Lillie is becoming quite "the signer". Just like Parker she has taken to signing fairly easily and lately it seems I can't really keep up with her desire to associate a sign with every word. Yesterday in the car we stopped at a light and she frantically started hitting the side of her leg (the sign for doggie) and giggling. I turned around to see if she had dropped her toy or was looking for her doggie book. She finally got impatient with me and began these high pitched screeches while pointing out the window. Right there before our eyes was a huge pasture full of... COWS!!!
Close Lils. You get an A+ for effort!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Hold onto Jesus
One of my favorite songs is Hold Onto Jesus by Erin O'Donnel. I heard it on the radio again this weekend and everytime I am reminded of the precious gifts I have been given in Parker and Lillie to teach, grow and love them. Here are the lyrics as a small reminder...
Hold On To Jesus
You're a little piece of heaven
You're a golden ray of light
and I wish I could protect you
From the worries of this life
But if there's one thing I could tell you
It's no matter what you do
Hold to Jesus - He's holding on to you
The world will try to tell you
That might is more than right
That beauty's on the outside
And being good's a losing fight
But remember what I've told you
Because the world will make you choose
Hold to Jesus - He's holding on to you
Chorus:
Hold on to Jesus
Cling to His love
Rest deep in His mercy
Whenever things get rough
Don't lose sight of His goodness
And don't ever doubt this truth
That when you hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Hear me dear Jesus
Rock this little one to sleep
Keep her close when she's scared
And give her grace when she is weak
I know she'll stumble
But I know she'll make it through
If you hold to her just like You said You'd do
Hold her Jesus - And she'll hold on tight to You
Hold On To Jesus
You're a little piece of heaven
You're a golden ray of light
and I wish I could protect you
From the worries of this life
But if there's one thing I could tell you
It's no matter what you do
Hold to Jesus - He's holding on to you
The world will try to tell you
That might is more than right
That beauty's on the outside
And being good's a losing fight
But remember what I've told you
Because the world will make you choose
Hold to Jesus - He's holding on to you
Chorus:
Hold on to Jesus
Cling to His love
Rest deep in His mercy
Whenever things get rough
Don't lose sight of His goodness
And don't ever doubt this truth
That when you hold on to Jesus
He's holding on to you
Hear me dear Jesus
Rock this little one to sleep
Keep her close when she's scared
And give her grace when she is weak
I know she'll stumble
But I know she'll make it through
If you hold to her just like You said You'd do
Hold her Jesus - And she'll hold on tight to You
The "Real World"
I had two chance encounters occur last week that have been nagging at me since. The first happened earlier in the week. While out for our run, we bumped into someone I used to teach with. After the initial, 'Hey how you've been... can you believe this weather... Your kids are adorable..." She point blank says to me, "So, girl you ready to leave those kids and join the real world again. I'm pretty sure there is an English position open in the fall." I was kind of taken back as it was apparent I was having fun with Lillie and Parker and I had never given the impression I wanted to go back to work. After explaining to her that right now Trev and I have decided that I need to be home but maybe down the road I will consider teaching again, she proceeded to reminiscence about when her now grown children were little. She said she would go crazy just on the weekends being home all day with them and implied that I too am going crazy being home with them all day. Starting to feel myself get annoyed I put on the fake smile, said that I love being with my kids and don't feel crazy at all (which could have been a lie on another day but that particular day we were having a great time!) then ran away from there. As I continued on my run I couldn't help but think how insulting it was that she considered teaching other peoples kids the "real world" but spending all day teaching my own was somehow what? Easy? A cop-out?
The second incident occurred at Wal-Mart later in the week and it involved an old aquaintenance who happens to have kids our kid’s ages. After chatting a bit he asked me how I enjoyed being home with the kiddos and I told him the truth. I love it and even though some days are tougher then others (especially during these cold winter months) we wouldn't have it any other way. Then he says, "So what exactly do you do all day? No offense or anything but don't you worry about Parker's socialization skills and Lillie's separation anxiety" (she's going through a BIG mommy phase at the moment). I actually was tempted to say the first thing that came into my head, which was, "Do you really think "Stay at home mom" means exactly that? We stay inside all day, never come out, never see or talk to anyone and just veg out and eat icecream and cereal all day all while watching Sesame Street and Blues Clues?" But instead I explained how we have a good routine and Parker sees his friends twice a week at church, and we have a preschool co-op with some other friends once a week, and one day we have library and another day we have playgroup. Looking back I wish I hadn't felt the need to justify our decision to have me stay at home but after leaving the scene of the earlier incident, I think I felt like I needed to explain myself.
