Wednesday Loves

I have been telling myself to go blog all night.  Well, I'm finally getting around to doing it.  I have a few things I'm loving this week...

The book I'm reading is Just Jane.  It is set back during the beginning of the Revolutionary War... historical fiction.  I actually wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I LOVE it!  I am wondering if George Washington and his troops will make it through the harsh winter (I actually know how that goes, but whatever.), and at the same time, Jane's love life keeps me on my toes.  Great book!

I love love love Special K fruit crisps!!  I can't even tell you how delicious these little things are.  The only thing I hate... you only get five packages in a box.  10 boxes please!!!

When I was searching for suitable stocking stuffers for my sister at Christmastime, I came across these little Nutella & Go packs.  I got her a few and she raved about them.  I bought some for myself the other day and GEEZ they are good!  Not exactly on the lean side, but who cares?  Nutella is close enough to peanut butter that it can pass as a smooth, chocolatey protein!  And you get these scrumptious breadsticks to dip in the nutella... perfect!

Watching the Pioneer Woman's shows on the food network made me feel like I needed an enameled Dutch oven.  She does everything in it!  I knew I couldn't afford Le Creuset, so I went with the "just as good but much less expensive" Lodge version.  It is wonderful!  I love how it can go from stovetop to oven.  It's also very easy to clean.  It does weigh about the same as Madeley, but that doesn't really bother me!

 

 I came home to a very sweet surprise this afternoon.  It seems that Derrick went shopping at Walmart today and decided to buy something for me as well.  We have talked about me purchasing a new straightener, but I just haven't wanted to spend the money.  Well, Derrick surprised me with a great straightener.  I tested it out and I love it!  The Helen of Troy (circa 2000) has been replaced!  Thanks so much to my sweet husband for thinking of me!!  Love him!

 

 

And of course, I love my Madeley!!!!

 

Thanks for reading!!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Sweet Songs

Along with reading books, we've been singing lots of songs lately. Really, I've been singing the songs... in an attempt to calm Madeley down during a fit. While she was in the bathtub tonight, she didn't want to get washed. So I started singing "This Little Light of Mine." I've sang it to her before, but this time she paid more attention. She decided to do all the motions with me. Then she decided to get in on the singing. When it was just her and me, she was very into the song. I got her ready to perform for Derrick, and she did well. When we decided to record her, she froze. She has no future in front of the camera... but she's still so so cute!

(PLEASE excuse my singing!)

Just a cute pic...

Say cheese!




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Saturday, January 21, 2012

Technology

 I have read several articles lately on children and technology.  One of the articles discussed the time a toddler spends on an iPhone, iPod, or iPad.  I can see that this may be a problem.  Madeley sees me on my phone, and she wants it.  She has her own apps, and she's successful with them.  The same goes with the iPad.  I can walk out of the room... she sees her chance... and she takes it.  I come back and she's laid back in the recliner discovering all that the iPad can do.  I've seen her accidentally do something and thought to myself... I didn't know the iPad could do that.  While I still encourage her to play and read, I like the way the iPad exposes her to new ideas and knowledge.  I do think it is important to limit her time with the technology... I don't want it to take away from her growing imagination and playtime.  In a technology driven world, our kids are getting a huge head start though.

 

The other article I read was on television.  Once again, I see the issue.  This has been a battle for years though.  Parents have been trying to turn off the tv and push their kids outside ever since the things were invented.  Lately, Madeley enjoys laying on mine and Derrick's bed while watching her favorite shows.  I know the shows are educational.  I mean, we don't let her watch Spongebob or anything, but there is still an underlying problem.  I do not think Madeley is at risk of inactivity just yet, but tv-watching could become a bad habit... and eventually turn into inactivity.  Also, while she's watching tv, she isn't interacting with us.  Interaction helps increase her vocabulary and communication skills.  It is nice that she isn't holding my leg and whining while I'm cooking dinner though.  I probably shouldn't have admitted that.  I know someone that isn't going to let her child watch television until he's two.  This makes me feel bad.  I've been letting Madeley watch television since she was 7 weeks old... oops.  She's also been watching a portable DVD player in the car for an entire year... another oops.  But she's a terrible car rider.  I needed her to have a distraction!

 

I sort of despise reading these types of articles two years into my parenting career.  I can always set limitations, but I can't change the past.  I guess I can keep the television off when the next kid comes... and never touch my phone.  I could stand to put the phone down.  It is a big time waster/distraction.  I think kids learn bad habits from their parents, so I need to watch what I do.  I would much rather Madeley see me reading a book then playing on my phone!

