Humble Parent Moment

Jackson has collected three Lego cars from McDonald's Happy Meals.

Today, while I was getting ready to take the boys to the park, Jackson suggested he take one of the cars he had a duplicate of and give it to a child at the park. I didn't want to discourage his generosity so I said that would be very nice.

On the way Jackson asked, "why do I want to give this car to a kid at the park?" and we'd then recite one of his memory verses: "Do not forget to do good and to share with others for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:16 NIV) Like most 3 year olds he insisted we repeat this dialogue at least two or three times.

The park is a good 15 - 20 minute walk from our house, so I totally thought he would forget about it or chicken out once we got to the playground, but he didn't. There were two girls around his age playing and the first thing he did was run over to them and give them his car.

I had to reassure the parent several times that it was really what Jackson wanted to do and that there was no coaxing involved. I think both the parent and I were completely shocked, the little girl was excited to have a new toy (and friend), Jackson was proud of himself (but not too proud) and because of what the Bible says I know that God was pleased.

I was originally going to title this blog "Proud Parent Moments" and I am proud. Yet, God uses my children every day to humble me and remind me of the lessons I should be learning and applying in my own life as well.

FUN with Photos

These next two are the same picture just opposite sides.


I had so much fun making these and I hope you laughed as hard as I did (thank you Katy for the idea and link). You can make your own here.

10 Months Old

I can't believe Micah is 10 months old tomorrow. I don't know why 10 months seems so old to me ... maybe it's the whole double digit thing. Anyway, here's what he's up to lately:




Yup, he's started to "crawl" (more like creep like a cute little inch worm) just this week. He is SO adorable when he does this. As soon as I can figure out how to upload video from my camera to the Internet I'll have to post a video of him creeping across the floor.

Here's his typical routine:

6:30am - Wakes up and talks to himself. Sometimes he'll go back to sleep and sometimes he'll play until I feed him.

7:30am - Nurse. I've found that he nurses much better when I keep the lights off so that he's not distracted by anything (that's also why I nurse him BEFORE Jackson wakes up).

8:00am - Breakfast, usually it's applesauce (or some sort of fruit) mixed with oatmeal (he eats both infant oatmeal and regular oatmeal now).

9:30am - Nap. He still wears a sleep sack for nap time, but doesn't use a pacifier or anything else to put himself to sleep. I usually turn out the lights and turn on the humidifier (for white noise) and cuddle/pray with him for a few seconds and then lay him down while he's still awake and leave. Sometimes he'll talk or fuss a little before he goes to sleep, but most of the time he'll fall right to sleep.

11:30am - Nurse.

12:00pm - Lunch. Usually a vegetable, a fruit, grain and some sort of protein (that can be meat, fish, eggs, beans or dairy (he's had yogurt and cottage cheese so far, but they both make him a little gassy, so I have to give him gas drops afterwards)). I've still been making some pureed baby food, but I'm definitely using the baby food grinder more often and feeding him foods that the family is eating. He also gets a cup with a straw with about 1/8 or so cup of water.

1:30pm - Nap. Usually one of his naps is 2 hours and the other is 1 1/2 hours.

3:30pm - Nurse.

5:00pm - Snack (usually cheerios while I'm fixing him supper).

5:30pm - Supper. Same type of food as lunch (although I may not do a protein). Micah has a hard time making it all the way to 6pm when the rest of us eat and if he does it's hard for me to eat while feeding him, so I tend to feed him a little bit earlier on some days.

7:30pm - Bible Story. Micah LOVES Bible story time. More than any other book we have this is the book that he whines to look at and touch every time we pull it out.

7:45pm - Nurse. I do my best not to nurse him to sleep. Obviously there are some days that that is unavoidable. Most days though it's important that he stays awake enough to at least burp ... other wise I'm up with him a couple hours later when he cries because he's gassy.

NOTE: Micah still will NOT take a bottle! So, we've decided that when Colin or a babysitter has to put him to bed we just mix about 2oz of breast milk in cereal and put 2oz of breast milk into a cup with a straw and feed it to him in his high chair before bed. It seems to be working so far since he hasn't woken up in the night when we do it that way.

Micah LOVES his brother and often mimics him in his play (screams and growls, etc.). As soon as I let him he'll play cars with Jackson ALL DAY, I just know it.

Micah has started to show an understanding of the word "No!" and I now feel comfortable that he knows when he is doing something I've asked him not to ... I say "no" and he gives me "that look" and does it anyway ... you moms know what I'm talking about right?

