John is almost a year old and already makes his desires clearly known. His most extreme showings occur at meal times. This kid loves food. In fact, I haven't found much that he won't eat; I have, however, learned that he prefers to eat his food in a particular manner: separated.
I first realized this a few months ago when I gave him mixed veggies for dinner. He kept throwing pieces on the floor, so finally I separated each type of veggie into a different section of his tray to see what would happen. He first at all the carrots, then all of the corn, then all of the beans, etc. it's not that he didn't want all of the vegetables that were there, he just wanted to know exactly what to expect with each bite. He's not so big on mixing favors.
This week, I noticed his separatist tendencies a few different times. When I gave him a bowl with dry Cheerios, chopped up strawberries, and some blackberries for breakfast, he ate all of the blackberries, then all of the Cheerios, then all of the strawberries. It's not that he didn't like one of them, he just needed to know exactly what to expect.
Today, while trying to finish off some of he leftover food from the cottage last week, I let John gnaw on a ham sandwich. This kid decided the way to eat a sandwich was to take it apart, pull off all of the toppings, set the bread aside, and eat each topping one by one, cheese first of course. When he finished all of the toppings, he moved on to the bread.
What a weirdo.
(This coming from his mother who mixes her food or makes sure there are equal amounts of everything left so that she can have the perfect combination of flavors with every bite. Maybe we're all weird in our own way.)
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Home Alone
Eric was gone this past weekend and I came to a few realizations about myself.
If I lived alone...
...my room would be at least as messy as April's room. (I had no motivation to keep my clean clothes off the floor if I knew I was going to be the only one stepping on them).
...I would rearrange the furniture every other day. (Eric was gone for two days and I rearranged twice. I just got bored so quickly!)
...I would eat Mac-n-cheese or cereal 80% of the time. (Cook a casserole for two and you only have to eat leftovers once. Cook a casserole for one and you'll be eating leftovers all week.)
...I would start a million projects and never finish them. (I always get these great ideas and get started with such enthusiasm and then get distracted and forget about them or get overwhelmed and avoid them. Usually I either finish them or quit and clean it up because I feel bad leaving xyz on the kitchen table when we should be eating there as a family.)
...I would probably become a hoarder. (I just think things are so cool and see so much potential in them! Eric just sees trash.)
...I would be an emotional wreck. (I know this is subjective to my current situation, but I was so lonely without him!)
Overall, my weekend home alone (with a baby and dog) made me realize that my husband makes me a much better person. I love that man more than I can put into words. I'm glad I get to live with him. The next time you come to our clean, organized, non-hoarder house, you'll know that even though I do my fair share of the cleaning, Eric is the one to thank.
If I lived alone...
...my room would be at least as messy as April's room. (I had no motivation to keep my clean clothes off the floor if I knew I was going to be the only one stepping on them).
...I would rearrange the furniture every other day. (Eric was gone for two days and I rearranged twice. I just got bored so quickly!)
...I would eat Mac-n-cheese or cereal 80% of the time. (Cook a casserole for two and you only have to eat leftovers once. Cook a casserole for one and you'll be eating leftovers all week.)
...I would start a million projects and never finish them. (I always get these great ideas and get started with such enthusiasm and then get distracted and forget about them or get overwhelmed and avoid them. Usually I either finish them or quit and clean it up because I feel bad leaving xyz on the kitchen table when we should be eating there as a family.)
...I would probably become a hoarder. (I just think things are so cool and see so much potential in them! Eric just sees trash.)
...I would be an emotional wreck. (I know this is subjective to my current situation, but I was so lonely without him!)
Overall, my weekend home alone (with a baby and dog) made me realize that my husband makes me a much better person. I love that man more than I can put into words. I'm glad I get to live with him. The next time you come to our clean, organized, non-hoarder house, you'll know that even though I do my fair share of the cleaning, Eric is the one to thank.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Videos
I finally watched some of the videos that I took of John on our camera. Here are a few of my favorites. You can watch them here or click the link to watch them on YouTube, which sometimes loads faster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_DjTtddzoU
2013.03.28. John is very proud of the fact that he has learned to stand. He also has the most adorable giggle and voice in the world. As long as I'm sitting in the recliner (reading or whatever), he will play in this Bumbo seat for quite a while.
