Heart Smiles

I don't know where it goes, time that is, but it gets away from me so quickly I can hardly stand it.  As the hours, days and week fly past me, I realize they're already gone before I've noticed them passing.  These precious baby boys of ours are SIXTEEN MONTHS OLD...which is entirely too close to 18 months, which means 2 years is just right around the corner.  I miss my babies, but I do love these little boys that seem to be forming right before our very eyes.

The transition from two naps to one nap is just about successful and complete.  We make it through most mornings now without too much fussiness.  It's all smiles and play these days, which I very much appreciate.  In fact, today, I was actually thanking the Lord for some of the 'not so good' days we've had in the past several weeks, because without them, I'd never be able to appreciate sitting happily with my little family with smiles and laughter and marveling at these little guys. 

I've really been enjoying these boys lately.  They are so funny, so interesting and inquisitive.  It hardly seems possible that they should be 'communicating with me.'  Asher is working on quite a few words and doing well.  Nolan is just about to the point where we can tell he tries to repeat a portion of almost everything we are saying.  I don't know what it is about a child learning to talk, but the desire and labored effort just melts my heart.  I'm sure you experienced moms are saying, you want them to talk now, but just you wait, they'll never stop!  That's okay.  When they walked I was so interested to watch them choose the things that they were interested in doing and exploring and when they start talking...well, I'll finally get to learn what's their amazing (and adorable) little heads! 

Today Nolan and I were standing by the window looking out...(Thanks to Daddy for rearranging so we would have the window exposed for viewing and not blocked by the couch) and I was certain Nolan was carrying on a full blown conversation with me.  (He says about 20 or more words that actually are consistent and have meaning)  None of those words were included in this conversation.  He kept looking out the window, pointing, talking, moving his hands, then looking back at me as if i were supposed to answer him.  I just said, "Honey, I think you are having a conversation with me!  I'm very excited, but I don't think I have a clue what you are talking about, but let's keep talking..." and away he went, jabbering on a few more phrases that were certainly supposed to convey some sort of message to me.  I felt as though he were asking me a question about something that was outside.  I just kept naming objects that were outside and stated their purpose as if that's what he was actually interested in. 

Have I told you how much they like to vaccuum?!  My (amazing) sister in law gave us her old vaccuum since they couldn't take it on a plane and it's great for the boys because it's small enough for them to handle.  Now, every time I get that thing out, they expect a turn.  They even sing a 'vacuum song'  When it comes on they try to make the sound with their voices.  They've done this for several months and truly enjoy the vaccuum! 

Asher's new thing is putting things 'away.'  I say 'away' because I don't mean in their CORRECT place.  He is really into transferring objects from one location to another.  Just today I watched him take his toys and trasnfer them to at least four different places....from the toy box to the toy lid, to the alligator teeter totter, to the books basket to the coffee table.  What amazed my husband and I about this was that he was rearranging items so that they would fit in the space he wanted them to. 

Oh yeah, and today we were working on colors.  Nolan's favorite color (this week) is blue.  He will get the color blue correct about half of the time.  I love when he says blue because he tries SO hard to the the 'b' sound out.  Of course it's more like 'boo' because the l is missing from the word when it says it, but I still love it and I love even more that they are trying.  We played a game today with some little wooden blocks.  I laid three or four different ones on the floor and asked them to hand me the 'blue' (or another available color) and I couldn't believe how successful they were with this activity!  Purple is fun too...it's something like 'PaPa'  :-)

Do you know what I love more than any of this other stuff though....THE HUGS AND KISSES!  They feel so random and undeserving, yet so priceless!  Nothing sweeter than my baby boys running across the room and wrapping their tiny little arms around me.  How can I love something that little...How can so much love be wrapped up in a little being?! 

Tonight in our devotions, Nathan was talking about the range of emotions he sees me feel for the boys (sad for them, sorry for them, happy for them, pity for them etc...) and reminded me that that's how our Heavenly Father feels for us.  He loves us more than we can even love our own children!!  I can't imagine a love that big.  Can you?

No.  A simple two letter word that the Mommy of every toddler utters more than desirable.  I have a new meaning of the word NO...N(essecary) O(pportunities). 

My boys are a few days shy of 16 months old, which is very hard for me to believe, as usual.  We have once again entered into a new stage.  I catch myself saying no over and over and over again.  Let's be clear about one thing, it's not because my kids are "bad" because they are not.  They are very obeident children. Actually, the overuse of the word no is not their fault at all, it's mine.  I have had a difficult time deciding their boundries.  I firmly believe in consistency with child rearing, but I am embarassed to say that I have not been as consistent as I would like to be.  It seems like I am torn in two directions with their every move.  What is acceptable behavior and what is not?  What are they allowed to touch, climb, tap, throw, eat and what are they not?  So many of these things are simply a part of development.  If they were NOT trying to do all of these things then I would be worried that they were delayed in some way.  They have just let me know they are quite healthy and right on target for development.  They are curious, as all children should be.  I am inspired by their inquisitive little minds.  My job is to decide what is acceptable and to teach them which behaviors are appropriate and which are not. 

