One Day at a Time...

Our little baby is a month old now.  We are doing okay.

Baby E sleeps little outside of our arms.  That means I sit on my bum most of the day holding her.  I have been watching an incredible amount of television.  (And typically I don't turn on the TV at all during the daytime for myself.)  Baby E has painful gas and reflux that makes her scream, especially during the evenings.  When she's not in pain, she still tends to be fussy, even in our arms.

We have tried four formulas.  (Yes, our daughter is bottle-fed.)  Regular.  Soy.  Gentlease.  And now a really expensive formula for colic.  She is also taking Zantac.  At the time of this writing we haven't been using the colic formula long enough to know if it will make a difference or not.  If not, we might discuss seeing a GI doctor for her.

We're thankful that she has at least one 2 hour stretch each night now.  For a long time I was sleeping for 20-45 minutes at a time...when I could actually sleep.

Big brother E and big sister M adore her.  M did ask a while back if we could have a yard sale.  When we inquired why, she wanted to sell Baby E.  When I said that wasn't possible she suggested selling her brother instead.

But really, they adore our baby.  So do I.

And yes, we have much to be grateful for, despite the lack of sleep and headaches.  Just think, by this age, both of our older children had been hospitalized!  (M for her heart problem and E because he was dehydrated.)

At some point, I'd love to create blogging names for my kids, especially since two of them are E.

New York City Preparations

Our preparations for our recent visit to New York City probably began a couple years ago when I began reading to M about the Statue of Liberty.  Since we have family there, it was time for a visit!

1. First I wrote a few sentences for M to read.  Even if she was not reading, I may have still done this and read it to her.  She loved learning about the trip in this fashion.

Though M pretended to think about where we were going, I think she knew immediately!

2. Using handwriting paper, we made a list of who and what we wanted to see in NYC.  M then traced the letters.  Later I told her about how NYC is called the Big Apple.  She added to word apple to the her list...and spelled it correctly!

3. We began reading Cricket in Times Square before she knew of our visit.  It's a great book for preschoolers because most of the characters are animals, though intended for much older children.  The chapters are short, and include a full page illustration in each.  And of course, it introduces things about NYC!  (FYI, I recently learned this is part of a series!)


4. We read our favorite Statue of Liberty book.

5. I found some great printables about the Statue of Liberty.  The dot-to-dot may have been M's favorite.  Here and here are some that are pretty awesome.

6.  Though not part of our preparations, the day after we returned home as part of our "recovery/rest" we watched The Muppets Take Manhattan.  We really like the Muppets around here!

Girls' Night Out (Mother/Daughter)

Last night my little girl and I had our first Girls' Night Out.  We went to the "local" mall.  I had some errands to run that couldn't wait.

First, I have to say how amazingly social my 4 year old is.  She really always has been, even when she could not talk at age 2, she was still excellent at communicating!  Well, she is a little chatterbox now.  She loved interacting with sales associates and telling them all about herself.  One in particular really enjoyed M's company.

This morning we were talking about our special night out.  For the next Girls' Night Out she has requested that we throw money in the fountain and eat.  She didn't care for the shopping, though you couldn't tell last night. (I can't blame her!)  You see, we got an Auntie Anne's pretzel.  (Okay, I had a coupon for buy one, get one free, and we both had our own.)  When I paid, I dug out a quarter from my wallet and asked for 25 pennies, hoping that this newly renovated mall would still have a fountain AND that we would find it.

I was excited when we came to the fountain!  M immediately remembered that we can throw money in it, though I suspect she has only done it twice.  (We rarely go to the mall.)

When we got home, she told my husband that it was Boys' Night Out the next day.  (She wants to stay home and just watch television like the boys did while we were away.)

The other highlight of the night is that M finally got to see the hospital where she was born.  Since we pass by where her brother was born every month or so, she has been asking about where she was born, and she finally saw it!

I am totally ready to do this again, though next time maybe we'll get an ice cream cone and head to the park to enjoy God's creation (because by then it will likely be warm), despite her request to repeat last night.  What do you do to make your children feel special?

Big Incentive!

Our 4 year old has been wanting her toenails painted for a long time.  It's not something that I do much, nor do I want her to grow up too soon.

However, M got her toenails painted as an incentive for being dry three times in a row (2 naps, 1 nighttime).  

Since then, we have seen many more dry naps and even nighttime pull ups.  Yay!  (I know many would find it strange that a 4 year old would not stay dry during a nap, but her naps tend to be several hours long.  She does sometimes skip a nap, too.)

