Saying I love you

Playground fun

I'm not going to hide from you that the last couple weeks have been hard.

Hard emotionally.

Hard physically.

Hard as a mom.

Hard.

Mashing bananas for daddy's birthday cake

Among the difficulties is my sweet Little Man.  Combined with my lack of energy and my being pulled in multiple directions (i.e. pumping and bottle feeding to name a few), Little Man has an overdeveloped willfulness that has come close to pushing me over the edge a time or two (or more!)

Candidly, I've found myself downright angry... even livid!

Winter fun

In the last week I've found a bag of yogurt covered raisins widely dispersed on my living room carpet.  Little man sitting in the middle of the room with loaf of bread in his lap, large chunks gone.  Permanent marker on toys and shirt.  Hands, smeared on my favorite skirt, covered in ink from my printer.  Breast milk dumped all over the ottoman and carpet (on a positive note, I was going to dump it anyway, but not in the living room.)  There are so many more I could list, but I've blocked them out.  And I thought I was watching him... imagine how bad it could be. 

Do any of these things, or the outright disobedience, justify my anger?  No.

Just the same, I have been.  Time and time again!

A favored way to slide

I've found myself yelling, or seething through gritted teeth, "[Little Man]...", and the next words were not going to be pretty.  In my heart I was poring out my feelings toward that Little Man without restraint.  Sinfully.

I praise the Lord I was willing to restrain myself from actually saying them.  No little one (or his siblings) should ever hear such terrible things said to them by their mama.

So what did I do about it???  That, my friends, is the whole point of this post.

Playing ball with grandpa

In the heat of my desire to punish my sweet 22 month old baby with my words, I would begin... "[Little Man]..." but I would shift my words, and my heart, in that last minute with... "I love you!"

Sometimes those words were spoken in a whisper.  Sometimes they were through same gritted teeth.  Sometimes they sounded sweet, but most of the time they were said in the same sinful mean place my heart was.

Little Man just had to have a towel over his shoulder like mommy always does!

Funny thing though.  Not only did saying those simple words make my little boy smile, or even laugh (as mommy was using her "funny" voice... *sheepish grin*), but saying that I love you changes my heart... every time.  It reminds me that I do, indeed, love that little boy!

Please realize, this isn't a permanent solution.  If it were, I wouldn't be repeating the whole process scores of times in a single day.  The true issue is my heart... not his.  He's still a baby!  And, apparently, an untrained one at that.  

Saying these "I love yous" is simply a way out of the moment without injuring my little one.  To be truly affective, each one must come with repentance and a pleading for God's help.  Each situation will require different help.  For some it's a matter of learning patience and developing His heart for your children.  For others is wisdom in coping with your current situation (i.e. so many young children, sickness, etc.)

Know this.  He can and will forgive you if you take your sin to Him in broken repentance.  He can and will help you if you seek His wisdom (James 1:5-8).



Anyone ever been there?  Ready to yell horrible things at your precious children?  Next time, try an I love you.  It works wonders.

But don't forget the rest of it!



Joining in here:

Labels: Life Lessons for Mommy, Mommy's Tool Box, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 11:19 PM 0 Comments

Respecting our little men

I'm not very good at this, but I know that ultimately, I am raising men in my household.  Not boys, but men.  It's so easy to get bogged down in the daily grind of frustrating moment after moment of disciplining and training and on and on and on.  So easy to roll my eyes and want to tear my hair out and wish they were sleeping or playing somewhere else (if only I would let them).  So easy to yell or at least address the issues through gritted teeth.  Easier still to belittle and apply guilt to each failure on their part.

But is this how to raise the kind of men I want to present to the world?

Hardly.

I love this list of 10 ways for a mother to respect her son! 

Oh if I could just apply these to my daily living along side these boys.

And don't miss the 10 ways for a mother to respect her daughters!

Equally fabulous!

Join me in raising men and women who can please God, not simply the kids running wild in our homes?

Labels: Mommy's Tool Box, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 1:58 PM 0 Comments

Motherhood is hard!

When we bear it alone, sometimes it all gets to be too much.

Let's back up a little bit first... life is hard!  Relationships are hard!  Marriage is hard work... to have a good one, otherwise it's just hard!  Homemaking is hard work!  Mothering, on top of it all, is hard work!

And let's not forget to add to this the swishy swashy hormones that seem to constantly batter us up one side and down the other.  Regular hormone fluctuation, pregnancy hormones, postpartum hormones.  Then there is the constantly disrupted sleep of life with littles (or bigs).  The dreariness of winter.  And if you have a medical problem of some kind on top of it all.  Forget about it!  It's hard!

