Two

Today, we had Josiah's two-year-old check up. Even though he turned two at the end of September, our doctor was overbooked this fall, so we were late getting in.

Here are some highlights:

- In the examination room, before the doctor came in, Josiah was into everything. I always find this the most stressful time, trying to keep him out of cupboards, etc...

- Josiah took it upon himself to inform the doctor of everything that has been going on with him, including that his ears hurt last week (because he had an ear infection).

- He has a mild heart murmur that does not seem to be of concern, but it was the first time it was detected.

- I mentioned his ongoing difficulties with dairy products, so we are having him tested for food allergies in the new year. It will be great to know for sure whether it is an allergy or maybe just a lactose intolerance.

- The doctor said he was very strong and healthy. He measured at 38.5 inches tall and 40 pounds. This puts him off the charts (he was so far above the 100th percentile that he didn't even register on the graph at all). But he is very proportionate, so there is no concern about his size even though he is more like a three-and-a-half/four year old. The doctor said he may be very athletic based on his size and muscle mass (Daddy will be happy about this!).

- The doctor also commented on his vocabulary and said that he seemed like a very intelligent little guy. This is always nice to hear from someone other than a grandparent (who may or may not be a little biased at times!).

- Since he was two months old, this same doctor warned us that we would have our hands full with Josiah's activeness and strong-willed temperament. He commented again on this today, and talked to me about the phases of this in childhood. He also assured me that it does not mean he will be an unruly teenager, but that it is just a lot of work to parent him right now. (Our doctor had a child with a similar temperament, so I always appreciate his observations and advice in this area.)

- At the end, Josiah cleaned up all the toys, marched out to the waiting room and said good-bye to every person who was waiting. He then proceeded into the secretary's office to say good-bye and Merry Christmas, and she gave him a sticker.

- When we got home, he was telling Daddy about the appointment and he said he was going to fight the doctor (this means wrestle).

- And that's my two-year-old.

Update

- I have been dealing with a sick kid...thankfully he was able to tell us that his ears were hurting for the first time, so we caught the ear infection early.

- I caught a cold, and have been feeling miserable (the reason for no new posts lately). I continue to struggle with some other health issues, and am seeing a specialist tomorrow morning.

- I attended the Christmas celebration banquet at my mom's group last week. It was wonderful as usual!

- I went to breakfast with a friend, and then shopping with no kids. What a relaxing and enjoyable morning!

- Josiah went to play at his grammie and grampie's house so I could have some shopping time last week (so nice to have space to think and wander and browse without digging in my purse every minute for a toy or snack or drink or bribe or distraction...I have a big purse!).

- I overdid it at the mall on Saturday (yes, THE Saturday before Christmas), where I spent four hours squeezing through crowds. Thankfully, I am almost finished...now for the wrapping part (you may be getting your present in a grocery bag this year if things don't pick up around here!).

- I attended my Christmas staff party, which was held at a swanky little French restaurant. And I spent my Christmas bonus on a new mattress and protector for Josiah (oh, to be selfish again!).

- Chris missed his staff party the following night because he was sick (and I was too).

- Josiah has done a great job of ignoring the wrapped gifts under the tree. He has, however, decided that his shopping cart causes a huge stir when it is rammed into the Christmas tree after a good running start...the shopping cart will be banned until after the holidays. Hopefully this year, he does not remember that the broom makes a great whacking stick for the 'pinata' tree (sorry mom!).

- Despite feeling sick and busy and overwhelmed, I have felt peace. Not because things are great, but because God is.

Last Weekend

Last weekend, my sister and I went to Quebec City.

Here are some highlights from the trip:

I was sent off at the airport at 5:30 on Friday morning by Chris and Josiah.



I flew into Montreal and met up with Andrea there. We arrived at the hotel around 10:30 and we took a quick break before starting the day.



Since Friday was the longest day we had to tour, shop, etc...we wanted to make the most of it. Being the highly organized person she is, Andrea had a walking map already plotted. It was so beautiful walking around downtown. The buildings are so old, and it does have a European flair.





There was a little difficulty reading some of the signs...and everything there is French. Although I do not speak French well at all, reading and understanding came alright to me.



We asked one of the locals where we could find authentic poutine, and this was the spot! A very unassuming and BUSY little spot.



It was all decked out for Christmas and looked so beautiful, especially in the evenings when everything was lit up.





The market was one of my favorite places to visit. It featured hundreds of local products. I liked it so much, that I went back the next day.



