to get dirty again a few minutes later?
2. I could be spending my time and way more important things!
1. Why clean when you have someone else so eager to do it?
8.12.2011
Toddler Tidbits
You know you are living with a toddler when...
...she insists upon putting on "nunnie" before going outside even if it isn't sunny enough to need sunscreen.
...you know that "bup" is a request for whatever condiment goes best with the meal you are having and that it will be eaten by the fingerfuls minus whatever should be being used to dip into said "bup".
...you learn the hard way that all tupperware should be washed out BEFORE use because it probably has been used as a hat, a part of a tower, a drool container, or a dog hair collector.
...you give the dog a treat and say, "what do you say" as if the dog will say thank you.
...you feel completely helpless and wish, hope, and pray that God will somehow magically lift the snot and mucus from your child's nose and chest and place it into your own just so she doesn't have to feel any pain.
...you allow a container of mustard to be a toy.
...wearing one shoe two sizes too small (and having one barefoot) and walking around the house is a most hilarious activity.
...on the hottest summer day you dream of winter because it is fun to play dress up!
...she insists upon putting on "nunnie" before going outside even if it isn't sunny enough to need sunscreen.
...you know that "bup" is a request for whatever condiment goes best with the meal you are having and that it will be eaten by the fingerfuls minus whatever should be being used to dip into said "bup".
...you learn the hard way that all tupperware should be washed out BEFORE use because it probably has been used as a hat, a part of a tower, a drool container, or a dog hair collector.
...you give the dog a treat and say, "what do you say" as if the dog will say thank you.
...you feel completely helpless and wish, hope, and pray that God will somehow magically lift the snot and mucus from your child's nose and chest and place it into your own just so she doesn't have to feel any pain.
...you allow a container of mustard to be a toy.
...wearing one shoe two sizes too small (and having one barefoot) and walking around the house is a most hilarious activity.
...on the hottest summer day you dream of winter because it is fun to play dress up!
8.11.2011
It's Not a Competition
Warning: This blog post might irritate some readers.
Notice: It is not written with the intent to irritate readers, merely to express the opinions of this author.
Competition is something I have enjoyed most of my life. I love sports. I played several sports all the way through college. I coached. I love competition. But when it comes to my child, enough already! It is so easy to get sucked into the "what is your child doing?" "how old was she when she accomplished that skill?" "can so and so do what she is doing?" It is especially easy when you are a stay at home mom and your adult interaction is usually with other stay at home moms who have kids around the age of your child.
I love my group of moms and kids that Aria and I get to interact with, usually on a weekly basis. I love that Aria recognizes and asks about her friends. I love that I have friends! I don't love how I get caught up in comparing the talent level and skills of our children. It never fails that the conversations lead to crawling, walking, talking, eating with a spoon, potty training, recognizing letters, saying prayers, jumping, singing, making animal noises, etc, etc, etc. While I think it is important to have conversations on those topics, I often leave frustrated or feeling like a failure as a mom because my kid isn't doing something that another kid is.
I admit, I am very guilty of doing a lot of the comparing. I ask questions because I want to make sure Aria is developing like she should. But sometimes my questions are about things that aren't necessarily vital developmental issues. Or, they are about something that I know Aria is already way ahead in. My reason/excuse for doing this is my lack of confidence in social situations. I don't know what else to talk about, so I talk about Aria and what she can do. Most of the time I talk myself into feeling silly.
However, there are other times when I feel like other moms are trying to one up my stories about Aria. I might have shared something she did just because I thought it was cute, funny, or cool. But then I hear a story about how that kid did it better. I really don't like that. I don't like how some people want their kid to be the first and the best at everything. Well, that sounds silly because we all want the very best for our kids. But some people go over the top with their expectations because of some desire for saying their kid was the first or the best.
Why does it have to be a competition? A friend once told me, "They all walk, talk, and go to the bathroom by themselves by the time they go to kindergarten so there's no use worrying about it now." So true. Even at Aria's young age there are tasks that were accomplished so long ago they don't matter anymore. Take crawling for example. I would say Aria was an average to late crawler. She rolled instead. Does that matter now? Does it effect her in any way? She doesn't even need that skill anymore, except to crawl through her tunnels! So, why did I and others make it such a competition from six to ten months when it was at the height of necessity?
