The Kids.

Ana Clare, 6 Months. Loves to laugh and razz her lips. Loves peas, not so sure about Squash. Dislikes messy diapers, prefers to be clean and dry, especially when going to bed. Has started biting a bit, which hurts Mommy. Loves grabbing lips, ears, and hair. Peekaboo is her new favorite game, along with "spit food out."

Ian Douglas. 2.5 Years old. Loves to
jump, spin, hit things, crash things, and turn lights on and off (and on and off...). Is slowly turning into a Tiger. Loves to make Ana laugh, loves to jump on Daddy, loves to shut Mommy into rooms with no lights on. Had his first 1/4 mile tantrum on Saturday, strapped into the stroller, kicking and screaming... all because he didn't get to see Grandpa. (We turned around to go back and wait for Grandpa.) New words are... NEW, 2 MORE, CARROTS, POOP, NO POOP, NO NIGHT NIGHT. Seems to be growing at an unusual rate (well, not really... just to Mommy).

A Tip For Spoon-Feeding Moms.

Sorry to all of you who read my blog and don't have kids... today's post is for moms with babies! :)

Ana has been a little hit-and-miss with her cereal/veggie feedings. Some days she'll be crazy about it, and some days she doesn't want anything to do with it. After trying a few different things, I came up with one conclustion... HEAT IT.

She won't take the cold or even lukewarm food. Once I heat it 10-20 seconds, she DEVOURS it.

So to those of you who are having problems getting your babe to take food, or who will be spoon-feeding in the near future, try that!

Mornings... Ahh...

This morning, I realized that since I put Ana down propped up in the living room (she has a bad cold), if Ian got up before Ana wakes up (8:30), he would wake her up. So I slithered out into the living room, picked up the whole contraption in which I had set Ana up, and carefully slithered back to our bedroom, and placed her on the bed, contraption and all. Thank God I didn't trip on any toys.

Life sure changes once you have kids, huh? I USED to wake up, saunter out to the kitchen, grab a glass of water, flip on the TV, and watch the news. OR I would throw my running shoes on (already dressed for workout in my sleep), and take off for a quick few miles before showering and heading off to work. Let me lay that out for you:

PRE-KIDS:

1. Awaken to alarm clock.
2. Awaken to snooze alarm.
3. Drink glass of water.
4. Throw running shoes on, take 15 minute run.
5. Return, take shower.
6. Eat well-balanced breakfast.
6. Put self together, go to work.

NOW:

1. Awaken to "Moommm.... mmyyyyy."
2. Fall out of bed.
3. Open door to zombie toddler.
4. Turn on TV, fill sippy cup with milk for said zombie toddler.
5. Hear crying baby waking up too early, plug with binky.
6. Change toddler's diaper after forgetting the first time.
7. No, you cannot have a cookie.
8. Grab a glass of water, forget to drink it.
9. Turn on hot water for tea, forget about that, too.
10. Unnecessarily fold clothes and clean up toys.
11. Throw bread in to toast, and start a pan for a fried egg.
12. Put toddler back on couch so he doesn't burn himself.
13. Continue to cook egg and toast.
14. Scarf down egg and toast before retrieving crying baby from crib.
15. Nurse, feed, burp baby.
16. Put baby in high chair for cereal.
17. Pee.

You too can do this in just 17 easy steps.

Paying it Forward

Allright everybody, I am paying this forward from the marvelous Amber B's blog.

Here's how it works:I will be receiving an item from Amber.

In the mean time, the first three people to comment on this post that they want to participate, will receive a handmade item from me. I have 365 days to complete it (although you'll DEFINITELY get it sooner!)

The gift is a surprise and I will do my best to tailor it to you.

If you are interested, post in the comments here. If you are one of the first three people, then go ahead and post your "Pay it Forward" on your blog. The handmade items do not have to be extensive. Do not feel you need to spend days and days on them. Just do what you can.

Allright, have fun everyone...

I am no Supermom That's For Sure

But I do know one thing... I gots mad skizills at making baby food!

So far, I've made Squash (easy), Bananas (easier), and Peas (hard-ish). I just boiled them till JUST ready (you don't want to boil out all the delicious nutrients!), then blended them with hot water in the blender (food processor would have been MUCH easier, but its tucked behind our microwave at the moment and I'm short). If you're planning on doing this, make sure the consistency is like a super-thick milkshake (only its veggies, and your toddler won't go crazy over it). With things like peas, celery, green beans... things a baby can choke on... you'll want to mash the food through a wire sieve so you just get the pureed part. I even did that, then threw the leftover stuff back into the blender to be sure I got it all. Then, take a CLEAN ice cube tray, spoon in the purée, (that's for you, Josée) and freeze! Each cube is exactly an ounce.

I calculated at least the squash, and I saved 5 cents per ounce. Of course, there is the electricity from the stove and blender, and the water to boil the veggies in... but hey, at least I know what's in my baby's food, and its FRESH! Of course, you could also just buy organic veggies and fruit, but then you don't save the extra cents.

And this is me in the early morning hours drinking tea. Would you believe this:Turns into this:
With just a little eyeliner?

Hello Toddlerhood, my name is Exhausted.

Ian Douglas. This kid has slept from 8pm to 8am for SERIOUSLY the past two years. Even for the first 5 months of Ana's life, with her waking up here and there and making noise, he has slept like a kid who sleeps amazingly well.

SUDDENLY he turned 2 1/2 and decided to be like the rest of the toddlers in the world. Frustrating, strong-willed, incapable of calming down for bed...