Next, if she gets a sticker for each of her toes (shown below), then she will get her own bottle of nail polish.

Keeping Children Hydrated

Our kids have been rather ill for the past two weeks.

Our daughter, especially, didn't have an appetite.  That's no surprise for a sick child.  Much more important is keeping them hydrated when they are ill.

An easy way to do this is by having a tea party!  My children had four or five pitchers of water during their tea party, and most of it was drank by my sick daughter.  (E wasn't sick at that point.)

We love our little pitcher set from Tupperware.  It's perfect size for young children to pour themselves and was great for E when he was first learning to drink from a cup.

Handmade Jesse Tree

Finally!  I did it!!  With a few hours to spare, my Jesse Tree is complete!  (Left-click on any image to view it larger, as always.)

This Jesse Tree has two-sided ornaments to tell the lineage of Jesus.


Isaiah 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; 
   from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

Please read more about how I made this homemade Jesse Tree with a printable and directions!

Giving to Others

Our church has participated in a really neat giving opportunity for several years now with Operation Christmas Child.  I really like it because it gets my own children (well, my 4 year old) involved in a special ministry.

 This shoe box will be opened by some child, some where in the world.  It may be the first Christmas gift-or any gift- that they will ever receive.  My daughter and I went shopping to fill our shoe box.  We stuffed the box full of practical things like toiletries.  Of course we added some fun stuff like a coloring book and crayons.  We included some other toys, including party blowers.  (What child doesn't love noise!?)  After placing everything in the box there was just a little bit of room left, so we added snack bags.  It will be a nice treat for them, and keeps the contents from moving too much.

Before the box reaches the child who will get it, a Gospel tract will be placed in the box-in the child's own language!

And all of this helps my daughter understand better what God expects from us.

Matthew 10:8 ....Freely you have received; freely give.

Monogrammed Pancakes

In the past week I have not been doing too well in the kitchen.  Friday night I made apple crisp without brown sugar.  It was thrown away.

Yesterday was even worse.  I decided to make my cousin's chicken soup (so good!) and some bread.  I had just learned about Irish soda bread.  Since it is quick, I wanted to try it.  I used this recipe.  Well, I ran out of all-purpose flour.  So I used a combination of all-purpose, bread, and white wheat.  That is not what killed the bread.  It's called soda bread for a reason, you know.  It uses baking soda instead of yeast.  Well, guess what I did!?  I used baking powder instead of baking soda.  Maybe it was okay, but the soda bread wasn't appealing to Derek, so we didn't eat it.

Oh, remember the soup I wanted to make?  Angie suggested a 3 pound chicken.  Mine was six.  AND I only allowed about three hours to cook it.  It wasn't going to be ready for dinner at five o'clock, so we had pancakes instead.   I used my homemade pancake mix from the cupboard.

First, I should say that this idea of writing in pancakes is not mine!  I'm not sure if I saw it in a magazine or on-line.  Unfortunately, I have no idea where I saw this.  If you know, leave a comment so I can give credit!

To make a monogram, smiley face, or anything else is quite simple.  I used one of our many medicine syringes, and I filled it with pancake batter.  Then I wrote the children's initials (backwards so when they flip they are correct) on the griddle and a smiley face for Derek.  After they were cooked, I poured additional pancake batter on top.  Then, you just flip and serve as you normally would!

My kitchen woes didn't stop there.  Notice how dark the pancake is.  Two of my pancakes stuck to the griddle and wouldn't flip.  I did turn down the temperature control (which is not accurate), but the griddle was still acting funny.  I think it's time for a new griddle, and I'm not sure I can hold off until Christmas! 

(I did manage to make the fudge nut bars and blueberry coffee cake this week.  Successfully.  Whew!  See, I have much to be thankful for!)

I Was Wrong...And It Is Bad

You might remember how I showed strips of fabric that I was trying to make into a patchwork purse for my sister.  My little girl had cut it.  Oh yeah.  Though frustrated, I was very thankful that the damage was minimal and would be easy to fix.  See here.

Well, last night after the children were to bed, and Derek was doing his schoolwork, I went up to work on the purse.
What I found shocked me.  

Now, before you think that M had returned to the spare room and found the scissors again, let me assure you that I am certain THIS horrible mess happened at the same time as the last one.

This time, I am thankful that it was not a finished or semi-finished purse or my stack of new fabric that was also on the bed.  Last night I spent a couple hours taking apart the patchwork squares.  Notice that eight of them had to be removed.  Soon (maybe) I will replace them.  And I hope this is the last post about the purse until it is completed!

