I have had something on my mind for a while that I feel I need to write down. I try my best to not compare my kids to each other. I will talk to Zach about there differences and such but around them I try very hard to just tell them what I love about them and leave it at that. It's that whole concept of if you tell Suzie that she is smart and Susan that she is pretty all Suzie will remember is that she isn't pretty and Susan that she isn't smart. I believe Elder Holland said something along those lines. With that in mind I want to relay the difference here on this blog of my children when it comes to potty training. Elsie just last week when we were in AZ sat on the potty a lot and went pee. She loved it. My sister has a little potty and a big potty in one of her bathrooms and Elsie thought the little potty was awesome. She had done it some at home before we left to AZ as well but when we were there she pretty much potty trained herself. When we got home I stuck panties on her and she has done amazing. She did have a few accidents but overall she has gone in the potty and she has done amazing. She is scared to go poop though. But I think over time she will get over that.
Now lets compare this to Kali. She is 4 and will turn 5 in November. Elsie is going to be 2 on Feb 7th so about a month from now. Elsie is doing WAYYYYYY...... better than Kali has ever done. Kali has pretty much peed her panties every single day since she started potty training. If I could take back the last year of my life and just put her in pull ups and let her go when she wants to my life would have been 100 times better and everyone would have been happier. But being the stubborn person that I am I didn't. She still has accidents every day and it can be so frustrating but now I just try and take it with a grain of salt and move forward. I hope by the time she starts school she will have figured out how keep her panties dry but maybe she won't I really don't know.
So why is this? Is it because I don't know how to potty train a child? Is it because I didn't try some trick that would make her go. Well I don't think so. I tried sticker charts, treats, prizes, cold showers, a timer you name it and it hasn't worked. I took her to the doctor and they think that she isn't getting her poop out enough so it's pushing on her bladder which makes it hard for her to know when she has to go. We have been working on it and there may be a small improvement but most of the time I just think she doesn't care or it seems that way.
What I'm getting at is no matter what struggles our kids go through I hope that we can all be supportive and not critical. You never know how long or what that Mom has tried to do to get there child to behave or whatever the case my be. Just remember to be kind and loving. I have potty trained 3 kids well kinda 2 and I can tell you that majority of the training comes from the kids themselves. They have to be the one who is willing to do it. I know I will go through similar things like this as my kids grow older and I'm grateful I've had the opportunity to go through this challenge and know that I can still love my kids even if I know that what they are doing could be so much better if they would just do it my way. Chances are they won't and I hope that I can be loving and kind even when they have to figure it out in there own time and in there own way.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Anna and school
I don't brag very often but honestly these days I probably should more often. Specially when it comes to my amazing kids!
Anna is doing amazing in school! It is truly such a great blessing. She is so eager to learn and loves every minute of it. Her teacher said maybe I should send all the kids that don't get into preschool to your house. I think she was kind of kidding but still it made me feel good. I guess I'm doing something right as a Mom. It feels really good. Anna has passed all of her Kindergarten words and is now working on First grade words. She also loves to write things. She obviously doesn't spell them right but she is writing what she sounds out which is really awesome, and that is all that she really should be doing in Kindergarten. Anna is also reading. She loves to sound out words and tells me all about them all the time. She reads books to Elsie sometimes (if Elsie will let here lol) and she always wants to sound out her scripture verses at bedtime. I feel so proud to be the Mother of this amazingly smart girl. I hope that she keeps this zeal to learn with her all through school.
Kali is also doing awesome! I have started a group preschool and Kali so far loves it. She is so good at cutting and she loves to do crafts with me. She also has been stringing buttons on thread and making necklaces for everyone. Both Anna and Kali are doing so good with soccer and Kali has even scored a goal once so far. She loves it so much and it's awesome seeing them thrive in the things they do.
Elsie is also learning and growing so fast! She loves playing with her sisters and wants to do everything with her sisters. She loves to climb everything at the park and she LOVES the swings. She also has starting saying so many things and it's so fun to watch her grow.
