My birthday has always been a pain. Between 9/11 and the fact that we're just not good at putting on a good party, it's always been a bit of a dud. That's not to say I haven't enjoyed some of them, just that some of them have been days I would rather have slept through.
My mom pulled a real doozy this year though. And I think it was an attempt at a joke but I can't say for sure. My mom sometimes tries to make jokes by saying things that... well, they're just not funny. On the other hand, she IS getting older and I have to brace myself for her and Dad to start forgetting things.
When she asked whether I'd decided to go to church with them Sunday (there's going to be a little program for Grandparents' Day) I told her I'm still not sure, since my medicine is still messing with my stomach and NG was trying to decide whether he was going to do something for my birthday tomorrow evening when he gets off work or wait until one of the next two weekends since he'll be off then. She goes, "Oh, that's right... Tomorrow's your birthday."
Then as they were leaving, she said, "Well, I'll go ahead and wish you a happy birthday, just in case I forget to tell you tomorrow."
Gee whiz, Mom. I love you too.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
All You Need Is Love
I was thinking earlier tonight: I don't talk much about spirituality on here. The main reason I started thinking about it was just because of a reference to sharing about my life made in my comments, and it got me to thinking about the other blogs I read. And just in case, no, I don't take any offense to it--it just sparked my thoughts. I read several blogs that have themes, and it's something that never really stuck for me. And then my hands give me trouble sometimes so I don't write in my little journal as much anymore and since typing is a lot easier on them, I use this place as the chronicle of the little things in life.
The reason why spirituality doesn't come into my posts much is primarily because I'm not always completely sure where I stand. I'm going through a rather prolonged phase of soul searching and study, which right now has me studying Judaism and taking a very slow journey through the Bible looking at the women mentioned, why they were mentioned, and what their roles were in their families and communities. The core of my beliefs remain the same as they ever were, but there's so many details I'm still working out.
Anyway, moving on. Earlier this year (for New Year's, actually) I decided my "word of the year" would be love, because I need to show more love, be more receptive of love, rekindle love in my relationship, nurture my daughter and my love for her, and learn more about what it means to love. So far my husband and I have worked to protect the love between us and keep it strong, I'm continuing to develop my relationship with my daughter, and I've learned that sometimes, when you love people, you just have to ignore them and the no-good they're up to in order to protect the existence of that relationship. It's been a hard year when it comes to family. I've experienced major setbacks but I've also grown and learned a lot. I find myself more and more in love with my family every day, and that was my first goal.
One of the other big things I've tried to do (and this is where my post relates back to spirituality) is try to look at the world and the people I come across the way Jesus would. I'm definitely not perfect and it will probably always be a work in progress, but this effort has really got me to thinking. It actually has me a little disappointed, sometimes, with the people in this world and their attitudes towards others. Like this whole controversy about Muslims, for example. I've recently heard from people I never dreamed would say such a thing that all Muslims are "out to get us" and when I countered with examples of Muslim friends we've shared who are nothing but normal, mainstream people trying to raise their families, I was met with, "Well, I've heard they'll befriend you just to make you trust them." It got me to wondering how Jesus would have interacted with Muslims, how He would tell us to treat them. After all, Jesus spent time with people who were on the fringes of their society, who everyone else looked down on and victimized. I'm well aware of the dangers within the Muslim community, but I also know that to say all Muslims are extremists is akin to saying that all Christians share the beliefs of the Westboro Baptist people. I imagine that, like the majority of Christians, most of them are fairly moderate in their beliefs and just want to live their lives. How would Jesus treat them? Would He see them as Abrahamic brethren worth fighting for, or heathens we shouldn't waste our time on? I'm not trying to go off on a political tangent, but it was the best example I could think of off-hand.
I'm not very good yet at this whole business in practice, but it gives me a lot to think about. I realize, after fretting for so many years about not being perfect enough for God, that Jesus didn't expect people to be perfect--He only expected them to try, to make a conscious change and stick to it. I realize that unlike so many people today, Jesus didn't use His spiritual status to place Himself on a pedestal above the "undesirables"--rather, those outcasts were at the very heart of what He came here for in the first place and some of them went on to be leaders in the fledgling Christian movement. Were it not for its acceptance of all kinds of people and not just a "chosen" few, Christianity might not have flourished the way it has. Trying to remember to consider how Jesus would treat people forces me to stop and think about how I treat people. Again, I'm not very good at it yet, and usually it kicks in AFTER I've said something dumb, but slowly I'm trying to change the way I think and treat people.
