My nephew, Matt, (age 11) had to write a poem for a school assignment. If you know Matt well, you understand that sitting down and writing a poem is not on his list of fun things to do. (He's more of a science guy.) But despite his protestations, the end product is a sweet poem that our family will cherish for years. If you don't understand the last line, see my previous post entitled, "False Alarm."
Rambling Reagan
by Matt Bower
I have a cousin, who is two and a half
She has curly hair and a cute little laugh.
Reagan Joelle is her name
And rambling around is her game.
She runs around all over the place
And when she hides she leaves not a trace.
She’s loads of fun and as smart as you please
But she loves to touch everything she sees.
She is full of joy and has lots of charm
Except when she pulled the fire alarm.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Our Disney Souvenir
I haven't been blogging lately. "Why?" you may ask. Because I have been spending just about all my free time (which isn't much) resting. You see, we brought back a little (VERY little) souvenir from our Disney vacation: I'm pregnant!
In our usual style, this wasn't a surprise souvenir; it was very much planned. We knew we wanted a summer baby, and it just so happened that the first opportunity to create one coincided with our trip to Disney World. Our projected due date is June 12, 2006.
I've been pretty sick with this one, much as I was with Reagan. And, speaking of Reagan, she has become quite the "Daddy's girl." Since I tend to crash on the couch when Scott gets home from work, the two of them are spending lots of quality time together.
As for the sex of the baby, we won't know until late January. When asked if she wants a baby brother or baby sister, Reagan replies, "No! Doggie!" Boy is she in for some disappointment.
Don't expect a lot of pregnancy updates. I'm really just not that into writing these days. But I will try, at least, to write about the really important stuff--like whether it's a boy or girl and when we decide on a name. Other than that, plan on long stretches of my being incommunicado. I will, however, make attempts to keep Reagan's blog updated at least once a month.
In our usual style, this wasn't a surprise souvenir; it was very much planned. We knew we wanted a summer baby, and it just so happened that the first opportunity to create one coincided with our trip to Disney World. Our projected due date is June 12, 2006.
I've been pretty sick with this one, much as I was with Reagan. And, speaking of Reagan, she has become quite the "Daddy's girl." Since I tend to crash on the couch when Scott gets home from work, the two of them are spending lots of quality time together.
As for the sex of the baby, we won't know until late January. When asked if she wants a baby brother or baby sister, Reagan replies, "No! Doggie!" Boy is she in for some disappointment.
Don't expect a lot of pregnancy updates. I'm really just not that into writing these days. But I will try, at least, to write about the really important stuff--like whether it's a boy or girl and when we decide on a name. Other than that, plan on long stretches of my being incommunicado. I will, however, make attempts to keep Reagan's blog updated at least once a month.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Bye-Bye Paci
Those of you who know Reagan also know that she has two great loves in her life: her cow and her pacifier. She is only allowed to have the latter while she is sleeping or preparing for sleep. For months we have been subtly trying to convince Reagan that she no longer needs a paci--that big girls don't sleep with one--to no avail. This week something extreme happened that brought Reagan's paci days to an immediate halt.
Reagan has developed a bad habit of undressing herself (see earlier posts), particularly during naptime when she has decided she really doesn't want to nap. And it's not enough to simply undress herself. She has to dismantle her diaper into hundreds of tiny pieces. (If you've ever taken apart a diaper, you understand what a huge mess this makes.) So far, these diapers had all been merely wet. But on Wednesday the diaper was, as we say, a "shoo-shoo."
I went in to check on Reagan about ten minutes after putting her in the crib. She was undressed from the waist down, holding her filthy hands out in front of her with the diaper at her side. I began to assess the situation and form a plan of action. After an initial round of wipes, I put Reagan in the tub with LOTS of soap. As I was cleaning up the crib, it appeared that most of her bedding was relatively clean. (That didn't, however, prevent me from washing everything--including toys--in hot water for two cycles.) Then I saw it--the paci. And, you guessed it, it was "tainted."
My first instinct was to save it. How could we live without it? Then I thought, "No. This is it. The moment we've been working toward. The paci must go." I explained to Reagan that her paci had "poo poo" on it, and that it had to be thrown away. I also reminded her numerous times that this wouldn't have happened if she had kept her clothes on like I have told her again and again. (Hey, this was a tough moment for her, but I wanted her to know exactly who was at fault!) Then I gave her the princess pillow we had already promised her for when she gave up her paci.
The first night was rough. She cried, and I rocked her for a while. Even that didn't work, so I decided to lay down with her until she fell asleep. (I am generally opposed to this, but I knew that I could break the habit of sleeping with her a lot easier than I could break a two-year pacifier habit.) The next day, she went down for her nap without incident. And by the next night, she didn't make a peep when we put her to bed.
If I had known it would be this easy, we would have taken it away months ago! Reagan still talks about her paci and even asks for it sometimes, but we remind her that she's a big girl now and doesn't need it. And sometimes she even reminds us at bedtime: "No paci."
Reagan has developed a bad habit of undressing herself (see earlier posts), particularly during naptime when she has decided she really doesn't want to nap. And it's not enough to simply undress herself. She has to dismantle her diaper into hundreds of tiny pieces. (If you've ever taken apart a diaper, you understand what a huge mess this makes.) So far, these diapers had all been merely wet. But on Wednesday the diaper was, as we say, a "shoo-shoo."
I went in to check on Reagan about ten minutes after putting her in the crib. She was undressed from the waist down, holding her filthy hands out in front of her with the diaper at her side. I began to assess the situation and form a plan of action. After an initial round of wipes, I put Reagan in the tub with LOTS of soap. As I was cleaning up the crib, it appeared that most of her bedding was relatively clean. (That didn't, however, prevent me from washing everything--including toys--in hot water for two cycles.) Then I saw it--the paci. And, you guessed it, it was "tainted."
My first instinct was to save it. How could we live without it? Then I thought, "No. This is it. The moment we've been working toward. The paci must go." I explained to Reagan that her paci had "poo poo" on it, and that it had to be thrown away. I also reminded her numerous times that this wouldn't have happened if she had kept her clothes on like I have told her again and again. (Hey, this was a tough moment for her, but I wanted her to know exactly who was at fault!) Then I gave her the princess pillow we had already promised her for when she gave up her paci.
The first night was rough. She cried, and I rocked her for a while. Even that didn't work, so I decided to lay down with her until she fell asleep. (I am generally opposed to this, but I knew that I could break the habit of sleeping with her a lot easier than I could break a two-year pacifier habit.) The next day, she went down for her nap without incident. And by the next night, she didn't make a peep when we put her to bed.
If I had known it would be this easy, we would have taken it away months ago! Reagan still talks about her paci and even asks for it sometimes, but we remind her that she's a big girl now and doesn't need it. And sometimes she even reminds us at bedtime: "No paci."
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Again with the Nudity!
This morning, I needed to wake Reagan up a bit early so that Scott could drive her to her Nana's house on his way to work. As I crept into her room, I could hear her light snoring. When my eyes adjusted to the low light, I was able to see that Reagan was completely naked and sound asleep! Her warm footie PJs were there beside her along with her diaper. But the truly amazing part is that both the diaper and the bed were completely dry! (She's still in the process of potty training. She sometimes has dry naps but has never had a dry night.)
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Potty Power!
For the last three days, Reagan has been wearing "big girl panties"--except for when sleeping--and hasn't had an accident yet! This is quite an accomplishment, since she had just about given up the whole potty training thing, deciding it was better to just let someone else do the work of changing her diapers. The renewal in interest came with a DVD we got at the public library. It's called "Potty Power" and it has lots of songs and stories about going to the potty. Reagan was very sad when it had to go back to the library, but she is still keeping up the good work and using the potty like a big girl!
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
My Latest Obsession: English Tea
As I mentioned in my Disney post, my friend Nori and I had afternoon tea at the Garden View Lounge of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort while we were on vacation. I have had an interest in traditional English tea rituals for years, and I have even hosted several tea parties with my friends. But now, having experienced all the delicate details in the tea itself, the food that accompanies it, and all the dainty accoutrements required, I have gone beyond interest to obsession.
For the last few days, I have spent hours on the Web, searching for just the perfect tea strainer. (Did you know that they are as inexpensive as around $2 for a plain stainless steel one and as much as thousands for an antique silver one?) I have suddenly decided that herbal teas in bags are for tea "wimps" and only loose-leaf English varieties will do for my collection in the future. I have even started doing something I just never thought I would do--drinking my tea with cream! The very thought--scandalous!
My next venture? Finding a friend who is willing to try out some tea rooms in the area with me. There are a few nearby, but the most noteworthy is all the way in Dickson. Someday, I will make the trek--even if I have to drag Reagan there with me. (On second thought, she doesn't even use silverware, so I doubt she has the social graces to sit down to afternoon tea.)
In the meantime, I am beginning preparations for my Second Annual Mother/Daughter Teddy Bear Tea. Since this is a kid-friendly event, I probably won't get to truly explore all the nuances of traditional English tea. But perhaps, if I find a nice tea shop around town, I can at least premiere a few new tea "gadgets" and a nice blend of loose-leaf English tea leaves!
For the last few days, I have spent hours on the Web, searching for just the perfect tea strainer. (Did you know that they are as inexpensive as around $2 for a plain stainless steel one and as much as thousands for an antique silver one?) I have suddenly decided that herbal teas in bags are for tea "wimps" and only loose-leaf English varieties will do for my collection in the future. I have even started doing something I just never thought I would do--drinking my tea with cream! The very thought--scandalous!
My next venture? Finding a friend who is willing to try out some tea rooms in the area with me. There are a few nearby, but the most noteworthy is all the way in Dickson. Someday, I will make the trek--even if I have to drag Reagan there with me. (On second thought, she doesn't even use silverware, so I doubt she has the social graces to sit down to afternoon tea.)
In the meantime, I am beginning preparations for my Second Annual Mother/Daughter Teddy Bear Tea. Since this is a kid-friendly event, I probably won't get to truly explore all the nuances of traditional English tea. But perhaps, if I find a nice tea shop around town, I can at least premiere a few new tea "gadgets" and a nice blend of loose-leaf English tea leaves!
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Um...Let's See..How 'Bout...
Since we got back from Disney World (see my post at www.valsmomblog.blogspot.com), we have been asking Reagan about her favorite things from the trip. When I ask her who her favorite princess is, Reagan responds with, "Um...let's see...how 'bout... __________," then fills in the blank with either Cinderella, or Jasmine, or Snow White, or Ariel, or whomever. She's repeated this pattern several times, and it's so funny.
For the record, today her favorite princess is Snow White and her favorite non-princess character is Tigger.
For the record, today her favorite princess is Snow White and her favorite non-princess character is Tigger.
Disney World
Although our vacation started and ended on rough notes, we had a delightful time at Walt Disney World. Reagan was certainly old enough to enjoy the trip, even if she's not old enough to remember it for years to come. That's okay, too, since we took enough pictures and video to help her remember.
We opted to drive, and we stopped in Atlanta at my brother's house both coming and going. On the evening we arrived, we had eaten at CiCi's Pizza. Reagan had both cousins, Matt and Melanie, on either side of her on the drive back from eating, and they were giggling and playing. We got all the way to Dave & Sharon's street when Reagan began projectile-vomiting! It lasted less than a minute, but I didn't realize that much puke could come out of a child that size. We got the other two kids out and gently removed Reagan from the vomit-soaked seat.
Scott got to clean the car seat, while I took Reagan in for a bath. Within minutes, she was back to her normal, playful self. (The car seat, however, was not. Even after a thorough washing, we caught occasional whifs of throw-up throughout the drive to Florida.)
With that little bump in the road, we ventured on our way. Our drive was relatively uneventful until we got close to our destination. Our mapping program took us off the beaten path, eventually directing us to a closed road. We used our instincts and eventually found our way onto Disney property and then to the Pop Century.
Check-in was a bear, but the Pop Century was fun and active. (It's good for families with kids, but I don't recommend it for a relaxing childless vacation.) We got into our room with just enough time to freshen up for dinner with my friend Nori at Bahama Breeze. It was great seeing her, and she made instant friends with Reagan when she brought her a belated birthday gift that included a princess book, DVD, and magnet.
The next day we headed to meet my friend Conny at the Disney's MGM Studios. Conny, who works as an entertainment manager at the Magic Kingdom, wasn't scheduled to work that day, but she met us to walk us into the park with her ID. I hadn't seen Conny in over 10 years, and she looked exactly the same--as youthful as ever!
