Taygen, I just brought you home from the hospital after carrying you in my tummy. You were safe and warm inside my tummy. I was just rocking you in your rocker and reading to you before I laid you in your crib. You just learned how to walk. I was just sitting on your bed reading you a bedtime book while you sat on my lap and were repeating the words after me. Now, you are such a big girl and can ready by yourself. Now, I let you read to me while I lay on your bed. We sing bedtime songs while I lay in your bed. We talk about your day and have our own girls days. You've already had your first sleep over at a friend's house. You don't like boys because you think some of them are too mean. Not all boys are mean and I hope you meet the nicest boy ever! Sometimes, you let me hold you and rock you still, but other times you want to be left alone. Sometimes, I miss the days where I can just pick you up, hold you all day and you will fall asleep in my arms. You are growing up to be such a smart, sweet, stubborn, funny, strong willed little lady. I like that you are strong willed because you will not take crap from anyone, not even your mom or dad. ;) Taygen, stay the way you are and never change. You are 6 years old and graduating kindergarten. You are my youngest and I am so proud of you. I know how much you love school and you make your teachers so proud. You are making so many friends in school and you are not afraid to make new friends. I remember when you told me that there was going to be a new girl in your class and you were arguing (like little kids do) with some of the other girls in your class about who was going to sit by her, who was going to show her around the classroom and who was going to take her to the bathroom. You always make everyone feel welcome and love helping people out. When you grow up you want to be a veterinarian. You love making animals (and people) feel better. You make mommy and daddy so proud of you. You accomplish more than I have ever imagined you would. You are so smart and teach other kids your age something new everyday. I can't wait to see what the rest of the years bring you. I love you, Taygen! Love, Mommy and daddy
Aden,
Hey, little man. Yes, I called you little. You will always be little to me. You will always be my little man, no matter how old you get.
Oh, Aden. You are going to kindergarten. I'm going to miss you during the day. You are going to miss our lunch dates with Taygen. I'm going to miss our reading dates.
You are getting so big. It's hard to believe you are going to kindergarten already. I'm not going to have my little man of the house any more when daddy is at work. Taygen is going to miss her little partner in crime.
I hope you will be okay in school. I will be worried about you. I have been able to keep you safe at home with me, but you are going out into the big world where some kids are just not nice. Some kids are very nice and I hope you find those kids. I hope the teachers are nice to you. I hope they are patient with you. I told your teacher about your stutter and that she should be patient with you. I hope she is. Slow down when you talk, look the teachers in the eye and you will be ok. I hope the kids are nice and patient with you when you can't get your words out. I hope they don't laugh at you. I hope they understand. I hope you make a lot of friends. I hope the kids are nice to you. I worry about you. You are a follower and I'm afraid that you will follow the wrong kinds of kids. You know the difference between right and wrong. You are also a sweet little boy who will take care of all the girls. :) I hope you are nice to the kids. I know you will be, but when someone isn't nice to you, you fight back. I hope you walk away when someone is mean to you. You are a really neat, polite, wonderful, handsome little man and I think all the kids will really like you.
Here's a little poem for you..
You might get lonely, but just remember the kiss that I gave you on your cheek (I know, ewww mom!) and then you can think of me all day. Just like the 'Kissing Hand' book.
I love you, little man. Hope you have a good day.
Here is a passage and a prayer for you to get you through your first day of school and all the other days you might struggle with.
Dear God,
Please help Aden through out the day as he might struggle with reading, writing, meeting new friends. I hope his day is filled with joy and new beginnings. God, please keep him safe. Please help the teachers to understand his stuttering and please help the teachers be patient as he tries to talk to them.
Amen!
Small Wishes is a service that I created for Child Guidance Center. This service is for kids who do not get much for Christmas. It is like a Christmas gift tree where the kids write their names, ages and what they want/need for Christmas.
I created this service because my Sunday School kids needed a mission project to do over the Holidays and I thought of Child Guidance Center because I used to work there as a therapist and knew that they needed something like this. As the Director of my Sunday School at Southern Heights Presbyterian Church, I thought this would be a good idea for the kiddos. The kids will take these papers with their names, ages and gift idea, go buy their item and give it to them. I can't wait to see the look on all the kids' faces when they give/receive the gifts.