Discipline is just around the corner and I have swatted his hands a couple of times when he's endangering himself (pulling on cords, etc.). I'm thankful for the tender heart he has when I do (he usually cries (Jackson doesn't like that)), rather than a determined defiance ... I'm praying that sticks.

He still moans and whines a lot when he wants something, but he is getting more consistent with signing "please" (although it's on his leg instead of on his chest). We're working on it.

Jackson is getting a glimpse of a brother who will soon be able to wrestle with him and he's pretty excited about it, but I have to pull back the reigns every once in awhile when Jackson is a little too rough. Those two boys are going to be such good buddies I can tell already by the way each of them light up when the other one is in the room.

Well, I think that's all for now until I hit "Publish Post" and think of a million other things I wanted to blog about. It's the same when I leave the doctor's office too ... I think of a million and one questions after I leave. Ah well.


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FEMININE INFORMATION BELOW DO NOT READ OF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW
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My cycle was 41 days this month with a spike in temp on day 35, but I was not able to take my tempurature on several days because of getting up with Micah early in the morning when he was sick, so this month's predicted ovulation date may be wrong.

Completely Random But Fun

Just some randomness... enjoy.




"Ask and ye shall receive." I mentioned to our neighbors that I was thinking about getting Jackson a trampoline because he's had SOOOOO much energy lately and they pulled theirs out of the back of the closet for us to use! How cool is that!!!




Colin had his company picnic last weekend and Jackson got his face painted like a monkey. I was surprised he sat for it. This is his best serious monkey impression.





It looks like Jackson chopped off some of my hair in the front... nope... it's just finally growing back in after falling out... ah motherhood.




I didn't really have anything randomly new about Micah, but I thought I'd include this fun picture.

WARNING: A Sensative Topic

According to the given statistics in the United States of America, one out of every four girls, and one out of every six boys will be sexually abused before they turn eighteen years of age.

SCARY!!! Considering those staggering numbers I would dare to say that most Americans are affected in one way or another by sexual abuse, not excluding myself.

My mom taught me about sexual abuse prevention at a very early age and I can recall at least two specific instances in my life that if I didn't have that knowledge I may have fallen prey to sexual abuse.

Now that Jackson is becoming more independent I've found this topic popping up in my mind over and over again. How early is too early to teach sexual abuse prevention? I don't want to steal my children's innocence, but I don't want to avoid the issue and have them unprepared if ... I can't even write it.

CAVEAT:
Please don't hear what I'm NOT saying:
I'm NOT saying that it's my job to be over protective as a parent or that if I don't teach my child about sexual abuse prevention that it's my fault if they are.
I'm also NOT saying that my children will be immune to sexual abuse if I do teach them about sexual abuse prevention.
I know that God is sovereign and the BEST thing I can do for my children is place their physical, emotional and spiritual well being in the hands of GOD. However, I do know that God can use me to help my children, but I guess I'm wrestling with exactly what that looks like.

So, I'm writing this very touchy blog looking for advice and to document what I've done in this area of parenting.

So far, Jackson and I have discussed that his private parts are just that PRIVATE.

We've also talked about the importance of being obedient to God versus an adult or even Mommy or Daddy. So, if Mommy asks Jackson to do something that is disobedient to God like steal, lie, cheat or touch his private parts, it's OKAY and right for him to say "NO."

We've also talked about how it's important NOT to keep secrets that promote sin or hurt other people emotionally and physically.

We've also discussed that if someone MAKES him do something that is disobedient that it is NOT his fault. For example, if Mommy says that she would hurt him if he told the truth to Daddy about something she did wrong, that's MOMMY'S SIN, not Jackson's.

I've really tried to keep it simple, but it's so hard with such a complex topic. I don't want to talk about it SO much that I start planting ideas in my sons' heads, but at the same time I want them to know that they can come talk to me about ANYTHING!

My plan for right now is to talk about it as the topic arises and may once in awhile get age appropriate books from the library on the topic. I'm thinking of getting "The Right Touch" by Sandy Kleven. Anyone read it? Do you have any other books or resources you recommend?

What about you? What are your thoughts about sexual abuse prevention? Do you have any advice?

I plan on blogging more on this topic as it comes up in our lives, but I look forward to hearing about how you are handling and wrestling with this difficult issue and gleaning insight and advice from what you share.

Eating on the Go!

