"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." James 1:2
I don't know about you, but I definitely have a hard time considering the trials in my life to be joyous occasions. However, this is exactly what James tells us we are to do. A few months ago, I started doing a bible study on the fruit of the Spirit. There were many thoughts in my head when I picked this book up--I mean, who doesn't need more love, joy, peace, patience...--but I had no idea how much I would be affected and convicted and challenged by this study.
This week I am studying about joy.
First we were to read Acts 16:16-40 which recalls when Paul and Silas were put in jail because they cast an evil spirit out of a possessed girl. They were singing praises to the Lord from their cells when God sent an earthquake. As a result, their chains were released and the jailer keeping watch over them was brought to salvation.
Here are some of the author's words that really stuck out to me:
"From the damp, cold walls of another prison, Paul exhorted all believers to "Rejoice in the Lord, always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4). Through his trials, Paul learned something I believe God desires for all believers to learn: the presence, purpose and power of God is best discovered through difficulty. How encouraging to recognize that Paul did not discover the strength to leave [or change] his circumstances; he discovered the strength to stay! Because he did, places for a jailer and his entire family were reserved in the Lamb's book of life!
...
Paul discovered that "to know Him" was greater than any loss he would suffer. Paul's joy in tribulation was motivated by his knowledge that the "best" of God's presence, purpose, and power was undoubtedly discovered in the worst of circumstances.
....
Are you willing to look for Him in the midst of your struggles?"
As I read through this, I was convicted by the way I can't wait to get out of a difficult season. I love comfort, ease, predictability, and I am a control-freak to some extent. So, when going through life, I like things to be easy, comfortable, predictable, and within my comfort zone. However, when things are that way, I am completely dependent on myself and my own ability to take care of things. I am self-sufficient and less likely to be pursuing the Lord the way I should be.
It seems to be a lesson that the Lord so kindly has to teach me over and over again. He allows me to be brought to the end of my rope so that I realize that I am not supposed to go through life without Him, without a relationship with Him, without being dependent on Him. That is not how I was created to function. There will be no satisfaction, no true joy in a life lived that way...at least not for me ;)
When Paul and Silas were in jail, they weren't sulking, they weren't throwing pity parties, they weren't trying to come up with some super-scheme to break out of prison. Instead, they sat contentedly and sang praises to God. They trusted Him. They knew they were in His perfect will for them. And, in that contentment, God showed up. Big time. Not only were they freed from their chains due to an earthquake, but the testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ and the testimony of their lives resulted in the conversion of the jailer who was watching over them.
God used their terrible situation to bring them closer to Himself, to teach them things, no doubt, but God also used their terrible situation to bring someone else to a relationship with him.
How encouraging to recognize that Paul did not discover the strength to leave [or change] his circumstances; he discovered the strength to stay! Because he did, places for a jailer and his entire family were reserved in the Lamb's book of life!
Heavenly Father, I need the strength that only you can provide to STAY and REMAIN and JOYFULLY TRUST you in this season of our life. Help me not to wish away the trials and the things that you desire to teach me through them, but give me the strength to remain. With joy.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Potty-Training Memoir
So, we've been in the potty-training process for a while now, but tonight we are taking it to...
duh, duh, dummmmmmmmm.....
THE NEXT LEVEL!!!!
Nora is in bed tonight sleeping in her panties! No more pull-ups or diapers at night time. I bought the waterproof mattress pad this afternoon, so we'll just see how this goes. She has gone several nights without having a wet diaper in the morning, and if she does need to pee in the middle of the night, she wakes up crying and tells us she has to go. I know that this part of the process may take a long time, but since she started doing it on her own, we are just going with the flow.
Where we are NOT making much progress is with the pooping. I've been trying to force her into it, I guess you could say, but she was just refusing and I was just getting frustrated, so Jonathan and I decided to stop pressuring her in this area. I am going to try again when she turns three in mid-August. And who knows, she may decide she's ready on her own before then!