Now I am thankful that I have fully lost the motivation to work on this.  Amy's birthday is in October.  Let's hope it's done in time!  (In addition to the lesson of keeping scissors away from  my fabric, I also learned that I do not like patchwork.  I am not skilled enough to make the lines match well.)

(And if you don't believe me that it was 8 blocks, please just trust me!)

Pencil Cookie

M started at her new preschool last Wednesday.  It wasn't a fabulous start to a school year.  I was really hoping she would love school this year.  She loves to learn, but is so determined to do her own thing, that following directions isn't always easy for her.   

To encourage her a bit, I made her a pencil cookie to celebrate the beginning of her school year.  She LOVED it!  I made sugar cookies. (Click for a delicious recipe...and I am happy to report I had a bit more self control than the last time I made them.)  After chilling the dough, I rolled out a long rectangle on parchment paper and then cut a simple pencil shape.

I am not a big fan of cake, and actually never eat icing.  Yep, that's right, I scrape off my icing and share it or throw it away.  However, icing is the one way you can decorate  a cake, so I wanted to practice a bit.  Since we'll be having cake at least two times next month, I opted for practicing on a cookie, and the pencil was a great way to practice.  (In case you are wondering, I didn't eat any of the pencil.  WAY too much icing for me to eat.  I ate the plain cookies happily though.)

I had been wanting to practice using cake decorating tips before the kids' birthdays in October.  My mother-in-law makes beautiful cakes (and gets paid for all types of occasions, including weddings), but if she can't come for both birthdays, I want to be prepared.  I was fairly pleased with how the cookie turned out, since it was my first attempt at using tips.  Ever.

When my husband ate the icing (there is still tons left over in the fridge), he asked if I used his mom's recipe.  Hurray!   That means they tasted the same!  

Please excuse the lovely parchment paper.  I didn't think about how to store a pencil cookie...and forgot that I had a cake carrier until the cookie was almost gone!

Today I'm linking up with ABC and 123!  Visit to see more cool activities!

Don't forget...today is the last day for the Runners book giveaway!

Three Year Old + Scissors=UGH

Our spare bedroom serves many purposes: exercise, desktop computer, crafting, sewing, guest bedroom.  It also lets me be lazy.  Sometimes (almost always) I have the bed covered in a "project."  Sometimes I do not put away my tools properly.  We have a childproof door knob, and we keep the door closed most of the time.  It shouldn't be a problem, right?

Well, we all know that a pair of scissors left less than five feet off the floor will cause trouble.

Here's a glimpse of my newest sewing project.  It is going to be a patchwork purse for my older sister.  She has such unique taste that I asked her to pick out the fabric for me.  She chose a pirate print for the inside!

Here's a closer look.  Amazingly, I can actually just tear out that ruined strip of fabric, cut and sew a new one, and continue the project.  But this setback along with MY own setbacks (seam ripping, bobbin issues, procrastination), means that this is a very discouraging project!

For the record, I do know that this post could have an alternate title of "Mom's Laziness+3 Year Old=UGH."

When I went to iron this bit of the project, I found it as you see it.  I went directly to M's room, where she had just been tucked in, and asked her if she knew who did it.  She was truthful.  I was curious when it happened, but knew it could have been any time in the last few weeks.  I asked if I was sleeping when it happened (meaning in the morning), and she said no, I was downstairs.  That means she did it during nap time or after bed time.

Practical Hair

Our daughter has always had long hair.  We have always loved long hair.  (And I had hair to my bottom until kindergarten when I bent over at my desk and gave myself bangs!!)

Well, M's hair has started to get in the way of using the bathroom.  Despite loving it long we decided to cut it.  We cut about five inches from it.  

Before M had very long hair, especially for a three year old.

Ta-da!

Here are both E and M.

You'll have to trust me that the sweet kiss doesn't represent most moments on our home, but I was glad to capture it on camera!

Because I refuse to give M bangs (at least for now) it still is best if we use something to pull it back and out of her face.  I really love the new length and so does she!

Farm Fun

I think every kid needs to be able to go to their grandparents' farm for a week.  We are having a lot fun, though Daddy is sorely missed.

(Don't forget to enter the giveaway!)

Summer Vacation

This picture represents my life and parenting well. One child, M, is happy to pose for the camera. Somehow, E, is putting on a sour face. This mom just can't seem to have everyone happy at the same time. Naps, dinner, car rides...we can't all be happy at the same time...and that's okay!