It is such a blessing to be the Mother of these 3 beautiful girls! They are such a joy in my life and I hope that they feel and know how much I love them always.
I can't end this post without also bragging on my amazing Husband. Living so far from family has been hard for me, some people love it but for me it has been extremely hard. Having Zach by my side is the only way that I've made it through this tough time. He truly is there for me whenever I need him. Well that is whenever I ask. I feel so blessed that we have so much to be grateful for here in Oklahoma. So many things in my life haven't turned out the way I thought they were but I can definitely say that God has a way of making us turn to him. With Christ and Zach by my side I truly feel like I could concur the world.
If you can't tell I kind of like my family:) I am truly one blessed woman!
Anna is doing amazing in school! It is truly such a great blessing. She is so eager to learn and loves every minute of it. Her teacher said maybe I should send all the kids that don't get into preschool to your house. I think she was kind of kidding but still it made me feel good. I guess I'm doing something right as a Mom. It feels really good. Anna has passed all of her Kindergarten words and is now working on First grade words. She also loves to write things. She obviously doesn't spell them right but she is writing what she sounds out which is really awesome, and that is all that she really should be doing in Kindergarten. Anna is also reading. She loves to sound out words and tells me all about them all the time. She reads books to Elsie sometimes (if Elsie will let here lol) and she always wants to sound out her scripture verses at bedtime. I feel so proud to be the Mother of this amazingly smart girl. I hope that she keeps this zeal to learn with her all through school.
Kali is also doing awesome! I have started a group preschool and Kali so far loves it. She is so good at cutting and she loves to do crafts with me. She also has been stringing buttons on thread and making necklaces for everyone. Both Anna and Kali are doing so good with soccer and Kali has even scored a goal once so far. She loves it so much and it's awesome seeing them thrive in the things they do.
Elsie is also learning and growing so fast! She loves playing with her sisters and wants to do everything with her sisters. She loves to climb everything at the park and she LOVES the swings. She also has starting saying so many things and it's so fun to watch her grow.
It is such a blessing to be the Mother of these 3 beautiful girls! They are such a joy in my life and I hope that they feel and know how much I love them always.
I can't end this post without also bragging on my amazing Husband. Living so far from family has been hard for me, some people love it but for me it has been extremely hard. Having Zach by my side is the only way that I've made it through this tough time. He truly is there for me whenever I need him. Well that is whenever I ask. I feel so blessed that we have so much to be grateful for here in Oklahoma. So many things in my life haven't turned out the way I thought they were but I can definitely say that God has a way of making us turn to him. With Christ and Zach by my side I truly feel like I could concur the world.
If you can't tell I kind of like my family:) I am truly one blessed woman!
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Kali girl I love you! Happy birthday!
Kali just turned 4 on the 27th and I wanted to write a little post to let her know how amazing she truly is. I love this little girl so much! She is so much fun to be around. She loves people unconditionally and she almost always has a smile on her face.
The other day my neighbor has a golf cart that they were giving rides to kids on and Kali really wanted on but Kali didn't make a huge fuss about it, she just came over to me and said Mom I want on but there's no room for me. That is a prime example of Kali. She finally did get a ride, thank goodness but man was she so super patient about it. I love that about this specially girl. She also loves to learn.
The day after she turned 4 she said Mom now I get to go to school across the hall from Anna. (There is a pre-K class at Anna's school across the hallway). Kali really wants to be apart of it, but I don't even know if I will let her go to pre-k cause I didn't let Anna go. She really just wants to be doing what Anna is doing, I don't think it's too much about going to school.
Both Anna and Kali are playing soccer but they have to be on different teams this year. Kali is doing so much better then last year when she just twirled on the field and did almost nothing. This year she loves it and she gets excited about going. She even scored a goal last game and it was so stinken cute! She got all excited and was dancing and did a fist pump. It made me smile from ear to ear. She won't push all the other kids around to get the ball but when she has a clean break she takes it.
