Attention: Villagers Wanted!

One of those heart-melting sweet moments when
she's "saying the blessing" :)

My husband and I moved to Houston, Tx almost 3 years ago and it took me a while to adjust.  I am very much a "homebody" if you will.  That being said, when we found out I was pregnant I was elated and scared at the same time.  We had planned on raising our children around our families, but that was obviously not in God's plan.  After M got a job here we thought that we would work here for about 5 years, get some experience under our belts, and move back to our hometown of Shreveport, La.  M loves his job here, we have some great friends, and a wonderful church!  We are pretty sure that this is where we are settling down and raising our family and I have finally excepted this truth.

We've all heard the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child."  Lately I keep wondering where are all my village people at?! :)  Living 4 hours from the nearest relatives is taking a toll on me lately. I'm feeling a little burnt out.  I'm a little envious of my friends back home who have family around to take the kids for a few hours now and then.  Or even to come over and keep them occupied so momma can get some chores done in a timely manner or have some quiet time with daddy.  A has been waking up quite a bit during the night lately, add that to keeping up with regular housecleaning, cooking, and making sure she gets a good dose of fresh air and sunshine to her play is really wearing me out.  M helps out when he gets home from work, but I certainly don't expect it.  He has his job and this is mine.  [And to be honest, I don't mind because he doesn't get things quite as clean as I like :) ]

Just the other morning, while M and I were making breakfast, I turned around to see that A had climbed onto the dining table and was playing with my sewing machine.  I firmly told her to get down and she just stared.  I told her once more to get down and she continued playing and touching the machine.  I walked over and said, "A get down right now."  I kid you not at the age of 1 1/2 she looked at me, rolled her eyes, and turned away!  My brother is here visiting with us and he, M, and myself all looked at each other in shock.  Did she really just do that?! I quickly pulled her off of the table, gave her a spanking, and told her why she can't behave like that.  My sweet baby is already heading into the terrible two's stage and I am not looking forward to it.

I'm reading a book that a dear friend gave me called Feminine Appeal:  Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney and I'd like to share a passage with you:

Motherhood can be both exhilarating and exasperating. It can present us with a delightful experience one moment and a baffling encounter the next.  There are days when we can't imagine doing anything more rewarding.  Then we have days when caring for our children feels anything but significant.  ... I seldom feel like much of an adventurer-standing in this kitchen, pouring cereal into bowls, refilling them, handing out paper towels when the inevitable cry comes: "Uh oh.  I spilled."  But sometimes the thought will strike me:  There are three small people here, breathing sweetly in their beds, whose lives are for the moment in our hands.  I might as well be at the controls of a moon shot, the mission is so grave and vast.

She is right, this mission is definitely vast and grave! One second I look at my sweet baby and just hold her and breathe her in ... then she wiggles away yelling no, no!  I think God transplanted us here to a place with no family or friends to teach us to cling to each other.  It's taken us a year and half but A has started teaching us that once in a while we need to get out, whether with each other or on our own, and hit the refresh button :) And testy as she may be sometimes, we're always happy to walk back through the door and scoop her up for a big hug!  Not being able to drop her off so easily with a grandparent, aunt, or uncle has proven to us that we can do this.  It's also been wonderful for our marriage as well; when you have nowhere to go, it makes it difficult to run ;)  

So for any mommas out there having one of those days that make you want to run off like a mad man this is our new mantra, repeat after me:

        "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!" - Philippians 4:13

Although Uncle J isn't quite old enough for babysitting duties, having him around as free entertainment for two weeks also does wonders for Baby A!

Let It Be

A is nearly 18 months old and I still feed her myself most of the time.  I am a perfectionist and neat freak, and it's so much cleaner for me to feed her myself.  Plus she eats all of the food when I do it.  Whenever I do let her try herself  food gets almost everywhere except in her belly, thus ending in me feeding her anyway.  So that's something I'm working on.  I've been making her food, and unless we have somewhere to go directly afterwards, I am letting her feed herself.  I know it's going to get messy, but it hasn't taken too much longer to wipe everything down when she's done.  Not only is she gaining independence, but I know this also helps with her fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, etc.  I know that in this instance I have to start letting her grow up; messy as it may be :)

So Friday afternoon I decided to convert A's crib to a toddler bed.  She loved it!  She squealed with delight as soon as the rail came off and starting hopping up and down on the bed.  I asked if she liked her big girl bed and she gave me a big grin and plopped herself down with her baby doll.  It was even a big help with discipline.  She got in trouble a little while later and I told her to go sit on her bed and she did!  Fast forward to bedtime.  She went to sleep easy as usual, but woke up several times during the night and came into our room.  Finally around 1:30 I gave up and let her sleep with us the rest of the night.  I thought about it the next morning and realized that this was something I was pushing for a little too soon.  She's not even two years old yet and it's not like we need the crib for a new baby.  So why am I trying to transition her when she's clearly not ready?  If she sleeps through the night in a crib, there is no reason to mess that up.  I know that at some point she'll be too big for her crib and may even start climbing out.  When that day comes it'll be back to the drawing board, but for now I'll let her sleep for when she wakes ... I'll have to wake too :)

Every time we sit down at the table for breakfast, lunch, or supper, I always say to A, "Ok bow your head, let's say the blessing."  Last night I put A in her highchair and made us all a bowl of spaghetti.  I turned around to put the bowls on the table and A looked at me, clasped her little hands, and bowed her head.  Needless to say while Daddy blessed the food, I cried happy tears! I must be doing something right! That was such a proud moment for this Momma.  My baby has learned how to bow her head and pray and that is one of the best lessons ever, for her and myself.  I've learned that she is growing up so so fast.  If I push too much, I'm going to look back one day and wish I had let her stay a baby a little longer.  And if I keep her little too long, I'll miss knowing that she's learning and grasping the lessons my husband and I are teaching her.  

Lately I've been stuck in a place wondering if I am pushing A to grow up too fast or keeping her a baby too long. Well, I'm so glad I learned it now before I blink and she's 5 years old heading off to kindergarten :)  I've realized that we're doing just fine and that with God's timing she will grow up and be who she's supposed to be.  My pushing and pulling isn't necessarily doing any good.  I have learned to let her be, she is a tiny little sponge soaking up new things everyday and is learning all the time whether I plan it or not!

Big Girl Bed!

  

    In her toddler bed, and sleeping sweetly back in her crib the next night :)


"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the Heavens." - Ecclesiastes 3:1