4 months?

My baby is 4 months old!

She is such a sweetheart and fits so well into our family :) She is just barely starting to move. She's not rolling over as of yet, but still does the 'throw one arm and one leg over, while arching her back and turning her head' move. Somehow this allows her to eventually turn her self so she's laying in another position.

I am still nursing her and my favorite thing about it is when she's almost done, she will pull back her head, look up and smile at me like we've got some silly secret that we share. It is so sweet and warms my heart :)

I am so happy that R is also taking an occasional bottle of formula. *GASP* Yes, it's true. It is something I need for me - I need to know that I can leave her with her Daddy for as long as it takes for me to do the things I need to do. I am also looking forward to a date night with my husband next month sometime - as much as I love my kids, I (we) also need this time to ourselves with my husband's job being so demanding.

In the sleep department R's a little back and forth - one night she'll sleep all night, another night she'll be up every 3hrs (it could be worse though). Lately she's been silly.. she will get up an hour before I have to get up, I'll feed her and put her back to bed.. and she'll lay there and giggle and coo. While I'm cranky that she's up at that time - who can be cranky at a happy baby?

I think it's cute that when skyping with my husband, R will look around, searching... like where is that familiar voice coming from :) I know better than to wish away the first year, but one thing I am looking forward to is when R can sit up by herself! Babies are usually so much happier at that point :)

Tagged - It's a LONG one!!

Kalle tagged me the other day, so here goes :)

Rule #1: the tagged person must write their answers on their blog and replace any question they dislike with a new question they formulated themselves.

Rule # 2: tag 4 people to do this quiz; they cannot refuse (ok, so nothing bad will happen if you don't participate but I would love to see your answers). The tag-ee must state who tagged them.

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals or are they members of your family?
Honestly, I fall somewhere in between. We have a dog and the kids love her, I enjoy having her around (when she's not digging in my flowerbeds) and it feels empty when she's not around. At the same time, I refuse to treat her like a human (baby talk, cuddling, etc), she is just a dog.

2. If you could have a dream come true, what would it be?
A dream come true would be for us to own our own sucessful business. It's in our 5yr plan to be in a position financially to open our own business (so a lot of work, blood, sweat and tears is ahead!)

3. What would you do with a billion dollars?
Obviously with this sort of money there's enough to go around, but here are some things:

• donating to my home church, the Bible college I attended, many other good causes (well researched, making sure that money is being used appropriately)
• own a large acreage so my kids (and husband) can play outside to their hearts content. With a home that is big enough for growing kids, and one that allows us to have overnight company, but small enough that we may rub shoulders with those we love everyday!
• live debt free, even though I would have to 'ok' my husband buying all those 'toys' he wants.
• open said business
• share with our families so that our siblings may live comfortably and our parents could retire comfortably if they so desired (or just do some of those things they never could have before)
• Travel. I would love to take my kids to all sorts of places, I would love to discover this wonderful world!
• I would love to set up (or fund or be a part of) some sort of organization for women in poorer countries to educate and be able to develope their own businesses to support their families
• My kids education

4. What helps pull you out of a bad mood?

lol, I have good practice at this one! Cuddling with my husband, watching a 'favorite' show while curled up with a blanket and drinking a warm latte, HGTV :), reading a good book, going 'window' shopping by myself, going to the mall and people watching, going for a walk while listening to my favorite tunes, doing something fun and spontaneous with my kids, giggling and tickling my kids :)

5. What is your bedtime routine with your kids?

It can vary depending on how the day went. Basically send the kids to the bathroom, jammies on, brush their teeth, then into bed. I like to talk about their day and pray with them, hugs and kisses and tuck them in. If they are ready for bed early, I'll read them a story or two in my rocking chair before bringing them to their room.

6. If you are currently in a relationship, where did you meet your significant other?

I met my husband where I worked - I saw him almost everyday :) (no he was not a co-worker)

7. What kind of books do you read?

Recently I have got into reading Nora Roberts books. They have a little romance, a little mystery and not too 'heavy' that I can put them down if I have to attend to the kids. I also read "self-help" books, if you want to call them that.. I finished an EXCELLENT book on marriage called Every Woman's Marriage (definately recommend to any married woman!!), I am now reading a parenting book (Shepherding a Child's Heart)

8. What is one luxury you allow yourself to indulge in without feeling guilty?

latte's and HGTV, lol - although it may be counter productive to my exercising :)

9. What's your fear?

I fear that I may be making the 'wrong' decisions (although there really is no right and wrong) regarding different areas of raising my kids. Also that my bad days or weaknesses will influence my kids more than the good/positive.

10. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to see outer space?

... define junk food.. lol, I would like to think that I would give up junk food for such an incredible opportunity

11. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?

