Just cuz if I put them down, I'm more likely to do it
--Start working out 4 times a week
--Lose 25 pounds and get toned
--Stop drinking soda and caffiene (for real this time)
--Daily bible/devotional reading
--Daily bible/devotional reading with the kids
--Cook 3 times a week
--Wake up at 6am
--Get Aaron and Christopher sleeping through the night (Aaron for the first time, Christopher for the fourth or fifth time)
--Study a country ever couple of weeks with Grace
--Research becoming a doula
--Start saving money for doula certification
--Research becoming a lactation consultant
--Spend more time with the kids and off the computer
--Learn to take better pictures
--Work on scrapbooking
--Become less dependent on Jon
--Tackle driving on the interstate
--Start preschool with Christopher
--Become more easy going
--Stop being so darn honest
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
15 months of Adventure
This past weekend, Jon and I typed up a timeline of events that occured between February 2009 and November 15, 2009. As we tried to think of important events to include, Jon mentioned how we should type up everything that has happened between August 2008 and now. So, little by little I'm going to work on it :)
August 2009--Plans to move to Dixon, IL :)
August 15, 2009--Our beautiful niece is born and we arrive in Dixon!
October ,2009--Move from the cabin to the farm
November , 2009--Christopher is evaluated for early intervention. He is talking at a 9 month level
November 23, 2009--Aaron Marshall is born at 7:00 am!
November 25, 2009--Christopher begins therapy with a developmental therapist
February 6-8--Aaron is hospitalized for an unknown virus
February 20, 2009--Brian is in a near fatal car accident
May, 2009--Christopher is reevaluated and is measuring at a 18 month level. Starts early intervention playgroup
June 23, 2009--Christopher has his tonsils and adnoids removed and ear tubes put in. Hospitalized overnight after his oxygen levels won't stablize. Diagnosed with sleep apnea and secondary pulmonary hypertension.
July 3, 2009--Our beautiful nephew is born
August 2009--Plans to move to Dixon, IL :)
August 15, 2009--Our beautiful niece is born and we arrive in Dixon!
October ,2009--Move from the cabin to the farm
November , 2009--Christopher is evaluated for early intervention. He is talking at a 9 month level
November 23, 2009--Aaron Marshall is born at 7:00 am!
November 25, 2009--Christopher begins therapy with a developmental therapist
February 6-8--Aaron is hospitalized for an unknown virus
February 20, 2009--Brian is in a near fatal car accident
May, 2009--Christopher is reevaluated and is measuring at a 18 month level. Starts early intervention playgroup
June 23, 2009--Christopher has his tonsils and adnoids removed and ear tubes put in. Hospitalized overnight after his oxygen levels won't stablize. Diagnosed with sleep apnea and secondary pulmonary hypertension.
July 3, 2009--Our beautiful nephew is born
Monday, November 16, 2009
Saving Money
Our tenants have moved out and left us without the rent to pay the Watseka mortgage, so now it's time to cut corners. Any creative advice would be oh, so helpful!!
I tend to spend money when I'm stressed and even though it's typically at second hand stores, ebay, or yard sales, it still adds up. I've strived to only buy things when I know the kids will love them and did 90% of our Christmas shopping at yard sales, ebay, and second hand stores so I successfully spent $400 less on Christmas this year than last year.
But, we still need to cut back and I'm not sure where or how.
So creative or obvious advice--send it my way--feel free to e-mail it to me...wadsworthmommy@yahoo.com
I tend to spend money when I'm stressed and even though it's typically at second hand stores, ebay, or yard sales, it still adds up. I've strived to only buy things when I know the kids will love them and did 90% of our Christmas shopping at yard sales, ebay, and second hand stores so I successfully spent $400 less on Christmas this year than last year.
But, we still need to cut back and I'm not sure where or how.
So creative or obvious advice--send it my way--feel free to e-mail it to me...wadsworthmommy@yahoo.com
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Quantity/Quantity Time and Bedtime
I have a feeling this blog is going to be me rambling. Again, just a bunch of thoughts going through my head and needing to come out.
Bedtime used to be one of my favorite parts of motherhood. Curling up in the bed next to Grace talking to her or reading a book prior to her falling to sleep or rocking Christopher to sleep was something I looked forward to. Then, I had a third child and bedtime has became chaotic. The rocking chair isn't big enough for Christopher, Aaron and I...getting the boys to sleep has became a priority over spending that time with Grace. I now find myself longing for that time to be over, put aside and when both boys are put to bed, I don't want to walk down to Grace's bed to talk with her or read a book with her, insted I just want to rock in the rocking chair, absorbed in the internet world, drinking a soda and having a snack. I want my time. I want to have special minutes before bed with each of the kids, but I don't know how to put it in play. I'm not okay with just sending them each to bed with a hug and a goodnight kiss, I want their last minutes awake that day spent bonding. I don't want bedtime to be a struggle at the end of the day, but relaxation. I just haven't figured out how to do that with 3 kids and find myself often wondering if it's something that only I struggle with and how other families handle bedtime.
