3 going on…25? – Preschool Maturity
Today, we’re going to take a trip back to the past and I want you to recall Sibling Recognition – An Amazing Big Sister, written on Thursday, September 10th, 2009. Then moving forward just a bit, remember Elizabeth’s Sympathy Pregnancy? Written on Thursday, November 12th, 2009. I brought you back to these specific articles to share with you the latest in Elizabeth’s fantastic transformation into a mommy herself!
Baby Boys vs. Baby Girls
In just a short six months my son has shown me the major differences between having a summer girl and a winter boy, and let me tell you, I love them both to pieces, but boys are so much more affectionate! (Trust me, I would never lie to you!) I get the impression that it might be this way because inevitably boys will become these rambunctious little terrors that put bugs in their sister’s hair while they ‘re sleeping, climb on top of refrigerators, and perform back flips off the couch.
How do I know this? In case you’ve never met me, I do have two younger brothers that did these things and so much more! In any case I have thoroughly enjoyed having a child that adores me so much that he has already started reaching for me and offering big slobbery kisses and big bear hugs! I have learned in a short amount of time to truly appreciate all the affection now because my friends with older boys constantly remind me of the vast differences between and baby boy and a 5 year old boy.
Elizabeth on the other hand has only grown more independent over the last several months. She’s a big girl cuz she “wears ballet flats and eats ice cream”! In addition to those two very important milestones she can use the big girl potty, climb the stairs all by herself, and find her own outfits!
Of course she still gives hugs and kisses, and oh how I love them! However, she has adapted to having a little brother that she needs to share with and occasionally keep occupied so mommy can make dinner and sometimes I feel that this may have sent her on an expedited trip to maturity. (Stay tuned for future stories!)
Life with these two has been so fulfilling and amazing that I can only imagine what the next 3 years will be like but at the same time I am thoroughly enjoying the present with new movement from Colm and new games from Elizabeth coming to life every day!
Sharing Lesson 101 – My Proudest Parenting Moment
Once that first play date is set every parent starts worrying, wondering and hoping that their child won’t be the bully, but won’t be a pushover as well. We hope that they have learned the most basic manner; sharing.
I like to think that I worried a little bit more than most parents because obviously my daughter was an only child for the first two years of her life and I didn’t flood her life with multiple play dates every week. When she was around other children I constantly reminded her to “play nice”, “let him/her play with that for a while”, “throw the ball back to him/her!”. For the most part I felt that I had succeeded, because I rarely had to remind her to share. In fact, the only time I’ve really had to discipline her for not sharing has been with her new baby brother! We’ve had multiple discussions of why it’s important to share with him because he can’t play with all her toys, just a few safe ones.
As I stated before, I have felt mostly successful with my daughters ability to share. However, my feelings were completely solidified just last week when she remembered an analogy that I used to explain sharing. As I drove to my Directors home to borrow some necessary items for a pedicure party I was throwing, we turned into a left hand turn lane. Seeing that the light was red for those in the turn lane I stopped, however my daughter has been picking up on those small driving lessons such as stopping when the light is red and moving when the light is green. From her vantage point in the back seat she could only see the light for those going straight through the intersection and at that moment in time it happened to be green. She informed me “Mommy, the light is green, you can go!” I then explained to her, “the people that are going straight can go, but Mommy is turning so I need to wait here until my light turns green.” Having picked up on that glorious one word question several weeks prior, Elizabeth asked the typical three year old question. “Why?” she asked. The most brilliant analogy instantly popped into my head and I used that moment to explain sharing in a grown up version as well as a child’s version. I explained that the people driving on the other side of the road had a green light and just like sharing her toys with her brother and friends, Mommy has to share the road with other people. I was so proud of myself!
Just two days later, my analogy came back full circle and as we were driving to church Sunday morning I came to a stop light. I stopped as I normally do, but from the back I heard a proclamation of admiration “Mommy you’re so good, you’re sharing the road like I share my toys!” Tears immediately welled up in my eyes (no the pregnancy hormones still haven’t settled completely) and I answered back with tremors in my voice, “Yes baby, you’re absolutely right! It’s fun to share isn’t it!”
I’ve learned that the moments are rare, but occasionally our children will remind us that we’ve done a good job and to just hang in there, cuz the moments will continue coming!
Catching up!
Wow… it’s been over 5 months since my last post and let me tell you, I have some stories to share!
Somewhere in the back of my memory I remember life coming to a stand still after having my first baby so I could use that as an excuse for my lack of storytelling, but instead I’m going to claim the complete opposite! My life has resembled something like The Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens here in beautiful Denver, Colorado! I’ve experienced so much in the last 5 months from my business taking off in an alarming rate, feeling heartbreak and then feeling happiness in my personal life, and watching my children grow rapidly right in front of me.
So hang on tight, grab a Starbucks Mocha Latte (iced or hot, but in this heat you might prefer the iced version!) and continue to read as I bring you up to speed from the last five months!
Children Nicknames – The story of the goose and the moose
Two and a half years ago my baby girl came into this world and while I had adopted the nickname of Lizzie for her, sometimes that name just didn’t work for the occasion. This is where Silly Goose Goose was introduced by her Nana and I, much to her fathers disappointment.
Fingers, Headboards, and Belly Sections – Anatomy according to Elizabeth
With the introduction of a new family member and the almost constant discussion surrounding pregnancy and body parts, it came as no surprise that Elizabeth created her very own dictionary related to the topics being discussed in our household.
Late Nights and Early Mornings
It’s 4:30 am and Colm is awake and extremely upset at the prospect of waiting while Mommy warms up a bottle. With quick efficiency I pull a wet diaper off and replace it with a dry one before he even has a chance of creating a fountain aimed at me and the dry sheets on my bed. I immediately follow the change with a bottle that calms him down (pun intended!).
Trading one evil for a lesser one… maybe?
Pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and post pregnancy. Which of the three is the lesser evil? I remember shortly after Elizabeth turned one I started craving the feeling of being pregnant again. Shortly after Christmas 2008 I got to see a friend that had recently given birth to twins. As I held those tiny precious beings, the yearning for another little one began with slightly more severity. All I could remember about my pregnancy with Elizabeth was the pleasure I felt feeling her move within me. The morning sickness, inability to walk normally, constant need to visit the bathroom, and more importantly the outrageous contractions I felt during delivery were a faint memory that I had convinced myself were those of another woman.
Pregnancy Photography – I Need Them!
The moment my mother found out my sister and I were expecting at the same time she made a promise to get pictures of our baby bumps together. Tatia and I both agreed, and we started making plans to get the pictures done when we both had ample baby bumps to show off!
The Baby Store – Announcing
The most exciting part of having a blog of my own is monetizing it so that I can stay home and be a full time mom. One way I can do this is by sharing information, products and services for other new moms. I’ve found this awesome Baby Store and added access to it right here on my blog – you can click this link – and go directly to The Baby Store.
