There are so many milestones in a child's life. If you are anything like me, you write each of them down, and every once in a while you will shed a few tears over the fact that your child is growing too fast. Every parent is guilty of saying, " I can't wait until she gets older so we can ________ ", I find myself doing this all the time and then I stop and think...I need to be cherishing THIS age and THIS moment!
I remember when Little Roo started walking. He hated crawling. It didn't take him long to realize that once he stood up and started walking he would no longer need to crawl. So, that Christmas in 2011, when he was just 9 months old, Roo started walking and I was so sad!! I wanted him to stay a baby and the fact that he was walking, to me, meant that he had entered the world of being a toddler! I felt like my sweet little baby boy didn't need me as much any more. This child was BORN independent. He didn't and STILL doesn't want help with anything. *sigh* I don't want to lie to you and tell you that I don't like his personality though, because I do. I love that he sticks his little tongue out when there is a new task he is learning! I love that he tries to push me away when brushing his teeth and taking a bath...it's like he's saying, "I got this mom." So, I am starting to let him do things on his own and I go back and follow him!
Just a couple of months ago I decided that it was time that Roo start helping in the home. He LOVES to be a helper and why not encourage that?! I made him his own chore chart and he is responsible for those things. Now, he IS still little so it is nothing major but it's enough to give him a sense of accomplishment and to make him so proud that he claps his hands and says, "YAY!" He puts his clothes in his room after taking a bath (most of the time!), helps unload the dish washer, helps with laundry (sorting, putting in, and taking out), starting to help put away his toys (I'm a little OCD about this), helps dust (after I have), takes dishes to kitchen and a couple of personal ones for his hygiene. We are so proud of him and how he has really grasped on to being a helper!
One of the "milestones" that we have JUST started working on is drinking from an open cup. I know several mommy's who are working on this as well. One mother is having a hard time because her little girl doesn't like to get dirty. The method that we are using is putting one or two ounces in the cup at a time. This teaches him that even if he does spill, it won't be a huge mess and he won't get too dirty! I was a teacher before becoming a mommy and this is the method we used to teach the younger students. There is a lot of anxiety that comes with this milestone for the child. They feel like they are going to get in trouble for making a mess or, like my friends daughter, they just don't like to be dirty or feel messy. You could also make it into a little game with them if they DO make a mess. You could give them their own set of wash rags and let them clean up the spill for a sticker or a prize!! I am all about positive reinforcements!
What are some things you are working on with your children? Which milestones broke your heart or made you super proud?! I want to hear all about YOUR parenting adventures!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Ugly Truth about Night Terrors
Good morning guys! I want to thank you all so much for reading my little blog and would love some feed back on some of the things YOU would like to read about and find interesting. Keeping in mind, of course, that this blog is mostly about the journey of being a parent!! With that being said, it opens up MANY topics to be discussed, many crafts to be shown, and many recipes to be tried! I can't wait to continue on this journey and to make it better!
My son, Little Roo, has been having night terrors through the night all week long. He has had night terrors before in his young age (he will be 2 next month) but they have been worse this week and have been leaving me very worried. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am against co-sleeping with your child. I do not find it to be safe or good for that child; however, it is an opinion and choice of mine and I respect any parent that chooses to do it. It's just not for me and my family. Well, this WAS the case until this week. Little Roo has been in a toddler bed for about a month now and has been doing a fabulous job! I have been so proud of how well he transitioned. This week he has been so upset that I will normally let him sleep in the bed with his daddy and I go sleep on the couch. I feel that he needs that extra sense of security. After doing some research today though.....I may change my stance on that.
For any of you parents that are going through this, I have gotten some excellent advice from friends and have also done some research that I found to be truly helpful. First thing you should know, there is NOTHING that you have done to cause this to be happening to your child. The article I read from babycenter.com had a sleep expert, Jodi A. Mendall, speaking about your children and night terrors. She said that 15% of children, starting with toddlers up to adolescents, are being affected by night terrors on a regular basis. It is said that there is nothing you can do to stop it. It has to run it's course which can last any where from 2 minutes to 40 minutes (Little Roo has them for a little longer than 40 minutes) and is normally within the first hours of sleep.
This is where I get a little confused. Roo is experiencing all signs of night terrors but his episodes do not start until around 2-4am. Jodi A. Medall says that this is the time where nightmares occur and that there is a difference between the two. With nightmares a child is aware of what is happening, can be awakened, and too scared to go back to sleep without comfort. With night terrors, they can not be awakened or consoled and they go straight to sleep after the episode ends with no recollection of what has occurred. *SIGH* So, I am at a loss.
