This morning I spent:
24 minutes watching Daniel Tiger with Declan
12 minutes having a dance party to Taylor Swift "Shake it off" over and over with Declan
18 minutes laying on my bed watching Declan play in the window curtain
20 minutes walking up and down the back alley with Declan
10 minutes reading books with Declan
11 minutes playing with straws, measuring spoons, and cars with Declan
9 minutes eating a snack with Declan
16 minutes watching Declan and Marshal play tug of war
25 minutes nursing and putting Declan down for a nap
I didn't do the 2 loads of laundry I have piling up and spilling into my hallways. I didn't unload the dishwasher. I didn't clean up the kitchen from breakfast. I didn't find my bedroom under clean laundry. I didn't fold and put away clean diapers. I didn't vacuum the growing piles of dog hair in this Texas heat.
I think this has been my most productive morning yet. No sarcasm. The dishes can pile up and the laundry will still be there but my sweet little, curly haired boy who has the most adorable laugh you've ever heard won't be. He's growing up far too fast for me. He turned 15 months two days ago. 15 MONTHS!!! When on earth did that happen! My sweet child, I don't want to miss a second of you. One more cup of coffee while I watch you play and then I'll start cleaning the kitchen... Maybe... maybe I'll just join you instead. We'll clean tomorrow instead.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Monday, March 2, 2015
Wouldn't trade it for the world
Morning:
I woke up to being vomited on this morning. At least he waited until after 8... I hate waking up before 8... it was 8:02. Whatever. Poor thing, after he vomited and cried (vomited from coughing so hard: Posttussive Emesis, bet you didn't know there was a word for that did you! It's cool I didn't either) Anyways. Vomit. Poor thing wasn't really ready to be awake either and he just laid his head down on my soaking wet chest wanting to cuddle and probably fall back asleep and of course I let him cause what's 5 more minutes in vomit sheets but then he started to cry... probably because we were covered in vomit... We moved to the couch, in new, clean clothes... and coffee for mom. I made an appointment for the doctor at 10 since we are on day 4 of this with a on and off fever and we snuggled and watched TV. Well I did.. He didn't really care. (Just a bad cold the Doctor said)
Afternoon:
I actually have 2 toddlers. One is just super furry... but my afternoon went as follows:
Declan has a ball, Marshal wants the ball. Marshal takes it out of Declan's hand. Declan cries and tries to get the ball back. Marshal skips for joy, he got the ball! I tell Marshal to drop it. Declan picks up the ball. Declan shoves said ball in Marshal's face. Marshal wants the ball. Marshal takes it out of Declan's hand. Declan cries and tries to get the ball back. Marshal skips for joy, he got the ball! I tell Marshal to drop it. Declan picks up the ball.... I tried to give them each their own ball but apparently that thought was ridiculous... I took the ball away.
Evening:
I'm working on my computer and Declan is playing behind me. He toddles of somewhere and I go to find him.. He's in the kitchen. Slipping on something wet. No where near the dog bowl. Now he's fallen in something wet... o good. Dog pee. Thanks for letting me know you needed outside jerk... teenagers (Mr Willi is 15 now and I feel he has the attitude of a 15 year old... or 105 year old.. Either way he doesn't care) I have cleaned up more dog poop, pee, and vomit in a week of Darren being TDY than this past year and add Declan spending the majority of his weekend coughing so hard we both get covered in vomit, well my washer got a workout.
So that was my madhouse of a day. But in case you were wondering, I wouldn't trade it for the world and yes, I can't want to add more little babies to the chaos.