Child Guidance center is a place where children go to help with their mental health issues. The kids work with counselors and therapists with a daily extended day program designed for ages 5-11.
Taygen is 3 years old and in her first year of preschool.
This is Aden's second year of preschool. That means he will be going to kindergarten next Fall :(. He's getting to be such a big boy!
Keira started 1st grade a couple weeks ago! She really likes it. She does have homework every night, but she loves doing work.
- Make it easier on your self and do one room at a time
- Make a detailed list of what needs to be done in each room. It makes you feel less overwhelmed when you walk into that specific room.
- Break the cleaning down between 2 days
- Do the upstairs rooms (bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, etc.) the first day and the downstairs rooms (kitchen, living room, family room, etc.) the second day, or visa versa
- When working in the kitchen, wash all appliances (big and small) with soap and water
- Organize kitchen cupboards. Most people don't think about this. When most people think about organizing, they think of closets, so most people miss this step
- Wash all blinds and curtains
- Wash windows while you have the blinds and curtains down (a lot easier)
- Dust every crevasse
- Wash jackets/coats and hang them in your coat closet
- Clean out closets and put Winter/Fall clothes away or get rid of anything you don't use anymore
- Open the windows and just let the air in
- Wash your door mats or buy more Spring like colored mats
- While you are vacuuming your floors also vacuum your couch and chairs
- Put away all comforters and heavy blankets. Make sure you wash them before you store them
- If you have a curio cabinet or if you have shelves, update them with Spring colors and items
- I also rearrange my furniture in most of the rooms. When rearranging furniture make sure you do not put furniture in front of large windows. This lets you open your curtains, letting the natural light and fresh in.
When you read a book to your child, you think, "that looks so easy to write, why didn't I think of that?" Well, I did! I have written a Children's Book! I never thought I would say that! I have told Dan a couple times that I was going to write a book about being a stay-at-home-mom ( I still am, but later in the future!).
My book is called 'Silly Moon'. Keira Jade inspired me to do this book! We were coming home one night from the Y at about 5:30 p.m (it was still light out) and Keira looked out her window and saw the moon and said, "Silly Moon, what are you doing out during the day?" And I got to thinking about some words and later that night I sat down and wrote a 8 page book children's book.
Now, you watch the movies and think writing a book is so easy. I'm going to use Private Practice as an example... One of the characters had a horrible experience and writes a book about it. You see she has the manuscript and talks to people about publishing it, bam! The next show she has it published....NOPE, not that easy. Believe me!
I Googled publishers in Lincoln, Ne. and got a list of about 10. I picked out what I thought was the best 6. I called each of them the next day and told them what I was looking for and only one of them (because 5 of them are not publishing any more) gave any kind of advice, that was Infusionmedia Publishing, if anybody is looking for a great publisher!
I thought, hey, I can just call a publisher here in Lincoln, schedule a meeting, take my manuscript (drawings and everything) there sit down and talk about my book and by the next month it would be published. Not exactly....I finally got some answers from my infusionmedia publisher and she said that I needed a Literary Agent and before I met with them I had to have a proposal (which is a 1-2
page query about my book, myself, and what I want to do in the future with my book). This is
someone who does everything for you, finds an editor, illustrator, then finally finds a publisher and gets it published for you for 10-30 % of your profit that you make off the book. Or...I could do it myself for thousands of dollars and still get no where in the end. So, of course, I told her that I wanted an agent. She gave me advice to go to my local library and check out a book (buying the book would cost about $80) to look up children's book literary agents. I don't really have time to go to the library so I googled it. I didn't find much, I did find one in Lincoln, but of course they are not doing that anymore, just my luck!
So, with many hours of looking up agents and how to write a proposal for an agent, I was exhausted and feeling quit down about even getting a chance to get my book out there. Dan was sitting beside
me and he knew I was getting upset (sad not mad) he was playing with his iPad then showed me an
app to write my book on and get it out there on ebooks. I still get to write my book(s) and get it/them viewed without going through all the trouble of paying 3 or 4 different people to get my book published and probably not make any money off of it anyway. This way I can spend less than $50, get my book out there, and my book will be "Published" in my mind. Keira drew all my pictures.
