This week I have been thankful for...
... our lazier days now that summers here and I am no longer working.
... the occasional sleep in until after 8 AM by the boys.
... my fabulous group partner for my university course - we're a good team.
... meeting friends at the "tunnel park" as Asher calls it, and having a blast there.
... an email from a friend asking how she could pray for me this week.
... an evening at the beach - my favorite place in the world!
... some new library books for Asher - it's awesome to have new material.
... our little pool - such an awesome place to be on hot days.
... local strawberries and watermelon on sale (another reason to love summer!!)
... the play room being on the main floor - have I mentioned how much I love this?
... getting some appointments booked that I haven't made the time to do yet.
... coffee. I will always be thankful for coffee.
... our lovely babysitter who put both boys to bed by herself this weekend and did a fabulous job!
... longer days.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
11-months
Levi, today you are 11-months old. At 11-months you...
... sleep through the night (7:30-7:30) and have 2 naps a day (9:30-11:00 and 1:30-3:30)
... still nurse 3 or 4 times a day.
... love to eat, and will eat just about anything. Some of your favorites are: cheese, baby mum mums, arrowroot cookies, yogurt, cheerios, and apple sauce.
... just signed milk for the first time.
... can wave and clap your hands.
... love Asher and laugh all the time at him. He is your entertainment.
... are so smiley. You smile at anyone, for any reason, at any time. The only time you are cranky is when you are hungry.
... have 2 teeth - the bottom middle ones.
... love to stand up and walk around while holding onto some one's hands. For this reason, you are still a fan of the exercauser.
... are not yet crawling, but you roll, spin, and push yourself around.
... favorite "toy" to play with is Tupperware.
... use a soother to fall asleep and sometimes need a bum pat.
... fall asleep each week in your Papa's arms at church.
... have blond curly hair.
... have the bluest eyes I've ever seen.
... are a strong, solid boy who weighs about 23 lbs.
... are in size 12-18 month clothing and size 4 diapers.
... are happy in the car.
... are loved by your Mama!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Both boys have really started doing a few more things on their own these past few weeks, which has made my life a little bit easier. Asher can very easily get his own shoes and hat on without needing any help - this is a big deal when you have a little boy who heads outside for something or another numerous times a day. He has always needed some help when it came to boots or sneakers, but he's got this croc thing figured out.
And little Levi - my happy and hungry boy - has been doing so much better at finger feeding himself rather than always needing to be spoon fed. He's been finger feeding for a while, but it's not yet been his primary way of getting all the food he wants to eat into his system. We practice every single meal, but I would just say in the past week that there have actually been entire meals (breakfast mostly) that he has entirely fed himself. We still do need to feed him purees with the spoon, but that fact that he has been getting better and eating more on his own has been a dream.
Sometimes it really is the small things that make the big difference.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
I'm glad I didn't miss that!
This morning after Levi went for his morning nap, I put some quiet music on downstairs. I often play music down here during Levi's naps so that we don't wake him up - it works well as background white noise. Anyways, for whatever reason, Asher cuddled up on the couch and told me he was having a nap. I laid down and cuddled with him and rubbed his back. We got to talk quietly and have those 15 minutes just to chill and be with each other. Asher is not a super cuddly guy, so I was soaking it up since he clearly seemed to want that.
I'm so glad I didn't miss the opportunity to take a time out and snuggle and chat with my guy on the couch as we listened to some tunes. I live for moments like this!
I'm so glad I didn't miss the opportunity to take a time out and snuggle and chat with my guy on the couch as we listened to some tunes. I live for moments like this!
Thankful Thursday
In the past few months I've had to say way too many good-bye's for my liking. One to my pastor/mentor (and his family) who baptized me, married us, and led our children's dedication service. Another to a close friend not returning home after studying afar. And most recently to the family of the 2 children I've taken care of - close friends to myself and especially to Asher. I hate saying good-bye and the past couple of days have been teary to say the least.
Life comes with loss. It sucks and I don't like it, but it is a part of life. In the midst of such times, I know it is extra important for me to recognize the blessings in my life. Some of them as a result of these situations are...
I now have friends scattered throughout North America. Hopefully this will mean plenty of visits with free places to stay :)
I had the chance to form close relationships with these people, and my life is forever changed because of our connection. Isn't that a saying; it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. Amen.
