Mama Loves: Shades of Gray

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! So glad that you've stopped by!

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found:

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

Share it with us! Blogging has made me a better mama, because I've learned about all kinds of great things, like those listed above, from mamas just like you. Here's your chance to share it with all of us!

To link your post up, click on the linky tool at the bottom, and follow the directions, it's really easy. You can also add this beautiful button to your post. Just grab the code in the box, copy and paste it into your post. Easy.

<center><a href="http://pontificationsofatwinmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Mama%20Loves" target="_blank"><img alt="Manic Mother" src="http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv66/MaAldrich/MamaLovesButtoncopy.jpg"/></a></center>
________________________________________________________________________________

Sometimes being a mama is just hard work! We'd all love to find "that thing" that makes life just a wee bit easier. Here are a few great solutions from our mamas you should check out!

• Hands full of good things? Let Melissa tell you about the awesomeness of The Mommy Hook.
• Does your baby have a stuffy nose? Jennifer can tell you how to help your baby breathe easier with Olbas Oil.
• Has your little one(s) mastered the art of climbing out of the crib? Before you resort to toddler beds, check out Katie's solution! 
• Are you traveling with your toddler(s)? Melissa can tell you all about Trunkis. A toy and a suitcase. Love two-for-one deals!
• Having a tough time with discipline? Melissa has two fantastic parenting books for you to check out!
• Need a distraction for your kids, so you can go to the bathroom real quick? Jennifer found the very thing that makes that possible.

______________________________________________________________________________
So, I've been waiting to share my Mama Loves for this week until I could give you iron-clad proof that it "works".

Sometimes things "work" in shades of gray.

Isn't that what parenting is sometimes?  

Shades of gray?

She's potty trained, but she has accidents occasionally.

He eats all table food, except green beans--it's a texture thing. He only eats the pureed green beans out of a jar.


She's walking. Two or three steps at a time.

So.

I mentioned awhile back that our girls have been beating each other up, gladiator-style, pretty much every day.

Hitting.
Biting.

It has been so ugly. Especially the biting. The girls have bite marks and bruises from old bite marks, in different stages of healing, all over their arms, backs, and Hadley even has a bite mark on her foot.

One particularly hard day, I went to work searching for the solution.

Mamas, I don't think there's a magic solution out there. I realized, nothing, nothing is a cure-all. Much of it depends on me too. I can't just throw a book or parenting technique at my girls and expect it to magically work.

But.

I've found something that has helped (?), or at least given us some language to talk about what's going on.

Free Spirit Publishing has a line of children's board books called the Best Behavior Series.

We own Teeth Are Not for Biting and Hands Are Not for Hitting.

The rest of the series includes:

• Diapers Are Not Forever
• Feet Are Not for Kicking
• Germs Are Not for Sharing (you know I love this one!)
• Pacifiers Are Not Forever
• Tails Are Not for Pulling
• Words Are Not for Hurting

I really like that these books have simple language and illustations that are easy for the girls to understand, yet the message is loud and clear.

(Don't you love the Cozy Coupe parked off to the side?)

I also like that the books give alternatives the behavior, and explain the correct activities that hands and teeth should be used for.

My girls are still biting and hitting. That hasn't stopped.

But.

When I say, Teeth are not for biting, sometimes they run and grab the book. So, that's something. At least they know it's not okay.

We're working on it, mamas, we're working on it.

Shades of gray.

Can't wait to see what you're loving this week!

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Auto-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Loving Well (or not)

Have you ever believed that you were loving someone well? Loving them really well?

Then you discover that you're the only one that thinks so?

In my feeble attempt to pour out love and grace. I was accused of being unloving, unkind and judgemental.

Ouch!

Sort of the opposite of what I was going for.

That ever happen to you?

This great God of ours; he does that sometimes. He messes with our lives. Calls us out of our comfortableness to grow us. To change us.

He does this because he loves us so much, and he wants us to be able to love even better.

But.

Sometimes it's painful--the changing. Conflict in relationships is painful to me. I hate it, actually.

Can you relate?

Jesus is definitely doing some messing in my life.

Even though it sucks and it's painful, and it makes me uncomfortable, I'm excited to see how he'll redeem it.

In the meantime. I'm praying and loving.

