Growl...from below

I heard Z. growling, so I thought I'd catch a few seconds of it. We were about to go get L. at preschool (which is why she's in her carseat), but isn't that always when things like that happen. My girl had some force to that dirty (cloth) diaper. A bath was in order before we could leave the house. *sigh*
Wait for my Southern twang, then turn up the volume.

Sweet & thoughtful parent email from a pal

This pic was taken (the night I trimmed L's bangs...poor guy) of my kiddos both (Zora only got a min. of this...while I got laundry from downstairs) watching a video by Scholastic. They are doing as they see B. & I do...chilling for a video. ;)
WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING


A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.


When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'


I really liked this, but I also feel it's important to "explain" things to our kiddos. For example...When Langston recently asked if he could have something big, I said "No, that's an expensive gift. It costs a lot of money. You may ask for that for Christmas or birthday." He then asked, "If I got it, would we have no more money?" (My thirty-year-old-three-year-old was a little worried.) I told him that we do this thing called "budget" so that we'll always have enough money. We also give money to people who need things, save for when mom & dad are "retiring," or not working & being paid, and save for college for both of our kiddies.
When we got home (we were on a walk), I showed him our "budget notebook" with all its divisions. I explained how the money from WIU to daddy goes into the account at the bank every month & then gets divided up into these sections. Then we subtract when we spend money on toothpaste or food or whatever. He really seemed to understand & enjoy learning it. Then he showed me a budget that he & Rocky did when they got their "allowance." ;)

Hey...what's in my soap?

Not a hair or a toy, but really what's in there? Jessie & I chatted for a minute today & I was reminded that I needed to do this post. Someone special sent me this link of an awesome data base called Skin Deep (by Enviromental Working Group, or EWG) a long time ago & it has become an important one to look at when I need to purchase sunscreen, make-up, soap, shampoo, baby wash, etc.
If you want to know how "safe" your products are (or what you are really lathering your baby up in), type in a product name on the "search." This data base (along with a few articles) has helped me narrow the products I use down considerably.
In our shower right now: Dr. Bronner's soap in lavender & baby (which can even clean wood floors!), Jason Organics shampoo & conditioner in lavender, baby Avalon Organics shampoo & wash, & the random bar of Ivory or Dove sensitive skin for when I run out of my on-line products during low budget times. Now, the Ivory & Dove soaps still have the evil "sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate," but no fragrance or anything else, so the hazard is still a 3. EWG's rankings are based on all kinds of things: chemicals, irritants, whether or not the company tests on animals, etc. And you can check boxes to show what's most important, to you, in a product. They have these products ranked according to "safety" with numbers 0-10. Safest win a 0-2 ranking; 3-6 gets moderate; 7-10 means "time to switch," in my opinion!
I purchase some things from our local health food store, by it's just a small, 1-vitamin-lady deal, so it's impossible for her to fill our needs. I also order from Omni Supplements & Drugstore.com mostly. I think that Target & some other chain stores (which are not located in Macomb) sell some of these things.
Other awesome brands to look for are: California Baby, Burt's Bees (makes wonderful baby wash & chemical free sunscreen) Tom's of Maine (check out the barsoap, d.o. & toothpaste), Avalon (shampoo with yummy, essential oil scents). *I also started using all Bare Escentuals (Bare Minerals) or Larenim makeup...when I use makeup. :)
Oh! And while I'm thinking of essential oils in shampoos...let me say that if your loved one contracts head lice while at school or preschool this year DO NOT USE RID or any other dangerous chemical! There are a few combos of essential oils that will kill the little boogers without putting more pesticide on your baby's head than you'd use in your yard. I have loaned out my books on that topic right now (I'll post it later), but I know that lemon & ylang-ylang are two of the preventative oils in the mix (so I'm pretty sure they'll kill 'em, too). I also know that Avalon makes shampoos & conditioners with these oils in them. These items are on my shopping list for October. If I can just shampoo lemon-scented-prevention into Langston's scalp & not have to worry so much about bugs in his lovely locks...amen!