I'm challenging myself to change my perspective...afterall this is a blog about the perspective of a Mommy!  As my wise husband told me the other day, "They're not bad, they're just curious and busy..."  He's right.  We adults let it all cloud our head and may at times become frutrated when there are toys everywhere, a toddler just slipped and bumped his head and the other one is headed to his favorite snack dish (aka - THE DOG FOOD!)  In that moment, it can seem like a lot, but if I stop and take a step back, it's pretty funny and I should feel lucky to be a part of this blessed chaos everyday.  Sometimes I don't think I give myself enough credit though...there are TWO 16 MONTH OLDS IN THIS HOUSE!  You don't get to tell me how peaceful it is at your house if you only have one or if yours have been grown for 5 years or more :D  Two perfectly healthy 16 month boys are busy.  Sometimes us fuddy duddy adults mistake busy for 'bad.'  Busy does NOT equate to BAD, so don't confuse the two....like I sometimes do....

I'm on a journey to read several child rearing books.  I've never done it before, but I do have some instincts that I trust, but I also feel as though this is the most important job I've (n)ever done!  What qualifications do we have to have to be a 'good mom'?  There's no training or school that certifies one as a "good mother." My job is to TEACH...not just discipline all day long.  I need to teach our children correct behaviors.  So, I'm changing my language and reverting to something I was very familar with as a public school teacher.  I'm going to use positive statements as often as possible.  For example, When Nolan is standing on the couch, I'll replace "no" with "sit down"  I'd like to limit the use of the word no and instead remind myself that it is a necessary opportunity for me to TEACH our children appropriate and acceptable behaviors. 

Wish me luck....

One Word

“Write one word to describe this person.”These are directions that have the potential to have a profound impact on yourself or somebody else. 

Tonight I went to the Ladies Meeting (Peacemakers) at our church.  The above directions were given to the ladies.  We each wrote our name on a piece of paper, put it in a bowl, drew somebody else’s name out of the bowl and had to write down one or two words to describe this person.  Then, we went around the room to share what we had written about the person.  When my name was read the word that was chosen was simply, “Stylish.”  At first thought, especially given the troubles I’ve had with my SAHM wardrobe, this was a bit of a compliment.  However, after only a few seconds of this sinking in my eyes begin to well with tears as I realized just what this meant….

Here I sat in a room full of Christian women, at a church I’ve been going to for about five years, professing to be a Christian myself, having asked Jesus Christ into my life to live and reign over my life, to serve, honor and love Him…and “stylish” was all I became?  I seriously began to question my walk with the Lord and my testimony to those around me.  Let me be very clear in saying that I’m not angry at this person or the person that organized this activity, in fact, if anything, I am grateful.  In my opinion, anything that makes you look a little deeper is a great thing, even if (like was said at the meeting) the truth hurts. 

Being that this blog is called “Mommy’s Perspective” I feel it necessary to relate this to my mommyness as well.  If I am living a life for the Lord and not even the people that I go to church with can see that, then something is very seriously flawed.  What word would my children use to describe me? I believe our first ministry is our family.  Are my husband and I living the kind of life where our children know that we love and serve the Lord?  A life that teaches them a biblical set of standards? 

What about strangers on the street?  My husband?  My family? My friends on facebook? My blog readers?  What word would these people use to describe me?  Have I lost my testimony for the Lord somewhere along the way?  I’m sure we’ve all heard that actions speak louder than words.  What actions have I done or not done to lock in somebody’s opinion about me? 

I pray that from this moment forward that the Lord will guide me on a straighter and narrower path to honor Him….that next time somebody has to use one word to describe me in one word phrase they might say “Christian” or “God Honoring” (or something that remotely speaks highly of the character that the Lord has taught me). 

What word would people use to describe you?  Is it a word that you are satisfied with?  A word to be proud of? 

Fifteen Months and Fifteen New Experiences Everyday!

As usual, I can hardly believe how the time has passed.  My baby boys are fifteen months old (and then some).  We have been having so much fun with them.  I don't know when they matured enough to be 'hams' but they sure are funny!  While fifteen months is still a bit of a transiton for all of us as we're still adjusting to a single nap per day, it has opened up many possiblities for excitement each day. 




Asher - Next to one of his preemie pj's...Big Boy now





Finally big enough to ride in the cool cart!



One of Nolan's favorite activities

I love to watch Asher and Nolan play these days.  I watch them with amazement and can't believe how they're really 'little boys.'  The baby is fading quickly and as much as it saddens me it also brings a smile to my face to see them grow and change and become themselves a little more every day. 

Nolan has really started talking lately.  Last week while we were visiting Grandma, he surprised us with a few words!  He wanted a snack (which Mommy always has a multitude of) while we were at Target and he held out his hand and said "A-Peez, Peez"  (Please for all of you who are not yet fluent in baby) 

This is my all time favorite though...When I open up doors or need them to back out of the way I say "Beep, Beep, Beep" - like a truck backing up.  The other day Nathan came home from work and while he was opening the door, Nolan said "Beep - Beep - Beep"  It was the cutest thing and I just laughed and laughed.  Other words include duck, dog (which is said for any four legged creature), bird, baby, shoes, bye bye, hi, drink, snack, up, hot, ball.  What I really love is that when I go get there shoes out they know it's time to go bye bye.  So as soon as I get them out, they pick them up and go running to the door saying 'bye-bye'  They love to go, as I'm sure most kids do. 

Asher is doing summersaults now.  I have yet to catch this on video, but I hope to soon!  He sort of started doing it on his own and then I guided him a little.  Now I can go to him and say, "Put your head down, let's do a summersault" and he will stick his hands and head on the floor like he is about to do a headstand. 

Well, I suppose that's all for now.  I just wanted to give an update, mostly so I wouldn't forget these things for myself ;-)