Sunday, October 9, 2011
My new love
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Not for me
So a friend recently posted about why she is choosing to homeschool and I wanted to respond here, just to get my thoughts out. It was a great post with good points brought up as to why homeschooling could be better for some people. First let it be said that I seriously considered doing it. I tried to do my own preschool for Sweetcakes last year but I did not do well at all. At first I was excited about the idea and looked up projects, crafts, etc. I printed stuff with great visions of my own little school dancing in my head.
But reality hit. It was just not for me. I had no motivation to keep it up. I still did crafts and teaching moments with my kids, don't get me wrong, but to follow some kind of curriculum? Nah. Now she is in a real preschool that is just amazing with the most fabulous teacher. I can see that there's no way I could provide that kind of environment and opportunity for her. My friend brought up the point that parents are excited to see summer break come to an end, complain that vacations are too long etc and are looking forward to leaving their child in someone else's care for 8 hours a day. While that is a valid point, I feel that if a school/teacher is well researched, observed, and chosen, the 8 hours a day spent away from the parent is more productive/educational/stimulating than the 8 hours with a parent who doesn't have the same capabilities.
That's all really. If it ever came down to a necessity that my child(ren) needed to be homeschooled, I would definitely do it for them. I don't have concerns with socialization, my abilities to impart knowledge, etc. I did enough research on the subject to know that homeschooled kids are provided with many opportunities for socialization and other resources. It's just not for me. And someday if you find me doing it, feel free to remind me about this post and I'll gladly eat my words!
But reality hit. It was just not for me. I had no motivation to keep it up. I still did crafts and teaching moments with my kids, don't get me wrong, but to follow some kind of curriculum? Nah. Now she is in a real preschool that is just amazing with the most fabulous teacher. I can see that there's no way I could provide that kind of environment and opportunity for her. My friend brought up the point that parents are excited to see summer break come to an end, complain that vacations are too long etc and are looking forward to leaving their child in someone else's care for 8 hours a day. While that is a valid point, I feel that if a school/teacher is well researched, observed, and chosen, the 8 hours a day spent away from the parent is more productive/educational/stimulating than the 8 hours with a parent who doesn't have the same capabilities.
That's all really. If it ever came down to a necessity that my child(ren) needed to be homeschooled, I would definitely do it for them. I don't have concerns with socialization, my abilities to impart knowledge, etc. I did enough research on the subject to know that homeschooled kids are provided with many opportunities for socialization and other resources. It's just not for me. And someday if you find me doing it, feel free to remind me about this post and I'll gladly eat my words!
I love shrinking
Progress so far: Down a total of 9-10lbs, lost 3 inches around my belly and 1 inch around my hips. I am wearing the next size down in jeans.
Now that I finally am seeing success in the weight loss department I am reminded how exciting it is to see your body shrink. I am in week 4 of the six week plan which is vegetables (1lb raw, 1lb cooked per day), fruit (unlimited), whole grains (limited), legumes, nuts and seeds. It was hard-ish until I got past the first two weeks. It always takes 2 weeks to get over the sugar cravings. Now I have no desire whatsoever for junk food. I do have occasional fleeting moments of longing when I am in close proximity to junk (like if I'm giving m&ms to the potty-trainee or cutting the crust off a grilled cheese sandwich for the kiddos) but they are short and my desire to eat healthy is way stronger. I LOVE it.
It's been interesting, eating mostly vegetables and fruit all day. For one thing, I am drinking a ton more water. I drink about a gallon a day now to keep up my milk supply. I think it's because my body used to send hunger signals when the thirst signals weren't being acknowledged so it would at least get SOME moisture from the food. I am eating so many less calories now that my body needs real water instead of gleaning moisture from other sources. I have recognized the difference between real hunger and boredom snacking urges. It helps if I eat then get out of the kitchen. If I'm hanging around the kitchen I just feel like eating when I'm not truly hungry.
Another thing I've noticed and enjoyed is the lack of guilt that normally accompanies eating. A typical day of eating used to involve LOTS of guilt over eating too much sugar, too much food in general, not eating enough vegetables, etc. Now I blissfully sail through each day knowing that I'm putting awesome nutrition into my body and I feel guilt free. Such a relief!
Are you wondering what I eat each day? Well I'll tell ya.
Breakfast: a bowl of steel-cut oats with a packet of stevia, generous sprinkling of cinnamon, bit of coconut milk, half a banana, and a Tb of ground flaxseed. Delicious!
Morning snack: some fruit. An apple, box of raisins, some grapes, tc.
Lunch: a salad and fruit.
Afternoon snack: carrots with hummus or sugar snap peas. Sometimes I'll eat leftover cooked veggies from the night before.
Dinner: beans of some sort or a plate full of veggies. A salad, broccoli, peas, raw red pepper, beets, etc.
Bedtime snack: snap peas or fruit or raisins.
And I'm totally not hungry. Can you believe it? I LOVE this plan and I feel so free. I love not having to purchase, prepare, cook, and eat meat. I already never use red meat (it just grosses me out) but now I don't have to worry about chicken and turkey, ham, etc. I don't miss it at all. Hubs is ok with this type of eating, and I usually serve some yummy thing for him and the kids along with all the veggies.
Speaking of the kids, now that we have such an abundance of fruit and veggies available and they always see me eating them, they are more likely to choose those kinds of snacks themselves. Snacks are carrot sticks, apple slices, raisins, celery and pb, grapes, watermelon, etc. Yes they still eat processed food but they are eating a lot more natural stuff. And get this: they never ask for candy anymore! They used to always ask for a piece at least once a day. It was getting on my nerves but now we don't worry about it anymore. I gave m&ms to Honeybuns here and there when she used the toilet but she quit asking so I stopped offering. The other night I made waffles per Sweetcakes' request. I made myself a salad and had bowls of broccoli and peas on the table for when I emptied my plate of the salad. The kids each took a few bites of waffle then asked for broccoli and peas and gobbled them up! I was astonished but pleased. :-)
Here's to a heart healthy future for our family!
Now that I finally am seeing success in the weight loss department I am reminded how exciting it is to see your body shrink. I am in week 4 of the six week plan which is vegetables (1lb raw, 1lb cooked per day), fruit (unlimited), whole grains (limited), legumes, nuts and seeds. It was hard-ish until I got past the first two weeks. It always takes 2 weeks to get over the sugar cravings. Now I have no desire whatsoever for junk food. I do have occasional fleeting moments of longing when I am in close proximity to junk (like if I'm giving m&ms to the potty-trainee or cutting the crust off a grilled cheese sandwich for the kiddos) but they are short and my desire to eat healthy is way stronger. I LOVE it.
It's been interesting, eating mostly vegetables and fruit all day. For one thing, I am drinking a ton more water. I drink about a gallon a day now to keep up my milk supply. I think it's because my body used to send hunger signals when the thirst signals weren't being acknowledged so it would at least get SOME moisture from the food. I am eating so many less calories now that my body needs real water instead of gleaning moisture from other sources. I have recognized the difference between real hunger and boredom snacking urges. It helps if I eat then get out of the kitchen. If I'm hanging around the kitchen I just feel like eating when I'm not truly hungry.
Another thing I've noticed and enjoyed is the lack of guilt that normally accompanies eating. A typical day of eating used to involve LOTS of guilt over eating too much sugar, too much food in general, not eating enough vegetables, etc. Now I blissfully sail through each day knowing that I'm putting awesome nutrition into my body and I feel guilt free. Such a relief!
Are you wondering what I eat each day? Well I'll tell ya.
Breakfast: a bowl of steel-cut oats with a packet of stevia, generous sprinkling of cinnamon, bit of coconut milk, half a banana, and a Tb of ground flaxseed. Delicious!
Morning snack: some fruit. An apple, box of raisins, some grapes, tc.
Lunch: a salad and fruit.
Afternoon snack: carrots with hummus or sugar snap peas. Sometimes I'll eat leftover cooked veggies from the night before.
Dinner: beans of some sort or a plate full of veggies. A salad, broccoli, peas, raw red pepper, beets, etc.
Bedtime snack: snap peas or fruit or raisins.