At the studios, we went straight to the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, then the Playhouse Disney show. (Those were probably Reagan's favorites at that park.) After hitting some other rides/shows, we hopped over to the Magic Kingdom for our Fairytale Lunch with the princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle.
The lunch was a bit of a splurge, but since we got into the parks free and got a deal on our hotel (thanks, Conny!), we decided to go for it. It did not disappoint! There were half a dozen princesses there, and each one visited our table for autographs and photos. We fully expected Reagan to be beside herself with excitement, talking up a storm in her little Snow White costume (yes, she--along with nearly every other little girl there--was in costume). We were soooo wrong. Reagan was so awe-struck that she completely clammed up! What's more, she wouldn't even smile for the photos--and she's normally quite the poser. Furthermore, she refused to eat even one bite of her lunch. (Fortunately, we didn't have to pay for her meal, since she's just two.) Despite her backward reaction, we know that she really did have a grand time. She's been talking about the princesses ever since.
We cranked through a few of the kiddie rides at the MK, then went back to the Studios to finish off the night. Reagan actually fell asleep on the way back over, and she stayed asleep through the entire Great Movie Ride. (FYI, there's a gunfight in that ride! And she didn't even budge.)
The next day, we took a break from the parks and had brunch with Conny at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (very yummy!) and I had tea at the Grand Floridian with Nori (very fun and girly!). Scott had the priviledge of dealing with a little constipation issue with Reagan (she hadn't gone in 5 days!) while I was away. That evening we went to International Drive and had dinner at pizzeria Uno.
Our second day in the park was spent with Conny at the MK. I didn't understand how great knowing an "entertainment manager" at Toontown would be--but it really was! She walked us up to most of the characters and princesses. She had even told the princesses we were coming, and they welcomed "Princess Reagan" as we walked in. We also had the Pooh characters entirely to ourselves! They even allowed us to come back later--without standing in line--and see Piglet, who was MIA at our morning greeting.
We saw pretty much everything at the MK that we wanted to by evening, so we hopped over to Epcot to let Scott ride a couple of grown-up rides. We also strolled through the World Showcase and saw some of the performers (the Chinese acrobats were Reagan's favorite!).
Then came our "rough ending." That night, Scott got violently ill. Since we were all in a rather small hotel room, none of us got much sleep, although Reagan got the most. He was still pretty sick the next day, so I did most of the driving back to Atlanta. Once we arrived at Dave & Sharon's, he went straight to bed.
Scott got sick exactly 4 days after Reagan had. When we returned home, I got sick exactly 4 days after Scott. Coincidence? I think not!
Barring the illness, we had a very good--and incredibly affordable--vacation. If Conny is still working at Disney in a few years, we'll definitely plan another visit with Mickey and the gang!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
False Alarm
At the risk of repeating myself, I am copying a post from my other blog (What Reagan's Doing Now) below. It's a story that shouldn't be missed, so I'm doubling my coverage. Enjoy!
This is an entry that will live in infamy in the Gibbs household.
It was the end of our Sunday morning church service. Scott was down in the fellowship hall, manning the PA system for Kids Town; I was on the platform, having just finished singing a closing song; and Reagan was in her Toddler 2 classroom. Before Pastor Paul could utter "Amen", the fire alarm went off.
Our pastor quickly dismissed everyone, and I rushed down to the end of the building where Reagan's class is held. (They had already evacuated the children, so the room was empty.) Everyone was walking out rather casually at that point, feeling certain we were facing a false alarm. I was near our associate minister's wife, and I jokingly reminded her of the time her oldest daughter (probably around age 2) pulled the alarm. She made the comment that hopefully this time it wasn't her kid, and I said something like, "Well, I guess it could be Reagan."
I made it outside and spotted Reagan's teacher holding her. I went to retrieve her and said, "Did she freak out on you when all the noise started?" She replied, "No. Actually, she was the one who pulled the alarm."
Utter disgrace and mortification are words that come to mind. Yes, our darling two-year-old was responsible for the evacuation of about 400 people. The firetrucks came, and the firefighters secured the building. All because of our little climber.
Reagan joins an elite group of kids who have done this at our church, and the club includes two of our pastors' children. Apparently, the placement of the alarm pull in the toddler classroom has been a problem before (about half a dozen times in as many years).
As I took the walk of shame to retrieve my purse at the other end of the building, word was spreading about who the culprit was. (Reagan, by the way, had no clue what she had done.) Other parents were helping us laugh it off with a "Hey, it could happen to anyone" and even the occasional "My kid did it two years ago." Everyone was very good-natured and lighthearted about it.
And we can even laugh...now.
This is an entry that will live in infamy in the Gibbs household.
It was the end of our Sunday morning church service. Scott was down in the fellowship hall, manning the PA system for Kids Town; I was on the platform, having just finished singing a closing song; and Reagan was in her Toddler 2 classroom. Before Pastor Paul could utter "Amen", the fire alarm went off.
Our pastor quickly dismissed everyone, and I rushed down to the end of the building where Reagan's class is held. (They had already evacuated the children, so the room was empty.) Everyone was walking out rather casually at that point, feeling certain we were facing a false alarm. I was near our associate minister's wife, and I jokingly reminded her of the time her oldest daughter (probably around age 2) pulled the alarm. She made the comment that hopefully this time it wasn't her kid, and I said something like, "Well, I guess it could be Reagan."
I made it outside and spotted Reagan's teacher holding her. I went to retrieve her and said, "Did she freak out on you when all the noise started?" She replied, "No. Actually, she was the one who pulled the alarm."
Utter disgrace and mortification are words that come to mind. Yes, our darling two-year-old was responsible for the evacuation of about 400 people. The firetrucks came, and the firefighters secured the building. All because of our little climber.
Reagan joins an elite group of kids who have done this at our church, and the club includes two of our pastors' children. Apparently, the placement of the alarm pull in the toddler classroom has been a problem before (about half a dozen times in as many years).
As I took the walk of shame to retrieve my purse at the other end of the building, word was spreading about who the culprit was. (Reagan, by the way, had no clue what she had done.) Other parents were helping us laugh it off with a "Hey, it could happen to anyone" and even the occasional "My kid did it two years ago." Everyone was very good-natured and lighthearted about it.
And we can even laugh...now.
False Alarm
This is an entry that will live in infamy in the Gibbs household.
It was the end of our Sunday morning church service. Scott was down in the fellowship hall, manning the PA system for Kids Town; I was on the platform, having just finished singing a closing song; and Reagan was in her Toddler 2 classroom. Before Pastor Paul could utter "Amen", the fire alarm went off.
Our pastor quickly dismissed everyone, and I rushed down to the end of the building where Reagan's class is held. (They had already evacuated the children, so the room was empty.) Everyone was walking out rather casually at that point, feeling certain we were facing a false alarm. I was near our associate minister's wife, and I jokingly reminded her of the time her oldest daughter (probably around age 2) pulled the alarm. She made the comment that hopefully this time it wasn't her kid, and I said something like, "Well, I guess it could be Reagan."
I made it outside and spotted Reagan's teacher holding her. I went to retrieve her and said, "Did she freak out on you when all the noise started?" She replied, "No. Actually, she was the one who pulled the alarm."
Utter disgrace and mortification are words that come to mind. Yes, our darling two-year-old was responsible for the evacuation of about 400 people. The firetrucks came, and the firefighters secured the building. All because of our little climber.
Reagan joins an elite group of kids who have done this at our church, and the club includes two of our pastors' children. Apparently, the placement of the alarm pull in the toddler classroom has been a problem before (about half a dozen times in as many years).
As I took the walk of shame to retrieve my purse at the other end of the building, word was spreading about who the culprit was. (Reagan, by the way, had no clue what she had done.) Other parents were helping us laugh it off with a "Hey, it could happen to anyone" and even the occasional "My kid did it two years ago." Everyone was very good-natured and lighthearted about it.
And we can even laugh...now.
It was the end of our Sunday morning church service. Scott was down in the fellowship hall, manning the PA system for Kids Town; I was on the platform, having just finished singing a closing song; and Reagan was in her Toddler 2 classroom. Before Pastor Paul could utter "Amen", the fire alarm went off.
Our pastor quickly dismissed everyone, and I rushed down to the end of the building where Reagan's class is held. (They had already evacuated the children, so the room was empty.) Everyone was walking out rather casually at that point, feeling certain we were facing a false alarm. I was near our associate minister's wife, and I jokingly reminded her of the time her oldest daughter (probably around age 2) pulled the alarm. She made the comment that hopefully this time it wasn't her kid, and I said something like, "Well, I guess it could be Reagan."
I made it outside and spotted Reagan's teacher holding her. I went to retrieve her and said, "Did she freak out on you when all the noise started?" She replied, "No. Actually, she was the one who pulled the alarm."
Utter disgrace and mortification are words that come to mind. Yes, our darling two-year-old was responsible for the evacuation of about 400 people. The firetrucks came, and the firefighters secured the building. All because of our little climber.
Reagan joins an elite group of kids who have done this at our church, and the club includes two of our pastors' children. Apparently, the placement of the alarm pull in the toddler classroom has been a problem before (about half a dozen times in as many years).
As I took the walk of shame to retrieve my purse at the other end of the building, word was spreading about who the culprit was. (Reagan, by the way, had no clue what she had done.) Other parents were helping us laugh it off with a "Hey, it could happen to anyone" and even the occasional "My kid did it two years ago." Everyone was very good-natured and lighthearted about it.
And we can even laugh...now.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Reagan Loves the Pool
Last week Reagan and I were at my parents' house in Indiana. They recently put in a pool, and Reagan has been in it a few times this summer. The first couple of times she got in, we put Elmo water wings on her but still held her the entire time she was in the water. On our most recent visit, however, Reagan didn't want to be held. In fact, when one of us would reach out to stabilize her, she would push our hands away.
She doesn't actually swim, per se, but with her water wings to assist her, she can get to where she wants to go. She also enjoys standing on the top step inside the pool (steps that will one day lead to the deck that hasn't yet been built) and jumping into the water. It really doesn't matter if there is someone there to catch her--she is fearless.
Reagan enjoys singing while she swims (Disney Princess songs--especially "A Whole New World"), and she's not afraid to take the occasional drink from the pool. She loves to play with anyone, but she especially likes it when Grandpa is in the pool with her.
She doesn't actually swim, per se, but with her water wings to assist her, she can get to where she wants to go. She also enjoys standing on the top step inside the pool (steps that will one day lead to the deck that hasn't yet been built) and jumping into the water. It really doesn't matter if there is someone there to catch her--she is fearless.
Reagan enjoys singing while she swims (Disney Princess songs--especially "A Whole New World"), and she's not afraid to take the occasional drink from the pool. She loves to play with anyone, but she especially likes it when Grandpa is in the pool with her.
What I'm Reading Right Now
Lately I've been too busy reading what I have to read to read anything for my own edification or pleasure. But due to a difficult family situation, I was inclined to pick up a book that had been in my "get to it someday" stack for some time. And what a blessing it has been!
Back in my days as an assistant at Word Publishing (now W Publishing Group), I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Chuck Lynch. (He was a dream author to work with, by the way. Extremely accommodating and humble.) He is a psychologist and president of Living Foundation Ministries. His book, You Can Work It Out, is about restoring relationships by tapping into the power of personal responsibility.
Now this may all sound like psycho-mumbo-jumbo, but his idea is really very simplistic: Everyone involved in a conflict has his or her own circle of responsibility. One person's circle may cover 75% of the conflict, while another's may cover 50%. Still another could cover just 5%. The point is, a conflict is never just one person's fault.
Lynch's method is to establish where the parties are AT and determine where they want to BE, before establishing responsibility. Then the parties take an X-ray of their conflict, identifying their circle of responsibility. (Lynch offers step-by-step examples of how to do this.) Only when responsibility is established can the parties move toward where they want to BE.
Dr. Lynch primarily addresses marital issues, but his principles can be applied to other relationships. He offers biblical insight to back up his methods. He also tackles situations involving others who won't accept their responsibility. (Guess what? You're still responsible for yours!)
God is teaching me how to deal with someone I just don't know how to handle. He's prompting me to pray more and get angry less. God has also assured me that vengeance is his (Yes, even God has a circle of responsibility!) and hidden sins are made known. For my part, I have to dismiss bitterness and not allow anger to cause me to sin.