What do you all do? Now that my kid is "normal" we don't know what to do with ourselves!!! I really want advice, suggestions, criticisms, ANYTHING to make it STOP. :) Ok I know it won't stop, but you get it.

On the flip side, I feel actually amazingly at peace right now. Faith, church, ministry, marriage, health... I really can't complain.

Updates on the status of this craziness...

1. My Mother-in-Law informed me sleep deprivation has a similar effect as some diagnoses you will find in the DSM-IV diagnosis counseling handbook. Hmm... I'll be going to bed shortly.

2. Ian is still waking up early. Our new trick: make sure he gets plenty of FOOD before bed. Maybe its a growth spurt and he's hungry.

3. Anyone have a data entry or graphic design job I can do part time from home for 10 hours per week? :) That's not a thought, its an actual question that requires an answer.

That's it, I'm off to keep myself off the psychological analysis chart. Or maybe I'm already on it...

Surrender.

My daughter Ana is 6 months old. She is the sweetest little thing. She accepts our family's pace of life so readily. She accepts Ian's punches and loud noises with laughter and coo's. She tells me when she's tired by rubbing her eyes, and tells me when she's hungry by yelling like a maniac.

Tonight, as I held her in my arms, trying to get her to sleep, I realized something about babies. You know when you are trying to soothe a baby, and she will just not relax? She'll squirm, arch her back, grunt... do anything just to NOT be in the position she is in. But once she submits to my cradled arms, my gentle rocking, soft humming (which happens to be "The Call" by Regina Spektor), she gently floats into a sound sleep.

Our life, in relation to God's will, is basically the same thing. You can fight it, you can resist, but ultimately, God will cradle you, urge you, and embrace you, so you will follow His perfect will. He knows what is best. He knows who you are and how you'll react and He knows how to use you in the right way. You'll naturally fall into His will, just as a baby falls asleep in her mother's arms.

Why fight it? I think so many of us want to make our own decisions. Or we carry burdens, or the weight of a decision or situation, on our shoulders. It is SO MUCH EASIER to submit and surrender all of it to God, knowing He not only has a handle on US, but on EVERYTHING around us.

That alone is why I sleep so well at night.

27 Random Things...

I enjoyed this too much to only post it on Facebook, so here you go. Here are 27 random thoughts. This is a scary assignment to give ME... I could write dozens of these.

1. I love ice cream, and I have come to the conclusion I am moderately lactose intolerant. Lucky me.

2. I love chocolate, and I love eating it late at night. Unfortunately, the caffeine keeps me up.

3. And I wonder why I can't seem to make my post-baby-belly go away (see above).

4. I miss soccer. Its my outlet, my release, and I'm ok at it too.

5. I miss my Edmonds friends (well, "Edmonds" is relative when you realize they're really from all over the greater Seattle area now). On the flip side, I am enjoying my new-found-friendships in Blaine so much.

6. Smoothies. I am excited for the weather to be warmer so I have the excuse to make smoothies. I've made a few this week with fresh Spinach (but mostly fruit) and they're oh so good, AND good for me!

7. I love nursing, and cry when I think about weaning Ana, since I know she's our last.

8. I love my kids. They are nutty, but sweet... kinda like that yummy Trail Mix from Costco.

9. I NEED to go swimming, and SOON. Anywhere. I want to smell chlorine on myself and in my hair. (I just realized I could make that into a song).

10. My hair is so unhappy right now. I want to go to a salon just to have it shampooed and blow-dried.

11. Almond. I don't know... just anything Almond flavored sounds lovely right now.

12. My husband Aaron has the best sense of humor, I wish he would speak out more in public. He really would be great at improv due to the level of TRUTH in his jokes.

13. I pick my teeth. I am always nervous I have food in my teeth.

14. Our new 1990's floral cream/purple/aqua colored 2nd-hand couches are growing on me. But I still need a few slipcovers.

15. My brother's photography is AWESOME. I don't know how I'm the sibling of someone SO artistic. (I know, that one's not really about me)

16. Never thought I'd say this, but Taylor Swift's "Love Song" is pretty darn good.

17. If I weren't such a preppy athlete, I might just go for dreadlocks. Or really dark hair... I've always wanted deep brunette hair and a nose ring. (Which seals it... I'll never move to Lynden).

18. I want to try out for Women's Pro Soccer this spring, but there's no chance in heck I'll ever be recruited. Well, at least I signed up on the website. It'll be some miracle if they call me.

19. I would LOVE to audition for American Idol, and have 3 years left to do it. Next time they're in Portland or Seattle, I'm there baby. Even if I get rejected. It would just be fun.

20. I miss my college days. Staying up late laughing with friends, drinking Lattes and studying at Starbucks ALL the time, writing term papers with my Mike's Hard Lemonade, falling asleep in the library while pretending to study... ahhh, the memories.

21. I will learn how to do a back flip someday. (When I'm back in shape).

22. ... is how old I was when I met Aaron. We got married 15 months later!

23. God has been whispering to me a lot lately. And I have to emphasize the "whispering" part... he's really making me pay attention.

24. I love that show, but liked it better when CTU was still intact. But yay, at least Chloe's still around.

25. I only have one pair of jeans I like to wear right now. At least they're a size that makes me happy.

26. Kung Fu Panda is a diamond in the rough. And that's not even an opinion... its a fact.

27. I genuinely love people. I think some naturally annoy me, but I love them anyway. I want the best for people.