I'm sure I'm not the only Mom who makes meals intended to be eaten in the car or in a stroller. Often times, when I do, I struggle with how to make it a nutritious meal without having a million different baggies of veggies and fruit. So, I thought I'd share what we did for our meal on the go today:

Ingredients:

1 flour tortilla
1 Tbs. peanut butter (although I think cream cheese could work too if there are allergy concerns)
shredded carrots
raisins

Warm the tortilla in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Spread peanut butter on one half to 2/3 of the tortilla and put desired amount of raisins and shredded carrots on top of the peanut butter. Roll up like a burrito and serve immediately.

FYI: I actually ate one of these myself and it was really good. Jackson loved it and as long as you don't stuff it too full it doesn't make a mess at all.

Giving All

Since Micah hasn't been sleeping well this past week I decided to give him a chance to catch up on sleep and get well by staying home from church. It's always hard for me to make that decision, but God's timing is so perfect.

I listened to an online sermon from our church back in Omaha and the topic is so relevant to what God put on my heart in my last post. I encourage you to listen to the sermon too.

The lyrics to the song at the end of the sermon are typed out below. They are my prayer for Jackson and for myself and my praise to Jesus for giving His all, His life, for us.

What If I Give All?

Words by Ray Boltz, Music by Ray Boltz and Mark Pay

He heard the preacher say
A single dime can feed
A hungry boy or girl
With nothing to eat
So he pulled a dollar
From the pocket of his jeans
And he asked his mama
How many will this feed?
She just smiled
And when she told him ten
He reached back again

CHORUS:
What if I give all I have?
What will that gift do?
My child, a gift like that
Could change the world
It could feed a multitude
He didn't close his eyes
Or turn away
I can see him standing tall
He saw the need
And I can hear him say
What if I give all

Three birthday dollars
Could have bought a special toy
But he reminds me
Of another little boy
Who gave to Jesus
A gift of fish and bread
I wonder if he said

CHORUS (repeat)

And long ago a Father and a Son
Saw the children lost in sin
Can you see the tears
In the Fathers eyes
As Jesus says to him

What if I gave all I have?
What will that gift do?
My Son, that gift
Will change the world
It will free the multitudes

What if I give all I have?
What will that gift do?
My child a gift like that
Could change the world
It could feed a multitude
We cannot close our eyes
And turn away
When we hear His Spirit call
We see the need
Now let Him hear us say
What if I give all?
What if I give all?

1996 Shepherd Boy MusicASCAP (adm. by Word Music) and Screaming Toad MusicASCAP (adm. by Addison Music).

Materialism/Idols

Wow! Three posts in two days! I'm on a roll! The Toys R Us ads in the previous post reminded me of something I wanted to take note of for when Micah gets older.

Jackson has started getting allowance (here's the post about our family's views on that subject)and ever since then we've had more opportunities to discuss saving, spending and giving money.

Well, Jackson received a Fisher Price catalog along with one of the birthday presents he got in the mail and it's become his new favorite "book". In fact, in order to help him learn how to save his money to buy something bigger than a 97 cent Hotwheels, we've cut out a picture of the toy he wants to buy and we made a little count down calendar for how many weeks it will take until he can buy it. It's been a really good lesson in delayed gratification.

However, now he'll spend more time looking at the toys he "wants"(said in a whinny voice) in the catalog than he does playing with the toys he has. It's prompted some good conversation about materialism. Here's how the conversation happened the other day:

Mom: Jackson please get into your high chair it's time for lunch.

(Jackson still looking at the catalog.)

Mom: Jackson did you not hear me or are you choosing to be disobedient?

Jackson: I heard you... Mom, after I get my Lightning McQueen train I want to get this ...

(Mom takes the catalog away and Jackson throws a mini tantrum.)

Mom: Uh-oh.

Jackson: What?

Mom: Did you know that you just made toys an idol? What does the Bible say about idols? (pause) What is the first commandment?

Jackson: "You shall have no other gods before me."

Mom: Did you know that when you chose to look at the catalog instead of obey Mommy you also chose to disobey God and that means you are putting your toys before God and making them an idol? Is that good or bad?

Jackson: Bad.

Mom: You've been thinking about your toys a lot lately. What should we think about more? God? or toys?

Jackson: God.

(We pray that God will help us to think about Him more than our toys.)

Mom: It's okay to have toys, but it's not okay to think about them more than God. Let's put this catalog away for awhile so we stop thinking about toys and think about God.

Jackson: Okay(getting into his high chair). Mom?