Sometimes it's just too hard.  And if you've got unsupportive friends and family (or even husband) around telling you what a bad job you're doing, you may just be ready to give up.  And many have.  Many women give up in self indulgence, in abandonment, in depression, or even in suicide.

But you see, whether you asked to be in the position you're in or not (house you live in, medical condition, number of children, etc), you are in it.  God, in his infinite wisdom, has placed you right where you are.  It's your job.  Your responsibility.  And it's going to be work... hard work!

Am I trying to make you feel worse?  No.  Because there is good news in all this...

God's grace is sufficient!  For His power is made perfect in your weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

So often we hear people say that God will not give us more than we can handle.  But perhaps that isn't a true statement.  Perhaps what we need to hear and remember is that God won't ever give us more than He can handle!  For those of us who know and trust Him, He has said that He will never leave us or forsake us! (Hebrews 13:5)

Do you know Him today?  Have you trusted Christ for your forgiveness and salvation?  Then you are not alone.  You can do this through His strength!  He promised a Helper.

But first, we need to seek His help.  We need to remember that we cannot, were never intended to, do this on our own. 

Are you struggling sister?  Are you buried in depression?  Hopelessness?  Being beaten down by those around you... by your own thoughts?

Today I am going to give you the first step. 

Seek Him!

Don't fret over the laundry list of failures, the insults, the overwhelming responsibilities.

Seek Him!

Whether you are curled up on the couch ignoring responsibilities (or at the computer as I often find myself), or just going through the motions of wiping one more nose, or hiding in your bed unable to make yourself move... wherever you are, whatever your ability today...

Seek Him!

No one can do this for you.  No one can pull you out of this pit you are in.  Not councilors, not friends, not your husband.  No one can help you until you decide to help yourself.

Where do you start?  Pray.  Start small if you have to.  Talk to Him.  Tell Him your heart, your hurts, your insecurities.

Still don't know?  Begin in worship. 

Prayer isn't coming?  Open your Bible.  Genesis 1 is a great place to remember just Who He Is!  If He can do all that, what can't He do?  Or maybe the Psalms.  David struggled more than once... but he didn't stay in it.  He brought it to God and many Psalms are the result of that time of intimacy with God.

And keep seeking Him.  Every moment you feel the darkness coming on, open your heart to Him.  Pray.  Pray.  And keep praying.  Can't sleep?  Pray.  

Again, no one can make you do this... but you have to start here.  The only alternative is to remain forever where you are.  Seek Him!  You're going to need it before I tell you about step 2!


Other posts in this series:
Part 2 ~ If you do what is right
Part 3 ~ In Which I am Harsh
Part 4 ~ The Next Step

Labels: Depression, Home Making, Life Lessons for Mommy, Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:36 PM 1 Comments

Attitude Adjustment

There are some great words of encouragement for us moms over at The Stay at Home Missionary! Scroll down to the bottom of the post where she shares a brief "snippet" of something that encouraged her. It struck right at the core for me... she put them on a 3x5 card. I want to do at least that... I may decorate my house with them! Regardless, I'd like to spend my days meditating on them until I see their fruit in my mothering!! Oh if I could just quote one of these verses instead of rolling my eyes or letting out a frustrated sigh (or yell) in the heat of many moments around here!

Labels: Life Lessons for Mommy, Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:29 PM 0 Comments

Including Toddlers in your Chores: Sweeping

I'm a song person... you wouldn't necessarily know that because I'm still working on how to share it with you, but I am. Just trust me. If there isn't a song in this world to do what I want it to do, I write it myself. Sometimes I adapt another song, other times I start from scratch.

When it came to sweeping the kitchen floor with my toddler a couple years ago, I struck up a tune to make it more fun. Here it is for your musical pleasure!


I'm a Little Helper
To the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little helper
Yes I am
Mom holds the broom
and I the dust pan
When she is all finished
We sweep it up
Tip it over and dump it out.


It's lots of fun and the kids pick up on the song quickly. Just today I included my 3 1/2 year old in sweeping and he requested we sing the song. Then of course I had to sweep something else so my 2 1/2 year old could help... and we had to sing it again. :)

As you may be able to tell, they are the dust pan holders (most of the time with help from me) and I'm the sweeper! :)

Enjoy!

Labels: Keeping My Home, Mommy's Tool Box, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:10 AM 1 Comments

The race is on!

My bloggy friend Nikki used to participate (before it came to an end) in something called Work in Progress Wednesday. I enjoyed seeing what she was working on, but apparently it was for crochet, and really, even if it wasn't, I rarely work on my projects enough to call them "in progress" anyway.