This girl loves being grown up. She also loves to help Mom in the kitchen. She is always asking to make something or get into something. But non the less she will be a good cook someday.
Kali loves to play outside. She is pretty easy to please. She loves the garden I grew this year, and she is my red and yellow tomato finder. She loves it. She also loves to dig in the dirt and play pretty much anything outside.
This girls is going to be an amazing Mom someday. She wants so bad to be Mom to Elsie, the problem is she isn't quite in control of her body completely yet. Yes she can hold Elsie but she has no idea what the limits should be. I tell her to be careful and she has no idea what that means. She tries to get Elsie to jump into her arms off the big trampoline and it scares me. She also loves to push her on the swing but she doesn't know what just a little means. She loves to make Anna and Elsie smile and she playing with them. But she also enjoys time by herself. She loves to read books and pretend to be anyone she is thinking about at the time. Either Mom and Dad, Claire and Talie, or whatever character out of a book or show they have watched recently.
Kali I love you so much! You are such a special part of our family and I'm so blessed to be your Mom! You were my 1st baby to deliver vaginally and it was well worth the time it took to get you here. You are so kind and caring and it will be such a pleasure watching you learn and grow throughout your life. Thanks for letting me be your Mom!
The other day my neighbor has a golf cart that they were giving rides to kids on and Kali really wanted on but Kali didn't make a huge fuss about it, she just came over to me and said Mom I want on but there's no room for me. That is a prime example of Kali. She finally did get a ride, thank goodness but man was she so super patient about it. I love that about this specially girl. She also loves to learn.
The day after she turned 4 she said Mom now I get to go to school across the hall from Anna. (There is a pre-K class at Anna's school across the hallway). Kali really wants to be apart of it, but I don't even know if I will let her go to pre-k cause I didn't let Anna go. She really just wants to be doing what Anna is doing, I don't think it's too much about going to school.
Both Anna and Kali are playing soccer but they have to be on different teams this year. Kali is doing so much better then last year when she just twirled on the field and did almost nothing. This year she loves it and she gets excited about going. She even scored a goal last game and it was so stinken cute! She got all excited and was dancing and did a fist pump. It made me smile from ear to ear. She won't push all the other kids around to get the ball but when she has a clean break she takes it.
This girl loves being grown up. She also loves to help Mom in the kitchen. She is always asking to make something or get into something. But non the less she will be a good cook someday.
Kali loves to play outside. She is pretty easy to please. She loves the garden I grew this year, and she is my red and yellow tomato finder. She loves it. She also loves to dig in the dirt and play pretty much anything outside.
This girls is going to be an amazing Mom someday. She wants so bad to be Mom to Elsie, the problem is she isn't quite in control of her body completely yet. Yes she can hold Elsie but she has no idea what the limits should be. I tell her to be careful and she has no idea what that means. She tries to get Elsie to jump into her arms off the big trampoline and it scares me. She also loves to push her on the swing but she doesn't know what just a little means. She loves to make Anna and Elsie smile and she playing with them. But she also enjoys time by herself. She loves to read books and pretend to be anyone she is thinking about at the time. Either Mom and Dad, Claire and Talie, or whatever character out of a book or show they have watched recently.
Kali I love you so much! You are such a special part of our family and I'm so blessed to be your Mom! You were my 1st baby to deliver vaginally and it was well worth the time it took to get you here. You are so kind and caring and it will be such a pleasure watching you learn and grow throughout your life. Thanks for letting me be your Mom!