I have many, many happy and fun memories to look back and smile on. Sometimes a simple song or drive to a certain place can trigger these memories, and that gives me many reasons to be joyful. Those memories I will cherish forever.
I got to have some really meaningful conversations and experiences with Asher about dealing with loss and sadness when friends leave. The boy has seen me cry many times as of late, and I think this has been a good thing because it has allowed us to open up and talk about these issues in an honest way. I want Asher (and Levi) to see and know that sad feelings (just like all feelings) are OK and that it's important to show those feelings and deal with them. I have definitely been modelling that!
I have space in my life for new friendships and relationships to form or existing ones to go deeper. Not that anyone could ever replace the people who have left, but their leaving doesn't mean I won't have meaningful relationships either.
I have a deeper sense of love and appreciation for those friends who I still get to see regularly. If you're one of those people, don't be surprised if you get a teary hug from me in the near future :)
Now on to figuring out Skype for once and for all because there is NO WAY I'm going to lose touch with these dudes!
xo
Life comes with loss. It sucks and I don't like it, but it is a part of life. In the midst of such times, I know it is extra important for me to recognize the blessings in my life. Some of them as a result of these situations are...
I now have friends scattered throughout North America. Hopefully this will mean plenty of visits with free places to stay :)
I had the chance to form close relationships with these people, and my life is forever changed because of our connection. Isn't that a saying; it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. Amen.
I have many, many happy and fun memories to look back and smile on. Sometimes a simple song or drive to a certain place can trigger these memories, and that gives me many reasons to be joyful. Those memories I will cherish forever.
I got to have some really meaningful conversations and experiences with Asher about dealing with loss and sadness when friends leave. The boy has seen me cry many times as of late, and I think this has been a good thing because it has allowed us to open up and talk about these issues in an honest way. I want Asher (and Levi) to see and know that sad feelings (just like all feelings) are OK and that it's important to show those feelings and deal with them. I have definitely been modelling that!
I have space in my life for new friendships and relationships to form or existing ones to go deeper. Not that anyone could ever replace the people who have left, but their leaving doesn't mean I won't have meaningful relationships either.
I have a deeper sense of love and appreciation for those friends who I still get to see regularly. If you're one of those people, don't be surprised if you get a teary hug from me in the near future :)
Now on to figuring out Skype for once and for all because there is NO WAY I'm going to lose touch with these dudes!
xo
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Thankful Thursday
It's 9:54 Wednesday evening as I sit down to write this post (I usually do Wordless Wednesday and Thankful Thursday posts the night before). It's been a long day, and I'm tired, but expressing gratitude is something I just need to do in life.
Today I dressed the boys and brushed teeth, made 3 beds, fed myself and 2 boys 3 meals, nursed Levi 4 times, weeded the garden, watered our new maple tree (which isn't doing so hot), cleaned up a few pee accidents, changed 3 poopy diapers and a few pee filled ones too, bring Asher to the potty, got the boys to nap when they were supposed to, took the boys to a Mother Goose class, ran an errand, cooked supper, cleaned up toys, tried to help Levi to practice crawling, took Asher to swimming lesson, bathed Asher and myself after said swimming lesson, made a grocery list, got groceries and put them away, did a load of laundry, swept the floor and did a spot mop.
But it was a good day because in between all of that I got to...
... hear Asher laugh out loud at the "High five. Up high. Down low. Too slow" thing (and probably heard him laugh out loud at this about 25 times today)
... was the recipient of dozens of Levi's big happy smiles, which is enough to brighten any one's day!
... wear sunglasses and feel the warm sun on my face.
... read outside by myself for half an hour during the boys afternoon naps.
... provide loving discipline.
... talk to McQueen, Mater, Holly, Finn McMissile, and Francesco. Yip, that's just the kind of house I live in.
... give Asher a piggy back ride.
... cuddle Levi as I nursed him and sing to him at bedtime.
... chase Asher around the mini-barn outside.
... tell Asher that "I won't let you go, I've got you" a dozen times in the big pool and splash with him in the small pool at swimming.
... hear Asher spell his name out loud without help for our Mother Goose class.
... wear shorts.