This is just another area where God is showing me that I am not in control and can't be. God is sovereign over all of the details in my life, from Nora's potty-training process to Liam's separation anxiety to training Liam to be a good eater. He cares about the big and the small, and he is in control of it all! I wish I could just learn this lesson that I am not self-sufficient once and for all, but I have a feeling that due to my sinfulness and God's desire to keep me dependent on Him, He will have to continually remind me that I was created to be a dependent creature! Thank you, Lord, for being so patient with this momma! Help me to remember your patience with me when I need to exercise patience toward my babies!
duh, duh, dummmmmmmmm.....
THE NEXT LEVEL!!!!
Nora is in bed tonight sleeping in her panties! No more pull-ups or diapers at night time. I bought the waterproof mattress pad this afternoon, so we'll just see how this goes. She has gone several nights without having a wet diaper in the morning, and if she does need to pee in the middle of the night, she wakes up crying and tells us she has to go. I know that this part of the process may take a long time, but since she started doing it on her own, we are just going with the flow.
Where we are NOT making much progress is with the pooping. I've been trying to force her into it, I guess you could say, but she was just refusing and I was just getting frustrated, so Jonathan and I decided to stop pressuring her in this area. I am going to try again when she turns three in mid-August. And who knows, she may decide she's ready on her own before then!
This is just another area where God is showing me that I am not in control and can't be. God is sovereign over all of the details in my life, from Nora's potty-training process to Liam's separation anxiety to training Liam to be a good eater. He cares about the big and the small, and he is in control of it all! I wish I could just learn this lesson that I am not self-sufficient once and for all, but I have a feeling that due to my sinfulness and God's desire to keep me dependent on Him, He will have to continually remind me that I was created to be a dependent creature! Thank you, Lord, for being so patient with this momma! Help me to remember your patience with me when I need to exercise patience toward my babies!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Flashback: iPhone Photos
I am so glad that I have an iPhone. There are so many reasons I love that thing--the calendar, the apps, the iPod, the pure genius of all things Apple--but one of the greatest things is the little camera that is in the phone. So many times I leave home without my camera and fail to capture some priceless photos of my two precious babes. However, sometimes I do remember to whip out my phone for some great memories! I just synched my phone for the first time in at least a month and pulled off some great pics taken mostly by me, but some are even by Nora. (She's just learned to use the camera, and I'll hear her say, "Say cheese, Momma." I turn around to see her attempting to take my picture with my phone that she found who knows where. I cleared off at least 30 pictures of blurred nothingness that she took just this week. Ahhh, budding photographer!). Anyway, I apologize for the quality of some of these, but what you see is what you get. Moving children make for blurriness, what can I say?!
This is just purely pitiful. Not sure what was going on, but I think it might be the end of Liam's world as he knows it.
Oh, the drama!
Moving on....
This is my beautiful baby sister, Hillary, the night of her prom. I didn't actually take this one, but my Dad sent it to me on my phone. Isn't she gorgeous!?
The day before Jonathan and I left for NYC, I took the kids to lunch at Wendy's where Nora had her very first Frosty! It was a huge success!
Only in Tennessee....Yes, my son is in the front yard in his white t-shirt and diaper. Oh, and he's barefoot.
Our first dinner in NYC at the wonderful Patsy's. Probably one of the best Italian dishes I have ever had! I had the shrimp marinara and JB got a stuff veal marsala. Yum. Drool. Mouth-watering!
Post-nap snacktime
Liam was learning how to use the sippy cup during this time. I think it's pretty obvious he still had some kinks to work out.
There are no words for this one:
Okay, so we've been having some major separation anxiety issues with Liam, particularly on Sunday mornings at church. So, after about 15-20 minutes of screaming, Jonathan or I are usually in the lobby with Liam for the remainder of the service. Funnily enough, Liam's little friend Elijah is going through the same thing (I think they plan this). So, they often end up playing together during service while the Mommas try to keep them from reeking havoc on the church building.
Here are some of their schemes:
I mean, look at the sweet, big-eyed, manipulative expressions here! What are we to do with these boys?
"Mom, what's this? I'm just going to have a little sip to see what this thing is all about."
"Yum. Me like."
Destroying Granna's cabinets.
Here's Nora wearing my beach hat.