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Kali and potty training
You know those moments in life when you judge someone because there kid does...or doesn't do...well unfortunately I've been that Mom. When Anna got potty trained it was easy. Okay so I had to try a couple times but the 2nd time she got it in like 3 days no problem. So I just thought every other kid should be like that. Boy was I wrong. Now there is Kali. I love this kid to death but after a WHOLE ENTIRE year of trying to get this kid to go in the potty I've hit a wall. I tried being positive, giving her an M&M or small marshmallow every time she went, I even tried cold showers cause people I know swore by them. But you see NONE of it has worked. This kid will be 4 Sunday and I'm done! So if you see my kid in a pull-up then just know that yes I'm that Mom who lets her 4 year old wear a pull-up but not for the lack of trying. We are going to see a urologist in about a month, but until then I would like to have a positive relationship with my daughter instead of fighting about going to the bathroom. Besides that I feel like I've ruined her ability to have a positive potty experience. It is always a fight and she wets herself at least 3 times everyday and then the times she does make it in the potty she has peed a little in her panties first so she stinks. I guess you could say as a Mom that is the hardest part, I don't want to going around smelling like pee all the time. Kali is such a fun and loving kid that I need to remember that when I'm so frustrated about the situation. The past year has been rough with her because I've been so consumed by this. So why do I let myself? Well it's embarrassing. I feel like the worst Mom ever but for now I'm trying to let it go. She may have to wear a pull-up for the rest of her life but hopefully I can love her through it, cause really that is what matters.
So in everything you go through in life there is a reason and you learn something right. Well I would definitely say that I have learned that MOST people are dealing with some type of a battle whether with a child, themselves, or someone they love and I'm doing my best to just be a support and not judge. I just hope that others will see that I'm doing the best I can to be the very best Mother I can be and well my child still has agency. Also I wish that I was perfect but I'm not and I just hope that I can learn what I need to and that Kali can know that I love her even though she isn't perfect. She loves so completely and she is willing to be anyone's friend. She also smart, creative, and super coordinated. She loves life so much and she is always telling stories she made up, or playing Mom and Dad, or Claire and Talie(her cousins). Kali doesn't have to be the center of attention but she loves it when I take time just for her. She truly is a special girl and I'm so blessed that she was born into our family.
So in everything you go through in life there is a reason and you learn something right. Well I would definitely say that I have learned that MOST people are dealing with some type of a battle whether with a child, themselves, or someone they love and I'm doing my best to just be a support and not judge. I just hope that others will see that I'm doing the best I can to be the very best Mother I can be and well my child still has agency. Also I wish that I was perfect but I'm not and I just hope that I can learn what I need to and that Kali can know that I love her even though she isn't perfect. She loves so completely and she is willing to be anyone's friend. She also smart, creative, and super coordinated. She loves life so much and she is always telling stories she made up, or playing Mom and Dad, or Claire and Talie(her cousins). Kali doesn't have to be the center of attention but she loves it when I take time just for her. She truly is a special girl and I'm so blessed that she was born into our family.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Life...
Today was a productive day. After breakfast was over I got the kids ready and we headed to the gym. I didn't get there till noon so why did it take me so long to get out the door? Well Anna couldn't find her homework, I had to get the little people dressed and well life. That is what. But none the less I did make it to the gym and I worked hard. Then I took Anna to school. I had realized that I didn't have enough bbq sauce for dinner so I stopped by Walmart on my way to get Eliza because Kali has been begging to play with her and well she needs to have friends to do stuff with besides Anna so it's good. Then I picked up Anna and came home to finish dinner for the missionaries. After we all ate I went out with the sisters to stop by some sisters houses to drop off flier for the stake Relief Society activity that is tomorrow.
Why am I giving you a list of what I did today? Well because the truth is no one beside my Husband maybe understand all that I did. Oh and I forgot to mention that I sewed a bag for Kali for Halloween and read to my kids, and clean almost my entire house including doing some laundry. So why do I do it? Why do I wake up every morning and do what I do. Why don't I go to work and make money for my family? Well I do it all because of my family. You see God has entrusted me with the responsibility to care for the children he has sent to me. Not only that but he has also entrusted me with the opportunity to be married to one of his faithful sons. I take this job very seriously. God created this world so that we could inhabit it and so that we could learn what we need to here so that we can live with him again. Yet I feel so humbled. Do I feel worthy of God's blessings? Well no honestly I don't. I don't deserve his love. I'm a sinner, and quite frankly I feel humbled almost every single day. Yet I know God loves me. I know that he is there for me every step of the way. Most of the time I don't understand how or why but then there are those moments where he gives me a small glimpse of how to all came to be and how it all will be and then I can take another step in the dark and feel peace. I wish I could feel that way all the time, but I guess I haven't been tried enough, I guess I need to feel that loneliness to understand his love. I guess I need to be humbled so I can be teachable.
