Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Build Them Up - Parenting

 

Well I can't tell you how happy I was to see this weeks topic this morning!  I can honestly say that last night was one of the hardest nights of parenting Brant and I have ever had. And yes, I questioned half of it wondering if I was doing the "right" thing, but over the course of the entire night, I realized that "right" for Emmalee may not be "right" for everyone else...and vice versa.

It all started at dinner.  We no longer make Em sit in her high chair.  She gets to sit in a regular chair at the table with mommy and daddy.  Well last night she had no interest in sitting, which has been a problem a few times but nothing to the extent of last night.  To put it in a nutshell, within the course of 30 minutes, she managed time out twice, and had to go to her bed.  (If she throws a royal fit in time out, or if time out doesn't work, we tell her she needs to go get in her bed until she can behave or calm down.  It is usually the last draw, but it usually works).  Well it didn't work!  She came out of her bedroom and wanted me to hold her.  Not going to happen - she needed to sit in her seat and eat her dinner.  So when I told her no, she hit me.  Back the bedroom she went...where she proceeded to scream bloody murder for the next 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, I had a bounding headache so I went to shut her door.  The back-breaker, I heard her crying "Bye Mommy, sorry.  Bye Mommy, sorry."  Those are words that just break my heart.  So I went in to talk to her.  I sat on her bed with her and we talked about why she was in her bed.  I asked her why she was screaming.  I explained that it is important to do what mommy and daddy ask her to do.  And that was the end of it.  She finished her dinner, and then we played....until 8:00.

Around 8, Em asked for applesauce and I got her some.  When she was finished, she put her bowl on the floor, so I asked her to pick it up and put it on the table so she didn't step in it.  Her response, "No.".  Again, I asked.  "No."  Enter Daddy.  He explained that mommy asked her to do something and she needed to do it.  "No."  After 3-4 minutes of Daddy and Mommy asking, Daddy ended up forcing her hand to the bowl, and making her pick it up.  It was an act of PURE defiance!  The first of it that I have ever seen come from my child.  Yes, there have been moments where she didn't want to do something, but this was something different.

It was in this moment that I began to ask myself "What are you doing?"  "Are you doing this parenting thing 'right'?"  "Is it just because she is 2?" 

And as I asked myself these questions, my prayer was "Oh Lord Jesus, please help me be the mom I am supposed to be."  Then the wise words of sweet friend came back to me.  They are words that she told me just in a story one day not long ago, but they are words with such impact that they have never left my heart.  And they are words that of wisdom shared with her from another mom, too.  And it was this fact:  God created you - exactly YOU - to be the mom your child needs.  He created YOU to raise them, not someone else.  He created YOU to supply their needs, and He created YOU to love just the way they need to be loved. 

God created ME to be Emmalee's mommy, not someone else.  He created Brant and I to raise her and love her, and teach her and discipline her in the ways that she needs.  Emmalee is strong-willed, and she needs strong-willed parents to help raise her in a way that will help her grow her strengths of leadership, but also help teach her that we don't always get our way.  He created us to teach her obedience to us and others.

So maybe our way of parenting isn't the "right" way for you to parent, but remember that God created YOU for YOUR child.  He equipped YOU to be what they need.   So seek Him in your parenting, because He will be all that YOU need to be a parent.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Blog Sale Link Up


 I am open to ALL offers and will happily make you a deal for multiple items!!!  Prices DO NOT include shipping, but I will ship the most cost-effective way possible. 

 To purchase, simply comment with "Sold" and your email address

Happy Shopping!  

Carters 3 month Pink/White Ruffle dress with diaper cover. EUC. $2.00

Hannah Anderson Size 70 (approx. 12) floral romper. EUC. $8.00
Carter's 12 months Polka Dot Ladybug dress w/ matching bloomers. EUC. $5.00  SOLD

Osh Kosh 12 Mth. Polo Ruffle dress with bloomers. VGUC $4.00


Janie & Jack Damask 12 mth. dress with bloomers (only worn twice). EEEUC $12.00  SOLD
ADORABLE Janie & Jack 12 mth. smocked dress in EEEUC (only worn once). (Runs big IMO). $16.00
NWOT GAP Ruffle Dress (does have bloomers) - super cute. $7.00
Size 6 red polka dot Puddle Jumpers in VGUC. $8.00  SOLD
Old Navy Yellow & White Polka Dot flip-flops. EUC. $2.00

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

19 Weeks - Pregnancy Update!

So I totally did an 18 week update, but completely forgot to take a picture, so I'm doing 19 weeks instead.  I wanted to do an update each month but I'm pretty much a slacker.  So, 19 weeks it is!  I can't believe that I am almost 1/2 way through - that is BIZARRE to think about! 

