I love that Ezekiel is reenacting letting Thing 1 and Thing 2 out of their box while standing on an upended green sterilite.
I hate that me and both kids are sick.
And have I mentioned how big both kids are? Growing way too fast in my opinion.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
'Helping Mama'
He threw the colored pencils to the floor and declared "I will NOT help clean up." A few seconds later, "I'm gonna get my guitar and sing to you while you clean up." Are you kidding me? How do I parent THAT?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Flying Day
Apparently the trick to making the hours fly by is to take husband into work late and spend the rest of the morning at Chik Fil A. Ezekiel went straight to sleep when we got home and we left an hour after he woke up to pick husband up from work.
Yesterday was one of the longest days ever while all of today seemed shorter than yesterday's lunch. Why is that? I had 15 activities planned yesterday and we blew through them by noon. It was fun and productive and then everything fizzled after naps and I almost lost my mind by dinner. Nothing was planned today except the desire to leave the house.
Sometimes I scratch my head and wonder what went wrong in a day. Other times I know exactly what went right. Ezekiel woke up from his nap today crying and sad. He didn't know why but wanted me to hold him. I spent as long as he needed and set aside everything that I had planned. We snuggled and read Narnia, talked, and cooked together. He specifically asked that I 'cook' the yogurt by 'dumping' it into the pot. Cooked yogurt it was. I mean, what did I have to lose besides a little yogurt? I knew he was feeling loved and accepted and happy when we left the house to get Patrick. Sure enough, he spent 30-45 minutes walking around the BX with us. He needed a little guiding and some good boundaries but basically he was responsive and engaging the whole time. He controlled himself well and was resilient when I bought almost nothing that he asked for. When we left he was smiling and happy. So worth the effort this afternoon to fill him up with love! I think thats the biggest thing I'm learning about three year olds right now: when they know and experience that they are unconditionally loved, accepted, and desired, their behavior issues almost vanish.
All in all, it was a good day. Zipporah even cried less than normal in her car seat. Which means we had about ten minutes of quiet in the course of a couple hours of driving!
Yesterday was one of the longest days ever while all of today seemed shorter than yesterday's lunch. Why is that? I had 15 activities planned yesterday and we blew through them by noon. It was fun and productive and then everything fizzled after naps and I almost lost my mind by dinner. Nothing was planned today except the desire to leave the house.
Sometimes I scratch my head and wonder what went wrong in a day. Other times I know exactly what went right. Ezekiel woke up from his nap today crying and sad. He didn't know why but wanted me to hold him. I spent as long as he needed and set aside everything that I had planned. We snuggled and read Narnia, talked, and cooked together. He specifically asked that I 'cook' the yogurt by 'dumping' it into the pot. Cooked yogurt it was. I mean, what did I have to lose besides a little yogurt? I knew he was feeling loved and accepted and happy when we left the house to get Patrick. Sure enough, he spent 30-45 minutes walking around the BX with us. He needed a little guiding and some good boundaries but basically he was responsive and engaging the whole time. He controlled himself well and was resilient when I bought almost nothing that he asked for. When we left he was smiling and happy. So worth the effort this afternoon to fill him up with love! I think thats the biggest thing I'm learning about three year olds right now: when they know and experience that they are unconditionally loved, accepted, and desired, their behavior issues almost vanish.
All in all, it was a good day. Zipporah even cried less than normal in her car seat. Which means we had about ten minutes of quiet in the course of a couple hours of driving!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Questions with Not So Many Answers
Why do little boys love being naked?
How many craft projects can you do in a day?
Is it possible to stop snacking with a toddler in the house?
When both kids are asleep, is it better to clean or take a nap?
Today Ezekiel came and told he he was having a hard day. I agreed. And then he asked for hugs and gave me a kiss. So sweet in the midst of 'a hard day'.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Notes
Zipporah really hates her car seat. Proof: 20 minutes of crying to Chik Fil A, 20 minutes on the way home, 18 minutes of crying on the way to the base, and 35 minutes on the way home. Holy smokes. Even Ezekiel was feeling rattled by the time we finally landed at home for the last time today. Its enough to make a mom stay at home!
Ezekiel busted his ear big time. About 45 minutes later he slammed his hand in the dryer lid. Both are major injuries for Ezekiel and both occurred in one night. What's going on?
We had a great day today. I nearly finished Ross Campbell's 'How to Really Love Your Child' and am implementing lots of his techniques or principles. Its amazing how well they are working so far. I'm leary of techniques and of saying something is 'working' as though kids were machines or science projects. What I mean is that Campbell basically lists ways to help your kids feel unconditionally loved and accepted and suggests a parent focus on doing that well rather than on a child's behavior. The result? Pleasant behavior and less resistance to direction. I really appreciate that he describes discipline as training. I think of discipline as discipleship. Basically teaching my kid what he needs to know and walking alongside him with guidance and hopefully a little wisdom.
Today we played Go Fish, Memory, we colored, stamped, cut, and glued,played at Chik Fil A with friends, created a special reading place inside a tent and began Stuart Little. Ezekiel helped me cook, helped care for Zipporah, and chattered with me all day long. He said I love you, please, thank you, I'm sorry, I forgive you, and you're welcome all day long without direction. We talked about telling the truth versus lying and he decided to tell the truth once he understood that God didn't like lying. It made no difference to him that I didn't care for it. I guess if its between me and God, its better that God be the motivator! And we finally made some progress with directing the intense anger and bursts of violent emotion into pleasant words. Its not that he can't have the emotions, its just that he's learning to communicate them productively.
