Discipline in Action

Addie {standing up on the chair, playing with the blinds}

Me: Addie, you need to sit on your bottom.

Addie: No!

Me {stern eyebrows}: Addie, if you cannot sit on your bottom, you will have to get down.

Addie {smirking}

Me: One....

Addie {still smirking}

Me {voice escalating}: TWO....

Addie: Three!!!

Read, Put Into Practice and Repeat...

 

 

If I had my child to raise again,

I'd build self-esteem first,

and the house later.

I'd finger-paint more,

and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting,

and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch,

and watch with my eyes.

I'd take more hikes,

and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious,

and seriously play.

I would run through more fields,

and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging,

and less tugging.

~ Diane Loomans

 

(I found this poem here.)

An Actual Conversation

 Lexi. In time out. Yes, she's smiling.

Lexi {in time out}: Boy, these walls are sure dirty.

Me {refraining from strangling child}: Well, maybe you'll start washing walls, too.

Lexi {totally serious}: Maybe I will.

Fun With Marti & Brian

Aunt Marti (or Mart-eye as Lexi calls her) and Uncle Brian (I'm going to teach them to call him Uncle Brain) stayed a few days after the blessing. We had a great time catching up, playing games, wrastling with the kiddos and even ventured out to the Botanical Gardens. We must have done something to please fate since the day went just about perfectly.

Lexi on a toadstool. The whole place is a giant garden wonderland and when you first enter, you go through a tunnel that has roots growing down, toadstools, and little nooks and crannies to hide in.

That's a "buzzy bee" on a flower. When you walk into the courtyard, it buzzes above your head. Gets me every time.

The giant pumpkin complete with seeds and guts and a squishy floor.

Emmy - just chillin'. It was the first trip out that she actually enjoyed. No crying. We even went to lunch at the aquarium and she played with Uncle Brain and then slept on my knee while we ate. 

One of the sharks we saw while having lunch. We all decided this one must be British.

Thanks for the fun times Aunt Mart-eye and Uncle Brain. We miss you!

These Truths I Hold To Be Self Evident....

@ Three Months

 16 lbs. 4 oz.

25 3/4 inches long

Blessing Emily

On July 18, 2010, we blessed Emily. Here are some of the things she was blessed with: to be optimistic, to be a good sister and daughter, to be a missionary in her life, and to marry in the Temple.

We were so fortunate to have all but a few of our family members here for the occasion. We missed those who couldn't make it out, but had a great time. We are especially grateful to the aunts who stayed home to watch the cousins so the uncles could come out to visit.

Allen, Emily, and Traci

Papa Riddle, Traci, Addie, Lexi, Emily, Allen and Grandma Riddle

 Lexi, Opa, Traci, Addie, Emmy and Allen

Uncle Brian, Traci, Addie, Lexi, Emmy, Allen and Aunt Marti

Uncle Brent, Opa, Allen with Emmy, Papa, Uncle Brian and Uncle Craig

The Newest Fab Five:

Addie, Traci, Lexi, Emmy and Allen

(thanks to Gma Riddle for all of the pictures)

"It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder, and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge."

- Phyllis Diller

Who...Are...Youuuuu?

So, a friend of mine recently mentioned she had a sitemeter on her blog. A what? I checked it out. I got one. And, I check it. It tells me lots of neato details, but nothing too specific. Like the location of the person visiting (they even list in it longitude and latitude in case, what, I'm sailing?), operating sytem used by person visiting (like that even matters, but whateva) and how long people are chilling at Riddle Me This.

And now I'm a little curious. Who's out there? Who's checking in? Who are you? The numbers are not huge, by any means. But, this whole phenomenon has peaked my curiosity. Allen says I shouldn't say anything because it's going to scare my good readers away. I say, Nay!, they will still read. They just won't say anything; even after reading this post (especially after reading this post). Our relationship doesn't have to change; I promise.

'Cause I'm a serious blurker myself. I read a few blogs regularly (ok, so I check them everyday. so what?) and have never left a comment or any other telling sign that I've been there. I like it that way.

But, if you do stop by and feel so inclined, leave a little token of your time spent.

Of course, if you're like me, you'll just read this and never say anything.

But you'll be back tomorrow.

Fun With Daddy

Allen showing off his mad skillz with Emily. He especially likes to do this in the church hallways while the Grandmas look on in horror.

Where We're At: Emmy 2 Months

It's been a little bit of a roller coaster, that's for sure. You know, when I was preggers with Emily, I got a pretty good feeling about her little personality. She would be gentle and kind, but strong. She would be a good toddler, for the most part. She would be a little needy. A LITTLE. Boy howdy, has that ever been true.

We were prepared for reflux and allergies and all of the awful side effects that go with it. But, this whole colic thing has been terrible. Just when you think you have it all figured out...someone throws a big wrench in the system, huh? I will say, her days have gotten a lot better. She greets us with a smile and is very content to sit in the bouncer or lay on the couch or hang out in the bumbo for the most part.

Emily has developed some symptoms of Sandifer's Sydrome. When eating, she arches her back to the point that she looks like a horseshoe. She also must eat with her head turned completely to the left and hanging almost upside down. Sandifer's is found in kids who have reflux and display physical posturing that helps to alleviate the pain. What it means, essentially, is that the reflux isn't really managed. Seizure like activity is often present, too. We will likely get a Ph test on her stomach acid to see if the medication is helping. I spoke with the co-creator of Zegerid who suggesting concentrating the medicene to help manage her reflux, too. Once the reflux is managed, the Sandifer's symptoms go away.

Here's a little info on Emmy at 2 months:

*Loves to be outside

 *Has rolled over from tummy to back 4 times

*Coos and talks to us all of the time

*Thrives on the attention of her older sisters - especially Addie who showers her with kisses at least 23489729 times a day.

*Total cuddle bug

*Most days only sleeps 20 minutes at a time. The only way to keep her down is to actively bounce her in the bouncey seat. NO the vibration thingy doesn't work. That does mean we do a lot of reading and watching shows together since a tired Emily = misery for the whole family and I'm glued to the couch or floor perpetually rocking the baby.

*Has night time worked out ok. She is still awake from 7-9 in the evening, but isn't as fussy as before.

*Loves the bath

*Sucks on her fingers a lot

*Doesn't need thickened feeds anymore!

*Weighs 15 lbs. 5 oz. 

*Wears 6 month clothes

The Yard: 2010

 

Apricot tree (planted Fall 2010, grasses Spring 2009)

 

Pear tree (planted Fall 2009)

Marigolds (planted Spring 2010)

Corn, peas, green beans, and lettuce (planted Spring 2010)

Apple, plum, apple and peach trees (planted Fall 2009)

Grape (planted Spring 2010)

Ash tree (planted Spring 2010)

 Pumpkin (planted Spring 2010)

Zucchini (planted Spring 2010)

Grass and trees looking from North side by the Ash.