It's the middle of January and I figured I needed to write a post about what my kids are into these days since I haven't done that in so long. Also I wanted to write about the things we've been up to because life looks different now that I'm a stay-at-home Mama.
Caden's List @ 3yrs, 10 mo and 16 days old:
1. Lego Duplos - he builds TONS of things (trains, airplanes, guns, helicopters, etc.)
2. Transformer Rescue Bots - the show and the toys. He's always asking me for more of the toys, "Mommy, can I get the Medix Rescue Bot for my birthday? Can I get the Fire Truck one for Christmas?"
3. TV Shows - his new faves are Octonauts and Little Einsteins
4. Watching Daddy play the "monkey" game on the iPad. I have no idea what this game is, it's kind of their "thing."
5. Playing Star Wars Angry Birds, or as he calls it, "red birds"
6. Singing or humming along with songs at home, in the car or at the store...and if he doesn't know the words he just makes them up. Sooo funny!
7. Playing outside, even when it's cold and then coming in 2 minutes later because his hands are cold.
8. Playing with his friends and seeing them at church.
9. We are working on listening and obeying skills and not telling his little sister what to do :)
10. Also, still working on ABC's and counting from 1-20. We've tried showing him how to write letters and draw certain things but he's just not ready yet.
11. Misses all of his family that doesn't live here and is always asking for people to come visit or if we can go on an airplane to Texas to see his cousins or on a drive to Pine (aka LaPine) to see Nana and Papa and Uncle Andrew.
12. Being a good helper! (helping feed the dogs, let them out/in, putting dishes in the sink when he's done with them, helping clean up his toys...)
Emberly's List @ 1 yr, 7 mo and 8 days old:
1. Saying the following words: mama, daa'eee (for daddy), buh (for Brother), hi-ee (for Hi), bye or bye-bye or by'ee (for bye), kie (for cookie), do (for dog), kiki (for kitty), ju (for juice), stop ee (for stop it), mo (for more), pea (for please), ta (for thanks), uppy (for up), ce'al (for cereal), shau (for shower), phu (for phone) and show (when she wants to watch tv)....I'm sure there are a few more but that's all I can think of off the top of my head!
2. "Playing" on the iPad - we've created a monster who knows how to work an electronic device and she's not even 2 yet!!
3. TV Shows - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
4. Playing with her dolls, pushing them around in their play stroller and giving them their bottle
5. Copying everything her brother does...hand motions and all, it is so cute!
6. Wants to rock and sing a song in the chair in her room before naps and bedtime and then pointing to her crib when she's done and ready to sleep. I usually last about 10 seconds.
7. Loves her blankets...or as she calls them "buh"
8. Wanting me to read books to her more...she likes her Disney Princess one the most I think.
9. Saying "so" (for sorry) and giving hugs and kisses when she gets a little too rough (ie. biting or pinching).
10. Starting to test her boundaries...all with a smile on her face UNTIL she has to go to timeout, of course!
11. Likes to help Mommy by throwing garbage away, unload the silverware out of the dishwasher, cleaning up spills, "washing" the windows...
12. She also likes to "brush" her hair and use a napkin to wipe her face and hands when she's eating.
Man, I love those 2 little kids sooo much! I love watching them grow and learn about this world that we live in and how everything works. Some days are rough but I am sooo thankful for them and what God is teaching me through their little lives.
I've been reading a couple books lately and they've been rocking my world. They are, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, which we're reading for Women's Bible Study; "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp, which reading for Mom's Group; and "Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe" by Sarah Mae, that a friend told me about. Before you have children you think that you'll be a good Mom and know what to do and how to raise kids BECAUSE you love kids so much and are so nurturing, calm and patient when you're around other people's children (nieces, nephews, friends, etc.). BUT that's not reality and you have a whole new mindset once the child is your own and you realize that you are THE catalyst of change in their life and responsible for shaping who they become as a human being and contributor to society. Another revelation that hit me the other day is and I don't know why it never dawned on me before....but these kids are my mission field and God has given me a full-time ministry with these 2 children. It's been a big eye opener for me and I'm glad I'm figuring it out now before they're older so I've really been working on my heart, my attitude, my words and how I interact with them so I can demonstrate to them what it looks like and means to be a follower of Jesus. Another encouragement that came from 1 of the books is this: God loves me on my good AND my bad days as a Mom. I feel like such a failure on those bad days when I mess up and yell at my kids or skip out on a "teaching moment" because I'm too frustrated to be patient.