Back in my days as an assistant at Word Publishing (now W Publishing Group), I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Chuck Lynch. (He was a dream author to work with, by the way. Extremely accommodating and humble.) He is a psychologist and president of Living Foundation Ministries. His book, You Can Work It Out, is about restoring relationships by tapping into the power of personal responsibility.
Now this may all sound like psycho-mumbo-jumbo, but his idea is really very simplistic: Everyone involved in a conflict has his or her own circle of responsibility. One person's circle may cover 75% of the conflict, while another's may cover 50%. Still another could cover just 5%. The point is, a conflict is never just one person's fault.
Lynch's method is to establish where the parties are AT and determine where they want to BE, before establishing responsibility. Then the parties take an X-ray of their conflict, identifying their circle of responsibility. (Lynch offers step-by-step examples of how to do this.) Only when responsibility is established can the parties move toward where they want to BE.
Dr. Lynch primarily addresses marital issues, but his principles can be applied to other relationships. He offers biblical insight to back up his methods. He also tackles situations involving others who won't accept their responsibility. (Guess what? You're still responsible for yours!)
God is teaching me how to deal with someone I just don't know how to handle. He's prompting me to pray more and get angry less. God has also assured me that vengeance is his (Yes, even God has a circle of responsibility!) and hidden sins are made known. For my part, I have to dismiss bitterness and not allow anger to cause me to sin.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Dressed to Nap
I've been noticing that Reagan can now open her closet doors from her crib. It hadn't been a problem, since she couldn't actually reach anything in the closet, just the doors. But last week I put her down for a nap while she was still quite energetic and active. (She was wearing a white tank top and a pull-up.) I heard some sounds for several minutes, but eventually it got quiet and I assumed she went to sleep. When I went back to check on her a few hours later, she was just waking up. Her closet door was open, there was an empty hanger on the floor, and she was wearing her most elaborate dress--pink and princessy, the one she wore for Easter! She had it on frontwards, with both arms in the right sleeves. The only thing she wasn't able to do was zip it. Since I only heard sounds at the beginning of her nap, I can only assume that she slept in the dress.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Houston: We Have a Poop!
Yesterday Reagan took one of her many trips to the potty. While waiting for something to happen she said, "Shoo-shoo." I said, "Yes, you can shoo-shoo on the potty. That would be great!" After several minutes of the same sort of banter, I saw the look of concentration and heard the sounds--Reagan had her first poop on the potty! It's completely ridiculous how proud a mother gets the first time her child does this. I had to call Scott immediately. We called Nana & Gran and Grandma & Grandpa! This is big news in the Gibbs house.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Two Incidents
Reagan gave Mama a bloody nose this week! I was bent down to her, holding the phone so she could talk to her cousin Ashley. She popped up rather quickly, hitting me square in the nose with the back of her head. I, of course, immediately got off the phone and started crying--which, of course, upset Reagan. (She wasn't hurt at all, by the way.) I decided to lay on the bed with her for a few minutes to calm her down before her nap. While horizontal, I started to taste blood. I put her down, then went to the sink and spit up a pretty good quantity of blood. Then I blew my nose and more came out. It didn't totally stop until later that afternoon. Now I have only a faint bruise, but two days later it still hurts!
We met some friends at the mall for Tahra Time on Friday. Reagan was pretty good for most of the show, dancing up front with the other kids. There were several big kids, so it was hard to keep track of her in the crowd. After what had to be less than a minute since the last time I saw her, we realized that Reagan was nowhere in sight. I jumped up and headed for the stage--still no Reagan in the crowd! Then it occurred to me to look under the stage where I had seen movement of the curtain earlier. Sure enough, Reagan and two other little girls were hiding under the stage! (It was very dark under there, as the curtain was black.) I had to be the firm adult, "All three of you, get out right now! I don't know your mommies, but you're not supposed to be under here!" They obeyed, and Reagan sat in my lap for the rest of the show.
We met some friends at the mall for Tahra Time on Friday. Reagan was pretty good for most of the show, dancing up front with the other kids. There were several big kids, so it was hard to keep track of her in the crowd. After what had to be less than a minute since the last time I saw her, we realized that Reagan was nowhere in sight. I jumped up and headed for the stage--still no Reagan in the crowd! Then it occurred to me to look under the stage where I had seen movement of the curtain earlier. Sure enough, Reagan and two other little girls were hiding under the stage! (It was very dark under there, as the curtain was black.) I had to be the firm adult, "All three of you, get out right now! I don't know your mommies, but you're not supposed to be under here!" They obeyed, and Reagan sat in my lap for the rest of the show.
Back on the Potty Train
It took a few weeks of setting potty training aside, but now we're back on a roll (pun intended), and things are going much better. In the last week, Reagan has used the potty multiple times each day. Also, it no longer takes her 30 minutes of drinking juice and watching a video to decide to go. Best of all, she's happy and proud of herself when she goes, not scared.
We haven't tried making the switch to panties just yet, but perhaps we should do that soon. I've heard other moms say that was the only thing that made their child cross over from being a casual potty user to being fully trained.
In the mean time, we have Disney Princess pull-ups to wear, stickers to chart her progress, and suckers as a special treat when she goes. (Oddly enough, she's not that concerned with getting the sucker. She usually takes a few licks and gives it back.)
As for the potty doll, we don't even bother with it. Oh, well. Maybe it will work for our next child.
We haven't tried making the switch to panties just yet, but perhaps we should do that soon. I've heard other moms say that was the only thing that made their child cross over from being a casual potty user to being fully trained.
In the mean time, we have Disney Princess pull-ups to wear, stickers to chart her progress, and suckers as a special treat when she goes. (Oddly enough, she's not that concerned with getting the sucker. She usually takes a few licks and gives it back.)
As for the potty doll, we don't even bother with it. Oh, well. Maybe it will work for our next child.
Monday, July 25, 2005
A Very Princessy Birthday
Reagan celebrated her 2nd birthday on Saturday (her actual b-day was Sunday) with a fiesta, complete with pinata, sombrero, and lots of Mexican food. The party took a very princessy turn when she opened her gifts. She received a Disney Princess (DP) tricycle, a DP toy CD player, a Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) doll and purse, a DP toy organizer, a DP desk, a princess skirt, a Snow White costume with matching shoes, and a Dora the Explorer princess book that has a magic wand. There were a few other gifts that didn't have a princess theme, and she liked those too. But the day was really all about princesses.
Reagan did quite a number on her cake, and she didn't come down from the sugar high for several hours. In fact, we think the sugar may have been the reason for her bad behavior in her toddler class at church on Sunday. (It just happened to be our turn to watch her class, so we got to see her in action.) We were stunned to see Reagan hitting and even pulling hair. Yikes! Guess we'll have to ask the teachers each week to give us a report at the end of church. We can't have her being the bad kid in class.
Today, Reagan had her 2-year-old checkup with Dr. Lee. He said she was just about perfect. She is in the 90th percentile in height and the 60th percentile in weight. She's a very healthy, normal two-year-old.
Reagan did quite a number on her cake, and she didn't come down from the sugar high for several hours. In fact, we think the sugar may have been the reason for her bad behavior in her toddler class at church on Sunday. (It just happened to be our turn to watch her class, so we got to see her in action.) We were stunned to see Reagan hitting and even pulling hair. Yikes! Guess we'll have to ask the teachers each week to give us a report at the end of church. We can't have her being the bad kid in class.
Today, Reagan had her 2-year-old checkup with Dr. Lee. He said she was just about perfect. She is in the 90th percentile in height and the 60th percentile in weight. She's a very healthy, normal two-year-old.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
More Potty Training
After setting aside potty training for a few weeks, we tried it again last weekend. This time, Reagan really used the potty. Before, she would just let a little out and as soon as I put a diaper back on her, she would fill it up. Also, she was visibly upset and even cried a few times before when she used it. Now, no crying and she's proud of herself! It still takes a LOT of water/juice, a DVD playing, and a little chunk of time to get her to go, but we're progressing.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
I Give Up
OK, I gave this whole potty training thing a good shot, but it just isn't working out. I've decided to just forget about it for a while and revisit it after Reagan's second birthday. She actually used the potty four days in a row, but she was so visibly upset by the whole ordeal that I decided I was probably causing more harm than good.
Our latest and greatest obsession is Disney Princesses. Who knew a two-year-old could be so into princesses? They are the first thing Reagan thinks of in the morning and the last thing she wants to see before bed. We watch princess videos, read princess books, and color princess pictures.
But, all in all, if you have to choose an obsession, princesses are a good one. They're pretty and girly and lots of fun. And readily available. They make a Disney Princess version of almost everything--and I think Reagan is getting about every DP product made for her birthday in a couple of weeks.
We're planning a trip to Disney World in September, where we will be dining with the princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table. Stay tuned for more princess updates.
Our latest and greatest obsession is Disney Princesses. Who knew a two-year-old could be so into princesses? They are the first thing Reagan thinks of in the morning and the last thing she wants to see before bed. We watch princess videos, read princess books, and color princess pictures.
But, all in all, if you have to choose an obsession, princesses are a good one. They're pretty and girly and lots of fun. And readily available. They make a Disney Princess version of almost everything--and I think Reagan is getting about every DP product made for her birthday in a couple of weeks.
We're planning a trip to Disney World in September, where we will be dining with the princesses at Cinderella's Royal Table. Stay tuned for more princess updates.
Obsessed with Princesses
Reagan is absolutely, completely, wholeheartedly obsessed with princesses--Disney princesses, to be exact. It all started when we began to plan a vacation to Disney World. I had been checking out their website, planning an itinerary. On their website are several short video clips of attractions there, one of which is Cinderellebration, the show that features all the princesses. Reagan must have watched that 15-second clip a dozen times that first day. She has been making us replay it almost continuously since. Fortunately, we found a longer clip (about 2 minutes) on the Disney Princess website. At least we don't have to replay that one as often.
I've shown her most of the princess movies: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Snow White, Cinderella. We fast-forward through the scary parts. Actually, we fast-forward through most of the parts that don't include princesses, because they are all she really wants to see.
It's a good thing her birthday is coming up, because she's going to have a princessapalooza. Nearly everyone at her party is bringing her some sort of princess item. She's getting a Disney Princess tricycle, a Disney Princess desk, a Disney Princess costume, a Disney Princess DVD, and even Disney Princess panties (in case she ever does get potty trained).
I've shown her most of the princess movies: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Snow White, Cinderella. We fast-forward through the scary parts. Actually, we fast-forward through most of the parts that don't include princesses, because they are all she really wants to see.
It's a good thing her birthday is coming up, because she's going to have a princessapalooza. Nearly everyone at her party is bringing her some sort of princess item. She's getting a Disney Princess tricycle, a Disney Princess desk, a Disney Princess costume, a Disney Princess DVD, and even Disney Princess panties (in case she ever does get potty trained).
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Potty Praise
Reagan, who is beginning to potty train, often follows me into the bathroom. Yesterday, she came in when I was using the restroom. I said, "Mama's using the potty," and she began to clap for me. When I said I was all done, Reagan waved into the potty and said, "Bye bye, pee pee."
Potty Training 2
This whole potty training thing is harder than I imagined. Reagan is happy to sit on the potty for long periods of time, providing she doesn't actually have to use it. Once she really needs to go, she begins to get up, try to sit on my lap, hug me, run across the room--anything to keep from having to go on the potty.
At least twice she has cried after finally going. And it's not just a little cry; it's a "I can't believe you're making me do this, and if you really loved me you would stop this nonsense right now" cry.
And the potty doll...well, we decided to go for the deluxe electronic model. Only problem is, it totally freaks Reagan out! You "feed" the doll a bottle of water, and after a couple of minutes she begins to say, "Mama, pee pee." Then you put her on the potty and she drips into it. When she's all finished, she's supposed to say, "Dappa," as in "diaper," but we've never reached that point yet. We had to turn it off because Reagan was scared.
So, let's see. We spent around $20 on her potty chair. Then there was $25 for the potty doll and $15 for a potty video (which, by the way, she actually likes). Oh, and we also bought a potty seat to go on the big toilet for around $10. So that's a total of about $70 on potty training supplies, and we're no closer to being potty trained than before. In fact, with all the crying, we may have actually regressed!
At least twice she has cried after finally going. And it's not just a little cry; it's a "I can't believe you're making me do this, and if you really loved me you would stop this nonsense right now" cry.
And the potty doll...well, we decided to go for the deluxe electronic model. Only problem is, it totally freaks Reagan out! You "feed" the doll a bottle of water, and after a couple of minutes she begins to say, "Mama, pee pee." Then you put her on the potty and she drips into it. When she's all finished, she's supposed to say, "Dappa," as in "diaper," but we've never reached that point yet. We had to turn it off because Reagan was scared.