The streets in the lower part of the city looked like sidewalks. People walked right up the middle of the streets until cars came. Here is a picture that we took, as a car swerved around us!



These are some random pictures of downtown:















On Saturday, I did some shopping and sight seeing in the morning by myself, because Andrea attended a work conference for the day. I did not bring my camera, because it was very wet and snowy. I relaxed for a while in the afternoon, before getting ready to go out that evening. When Andrea got off at 5, we headed out to do some more shopping and then met her co-workers at a beautiful Italian restaurant.

Sunday morning, we set out in search of crepes. We found them!



We did a little more sight seeing before we headed to the airport. Then, we flew into Montreal together before getting on our own flights.



Thoughts about the weekend:
- I love shopping!
- It was so great to only think about myself for three whole days.
- I have a wonderful husband who not only encourages me to go away, but gives me extra spending money :).
- Quebec is a beautiful city with so much heritage. We are definitely lacking that kind of architectural integrity in other parts of the country.
- The food, although expensive, was amazing. I loved not having to cook or meal plan.
- The quality of air travel has declined since the last time I flew, and I'm glad I don't have to fly very often.
- I love spending time with my sister, and wish that we still lived in the same city.
- Although the break was amazing, I missed my guys and was very thankful to have them both to come home to. Josiah ran to greet me at the airport, and yelled, "Mommy!" He dragged my little suitcase all the way from the luggage belt to the truck.
- I need to plan more times like this!

Self-Esteem

I read this article
(http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=234437) today, and found it to be quite interesting. As a professional who worked with troubled kids in school, I always had difficulty rewarding for behavior that every other kid was doing, or giving special privileges to the undisciplined kids.

The other night, I was talking with a friend who teaches high school. It was the first that I have heard of a 'no-zero' policy, which prohibits teachers from giving out zeros. I was astounded by the extra work this has placed on teachers, and the lack of character and responsibility it is instilling in kids. It connects with what the author of this article is saying too, that it is unacceptable for a kid to feel like their work is sub-par even when it is.

As I parent, I am searching for the best way to raise my child. I know that I don't want him to end up like the kids mentioned in the article; however, I also know from experience what it is like to grow up in a house that offered little praise and too much comparison. So I am trying to find a balance...so hard. Anyway, just some thoughts!

This Week...

- I am getting ready for my trip! So excited!

- I had a whole morning to myself, when my sister-in-law offered to take Josiah so I could do some Christmas shopping. This was such a nice gift! I had a very enjoyable and productive morning. It is amazing how clear and efficient one can be without kids.

- Josiah has been fighting something. He slept until 7:40 this morning. Those of you who know him understand what a big deal this is! He's pale and quiet and just not himself. (Really hoping we don't get sick before my trip and that he is able to get rid of this soon too!)

- I found a pretty Christmas centerpiece for the table. I had been looking for the right thing for a while...something simple. I will try to post a picture of it after my decorating is done.

- I prepared my advent calendar. It was fun to find verses for each day, pick special candies to fit behind the doors, and include some fun activities/challenges.

- Chris has been in a sorting mood. Several garbage bags have left our house. It feels great to have reduced our clutter, especially before trying to decorate for Christmas.

- In lieu of coffee/tea, I have been enjoying chai and apple cider.

- I participated in a cookie exchange this week, so my freezer is ready for holiday company!

- I still don't have Christmas cards done! If you don't get one this year, you'll know why!

- We went to the Christmas parade on the weekend. Josiah was in awe. It was all of his favorite things...thousands of people, action, lights, and snow. What a beautiful night! It was cute to watch his expressions. He waved frantically at the people on the floats. The only things he wasn't crazy about was one of the marching bands (very loud) and a Sponge Bob float- I don't think he's ever seen this character before, but he didn't look impressed.

- We are going to try out a new teen babysitter for some of our Christmas parties/activities. Hoping that goes well, and that it can possibly lead to more outings in the future! It would be very exciting to think that Chris and I might be able to go shopping for Josiah together instead of alone as we have always had to do!

- We went bed shopping for Josiah this week, just to get some prices, etc...I can't believe it is almost time for my baby to leave his crib! I can't believe how much twin beds and bedding cost!

- I have not been cleaning...

- I've been wanting to move.

- Have I mentioned that I leave tomorrow for my trip:)! I'll post some pics next week when I get back!

'Christmas Offering'

This is such an amazing song! Our worship team did this one today, and it was such a great reminder at the start of this season to make everything I do be filtered through the grid of His sacrifice.

