MOPS Monday

I LOVE M(others)O(f)P(re-schooler)S Mondays. It's a time for mothers of kids aged pre-K and younger to get together and have some adult interaction, food, and time with God! My week always seems to start off better when I start it with MOPS.

First off, I get a nice hot breakfast. Seriously there is TONS of food. It's always nice to get the chance to eat a meal uninterrupted and without a little person begging for bites off of my plate. I can eat all the food on my plate without feeling guilty or having to cut everything into teeny tiny bites.

Of course the two hours of time I get away from Sarah is a nice break. (Not that my girl isn't the light of my life, but sometimes she's a handful.) She loves being in the church nursery and her teachers think she is such a doll. I think it's kind of nice for her to get the chance to interact with other kids her age too. I mean if I crave time with my peers why wouldn't she? The best part is that she usually keeps herself so busy playing that she doesn't sleep which means I have a tired baby on my hands on the way home. She passes out in the car and I can almost always count on a two hour nap once we get home.

I also love the time I get to spend with other moms. It's nice hearing what other moms are struggling with and knowing that I am not the only one who has a baby that's teething or refusing to sleep. Of course the encouragement and the prayers I get are some of the best things from this group, not to mention the lessons. Each week someone gives a talk on something that is pertinent to a MOPS mother. Today it was about friendship and how to handle the competition that sometimes occurs with moms.

This is something I currently struggle with. I'm the first in my core group of friends to have a baby (let alone a second) so I feel lonely a lot of  the time. I do have some close girlfriends, but they don't have kids and while they can empathize with me, it's not the same as having mommy friends. That isn't to say that I don't know anyone else with kids or have friends with kids, but they are scattered all across the state and I rarely get to see them. So the lesson today prompted me to be more outgoing and just say hi to other moms. I used to be so much more outgoing than I am now. I honestly think this was a good wake up call for me. God really got my attention and I will be looking for opportunities to say hi and possibly make new friends. I am so grateful I got the chance to be a part of this amazing group of women!

Wordless Wednesday (And Whiny)

Monday Mind Dump

• Getting out of the house puts me in a better mood. It forces me to get dressed and look presentable so I can go out in public which makes me feel better about myself if I am out of pj's or stained clothes.
• Sunbursts from Nordstrom Espresso Bar are AMAZING! I worked there in high school and they were one of my favorite drinks then and they still are now. Ginger peach tea, raspberry syrup, and orange juice. It's so refreshing and yummy!
• I love Sarah's dancing. It's so funny and she does it all the time now. Seriously, even commercial jingles make her get her groove thing on. And she loves if someone sings a song with her name in it.
• We got Sarah some flash cards to help her learn to recognize different words and objects. I highly recommend them. They are touch and feel and fairly inexpensive. She already knows quite a few of them and can pick them out when you ask her where they are.          

• Sarah went to the walking classroom at church yesterday and did very well! I was a little anxious about it because she's pretty small compared to some of the other "walkers". But my worries were unfounded because she did beautifully! Her teachers in the baby classroom miss her though.
• Finances stink! I hate having to make a decision based on how much money is in the bank. With a second baby on the way, I have been feeling pretty guilty about not having an income. I know everyone has money stress, but sometimes I wish the "right" choice would just be crystal clear or at least have a neon sign pointing to it saying choose me.
• My dogs are finally going to get a haircut on Friday. We've been putting it off for too long and I will be happy to not have to vacuum multiple times a day to fend off the dog hair.
• Sarah learned to fake sneeze. It's quite something! She throws her head back and says "achoo" while tossing her head forward.
• I need to have a girls' night out sometime soon. Or maybe just a coffee or lunch date with friends. Having me time is ESSENTIAL to all mamas. (Working or stay at home) Every mom needs to recharge so she can give her best to everyone that demands it.

    

Food Problems

Sarah has reached the stage where she no longer wants to eat baby food. This wouldn't be a problem, IF she could eat regular food. She gags on nearly all stage 3 baby foods (the kind with bits of food in it) and she chokes a lot when eating table food.

This makes sort of a dilemma for me. I don't know what to feed her. She can comfortably eat crackers, puffs, and cereal. However the nutritional value of those things isn't exactly that high. I know she's hungry, but refuses to finish her baby food jars and isn't satisfied with just a bottle anymore. All she wants to eat is what's on my plate. Again, not a problem in theory. When she gets what's on my plate she either spits it out or gags/chokes. Sometimes we have success, but that usually ends in me not getting to eat because she wants every bite of mine.

Anyway, I guess I'm wondering if any other mamas out there have gone through this and if they have any suggestions on how to make it better. I don't want Sarah to be hungry but I want to make sure she is getting enough good stuff and not just fillers like crackers and such.

On a side note, this baby seems to be a health nut compared to Sarah. All I want to eat is fruit and veggies and big salads. When I was pregnant with Sarah, I was convinced she was surrounded with vegetable oil instead of amniotic fluid. This is a welcome change though. Hopefully this will prevent a 50 pound weight gain. So maybe Sarah's lack of interest in healthy foods started when she was a fetus...

Wordless Wednesday (Newborn Sarah)

Happy Valentine's Day

It seems the meaning of love changes a bit when you become a parent. Shortly after we woke up, I got Sarah dressed in her cute Valentine's Day outfit (courtesy of Nana - Sarah's great grandma). I spent the day with my littlest love just playing and reading some stories. When Daddy came home from work, we took her pictures and gave her a card from us.

Yay for pictures Daddy!

A card for me?

Mommy reading Sarah's card to her.

Sarah reading her own card. (I spy something strange...)

She found the mirror on the inside of the card.

A Whole Lot of Random

I'm taking the time to enjoy the smaller things in life. Currently I am without a car (it's in the shop) so I am choosing to enjoy being at home today. I know I'm a stay at home mom, and I'm home all the time, but at least I have the option of going to the store or something.

So here are some of the little things I'm loving right now.

• Sarah figured out what a phone is. She has a toy phone that she puts up to her and "talks" to whoever is on the line. On the other hand, my TV remote is constantly being stolen so she can "call" someone.
• Mashed potatoes. We had some with dinner last night, and Sarah loved them. Here's concrete proof that this kid is mine. I could live off mashed potatoes and brown gravy. I got a second helping after dinner and was eating them on the couch and this girl RAN to come get bites.
• Baby Dances! Sarah recently started doing this little butt shake thing whenever music is on or she sees someone dancing. It's hilarious.
• Pointing. We have reached a new form of communication with Sarah. She can point to things or where she wants to go now. It's not always very clear, but it's progress.
• Nods. Sarah is nodding when asked if she wants something now. I'm pretty sure she understands the meaning of what she's doing. Even if she doesn't, it's stinkin' cute.
• A clean kitchen. My mom picked me up from the car shop yesterday and dropped Sarah and I at home. She stayed long enough to clean our kitchen immaculately! It's something I have been trying to get around to so it just made my day! Thanks Mom.
• Funny faces. Sarah and I shared a pickle today. Her face was so funny! I thought she hated it, but she kept wanting more. This is a trend now. Anytime I eat something, Sarah wants whatever I have.
• It's Friday! The weekend is almost here and my hubby will be home for two solid days and I can sleep in! 

What are the little things making you happy today?