At our weekly Kroger visit, Nora was allowed to push the mini-buggy. Oh, dear, was she ever excited. She really did a great job and only took out my ankles about a half-dozen times! I am surprised to say that I will probably let her do that again because it kept her occupied and she obeyed really well! Plus, she pushed around some of the groceries!
Here is the picture of me that Nora took: See how freckly my face is? That's what the beach does to my pale skin!
This is just purely pitiful. Not sure what was going on, but I think it might be the end of Liam's world as he knows it.
Moving on....
The day before Jonathan and I left for NYC, I took the kids to lunch at Wendy's where Nora had her very first Frosty! It was a huge success!
Our first dinner in NYC at the wonderful Patsy's. Probably one of the best Italian dishes I have ever had! I had the shrimp marinara and JB got a stuff veal marsala. Yum. Drool. Mouth-watering!
Post-nap snacktime
There are no words for this one:
Okay, so we've been having some major separation anxiety issues with Liam, particularly on Sunday mornings at church. So, after about 15-20 minutes of screaming, Jonathan or I are usually in the lobby with Liam for the remainder of the service. Funnily enough, Liam's little friend Elijah is going through the same thing (I think they plan this). So, they often end up playing together during service while the Mommas try to keep them from reeking havoc on the church building.
Here are some of their schemes:
Here's Nora wearing my beach hat.
At our weekly Kroger visit, Nora was allowed to push the mini-buggy. Oh, dear, was she ever excited. She really did a great job and only took out my ankles about a half-dozen times! I am surprised to say that I will probably let her do that again because it kept her occupied and she obeyed really well! Plus, she pushed around some of the groceries!
Here is the picture of me that Nora took: See how freckly my face is? That's what the beach does to my pale skin!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Beach Trip 2010
As I mentioned in a previous post, I was so blessed to go on a girls' getaway for a few days to Seagrove Beach, Fl. There were four of us: me, my precious sister-in-law Amy, and two of my best girl friends Amy T. and Johanna. Johanna's husband actually arranged the trip for us girls as a birthday/you-are-mom-of-the-year gift for her! To make things better, the condo we stayed in belongs to some friends of theirs, so we got to stay there for a steal! To top all of this off, we were all very blessed to have husbands who really wanted us to go to have a great time of fun and fellowship, and they were more than willing to stay behind with our kiddos while we did! (I am one blessed woman!)
Since we had a death in the family last week, we had to make a last minute trip down to Jackson, MS, to attend our sweet Aunt Hazel's funeral. After the funeral, Amy and I drove from Jackson to Seagrove Beach to meet up with Amy T. and Johanna and Johanna's 9 month old baby girl, Delia (I forgot to mention that indeed there were 5 of us, not 4!) We had the most relaxing few days enjoying the beautiful beach just south of Destin. We were literally about 1/2 mile from Seaside and Water Color, which are two of the most heavenly places that I've seen in that area. It was such a family-oriented place, and even the beach was not overly crowded or over-flowing with wild and crazy beach-goers.
One morning, Amy T., Johanna, Delia, and I went exploring on a bike ride, riding through the residential area of Water Color. The houses there are so amazingly beautiful with great architecture and design! Ugh! LOVE IT! Johanna told me to bring my camera, but I wasn't able to snap pics of the houses as we rode around because I am not all that confident of my ability to ride and photograph at the same time. Not to mention, it was hotter than the sun out there!
We went out to dinner at a restaurant called The Red Bar! We were able to sit outside and enjoy some delicious fresh seafood. I got the blackened grouper!
About to head out to dinner!
Cheese!
We also spent quite a good bit of time in the little town square of Seaside. There are lots of adorable little shops, boutiques, antique shops, ice cream places, and even a snowball stand! I insisted that we all get snowballs at some point, and even though they were no Sal's Snoballs, they actually really, really good!
We didn't want to eat out all of the time, so we ate all of our lunches in the condo, kept our breakfasts pretty simple, and cooked in a bit. Amy B. had a recipe for some delicious breakfast sandwiches that consisted of Sister Schubert rolls, ham, swiss cheese, and this poppyseed/dijon mustard/butter spread. Heated in the oven for 30 minutes. Oh dear!