Meantime, I'm reading a lot on Judaism and studying the Bible, starting from Genesis. The study on Judaism started out being an attempt to understand a couple funny wordings I found and trying to figure out the actual meaning and some cultural context from the people who know the OT best. The more I read the more I found something familiar and comforting in the Jewish faith. There's a lot of beauty in it and I find that understanding it adds a bit of depth to my understanding of Christianity as well--after all, Jesus was Jewish. Understanding Christianity in a Jewish context fleshes it out a bit and adds a certain cultural richness that has been lost during the centuries. It has helped me feel a certain connection to our spiritual ancestors and has revived my interest in the OT and relating it to our lives today. It has become a deep interest of mine.
As for my Bible study, it began with my frustration with some of the modern attitudes about the place of women in the church. It's almost like there's two main schools of thought, each on totally opposite ends of the spectrum. One believes that women have a very clearly defined place in the church (AKA submissive and silent) and the other is sort of a Christian feminism, which is a bit of an extreme in and of itself. So, I got curious. I know that a great number of women are mentioned in the Bible, but only a few get a great deal of discussion. Women are never named without a reason, and women whose stories are told are discussed to teach a lesson. What are we supposed to learn from them? What were their virtues and faults? Who can take the most away from the story, men and church leaders or women with their families and communities? Most of the women I remember reading about as a kid were in the Bible because they led unconventional lives and God worked through them. I want to find the wisdom in those stories and ponder the possibilities God has for the lives of women today.
I might, as I develop my notes from my studies, start a series here about Biblical women. I haven't really made up my mind yet. I guess in a lot of ways I don't feel qualified and I'm a little afraid that sharing my own thoughts might knock someone else off course. One thing I'd never want to be guilty of is causing someone else to waver or stumble in their faith or to lead them off-course. After all, I myself am still sorting out my faith and figuring out the validity of some things I was taught as a kid that I'm not sure about anymore.
The goal of my blog was to examine myself and to watch myself grow from this awkward caterpillar into a metaphorical butterfly. I don't talk much about it but this place does certainly give me the opportunity to look at my own life and the things happening in it, and process my feelings about what's going on. I think I might also start examining my spiritual growth here too. It is, after all, an essential part of a healthy, "whole", person.
I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe Labor Day weekend. Thanks to all of you for being so supportive of me this year, patiently reading my rants and raves about the things going on in my life, and for sharing your insight with me about my life and the people in it. And thanks too for the wonderful insight in all of your own blogs. It helps me more than you'll ever know.
The reason why spirituality doesn't come into my posts much is primarily because I'm not always completely sure where I stand. I'm going through a rather prolonged phase of soul searching and study, which right now has me studying Judaism and taking a very slow journey through the Bible looking at the women mentioned, why they were mentioned, and what their roles were in their families and communities. The core of my beliefs remain the same as they ever were, but there's so many details I'm still working out.
Anyway, moving on. Earlier this year (for New Year's, actually) I decided my "word of the year" would be love, because I need to show more love, be more receptive of love, rekindle love in my relationship, nurture my daughter and my love for her, and learn more about what it means to love. So far my husband and I have worked to protect the love between us and keep it strong, I'm continuing to develop my relationship with my daughter, and I've learned that sometimes, when you love people, you just have to ignore them and the no-good they're up to in order to protect the existence of that relationship. It's been a hard year when it comes to family. I've experienced major setbacks but I've also grown and learned a lot. I find myself more and more in love with my family every day, and that was my first goal.
One of the other big things I've tried to do (and this is where my post relates back to spirituality) is try to look at the world and the people I come across the way Jesus would. I'm definitely not perfect and it will probably always be a work in progress, but this effort has really got me to thinking. It actually has me a little disappointed, sometimes, with the people in this world and their attitudes towards others. Like this whole controversy about Muslims, for example. I've recently heard from people I never dreamed would say such a thing that all Muslims are "out to get us" and when I countered with examples of Muslim friends we've shared who are nothing but normal, mainstream people trying to raise their families, I was met with, "Well, I've heard they'll befriend you just to make you trust them." It got me to wondering how Jesus would have interacted with Muslims, how He would tell us to treat them. After all, Jesus spent time with people who were on the fringes of their society, who everyone else looked down on and victimized. I'm well aware of the dangers within the Muslim community, but I also know that to say all Muslims are extremists is akin to saying that all Christians share the beliefs of the Westboro Baptist people. I imagine that, like the majority of Christians, most of them are fairly moderate in their beliefs and just want to live their lives. How would Jesus treat them? Would He see them as Abrahamic brethren worth fighting for, or heathens we shouldn't waste our time on? I'm not trying to go off on a political tangent, but it was the best example I could think of off-hand.
