long time no see...

It's been so long...since Thanksgiving...I can hardly believe it...We have been busy busy here and there and everywhere...Ren, the pups and I are moved to SC and staying with my sister, hubs is in training and we are adjusting...adjusting...adjusting. Nothing like packing up everything you think you may possibly...just can't live with-out...need and driving across the country...makes for a long December and a frustrating start to the new year. But we are getting there...settled that is...at least I hope.

My 35th birthday just passed and while numbers are not a big deal to me...I always evaluate and reevaluate my life, my priorities, how I deal with people, friends, situations,family and myself on my birthday (self reflection is always a good thing...as long as it is constructive). My Dad sends me a card every year...he takes time and reads through cards at the store until he finds one that says "it" or comes close. This year when I opened that wonderful card and read the poem...not only did it bring tears to my eyes...I am so glad my Dad is proud of the woman and Mama that I am!...but it made me stop and think and reevaluate what is going on in my life...in my relationships and in my self-thought. And because I think this poem is good "food for thought" I thought I would share....
From the writing of Emily Matthews

If you can value truth above approval,
and friendship over beauty, wealth, or fame,
If you can share your gifts and talents wisely,
leaving someone better off than when you came...
If you find happiness in simple pleasures
and see the rainbow, not the falling rain,
If you have faith to keep right on believing
in miracles that no one can explain,
If you will look until you see the good in others
and keep your spirit honest, true, and free,
Then you'll be not just happy and successful,
but the woman only you were ment to be.

So my goal this 35th year of my life is to make a conscious effort to do those things and become a better woman, Mama, wife, sister, daughter, friend and become more of the woman that God created me to be.

Thankful...

I am so very very Thankful for all the goodness that God has blessed me and my little family with...my cup runneth over.

Righting My World

Hello...Thanks for calling...you have reached cranky, crying...oh.my.goodness.is.that.baby.throw-ing.a.fit Ren Inc. today....how may I help you?
Goodness this baby of mine...so cranky...in his defense...it's the lil pearly whites making their debut but still....and crying...crying but not for real...cause he can't have his way...oh my! I was hoping this fit throwing might hold off for a couple more months a least but no....
Last night at dinner he wanted to hold the spoon...and put his hand out every-time to grab it....which all-in-all is not that big of a deal but it was dinner time and this Mama needs her boy to lean that dinner time is for eating and not playing. So I told Ren no and then tried to keep feeding him. 30 (or so give or take a few) No's later...Ren is crying...but not real tears...just peeking out at Mama every-now-and-then to see if I am paying attention and then when he sees me looking at him he smiles and goes for the spoon...Ha...sneaky lil guy. So, I let him "cry" and just sat there waiting for him to finish. Then when he was done I gave him a couple bites of food and then went and got a little wooden spoon for him to hold while he finished eating...and finish eating dinner he did. I just have to keep telling myself that my will is greater than his!

And in the middle of all the fits and non tear inducing crying and I am frustrated...Ren gives me a lil ole grin....and my world it is righted again...
the end.

Ren Wearing

Stephanie over at Adventures in Babywearing asked to see our favorite babywearing photos....
I don't have very many of Ren and I but this one....
is easily one of my favorites so far (Ren is 7 months old). This is a Baby K'tan carrier...and my carrier of choice for wearing Ren. It is comfortable, easy to put on and take off and Ren loves it. Here is a picture of me wearing Ren when he was 5 days old his first time in the Baby K'tan...
Goodness he was so little....He slept for 4 hours in there and I LOVED it! I am so glad that there are comfortable carriers out there and I intend to wear Ren as long as he loves it too!

Perspective

I'm sure you have had them...THOSE days that just happen to come along and something is not right...at least not right with yourself...the rest of the house and everyone in it are just humming right along and you are left standing there wondering 'What the heck? and WHY?'
Well that day was today for me...not wanting to get out of bed at 6:30 to nurse Ren, not wanting to get up and dressed so he can play at 7:15. Twice hoping to lay down and nap when he napped and he only slept for 15-20 minutes. Hubs had a big final paper due today so I couldn't ask him for too much help so I felt like I was on my own for most of the day (which is not a big deal because I am on my own almost everyday it was just that today was Sunday and I wanted a small break). So I ended up crying over the kitchen sink...for no apparent reason...ha...I can think of a million reasons but none of them are good ones that merit me salting the dishwater. So I sniffed back the annoying tears and gave Ren to Ed...a small escape to the grocery store alone would be good....and then I got a cart with the wonky wheel...guess it was just not my day at all....and while I could go on and on about the "stuff" from today but I don't want to re-hash it and I am sure you don't want to read all my complaining.


