What a week of VBS with preschoolers taught me….

Glitter should be outlawed

There is always something to fight over – even if there is nothing there

When you color your whole arm with washable marker in numerous layers….it is not exactly easily washed off

The correct way to karate chop someone (I being the chop-e, not the chopper)

Perhaps I’m not as patient as I thought I was

My mom is/was a teacher (1st grade) so I have always had a great amount of respect for teachers – especially those that work with the young ones – now spending a week with 20-30 kids between the ages of 3-5, it is even GREATER!

Sometimes the best part of the day is when you get to leave….by yourself….with only 1 child…who happens to be your own

Play dough is just as tough to get out of the treads of your shoes as dog poop

It’s always the ones that drive you NUTS that @ the end of the day steal your heart by coming up to give you a hug or say “thank you” or want to hold your hand

“No = yes”, “Don’t touch that = touch that”, “Quiet = LOUDER” and “I want my mommy = I want my mommy”

“Potty trained” does not always necessarily mean trained to use the potty (as evidenced by the little princess pair of underwear found on the floor with a little “tootsie roll” included)

One of the reasons I love the area I work in (ICU) is because I can administer sedatives

Does that mean he understands me???

The other day Tyler was playing with this little hand held calculator I let him play with sometimes. (He even knows what drawer I keep it in.) He loves it I think because it has buttons…doesn’t every toddler LOVE buttons?!?! He also likes to put it in his mouth – to which I say “Tyler, no. Do not put it in your mouth. Yucky!” He gets 3 strikes and then he’s out (I take it away). Each time I say the same thing, “Tyler, no. Do not put it in your mouth. Yucky!” The 3rd time I add, “If you put it in your mouth again, I’m taking it away.” Some days he gets it, some days he doesn’t. Some days he listens, some days he doesn’t. So the other day….we are on the 3rd time – “Tyler, no. Don’t put it in your mouth. Yucky! If you do it again, I’m taking it away.” He looks @ me, licks it, and hands it to me.

Skeletons from a mother’s closet….A few secrets revealed….

There are a few things that I do as a mother that I am not quick to reveal to those others than my mother, sister Kim, and sister-in-law Amanda. Don’t get me wrong, I am certainly NOT ashamed of these things – it’s just if I reveal my mothering ways in all their glory – I get that look – you know, THAT look, when people think you are absolutely CRAZY, have no clue what you are doing, and “don’t you know you are going to spoil and ruin your child and his independence or ability to ever do anything on his own, and in addition, bring on the downfall of man kind should everyone follow suit and do what you do” look. At the same time I am also saying that I am doing nothing special…..I am simply doing what I want to do as a mother, what I feel is right for Tyler, Craig and I and our little family, and what my heart and every ounce of me tells me is right for us. It’s not right for everyone – everyone is different and should do what works for them – but here are my secret mothering habits – really there are only 4 – don’t get too excited – but they seem to be the BIG ones…..

#1 – Tyler’s crib was in our room until sometime this past May (making him around 14 months)

#2 – I don’t let Tyler cry it out (I’ve only tried once and lasted only 3 minutes)

#3 – When I was nursing Tyler, he always fell asleep nursing. Which sort of leads me to #3…..

#4 – When Tyler didn’t fall asleep nursing, and since we have stopped, I have always rocked Tyler to sleep (until recently…I’ll get to that in a bit)

Back to #1 – The excuse that his room was on the 2nd floor and ours was on the 1st was what I told people and although this is positively true – it was also because I slept better having him in there – hearing him breathe – not listening over the monitor to all the little sounds you want to get up and check out when you hear but cannot see with your eyes.

#2 – GASP!!! I know!…….It’s just not for me.

#3 – @ one well baby check up Tyler’s pediatrician said “Just make sure he doesn’t fall asleep nursing.” I just smiled, nodded, and said “OK” He did all the time! Who wouldn’t. They are all snuggled in close to you, feeling all warm and cozy and safe – of course he falls asleep – and if you think I am going to wake him up so he can fall back asleep on his own – then you, Tyler’s pediatrician, are crazy – you never wake a sleeping baby! I go to the doctor for Tyler’s physical health and well being – I do not go there for parenting tips or to be told how to parent my child – that is my choice and are my decisions.

#4 – And again….go ahead and drop your jaw, GASP!!!, call a girlfriend to share this with her for a good chuckle – I rock him to sleep. So, you may ask, what if it takes Tyler an hour to fall asleep? (usually it doesn’t)….then we rock for an hour. I’m pretty sure there is no book or method that suggests this….it is all “they need to learn to fall asleep on their own blah blah blah” stuff – again, just not for me…..I don’t feel I am doing my 15 month old any dis-service because I rock him to sleep – I felt that we would just take it stage by stage and see where we were at, change something if it isn’t working and go from there – if it is working GREAT! Don’t fix what isn’t broke!

So, now that many of you think I’m a coo-coo mommy who is anti-separation from my child, which I’m not, and perhaps want to steer clear of the next time you see me, (I promise – I’m not coo-coo – I just don’t always believe the books – or read the books for that matter). Here is where we are at – some how, although I have done everything I was NOT supposed to do per the “experts” and their books, Tyler seems to be turning out just fine, and puts himself to sleep.