Langston "the crafter" Key

Um, yes, that would be Sharpie all over my kid in the top picture. (He's on the potty bc he's about to get a soak...an attempt to scrub...with baking soda & dove soap...all this marker off!) This event took place as I was cleaning up, holding Zora, & on the horn with my funny pal, Bekki, who had just mentioned that she had a funny thought, "the only way I can get out of working this job is to have a kid." Seriously, Bekki!! Ahhhh! Has being my friend taught you nothing?! I won't rant here b'c her love, Ryan, is gone & I'm sure she's lonely, but trust me, unless you feel like you are about to burst if you don't have a child...like you are thirsting for a baby like a stranded person in a desert thirsts for water...don't give it another thought! (This goes for you, too, Cassie, & all my other childless girlfriends! Kids are the best, most time & life-consuming "things" ever. You'll love them so much it hurts, but sometimes it also hurts in other places: your wallet, your watch, your love life, your sleep schedule, & have I mentioned your figure?) When you are "dying" for a baby, they are the sweetest gift from God, but if you aren't "there" in life, don't do just because you are "sick" or "bored" with work. They are work!
And now, on to my L-town. He's a hoot. Here he is with his snails. Yes, snails. He loves any insect, slimey thing, etc. They are learning about insects in school right now, so he's having a blast. I also must post this thought that I shared with Bekki about L.
He loves to sing, dance, act, draw, read, & craft, among other things. I might have made a mistake by doing SO much of this with him daily before Zora, because now he goes into "craft withdrawls" sometimes. I really think he's addicted to crafting. (Yes, Debi, laugh at me now! :) He will beg to do "just one cwaft" some days. When he gets to do one, he tapes in somewhere in the house, or waits till Barclay comes home (& sometimes tells B. to take it to his office, which he does.:) When he actually works up tears if I cannot craft with him I sometimes think...
"This is my kid. This is my kid on craft. Any questions?"

Langston's preschool pirate song

This is what my big boy learned today in preschool. Bear with him. He gets excited...and sister wants to join in, which distracts him. :) I love fun little songs. Yea, Langston!

We miss you already, DeWitts!

Langston & Preston at Jen's house...a boyband in the making! The hair dos are the best!!
Just another day of chalk, balloons, & not wanting to go inside. :)


I've gotta' give a shout out to my pal, Jennifer. We were neighbors, buddies, & moms who found each other waaaaaay too late. (We lived only a couple of houses down from one another, but didn't even know it for the better part of a year!) Once we met, we called & hung out within less than a week (pretty fast movin' after a first date!). Sometimes, it's tough to find a great mommy friend. I feel like society sets us up to hate on one another through all the "stay-at-home vs. work outside the home" mommy battles. The truth is we are all doing the same things...above all loving our children. I am thankful for all the different type mom friends I have. We all have our own way of doing things. I glean wisdom from one mom as I disagree with another, but that's life.
My friendship with Jen is one of the most fun kind bc we shared a lot in common, so we could tease each other about our over-protective ways, joke about never getting to scrapbook again, feel mutual remorse with the extra baby weight still hanging (all) around, all while watching our boys hop around (& sometimes hug & kiss...they were alike, too). We hope you will be blessed in Indiana. We'll miss y'all, Jen, Preston, & Chase!! We love you!

My name is Zora, hear me growl

Zora's new thing is "growling." She does it all the time. (During communion, at the "Y" nursery while I work out, if I don't feed her cereal fast enough, ...) I turned on the camera & said, "make her growl" & this is what we got. :)
**I kept wondering, "where is she getting that?" until one night recently when my eldest growled at me for not doing what he wanted when he wanted (he was punished for it), but I then realized from whence the growl emerged.

Gimme 5!