Mom: Yes?

Jackson: When I was getting into my high chair I was thinking about Jesus.

Mom: I'm glad.

Of course materialism is something I struggle with too. I just wrote a blog about matching outfits for cryin' out loud. I'm glad that God is using me to keep my boy's heart in check and that He's using my boy to keep my heart in check.

As a result, we've also been working on memorizing a few Bible verses regarding the issue of materialism:

"And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.'" (Luke 12:15 NKJV)

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Luke 16:13 NIV)

I don't pretend to have all the answers to this tough issue. How do I raise my children with a healthy view of money? Money in and of itself is not bad, it's the LOVE of money that's bad. But it's hard to distinguish what the LOVE of money looks like sometimes because it can creep into my life so easily.

I've made it clear to Jackson that I struggle with making "things" an idol too and that this will be a life long battle for us, so we need to keep praying that God will help us to worship Him only.

Yet another reminder of God's grace in our day to day lives.

Matching Outfits ... Okay PJs!

For those of you who have the joy of having little girls you know how fun it can be to find matching outfits for them to wear. The options are unlimited!

However, BOYS are a different story. Someone must have decided that it's not okay to match your sons' outfits because I have a terrible time finding them. I don't normally match my boys ... I don't normally buy brand new clothes for them either (unless it's a really good sale or I need something very specific), but on occasion (like Easter and Christmas) I think it's fun.

Maybe I'm too frugal and I'm shopping at the wrong stores? I've tried Walmart, Target, Kohl's, Babies R Us, etc. I just can't bring myself to pay the price it costs for an adult outfit for clothes my children will out grow in only a couple of months.

Anyway, I kind of chuckle at the fact that the matching "outfits" I finally got them were $7.00 pajamas at Walmart. Ah well. They're still pretty cute though.






I love that they look like they are enjoying a nice morning reading the paper (Jackson's been into reading the Toys R Us ads lately) and a book. I almost had them pose with coffee mugs.<

Growth Spurt ... Maybe?

Micah caught a cold last week, but he'd been doing really well at night time regardless of all of the congestion he was having.

We also had friends in town from Omaha on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, so Micah was out of routine for most of those days.

On Monday morning (5:00am) Micah woke up crying. I gave him some medicine and then ended up nursing him so that I wouldn't wake up our guests and he went back to sleep until around 8am. Then he did fine the rest of the day and we even went to the beach.

Tuesday morning he woke up at 4:00am and was inconsolable. I gave him medicine, gas drops and sucked out his nose and after an hour and a half of crying I could finally rock him back to sleep(I didn't nurse him this time because I didn't want to create a habit) and he slept until around 8am. I figured he has had a cold for one week now and may be battling an ear infection. His morning nap was perfect, but I had a hard time getting him to sleep for his afternoon nap although he eventually did go to sleep and slept quite awhile. When I put him to bed that night I gave him medicine and gas drops just in case.

Wednesday morning he woke up at 4:30am and again was inconsolable. I gave him medicine and gas drops but didn't suck out his nose thinking that would wake him up too much. After an hour and a half of crying I finally gave in and nursed him. He drank it ALL! As soon as he was finished he was sound asleep.

I feel TERRIBLE that he cried for that long for nothing. I could have just nursed him and put him right back to bed and we would have all been much happier today. But, in my defense, he's sick and teething and trying new foods and out of routine and I thought all of those combined were my problem.

Looking back I'm not really sure I would have done anything differently except try nursing a little sooner, but I still would have tried everything else first. (SIGH) I still feel terrible though and that's only magnified by the fact that I'm exhausted.

Well, I'm going to try to increase Micah's calories today (mix some breast milk in his food and add an extra nursing) to see if that helps tonight.

I'm still not fully convinced that it's a growth spurt, but part of me hopes that it's only that. Poor little guy.

We'll get this all straightened out soon.

Additional Note Made 8/7/09:

The day I fed Micah more calories he did sleep through the night, BUT he had a very difficult time falling asleep and I moved him to his swing where he slept all night long. I'm now almost certain that he had some sort of ear infection that would feel progressively worse throughout the day and made night times uncomfortable for him.

Last night he went to sleep well (a little fussy due to separation anxiety) and stayed asleep ALL NIGHT!! (SIGH) Let's hope this is the end of this cold.

Additional Note Made 8/8/09:

NOPE! He was up again this morning at 5:30am! Finally fell asleep again after I nursed him and put him in the swing. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!