And I'm totally not hungry. Can you believe it? I LOVE this plan and I feel so free. I love not having to purchase, prepare, cook, and eat meat. I already never use red meat (it just grosses me out) but now I don't have to worry about chicken and turkey, ham, etc. I don't miss it at all. Hubs is ok with this type of eating, and I usually serve some yummy thing for him and the kids along with all the veggies.
Speaking of the kids, now that we have such an abundance of fruit and veggies available and they always see me eating them, they are more likely to choose those kinds of snacks themselves. Snacks are carrot sticks, apple slices, raisins, celery and pb, grapes, watermelon, etc. Yes they still eat processed food but they are eating a lot more natural stuff. And get this: they never ask for candy anymore! They used to always ask for a piece at least once a day. It was getting on my nerves but now we don't worry about it anymore. I gave m&ms to Honeybuns here and there when she used the toilet but she quit asking so I stopped offering. The other night I made waffles per Sweetcakes' request. I made myself a salad and had bowls of broccoli and peas on the table for when I emptied my plate of the salad. The kids each took a few bites of waffle then asked for broccoli and peas and gobbled them up! I was astonished but pleased. :-)
Here's to a heart healthy future for our family!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Day 1
You know those people who seem to drop all their baby weight within a few months of the baby's birth with seemingly no effort? Yeah, well I'm not one of those. It has taken a lot of hard work between each kid to lose those last 15lbs to prepregnancy weight. Between Sweetcakes and Honeybuns I cut out treats and exercised for 6 months and lost 15lbs. Between Honeybuns and Little Peach I cut out sugar (not just treats) and exercised and lost the 15lbs. Here I am again needing to lose it and I have tried both of those strategies with no success. First of all, I have no energy to exercise. I am up multiple times a night and I stay up late enjoying my alone time, then wake up early with the kiddos. No nap for me usually. Whenever I try to work out, I wimp out on the DVD or someone needs a drink of milk or to be put down for a nap. I ain't gonna lie, it is difficult to get regular exercise.
Enter this book I just read, "Eat to Live" by Joel Fuhrman, MD. He has observed in his twenty years of being a doctor that his patients with diseases and obesity can reverse their health problems by following an eating plan that is high in nutrient rich plant based foods and whole grains and low in animal products. Sound familiar? Yes, it is basically the Word of Wisdom. He recites statistic after statistic where people who eat a diet high in animal products (the "Standard American Diet") have the higher rate of obesity and obesity related diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Also many types of cancer are found more frequently in this group of people than in the plant eating people.
So I was convinced after reading the recipe section. Sure you can talk all day about how bad my processed food is, but if it's not something I can incorporate into my daily routine or get my kids to like it's just not gonna work. Well, the recipes are totally stuff I already fix! Lentil soup, salads, smoothies, etc. It was awesome. Dr Fuhrman notes that once your body starts receiving the nutrients it needs, it detoxifies and the extra weight falls off. Cravings for junk food are erased, energy is restored, and a plethora of health problems are resolved.
Today I ate cereal for breakfast (only cuz I needed to obtain said fruits and vegetables at the store), grapes, carrots, cherries, and a banana for lunch, and lentil soup and broccoli for dinner. All was delicious and it was so amazing to not have that feeling of guilt that normally accompanies my eating. You can eat as many vegetables as you want, lots of fruit, and whole grains. Nuts and seeds are also in the plan. For the first six weeks you shouldn't eat any animal based products (meats, milk, eggs, dairy) but you can incorporate them back into your diet in small amounts after the initial six weeks. I was a little worried about my milk supply since I still have an exclusively breastfed infant, but it was fine today. I actually did not even experience any cravings for unhealthy food!
I'm gonna try to track my progress on this here blog and pretend that people actually care to know. :-) Six weeks away is September 20th. I can totally do it. Bring on better health! And good bye, extra 15lbs!!
Enter this book I just read, "Eat to Live" by Joel Fuhrman, MD. He has observed in his twenty years of being a doctor that his patients with diseases and obesity can reverse their health problems by following an eating plan that is high in nutrient rich plant based foods and whole grains and low in animal products. Sound familiar? Yes, it is basically the Word of Wisdom. He recites statistic after statistic where people who eat a diet high in animal products (the "Standard American Diet") have the higher rate of obesity and obesity related diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Also many types of cancer are found more frequently in this group of people than in the plant eating people.
So I was convinced after reading the recipe section. Sure you can talk all day about how bad my processed food is, but if it's not something I can incorporate into my daily routine or get my kids to like it's just not gonna work. Well, the recipes are totally stuff I already fix! Lentil soup, salads, smoothies, etc. It was awesome. Dr Fuhrman notes that once your body starts receiving the nutrients it needs, it detoxifies and the extra weight falls off. Cravings for junk food are erased, energy is restored, and a plethora of health problems are resolved.
Today I ate cereal for breakfast (only cuz I needed to obtain said fruits and vegetables at the store), grapes, carrots, cherries, and a banana for lunch, and lentil soup and broccoli for dinner. All was delicious and it was so amazing to not have that feeling of guilt that normally accompanies my eating. You can eat as many vegetables as you want, lots of fruit, and whole grains. Nuts and seeds are also in the plan. For the first six weeks you shouldn't eat any animal based products (meats, milk, eggs, dairy) but you can incorporate them back into your diet in small amounts after the initial six weeks. I was a little worried about my milk supply since I still have an exclusively breastfed infant, but it was fine today. I actually did not even experience any cravings for unhealthy food!
I'm gonna try to track my progress on this here blog and pretend that people actually care to know. :-) Six weeks away is September 20th. I can totally do it. Bring on better health! And good bye, extra 15lbs!!
Still fluttering
So newbies at FlyLady are said to be "fluttering" and eventually "flying" once they have their lives/homes under control. I have been doing this for one week and I am happy to say that things are still clean! My kitchen is shiny and neat and my upstairs bathroom is clean as a whistle. It takes about 10 seconds to do the swish n swipe (wipe the counters and swish out the toilet bowl) every morning and it is so awesome and encouraging to walk in there during the day and be greeted by cleanliness. A suggestion was made to me to clean my shower a little each day while I am in it, so I have been doing that this past week as well. This morning I finished! It only took an extra minute attached to each shower and now it is sparkly clean. Usually I wait until it is super grimy then set aside an afternoon, bring all my cleaning supplies into the bathroom, roll up my pants, and spend an hour scrubbing. Hard to do as a mom of young kids whose naps and appetites are unpredictable at times. There are other areas in my house that still need work but I am very proud of my progress so far.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
FlyLady
Have you ever heard of FlyLady? Well, I just signed up. My mom was involved years ago when I still lived at home and I am now finding myself in need of her services, motivation, and encouragement.
FlyLady is a website that helps people get their homes and lives organized. I am not an organized person. I married one, though. Since getting married, I have learned a lot about being organized and maintaining cleanliness, not only from my husband but also from my MIL. She is really good about putting stuff away right after she is done using it. It's amazing-- at her house the kids know that when they want to play with a new toy, they have to put away the one they're using. No matter how I try, I cannot get my kids to do that at home. But practice makes better, right?
So every few days I clean my house. Not like scrubbing, but putting clutter away. Once it's straightened, I breathe a sigh of relief and walk through the house gazing at all the clean surfaces. I do snow angels on the living room carpet and bask in the lack of toys on it. I rub my hands and arms and occasionally my cheek all over my counters and ponder on the smoothness thereof. Then I resume normal life. I don't really do anything to keep it clean and suddenly a few days later, it's messy again! I look around and say to myself, "how did this HAPPEN?!" The cycle repeats over and over.
You know those people who always have a clean house? You go over to their house and as you walk in the door they say, "my house is a mess, but come on in." Then you see one toy on the floor and one cup on the counter. Um, please don't ever come to my house, k? You might just wither away. There must be a secret. What do they know that I don't? Do they clean all day? Do they spend their kid-free time scrubbing toilets? Are their kids perfectly trained little custodians?
So I signed up for FlyLady. She's all about baby steps, taking it a little at a time. So the first two things I have incorporated into my routine are shining my kitchen sink, and the swish n swipe. Every night before you go to bed you're supposed to shine your kitchen sink, no matter the state of the rest of your house. I have done that now for three nights and it's a nice thing to wake up to. I also have maintained a clean kitchen which also makes me feel like I've given myself a present when I wake up.
