Bumps and bruises: with walking comes falling!

Henry's been walking for about six weeks now and is getting better at it every day. It's amazed me how quickly he's gone from one or two tumbling steps to a scamper across the room. He's not running yet, but is getting close to that.

Of course, with walking comes falling. Over the past few weeks, Henry has had more falls, bumps, and bruises than in his entire life. He is definitely more steady on his feet than when he started, but he does not have the coordination to watch where he steps. He is looking up, not down, and trips easily over his toys and even furniture. And, from time to time he still just loses his balance or footing and comes toppling down. He's a tough boy and usually gets right back up. A number of his boo-boos showed up as a surprise to me because he never cried or complained after a tumble, even if he earned a bruise to show for it. There have been a time or two, though, where he falls hard, and needs us to kiss away the boo-boo. One even resulted in a big nasty black eye!

Henry with Uncle Mike - check out that shiner!

In the spirit of making every opportunity a learning experience, I'm working on teaching Henry a new word: "ouch." I am using these falls and resulting boo-boos to help him learn what it means when something hurts. I think it's an important concept because it can help me to communicate to him better if he's about to do something that will result in injury - to himself or others. If he's pulling a playmate's hair, I can say, "no, Henry, that's ouchy." If he's about to climb up on something unsteady, or touch something hot, I can warn him with a "Henry - no! Ouch!"

For a young toddler, a simple word-concept is a lot easier to teach and use than a more complicated one. It is also easier at this age to have an universal warning I can use in any potentially dangerous situation rather than attempting to show a 13-month old every possible place in the home they could get hurt. Chances are, they still won't understand even if you try. Once Henry understands "ouch" he'll be able to apply that idea to any situation - ones we're prepared for, and those we're not.

The Death of the Little Yellow Race Car

Let's have a moment of silence for the little yellow race car.

Yes, I'm afraid it's true. Henry's most beloved toy - which also makes it one of my proudest yard-sale treasures ever - has been laid to rest. You want the scoop? It's a tale of dirty little secrets that I am going to confess to you today. I'm ready to blow this story out of the water.

Last Thursday afternoon, I got Henry up from his nap, changed a massive dirty diaper, and fed him a snack. A completely innocuous and entirely routine chain of events. Or so I thought.

We'd been fighting a case of diaper rash that was threatening to get really nasty. Protocol is a temporary change in diet, lots of diaper cream, and plenty of time roaming around the house sans diaper. A naked hiney is a happy hiney. So, after his snack, I removed his diaper. It was standard operation.

We played for a few minutes in the playroom when the dryer buzzer blared, alerting me to change loads. I picked Henry up to come with me but he protested - LOUDLY - wanting to stay to play with his toys. I decided to let him stay for the five minutes it would take me to switch loads and fold clothes. I was aware of the risk that he might have a potty accident, but tee-tee is pretty easy to clean up, and he had just had a major poopy diaper not long before. The risk that there was even enough poop in him at that point to make any kind of mess seemed minimal.

That is where I was wrong.

I returned as quickly as possible - I estimate four and half or five minutes. That was all the time it took. Upon entering the room, I saw a poop trail four feet in length, clumps and streaks, leading to under our computer desk. I found him there under the desk, covered in poop, with a poop-smeared toy in each hand. The look on his face was bewilderment. I could see the thought-bubble above his head: "Mama - this chocolate icing tastes funny." *gag*

I flew over and picked him up, first trying to hold him out from me but quickly realizing it was of no use. It was already all over me, and he was now reaching and grabbing ahold of my hair and shirt. *gag* I carried him through the house to the bathroom laughing out loud because, well - what else could I do??

I deposited him in the bathtub, running the shower first to hose the poop off of him, then drawing a bath. We scrubbed in shallow water for a few minutes, drained then ran another bath for an extra rinse. When I had him dried and DIAPERED again, I headed for the playroom to assess the damage once again. I was feeling frantic because it was now almost time when I would expect Zac home, and I was now behind in getting supper ready. We had a church event that evening, and I was feeling stressed to get it all done in time.