The bigger problem is the insecurities we have within ourselves. We don't just compare our kids, we compare ourselves. We compare body types, mothering skills, cooking skills, degrees, house cleanliness, knowledge of the Bible, organization, and a plethora of other things. None of that is necessary. God made each of us unique, beautiful, and special. That includes our kids and our husbands. My purpose is different than any other person's. Aria's abilities are unique to her, not the same as all the other toddlers in our area. We should be celebrating our differences and using them to help others.
I've been thinking about this competition thing a lot lately. I hope that putting my thoughts into words on this screen will make me stop the comparing and start celebrating differences. It would certainly make my world a better place!
Notice: It is not written with the intent to irritate readers, merely to express the opinions of this author.
Competition is something I have enjoyed most of my life. I love sports. I played several sports all the way through college. I coached. I love competition. But when it comes to my child, enough already! It is so easy to get sucked into the "what is your child doing?" "how old was she when she accomplished that skill?" "can so and so do what she is doing?" It is especially easy when you are a stay at home mom and your adult interaction is usually with other stay at home moms who have kids around the age of your child.
I love my group of moms and kids that Aria and I get to interact with, usually on a weekly basis. I love that Aria recognizes and asks about her friends. I love that I have friends! I don't love how I get caught up in comparing the talent level and skills of our children. It never fails that the conversations lead to crawling, walking, talking, eating with a spoon, potty training, recognizing letters, saying prayers, jumping, singing, making animal noises, etc, etc, etc. While I think it is important to have conversations on those topics, I often leave frustrated or feeling like a failure as a mom because my kid isn't doing something that another kid is.
I admit, I am very guilty of doing a lot of the comparing. I ask questions because I want to make sure Aria is developing like she should. But sometimes my questions are about things that aren't necessarily vital developmental issues. Or, they are about something that I know Aria is already way ahead in. My reason/excuse for doing this is my lack of confidence in social situations. I don't know what else to talk about, so I talk about Aria and what she can do. Most of the time I talk myself into feeling silly.
However, there are other times when I feel like other moms are trying to one up my stories about Aria. I might have shared something she did just because I thought it was cute, funny, or cool. But then I hear a story about how that kid did it better. I really don't like that. I don't like how some people want their kid to be the first and the best at everything. Well, that sounds silly because we all want the very best for our kids. But some people go over the top with their expectations because of some desire for saying their kid was the first or the best.
Why does it have to be a competition? A friend once told me, "They all walk, talk, and go to the bathroom by themselves by the time they go to kindergarten so there's no use worrying about it now." So true. Even at Aria's young age there are tasks that were accomplished so long ago they don't matter anymore. Take crawling for example. I would say Aria was an average to late crawler. She rolled instead. Does that matter now? Does it effect her in any way? She doesn't even need that skill anymore, except to crawl through her tunnels! So, why did I and others make it such a competition from six to ten months when it was at the height of necessity?
The bigger problem is the insecurities we have within ourselves. We don't just compare our kids, we compare ourselves. We compare body types, mothering skills, cooking skills, degrees, house cleanliness, knowledge of the Bible, organization, and a plethora of other things. None of that is necessary. God made each of us unique, beautiful, and special. That includes our kids and our husbands. My purpose is different than any other person's. Aria's abilities are unique to her, not the same as all the other toddlers in our area. We should be celebrating our differences and using them to help others.
I've been thinking about this competition thing a lot lately. I hope that putting my thoughts into words on this screen will make me stop the comparing and start celebrating differences. It would certainly make my world a better place!
8.09.2011
Size 3 Please!
This is going to be kind of random, but I discovered recently that Aria has been wearing a size 3 diaper for an entire year now! Holy cow! After going from newborn, to 1, to 2, to 3 in just 6.5 months, she has stayed in size 3 for 12 months! When we got to size 3, a friend of mine told me that size 3 would probably last awhile. I guess so. It is amazing how much infants slow down in their growth once they start moving. Aria used to be this pudgy little thing, always in the 90s for weight percentile. Not that she is skin and bones now, but I'm sure glad the rolls went away! I do have to admit we switched to a size 4 overnight diaper otherwise we would be washing sheets and pajamas every day because of the leakage. But, size 3 still works perfectly fine during the day. She even has a couple more pounds before she exceeds the weight limit listed on the package. I'm certainly going to keep buying them because there are 20 more size 3 diapers in a box than size 4 for the same price! Thank goodness their rate of gain from the first few weeks doesn't continue throughout the first few years!