I'm not very good yet at this whole business in practice, but it gives me a lot to think about. I realize, after fretting for so many years about not being perfect enough for God, that Jesus didn't expect people to be perfect--He only expected them to try, to make a conscious change and stick to it. I realize that unlike so many people today, Jesus didn't use His spiritual status to place Himself on a pedestal above the "undesirables"--rather, those outcasts were at the very heart of what He came here for in the first place and some of them went on to be leaders in the fledgling Christian movement. Were it not for its acceptance of all kinds of people and not just a "chosen" few, Christianity might not have flourished the way it has. Trying to remember to consider how Jesus would treat people forces me to stop and think about how I treat people. Again, I'm not very good at it yet, and usually it kicks in AFTER I've said something dumb, but slowly I'm trying to change the way I think and treat people.
Meantime, I'm reading a lot on Judaism and studying the Bible, starting from Genesis. The study on Judaism started out being an attempt to understand a couple funny wordings I found and trying to figure out the actual meaning and some cultural context from the people who know the OT best. The more I read the more I found something familiar and comforting in the Jewish faith. There's a lot of beauty in it and I find that understanding it adds a bit of depth to my understanding of Christianity as well--after all, Jesus was Jewish. Understanding Christianity in a Jewish context fleshes it out a bit and adds a certain cultural richness that has been lost during the centuries. It has helped me feel a certain connection to our spiritual ancestors and has revived my interest in the OT and relating it to our lives today. It has become a deep interest of mine.
As for my Bible study, it began with my frustration with some of the modern attitudes about the place of women in the church. It's almost like there's two main schools of thought, each on totally opposite ends of the spectrum. One believes that women have a very clearly defined place in the church (AKA submissive and silent) and the other is sort of a Christian feminism, which is a bit of an extreme in and of itself. So, I got curious. I know that a great number of women are mentioned in the Bible, but only a few get a great deal of discussion. Women are never named without a reason, and women whose stories are told are discussed to teach a lesson. What are we supposed to learn from them? What were their virtues and faults? Who can take the most away from the story, men and church leaders or women with their families and communities? Most of the women I remember reading about as a kid were in the Bible because they led unconventional lives and God worked through them. I want to find the wisdom in those stories and ponder the possibilities God has for the lives of women today.
I might, as I develop my notes from my studies, start a series here about Biblical women. I haven't really made up my mind yet. I guess in a lot of ways I don't feel qualified and I'm a little afraid that sharing my own thoughts might knock someone else off course. One thing I'd never want to be guilty of is causing someone else to waver or stumble in their faith or to lead them off-course. After all, I myself am still sorting out my faith and figuring out the validity of some things I was taught as a kid that I'm not sure about anymore.
The goal of my blog was to examine myself and to watch myself grow from this awkward caterpillar into a metaphorical butterfly. I don't talk much about it but this place does certainly give me the opportunity to look at my own life and the things happening in it, and process my feelings about what's going on. I think I might also start examining my spiritual growth here too. It is, after all, an essential part of a healthy, "whole", person.
I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe Labor Day weekend. Thanks to all of you for being so supportive of me this year, patiently reading my rants and raves about the things going on in my life, and for sharing your insight with me about my life and the people in it. And thanks too for the wonderful insight in all of your own blogs. It helps me more than you'll ever know.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Life, Love and Losing My Mind
In some ways things are finally falling into place for me. In others, I feel like I'm going crazy. For every positive happening in my life something negative is trying to get a foothold, and I'm trying so hard to not be so negative about things. That's not easy for someone like me. I've always been one to look at the way things are, instead of how they could be. (My brother was the idealist in the family...Someone had to keep him grounded.)