So, this is the ugly truth about night terrors and I hope that it helped some of you as I know having some info about it helped me!
Any suggestions or comments about what is going on with Roo? Night terrors or Nightmares???
Have a great and productive day, friends!
link to article on babycenter: http://www.babycenter.com/0_night-terrors-why-they-happen-and-what-to-do-about-them_67331.bc
My son, Little Roo, has been having night terrors through the night all week long. He has had night terrors before in his young age (he will be 2 next month) but they have been worse this week and have been leaving me very worried. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am against co-sleeping with your child. I do not find it to be safe or good for that child; however, it is an opinion and choice of mine and I respect any parent that chooses to do it. It's just not for me and my family. Well, this WAS the case until this week. Little Roo has been in a toddler bed for about a month now and has been doing a fabulous job! I have been so proud of how well he transitioned. This week he has been so upset that I will normally let him sleep in the bed with his daddy and I go sleep on the couch. I feel that he needs that extra sense of security. After doing some research today though.....I may change my stance on that.
For any of you parents that are going through this, I have gotten some excellent advice from friends and have also done some research that I found to be truly helpful. First thing you should know, there is NOTHING that you have done to cause this to be happening to your child. The article I read from babycenter.com had a sleep expert, Jodi A. Mendall, speaking about your children and night terrors. She said that 15% of children, starting with toddlers up to adolescents, are being affected by night terrors on a regular basis. It is said that there is nothing you can do to stop it. It has to run it's course which can last any where from 2 minutes to 40 minutes (Little Roo has them for a little longer than 40 minutes) and is normally within the first hours of sleep.
This is where I get a little confused. Roo is experiencing all signs of night terrors but his episodes do not start until around 2-4am. Jodi A. Medall says that this is the time where nightmares occur and that there is a difference between the two. With nightmares a child is aware of what is happening, can be awakened, and too scared to go back to sleep without comfort. With night terrors, they can not be awakened or consoled and they go straight to sleep after the episode ends with no recollection of what has occurred. *SIGH* So, I am at a loss.
So, this is the ugly truth about night terrors and I hope that it helped some of you as I know having some info about it helped me!
Any suggestions or comments about what is going on with Roo? Night terrors or Nightmares???
Have a great and productive day, friends!
link to article on babycenter: http://www.babycenter.com/0_night-terrors-why-they-happen-and-what-to-do-about-them_67331.bc
Thursday, February 21, 2013
"Hey Howdy Hey!"
What a weird title, right? Well, if you all know even a little about me and my family, you would know that my son, Little Roo, is a "Toy Story" fanatic right now! I kid you not, my friends....he is obsessed! In the movie, one of the toys, Woody, says this phrase quite often and Little Roo gets a giggle every time. We love it!
Little Roo's birthday is next month and in staying true with my OCD tenancies, I started planning his birthday party about 2 months after is FIRST birthday! I knew that he liked "Toy Story", but at the time he also liked "Jake and the Never land Pirates". I had two scenarios planned out on Pintrest (MY obsession!). Last month I finally knew, without a doubt, which one I would put into fruition and "Toy Story" was the winner! Now, my friends, I am a creative thinker....but my bestie Sara is a creative DO-ER! lol. We put our minds together and we have been working hard on this birthday party! The gift bags are going to be something that every kid wants! lol. I am super proud of what this party will be. I am still having some trouble uploading photo's on here but as soon as it allows me...how about next Thursday..I will post some pics of the things we are doing. I, the "thinker", have even been getting my crafting on!! Go me!
It's hard for me to think about my little guy turning two already. As I have watched him grow and reach new milestones, there have been times that I have just wished him to be that sweet little baby again. The one that I held for HOURS at a time! Now that little baby is a toddler boy that has grown to be very mischievous, has a very big imagination, has a love for all things "Toy Story", loves being outside and running, gives the sweetest hugs, thinks he's a ninja turtle, and has a HUGE heart! In this next year with him, I am going to live in the NOW and relish every new thing that he does and allow myself to just be....blessed!
Have an amazing day my friends!
Little Roo's birthday is next month and in staying true with my OCD tenancies, I started planning his birthday party about 2 months after is FIRST birthday! I knew that he liked "Toy Story", but at the time he also liked "Jake and the Never land Pirates". I had two scenarios planned out on Pintrest (MY obsession!). Last month I finally knew, without a doubt, which one I would put into fruition and "Toy Story" was the winner! Now, my friends, I am a creative thinker....but my bestie Sara is a creative DO-ER! lol. We put our minds together and we have been working hard on this birthday party! The gift bags are going to be something that every kid wants! lol. I am super proud of what this party will be. I am still having some trouble uploading photo's on here but as soon as it allows me...how about next Thursday..I will post some pics of the things we are doing. I, the "thinker", have even been getting my crafting on!! Go me!