Today, I am feeling tired and frustrated. I can't remember the last time I felt rested, that my house felt clean, that I didn't feel overwhelmed and underwhelmed all at the same time. Please understand, I love being a mom. It is a huge blessing and privilege that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. It's just that lately I feel pushed beyond my limit, my reserves are so low, and I'm not sure how to change any of that right now.

In the last month, I have read a book about strong-willed children. I cried when I read it, especially the intro, because I felt for the first time since becoming a parent that someone had written what I am experiencing. Everything feels so hard all the time. Josiah is an amazing child, and I wouldn't change a thing about him. It is just sometimes hard to know how to parent him in a way that works for all of us. I feel like I am always saying no to the same things, disciplining for the same things, and it sometimes feels like the message is not getting through.

Probably part of the problem is the lack of care I have been able to give myself in this process. I can't remember the last time I just went out and did something purely fun for myself that did not involve kids. I don't remember the last outing that did not involve doing errands or getting groceries. I really need to change this. It's just hard. Time is always an issue. Childcare is always an issue. And energy at the end of a day is often a problem too. Chris encourages me to go out when he gets home, but after putting in a 12-14 hour work day, I just don't feel like it a lot of the time.

Sorry for the long vent. I just felt like writing all of this might help me to process it and try to change something. Just having one of those long days...Tuesday and Thursdays are super-long shifts!

This morning, Josiah marched over to the fridge, swung it open (this is a problem), and said, "Uuuummmmm, eggs...and pancakes please." Apparently the short-order chef is on vacation, because he had to settle for cereal, raisins, and an apple!

First Snow

Apprehensive at first...



Making snow balls...



Sticky...



Helping...



A little snack...



Still eating...


And 'first' hot chocolate to warm up...



Bedtime prayer: "Thanks for snow...it's fun...I'm going play in snow tomorrow...more hot chocolate mommy!"

Sorry I have not written in a while. I haven't been feeling well, but am slowly recovering. There is not much new going on with us. Here are a few things we've been doing:

1) Last week I went to visit my mom. Josiah had been asking forever when he was going to see his Grammy, and I decided that it was time. It was nice to get away, visit family, and have a break.

2) I had a horrible experience with a bag of rice from a local oriental market. I opened it, and it was crawling...literally. I could not differentiate between the rice itself, maggots, worms, etc... It was the most disgusting thing ever. I wish it had stopped there. I returned it, and then a few days later we started seeing pantry moths. We had to throw out every opened dry good, and we never found the source. We are pretty sure they hatched from something in that rice bag...never again!

3) I am eagerly planning a trip to Quebec City with my sister in December. I am so excited! We have a few really neat things planned.

4) We've been trying to take potty training to the next level, and not sure if I'M ready!

5) I received some very good news about an unexpected Christmas bonus from my old job!

6) I am grieving for a huge loss suffered by some friends this week.

7) As I learn more about parenting, I have very much appreciated a couple of books by James Dobson. Although we have chosen not to spank (and he does suggest it), there are so many other helpful strategies that I am trying. It is so hard to be consistent, loving, and have long-term vision when it comes to these issues. I fail every day, but I keep trying and praying for the wisdom that I so desperately need.

8) Due to the health issues I mentioned, I am completely off of any form of caffeine. This has been a lot easier than I thought it would be. I don't really think about it until someone else feels sad for me!

9) I've been growing increasingly tired of 'stuff.' Feeling a big purge coming on!

10) Lastly, I have been appreciating all of the ways that Chris has taken up my slack around the house since I've been under the weather. He has done so much, on top of the extra hours he has taken at work because of my job loss. I am very blessed to have someone who steps in without complaint and does what needs to be done! I have been blessed by others who have helped or offered to help out in various ways.

Lately, I have been...

...playing hide-and-seek.



...laughing at the grocery store (Josiah said, "Bye-bye sweetie" to all of the ladies we passed on the way out of the store, including all of the cashiers. He also spent most of another trip saying, "I need that, I need that," as he passed things that he thought he couldn't live without. On an errand with Chris, Josiah looked up at a large, inflatable Santa Claus and asked, "It's God?").

...trying to explain to Josiah who God is and why I can't find pictures of him on the Internet.

...loving it when Josiah says a big, long, "Uuuummmmmmm," before he talks.

...making sushi.

...walking in the rain.

...trying to figure out this parenting/disciplining thing.

...reading lots of books, and listening to Josiah 'read' his own books aloud.

...enjoying this season of "The Office", and not looking forward to what is coming at the end of the season!

