Just a few more days of being 10 months old, we are going to enjoy every second :-)
Our Anniversary
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Ode to Mothers
I got this from my friend Erica, had to post!
excerpt from Out Of The Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load
Prologue
A (Fairly Lame) Ode to Mothers
An ode to the marvelous woman called “Mother”
Though not one of us is exactly like another.
From the second we’re born to the minute we die
Our preferences are as limitless as stars in the sky.
We might have been perfectly gracious before
But childbirth entered us in the Mommy War.
Rather than letting everyone else be
We criticize parenting that isn’t exactly like . . . me.
So once and for all let me put this to rest
None of us owns the title of “best.”
Natural childbirth does not make you a hippy
Epidurals are not just for women who want to feel trippy.
In a bathtub with a doula or in a hospital bed
We all got a baby with limbs and a head.
Nursing is great if nothing goes wrong
But some nipples turn inward and refuse to play along.
This is a choice for each mom–it’s her route
So it’s just A + B and everyone else can C their way out.
Schedules and timers do not make you cruel
Feeding on demand does not make you a fool.
In the nursery with a monitor or in the family bed
Every chick gets to pick where her baby lays his head.
If I see one more mom roll her eyes at “organic . . .”
“Partially hydrogenated” throws some of us into panic.
But neither judge Sonic burgers and fries
Some of us just want to enjoy food before we die.
Preschool, home school, public, or Montessori
Listen, my friends, and I’ll tell you a story:
Two moms differed on favorite school trends
Their kids turned out pretty much the same. The end.
If a girl gets the title of “mom” accidentally
The worst thing we can do is treat her judgmentally.
How about some love, some help, some advice?
She needs our love and we shouldn’t think twice.
Discipline through various methods will prevail
Look, we’re all just trying to keep our kids out of jail.
These things are just preferences, not right or wrong
What matters more is teaching our kids to get along–
To love and to share, to speak gently and kind,
To obey so that mom won’t go out of her mind.
Showing them Jesus is our common ground
Teaching them how he can always be found.
He’s present in public school and Waldorf (so trendy)
He’s over at Whole Foods but also at Wendy’s.
Jesus never cared about these sorts of things
It’s our hearts that he wants and the worship we bring.
It’s time for us moms to declare a truce
Regardless if we buy Capri Sun or 100 percent juice.
My way is not your way, and your way isn’t mine
But both of our kids will turn out just fine.
Rather than judging and looking down our noses
Let’s enjoy the common ground motherhood poses.
As believers, we all love the same good Lord
We all have children who tell us “I’m bored.”
We all need more sleep than these tiny five hours
Most of us struggle to find time for a shower.
We haven’t been to the bathroom alone in an age
Our mothers have all told us, “Relax, this is just a stage.”
We all love our babies so much we could die
We’d take a bullet for each one without batting an eye.
Though we are different, we’re in the same tribe
Motherhood requires a similar vibe–
Love and affection, sacrifice and grace
Laughter, which keeps the whole mechanism in place.
Though different, by the grace of God, I suspect:
ALL our children will rise up and call us ... collect.
She looks well to how things go in her household. ... Her children rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:27—28 AMP
excerpt from Out Of The Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load
Prologue
A (Fairly Lame) Ode to Mothers
An ode to the marvelous woman called “Mother”
Though not one of us is exactly like another.
From the second we’re born to the minute we die
Our preferences are as limitless as stars in the sky.
We might have been perfectly gracious before
But childbirth entered us in the Mommy War.
Rather than letting everyone else be
We criticize parenting that isn’t exactly like . . . me.
So once and for all let me put this to rest
None of us owns the title of “best.”
Natural childbirth does not make you a hippy
Epidurals are not just for women who want to feel trippy.
In a bathtub with a doula or in a hospital bed
We all got a baby with limbs and a head.
Nursing is great if nothing goes wrong
But some nipples turn inward and refuse to play along.
This is a choice for each mom–it’s her route
So it’s just A + B and everyone else can C their way out.
Schedules and timers do not make you cruel
Feeding on demand does not make you a fool.
In the nursery with a monitor or in the family bed
Every chick gets to pick where her baby lays his head.
If I see one more mom roll her eyes at “organic . . .”
“Partially hydrogenated” throws some of us into panic.