So, let's see. We spent around $20 on her potty chair. Then there was $25 for the potty doll and $15 for a potty video (which, by the way, she actually likes). Oh, and we also bought a potty seat to go on the big toilet for around $10. So that's a total of about $70 on potty training supplies, and we're no closer to being potty trained than before. In fact, with all the crying, we may have actually regressed!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Potty Training
We've only just begun potty training and I'm already exhausted. I spend most of my time trying to keep a squirmy toddler seated on a plastic potty. I use bribes--something I am philosophically opposed to. I ply her with liquids. I tell her everybody does it. And I beg.
Today, Reagan actually did use the potty once. She promptly began to cry--howl really--afterward. Was she afraid? I don't know. Perhaps she was mourning the loss of babyhood. Maybe she knows that once she starts using the potty, the baby gig is up. She'll be responsible for keeping herself dry and clean.
I'm starting to search for the perfect "drink and wet" doll. This is Dr. Phil's recommended method for potty training. I also plan to get a couple of books on the subject for Reagan to read while she sits. If anyone has any other brilliant ideas, I'm all ears.
(Helpful Hint: Reagan seemed disturbed by the fact that her bottom kept sticking to the seat. Scott suggested putting baby powder on the seat, and it works great. The only problem is that when Reagan gets up--as she so often does--she makes white imprints of her bottom on the sofa.)
Today, Reagan actually did use the potty once. She promptly began to cry--howl really--afterward. Was she afraid? I don't know. Perhaps she was mourning the loss of babyhood. Maybe she knows that once she starts using the potty, the baby gig is up. She'll be responsible for keeping herself dry and clean.
I'm starting to search for the perfect "drink and wet" doll. This is Dr. Phil's recommended method for potty training. I also plan to get a couple of books on the subject for Reagan to read while she sits. If anyone has any other brilliant ideas, I'm all ears.
(Helpful Hint: Reagan seemed disturbed by the fact that her bottom kept sticking to the seat. Scott suggested putting baby powder on the seat, and it works great. The only problem is that when Reagan gets up--as she so often does--she makes white imprints of her bottom on the sofa.)
Reagan Used the Potty!
OK, so it was only once. And she probably had started before I got her seated. But she did use it! Of course, she cried immediately after, as if she were afraid of what she had just done. I hugged her and praised her and did everything I knew to let her know that what she had done was a good thing--a wonderful thing!
It's not much...but it's a start.
It's not much...but it's a start.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Growth Spurt
Reagan must be going through a growth spurt, because she has been eating a ton lately. For toddlers, eating is usually sporadic--eat everything at one meal, nothing at the next. But she has been eating consistently for several days now. Yesterday, for lunch, she had two pickle spears (that's half a cucumber!) and a cheese sandwich. When she was finished, she asked for another pickle! (I didn't give it to her. I figure, two pickles is enough for any not-yet-two-year-old.) As I was putting her down for her nap, she said, "Hungry." I decided she was probably trying to stall, so I just ignored her. However, her first word upon waking was, "Snack."
In addition to her recent eating habits, her sleeping habits have been odd. After we got back from vacation, she actually cried a few nights in a row when we put her to bed. (Reagan is one of those kids who usually can be put down completely awake and not make a peep about it.) But then, last night, she tried to put herself to bed! Without a word, she walked up the stairs, into he room, and started trying to climb into her crib. Needless to say, we kissed her goodnight and lifted her into the crib. Too bad she doesn't do that every night!
In addition to her recent eating habits, her sleeping habits have been odd. After we got back from vacation, she actually cried a few nights in a row when we put her to bed. (Reagan is one of those kids who usually can be put down completely awake and not make a peep about it.) But then, last night, she tried to put herself to bed! Without a word, she walked up the stairs, into he room, and started trying to climb into her crib. Needless to say, we kissed her goodnight and lifted her into the crib. Too bad she doesn't do that every night!
Friday, June 17, 2005
My Guilty Pleasures
Days of Our Lives (Been a on-again, off-again fan since high school)
Brat Pack/John Hughes films (Forget Two and a Half Men--Jon Cryer will always be "Duckie" to me)
Point of Grace's Life, Love, and Other Mysteries (Not so much "guilty" as "totally sing-alongable")
Trashy fiction (I don't mean dirty; it's just that it doesn't have to be well-written or clever)
Snack Cakes (Little Debbie, Hostess, anything that won't decompose for decades)
Shopping (but I only buy bargains, and I'm really good at it!)
King of the Hill reruns
Brat Pack/John Hughes films (Forget Two and a Half Men--Jon Cryer will always be "Duckie" to me)
Point of Grace's Life, Love, and Other Mysteries (Not so much "guilty" as "totally sing-alongable")
Trashy fiction (I don't mean dirty; it's just that it doesn't have to be well-written or clever)
Snack Cakes (Little Debbie, Hostess, anything that won't decompose for decades)
Shopping (but I only buy bargains, and I'm really good at it!)
King of the Hill reruns
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
The Latest
Here are some of Reagan's new favorites.
Favorite food: Pickles, Kosher dill spears (She ate TWO last night at dinner!)
Favorite entertainers: The Wiggles (replacing Barney as #1)
Favorite toy: Fisher-Price Dollhouse (handed down from cousin Melanie)
Favorite beverage: Juice (She used to be a big Milk girl)
Favorite activity: Coloring
Favorite words: Stuck (as in, "I'm stuck!"); All done (complete with sweeping hand motions); Eggo! Mine! ("Let go! Mine!)
Favorite food: Pickles, Kosher dill spears (She ate TWO last night at dinner!)
Favorite entertainers: The Wiggles (replacing Barney as #1)
Favorite toy: Fisher-Price Dollhouse (handed down from cousin Melanie)
Favorite beverage: Juice (She used to be a big Milk girl)
Favorite activity: Coloring
Favorite words: Stuck (as in, "I'm stuck!"); All done (complete with sweeping hand motions); Eggo! Mine! ("Let go! Mine!)
My New Favorite Activist
I've just discovered a new writer/radio host/political activist who really interests me. I first caught an interview she did on James Robison's show. Her name is Star Parker, and she's the president and founder of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education (CURE). Parker, a single, African-American mom, was once dependent on welfare. She addresses the issues of poverty and the welfare system in her book, Uncle Sam's Plantation.
Having "been there, done that," Parker has a unique understanding of the flaws of the welfare system. She presents the differences between the truly needy who simply need a "hand up" and the lazy poor who only want a "handout."
I loved reading Parker's personal story and how she overcame her dependency on welfare when she became a Christian. Her transformation from a promiscuous drug-user to a respected business owner is truly inspirational. Above all, she speaks with authority to those trapped in the system: You can rise above. You can escape the tyranny of Uncle Sam's Plantation.
With appearances on Larry King Live, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Politically Incorrect under her belt, Parker is certainly a rising Star in the political world.
Having "been there, done that," Parker has a unique understanding of the flaws of the welfare system. She presents the differences between the truly needy who simply need a "hand up" and the lazy poor who only want a "handout."
I loved reading Parker's personal story and how she overcame her dependency on welfare when she became a Christian. Her transformation from a promiscuous drug-user to a respected business owner is truly inspirational. Above all, she speaks with authority to those trapped in the system: You can rise above. You can escape the tyranny of Uncle Sam's Plantation.
With appearances on Larry King Live, the Oprah Winfrey Show, and Politically Incorrect under her belt, Parker is certainly a rising Star in the political world.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Back from Vacation
It has been weeks since I have written, so I'll try to cram all our activities into one entry. After everyone in our family finally recovered from sickness, we were able to take a short vacation. The first several days were spent in Indiana with my parents. We visited with family, held a yard sale, and even went to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. Reagan is totally Grandpa's (or "pawpaw," as she say) girl.
Reagan enjoyed seeing "Ho Ho" in Holiday World (Santa is a big part of the theme park, which was once called Santa Claus Land). She also loved riding the carousel, the kiddy planes, and the fish. But her favorite part of the day had to be the water park. She wore all the adults out by running around tirelessly through the gated area of sprinklers and various water elements. She is a brave little girl and doesn't like to hold hands while in the wave pool, either. We watched "Elmo in Grouchland" at least twice through in the car on the way there and back.
We were home by Tuesday but decided to go camping for a night on Wednesday. We went to Cedars of Lebanon State Park, only an hour from home. Reagan loved camping and kept calling the tent her "house." We made a fire and had hot dogs and s'mores. Surprisingly, Reagan didn't care for the chocolatey treat. She preferred the plain graham crackers. The camping experiment went pretty well, except that it took about an hour for Reagan to fall asleep. She was so wound up and isn't used to sleeping with anyone else in the room with her. Overall, we decided that camping with Reagan is fun, but it's also a lot of work!
On Saturday, my brother, Dave, his wife, Sharon, and their kids, Matt and Melanie, came in for a NASCAR race. Reagan had big fun with her cousins, and she can say everyone's name very well. Uncle Dave seems to be her favorite, since he lets her play with his cell phone. They actually got to stay a little longer than planned, since the race that Scott and Dave were going to got rained out on Saturday night and had to run on Sunday.
Packed in between the trips and visitors were little outings, like Reagan going to play with her cousin Ashley on Wednesday, and then going to visit Nana and Gran on Friday. It was a busy, action-packed week.
Today is Monday, and it's a somber day in our house. All the visitors are gone. Daddy went back to work. It's just Mama and Reagan. Things have gone surprisingly well. Reagan really does thrive on routine, so I think she's even a little relieved to have life back to normal.
Reagan enjoyed seeing "Ho Ho" in Holiday World (Santa is a big part of the theme park, which was once called Santa Claus Land). She also loved riding the carousel, the kiddy planes, and the fish. But her favorite part of the day had to be the water park. She wore all the adults out by running around tirelessly through the gated area of sprinklers and various water elements. She is a brave little girl and doesn't like to hold hands while in the wave pool, either. We watched "Elmo in Grouchland" at least twice through in the car on the way there and back.
We were home by Tuesday but decided to go camping for a night on Wednesday. We went to Cedars of Lebanon State Park, only an hour from home. Reagan loved camping and kept calling the tent her "house." We made a fire and had hot dogs and s'mores. Surprisingly, Reagan didn't care for the chocolatey treat. She preferred the plain graham crackers. The camping experiment went pretty well, except that it took about an hour for Reagan to fall asleep. She was so wound up and isn't used to sleeping with anyone else in the room with her. Overall, we decided that camping with Reagan is fun, but it's also a lot of work!
On Saturday, my brother, Dave, his wife, Sharon, and their kids, Matt and Melanie, came in for a NASCAR race. Reagan had big fun with her cousins, and she can say everyone's name very well. Uncle Dave seems to be her favorite, since he lets her play with his cell phone. They actually got to stay a little longer than planned, since the race that Scott and Dave were going to got rained out on Saturday night and had to run on Sunday.
Packed in between the trips and visitors were little outings, like Reagan going to play with her cousin Ashley on Wednesday, and then going to visit Nana and Gran on Friday. It was a busy, action-packed week.
Today is Monday, and it's a somber day in our house. All the visitors are gone. Daddy went back to work. It's just Mama and Reagan. Things have gone surprisingly well. Reagan really does thrive on routine, so I think she's even a little relieved to have life back to normal.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
All Is Well...Finally!
It has been about three weeks now, and the sickness in our household has finally subsided...sort of. I think I was the carrier this time, running a low-grade fever with few other symptoms. Reagan caught whatever I had, which then developed into an ear infection. Then Scott caught it from her, and while her ear infection was healing, she re-caught the virus from him and ran a high fever for several days. She seems just about well now, and Scott is much better, although he continues to have a hacking cough.
While she was sick, Reagan had her every whim met. If she said "juice," we delivered. If she then decided she wanted milk instead, we made the exchange. If she asked to color eight times in one day, we obliged. You get the point. Now we're paying the price. If she hears the word "no" in any context, she immediately "throws a fit," as they say here in the south.
We're remaining strong, not giving in to these tantrums. But, OH, how we'd love to have our kind, sweet child back. Could this be the start of the "Terrible Twos"?
While she was sick, Reagan had her every whim met. If she said "juice," we delivered. If she then decided she wanted milk instead, we made the exchange. If she asked to color eight times in one day, we obliged. You get the point. Now we're paying the price. If she hears the word "no" in any context, she immediately "throws a fit," as they say here in the south.