...thinking about Christmas, how to celebrate, what to buy...

...liking my fixed haircut.

...running out of things.

...tired of meal planning.

...needing a break, and hope I can last until December!

...wondering what will happen next year.

...needing to clean, sort, and organize, but I'm just not in the mood.

...thinking of everyone who has suffered so that I could live free.

...not feeling great some of the time.

...finding used toys for Josiah at Value Village that he loves as much as the new ones, including some vintage 'Little People.'

...appreciating friendships.

...teaching Josiah how to share (How long does this take?!).

...wishing spring was here.

...trying to be content and enjoy each day.

Weekend Away

We had a visit with my sister and her family on the weekend, so I thought I'd share a few pictures of our time there.

On Saturday, we went downtown and took the ferry. Here are Chris and Josiah by the docks:



This is Josiah and his cousin Wesley:



Chris and Dan:



We missed the first ferry, so we had a bit of time to wait for the second one:



This was Josiah's first experience on a boat of any kind. He wasn't sure what to think...but he's still talking about it!





Dan and Andrea treated us to a really neat, bustling little cafe with a European flair...very enjoyable! Here is Josiah tickling Wesley:



The boys did really well together for the most part. Of course, the usual sharing toys (and mommy) issues, however, Wesley is the first kid that Josiah has willingly shared his precious Bo with! It is very sweet to watch them together.



Bath time was not quite as enjoyable for Josiah. He is still saying, "Wesley splashed, mommy."



It is always hard to come home after being with family, and knowing that I won't see them again for a while. Although, I am looking forward to a weekend away with Andrea in December!

Chris and I have often survived on a limited income, due to putting ourselves through school. Chris was also a student for the first seven years we were married, and I finished my BEd. during that time. So, needless to say, things have often been tight. Now, being off work, I have a little more time to 'save' us some money. This is hard, because the more time I have means the more time I want to shop!

These are a few of the things I/we have been doing to cut costs:

-Shopping for used clothes/items (we've been doing this for a long time).

- Using homemade baby wipes, which are way cheaper and nicer than the bought ones (this idea/recipe/supplies were a baby shower gift from Chris' brother/sister-in-law that we have loved!).

- Giving free hair cuts to Chris and Josiah (I loved those couple years of freedom when I didn't have to do this).

- Giving a free hair cut to myself (please never do this...there is always money for your own haircut. I wish someone had reminded me of that before Josiah's nap today! I also know exactly what I want, and could cut it for someone else. But I didn't realize until part way through that I REALLY couldn't do anything with the back. So now I have to go and get it fixed and endure those 'looks' from hair stylists:).

-Baking more (especially items like wraps, specialty breads, etc...that can really add up. It's also very hard to buy the store-version of these things once you've made them yourself!).

- Cooking/buying more in bulk (this can see expensive for the first few months, but saves a HUGE amount of money if you can stick with it long enough for it to pay off).

- Cooking simpler meals.

- Making laundry soap (I don't think I will ever buy again!)

- Using dryer balls instead of static sheets (the cheap ones are loud!).

- Making hand soap (I'm still experimenting with this! The first batch is a little stringy...but it's so much cheaper, and better than using a bar). (NOTE: If you have a husband like mine who does not like the idea of homemade soap, try only having a bar of soap available for a couple of weeks, and he'll be begging for your homemade liquid version- even if it is a little sticky!). I'm sure I will find a better recipe yet, but I did have fun adding my own scents.

- Making bath salts.

- Making facial cleansers...I love this!

- Obsessively turning everything off when it isn't being used.

- Cutting coupons, bargain shopping, buying local or in-season produce.

- Using local 2-for-1 coupon book for family outings/dates (can't afford dates, but will use coupons when we can!).

- Getting a bus pass, and trying to walk more instead of driving when it can work.

These are a few things I would like to try to make: dish soap, shampoo, multi-purpose cleaner that doesn't smell like vinegar, toilet paper (okay, maybe not)...

Any other ideas for ways to save money or make homemade versions of household items?
(Oh, and Bob, watering down the ketchup doesn't count...I already tried!)

Bo

Do you notice a pattern in these pics?





If you were to look through our thousands of pictures, you'd notice the scruffy, saggy looking stuffed dog in the background. He was a gift from us last Christmas, and the two of them have been inseparable since that time. The problem is that this dog seriously needs a bath! If you have been around lately, you've probably smelled him. I think it might be worse than real dog smell, which is disgusting!

