A Mother's Heart

A Day at the Carnival and Thoughts on Discipline

Oh, the Fourth of July!  During the week of the glorious Fourth, our little town musters up the grandest celebration of the year.  We have a carnvial for 4 days, and 2 nights of fireworks.  The people come in droves, I tell you!  And of course we were there, endlessly riding the merry go round and train ride (the only 2 Adam was able to ride).  He had such a great time! 

Grandpa told us we should go the first night, because he thought it would rain all the other evenings.  But I think it was just a plot, because it didn't rain at all, and Grandpa took Adam the next 2 nights!  Just Grandpa and Adam.  I don't know who had more fun!

Do you think this Grandpa is smitten with his grandsons?  I feel so blessed to live in the same town as my parents.

So, my discipline dilemma.  We have been doing much better in the last days.  I realized that I was just getting all worked up, and making the situation worse.  I try to be calm and firm, and I give him a choice.  Either you can obey mamma all by yourself (tapping into that 2 yr old independence) or mamma will make you obey, and that's no fun! 

Also, I try to take care of little problems before they take over.  At the first sign of whining, he has a time out.  Any hitting or pushing, he gets a spanking, etc. 

So, although I know that before I get comfortable with this, a new challenge will arise, I feel very good about our progress thus far!

Leslie

Outdoor fun!

We do love playing outside!

But lately Adam has been very negative and disobedient.  He is testing every limit, and my patience!  I pray daily for God's wisdom, diligence, and consistency.  I want to make it through this "phase" triumphant, not regretting every decision, like I am lately.

Sometimes I just don't know what to do!  Anyone else live in fear of "ruining" their kid?

Leslie

Yelling At My Children?

I still consider myself at the "starting gate" of this parenting adventure.  As my oldest is only 2 and a half, I am just on the cusp of the real parenting issues.  However, it's never too early to start losing your cool. 

I unfortunately have already found myself raising my voice, or becoming overly harsh with my son.  Now is the time to nip it in the bud!!

Carrie over at How I Love Thee has issued a challenge.  Responding to your children in a Godly manner.  I am ready!  I need to know now how to deal with stressful situations, because I can only assume they will get even more stressful as time goes by.

I think I tend to yell when I am not giving my full attention to my boys.  Trying to clean, or cook dinner, etc.  While these things are necessary, they are no excuse for responding wrongly.  I need to think before I speak!

Also, I get frustrated when Adam just doesn't seem to be obeying me, despite repeated attempts.  This is MY problem, not his.  I need to be more diligent and patient in my training of him.

So, with these things in mind, let the challenge begin!  It is never too early or too late!!  My precious boys deserve the best from me in my parenting efforts.

Leslie

Summer Fun

I have 2 little water bugs!  I know where we will be spending many hours this summer....in the water!

I bought this cute little pool at K Mart, early in the spring.  Of course, the very first time we used it, it sprung a leak!  The patch seems to be holding, however, and considering it was only 5 or 10 dollars, I think we'll get our money's worth out of it.

Enjoy the summer!

Leslie

Adam's Help

As you can see, Adam is a great big help in the garden.  His latest thing is to help me hoe.  That's quite a trip!  I'm torn between wanting to encourage him and wanting to save my precious plants!  So I let him hoe in my soon-to-be strawberry patch.  It's all the same to him!

Leslie

Sandbox Joy

When I was a kid, my dad built me all kinds of things.  From a sandbox to a working miniature covered wagon (big Little House fan!) if I asked for it, he made it.

My dad decided it was time to build the boys a sandbox.  As you can see, Adam is very excited about this development.  He was a big helper, and handed my dad every single screw, and there were 65!

Now, 2 truckloads of sand later, it's time for some full-blown sand fun!  Granted, Adam won't actually get in the sandbox, and insists on shoveling sand from the edge, but we'll work on it!

Leslie

Brag Time!

I think it's about time for me to brag on my beautiful boys! 