Big, little Zora is five months old! I can hardly believe it....and I can hardly get anything done...or say that I have lost the baby weight...or admit that I have yet to scrapbook her birth....*sigh* You get the picture. But, one thing I have done...I have enjoyed this sweet girl. She's got such a great personality. She smiles so much. :) I love her giggle, her big grin, her sweet, soft, squishy skin, her little fuzzy fraggle hair. I love to snuggle up to her (she's a cuddling kind of baby). I love to watch her watch Langston. They are interacting much more sweetly now that I tripled punished him for mean times (& now that she responds more to his goofy antics). I am so in love with my babies!

Five little speckled frogs...

Langston couldn't remember all the words to the "speckled frogs" song that he sings at school (& I was informed "they were eating bugs, not flies, mom!"), so I googled the title of this post & got the cutest webpage. Check it out, moms!
Cullen's ABCs will certainly be bookmarked in our house!
Btw, the pic is L. & pals, at school, with his favorite teacher, Ms. Ann. She is wonderful!

You know what I mean...

Since the "sah mommy" & "dishing on my hubby" posts, I've had emails & comments that have been worth blogging about themselves. Here's an article from my friend, Jessie, who knows what I'm blogging about. :) I'm thankful for you, Jessie; I've never met a mommy who does the "mommy thing" more like I do than you. It's comforting. And who else have I met via a conversation about the meaning of names in Hebrew & both our kids not sleeping? :)

Washington Post article on S.A.H. parenting

Bath tub crayons

Cute, quick, easy, cheap, fun toddler project.

1.Grate 1 bar of Ivory soap using the smallest holes on the cheese grater. (I did this, not L.)

2.Add 10-15 drops of food coloring & 2 TBsp of warm water to soap.

3.Add more water, a TBsp at a time, & stir 'til it looks like a thick dough.

4.Press the mixture into sections (4 or more) of an ice-cube tray & freeze for at least 30 min.

5.Pop the crayons out & let them dry for a day or two (I vote 2; ours were a little squishy after only 1).

**We divided up our soap & added about 4-6 drops of different coloring to each little pile. We ended up with 4 different colors that way (& only used 1 bar of soap). L. has already used them (& loved 'em). I'll post a pic soon. It was fun times. :)

family nap

Our after-lunch routine consists of me trying to get Zora down 1st so that I can read to Langston (& have a moment of one-on-one time) for 10 min. or so. Sometimes it works. When it does work, I put Z. in her crib in my room & let L. fall asleep with me in my bed. (Usually Z. wakes up an hour or so later & I nurse & rock her back down. She takes a pretty long [3-4] hour afternoon nap bc she's such a catnapper in the a.m. OH! And I leave her in the bed with brother for her last part of nap sometimes...that's how I got those cute pix. Don't worry, I check on them constantly when they are in bed together! I also think almost 20lb. Zora could handle most things that 32lb. Langston could do.)
So, this is L's drawing of our "nap time" or "family nap," as we sometimes call it. **Notice dad's running cap & bike helmet hanging from the bedpost. That does not please mommy.** Mom is reading to Langston. Langston is "covered up with blankie & saying, 'ahhhhh.'" Zora is asleep in her crib. "Peace is taking a nap," as Todd Parr writes in The Peace Book. :)

boo! the monster family

These are the drawings that Langston drew (in anger?) to "scare" me...bc he was angry at having to clean up his room. Boo, mom! (I admit that I did a little, "AHHHH!" when he showed them to me. He was then satisfied.)

walking on sunshine

Langston is a man of great taste. He loves all kinds of music. (Which is great bc so do mom & dad.) He & I were listening to some awesome 80's stuff the other day & he drew a pic of "Walking on Sunshine" (Woe! Woe! Woe!) complete with "music notes." Then he wanted me to sing the song (by reading the "music"). :)

dishing: my hubby

I would like to add to the "sah mommy's...do it in one day" post that the reason I didn't write about dishes is bc my wonderful husband has (since our "talk") taken up lots of dish duty. He does them (his way) most everyday. I VERY MUCH appreciate this. It may have taken us 2 kids & 5 years, but I think we are really beginning to hone in on "the needs of the other."

