But I am still leaving, so that is what counts!
I am heading to Austin this afternoon to spend a fun weekend with my dear friend from college.
This is the trip I had to postpone from October due to children puking.
I am thinking that should puking occur this time, that pregnant momma should still leave. Cuz who really wants to watch a pregnant woman puke, right?
But since everyone presents healthy at this moment, I am saying a prayer and knocking on wood that my wheels will be heading South around noon.
Who you should pray for is my family!
The last 2 trips I have made out of town AND that involved my friends have resulted in someone in my family landing in the ER!
Seriously!
Trip #1- Little man jumped off bead. Bumped head. Head bled profusely. Resulting small wound requiring no intervention.
Trip #2- Dad arrived to bring my 85-year old grandmother for a week-long visit while he and his wife drove to Florida to watch OU in the National Championship. 5:00 PM- Crew arrives. 5:03 PM- Grandmother loses balance as my son attempts to hug her resulting in a fall and broken hip.
I kid you NOT!
I am out of town the next TWO weekends, both of which involve my girlfriends.
The kids are involved in roller skating, cheerleading, and a jump party over the next 2 weekends.
I am thinking a few extra prayers for their safety couldn't hurt!!
Stacey
p.s. My grandmother had surgery and is recovering at a rehab unit back in Oklahoma.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
a super cute giveaway!
Christy over at Bon Bon Boutique (one of my favorite blogs to visit!) is having a fabulous giveaway involving a super cute belt!
Go HERE to check out the details!
Stacey
Go HERE to check out the details!
Stacey
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tell me the truth
OK, I am trying to decide about registering.
The problem is I am worried what people might think.
Will they think,
"Seriously, the girl has already had 2 kids! What could she possibly need?"
or
"Good, now I will know what she needs."?
As I have mentioned before, it is not that I need a lot. Clothes, bedding, blankets, and layette stuff are totally taken care of. I have all the big stuff that is necessary right now.
It is mostly essential type stuff like diapers, wipes, nursing stuff, and few other things. It has been 5 years since my last baby.
I just don't want people to think I am saying,
"WoooHooo, Look at me! I am pregnant! Buy me stuff!".
Yikes, NO!
I am really thinking about it for 2 reasons.
First, for me. I am a list maker. A.LIST.MAKER! And doing the registery really helped me see what I actually needed and what kinds of those things I was interested in. I figured if nothing else, it will save me the thinking part later when I go to buy something but my brain is mush!
Second, IF people did want to generously offer to make a purchase, I figured it would make it easier on them if I could direct them to specific websites or things.
The silly thing is I am actually working on registries at 3 places! But all the lists are really small and a lot of things are duplicates. Again, I was thinking it would be easier on me and them depending upon where they live or if they want to use the Internet.
The lists are actually in transition. I already know a few things I need to take off. I also have some friends who are helping me decide which types of products are really best. There are so many choices when it comes to cloth diapers and safe disposables and slings, that I have my experts working on it for me! :) So more items will probably be deleted after that.
So really, tell me the truth.
Is it bad that I am even doing this?
Stacey
The problem is I am worried what people might think.
Will they think,
"Seriously, the girl has already had 2 kids! What could she possibly need?"
or
"Good, now I will know what she needs."?
As I have mentioned before, it is not that I need a lot. Clothes, bedding, blankets, and layette stuff are totally taken care of. I have all the big stuff that is necessary right now.
It is mostly essential type stuff like diapers, wipes, nursing stuff, and few other things. It has been 5 years since my last baby.
I just don't want people to think I am saying,
"WoooHooo, Look at me! I am pregnant! Buy me stuff!".
Yikes, NO!
I am really thinking about it for 2 reasons.
First, for me. I am a list maker. A.LIST.MAKER! And doing the registery really helped me see what I actually needed and what kinds of those things I was interested in. I figured if nothing else, it will save me the thinking part later when I go to buy something but my brain is mush!