The swish n swipe is right after you finish getting ready in the morning. You wipe your counters down and give your toilet bowl a quick swish. It takes under a minute and the goal is to always have a clean bathroom. Then you never have to "clean the bathroom." It's always looking sparkly. Oh, and you wipe the mirror too. I did this this morning for the first time and it was nice to have a good looking bathroom all day. I will see if this will stick.
Another FLyLady thing is to get dressed and do your hair and makeup every day. I already do this so I won't worry about it. I simply cannot function if I haven't showered and gotten ready. Ick. Even if I'm super productive for half the day and then take a shower, I feel like I haven't gotten anything done.
I'll let you know how it goes. So far so good. My goal is to avoid CHAOS ("Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome"). Go me!
FlyLady is a website that helps people get their homes and lives organized. I am not an organized person. I married one, though. Since getting married, I have learned a lot about being organized and maintaining cleanliness, not only from my husband but also from my MIL. She is really good about putting stuff away right after she is done using it. It's amazing-- at her house the kids know that when they want to play with a new toy, they have to put away the one they're using. No matter how I try, I cannot get my kids to do that at home. But practice makes better, right?
So every few days I clean my house. Not like scrubbing, but putting clutter away. Once it's straightened, I breathe a sigh of relief and walk through the house gazing at all the clean surfaces. I do snow angels on the living room carpet and bask in the lack of toys on it. I rub my hands and arms and occasionally my cheek all over my counters and ponder on the smoothness thereof. Then I resume normal life. I don't really do anything to keep it clean and suddenly a few days later, it's messy again! I look around and say to myself, "how did this HAPPEN?!" The cycle repeats over and over.
You know those people who always have a clean house? You go over to their house and as you walk in the door they say, "my house is a mess, but come on in." Then you see one toy on the floor and one cup on the counter. Um, please don't ever come to my house, k? You might just wither away. There must be a secret. What do they know that I don't? Do they clean all day? Do they spend their kid-free time scrubbing toilets? Are their kids perfectly trained little custodians?
So I signed up for FlyLady. She's all about baby steps, taking it a little at a time. So the first two things I have incorporated into my routine are shining my kitchen sink, and the swish n swipe. Every night before you go to bed you're supposed to shine your kitchen sink, no matter the state of the rest of your house. I have done that now for three nights and it's a nice thing to wake up to. I also have maintained a clean kitchen which also makes me feel like I've given myself a present when I wake up.
The swish n swipe is right after you finish getting ready in the morning. You wipe your counters down and give your toilet bowl a quick swish. It takes under a minute and the goal is to always have a clean bathroom. Then you never have to "clean the bathroom." It's always looking sparkly. Oh, and you wipe the mirror too. I did this this morning for the first time and it was nice to have a good looking bathroom all day. I will see if this will stick.
Another FLyLady thing is to get dressed and do your hair and makeup every day. I already do this so I won't worry about it. I simply cannot function if I haven't showered and gotten ready. Ick. Even if I'm super productive for half the day and then take a shower, I feel like I haven't gotten anything done.
I'll let you know how it goes. So far so good. My goal is to avoid CHAOS ("Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome"). Go me!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Giveaway
Check this out. Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House is giving away a Britax stroller.
I totally want it.
I totally want it.
That's more like it
My husband is done with the bar!! Woo hoo!! He took it this past Tuesday and Wednesday and we are ALL glad he is finished. We hardly saw him for the past 2.5 months and now we see him all the time.
I have to admit, when a student husband who is normally gone and is then home for a break or whatnot, an adjustment period is necessary. Suddenly there's one more person around the house. A big person, not a tiny person like when Little Peach was born. Kids have two parents to answer to and listen to and play with instead of one. I'm not really sure whether to plan big fun filled family activities to enjoy daddy or schedule low-key days around the house to all be together. Or do I take the kids somewhere so Hubs can relax and enjoy peace and quiet? Then there're MY needs, aka ALONE TIME. We have to strike a balance.
I did have some mommy time this past week (thanks Hubs). It was amazing. I went shopping with my sisters and ate gourmet cupcakes. Another time I went to Target and walked around, looking at everything. It was delightful. I had a nap today, and twice Hubs has taken the two big girls to grandma's to play while I stay home with Little Peach (who slept and let me clean). Can I tell you what a difference that alone time makes for a mommy? It's astounding. Suddenly I have a ton more patience with the kiddos, I gaze at their beautiful little faces more, I remember my discipline goals better, and I'm excited to see them in the morning.
I also painted my fingernails. They are tangerine orange, which apparently is the "in" color this season for fingernails. I feel so on top of it.
I have to admit, when a student husband who is normally gone and is then home for a break or whatnot, an adjustment period is necessary. Suddenly there's one more person around the house. A big person, not a tiny person like when Little Peach was born. Kids have two parents to answer to and listen to and play with instead of one. I'm not really sure whether to plan big fun filled family activities to enjoy daddy or schedule low-key days around the house to all be together. Or do I take the kids somewhere so Hubs can relax and enjoy peace and quiet? Then there're MY needs, aka ALONE TIME. We have to strike a balance.
I did have some mommy time this past week (thanks Hubs). It was amazing. I went shopping with my sisters and ate gourmet cupcakes. Another time I went to Target and walked around, looking at everything. It was delightful. I had a nap today, and twice Hubs has taken the two big girls to grandma's to play while I stay home with Little Peach (who slept and let me clean). Can I tell you what a difference that alone time makes for a mommy? It's astounding. Suddenly I have a ton more patience with the kiddos, I gaze at their beautiful little faces more, I remember my discipline goals better, and I'm excited to see them in the morning.
I also painted my fingernails. They are tangerine orange, which apparently is the "in" color this season for fingernails. I feel so on top of it.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Meh...
I shampoo'd today. Yep. I had heard about this "transition period" where you have gross hair while it adjusts to no-poo, but wow. My hair was a grease pit yesterday. I couldn't stand it any longer and washed it with shampoo in the shower today. Then I went and got a hair cut where she washed my hair again. Take my greasy head to a professional hairstylist? No thanks. I'm still a poo-er. Maybe someday I'll try again. We'll see.
Can I just tell you how excited I am to see Harry Potter 7? I am waiting until after Hubs takes the bar exam (next Tuesday and Wednesday) so I'll see it next week sometime. Arrrg! I keep hearing how awesome it is and everyone is blogging about it (I probably will too) but I am not reading those blogs. I am going into it ready to be amazed. Eeeek!
I think my baby is teething. She is 4.5 months which is when my second daughter got her first teeth. She is cranky, drooly, and runny nose-y. I know "they" say that runny nose is not a symptom of teething, but anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise. Ya never know, I guess. My thinking is that you can blame any sleep/eating/behavioral problems on teeth until they are all in.
I love to floss. It is so incredibly satisfying. And now my children let me floss their teeth. It's so fun! Sweetcakes actually asked me if I wash my hands in between flossing their mouths (I do). Funny how she is becoming aware of germs!
Can I just tell you how excited I am to see Harry Potter 7? I am waiting until after Hubs takes the bar exam (next Tuesday and Wednesday) so I'll see it next week sometime. Arrrg! I keep hearing how awesome it is and everyone is blogging about it (I probably will too) but I am not reading those blogs. I am going into it ready to be amazed. Eeeek!
I think my baby is teething. She is 4.5 months which is when my second daughter got her first teeth. She is cranky, drooly, and runny nose-y. I know "they" say that runny nose is not a symptom of teething, but anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise. Ya never know, I guess. My thinking is that you can blame any sleep/eating/behavioral problems on teeth until they are all in.
I love to floss. It is so incredibly satisfying. And now my children let me floss their teeth. It's so fun! Sweetcakes actually asked me if I wash my hands in between flossing their mouths (I do). Funny how she is becoming aware of germs!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
DIY Natural
We live in a world of synthetics, toxins, chemicals, and fake food. Yup. While I try to limit the amount of stuff like that to enter our home and family, it is inevitable that we come in contact with yucky stuff all the time. Slowly over the years especially since being a mom, I have become more aware of alternative approaches to every day parts of life and have embraced them. I suppose you could call me more "crunchy" than most. Natural birth, cloth diapering, essential oils, washing my face with oil instead of soap, make my own laundry detergent, etc are the types of things that appeal to me.