Like I said, it was a good day and a busy one. So far I love parenting two kids better than one. Their different needs and schedules give me a sense of order and structure during the day. I'm able to make better use of the individual minutes when they don't all run together. Life is good.
Ezekiel busted his ear big time. About 45 minutes later he slammed his hand in the dryer lid. Both are major injuries for Ezekiel and both occurred in one night. What's going on?
We had a great day today. I nearly finished Ross Campbell's 'How to Really Love Your Child' and am implementing lots of his techniques or principles. Its amazing how well they are working so far. I'm leary of techniques and of saying something is 'working' as though kids were machines or science projects. What I mean is that Campbell basically lists ways to help your kids feel unconditionally loved and accepted and suggests a parent focus on doing that well rather than on a child's behavior. The result? Pleasant behavior and less resistance to direction. I really appreciate that he describes discipline as training. I think of discipline as discipleship. Basically teaching my kid what he needs to know and walking alongside him with guidance and hopefully a little wisdom.
Today we played Go Fish, Memory, we colored, stamped, cut, and glued,played at Chik Fil A with friends, created a special reading place inside a tent and began Stuart Little. Ezekiel helped me cook, helped care for Zipporah, and chattered with me all day long. He said I love you, please, thank you, I'm sorry, I forgive you, and you're welcome all day long without direction. We talked about telling the truth versus lying and he decided to tell the truth once he understood that God didn't like lying. It made no difference to him that I didn't care for it. I guess if its between me and God, its better that God be the motivator! And we finally made some progress with directing the intense anger and bursts of violent emotion into pleasant words. Its not that he can't have the emotions, its just that he's learning to communicate them productively.
Like I said, it was a good day and a busy one. So far I love parenting two kids better than one. Their different needs and schedules give me a sense of order and structure during the day. I'm able to make better use of the individual minutes when they don't all run together. Life is good.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Come Lately
Do I dare try to resurrect this blog? Its been over a year and a lot has happened that I won't try to catch up on. Blanks will just have to be blank. With a new computer on my lap and two kids asleep, I find myself wanting to write again. I've realized that I mostly forget what happens every day and that this blog, electronic and vaporous as it is, may be the best recorder of these golden days with my children. For that reason, I am daring. Not to be the wittiest, cleverest, most interesting, pithy, or popular mom on the blogger roll. But daring to at least keep a record of these days before they escape into the forgotten memories of sleepless nights and blurry days.
On that note, let's begin with confessions and goals.
Confessions:
1. I watched 4 complete seasons of Bones in the first two months of Zipporah's life. Ezekiel asks for quality time with me by asking to watch Bones with Mama.
2. Ezekiel watched 1-3 hours of movies A DAY during my third and fourth trimesters.
3. I really have no idea how to parent my 3 year old with his current needs.
Goals:
1. Get Fit 2011 (or Go Lean 2011 if it weren't a cereal). This includes losing my baby body, decluttering, organizing, and finding a routine for our days.
2. No more TV/Movies for Ezekiel. Period. Its off the table and I will just have to figure out how to parent without the Cycloptic babysitter.
3. Non-time-specific, interactive, daily schedule.
Notes: Today I put Ezekiel down for his nap while Zipporah was awake and in my arms. I wasn't sure how I would cross that bridge when it happened but it went off with reasonable ease. Ezekiel and I tried to play Five Little Monkeys today. He's very into the idea of games but he's not quite ready for the rules of play. One of my goals for him is to grow in his social interactions. I think one good way to pursue this goal is for us to practice playing games. I never thought about the abundance of social lessons in a game but they are there and ready for us to master. I have no idea how to be the mom I want to be and keep my house clean. The dishwasher is half unloaded adn the dishes are piled high and its 1:30. Before Zipporah, I just cleaned the kitchen while making coffee and feeding Ezekiel. Now I spend that time nursing. Hmm. Finally, I am so thankful for the lack of post-partum depression this time around. If anyone wants someone to talk to about PPD then I am available. I had it terribly with Ezekiel and not at all with Zipporah.
On that note, let's begin with confessions and goals.
Confessions:
1. I watched 4 complete seasons of Bones in the first two months of Zipporah's life. Ezekiel asks for quality time with me by asking to watch Bones with Mama.
2. Ezekiel watched 1-3 hours of movies A DAY during my third and fourth trimesters.
3. I really have no idea how to parent my 3 year old with his current needs.
Goals:
1. Get Fit 2011 (or Go Lean 2011 if it weren't a cereal). This includes losing my baby body, decluttering, organizing, and finding a routine for our days.
2. No more TV/Movies for Ezekiel. Period. Its off the table and I will just have to figure out how to parent without the Cycloptic babysitter.
3. Non-time-specific, interactive, daily schedule.
Notes: Today I put Ezekiel down for his nap while Zipporah was awake and in my arms. I wasn't sure how I would cross that bridge when it happened but it went off with reasonable ease. Ezekiel and I tried to play Five Little Monkeys today. He's very into the idea of games but he's not quite ready for the rules of play. One of my goals for him is to grow in his social interactions. I think one good way to pursue this goal is for us to practice playing games. I never thought about the abundance of social lessons in a game but they are there and ready for us to master. I have no idea how to be the mom I want to be and keep my house clean. The dishwasher is half unloaded adn the dishes are piled high and its 1:30. Before Zipporah, I just cleaned the kitchen while making coffee and feeding Ezekiel. Now I spend that time nursing. Hmm. Finally, I am so thankful for the lack of post-partum depression this time around. If anyone wants someone to talk to about PPD then I am available. I had it terribly with Ezekiel and not at all with Zipporah.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
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