I made it as far as the kitchen when I heard him. Zac had come home a little early, and was in the playroom. I stopped dead in my tracks. He said, "I see what happened." I told him I was in the process of cleaning up and that he could tend to Henry or he could clean up the playroom. I was 100% sure he'd come get Henry but to my surprise and delight, he opted to clean the playroom. What a prince!!! I got supper going and found my nerves again.

So, that's the poop story.

Wait - what about the little yellow race car, you ask?

Well, you remember that I said he had a poop-smeared toy in each hand? One of them was the little yellow race car. It was in baaaaaad shape. I began the tedious job of cleaning it after we returned from church that night. I worked on it for about twenty minutes before I decided it was a lost cause. There was poop in the wheel wells. Henry had taken it "muddin" in the trail of poop. When I announced I was going to throw it away, Zac came to take a look at it and attempted to take it completely apart. We couldn't get behind the wheels no matter how we tried. Maybe immersing in hot water, but then it likely wouldn't work after that anyway. We sadly bid it farewell. Henry lay sleeping in his bed, none the wiser. I hated the idea of his favorite toy being gone forever.

Well, that's how the end of the little yellow race car came about.

What - you want a happy ending?? Okay, I think I may have one for you:

I had gone to bed early that night, and when Zac finally turned in, he told me that he had searched and found another race car online, ordered it, and even paid the extra few dollars for expedited shipping! See, didn't I tell you? He's a PRINCE!!! Daddy saved the day! You'll notice it isn't exactly the same, but the original had been a yard sale find and probably a few years old.

This is the closest we could find. It arrived today, and the smile on Henry's face when Daddy opened the box was as big as Texas. He carried it around the house, putting it on things like couches, bookshelves, and chairs just like he used to. It made our hearts swell. That kid sure is something special - poop and all.

An unscheduled hiatus...

Well, well, well. Too bad the author of this blog has been too busy to bother informing any of her devoted readers (choke) why she's been M.I.A. or when she planned to return. Hmm! The nerve!

I'm truly sorry. A sort of life-changing thing has occurred and I'm almost ready to share with you all. I've been away from both of my blogs for the better part of two weeks now to a) keep myself from spilling the beans prematurely and b) because this life-changing thing has just kind of consumed me.

I have about three posts I'm crafting in my mind and am needing to get down in writing soon because between these posts and the life-changing-thing there isn't any more room in the limited capacity of my brain for simple things like breathing. I apologize in advance for the onslaught of information and updates to come.

I hate that I've missed my regular posts like my devotionals, Fertilizer Friday (on my other blog) and Make Your Home Sing Monday. And Henry's been busy so I have lots to report about him as well. I'm so behind and can't wait to get back in the swing of things. Oh, and this life-changing thing will certainly have its place here too. *wink*

Stand by for news.

Making Your Home Sing Monday

As promised last week, I've embarked in a study of Proverbs 31 in the hopes of refining my role as a wife, mother, and maker of my home according to God. I will make an installment of this study every week as a part of Nan's Monday meme, Making Your Home Sing at Momstheword. Be sure you link to her fabulous blog to read what she and other ladies are doing to bless their homes.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,
so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
-- Proverbs 31:11-12 (KJV)

Trust is an integral part of any marriage. How firm in the foundation of a relationship where trust is lacking? As I studied these verses, I began looking for the ways my husband trusts in me. What confidences does he have in me? In what ways is he counting on me? Am I giving him reason to trust in me?

I am 100% faithful to my husband and I do not give him reason to think otherwise. I do not talk to or spend time alone with other men without my husband's knowledge. This doesn't mean I am no longer allowed to speak to the male friends I had before my marriage - but rather that if and when I am in contact with them (which is limited anyway) I am sure to always tell my husband that I have spoken with them. I don't consider this to be the relinquishment of any rights - I do it out of respect to my husband and to our marriage. I expect the same of him. I believe the open dialogue adds to the trust we share. If there were secretive relationships - even of a strictly platonic nature - it would sure indicate a lack of trust between us.