Get out of bed. Now this seems obvious, but if I don't get out of bed, I tend to roll over and try go back to sleep, lol. Otherwise, make the kids breakfast :)

12. If you could change one thing about your significant other, what would it be?

That we could have really good discussions/debates without things getting heated or negative - just discussing things for the sake of talking about it, even if it's not current or relative to what's going on in our lives at the moment. I can enjoy a good intellectual discussion :)

13. If you could pick a new name for yourself what would it be?

I think I would keep my name. It is not very common, plus my Dad named me :) Even if I get the occasional comment, 'oh Ellen, like Ellen Degeneras?', yes, but no..

14. If you had to choose between six months of sun or six months of rain, what would you choose?

Sun all the way!!

15. If you could eat only one thing for the next six months what would it be?

Pasta's.. I love pasta and sauces :)

16. What is the thing you enjoy about blogging the most?

I enjoy the platform to say the things I have been thinking about. I enjoy hearing from other bloggers and getting to 'know' some of them! I also like that I can 'document' some of our family life :)

17. Do you prefer salty or sweet foods?

This really depends on the day of the week.. but probably salty more than sweet.

18. What items are in your purse right now?

Oh I carry around a purse full of rocks.. lol.. my purse is my diaper bag (may as well use the large purse fashion to it's fullest) so there is anything from wipes, wallet, treats, spare sleeper, extra socks (you know, in case you go to the playplace and someone forgot their socks), a doll, receipts, pen, checkbook, diapers (clean!), and who knows what else!!

19. If you had to choose between vacationing at the beach or in the mountains, where would you go?

Can I go to a beach that's in the mountains?? Today I would say beach - but it has to have turquois water so I can go snorkelling with my man!!

20. What do you watch on television that you know you shouldn't?

Food Network - Diners, Drive-ins and Dives... it makes me SOOOO hungry and I usually end up snacking in bed, lol.

Now I tag:

Carrie at The Famulaks

Samantha at Mama Notes

Goofball at Goofballs World

Sisters

Sisters, this is something new to me. I look at the two of my girls and my mind wanders to what lays ahead. How will these two get along? Will they be best of friends? Will they be in constant competition? Somewhere in between? Either way I know that somewhere along our journey as a family there will be difficulties between girls - I don't think a girl could escape her childhood without some. What is new to me is the concept of sisterhood - I never had a sister. I could tell you a lot more about brothers or dealing between brother/sister conflict.. but dealing with two girls, oh my - where would I even start :) It's a good thing we all grow together and hopefully I can learn some tricks to raising two girls :) Any moms with good advice about sisters?

On a side note, my precious baby is almost 4 months!!!

Learning to be a SAHM

Yes, you read that right. Learning to be a Stay-At-Home-Mom. What a concept really. If you think about it, why would you have to LEARN how to be a SAHM when it's not even technically considered a "job". Some may say, "What's so hard about a 'job' where you can sit at home and do whatever you want". Now I've only been a mom for five years, but I'd like to share what I've learned so far.

I'd like to break down the SAHM term and address the 'mom' part. Being a mother is an incredibly rewarding and difficult and wonderful and challenging role. Each one of us in our mother role, whether working or staying at home with our children, has an important part to play - a responsibility to precious little human beings.

The fact that I am able to stay home with my kids is something that I feel is a privilege, but it is not all easy! When I first brought my son home I was three weeks into my maternity leave. For two years I worked in a very social job. I saw people come and go all day long, even though it was a managerial position it was also very much a customer service job. Three weeks later, home alone with a newborn baby, wow did it get quiet in the house! It didn't take long to learn that if I wanted to maintain my sanity, I HAD to get out of the house on a regular basis.

I struggle with motivating myself to clean my house. I have finally, now, learned how to manage my week, my day in order to most efficiently get my house in order (not saying I do it all the time though, lol). I have learned and continue to learn how to get through the winter without me or my kids going completely nuts because of being couped up. I have learned to see the signs of wear on myself and how to combat it with 'me' time. When Mommy is happy the family is happy!

There are many more examples I could give you about how I've learned to be a SAHM and am continuing to learn. It's not just about doing whatever you want (like a holiday at home), it's about creating a home, defining a schedule for yourself, figuring out what you want from this space in your life, what you want for you kids in this time of their life and following through with these things. I have found that one of the biggest challenges in motherhood is me. I have learned more about myself and my weaknesses/strengths and issues I thought I'd dealt with while being a mom, and I'm only 5 years into my life term :) I look forward to continuing to learn throughout the many phases of being a mom :)

WW: Still Laughing

The day that this happened, I had the giggles, spontaniously throughout my day! My husband is driving the truck... and he did get it out!
Yes, that is my super-hero husband pulling out a city bus that got stuck!