I woke up to being vomited on this morning. At least he waited until after 8... I hate waking up before 8... it was 8:02. Whatever. Poor thing, after he vomited and cried (vomited from coughing so hard: Posttussive Emesis, bet you didn't know there was a word for that did you! It's cool I didn't either) Anyways. Vomit. Poor thing wasn't really ready to be awake either and he just laid his head down on my soaking wet chest wanting to cuddle and probably fall back asleep and of course I let him cause what's 5 more minutes in vomit sheets but then he started to cry... probably because we were covered in vomit... We moved to the couch, in new, clean clothes... and coffee for mom. I made an appointment for the doctor at 10 since we are on day 4 of this with a on and off fever and we snuggled and watched TV. Well I did.. He didn't really care. (Just a bad cold the Doctor said)
Afternoon:
I actually have 2 toddlers. One is just super furry... but my afternoon went as follows:
Declan has a ball, Marshal wants the ball. Marshal takes it out of Declan's hand. Declan cries and tries to get the ball back. Marshal skips for joy, he got the ball! I tell Marshal to drop it. Declan picks up the ball. Declan shoves said ball in Marshal's face. Marshal wants the ball. Marshal takes it out of Declan's hand. Declan cries and tries to get the ball back. Marshal skips for joy, he got the ball! I tell Marshal to drop it. Declan picks up the ball.... I tried to give them each their own ball but apparently that thought was ridiculous... I took the ball away.
Evening:
I'm working on my computer and Declan is playing behind me. He toddles of somewhere and I go to find him.. He's in the kitchen. Slipping on something wet. No where near the dog bowl. Now he's fallen in something wet... o good. Dog pee. Thanks for letting me know you needed outside jerk... teenagers (Mr Willi is 15 now and I feel he has the attitude of a 15 year old... or 105 year old.. Either way he doesn't care) I have cleaned up more dog poop, pee, and vomit in a week of Darren being TDY than this past year and add Declan spending the majority of his weekend coughing so hard we both get covered in vomit, well my washer got a workout.
So that was my madhouse of a day. But in case you were wondering, I wouldn't trade it for the world and yes, I can't want to add more little babies to the chaos.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Growing Boy
I'm looking for my baby... if anyone has seen him please let me know... until then I suppose I shall follow this ONE YEAR OLD around! Goodness when did that happen! (yes I know February 5.. Thanks)
O I love my little boy though. I thought I'd fill you in on his new tricks...
1. The Printer
Declan loves to play with the printer because it's a touch screen with sound and his height! He really messed it up a few weeks ago by hitting a bunch of buttons and it took me a hour with the manual to reconfigure my wifi setting on it... so naturally I've started to turn it off when I'm not using it (genius, I know) except last week he saw me.... so now he comes over and pushes the power button to turn it on.. plays with it and when he is done - HE TURNS IT OFF! Guys.. my kid is smart ( I mean I might be bias ...whatever)
2. The Oven
Touch screens in this house is ridiculous.. our oven is his height and touchy as well... thankfully it has a lock out button so he can still hit the screen and makes sounds but not start the convection oven or reset the clock... but alas we have also figured out what button makes it unlocked.. Now we thankfully haven't figured that you have to hold that button for 5 seconds but I feel its only a matter of time.
3. Brushes
We LOVE to brush our hair. With our brush, my brush, paint brush, dog brush... it clearly doesn't matter. We haven't figured out the bristle needs to be on the hair so we end up hitting ourselves in the head. I'm sure you're thinking "Gosh Liz why don't you help him!" obviously.. but we don't like someone else to brush our hair... We also like to brush the dog.. which results in Declan chasing Marshal around the house and Marshal trying to avoid getting hit with a brush a bunch of times.. Willi is much more easier to brush.. He doesn't care.. or run away.
4. Books
He has recently started to sit and look at books. Which is totally on his own doing. I started reading to him when he was born but about 8/9 months we had to stop because books are not food.. Just in the last few weeks he has started to pull books of the shelf and sit down and turn the pages. All on our own. It's adorable.
5. Sounds
I'm anxious to see if he is an auditory learner. He often take his toys (particularly a wooden ball) and hit it on different surfaces and listens. He will hit it on the laundry room door and listen, then hit it on the wall, listen. Walk back to the laundry room door and hit it again, look at the ball, hit it on the furnace vent. WHAT IS THIS THING!
6. Fart noises.....
Our newest discovery is that if we find the right spot on mommy's arm and we blow we make a funny sound that tickles our lips! O the joy of a boy and fart noises.. it starts early you guys..
