Monday, September 29, 2008

The Strong Willed Child

It's Divine intervention...I received this in my inbox yesterday. After a VERY hard time with Mr. P on Sunday morning (picture this cute 5 yr. old screaming at me about his shoes and how he was NOT going to wear them). I think God knew what I needed to hear. 
Parenting Tip
Strong-Willed Kids
Children who make decisions with intensity tend to be labeled “strong-willed.” At the end of the day, their parents feel as if they’ve been engaged in hand-to-hand combat—and that the child often wins at the parent’s expense! Most parents consider a strong will a negative personality trait because it often creates resistance and frustration in family life. Yet, in reality, it’s the strong-willed kids who are often better equipped to succeed, be creative, and face adversity.
Children with strong wills have the potential to become the next generation of leaders. They have their own ideas and plans. They know what they want. They’re persistent, confident, passionate, and determined to succeed at whatever they choose to do.
Leaders have an agenda, look for ways to incorporate others into their plans, and have a high need for control in life. Balanced with graciousness, leaders become a treasure because they make things happen, create organization out of chaos, and motivate people to action.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to raise a leader. These kids tend to have their own ways of doing things and like to tell other people (including their parents) what to do. A strong will keeps a child moving in a certain direction in spite of obstacles. Often these children need bigger barriers or tighter limits to teach them that those boundaries are firm.
Don’t be discouraged by the effort it takes to teach a strong-willed child which limits not to push. The strong-willed child accomplishes things in life, because the roadblocks that might hold others back are no match for this kid’s determination. Your job is to help him know the difference between obstacles to overcome and limits to live within.
A strong will can be an asset… as long as the heart is in the right place.

What We're Doing

I had a wonderful Sunday yesterday. I went to church with my Mom. Cam was working and I need extra hands to help with the kids. I had a wonderful surprise too...my Aunt Chris was visiting from out of state! I haven't seen her for a few years and was thrilled to spend the day with her. I have such great memories of my childhood spending time with my Auntie. She loves kids...so it was fun to introduce her to our newest additions. Church was a breeze with two extra helpers (thanks!). After church we went to my Mom's house for lunch and a nice visit.
Here's some pictures of the kids and what they have been up to.
All smiles...such a happy baby.
Sister is BUSY...crawling at warp speed, pulling up, and cruising around...even taking steps between the couch and table! And...she is a major newspaper and magazine shredder!
Growing and growing...Baby George (almost 3 mos.) is closing in on his sister Lydia (9 mos.)!
Busy Guy is getting so mature and has been such a good boy... ie: hasn't flushed any towels down the toilet recently:) Here he is in a traditional Ethiopian outfit. I bought it for him while in Addis 2 years ago. The shirt wouldn't fit over his head and I just got around to fixing the neck hole so he could put it on. I got a picture at least before it's completely too small for him.
Lots of bike riding in the nice Fall weather.
We all went out for a walk/ride around our loop the other day. Cam pulled Sister and Busy Guy in the wagon. I pushed Baby George in the stroller and Mr. P and Tuba rode their bikes. It was a hoot when we had to help push the boys bikes up the hill while still pushing/pulling a wagon or stroller. One of the neighbors came out and said we looked like a parade going by.

Friday, September 26, 2008

On The Calendar


I'm so excited...I have a night out on the calendar. I've been wanting to join a book club for a long time and now I have! It meets the last Wed. of each month. Wow, I'm so looking forward to this. Today I saw a good and long time friend of mine at the library. She invited me to join her book club! I couldn't be more excited. The book is called How Evan Broke His Head. I have a month to read it...I hope I can do it. Anyone out there read this book?

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Works For Me

I've been to the gym 3 times this week...yeah! I actually am really enjoying it. It's so peaceful. Nobody needs anything from me...or at least can't get to me;) I am catching up on all of my unread magazines. I do love magazines. I walk on the treadmill and read away. If I have time I also do some ab work...yuck...and then stretch. I haven't been so good about my food though. I have been thinking about the things that really worked for me when I followed WW in the past. Here is a small list:
Soup-I make a veggie broth based soup every week. I put beans or lentils in it or sometimes ground turkey. I eat this for lunch every day. It's filling and helps me get all my veggie servings.
Apple-I eat one every day. You know what they say...An apple a day keeps the fat butt away...isn't that what they say?
Limit simple carbs-I stay away from white bread and other simple sugars. They don't keep me full. I eat lots of whole grains and things high in fiber. Fiber keeps you full and I HATE to be hungry.
Water-Drink at least 8 glasses a day. Keeps me feeling energetic and full too.
Don't get too hungry-If I go too long between meals I tend to overeat or eat the wrong things. I will eat some almonds, an apple, a cheese stick or a yogurt for a quick snack.
I know I need to get out my WW book and start writing down all my food intake and points value. Hopefully today I will have time (motivation) to get it out.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Sore Thumb

How to stand out like a sore thumb....
Cam starts his graduate program this week. We went with the kids...all 5 of them...to the college today to pick up his books. Boy, did we get a lot of stares as we walked across the university campus with our kids. I felt like we were the only people over 20 years old...we were definitely the only ones with a double stroller;) All the cute young girls were smiling and talking to the kids while we were in line at the bookstore...maybe I should have gotten a few phone numbers for babysitters?

