Toddler Tuesday: New stages and traits.

  The last few weeks I have been noticing a big change in Lucy. She is still my baby (they are all our babies though, aren't they?), but obviously getting older and more curious everyday. She is not the destructive and mischievous toddler she has always been. Suddenly all her positive and adorable traits have been amplified and many "little girl" traits are surfacing.

  As always, it's so much fun to watch the kids grow and discover new things. Lucy is following me around helping with house work. Usually singing some of the songs she is learning at sabbath school (or the Barney song) while we work. She is learning how to joke and be silly in more of a little girl way. She is becoming more aware of things going on around her and also the feelings of those around her. I suppose some of that has been taking place for awhile but the speed at which she is growing, mentally and emotionally is much faster recently.

  It's always neat to observe kids (especially your own) and pick out character traits that you hope will stick. it's also neat to see just how young some traits and lessons can be learned. Lucy is very nurturing. She is always trying to take care of her brother and sister. Always making sure they are ok. If you pass her a drink, a snack or anything else she asks for one for her brother. If Avary is getting into something she shouldn't and we are distracted, she is sure to tell us.

  She also wants to please us. She wants to be a good girl and make us happy. That trait is a new one ;) She wants those around her to be happy. She herself is a very happy person. Always smiling and giggling.  She loves to be silly and just have fun and enjoy things. it doesn't matter what, she finds a way to being joy to any task or occasion.

  She is compassionate, kind, loves to share and help, happy, thankful, loving and affectionate. I hope that those are traits she keeps. Those are very important traits to have in life. Trev and I have tried to instill those things in our children. Even though all our children have some great traits, they are all different.

  Jake has always been an old soul. Right from the time he was a toddler. He is very thoughtful- always thinking things through. Something I hope he continues to do always. He has a very dry sarcastic sense of humor, but is funny all the same. He loves the Lord. He is also very insightful when we talk about God and biblical subjects.

He has also been developing some great compassion and care for his sisters. It's cute to watch him get down to their level and do a very enthusiastic up beat voice when talking to them. He has learned how to defuse potentially bad situations and avoid conflict. I think  are kind of older sibling traits. He is also smart, both book and life smart, which I think are equally important. Lastly, he is independent.  He doesn't mind being on his own and doing his own thing. something I hope he holds too. It could come in handy during the teen years!

  Avary is going to be the little ray of sunshine. She is silly and funny. Outrageously so. She wants to laugh and tries to get those around her to laugh and be silly too. She is also very loving and affectionate. She loves to snuggle and when she hugs you, it's the best. She grabs you very tightly. So tight that I've come to believe I could let go of her if I was standing and she wouldn't even budge.  She is also very determined. She wants to do what she wants to do, when she wants to do it. Age and size have not been limits to her so far. She just does whatever she sets her mind too. That is a trait I hope she keeps (as long as she uses those powers for good and not for evil ;)).

  It's also very cool to see how the children change one another. When Jake was an only child there were many of his traits and characteristics which we didn't see. Being an older brother brought those out in him. Lucy has grown and developed many new characteristics since becoming a big sister herself. She also looks to her brother with almost a hero worship. Avary looks to her big siblings and learns from them. These are precious and vital years. These are the years that lay the foundation for the rest of the kids lives. They are developing into who they will be as adults.

  It's a pleasure and an honor to watch them grow. It's fun to see them becoming more in depth beings. Neat so see them learning and exploring things for the first time. And of course, it's also a big responsibility. Nurturing, guiding, sheltering, molding, holding back, letting go.... Being a parent is hard work. knowing how to raise these little people and stimulate the positive traits while hammering out the less appealing ones. It's tough. It's the most important thing we will ever do.

  I'm sure as our children grown they will do things I will not life. Characteristics and traits will develop in them that I won't like. I don't expect them to be perfect, they are human after all. They live in an imperfect world just like the rest of us. Unfortunately they will most likely even inherit and pick up some bad traits from their father and I. However, I do hope that in 30 years when I look at my children I still see many of the positive, beautiful traits that I see in them today. No matter what stage we are in life, our character defines us. I hope my children continue to  grow to have a Godly, positive, upright character.

Kids make everything cuter

  You know that super annoying Barney song from like 20 years a go? Lucy just made that into the sweetest song ever :) She spent the whole morning singing it to me over and over. At every "with a great big hug and a kiss..." she came over, wrapped her arms around my leg and gave me a hug then tugged me down for a big kiss.

  Kids have this amazing way of taking something so small and ordinary, or even kind of lame, boring or annoying and making it into something fun, cute and adorable. They can put a huge smile on your face at the most unexpected moments.