 

How about you?  Is your kid addicted to tv or technology?

 

 

Monday, January 16, 2012

Learning

 Since our students were out today, our district decided it would be a great opportunity to develop the professionals with a little professional development.  You know, we all love those days.  They can either be really good or really bad.  We know within five minutes if we can happily stay all day or think about leaving all day.  I am happy to say that today was fantastic.  Not only did we laugh the entire time, but we learned the entire time as well.  What more could we ask for?  Donuts?  They were there too!  

Days like today remind me of how much I enjoy being taught.  And not just being taught, but being taught by enthusiastic educators that know how to engage learners... which was really what the whole day was about.  Engaging the learners.  This is a seemingly impossible task.  Sometimes I have no idea how to connect material to my students, and they don't care about my material if there isn't a connection.  What I've recently realized is that there were many classes in high school and college that I cared nothing about.  I did what it took to make the A, but I just didn't care past that.  Well now that I am an adult, and I make connections to history, English, and science all the time, I am just dying to learn more.  I'm dying to learn more about the courses I cared nothing about before.  I beg Derrick to talk about the Revolutionary War with me, when I daydreamed in history before.  I read books that were assigned to me in high school, when I just chose to read the Cliff's Notes before.  I discuss leaf collection projects with my students, wishing I could search for my very own leaves and acorns. (Dorky, I know.)  The truth is this... I am a mature learner now, and I just wasn't before.  When teachers were feeding me information, I wasn't taking it.  Now, I love learning more than ever, but I'm the one that has to do the teaching.  I'm the one staring into blank faces wishing I could make a connection.  Some connection.

The other day, a student said to me, "You know we would learn better if you paid us to be here."  Oh really? A free education and good grades aren't enough incentive to "learn better?"  I'm lost here.  These kids actually think we should pay them??  I have got to figure out a way to connect the amazing material I learned today to the kids that want to be paid to learn.  You know the only people that get paid to go to school are a select few amazing athletes... and even that is illegal.  I learned that on an ESPN special about SMU back in the 80s.  So sorry to let my students down, but I will not be paying them.  I will be teaching my heart out though.  I think every teacher dreams of making a positive impact, and I'm no different.

I hope today's consultant know's how impressive and successful he was.  What a great day!!

 

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Trying Twos

We have entered into a very significant phase... terrible twos.  But I never ever want to call Madeley terrible, so I'm going to re-name the phase trying twos.  These are some trying times in my life, so the name is very appropriate.  I think I need to share a few tidbits of the last week with you.

Dad pretty much let's Madeley do whatever she wants... even if that means rolling the inside of the house.

I told her to smile, and of course she struck a pose.  Can you guess who got to clean up this mess?

I thought we could start potty training soon, but I'm beginning to think otherwise.  About a month ago, Madeley used the big potty twice.  She's also used the potty some at preschool.  I just wanted to ATTEMPT this big transition.  Think again Morgan.  Madeley shows very few signs that she is ready for potty training, which means I'm really just pushing her into it.  Everything I have read says not to push them.  Madeley will still experience some slow downs because she was premature.  It could be that the muscles that help her wait to potty aren't ready yet either.  I will be patient.  But... I'm sure you will enjoy a few potty stories.

The other night, we were at Dad's and I was on the phone with Jessica.  We were talking about potty training and she said, "Brian and I used to put Caroline's potty chair in front of the tv.  That way, she could play around it, sit on it, and get used to it.  Have you tried that yet?"

I said no, and she told me to move the chair to the living room.  I did, but it wasn't five minutes until Madeley decided she didn't like it.  She picked that chair up and took it right back to the bathroom where it belongs...

This may not be perfect blogging material, but if I'm going to share my life, I have to share this... pooping stories.  Madeley has been pooping in the bath tub a lot lately and it really ranks in the OCDAST category of my life.  I freak out every single time.  She probably has no idea what's going on, so I have a hard time getting on to her for it.  I just try to release my frustration by frantically scrubbing the tub.  

Last night, I was still thinking about potty training, so Madeley and I spent about twenty minutes in the bathroom with no diaper.  I thought she would eventually HAVE to use the bathroom.  At one point, she picked up the potty and moved it closer to the door.  She started to back up like she wanted to sit down on it.  I went to pick her up to sit her on the toilet.  At that second, and it only took a second, she pooped a lot... less than 2 inches from the potty.  I thought, oh man!!!  I guess I was happy she tried.  It wasn't the perfect situation, but it was better than the bath tub full of water.