But neither judge Sonic burgers and fries
Some of us just want to enjoy food before we die.
Preschool, home school, public, or Montessori
Listen, my friends, and I’ll tell you a story:
Two moms differed on favorite school trends
Their kids turned out pretty much the same. The end.
If a girl gets the title of “mom” accidentally
The worst thing we can do is treat her judgmentally.
How about some love, some help, some advice?
She needs our love and we shouldn’t think twice.
Discipline through various methods will prevail
Look, we’re all just trying to keep our kids out of jail.
These things are just preferences, not right or wrong
What matters more is teaching our kids to get along–
To love and to share, to speak gently and kind,
To obey so that mom won’t go out of her mind.
Showing them Jesus is our common ground
Teaching them how he can always be found.
He’s present in public school and Waldorf (so trendy)
He’s over at Whole Foods but also at Wendy’s.
Jesus never cared about these sorts of things
It’s our hearts that he wants and the worship we bring.
It’s time for us moms to declare a truce
Regardless if we buy Capri Sun or 100 percent juice.
My way is not your way, and your way isn’t mine
But both of our kids will turn out just fine.
Rather than judging and looking down our noses
Let’s enjoy the common ground motherhood poses.
As believers, we all love the same good Lord
We all have children who tell us “I’m bored.”
We all need more sleep than these tiny five hours
Most of us struggle to find time for a shower.
We haven’t been to the bathroom alone in an age
Our mothers have all told us, “Relax, this is just a stage.”
We all love our babies so much we could die
We’d take a bullet for each one without batting an eye.
Though we are different, we’re in the same tribe
Motherhood requires a similar vibe–
Love and affection, sacrifice and grace
Laughter, which keeps the whole mechanism in place.
Though different, by the grace of God, I suspect:
ALL our children will rise up and call us ... collect.
She looks well to how things go in her household. ... Her children rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:27—28 AMP
Saturday, September 25, 2010
First Haircut
Today we went to a great baby and child friendly place where Matthew received his first haircut. His hair was over his ears and I was constantly tucking it behind so he wouldn't look shaggy.
The event started off with a great shirt. The huge grinned I was aiming to receive from daddy was accomplished. He's a big Star Wars fan. Matthew has also been doing a few dry runs at home with shoes. Here we are waiting our turn:
He was fine for about 30 seconds adjusting to being strapped in to the chair and looking around. Then she started spraying and touching his hair. Apprehension starts...
He gets REALLY curious and keeps looking back at Ms LaQuanna. First the sippy cup was given as a possible distraction...
Then bubbles started to be blown....
Success.... hair cut went off with a hitch after that. It was worth being pretty light headed by the end for mommy. Daddy was manning the camera and video.
All done, you made it Matthew :-)
bye-bye hair
Here he was getting ready for a bath right when we got home to get all the stray hairs off of him.
So happy!
Here he was getting ready for a bath right when we got home to get all the stray hairs off of him.
So happy!
Little keep sake of hair
Momentos for the scrapbook:
I teared up, because first he's so handsome with a clean cut look and second that he's a handsome 'boy' not baby. It's a next stage moment and I'm glad we made it special.
Momentos for the scrapbook:
I teared up, because first he's so handsome with a clean cut look and second that he's a handsome 'boy' not baby. It's a next stage moment and I'm glad we made it special.Thursday, September 9, 2010
Happy Birthday Lisa
This is my gift to you Lisa on what would have been your 40th birthday. I miss and love you. It's a song I heard on the Emmy Awards a few weeks ago by Jewel called "The Shape of You"
September settles softly
Leaves are starting to fall
I recall the last time you were here
Your laughter a melody that lingers still
Chorus : There's a hole in my heart
and I carry it where ever I go
like a treasure that travels with me down every road
There's this longing, lonesome ending
kinda bitter, kinda sweet
There's a hole in my heart in the shape of you
Time stealing swiftly
As children having children of their own
And around life's merry go round goes and
There you are wanting what you cannot hold
CHORUS
Even though my heart aches there's a smile on my face
Just like a window to heaven
There's a light shining through
CHORUS
There's a hole in my heart (3x)
in the shape of you
September settles softly
Leaves are starting to fall
I recall the last time you were here
Your laughter a melody that lingers still
Chorus : There's a hole in my heart
and I carry it where ever I go
like a treasure that travels with me down every road
There's this longing, lonesome ending
kinda bitter, kinda sweet
There's a hole in my heart in the shape of you
Time stealing swiftly
As children having children of their own
And around life's merry go round goes and
There you are wanting what you cannot hold
CHORUS
Even though my heart aches there's a smile on my face
Just like a window to heaven
There's a light shining through
CHORUS
There's a hole in my heart (3x)
in the shape of you
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Things that Push
There are things that can be pushed from the crawling position. The car is definitely his favorite:
Those that can be pushed from the vertical position:
He really enjoys being pushed too. Mainly by daddy....