I'm sure there is a 100 other things he is doing and learning but these were just a few that were standing out to me and thought I would share!
O I love my little boy though. I thought I'd fill you in on his new tricks...
1. The Printer
Declan loves to play with the printer because it's a touch screen with sound and his height! He really messed it up a few weeks ago by hitting a bunch of buttons and it took me a hour with the manual to reconfigure my wifi setting on it... so naturally I've started to turn it off when I'm not using it (genius, I know) except last week he saw me.... so now he comes over and pushes the power button to turn it on.. plays with it and when he is done - HE TURNS IT OFF! Guys.. my kid is smart ( I mean I might be bias ...whatever)
2. The Oven
Touch screens in this house is ridiculous.. our oven is his height and touchy as well... thankfully it has a lock out button so he can still hit the screen and makes sounds but not start the convection oven or reset the clock... but alas we have also figured out what button makes it unlocked.. Now we thankfully haven't figured that you have to hold that button for 5 seconds but I feel its only a matter of time.
3. Brushes
We LOVE to brush our hair. With our brush, my brush, paint brush, dog brush... it clearly doesn't matter. We haven't figured out the bristle needs to be on the hair so we end up hitting ourselves in the head. I'm sure you're thinking "Gosh Liz why don't you help him!" obviously.. but we don't like someone else to brush our hair... We also like to brush the dog.. which results in Declan chasing Marshal around the house and Marshal trying to avoid getting hit with a brush a bunch of times.. Willi is much more easier to brush.. He doesn't care.. or run away.
4. Books
He has recently started to sit and look at books. Which is totally on his own doing. I started reading to him when he was born but about 8/9 months we had to stop because books are not food.. Just in the last few weeks he has started to pull books of the shelf and sit down and turn the pages. All on our own. It's adorable.
5. Sounds
I'm anxious to see if he is an auditory learner. He often take his toys (particularly a wooden ball) and hit it on different surfaces and listens. He will hit it on the laundry room door and listen, then hit it on the wall, listen. Walk back to the laundry room door and hit it again, look at the ball, hit it on the furnace vent. WHAT IS THIS THING!
6. Fart noises.....
Our newest discovery is that if we find the right spot on mommy's arm and we blow we make a funny sound that tickles our lips! O the joy of a boy and fart noises.. it starts early you guys..
I'm sure there is a 100 other things he is doing and learning but these were just a few that were standing out to me and thought I would share!
Playing outside in the dirt and rocks
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Diaper Changes
Little Man needed his diaper changed. Now that he is mobile, diaper changes are usually a six handed circus preformed with only 2 hands.. he does not have time to lay there for 5 minutes. He's got windows to bang on and dog tails to pull and since we cloth diaper sometimes my leg shows up trying to keep him down while I snap on his new diaper. But nap time was upon us and this time he was calm. He looked at his hands for a bit. He talked to me, told me his stories. I gave his tummy a raspberry and he smiled at me. A new smile, one with a giggle. It made all the other circus times worth it. That new smile. Little wrinkled nose and twinkly eyes. One little tooth poking through. O my precious boy. You show me so much in such a simple way. I could have ignored his chatter and just changed him as fast as I could. I didn't have to kiss your soft little belly. I didn't have to respond to your stories. I could have tried to beat my previous diaper changing record while you laid there actually content but instead I enjoyed you and saw your new smile. I smiled as I listened to you say "mama" over and over again knowing in a few weeks you might realize that is my name and when I responded "yes baby" you wrinkled your nose to me. I snapped you up and we rocked until you fell asleep. You fell asleep with your little hand wrapped around my finger and your paci dangling out of your mouth. My sweet child, you warm me to my very core. I'm so thankful for your diaper changes.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
I will lift my voice
This past weekend my church attended a conference on evangelism. I was unable to attend but my Pastor posted on Facebook when he got home his testimony. Wednesday night in bible study, another lady mentioned that in the conference they said if you can not sit down and right your testimony, you need to have a chat with God. Pastor Lakan also said on Sunday in church that he will stop anyone and show them pictures of his grandchildren and that is how we need to be for the Lord. It's really stuck with me. I'll tell anyone about my son. I post constantly about how essential oils are helping my family (I'm sure you haven't noticed) but what about my Lord? He gave me the beautiful gift that we call Declan. He brought Young Living into my life. More importantly - HE is my life. Right?