Eh hem... back on point, I thought I would share my "work in progress"... in the spirit of it being Wednesday and all. But really, this "work in progress" is so much more than that. I decided on Sunday evening (when My Beloved was working very late), that if I worked hard, I just might be able to finish this particular project before the baby gets here. It's not for the baby... not directly anyway. It's for all of us. I started it this past winter upon completing a snowman quilt for our couch (one that had been in the works for many years...7?) It's purpose was to be our spring quilt... so that we'd have something other than snowmen to cuddle under in the cold mornings or evenings of spring. Well... it didn't happen this year. We cuddled under those snowmen well into June (when it became crazy hot all of a sudden).

Now here I am... 38 weeks pregnant. Two weeks to go (or three... or four). It's getting hard to wait. I'm uncomfortable and impatient. I'm sleeping poorly and ready to have my body back. Strangely, this time around it's not about holding the baby sooner (though I'm sure I'll enjoy that too), it's more about not being pregnant anymore. Perhaps summer has something to do with it. Perhaps it's because I know that adding a newborn to our crazy lives could be a little overwhelming. Perhaps it's because I have two littles to cuddle and love and train already and there just isn't time to daydream about the coming days with my newest and littlest.

Whatever the story behind the story... I'm ready for baby to be here... and once I get to this point, it's hard to wait. However... since the advent of this resurrected project, I have set a challenge. A race, if you will. I plan to race this baby to the end. Can I finish this quilt and have it tucked away for fall (if only they were fall colors, but maybe next fall I can have a fall-ish quilt to use in the living room) and spring use before baby comes? It's my plan... my goal... and I'm determined to do so. And it really shouldn't be hard. I finished one side in the last three days. That means that, at my current rate, I could be finished in another 8-9 days. If I work faster, obviously, it will be fewer than that. If I miss one... I could, theoretically, assuming baby doesn't come early, still get it done.

Regardless, it seems to be serving it's purpose. I'm not so worried about baby coming today or tomorrow anymore (in fact, I'll be a little disappointed if I don't get this done first). I'm more willing to wait him out (no pun intended but golly they're fun!) If I finish this project, I'll get started on another one and set a new race!

How about you??? Any tips and tricks for making it through these last couple weeks???

Labels: As it happens..., Getting Ready for Baby, Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:08 AM 1 Comments

Learning About Natural Remedies

For a while now I've been reading about and trying to learn about how to use herbs medicinally. Without a live teacher, it's not so easy. I do lots of reading, but without putting it to use, it's hard to really learn it. Sometime in the last year or so I stumbled on this video on Simply Kristen's Blog. I don't even remember what led me there, but I was fascinated at the thought that I could make something in my food processor that would take poison ivy rashes away. Though I've never had it, my husband is immuned (at least so far) and my children have never had it; we do have several friends from church who get it quite badly every year. I took down a mental note, but haven't had the opportunity to try it in all that time (much to the discomfort to those who have suffered from the itching, I'm sure!)

Sunday morning at church, we learned that one of the youth came home from camp with poison ivy on his arm (like he does every year). I was so excited (um... not for his discomfort, but for a chance to help). I know we have jewelweed (one of the two ingredients required) growing abundantly in our backyard, so I told them about the remedy and that I'd look at it again and see if we can find the other part.


Sunday evening, I did just that. I watched the video several more times, did some research on plaintain weed (the other ingredient) and set out to my back yard to find some. Nothing. Then the strip of ground across the street... nothing. Not willing to give up, I headed in to ask My Beloved to help me identify the things I needed. In less than a minute, he found some in the same place I'd already looked. And a lot of it. Then some more. I've since found it in the back yard and in the side yard (better looking than the ones we harvested). Ok... it's everywhere!



I brought it in and followed the instructions. Before long I had this goop all ready to be used. The poor kid is supposed to get it this evening and will hopefully use it according to the directions I sent. Theoretically it should be fading to gone in the next 24 to 48 hours.



I'm looking forward to hearing how my first test subject recovers. And wouldn't it be sooo cool if God's naturally provided remedy works as well or better than the steroids they were going to resort to if it's not gone by the end of the week! I'll let you know how it goes! (But... if I don't, someone remind me!... I have a track record for breaking such promises.) :)

View this podcast for more details on use and making!

Labels: Healthy Living, Mommy's Tool Box, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 2:44 PM 4 Comments

Dying to Self

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds....
Ephesians 4:22-23

When I first revisited the idea of "dying to self" this past fall, I started wondering what the Biblical backing of this very "Christianese" saying was. I just couldn't remember which verse it was from. Turns out that it isn't a verse after all. So where did we get it. I knew it wasn't original to myself... I'd heard it somewhere and I'd heard teachings of the concept.