We're remaining strong, not giving in to these tantrums. But, OH, how we'd love to have our kind, sweet child back. Could this be the start of the "Terrible Twos"?
Monday, May 16, 2005
Crisis Averted
This new napping plan is really working! The first day, Reagan stayed awake the entire hour that she was in her crib--no nap at all that day. On the second day, she was still going pretty strong, but she did eventually fall asleep within the hour. By the third day, Reagan had realized this new system wasn't going away, and she fell asleep within about twenty minutes. Now, about a week later, she has been consistently falling asleep within minutes, without whining or crying, just as she does at night. Hooray!
Reagan's First Ear Infection
Well, we managed to get through almost two years without one, but Reagan now has her first ear infection. After a couple of days of a runny nose, not eating, and goopy eyes, I took Reagan in to see Dr. Lee. (Of course, by the time we got to his office, Reagan had perked up and was acting almost well. Isn't that the way it always goes?) Dr. Lee assessed her symptoms and guessed an ear infection, which was confirmed when he looked in her ears. (Have I mentioned that I love my pediatrician? He is so good!) He prescribed an antibiotic, gave Reagan a butterfly sticker, and sent us on our way.
Three days later, Reagan is a different child. She's back to her normal appetite, and she's much more energetic. But after several days of having her every whim catered to, we are having to deal with a few temper tantrums when we now say no. Hopefully we'll have our old happy-go-lucky Reagan back soon.
Three days later, Reagan is a different child. She's back to her normal appetite, and she's much more energetic. But after several days of having her every whim catered to, we are having to deal with a few temper tantrums when we now say no. Hopefully we'll have our old happy-go-lucky Reagan back soon.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Reagan Might Be a Genius
Well, probably not. But she did count to ten this week--well, sort of. She skips 4 and 9, but gets the rest of the numbers in order. Not bad for a not-yet-two-year-old, I think. At the end of the numbers she says, "Here I come!" which leads me to believe she learned to count by watching the "Journey to Ernie" segment on Sesame Street. (It's the game where Big Bird hides and Ernie seeks.)
Reagan's language skills are exploding these days. She is using new phrases and sentences every day. She continues to sing her favorite songs in the car, while swinging, in her crib, or wherever the mood strikes. And she loves to dance--although Scott mentioned that she does dance a bit like Elaine on Seinfeld. A little frightening.
The most exciting thing is to see Reagan's emotional side developing. She now says, "I love you," without being prompted. She also willingly says she's sorry, and she loves to give hugs and kisses. We can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Reagan's language skills are exploding these days. She is using new phrases and sentences every day. She continues to sing her favorite songs in the car, while swinging, in her crib, or wherever the mood strikes. And she loves to dance--although Scott mentioned that she does dance a bit like Elaine on Seinfeld. A little frightening.
The most exciting thing is to see Reagan's emotional side developing. She now says, "I love you," without being prompted. She also willingly says she's sorry, and she loves to give hugs and kisses. We can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Help! Reagan Won't Nap!
We have been so blessed with a baby that has slept well from a very early age. At night, we simply put Reagan down in her crib--awake--and she drifts off to sleep. Naptime, however, has be a struggle recently.
My usual routine has been to snuggle with Reagan on the couch to get her down for a nap. Lately this process has been failing, with Reagan simply refusing to fall asleep. It usually involves me making several trips back and forth from her room, putting her in the crib, taking her out, etc. I have tried rocking her, letting her play for a while before putting her down, giving her milk, playing music for her, all to no avail.
After spending yesterday afternoon researching our little problem, I have come to the conclusion that I must employ a similar method to what we're doing at night. So, just after lunch today, I told her that it was nap time. I handed over her favorite cow and her pacifier (getting rid of the paci--now, that's a subject for another day!) and put her in the crib.
That was almost exactly one hour ago. She has been pretty calm for the entire time, but I can still hear her in there talking to herself. I have committed to following this plan for at least one week before trying something different. (I think it takes at least a week of consistency for a child to adjust to a new system.) But if anyone has any other bright ideas about how to get a toddler to nap, I'm all ears.
My usual routine has been to snuggle with Reagan on the couch to get her down for a nap. Lately this process has been failing, with Reagan simply refusing to fall asleep. It usually involves me making several trips back and forth from her room, putting her in the crib, taking her out, etc. I have tried rocking her, letting her play for a while before putting her down, giving her milk, playing music for her, all to no avail.
After spending yesterday afternoon researching our little problem, I have come to the conclusion that I must employ a similar method to what we're doing at night. So, just after lunch today, I told her that it was nap time. I handed over her favorite cow and her pacifier (getting rid of the paci--now, that's a subject for another day!) and put her in the crib.
That was almost exactly one hour ago. She has been pretty calm for the entire time, but I can still hear her in there talking to herself. I have committed to following this plan for at least one week before trying something different. (I think it takes at least a week of consistency for a child to adjust to a new system.) But if anyone has any other bright ideas about how to get a toddler to nap, I'm all ears.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Addendum to the Addendum
OK, I was wrong again. I don't actually have links on this site. (I do, however, have them on my other blog.) Anyhow, you can read the below-mentioned post at:
www.valsmomblog.blogspot.com
www.valsmomblog.blogspot.com
Addendum to The Stripper Strikes Again
I realized that the previous post I referenced in the post below is actually from my other blog, Val's Mom Blog. That post is Raising a Stripper. You can reach it by clicking the link to the left.
The Stripper Strikes Again
On Monday, per my usual schedule, I put Reagan in her crib at 10:00 (between Sesame Street and Barney) so that I could get my shower. I put her Barney CD on "repeat" and headed for the bathroom. When I returned, just fifteen minutes later, she was standing, completely naked, clutching her stuffed cow and smiling that guilty sort of smile usually seen on psychopaths. Beside her in the crib were her pajamas, her discarded diaper, and a puddle.
Keep in mind my earlier post in which I mentioned the PJs with that one important snap--the snap that had previously kept her from unzipping and removing her pajamas. Apparently, that snap no longer does the trick, since these were the very PJs she was wearing. Is there nothing that can stop my child from indulging her exhibitionist side?
Keep in mind my earlier post in which I mentioned the PJs with that one important snap--the snap that had previously kept her from unzipping and removing her pajamas. Apparently, that snap no longer does the trick, since these were the very PJs she was wearing. Is there nothing that can stop my child from indulging her exhibitionist side?
A Good Read
I read constantly, both for work and for pleasure. At any given time, I have about four or five partially-read books on my desk. And I read a lot of bad books. I very rarely will NOT finish a book. (I just can't stand leaving something undone.) But few and far between are what I consider to be the real jewels of my treasure hunt for a great book. Eats, Shoots & Leaves is one of those rare gems.
If you're in any way involved in writing, editing, or even teaching, you should read it. It's a book about punctuation--its history, its usage, and, most notably, its mis-usage. To the non-stickler, it may sound a bit boring, but I assure you it's anything but. It is a delightful look at one woman's frustration at the growing ignorance--and even the complete absence, in some cases--of punctuation usage in our society.
Now, I have to admit that getting past the British rules was a bit of a challenge to my CMS-driven brain. (That's Chicago Manual of Style for you non-grammarians.) But the sentiment of author Lynne Truss is near and dear to my heart. I am, in her words, a stickler. I tremble with indignity when I see a billboard that reads, "Your Welcome Here" or "Whose Doing Your Taxes?" (If you didn't get those examples, please stop reading now. You're one of them.) I break out in a cold sweat when I see a hyphen where an em dash belongs. And possessives...well, don't even get me started.
I realize that by recommending this book, I am opening myself up to all sorts of criticism for any punctuation "errors" on my blog. First, I will say that this is essentially my journal. I'm writing in a free-form, off-the-cuff style. I do try to at least spell-check before posting, but I'm not doing a full proof or edit. Second, many times what are considered "errors" are actually simply differences in style. I can respect other styles--as long as there is consistency. (Take, for example, the serial comma debate. I prefer the final comma before the "and," but I can respect someone who omits it consistently.)
Final word: If you enjoy words, language, or even just a healthy argument, read Eats, Shoots & Leaves. (Notice the omission of the serial comma. Not my usage, but the author's.) This tops my "Good Read" list for now.
If you're in any way involved in writing, editing, or even teaching, you should read it. It's a book about punctuation--its history, its usage, and, most notably, its mis-usage. To the non-stickler, it may sound a bit boring, but I assure you it's anything but. It is a delightful look at one woman's frustration at the growing ignorance--and even the complete absence, in some cases--of punctuation usage in our society.
Now, I have to admit that getting past the British rules was a bit of a challenge to my CMS-driven brain. (That's Chicago Manual of Style for you non-grammarians.) But the sentiment of author Lynne Truss is near and dear to my heart. I am, in her words, a stickler. I tremble with indignity when I see a billboard that reads, "Your Welcome Here" or "Whose Doing Your Taxes?" (If you didn't get those examples, please stop reading now. You're one of them.) I break out in a cold sweat when I see a hyphen where an em dash belongs. And possessives...well, don't even get me started.
I realize that by recommending this book, I am opening myself up to all sorts of criticism for any punctuation "errors" on my blog. First, I will say that this is essentially my journal. I'm writing in a free-form, off-the-cuff style. I do try to at least spell-check before posting, but I'm not doing a full proof or edit. Second, many times what are considered "errors" are actually simply differences in style. I can respect other styles--as long as there is consistency. (Take, for example, the serial comma debate. I prefer the final comma before the "and," but I can respect someone who omits it consistently.)
Final word: If you enjoy words, language, or even just a healthy argument, read Eats, Shoots & Leaves. (Notice the omission of the serial comma. Not my usage, but the author's.) This tops my "Good Read" list for now.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
This and That
Yesterday, I had a tickle in my throat and was coughing. Reagan came up behind where I was sitting, started patting me on the back, and said, "Y'OK? Y'OK?" (as in, "Are you OK?").
On our daily evening walks, we pass a yard that has recently been re-mulched. The first time we went past, I mentioned that it smelled pretty gross. A couple of days later, while passing that same yard, Reagan waved her hand in front of her nose and said, "Tinky! Tinky!" Of course, by then the smell had dissipated, but she remembered that's where it had been stinky before.
A few days back, Reagan was playing with her Magna-Doodle. She paused for a moment, said, "Hug," and hugged, then kissed, her Magna-Doodle. She really loves her toys.
On our daily evening walks, we pass a yard that has recently been re-mulched. The first time we went past, I mentioned that it smelled pretty gross. A couple of days later, while passing that same yard, Reagan waved her hand in front of her nose and said, "Tinky! Tinky!" Of course, by then the smell had dissipated, but she remembered that's where it had been stinky before.
A few days back, Reagan was playing with her Magna-Doodle. She paused for a moment, said, "Hug," and hugged, then kissed, her Magna-Doodle. She really loves her toys.
Back from the Mountains
I returned from my retreat to find Reagan basically unscathed (although she did have a couple of new boo-boos) and the house in pretty good order. Reagan seemed happy to see me and just kept jabbering at me for the first hour or so.
I have mixed feelings about my retreat time. On the positive side, the Cove is a beautiful facility. Having worked with some of the Grahams in their publishing endeavors, I can see how their perfectionistic tendencies really do produce excellence. I did also enjoy getting to know a few people that I didn't have much of a connection with before. So that was good.
Now for the negative. The sessions themselves were pretty disappointing. Because we were instructed to read the speaker's first book, I had hoped we would go deeper into the material. Instead, most of the time I felt as if I were being read to (yes, he was that kind of a speaker) from a book I had already read myself. He was a kind, softspoken man, but he just didn't do it for me as a speaker. I need a little more energy and excitement.
And now for the neutral, but interesting. It snowed while we were there! And not just a tiny snow that dissipates when it hits the ground. There was actually some accumulation. It was beautiful on the mountains, and, fortunately, it didn't cause us any driving problems.
All that said, I'm glad to be back. And I don't see any retreats in my near future. The anxiety of leaving Reagan (and Scott) far outweighed the benefits for me. Perhaps others were inspired, edified, or drawn closer to God. For me, I'm drawn closer to God when I watch Reagan sleeping peacefully, or when I spend quality time with Scott. I didn't need to drive ten hours to find God or myself. We're both here, together.
I have mixed feelings about my retreat time. On the positive side, the Cove is a beautiful facility. Having worked with some of the Grahams in their publishing endeavors, I can see how their perfectionistic tendencies really do produce excellence. I did also enjoy getting to know a few people that I didn't have much of a connection with before. So that was good.