Here we are standing around waiting to dive in to them! Can you tell we're tired? We had stayed up until 12:30 am talking! Fun times.
Also, Johanna made us homemade fettucine alfredo one night with fresh shrimp and chicken! YUM!
Of course, you can't go to Destin without hitting up the outlet malls, so our last night there we gals decided to do some shopping. I got a skirt and a few shirts, a nightgown for Nora, and some clothes for Liam and Jonathan. While shopping, the sky started to fall, but it was really the only rain we had to deal with our entire trip!
We had such a great time. I got to relax, read an entire book!!!!, visit with some of my best friends in the world, and have wonderful conversations. I was so refreshed and ready to see my family (in a good way)!
Since we had a death in the family last week, we had to make a last minute trip down to Jackson, MS, to attend our sweet Aunt Hazel's funeral. After the funeral, Amy and I drove from Jackson to Seagrove Beach to meet up with Amy T. and Johanna and Johanna's 9 month old baby girl, Delia (I forgot to mention that indeed there were 5 of us, not 4!) We had the most relaxing few days enjoying the beautiful beach just south of Destin. We were literally about 1/2 mile from Seaside and Water Color, which are two of the most heavenly places that I've seen in that area. It was such a family-oriented place, and even the beach was not overly crowded or over-flowing with wild and crazy beach-goers.
One morning, Amy T., Johanna, Delia, and I went exploring on a bike ride, riding through the residential area of Water Color. The houses there are so amazingly beautiful with great architecture and design! Ugh! LOVE IT! Johanna told me to bring my camera, but I wasn't able to snap pics of the houses as we rode around because I am not all that confident of my ability to ride and photograph at the same time. Not to mention, it was hotter than the sun out there!
About to head out to dinner!
Cheese!
We also spent quite a good bit of time in the little town square of Seaside. There are lots of adorable little shops, boutiques, antique shops, ice cream places, and even a snowball stand! I insisted that we all get snowballs at some point, and even though they were no Sal's Snoballs, they actually really, really good!
We didn't want to eat out all of the time, so we ate all of our lunches in the condo, kept our breakfasts pretty simple, and cooked in a bit. Amy B. had a recipe for some delicious breakfast sandwiches that consisted of Sister Schubert rolls, ham, swiss cheese, and this poppyseed/dijon mustard/butter spread. Heated in the oven for 30 minutes. Oh dear!
Also, Johanna made us homemade fettucine alfredo one night with fresh shrimp and chicken! YUM!
Of course, you can't go to Destin without hitting up the outlet malls, so our last night there we gals decided to do some shopping. I got a skirt and a few shirts, a nightgown for Nora, and some clothes for Liam and Jonathan. While shopping, the sky started to fall, but it was really the only rain we had to deal with our entire trip!
We had such a great time. I got to relax, read an entire book!!!!, visit with some of my best friends in the world, and have wonderful conversations. I was so refreshed and ready to see my family (in a good way)!
Flashback: Nana's Visit
A few weeks ago, my Momma came to visit for a few days! We LOVE when my mom comes. She and Nora are two peas in a pod, and Nora just loves to have her around. My mom got in on a Wednesday and left on that following Sunday morning, so we had her for a good while. My mom is a school teacher, so when she visits during the school year we have to plan long weekends or around her holidays. As a result, those visits tend to be shorter than we'd like. But, in the summer, we have more time with Nana!
Nana always brings special books for Nora. I think this is because (A) Nora loves to read, (B) my mom is a teacher, and (C) Nora loves when she and my mom just sit and read books in her room. Seriously, they'll be in there for hours. Both as happy as clams!
While she was here we did some shopping and some running around town, but on Saturday, we had a little adventure down to Market Square. Jonathan stayed home with Liam while he took his morning nap, while Nora, Momma and I headed down to the Farmer's Market. Market Square is one of Nana's favorite places in Knoxville. She loves the store Abode and insists on going there every time we're down that way, plus I've been telling her about Coolato Gelato (have you tried it yet?). My mother is officially obsessed with gelato, so she's been dying to go down there. Oh, and every time she is in town, she MUST stop for cupcakes at The Cupcakery. It can be dangerous having her around! Oh well, we'll suffer!