A number of years before marrying My Beloved I was part of a Bible Study that studied, among other things, the book of Colossians. In fact, we spent a lot of time studying Colossians, and the thing I remember parking on and have carried with me ever since is the whole idea of "putting off" and "putting on". It's this idea of putting away the old self. It's not enough to just change the way we do things as believers, or to start doing good. A number of places in the Bible talks about this whole idea (Romans 8:13, Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:5 [and others throughout Colossians] to name a few... I'm sure there are more) of putting off the old self, putting to death the deeds of the body and all in all "dying to self".

But what does this mean in daily life? Sure it means I shouldn't lie or steal or hate... but it occurred to me this past fall that it means something more than that. It creeps in to every facet of our daily lives... not just the moments we are "struggling with sin".

So what does it mean to me??? It means picking up and doing what needs to be done... even though I don't feel like doing it. Even though I didn't get enough sleep last night. Even though kids are sick. Even though I am sick. It means that no matter what, I need to Do It Enyway!

Did you catch that??? Do. It. Enyway. For me to "mortify the flesh" on a daily, moment by moment basis, I need to "put to death the deeds of the body"... for me, this is my very flesh. My desires, my laziness, "me time". When something comes up or needs to be done or a baby cries or needs to be disciplined or trained again, I need to just Do It Enyway... despite whatever I may be feeling.

When I want to sit at the computer, read a book, stare out at the street, talk to a friend on the phone... I need to die to my fleshly desires for self. These desires aren't sinful in themselves, but anything that takes me away from the purpose the Lord has given me in this life needs to be put off, so that I can put on the new and Do It Enyway!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go fold the laundry and do something about dinner! And it's not because I want to... it's my next step in DIE-ing to self!

Labels: From God's Word, Home Making, Keeping My Home, Mommy's Tool Box, Reflections

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:53 AM 0 Comments

Getting it done

(We're cruising! This post has been written ahead and scheduled to post during our time away. Please feel free to leave comments. If I don't get around to moderating them while we are gone, I'll do it when we return next week. Blessings!)

The last 4ish years of my life (and especially the last 2-3 since children entered my world) have been an ongoing struggle for discipline in my life. There is so much to do... and so much I just don't want to do, don't have "time" to do, don't have energy to do.... It goes on and on and on! The house needs to be cleaned (and I mean really cleaned), not to mention de-cluttered and put away, laundry needs folding and ironing, beds need changing, lists need making, dishes need washing, things need organizing, calls need making, floors need sweeping. Again, the list goes on and on. The constant struggle is that I'm just not getting it done. And this says nothing for extra projects.

Understand, I'm not saying that I'm working hard night and day and can't keep up with it all. I know that is the case with a lot of us, and if I was really trying, it may still be the case with me one day. When I look at that whole idea, I'm more than happy to look at my season in life and adjust my standards. No, I'm just not getting to it. I'm looking at it and finding that I'm wasting my time instead of doing what needs doing. I find myself at the end of the day, looking back at all that I've done, and most of the time it's not much. Sure... I can find a few things that I did, but mostly I realize how much more I could have done if I hadn't wasted my time during the rest of the day.

I am grateful that I've seen some improvement in the last few months... though not every day by any means (today for instance was not a productive day). I find that the days I actually take these steps I am much more productive!!

• Plan! I do this the night before when I can. I keep a journal like book nearby and make a new list for each day. I think through all that could be done and decide what I want or need to do tomorrow. I make this list as it comes to me, not necessarily in priority order. Then I may number the first few things I want to do (not all of them, but the next 2-3 on my list) and tackle those. When I've done and crossed off those things (I love crossing off), I'll re-number the next few. This way I can re-prioritize if things don't go according to plan (and when do they ever???)
• Get up early! I'm working to get better at this. At least I was. I fell off the band wagon recently and am excited to return from our cruise so I can get back to it. I get so much more done when I get up early. Because this isn't something I'm used to, I'm doing it in steps. First I moved our 8am alarm to 7:30 for me... then 7:15... then 7. I only did the 7am one a couple times before things got crazy and late nights seemed the norm again. The plan is to get up as early as 6:30 or earlier someday. When I can get up before the kids I have time for reading God's Word (no guarantee it will happen otherwise), pray, put away dishes, straighten anything out of place, blog and computer time (allowing for me to turn off the computer the rest of the day till nap time), etc. Someday I may even get up early enough to include a shower in the morning. I can't even imagine what that must be like!
• Clean up the kitchen before bed! This one is huge. If I can have the dishes done, counters wiped down, and the kitchen table cleared and cleaned before we go to bed, it does more than just save me time in the morning needing to do these things. It affects my outlook on the whole day. It makes me smile! When I forget or forgo this step in the evenings, I tend to spend my morning putting off the job as long as possible. There is much more lolly-gagging and procrastination. When I do them, I'm much more excited to see what else I can accomplish with my day.
• Get it done before lunch! As far as all those items on my to do list... I need to get them done before lunch. Once we're done with lunch and I get the kids down for their naps, I'm about out of energy. Especially during pregnancy! If I can get it done before that time, then I don't have to worry about. Anything else I do is just extra... like those projects I never get to!