  I love being a mommy <3

   

Confession time.

 Yup, This is going to be one of those posts where I lay it all out on the line. I'm going to share somethings that I'm not so proud of. I'm going to take off the mask and show you all the not-so-lovely things I try to hide. Brace yourselves, it's not going to be pretty!

  We recently got a new pastor. He is a very Godly man who clearly loves the Lord. He leads a very Godly life from what I can see and what I hear. However, upon meeting him I decided he was a little too much for me. I know. That's awful. It's judgmental. Not christian like at all. I'm not  proud of it.

  For several weeks I sighed and got myself into a bad mood when I knew he would be giving the message (we share a pastor with another church and only see him every second week). I would have myself in such a bad mood I wouldn't even want to go to church. It didn't matter what his message was, I wasn't going to like it. I wasn't going to be able to learn anything from it. End of story. No point in even listening.

  After a few weeks of this I began to feel convicted that I needed a serious attitude adjustment. For the next couple of weeks I tried to go to church with an open mind. Honest, I did. Somehow by the end of the service I was feeling angry and bitter again. This was just not working. I clearly wasn't going to stop going to church, but I couldn't keep going to church the way I was. So I prayed about it. I REALLY prayed about it.

  During the next couple weeks something came to my attention. Through a series of random conversations, none of which were about this situation, these facts were revealed to me. Fact number 1- The things we often dislike in others are often the things we dislike most about ourselves. Fact number 2- If the first ins't true, then perhaps we dislike someone because they reveal to us things about ourselves that we dislike. Often number two is the worst situation, because even though we know it's not a good trait, or habit, we may be comfortable in it and not want to change.

 For me the second was true. Our new pastor has been preaching a lot about becoming more Christ like and living a God centered life. Of course that is always a topic that can step on a few toes. When I really thought about it, if I wanted to admit it or not, my toes were being stomped on. Not by the pastor, but because of the Holy Spirit trying to convict me of some things I needed to work on. Change is never easy, but it's impossible if we resist it.

  This is where another ugly reveal ties in. I've been being a lazy slob. There is pretty much no nice way of saying it. So, I won't beat around the bush. I said it. I've been being a lazy slob. I've had an "I can't" attitude. I had decided that everything was too hard. Balancing the kids and keeping the house tidy (notice I said tidy and not clean, there is a difference, I might have been a slob but I wasn't being dirty ie no dirty floors etc), running errands with the kids, cooking supper etc. Everything just seemed like so much work. Too much work.

  If I could keep the floors swept, basic cleaning done, simple meals cooked and enough laundry run though I was good. Enter my third shameful secret. I could sit on the computer WAY too much. You see, computers are wonderful. You can watch tv shows and movies, chat with your friends, read up on the topic of your choice, shop, bank, facebook and pintrest. That's just the tip of the ice burg. Computers are wonderful inventions. Even better, there are these new smart phones that keep you plugged into all the previously mentioned activities no matter where you are! You NEVER have to be separated from the virtual world that so many of us live in. Ever.

  Starting to sound like an addiction to you? Because it sure started to seem that way to me. I began to realize that if I wasn't on the computer I had my iphone on my person. At all times. I couldn't go more then a few moments without unlocking the screen and doing something, anything. Checking facebook, or browsing pintrest. Googling something,  even just checking the weather. I started to realize when my husband and I were spending time together the computer or my phone were always there, calling to me. Distracting me.

  This addiction to technology was seriously taking over my life. Heck it had become my life. I couldn't spend time with the people in my real life because I was too busy with my virtual one. Having my iphone made it easy to function just enough, while still feeding my addiction. It was taking away from time with my family and pretty much making it impossible for me to spend time with God. I thought about reading my bible, but I was too exhausted when I finally shut down my computer and phone for the night. This is what I was convicted of.

  I love God's sense of humor. I went to church that week with an open heart and mind, for the first time in awhile. The pastor was giving the message that week and for the first time I really listened. No prejudgments. I just listened. The sermon was about identifying and giving up idols in our daily life. Realizing what things have too much power, especially negative power in our life and taking control. I squirmed a little in my seat, but mostly I just felt humbled and ready to give it to God. I was done fighting.

  I wish I could tell you that I was a big enough person to quit cold turkey. To give it all up and walk away. I am not that person. All my friends are online. Since getting married and having children young, I have found it next to impossible to make and keep friends, "real life" ones anyway. I do however have a fantastic number of friends who live all over Canada, the US and beyond. For this reason I needed to learn how to find balance and not let technology run my life.