Around lunchtime, the boys met up with us for lunch at Tomato Head. Then, we headed to the fountains so Nora could run around in her swimsuit and cool off from the heat. While she played, Nana and I ran to Coolato Gelato and brought some back for everyone. We left to make it home for naptime! It was a great time!
Here are some pics (the few I remembered to take) of our time down there!
My momma left early Sunday morning, just after Nora woke up. Liam was asleep as we walked her to her car. The sweetest/saddest thing was when Nora kept telling her that she needed her and needed to hold her so that Nana wouldn't leave. I think we were all tearing up over that. It won't be too much longer until we see Nana again. The kids and I will be going to New Orleans for a visit toward the end of July! Can't wait!
Nana always brings special books for Nora. I think this is because (A) Nora loves to read, (B) my mom is a teacher, and (C) Nora loves when she and my mom just sit and read books in her room. Seriously, they'll be in there for hours. Both as happy as clams!
While she was here we did some shopping and some running around town, but on Saturday, we had a little adventure down to Market Square. Jonathan stayed home with Liam while he took his morning nap, while Nora, Momma and I headed down to the Farmer's Market. Market Square is one of Nana's favorite places in Knoxville. She loves the store Abode and insists on going there every time we're down that way, plus I've been telling her about Coolato Gelato (have you tried it yet?). My mother is officially obsessed with gelato, so she's been dying to go down there. Oh, and every time she is in town, she MUST stop for cupcakes at The Cupcakery. It can be dangerous having her around! Oh well, we'll suffer!
Around lunchtime, the boys met up with us for lunch at Tomato Head. Then, we headed to the fountains so Nora could run around in her swimsuit and cool off from the heat. While she played, Nana and I ran to Coolato Gelato and brought some back for everyone. We left to make it home for naptime! It was a great time!
Here are some pics (the few I remembered to take) of our time down there!
My momma left early Sunday morning, just after Nora woke up. Liam was asleep as we walked her to her car. The sweetest/saddest thing was when Nora kept telling her that she needed her and needed to hold her so that Nana wouldn't leave. I think we were all tearing up over that. It won't be too much longer until we see Nana again. The kids and I will be going to New Orleans for a visit toward the end of July! Can't wait!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Whirlwind Days
Today is officially the first day of summer, and I have just one question:
What happened to SPRING!?
Seriously, I am mentally still in May. I catch myself all the time referring to the month of June as if it is still a few weeks away, when in fact, there are only a few weeks LEFT in the month of June. July is just around the corner. I am sure that gives you and indication that we have really had a lot going on here the past month or so. But, all of these things are great things and we are so truly blessed!
After New York, we have been busy at home with a few things on our calendar that make summer so much fun. For example, Nora is taking swimming lessons from a friend ours, Melanie, along with a few other little girls from church. She is really enjoying the water this year, and with Melanie's help and as much pool time as possible, we hope to turn our girl into a water-lover!
Other HUGE news with Nora is that she is in the midst of potty-training. Shortly after we returned and got settled-in from New York City, I decided that it was time to bite the bullet. Nora had been "peeping" in the potty occasionally, but if I'm honest, I was just putting it off until I was ready. So, I came home one day and decided to put her in panties. We stayed around the house for about two days (cabin fever, ahem), but she got the hang of it so quickly. In fact, for the first few days I would insist that she go sit on the potty every 30 minutes or so, and it finally got to the point where I felt like she was just frustrated with me for making her go "try" so often. I had the thought that perhaps she really did know the sensation of having to pee and that she knew how to tell me on her own, so I decided to slack off a bit and see if my hunch was right. It was! She very faithfully announces when it's time to "peep," we run to the closest potty and take care of business. Just in the last week she has been consistently waking from naps dry, and a few nights this week she has woken up in the morning with a dry diaper! THAT IS HUGE!!!! I have intentions of getting plastic/water-proof sheets here in the next day or so, and I am going to switch to panties at nap and nighttime to see if we can just fully transition to that.