All of a sudden one afternoon for a nap a few weeks ago, he pointed to his crib and then the door. I said, “Do you want to lay down in your crib and go night-night?” He shook his head “Yes” and then I said “Do you want Mommy to go out there so you can go night-night?” He shook his head “Yes” again and that was that. I gave him a hug and kiss, put him in his crib with blankie, closed the door behind me, and he was out in 3 minutes.

I have to say, although it makes me ecstatic and feel like I have done a great job making him feel secure and safe that he just one day decides to do it all on his own without much coaxing from me – I just kinda went with the flow and followed his cues…..@ the same time I feel like a little piece of me broke inside….truly I am proud and thankful – I am proud that I did things my way, the way that worked for me and our family and stuck to what my heart told me to do and not what the experts or books told me was right for me and my child….it makes me wonder…..does he need me @ all for anything anymore?!?!?   Now I just get the finger pointing to the door – out with you mommy – I’m a big boy now, I don’t need you!   So here we are, everyone putting themselves to sleep, it may be where other’s have gotten to long before 16 months – but I have gotten here my way – the way that worked for us – the way I felt comfortable, and not that there won’t be hiccups in the road ahead – it makes me feel even more secure in my motherly instinct and knowing that I know what is best for my child and our family…..and I’m sure that Tyler will need me at least for a few more years….who else is going to rescue him from that tree he climbed up into and won’t come down from when Daddy is @ work?

Ho Hummmm……

It’s not that today has been terribly awful….but at the same time is has not been spectacularly great either….it’s just one of those day – things don’t go right but nothing goes wrong – it just goes….

I didn’t get much sleep as I had a hard time falling asleep and by the time I fell asleep around 1am – Tyler woke up crying @ 1:30 as if something terribly hurt – I picked him up, his eyes still closed and lying in a puddle of drool (AHHHHH – the teeth strike again!) I calmed him and back asleep he was.  Stumble back to my bed I did to lay awake again for awhile – just drift off – and again get woken up by a little ouchie toothed Tyler.   So the getting up early today to get stuff done – which I procrastinated on yesterday – being still in vacation mode (ie- grocery list, workout, etc, email) – did not so much happen.

This morning, I was awoken by a phone call from someone @ church to talk about VBS which is next week.  I am in charge of the arts and crafts for the pre-school kids and had been told that all of our supplies we needed would be taken care of.  This person called to see if I had everything on the craft list that I needed……so then the stuff is really not so much “taken care of”, which is totally fine, I want to help in any way I can – but then my own disorganization was beginning to frustrate the daylights out of me and I wasn’t even out of bed yet!

Later Tyler and I make our way to the grocery so that we can eat lunch as we have NOTHING @ home – and I decide to try Kroger – I usually go to Meijer and Aldi but Kroger had some stuff in their add that was a deal so I decide to give it a try, I go to get the cart with the little car on the front and proceed to step in sticky glob of gum with my favorite pair of flip-flops!  Suck!  I’m trying to free the flip flop while Tyler has taken it upon himself to climb into the car and is licking the steering wheel already…..

Kroger was OK (awesome for Tyler with the little car on the cart – you have to pay for them @ Meijer – which I don’t do)- but I’m pretty stuck to my Meijer-Aldi routine – so now I’m frustrated I have wasted time @ Kroger and it was just OK as far as $ savings, when I should have just stuck with what I normally do as there really is not too much difference wherever you go because ALL groceries seem to be getting more and more $$$ – which is frustrating in and of itself….

Then we come home and I unload the groceries which are sweaty because it is summer – again AHHHHH! – and I see there are some ants over on the floor in our kitchen under where the kitchen window is.  There has to be some crack in the foundation somewhere because there are always a few @ that spot every spring/beginning of summer that seem to be problematic – especially if it has rained alot and they are searching for higher ground.  Sooooooo – I can’t spray inside because of Tyler – I can’t use the powder outside on by the foundation because of Tyler so to natural remedies we go  – besides the dustbuster…..I had heard baking soda if you sprinkle that in the area is supposed to ward them off – I sprinkle a little by the crack between the floorboard and tile and wait………yes, now they are just marching right through my little powdered barrier to my kitchen.   AHHHHHHH!!!!!!  Tonight, after Tyler goes to sleep it is game on little ants!  There aren’t even that many – a few -  but they have the WHOLE outside – why do they need to come in?!?!?

Meanwhile – I had left the door open to carry in the groceries and have let some sort of 747 sized fly into my house who keeps buzzing by my ear and they quickly going elsewhere making him a little difficult to capture and yes – kill!

I have also managed to step on every block and toy car which Tyler has dispersed throughout our house today in my bare feet.

But now, I am going to go workout, clear my head, organize my thoughts, and forget that when God made the Heavens and the earth – he also included ants in that creation.

Hey Daddy….

…..can I be just like you when I grow up?!?!?