This is what's been working for me. Like I said, I'm looking forward to coming home from this vacation with my husband to renewed energy and resolve to stick to this and see things happen around here. What works for you???

Labels: Home Making, Keeping My Home, Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:04 AM 0 Comments

A confession

I am a terrible house keeper. It's not for lack of desire... I would love to do better at it. I think what it comes down to is multi-faceted.

1. I would rather do something else (i.e. laziness, selfishness, undisciplined, etc.).
2. I'm unorganized, therefore the straightening that comes before cleaning makes cleaning happen less often.
3. I'm out of practice.
4. I'm overwhelmed by the enormity of all that I've let build up for so long.
5. I lack routine (though I think this one may fall in with number 3 or vice versa).
6. I have a toddler.
7. I have a preschooler.
8. I'm pregnant.
9. I all too often forget that Jesus came to be a servant to all, not served by all.
10. I have yet to truly learn to die to self!

There... aren't lists of 10 nice and "complete"? Ok, so 2-8 are really just excuses (regardless of whether or not they could contribute to the problem). And the first one is my real confession. It's #9 and #10 that are the real root of the problem! But let me tell you how it started... because I didn't used to have this problem.

When My Beloved and I were newly married (5 years ago now), I jumped right in to being a homemaker. It was all I really ever wanted to be. And finally, at 26 years of age, I was it. I found great tools to help me form a routine and I took off. I kept up and things weren't hard at all. I had meal plans and meals made regularly. I had a weekly cleaning day and the house stayed nice. I can remember being with my husband one evening as he was fixing a computer in someone's home. There was a ton of dust on the desk behind the computer. I remember thinking to myself how terrible that was and "didn't she know that it really doesn't take that long to clean the house if she just does it?" I shutter at that whole thought now... as I turn my eyes from the cobwebs everywhere!

Nine months into our marriage I took a teaching job to help pay off school loans before the "one day" when we would have children. I had never taught before, let alone 10th and 12th grade English! As it turns out, I was only there one semester, but I did little else during that semester than plan, grade, read papers and try to stay afloat. My sweet husband did pretty much everything else... and I do mean everything!

When my job ended the following January (for which I was both sad and grateful!) I found myself without a routine and struggling to find one. Three weeks into my (again) housewife role, and I was still floundering, feeling defeated, and seeing the house fall apart around me. That is when we found out I was pregnant with our first and the 24/7 morning sickness started. I did very little over the next 5-6 months until the sickness changed to every once and a while and I could be off the couch for more than a few minutes without running to the bathroom. Again, My Beloved stepped up. I had a month or so of some energy to plan ahead meals and such before Tornado was born. After that was 4 weeks of back and forth to work with a lactation consultant and another 2 weeks after that before I was recovered completely. And you all know how hard it is to get back into routine after baby comes... try not being in routine in the first place!

When Tornado was 3 months old, we discovered he was not gaining weight and was only 1 pound heavier than his birth weight. I began pumping everything so I could add cereal to his bottles (in the hopes the extra weight would help him keep it down and the extra calories would plump him up!) This started an endless cycle of pump, wash pumping things, prep bottle, bottle feed, wash bottle, start pumping again, and so on. I did this (and little else but keep us fed) for the next 3 months before switching (begrudgingly and thankfully) to formula. Within 2 months of stopping, I learned that I was pregnant again, and just about in my 2nd trimester (which I was very sick for the entire 3 months). We were now officially passing into the 3rd year in which I had not had a regular house cleaning routine!

By the time Sweet pea was born in March 08, Tornado was 15 months. Two babies is enough reason to barely be hanging on!!

This past fall, for the first time in nearly more than 3 years, I felt completely myself! Full energy. So this is what I used to feel like when I wasn't pregnant or nursing! Yet still, lack of routine (or worse, in routine for not taking care of our house) is hard to break. I found it easier to waste time online reading blogs that encouraged me to do better than to get up and do it. Add to that our incredibly busy photography season.

December was rough with the new pregnancy and I am still having morning sickness.

All this to tell you that I'm very motivated to break this deadly cycle... even though I'm pregnant and have a toddler and a preschooler (whom I am homeschooling). Some of the struggle I have with it all is that I really wasn't ever taught how to do things. Though we had chores growing up, they were pretty minimal considering all the things that need to happen in a household. I find myself floundering with where to begin.