... finish the day by eating a bowl of ice cream and recognizing just how lucky of a girl I am :)
Today I dressed the boys and brushed teeth, made 3 beds, fed myself and 2 boys 3 meals, nursed Levi 4 times, weeded the garden, watered our new maple tree (which isn't doing so hot), cleaned up a few pee accidents, changed 3 poopy diapers and a few pee filled ones too, bring Asher to the potty, got the boys to nap when they were supposed to, took the boys to a Mother Goose class, ran an errand, cooked supper, cleaned up toys, tried to help Levi to practice crawling, took Asher to swimming lesson, bathed Asher and myself after said swimming lesson, made a grocery list, got groceries and put them away, did a load of laundry, swept the floor and did a spot mop.
But it was a good day because in between all of that I got to...
... hear Asher laugh out loud at the "High five. Up high. Down low. Too slow" thing (and probably heard him laugh out loud at this about 25 times today)
... was the recipient of dozens of Levi's big happy smiles, which is enough to brighten any one's day!
... wear sunglasses and feel the warm sun on my face.
... read outside by myself for half an hour during the boys afternoon naps.
... provide loving discipline.
... talk to McQueen, Mater, Holly, Finn McMissile, and Francesco. Yip, that's just the kind of house I live in.
... give Asher a piggy back ride.
... cuddle Levi as I nursed him and sing to him at bedtime.
... chase Asher around the mini-barn outside.
... tell Asher that "I won't let you go, I've got you" a dozen times in the big pool and splash with him in the small pool at swimming.
... hear Asher spell his name out loud without help for our Mother Goose class.
... wear shorts.
... finish the day by eating a bowl of ice cream and recognizing just how lucky of a girl I am :)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sensory Tubs
I found a totally awesome mommy blog a few days ago and I've been getting excited over all the ideas on it. For some reason I get giddy thinking about and planning new learning and fun activities to do with the boys! When I saw these sensory tubs, I was literally ready to bust out the front door to make my own. I had heard and read about sensory tubs before, but seeing these ones got my creative juices spinning and I was so eager to make one. Basically the sensory tubs from Counting Coconuts are spin offs of sandboxes, only created around a theme and with different filler material other than sand (could be sand too though, but also using things like rocks, rice, dried beans, cotton balls, etc). The idea is to let kids explore new materials, encourage new vocabulary and conversation, practice concepts (empty/full, etc) and have fun. The materials inside should be stimulating to the senses, with varying colors, textures, shapes, sizes, making different sounds or even having a smell if possible. The more senses that are engaged, the more learning that can happen! Thought should also be given to including materials that encourage sorting, counting, stacking, manipulating, and are open ended.
Asher loves sand. He loves scooping and dumping. He loves filling and emptying. He loves making tracks. He also loves pretending. I knew he would be interested in a sensory tub, so today I got one together for him. Our family has recently adopted a Betta fish from a friend who is moving to Calgary, and so I created a sensory tub with an aquarium theme since that is a focus in our life right now. Here it is in all it's glory!
- about 4 inches of blue aquarium rocks
- a fish net
- fake aquarium plants
- an aquarium picture back drop
- plastic and real shells
- a mini plastic submarine
- foam sticker fish, turtles, and sea horses
- aquarium figurines (a treasure chest idea and a little octopus)
- a glass jar
- foam words to encourage letter/word recognition; fish and water
- later added a shovel because Asher was really into scooping
Asher has thoroughly enjoyed his sensory tub today - it got a lot of play. He mostly has been into playing with the fish net and shovel and exploring the aquarium rocks. He also likes the little treasure chest, the fish house as he calls it. Because of the mini submarine, which we've had forever, we were able to talk about what a submarine is and we watched a YouTube video of one underwater. That set off another half an hour of play with the submarine diving under water. So much fun!
In total I would say this cost me about $30 to get up and going, but I did have some supplies on hand already. I really want to change my sensory tub each month, but I know this would be expensive and I don't really have the space to store the supplies. I sent an email to about a dozen friends today asking them to get involved in a sensory tub exchange with me where we trade tubs with each other. This way we get the novelty of something new, but without the expense. I hope it works out. If you're interested in knowing more, let me know and I'd love to send you the details.
So now back to the sensory tub - I've been almost as excited as Asher about the idea!
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