Back in September, when school started, I decided to get involved in the Women's Bibly Study group at my church that meets once a week. I didn't have the time to do it when I was working part- or full-time before. I was scared to go at first because I didn't know very many people but God was telling me to go and not to be afraid and I'm sooo glad that I did. I've gotten to really dig into the book we're reading and discover more about myself and where I'd like to be in my walk with the Lord but it also has allowed me to get to know other women in my church who are in different places in their lives and receive wisdom and encouragement from them, while hopefully giving the same in return. They have childcare for the kids during the study so the kids can play with their friends too! It's definitely been a win-win!
One of my friends started a "Mamas" group on Facebook over the summer and we use it as a forum for questions (about our kids, families, etc.), prayer requests and setting up play dates but over the last couple months we also started getting together once a month with just us Moms (leaving the kids at home with Dad or a sitter) and hanging out. We've eaten a meal together and done some sort of activity (made candles, Christmas cards and most recently did manis and pedis). It's been really good for me since I don't have a lot of adult interaction on a daily basis and enjoy hanging out with my friends and Moms who can relate on so many levels!
In January, we started a "Mom's Group" at my church and had our first meeting. It's another thing that I can get involved in and allows my kids to be at church and play with other kids as well. For now the group is pretty small but I'm excited for the future and what's to come of this group.
How do you feel you're doing as parent? What types of things do you do to connect with other Moms/Dads? What types of things are your kids into these days? What kinds of things do you do with your kids while Dad's at work?
Caden's List @ 3yrs, 10 mo and 16 days old:
1. Lego Duplos - he builds TONS of things (trains, airplanes, guns, helicopters, etc.)
2. Transformer Rescue Bots - the show and the toys. He's always asking me for more of the toys, "Mommy, can I get the Medix Rescue Bot for my birthday? Can I get the Fire Truck one for Christmas?"
3. TV Shows - his new faves are Octonauts and Little Einsteins
4. Watching Daddy play the "monkey" game on the iPad. I have no idea what this game is, it's kind of their "thing."
5. Playing Star Wars Angry Birds, or as he calls it, "red birds"
6. Singing or humming along with songs at home, in the car or at the store...and if he doesn't know the words he just makes them up. Sooo funny!
7. Playing outside, even when it's cold and then coming in 2 minutes later because his hands are cold.
8. Playing with his friends and seeing them at church.
9. We are working on listening and obeying skills and not telling his little sister what to do :)
10. Also, still working on ABC's and counting from 1-20. We've tried showing him how to write letters and draw certain things but he's just not ready yet.
11. Misses all of his family that doesn't live here and is always asking for people to come visit or if we can go on an airplane to Texas to see his cousins or on a drive to Pine (aka LaPine) to see Nana and Papa and Uncle Andrew.
12. Being a good helper! (helping feed the dogs, let them out/in, putting dishes in the sink when he's done with them, helping clean up his toys...)
Emberly's List @ 1 yr, 7 mo and 8 days old:
1. Saying the following words: mama, daa'eee (for daddy), buh (for Brother), hi-ee (for Hi), bye or bye-bye or by'ee (for bye), kie (for cookie), do (for dog), kiki (for kitty), ju (for juice), stop ee (for stop it), mo (for more), pea (for please), ta (for thanks), uppy (for up), ce'al (for cereal), shau (for shower), phu (for phone) and show (when she wants to watch tv)....I'm sure there are a few more but that's all I can think of off the top of my head!
2. "Playing" on the iPad - we've created a monster who knows how to work an electronic device and she's not even 2 yet!!