John at 10 months 2 weeks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxFoT9Wjy9o
2013.03.25. This is how this kiddo is on a usual basis. He loves to walk with his car, talk, and climb on his mom. I love him.
John at 10 months 2 weeks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFGmDUaAkWE
Aunt Julia came over yesterday and was "clicking her tongue" at John. This morning he woke up and was doing it right away in the morning. He did it all day!
John at 10 months 1 week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_DjTtddzoU
2013.03.28. John is very proud of the fact that he has learned to stand. He also has the most adorable giggle and voice in the world. As long as I'm sitting in the recliner (reading or whatever), he will play in this Bumbo seat for quite a while.
John at 10 months 2 weeks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxFoT9Wjy9o
2013.03.25. This is how this kiddo is on a usual basis. He loves to walk with his car, talk, and climb on his mom. I love him.
John at 10 months 2 weeks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFGmDUaAkWE
Aunt Julia came over yesterday and was "clicking her tongue" at John. This morning he woke up and was doing it right away in the morning. He did it all day!
John at 10 months 1 week
Friday, April 12, 2013
The verdict is in...
NOT pregnant.
As you probably know, Aunt Flo came for the first visit in more than a year and a half last month. No fun. After that I thought, man, not having to deal with her every month was pretty great. Maybe getting pregnant again is the key! However, I didn't really think of it as a viable possibility.
Then I went to DeMotte for a week and heard that during her childbearing years, my mom had about 10 periods and 6 kids within 10 years. That's an average of 2 cycles between every kid!
Well then I started getting nervous. I mean, Eric wasn't in DeMotte with me then, so there were no advances to deny that week, but I sure didn't do much denying the week before. What if I was pregnant again? I had been tracking my temperatures and didn't show the big ovulation-fluctuation, but then again I didn't have a very consistent sleep schedule, so maybe it wasn't very accurate. Then I started to get nervous. I didn't have my thermometer with me in DeMotte and was sharing a room with John, so trying to get the necessary pre-temp-taking three hours of sleep was pretty much impossible. I didn't even have a way of tracking my basal body temperature to see if it was staying high! What was a Natural Family Planning mother to do? No way to know for sure if I was pregnant or not? Worst nightmare.
The day before I headed back to DeMotte, I started feeling sick. Early nausea? It's probably a girl. I threw up Friday night and was sure I was pregnant. Saturday morning I took my temperature and sure enough, it was five tenths of a degree higher than it had been the week before. I knew it...I was pregnant. Oh no... I'm not mentally prepared for another three months of puking. I finally fit in all my pre-pregnancy clothes and now I'm gonna get fat again.
But wait a minute... Monday morning my temp went back down to 97.8. Probably just a fluke. I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant. No more nausea. Was I really just sick? This was day 30 of my cycle. I usually start a new cycle on day 30. I couldn't take it; I had to pee on a stick to know for sure. Only one line...hmmm...you know, these things are only 90% accurate. I'm still not sure, I might be pregnant.
Well folks, Day 32 and Aunt Flo is back for her second visit in a year and half. Don't worry, I won't give you monthly updates on her visit, but my mind has done a crazy amount of back-and-forth this month. Mom made me nervous! Now I've got my handy dandy thermometer and my chart next to my bed and will make sure not to miss a temperature until I'm good and ready for everything that follows that brief moment of lack of denial. For this control freak, the reassurance of a regular chart is the only thing that will deliver peace of mind.
As you probably know, Aunt Flo came for the first visit in more than a year and a half last month. No fun. After that I thought, man, not having to deal with her every month was pretty great. Maybe getting pregnant again is the key! However, I didn't really think of it as a viable possibility.
Then I went to DeMotte for a week and heard that during her childbearing years, my mom had about 10 periods and 6 kids within 10 years. That's an average of 2 cycles between every kid!