Second, IF people did want to generously offer to make a purchase, I figured it would make it easier on them if I could direct them to specific websites or things.
The silly thing is I am actually working on registries at 3 places! But all the lists are really small and a lot of things are duplicates. Again, I was thinking it would be easier on me and them depending upon where they live or if they want to use the Internet.
The lists are actually in transition. I already know a few things I need to take off. I also have some friends who are helping me decide which types of products are really best. There are so many choices when it comes to cloth diapers and safe disposables and slings, that I have my experts working on it for me! :) So more items will probably be deleted after that.
So really, tell me the truth.
Is it bad that I am even doing this?
Stacey
Monday, January 19, 2009
I've been Faced!
You know, there are a lot of things to love about Facebook.
You can catch up with old friends, stay connected to everyone a little better, show off your family, enjoy others' pics, chat "live" while hanging out on the computer.
You can even be a better friend who actually "remembers" everyone's birthday and wishes them well thanks to Facebook's little friendly reminders on the sidebar.
Unless you are someone like me who neglects Facebook for days and misses those reminders. Or adds friends, but then neglects to send them a message or write on their wall for a long time. Or gets on Facebook and sees that someone's birthday is coming up, then gets easily distracted and forgets to come back and wish them well.
And then there is the guilt!
The guilt when so many sweet people take just a minute to wish you well on your birthday. Dear friends, blog friends, friends I haven't talked to in yeeears!
Dang the guilt!
It was so fun to read all the happy wishes and I am so grateful.
I vow to do better when it comes to "facing" other people!
As for my special day, it was pretty low key. Which was just fine with me this year.
Cards, calls, and cake were the only things on the agenda. Along with yummy home grilled steaks, baked potatoes, and salad.
You know I gotta save my energy for growing a little baby.
And for planning my birthday for next year!
It was a good day!
Stacey
You can catch up with old friends, stay connected to everyone a little better, show off your family, enjoy others' pics, chat "live" while hanging out on the computer.
You can even be a better friend who actually "remembers" everyone's birthday and wishes them well thanks to Facebook's little friendly reminders on the sidebar.
Unless you are someone like me who neglects Facebook for days and misses those reminders. Or adds friends, but then neglects to send them a message or write on their wall for a long time. Or gets on Facebook and sees that someone's birthday is coming up, then gets easily distracted and forgets to come back and wish them well.
And then there is the guilt!
The guilt when so many sweet people take just a minute to wish you well on your birthday. Dear friends, blog friends, friends I haven't talked to in yeeears!
Dang the guilt!
It was so fun to read all the happy wishes and I am so grateful.
I vow to do better when it comes to "facing" other people!
As for my special day, it was pretty low key. Which was just fine with me this year.
Cards, calls, and cake were the only things on the agenda. Along with yummy home grilled steaks, baked potatoes, and salad.
You know I gotta save my energy for growing a little baby.
And for planning my birthday for next year!
It was a good day!
Stacey
Thursday, January 15, 2009
For them
I don't know this family, but I learned of them because of a blog I read regularly.
There are so many tragic things going on in this world on a minute by minute basis.
But this is the type of thing that always makes everything feel so shattered for me.
I know they would appreciate any prayers you could offer for them.
Also, a friend shared a request for their friends'child. He is around 1 year of age and was diagnosed with Leukemia at 7 weeks. It went into remission but is back. Right now, they are having trouble managing an infection so they can start chemo again.
I know this family and this little guy would be blessed to know you were sharing him in your talks with Jesus.
Stacey
There are so many tragic things going on in this world on a minute by minute basis.
But this is the type of thing that always makes everything feel so shattered for me.
I know they would appreciate any prayers you could offer for them.
Also, a friend shared a request for their friends'child. He is around 1 year of age and was diagnosed with Leukemia at 7 weeks. It went into remission but is back. Right now, they are having trouble managing an infection so they can start chemo again.
I know this family and this little guy would be blessed to know you were sharing him in your talks with Jesus.