I was so excited when I found the book Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House at the book store a couple weeks ago. I haven't read much of it yet (it's a huge book) and it's not written from a Christian perspective, but it focuses a lot on keeping house for the reasons of yesteryear. When they really used to do it. So far, it is very practical. I hope to be highlighting it as I learn throughout the months/year.

So the real point of this post! I cleaned the bathroom today. Sure, I do that somewhat regularly (though not often enough), but today I did the sink/counter/mirror and toilet area like usual. But I also did the shower/bathtub, floors, walls, door, switch plate, cupboard doors, etc. It took me 3 hours! But it's clean. And if felt so good to watch it get there!! Why don't I enjoy cleaning more? It's so gratifying!! (And hopefully it won't take as long next week!)

Labels: Keeping My Home, Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 6:52 PM 3 Comments

Let's build each other up today!!!

I need encouragement today... and what better way to encourage ourselves and others than to proclaim the Glory of God! Can you join me? Can we make this a post full of his blessings, promises and glory! Please leave a comment with a Scripture that has blessed you of late! Share with us how God is glorious! Please, I need to be built up today.

I'll start!

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

No matter the situation: the stability of the economy or a husband's job, the salvation of a child, or the poor choices of a loved one, The Lord is at hand! He is right here with me. I have no need to be anxious about any of it... not how I should handle a situation or what I should do about it... none of it. Instead, The Lord is at hand, right here with me, and I am to bring EVERYTHING to him "by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving". Then "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I am so thankful for the peace He offers!

______________
Now please... won't you join me? And spread the word! Let's encourage one another in the comments today!!

Labels: From God's Word, Mommy's Tool Box, Reflections

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:33 AM 3 Comments

Sticking to a Schedule... come what may

Yeah... I don't. If one kid is up, I will generally wake the other up when it is time. I really have to. Our nap schedule (not to mention everything else) really is tied to how they mesh with each other. But if both of my children sleep past 7... 7:30... 8... 8:30 (and are still sleeping as today), I simply thank the Lord we don't have any plans that would make me wake them, and I get something done. I'll just adjust our day to fit them.

I love staying at home.

Labels: As it happens..., Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:38 AM 3 Comments

My working copy

I mentioned that I'm working through rearranging our lives and such. I've followed the advice over at Preschoolers and Peace and made my "Rock List". Read it (even before you finish my post... it has great wisdom in it and I'm excited to press on toward organization (of life and home) since reading her series.

Though I really think this is my finished list, I'm reserving the right to make changes still. You may find that it is very similar to Kendra's Rock List, but I'm ok with that. She challenged us to make our lists on our own before seeing hers, but I just wasn't happy with mine (anything I came up with) until I saw better what she meant. So, I started with hers and made adaptations and changes... my family is different than hers after all.

I'll take some time to walk you through each and explain what they look like/should look like in my life another time (perhaps after I've officially adopted it as "my list". But for now, here is my working copy...

1. Time devoted to God: time seeking, worshiping, studying, and in the presence of the Lord.

2. Time devoted to My Love: time spent with him and on the things important to him.

3. Feed/clothe family and keep home sanitary (though house cleaning takes back seat to business when it needs to according to My Beloved!)

4. Train up my children in the way which they should go (inc. “education” , character, life skills etc.)

5. Run our business (this needs to be done, but shouldn’t take the place of any of the other items, except maybe cleaning, per my husbands request).

As I said, it's a working copy, so it may change a bit, but I'm pretty sure it's basic structure is going to stay the same... at least for this season of my life.

Have you given any thought to your "Rock list", your "top five", or your "priority order"? I'd love to read it!

Labels: Home Making, Mommy's Tool Box, Reflections

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:18 AM 0 Comments

Lion Bites... they work for me!

It's been a while since I last participated in a Works for Me Wednesday, but here I am... with something that (so far) has been working for me.

Any of you have trouble getting your littles to finish a meal in a timely manner? Seriously... if there were tickets written for going too slow... Tornado would have tons. Of course he only moves slow when we want him to move faster... but then... perhaps it's all a matter of perspective. Anyway... when eating something spoon or fork fed, it is an easy fix to simply "help" him along by holding the fork or spoon myself, but when it comes to sandwiches or other finger foods, sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get that mouth open wide enough to get a "big" bite. (Get it... pulling teeth... opening his mouth...never mind.)

Enter a wonderful developmental place... animals. Tornado loves animals... all sorts! He can sign most of them, do the sounds of some and knows the name of lots! One of the first animals he learned is "lion". Thank you to Daniel and the Lion's Den, the 3 (yes, that says three) stuffed lions in our stuffed animal collection, and of course the lions on Noah's Ark for helping introduce Tornado to the furry maned creature. For a long time he would sign it and roar... that is simply what they were called... "roar". Sometimes that is still the way he does it... and other times he actually says lion. It's so cute... but I digress.