  I started to pray. I also realized that nothing was going to change if I didn't decide I COULD change. I was setting myself up for failure with my lazy demeanor and negative attitude. I needed to trade that in for a can do attitude. So I did. I started to wake up in the morning and think, "I CAN get this place de-cluttered. I did it once, when it was much worse, and I can do it again". I decided not to get overwhelmed or discouraged. I would just do my best, bit by bit, and get the job done.

  I made myself a to-do list, which, in addition to daily cleaning, includes some time to relax and spend online (but only after my work is done, and much, much less), some time spent with God, and some healthy goals. I like being able to cross things off the list when I'm done. It gives me a lot of satisfaction. I also like looking at the list and seeing devotion time, drink your water, exercise, eat healthy and remember to have fun! It makes those things a priority too. I can very easily go from one extreme to the other. If I don't remember to have fun and relax then I can't be a good mommy to our kids. They need to have some fun time with me each day as well.

 Through prayer and with the help of someone much greater then myself, I'm kicking this addiction one day at a time. My house now looks fantastic, all the cluttered corners are gone. This of course means I'm better able to clean it too! My kids are seeing a positive example and good work ethic. My husband is able to come home after a long work day and relax in a tidy and inviting environment after enjoying a healthy, hearty meal. I feel ten times more sane (a cluttered home is a big depression trigger for me), and I feel a lot healthier too. Being active and not sitting staring at a screen for most of the day has eliminated headaches and given me energy.

  I share all of these things with you because we all struggle, everyday, with our own addictions, character flaws and bad habits. Society as a whole is much more stressed, depressed and burdened then ever before. When your struggling it's so easy to get stuck in a bad rut. To dwell on the negative and become comfortable in how you are or what your doing. Even if your feeling convicted to change it's often much easier to ignore that little voice and keep on living the way you are.

  Easier but not better. I challenge you all to address one issue, be it a habit, trait or addiction in your life. Something you know you should change and maybe even have been meaning to change. With some prayer, the right mindset and some hard work you can make that change. I promise you won't regret it. You've got absolutely nothing to lose by making a positive change. Nothing to lose but much to gain.


 

Toddler Tuesday: Not the usual.

  In recent weeks you have all probably all noticed the absence of a Toddler Tuesday post. To be honest Lu has been giving me a serious break. Either that or she is just out growing the curious-in-a-bad-way stage. I'm afraid to wish or hope for the latter. I do know that she seems to have grown up a crazy amount. She has been much more little girl then toddler recently. I have to say, I'm really enjoying, and very proud of the little girl she is becoming.

  Today was sort of the icing on the cake and I had to share. Lucy and I have had a very fun, very productive day so far. She woke up a little grumpy, but quickly came around to be her usual sunny, cheerful self. We had our morning snuggle on the couch, now Avary wants in on it too and she's not always impressed with that. Today she wasn't happy about Avary snuggling too, but she came around. After snuggles we had some breakfast. The girls played a bit. Then it was nap time for Avary and the real fun began!

  I went to do some laundry and Lulu wanted to help. I always try to let her help if she wants. We really believe in  fostering that urge to help and exercising the kids work ethic while they are young. We folded laundry together. Well, she did something, then passed it to me and I folded ;) but I praised her and she was proud and happy to be helping. Although I do have to mention, she did manage to fold one face cloth darn near perfectly. Next I unloaded the dishwasher. She wanted to help again. She got a little bored when I began reloading the dishwasher with the breakfast dishes. She decided to finish off her blackberries and chattered away.

  I finished tidying up the kitchen and then we did some crafts together. She is really catching on to manners. She uses them all the time now. I'm very proud to have such a polite little girl. She says please and thank you. She will even ask if she can use something before touching it, if it's not hers. Today was no exception. It makes for a much more pleasant experience when kids learn not to just grab. We were able to share the craft supplies and both had fun.

  About this time Avary woke up from her nap. We had lunch together. Lucy is a girl after my own heart, she loves pasta and garlic bread, so we had that today. I burst out laughing when I looked over to find her putting her pasta noodles on her garlic toast and eating it. I don't think she has ever really seen me doing that, but I love eating left over pasta that way. It's so cute to see little things like that which must be genetic. This was the first meal she has really eaten in a few days (oh yea, I forgot to mention she has entered the eating-like-a-bird stage) and she had thirds! I couldn't believe it! After getting all cleaned up from lunch, and getting her cleaned up we had a snuggle and read a book. Then she had her nap.