Stacey
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Resolution
Several months back, I started questioning whether I would be sending my son to 5-day a week full-day Kindergarten at the same school where our daughter is currently attending.
Our town actually has 3 school districts we could choose from. One is ours and the other requires a transfer request and fee. Our neighborhood elementary is actually one of the better elementary schools in town and probably would have been fine for now, but we knew the other district had a great reputation and started her there. Despite it being a great school and that she has a great teacher, it has still been an adjustment for her as she went from 3-day to 5-day for the first time. My son has done both 2-day and 3-day, but I knew it would be an adjustment for him too next year.
Along with the fact that he is a June birthday and fits the bill for the young boy that would likely do better if he waited an extra year to start Kindergarten. I am totally not worried about him academically. It was all the other maturity stuff I was a bit worried about.
Besides, Mommy is not for pushing her ducklings out of the nest on a full-time basis too soon. I like my kids in a learning and social environment outside of the home part of the time and spending time with me the other part.
So I have fretted the past several months. Not because I didn't know in my heart what I felt was best, but for other reasons. One reason is that school choices are limited around here and there are no viable options for what we had before; a small private Christian environment. The other reason was trying to explain to my husband why this was so important for our son. I could never seem to articulate the words to convince him. He is the no-nonsense, good-old-boy type when it comes to these types of things.
He is also the one who wants us to live on land miles from civilization.
But that story is for a different time!
Over the past few months, I talked with many people. Mostly other moms. I got two stories. Either they waited another year and were so glad they did. Or they did not wait and wished they had. I chatted with my daughter's 1st grade teacher as well.
But I still wasn't getting anywhere with the other decider. In his mind, it didn't help that the decision meant another year of paying for education when free was available.
So I finally sought the advice of a special wise friend. She is older than me, has raised her own 3 children, been the much-loved director of Christian school I know, and has been an educator (Kindergarten specifically) for many many years! Her response back to me made me cry a bit. She took what I felt in my heart and put it into words.
I thought I would share her words with you today.
I would like to recommend a book to you that may be helpful – The Hurried Child by Dr. David Elkind.
There are evaluations that we used to do at LCS to test for kindergarten readiness. L’s readiness for kindergarten has NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS INTELLIGENCE OR THE AMOUNT OF ACADEMICS HE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO. It is a question of where you and your husband would like to see him THROUGHOUT his academic career – at the head of the class in leadership and academics or somewhere in the middle. This is why it would be very hard for you to find anyone who regrets waiting a year to start school. Their children rise to the top almost 100 percent of the time. Why? Because they are OLDER and more MATURE.
The two top kids in my present class this year were both 6 when school started. The boy is by far the strongest leader of the group and the girl is the brightest academically. More and more parents are realizing that emotional, physical, and intellectual maturity is so important in our world at ALL ages. I can almost guarantee L greater success if he is given the gift of TIME . Think about the future. If L starts school as a young 5 year old, when he is 15 years old, all his friends will be 16 and DRIVING. Now I don’t know about you, but I was glad my children were the older ones in their crowd.
I always ask parents this – “Would you put a newborn in with a one year old to play? Of course not. One year in the developmental years is HUGH difference. If L starts at 5 years and 3 months, he will be up against a few that are a whole year older than him. Definitely not to L’s advantage.
Ok. I will get off my soap box now. I would recommend a good preschool if that is available. It is often perceived as “failure” to do the same grade twice. 3-5 days (or mornings) per week with a strong phonics program would be wonderful.
My best to you all in this very hard and emotional decision. Trust your gut instinct and pray, pray, pray.
Remember, this is just my opinion, but as an educator with TOO many years in the business, it breaks my heart to see a child who is not ready or is struggling in later years just because they were always playing catch up
I forwarded her response to my husband and thankfully it was the information that allowed him to realize how important this was for me. I realize there are always exceptions to the norm, but I truly believed this would be best for our son.