Keira turns 6 in a week. I can't believe how much she is growing up.
Her height is in the 15th percentile at 43 1/8 inch. Her weight is 40.6 and is in the 25th percentile. Her BMI and blod pressure were good. She didn't have to have any shots.
We did get some bad news though. I talked to her doctor about the idea that Kik might have asthma. The doc said that there was no actual test for asthma that she had to use an inhaler. So, she has an inhaler that she has to use whenever she does any kind of physical activity.
She's doing really good in school. Had parent teacher conferences a couple months ago. Her teacher is really impressed with her 'age level reading.' Her teacher is using Keira as a tutor wherever needed, so she doesn't get bored with her daily work.
She as an eye dr. appointment with the specialist to see if her eye is any better on Tuesday.
Well, it's that time of year again....the Holidays. My favorite time of the year.
I have been super busy and haven't had the time to update every other day like I have wanted to. Just because I am a Stay at Home Mom does not mean I have all these extra hours that I can just sit down. Actually, as I type this, I am sitting at home with all 3 of my kids here in front of me asking me 50 million questions so, instead of it taking me 20 minutes to do this one post, it will take me an hour. I'm not a "working" mom who can sit in their office or sit over lunch break (where they have peace and quiet) and update my sites, nor do I want to be.
Anyway, just a little rambling before I get to the point.
This day is just like any other day. I am saying that because this is the one (and only) day that everyone says what they are thankful for....that should not be the case. We should consider what we are thankful for each and every day, not just a day that is set aside for family and friends to get together and chat about thankfulness. Just like Mother's Day, it's the only day that mothers are observed. There shouldn't be a specific day to tell your mother that you love her. You should let her know somehow every single day.
Okay, I think I'm done with the rambling... I think.
Here it goes... What I think about every day. I am thankful today as well as each and every day for...
You guessed it! My kids! As most of you know, I am a stay at home mom. It is a very stressful and rewarding job. I sometimes get jealous of my husband because he has sick time, vacation time, Holiday time, and personal days off of WORK. I consider what I do a job or work (what SAHM doesn't?). Where are is my sick time, vacation time, Holiday time or personal days off of my job?
Yes, I said stressful. Sometimes the kids don't listen, in fact, the cats listen better than they do sometimes ;) but I still wouldn't trade being a stay at home mom for anything. No, my kids aren't perfect like I would like them to be and try to raise them to be, but they are kids and there is plenty of time for them to be perfect later in life ;)
The kids are getting older and more independent. The girls are playing with each other more and more and Aden is starting to do more boy stuff ;)
Keira- Keira has grown up to be such a talented, smart young lady. She teaches me new stuff every day. She is a great influence on her brother and sister and keeps them in line most of the time ;)
Aden- Aden is such a handsome little man. He is so sweet and innocent. One time he burped. I said, "Did you burp, Aden?" He said, "I don't know, it came out of my mouth." Then he said, "what is it called when it comes out of my bottom." I said, "that is a toot." He loves to help his sisters when ever they need him.
Taygen- Taygen is a whole other story. She is only 2 1/2 (will be 3 in March), but has the mind of a 5 year old! She is too smart for her age. Some of the things she says, just makes me laugh. She's getting into playing by herself. She will go into Keira's room, shut the door and start playing pretend with her strawberry short cake and ponies (gotta get her some of that stuff for Christmas.)
They all have their good and bad moments, but I want to be the one that sees all those moments and for that I am also very thankful that I am able to be a SAHM.
I am also thankful for the hubby. He gives me the time that I need when I am having a bad day or just need to get away for a couple of hours. He is the one person that is there for me when my friends shit on me! He always know when I need my bubble baths ;)
Well, Aden had his 4th birthday on September 9th. He's such a big boy and has really matured into a fine young man in the last 6 months.
His height is 38 1/8 inches tall and in the 11th percentile. His weight is 32.4 and in the 19th percentile. His blood pressure was good.