I'll get the negatives out of the way first. For one, I've had a lot of friction lately with this pregnant girl I know. Essentially she acts like A) she's the first woman to EVER have a baby, or a rough pregnancy, and B) she's never had a pregnancy before (it's worth noting that this is her second child). She has started acting like she's some sort of pregnancy and parenting guru, implying that I'm wrong on pretty much everything I say or do or think regarding parenting because this is her second child/pregnancy and she knows better than me. I'm not saying I'm right all the time...only that I'd like to not be talked to like a child when she thinks she knows better. She's completely self-obsessed--I can't get a word in when she calls until she decides she's done and has to go or my phone dies on me. I've told her about our situation, baby fever, and how it's all a really sensitive spot for me, but she continues to go on and on about her pregnancy and how miserable she is. All the while, all I can think of is how much I would love another chance to have that. I lost all patience and respect for her when she was talking about her prospective VBAC and her early labor pains at 35 weeks, and she commented that it would be best if the baby went ahead and came so it would be small enough for her to have a successful VBAC, and that he'd "only" spend a week or two in the NICU. I confronted her over it the next day, and of course she backpedaled and acted like I misunderstood her meaning. She pretended like she wasn't offended, but I haven't heard from her since and sadly that's no problem to me. I'm trying hard not to be so nasty, so negative, so resentful, but she made it impossible for me to look forward to talking to her. Talking to her always made me bitter, and for a while I thought maybe it was me and I was in the wrong, but after a while I realized that it wasn't just me--she was ungrateful for what she already had, for what she was getting, and for the financial assistance she was getting that so many others need and can't get. She has been the biggest source of emotional stress for me lately. I don't miss that frustration and anxiety at all.
The next main negative is that Sweet'ums' birthday party is just around the corner and last night I get this phone call telling me I either have to move up her party by a week or change the time on the day we were going to have it. Both of these options aren't the simplest--I had the whole day planned around the time of her party and I chose that time for a reason, and moving it up a week can't happen either since her daddy works and her party would fall on my birthday. To complicate matters even more, I didn't wait until the last minute this year to hand out invitations, so no matter what we chose I was going to have to call everyone and let them know that plans had changed. Apparently the lady who takes the reservations had failed to write ours down right away and ended up double-booking that time on that day. What really frustrated me is that she had told me to reserve early because they book up six to eight weeks in advance, so I told her three months beforehand what day and time I wanted. Why is it that she didn't know until last night that she was double-booked? Did someone come in yesterday and reserve and THEN she realized she already had a reservation for that time? And if that's the case, why are WE the ones having to change? I know, I know, moving up the time by two and a half hours isn't a big deal, but to someone like me it is. I'm a planner and I panic when things start changing and going "wrong". Her party will still be a lot of fun, but I had deliberately tried to arrange it so that I wouldn't be pressed for time and start panicking on the day of the party. Now, I don't think I'll be able to rearrange my day in a way that won't have me freaking out and stressed to the point of not being able to enjoy the afternoon.
Now, for the positive. Hooray! Other than the time falling through on me, I've got more done in advance for her party this year than I normally do. I'm not very good at planning parties so I'm proud of myself. I've still got work to do but overall, things are looking good. You know, if I don't totally fall apart the day of the party.
Also, potty training is FINALLY showing real promise! All week we have worked on it and she's only had a couple accidents. After the success at MeMe and Poppy's house the other day, we had some setbacks. Then, I read something about how some kids get hung up on potty terminology and just don't "get" what it's all about. They know what it sounds like to use the potty but don't really know how to connect the sensations and what they're really doing and all that. So, I got this bright idea to tell her to put her water in the potty, and that did the trick! She knew what "pee-pee" sounded like when she followed me to the potty, but she wasn't connecting the term and sound to what she did. On the other hand, she knows what water is, what it feels like, and what it looks like, so telling her to put her water in the potty was an idea she could latch onto. Getting her to land #2 in the potty is a whole different challenge, but at least she's putting her "water" where it belongs!
Gymnastics is going a little better. Sweet'ums is still crazy and keeps the teacher busy, but she seems to take her a little more in stride now than she did at first. I can't help but laugh sometimes at the class. This past week, she had a different teacher since hers was out sick. This girl was less tolerant and kept the kids in line better. The kids got the best of her though. All of the kids LOVE the trampoline and it's the hardest thing to get them to take turns with. So while one of the kids was taking a turn, one of the boys took off his shorts. When the teacher realized what he had done she scrambled to try to get his shorts back on. While the teacher was distracted with that boy, my daughter decided to take a turn on the trampoline. When the teacher took off after my daughter, another girl decided to jump on the trampoline behind the teacher. And I know, I know, I shouldn't laugh, but it looked so well-planned! It was like the class trouble maker created a diversion so the girls could have a little fun. I wish I had it on video.
