Category: Totally Tatum

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Conflict Management 101

What? Are we in trouble? Coti and Tatum seem to love the same toys. She only wants this squeaky dragon when Coti is playing with it, and HE only wants her giraffe when SHE is playing with it. Then, they both look at ME to solve this challenge. So, what do I do? Sharing is not an innate quality of either of these lovely children (is it of any?!), so it must be discussed rationally. “Tatum, this is Coti’s dragon. Let’s throw it together!” “Not for Coti; for Tatum; this is your squeaky monster.”

Oy…the joys of motherhood! 🙂

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I’m a sitter!

Tatum sits. No, not as I plop her down in her Bumbo, but ON HER OWN! At one point, she was on her back playing with sucking her Fisher Price Radioth

and the next moment, she was erect! IMG_3005

Now, I never would “label” her a sitter, but this really helped today at Safeway. I have always wondered when you move from 1st foods to 2nd foods. Thank you Gerber! Now they have a little person in the corner which designates what your baby’s stage should be. Ex: 1st foods: “Supported sitter.” 2nd foods: “Sitter”. (Coincidentally?), today, I bought her “sitter” foods. The difference? Size and mixtures. Child abuse would be if they had pureed spinach in a bottle. (when I was young) Now, they disguise it in “Garden Veggies” which is peas, carrots, water AND a wee bit of spinach. Smart. So, today? We shall try this concoction as she is now a SITTER!

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Be intentional

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I love these two words. Why? Because, time is so precious. Every single minute of the day is a gift of the present.

Every year, I have had EVERY duck in my row, completely ready for the year to begin (at least physically). This year, I will enter my classroom on Monday morning which is the required day back. Oddly, I’m not freaking out, but I am feeling a bit discombobulated. My plans are pretty near finished, and I have my materials, but my classroom is a bit of a disaster. Why? Because I chose to spend time at home with Tot. In 4 days, she will be at Temple Chai for 8 hours a day and that sends chills up my spine. It will be harder on me than her, but I know it will be short-lived because I will BE INTENTIONAL with every second we have together.

IMG_3012 IMG_3009She is now scooting like crazy and discovering so many new toys, thanks to my mother’s help and creativity!

At least I get to wake her up in the morning and put her to bed…cute little bootie!IMG_2995Thank you God for my present and my present.

 

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Summer sizzles down and August enters

Tatum has the ability to take a frown and turn it upside down IN ME! Honestly, it has been a memorable summer. I must reflect:

  • Tutoring Olivia (with Tater on my lap) on Reading and Writing
  • Tatum in the morning: I sneak in and play Peek a Boo
  • Getting Coti up with Tatum. She gets so excited!
  • Tatum waits patiently for her food while Coti goes outside
  • Swimming Lessons every Saturday with Tatum
  • Scrabble with Mom nightly
  • Tatum discovering her tongue
  • Hanging out with Mom and enjoying our relationship
  • Completely re-writing the POWERFUL PEN (Tesseract’s Literary Handbook)
  • Church and laughing with Tatum (she makes it through the service!)
  • GCU and enjoying teaching the class. Monica’s appreciation
  • Reading as many novels as I can (with Tatum next to me) (and LOVING Fault in Our Stars)
  • Adapting to mom’s house and being OK with a bit of chaos
  • Sesame Street at 1:30 everyday with Tatum and Coti
  • Spending time with friends: Denise, Nancy, Karen, Melissa, Susan, Bob, Marilyn and Tacy (with Tater Tot on my lap 🙂 )
  • Tutoring Gabe on EGUMPP
  • Researching MORE Grammar programs (Is there a magic bullet?)
  • Delving into the Book of Isaiah Podcast
  • Circle K with Tatum: Michelle and Jean being President of Tater’s Fan Club
  • My new 2011 CRV (for Tatum’s sake of course)
  • Baby Bjorning (carrier) with Tatum wherever we go (Safeway, Fry’s, Walmart, Circle K, Discount Tire, Brake Masters, Paradise Bakery etc…) She loves it! (and she smiles at everyone.
  • That one glass of wine after Tatum goes down.
  • Sneaking in to Tatum’s room to peak at her sleeping. She’s so cute on her tummy all wrapped up in her blanket.
  • Finding the perfect toys for Tatum: cups, cubes, blocks, stuffed toys, rings, books, squeakies, mirrors, alphabet toys (Thank you Jocelyn for the AMAZING cube set!)
  • Getting sleep! Almost 8 hours a night.
  • Old Navy Tank tops. I lived in these. No frills clothing
  • Exercising every day while Tatum naps! 9am-10am. Yahoo!
  • Going to two movies! Despicable Me 2 and Now You See Me. (worth every penny!)
  • Being still. Hanging out with Tatum in her room all day, and being OK with not accomplishing anything.
  • Going into school twice a week for two hours while Tatum goes to Temple Chai. ( a nice little break for both of us)
  • Tatum making me laugh hysterically while she tries to catch and throw a ball.
  • Tatum and me playing with Coti!

AND SO MUCH MORE!!

I will miss this summer. IMG_2994 IMG_2993 IMG_2992 IMG_2991

 

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My LaLa Girl at 8 months

Her new sound: Lalalalala with her tongue doing all the work. Yes, she has discovered this sound and her voice, and she uses it to obtain cuteness points.

Now, today, she is 8 months old and just about sitting up on her own! Oh the joy of this view from above!IMG_2968 IMG_2969 IMG_2970

My dear, oldest, most precious friend, Jocelyn, texted me this morning a “Happy Birthday Tater” message, and that reminded me! Heck! I had spaced this special day. Thank you  Joc… I sure love you and value you in my life. 🙂

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Where did the angel go?

Lately while I tutor Olivia, I have been keeping Tatum on my lap. She WILL NOT allow any one else to hold her. Even if I move a foot where she can still see my every move, she loses it. Today, her temper flared and my Tatum turned into Tater HOT! Olivia put her on her lap so she was facing me, and Tatum THREW each one of her toys across the room. That arm I mentioned in this post is now being used in anger and not joy. Lovely. The minute I took her back, she immediately quieted down. Maybe a nice stroke for my ego, but this is not the kind of behavior I was seeking.

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This came in the mail yesterday. The County Attorney wrote a letter to me THANKING ME for adopting Tatum. The government is not always so bad. Today, I did not  mind my tax dollars at work.

Thank you Bill Montgomery.