What kind of parents……

….let their child run stark naked on the beach?!?!?  We were the only ones there for most of the morning and we thought it would make for some great pics!!!  Doesn’t it just make ya want to reach out and pinch one of those cheaks?!?!

And you may also ask…..what kind of parents…..

….let thier 15 month old have at his own chocolate ice cream cone?!?  Good thing he’s washable

Before we left the beach for the last time this trip, we gave Tyler and his toys a few moments alone to say “Good bye” to his giant sandbox…..

More family fun….

Craig and I have been working on the alphabet with Tyler today……by 2:30 in the afternoon he was doing this….

HA! HA! HA!  OK, in real life we are still trying to understand why chunk bark is a bad thing to eat……..anyway…..this morning we went on a long walk and played @ the park behind the cottage for awhile.  Tyler loves to swing and when we say “Say weeeeee Tyler,” he puts his arms up in the air.  He was also enthralled with the slide – super fast slide that is – and of notable developmental milestones – he walked up the steps to it holding on to the rails….without any help…..sniff….sniff….little tear…..my little boy is not so little anymore…..

This is Tyler’s GQ windblown hair out on the beach just chillin’ look….

@ dinner tonight Tyler HAD to have Craig’s arm around him while he was eating.  If Craig moved his arm, Tyler reached over and grabbed Craig’s hand trying to put it behind him again.  It was very sweet and cute…..seems that someone will have a little “issue” with Daddy going back to work Monday morning….or more likely…they both will!

And again, Tyler is spent

Tyler says…..

“I NEED A VACATION FROM MY VACATION!!!”

This vacation thing is EXHAUSTING!!! First I spent some time playing zoo. I played “caged wild animal”.

Then we went to the beach and I went swimming….I went in even farther than before today!!! It was sooooo cold – but I kept going back in for more!!!

After all that I needed a snack….and some lovin from Mommy…..

Then we watched Daddy swim in the lake to get ready for his sprint triathalon June 21st…..this made Mommy a little nervous – what if we would have had to rescue Daddy?!?!? Daddy assured us he would be fine – so we watched him and were glad when he was done! (He’s the little speck out in the distance)

This afternoon I drove a car, made sure the air-conditioning vents were working properly, and got squashed by Mommy….

All in all, I’d say it was a great day!!!

I was all by myself…….

This morning we were @ the beach again. We came back to the cottage and had lunch and then Tyler took his nap and Craig was going to take a nap too. I didn’t feel so much like napping so I decided to go back to the beach. It was a little overcast today which was totally fine by me – I just wanted to be outside by the lake. I strolled down to the beach with my beach chair and book in hand and when I got down there I was totally surprised that I was the ONLY one there! As far as my contact corrected eyes could see both left and right of me, all around, I was the only one there!!! CRAZY! Here I am @ the beach, not so much a private beach, on this huge lake, and I am the ONLY one! I can’t remember the last time I was the ONLY one anywhere. Even @ my house, I can’t be in the bathroom alone. There is little Tyler, trying to sit on my lap when I am trying to pee (ewwwweeeeee, I know) and when I’m in the shower, there is his little face pressed against and licking then shower door, then he’s trying to open it, then close, then open…..you get the idea. And I have only ONE! So here I am, sitting in my little chair on this great BIG beach and it’s just me. I just reclined the chair back and closed my eyes and relaxed. I didn’t think about anything, just enjoyed the sound of the breeze and the waves lapping up against the sand.

Now, part of me couldn’t totally relax as I am a bit of a worrier! It’s hereditary. My grandma is a worrier, my mom is a worrier, and therefore, I am too. I have watched too much CSI and all I could think of was all the plots from the show that could be played out with me there….all alone…all by myself….so I would relax and then be watchful for a bit and then relax….but it was very nice despite the intermittent worrying!

Here are some pics of us on the beach for the sunset last night and then this morning……

This last picture make me wonder: “How much lake water is safe to drink and how much sand is safe to eat?!?!?” Lake water on one hand (the one in the mouth) which he kept dipping in the bucket of water and then putting in his mouth and the sand was on the other hand, also making it to his mouth….constantly!!! The nurse in me tells me we’re just building up natural immunity….I figure it can only make him stronger….Jen, as mother of 4 and a nurse, would you like to weigh in on that question?!?

One BIG sandbox…..

So here we are on vacation…..or as Tyler sees it, one GIANT sandbox!!! We are in Union Pier, MI, near Warren Dunes off of Lake MI. We are staying @ this little cottage a few blocks away from the beach which is perfect for us! There are toddler toys, a wagon in the shed, and a park with a playground right behind the cottage. It is so so quiet here – Craig and I are trying to figure out how we can afford a place around here….we can’t….but it’s nice to dream!!! We arrived yesterday afternoon and walked down to the beach, then went to eat @ the fine establishment that McDonalds is, and then stopped @ Meijer for some groceries. We went to the beach again this morning. Tyler is so funny to watch, he loves the beach and went tearing for the water as soon as I put him down! Great….a boy with NO fear!!! We are having so much fun – it is our first “family vacation” with Tyler and we are soaking up every moment of it! Here are some pics from yesterday and today…..