Zora's hot (play)date

Our friends at church, Crystal & Micah, have a little guy, J.D. Langston has named him "baby J.D." to clarify. :) Baby J.D. totally overdressed for a playdate with Zora G. She felt as if she had to throw on a bow, just to look a little flashy. :) Just kiddin'! J.D.'s mommy was the matron of honor in a wedding one Sat, so she was gone & couldn't feed him one feeding, which I offered to do. He only nursed for a min. (before realizing, "hey, you're not my mom!"), so I wasn't as much help as I hoped to be. But, Micah finished dressing him for the wedding at our house, so we couldn't resist the photo op. Totally cute. **OH, yea, and Micah & I laughed at the positioning of the babies arms. In the top one he is giving her a "reach across" (forget the "reach around!") & the bottom one they are linking arms! :)

Full of hot air

Here are some pix of Macomb's Hot Air Balloon Fest. L. is posing w. his pal, Mia, in one. And there is one of his fav balloon, Ka-Zoo-Ee (sp?), the Zebra. There's also one of he, Barclay, & some kiddos climbing a net/goal. The two kids to the top, right are our new friends, Sumner & Zoe. Their dad is Tim, B's new office-mate. They are Gator fans & from FL & AL originally...ah, the kinship!

A Stay-at-home mom's life & experiments

Millions of years ago (or so it seems) I used to do all my cleaning in one (full) day. Since pregnancy took it's toll, followed by Zora nursing all the time, that one day turned into about 3 days. I never felt like I accomplished much that way. (Although I know I must take it "one day at a time." Urg.) Anyway, for all you moms out there, here's an experiment from this s.a.h. mom I know you can relate to...
6:30ish Zora awake & cooing; nurse her (she's more interested in cooing)change her diaper (And I think she only nursed twice during the night...or was it thrice?)
7something Langston up & needs help with clothes
730-8ish lie back down; nurse Zora; get her to sleep
8ish cook cheese eggs w. fruit, coffee, apple juice...feed the fam
830ish Zora awake; nurses a little
Begin the clean up.
Beat rugs outside. Open windows. Find music videos to listen to (for kids & myself). Argue w. L. over cleaning up his books. (He draws monster pix to scare me bc he's angry about having to clean, but he cleans after he gets all the angry out.) :) Clean/sanitize bathrooms. Sweep.
10:30 Zora nurses. No sleep.
11:15 begin preparing lunch for all. No bread. Gotta go to the store!
11:30 feeding both kids & myself.
12 Zora nurses & goes to sleep. Change sheets on all the beds. Put laundry on.
12:30 Read to L. Tell him a story.
12:45 Leave L. to sleep. Z. is awake.
1:15 Z. back down to sleep.
1:20-1:40 check email; post a blog.
1:40 more laundry.
2 grab a Mt. Dew (or I'll never make it.) Begin mopping.
2:40 pause on mopping (can't mop where kids are sleeping), so tidy up dining room; clean mirrors; change pack N play sheets
3 Dust where I can (kids still asleep)
3:15 Clean highchair, booster seat; Put on laundry load #3
3:30ish Z. awake! Nurse. Change diaper. L. awake.
4 Snacks. Mop some more. clean up & finish dusting where the kids were sleeping.
Barclay comes home & asks could we please not order pizza tonight (aka "Is there anything to cook?"...and I am even out of bread. Put your thinking cap on, Sonya!) He wants to go out tomorrow night & eat & watch the Gator game. Okay.
4:45 put potatoes on to boil; corn cooking; fish thawing in the sink. Get a shower.
5 hold Z; get ready
5:15 Cook; feed Z. cereal.
5:30 Food for all! (Supper time!)
6 Leave for Macomb's hotair balloon festival.
6:30 Nurse Z to sleep. Enjoy seeing friends & hanging out at the festival. The boys get a funnel cake; mom gets a few bites. :) Go to B's office; he collects a few things to work at home. Nurse Z. as I wait on boys in B's office. Change a Zora-poo.
8:30 Home. L. poops & I put him in the tub. Nurse Z. to sleep. Clean L. Get another shower.
9 Get a snack for L.
9:45 Clean up messy snack kid & area. Z. wakes up. Bathe Z. quickly. Milk & stories for both kids.
10:20 Z. asleep again.
10:30 L. down in his room.
10:50 Last load of laundry for the day. (set the "delay" to wash 'em at 7am) L. up; he needs to poop again.
11:10 L. pooped! He's back in bed. Asleep within minutes. I read & get a snack.
11:50 Call it a night.