Our only dilemma with potty-training is that Nora refuses to poop in the potty. She seems really scared, and when she tells me she has to go, she asks for a pull-up or a diaper. If I tell her no, she tells me she is a baby and not a big girl anymore. It kind of makes me sad, but I don't know what to do. I have tried bribery. I have tried pointing out that other kids--kids she looks up to and admires--poop on the potty. Nothing is working. So, if you have some advice, I am all ears!
One other thing I must brag on Nora about in regards to potty-training is that this past week we had to take a very long road trip down to Mississippi because our Great Aunt Hazel passed away. We were in the car for about 9-10 hours, so I naturally put Nora in a pull-up because I didn't know how'd she do, if she'd be able to hold it if we weren't able to stop, etc. Let me just say.....that girl didn't have a single accident! It worked out so well with our stops and her ability to hold her pee! She did so wonderfully and we were so stinking proud of her! She is growing up too fast!
Ok, enough about that.
Updates on Liam: Liam is about two weeks away from being 14 months. He is not walking yet, but if he really wanted to do it, there is no doubt that he could. Every day he gets a bit braver and tries new things, but he is so efficient at crawling and climbing that I don't think he has realized the need to walk yet. I am not rushing things, however, because he keeps me busy enough!
Liam got his first haircut last Monday! I knew for like weeks that he was needing one----there was a mullet, people---but it wasn't until I saw the effects of the haircut that I realized how BADLY he needed the haircut. He looks SO much better. Mullets just don't cut it! He looks so handsome, and so much more like his Daddy!
We are currently in a rough stage with Liam regarding his eating habits. In the past month or so, he has become particularly picky with what he will and won't eat. If it were up to him, he would eat fruit (yes, a good thing, but not if that's all you will eat), peanut butter sandwiches, avocados, yogurt, and other sweet things like Nutrigrain bars. Occasionally, if he is in the mood to be accomodating, he will eat a chicken nugget or two from Chickfila or some meatsauce from my lasagna. But, vegetables: NO THANKS. Baby food: Maybe a bite or two, unless it's the fruit, then yes please! Other healthy and delicious meals that I've made before that he has eaten: NOT ANY MORE!
It has been really stressing me out, but after talking to a few close friends, I have some good advice and some new tactics to try. I am going to start by cutting down on the amount of food that Liam eats at breakfast. He always eats a great breakfast and usually eats a TON. So, I am going to cut that down so that he will be pretty hungry come lunchtime. I know that I have to keep the sweet things (fruit/yogurt) out of the picture until I am actually ready to feed it to him because once he lays eyes on them, nothing else is going into his mouth. Also, my friend Johanna told me to start small. "Set him up to succeed." Give him small and reasonable portions to begin with and introduce things a bit at a time. I tried a turkey and cheese sandwich with him today, and even though he only ate about 1/8 of the sandwich, there were several bites that he ate. That is progress. After those bites, I gave him his yogurt and banana and milk. Tonight, we are going with spaghetti which is something he usually eats without any trouble. I will introduce green beans to him, which he has always turned down, and see if we can get anywhere with that. I know that God is going to have to pour out grace on all of us because it can be really stressful when your baby refuses to eat and just cries in his highchair until you give him what he wants.
As I mentioned earlier, Jonathan's great aunt passed away last week, and we were all able to attend her funeral in Jackson, MS. The kids and I rode down with Jonathan's parents, and later that day Jonathan and his sister, Amy, rode down together after they got off work. We love Aunt Hazel so much; she has been such a grandmother to us and has loved me and cared for me as if I were one of her own. We are so sad that she is gone, but she's had a rough time the past several months, so we are so glad to know she is finally with her Savior and her husband in heaven!
After the funeral, Amy and I drove from Jackson down to Seagrove Beach, FL, where we met up with two our girlfriends for a long weekend getaway to the beach. We planned this trip in January, so I have been looking forward to it for months: just the girls, sand, ocean water, books to read, bikes to ride, sleep to catch up on, friendship, talks, laughter, etc. We had a great time! I got back just last night, and I must say that it was so refreshing to get away for a few days. I really missed Jonathan and my babies, but I was ready to come back to my favorite activities: caring for them and our home! Pics to come!
