The value of time

One thing motherhood has taught me is the value of time.

Yesterday I went to aerobics (thanks to Jill for baby-sitting the boys). As is often the case, several people arrived 25 minutes early for the next class. They sat on the bleachers and watched us do the last 25 minutes of our class. As I was exercising I was thinking what I would be doing if I was 25 whole minutes early - I would have a book in hand to read, I would have my knitting to work on... or maybe I'd just lay down on the bleachers and take a quick nap --- but I DEFINITELY would not have sat on the bleachers doing nothing for 25 minutes. Just not a luxury mothers have.

Busted

Yesterday I closed the dishwasher door with my foot, swinging the door up with the momentum of my foot. Sitting in his highchair, Benji immediately said, “Try again.” We tell Benji to “try again” when he does something wrong. For example, if he grabs something from my hand, he needs to “try again” to take it gently. So I tried again with the dishwasher, that time using my hands to close the door, which is the rule that we have set for Benji. It's tough to be corrected by a two year old! Busted.

Zac says hi

Snuggling brothers

Benji and Zachary snuggling one morning last week.

Super dad

Not a light load!

Cooking helper

Benji is a big help in the kitchen, so I decided to sew him an apron so he can help IN STYLE. He chose the fabric from Hobby Lobby (or "Hob Bobby" if you ask Benji) - a tractor motif, of course!

Benji: attachment parenting advocate

Attachment parenting is defined as the philosophy and practice of parenting methods that foster strong, healthy emotional bonds between parents and children. This approach values responsiveness to the infant or child's physical and emotional needs, nurturing their trust that those needs will be met. It's common sense, right? But non-parents would be surprised how some books and "experts" recommend practices that can only be classified as "detachment parenting." However, Benji is decidely pro-Attachment parenting.

He is always looking out for Zachary's needs. He wants to make sure that I am very responsive to him. Benji tells me, "cry - pick um up" whenever Zac makes a bit of noise. (And I do of course!) Benji also tells me to nurse Zac whenever he sucks on his hand or seems hungry in Benji's eyes. He wants to make sure that poor Zac doesn't have to wait a second for his food. Zachary is definitely appreciative of Benji's consideration. He hardly has to cry because he has such a good advocate. I guess Benji has been there, so he knows what's important!

Baby-wearing is also big in Attachment Parenting. See the picture below of Benji "wearing" his baby giraffe and baby kangaroo in the sling. One day Benji will be a GREAT dad!!

A little less Christmas cheer

Yes, I know. Christmas was over a week ago. Well, I just have to talk about it.

We have some species of pine tree growing in our front yard. Traditionally, we would decorate it with lights every year to spread some Christmas cheer around the neighborhood. This year we did the same, though we were one of only two houses on our streets with lights outside. After Christmas day, I didn't have the lights turned on at nights and today was the day I had some time to take the lights down. As I was taking the lights down, I saw I was missing a red light bulb. Then another..... and another..... and I was thinking, "what in the world?!"


True enough, one strand of my red lights was missing about half the bulbs. Picture above is showing only half the missing bulbs. The other half is on the other side. Why in the world would anyone wants to steal light bulbs?! I mean, if you needed bulbs, I could have bought you all the bulbs you need. You'll have some many bulbs, you'd have bulbs coming out of your ears! I am not upset that someone stole my stuff, I'm upset that someone would steal something as inconsequential as light bulbs! I mean, what has become of our society today? I wonder about the person who stole the bulbs. What is he going to do with them? eBay 'em? Brag to his friends, "hey dudes, check out the bulbs!"? Whatever it is, I hope he'd do something useful with them at least. If not, I hope he'd wake up one day and say, "why did I do such a stupid thing?" and quit this silly childishness.

Merry belated Christmas to him.... maybe her...... maybe them.... who cares?

Happy New Year!

One of my favorite things at the beginning of each year is to look back over last year's calendar and transfer birthdays and other special dates to remember to the new year's calendar. I saw down this afternoon to finish the task. I always enjoy reviewing what we have been up to the past year. Last year was a full and fun year for us. Swim lessons, birthday parties, many births, mall walks, trips to the farmer's market, play groups, dates at restaurants and coffee shops, chiropractor visits, hikes, a vacation to Colorado, camping, men's fraternity, ISCA meetings, staying in a cabin on Beaver Lake, red parties... Looking over last year makes me all the more thankful to the Lord for our family. He has been so good to us. My biggest thank-you for last year is for the birth of our beautiful son Zachary.

I can't wait to fill up the new calendar with more memories...

Smiling bear boy

Zac is a very happy baby, which makes his parents very happy as well! He wants to thank Auntie Barbara for the beautiful quilt she made for him (seen in the pictures).