And yes, my belly is that big!  I think I was close to 25 or 26 weeks before I was even close to this big with Emmalee. 

How far along? 19 Weeks - ALMOST half way!!!

Size of baby: According to Babycenter.com, approx. 6" from head to rump.  However, on our sonogram last week, baby was 7.5" and weighed 9 oz.  Basically, the length of a big tomato! 

Total weight gain:10 pounds

Gender: Its a girl!!!!!  Madeline Grace Williams.

Everyone at my office was so excited to see what the baby was going to be that I brought cookies in the next day with pink icing.  This was the sign that was put above the cookie!  I just love that sweet profile.

Movement:Yes! Some days I feel more than others, but she is definitely in there.  I had been calling her a boy for quite awhile (because I honestly thought it was going to be) and those kicks would literally keep me up at night.  Now that I started calling her a girl, she is completely calm like her big sister was.  I guess she was just mad at me - HAHA!!!

Sleep: Ok. I do have to get up usually once in the night, but I'm sleeping pretty good. 

Maternity clothes: Yes.  About 1/2 and 1/2.  The maternity pants are definitely more confortable than my regular ones.

Symptoms: Hungry, get tired easily, and baby movement! .

Cravings: Nothing very specific, but I have aversions to sweet things. I can have something sweet every once in awhile, but I'm loving spicy food.  Burger? Yes, please with jalapenos!

What I miss: Not much.  I'm in the "happy" part of pregnancy!

Best moment from the past week:Seeing that sweet baby on the sonogram and finding out she is another sweet baby girl.  I am so excited to have sisters!

What I’m looking forward to:Holding this sweet baby and watching Emmalee with her.  Emmalee loves her already and I cannot wait to watch them interact 
 Doesn't that sweet grin say it all.  I cannot wait for her to meet her baby sister!

And just because she is still a momma's girl, she wanted to be in the picture too!!! 

Monday, May 6, 2013

Spanish Chicken and Potato Roast

So I was searching for some new recipes on the Food Network website and found this one.   It looked good, and easy, so I decided to give it a shot!  I did change it up a bit from the actual online recipe, so I'm going to give yo my version of it.



{Ashley's} Spanish Chicken & Potato Roast
(this was the perfect amount for our family of 3, so if yours is larger, then add some more chicken & potatoes!)

Ingredients:
  • one small pkg of small steak or fingerling potatoes
  •  1 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 TBSP EVOO
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 lb chicken boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • fresh ground pepper
  • 2 lemons (1 juiced, 1 thinly sliced)
  • 1 large onion thinly sliced
Directions:
Heat your oven to 500 degrees.

Start your potatoes by cutting them into bite-sized pieces.  Toss with garlis, EVOO, 1 TBSP water and about 1/2 tsp of salt.  Put in a large microwave-safe dish.  Cover either w/ a lid (but don't close it - just place it on the dish) or plastic wrap with a few holes punched in it.  Microwave for 8 minutes or until they are beginning to soften.

While that is in the microwave, start your chicken.  Pat your chicken dry and put in a bowl.  sprinkle with paprika, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.  toss the chicken and coat well.  Then sit aside to let it marinate for a few minutes.  Then slice your onions.

Prepare your baking dish with some non-stick spray.  Place your potatoes in the bottom of the dish, then add your onions on top.  Place your chicken on top of that.  Take any juice left from your marinade and pour over your chicken.& potatoes.  Take your thinly sliced lemons and place on your chicken.  Bake for approx. 20 minutes.


Thursday, May 2, 2013

"Mommy, I 'Wake"

Oh my goodness, something has to be done about Emmalee's recently-develop sleep habits. 

Please understand, Emmalee has always been a great sleeper.  She slept through the night at 8 weeks old.  There have been a few short periods of time where she has woken up in the middle due to sickness or teething, but nothing too severe. 

Well now that she is old enough to open doors, she has started getting up at 5 and 5:30, coming into our bedroom and saying "Mommy, I 'wake.  Mouse on please."  (translation:  Mom, I'm up and want to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, please.")

I usually put her in bed with us and tell her that Mouse is still sleeping, so she should sleep to.  But she doesn't.  She will rest her pretty-little head on my pillow, but she never goes back to sleep.  So when my alarm goes off around 6, she's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.  By the time its time for her to go to Mrs. Donna's she's falling alseep on the way, or is horribly fussy and whinny.

I honestly need your help!  I'm not a huge fan of locking her door, but did your toddler do this?  Even if they just woke up early and didn't get out of their bed, how did you help them get back to their normal sleep habints?

Help me moms, because I am at a loss.  I need guidance...and SLEEP!!