Learning In Summer

Since summer was busy, I've combined what I've learned in July and August to bring you what I've learned this summer. Bonus: you'll find several pictures taken over the summer at the end of this post.

1. Praying during tantrums helps both mommy and daughter. 

With toddler-hood comes tantrums. When she's flailing and frustrated, I've learned that calmly stopping, bowing my head, and closing my eyes to whisper a quick prayer to God helps us both. It prevents me from becoming frustrated with her attitude and it makes her stop dead in her tracks to assess the situation. After a few seconds, she'll come over to me and try a new, more effective, approach. 

2. Netflix is for road-trips. 

Say what you will, but when we had an eight hour drive to the beach, Netflix was key to getting there with an antsy toddler strapped in her car seat. Baby Genius songs were a lifesaver. 

3. Plan, but then go with the flow. 

Before going to the beach, there were a few different things I did to keep my sanity and to keep organized. Once there, I reminded myself that vacations were meant for enjoying. Em's diet that week wasn't perfect, and that's okay. Everything was everywhere, and that was okay. We didn't use everything we brought, but no big deal. One thing I would highly recommend taking to the beach is baby powder. We typically use Desitin, but sand mixed with cream is not a good combination. Baby powder is the way to go. 

4. The phrase "rainbow baby" refers to a child conceived after a miscarriage. 

I'm considered a rainbow baby myself, though it sounds strange to say when I've never heard the expression until recently. 

5. Losing the pacifier has been wonderful! 

In July, we decided to wean our daughter from using a pacifier at naptime and bedtime. Life is much less stressful without that crazy thing, and we won't have to worry so much about pacifier confusion when the new baby arrives. 

6. Toilet Training is hard. 

It's no easy task to toilet train, but we've begun the process. Our daughter enjoys flushing the toilet and washing her hands, but has not gotten to the point of asking to go potty. Anyone have any tips or tricks they'd like to share for this process? 

7. Blanket tunnels and Tupperware frog ponds are wonderful for any child with imagination.

I'm all about creating new things that don't take a whole lot of time but keep a kid entertained for fifteen minute intervals. The most recent inventions have been throwing a blanket over the couch and ottoman to make a tunnel and pouring some water in a Tupperware container and setting it on the table with some frogs and lizards from the Dollar Tree. I grabbed some small plastic lids to use as lily-pads for the frogs to float on.

8. The Gilmore Girls reunion airs on Netflix November 25th. 

With a new baby at home, you bet I'm going to settle in and watch the new episodes once the oldest child is in bed. 

9. His and Hers prayer lists for the fridge are amazing.

I've been feeling frustrated by my inability to remember everyone I've said I'd pray for. In the past, I've tried keeping a list in notebooks, but then I'd lose the notebook or would forget to open it when praying. It dawned on me that I needed a list in a place I frequented. Using PowerPoint, I made two lists, slipped them in binder sleeves, and placed them on our fridge. Now I can use a dry erase marker to write down prayers and then erase and replace whenever it's time. Doing this has allowed me to continually pray throughout the day. I've also found myself praying over my husband's list as well because what is important to him is important to me. If you would like your own copies, sign up for my free monthly newsletter and you'll receive them in September! If you are already signed up, YIPPEE!, you'll receive them too! 

10. A devotional series is in the works. 

After much prayer, I've decided to bring you a devotional. Details will follow in a separate post on a later date. I'll keep you posted on my Facebook page. 

11. Pictures are worth a thousand words. 

Below are a few pictures with some short captions of little things I've learned over the summer.

She loves to help in the kitchen.

I've learned patience with this pregnancy.

Big sister loves giving hugs and kisses.

Hard work pays off in the form of homegrown vegetables.

She loves sand.

She loves her new play set. We just need to add mulch and sand.

My husband captures good pictures.

If all else fails, give her sunglasses.

I see my whole childhood in her little personality.

Like mother, like daughter. 

Applesauce with sprinkles for a girl with a cold is a win.

Where we first met. My how we've changed. 

But not too much.

She became Grandpap's girl on a Sunday evening at church.