Today, I fed Madeley oatmeal for breakfast, just like I do every Saturday morning.  After getting her situated, I walked out of the room for just a minute.  When I came back, I found this...

Notice that the oatmeal is EVERYWHERE.  OCDAST... oatmeal mess.  I took her straight to the bath tub so I could adequately clean her.  Guess what happened in the tub... poop.  This was all before 9:30 am.  Happy Saturday!  I think I may lose my mind!!   

I do love my Madeley though... through messes and fits and poops.  She's my baby!

Thanks for reading... I'm going to relax for just a minute while she naps.

 

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Tough Stuff

I have thought all day about blogging.  What should I talk about?  What do I have to say today?  Do I have anything important to say?  Anything funny to say?  To be honest, blogging is like writing an ongoing book.  It takes time, thought, courage, and willingness for each post to come out like I want it to.  I like to blog about my day, but nothing crazy happened today... except for a few emotional breakdowns.  And Madeley cried a few times too. :)

Why the emotional breakdowns?  I think Derrick's and my marriage is a roller coaster.  As a couple, we are great.  But drop us into a few major life changes, and all of a sudden we are in a whirlwind of despair.  It may just be me, he usually seems very stable.  A friend texted me a few days ago and said, "Your marriage is going to be so strong."  Well, I sure hope so.  I do know that God has chosen us to go through each circumstance to teach us something.  Although each time, I never really know what he's teaching us.  So I always get a little frustrated.  Lately, I've tried to focus on the best part of losing a mother and mother-in-law.  They are in heaven.  I listened to an online sermon today over 2 Corinthians 5... a wonderful passage.  We all know death is unavoidable.  As Christians, we are happy for each day God gives us, but still anxiously awaiting the day we meet him.  Anxiously awaiting the day we are reunited with the people we love.  Anxiously awaiting the day we step out of a sinful world and into a perfect one.  The first verse of the passage says, "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we will have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."  This is a promise of heaven.  The perfect place that is waiting... where there is no pain, no sin, no struggle.  

When I spoke at my mother's funeral, I quoted a line from The Little Mermaid.  As King Triton watched his daughter leave to be with Eric, he knew she would be happy forever.  But he said to Sebastian, "Well, I guess there's one problem left... How much I'm going to miss her."

That's how I feel right now, and I'm sure Derrick feels the same way.  I can't be mad that our mom's are gone to live in the perfect splendor of the Lord, I just miss them.

I am so sorry to be such a downer, but I have to deal with grief somehow, and this seems to be my outlet.  I got depressed after my mom was gone and I know it was because I wasn't opening myself up to others... and God.  Well, I plan to be an open book now.  And I must say thanks to my Dad for cooking me an amazing dinner.  He does a good job taking care of me!

Thanks for reading.  I'll be happier tomorrow.

Friday, January 6, 2012

What I'm loving

I should SO be sleeping, but it's been bugging me that I didn't tell you what I was loving yesterday.  I've missed several "What I'm loving Wednesdays" and I just feel like I need to get with it!!  So even though it is Thursday night (almost Friday morning), here's what I'm loving...

I love love love my new Clarisonic skin cleaning system.  Not sure why it's called a "system" because it's a brush, but it is an AMAZING brush.  My dad got Jessica and I one for Christmas.  I had never heard of it before... Jessica assured me that I would love it.  And I do!  I do!  The brush spins 300 times a second.  You read that right, 300 times in a second!!  Crazy fast brush... making my skin soft, smooth, and just plain wonderful.  I know my dad reads this blog, so... Thanks Dad for the amazing gift!!!

I have been using a Chi blow dryer for about 3 or 4 years now.  I remember that I received my first one in the parking lot of Canyon Grill, for my birthday.  That one died, and I was able to use the warranty to get a new one.  I used to think these blow dryers hung the moon.  Blow drying my hair into a silky smooth healthy mane.  Well, the one I have now started to slow down a few weeks ago.  Blowing slower and slower and slower.  I swear it took 45 minutes to completely blow dry my mop.  It finally gave up Tuesday morning.  I actually ended up meeting Derrick for lunch with wet hair.  After lunch, I went over to Target and forced myself to purchase a cheap replacement.  And thank the Lord I did!!!  My new Conair Ion Shine ($21) is the best thing since I discovered straighteners!!!  It's lightweight (I'm a wimp) and blow dries my hair in less than 7 minutes.  I timed it.  And I get silkier healthier hair than I did with the Chi.  I was even on time to work today with straight hair!!