  Both girls even had their afternoon nap together today. I was able to get all my housework done by early afternoon. I couldn't believe my luck! They are really spoiling me! They rarely have their whole nap at the same time anymore. The best I get is an overlap. Avary did wake up a little before Lu, but she played happily in her crib while I finished mopping and had a quick shower. I'm sure this all sounds pretty mundane. Maybe even boring. To me it was a perfect morning and early afternoon spent with my beautiful little girls, especially Lucy. I'm thoroughly enjoying the "mundane" and "boring" while it lasts. Before you know it I'll be back in the the toddler stage with Avary.

Mommy Monday: Mommy reflections

 Goooood Afternoon! I hope that this Monday finds you with some bright blue skies and sunshine like it does me! It's just impossible to be in a bad mood when it's bright and sunny out. I've got the windows open and I'm enjoying this fresh air after a stuffy winter!

 You would think with all this fresh air I'm breathing I would be able to think clear enough to come up with a topic for today's post. Nope, no such luck. All I can think about is what a terrific week I had with my kids! Last week was March break here, so I had all three of them, all day. I must admit, I was a bit worried. I've gotten use to the quiet time while Jake is at school.

  On days when Jake is at school the girls generally play happily together while I go about my business of cleaning and cooking. They nap without being woke up and wake up happy and ready to play again. We have lunch together and then some playtime together then Avary is generally ready for another nap. Having a very active and hyper five year old here really changes things.

  He usually ends up waking the girls up before they are ready, just by running down the hall, being too loud, or throwing a fit. He doesn't want them to touch his things when they are playing which almost always leads to a fight. It can get a little stressful. I love having him home, but I also love having the quiet, peaceful mornings to get most of my work done!

  This last week was a very pleasant surprise. Jake was the super awesome big brother, just like the ones in books or movies. He played so well with his sisters. He actually (without realizing it) kept them busy and I got some sorting and extra cleaning done that I've been wanting and needing too do. Lucy loved having her big brother home. She was his little mini me all week. She was very content to boycott mommy and follow her brother around instead. Even Avary got special attention from her big brother, who she totally adores!

  As if that all wasn't awesome enough, on top of getting to sort and do some spring cleaning, having the kids get along and entertain themselves and watching the kids just love and appreciate each other, Lucy finally got the hang of using the potty! It's been a big struggle here. She simply WANTED to wear diapers. I'm not sure if she was feeling a little jealous and didn't want to "grow up" or what. However, since mid last week there have only been a handful of accidents!! We have even ventured out to a restaurant, a play date and to church with her in panties. I'm so proud. It also kind of amazes me just how fast they change.

  A month a go Lucy was sleeping in a crib, wearing a diaper, having a sippy with milk before bed and naps and in love with her sookie. Now she is sleeping in a big girl bed, basically potty trained, and no longer getting a sippy before bed or naps. Now just to kick the sookie habit. I feel a little mama guilt because so much has changed for her in just a month. Then I look at her and see how she is flourishing and how proud she is of her new big girl status, and that makes me feel good. I know she's more then ok.

   Speaking of rapid change...Miss Avary is less then a month away from being ONE!! I cannot believe how fast this last year has gone by. I mean, I've said that after every child, but I do believe that it's gotten fast and faster after each one. Her first year has gone way faster then Jake's. Probably because we have three little munchkins to chase around and not just one ;)

  Recently Avary has gotten so sweet. I mean, she has always loved to laugh and make others laugh, and she has always been a good baby. Recently she has just gotten so cuddly. She loves to get up in our arms and snuggle in close. She lays her little head on my shoulder and hums her own little tune. I can't believe that soon my "baby" won't be a baby anymore. She is just so funny and sweet and has the biggest personality. This year might have gone by fast, but I sure am trying to savor and enjoy it. There has been a lot of fantastic to savor. So much love, joy and laughter.

   It's amazing how some people come into your life and just "fit", even if you think your life is full. I love my my children, but I can honestly say our life would not be complete if we had not of had Miss Avary. We had a fantastic life with Jake and Lu, but it just wasn't all the way full. Avary came along and her big personality, sunny smiles and contagious giggles just filled all those little holes we didn't even know existed.

  It's pretty amazing how Children can do that. Trevor and I sit around sometimes reflecting on our life before kids. What made us laugh? What filled our hearts so full of love we thought they might burst? What filled our days and gave us meaning and purpose? What important role did we have in life? We can never come up with any good answers. We both agree that having and raising these three amazing little people are the best and most important thing we have ever done, and ever will do.

 

Mommy Monday: Character flaws.

  Hi all, first of all I just want to say I'm sorry for missing last weeks post. It was a crazy crazy week around here. Trevor hurt himself at work. So between the ER, shuffling kids around, going back to the hospital for surgery and then caring for a hurt hubby and the kids all week, I was a busy mama. Thus the no blog post.