My husband is working hard so that I can stay at home. This doesn't mean I don't have a job, as stay-at-home moms know. It just means my job has changed. It's a 24/7 gig with no vacation or sick days. Please don't consider this a complaint - I am so blessed to be in this position. There are days I need to be reminded that I have such a special job. My husband should be able to have confidence in my ability to do this job. He should feel confident that I'll prepare and serve meals every day, that I'll keep the house clean, that his work clothes will be washed when he needs them, and that our son is cared for, is learning, and is getting quality time every day. There should be no doubt that I'm raising our child(ren) according to our mutual beliefs and values. He should be able to trust that I'm spending our money in the ways we've agreed.

My husband deserves to know and be assured that I am not talking negatively behind his back, and that I am honoring him by presenting myself appropriately at all times. If I were to behave erratically, irresponsibly, or inappropriately, it would reflect poorly on him as well as on our church. My husband deserves my respect and I need to practice self-control to keep my anger and frustration at bay. I'll confess - this one is an area I really need to focus on! I need to be in prayer daily to ask God to help me keep my emotions in check. The Proverbs 31 wife will look for ways to lift up her husband - not put him down. She'll do thoughtful things for him; she'll consider him in all her decisions; she'll make him feel special, and acknowledge the things he does for her and the family. Whoa - there's a LOT I need to work on!

This week, I'll consciously work at being this Proverbs 31 wife to my husband. I hope to break bad habits and make better ones. He deserves it, and I know by modeling myself after this woman that God has laid before me in His Word, I'll be honoring Him - and He will bless us.

Daily Devotional

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah,
and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you,
Be not afriad nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude;
for the battle is not yours, but God's. -- 2 Chronicals 20:15 (KJV)

I'm familiar with feeling overwhelmed. I have had several jobs in my past that can lead to one experiencing this feeling, such as waiting tables, fighting a deadline for a publication, and being responsible for up to 22 young children - and their educational goals - at a time. It tempts me to want to shut down and back away from the stressful situation, but I'm not often afforded that option. The food gets cold, the deadline will be missed, or a child could slip through the cracks.

As a full time mommy now, I still have things to get stressed about. Laundry and other chores that get put off and then pile up; getting to appointments on time with a fussy toddler in tow; keeping up with a budget, etc. If I allow it, I could probably drum up stress in any situation - I seem to be a magnet for it.

Is this healthy for my family? Is it healthy for me? Should I bear the burden of stress so often that it hurts my spirit? NO! Would the visible stress on my face give a false testimony about my very satisfying and happy life? Would it possibly hurt my testimony about having faith in God? Could it even get in the way of my relationship with God? YES!

In the verse, we are reminded that no matter how daunting the task, we shouldn't be dismayed. In all things, we should lean on and look to God for strength and for the strategy to get through the "battle." Like any of our worries, we are told to lay them at His feet - He will get us through.

My Little Helper

Henry has reached a very clingy, very needy phase. Though I do love the extra snuggles I get out of it, it makes it challenging to get much done around the house. He won't let me work on many of my chores because essentially it means I'm not giving him 100% of my attention - of which he is very deserving, but results in a messier house and a frazzled mama. I won't be too torn up when he decides a little independence is a good thing again.

When in the kitchen, I have two lower cabinets with pull out drawers full of tupperware and other plastics that are kid-safe and fun to explore. Sometimes I can convince him to sit and play in these drawers long enough for me to wash a few dishes, prepare a meal, or put away groceries. Most of the time though he would rather follow me around the narrow galley-style kitchen, clinging to the back of my legs. ;)

I decided I might as well put him to work!


Isn't he the cutest little dishwasher you ever saw??

Daily Devotional

Say not thou, I will recompense evil;
but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
-- Proverbs 20:22 KJV

**In my devotional book, this verse was taken a little out of context I think, so I'm going to go two directions here: one way discussing the verse as the devotional took it, and secondly the way I believe it is intended within the context of this chapter in the Bible. They both speak of patience, but in very different ways.**

The devotional story talked about a scenario at a grocery store where a customer grew impatient with a slow-moving line and proceeded to make several hateful comments and complaints aloud. The author of this story struck my heart when she wrote that "impatience reveals a selfish and mean spirit while showing patience is really a simple act of kindness." What a basic and common sense concept! How often I too have felt impatient about a delayed expectation, sometimes even being transparent enough that others around me would notice my frustration. In the moment, you feel a little bit justified and satisfied to express these feelings so that whomever you're waiting on might move a little faster to suit you. I hope I can remember that keeping my impatience to myself - or better yet, not submitting to my human-nature at all - would be a simple show of kindness and a reflection of my Godly spirit that would honor Him and give Him glory.

