Okay so there is no funny sentimental joke about the title today, just real growing pains. You know I am sure that I had them as a kid, but I really have no recollection. My husband, on the other hand, says he vividly remembers laying in bed at night and just aching from them. So it came as no surprise to him when Julia would wake up crying saying that her legs hurt. And he was very diligent about laying in bed with her and rubbing her legs. She hasn't had them recently, but it was a pretty common occurrence there for a while.
So, a couple of nights ago Sean woke up around midnight crying. I went in to check on him and couldn't get him to stop or tell me why he was crying. However, I noticed that he kept moving he legs around uncomfortably. Finally, after about 10 minutes he said that his legs hurt. I rubbed them for a little bit, but Daddy soon came to check in and took over. Guess he is better at leg rubbing than me!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
One More Year
I've made it through another year (barely, I think) relatively unscathed. However, since my days and nights revolve around my children I will just talk about them.
Julia-my thoughtful little sweetie who is always concerned about others and wanting to help out; she tells me last night that she loves to help me cook; she spends her fun time at church making me a birthday necklace, bracelet & card; her favorite place to eat it Pluckers because of their ranch wings; she helps me out with her brother & sister; she struggles with talking too much in class; she's my memory; she's discovered reading and is constantly trying to read everything; my little ray of sunshine!
Sean-my super sensitive, short-tempered, very strong-willed little man; he loves to play on the computer and would all day if I let him, he loves to dress-up; loves hugs & kisses & cuddles; he's going through a super tough year adjusting to the idea that he doesn't get whatever he wants whenever he wants it; he's finally discovering that he loves all kinds of different foods, but still loves sweets the best; his favorite place to eat is Freddy's; I think he is finally beginning to discover what it means to be a boy in a house full of sisters; he is so expressive & loves to sing in the shower; my sweet little man who challenges me every day!!
Laura-my very strong-willed, demanding, independent baby; she refuses to let anyone push her around; she wants to do everything "by myself"; she's my only thumb-sucker and when I tell her to stop, she waves her hand at me and tells me to leave; she has alway put her hand in my face and told me "no" when I have tried to sing to her; she loves her big sister & brother, but pushes them around cause she can; she loves to eat and will take the food off your plate when you're not looking; she is an animal lover already; she has recently discovered she likes to tell me no; she loves Mickie Mouse & McDonalds; she is a fan of crossing her arms at me, turning her head from me and hrumphing when she doesn't like what I tell her; my little ball of energy, smiles & giggles with a mind of her own!
They are my greatest accomplishments & the best birthday presents I could ever have!!
Julia-my thoughtful little sweetie who is always concerned about others and wanting to help out; she tells me last night that she loves to help me cook; she spends her fun time at church making me a birthday necklace, bracelet & card; her favorite place to eat it Pluckers because of their ranch wings; she helps me out with her brother & sister; she struggles with talking too much in class; she's my memory; she's discovered reading and is constantly trying to read everything; my little ray of sunshine!
Sean-my super sensitive, short-tempered, very strong-willed little man; he loves to play on the computer and would all day if I let him, he loves to dress-up; loves hugs & kisses & cuddles; he's going through a super tough year adjusting to the idea that he doesn't get whatever he wants whenever he wants it; he's finally discovering that he loves all kinds of different foods, but still loves sweets the best; his favorite place to eat is Freddy's; I think he is finally beginning to discover what it means to be a boy in a house full of sisters; he is so expressive & loves to sing in the shower; my sweet little man who challenges me every day!!
Laura-my very strong-willed, demanding, independent baby; she refuses to let anyone push her around; she wants to do everything "by myself"; she's my only thumb-sucker and when I tell her to stop, she waves her hand at me and tells me to leave; she has alway put her hand in my face and told me "no" when I have tried to sing to her; she loves her big sister & brother, but pushes them around cause she can; she loves to eat and will take the food off your plate when you're not looking; she is an animal lover already; she has recently discovered she likes to tell me no; she loves Mickie Mouse & McDonalds; she is a fan of crossing her arms at me, turning her head from me and hrumphing when she doesn't like what I tell her; my little ball of energy, smiles & giggles with a mind of her own!
