A word to Mothers with young children.

  Things I wish someone would have told me while I was raising my children when they were babies.

1.  You can't spoil a baby by  loving them too much!  No matter how often you hold them, even wear them in a sling, If you nurse them until age 3, co-sleep in the same bed or room, rock them and place their sleeping bodies in a crib or car seat, Kiss them 8,000 times a day.....and never let them cry for longer than 3 seconds..............I assure you, the child will not be spoiled.  

  Children become spoiled from inconsistent parenting, and from not having boundaries set.  Teaching self discipline and having an "others first" mentality in your home is how to insure your child doesn't become spoiled.....but that can't happen until they can start to reason and have language skills.   So kiss and cuddle away!

2. Don't sweat the small stuff!  Some of the things we obsess over when our children are babies and toddlers just stress us out needlessly.  Should I allow them to have a pacifier? He/She is 15 months and not drinking out of a cup yet!  We are approaching 3 and still in diapers!  They aren't crawling yet!  Remember that every child is different and there are varying degrees of normal.  Some children walk at 9 months while others don't until 15 months or so.  

Try to relax.....keep your eye on it, but don't let these things overwhelm you.  Enjoy your baby!  He or she will let you know when they are ready to give up their beloved "BABA"  or "Binkie"  and what a mixed day of emotions that is.....they are one step closer to independence.   

  I am NOT by any means saying to be an indifferent or neglectful parent.  I know that I did far too much fretting about potty training, sleeping all night, staying in their bed, Moving them on to table foods, and all the other little milestones that you think will never happen.  TRUST ME they will, and sometimes you won't even realize when they are happening.

  I still wish I would have realized the day for each of my children when it was going to be the last time that they nursed.....but the truth is, they weaned gradually and one day, they just never looked to do so again.  

  They were ready to become "movers and shakers"   

My reason for telling you this is, to try to get you to live in the moment. Take pictures, enjoy nap time together, marvel at the handiwork of God that is your Child, and give yourself time to just ENJOY that little bundle of joy that has been graciously "gifted" to you. 

All too soon, the real worries of this world will be upon you.  You will need to let them venture out there on their own, without your protection and guidance, but for now.......Just Be.  

There will be more messes tomorrow, always more laundry, dirty dishes, spills, and things to be broken.  That is Life.  Right now, you think it will never end.....but it will.........all things do.


God gave you a gift.  Cherish it.

Chillin in the sandbox.

Trying to be like Mommy!  That is my mascara.

Lexi and King Solomon!  I miss him terribly.  Best cat EVER.

As you see, she has her "nuk" clipped on to her shirt. 

I was still dealing with potty training and the occasional accident at these ages.  I thought it would NEVER end. 

Ages 8,5,2.5  He broke his arm on the monkey bars RIGHT in front of me!!  If only I knew then what I know now.....THAT it wasn't going to be that last broken bone!  They heal and move on to some brand new adventure!

This is my  brood today.....our concerns are peer pressure, dating, purity, GRADES and honors classes, training for sports, drivers permits, sibling conflict, bad influences,godliness, obedience, and abiding faith that will keep them out of harms way!

Truth be told, I came to fully realize that they don't belong to me.....I try very hard these days, to just do the work, and not to worry as much.  I offered them back to God as a living sacrifice many years ago now.  The Lord has been good!  My kids continue to amaze me with their love of the LORD.  Despite my best efforts of messing them up....they turned out okay.  LOL  


We still have many years ahead of us, parenting teenagers and tweens....but I have FAITH that God has great plans for them!  I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. 

What I've been up to since Christmas.....

  Christmas Day had an unexpected event that spoiled our family get together.  Our Sewer started backing up into the downstairs tub, and trying to find a plumber to come out on Christmas Day and root the line isn't an easy feat.  We called quite a few places before we even had someone pick up a phone!

  After a couple of hours, and $329 later, the problem still wasn't solved and the plumber was telling us that he thought he couldn't get his line to go through because the pipe had either shifted or broken.  He felt the cost would be starting at 5k and go up from there to fix it.

  Needless to say, after spending money on gifts that sent us into a panic!  We had to call off our visit with the extended family because you couldn't flush toilet paper down the toilet without risk of it backing up again!  I posted on Facebook that I was in need of a plumber and to please send me the info of anyone that my friends might know.  

 Long story short....(too late)  I was flooded with private messages and contacts from lots of long time friends suggesting people they knew or were related to and could trust.  My friend since childhood Mike is a plumber and contacted me himself.  Over the phone he spoke with my husband and told him he has never heard of that happening that far from the house, and it would be HIGHLY unlikely that was the problem.  After only about a half hour here, he had the entire problem resolved, and all it involved was some expertise and rooting the line!  He was able to get a 4 inch blade through the pipe!!  Broken my You know what!! Anyway a big Thanks to my Buddy Mike Freier again!!  You have no idea how much you helped us out!


  Since that day, I have been just taking it easy and re-evaluating/reflecting and praying on my life.  I realize that it is time for some SERIOUS change!  That is a post for another day. 


  Now, on to the fun we had last night.  I was clipping coupons and just finished watching my Jill Cataldo DVD that I received for Christmas from my Aunt Sue, (thanks again it was awesome).  I decided I was cold and wanted something warm to drink.  My Daughter followed me upstairs and we decided, spur of the moment to have a tea party before bed. 

  

We brought down our individual tea pots from the top of the kitchen cabinet, gave them a good wash and set up our tray for our tea service.

 My Daughter, Lexi then decided that I should read her a book while we sipped tea.  (She's 9)  I asked her what book would she like me to read, and she said she had the perfect book.  She wanted me to take pictures so I could "blog" about it.  I thought that was just darling, so of course I had to do what she requested.

 Here is the book she came out of her very PINK room with.  

Sorry about the glare, these pics were all taken from my iPhone. Is this cute  or what?

The tiara on the front is inside a pouch so you can wear it while you read the book!

She decided to serve our tea, but first had to run back to her room to get these...

All proper ladies serve tea with white gloves on, don't you know?

   Then she served our tea....

After we daintily sipped our tea, we decided to start reading the book.  She insisted I take pictures of all the neat pages that have pull-outs or pop-ups.  SHE LOVES pop-up books.  Every time I am at the library with her, we spend hours searching for pop-up books and wind up sitting on the floor between aisles pouring over all our finds!   


 Here are all the pages she had me photograph....

 

Our book had lots to say about character, kindness, thoughtfulness, and it ended with a true princess always smiles and lets her character shine through to the world.

I don't know about you, but I am pretty sure I have the "real deal" here!  Look at that lovely smile.  :)

 The majority of this week has been spent reflecting and praying about life and some changes that need to be made.  My Sons and Daughter are for sure THE most precious things in the world to me....one of the changes NEEDS to be, spending more time doing things with them that THEY enjoy.  I spend lots of time with my kids, but not necessarily doing things that they enjoy doing....more like making them suffer through things I like doing.  Or things I feel need to be done.  I realize that it doesn't need to be some extravagant thing all the time either.  This little tea party cost NOTHING!  But will always be a treasured moment.  

                                  

Happy New Year! 

<3  Paula