Life isn't always fun and most of the time it is just plain hard but I hope and pray that those around me can know that I love them, that I truly do just want the best for them, and that I'm a sinner trying to repent and come closer to God because he is the only one who can truly save me. He is the only one who can truly take away all the pain and sorrow and suffering I have and will go through away.
Why am I giving you a list of what I did today? Well because the truth is no one beside my Husband maybe understand all that I did. Oh and I forgot to mention that I sewed a bag for Kali for Halloween and read to my kids, and clean almost my entire house including doing some laundry. So why do I do it? Why do I wake up every morning and do what I do. Why don't I go to work and make money for my family? Well I do it all because of my family. You see God has entrusted me with the responsibility to care for the children he has sent to me. Not only that but he has also entrusted me with the opportunity to be married to one of his faithful sons. I take this job very seriously. God created this world so that we could inhabit it and so that we could learn what we need to here so that we can live with him again. Yet I feel so humbled. Do I feel worthy of God's blessings? Well no honestly I don't. I don't deserve his love. I'm a sinner, and quite frankly I feel humbled almost every single day. Yet I know God loves me. I know that he is there for me every step of the way. Most of the time I don't understand how or why but then there are those moments where he gives me a small glimpse of how to all came to be and how it all will be and then I can take another step in the dark and feel peace. I wish I could feel that way all the time, but I guess I haven't been tried enough, I guess I need to feel that loneliness to understand his love. I guess I need to be humbled so I can be teachable.
Life isn't always fun and most of the time it is just plain hard but I hope and pray that those around me can know that I love them, that I truly do just want the best for them, and that I'm a sinner trying to repent and come closer to God because he is the only one who can truly save me. He is the only one who can truly take away all the pain and sorrow and suffering I have and will go through away.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Recognizing that what I do matters
Today we had a couple over for dinner who's own kids are grown and have kids of their own. They just moved here from Arkansas and they are super nice people. Needless to say we had chicken noodle soup for dinner which I believe is a very simple and easy meal. We ate watermelon with it and since I took dinner to family in our ward who just had a baby we had cinnamon rolls after dinner. Well when they 1st walked in she asked who played the piano, which I told her I do. Well I don't play amazing but I play in Relief Society. Then she started eating and she said and you make your own noodles? I'm like yes. Then I told her how Anna was going to Kindergarten and how most of the kids in her class have had some school before now so they don't understand her excitement. So she said wow you play the piano, you cook, you home school, your a massage therapist now this is a very blessed woman you got right here. Talking to Zach, "You are one lucky man you better hold onto this one." It kinda made my day to say the least. Not very many people comment about any of the day to day things that I do in my life. No one acknowledges the things I do on a daily basis for our family. It helped me realize that I am doing a good job and that I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. It also helped me realize that I do have lots of skills and people really do look up to me.
Lately all I've been focused on is that I've gained a lot more weight since having kids than I would like and it seems like that is all people judge me by. They think I'm a lazy Mother who can't care for her kids because I'm this stay at home Mom who does absolutely nothing but put my kids in front of the TV, when that is just not true. Sure they get to watch a few shows most days but that is about it. Thank you Heavenly Father for recognizing that I needed that special angel in my home to tell me that I'm doing a good job and that I should be proud of myself. This world doesn't judge success base off what happens at home, they only base it off of worldly things like how much money you make, how big your house is, what kind of car you drive that kind of stuff. When in reality those things really won't save us in the end. We don't even get to take them with us. I am very blessed and I just need to be proud of myself and move on. If I do the very best I can everything else will work out.