I also changed the pattern for the quilt I'm making. It'll be the first one on the second row in the "other view". The colors will be different, of course, but this pattern will be easier on my hands for cutting and piecing. I'm looking forward to getting the supplies and making it. I'll try to take pictures through the whole process and keep everyone updated.
Nice Guy and I also have been working on staying close to each other. We're doing so much better, and while problems are still there and probably will remain, at least we're keeping our love and friendship alive. The best thing for us so far was the little book we started writing things we love about each other in. Even when he's working it's a way to stay in touch and share sweet thoughts with each other.
I'm sorry this post is so long but I wanted to vent a little and to update too. (I did try editing it to make it shorter.) Life is a roller coaster and it's hard to keep track of the ups and downs without my sanity slipping up now and then. At the end of the day, though, I'm so thankful for my husband and my daughter and our growth together as a family. Crazy as things are, the two of them make everything worthwhile.
I'll get the negatives out of the way first. For one, I've had a lot of friction lately with this pregnant girl I know. Essentially she acts like A) she's the first woman to EVER have a baby, or a rough pregnancy, and B) she's never had a pregnancy before (it's worth noting that this is her second child). She has started acting like she's some sort of pregnancy and parenting guru, implying that I'm wrong on pretty much everything I say or do or think regarding parenting because this is her second child/pregnancy and she knows better than me. I'm not saying I'm right all the time...only that I'd like to not be talked to like a child when she thinks she knows better. She's completely self-obsessed--I can't get a word in when she calls until she decides she's done and has to go or my phone dies on me. I've told her about our situation, baby fever, and how it's all a really sensitive spot for me, but she continues to go on and on about her pregnancy and how miserable she is. All the while, all I can think of is how much I would love another chance to have that. I lost all patience and respect for her when she was talking about her prospective VBAC and her early labor pains at 35 weeks, and she commented that it would be best if the baby went ahead and came so it would be small enough for her to have a successful VBAC, and that he'd "only" spend a week or two in the NICU. I confronted her over it the next day, and of course she backpedaled and acted like I misunderstood her meaning. She pretended like she wasn't offended, but I haven't heard from her since and sadly that's no problem to me. I'm trying hard not to be so nasty, so negative, so resentful, but she made it impossible for me to look forward to talking to her. Talking to her always made me bitter, and for a while I thought maybe it was me and I was in the wrong, but after a while I realized that it wasn't just me--she was ungrateful for what she already had, for what she was getting, and for the financial assistance she was getting that so many others need and can't get. She has been the biggest source of emotional stress for me lately. I don't miss that frustration and anxiety at all.
The next main negative is that Sweet'ums' birthday party is just around the corner and last night I get this phone call telling me I either have to move up her party by a week or change the time on the day we were going to have it. Both of these options aren't the simplest--I had the whole day planned around the time of her party and I chose that time for a reason, and moving it up a week can't happen either since her daddy works and her party would fall on my birthday. To complicate matters even more, I didn't wait until the last minute this year to hand out invitations, so no matter what we chose I was going to have to call everyone and let them know that plans had changed. Apparently the lady who takes the reservations had failed to write ours down right away and ended up double-booking that time on that day. What really frustrated me is that she had told me to reserve early because they book up six to eight weeks in advance, so I told her three months beforehand what day and time I wanted. Why is it that she didn't know until last night that she was double-booked? Did someone come in yesterday and reserve and THEN she realized she already had a reservation for that time? And if that's the case, why are WE the ones having to change? I know, I know, moving up the time by two and a half hours isn't a big deal, but to someone like me it is. I'm a planner and I panic when things start changing and going "wrong". Her party will still be a lot of fun, but I had deliberately tried to arrange it so that I wouldn't be pressed for time and start panicking on the day of the party. Now, I don't think I'll be able to rearrange my day in a way that won't have me freaking out and stressed to the point of not being able to enjoy the afternoon.
Now, for the positive. Hooray! Other than the time falling through on me, I've got more done in advance for her party this year than I normally do. I'm not very good at planning parties so I'm proud of myself. I've still got work to do but overall, things are looking good. You know, if I don't totally fall apart the day of the party.