I'm so glad that God is eternally patient. He NEVER tires of our shenanigans or our disobedience to the point that he'd walk away and give up on our salvation. He knows how sinful and wicked we are in our human-nature, and yet he pursues us and desires us to come to Him for redemption. He offers His gift of eternal life with no strings attached beyond a child-like faith in Christ, and with no take-backs. What a patient and loving God!

In the 20th chapter of Proverbs, Solomon gives warnings and instructions to God's people. In verse 22, I believe he issues warning to not look to oneself for salvation but to wait on God. We are all tarnished and imperfect, and only in God can we be made whole and clean. We shouldn't look for ways to justify our sins; when we repent from these sins, we will be redeemed by God's mercy. Salvation does not lie within ourselves or our own power - despite what "the world" would have you believe with all it's new-age and free-thinking movements. Wait and look to the Lord for redemption - "he shall save thee."

Making Your Home Sing Monday

Have you stopped by MomstheWord today??

I am a work-in-progress when it comes to being a Proverbs 31 wife and mother. That is to say, it takes a lot of work, and there hasn't been much progress. :) I am starting a series of 'Making Your Home Sing Mondays' based on this "virtuous woman... for her price is far above rubies." (Proverbs 31:10 KJV)

I know that God loves me unconditionally, and that though I have not in any way deserved it, I have been given the gift of His forgiveness. That alone is treasure enough and the only real gift anyone needs. And though I know that becoming this woman won't make Him love me more, knowing that it would enable me to show love more abundantly to my family is also a gift.

For this week, I'll just start by saying that I am committing to studying the ways of this woman, and making my heart more malleable that I could become more like her. This will be a personal study, but the fruits of it will certainly be reaped by my husband, my son, and my home. By seeking God's wisdom and example for me in His Word, I will be a better wife, mother, and homemaker.

My Little Mozart

When you're in the 97th percentile for height, mama shouldn't be surprised to hear you playing from the other room. If anything, she should be surprised at how fast you got there. *wink*

Daily Devotional

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
the Lord hath made even both of them.
--Proverbs 20:12 KJV

And what would He have us to do with them? Should we use our eyes for lust or looking upon wicked things? Should we use our ears for spreading hurtful gossip or for listening to filth?

So, what WOULD He have us to do with our eyes and ears? We can use our ears to listen when others are hurting. We can use our eyes to look for lost people, or for opportunities to help one another. We can use both eyes and ears to learn from the Bible and from our brothers and sisters in Christ who will share their wisdom with us. Our eyes should look for God's unconditional love that we may follow His example. Our ears should be open so that we can discern good from evil, righteousness from wickedness.

Bling for my Blog

I just wanted to take a short moment to thank my friend and fellow blogger, Mandy, for giving my blog a little face-lift. If you'll notice, the labels in my side bar are new. She custom-designed these for me. She has a real flair for creative and unique digital handiwork. She has just started selling her designs at her Etsy shop where she's offering a grand opening sale. Her blog is listed in my blogroll, but you can also click here - go on over and check out her beautiful blog!

Daily Devotional

I'm going through a book of short-n-sweet daily devotionals for women. It occurred to me to share them here so they may bless someone besides myself.

Who, when he came,
and had seen the grace of God,
was glad, and exhorted them all,
that with purpose of heart
they would cleave unto the Lord. --Acts 11:23, KJV

This verse talks of Barnabus' reaction to the witness of the establishment of the church at Antioch. His heart was joy and Spirit-filled, and he desired that more would be added unto the Lord. He could see the happiness and peace among these young Christians, and he wanted more people to experience this peace and joy. I think, as a Christian, it is simple to understand this desire. When we delight in the Lord and His rich abundance in our lives, it isn't hard to want others to share in our joy and to know the same kind of peace in their own lives. Today I want to strive to allow God to show me ways I can spread a little love and joy to those around me.