They are my greatest accomplishments & the best birthday presents I could ever have!!
Monday, December 12, 2011
O Holy Night
So I have been a bit of a Scrooge this year. I couldn't seem to get in the spirit of things. Sometimes it just takes a little reminder of why we do what we do, a little reminder of the actual simplicity of the holiday. So, here is how I found my spirit, my favorite rendition of my favorite carol (besides O Come O Come Emmanuel). Now I'm not a Celine Dion fanatic or anything, but her singing of this carol brings tears to my eyes every time.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Little Things Mean Alot
Just another list of things my kiddos are up to right now.
1. Laura thoughtfully taps her finger to her cheek and says "Hmmmm, let me sink"
2. Sean is all about kisses. He gives out kisses just wherever, on my arm, hand, shoulder, etc.
3. Laura has been using the potty a lot lately (however, still very much in pull ups). After she goes, she hollers out "Wawa (Laura) went lellow (yellow)". Don't know where that came from.
4. Laura has asked for ice cream for Christmas, that is all.
5. Sean has said he wants race cars. When I asked what else, his response was, "Please just give me race cars . . . OH and a cupcake".
6. Julia is reading like mad. She really loves it and I am amazed at the words she is able to read. Scott and I can't spell to keep things from her anymore.
7. Julia and Sean have started setting the table for me. They love it (for now).
8. Laura has started demanding kisses. She will tell Scott or myself "Div me tisses!"
9. Laura's appetite is finally starting to diminish which is a good thing, because I don't think they make diapers any larger and she barely fits in her pull ups. She is wearing a size 4/5 in clothes.
10. Julia hit a growth spurt a couple of months ago and went from a 6 to a 7 in a matter of a few weeks. It was crazy. All of the sudden one day nothing in her closet fit. Her legs are getting very long.
11. Laura has been terrorizing her brother and sister by picking on them and pushing them around. Strange to say, I know, but she is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
12. Sean is going through his whining phase. He whines about everything!
13. Sean is the SLOWEST eater!! His finicky eating is finally going away, but holy cow it takes him forever to eat. He likes to thank me and tell me how much he loves whatever I make. So sweet!
14. Laura has been stripping in bed at night. Scott and I have discovered her more than a few times when we go to bed. She is sound asleep all curled up, totally naked. Those will make great bribery pictures.
1. Laura thoughtfully taps her finger to her cheek and says "Hmmmm, let me sink"
2. Sean is all about kisses. He gives out kisses just wherever, on my arm, hand, shoulder, etc.
3. Laura has been using the potty a lot lately (however, still very much in pull ups). After she goes, she hollers out "Wawa (Laura) went lellow (yellow)". Don't know where that came from.
4. Laura has asked for ice cream for Christmas, that is all.
5. Sean has said he wants race cars. When I asked what else, his response was, "Please just give me race cars . . . OH and a cupcake".
6. Julia is reading like mad. She really loves it and I am amazed at the words she is able to read. Scott and I can't spell to keep things from her anymore.
7. Julia and Sean have started setting the table for me. They love it (for now).
8. Laura has started demanding kisses. She will tell Scott or myself "Div me tisses!"
9. Laura's appetite is finally starting to diminish which is a good thing, because I don't think they make diapers any larger and she barely fits in her pull ups. She is wearing a size 4/5 in clothes.
10. Julia hit a growth spurt a couple of months ago and went from a 6 to a 7 in a matter of a few weeks. It was crazy. All of the sudden one day nothing in her closet fit. Her legs are getting very long.
11. Laura has been terrorizing her brother and sister by picking on them and pushing them around. Strange to say, I know, but she is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
12. Sean is going through his whining phase. He whines about everything!
13. Sean is the SLOWEST eater!! His finicky eating is finally going away, but holy cow it takes him forever to eat. He likes to thank me and tell me how much he loves whatever I make. So sweet!