8.08.2011
Adventureland
The last weekend in July we had the opportunity to go to Adventureland because of my dad's company's fun day. It was Aria's first time at any kind of amusement park and the day couldn't have gone any better! (Okay so it could have been a little less hot and humid) There were many rides we could do with her and she LOVED the water park! We weren't quite ready to let her go on the under 54 inches rides by herself, so she couldn't do all the kiddie rides, but I was impressed with how much there was for her to do. I never really noticed those things before I had someone who would enjoy them! It is amazing to me how differently we approached the place than the last time we were there as a pre-child couple. I could have cared less about going on rides myself. I got so much joy out of watching Aria have so much joy! Enjoy the pics!
8.07.2011
Golden
Today is our golden anniversary! No, we haven't been married for 50 years, yet, just seven years on the seventh! I'm sure you've all heard of the golden birthday, aka star birthday (which I get to celebrate later this month). I'm not sure if it applies to anniversaries, but I'm going to! I think it is probably more for approximately five to 12 year olds to point out if their star birthday falls in those years of life, but oh well. I am a numbers person and I really like the number seven. And, I like my husband, a lot! I can't believe it's been seven years, yet it feels like I've been with Justin my whole life. He is my best friend, my soul mate, my other half. God knew exactly what he was doing when he placed us together. We compliment, challenge, and love each other so deeply. I am so thankful for a wonderful marriage that grows stronger every day and for August 7th to celebrate every year!
For our golden day we went to a water park sans child. Even though we spent time scoping out how much fun Aria would have at the park, we really enjoyed having some married couple time. No I don't have any cute pictures or videos of our experience because I don't think pictures of two almost 30 year olds are even remotely as fun to look at as pictures of a very cute 18 month old. And because we didn't even bring the camera. It is amazing how much lighter the load is when we go somewhere without Aria. Anyway, we had a blast! It was fun to go down the adult slides, scream, laugh, and enjoy each other's company. It was a beautiful day and the park wasn't too busy! Thanks, Justin for a great day and for a great seven years! I love you so much!
For our golden day we went to a water park sans child. Even though we spent time scoping out how much fun Aria would have at the park, we really enjoyed having some married couple time. No I don't have any cute pictures or videos of our experience because I don't think pictures of two almost 30 year olds are even remotely as fun to look at as pictures of a very cute 18 month old. And because we didn't even bring the camera. It is amazing how much lighter the load is when we go somewhere without Aria. Anyway, we had a blast! It was fun to go down the adult slides, scream, laugh, and enjoy each other's company. It was a beautiful day and the park wasn't too busy! Thanks, Justin for a great day and for a great seven years! I love you so much!
8.03.2011
All By Myself!
It has been a few weeks since Aria accomplished the slide all by herself on her bottom. She used to climb up and go down on her tummy face first. She is so proud of herself every time she goes down! She has a new love for the slide and goes down over and over again.
8.02.2011
To Air or Not To Air
I really dislike air conditioning. Well, actually, on a day like today, I am quite thankful for it. But, I still don't like it. This post is probably going to sound like I'm complaining about the weather, but it really isn't. I can't stand it when people complain about the weather. It is not something you can control, so what good does it do to complain about it? Sure, the weather often ruins many occasions with rain-outs, snowstorms, too much heat, droughts, ice, etc. But you can't control it. That being said, I would like to point out that it is hot here and it has been for quite awhile. I don't ever remember having the air conditioner on for this many days in a row. I am a windows open kind of girl and I try to do that as much as possible. In fact, there was a nice breeze this morning, so I turned off the air and opened a few windows. It hit 80 degrees in here at 9:00 am. So, I shut them and turned the air back on. I knew it would be short lived, but it felt so good to breathe in the fresh air! I've spent many days this summer hoping we could survive without the air conditioning. I turn it off and we sweat away until it is 85 or 86 in here and I can't take it anymore. Most people probably just leave their air on, but I just can't do it all the time. It has to be shut off occasionally. So, here's to Fall (my favorite season) and hopefully a time when we can comfortably open the windows!
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