Category: Totally Tatum

Doug and I are jumping all in. Yes, we are going to a new church, Scottsdale Bible, and I for one am pumped. For Tatum, there are a plethora of opportunities to creatively thrive and grow in Jesus as well. For Doug and me, there are groups, Bible Studies, and friendships to be had. Also opportunities to serve. For me, this is my thing…I want to find some places to serve and help others.

We decided to have a Starbucks before we got there to have conversation,

compare shoes, 

and build a farm of course

Grandma and Tatum share a moment.

We dropped off Tatum at Discovery Kids and off we went.

We, as a unit, are all excited about hope and growth.

We are attempting to make a peaceful transition into the 4’s. You see, it has not been as easy as I thought it would be. For example, dropping off Tatum at school the past few weeks has been difficult for her. And it shows. LOUDLY.

Actually, there has been an increase in the dramatic show of emotions as of late. Sometimes she expects me to read her mind and when I don’t get it right, she’ll start to cry. It’s a little more pronounced since she’s turned 4 for some reason. I’m learning how to help her navigate through her bevy of emotions as I figure out how to handle them myself!

Tatum (and I know I) have been holding on to pieces of her that are still 1, 2 and 3. I love picking her up and holding her. I love her little cries when she needs mommy. I love her needing me to help her! I’m sure there will always be her 1, 2, and 3’s present as she gets older; it will just look a bit different.

Then there is the 4-year old who wants to be 7. She can do it herself. She can be bossy and demanding. She’s discovering her personhood little by little, and sometimes it can be overly emotional.

This brings me to a timely book: The Little Tree. It is a wonderful reminder to Tatum and especially for me.

 

The book starts out with all of the little trees being so beautiful and green. Then as fall arrives, they all start to drop their leaves, but not the little tree.

It holds onto its leaves tight and won’t let go. Many come by and ask the little tree why, but it stays still, unwavering. Then spring arrives and the other trees are blossoming new beautiful green leaves and growing, but the little tree’s leaves stay brown. 

The cycle continues and the other trees are growing as the little tree remains the same. No change. No growth.

 

Finally finally finally, it decides to let one go. Then another and another. It steps out on faith and it is bitterly cold and hard!

What happens next?

A beautiful tree is not so little anymore. (and look at the love all around it now!)

A great lesson for me as we allow for her growth and independence to occur. Sure, I want her to remain in my lap and cradled in my arms forever, but that is not going to help her at all. Ultimately, what I do want for her is to grow into the woman God made her to be, and that is the beautiful tree I know she will be. I love you Tatum Knight.

Monday celebrated one of my heroes: Martin Luther King Jr. He stood for peace and love in the midst of extreme difficulty.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

I had already planned to give Tot a mini-Coti to take along with us in the car. His name is Pippie. Seriously, he looks just like Coti!

Coti was a bit jealous, so mom gave him a new mouse toy that talks.

Not for long!

Mom really spoiled us today on this special day of love. Dr. King, you inspire us all to remember love drives out all the evil in the world. Without having Jesus, this would not be possible. I pray for a revolution in this country. We need a lot more love and a lot more Jesus!

Something about this picture gives me peace. Tatum is so immersed in adding to the pile of sand in the bucket, it makes me appreciate her focus and tenacity  about something so insignificant as a bucket of sand. Or is it? She does fill my bucket!

Well, it inspired me and so I decided to draw it.  Tall order for someone who has never ever ever ever drawn a person. Tot (faceless here) was a good place to start since I did not have to focus so much on her adorable features.

I started out just trying to get an outline of the deal and the relative proportions. Man, this took forever!

Well, I picked up it almost weekly for just a few minutes while Tot was playing. I just could not get the sand to look like sand and the shadows just right. Then there was her hat, the her foot, her face! Never ending difficulty. I have a long way to go, but here it is!

Now, where would it go? How about under Mickey, Tot?

OK!

Thank goodness only Tatum has to see it. I’ll keep trying!

I think Coti is next.

When we get older, the silliness can easily be extinguished. Why? Maybe it’s because time is flying so fast as we age that we don’t take the time to just stop and be silly! Well, this little light of mine makes me hoot. Honestly, she is a kick in the pants.

Case in point…my old clothes and shoes. She steals my boots then dances like crazy with them on. Her legs have vanished in these things!

A little later she comes sporting Bella in her pouch. An old bathing suit does the trick. 

Then maybe it’s time to be a super hero in my old sparkly shoes.

Whatever it is, she makes it fun. And you know? This is such a great analogy for life. Make the most of each moment and squeeze out all the laughter you can. Life is meant to be lived and a little silliness can go a long way to enjoying life, right Tot?

Resilience. When you get low you bounce back even higher! This has been the week.

Tatum complained of a headache for a few days, and I honestly had no idea how to handle it. When there are no other symptoms, you tend to worry that there could be something that is undetectable by a regular physician. However, after three days, I called to make an appointment. Then, she did develop a fever the night before we went in. The doctor said it is just the liquid in her ears but no infection. The fever was just a virus trying to wiggle its way into her body!

Today, she actually felt much better and there is much rejoicing. Bella was the benefactor this morning with a new crib (some refrigerator containers) and some lullabies. Bella needed to be held after laying in the plastic box. (!)

I told her I would take her to get a bagel at Einstein’s and we’d hang out today. Again, there was much rejoicing.

While we were there, we chatted with  two older women (sisters), Bertha and Cookie. They had never had children, so they were fascinated by Tatum. Tatum charmed them, of course, and we had a good time just being spontaneous and chill.

We headed home to do some letters and crafts. Tatum is on the “R” at school next week, so we worked on PQR and mazes with phonemic awareness. That means knowing her sounds.

This led back to the bagels. She wanted to make some of her own.

There was much rejoicing because I hit the jackpot with five delicious warm soft tasty bagels.

Then we beaded.

She was the winner of that creation (around her neck) as she continues to play with the beads. Well, actually it became “popcorn,” and it went everywhere.

Then the beads turned into a swing for Bella.

Bella was not rejoicing.

Bouncing back is always the best part of being sick. We need to appreciate our HEALTHY days just for having health in the first place. What a blessing.

I love you, Tot. I love every little morsel about you.

The last week of Tatum’s 2-week winter break, I enrolled her in Sportball camp! This was the first time I would be away from her everyday from 9-12. It was to be a risk but I figured she’d enjoy the coaches and kids.

On Monday, Coach Ryan greeted us and told me there’d be roughly 7-11 kids per day. They’d play two sports per day with snack in the middle. Friday would be a free for all!

So, I showed up early each day so I could watch. She was having a blast!

Climbing with Coach Bridget as a warm up..

Volleyball fun!

 

Golf swingin’

They took a break from the sports to swing and not to fall into the alligator pit.

Finally a little hockey magic

They do such  great job at Sportball.

Thank you for a fun week and see you Tuesday in class!