14. Laura has been stripping in bed at night. Scott and I have discovered her more than a few times when we go to bed. She is sound asleep all curled up, totally naked. Those will make great bribery pictures.
 |
| I tried to get them each looking through one of the 3 holes in this at the same time, but had no luck. |
Monday, December 5, 2011
All in the Spirit of Giving
So, I have been wanting to really clean out and get rid of most of my kids' toys. I need to do this for a few reasons.
1. My kids don't play with toys a whole lot. They do more dress up and role play than anything else. So many great toys go unplayed with most of the time.
2. We live in a small house. It's big enough for us, but not for excessive amounts of stuff. I have been trying all year to really pare down what we all have.
3. And finally I know the kids will get so many new toys for Christmas, we have to make room for the new.
So, this year I enlisted my 5-year-old's help. This past Saturday while my son was with my parents for the weekend Julia and I started digging in to the mountain of playthings. I was so impressed with her ability to understand that while certain toys may be really cool, if we don't play with them they are just taking up valuable space. Of course she found it much easier to wade through and toss her brother's things, she was remarkably unselfish with her own.
We had 2 different containers, trash & give away. We trashed anything broken and made plans to donate all the rest. I had spent the past few weeks prepping Julia by talking to her about the true meaning of Christmas and that we should give more than we receive. Knowing that her toys would be going to a little boy or girl who went without really drove her.
The pinnacle of the morning came over a little pillow/carrier and blanket set that she has had for a year or so. I told her that we had plenty of blankets and pillows and she didn't really use this one much. It was the first item she was torn over, mainly she didn't want to part with the blanket. Since, she had been doing so well with her giving I relented on this one and told her she could keep the blanket and we would donate the pillow. I left it at that and left the room to do more cleaning. About 10 minutes later she came in her room with the pillow. I asked if she changed her mind and wanted to keep it too. She said she was looking for the blanket. I told her again that she could keep the set. She neatly tucked the blanket in the pillow and hugged it close to her chest and replied, "No Mommy, I want to give it to a little girl who maybe doesn't have a pillow and blanket of her own."
My heart just melted at that moment. She got it. She got what God and Christmas are all about. Giving. Giving freely. Giving unselfishly. Putting others needs above our own. I don't know about anyone else, but my Christmas has been made merry before the holiday has even begun by my little angel.
1. My kids don't play with toys a whole lot. They do more dress up and role play than anything else. So many great toys go unplayed with most of the time.
2. We live in a small house. It's big enough for us, but not for excessive amounts of stuff. I have been trying all year to really pare down what we all have.
3. And finally I know the kids will get so many new toys for Christmas, we have to make room for the new.
So, this year I enlisted my 5-year-old's help. This past Saturday while my son was with my parents for the weekend Julia and I started digging in to the mountain of playthings. I was so impressed with her ability to understand that while certain toys may be really cool, if we don't play with them they are just taking up valuable space. Of course she found it much easier to wade through and toss her brother's things, she was remarkably unselfish with her own.
We had 2 different containers, trash & give away. We trashed anything broken and made plans to donate all the rest. I had spent the past few weeks prepping Julia by talking to her about the true meaning of Christmas and that we should give more than we receive. Knowing that her toys would be going to a little boy or girl who went without really drove her.
The pinnacle of the morning came over a little pillow/carrier and blanket set that she has had for a year or so. I told her that we had plenty of blankets and pillows and she didn't really use this one much. It was the first item she was torn over, mainly she didn't want to part with the blanket. Since, she had been doing so well with her giving I relented on this one and told her she could keep the blanket and we would donate the pillow. I left it at that and left the room to do more cleaning. About 10 minutes later she came in her room with the pillow. I asked if she changed her mind and wanted to keep it too. She said she was looking for the blanket. I told her again that she could keep the set. She neatly tucked the blanket in the pillow and hugged it close to her chest and replied, "No Mommy, I want to give it to a little girl who maybe doesn't have a pillow and blanket of her own."
My heart just melted at that moment. She got it. She got what God and Christmas are all about. Giving. Giving freely. Giving unselfishly. Putting others needs above our own. I don't know about anyone else, but my Christmas has been made merry before the holiday has even begun by my little angel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)