Also, potty training is FINALLY showing real promise! All week we have worked on it and she's only had a couple accidents. After the success at MeMe and Poppy's house the other day, we had some setbacks. Then, I read something about how some kids get hung up on potty terminology and just don't "get" what it's all about. They know what it sounds like to use the potty but don't really know how to connect the sensations and what they're really doing and all that. So, I got this bright idea to tell her to put her water in the potty, and that did the trick! She knew what "pee-pee" sounded like when she followed me to the potty, but she wasn't connecting the term and sound to what she did. On the other hand, she knows what water is, what it feels like, and what it looks like, so telling her to put her water in the potty was an idea she could latch onto. Getting her to land #2 in the potty is a whole different challenge, but at least she's putting her "water" where it belongs!
Gymnastics is going a little better. Sweet'ums is still crazy and keeps the teacher busy, but she seems to take her a little more in stride now than she did at first. I can't help but laugh sometimes at the class. This past week, she had a different teacher since hers was out sick. This girl was less tolerant and kept the kids in line better. The kids got the best of her though. All of the kids LOVE the trampoline and it's the hardest thing to get them to take turns with. So while one of the kids was taking a turn, one of the boys took off his shorts. When the teacher realized what he had done she scrambled to try to get his shorts back on. While the teacher was distracted with that boy, my daughter decided to take a turn on the trampoline. When the teacher took off after my daughter, another girl decided to jump on the trampoline behind the teacher. And I know, I know, I shouldn't laugh, but it looked so well-planned! It was like the class trouble maker created a diversion so the girls could have a little fun. I wish I had it on video.
I also changed the pattern for the quilt I'm making. It'll be the first one on the second row in the "other view". The colors will be different, of course, but this pattern will be easier on my hands for cutting and piecing. I'm looking forward to getting the supplies and making it. I'll try to take pictures through the whole process and keep everyone updated.
Nice Guy and I also have been working on staying close to each other. We're doing so much better, and while problems are still there and probably will remain, at least we're keeping our love and friendship alive. The best thing for us so far was the little book we started writing things we love about each other in. Even when he's working it's a way to stay in touch and share sweet thoughts with each other.
I'm sorry this post is so long but I wanted to vent a little and to update too. (I did try editing it to make it shorter.) Life is a roller coaster and it's hard to keep track of the ups and downs without my sanity slipping up now and then. At the end of the day, though, I'm so thankful for my husband and my daughter and our growth together as a family. Crazy as things are, the two of them make everything worthwhile.
Monday, August 23, 2010
New Quilt
I've mentioned one of my closest friends is currently expecting, and they just found out it's a boy! I admit a teensy bit of disappointment because I was hoping for a partner in crime for Sweet'ums, but a boy is going to be a blast. He's going to be beautiful, I just know it.
And, of course, a new baby means making a new quilt. I'm thinking of making something a bit bigger than a crib blanket so he can use it longer, so maybe 60" square. I think I've got a block pattern picked out (the 2 by 4 block at that link), so now I just have to choose fabrics.
In some ways it should be easy enough. They're doing the nursery in brown and blue with teddy bears. This is great! Teddy bears are generic enough to be easy to locate, and the colors are pretty trendy right now.
The challenge for me is going to be finding fabrics that are masculine enough to use for a boy blanket. Being female, and having a daughter, I'm drawn to fabrics that I would use for her. Finding non-floral prints for a boy should be an interesting challenge and hopefully I'll be able to pull this off.
I'm also excited to announce that today, my daughter went to Poppy (my dad) and told him she wanted to sit on the potty. So he put her on the potty and she sat there for a little while. Finally he thought she was "done" so he took her off and put her diaper back on. Just a little while later she had a dirty diaper. This might seem like defeat, but I'm excited that she noticed the urge and connected it to sitting on the potty, and even more excited that she actually told someone!
So this is a good day for me. We've got a new quilt in the works and maybe, just maybe, my child will one day decide that going potty like a big girl is worth the effort.
And, of course, a new baby means making a new quilt. I'm thinking of making something a bit bigger than a crib blanket so he can use it longer, so maybe 60" square. I think I've got a block pattern picked out (the 2 by 4 block at that link), so now I just have to choose fabrics.
In some ways it should be easy enough. They're doing the nursery in brown and blue with teddy bears. This is great! Teddy bears are generic enough to be easy to locate, and the colors are pretty trendy right now.