He had to have four shots today. He is actually in a controlled research group for his shots. I could have chosen to give him all 4 shots separately or 3 shots with 2 of the shots in a single syringe (so he had to have 3 shots instead of 4.) I decided to do the 3 shots and put him into the research group. The problem is I have to keep a diary of his activities, any reactions, his temp. every day, if his arm swells or if there is any red marks or welts by the shot area. Even if he has no reactions to these meds, I still have to keep this diary. They will call me 8 days from the shots and see how he is doing. He has to go back in 4 weeks and they will check his diary and do another check of his body. They will keep this going for 6 months to see how the shots are reacting together in his body. He seems to be doing pretty good. He hasn't had any fevers or swelling. I was a little hesitant at first, like I'm going to just put my son in a research group that I have never heard of. His doctor, who I really trust, if I didn't trust her, my kids wouldn't have been going there for 5 years (since Keira was born.) said I would recommend it. I asked the nurse if there had any bad reactions to the drugs, she said no. I asked for the other diaries, unfortunately, those are private and not just anyone can see them. I then asked Aden's pedi to come back into the room and told her to give me all the facts and side affects again and she gave me some of the statistics. I felt pretty good about it. She knows how I feel about flu shots and she said this procedure was safer than the flu shots were!!!
I talked to the doc about Aden's stuttering and she said that is pretty common in children between the ages of 2-5. Which, I agree with because Keira had a stutter just like Aden and she out grew hers. I am not too worried about his little stutter. On the other hand, he does have to see a speech therapist. He talks great, he has good vocabulary, he just can't articulate the words correctly. His socks are cocks, not funny, he's just a boy and doesn't even know what that means. When he says talk or talking it's cocking. His L's sound like Y's. When he says alligator it sounds like ayyagator. When he says mask it sounds like macks. When he says I am, it's Im am. He doesn't separate the I and am part. That I am trying to work on him with. If we stop him and tell him s...o...ck...s then he can say it, but if he says it fast then he can't do it right.
He is doing great in school. We haven't had his parent/teacher conferences yet, but I will definitely do a post about that.
Taygen is 30 months today. It doesn't seem like she is only 2 1/2. She has learned so much in the last year.
Her height is 34 1/2 inches and in the 26th percentile, which is up from 23% at her 2 year appt. Her weight is 27.2 and is in the 34th percentile, which is also up from the 25th % that is was up 6 months ago.
She didn't have any shots today. Not really any concerns. Taygen has problems with skin irritation. First, she was diagnosed with eczema and has to take lotion antibiotics every day just to keep her from flaring up. Now, she has had a rash (not really rash, but bumps under her arm, into her arm pit and around to her left breast) her doctor said that it was "molluscum contagiosum." She said it was benine, but to keep watching it. Because if it goes up to her neck or face then they will have to have the bumps removed. It will take about 2-3 years for them to go away.
A letter to Aden on his first day of preschool.
A Letter to Keira on her first day of kindergarten-
I love you baby girl...I guess I can't call you baby girl anymore, huh? So, I will say, I love you big girl! I hope you have a good day at your first day of kindergarten.
Remember to use kind words and use your manners (Keira wouldn't want me to leave that out ;) ) I love you, big girl! Have a good day at school!
- Knows first name and phone number
- Knows parent's name and where they work
- Is able to put shoes on independently
- Is able to put on boots, coats, hat and mittens
- Is able to buckle belt and zip pants and jacket
- Ia able to button shirt or jacket
- Is able to draw a line and circle with some degree of accuracy
- Is able to count to 10
- Is able to recognize some alphabet letters
- Is able to identify colors
- Is beginning to develop large muscle coordination by being able to skip, hop, jump, and run with some degree of proficiency
- Has some experience with cutting, pasting, and coloring
- Is able to stay with a friend or babysitter for an extended period of time without becoming overly upset. Is able to play with others and realize the necessity of sharing and taking turns
- Is able to play with a given activity
- Takes pride in belongings by caring for them
- Is able to listen to a short story read by an adult and retell some of the happenings.