So. My Testimony.
I was brought up in the church. My grandparents are believers, my parents are believers and the majority of my friends are as well (considering I met most of them at church) I went to church camp, christian school, and I have always been very involved with my church as a teen. Clearly, I was a christian. I knew my verses, I knew that Christ was my Savior. I knew that I could speak to Him personally and He was in control of my life. I have had some very deep and meaningful conversations with friends about God and who He was. I shed tears on mission trips when I saw Him working.
I went to college. Finally, my choice if I went to church or not. Freshman and some of sophomore year I was pretty good about going to church. Mostly because I had a dear friends whom I had grown up with and we all went together. We were involved in CRU (campus Crusaders for Christ) and I even did a mission trip to Germany for my freshman spring break with them. CRU left a bad taste in my mouth. I had been in a relationship with someone who was not a believer and they were pushing me to end it and frankly I thought they were wrong. This person was open to God and church. He came to church and CRU with us, he just wasn't saved yet. So I left Cru and stayed with him. Fast forward a year when we broke up - get this - because he became a christian and our relationship was not honoring God. It was a hard. It probably took me a little under a year to really move past him and we won't get into details of my lowest of low points during that time but lets say at night I prayed to God for his comfort but didn't trust it during the day. I joined my Sorority and slowly I began my climb back up. I helped lead a bible study and I got involved in InnerVaristy.
Darren (who is saved) and I got married in June of 2010 and moved to South Dakota. We quickly tried to find a church. Honestly, I don't know why. Maybe because I felt like it is what we were suppose to do. We found Calvary Baptist. I quickly fell in love with this church. The people, the pastor, the feel I got when I walked in the door. In Nov 2011 I was baptized by Pastor Steve. Darren and I had some conversations about it as did Sam and I. I frankly had no desire to be baptized but I decided to be simply because it is what God commanded and I was His follower and I felt it was important to obey God's authority. Through our time in SD I attended bible studies and helped in Awana. I saw God working in many aspects of my life and I felt His presence often, especially while Darren was deployed for 6 months.
Have you noticed in my story so far I haven't made mention of the time I asked Christ into my heart? In the Spring of 2013, before we left to Texas, Sam and I were discussing that. I told her how I don't really remember doing it. I was about 99% sure I had at some point but I couldn't tell you when. Probably at church camp. I had also heard once that where we should always be asking for forgiveness of our sins, we only need to ask Christ into our lives once and the constant doing so is like saying "God I don't actually trust you saved me so I'm going to ask again...and again... and again" I obviously didn't want to do that so I decided my 99% sureness was good enough. There had been times that I had started to pray it, a little half heartily, more of a reassurance type deal. But not seriously. I was discussing all of this with Sam. Homegirl can always hit me with the truth when I need it. She said, why don't you just have a conversation with Him about it and see how your heart feels afterwards? Tell Him what you are feeling and thinking. He'll respond. I pondered this for a while. A couple weeks. Not that I doubted her. I was just thinking it over.
April 18, 2013 we started our drive to Texas. I was following Darren and we were in WY. The mountains were beautiful. There was a stream running next to us. I just felt God there. I turned off my radio and decided well its now or never. God and I had a chat. I can even show you the exact spot on that road where I finally said those simple but powerful words "Lord, I need you in my heart. I know you died for my sins. Forgive me for what I have done, the things I have said and thought. Please come into my heart and transform it for you" I drove a little ways in silence and eventually turned my radio back on and continued my drive.