3. TV Shows - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
4. Playing with her dolls, pushing them around in their play stroller and giving them their bottle
5. Copying everything her brother does...hand motions and all, it is so cute!
6. Wants to rock and sing a song in the chair in her room before naps and bedtime and then pointing to her crib when she's done and ready to sleep. I usually last about 10 seconds.
7. Loves her blankets...or as she calls them "buh"
8. Wanting me to read books to her more...she likes her Disney Princess one the most I think.
9. Saying "so" (for sorry) and giving hugs and kisses when she gets a little too rough (ie. biting or pinching).
10. Starting to test her boundaries...all with a smile on her face UNTIL she has to go to timeout, of course!
11. Likes to help Mommy by throwing garbage away, unload the silverware out of the dishwasher, cleaning up spills, "washing" the windows...
12. She also likes to "brush" her hair and use a napkin to wipe her face and hands when she's eating.
Man, I love those 2 little kids sooo much! I love watching them grow and learn about this world that we live in and how everything works. Some days are rough but I am sooo thankful for them and what God is teaching me through their little lives.
I've been reading a couple books lately and they've been rocking my world. They are, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, which we're reading for Women's Bible Study; "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp, which reading for Mom's Group; and "Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe" by Sarah Mae, that a friend told me about. Before you have children you think that you'll be a good Mom and know what to do and how to raise kids BECAUSE you love kids so much and are so nurturing, calm and patient when you're around other people's children (nieces, nephews, friends, etc.). BUT that's not reality and you have a whole new mindset once the child is your own and you realize that you are THE catalyst of change in their life and responsible for shaping who they become as a human being and contributor to society. Another revelation that hit me the other day is and I don't know why it never dawned on me before....but these kids are my mission field and God has given me a full-time ministry with these 2 children. It's been a big eye opener for me and I'm glad I'm figuring it out now before they're older so I've really been working on my heart, my attitude, my words and how I interact with them so I can demonstrate to them what it looks like and means to be a follower of Jesus. Another encouragement that came from 1 of the books is this: God loves me on my good AND my bad days as a Mom. I feel like such a failure on those bad days when I mess up and yell at my kids or skip out on a "teaching moment" because I'm too frustrated to be patient.
Back in September, when school started, I decided to get involved in the Women's Bibly Study group at my church that meets once a week. I didn't have the time to do it when I was working part- or full-time before. I was scared to go at first because I didn't know very many people but God was telling me to go and not to be afraid and I'm sooo glad that I did. I've gotten to really dig into the book we're reading and discover more about myself and where I'd like to be in my walk with the Lord but it also has allowed me to get to know other women in my church who are in different places in their lives and receive wisdom and encouragement from them, while hopefully giving the same in return. They have childcare for the kids during the study so the kids can play with their friends too! It's definitely been a win-win!
One of my friends started a "Mamas" group on Facebook over the summer and we use it as a forum for questions (about our kids, families, etc.), prayer requests and setting up play dates but over the last couple months we also started getting together once a month with just us Moms (leaving the kids at home with Dad or a sitter) and hanging out. We've eaten a meal together and done some sort of activity (made candles, Christmas cards and most recently did manis and pedis). It's been really good for me since I don't have a lot of adult interaction on a daily basis and enjoy hanging out with my friends and Moms who can relate on so many levels!
In January, we started a "Mom's Group" at my church and had our first meeting. It's another thing that I can get involved in and allows my kids to be at church and play with other kids as well. For now the group is pretty small but I'm excited for the future and what's to come of this group.
How do you feel you're doing as parent? What types of things do you do to connect with other Moms/Dads? What types of things are your kids into these days? What kinds of things do you do with your kids while Dad's at work?
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing Mollie! I can't really contribute to your questions at the end, but it's still a joy to read about your journey and little people :o) I sure miss you and love to read how God is blessing y'all!
You are certainly not alone and we all have our bad days. I still need to find a Mom's group to get involved with but I've found that walking Jacob home from school allows a lot more interaction with the other parents and teachers.
I love your little ones and tell Caden that I'm working on a trip to come visit!
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