Month: December 2014

At 6:30 sharp, the tree would be lit, Santa would arrive on the train, and we would board! Well, we hoped so. The line was longer than three parks. So, we decided to take a few pictures.
The up and down had to be in the mix while our dear friends waited in line. 

Finally, Santa arrived. As he descended from the train with his elves, Tatum waved like crazy! “HI Santa! HI Santa!” Tigger (yes, Tigger!), Pooh and some giant mouse followed after the elves which made Tot extremely confused but happy. Why are Pooh and Tiger hanging out with Santa? Oh well…”Hi Tigger!”

We boarded and selfied.
Hooray! Janette, Levi, Lori and Avery all enjoyed the light show on OPENING NIGHT. Thank goodness it was not too cold. 🙂

 

How can I make meaning out of Christmas?
One day at a time!

Of course, she has seen the Christmas trees, Santa Claus, the decorations all over the city, but how can I get her to see the real reason? 

I decided to introduce her to the Nativity scene one piece at at time with the book, Christmas in the Manger.

Each page introduces a character at a time, so I figured I’d follow suit with the Little People Nativity scene.

The first day, I introduced to the donkeys. I have not shown her any other piece, promising her baby Jesus will be born pretty soon!

The next day, I introduced the sheep. Each morning, she looks forward to what is next. So do I, actually! We are making it fun, and this is what she can enjoy about the reason for the season: Jesus coming to be celebrated at Christmas time! Happy Birthday is coming.

 

 

 

When you look at that adorable Christmas picture, you don’t see the hoops and tricks you had to perform to get that pose just right.

A plethora of dog cookies, doggie finger puppet, a lighted Santa Claus rubber ornament….about 15 shots. 10 seconds to get it just right. Tatum was perfect and needed little coaxing because she was too interested in getting the Coti to sit still.

Ironically, our practice shot was the best one.

 

When is that? The minute I walk into my room for the evening, I feel like I’m hitting the classroom. My safe haven…my learning time…my soaking it all in time.

First, I always take a piece of dark chocolate with me and then I lay in my bed with my Bible devotion. This is the beginning of “soak-it-all-in” time. What does HE say? Encouragement and Reflection. Take a bite. Now, what book will it be tonight?

I happened to spread all of the parenting books on the floor tonight to just review how much I have really “studied.” The beauty about “soak-it-all-in” time is that you can soak it in, but you can also squeeze the unneeded or unwanted out. Ok..take a bite.

I have my favorites. In fact, in each book, I have many pearls which I have saved, used, failed at, and tried again. The key is to keep trying new things. There is nothing new under the sun; only new approaches to common problems/challenges. 

Currently, I’m reading THE PASSIONATE MOM but Susan Merrill. So far so good. Take another bite.

These books are like dark chocolate. They are rich, sometimes too sweet, necessary and can give you a tummy ache if you over-indulge. Advice can only go so far. Every child is different, and if I try something and it does not work, it does not mean I failed; it just means I need a different approach. (also, if I do fail, I try again tomorrow with a positive attitude, lots of grace and prayer).

I love this time of night. Time to soak it in and pray for wisdom….

And the dark chocolate doesn’t hurt. 🙂

Today, I had a hair appointment with my dear friend Kristen. She is truly a magician with scissors although I never style my hair as the cut would demand! Tatum ended up coming with me, and I thought she could just sit and watch me. (ha?..perhaps??)

It ended up that she did watch me, but….. While Kristen shampooed me, she sat on my lap, and then while I was being scissored, she sat facing me. Well, sat is a bit of an exaggeration. She sat then wanted down. Then wanted up then down. Eventually, I had her find me a train in the Travel Magazine which lasted a good 3 minutes. No train. But many card stock inserts for her to pull out.

Finally, I asked Kristen about when to cut Tot’s hair. She mentioned that she could just trim up the random long hairs and straighten it up a bit. For $5? Sure! Would Tot sit still and be brave? Of course!
The key, I suppose, was watching me do it first; she does love to watch me do my hair, and loves to pretend to do hers. The first cut! WOW!!

Thankful for a non-wiggler when scissors are near!:-)

 

Back to her old self today, Tatum was adorable as ever.

Her little ruffle butt wanted to climb and get taller. This is her goal in life! She hangs off anything to stretch her body, lengthening it as much as possible.

Today, raining cats and dogs, we had to head to Kelly’s house for tutoring. This means that Tatum has to be occupied with some kind of fun. The trains did not interest her as much as playing itty bitty  dollhouse. This dollhouse furniture had the opposite effect in that she wanted to be smaller and sit in the itty bitty chairs.

 

She served Mr. Bunny and shared the tea with no hesitation.

What I am enjoying about Tatum is her zest for life. Everything excites her, and her energy to learn and grow (literally and figuratively) is infectious. It is not possible to be sad around her because she just makes you laugh.

As usual, not wanting to go to bed, she says, “Run two times?” This means we have to run around the top floor of the house twice around, and then it is bed time. The last lap becomes a sightseeing tour. We stop at ever destination to discover fuzz, something on a table that needs to be straightened, a mini ladder that needs to be climbed, a doggie toy in the way. I outsmart her, and have her turn out the lights. This becomes an on-off clicking game. Her creativity to keep herself up will only become more brilliant, I am sure. I’m on to her as she says, “more rock, mommy?” but, yikes…how do I say no to that?!

 

 

 

Yesterday, while Coti went to the “spa” to get fluffed and nuttered, Tatum and I went on a play date with her two boyfriends, Robert and Nicholas.

It was just what the Dr. ordered for me, because sometimes, you just need some girlie time! Jennie,  Elizabeth, and I shared about mommy foibles, 2-year old “stuff”, school ideas? essential oils being essential, and how to get unplugged (literally). I also got convinced that perhaps 30 minutes or so of structured TV time would not kill Tatum. “Daniel Tiger” (the current Mr. Rogers) and “Thomas and Friends” may fit in somewhere into her day. Still on the fence, but at two, I think a BALANCE is what I am striving for.

Elizabeth gifted Tot with some cleaning supplies since Nicholas had used them to full capacity. Actually, Elizabeth was DONE with a singing vacuum.
SO..she came home and did some housework. The singing vacuum did not bother me because it kept Tot engaged for more than 10 seconds. I then caved, and we did watch Daniel Tiger and learned about problem solving on your own instead of constantly asking for help.

Being around other moms sure helps me because I can first, not feel so alone when I wonder why Tatum may be challenging me now more often, and second, I can discuss what is/is  not working and get ideas. Playdates are more for the mommies!