Yesterday was M's last day of preschool for several weeks. Unlike most children, her summer vacation is short! She will attend summer session at her speech and language classroom. In mid-July she will return to school for about a month. Then she will have another summer vacation before starting at her new "normal" school in the fall!

I'm taking the kids away for a week to visit our families.  (Derek will work..and paint...and  play softball and ?)  I will be posting a bit while I'm on vacation!  I know this because I have a really cool giveaway for you, so come back next week to Live, Learn, Love!  Want a preview?  Check this out!

 This will be E's first real hands-on experience at the farm (instead of just looking).  We'll be staying with Derek's grandparents and are thrilled that we can spend daily time with them while visiting the other three sets of grandparents when we are able.   I'm sure we will love every bit of it.

Introducing Scripture with Discipline

Most parents of a 3 year old struggle with discipline.  We certainly do, despite our efforts.

It wasn't too long ago that I shared about a company called Doorposts that offers help to parents who want to have a resource for biblical character training (for children and parents).  I reviewed a book called Honor Your Father and Mother.  (See review by clicking the link).  It was this book that first motivated me to incorporate Scripture in to our praise and discipline for M's behavior.  I thought it would be best for us to stay focused on one verse at a time.  As M ages, we can explore more verses, and address specific behavior with specific verses, but for now, this works.

For a couple weeks now I have been been focusing on the verse "Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." Colossians 3:20.

I started with writing the verse in large print on a piece of paper.  I hung this on our pantry door.  My 3 year old noticed it right away.  I read it to her and discussed it with her.

Within a few minutes I made sure I praised her obedience and drew her attention to the verse.  I made sure she knew that her obedience makes her father and me happy, and it makes God happy.  When she disobeyed, we explained that it disappoints us and God.  It also makes us sad.

(One thing I feel that I fail to do on a daily basis is have the expectation of obedience.  M is fairly strong-willed.  We try to be consistent, and I think we don't "give in," but somehow, I still think we are very lacking.  Any suggestions?)

I do not want to use God's Word only to discipline for disobedience.  I feel it is important to use Scripture for the positive side of discipline.  I felt this was a great verse to use to begin since the cause and effect is a positive one.  Obeying pleases the Lord.

As I said, we have used this verse for a couple weeks now.   M knows the verse.  She understands the positive and the negative.  It works for us.

If you are interested in hearing the verses I select in the future for us, would you leave me a little comment today?  I don't know if this is something that comes easily for others that are interested and this is just boring...

Also, if you have some suggestions for using Bible verses to discipline, I would love to hear them!

This summer I want to re-read the book Shepherding a Child's Heart.  When I first read it, M was not old enough for me to really put it into practice, but I liked that it focused not on the behavior of the child, but on the attitude of the heart.  Because, really, the heart is the reason we do anything.  (Does anyone want to read this book along with me...I'd love to discuss it with someone!  I actually read it before as part of a moms' group, but know it will be a new read for me this time since I can put so much more into practice.)

Helping Hands

After a messier-than-usual peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I explained to M, our three year old, that E's hands needed to be washed, she took it upon herself to help him, just like Mommy sometimes needs to help her.  

"Suds, suds, suds."  She even dried his hands!

We use an adult two-step stool in our powder room for easy access to the children.  It was not until today that learned two children fit on it though!  If you have a short toddler, I highly recommend a bit sturdy stool!  (It's great for M when I "need" help in the kitchen, too.)

If you are curious why M uses the words "suds" instead of "soap," it's because of a little book that we have that she enjoys called Rub-a-Dub Suds.  It's a First Start Easy Reader.  We like it because it has simple words that M has been able to say for quite a while.  She loves it because it's all about Tammy, a pig, who loves suds during bath time.  M can relate!

My Magic Timer (Nap Time)

Though my daughter, M, may be three years old, she needs a lengthy daily nap.  Until recently she was sleeping for a solid 3-4 hours in the afternoon and needing every minute.


Recently we noticed that she doesn't seem to need quite as much sleep, which is fine (and normal).  We're putting her down for her nap a bit later.  Sometimes she still tells us she isn't tired (and she is).  Here is where my magic timer comes in handy.


M is already familiar with how timers are used in the kitchen.  However, they become MOM'S BEST FRIEND, and quite magical, for nap time!