Saturday, September 20, 2008

It's Time

It's time to make the weight GO! I gained 39 lbs. while pregnant and I still have19 to lose. I have been at a sticking point and the scale isn't moving. It's time to eat less (boo hoo hoo) and move more...meaning go to the gym. You would think I could burn enough calories at home since I never sit down and I'm sweaty all day long? But...No! It's so depressing. I don't fit into any of my clothes and I can't just keep wearing maternity clothes...at least that's what the folks on What Not To Wear tell me. I bought one pair of jeans the other day to get me through this until my regular clothes fit again. So...this morning I went to the gym. Baby George did fine...no crying or needing to nurse while I was gone. It was only a little over an hour. I hope to go at least 3 times a week. I plan to start counting my 'points' too...yes, Weight Watchers. I lost 40 lbs. a few years ago on the plan and kept it off until the pregnancy...and the diabetes. WW worked so well for me. I need the accountability of standing on the scale in front of someone and the writing the number down in my book. So, until I can get to the WW meetings I'll use my blog and all of YOU to keep me motivated. Today I weigh 154. I was 135 when I got pregnant...so that's the 19 to lose. I weighed 130 when I hit my WW goal and would like to get back there. The scale had crept up a bit just before I got pregnant. So...I guess I really have 23 lbs. to lose. I'm only 5'3" and 130 is a good healthy weight for me. I can maintain it and I feel good in my clothes. I have weighed less but it's too hard to maintain...I do love to eat:) Anyone else out there on WW...anyone trying to lose a few lbs.?

Friday, September 19, 2008

Fun Times

Every family should have someone as fun as Cam's sister Cinnamon in it! She just visited from out of state with her boyfriend Jamie. They came to meet the newest additions to our family. We had a great time with them. Our kids had a great time playing with them...what playing means is climbing, jumping, hanging, on them. I'm sure they've gone home to some peace and quiet and are nursing their backs...sorry guys...the kids can't help it...you're just too much fun;) Cinn plays games with the boys...things like..."make a pizza". She lays a kid down on the floor (after peeling them off of her back) and then kneads them like dough and then lays herself down on them and rolls back and forth over them...rolling out the dough. They love it! Cinn and Jamie read them books, played games and were basically human jungle gyms. We can't wait to see them again...once their bodies and ears have healed.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Our Weekend

We had an amazing weekend. Very busy and very wonderful. We were asked to be Co-Godparents to our friend's children newly home from Ethiopia. Saturday was the baptisms. It was a beautiful service. The church was full of family and friends who came to witness the event. Sunday we went to church all together to see the boys' first communion. With 6 kids ages 2 and under it was a good thing to have so many loving adults and bigger kid helpers! It was a rotation of kids and bottles and trinkets with lots of kisses and hugs and snuggles....oh, and maybe a couple of stern looks...from myself to my two year old:)

Our family of 7 (Lydia's head is behind candle holder in my right arm), Our Godchildren's family is a family of 9, and the Co-Godparents are a family of 6 (oldest daughter not pictured). I love this picture. These are amazing families. I draw such strength from them. I try emulate their parenting...because they are such good examples. And...good examples of Christians.

Patron Saint is Solomon.


Patron Saint is Gabriel.



Thursday, September 11, 2008

What do I do?

I'm anxious, I'm nervous, I can't relax....I don't know what to do with myself!!! I'm in the house alone and it's soooooo quiet. The 3 oldest are at school and the babies fell asleep in the car and are napping in the garage (yes, I have a baby monitor and the garage is attached to the house and the yes the door is closed and locked Mom). I drank my latte, read the paper and now what do I do?

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Smores....Mmmmmm

I've been dying for a roasted marshmallow for months now. I love, love, love a marshmallow roasted on bonfire....YUM! I couldn't have any when I was pregnant and have been wanting one since having the baby. We just haven't had the time to do a bonfire this summer. So, tonight I made my own fire...using the burner on the stove. I made the boys smores and ate quite a few myself....ohhhhhh heavenly.