I met with the owner/director of his current school and we are set for next year. She was in agreement with me and was excited that he would be in their higher-level Pre-K program. Apparently, the teacher has been there for awhile and is very good. Also, the director mentioned that she always hears good things about the kids that went through this class. In the Fall, he will go 3 days a week until 12N and until 3pm on the two days I work.
The other part that fits with this story today is one which has brought much relief as well.
I knew that I would need to continue to work after the baby was born. Not immediately, but starting in the Fall as well. Thankfully, I just work 2 days a week, but you can imagine my stress in wondering who would care for my precious 3-month old.
I didn't know anyone that I loved or trusted enough in this town to leave my baby in their care.
One night at church, my MIL told me that her sister had offered to keep the baby for me. She has kept babies before and actually prefers to keep them from birth to 1 year. She had actually turned down others over the last few years for various reasons.
But she offered to us!
Now, I can rest easier, knowing that someone who loves me and my children will be loving and caring for my newest child as well!
Stacey
Our town actually has 3 school districts we could choose from. One is ours and the other requires a transfer request and fee. Our neighborhood elementary is actually one of the better elementary schools in town and probably would have been fine for now, but we knew the other district had a great reputation and started her there. Despite it being a great school and that she has a great teacher, it has still been an adjustment for her as she went from 3-day to 5-day for the first time. My son has done both 2-day and 3-day, but I knew it would be an adjustment for him too next year.
Along with the fact that he is a June birthday and fits the bill for the young boy that would likely do better if he waited an extra year to start Kindergarten. I am totally not worried about him academically. It was all the other maturity stuff I was a bit worried about.
Besides, Mommy is not for pushing her ducklings out of the nest on a full-time basis too soon. I like my kids in a learning and social environment outside of the home part of the time and spending time with me the other part.
So I have fretted the past several months. Not because I didn't know in my heart what I felt was best, but for other reasons. One reason is that school choices are limited around here and there are no viable options for what we had before; a small private Christian environment. The other reason was trying to explain to my husband why this was so important for our son. I could never seem to articulate the words to convince him. He is the no-nonsense, good-old-boy type when it comes to these types of things.
He is also the one who wants us to live on land miles from civilization.
But that story is for a different time!
Over the past few months, I talked with many people. Mostly other moms. I got two stories. Either they waited another year and were so glad they did. Or they did not wait and wished they had. I chatted with my daughter's 1st grade teacher as well.
But I still wasn't getting anywhere with the other decider. In his mind, it didn't help that the decision meant another year of paying for education when free was available.
So I finally sought the advice of a special wise friend. She is older than me, has raised her own 3 children, been the much-loved director of Christian school I know, and has been an educator (Kindergarten specifically) for many many years! Her response back to me made me cry a bit. She took what I felt in my heart and put it into words.
I thought I would share her words with you today.
I would like to recommend a book to you that may be helpful – The Hurried Child by Dr. David Elkind.
There are evaluations that we used to do at LCS to test for kindergarten readiness. L’s readiness for kindergarten has NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS INTELLIGENCE OR THE AMOUNT OF ACADEMICS HE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO. It is a question of where you and your husband would like to see him THROUGHOUT his academic career – at the head of the class in leadership and academics or somewhere in the middle. This is why it would be very hard for you to find anyone who regrets waiting a year to start school. Their children rise to the top almost 100 percent of the time. Why? Because they are OLDER and more MATURE.
The two top kids in my present class this year were both 6 when school started. The boy is by far the strongest leader of the group and the girl is the brightest academically. More and more parents are realizing that emotional, physical, and intellectual maturity is so important in our world at ALL ages. I can almost guarantee L greater success if he is given the gift of TIME . Think about the future. If L starts school as a young 5 year old, when he is 15 years old, all his friends will be 16 and DRIVING. Now I don’t know about you, but I was glad my children were the older ones in their crowd.
I always ask parents this – “Would you put a newborn in with a one year old to play? Of course not. One year in the developmental years is HUGH difference. If L starts at 5 years and 3 months, he will be up against a few that are a whole year older than him. Definitely not to L’s advantage.