Those that can be pushed from the vertical position:
He really enjoys being pushed too. Mainly by daddy....
Saturday, September 4, 2010
10 months
Matthew has reached double digit months :-) It just warms my heart to watch him grow and learn every day. It takes so many more tries to get the monthly fun pictures now. I'm going to throw a couple of the 'off' shots in here just for laughs.
(Most toys these days get pushed around like they are a car, his plate is no exception)
Sleep:
He sleeps 12 hours at night from 7pm to 7 am He has arrived at 2 long naps averaging 1 and a half to 2 hours each. Just in the last week I think he's started having sad baby dreams where he cries in his sleep. Mommy no like :-( Thankfully it's for less than a minute and he calms himself down without waking up, but... mommy still no like :-( He also not only doesn't require any rocking, will protest if we try. He gets himself down much quicker.
(This is his 'my the monkey's hair is tasty' pose)
Clothes: (no changes)
His pants are 6-9 months and his shirts and onesies are 12 months. Shoe size is 4. He does have sweet little pudgy feet so he needs wide width. Size 3 diapers. He's weighs 21.12 pounds which is in the 60th percentile and his height is 29.6 inches which is in the 90th percentile. His head circumference is 18 1/2 inches.
(This is his 'my the monkey's arm is tasty' pose)
Food:
He eats four times a day. He's eating one less meal a day going 4 hours in between meals due to to the introduction of some table foods. His little system is breaking down some age appropriate foods cut in to incredibly small soft portions. On the 25th he had the least of mommy milk so that's the other reason he's dropped a bottle, that formula sure does fill him up.
Meal one- 5-6 oz bottle with rice cereal and fruit.
Meal two-veggies and 5-6 oz bottle.
Meal three- stage 3 dinner (chicken, meat or turkey) 6 oz bottle.
Meal four- nighttime 5-6 oz bottle
He has four teeth as of the 28th. He added his top two front teeth.
(This is his 'my the monkey's leg is tasty' pose)
Socially:
Very curious about everything. He is understanding more quickly with our set 'no-no's. What's working for him is shaking our head, saying no no no and moving him back from the nono. Last month it was taking 7 times for it to stick. Now it's maybe once a couple times a day. (yeaaaa) He giggles at games at exaggerated expressions and funny noises and sounds. He also likes when daddy 'gets some baby neck' He's pretty cautious, still and quiet around new people. We had quite a few visits from older kids this last month with the Atchison twins and cousins as well as the England and Wilson children who are so kind and gentle with 'baby Matthew'. Matthew watches their every move. It's sooo sweet. Billy and I have both heard him say dada which was his first word on the 5th . When I was out of the house, Billy heard mama. I hear ni ni pretty frequently (night night). Babbles when he wants our attention and will get louder until we respond to him. He also started the transition out of the infant class at church. Another sign of growing up :-)
('You're going to need to much faster than that mommy' pose)
Developmentally:
REALLY enjoys crawling up the stairs still, makes it in half the time.
He still has no idea how to climb down the stairs, it's pretty funny and scary at the same time.
He started clapping on his own and he'll high five me
Cruises the furniture pretty fast independently.
Big boy crawls anywhere he wants to go. Pretty much permanent red knees these days
Tries to mimic our facial expression, sticking tongue out, etc...
Everything goes in the mouth
'Happy spitter' phase is now behind us :-))
He smiles and sits still for any finger play song game like patty cake, twinkle little star, abc's, Jesus Love Me, Wise Man, Father Abraham, Lord's Army, pretty much any song sung to him.
Will stand very briefly on his own with out holding on to anything.
There is no doubt when he wants to be picked up now as he will crawl over to where we are standing and scale our calves.