A week or so ago, we were struggling through another painfully slow and highly distracted meal. I was "helping" things along, but still he wouldn't open his mouth wide enough for me to stuff gently place food into. Then I asked him if he could take a big lion bite (bite the size a lion would take), and I demonstrated... roar and all. Here is the correct proceedure for demonstration:

• beginning placement of your head is chin down, head tilted to the left, mouth closed
• proceed to roll your head around clockwise, opening your mouth and roaring big while putting something inside
• end on the opposite side, chin down, head tilted to the right

Sorry I don't have a video clip for you, but I just don't.

Tornado really loved this. Now, whenever I'm trying to encourage continued eating, I simply say, can you take a "lion bite"? Whether he is feeding himself or I'm doing it for him, he instantly gives a wide open mouth roar and takes a bite of whatever.

Give it a try... and if you have any other suggestions, share them in the comments... I love when we can all work together here. :)

Labels: In the Kitchen, Mommy's Tool Box, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:22 AM 2 Comments

Not afraid of what's to come

Labels: As God Provides, In the Kitchen, Keeping My Home, Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 6:16 PM 0 Comments

Review: New Baby Signing Time

A few weeks ago I received an email from the people at Signing Time. It's good news. During the month of October, they are releasing two new Baby Signing Time DVDs and they wanted me to preview them and write a review. Of course I wasted no time... once I had My Beloved's blessing that is... in responding. What a special blessing for me. First of all, we love Signing Time at my house; secondly, what an honor for them to ask me!

And what perfect timing God arranged for. We had returned the Signing Time video we had to the library and didn't get another when Tornado became sick and was diagnosed with RAD. What do you do with a 21 month old who can't run around or get worked up? Monday morning the mail arrived, and with it, my previews of the new Baby Signing Time DVDs! Thank you Lord. Tornado was thrilled and Signing Time came to our rescue again! And we watched these new volumes many times that week!

So what do I think of them?? What is my review? I think Rachel and company did a great job yet again! Volume 3 introduced Tornado to weather and nature (among other things). Just this last week as it poured down on us at church, he said clear as day "rain". I'd never heard him say it before and didn't know he knew it. It wasn't until this week when we watched it together again that I realized where he'd learned it. Not only is he learning signs, but learning what things are called and how to say them as well.

Check out a quick sampling from Volume 3:


Volume 4 introduced him to basic emotions as well as a number of other things. I was most excited about the emotions. That can be a tricky thing to teach an almost 2 year old, but somehow with pictures, songs and signing, Rachel makes it look easy.

Check out a bit from volume 4:


Once again, fun animation, mixed with real children and Rachel, herself, come together to make a fun way for my little one to learn, not just sign language, but all the things our little ones learn at this age. Not only does he understand so much, but we also have the opportunity to communicate with one another, whether it is an animal he sees through the window or something he needs to tell me, like what he wants for lunch or that his sister is crying.

Signing Time gives my little one an entertaining way to learn new words and signs. Baby Signing Time brings these things to his level. I am so thankful for the opportunity to use these resources with my babies and I look forward to more from Signing Time.

Labels: Learning for Little Ones, Mommy's Tool Box, Review

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:09 PM 2 Comments

Make it something they like

I had an epiphany last night as I was finishing up dinner prep. We had Meatballs with Cream Sauce and I was finishing up the cream sauce. Tornado was in his high chair already, munching on this and that... parts of dinner. As I continued with the sauce, I asked Tornado if he wanted more. "Bahhh, bahhhh" he said, signing "ball" at the same time and pointing to the pan of meatballs cooling on the stove. He has taken to calling meatballs "balls", and since balls are all the rage at our house these days, meatballs are very exciting.

This led me to the idea that if we can make unwanted foods look like something popular, we may have a chance at getting them down. Try the meatball thing with your toddlers... if they don't notice the ball, point it out. Maybe you can get meat in them. Tornado already likes ground meat, so I can't promise it will work.

Any other ideas for making food look like favorite things??? I'd love your ideas in the comments!

For more kitchen tips, visit Tammy!

Labels: In the Kitchen, Mommy's Tool Box, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:57 AM 4 Comments

Frugal and Green... Cloth Napkins

I bumped into this site this evening and found a giveaway for market totes and a carnival on being green. I'll admit that we are not a very green family (as is pointed out by an anonymous commenter.) I have some things I would love to do someday to make a little difference in that, but for now, as I reflected on something "green" I could post on to enter this great giveaway, there isn't much. I hope you aren't too disappointed in me... I'm just being honest here.