Well then I started getting nervous. I mean, Eric wasn't in DeMotte with me then, so there were no advances to deny that week, but I sure didn't do much denying the week before. What if I was pregnant again? I had been tracking my temperatures and didn't show the big ovulation-fluctuation, but then again I didn't have a very consistent sleep schedule, so maybe it wasn't very accurate. Then I started to get nervous. I didn't have my thermometer with me in DeMotte and was sharing a room with John, so trying to get the necessary pre-temp-taking three hours of sleep was pretty much impossible. I didn't even have a way of tracking my basal body temperature to see if it was staying high! What was a Natural Family Planning mother to do? No way to know for sure if I was pregnant or not? Worst nightmare.
The day before I headed back to DeMotte, I started feeling sick. Early nausea? It's probably a girl. I threw up Friday night and was sure I was pregnant. Saturday morning I took my temperature and sure enough, it was five tenths of a degree higher than it had been the week before. I knew it...I was pregnant. Oh no... I'm not mentally prepared for another three months of puking. I finally fit in all my pre-pregnancy clothes and now I'm gonna get fat again.
But wait a minute... Monday morning my temp went back down to 97.8. Probably just a fluke. I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant. No more nausea. Was I really just sick? This was day 30 of my cycle. I usually start a new cycle on day 30. I couldn't take it; I had to pee on a stick to know for sure. Only one line...hmmm...you know, these things are only 90% accurate. I'm still not sure, I might be pregnant.
Well folks, Day 32 and Aunt Flo is back for her second visit in a year and half. Don't worry, I won't give you monthly updates on her visit, but my mind has done a crazy amount of back-and-forth this month. Mom made me nervous! Now I've got my handy dandy thermometer and my chart next to my bed and will make sure not to miss a temperature until I'm good and ready for everything that follows that brief moment of lack of denial. For this control freak, the reassurance of a regular chart is the only thing that will deliver peace of mind.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Why?
I watched Wendell today.
Wendell is the three-year-old son of two intellectuals. (His mother is a tenured prof with her doctorate at Calvin; his father runs the Writing Center at Kuyper and is completing his masters).
Wendell has a LOT of questions.
Why doesn't the dog eat his food now?
Maybe he's not hungry right now.
Why is he not hungry right now?
He already ate once today.
Why did he already eat once today?
Um... I don't know. Because he was hungry.
Did you see him eat his food today?
No; he doesn't like to eat in front of me.
Why does he not like to eat in front of you?
He's kind of shy.
Why is he shy?
I don't know why. What do you think Wendell?
You tell me.
Well, I just don't know.
Why is that light off and the other one on?
Well, that light bulb is burnt out.
Why is it burnt out?
After a long time, they just stop working.
Why do they stop working?
Well, there's a filament in the light bulb and after a while it burns out.
Why does it burn out?
We proceed to lesson about light bulb involving a candle, wick, light bulb removal/comparison, and lots of questions. His dad arrives partway through our lesson and tells me that they often say "Because that's the way it is" now instead of explaining things. I understand why!
Wendell has a curiosity that can get to be frustrating! I know these questions seem to be important to him, but to be perfectly honest, he does not NEED to know the answers to these questions. I can provide for all of his needs without having to explain how the entire world works. He just needs to chill out and trust me when I tell him things are OK and not to worry.
Here's the thing: Wendell is not the only one who is going through this stage. Here's a few lines from some other conversations I've had lately:
Why can't you just make it clear what you want us to do?
Why does Eric's job have to be so frustrating some of the time?
Why is raising a child so difficult?
Why is it so easy to be unhealthy and take so much attention and work to be healthy?
Why does being a good steward have to be so difficult; can't you just make it easy?
Why doesn't our money seem to stretch far enough?
Why did their baby have to die?
Why is there so much sickness?
Why? Why? Why?
I'm sure that at times, God thinks that I sound like a 3 year old. I wonder how often he gets frustrated with me and thinks wonders why I don't realize that I don't NEED to know the answers to these questions. He can provide for MY needs without having to explain how the entire world works. I just need to chill out and trust HIM when he tells me that He is in control and that I don't need to worry.