I've always seen God working in my life. His blessings. The people we have met and the opportunities we have had. Even the hardships we have faced like a deployment, Darren's migraines, the AF cut backs possibly affecting us. He's always been there, patiently waiting for me to come to Him. He's shown me how powerful He is so many times but it took me so long to see it. To really get it. That I might have been walking along His path but I was not walking on His path, following His footsteps.
Where I'm not a fan of Texas {I just don't do the heat!} I will be heartbroken to leave our church here. In the short 18 months that we have been attending and involved I have learned and grown more than I ever dreamed. They have transformed my thoughts. When they found out we were pregnant, they immediately prayed for Declan's salvation. Kid wasn't even born yet and they prayed. When they learned of my dear neighbor's Mom being ill and wouldn't make it much longer, the first words out of their mouths were "Is she saved" and then they prayed for her salvation and prayed that if she wasn't that the Lord would awake her just briefly enough for her to know Him before she passed {she was already}When our pastor's wife was taken from this world with cancer, they rejoiced in knowing she was in Heaven. Her children gathered around her and sang praise music and worshiped God. In highschool I would look forward to bible study, Sunday school, church, to see my friends; Now I can't wait to hear what the Lord has done in my friends lives, I can't wait to see what He wants to show me in His scripture. I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for our lives, whether in trial and tribulation or in His blessings. And - I can not wait to share the Lord with my son.
That is my testimony. What is yours?
So. My Testimony.
I was brought up in the church. My grandparents are believers, my parents are believers and the majority of my friends are as well (considering I met most of them at church) I went to church camp, christian school, and I have always been very involved with my church as a teen. Clearly, I was a christian. I knew my verses, I knew that Christ was my Savior. I knew that I could speak to Him personally and He was in control of my life. I have had some very deep and meaningful conversations with friends about God and who He was. I shed tears on mission trips when I saw Him working.
I went to college. Finally, my choice if I went to church or not. Freshman and some of sophomore year I was pretty good about going to church. Mostly because I had a dear friends whom I had grown up with and we all went together. We were involved in CRU (campus Crusaders for Christ) and I even did a mission trip to Germany for my freshman spring break with them. CRU left a bad taste in my mouth. I had been in a relationship with someone who was not a believer and they were pushing me to end it and frankly I thought they were wrong. This person was open to God and church. He came to church and CRU with us, he just wasn't saved yet. So I left Cru and stayed with him. Fast forward a year when we broke up - get this - because he became a christian and our relationship was not honoring God. It was a hard. It probably took me a little under a year to really move past him and we won't get into details of my lowest of low points during that time but lets say at night I prayed to God for his comfort but didn't trust it during the day. I joined my Sorority and slowly I began my climb back up. I helped lead a bible study and I got involved in InnerVaristy.
Darren (who is saved) and I got married in June of 2010 and moved to South Dakota. We quickly tried to find a church. Honestly, I don't know why. Maybe because I felt like it is what we were suppose to do. We found Calvary Baptist. I quickly fell in love with this church. The people, the pastor, the feel I got when I walked in the door. In Nov 2011 I was baptized by Pastor Steve. Darren and I had some conversations about it as did Sam and I. I frankly had no desire to be baptized but I decided to be simply because it is what God commanded and I was His follower and I felt it was important to obey God's authority. Through our time in SD I attended bible studies and helped in Awana. I saw God working in many aspects of my life and I felt His presence often, especially while Darren was deployed for 6 months.
Have you noticed in my story so far I haven't made mention of the time I asked Christ into my heart? In the Spring of 2013, before we left to Texas, Sam and I were discussing that. I told her how I don't really remember doing it. I was about 99% sure I had at some point but I couldn't tell you when. Probably at church camp. I had also heard once that where we should always be asking for forgiveness of our sins, we only need to ask Christ into our lives once and the constant doing so is like saying "God I don't actually trust you saved me so I'm going to ask again...and again... and again" I obviously didn't want to do that so I decided my 99% sureness was good enough. There had been times that I had started to pray it, a little half heartily, more of a reassurance type deal. But not seriously. I was discussing all of this with Sam. Homegirl can always hit me with the truth when I need it. She said, why don't you just have a conversation with Him about it and see how your heart feels afterwards? Tell Him what you are feeling and thinking. He'll respond. I pondered this for a while. A couple weeks. Not that I doubted her. I was just thinking it over.
