Hayden is very interested about when Rebecca and Rachel will have babies. I have tried to convince him it will not be for a long time (I’m hoping around 20 years here), but he still brings it up from time to time.
Both girls do love to play with baby dolls and stuffed animals. My in-laws just gave Rachel a stuffed caterpillar that’s a miniature version of her lovey, “Callie” (they didn’t actually know about Callie). We call the little one “Baby Callie,” because we’re imaginative like that.
But today, before and after her nap, Rachel has adopted a new favorite:
Yes, a book. But what book?
Oookay. She also bawled for twenty minutes when Rebecca took it from her (and started screaming when I took it to turn it around). I think she hadn’t quite gotten through it yet. But she does like the sound of flipping the pages.
Ryan got a subscription to Fitness magazine, thinking with a name like “Fitness” it would be for both genders. Of course, it’s really not. (I don’t know; are the pictures of half- and quarter-dressed women supposed to appeal to women? I know I don’t work out in underwear.)
I like to read it, though, especially after I saw this blurb on a study from Perspectives on Psychological Science in the October 2011 issue of Fitness (p 105; emphasis mine):
Women reported experiencing worse moods after reading an article touting the importance of joy and then immediately taking part in a fun activity. “Setting higher expectations for happiness can actually lead you to feel less happy,” says study coauthor Jane Gruber, Ph.D. . . . To avoid that buzzkill, pause to savor little feel-good moments. . . . “Enjoying the activities themselves, rather than because you think they are going to make you happy, is key,” Gruber says.
What do you think? What are your “little feel-good moments”? (You can see one of mine at right!)
I took all three kids to the dentist last week. It was a little more traumatic than their first visits, though they all handled the brushing well and in general were good.
Their dentist is very good: gentle, considerate of their feelings, trying very hard to make visiting the dentist a positive experience. He also seems to be conservative and cautious when it comes to their teeth. Rebecca had a slight weak spot between her two front teeth at our last visit, and we made a note to take another X-ray this time to check on it.
In the mean time, we’ve been careful about brushing. We were really good at flossing for a while, and picked the habit back up a month ago. We got a kids’ electric toothbrush (like this, but with the Little Mermaid). We’ve tried to give her xylitol gum and mints. (Especially since we get all the mis-packaged product we can handle.)
This time, they the follow-up X-ray. The dentist looked at it and proclaimed her teeth sound. Then he turned to me and said something that stunned me:
“Mom’s making a difference.”
(I’m telling you, this guy knows how to keep patients for life!)
Where’s the most unexpected place you’ve found a moment of fulfillment?
Halloween is coming up and we love to dress up as a family (since the kids are still young enough to agree!). We haven’t settled on this year’s costume, so I’m coming up with as many ideas as possible. We always make our own costumes (and I’ve included pictures of every year here) in a family theme. Please note that I’m not saying that I think these ideas are good/creative/funny, nor that you should buy these costumes; they’re just everything I found. Also note: the links below are Amazon affiliate links; I earn a small percentage of any purchase you might make after following the links. (Thanks!)
Most of these use “babies” to mean toddler or infant, and “kids” to mean grade schoolers (since, let’s face it, how many teens do family-themed costumes?).
Daddies: Lawrence Fletcher (white polo with red cuffs & hem and green shield/pocket on chest, blue pants or jeans, glasses), Dr. Doofenshmirtz (black turtleneck, gray pants, lab coat, large “inator” [water gun]), Major Monogram (olive drab with purple MM monogram) Mommies: Linda Flynn-Fletcher (white collared shirt, yellow sweater vest, green capris, red hair) (or Lindana: pink tube top, gold hoop earrings, jean jacket, green hairbow with pink polkadots, TOY belt buckle, green miniskirt, grey tights, pink? leggings), Candace (coral shirt, white skirt with red ribbon/belt, coral socks, white shoes, orange hair) Sons: Phineas (orange and white striped shirt, blue shorts, red hair), Ferb (white shirt, high-waisted purple shorts with gray ribbon/belt, green hair), Buford (black skull shirt, olive drab shorts, wallet chain), Baljeet (white shirt, jean shortalls) Daughters: Candace, Isabella (white shirt, pink jumper dress, pink hairbow) Babies: Perry the Platypus (Agent P) (green onesie, green tights, tail, bill, flippers and fedora)
Daddies: Dave Mommies: Chipmunk, Chipette, Beatrice Miller (Chipettes’ “mom”) Sons: Alvin the Chipmunk (or Simon or Theodore) Daughters: Chipettes or Chipmunks Babies: Chipmunk/Chipette
Daddies: Steve, Blue, Mr. Salt Mommies: Magenta, Periwinkle, Mrs. Pepper Sons: Blue, Green Puppy, Steve Daughters: Blue (she’s a girl, you know), Magenta, Periwinkle Babies: Green puppy, Blue (crawling/walking or in arms), Cinnamon, Paprika
Daddies: Willy Wonka (hat), Mr. Bucket, Grandpa Joe Mommies: Grandma Josephine, Mrs. Bucket, any of the mothers or girls Sons: Charlie, Oompa Loompa (Green wig or black wig) Daughters: Violet, Veruca, Oompa Loompa Babies: Oompa Loompa
Possibly for three children or a family of three: butcher (make your own unless you’re going for terrifying), baker kids or adults, candlestick maker (ummm . . . ?)
Men: Mr. Body (Dr. Black outside of North America), Col. Mustard, Mr./Rev. Green, Professor Plum Women: Mrs. White, Miss Scarlet(t), Mrs. Peacock Kids: as above, dice, murder weapons
I was a little surprised at the response to Monday’s post about trying to enjoy this season (of trying Sundays). Apparently most of us are struggling with this, no matter what our season in particular is.
But since so many of us seem to be struggling with Sundays with small children in particular, here are the suggestions from the comments:
“I get brief moments of respite by singing primary songs with my kids.” —Lindsey
“My only way to feel better about the whole situation is to remind myself that I am setting an example of church attendance for my kids. We go to church on Sundays (whether we like it or not).” (That, and move.) —Shannon
“I promise you’ll get through it and even one day — many, many years from now — you’ll find it comical as well. . . . I know the big lesson here is probably that I just need to sit with not having what I want and learn to want what I have.” —Erin
“if you can laugh at it, you can live with it.” —Elisa
“It does help, of course when I have everything [for Sundays] prepared ahead of time” —Shannon (a different one)
“Here is a really simple thing for sacrament meeting that my cousin made: http://aggiepains.blogspot.com/2011/07/take-two.html
“My little ones love to play with these laminated pictures of family members. They put them in books and play peek-a-boo with them or have them dance around or other such things: http://www.virtute.org/my-latest-little-project/”—Kathleen
Maybe most helpful, though, was something I came across in a Christian romance novel I was reading today, Love Remains by Kaye Dacus. The main character is faced with a bunch of challenges at once (aren’t we all??) and offers this prayer during church:
All right, Lord. I give up. I can’t handle any of this on my own. That’s clear. You seem to be throwing a lot of stuff at me right now, and I’m guessing You’re once again trying to teach me that the only way I’ll get through it is to depend on You. So forgive me when I fail to trust You and turn everything over to You. Because we both know I will. Please, strengthen my faith so I can make it through these trials. (p 142)
Any other suggestions on how to love the season of life you’re in? (Especially Sundays with small squirmy children?)