This next love may make you cringe... just beware.  When my mom got me a Chi straightener, I was completely surprised.  They had just come out, several years ago, and I was shocked she spent the money.  I loved the straightener and used it every day.  In the meantime, she started thinking that maybe she needed to be straightening her hair as well.  She had really short hair and I tried to explain to her that it was quite unnecessary for her to straighten, but she didn't listen.  She didn't want to purchase herself a Chi, so she bought a Walmart one.  Not necessarily as great of a purchase as the blow dryer I just bought.  Actually, her straightener wasn't worth jack.  So she kind of forgot about it for a little bit... Until one day, when she came home with the Helen of Troy straightener.  Now, if you know your straighteners, you know this is a Sally's step-down from a Chi, but it can work.  The bad part is that she got it from the lost and found at school.  Icky!!  "Mom, are you really going to use that?!?!"  Even after my attempt to convince her of the possible lice, she proceeded to use it. (I guess lice can't really live on hot metal, but still.)  Of course, it was a wide straightener, so it did nothing to help her style.  It ended up in a drawer.  Now jump to present day... my wonderful Chi straightener died at the beginning of the summer.  Since we didn't have the funds to run out and replace it, guess where I ended up... my mom's old bathroom looking for the Helen of Troy!  I figure after several years, anything left from the unknown previous owner is gone now.  This straightener is safe to use, right?  And I love it that I'm eating my words after telling my mom never to use that thing.  Lesson... even the cheap stuff works good, and so does the stuff stolen from lost and found!!

I love my new boots!  They are just the right color to go with anything.  Watch out, I'll probably wear them everywhere I go for the next two months or longer!!

I'm loving that Derrick let me off the hook tonight.  We picked up pizza and then I laid down on the couch.  I quickly fell asleep, rough day back, and he took care of Madeley.  It was so nice to rest, but I was happy to wake up just in time to read her a book and tuck her in bed.  

So tonight, I'm loving my sweet little family with all my heart!  Thanks Derrick for being great!!

And thank you for reading!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Unquestionable Character

I am working through a devotional series called Unquestionable Character.  It's actually found within a Bible app on my iPhone/iPad, which makes it very accessible.  So if you have one of those two devices, you should look into that app.  There are several different devotional series and surely one to fit you!

Anyway... Unquestionable Character... tough subject.  Character is one of the most important aspects of being a true Christian, in my opinion.  I remember a Tommy Nelson study we did in my singles group called A Life Well Lived.  It was an eye opener for me.  First of all, Tommy Nelson is a magnificent teacher.  I always related well to his sermons.  When he spoke about character, and what God wanted for us as Christians, it just stirred up the Holy Spirit inside me.  It gave me a strong desire to seek the character God wanted me to have.  You know, be the Christian behind closed doors that you are in public and at church.  I know there are few out there that actually have this quality.  But that doesn't mean that we can't all work toward it.

What caught my eye today was this passage...

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Wow.  Doesn't that sound a lot like today's world.  People immediately start popping in my mind when I read that list... which is so judgmental and sinful of me... I need to remember that that list could easily be describing me!! We are all sinful, and we can all find ourselves somewhere in that verse.  If we work toward the unquestionalable character God would have for us, we will find ourselves further and further from that list.  

The most interesting part to me is the last verse.  Have nothing to do with such people.  As Christians, we know surrounding ourselves with people that are satisfied in their sin will cause us to fall into sin as well.  There is a big difference in reaching out to non-Christians and dwelling with non-Christians.  In that last verse, Paul is warning us about the dangers of dwelling with people that will pull us into sin.  As I think about this, it reminds me so much of lessons and sermons I heard when I was in high school and college.  Those were the days that we were essentially picking and choosing friends.  Now it doesn't seem like such an issue... sometimes I feel like I have like 5 friends, and they're all Christians.  But the truth is, I have friends that are strong Christians, and are willing to pull me up and ask me the tough questions.  "Why haven't you been to church?"  "Have you prayed about it?"  Sometimes I'm not even that friend... maybe I'm never that friend.  But I want to be.  And those are the ones to surround ourselves with.

Sorry to get preachy, but sometimes Bible passages make me feel like the end of the world could be tomorrow... or this year (ha ha Myans).  I know the Bible says, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even  the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."  Heck, if Jesus doesn't even know when the world will end, you KNOW the Myans don't know!!  But still, it does look a lot like the end of times when we look around, so we better get our stuff together.