Ok. I will get off my soap box now. I would recommend a good preschool if that is available. It is often perceived as “failure” to do the same grade twice. 3-5 days (or mornings) per week with a strong phonics program would be wonderful.
My best to you all in this very hard and emotional decision. Trust your gut instinct and pray, pray, pray.
Remember, this is just my opinion, but as an educator with TOO many years in the business, it breaks my heart to see a child who is not ready or is struggling in later years just because they were always playing catch up
I forwarded her response to my husband and thankfully it was the information that allowed him to realize how important this was for me. I realize there are always exceptions to the norm, but I truly believed this would be best for our son.
I met with the owner/director of his current school and we are set for next year. She was in agreement with me and was excited that he would be in their higher-level Pre-K program. Apparently, the teacher has been there for awhile and is very good. Also, the director mentioned that she always hears good things about the kids that went through this class. In the Fall, he will go 3 days a week until 12N and until 3pm on the two days I work.
The other part that fits with this story today is one which has brought much relief as well.
I knew that I would need to continue to work after the baby was born. Not immediately, but starting in the Fall as well. Thankfully, I just work 2 days a week, but you can imagine my stress in wondering who would care for my precious 3-month old.
I didn't know anyone that I loved or trusted enough in this town to leave my baby in their care.
One night at church, my MIL told me that her sister had offered to keep the baby for me. She has kept babies before and actually prefers to keep them from birth to 1 year. She had actually turned down others over the last few years for various reasons.
But she offered to us!
Now, I can rest easier, knowing that someone who loves me and my children will be loving and caring for my newest child as well!
Stacey
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Making of a Band
As I have mentioned several times, my son loves to sing loudly and play his guitar.
And thanks to my husband, he can even recognize a Rolling Stone song or two!
Over the weekend, my husband's friend stayed with us. My kids love "Coco" Long story short, when my daughter was 2 she loved Larry the Cucumber. Learning Larry's name meant she associated him to the cucumber version and somehow started calling him Coco. I am not really sure how she got to that, but it has stuck and now both my kids know him by that as well as his real name.
Coco enjoys playing the guitar. We have been telling little man that maybe he would restring and retune his guitar and teach him a few things. He had his guitar out and ready before Coco could get through the front door.
I just really enjoyed watching him watch Coco and talk to him about the guitar.
My little man can't wait to be in a rock band
Tuning and strumming
Little man kept glancing back and forth so he could play just like Coco
Sister got in on the action
We checked into lessons for the kids. I really want my daughter to learn piano, but space does not really allow for a standard piano. I guess I could check out some smaller versions. However, she informed me this weekend that she would like to learn guitar so we might go that route. My son will have to wait a bit longer for formal lessons, but he will be ready when his time arrives!
A rock star that can play sports! Oh my, I am going to have to fight off the women for him!
Stacey
And thanks to my husband, he can even recognize a Rolling Stone song or two!
Over the weekend, my husband's friend stayed with us. My kids love "Coco" Long story short, when my daughter was 2 she loved Larry the Cucumber. Learning Larry's name meant she associated him to the cucumber version and somehow started calling him Coco. I am not really sure how she got to that, but it has stuck and now both my kids know him by that as well as his real name.
Coco enjoys playing the guitar. We have been telling little man that maybe he would restring and retune his guitar and teach him a few things. He had his guitar out and ready before Coco could get through the front door.
I just really enjoyed watching him watch Coco and talk to him about the guitar.
My little man can't wait to be in a rock band
Tuning and strumming
Little man kept glancing back and forth so he could play just like Coco
Sister got in on the action
We checked into lessons for the kids. I really want my daughter to learn piano, but space does not really allow for a standard piano. I guess I could check out some smaller versions. However, she informed me this weekend that she would like to learn guitar so we might go that route. My son will have to wait a bit longer for formal lessons, but he will be ready when his time arrives!
A rock star that can play sports! Oh my, I am going to have to fight off the women for him!
Stacey
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