Anyway, that's our life in a nutshell as of right now. I've got lots of pics to update, so look forward to those!
What happened to SPRING!?
Seriously, I am mentally still in May. I catch myself all the time referring to the month of June as if it is still a few weeks away, when in fact, there are only a few weeks LEFT in the month of June. July is just around the corner. I am sure that gives you and indication that we have really had a lot going on here the past month or so. But, all of these things are great things and we are so truly blessed!
After New York, we have been busy at home with a few things on our calendar that make summer so much fun. For example, Nora is taking swimming lessons from a friend ours, Melanie, along with a few other little girls from church. She is really enjoying the water this year, and with Melanie's help and as much pool time as possible, we hope to turn our girl into a water-lover!
Other HUGE news with Nora is that she is in the midst of potty-training. Shortly after we returned and got settled-in from New York City, I decided that it was time to bite the bullet. Nora had been "peeping" in the potty occasionally, but if I'm honest, I was just putting it off until I was ready. So, I came home one day and decided to put her in panties. We stayed around the house for about two days (cabin fever, ahem), but she got the hang of it so quickly. In fact, for the first few days I would insist that she go sit on the potty every 30 minutes or so, and it finally got to the point where I felt like she was just frustrated with me for making her go "try" so often. I had the thought that perhaps she really did know the sensation of having to pee and that she knew how to tell me on her own, so I decided to slack off a bit and see if my hunch was right. It was! She very faithfully announces when it's time to "peep," we run to the closest potty and take care of business. Just in the last week she has been consistently waking from naps dry, and a few nights this week she has woken up in the morning with a dry diaper! THAT IS HUGE!!!! I have intentions of getting plastic/water-proof sheets here in the next day or so, and I am going to switch to panties at nap and nighttime to see if we can just fully transition to that.
Our only dilemma with potty-training is that Nora refuses to poop in the potty. She seems really scared, and when she tells me she has to go, she asks for a pull-up or a diaper. If I tell her no, she tells me she is a baby and not a big girl anymore. It kind of makes me sad, but I don't know what to do. I have tried bribery. I have tried pointing out that other kids--kids she looks up to and admires--poop on the potty. Nothing is working. So, if you have some advice, I am all ears!
One other thing I must brag on Nora about in regards to potty-training is that this past week we had to take a very long road trip down to Mississippi because our Great Aunt Hazel passed away. We were in the car for about 9-10 hours, so I naturally put Nora in a pull-up because I didn't know how'd she do, if she'd be able to hold it if we weren't able to stop, etc. Let me just say.....that girl didn't have a single accident! It worked out so well with our stops and her ability to hold her pee! She did so wonderfully and we were so stinking proud of her! She is growing up too fast!
Ok, enough about that.
Updates on Liam: Liam is about two weeks away from being 14 months. He is not walking yet, but if he really wanted to do it, there is no doubt that he could. Every day he gets a bit braver and tries new things, but he is so efficient at crawling and climbing that I don't think he has realized the need to walk yet. I am not rushing things, however, because he keeps me busy enough!
Liam got his first haircut last Monday! I knew for like weeks that he was needing one----there was a mullet, people---but it wasn't until I saw the effects of the haircut that I realized how BADLY he needed the haircut. He looks SO much better. Mullets just don't cut it! He looks so handsome, and so much more like his Daddy!
We are currently in a rough stage with Liam regarding his eating habits. In the past month or so, he has become particularly picky with what he will and won't eat. If it were up to him, he would eat fruit (yes, a good thing, but not if that's all you will eat), peanut butter sandwiches, avocados, yogurt, and other sweet things like Nutrigrain bars. Occasionally, if he is in the mood to be accomodating, he will eat a chicken nugget or two from Chickfila or some meatsauce from my lasagna. But, vegetables: NO THANKS. Baby food: Maybe a bite or two, unless it's the fruit, then yes please! Other healthy and delicious meals that I've made before that he has eaten: NOT ANY MORE!