My Adam is now 2 1/2 years old, and as Grammie and Grandpa say, he is a genius!  He talks more and more every day, and he says the cutest things.  He has decided he doesn't like "short pants".  He has one special favorite pair of pants, and if I put something on him that he doesn't like, he says, "I want my green pants!"  He loves wearing his "candy cane jammies"

He loves ravioli, and yesterday I made spaghetti pie, and he ate it up like a big boy!  We are currently working on putting our toys away in a timely fashion, and on coming in from outside without whining. 

Adam loves to be outside!  He pushes his bubble mower around just like Daddy's big mower, and LOVES to play with Dad's hammers and screwdrivers.  His new favorite phrase (which he must have learned from Daddy) is "We working hard today!"  He loves to help me set the table, put clothes in the washer and dryer, pour and stir anything.  He loves music, and sometimes plays piano on my face, arm, anything!  He is a very good helper. 

Ryan is now 11 months old.  What a big boy! 

He is very active, and has a bit of temper.  Sometimes, if he doesn't get what he wants, he'll crawl straight into something!  He loves his mama, and loves playing with his brother. 

Aren't my boys handsome?

Leslie

Guardian Angels

The Lord's hand was surely on my little son yesterday.  My Ryan fell down a flight of wooden steps, and other than a bruised head, is none the worse for wear.  Better still, while getting x-rays and CT scans in the ER, it was discovered that he had a sinus infection, so that will now get treated!

It was a bitter lesson for us in carelessness, one I never want to repeat.  My stomach still churns at the thought of that fall!  Praise my Father in Heaven for keeping my little one safe and sound!

One tough cookie!!

My crazy boys

Look how big my boy is getting!!  It must be time for another one.....

Two Peas in a Pod

Who can resist little boys in matching jammies??

Leslie

Picaboo!

Well, we are 9 months old and we love to play picaboo, and clap our hands!  We also love grabbing everything in sight, especially anything our big brother is playing with.

We love banging things, sweet potatoes, and bananas.  Life is good!!

Leslie

My Ryan

I can't help putting in pictures of my beautiful boys.  Do you think I have a Yankee fan on my hands?  I will if his daddy has anything to say about it. He's a Jersey boy!

My newborn??

I can't believe my precious newborn baby is almost 9 months old.  What I also can't believe is that when Adam was Ryan's age, I was already pregnant again!!!

Not so long ago.....

Leslie

Mamma angry at dishwasher!

I finally picked out my Christmas present...a beautiful new dishwasher!  I had recieved many Sears gift cards for this purpose, and I patiently waited for a sale, all the while sopping up puddles of water on my floor if I forgot to put bowls under my old leaking dishwasher.

Now, some of you might be saying to yourselves, "Why did she keep using the old one if it leaked?"  That is a very good question, and the answer is probably laziness!  Hey, if I have a dishwasher, by golly I'm going to use it!

Anyway, my beautiful new washer was painstakingly installed by my husband and father, and all appeared to be well.  My dishes were clean!  My floor was dry!  Or was it...

The 4th time I used my dishwasher, what do I behold but a puddle on my kitchen floor!  I was so upset!  I told my 2 year old, "Mommy is very angry at the dishwasher."  He watched intently as I sopped up the water, and lay on the floor with a flashlight, trying to see what was wrong. 

That night, as we were brushing his teeth, Adam says to me, "Mamma an-gee at dishwasher!" 

Yes, Adam, I am.  But a replacement is on the way.....

Moral:  Little eyes are watching me!

Wait, wait, wait!!

Ryan the Destroyer!

I am so enjoying the new interactions between my two boys, now that Ryan is older.  I'm sure I'll be mediating disputes someday, but for now its so very cute!

From the kitchen I hear Adam (newly verbal) saying "Wait, wait, wait, wait!"  I come in to see Ryan desperately trying to reach Adam's house of blocks, and Adam heroically trying to fend him off, uttering vain cries of "Wait!"

It was very cute, and I was once again proud that Adam, even in the face of certain block destruction, was trying to be kind and diplomatic!

They get sweeter every day!

Leslie