Lately all I've been focused on is that I've gained a lot more weight since having kids than I would like and it seems like that is all people judge me by. They think I'm a lazy Mother who can't care for her kids because I'm this stay at home Mom who does absolutely nothing but put my kids in front of the TV, when that is just not true. Sure they get to watch a few shows most days but that is about it. Thank you Heavenly Father for recognizing that I needed that special angel in my home to tell me that I'm doing a good job and that I should be proud of myself. This world doesn't judge success base off what happens at home, they only base it off of worldly things like how much money you make, how big your house is, what kind of car you drive that kind of stuff. When in reality those things really won't save us in the end. We don't even get to take them with us. I am very blessed and I just need to be proud of myself and move on. If I do the very best I can everything else will work out.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
My Parner in crime
So Sunday Zach and I shared our 7th wedding anniversary! Seriously how is it 7 year already? I almost can't believe it when I say it out loud. I just thought I would write a blog post talking about how wonderful a man I married. There are times in life when you think why? Why did I do___? Well for me I've been thinking about why I married the man I did. Which brings me to this, the why's of married Zach.
1st of all he is very service oriented. If you ask him to do something he will unless there is no way possible or if he just doesn't feel good about it.
2nd he has never ever said one bad thing about me. Sure he has told me things I do that bother him that is obvious but he has never once said anything negative about the way I look or or what size I wear or things like that.
3rd he loves the Lord. He is such a good missionary. He loves going out with the missionaries and he serves in the Young Men's right now and I'll just say that they are very lucky to have him! He may not do things the popular way but he tries his best to follow what the Prophets and other leaders have told them to do.
4th he is such a great Dad. He loves playing with our girls and they truly adore him! He reads books with them, plays with them at the park, and helps them take baths and get to bed. I guess you could say that my girls are very lucky to have him as a role model.
5th he is my Mr. fix it. Whenever something needs fixed he figures out how to do it. This is such a blessing. Ya sometimes I just want things done and I have to wait for Zach to have time but I'm grateful that he knows how and is willing.
6th he truly works so hard for our family. He would do anything so that he could support our family and so that I can stay home with our kids while he works.
7th he is driven to get things done once he knows he wants to do them. Once he decides to do something he truly can't stop thinking about it until it's done so it's just better that I let him do it.
I'm so blessed to have found a partner in crime who loves me unconditionally and who helps our family so much. He truly is my inspiration and he would do anything he can to help me reach my goals. I love you Zach!
1st of all he is very service oriented. If you ask him to do something he will unless there is no way possible or if he just doesn't feel good about it.
2nd he has never ever said one bad thing about me. Sure he has told me things I do that bother him that is obvious but he has never once said anything negative about the way I look or or what size I wear or things like that.
3rd he loves the Lord. He is such a good missionary. He loves going out with the missionaries and he serves in the Young Men's right now and I'll just say that they are very lucky to have him! He may not do things the popular way but he tries his best to follow what the Prophets and other leaders have told them to do.
4th he is such a great Dad. He loves playing with our girls and they truly adore him! He reads books with them, plays with them at the park, and helps them take baths and get to bed. I guess you could say that my girls are very lucky to have him as a role model.
5th he is my Mr. fix it. Whenever something needs fixed he figures out how to do it. This is such a blessing. Ya sometimes I just want things done and I have to wait for Zach to have time but I'm grateful that he knows how and is willing.
6th he truly works so hard for our family. He would do anything so that he could support our family and so that I can stay home with our kids while he works.
7th he is driven to get things done once he knows he wants to do them. Once he decides to do something he truly can't stop thinking about it until it's done so it's just better that I let him do it.
I'm so blessed to have found a partner in crime who loves me unconditionally and who helps our family so much. He truly is my inspiration and he would do anything he can to help me reach my goals. I love you Zach!
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