It has been really stressing me out, but after talking to a few close friends, I have some good advice and some new tactics to try. I am going to start by cutting down on the amount of food that Liam eats at breakfast. He always eats a great breakfast and usually eats a TON. So, I am going to cut that down so that he will be pretty hungry come lunchtime. I know that I have to keep the sweet things (fruit/yogurt) out of the picture until I am actually ready to feed it to him because once he lays eyes on them, nothing else is going into his mouth. Also, my friend Johanna told me to start small. "Set him up to succeed." Give him small and reasonable portions to begin with and introduce things a bit at a time. I tried a turkey and cheese sandwich with him today, and even though he only ate about 1/8 of the sandwich, there were several bites that he ate. That is progress. After those bites, I gave him his yogurt and banana and milk. Tonight, we are going with spaghetti which is something he usually eats without any trouble. I will introduce green beans to him, which he has always turned down, and see if we can get anywhere with that. I know that God is going to have to pour out grace on all of us because it can be really stressful when your baby refuses to eat and just cries in his highchair until you give him what he wants.
As I mentioned earlier, Jonathan's great aunt passed away last week, and we were all able to attend her funeral in Jackson, MS. The kids and I rode down with Jonathan's parents, and later that day Jonathan and his sister, Amy, rode down together after they got off work. We love Aunt Hazel so much; she has been such a grandmother to us and has loved me and cared for me as if I were one of her own. We are so sad that she is gone, but she's had a rough time the past several months, so we are so glad to know she is finally with her Savior and her husband in heaven!
After the funeral, Amy and I drove from Jackson down to Seagrove Beach, FL, where we met up with two our girlfriends for a long weekend getaway to the beach. We planned this trip in January, so I have been looking forward to it for months: just the girls, sand, ocean water, books to read, bikes to ride, sleep to catch up on, friendship, talks, laughter, etc. We had a great time! I got back just last night, and I must say that it was so refreshing to get away for a few days. I really missed Jonathan and my babies, but I was ready to come back to my favorite activities: caring for them and our home! Pics to come!
Anyway, that's our life in a nutshell as of right now. I've got lots of pics to update, so look forward to those!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sweet SummerTime
I love this time of year! The long summer nights, the warmth in the air, the desire to stay outdoors for hours until the sweat and mosquitoes force you in. My children love to be outside, too. Especially Liam. He will make his way to the front or back door and tap on it saying, "Ow-sigh," as he stretches out his arm and points in the direction of where he can't wait to be.
Before long, the heat will probably cause us to come inside much sooner than we'd like, but for now, we are able to endure the humidity and play in the sweet summer nights.
For a while, I have been wanting to venture over to the railroad tracks that are just a stone's throw from our neighborhood. While at the playground the other night, I suddenly remembered about my idea, so I ran home, grabbed my camera, and then Jonathan and I walked the kids over to the tracks. It was a bit nerve-wracking being there because lots of cars cross over, so I was a bit nervous about having my kids so close. Not to mention the potential that at any time a great big choo-choo train could start making its way in our direction.
So, we snapped a few pictures and then headed back to safety. We had a great little time and came home with a few keepers, and a scraped knee! (Nora tripped over a rock). I hope to do it again sometime when Liam is walking so I can get more of him!
Before long, the heat will probably cause us to come inside much sooner than we'd like, but for now, we are able to endure the humidity and play in the sweet summer nights.
For a while, I have been wanting to venture over to the railroad tracks that are just a stone's throw from our neighborhood. While at the playground the other night, I suddenly remembered about my idea, so I ran home, grabbed my camera, and then Jonathan and I walked the kids over to the tracks. It was a bit nerve-wracking being there because lots of cars cross over, so I was a bit nervous about having my kids so close. Not to mention the potential that at any time a great big choo-choo train could start making its way in our direction.
So, we snapped a few pictures and then headed back to safety. We had a great little time and came home with a few keepers, and a scraped knee! (Nora tripped over a rock). I hope to do it again sometime when Liam is walking so I can get more of him!
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