When M tells me she wants to come downstairs or isn't tired, I explain to her that I will come and get her when the timer rings.  This also works if she wakes up two hours early (or never really went to sleep).  I was amazed at how quickly she understood this concept...and she does not complain one bit!  This has been effective right at the beginning of nap time (after the fight getting her to the bedroom) and mid-nap.


This also works when it is 6 a.m. and not time for me to be out of bed yet, but my little girl is wide awake.


Now I don't actually set a timer, but every day Derek or I go to her room to wake her up at 5 o'clock.  If she happens to wake up a few minutes before, we do get her up, but most days she sleeps until right about five.  Am I deceiving my daughter?  A bit.  She thinks I go down to the kitchen and turn on the timer.  But is there a timer?  Yes, but it is just a clock on the wall.  So it is a bit magical.  Derek and I are okay with that.


Just the other day, Derek reminded M that it wasn't time yet.  He was amazed at how she immediately put her head on her pillow (and not because she is the ever-obedient child, trust me).


How do you use timers with your children?  I'd love to hear!


Edited: Please be sure to read the comments below, especially Sharon's.  She speaks about children needing to obey the parent, not the timer.  I hadn't thought of it before, but by choosing your words carefully, they will be obeying you.

Showing Off Artwork

I keep a handful of M's artwork from school (mittens below), but mostly I like to keep projects that we do together. My fridge can only handle so much, so this past week I started hanging projects in our cupboards.

First I explained to M that every time I opened the cupboard doors, I would get a special surprise. Then I showed her the surprise! She loved seeing them hanging inside. When her daddy came home, she showed him the surprise, too. And my refrigerator isn't quite as crowded now.

These cupboards are displaying a pair of mittens (from school) and city (from home) and E's first scribble drawing.

How do you organize artwork?  When I was a teacher I used a clothesline and had colorful clothespins.  It was a hit!

Curly Do

 When you have a little girl with long hair, sometimes you just need to play a little.  I'm sure many moms would do M's hair much more frequently than I do...but oh well.  Once in a while I like to give M curly hair.  Really, this is not a child's hair-do, but anyone's.

To make this curly do, I usually sit M in front of the TV with soaking wet hair.  (This time we were just reading books and a VHS cover.  Mistake #1.  Make sure your child will sit with their head still!)  Then I section off her hair, twist and twist until it makes a knot, and then I secure it with a small hair tie as seen in the picture below.  If a section is starting to dry, I spray it with water.

I love the knots!  When I am able to be more careful, each little part is straight and makes the knots look that much nicer, but you get the idea.

Leave the knots in until hair is completely dry, usually overnight.  Unfortunately, I was impatient the other day (I only let the knots dry for a few hours-Mistake #2), so you get to see an "after" picture from September.   The curls relax rather quickly for us since I don't use hair spray on M's hair, but this is immediately after we took the knots out.

As you can see, one little girl really liked it!

Preparing for the School Day

Do your children ride a bus?  M rides the bus four days a week.  At the tender age of 3, she is in a five-point harness carseat and there is an aide on the bus.  There are two things we do, nearly daily, in our school preparations.  We sing and pray.

Our bus driver is, um, well, not very consistent.  The bus is scheduled to arrive at 7:36.  Sometimes it comes at 7:28.  Sometimes it arrives at 7:50, or later.  A few times it has arrived after 8 a.m. though typically it's around 7:45.  It is also inconsistent when she comes home at lunch time.

Due to the long wait, I made up a little song.  It's to the tune of "Where Is Thumbkin?"  I am NOT musical, but I can sing this song...to my children.  It might hurt everyone else's ears though.  We sing this just about every day.

Where is the bus now?

Where is the bus now?

Not quite here.

Not quite here.

That is repeated until the bus arrives or I get tired.  I am often tired first.  If not, we end with...

Where is the bus now?

Where is the bus now?

Here it is.

Here it is.

While we wait for the bus I also pray for M.  I always ask her if she wants to pray with me.  Once in a while she says no, and then I just pray out loud for her, but not with her.  Usually she is quite excited to have me pray with her for a moment before she's off to school for the morning.

I know not everyone has that "option" and you might have a much crazier morning.  Trust me, when the bus comes early, we are not always watching for it.  Since the weather is cold and the driver inconsistent, we watch from inside.  Thankfully we live near the cul de sac of our road, so traffic is not an issue.

Do you do anything special in the mornings before school?  I know one day (soon??) we will be in a frenzy every morning.  Until then, I'd love to hear what you do so maybe we can improve our mornings!

Donald Crews is the author of Freight Train (click for our craft) and some other great picture books.  School Bus is one of them!