________________________________________________________________________________

960. Emails with my sister.

961. Trying to give grace and failing. Miserably.

962. Amy's great post about failing--have you failed lately? Good!

963. The people who work in the nursery at church. They reassure this anxious mama with such grace.

964. Navigating our first play group.

965. Anticipation of my sister's visit this week.

966. Apple picking!

967. The fruits of our labor.

968. Four years of marriage.



Sharing today with Ann, the Soli Deo Gloria girls and Michelle.

Mama Loves: Showcase and Omega-3s

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! So glad that you've stopped by!

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found: 

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

Share it with us! Blogging has made me a better mama, because I've learned about all kinds of great things, like those listed above, from mamas just like you. Here's your chance to share it with all of us!

To link your post up, click on the linky tool at the bottom, and follow the directions, it's really easy. You can also add this beautiful button to your post. Just grab the code in the box, copy and paste it into your post. Easy.

<center><a href="http://pontificationsofatwinmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Mama%20Loves" target="_blank"><img alt="Manic Mother" src="http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv66/MaAldrich/MamaLovesButtoncopy.jpg"/></a></center> 

_________________________________________________________________________________

So, we've been doing this Mama Loves thing for almost two months.

Thank you so much to all of you that have linked up! I've learned about so many great books, toys, gear and other time and money-saving tips. You guys rock!

It just now occurred to me (duh!) that I should maybe highlight some of the awesome stuff you guys are loving.

From now on, I will make a point to showcase a few of your Mama Loves each week.

Today, I will do a little catching up!

You love children's books? We read a whole mess of books around here! If you're in the market, check out there are lots of superb Mama Loves suggestions here:

• Wendy's recommendation of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
• Bea can tell you about two of her boys' favorite books.
• Mandy can tell you why her girls love the book Have You Got My Purr?
• Jennifer can tell you why Hooked on Phonics is awesome--even for toddlers.
• Monique shared just how awesome it is that her daughter loves reading books.
• Affton shared her son's favorite book--a photo album!

If you're want to get some of these books for free--let Melissa tell you all about Swagbucks. 450 swagbucks gets you a $5 amazon.com gift card!!
________________________________________________________________________________

I just read an article in Kiwi Magazine that said that children often don't eat enough fish. Not enough fish = not enough Omega-3. Or does it?

Flaxseed is a great source of Omega-3, and is something my girls get almost every day (they love fish too, so sometimes twice a day).

Here's the recipe of our breakfast muffins:

4 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 olive oil (sometimes I use fancy blood orange-flavored olive oil, but plain will do)
2 tsp vanilla
1 medium carrot peels and grated
1 large apple or pear peeled and grated
(instead of the carrot and apple/pear, you can use a 3/4 to 1 cup of applesauce)
1/2 cup dried cranberries (you can use dried currants, pomegranates, or any other kind of berry)
1/2 cup sweetened coconut
1/2 steel cut oatmeal
3 T brewer's yeast (optional)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Fill greased muffin trays to the top. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

I can't wait to see what you're loving!

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Auto-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.

Happy Fourth!

My husband has a few things to say about being married to me for four years. I invited him to say it to me here.

I had a couple things to say to him too, you can hop over to his space to read them.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Four years of marriage.

Four years.

Four years was the average state prison sentence handed out in the US in 2007. That's the length of time I spent in high school. It's the amount of time I spent in college.

It is also the amount of time we've been married, as of today.

I'm not comparing our marriage to spending time in prison. I guess I can't speak for you, but these past four years have been the best years of my life.  I don't know how many inmates can truly say that.

I realize four years doesn't break any record for the longest marriage, and it doesn't make me an expert by any means, but I think I've learned a few things.

The first time I heard the instructions on marriage in Ephesians 5, I thought it meant that wives have to do everything their husbands tell them.  Marriage would be a piece of cake if I took that literally.  But how boring would that be?  Who wants to spend their life with someone who just takes instructions?

Not me. 

I kept reading in Ephesians, and I found instructions for the husband as well.

The secret to a happy marriage?  Love you, my wife, as Christ loves the church. 

What does that look like? Like putting my needs, wants, and desires second.  Like doing things for you that may not be on the top of my own list.  Like sacrificing.