After the tears and complaining that was going on in my head...the fact (and it is a fact) that I hate my house...I really do...I could list all the things about it that drive me crazy....but then I feel selfish and ungrateful and spoiled. There are lots of people in this world with out...With out running water, electricity, a kitchen, counters, carpet on the floor...a floor at all..
...all the things that made me want to scream about today...there is so many people with out those same things that would love what I have. It's all about perspective right?

So, I hope to go to bed and wake up tomorrow to a much better day....Cheers to Monday!

Pumpkin Time!

Being a Christian; "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

What a wonderful poem....I don't know who wrote it but I like it!

We took Ren to his first Pumpkin Patch this past weekend.
I can't say he loved it....he could have cared less...hahaha..the things we do....
He did eat some grass and choked on a pumpkin stem...freaked me out to say the least (hubs was on baby duty btw, he did not think it was THAT BIG!). I do want to buy a wagon for Ren now, he really enjoyed the little wagon ride....just sat there all big boy like and took the world in.
We also had our first swing (sitting on Mama's lap) the other day and Ren loved that too. I was hoping to take him back to the park but the weather has not been that great.

Ren's sleep is getting much better (his nights) we have settled into a nice routine for the evening and he is sleeping through the night...YAY!!! Naps however are are a whole different story round here. So, that is what we are working on.....getting Ren to nap in his bed....the last two days have involved a lot of crying (Ren) and massive amounts of frustration and stress (me). But he did nap for 30 minutes (much much much crying) this morning and 45 this afternoon (a lot less crying). So I just have to be consistent and persistent with him and I believe that he will start napping much better.

We are still gearing up for the big move to SC and hubs is preparing for training and deployment. Keeping the house clean, organizing "stuff" and preparing lists of what Ren and I will need to take with us is what is keeping me busy busy around here.

Big breath in....the holiday season that is almost here...Loving on my hubs and spending as much family time around here as possible is what occupies my mind and time....and that is a good thing!
Can you believe we are more that half way through October? Where oh where is the time going?

6 Have Flown

It's been a while...once again. Just finding time to sit down and put some thoughts together has proven itself a challenge around here. Ren is keeping me on my toes, Mama work is weary work, but a good weary (weary weary weary weary weary...say that a couple times in a row and see if you don't sound like Bugs Bunny).

My little fighter is sleeping better, we have adjusted his night time routine...dinner at 6, then bath, then a little play time, prayers with Dada, then off to his room for a book, nursing, rocking and singing...I am out of the room by 8:20 (we are hoping to push this up a little so he is asleep by 7:30ish but considering he was going to bed 9:30-10ish, we are doing good) He is not crying very long (thank the Lord in heaven) and is waking about 5:30 in the morning for nursing and then back to sleep until 7 something. So YAY...I am a little less stressed.

Nap time however is now the battle we are fighting, Ren sleeps a couple times a day (3 to 4) about 30 to 45 minutes each...and in his swing....so I would like to get him to two long naps (ya know one morning, one afternoon and in his bed) (so I can get some stuff done around here)). Oh and my sweet boy had his six month appointment....he is 16pds 13 oz and 26 1/2 inches long. In his 6 to 9 (or to 12) size clothes. He is sitting up like a champ, loves his jumpy and has the best giggles! We started him on solids and he is eating; sweet potatoes, pears, avocado, banana, mango and cereal...we are trying new things every 4 days. No teeth budding up just yet and he always has his fingers in his mouth.

Ren's 6 month appointment photo

We are getting some stuff done around here...going through closets and organizing spaces to prepare for a move (to SC) and possibly a pack-out and move (to a new base) this coming year. I can hardly believe that half a year has flown by, when the nurse was weighing Ren I could not help but think about our first appointment with them and how little Ren was and how tired I was and worried. Worried that I was doing something wrong, not nursing enough, holding him too much or too little...and a dozen other thoughts swirling in my head and heart.

How did you tackle naps with your little ones?