April 18, 2013 we started our drive to Texas. I was following Darren and we were in WY. The mountains were beautiful. There was a stream running next to us. I just felt God there. I turned off my radio and decided well its now or never. God and I had a chat. I can even show you the exact spot on that road where I finally said those simple but powerful words "Lord, I need you in my heart. I know you died for my sins. Forgive me for what I have done, the things I have said and thought. Please come into my heart and transform it for you" I drove a little ways in silence and eventually turned my radio back on and continued my drive.
I've always seen God working in my life. His blessings. The people we have met and the opportunities we have had. Even the hardships we have faced like a deployment, Darren's migraines, the AF cut backs possibly affecting us. He's always been there, patiently waiting for me to come to Him. He's shown me how powerful He is so many times but it took me so long to see it. To really get it. That I might have been walking along His path but I was not walking on His path, following His footsteps.
Where I'm not a fan of Texas {I just don't do the heat!} I will be heartbroken to leave our church here. In the short 18 months that we have been attending and involved I have learned and grown more than I ever dreamed. They have transformed my thoughts. When they found out we were pregnant, they immediately prayed for Declan's salvation. Kid wasn't even born yet and they prayed. When they learned of my dear neighbor's Mom being ill and wouldn't make it much longer, the first words out of their mouths were "Is she saved" and then they prayed for her salvation and prayed that if she wasn't that the Lord would awake her just briefly enough for her to know Him before she passed {she was already}When our pastor's wife was taken from this world with cancer, they rejoiced in knowing she was in Heaven. Her children gathered around her and sang praise music and worshiped God. In highschool I would look forward to bible study, Sunday school, church, to see my friends; Now I can't wait to hear what the Lord has done in my friends lives, I can't wait to see what He wants to show me in His scripture. I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for our lives, whether in trial and tribulation or in His blessings. And - I can not wait to share the Lord with my son.
That is my testimony. What is yours?
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Patience.
Patience... I'm learning patience. I'm an instant gratification type of person. I hate waiting on my cookies to be done, events to happen, or waiting for things I want to purchase. I have the hardest time learning something new because as excited and open to learning new things as I am I get frustrated that it takes time and I don't know it instantly. Example: Darren bought me a new camera, a DSLR! I love it. I hate having to learn about it! I just want to know how everything works and be able to take great photos right away but sadly that isn't happening and I'm having to actually learn the different between shutter speed, aperture, and what on earth F stop is. But I'll get it because I know the time I put into will be worth it later on. The struggle is real though... I told my brother I wish I could just download his brain into mine. I "just want to do it" I hate reading directions or being shown how to do something. Let me do it! I'll learn on the way! I'm a very hands on person.
Declan is teaching me patience in more ways than I ever knew possible. First off he is trying so hard to crawl and getting so frustrated at the same time! I help him a bit. I try to show him how and I pick him up when he gets too angry but I know his frustration is what will fuel his ability to move and with time (see patience) he will get it. But for me, I just want him to be able to do it. I know he will be happier. {I probably won't be because now I have a baby on the move!} but he will be. But it is out of my hands. So I must idly sit by and watch him struggle {I'm sure this is somehow getting me ready for the rest of his life, watching him struggle and knowing when to intervene and when to let him fall} He'll get it. When he is ready.
He is teaching me patience {and trust} as we start food. Instead of doing purees we have gone straight to table foods - he eats whatever we eat- and we let Declan feed himself. This helps dexterity, eye hand coordination, and he learns how to move food around his mouth much quicker than spoon feeding him. (not that there is something wrong with spoon feeding! Just after some research we felt this was better for us!) He's actually pretty good with a spoon on his own! There are many times I want to just do it myself. Let me put the food in your mouth! I will actually get it in your mouth rather than you getting it everywhere but the opening we are aiming for! Every time I step in and try to help, he gags. But if I sit back, let him learn and be patient he will eventually get it in his mouth without any gagging. And he's much happier doing it himself!