Here is the last time Bo had a bath, and sunned himself dry (summer seemed easier!):



So I have been plotting ways that this might take place again. The problem is that Josiah is NEVER willing to let him go anymore. My first thought was that I would sneak in after he was sleeping, snatch the dog, wash him, and hope that he dried by the next morning. As I considered this more, I remembered the dozens of times Josiah looks for Bo in the night to help him get back to sleep.

Tonight, I am ashamed to say that I tried to reason with my toddler (I have always found this to be ridiculous, but I was desperate!). I told Josiah that Bo was very dirty and that I was going to take very good care of him and give him a bath,and that he would be all clean and ready to play in the morning. He seemed fine with it...until I walked out of room with Bo, and I heard the shrillest scream that has ever come out of Josiah. He was yelling, "Hug Bo, hug Bo.." Obviously, I had to return him. Josiah is still awake, and he just called me in to tell me that he is keeping Bo and, "Mommy no clean Bo..."

I would LOVE some advice on how to do this in a painless way! Any suggestions?

Moose

The other day, we were sitting at the table when we saw this coming in the distance:



It walked all the way around the pond, and up the path by our house:



We are still wondering how it got there, because it came from the direction of downtown. Even people from across the river drove over in order to get a closer look. It was very exciting, especially for Chris and Josiah!



Chris followed it from a distance to take some pictures, and as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone.

It reminded me of a time a few years ago that my sister and I were having lunch downtown, and we saw a moose running down the street just outside the restaurant!

Being Home

Many people have been asking me what it is like now that I am home full-time, so I thought I would write about a few things that I have experienced. (Disclaimer- none of this is meant to be a judgement about staying at home, working, or both. It's just a glimpse of my story. I didn't realize until I became a parent what a sensitive topic this is!)

As many of you know, my part time job ended in September. Although I enjoyed working along with being home, I hadn't realized how difficult this is to do until I had more time to reflect.

When people would hear about our schedule, they would comment that it was ideal. Chris stayed home with Josiah while I was working, and some of my work could also be done from home. It was a blessing in many ways, but I never realized how busy and stressful it was too. I found that writing psychological reports was very difficult, especially if I was tired or if the house was getting out of hand. The pace was a little crazy too, and I always felt rushed and like I had a million things on my 'to-do' list.

Here are a couple of pictures I took of my office before I left (does the 'client' look familiar?!):







It was a positive experience overall, and I am thankful to God for the opportunity and provision.

Things have slowed down a lot in the past month! Here are some of the positive things:

1) I have had more time to enjoy Josiah, and I am trying to make the most of each day.

2) Because my mind is not preoccupied with reports, I can think of more interesting things for us to do and I am able to be more present.

3) My free time is actually free! (Some people work from home easily, and some type of work is easily done from home; however, I did find this a challenge).

4) Nap times and after bedtime is now spent on cleaning more, baking, and other domestic tasks that were often ignored before. Other times I am able to read/reflect on parenting skills so I can become better at my job. I also find that I have more time to think, write, and be a little creative.

5) I have more time to schedule play dates and spend time with friends.

6) Potty training has become a priority. Josiah is now sitting on the potty several times a day, and he uses it about 1-3 times each day...progress! I didn't have the time or ability to be as consistent when I was working too.

7) I have been more deliberate about taking pictures and videos again.

8) I am working out a lot more.

9) I have had time to read books!

10) I have more head-space to organize and plan. Also, to work through some personal issues that have been on the back burner.

11) I have more time to spend with Chris, and I'm not so tired on our days off.

Overall, I am really enjoying these changes. Part of me misses getting dressed up for work, and not having anything spilled on me all day. I miss talking with adults on a regular basis. I miss the paycheck! I miss having something all to myself that was not touched by anyone else in my home, like my clean office! I am also struggling with adjusting my expectations. I feel that I should be super-mom now, and I really struggle if my house is messy at the end of the day since I am home to clean it! At least before I had a better excuse when I was struggling! I am also surprised by how many things are still on my 'to-do' list. I used to hear adults say, "There just aren't enough hours in a day..." I didn't get it, and thought it sounded silly. Now, I understand! I don't think it matters what we do or where we work or what phase of life we are in, it can get busier than we'd like!

But there are just too many moments to be missed for spotless kitchen floors (and I LOVE spotless floors!).

Here are a couple of pictures that I took of Josiah on our days home. We made a tunnel out of a diaper box that made for hours of fun!













Oh, and did I mention that we have WAY more time?! Come on over and visit!