Pick your battle...

I've come to realize as a mom that you pick your battles.  And once you pick them, you have to live with them.  We can't do everything!  For example, I chose the battle of sleeping through the night because I know I need that in order to be an effective mother.  And what does my child do?  He sleeps 10 1/2 hours every night.  It's lovely.  However, other people say a toy can entertain their child for hours, but my child is only entertained for 30 min. at a max with any given thing.  The jumperoo entertains him the longest and that 30 min. gives me time to shower, or eat breakfast.  I choose to be ok with the fact that my child may get bored easily and where that might be a challenge later, I'll just have to deal with it. 

My point is, I've come to realize I've judged harshly in the past and I was wrong.  Yes, some people choose to fight no battles and let their kids do anything, and others are over controlling and I hate that but really that's their choice.  I feel sorry for the kids sometimes but there's not much I can do about it by just judging them because that won't change a thing.  I've been a mom a whole three months and I'm sure I've already been judged by people.  Isn't it ridiculous how we can have so many problems of our own and as soon as we see someone who chose a different battle than us, we are so quick to say they must be doing something wrong as a parent?  Granted, they are probably doing something wrong.  Otherwise their kid would be perfect.  But they chose other battles.  I guess everyone has a different list of things that they feel is important for their child to learn, and while I may strongly disagree with some people's lists, I know my list isn't perfect and all I can do is the best I can.  Which, I'm sure, is what everyone else is doing as well.  So, sorry world for me being so critical.  Just don't complain to me about it when your child is a brat, you chose that. ;)

P.S.  I know some children act a certain way no matter what you do, so please no one be offended by this post.  I'm throwing out a general idea but I know there are always exceptions. :)      

My Weekly BM

Yes, I think poo is funny.  There, I said it.  Anyone who really knows me knows that already.  No one gave me any better ideas so until I hear one, that's the name.  Alrighty, so let's get to these "blessed memories."

Natalie:

Anyone who knows me also knows I've loved animals ever since I can remember.  I remember back in elementary school, our playground had a ton of cute, little green frogs for some reason.  So, what did I do?  Caught them and saved them in the light socket outside, of course.  I had to keep track of them until I got out of class and that seemed like the most logical place since it was small and confined.  Remember, I was like 7 at the time.  My only regret is thinking these cute little frogs could safely slide down a metal slide in 100 degree weather...

Jon:

Jon has loved to bowl ever since he can remember.  By the time he was in 5th grade he had a bowling average of around 150(ish) and was playing in a league.  It was not unusual for him to bowl a game around the 200s.  He was taken out of bowling by 6th grade, I believe, because they wanted to play on Sundays and other reasons, but he still enjoys playing leisurely.  He regrets not keeping up with it though because now his average is quite a bit lower.  He gets a little angry(good naturedly) every time we bowl because he wishes he could figure out why he can't do what he did in the 5th grade.  For me, 130 is great, but not him.  My highest score is 191 but that will never happen again.  I barely get to 100 most of the time.

Patrick:

This is Patrick's new toy.  It's pretty much the only thing above $5 that we've bought him but it was much needed(I got it for a great price at Wal-Mart).  He is the most wiggly baby I've ever met and my arms just couldn't handle it anymore.  He constantly wants to stand and jump so this seemed like a good solution.  I thank this jumperoo ever day now, particularly when I need to shower or make dinner.  He loves to look up at that little green frog hanging from the leaf and he's getting better and better at grabbing the little animals in front of him.  He's even started turning some of the wheels so this jumperoo has been good for more than just bouncing.  Best. Investment. Ever.

 

Oh, I love this little face.

Memory Moment...

I know Memory Moment is a dumb name but  I still can't think of a great name so if anyone has an idea, feel free to share.  My greatest idea is to call it "My weekly BM(blessed memory)."  Funny right?  No.  So, I'm still thinking and here we go to another childhood memory:

Natalie

I have been obsessed with blankets ever since I was little.  Even now(not sure I should admit this) I cuddle at night more with a blanket than with Jon.  Course, he's not home at night so that's not really hard to do.  Heck, me and our dogs cuddle more than me and Jon so, there ya go.  Anyway, one time, Karolyn and I got in a fight(not sure you remember this Karolyn) over who knows what and she did what she knew would get me the most.  She shut me in a bedroom and chucked my blanket outside!  It sounds so dumb but when I was little, that made me livid...which was hard to do.  I was a pretty chill little kid but mess with my blanket, or my animals I suppose, and you saw the worst of my temper.