He can get in to the cabinets on his own so we found out to our shock on the 20th. We installed cabinet locks which are only minimally slowing him down.
Matthew highlight:
Baby Dedication
(Again with the pushing the plate around, this time right side up)
Mommy/ Daddy Highlights:
Mommy went to Women of Faith
Jill's baby shower, Michael's birthday party
Daddy helped us and it took less than a minute to get both poses :-)
In September we are looking forward to Matthew's first haircut among other things :-)
(Most toys these days get pushed around like they are a car, his plate is no exception)Sleep:
He sleeps 12 hours at night from 7pm to 7 am He has arrived at 2 long naps averaging 1 and a half to 2 hours each. Just in the last week I think he's started having sad baby dreams where he cries in his sleep. Mommy no like :-( Thankfully it's for less than a minute and he calms himself down without waking up, but... mommy still no like :-( He also not only doesn't require any rocking, will protest if we try. He gets himself down much quicker.
(This is his 'my the monkey's hair is tasty' pose)Clothes: (no changes)
His pants are 6-9 months and his shirts and onesies are 12 months. Shoe size is 4. He does have sweet little pudgy feet so he needs wide width. Size 3 diapers. He's weighs 21.12 pounds which is in the 60th percentile and his height is 29.6 inches which is in the 90th percentile. His head circumference is 18 1/2 inches.
(This is his 'my the monkey's arm is tasty' pose)Food:
He eats four times a day. He's eating one less meal a day going 4 hours in between meals due to to the introduction of some table foods. His little system is breaking down some age appropriate foods cut in to incredibly small soft portions. On the 25th he had the least of mommy milk so that's the other reason he's dropped a bottle, that formula sure does fill him up.
Meal one- 5-6 oz bottle with rice cereal and fruit.
Meal two-veggies and 5-6 oz bottle.
Meal three- stage 3 dinner (chicken, meat or turkey) 6 oz bottle.
Meal four- nighttime 5-6 oz bottle
He has four teeth as of the 28th. He added his top two front teeth.
(This is his 'my the monkey's leg is tasty' pose)Socially:
Very curious about everything. He is understanding more quickly with our set 'no-no's. What's working for him is shaking our head, saying no no no and moving him back from the nono. Last month it was taking 7 times for it to stick. Now it's maybe once a couple times a day. (yeaaaa) He giggles at games at exaggerated expressions and funny noises and sounds. He also likes when daddy 'gets some baby neck' He's pretty cautious, still and quiet around new people. We had quite a few visits from older kids this last month with the Atchison twins and cousins as well as the England and Wilson children who are so kind and gentle with 'baby Matthew'. Matthew watches their every move. It's sooo sweet. Billy and I have both heard him say dada which was his first word on the 5th . When I was out of the house, Billy heard mama. I hear ni ni pretty frequently (night night). Babbles when he wants our attention and will get louder until we respond to him. He also started the transition out of the infant class at church. Another sign of growing up :-)
('You're going to need to much faster than that mommy' pose)
Developmentally:
REALLY enjoys crawling up the stairs still, makes it in half the time.
He still has no idea how to climb down the stairs, it's pretty funny and scary at the same time.
He started clapping on his own and he'll high five me
Cruises the furniture pretty fast independently.
Big boy crawls anywhere he wants to go. Pretty much permanent red knees these days
Tries to mimic our facial expression, sticking tongue out, etc...
Everything goes in the mouth
'Happy spitter' phase is now behind us :-))
He smiles and sits still for any finger play song game like patty cake, twinkle little star, abc's, Jesus Love Me, Wise Man, Father Abraham, Lord's Army, pretty much any song sung to him.
Will stand very briefly on his own with out holding on to anything.
There is no doubt when he wants to be picked up now as he will crawl over to where we are standing and scale our calves.
He can get in to the cabinets on his own so we found out to our shock on the 20th. We installed cabinet locks which are only minimally slowing him down.
Matthew highlight:
Baby Dedication
(Again with the pushing the plate around, this time right side up)
Mommy/ Daddy Highlights:
Mommy went to Women of Faith
Jill's baby shower, Michael's birthday party
Daddy helped us and it took less than a minute to get both poses :-)
In September we are looking forward to Matthew's first haircut among other things :-)
Friday, September 3, 2010
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