If you clicked on the above link you'll see my friend Jenna's blog, who is the one who nudged me into trying the oil cleansing method thing. At first it was so weird to rub oil on my face. Now it is soothing and relaxing, and my face feels refreshed and clean, yet not dried out and stiff like it did with my previous face wash. However, it does take a lot longer than face wash. I was getting tired of the length of time it took so I scrapped it and started washing my face again. With face wash. I thought, "surely this won't make any difference, since my face was clear before and has been since doing the oils." Nope. Bam! My face broke out like crazy. I had more zits than the last time I was in a first trimester (my skin doesn't like pregnancy hormones). Yikes. I immediately started oil cleansing two nights ago and ahhhhh. Much better. Quick and dramatic improvement.
Another thing Jenna does is "no-poo." As in sham-poo. It entails washing your hair with baking soda. Weird! The idea is that shampoo has chemicals and other undesirable ingredients that strip your hair of its natural moisture, then it overcompensates thus creating oily hair and the need for further shampooing. "Well," I said to myself, "MY hair is greasy hair. It is nasty when I wake up in the morning, and the instant I scrub suds through my hair I feel much better. That would never work for me." Enter in a second blog I just found--"DIY Natural" This site has a plethora of recipes for commercial products you can make at home, much more friendly to your health. I used the dish detergent recipe when we ran out the other day and I didn't want to spend the money (or time and energy it takes to get all three kids in the car and into a store) for more. It works great! So...when I came across this recipe for "making your own shampoo" I knew I had to try it. I'll have to admit, it appealed to me in the beginning but I didn't think I could do it.
So last night I whipped up some shampoo and conditioner (apple cider vinegar and water) and put it in my bathroom for use this morning. I was highly skeptical as I sloshed baking soda water over my hair and scrubbed around. I couldn't tell if it felt clean or not, so I just kept doing more. Rinsing was weird too--no suds? How do I know it's out? And uh, the smell of vinegar in my shower was strange. The site promised that my hair would not smell like vinegar....so on I went. It did not. I knew the moment of truth would come when I blew my hair dry. Greasy or no? Dirty or clean? Lo and behold--it was clean! It was fluffy and felt a little different (natural moisture still retained, perhaps?) and styled nicely. I used way less styling product than usual (even more $$ savings) and it's felt fresh all day.
Will I continue to go "no-poo?" We shall see. But I like the money I'm saving by not having to buy more shampoo.
If you clicked on the above link you'll see my friend Jenna's blog, who is the one who nudged me into trying the oil cleansing method thing. At first it was so weird to rub oil on my face. Now it is soothing and relaxing, and my face feels refreshed and clean, yet not dried out and stiff like it did with my previous face wash. However, it does take a lot longer than face wash. I was getting tired of the length of time it took so I scrapped it and started washing my face again. With face wash. I thought, "surely this won't make any difference, since my face was clear before and has been since doing the oils." Nope. Bam! My face broke out like crazy. I had more zits than the last time I was in a first trimester (my skin doesn't like pregnancy hormones). Yikes. I immediately started oil cleansing two nights ago and ahhhhh. Much better. Quick and dramatic improvement.
Another thing Jenna does is "no-poo." As in sham-poo. It entails washing your hair with baking soda. Weird! The idea is that shampoo has chemicals and other undesirable ingredients that strip your hair of its natural moisture, then it overcompensates thus creating oily hair and the need for further shampooing. "Well," I said to myself, "MY hair is greasy hair. It is nasty when I wake up in the morning, and the instant I scrub suds through my hair I feel much better. That would never work for me." Enter in a second blog I just found--"DIY Natural" This site has a plethora of recipes for commercial products you can make at home, much more friendly to your health. I used the dish detergent recipe when we ran out the other day and I didn't want to spend the money (or time and energy it takes to get all three kids in the car and into a store) for more. It works great! So...when I came across this recipe for "making your own shampoo" I knew I had to try it. I'll have to admit, it appealed to me in the beginning but I didn't think I could do it.
So last night I whipped up some shampoo and conditioner (apple cider vinegar and water) and put it in my bathroom for use this morning. I was highly skeptical as I sloshed baking soda water over my hair and scrubbed around. I couldn't tell if it felt clean or not, so I just kept doing more. Rinsing was weird too--no suds? How do I know it's out? And uh, the smell of vinegar in my shower was strange. The site promised that my hair would not smell like vinegar....so on I went. It did not. I knew the moment of truth would come when I blew my hair dry. Greasy or no? Dirty or clean? Lo and behold--it was clean! It was fluffy and felt a little different (natural moisture still retained, perhaps?) and styled nicely. I used way less styling product than usual (even more $$ savings) and it's felt fresh all day.
Will I continue to go "no-poo?" We shall see. But I like the money I'm saving by not having to buy more shampoo.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
I'm back
Do you like my new header? My last title ("Manna for my soul") was just too...boring. Heavy? I don't know. But it wasn't really describing what I want my blog to be.
Enter mothering poem, "Song for a Sixth Child" by Mary Ryan:
Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button, and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby too.)
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
(Pat-a-cake, darling and peek, peek-a-boo!)
The shopping's not done and there's
nothing for stew,
And out in the yeard there's a hullabaloo!
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo,
Look, aren't his eyes the most wonderful blue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby too.)
Oh, cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
So this sorta describes my mantra as I move through this mothering stage in my life. I just love how this reminds me to slow down and enjoy my children as they are, and to not get caught up in the mundane housekeeping duties and errands that pepper my life.
Enter mothering poem, "Song for a Sixth Child" by Mary Ryan:
Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button, and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby too.)
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
(Pat-a-cake, darling and peek, peek-a-boo!)
The shopping's not done and there's
nothing for stew,
And out in the yeard there's a hullabaloo!
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo,
Look, aren't his eyes the most wonderful blue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby too.)
Oh, cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
So this sorta describes my mantra as I move through this mothering stage in my life. I just love how this reminds me to slow down and enjoy my children as they are, and to not get caught up in the mundane housekeeping duties and errands that pepper my life.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Much better
So we put our two big girls together in the same room six weeks ago or so. We are going to a family reunion next weekend and we thought they would need practice sleeping in the same room. It has been crazy. Bedtime went from lasting 45min-1 hour to 2 hours. They are so wild that it takes forever for them to fall asleep. It drives me and hubs crazy because we have to keep going in there. I plan stuff to do in the evenings after they go to bed, but if they don't get to sleep until 9 or later, that makes us just stay up later to get stuff done and then we're more tired the next day.Anyway, last night I had a thought. Maybe they're just not tired enough. So today I did an experiment. After Honeycakes got up from her nap, we went to the library. Came home to teach a flute lesson, ate dinner at 4:30, then went swimming for an hour. Got home at 6:30, ate a snack, and put kids to bed. They were all asleep by 8!! This plan is a winner for sure. Little Peach loved the water and was a content little babe all wrapped up in her towel. And so cute, I might add. I enjoyed the water as well. Our community pool is big and there were several people I knew there. There is also a kiddie pool only 18in deep that the big girls loved. The sun went down behind the bathroom building after a little while so we were shaded, so I didn't stress about sun on Little Peach.
So you locals-if you ever want to join us for a swim, I think we'll be making this a regular occurrence.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Counting a blessing
So recently we sold our house. Yep, we joined the other home buyers of the past few years and did a short sale. We closed a little over a month ago, and are still breathing sighs of relief to not be homeowners anymore.
We still live in it though. The buyer is an investor, and offered to let us continue living here as renters. So we signed a year contract. Can I just say how grateful I am not to have to move right now? It did not sound fun to do basically by myself while juggling a newborn and two other little kids while hubs studies for the bar.
I was prepared to move. There are things I don't like about my house. I strongly dislike the stairs. Especially when I was preggo. I also don't like the fact that I can't see my kids playing in the living room while I am in the kitchen. When they need a button pushed on the remote or I hear screaming and need to solve a dispute, I have to walk all the way into the family room to do it. Not that it's that far, but it is annoying. I don't like the cluster house arrangement and the fact that we have no yard. The smoking neighbor is also on my list of dislikes.
But once we had the offer to stay, I had to turn my thinking around. As much as I don't like some features of our floor plan, it is a nice house. There's room for all of us, it's not falling apart, and I must say I do love my paint colors and window treatments.