So why tell of these encounters? Simply, because all of these entries are reminders of the things I would have missed had I went back to work. Our kids are growing up SO fast and I don't want to miss a thing. I know there are people who have to work or want to work and that is fine. I am in no way criticizing that decision. But I am standing up for ours. This works for us. This feels right to us. This is where God wants us at this time. Someday I will have to write about all the things God has taught me during the last 4 years "at home". I am honored and privileged with this once in a lifetime opportunity and as far as I'm concerned the "real world" can wait for me b/c I have some pretty important things I need to do first.
The second incident occurred at Wal-Mart later in the week and it involved an old aquaintenance who happens to have kids our kid’s ages. After chatting a bit he asked me how I enjoyed being home with the kiddos and I told him the truth. I love it and even though some days are tougher then others (especially during these cold winter months) we wouldn't have it any other way. Then he says, "So what exactly do you do all day? No offense or anything but don't you worry about Parker's socialization skills and Lillie's separation anxiety" (she's going through a BIG mommy phase at the moment). I actually was tempted to say the first thing that came into my head, which was, "Do you really think "Stay at home mom" means exactly that? We stay inside all day, never come out, never see or talk to anyone and just veg out and eat icecream and cereal all day all while watching Sesame Street and Blues Clues?" But instead I explained how we have a good routine and Parker sees his friends twice a week at church, and we have a preschool co-op with some other friends once a week, and one day we have library and another day we have playgroup. Looking back I wish I hadn't felt the need to justify our decision to have me stay at home but after leaving the scene of the earlier incident, I think I felt like I needed to explain myself.
So why tell of these encounters? Simply, because all of these entries are reminders of the things I would have missed had I went back to work. Our kids are growing up SO fast and I don't want to miss a thing. I know there are people who have to work or want to work and that is fine. I am in no way criticizing that decision. But I am standing up for ours. This works for us. This feels right to us. This is where God wants us at this time. Someday I will have to write about all the things God has taught me during the last 4 years "at home". I am honored and privileged with this once in a lifetime opportunity and as far as I'm concerned the "real world" can wait for me b/c I have some pretty important things I need to do first.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
The Little Mommy that could
As said by Parker this morning while pushing him and Lillie in the double jogging stroller during the 3rd mile up a HUGE hill into the wind:
"Go Mommy, Go Mommy. GOOOOO MOMMYYYY!!! I think you can... I think you can... I think you can... Yeahhhh Mommy!"
That was all the motivation this mom needed. He must have heard me panting and breathing heavy. It was VERY cute and very thoughtful for a 3 year old. It definitely made my run easier.
"Go Mommy, Go Mommy. GOOOOO MOMMYYYY!!! I think you can... I think you can... I think you can... Yeahhhh Mommy!"
That was all the motivation this mom needed. He must have heard me panting and breathing heavy. It was VERY cute and very thoughtful for a 3 year old. It definitely made my run easier.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Shhhh... there's a conspiracy to drive me crazy...
As a mom, quiet scares me... it never used to but with 2 small kids quiet is now something I translate into "trouble." For example...
Last night I left Parker in the bathtub for 5 seconds while I grabbed his jammies. When I called out asking if he was okay and didn't get a reply I ran into the bathroom. There he was with the soap bottle 1/2 empty making himself the bubbliest bubble bath I have ever seen! His response: "WOW mom, I didn't know it could do this!" He wasn't supposed too... that was the point.
Second example: This morning while making breakfast Lillie somehow slipped under my feet while I was in the fridge pulling out the eggs. Parker was playing on the computer and I didn't hear Lillie for a minute and of course became concerned. I looked in the hallway and there she was with bright red all over her face and onesie. For a brief moment I freaked out thinking she was bleeding from her head. That is until she started trying to chug the Ketchup straight from the bottle!!!
Last night I left Parker in the bathtub for 5 seconds while I grabbed his jammies. When I called out asking if he was okay and didn't get a reply I ran into the bathroom. There he was with the soap bottle 1/2 empty making himself the bubbliest bubble bath I have ever seen! His response: "WOW mom, I didn't know it could do this!" He wasn't supposed too... that was the point.
Second example: This morning while making breakfast Lillie somehow slipped under my feet while I was in the fridge pulling out the eggs. Parker was playing on the computer and I didn't hear Lillie for a minute and of course became concerned. I looked in the hallway and there she was with bright red all over her face and onesie. For a brief moment I freaked out thinking she was bleeding from her head. That is until she started trying to chug the Ketchup straight from the bottle!!!
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