Learning In May

Something new: Each month, I'll be writing what I've learned and linking up with Emily Freeman's blog. By doing this, I hope you'll see that I'm fully human with the desire to learn a thing or two along this journey known as life.

Here's what I've learned in May:

1. Don't expect a sparkling surface and uncluttered carpet.

I'm raising a kid. My kid explores, makes messes, displays a myriad of emotions, eats and eats and eats, craves attention, and there's never a dull moment aside from when she's sleeping. It's when she naps that one of three things happen. A. I quickly try to tidy the home. B. I dig into scripture and either write or study the art of writing. C. In this season of life, I sometimes have no choice but to take a nap. My brain screams "NO" and "TERRIBLE USE OF TIME," but my pregnant, hormones-out-of-whack self whispers "necessary" and "it's okay." That said, if you stop by my home, I'll do my best to have progress made with tidying up, but rest assured one room in the house will be a complete wreck. I'm the gal who doesn't find a thrill in cleaning, and who often lacks the time to do so. If you are reading this and have children and a tidy home on a daily basis, teach me your ways!

Books and Laundry equal chaos in twenty minutes.

Chaos restored by the day's end.

                    

2. Someone likes carrots mixed with applesauce.

She wants more!

                                               

This child of mine has the pickiness of her mother when she was under 10. Meats? No. Veggies? No. New Food? No. Baby Food? Yes! It must be a textures thing. Upon not eating carrots, I decided to blend them with a little applesauce. Repeat procedure and one point for mom. According to the Pediatrician, she can eat basically any food. Perhaps it's her teeth keeping her from doing so or just the look of certain foods. We have dairy, grains, and fruit down, so I'll call that progress.

3. Elephants are pregnant for two years.
My daughter's room took on a slight elephant theme when preparing for her arrival. I just learned that elephants are pregnant for two years. Perhaps there's an underlying message here, like the fact that 9 month human pregnancies feel as though they last forever.

4. Tree frogs are cute.

I'm pretty sure this little guy is a tree frog. Over the weekend, we went to a state park and these frogs were everywhere.

5. Eagles fly majestically.
While hiking near a river, I spotted an eagle flying. I've never seen an eagle in the wild, so I was a bit excited. Isaiah 40:31 takes on added meaning when one considers the gracefulness with which an eagle flies.

6. Ask and receive.
Okay, so I didn't just learn this in May, but it was evidenced throughout May. We don't have family in the area, so going to an ultrasound with a toddler is downright hectic. Figuring this out the hard way, I decided to ask a friend of mine if she could watch my daughter. She graciously said yes even though she has four children of her own. Thank you, friend. You know who you are.

Also in May, God provided us with furniture for Baby #2 and we didn't have a pay a cent. We didn't ask for furniture, but had asked where a friend of ours had gotten something for a crib. That conversation turned into getting rid of a crib because their family had just moved. Thanks you guys!

8. Just say no.
I've said no before, but it's never easy when saying no to family. I was asked to go to a family reunion which conflicted with a women's conference that I was already set on attending. After great consideration, I chose to say no to the reunion because my spiritual life needed the focus and because traveling three hours up and back to a reunion didn't sound fun while pregnant.

9. I have something to say.
I have something to say in the form of a book, but I've sat idly by for fear of what others might think, for falsely believing that what needs said doesn't matter, and for worry that I'm inadequate and unknowledgeable to the book writing process. I'm in the process of praying heavily over this and listening to what God wants. In the past several weeks, I've been jotting down notes like crazy, and I believe these may be the beginning of the process.

This book idea has been floating around for years, but for years I've been denying the idea. I've spoken to my husband and a very few others, and each person has encouraged me in their own way which has been good for combating the crippling fear.

This acknowledgement written in words is just another step toward submitting to God's call. It's a small step, but a step nonetheless.

10. Choosing vulnerability means I will change and others will change.
Oh, there's so much I could say about learning what it means to be vulnerable, but I'll just leave this here with few words for soaking purposes.

Note: Number 7 is missing. I could have gone back and changed it, but I'm humoring the fact that I can write yet not count to 10. ;) Fully human. Told you. 

What have you learned this month? I'd love to hear!