I know there are many people in the world who don't have a home, or if they do, it may be old, rickety, or small. Peoples' homes are destroyed every day by natural and man made disasters, and people are evicted from beloved homes. I am grateful to live in a house in a safe neighborhood and town, with decent neighbors, plumbing, heating and air conditioning. We are extremely blessed.
We still live in it though. The buyer is an investor, and offered to let us continue living here as renters. So we signed a year contract. Can I just say how grateful I am not to have to move right now? It did not sound fun to do basically by myself while juggling a newborn and two other little kids while hubs studies for the bar.
I was prepared to move. There are things I don't like about my house. I strongly dislike the stairs. Especially when I was preggo. I also don't like the fact that I can't see my kids playing in the living room while I am in the kitchen. When they need a button pushed on the remote or I hear screaming and need to solve a dispute, I have to walk all the way into the family room to do it. Not that it's that far, but it is annoying. I don't like the cluster house arrangement and the fact that we have no yard. The smoking neighbor is also on my list of dislikes.
But once we had the offer to stay, I had to turn my thinking around. As much as I don't like some features of our floor plan, it is a nice house. There's room for all of us, it's not falling apart, and I must say I do love my paint colors and window treatments.
I know there are many people in the world who don't have a home, or if they do, it may be old, rickety, or small. Peoples' homes are destroyed every day by natural and man made disasters, and people are evicted from beloved homes. I am grateful to live in a house in a safe neighborhood and town, with decent neighbors, plumbing, heating and air conditioning. We are extremely blessed.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
It's not that bad
Something I'm grateful for: My kids have always been pretty good in the grocery store.
I occasionally see kids having meltdowns in grocery stores or malls. It's not a pretty picture. The kid is flailing about, kicking and screaming, or being limp while mom or dad tries to pick them up by the armpits (which inconveniently disappear when said limpness takes over). The parent is frazzled and frustrated and people stop to see what the commotion is about, making the parent feel like everyone is staring and judging.
I can honestly say I have never had to deal with a tantrum in public. My kids get frustrated and grumpy like any other kid, but they have never thrown a full out fit where people can see. Is it because they're shy? Is it because I purposefully never shop during the "witching hours" (i.e. naptime or dinner time or bedtime)? Is it because it is just in their natures (probably not, cuz we have our share of home/grandma's house tantrums)? I don't know.
But whatever the reason, I am grateful. The other day I took the kids grocery shopping at good ol' Walmart. As always, we stopped by the bakery to grab the free cookie. This will keep them happy through the produce and into bread and meat. Little Peach just hangs out in the sling, big kids walk. They know that if they run away (Honeybuns does this sometimes) they have to be buckled into the cart. We had to go to each corner of the store multiple times and the bathroom once, and they were great! The check-out guy even commented on how good they were. I did have to put Honeybuns in the cart once, then let her out to see the fish and afterwards, she stuck right by my side.
So while I do have my share of parenting woes and struggles, I am glad shopping with kids isn't one of them!
I occasionally see kids having meltdowns in grocery stores or malls. It's not a pretty picture. The kid is flailing about, kicking and screaming, or being limp while mom or dad tries to pick them up by the armpits (which inconveniently disappear when said limpness takes over). The parent is frazzled and frustrated and people stop to see what the commotion is about, making the parent feel like everyone is staring and judging.
I can honestly say I have never had to deal with a tantrum in public. My kids get frustrated and grumpy like any other kid, but they have never thrown a full out fit where people can see. Is it because they're shy? Is it because I purposefully never shop during the "witching hours" (i.e. naptime or dinner time or bedtime)? Is it because it is just in their natures (probably not, cuz we have our share of home/grandma's house tantrums)? I don't know.
But whatever the reason, I am grateful. The other day I took the kids grocery shopping at good ol' Walmart. As always, we stopped by the bakery to grab the free cookie. This will keep them happy through the produce and into bread and meat. Little Peach just hangs out in the sling, big kids walk. They know that if they run away (Honeybuns does this sometimes) they have to be buckled into the cart. We had to go to each corner of the store multiple times and the bathroom once, and they were great! The check-out guy even commented on how good they were. I did have to put Honeybuns in the cart once, then let her out to see the fish and afterwards, she stuck right by my side.
So while I do have my share of parenting woes and struggles, I am glad shopping with kids isn't one of them!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Simple joys
Yesterday I hit up a few garage sales. I wish I could go every week but since my hubs has been in law school and now is studying for the bar exam, Saturdays are study days too so he can't watch the kids while I go. And who wants to go garage sale-ing with 3 kids in tow? Uh, not me.
So yesterday some friends had a sale so I told hubs I would only hit one and come home. But then...my car drove itself to 4 other sales on the way home. Hee hee. I just can't ignore those neon signs! Anyway, I scored a couple of kid chairs and a play shopping cart. The big girls were thrilled. Just to have a kid sized piece of furniture really brightened up their day and got them out of my hair for a while. You know how kids get bored of their toys and start to whine and hang off your limbs? My kids are in that stage. I hid half their toys in a bin in the garage a few months ago, but I don't think it's been hidden long enough to have that new coolness factor when I get them out.
Solution?
Garage sales. Basically that's what has provided all their Christmas and birthday presents for the past few years. If they don't care, why spend big $$? I LOVE going to a store and seeing a toy that costs $40 that I got for $10, or even better, that time I saw a toy in a store for $80 that I got for $3. Brand new too!
Once the fall garage sale season starts I'm gonna hit them up every week to do my Christmas shopping. If you are picky and patient you just might find something awesome.
So yesterday some friends had a sale so I told hubs I would only hit one and come home. But then...my car drove itself to 4 other sales on the way home. Hee hee. I just can't ignore those neon signs! Anyway, I scored a couple of kid chairs and a play shopping cart. The big girls were thrilled. Just to have a kid sized piece of furniture really brightened up their day and got them out of my hair for a while. You know how kids get bored of their toys and start to whine and hang off your limbs? My kids are in that stage. I hid half their toys in a bin in the garage a few months ago, but I don't think it's been hidden long enough to have that new coolness factor when I get them out.
Garage sales. Basically that's what has provided all their Christmas and birthday presents for the past few years. If they don't care, why spend big $$? I LOVE going to a store and seeing a toy that costs $40 that I got for $10, or even better, that time I saw a toy in a store for $80 that I got for $3. Brand new too!
Once the fall garage sale season starts I'm gonna hit them up every week to do my Christmas shopping. If you are picky and patient you just might find something awesome.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
My body doesn't do that
So, I have a pretty good body, as far as bodies go. And I'm not talking about "hotness" but function. It walks, runs, breaths, thinks, digests, circulates blood, and most amazingly it makes babies, pushes them out, and makes milk for them. I don't have any health problems, I am all around pleased with the body I was given.
But there's one thing my body doesn't do.
Dance.
Just watch these people. Nothing fancy. But I watch in fascination and awe because there's no way I could ever do that. How do they move their bodies that way?
I used to go to BodyJam at my old gym which is dancing for exercise. It was sooo fun, but I never looked smooth. I was always one move behind and if I ever was with the instructors, it took my complete concentration and effort. Whew. Is this a case of nature or nurture? Do I not know how to dance because I don't have that innate sense of rhythm and movement? Or do I not know how to dance because my parents don't either? Sigh. I shall never know, doomed forever to watch others bust a move while my own paralyzed limbs mock me by staying perfectly still by my sides.
But there's one thing my body doesn't do.
Dance.
Just watch these people. Nothing fancy. But I watch in fascination and awe because there's no way I could ever do that. How do they move their bodies that way?
I used to go to BodyJam at my old gym which is dancing for exercise. It was sooo fun, but I never looked smooth. I was always one move behind and if I ever was with the instructors, it took my complete concentration and effort. Whew. Is this a case of nature or nurture? Do I not know how to dance because I don't have that innate sense of rhythm and movement? Or do I not know how to dance because my parents don't either? Sigh. I shall never know, doomed forever to watch others bust a move while my own paralyzed limbs mock me by staying perfectly still by my sides.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Day two
I did it! I exercised yesterday and today in the morning before kids were up. well, they were up during some of my exercise but I got it done. And I feel so good. I am also proud of myself cuz I got all the way through my Bob Harper DVD this morning. The first time I did it I only got 15min then quit, then 25, 33, and this morning, one hour! Go me. I am sore and loving it.