  That sort of gets us to what I want to talk about today. Character. How, with Gods help, we can constantly be improving and growing our character.

  Now I should start off by saying I do not have the best character. I mean I like me ok and all, but I have some serious flaws. I'm sure we all do, but when they are your own they tend to bother you a bit more don't they? So back to my flaws. I'm a red head. Ok, so maybe that's not a flaw, but the temper that I have sure is. Some people say a bad temper goes along with my vibrant red hair. I'm not sure if that's the case, but I do have a bad temper. Quick too. My temper can come on very quickly.

  I also get stressed very easily. By many different things. Chaos, noise, a messy house, being overwhelmed by too many tasks and the list goes on. Your probably all thinking serious? Doesn't she have like three kids? How the heck does she manage when chaos, noise, a messy house and being very busy all stress her out? Que my AMAZING husband. My loving, caring, helpful, kind, compassionate, helpful, understanding, handsome, helpful, patient, rational, helpful life partner. Did I mention he was helpful?!

  Friends and family joke that he spoils me. I think he is just exactly what a good husband and father are suppose to be! I referred to him as my partner in the previous paragraph because that is what he is. My partner. He and I work very hard to treat each other like partners. To tackle all our problems and struggles together. Even day to day things we do together. When he comes home from work he plays with the kids while I finish dinner. He and I take turns doing Jake's homework while the other person entertains the girls. We take turns with bath time and we do bedtime routines together.

  He is my (better) half. With him I can be all the things I am not. I can be calm, and patient and level minded even when I feel like snapping. I can cope with all the work, noise, chaos and mess that having three kids causes. So what happens when my partner is down? What would happen when I had to cover all this myself? I'll be honest, I was very worried. I really wanted to handle the situation with Grace. I wanted to be efficient and loving and calm. I wanted to be the wife and mother that my husband and kids deserved in this situation. So I said a prayer.

  I prayed that Trev wouldn't have any broken bones so that he would be better fast. That prayer wasn't answered. I prayed that he wouldn't need surgery. That prayer wasn't answered. I prayed that he would be ok. That prayer was answered. God also protected him and made sure he didn't lose an eye with the inital injury when it would have easily have happened given the location on his injury. I then prayed that I could calmly and joyfully meet the challenges that the next little while would present. He answered that prayer too (thankfully)!

  I should mention that Trevor is so awesome that despite being on heavy pain killers and having just had surgery, he still tried to help me. He is so thoughtful and selfless. I sent him back to bed. Where he stayed for most of the next week. He doesn't handle medication of any kind well. It just sends him right to sleep. So he slept. That left me to run the errands, care for the kids, cook, clean and take care of him. I managed to do it all, and do it with joy and grace. I'm not saying this trying to brag. I'm saying this in amazement and to point out that with God, all things are possible.

  He cares about all things, big and little. Even the struggles of a lowly housewife. With his help I was able to overcome some major character flaws and be there for my husband. I was able to keep it all together without being a martyr. Everything got done, no one got their head bite off, I didn't have a stroke from high blood pressure, and my hubby didn't have to stress about watching helplessly while I was on the brink of an emotional break down.

  I'd call that a successful week and chalk a big win up to God! If he can take my stubborn, whiny, stressed out, disorganized self and make me calm, easy going and efficient, I believe he can do anything! What character flaws are you struggling with? Don't try and correct them yourself, ask the big guy upstairs for some help. Trust me, it's much easier when you give it to him.

Saturday night snack: avocado and corn salsa

Confession time. I hated cilantro. I disliked everything about it. The smell, the taste and the look. Ok in all fairness probably not the look. But defiantly the smell and taste. Then one day while visiting my parents my dad came toward me with a corn chip covered in something involving corn and avocados and told me to try it. Cilantro and I have been friends ever since.

I'm not quite sure where my dad came across this recipe but it's yummy :) Its also pretty! Ok, not so much my photos because I didn't have red onion and had to use white instead. But still so good! Easy too, I should mention this only takes about five minutes to make. Oh and the best part? It's healthy!

So let's review. This snack is yummy, pretty, easy and healthy. Why wouldn't you want to try it?!

Avocado and corn salsa:

1 avocado chopped
1 small red onion chopped
1 cup of frozen corn
The juice of one lime
1 small bunch of cilantro chopped
Sea salt to taste
Cumin to taste (about 1 tsp)
1 dash hot sauce

Mix everything in a bowl and let sit about 5-10 minutes while corn thaws and favors mix.

Serve with corn chips and enjoy :)