While I was thinking about all of this, I remembered yet ANOTHER person who asked God a bunch of questions and found a similar answer. Job was a man who saw and experienced a great deal more suffering and trials than I ever have. He asked God "Why?"
Then, God speaks:
"Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me."
He goes on to point out all of mysteries of the world that HE created. Basically, God responds by saying that Job knows jack squat. There are so many things that Job does not know about how this world was formed or how nature works. Like Wendell's parents, God tells Job "Because that's the way it is."
Then Job realizes:
Wendell constant (and eventually frustrating) questioning made me realize how I sometimes sound. It's not my place to ask God why he made the world the way he did. It's not my job to question his justice or condemn Him to justify myself. I have no claim against Him that he must pay. Everything under heaven belongs to Him. It's my job to trust him, to follow his will for my life, and to give him glory in everything that I do. It's a good thing that I am NOT God, I wouldn't be able to handle that job. Thank goodness that my Daddy in Heaven is looking over everything.
Written on March 15, 2013
Wendell is the three-year-old son of two intellectuals. (His mother is a tenured prof with her doctorate at Calvin; his father runs the Writing Center at Kuyper and is completing his masters).
Wendell has a LOT of questions.
Why doesn't the dog eat his food now?
Maybe he's not hungry right now.
Why is he not hungry right now?
He already ate once today.
Why did he already eat once today?
Um... I don't know. Because he was hungry.
Did you see him eat his food today?
No; he doesn't like to eat in front of me.
Why does he not like to eat in front of you?
He's kind of shy.
Why is he shy?
I don't know why. What do you think Wendell?
You tell me.
Well, I just don't know.
Why is that light off and the other one on?
Well, that light bulb is burnt out.
Why is it burnt out?
After a long time, they just stop working.
Why do they stop working?
Well, there's a filament in the light bulb and after a while it burns out.
Why does it burn out?
We proceed to lesson about light bulb involving a candle, wick, light bulb removal/comparison, and lots of questions. His dad arrives partway through our lesson and tells me that they often say "Because that's the way it is" now instead of explaining things. I understand why!
Wendell has a curiosity that can get to be frustrating! I know these questions seem to be important to him, but to be perfectly honest, he does not NEED to know the answers to these questions. I can provide for all of his needs without having to explain how the entire world works. He just needs to chill out and trust me when I tell him things are OK and not to worry.
Here's the thing: Wendell is not the only one who is going through this stage. Here's a few lines from some other conversations I've had lately:
Why can't you just make it clear what you want us to do?
Why does Eric's job have to be so frustrating some of the time?
Why is raising a child so difficult?
Why is it so easy to be unhealthy and take so much attention and work to be healthy?
Why does being a good steward have to be so difficult; can't you just make it easy?
Why doesn't our money seem to stretch far enough?
Why did their baby have to die?
Why is there so much sickness?
Why? Why? Why?
I'm sure that at times, God thinks that I sound like a 3 year old. I wonder how often he gets frustrated with me and thinks wonders why I don't realize that I don't NEED to know the answers to these questions. He can provide for MY needs without having to explain how the entire world works. I just need to chill out and trust HIM when he tells me that He is in control and that I don't need to worry.
While I was thinking about all of this, I remembered yet ANOTHER person who asked God a bunch of questions and found a similar answer. Job was a man who saw and experienced a great deal more suffering and trials than I ever have. He asked God "Why?"
Then, God speaks:
"Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me."
He goes on to point out all of mysteries of the world that HE created. Basically, God responds by saying that Job knows jack squat. There are so many things that Job does not know about how this world was formed or how nature works. Like Wendell's parents, God tells Job "Because that's the way it is."
Then Job realizes:
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”...
I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”...
"Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."
Wendell constant (and eventually frustrating) questioning made me realize how I sometimes sound. It's not my place to ask God why he made the world the way he did. It's not my job to question his justice or condemn Him to justify myself. I have no claim against Him that he must pay. Everything under heaven belongs to Him. It's my job to trust him, to follow his will for my life, and to give him glory in everything that I do. It's a good thing that I am NOT God, I wouldn't be able to handle that job. Thank goodness that my Daddy in Heaven is looking over everything.
Written on March 15, 2013
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