Now, let me say that I don't think I charted every diaper (there was one big poo in the a.m. that I missed). And I didn't count every pause for kid related items...holding Z. as I cleaned or helping L. with art, but for the most part that was it. Z. missed her "tummy time." (That just happens some days...I don't think it will damage her for life. :) I didn't read to the kids as much as I usually do. I didn't give them as much "face time," either. I don't know if I'll do this again anytime soon, but it was a pretty "easy" day (no toddler melt downs & no one "fought" a nap). And Langston helped me more than he even knows. He "read" to Zora. He danced for her (for a while). He was just being himself: a fun, sweet little guy. And she was captivated by everything he did. She even tried "talking" to him sometimes. :)

Speaking of "talking"...
I'll admit that this post & idea came about, in part, due to a "conversation" (ahem) that Barclay & I had several weeks back. We were working through some things & he asked me the most dreaded, horrible question a working partner could ever ask a stay-at-home partner...yes, you all know it..."What do you do all day?" (I need back ground music & an evil cackle as I type it!) Well, I attempted to give him a "run down"...I cook (at least once), but prepare meals for 3 people at least 3 times a day (do you count toddler snacks?), do at least one load of laundry, nurse every few hours, change lots of diapers, interact with both a toddler & infant (read, play, sing, discipline, feed, get Zora to sleep at least 4 times & Langston twice, etc.), "pick up" messes here & there, attempt to check email at least once, talk to someone outside of the house (read: adult interaction), attempt (& mostly fail) to exercise,...and if it's a cleaning or shopping or playgroup or dr. appointment or pre-school day, lots more. The funny part of our conversation, or my response was, I almost didn't know where to begin! Most days are a blur of all this stuff meshed together. I feel as though my Blog-time is my "Bl-ahhhhhh-og-time." I love to think & read & express & write. One doesn't get to do all those things much b't drool cleaning, mush feeding, toddler taming, & even all the sweet stuff that is kid rearing. It's a HUGE blessing to be with my babies daily. They are my life. And yet, sometimes, they are my life...and I am exhausted by my life...not tired, but worn slap out. And I try to make myself remember that this is yet another season of life; yet another quickly passing phase. It'll be soccer & dance, then dating & ACT scores before I know it. Chill or I won't enjoy the "best things" in life. My family is, to me, one of the "best things..." and so is cleaning all the things in my house in one day. ;)
*Editor's note: I didn't get around to folding the laundry. I now have done 7 loads in 24 hours & am folding #3. I also didn't get to go to the store till this morning, but it was much better that way. We shopped as a family & B always helps me remember & think of things I wouldn't remember or think of without him. I love you, honey!

Staycation

This post is a few weeks late! This year was a year of little funds & a big addition to our family. Therefore, we decided against our original plan of hanging out in Chicago for a weekend & went with a "staycation" or "Family Day 2008," as L. & I named the day.
We began the day with "Bee Movie," followed by a family lunch. Then it was off to the carpet golf course for all. Barclay & Langston golfed. Zora ate. I fed. Post-golf was a family nap. And the evening ended unfortunately with zero pools open to swim in. Oh well! A couple of "extra" computer minutes for L., "extra" stories, & a bath made up for the loss...somewhat. It was a fun, family-filled day. :) ps) please don't enlarge the pic of "the girls"...the teenaged acne fairy has been visiting me a lot lately. *sigh*