Now for the negative. The sessions themselves were pretty disappointing. Because we were instructed to read the speaker's first book, I had hoped we would go deeper into the material. Instead, most of the time I felt as if I were being read to (yes, he was that kind of a speaker) from a book I had already read myself. He was a kind, softspoken man, but he just didn't do it for me as a speaker. I need a little more energy and excitement.
And now for the neutral, but interesting. It snowed while we were there! And not just a tiny snow that dissipates when it hits the ground. There was actually some accumulation. It was beautiful on the mountains, and, fortunately, it didn't cause us any driving problems.
All that said, I'm glad to be back. And I don't see any retreats in my near future. The anxiety of leaving Reagan (and Scott) far outweighed the benefits for me. Perhaps others were inspired, edified, or drawn closer to God. For me, I'm drawn closer to God when I watch Reagan sleeping peacefully, or when I spend quality time with Scott. I didn't need to drive ten hours to find God or myself. We're both here, together.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Tahra Time!
While surfing the NPT (that's Nashville Public Television) website, I realized that local kid's performer Tahra--of "Tahra Time" fame--would be performing today at Opry Mills. I knew Reagan, being a big fan, would want to see her, so we made plans to meet Scott there for the performance.
At first, Reagan was a little reserved, just sitting calmly on Daddy's lap. But once she realized she had permission to sing and dance along, she really warmed up. She jumped and danced and sang almost as much as she does at home with Tahra. A couple of times, Scott had to run grab her to keep her from going onstage. (She also tried to "undecorate" the stage by pulling a strand of tinsel that was camouflaging a cord.)
Despite my personal distaste for Tahra (she's a bit of a hippie/flower child with only a semi-decent voice), it was worth the trip to see Reagan enjoy herself. We might even become Tahra groupies, attending all her shows. Maybe.
At first, Reagan was a little reserved, just sitting calmly on Daddy's lap. But once she realized she had permission to sing and dance along, she really warmed up. She jumped and danced and sang almost as much as she does at home with Tahra. A couple of times, Scott had to run grab her to keep her from going onstage. (She also tried to "undecorate" the stage by pulling a strand of tinsel that was camouflaging a cord.)
Despite my personal distaste for Tahra (she's a bit of a hippie/flower child with only a semi-decent voice), it was worth the trip to see Reagan enjoy herself. We might even become Tahra groupies, attending all her shows. Maybe.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
I'm Retreating
This weekend our Worship Arts Team from church is heading to The Cove, the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC. I'll be gone Friday morning through Sunday evening. And while Scott and I have left Reagan that long with her grandparents (when we went to Chicago for a weekend), I have never left Reagan alone with Scott for that long. In fact, he has never been "in charge" of her from morning until evening, even for just one day!
Now, I know that Scott is competent. He has done everything from feeding her breakfast in the morning to putting her down for bed at night--he's just never had to do it all in one day. And for 3 days!
And, when Scott and I went to Chicago, at least I had him with me to keep me from obsessing over Reagan constantly. This time, I'm with friends from church. Good friends, yes, but not the kind of friends I'm comfortable sharing my every neurotic thought with.
I know I'll return to a house still pretty much intact and a child none worse for the wear, but it's going to be a long weekend for me nonetheless. Fortunately, by the looks of our schedule, I won't have much time to worry. Busy, busy. I just hope I actually allow myself to enjoy this time and take it for what it's meant to be: a retreat.
Now, I know that Scott is competent. He has done everything from feeding her breakfast in the morning to putting her down for bed at night--he's just never had to do it all in one day. And for 3 days!
And, when Scott and I went to Chicago, at least I had him with me to keep me from obsessing over Reagan constantly. This time, I'm with friends from church. Good friends, yes, but not the kind of friends I'm comfortable sharing my every neurotic thought with.
I know I'll return to a house still pretty much intact and a child none worse for the wear, but it's going to be a long weekend for me nonetheless. Fortunately, by the looks of our schedule, I won't have much time to worry. Busy, busy. I just hope I actually allow myself to enjoy this time and take it for what it's meant to be: a retreat.
Odds and Ends
Here are a few of the cute things Reagan has done in the last week:
Scott, Reagan, and I had gone for a stroller walk around our circle. When we returned, our neighbor Bill was out washing his car. Ashley, his 20-year-old stepdaughter, came out to see Reagan. As we were all visiting, Reagan kept getting closer and closer to Bill and all his car washing supplies. Before we knew it, she was dipping her hand in his bucket of sudsy water and "washing" his car with her hands. Wish we had the video camera--it was quite funny.
This goes under the category of "just plain sweet": Reagan and I were grocery shopping. After going down several aisles, Reagan began to reach for me. Now, after about 10 minutes, Reagan is usually ready to get out of the cart, so this was no surprise. I bent down to get closer to her face and she just grabbed me in a hug. Then she pulled back and kissed me. She wasn't looking for an escape from the cart--she just wanted a hug and kiss!
This week we got Reagan a new CD player, and I brought several of the CDs I had for her in the car back into her room. She immediately grabbed the Barney CD and started begging, "Barney! Barney!" I played it for her once through (it's only about a 15 minute CD with 5 songs). Yesterday, she was again begging for Barney. I put her in her crib (so I wouldn't have to sit in there with her and listen to Barney) and turned on the CD. Listening from my computer, I could hear that the CD had stopped. I asked her if she was ready to get out of her crib and she said, "Barney! Barney!" So...I started the CD again. After three times through, I finally had to pry her from the crib to bring her back into the bonus room to play. Crazy purple dinosaur!
And, finally, I just wanted to add that I love the Praise Baby CD that Grandma got Reagan for Easter. It is the sweetest thing to hear Reagan's little voice singing along to songs like "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and "Oh My Soul Bless God." Precious!
Scott, Reagan, and I had gone for a stroller walk around our circle. When we returned, our neighbor Bill was out washing his car. Ashley, his 20-year-old stepdaughter, came out to see Reagan. As we were all visiting, Reagan kept getting closer and closer to Bill and all his car washing supplies. Before we knew it, she was dipping her hand in his bucket of sudsy water and "washing" his car with her hands. Wish we had the video camera--it was quite funny.
This goes under the category of "just plain sweet": Reagan and I were grocery shopping. After going down several aisles, Reagan began to reach for me. Now, after about 10 minutes, Reagan is usually ready to get out of the cart, so this was no surprise. I bent down to get closer to her face and she just grabbed me in a hug. Then she pulled back and kissed me. She wasn't looking for an escape from the cart--she just wanted a hug and kiss!
This week we got Reagan a new CD player, and I brought several of the CDs I had for her in the car back into her room. She immediately grabbed the Barney CD and started begging, "Barney! Barney!" I played it for her once through (it's only about a 15 minute CD with 5 songs). Yesterday, she was again begging for Barney. I put her in her crib (so I wouldn't have to sit in there with her and listen to Barney) and turned on the CD. Listening from my computer, I could hear that the CD had stopped. I asked her if she was ready to get out of her crib and she said, "Barney! Barney!" So...I started the CD again. After three times through, I finally had to pry her from the crib to bring her back into the bonus room to play. Crazy purple dinosaur!
And, finally, I just wanted to add that I love the Praise Baby CD that Grandma got Reagan for Easter. It is the sweetest thing to hear Reagan's little voice singing along to songs like "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and "Oh My Soul Bless God." Precious!
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Jen Is Pregnant!
God certainly has a sense of humor. I got a call from my college roommate this weekend, asking me how I dealt with morning sickness. She's about eight weeks along.
Here's the funny part: Several years ago, Jen and her husband, Tim, went through a whole battary of tests and fertility treatments. After countless months attempting to conceive, doctors finally told Jen and Tim there was little chance they would ever have a biological child. They decided to pursue adoption.
Now, Jen and Tim are the parents of two sisters from Russia, ages 12 and 13. It was a rough couple of years as the girls adjusted to their new life. (There was likely some physical abuse in their past, so the girls had trust issues as well as behavioral problems.) But, finally, it seemed like their little family had taken shape.
Isn't it funny how when we make up our mind about something, God comes along and changes it? Right now, Jen isn't jumping for joy about this baby--but I just know she will be, once she gets over that morning sickness hump. And, in the mean time, everyone else is excited enough to make up for it.
They've decided that if it's a boy, they'll name him Isaac, which means "he laughs." (If you don't know the Bible story, you can read it in Genesis 17.) It's very appropriate. Thank God for unexpected miracles.
Here's the funny part: Several years ago, Jen and her husband, Tim, went through a whole battary of tests and fertility treatments. After countless months attempting to conceive, doctors finally told Jen and Tim there was little chance they would ever have a biological child. They decided to pursue adoption.
Now, Jen and Tim are the parents of two sisters from Russia, ages 12 and 13. It was a rough couple of years as the girls adjusted to their new life. (There was likely some physical abuse in their past, so the girls had trust issues as well as behavioral problems.) But, finally, it seemed like their little family had taken shape.
Isn't it funny how when we make up our mind about something, God comes along and changes it? Right now, Jen isn't jumping for joy about this baby--but I just know she will be, once she gets over that morning sickness hump. And, in the mean time, everyone else is excited enough to make up for it.
They've decided that if it's a boy, they'll name him Isaac, which means "he laughs." (If you don't know the Bible story, you can read it in Genesis 17.) It's very appropriate. Thank God for unexpected miracles.
Is Reagan a Bully?
So far, we have witnessed very little aggressive behavior from Reagan. She bit Scott a couple of times, when they were playing and wrestling--I think she was just caught up in the moment. And she occasionally will grab your nose and not let go or playfully slap at you. But only once have we seen her even slap at another child, and, again, I think she meant it playfully rather than maliciously (but we, of course, were mortified!).
But today when we went to check on Reagan in the toddler room between church services, the nursery volunteer told us Reagan had been involved in a little "shoving match" with another child--a BOY! We were told she was provoked (and I don't doubt it, knowing the boy involved), but she said Reagan had him pinned up against the wall. The nursery volunteer was rather amused by the whole thing, but I was, of course, appalled at Reagan's behavior!
Yes, it is a little humorous to picture Reagan in her pretty pink sundress pinning a boy up against the wall with her tiny arm. But, what if our kid becomes the bully in class? Ugh! Do they have charm school for toddlers?
But today when we went to check on Reagan in the toddler room between church services, the nursery volunteer told us Reagan had been involved in a little "shoving match" with another child--a BOY! We were told she was provoked (and I don't doubt it, knowing the boy involved), but she said Reagan had him pinned up against the wall. The nursery volunteer was rather amused by the whole thing, but I was, of course, appalled at Reagan's behavior!
Yes, it is a little humorous to picture Reagan in her pretty pink sundress pinning a boy up against the wall with her tiny arm. But, what if our kid becomes the bully in class? Ugh! Do they have charm school for toddlers?
Friday, April 15, 2005
The Photo Fiasco
Last year for Mother's Day, we had photos taken of Reagan and her cousin Ashley for Scott's mom. Nana loved them so much that she requested the same gift every year. So. . . last night we got the girls dressed up and took them to a studio.
I had high hopes. Last year the girls were only around 9 months and 14 months (Ashley being the oldest). We had quite a time getting them to both smile at the same time, being so young, but we did manage to get a decent picture. This year, I thought, both girls are more mature. They understand requests for a smile. They have such a good time together; all we have to do is capture that on film. Was I ever wrong!
It was clear from the start that Ashley was having none of this picture business. From what I understand, she has never enjoyed photo sessions. (Reagan, on the other hand, is a definite fan of the paparazzi.) Jennifer (her mother) began bribing her with the promise of a surprise when we were finished.
Reagan, while in a pretty good mood, was having a hard time sitting still. And when she did sit, she was leaning forward (toward the photographer and her Uncle Jason who were both trying to elicit smiles out of the girls).
Eventually, Ashley began whining (not quite crying), and Reagan joined in. (She's really quite the mimic these days.) Jennifer revealed the bribe: an icee! Ashley still failed to comply.
At one point--and this is a little fuzzy now--Reagan's foot was under Ashley's leg. Reagan somehow lifted her leg, which sent Ashley off balance, and she nearly fell completely off the table! This, of course, started Ashley wailing. Reagan, in turn, joined in.
Did we get the picture? Yes. Just one picture of the girls together. It's not the best ever, but it's cute. We even got individual pictures of the girls. (Is it shameful of me to mention that Reagan's took about 2 minutes, while Ashley's took more like 15? Well, call me shameful.) After the hard part was done, the girls laughed and played together in the lobby area. Then Ashley promptly reminded her mother about the icee.