Lastly, he is teaching me patience at night but more importantly asking for patience. Since we started foods his little gut is working so hard to process all these new things so at night ...usually between the hours of 1-5... he is very unhappy. He fusses until I can get a burp or a fart of out him and then he will go back to sleep but that can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour and it isn't guaranteed how long the sleep will last until another bubble works its way through. And during this time of gassy unhappiness he is crying. Marshal leaves the room... lucky dog. Darren has moved back to the guest bedroom for the time being... lucky husband. So it's just me and a gassy baby at 3 am. We've tried bicycles, gripe water, colic/gas tablets (which so far seem to be the best help!), and patting or more so drumming. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn't matter. I have found what really matters is my attitude and that all depends on before I fall asleep. The nights I go to bed without asking for God to give me patience are awful. I am cranky and angry. I have no patience for my poor Little Man and I'm grumpy in the morning. But the nights I go to bed praying, asking God to grant me patience, to remind me this is a small window in hopefully a long life, that Declan needs my comfort, and he isn't doing this on purpose; I am calm. Even if the crying lasts a hour or more. I am patient. I am understanding. So again... my little 6 month old {almost 7 months!!} gassy man is teaching me more about the Lord and His control than I ever imagined.
Declan is teaching me patience in more ways than I ever knew possible. First off he is trying so hard to crawl and getting so frustrated at the same time! I help him a bit. I try to show him how and I pick him up when he gets too angry but I know his frustration is what will fuel his ability to move and with time (see patience) he will get it. But for me, I just want him to be able to do it. I know he will be happier. {I probably won't be because now I have a baby on the move!} but he will be. But it is out of my hands. So I must idly sit by and watch him struggle {I'm sure this is somehow getting me ready for the rest of his life, watching him struggle and knowing when to intervene and when to let him fall} He'll get it. When he is ready.
He is teaching me patience {and trust} as we start food. Instead of doing purees we have gone straight to table foods - he eats whatever we eat- and we let Declan feed himself. This helps dexterity, eye hand coordination, and he learns how to move food around his mouth much quicker than spoon feeding him. (not that there is something wrong with spoon feeding! Just after some research we felt this was better for us!) He's actually pretty good with a spoon on his own! There are many times I want to just do it myself. Let me put the food in your mouth! I will actually get it in your mouth rather than you getting it everywhere but the opening we are aiming for! Every time I step in and try to help, he gags. But if I sit back, let him learn and be patient he will eventually get it in his mouth without any gagging. And he's much happier doing it himself!
Lastly, he is teaching me patience at night but more importantly asking for patience. Since we started foods his little gut is working so hard to process all these new things so at night ...usually between the hours of 1-5... he is very unhappy. He fusses until I can get a burp or a fart of out him and then he will go back to sleep but that can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour and it isn't guaranteed how long the sleep will last until another bubble works its way through. And during this time of gassy unhappiness he is crying. Marshal leaves the room... lucky dog. Darren has moved back to the guest bedroom for the time being... lucky husband. So it's just me and a gassy baby at 3 am. We've tried bicycles, gripe water, colic/gas tablets (which so far seem to be the best help!), and patting or more so drumming. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn't matter. I have found what really matters is my attitude and that all depends on before I fall asleep. The nights I go to bed without asking for God to give me patience are awful. I am cranky and angry. I have no patience for my poor Little Man and I'm grumpy in the morning. But the nights I go to bed praying, asking God to grant me patience, to remind me this is a small window in hopefully a long life, that Declan needs my comfort, and he isn't doing this on purpose; I am calm. Even if the crying lasts a hour or more. I am patient. I am understanding. So again... my little 6 month old {almost 7 months!!} gassy man is teaching me more about the Lord and His control than I ever imagined.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Time
Those who know me have probably figured out I'm a little passionate about breastfeeding {don't worry, its not one of those posts} I have always assumed I would nurse my babies for the economical advantage (formula is expensive yo!), the ability to feed my child anywhere (can't leave my boobs at home!), and the over all health benefits for both my child and me. Those have all proven true along with the indescribable bond it has given me with Declan. But here is one I never expected: Time.