Jon

Jon's family has this tradition of doing a puzzle almost every time they're together.  At least that's what it seems like.  Me, I'm horrible at puzzles.  Them, geniuses.  I think Jon has gotten a new puzzle almost every Christmas and birthday since the time he was little enough to walk.  I'm making that up, but he has a lot.  He gets competitive about it too if I'm trying to help him.  All I know is, don't mess with any part of the puzzle but the part you've been specifically assigned.  Enough said.  He's amazing at figuring out any type of puzzle, not just the flat, board kind.  His brain just figures things out(which is why he does well with programming) and I think that's partly from doing so many puzzles from an early age.  He's a genius, that's all I have to say.

Patrick

Patrick loves looking at computer screens.  Weird.  I guess it's good we named him after Jon because they're a lot alike.  I was checking something on the computer and had Patrick in my lap and he started laughing at the computer.  Not sure what's so funny on facebook but it sure made him happy.  I told Jon about it and he said Patrick's done the same thing multiple times with him.  He also  does it with the t.v. screen.  Not that we want our kid to grow up staring at computer/t.v. screens his whole life and I'm sure right now he just likes seeing the different colors and scenes, but it's kind of funny to watch.

   

I Give in. Again. Sort of.

A few months ago, after my dad was first diagnosed with cancer, I remember we had a little family chat where we(my dad in particular) sort of just reminisced about the past.  Things like, how my dad would rub our noses to give us "butterfly kisses," or songs he used to hear/sing that would make him cry thinking about how much he loved my mom and just other random memories that were special.  Honestly, I look back on my childhood and sometimes it makes me ache for the past.  Not that my life now isn't great, because I wouldn't change a thing, but sometimes it's fun to think of times before.  It's nice to think of the good old days when I was small enough to stand on my dad's feet and dance, or how I would sleep with my mom if I had a bad day(although that might not be too far in the past yet;)), and how they put up with me insisting we bury every single animal that we ever owned...which was a lot...and sometimes they died in the winter.  I loved my childhood.   I love the memories I have and I want my kids to someday read this and see what their mom and dad did when they were kids, whether it be stupid, fun, crazy or great.  So, ever since that little family chat a few months ago, I've been thinking about starting a post that's written once a week about a past memory. That, and Nancy's Fun Fact Friday gave me the idea.  So, this is sort of like the FFF but a little different.  I don't have a catchy name for it yet so I'll add that later.  Patrick doesn't have too much of a past so his stories will be current but anyway, here it goes:

Natalie:

This is a picture when I was almost 1 year old.  Apparently right after this, my hair started to stick straight up and no matter what my mom did, it would not lay flat.  I have a picture but I'm still trying to decide if I want to embarrass myself and put it up here. ;)  I guess I was a stubborn baby(no surprise there) and if I decided to do something, there was no give.  When I was a few months old, I decided I didn't want to nurse anymore and quit cold turkey one day.  I also decided I didn't want to wear a diaper anymore when I was 1 1/2 yrs. old and potty trained myself in one day.  I guess I didn't like to poop my pants...still don't.

Jon:

Unfortunately I still need to get some of Jon's childhood pictures so I don't have one for today.  I will post them though.  Jon was born weighing almost 11 pds.  No surprise that it was not an easy delivery.   His nickname was Moby, the white whale and apparently his feet were size 5 when he was born.  They didn't even fit in the little box on the paper when they first stamped his feet at the hospital.  I think he was a cute baby, but I'd be lying if I didn't say he had quite a few rolls.

Patrick:

Patrick is growing like a weed.  He hasn't gained too much weight lately but he's gotten taller so he's starting to thin out a little.  There is no stopping this kid.  We got him a jumperoo and he loves it.  He's already trying to stand and kick his feet and I'm afraid it won't be too long till I'm chasing him around the house.  He's sleeping 8 1/2-9 hrs. at night(which I'm grateful for) but during the day he wants to constantly be moving.
 

 

I Give.

Ever heard of Pinterest?  I finally gave in and checked it out.  I'm hooked.  Just sit me in a room browsing Pinterest, eating coconut ice cream and I'm a happy camper.  Just watch, someday I'm going to have a perfectly decorated house with perfectly dressed kids and I'm going to have perfect hair/clothes and  my parties are going to have such perfect decorations and food and I'll have Pinterest to thank for it.