....................................................

Let's talk a little bit about those resolutions... I drank a Dr. Pepper last night.  I totally talked myself into it because I was sick all day.  I thought my wimpy body deserved it.  (Broken resolution #1, if you count Dr. Pepper in the "coke" category.)

It's day 3 of the new year and I have yet to perform any physical activity past getting up a million times to blow my nose (why don't I just move the toilet paper closer to me? I do not know.).  But I am going to the mall today, so let's just say I plan on mall walking from one end to the other. (No exercise counts as broken resolution #2.)

I did half way clean part of the house yesterday.  Ha ha, half-way-part-of sounds like I didn't clean a darn thing, but I'm going to say I cleaned!

After reading this blog, I think you can tell that I'm attempting to work on resolution #5.

As for being a "fun mom"... you'll have to ask Madeley.  But, I did read a lot of books yesterday, which is all she really wants anyway.

.......................................................

And I would just LOVE to trash talk The Bachelor with you, but I don't think it really follows with the theme of this blog post, ha ha.  I will say this though... he kept Jenna.  Whew, what was he thinking???

Thanks for reading!!!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Resolutions

Well, I guess I'll make some New Year's resolutions.  I don't usually do this, but I also didn't used to have blog readers to keep me accountable. :)

I'm going to start with the light-hearted ones...

1.  Stop drinking cokes, no wait... why would I do that to myself?  It seems so unfair and impossible.  There is literally an argument going on inside me as we speak.  "You do not need to drink a coke every day.  You need to stop drinking them altogether." ... "But I LOVE COKES!!  I think I need them to survive!"

Since I don't really want to pack on the pounds, and I do not want to drink diet cokes, then the logical choice is to cut back.  No pick-me-up cokes at 3:30 every day.  But I will just have to make a few exceptions... for my sanity.

Times it is okay to drink a coke:

• When someone hands me a coke because they can see IT in my eyes. (IT being my need for a coke)
• When I eat pizza or mexican.
• When a glass bottle coke is available within a 5 mile radius.

So that may not leave many no-coke days, but the idea is to cut back, right?  I LOVE COCA-COLA!!!

2.  Exercise, or something like it.  Move my body.  You know, get up more frequently than normal.  I am so not the exerciser type.  There was one summer that I ran, but I had an amazing coach.  I don't know where she is now.  And Audra (great runner) just calls me to walk.  I see how it is.  She thinks I can't run.  Well, I've got news for her... I got new shoes!!  Look out!  I'm going to exercise... or something like it.

3.  Keep my house tidy.  This is a huge chore, but I think I'm up for it.  I decided about 4 months ago that I would do better with laundry, and I have.  I'm not great, just better, but I made a plan and stuck to it.  I can do the same with the whole house.  I can be a clean freak.  I can be a clean freak.  I can be a clean freak.  I am going to stop typing this, but keep saying it in my head and hope it works.

4.  Make more "fun mom" plans with Madeley.  My friend Tara is great at this, and she is a wonderful influence on me.  The bottom line is this... I don't want to look back and remember playing on an iPhone/iPad instead of playing with my daughter.  It's just not right.  We all know that, but it is so easy to get caught up in technology.  I won't do it.  Madeley is actually just getting to a good age for me to make plans and do things.  I look forward to the fun times we'll have together.

5.  This may be at the bottom of the list, but that doesn't mean that it is the bottom of my list of priorities.  I need to strengthen my relationship with God.  I look around and think... Where did it go?  My relationship with the Lord hasn't been the same since my mom passed away.  I pray I wasn't holding a grudge against God, because I want to understand Him better than that.  But I really think I have been changing a lot.  And things in your life just don't stay the same when you're changing.  I know He understands, and I know we will work it out.  I'm just officially putting it on the list.  That means more prayer, more study, more quiet time, and more church.  My church seems so foreign to me right now.  There have been many changes, and I have been so removed that it doesn't seem like home anymore.  But I know that everyone there loves me and my family, so it won't be hard to find our place again.  

Well, that's it!  That's my list.  It probably looks like 99% of the rest of the world's, but that's okay.  It means a lot to me.  What's on your list?

For my non-Facebook friends and family.  Here are my favorite pictures of Madeley from this week...

Sweetest smile ever!

Book worm...

Happy New Year!!!!

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About Me

Morgan

Living life in a small town as a wife, mother, and teacher.

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