I'm also feeling recommitted to eat better. Today I did spectacularly. Super motivated-watch the pounds and inches melt away!
I'm also feeling recommitted to eat better. Today I did spectacularly. Super motivated-watch the pounds and inches melt away!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Nice people
So today I went to Target with all the kids. It wasn't so bad. My two big girls are generally well-behaved and my baby just hangs out in my sling. I bought a bunch of groceries and was loading them in my trunk from my cart. I was a dork and had pushed the cart to the little sidewalk thing in front of my car, so I had to walk the length of my car over and over to get all the groceries to the back. While the two big girls were in the car fighting over something and Little Peach was still sleeping away in the sling while I loaded up, a car pulled in next to me. A middle aged couple and their granddaughter (about 10 or 11yo) got out. They took one look at me with my baby strapped to me, a forlorn look probably upon my face, and screams and shouts coming from inside the car and immediately offered to help load my groceries. I thought about it for 1.2 seconds and said, "yes!"
I am so grateful to be the recipient of a random act of kindness today!!
And because I love 'em, here is a pic of my two redheads today. They matched so we had a little photoshoot.
I am so grateful to be the recipient of a random act of kindness today!!
And because I love 'em, here is a pic of my two redheads today. They matched so we had a little photoshoot.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
A goal
Ok, world. At least the microscopic sliver of the world that actually reads this blog. I am committing to you that I am going to start exercising tomorrow! Yup. I'm going to try a new plan. It's called "Get Up Before the Kids and Sweat with My Bob Harper DVD." Now, I've been meaning to do this DVD every night but you know how it goes....once it's time to actually do it, my energy level is like, zero. Or barely enough to straighten the kitchen and veg.
I always have intentions of going to bed early. Every night just after the kids go down, Hubs and I yawn at each other and say, "let's go to bed early tonight." But then we catch some sort of "kid-free time" second wind that keeps us going till 11 or 12. Then kids are up between 6 and 7. Remember when it was dark in the mornings? When kids got up more about 8? Yeah, I miss those days. Well, no more! I will go to bed tonight by 9:30ish to catch up on my sleep, get up at 6 and work out. Yup. It's gonna happen. Time to kiss these love handles good-bye. Tone these flabby arms. Locate my abs.
And I'll start eating better on Tuesday so I can have memorial day treats tomorrow. hee hee.
I always have intentions of going to bed early. Every night just after the kids go down, Hubs and I yawn at each other and say, "let's go to bed early tonight." But then we catch some sort of "kid-free time" second wind that keeps us going till 11 or 12. Then kids are up between 6 and 7. Remember when it was dark in the mornings? When kids got up more about 8? Yeah, I miss those days. Well, no more! I will go to bed tonight by 9:30ish to catch up on my sleep, get up at 6 and work out. Yup. It's gonna happen. Time to kiss these love handles good-bye. Tone these flabby arms. Locate my abs.
And I'll start eating better on Tuesday so I can have memorial day treats tomorrow. hee hee.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Do your homework
I am a researcher. I always hated researching stuff in school, but I really like doing it for my own purposes. A few examples of the type of stuff I like to look into:
Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy finding out what works for other moms and I love sharing and hearing about different experiences we've all had with our kids and parenting methods. But I don't really have a "go-to" person to ask questions of. Hmmm.
Do you know what these are? They are cloth diapers. Yup. I am officially a CD mommy. I did "sposies" with my first two, and did a bunch of research {surprise, surprise} on cloth this time around. Another one of my BFF's is a CD mom and while at first I was appalled and grossed out by the idea, I poked around a few cloth diaper sites and found that it's actually not as gross as one might think. Everyone always jumps to the conclusion that cloth diapering is just as it was in 1983 like when I wore them as a youngster.
I am pleased to tell you they are much improved, ladies and gents! For one thing, they are fitted like a disposable diaper with snaps. The waterproof-ness of it all is in the outside fabric and plastic pants aren't needed. They are super soft and absorbent and keeps moisture away from baby's skin. And poop? For the first 6 months for babies that are exclusively nursed, you just toss them in the wash as-is. As they begin to incorporate solids and their poop changes, you get a diaper sprayer that connects to your toilet. The strong stream cleans any solids off and into the toilet--no swishing required.
On one site it stated that if you use cloth for two kids from birth to potty training, you save around $4,000. Not to mention the massive amount of diapers that will be spared from landfills on your kid's behalf. I do believe in being as green as you can and this is a way to do it better. It is also good for baby's skin. My Little Peach never gets red in the bummy, when my toddler (in disposables) does occasionally get a bit of redness.
Plus, they're CUTE!
- When I was engaged, I read books about marriage
- When it was time to get pregnant, I read books/sites on trying to conceive (it's trickier than you might think when you have irregular cycles)
- When I was pregnant, I read books/sites on pregnancy, labor and newborn care
- As my kids grow, I read books/sites about their current stage of development
- I research new ideas or theories and decide for myself if I want to implement them or not.
Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy finding out what works for other moms and I love sharing and hearing about different experiences we've all had with our kids and parenting methods. But I don't really have a "go-to" person to ask questions of. Hmmm.
I am pleased to tell you they are much improved, ladies and gents! For one thing, they are fitted like a disposable diaper with snaps. The waterproof-ness of it all is in the outside fabric and plastic pants aren't needed. They are super soft and absorbent and keeps moisture away from baby's skin. And poop? For the first 6 months for babies that are exclusively nursed, you just toss them in the wash as-is. As they begin to incorporate solids and their poop changes, you get a diaper sprayer that connects to your toilet. The strong stream cleans any solids off and into the toilet--no swishing required.
On one site it stated that if you use cloth for two kids from birth to potty training, you save around $4,000. Not to mention the massive amount of diapers that will be spared from landfills on your kid's behalf. I do believe in being as green as you can and this is a way to do it better. It is also good for baby's skin. My Little Peach never gets red in the bummy, when my toddler (in disposables) does occasionally get a bit of redness.
Plus, they're CUTE!
Me and my three munchins on Mother's Day.
Yes, that is grammatically correct.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
It's harder than I thought
Didja think I was talking about being a mom? Cuz while yes, that is harder than I thought it would be, I am not referring to it.
I'm talking about painting a table. I am doing my kitchen table for the second time and man, it's tricky! You might think: sand, paint, seal. Uh, nope. I got the sanding and painting down. The sealing part is soooo hard. You have to do it slowly so you get even coverage, you have to buy the best brush cuz it's the least likely to leave stroke marks, you can't shake the can of sealer because it will cause air bubbles which will dry as tiny bumps which you will then have to sand smooth for the next coat {not that I know from experience}. I just did coat #4 and I'm hoping it will be my last. I can still see stroke marks when it dries so I don't know if I should leave it and someday buy a new table or keep doing coats, practicing my technique until I achieve the results I want.
Today I went to a funeral of the father of one of my flute students. He was 39 and had a heart attack. He was not overweight but had a family history of bad hearts. He left behind an amazing wife and two beautiful daughters, ages 8 and 11. The talks I heard (I was late) were uplifting and wonderful. Our bishop talked about grief and how it is a process and can't be healed. Grief can cause depression, etc that can be treated by medication or counseling, but grief itself can't be healed. Mourning is part of grief and comes now and then in one's life who has lost a loved one, esp at times like weddings, graduations, holidays, vacations, achievements and other special times. It was sobering to reflect as one always does when someone passes on the fragility of life and how nobody can hide from death's shadow. We try to keep ourselves healthy, drive safely, and hold our childrens' hands as they cross the street but really, death can strike anybody at any moment.
It reminded me of a few things: holding grudges is stupid. Being stingy (in some situations) is not worth it. I need to tell my family I love them more. We all say it to each other every day but I can strive to be better.
Last night I was falling asleep and thinking about my second daughter who is not as cuddly as the others, plus she is two therefore difficult. She is posing challenges that we never even thought about with our first kid at this age. Nothing serious, but she is definitely feisty! I thought about how when she's bigger she's not going to want to be held anymore or cuddle all that much (I'm thinking like, teenage years here) so I decided to make a conscious effort to hold her whenever she asks. The feeling of her little arms around my neck is the sweetest feeling and I want to soak it up while I can.