I guess that may bring me to quantity/quality time. I find myself spending my days with the kids, most days there is always one kid within ten feet of me. But, I realized that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how much time I spend with the kids, it matters what I do with that time.
There are 1001 thoughts racing through my mind about this subject and writing them down just jumbles them more. I know I need to work on spending quality time with the kids, just trying to figure out how to juggle me time, household priorities and quality time with the kids so they all happen, none of us get burnt out, and I can feel like at the end of the day my job was done to the best of my ability.
Bedtime used to be one of my favorite parts of motherhood. Curling up in the bed next to Grace talking to her or reading a book prior to her falling to sleep or rocking Christopher to sleep was something I looked forward to. Then, I had a third child and bedtime has became chaotic. The rocking chair isn't big enough for Christopher, Aaron and I...getting the boys to sleep has became a priority over spending that time with Grace. I now find myself longing for that time to be over, put aside and when both boys are put to bed, I don't want to walk down to Grace's bed to talk with her or read a book with her, insted I just want to rock in the rocking chair, absorbed in the internet world, drinking a soda and having a snack. I want my time. I want to have special minutes before bed with each of the kids, but I don't know how to put it in play. I'm not okay with just sending them each to bed with a hug and a goodnight kiss, I want their last minutes awake that day spent bonding. I don't want bedtime to be a struggle at the end of the day, but relaxation. I just haven't figured out how to do that with 3 kids and find myself often wondering if it's something that only I struggle with and how other families handle bedtime.
I guess that may bring me to quantity/quality time. I find myself spending my days with the kids, most days there is always one kid within ten feet of me. But, I realized that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how much time I spend with the kids, it matters what I do with that time.
There are 1001 thoughts racing through my mind about this subject and writing them down just jumbles them more. I know I need to work on spending quality time with the kids, just trying to figure out how to juggle me time, household priorities and quality time with the kids so they all happen, none of us get burnt out, and I can feel like at the end of the day my job was done to the best of my ability.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Mommy Wars
I just finished an article on Mommy Wars. It wasn't in my Parenting Magazine, my Mothering Magazine or any other magazine that I would expect an article entitled Mommy Wars to be in. It was in the current issue of Christianity Today.
That leads me to believe it's an issue among Christians. Not just Christian moms.
It helped me realize I'm smack dab center in the battle and it made me sad. I've been there--guilty of judging a mom and deciding that her decisions weren't biblical or she was sinning. I've been on the receiving end and it's painful.
I recently received a facebook message from an old friend. A battle of mommy wars drove us apart. Her message praised me for nursing for 9 months and in a very roundabout way apologized(I think)for being so critical of me when I had to wean Christopher. The apology came about after she had to wean her 6 month old. A lack of empathy tore friends apart.
I know the mommy wars have been going on since bible times, but it seems that the battles are getting more heated, more hurtful and more frequent.
It made me wonder
--is it ever okay to question another's parenting
--as Christians, how do we approach those we believe are making poor decisions in parenting
--can we parent differently, discuss it and not have it become a battle
--is there only one way to parent biblically
That leads me to believe it's an issue among Christians. Not just Christian moms.
It helped me realize I'm smack dab center in the battle and it made me sad. I've been there--guilty of judging a mom and deciding that her decisions weren't biblical or she was sinning. I've been on the receiving end and it's painful.
I recently received a facebook message from an old friend. A battle of mommy wars drove us apart. Her message praised me for nursing for 9 months and in a very roundabout way apologized(I think)for being so critical of me when I had to wean Christopher. The apology came about after she had to wean her 6 month old. A lack of empathy tore friends apart.
I know the mommy wars have been going on since bible times, but it seems that the battles are getting more heated, more hurtful and more frequent.
It made me wonder
--is it ever okay to question another's parenting
--as Christians, how do we approach those we believe are making poor decisions in parenting
--can we parent differently, discuss it and not have it become a battle
--is there only one way to parent biblically
Thursday, August 27, 2009
August Updates
We have been in the Dixon area for a year now. 2.5 months in the cabin, 5 months at the farm and 4.5 months here at the house. It doesn't seem possible.
Jon has been having work orders after work orders. He has even had to turn some down! It's been crazy, but good and he seems to be enjoying it.
Grace is an official second grader. The week before school started, I had a meltdown and couldn't imagine myself ever being okay with her going to second grade at a public school, but it's been amazing 7 days and after the first day of school, I knew that for now this is the place for Grace! She comes home talking in spanish, sign language, some african language, asking me in depth questions about grammer, etc. Breezing through the review work, which is great, but it's really great seeing her come home and learning outside of the standard. Her teacher seems amazing and the perfect fit for her. God had it all under control.
Christopher is a talking maniac! Something clicked and why the road is still long, it's wonderful hearing him talk and have a conversation with him. He misses Grace like crazy, loves on Aaron all day long, and unfortunately may be entering the tantrum stage of a 2 year old. I'm trying to convince Jon he needs a nickname because Christopher is getting to become a mouthful--LOL
Aaron is now 9 months! Pulling up, working on tooth 6 and maybe 7/8. Still a happy baby!