It's hard for me to think about my little guy turning two already. As I have watched him grow and reach new milestones, there have been times that I have just wished him to be that sweet little baby again. The one that I held for HOURS at a time! Now that little baby is a toddler boy that has grown to be very mischievous, has a very big imagination, has a love for all things "Toy Story", loves being outside and running, gives the sweetest hugs, thinks he's a ninja turtle, and has a HUGE heart! In this next year with him, I am going to live in the NOW and relish every new thing that he does and allow myself to just be....blessed!
Have an amazing day my friends!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
"It is well with my soul..."
Have you ever felt like a looming cloud of doom is following you everywhere you go? You know the one I speak of...picture the animated character walking around in the rain without his umbrella. Now...zoom out a bit and you will see that it is actually "a beautiful day in the neighborhood" for everyone else but that person. Yep, this is how I have felt for a bit, BUT, there is light at the end of the tunnel folks and "I have seen it, and it is glorious"--spoken in the voice of Will Ferrel.
I looked at 2013 as a new beginning, a clean slate, a chance to make things better than they were in 2012. January proved to be worse in 31 days than all of 2012. I was sick with pneumonia and barely able to care for my child, my Uncle was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperable lung cancer and passed away 6 days after being diagnosed, my son was diagnosed with the flu and was in the ER for a full day for dehydration and asthma attacks....yeah...January was a booger. But you know, the good thing about bad days? You get to wake up the next morning and that day is in the past. It's time to look forward and make today better than the last! This is what I am focusing all of my energy on now. I am not looking into the past and thinking that 2013 sucks because of one month...I am STILL determined to make it my best year ever!
My husband and I have been dreaming of owning a home since before we were married in 2007. There are so many couples out there that feel that just because they are getting married, that they need to have a house to make that marriage valid. That was not the case with us. We do not care about keeping up with the Jones. We care about doing things RIGHT. if you CAN buy a house then you should definitely do so, it's a great investment. We had too much student debt and because of that we chose to live in an apartment and take care of some of that debt. We haven't paid all of that debt off but we also have a sweet little boy that deserves to have more space, a back yard, and to have friends around him to play with! Our house will be ready at some point this summer and we are ecstatic and scared! LOL! We are also very proud of ourselves. We have worked HARD to get to this place in our lives and this time and this specific house is something that we will always treasure!
At my Uncle's funeral , which will always be one of the most beautiful memories I hold dear, we sang "It is well with my Soul". God truly spoke to me and made me realize that I haven't been grateful for the life that He has given me. It's time for me to make things WELL with my soul and to allow myself to be truly blessed and a blessing to others.
I looked at 2013 as a new beginning, a clean slate, a chance to make things better than they were in 2012. January proved to be worse in 31 days than all of 2012. I was sick with pneumonia and barely able to care for my child, my Uncle was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperable lung cancer and passed away 6 days after being diagnosed, my son was diagnosed with the flu and was in the ER for a full day for dehydration and asthma attacks....yeah...January was a booger. But you know, the good thing about bad days? You get to wake up the next morning and that day is in the past. It's time to look forward and make today better than the last! This is what I am focusing all of my energy on now. I am not looking into the past and thinking that 2013 sucks because of one month...I am STILL determined to make it my best year ever!
My husband and I have been dreaming of owning a home since before we were married in 2007. There are so many couples out there that feel that just because they are getting married, that they need to have a house to make that marriage valid. That was not the case with us. We do not care about keeping up with the Jones. We care about doing things RIGHT. if you CAN buy a house then you should definitely do so, it's a great investment. We had too much student debt and because of that we chose to live in an apartment and take care of some of that debt. We haven't paid all of that debt off but we also have a sweet little boy that deserves to have more space, a back yard, and to have friends around him to play with! Our house will be ready at some point this summer and we are ecstatic and scared! LOL! We are also very proud of ourselves. We have worked HARD to get to this place in our lives and this time and this specific house is something that we will always treasure!
At my Uncle's funeral , which will always be one of the most beautiful memories I hold dear, we sang "It is well with my Soul". God truly spoke to me and made me realize that I haven't been grateful for the life that He has given me. It's time for me to make things WELL with my soul and to allow myself to be truly blessed and a blessing to others.
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