And while we are on the subject of little arms, can I just say I am head over heels in love with my baby? She is the sweetest, softest, squishiest smoosh ever. I know she'll grow faster than I can even think about, so I'm trying to kiss her and hug her all I can while she's still little enough to not crawl/walk/run away from me. She's 2 1/2 months old right now, has just discovered her hands, and is getting that little bald ring around her head from rubbing her head on the sheet like babies do. Mmmm. I even love the smell of spit up on my shoulder cuz it reminds me of her. hee hee
I'm talking about painting a table. I am doing my kitchen table for the second time and man, it's tricky! You might think: sand, paint, seal. Uh, nope. I got the sanding and painting down. The sealing part is soooo hard. You have to do it slowly so you get even coverage, you have to buy the best brush cuz it's the least likely to leave stroke marks, you can't shake the can of sealer because it will cause air bubbles which will dry as tiny bumps which you will then have to sand smooth for the next coat {not that I know from experience}. I just did coat #4 and I'm hoping it will be my last. I can still see stroke marks when it dries so I don't know if I should leave it and someday buy a new table or keep doing coats, practicing my technique until I achieve the results I want.
Today I went to a funeral of the father of one of my flute students. He was 39 and had a heart attack. He was not overweight but had a family history of bad hearts. He left behind an amazing wife and two beautiful daughters, ages 8 and 11. The talks I heard (I was late) were uplifting and wonderful. Our bishop talked about grief and how it is a process and can't be healed. Grief can cause depression, etc that can be treated by medication or counseling, but grief itself can't be healed. Mourning is part of grief and comes now and then in one's life who has lost a loved one, esp at times like weddings, graduations, holidays, vacations, achievements and other special times. It was sobering to reflect as one always does when someone passes on the fragility of life and how nobody can hide from death's shadow. We try to keep ourselves healthy, drive safely, and hold our childrens' hands as they cross the street but really, death can strike anybody at any moment.
It reminded me of a few things: holding grudges is stupid. Being stingy (in some situations) is not worth it. I need to tell my family I love them more. We all say it to each other every day but I can strive to be better.
Last night I was falling asleep and thinking about my second daughter who is not as cuddly as the others, plus she is two therefore difficult. She is posing challenges that we never even thought about with our first kid at this age. Nothing serious, but she is definitely feisty! I thought about how when she's bigger she's not going to want to be held anymore or cuddle all that much (I'm thinking like, teenage years here) so I decided to make a conscious effort to hold her whenever she asks. The feeling of her little arms around my neck is the sweetest feeling and I want to soak it up while I can.
And while we are on the subject of little arms, can I just say I am head over heels in love with my baby? She is the sweetest, softest, squishiest smoosh ever. I know she'll grow faster than I can even think about, so I'm trying to kiss her and hug her all I can while she's still little enough to not crawl/walk/run away from me. She's 2 1/2 months old right now, has just discovered her hands, and is getting that little bald ring around her head from rubbing her head on the sheet like babies do. Mmmm. I even love the smell of spit up on my shoulder cuz it reminds me of her. hee hee
Monday, May 23, 2011
Consistency, I guess
Today is Monday. Family Home Evening. Let me describe FHE in the Simonson family for your enjoyment:
Kids are SUPER wild. Maybe it was the uber sweet watermelon they had just consumed? I was trying to remember if they had a treat but no, it was only watermelon. So that must be why. Hubs and I sit on the couch and call the girls to gather. They arrive in the family room and roll around on the floor, giggling and making strange noises. I ask the girls if they want to lead the opening song, which they usually do together with wooden spoons as batons. My 4yo (we'll call her "Sweetcakes") says, "no!" and my 2yo (who shall be known as "Honeybuns") plays intently with her dollar store mermaid and mini-Rapunzel doll that she carries around 24/7, keeping up a steady dialogue in a high pitched voice as the dolls talk to each other.
Ok, I guess I'll lead. I lead them in singing "When My Mother Calls Me, Quickly I'll Obey." Sweetcakes suddenly wants to sing it as a solo so I sit down and she sings it with cute exaggerated actions (last week our lesson was on obedience and we learned that song). Honeybuns stands next to her and joins in on the actions and an occasional word. They are so cute doing it that Hubs and I chuckle and clap, and Hubs gets out his phone to video them doing it. He says, k now do it again. Honeybuns refuses and sits on the floor, kicking her legs grumpily. Sweetcakes goes through the song again for the video but a bit sillier, and both girls end up laughing hysterically at the end of the song.
Nice reverent start to our FHE, huh? So I had decided to teach the lesson on tithing, since Sweetcakes has started to have an interest in earning money to buy her own toys. I showed the picture of the little girl paying tithing and tried to engage Sweetcakes by describing the picture. She pays attention for 3.5 seconds then runs away. Honeybuns is still playing with her dolls. I try to tell her that we will receive blessings by paying tithing but she is completely done paying attention by then. I sigh and say to hubs, "not our most successful FHE, huh?" haha
Then we read scriptures. Sweetcakes repeated her verse in a silly way. I was grateful that one of the verses was a one liner for Honeybuns to repeat. She loses interest quickly. Someday we'll get through the Book of Mormon, I just know it.
Richard J Maynes of the Quorum of the Seventy said in this past General Conference, "We learned that our children might not remember everything about the family home evening lesson later in the week, but they would remember that we held it. We learned that later in the day at school they would probably not remember the exact words of the scriptures or the prayer, but they would remember that we did read scriptures and we did have prayer. Brothers and sisters, there is great power and protection for us and our youth in establishing celestial traditions in the home."
I shall remind myself of that quote many times in my mothering life, I believe. And remember that story Elder Bednar told a few years ago? About his young sons tattling on each other about things such as, "he's breathing my air!" haha. He talked about consistency as well. Bring on the distractions and wildness! We shall conquer!
Kids are SUPER wild. Maybe it was the uber sweet watermelon they had just consumed? I was trying to remember if they had a treat but no, it was only watermelon. So that must be why. Hubs and I sit on the couch and call the girls to gather. They arrive in the family room and roll around on the floor, giggling and making strange noises. I ask the girls if they want to lead the opening song, which they usually do together with wooden spoons as batons. My 4yo (we'll call her "Sweetcakes") says, "no!" and my 2yo (who shall be known as "Honeybuns") plays intently with her dollar store mermaid and mini-Rapunzel doll that she carries around 24/7, keeping up a steady dialogue in a high pitched voice as the dolls talk to each other.
Ok, I guess I'll lead. I lead them in singing "When My Mother Calls Me, Quickly I'll Obey." Sweetcakes suddenly wants to sing it as a solo so I sit down and she sings it with cute exaggerated actions (last week our lesson was on obedience and we learned that song). Honeybuns stands next to her and joins in on the actions and an occasional word. They are so cute doing it that Hubs and I chuckle and clap, and Hubs gets out his phone to video them doing it. He says, k now do it again. Honeybuns refuses and sits on the floor, kicking her legs grumpily. Sweetcakes goes through the song again for the video but a bit sillier, and both girls end up laughing hysterically at the end of the song.
Nice reverent start to our FHE, huh? So I had decided to teach the lesson on tithing, since Sweetcakes has started to have an interest in earning money to buy her own toys. I showed the picture of the little girl paying tithing and tried to engage Sweetcakes by describing the picture. She pays attention for 3.5 seconds then runs away. Honeybuns is still playing with her dolls. I try to tell her that we will receive blessings by paying tithing but she is completely done paying attention by then. I sigh and say to hubs, "not our most successful FHE, huh?" haha
Then we read scriptures. Sweetcakes repeated her verse in a silly way. I was grateful that one of the verses was a one liner for Honeybuns to repeat. She loses interest quickly. Someday we'll get through the Book of Mormon, I just know it.
Richard J Maynes of the Quorum of the Seventy said in this past General Conference, "We learned that our children might not remember everything about the family home evening lesson later in the week, but they would remember that we held it. We learned that later in the day at school they would probably not remember the exact words of the scriptures or the prayer, but they would remember that we did read scriptures and we did have prayer. Brothers and sisters, there is great power and protection for us and our youth in establishing celestial traditions in the home."
I shall remind myself of that quote many times in my mothering life, I believe. And remember that story Elder Bednar told a few years ago? About his young sons tattling on each other about things such as, "he's breathing my air!" haha. He talked about consistency as well. Bring on the distractions and wildness! We shall conquer!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
My life
Hello. My name is Alisa.