Next year, we're dropping the girls off at Nana's house. She can take them for the photo herself.
I had high hopes. Last year the girls were only around 9 months and 14 months (Ashley being the oldest). We had quite a time getting them to both smile at the same time, being so young, but we did manage to get a decent picture. This year, I thought, both girls are more mature. They understand requests for a smile. They have such a good time together; all we have to do is capture that on film. Was I ever wrong!
It was clear from the start that Ashley was having none of this picture business. From what I understand, she has never enjoyed photo sessions. (Reagan, on the other hand, is a definite fan of the paparazzi.) Jennifer (her mother) began bribing her with the promise of a surprise when we were finished.
Reagan, while in a pretty good mood, was having a hard time sitting still. And when she did sit, she was leaning forward (toward the photographer and her Uncle Jason who were both trying to elicit smiles out of the girls).
Eventually, Ashley began whining (not quite crying), and Reagan joined in. (She's really quite the mimic these days.) Jennifer revealed the bribe: an icee! Ashley still failed to comply.
At one point--and this is a little fuzzy now--Reagan's foot was under Ashley's leg. Reagan somehow lifted her leg, which sent Ashley off balance, and she nearly fell completely off the table! This, of course, started Ashley wailing. Reagan, in turn, joined in.
Did we get the picture? Yes. Just one picture of the girls together. It's not the best ever, but it's cute. We even got individual pictures of the girls. (Is it shameful of me to mention that Reagan's took about 2 minutes, while Ashley's took more like 15? Well, call me shameful.) After the hard part was done, the girls laughed and played together in the lobby area. Then Ashley promptly reminded her mother about the icee.
Next year, we're dropping the girls off at Nana's house. She can take them for the photo herself.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Reagan's Favorite Words, Phrases, and Songs
Here's a list of the things Reagan is saying these days:
Okay
Daddy, Mama, Reagan (all together as a phrase)
Here it is!
Here you go (more like, "here go")
Love you
Hug, Kiss
Ready, set, go!
Sassy! (the dog next door)
Pig! (see earlier post: Playdate with Jenny)
Barney, Bop (the big purple dinosaur and his friend Baby Bop)
Shoes, sockock (that's socks)
Monkey (No, not the creature; that's actually the word for blanket. Go figure.)
The following are songs that Reagan bursts into spontaneously. She knows them entirely, and although one might not recognize all the words, you can certainly recognize the tune:
Deep and Wide (she also does the "Hmm and Wide..." version)
ABC song
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
I Love You (aka Barney song)
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Jesus Loves Me
Are You Ready? (theme from Big Comfy Couch)
Sing Hosana (learned Palm Sunday at Aunt Sharon's Sunday school class)
Frere Jacques (yes, the French version)
The aforementioned are the songs she knows. However, she is not afraid to sing along with songs she is hearing for the first time. And, if I do say so myself, she has pretty good pitch for a not-yet-two-year-old.
Okay
Daddy, Mama, Reagan (all together as a phrase)
Here it is!
Here you go (more like, "here go")
Love you
Hug, Kiss
Ready, set, go!
Sassy! (the dog next door)
Pig! (see earlier post: Playdate with Jenny)
Barney, Bop (the big purple dinosaur and his friend Baby Bop)
Shoes, sockock (that's socks)
Monkey (No, not the creature; that's actually the word for blanket. Go figure.)
The following are songs that Reagan bursts into spontaneously. She knows them entirely, and although one might not recognize all the words, you can certainly recognize the tune:
Deep and Wide (she also does the "Hmm and Wide..." version)
ABC song
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
I Love You (aka Barney song)
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Jesus Loves Me
Are You Ready? (theme from Big Comfy Couch)
Sing Hosana (learned Palm Sunday at Aunt Sharon's Sunday school class)
Frere Jacques (yes, the French version)
The aforementioned are the songs she knows. However, she is not afraid to sing along with songs she is hearing for the first time. And, if I do say so myself, she has pretty good pitch for a not-yet-two-year-old.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Ready, Set, Go!
Yesterday afternoon, Reagan and Scott were playing outside while I planted a couple of herbs. Specifically, Scott was pushing Reagan around in her pink plastic car. Our driveway has a rather sharp incline, and Scott would push Reagan to the top of the driveway and then let her roll quickly down.
The first couple of times down Scott said, "Ready, set, go!" before letting her roll. By about the third time, Reagan took over the commands, and with her arm waving in time, she said, "Ready, set, go!" This went on for about fifteen minutes or so, and we pretty much had to drag Reagan inside when we were ready to go.
The first couple of times down Scott said, "Ready, set, go!" before letting her roll. By about the third time, Reagan took over the commands, and with her arm waving in time, she said, "Ready, set, go!" This went on for about fifteen minutes or so, and we pretty much had to drag Reagan inside when we were ready to go.
On Being an Older Mom
I'm 33. And I don't think of myself as particularly old. But consider this: I remember when my own mom was 33, because I was already 10! My parents married at 18, had my brother at 20, and had me at 23. That was pretty much the norm in the late 60s/early 70s. Now, it's more common for women to have babies well into their 40s. Here are some of what I consider to be the pros and cons:
Definite pro: I'm more mature. I don't even think of myself as the same person I was in my 20s. I could barely manage to care for myself then, much less take on the responsibility of a child.
Another bonus to waiting is that all my close relatives have already had kids. This is a twofold blessing. First, I was able to see different parenting styles in action and learn from their successes (and sometimes minor mistakes) what works and what doesn't. Second, we are the recipients of an enormity of hand-me-downs--clothes, toys, and even baby care products.
A big upside is that Scott and I have been in the workforce long enough that we are financially able to have children without it becoming a huge strain. Everybody says if you wait until you can afford it to have kids, you never will. But, really, we haven't felt a huge impact financially from having Reagan, and I know this is because we had time to prepare.
Now for the con side. As far as I can tell, the only downside of being an older mom is that I just don't have the energy I did when I was in my 20s. I'm trying to do some things that will help compensate for this (exercising, eating better, taking supplements), but the fact is, something happens to your body after 30. I can't seem to handle staying up late anymore. At the end of the day when Reagan goes to bed, I'm often ready to follow soon after.
When I weigh the good against the bad, I know that, for us, being older parents was the way to go. However, health risks do go up for childbearing once a woman reaches 35, and childbirth gets increasingly more risky the older a woman gets. So, don't expect me to become one of those really older moms, having babies in my 50s--my parents, Reagan's grandparents, are only in their mid-50s. Something about grandmother's having babies just doesn't seem normal to me.
Definite pro: I'm more mature. I don't even think of myself as the same person I was in my 20s. I could barely manage to care for myself then, much less take on the responsibility of a child.
Another bonus to waiting is that all my close relatives have already had kids. This is a twofold blessing. First, I was able to see different parenting styles in action and learn from their successes (and sometimes minor mistakes) what works and what doesn't. Second, we are the recipients of an enormity of hand-me-downs--clothes, toys, and even baby care products.
A big upside is that Scott and I have been in the workforce long enough that we are financially able to have children without it becoming a huge strain. Everybody says if you wait until you can afford it to have kids, you never will. But, really, we haven't felt a huge impact financially from having Reagan, and I know this is because we had time to prepare.
Now for the con side. As far as I can tell, the only downside of being an older mom is that I just don't have the energy I did when I was in my 20s. I'm trying to do some things that will help compensate for this (exercising, eating better, taking supplements), but the fact is, something happens to your body after 30. I can't seem to handle staying up late anymore. At the end of the day when Reagan goes to bed, I'm often ready to follow soon after.
When I weigh the good against the bad, I know that, for us, being older parents was the way to go. However, health risks do go up for childbearing once a woman reaches 35, and childbirth gets increasingly more risky the older a woman gets. So, don't expect me to become one of those really older moms, having babies in my 50s--my parents, Reagan's grandparents, are only in their mid-50s. Something about grandmother's having babies just doesn't seem normal to me.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Playdate with Jenny
Yesterday, Reagan was scheduled to spend a little quality time with my good friend Jenny. After a bit of confusion that could rival any classic comedy sketch (us going to her house, her coming to our house), we finally met up with Jenny at her house.
As soon as we walked in, Reagan followed her ears to find Ruthie, Jenny's golden retriever, in the back yard. "Doggie...doggie...doggie," was about all Reagan had to say for the first five minutes. Scott and I said our goodbyes and left Reagan (seemingly unmoved by our departure) in the caring, attentive hands of Jenny.
What you need to understand about Ruthie is that she's rather advanced in years--a senior citizen by dog standards. When we arrived a couple of hours later, Ruthie was resting at the far end of the fenced backyard, trying to recover from her time with Reagan. Reagan was now yelling, "Doggie! Doggie!" but Ruthie by this time had lost interest. Reagan had worn her out, running the length of the yard, chasing her in an attempt to pet/hug/grab her.
Unfortunatly for both Reagan and Ruthie, Jenny's younger, more energetic dog, Nestle, was quarantined in a kennel upstairs with a hurt leg. Reagan did go visit with him, but Nestle couldn't come out and play.
After play time, the four of us had dinner at Famous Dave's (a yummy BBQ joint), where Reagan was enchanted by the giant pig that traveled the restaurant, visiting with diners. Reagan would call, "Pig! Pig! Please!" (As in, "please come to my table!")
A good time was had by all, and Reagan--and, I'm sure, Ruthie--slept very well last night.
As soon as we walked in, Reagan followed her ears to find Ruthie, Jenny's golden retriever, in the back yard. "Doggie...doggie...doggie," was about all Reagan had to say for the first five minutes. Scott and I said our goodbyes and left Reagan (seemingly unmoved by our departure) in the caring, attentive hands of Jenny.
What you need to understand about Ruthie is that she's rather advanced in years--a senior citizen by dog standards. When we arrived a couple of hours later, Ruthie was resting at the far end of the fenced backyard, trying to recover from her time with Reagan. Reagan was now yelling, "Doggie! Doggie!" but Ruthie by this time had lost interest. Reagan had worn her out, running the length of the yard, chasing her in an attempt to pet/hug/grab her.
Unfortunatly for both Reagan and Ruthie, Jenny's younger, more energetic dog, Nestle, was quarantined in a kennel upstairs with a hurt leg. Reagan did go visit with him, but Nestle couldn't come out and play.
After play time, the four of us had dinner at Famous Dave's (a yummy BBQ joint), where Reagan was enchanted by the giant pig that traveled the restaurant, visiting with diners. Reagan would call, "Pig! Pig! Please!" (As in, "please come to my table!")
A good time was had by all, and Reagan--and, I'm sure, Ruthie--slept very well last night.
Raising a Stripper
What is the deal with Reagan's sudden fascination with taking her shirt off? I tried putting her down for a nap THREE TIMES yesterday. Each time I peeked in to check on her, she was still awake but shirtless.
Again today, as I write, she is in her crib (supposed to be napping) with her shirt off. What is that about?
I know I wrote about what a great sleeper she is in my last post, and she really is--at night. Maybe that's because her pajamas are hard to get out of. (They're the footie kind that zip up and even have a snap to cover the top of the zipper.) Before we discovered PJs with that very important snap, we had given Reagan the nickname of Elvis, after finding her with her PJs unzipped to her navel.
In her defense, Reagan traditionally naps about 2-3 hours every day. But since she has discovered that she can take her shirt off, her naps have become a little more unpredictable.
Ugh! Guess I'm going to have to start buying her shirts that fit like a glove!
Again today, as I write, she is in her crib (supposed to be napping) with her shirt off. What is that about?
I know I wrote about what a great sleeper she is in my last post, and she really is--at night. Maybe that's because her pajamas are hard to get out of. (They're the footie kind that zip up and even have a snap to cover the top of the zipper.) Before we discovered PJs with that very important snap, we had given Reagan the nickname of Elvis, after finding her with her PJs unzipped to her navel.
In her defense, Reagan traditionally naps about 2-3 hours every day. But since she has discovered that she can take her shirt off, her naps have become a little more unpredictable.
Ugh! Guess I'm going to have to start buying her shirts that fit like a glove!
Friday, April 08, 2005
Reagan at 20 Months
Why didn't I think of this before? A blog is the perfect medium for keeping track of Reagan's daily development and latest "cute thing" she's doing. And, to be quite honest, I haven't been especially great at charting all her accomplishments in her baby book.
