Gratitude #2 - Problem Solvers

Today I am grateful for a husband that not only listens to what goes on in my day, but responds by trying to solve the problems I encounter. As an example, today I was unusually frustrated and couldn't seem to find anything... or just two things I needed at the time. I am not one to misplace things very often (at least prior to 3 children) and it was really making me crazy looking for them. I am also not one who enjoys receiving help and so, never asks for it. Todd came home and quietly went about searching for the seemingly unfindable. Of course, he found one (so far) in a place it should have been found easily (ouch! this will be just another reason to mock me for being so absent minded!) and I'm sure he'll come across the other, probably before I can even get back to looking. It's hard for me to accept the help but in reality, I am truly grateful. Problems do get solved much faster when you have a second person on the job.

Gratitude #1 - TIME

I have been wanting to begin writing about something more than just what my kids do on a daily basis...maybe write something that PROVES I am MORE than JUST their mom and that I have an identity aside from that motherly existence. As it stands, I am having a hard time coming up with anything. So sad, but I think maybe I need to prove this to myself! What were my ambitions prior to being a mom...my dreams? Did I have any?

On another note, I have been thinking a lot about GRATITUDE lately and would like to work on being more gratious. One way is to be able to recognize the things you are grateful for on a more constant basis. I mean really, there are so many things I could so easily feel gratitude for...where to begin? As a way to kill two birds with one stone (so to speak) I am going to try writing something I am grateful for each day through Christmas... ok.... let's say, at least a few time a week (I can't commit to a daily blog!). Here's my first entry!

Today I am grateful for TIME. I know some days feel as though they fly by in the blink of an eye and then there are some that drag on, each moment focused on enduring until the next. Today was neither. I have realized with my recent addition in responsibility, that TIME is typically my enemy. There are never enough hours in a day to do all that needs to be done. I am a completely task driven person who seems to rely on her ability to accomplish as a means of self esteem. This works well when you are only in charge of you but when faced with the challenge of raising children and the monotony of being at home... I rarely feel the satisfaction of a job well done... and a job, well, a job completed. I love to make task lists but those lists tend to look the same from day to day.... partially because I have yet to complete the task and partially because once completed, it needs to be done yet again. Well, today started earlier than usual (could this be a clue... getting up early could help???) and I was able to fit in much more than my typical day. This does not mean I have much to show for the hours spent, but I feel better than on other typical days. I am GRATEFUL for the TIME I spent today READING with Ava and Andrew, HELPING Ethan with his homework, and cooking a really tasty Chicken Pesto Pannini in my George Foreman grill for dinner. I do not feel as though I accomplished much, and yet, strangely satisfied with the way my day was spent. Funny how if you prioritize your day working first on the things that really matter but can't be completed, you find a strange sense of satisfaction you can't get from a checked off list.

While I'm thinking about it....

There are so many strange word pronunciations that Ethan uses or has used in his short life. I am always forgetting to document them...so here are a few:
"Vacuum" = gacuum
"Yogurt" = milgret
"Bedroom" = bejroom (this one became very obvious when he tried to use it in a paper written at school. He spelled it exactly as it sounded to him (bejrom) and then I knew I needed to help him pronounce things a bit more accurately)
"Feathers" = feders (or fedrs as he spelled it)
Really, almost anthing with the "th" sound
"Transformers, more than meets the eye"= transformers, more than zens the skies (...what?)
"Crayons" = crowns
The best part is he rarely believes us when we tell him he is saying it wrong. I guess I'll just have to wait until his teacher backs me - what she says goes:)

Andrew is 4 months old!

Ok - so he turned 4 months on the 12th. (I really can't seem to get this done on time!) What can I say about this one except that he keeps me on my toes...already. No, he is not quite crawling in the traditional sense of the word but he gets around! He gets up on all fours, scoots here and there, rolls over a few times for good measure, and somehow manages to be somewhere other than where I laid him down. I know it is just a matter of days until he really is crawling and then I'm really in trouble. He is sleeping better at night...at least most of the time. The sleep training is difficult as he cries and scoots and then cries some more because he has scooted himself right into the corner of the crib with no way out. It's almost sad...in fact, I think I could feel bad for him if it wasn't the 10th time in a night I had to rescue him! But, the kid has the BEST smile! It melts me and I am putty in his hands. He is such a mamma's boy, which normally I'm not excited about, but again with the smile. He sees me and it's all grins and giggles and his eyes never stray. It's kind of fun to be adored this way - even if it's because I am the milk truck. Funniest thing about him...his LONG tongue! You have already seen this per my previous post, but really, it's long. He's really into licking everything so we see it a lot at this point in his life. He is my biggest child so far (though the differences between the 3 are almost miniscule) at 26" long and 12lbs. 12oz. he is tall for his age (75th percentile) and petite for his weight (10th). I bet he would gain a little weight if he would sit still occasionally!

Hmmm....Who does this remind you of?

Could it be?

Flushed Away....

Many, many interesting things are overheard outside the bathroom when my small children are busy doing their thing. My favorite to date, however, comes from my sweet almost 3 year old, Ava. As she flushes the toilet, she quite regularly calls out, "flushed away....." and you can see her peering into the toilet as the water swirls around. Then just like that, she's done and it's back to business!

Friends

The most common thing you will hear around my house is..."Mom, can we play with Ethan and Kylie?" This is heard every day at least 10 times....no matter what we are doing or what is going on. Who is Ethan and Kylie you ask? Only their best friends and neighbors down the street. Fortunately for me, I like them too!

The Halloween Post

I know, I'm late but better late than never. Halloween was fun this year. We had the ward Trunk or Treat on Saturday and then the neighborhood Trick or Treat on Wednesday. Ethan was a Transformer in a nice polyester jumpsuit and mask he was not willing to wear. On the Saturday event, we spray painted his hair white and painted his face blue but he thought he would wear his voice changer helmet on Halloween so we didn't mess with the makeup. I think the helmet lasted for 2 houses and ended up in the stroller. Ava was Cinderella (of course). She really made a beautiful Cinderella and got a blister to prove that she was, in fact, wearing the glass slippers! I am truly a slacker as I did not dress Andrew up. He spent the whole night wrapped in a blanket cat-napping in the stroller anyway so it really didn't matter. I suppose the downside is the lack of any pictures of "baby's first Halloween". Oh well. There will be many others.

Shortly after Halloween, the candy fairy came to visit and replaced the kids candy with a Transformer and a Disney Princess doll. Ethan was amazed and grateful that the fairy was so smart and knew there was a boy and a girl here in this house and that he really wanted a new Transformer. Yes, pretty smart!