Saturday, March 31, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Big kid
Adeline has crossed that line from tantrum-y toddler to thoughtful big kid. Don't get me wrong, she still has her fair share of melt downs, but the balance is shifting. I couldn't be happier. She talks a lot more, ask more question, and comes up with her own far fetched answers. Her voice and vocabulary sound more like that of a kid in grade school.
Now our big hurdle is empathy. She either doesn't understand or care when she's hurt someone physically or mentally. Right now we're at the point of telling her that she's hurt someone and that she needs to say that she's sorry. I'm supposing that this is completely typical for a 3.5 year old. It's just tough when she laughs in your face after you've just told her that she's hurt you.
It's crazy how fast time flies, and how each stage brings relief that you're done with whatever crazy stage she was just in and excitement and worry for the new and probably challenging stage.
Now our big hurdle is empathy. She either doesn't understand or care when she's hurt someone physically or mentally. Right now we're at the point of telling her that she's hurt someone and that she needs to say that she's sorry. I'm supposing that this is completely typical for a 3.5 year old. It's just tough when she laughs in your face after you've just told her that she's hurt you.
It's crazy how fast time flies, and how each stage brings relief that you're done with whatever crazy stage she was just in and excitement and worry for the new and probably challenging stage.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Warm ups and lock downs
The Alaskan winter that I've known since October is over. It's warmer in the 20s and 30s and sunny. The sun is so bright and so close you forget that it's still right at freezing and you put on a light zip up hoodie and you're extremely comfortable. I love it.
But since Adeline's been sick, I'm reduced to only basking in the sun on the living room floor like a cat. She woke me up this morning at 6:45 proclaiming 'I'm not sick anymore, I don't have anymore boogers!' yay! Because she is an awful sick kid, when she has a stuffy nose. It's funny, well not funny at all, that the moment she's over her cold, BOTH babies get the coughs and stuffy noses. So we're all still on lock down, unable to enjoy spring. I'm using this down time to plan all of the parks and trails I plan on visiting. We're crazy close to lakes, woods, ocean, playgrounds, and hiking. And I plan on visiting them all.
The twins had their 6 month doctors appointment, and like usual, they were healthy with nothing to talk about really. I'm super thankful for that. I do ask about Ben's boy parts. I always feel so silly but I'm really not sure what's normal and what's not. So every skin fold, red spot, and wrinkle gets asked about. I'm pretty sure they doc laughs at me in his head.
Clogged nipple pores. Did I just scare some of you away? If you're a male, feel free to skip this part. I've always thought I had dried breastmilk stuck to me, but after reading a random tweet from a LC I'm pretty sure I've got clogged nipple pores. The Internet is evil for people like me. I start worrying that I'll get mastitis or other breast infections. I start worrying that I could have been making more milk, so the the twins wouldn't have to get formula. So I'm going to try and look at this with less emotion. I'll use warm compresses before and after I pump, I'll exfoliate in the shower, I probably won't heat a needle and pierce myself like some advice I read.
It's funny how becoming a parent makes poop, sickness, private parts, and all of the rest not so taboo. It's a normal part of my everyday life.
Another part of my everyday life, earthquakes. They're small, the largest I've felt at only 3.8, but they still frighten me. I start seeing scenes from The Exorcist as the house starts shaking. I don't know how to prepare myself or my family for a big one. I feel like I'd be going overboard if I started packing emergency backpacks with MREs, stocking up in water, etc etc. Maybe I'll slowly stock up, filling a Rubbermaid tub for an earthquake, tsunami, or blizzard. If I do this slowly it'll help me from going crazy about it.
But since Adeline's been sick, I'm reduced to only basking in the sun on the living room floor like a cat. She woke me up this morning at 6:45 proclaiming 'I'm not sick anymore, I don't have anymore boogers!' yay! Because she is an awful sick kid, when she has a stuffy nose. It's funny, well not funny at all, that the moment she's over her cold, BOTH babies get the coughs and stuffy noses. So we're all still on lock down, unable to enjoy spring. I'm using this down time to plan all of the parks and trails I plan on visiting. We're crazy close to lakes, woods, ocean, playgrounds, and hiking. And I plan on visiting them all.
The twins had their 6 month doctors appointment, and like usual, they were healthy with nothing to talk about really. I'm super thankful for that. I do ask about Ben's boy parts. I always feel so silly but I'm really not sure what's normal and what's not. So every skin fold, red spot, and wrinkle gets asked about. I'm pretty sure they doc laughs at me in his head.
Clogged nipple pores. Did I just scare some of you away? If you're a male, feel free to skip this part. I've always thought I had dried breastmilk stuck to me, but after reading a random tweet from a LC I'm pretty sure I've got clogged nipple pores. The Internet is evil for people like me. I start worrying that I'll get mastitis or other breast infections. I start worrying that I could have been making more milk, so the the twins wouldn't have to get formula. So I'm going to try and look at this with less emotion. I'll use warm compresses before and after I pump, I'll exfoliate in the shower, I probably won't heat a needle and pierce myself like some advice I read.
It's funny how becoming a parent makes poop, sickness, private parts, and all of the rest not so taboo. It's a normal part of my everyday life.
Another part of my everyday life, earthquakes. They're small, the largest I've felt at only 3.8, but they still frighten me. I start seeing scenes from The Exorcist as the house starts shaking. I don't know how to prepare myself or my family for a big one. I feel like I'd be going overboard if I started packing emergency backpacks with MREs, stocking up in water, etc etc. Maybe I'll slowly stock up, filling a Rubbermaid tub for an earthquake, tsunami, or blizzard. If I do this slowly it'll help me from going crazy about it.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Mama needs some grace
Being a mom is all about trial and error for me. I'm constantly using different voices, tones, evil eyes, punishments, time outs, etc etc. I've usually found the right combination for each situation 25% of the time. I told Mike yesterday that I feel like I'm batting with a .195 batting average and he's got a .350. And that's ok when we're together because we balance each other out, but when I'm alone, and Adeline's kicked the television over because I turned it off, Ben is screaming because he wants me to hold him, Morgan's screaming because she has gas, and my boobs hurt because I need to pump, my mommy brain doesn't think fast enough. It's only after the chaos that I can look at the past hour and critique myself and try to figure out a better plan of attack for next time. I made that sound a lot better than it really was. In reality I fought back tears and prayed for guidance, discernment, and forgiveness for losing my temper and spanking Adi. I know it isn't that big of a deal but I feel horrible about it. The next thing I know, I'm cuddling with Adi and painting her toenails. I guess some part of my subconscious thinks that maybe she's acting out/kicking/screaming because I'm not paying enough attention to her. I never thought that it'd be this hard to give everyone the attention they need. I need more arms, ears, well I need more mes for each kiddo. I'm also constantly asking myself if I'm doing it right, or what would the Aldermans/Napiers/Maneys/ or anyone we know with kids do?
I'm pretty sure that I will never have it all figured out, and my batting average will probably stay low, but I love my family and all u can do is pray and try again. And use pinterest to think of cute ideas for rewards, behavior charts, and discipline motivators.
I'm pretty sure that I will never have it all figured out, and my batting average will probably stay low, but I love my family and all u can do is pray and try again. And use pinterest to think of cute ideas for rewards, behavior charts, and discipline motivators.
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