At this point in her young life, Reagan is a bundle of energy. She loves spinning in circles, dancing, running, and climbing. Her new favorite thing to climb on is the kitchen table; she climbs onto a chair, then onto the table, and then tries to touch the light fixture. Usually, we catch her before she can get it. Just last week at church, Reagan climbed onto the "snack center" table and tried to put herself into one of the highchair seats. Fortunately, we were in charge of her toddler room, so she didn't cause any other parents to panic.
Language-wise, Reagan is in constant chatter mode. We still don't understand a lot of what she says, but there are some clear phrases and sentences that are coming through. She says things like, "here it is" or "more, please." She can also sing her alphabet, although you might not recognize all the letters. You will, however, recognize the song. Reagan has been very musical from an early age. She love to sing along with the radio, even if she doesn't know the song. She's also very into clapping along to music.
Reagan's favorite show is still "Barney." And while he once annoyed me to no end, I have come to see him as a true friend--especially when Reagan is being difficult. She will almost always sit still to watch that big purple dinosaur.
"Sesame Street" and "The Big Comfy Couch" are also favorites. Earlier this week, Reagan was imitating Loonette the clown (from "Couch") by pulling back the cushions and looking for Molly on our own couch. It was pretty funny. Guess you had to be there to truly understand.
Reagan and her cousin Ashley are the best of friends. (Ashley is five months older than Reagan.) The giggle when they see each other and play very well together, with only minor disagreements over toys.
As of yesterday, Reagan has a new boo-boo that consists of a bruise/bump on her forehead and a tiny rug burn on her nose. She fell down a couple of stairs and collided with the banister. She still has the remains of a boo-boo on her finger, where she cut it on a cabinet latch--a cabinet that she shouldn't have been into in the first place. We often remark that it's amazing that she's not black and blue all the time with her crazy antics.
That's about it for now. I'll try to update this blog frequently with the latest and greatest from Reagan.
Valerie (Reagan's Mom)
At this point in her young life, Reagan is a bundle of energy. She loves spinning in circles, dancing, running, and climbing. Her new favorite thing to climb on is the kitchen table; she climbs onto a chair, then onto the table, and then tries to touch the light fixture. Usually, we catch her before she can get it. Just last week at church, Reagan climbed onto the "snack center" table and tried to put herself into one of the highchair seats. Fortunately, we were in charge of her toddler room, so she didn't cause any other parents to panic.
Language-wise, Reagan is in constant chatter mode. We still don't understand a lot of what she says, but there are some clear phrases and sentences that are coming through. She says things like, "here it is" or "more, please." She can also sing her alphabet, although you might not recognize all the letters. You will, however, recognize the song. Reagan has been very musical from an early age. She love to sing along with the radio, even if she doesn't know the song. She's also very into clapping along to music.
Reagan's favorite show is still "Barney." And while he once annoyed me to no end, I have come to see him as a true friend--especially when Reagan is being difficult. She will almost always sit still to watch that big purple dinosaur.
"Sesame Street" and "The Big Comfy Couch" are also favorites. Earlier this week, Reagan was imitating Loonette the clown (from "Couch") by pulling back the cushions and looking for Molly on our own couch. It was pretty funny. Guess you had to be there to truly understand.
Reagan and her cousin Ashley are the best of friends. (Ashley is five months older than Reagan.) The giggle when they see each other and play very well together, with only minor disagreements over toys.
As of yesterday, Reagan has a new boo-boo that consists of a bruise/bump on her forehead and a tiny rug burn on her nose. She fell down a couple of stairs and collided with the banister. She still has the remains of a boo-boo on her finger, where she cut it on a cabinet latch--a cabinet that she shouldn't have been into in the first place. We often remark that it's amazing that she's not black and blue all the time with her crazy antics.
That's about it for now. I'll try to update this blog frequently with the latest and greatest from Reagan.
Valerie (Reagan's Mom)
Nothing Better than a Sleeping Baby
Reagan is an excellent sleeper. Adding up night and naps, she probably gets 14-16 hours of sleep/day. And, without sounding like a bragger, she has been sleeping through the night since she was 7 weeks old. So how did we do it? Well, I'm sure some of it was that we were just lucky. But there are a few hints that helped us out.
First, from the time that we brought her home from the hospital, we made a point to feed her every three hours during the day--even if it meant waking her up to feed her. Then, at night, we would let her sleep as long as she would. (Some lactation nurses don't recommend letting newborns sleep more than four hours at a time, but our pediatrician said it was fine, so I chose to believe him.)
When she was several months old, we were still either holding or rocking Reagan to sleep before putting her down. Somewhere around a year or so, we decided we would try putting her down awake and letting her "cry it out." On the first night, she cried about five minutes. Same for the second. By the third night, she didn't even cry.
Now, at 20 months, Reagan happily goes down awake. Sometimes when we can sense that she's getting tired or cranky, we'll say, "Want to go night-night?" and she'll resond, "Night-night." She actually WANTS to go to bed!
We're not without our bumps in the road (especially when she spends the night with grandparents!), but we are well-rested parents overall. Every child is different, and I don't claim to be an expert. But this worked for us. If you can tolerate a little crying, you will probably have a happier, better-rested baby in the end.
First, from the time that we brought her home from the hospital, we made a point to feed her every three hours during the day--even if it meant waking her up to feed her. Then, at night, we would let her sleep as long as she would. (Some lactation nurses don't recommend letting newborns sleep more than four hours at a time, but our pediatrician said it was fine, so I chose to believe him.)
When she was several months old, we were still either holding or rocking Reagan to sleep before putting her down. Somewhere around a year or so, we decided we would try putting her down awake and letting her "cry it out." On the first night, she cried about five minutes. Same for the second. By the third night, she didn't even cry.
Now, at 20 months, Reagan happily goes down awake. Sometimes when we can sense that she's getting tired or cranky, we'll say, "Want to go night-night?" and she'll resond, "Night-night." She actually WANTS to go to bed!
We're not without our bumps in the road (especially when she spends the night with grandparents!), but we are well-rested parents overall. Every child is different, and I don't claim to be an expert. But this worked for us. If you can tolerate a little crying, you will probably have a happier, better-rested baby in the end.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Deep Thoughts on Life and Death
Wow, I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to motivate myself to do this. I think part of the problem is that I have so many ideas spinning around in my head that it's hard to decide what to write about. Hmmm...maybe I'll just write about the last couple of days.
My neighbor has cancer. That, in itself, is pretty unremarkable. I mean, people get cancer all the time. But my neighbor is only 20. She actually first got cancer (osteosarcoma, to be exact) at 18. She was a vibrant senior member of her high school soccer team when she began noticing the pain. After a grueling battle which included surgery, a donor bone (who even knew they did that!), and chemo, she beat it and life returned, pretty much, to normal. She had even enrolled in college. But it was sitting in class that she started to experience pain again, this time in her lower back/tailbone area. Tests confirmed that the cancer had come back, and this time the doctors haven't offerred much hope to Ashley and her family. She has been given only months to live.
Like any good mother, Judy is seeking alternative treatments--supplements, healthy foods, and perhaps even a clinical trial if one becomes available. I'm helping her do some of the legwork on the internet, and the enormity of information out there is overwhelming. Seemingly everyone has heard of some wonder tablet or holistic physician that we absolutely must get/talk with/look into. People are trying so hard to be helpful, but this bounty of information sometimes confuses, rather than enlightens.
Ashley's attitude is great. I'm not sure she's so "on board" with the diet and supplement regime, but I think she understands--as few young women her age could--that she needs to comply, if not for her own health, than for her mother's sanity. Judy needs to know that she made every effort, explored every option, did everything she possibly could to keep Ashley alive.
Ashley and her family are believers. Ashley has faced death in the face before and won. This time, she may not win the battle. But in her amazing 20-year-old wisdom, she understands that in the end, she will be victorious. First Corinthians 15:54-55 says: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
Sure, we want to keep Ashley here with us, but it's selfish, really. We like having her around. But if and when Ashley does leave this world, she won't be missing it. She'll have moved on to a place so incomparable to anything we can even conjure up in our little minds. Don't pity Ashley. Pity those of us she'll leave behind.
My neighbor has cancer. That, in itself, is pretty unremarkable. I mean, people get cancer all the time. But my neighbor is only 20. She actually first got cancer (osteosarcoma, to be exact) at 18. She was a vibrant senior member of her high school soccer team when she began noticing the pain. After a grueling battle which included surgery, a donor bone (who even knew they did that!), and chemo, she beat it and life returned, pretty much, to normal. She had even enrolled in college. But it was sitting in class that she started to experience pain again, this time in her lower back/tailbone area. Tests confirmed that the cancer had come back, and this time the doctors haven't offerred much hope to Ashley and her family. She has been given only months to live.
Like any good mother, Judy is seeking alternative treatments--supplements, healthy foods, and perhaps even a clinical trial if one becomes available. I'm helping her do some of the legwork on the internet, and the enormity of information out there is overwhelming. Seemingly everyone has heard of some wonder tablet or holistic physician that we absolutely must get/talk with/look into. People are trying so hard to be helpful, but this bounty of information sometimes confuses, rather than enlightens.
Ashley's attitude is great. I'm not sure she's so "on board" with the diet and supplement regime, but I think she understands--as few young women her age could--that she needs to comply, if not for her own health, than for her mother's sanity. Judy needs to know that she made every effort, explored every option, did everything she possibly could to keep Ashley alive.
Ashley and her family are believers. Ashley has faced death in the face before and won. This time, she may not win the battle. But in her amazing 20-year-old wisdom, she understands that in the end, she will be victorious. First Corinthians 15:54-55 says: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
Sure, we want to keep Ashley here with us, but it's selfish, really. We like having her around. But if and when Ashley does leave this world, she won't be missing it. She'll have moved on to a place so incomparable to anything we can even conjure up in our little minds. Don't pity Ashley. Pity those of us she'll leave behind.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Getting Started
I'm a writer. I mean, I actually get paid to write. I'm also a habitual journaler. And I'd like to think that I'm fairly tech-savvy, although certainly not as much so as my computer geek husband. (I love you, Scott, and you know I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.) That said, I figured I had better get started on this whole blog thing. I wouldn't want to get left behind.
You've heard it said: Write what you know. Right now, I know being a mom. Sure, there's lots of other stuff going on in my life. But almost everything I do these days seems to somehow relate to this one hat I wear. Becoming a mother has altered every fiber of my being. It's the hardest--and the most rewarding--thing I've ever done.
Let's get the preliminaries out of the way. My husband, Scott, and I have been married almost 5 years. He's a Senior Network Administrator for a publishing company. I do freelance writing, primarily for the same company. Reagan, our daughter, is 20 months old. She is the joy of our lives, full of love and energy. She's a great sleeper (maybe I'll write about how we got to this point sometime), but she's very spirited (read: strong-willed). She loves music and sings ALL the time! She is great when it comes to "please" and "thank you," but she has terrible table manners. We're not perfect parents, but all-in-all, I think we're doing a pretty good job with her.
So, there you have it. The start of my blog. I'm sure I'll address specific parenting issues along the way. I also tend to get the proverbial "bee in my bonnet" every now and then, so expect a few rants. I'm also a very spiritual (Christian--not that generic version of "spiritual") person, so you might even get a bit of my personal theology here.
I welcome your comments and questions, but I'm a pretty tough sell, so don't expect to change my mind on anything.
You've heard it said: Write what you know. Right now, I know being a mom. Sure, there's lots of other stuff going on in my life. But almost everything I do these days seems to somehow relate to this one hat I wear. Becoming a mother has altered every fiber of my being. It's the hardest--and the most rewarding--thing I've ever done.
Let's get the preliminaries out of the way. My husband, Scott, and I have been married almost 5 years. He's a Senior Network Administrator for a publishing company. I do freelance writing, primarily for the same company. Reagan, our daughter, is 20 months old. She is the joy of our lives, full of love and energy. She's a great sleeper (maybe I'll write about how we got to this point sometime), but she's very spirited (read: strong-willed). She loves music and sings ALL the time! She is great when it comes to "please" and "thank you," but she has terrible table manners. We're not perfect parents, but all-in-all, I think we're doing a pretty good job with her.
So, there you have it. The start of my blog. I'm sure I'll address specific parenting issues along the way. I also tend to get the proverbial "bee in my bonnet" every now and then, so expect a few rants. I'm also a very spiritual (Christian--not that generic version of "spiritual") person, so you might even get a bit of my personal theology here.
I welcome your comments and questions, but I'm a pretty tough sell, so don't expect to change my mind on anything.
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