I make a sacrifice when I choose the option I don't desire the most.

That is a huge task.  I can't possibly do it all the time.  It's not possible for me to pour out the amount of love Christ has poured out on us. 

But I can try.

I fail at this.  I can't be perfect, but perfection is not something I am shooting for - or will ever attain.

So what am I to do?  I can do the things I ought to do, and not do the things I ought not do.

I can come home and help with the girls and with chores.

I can do things so you can relax.

I don't have to go to every social function I'm invited to.

I don't have to have the TV on all the time.
 
I love you, Julia. Here's to many more years of a wonderful partnership.  I look forward to your continuing to challenge me to be a better man, husband, father, and follower of Christ.

Brad

Famous

I think our little Hadley might just be famous someday.

For awhile she was sporting hair like Justin Beiber.

She loves to dance on the register, letting the air blow her hair and clothes just like Marilyn Monroe.

Now, her hair, resembles Farrah Fawcett's coiffure. Check it out:

Pears and Tomatoes!

949. Girls learning to pat each other (and Mama and Papa) on the back.

950. Brynne running towards me exuberantly saying, Mama, Mama, Mama! Then, handing me a rock or a leaf or a stick. It never gets old!

951. Playing with Silas and Sara on a beautiful fall day.

952. Precious fellowship time with Malia.

953.Running five miles with Laila.

954. Brynne holding hands with Brooke.

955. Brooke helping me take the girls to playground.

956. Girls picking tomatoes.

957. Picking pears in our backyard.

958. Two girls tasting the pears they just picked.

959. A new decoration the neighbors set out for the girls to "visit" each night on our walk around the garden.

 



Mama Loves: Table Toppers

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! So glad that you've stopped by!

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found:

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

Share it with us! Blogging has made me a better mama, because I've learned about all kinds of great things, like those listed above, from mamas just like you. Here's your chance to share it with all of us!

To link your post up, click on the linky tool at the bottom, and follow the directions, it's really easy. You can also add this beautiful button to your post. Just grab the code in the box, copy and paste it into your post. Easy.

 

<center><a href="http://pontificationsofatwinmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Mama%20Loves" target="_blank"><img alt="Manic Mother" src="http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv66/MaAldrich/MamaLovesButtoncopy.jpg"/></a></center>

_________________________________________________________________________________

A few months back, friends of mine on facebook, posted a picture of their baby girl--she was sitting in a high chair at a restaurant with her chin resting on the table, barely able to keep her eyes open.

The caption was something like: So sleepy.

The normal reaction to this picture would have been, "Awe, how cute!"

Since I am nowhere near normal, especially with the ferocity with which I wage war against germs,  my reaction involved an audible gasp, and then I said some prayers that she would not contract some sort of rare disease that I was sure must be lurking on that table.

This is not (!!!) meant to be a shot at these parents!

I said it before, and I'll say it again: We all have to do what we believe works for us to keep our children safe and healthy.

I admit, I'm an extremist. I missed out on any cuteness factor when I saw that picture, because I "saw" those invisible germs attacking this little girl. That's my problem.

Anyway, I'm very happy to report that she is alive and well--completely unscathed from the incident.

Because, I'm an extremist, we always bring our own high chairs when we go out to eat with the girls. This way they have their own tray--no worries about rare diseases lurking on restaurant tables.

Yeah, then we went on vacation, and had to leave our precious high chairs behind.

It's a really good thing that there is a market for extremists such as myself.

Friends of ours introduced us to the table topper. These are like a place mat. They provide a sanitary, BPA-free eating/touching surface for you child(ren), and the best part is that on the back they have adhesive, so they stay put.

Here it is in action. I don't know who this kid is---we didn't take any pictures of our girls using them, but you get the idea.



Our local Target only had either Disney's Cars or Princesses styles to choose from. Since I have an aversion to most things "princess", as well as germs, we went with Cars. There are some pretty cute styles available. And, though our girls are too young to appreciate it, the mat has little games for kids to play on it while you wait for your food.



So, if you're an extremist like me, or even if you're not, you might want to check these out. They hardly take up any space in your diaper bag, and who knows?! They might just save your kid from contracting a rare disease.

Can't wait to see what you're loving this week!

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Auto-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.