The challenge for me is going to be finding fabrics that are masculine enough to use for a boy blanket. Being female, and having a daughter, I'm drawn to fabrics that I would use for her. Finding non-floral prints for a boy should be an interesting challenge and hopefully I'll be able to pull this off.
I'm also excited to announce that today, my daughter went to Poppy (my dad) and told him she wanted to sit on the potty. So he put her on the potty and she sat there for a little while. Finally he thought she was "done" so he took her off and put her diaper back on. Just a little while later she had a dirty diaper. This might seem like defeat, but I'm excited that she noticed the urge and connected it to sitting on the potty, and even more excited that she actually told someone!
So this is a good day for me. We've got a new quilt in the works and maybe, just maybe, my child will one day decide that going potty like a big girl is worth the effort.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Silly and Excited
My baby won her first award!
Ok, so it's not a big award or anything, but she won the BGMC award at the church my parents go to. For those of you not familiar with the program, it's the children's missions program in the Assemblies of God. She was apparently the top giver in the church for the month of July. Keep in mind, this is a very small church.
I don't know how much change was in her Buddy Barrel or where, exactly, all of it came from (she's good about picking up and collecting money she finds, and I'm sure Mom gave her plenty to put in there). But I'm proud. I do believe it's important to teach kids to have a giving attitude from a young age. It's a virtue we've wanted to work on with her but have had limited opportunities to do something with her that she could understand. The old church didn't really do much like this, and I'm glad that she's being involved in this program now.
One thing I think is really cute is that she uses my old Buddy Barrel from when I was a kid. The program encourages kids and churches to take care of their barrels ("be good stewards," to use their words), not lose them or break them or mistreat them. That thing has to be almost fifteen years old. How's that for longevity?
Last BGMC Sunday the pastor's wife told my mom to make sure Sweet'ums was there this month. I'm pretty sure at the time my mom told me that the P'sW had told her that she had something for Sweet'ums, because for whatever reason my mom and I were already sure she'd won. I even made her a dress for the occasion (which is a little big because she's between sizes right now). When they got there today though the pastor's wife thought it was odd that Mom knew Sweet'ums had won. Apparently she had no idea until this week herself, which makes me wonder if the District handles it now instead of the individual churches. So either we just had an attack of intuition or the pastor's wife forgot that she knew.
Anyway, that's all I've got. I'm just a proud mom tonight and wanted to share.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Brain Fog
We had a great time at our movie the other night, even though Sweet'ums couldn't sit still and ended up going to sleep. Despicable Me was a cute movie, for those of you with kids who would appreciate it.
Sweet'ums' gymnastics class went pretty well. I'm still not sure if I like the teacher but I know our options are limited and really, we have to give her a chance. I just don't think she spends enough time with each child (there's only five of them!) and she doesn't seem to have a clue how to handle toddlers. You have to think one step ahead of them if you want to keep them in line, and Sweet'ums ran circles around this poor girl. Too bad parents aren't allowed to help with this class! She looked like she needed it!
I went to the doctor for my ear yesterday and for now everything looks great. I'm relieved about it.
And last night my daughter was up for the longest time coughing again. I'm thinking we might have to take her to the doctor yet again for this mess. I don't want her to get really sick this time just to get something done about it.
Hence, my brain fog. I wrote an email a while ago that was barely coherent; for those of you I commented on in the last few minutes, please bear with me if I make little sense. I'm trying!
This coming week I'll try to get some pictures of my girl in action in her class.
Sweet'ums' gymnastics class went pretty well. I'm still not sure if I like the teacher but I know our options are limited and really, we have to give her a chance. I just don't think she spends enough time with each child (there's only five of them!) and she doesn't seem to have a clue how to handle toddlers. You have to think one step ahead of them if you want to keep them in line, and Sweet'ums ran circles around this poor girl. Too bad parents aren't allowed to help with this class! She looked like she needed it!
I went to the doctor for my ear yesterday and for now everything looks great. I'm relieved about it.
And last night my daughter was up for the longest time coughing again. I'm thinking we might have to take her to the doctor yet again for this mess. I don't want her to get really sick this time just to get something done about it.
Hence, my brain fog. I wrote an email a while ago that was barely coherent; for those of you I commented on in the last few minutes, please bear with me if I make little sense. I'm trying!
This coming week I'll try to get some pictures of my girl in action in her class.
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