Just a cracker for Sister...she sure enjoyed it.
Baby George will enjoy a smore in the liquid version.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Stitches!


Little Busy Guy fell in the driveway while playing hopscotch. OUCH!!!! Cam came bursting in the house hollering for me to call 911. Scared me to pieces...especially since nothing medical freaks Cam out. He's a Critical Care RN and unless you are on a ventilator and nearly dead then you're not too bad off. Our car was at the repair shop so we didn't have a way to drive to the hospital. The firetruck guys came and assessed him. They said it needed stitches but wasn't life threatening so an ambulance ride would be a last resort. Our neighbor loaned Cam his car...super nice...so they went off to have it looked at. After a 2 hour wait he got 4 stitches in his forehead. He was so tough and brave. Papa said Busy Guy didn't even cry when they put a needle in it and stitched it up! I cried plenty for the both of us. Poor baby! He'll start pre-school (he's going one day a week to a pre pre-school class and is over the moon to "paint") on Thurs. with a big owie.
Disclaimer: Papa suggested the song for the day....all about Busy Guy.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

What a Week

We have had an amazing week of growth and change in all of our kids.
Tuba-had a great summer. Usually summer is very long and hard for him. He needs lots of activity and stimulation which school provides. This summer he was a wonderful help for us with the new babies. He LOVES babies! I told Cam that we just need to have a baby every summer :0 Tuba headed back to school on Wed. and is doing awesome. His teacher said he is very mature and doing really well.
Mr. P-had his first soccer game of the season. Last year he was sooooo shy and we had to practically drag him onto the field each game. If the ball came anywhere near him he would turn the opposite direction and run away. We debated whether or not he should play this year at all. He would go back and forth saying he wanted to play and then not wanting to play. Finally he said he wanted to play. Sat. was the first game. I was shocked, amazed and so proud that he went, met the coach, ran out onto the field, played great, ran after the ball....AND scored a goal!!!!!! What a HUGE change from last year. Now, he's asking how many more days until soccer.
Busy Guy-has been making the adjustment to having two new siblings. It's been hard at times for him. Sometimes he wants to be held and I just don't have enough arms to do it at that moment. We've been taking extra time to make him feel special too and it's paying off. Before summer Busy Guy was doing great with his potty training. He was going many times a day on the potty chair. Then....it all came to a screeching halt. He would say, "no, I don't want to", when I asked him to use the potty. He would go in his room, shut the door...about 3 minutes later he would come out and say, "I pooped in my pull-up". It's been frustrating trying to get him back to using the potty. But...this week he's been going pee-pee lots and tonight.....YES, he did a poopy on there too. He got 3 mini marshmallows and was very proud of himself. We called Papa at work and Busy Guy got on the phone to tell him, "I pooped on the potty"!
Lydia-is moving like crazy! At the ocean she started to crawl forward (she was already going backward), scooted off the couch so her feet touched the floor and stood holding on, and learned to get into a sitting position from her tummy. She is getting faster each day with her crawling and is enjoying playing on the floor with toys so much more now. She is also eating like mad. She had a waffle for breakfast with cut up fruit. I think she ate more than I did today. The girl loves food:)
Baby George-is cooing!!!! It is the sweetest thing. I coo at him and he does it back to me. It melts my heart. He is getting so big. I think he's close to 15 lbs. now. He is a great sleeper too. What a little honey:)

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Quick...Send Chocolate!

You know it's been a long hard when.....
I was sweeping the kitchen floor after the kids went to bed and I spotted an M&M on the floor....and I ate it! It must have something to do with the fact that I stepped in a giant pile of dog doo in our backyard today while playing with the kids....oh, yah, and we don't have a dog!!!!!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Vacation

We just returned from a glorious...yet short 3 day vacation to the Oregon Coast. We love Rockaway Beach. We stayed in a beach house right on the beach with an amazing ocean view. The boys all played in the surf...well not Baby George. Lydia loved being in the backpack on Papa's back while he played with the big boys in the surf. I loved sitting in the sand with Baby George and watching the fun. We took a long walk on the beach too. The weather was THE best it's ever been on the coast for our vacation. It was warm and no wind with lots of sunshine. We went out for a yummy dinner and I had crab. You should have seen the boys' faces when my plate arrived with a whole crab on it! They about died. "Mom, it has eyes!". I guess they still don't know about the chicken and steak on our dinner table?
Lots of time to snuggle.

The boys got to sleep together and loved it.

Lydia's favorite place on Papa's back.
Watching the sunset...gorgeous.

Tuba watching the sunset....and begging to go back down to the beach.
Playing in the sand.






LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...