I wanted to start my own blog, to record my own thoughts and feelings separate from our private family blog. I have always been a good journaler (is that a word?) until the past 5 years or so. Probably about the time I had my first kid. Life got a little busier and I sort of fell off the wagon, scrambling to catch up now and then.
I have 17 journals filled with my life so far. My kids think it's fun to carry them around. I don't mind it {mostly} because I can pick one up and read about a bit of my life while they're out. I love being able to look back at days I've forgotten and say to myself, "Sure glad I wrote about that!" Since I can type way faster than I can write, I will try to post every day.I want to remember these early days of motherhood. I don't know if anyone will read it, but hey, it's mostly for me anyway. If you do read it, leave a comment!
I am 28 years old, married to a really awesome husband, and have three cute kiddos. My husband just graduated from law school a week or two ago {I can't remember the date today} and I am a SAHM {stay-at-home-mom}. I graduated with a BA in Music in 2004 from BYU {emphasis in flute} and I teach a handful of people flute lessons in the afternoons.
K that's enough about me. On to my thoughts.
I've been pondering lately about SAHMhood. I think I've been getting dragged down by the mundane and was starting to feel trapped and tied down. Part of it is probably cuz I just had a baby 2 1/2 months ago, and she is breastfeeding exclusively so I can only leave for up to a couple of hours at a time and it has to be well-timed and well-planned. She just started taking a bottle though so I feel a smidgen more freedom. Even though I have to add pumping to my regimen of mom chores.
But I digress. I felt tied down. But then I read a book called "In Praise of SAHMs" by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. It was amazing. She praises SAHMs and provides evidence (mostly anecdotal, but also some factual) about how typically children are better off being raised by their parents, and not paid caregivers. Not that I've ever had the desire to put my kids in day care or hire a nanny. But still. Endless dishes, cooking, cleaning, diapers, laundry, not to mention all the stuff that goes on with caring for children was wearing me down. And I've only been a mom for 4 1/2 years!
This book uplifted me. So did praying and reading the scriptures. I remembered that before I got married all I wanted was to be married and become a mommy. I wanted it SO bad. I prayed for it every day. I tried to make myself the best person I could be so an amazing man would fall in love with me. And it worked. He did, and here we are. I have to say that I am now recovering from my wallowing and embracing this motherhood stuff more fully.
Shrug and Smile. That is what one mom said in that book. Let it go. Choose your battles.
I am not a live-in housekeeper. I am a Mom, first and foremost. I struggle with the constant guilt: when I play with the kids, I feel guilty for not cleaning the messy house. When I clean, I feel guilty for not playing with the kids. So the house is a little cluttered. So the bathrooms need scrubbing. The closets need organizing. Email inbox needs clearing out. Pictures on the walls need to be updated. Menus need to be created. The list goes on. But my kids are playing with play-doh, coloring, learning to read, imagining, and helping me cook. They are pretty happy kids, and that's what I'm trying to dwell on instead of thinking about my long tidy up list.
The other night the hubs was off camping (hey, he needed a break before official bar studying began) I was putting all the kids to bed myself. The two big girls (ages 2 and 4) were running around wildly like kids do at bedtime. I remember being wild at bedtime when I was a kid too. The baby woke up. I don't think she was feeling well. I got her out and carried her around while getting teeth brushed, jams on, bladders emptied. As I felt completely outnumbered and felt frustration and impatience looming on the horizon, I stepped back and looked at the big picture.
I am a MOM! Look at me, I'm living my dream! Look-three little people, depending on me and loving me unconditionally and I get to guide and direct and teach and love them ALL DAY!
Much better. Patience and love moved in, and I read the girls stories while holding the baby in my lap. I gazed at each of them and smoothed their hair, kissed their cheeks, and let my eyes memorize the picture in front of me. I love these little girls so much it takes my breath away. I don't want them to grow up and not see me as their hero, their #1, their favorite person in the world anymore. I want them to always come up to me randomly and say, "mommy, I want you to hold me. " and "You're the best mommy ever, Mommy!"
Sigh. It's moments like those that make me really love my job. And I need to record more of those moments. Keep 'em coming!
I wanted to start my own blog, to record my own thoughts and feelings separate from our private family blog. I have always been a good journaler (is that a word?) until the past 5 years or so. Probably about the time I had my first kid. Life got a little busier and I sort of fell off the wagon, scrambling to catch up now and then.
I have 17 journals filled with my life so far. My kids think it's fun to carry them around. I don't mind it {mostly} because I can pick one up and read about a bit of my life while they're out. I love being able to look back at days I've forgotten and say to myself, "Sure glad I wrote about that!" Since I can type way faster than I can write, I will try to post every day.I want to remember these early days of motherhood. I don't know if anyone will read it, but hey, it's mostly for me anyway. If you do read it, leave a comment!
I am 28 years old, married to a really awesome husband, and have three cute kiddos. My husband just graduated from law school a week or two ago {I can't remember the date today} and I am a SAHM {stay-at-home-mom}. I graduated with a BA in Music in 2004 from BYU {emphasis in flute} and I teach a handful of people flute lessons in the afternoons.
K that's enough about me. On to my thoughts.
I've been pondering lately about SAHMhood. I think I've been getting dragged down by the mundane and was starting to feel trapped and tied down. Part of it is probably cuz I just had a baby 2 1/2 months ago, and she is breastfeeding exclusively so I can only leave for up to a couple of hours at a time and it has to be well-timed and well-planned. She just started taking a bottle though so I feel a smidgen more freedom. Even though I have to add pumping to my regimen of mom chores.
But I digress. I felt tied down. But then I read a book called "In Praise of SAHMs" by Dr. Laura Schlessinger. It was amazing. She praises SAHMs and provides evidence (mostly anecdotal, but also some factual) about how typically children are better off being raised by their parents, and not paid caregivers. Not that I've ever had the desire to put my kids in day care or hire a nanny. But still. Endless dishes, cooking, cleaning, diapers, laundry, not to mention all the stuff that goes on with caring for children was wearing me down. And I've only been a mom for 4 1/2 years!
This book uplifted me. So did praying and reading the scriptures. I remembered that before I got married all I wanted was to be married and become a mommy. I wanted it SO bad. I prayed for it every day. I tried to make myself the best person I could be so an amazing man would fall in love with me. And it worked. He did, and here we are. I have to say that I am now recovering from my wallowing and embracing this motherhood stuff more fully.
Shrug and Smile. That is what one mom said in that book. Let it go. Choose your battles.
I am not a live-in housekeeper. I am a Mom, first and foremost. I struggle with the constant guilt: when I play with the kids, I feel guilty for not cleaning the messy house. When I clean, I feel guilty for not playing with the kids. So the house is a little cluttered. So the bathrooms need scrubbing. The closets need organizing. Email inbox needs clearing out. Pictures on the walls need to be updated. Menus need to be created. The list goes on. But my kids are playing with play-doh, coloring, learning to read, imagining, and helping me cook. They are pretty happy kids, and that's what I'm trying to dwell on instead of thinking about my long tidy up list.
The other night the hubs was off camping (hey, he needed a break before official bar studying began) I was putting all the kids to bed myself. The two big girls (ages 2 and 4) were running around wildly like kids do at bedtime. I remember being wild at bedtime when I was a kid too. The baby woke up. I don't think she was feeling well. I got her out and carried her around while getting teeth brushed, jams on, bladders emptied. As I felt completely outnumbered and felt frustration and impatience looming on the horizon, I stepped back and looked at the big picture.
I am a MOM! Look at me, I'm living my dream! Look-three little people, depending on me and loving me unconditionally and I get to guide and direct and teach and love them ALL DAY!
Much better. Patience and love moved in, and I read the girls stories while holding the baby in my lap. I gazed at each of them and smoothed their hair, kissed their cheeks, and let my eyes memorize the picture in front of me. I love these little girls so much it takes my breath away. I don't want them to grow up and not see me as their hero, their #1, their favorite person in the world anymore. I want them to always come up to me randomly and say, "mommy, I want you to hold me. " and "You're the best mommy ever, Mommy!"
Sigh. It's moments like those that make me really love my job. And I need to record more of those moments. Keep 'em coming!
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