Breastmilk is designed to be digested between 3-4 hours and even though nursing is natural, it is still a learned process on both mom and baby so the first couple weeks you pretty much sit around and do nothing but feed yourself and feed your baby. Some babies eat fast, some eat slow. Declan started as a slow eater.. He took about 1.5 -2 hours to eat {I watched a lot of movies} and ate every 3 hours or less. In the first few weeks I frankly didn't care because I was glad to just sit around and watch movies. And as he has grown up he has gotten more efficient and usually we are done to 15 minutes but that's only been in the last month or so. And that is still every 3 hours.
I'll be honest... I'm a pretty lazy person and I have no concept of time. I used to be able to lose an entire day to an SVU marathon forgetting I had homework that might take me longer than 20 minutes. I love to nap and even though I like to be busy, I don't need to be busy all the time like some of my friends. I have no problem choosing TV, Facebook, video games over dishes, laundry, or cleaning. It's always frustrated me but clearly not enough for me to try and change my habits. It's also worried me a little. How will I get my "me" time, my lazy time, with having a baby, a toddler, a 5 year old? Even before I had a baby I have thought about this (usually after babysitting for 4 hours) Then, little mister I need to eat every 3 hours, came along and I lost even more time because now I have to sit down and feed him. I remember crying to Darren {postpartum hormones... o man} how was I going to do anything?! I can barely get a shower in before I have to feed him again and it's going to be this way for 6 months! But that is the beauty of children. They change you. They help you focus. Little did I know that I can actually feed Declan, then go to the grocery store, get home, put everything away, do a load of laundry, grab a shower, and start dinner before he needs to eat again! I'm not gonna lie... I was pretty amazed at first. I'm still lazy at heart ;) but Declan has helped me be productive. He has helped me stay focused and actually manage my time. I was always amazed at mom's who seemed to get everything done, now I know their secret :)
Breastmilk is designed to be digested between 3-4 hours and even though nursing is natural, it is still a learned process on both mom and baby so the first couple weeks you pretty much sit around and do nothing but feed yourself and feed your baby. Some babies eat fast, some eat slow. Declan started as a slow eater.. He took about 1.5 -2 hours to eat {I watched a lot of movies} and ate every 3 hours or less. In the first few weeks I frankly didn't care because I was glad to just sit around and watch movies. And as he has grown up he has gotten more efficient and usually we are done to 15 minutes but that's only been in the last month or so. And that is still every 3 hours.
I'll be honest... I'm a pretty lazy person and I have no concept of time. I used to be able to lose an entire day to an SVU marathon forgetting I had homework that might take me longer than 20 minutes. I love to nap and even though I like to be busy, I don't need to be busy all the time like some of my friends. I have no problem choosing TV, Facebook, video games over dishes, laundry, or cleaning. It's always frustrated me but clearly not enough for me to try and change my habits. It's also worried me a little. How will I get my "me" time, my lazy time, with having a baby, a toddler, a 5 year old? Even before I had a baby I have thought about this (usually after babysitting for 4 hours) Then, little mister I need to eat every 3 hours, came along and I lost even more time because now I have to sit down and feed him. I remember crying to Darren {postpartum hormones... o man} how was I going to do anything?! I can barely get a shower in before I have to feed him again and it's going to be this way for 6 months! But that is the beauty of children. They change you. They help you focus. Little did I know that I can actually feed Declan, then go to the grocery store, get home, put everything away, do a load of laundry, grab a shower, and start dinner before he needs to eat again! I'm not gonna lie... I was pretty amazed at first. I'm still lazy at heart ;) but Declan has helped me be productive. He has helped me stay focused and actually manage my time. I was always amazed at mom's who seemed to get everything done, now I know their secret :)
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