One thing we began doing right at the beginning of our marriage (3 1/2 years ago) and have continued doing, is both green and frugal! We use cloth napkins all the time. I have several different sets, but one set is for everyday as they don't need to be ironed (it's like a dream.) One step greener (and more frugal)... we don't launder them every day. Sure... if there are guests over, I wash them (though if guests are staying for more than one meal we keep them separate and save them.) If they are dirty, I wash them. The one that gets used as a burp cloth in a pinch... I wash it. If, however, it's not so dirty and it's just the one My Beloved and I share (that's another point by the way... if it's just us, we share a drinking cup [unless he wants to drink green tea and I want milk] and a napkin... saves on water and time), then I refold it and put it in my "we've used this/don't offer this napkin to guests" drawer for the next meal.

Another perk of cloth napkins... if your little one (or let's face it, you or your husband) knocks over a glass of milk, you have something way more absorbent than a little paper napkin to clean it up in a snap.

What are your ideas for cutting down on waste??? I'd love to hear about them... and be sure to enter the contest with your ideas too. Rules etc. are here.

Labels: In the Kitchen, Mommy's Tool Box, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:30 PM 3 Comments

Product Review: Stain Remover for baby clothes, etc.

Well, it's finally time. I promised at the beginning of this year (wow, has it really been 6 months?) that I would have some reviews for you. Well, I didn't expect this to be my first one (nor did I think it would take this long), but I'm feeling the love right now and wanted to share it with you all, because like me, I'm sure you've found yourself asking the following question:

How do you get baby poop out of clothes?
Baby poop, like spit up and a myriad of unfortunately bright first foods , is often the end of many an adorable baby outfit. I was crushed the first time Sweet Pea had a blow out in one of her new outfits. I had never found anything that worked perfectly when Tornado was that small, and even if I did get it treated immediately, it was hit or miss. Honestly though, I used the same stuff then as I do now... only this time I read the directions and, get this... followed them. I know.

I had just been discussing with a friend, the week before, the permanency of baby poop stains and how there is really nothing you can do about it. Then, that very next week, by what I believe is the grace and sovereignty of God, I noticed the directions (including diagrams I believe.)

So what is it??? Oh, sorry, I haven't said yet have I?

I'm somewhat known (at least by my husband) for procrastinating less desirable jobs as long as possible. This means that, often, adorable little girl clothes sit a day or more before even being rinsed out... yet Pre-Spot has still gotten out every stain so far. I just rinse out and rub out as much of the stain as possible with cold water, then spray on the Pre-Spot and rub it in to the fibers. Let it sit as recommended (though one time I didn't let it sit at all), and then put it in the wash with the next load. I tell you... it's magic!

I'm sure there are other products that could do it too, but we have tried to omit harsh chemicals from our home, and that is one of Melaleuca's trade marks!

This is what works for me! Have you found anything that works great for you???

For other Works for Me Wednesday posts, go here!

Labels: Mommy's Tool Box, Raising Children, Review

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 12:00 AM 4 Comments

When your toddlers nose is running...

This actually works for other ages too, though once your little ones hit pre-school age, they may not be interested any more. When our babies and toddlers have runny noses it is a constant flow of yuck that just spills all over everywhere (as in today in our home). Until we can teach them to blow their noses effectively, that flow will continue, and it's almost a full time job to follow after them wiping it clean. Then the tears come. They don't want us wiping their nose again... it hurts, it's red, and therefore it's just plain difficult!

Even those Puffs Plus just can't be sensitive enough for those little noses sometimes. And a handkerchief??? There is no way one of those can keep up. What I've found to be a great tool is a re-purposed receiving blanket!

That's right! Those soft flannel receiving blankets that really only swaddle our little ones for those first few months of life are perfect when re-purposed for a number of things. Many people use them for cleaning... I haven't gotten that far yet. First, I used them as burp cloths when DS's spit up got so out of control that normal burp clothes weren't keeping up. Now, I use them as over sized Kleenex! They are perfect because they are soft, flexible and big. I keep them folded in quarters... then when one part gets especially yucky, I just refold it so that clean parts are outside. When a blanket gets just to disgusting, I toss it in the washer (or sometimes hang it out to dry, depending on the consistency of the yuckiness) and get another one... there are plenty in this household. One note: make sure you keep them separate from any other receiving blankets being used for an actual infant! :)

This is something that works for us! For more Works For Me Wednesday posts, check here!

Also... for all you parents of little ones, check back tomorrow (unless our colds around here get worse, then it will be another day or two) for "Learning for Little Ones"! There are plenty of resources and ideas floating around the web for homeschooling, but ideas for our babies and toddlers are harder to find. I'll have a Mr. Linky ready, so stop by and share what you are doing with your little ones. No toddlers??? Share what you did when they were young! :)

See you soon!

Labels: Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 11:19 AM 4 Comments