I find myself bored when Grace is at school. Really searching for an outlet so I feel that I have a purpose and don't sit around the house all day on the computer, reading a book, bored. Spend time in the morning with Christopher making something in the kitchen, read a couple of books, clean up around the house, play with CJ and Aaron, feed Aarona a couple of times and then it's 10:00 and I'm bored--LOL.
Not much else going on!
Jon has been having work orders after work orders. He has even had to turn some down! It's been crazy, but good and he seems to be enjoying it.
Grace is an official second grader. The week before school started, I had a meltdown and couldn't imagine myself ever being okay with her going to second grade at a public school, but it's been amazing 7 days and after the first day of school, I knew that for now this is the place for Grace! She comes home talking in spanish, sign language, some african language, asking me in depth questions about grammer, etc. Breezing through the review work, which is great, but it's really great seeing her come home and learning outside of the standard. Her teacher seems amazing and the perfect fit for her. God had it all under control.
Christopher is a talking maniac! Something clicked and why the road is still long, it's wonderful hearing him talk and have a conversation with him. He misses Grace like crazy, loves on Aaron all day long, and unfortunately may be entering the tantrum stage of a 2 year old. I'm trying to convince Jon he needs a nickname because Christopher is getting to become a mouthful--LOL
Aaron is now 9 months! Pulling up, working on tooth 6 and maybe 7/8. Still a happy baby!
I find myself bored when Grace is at school. Really searching for an outlet so I feel that I have a purpose and don't sit around the house all day on the computer, reading a book, bored. Spend time in the morning with Christopher making something in the kitchen, read a couple of books, clean up around the house, play with CJ and Aaron, feed Aarona a couple of times and then it's 10:00 and I'm bored--LOL.
Not much else going on!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
July Update!
Figured it was time for another Wadsworth Family Update
--Jon is technically unemployed again, as of the beginning of June. He has been working side jobs for the past couple of weeks. The stress is unbelievable and this is the toughest road yet. Finding the balance between family life and his work is hard.
--We are settling into the house wonderfully. All of the large "to do" projects are done and just need to finish hanging up some things on the walls. We are having a yard sale on Saturday to finally sell the clothes and kid items I've been holding on to for years.
--Aaron is 8 months old now! So hard to believe. He is army crawling, getting into a lot, and started putting himself into the sitting position. He is work on his fourth tooth. Everyone comments on how smiley he is and he is definately the smiliest baby I've ever seen. Some days he resembles Guy Smiley from Sesame Street.
--Christopher recently had an overnight stay in the hospital after his oxygen levels wouldn't stay steady following his tonsils/adnoid/ear tube surgery. The difference in his voice was amazing. Still misprouncing a lot of words. He's a lot of fun and we are laughing daily at his antics. We are discussing what happened tomorrow with our regular doctor's office and next Friday will meet with his ENT so hopefully will know what happened and if it's an ongoing health issue.
--Grace is an offical camp alumni now. She had so much fun at Intermediate Camp. She has been attending a Magic Tree House book club and Kreative Writing Class on Wednesdays. I'm still not at peace about her attending public school for second grade.
Still waiting for life to calm down. I'm not sure it will, so guess need to work on just going with the flow. Some days, the large stuff doesn't bother me at all and other days I feel like I'm losing it and don't know which end is up.
Not much else going on.
--Jon is technically unemployed again, as of the beginning of June. He has been working side jobs for the past couple of weeks. The stress is unbelievable and this is the toughest road yet. Finding the balance between family life and his work is hard.
--We are settling into the house wonderfully. All of the large "to do" projects are done and just need to finish hanging up some things on the walls. We are having a yard sale on Saturday to finally sell the clothes and kid items I've been holding on to for years.
--Aaron is 8 months old now! So hard to believe. He is army crawling, getting into a lot, and started putting himself into the sitting position. He is work on his fourth tooth. Everyone comments on how smiley he is and he is definately the smiliest baby I've ever seen. Some days he resembles Guy Smiley from Sesame Street.
--Christopher recently had an overnight stay in the hospital after his oxygen levels wouldn't stay steady following his tonsils/adnoid/ear tube surgery. The difference in his voice was amazing. Still misprouncing a lot of words. He's a lot of fun and we are laughing daily at his antics. We are discussing what happened tomorrow with our regular doctor's office and next Friday will meet with his ENT so hopefully will know what happened and if it's an ongoing health issue.
--Grace is an offical camp alumni now. She had so much fun at Intermediate Camp. She has been attending a Magic Tree House book club and Kreative Writing Class on Wednesdays. I'm still not at peace about her attending public school for second grade.
Still waiting for life to calm down. I'm not sure it will, so guess need to work on just going with the flow. Some days, the large stuff doesn't bother me at all and other days I feel like I'm losing it and don't know which end is up.
Not much else going on.
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