Toy to the World*A Merry Christmas

Only my son...

They say what goes around comes around...especially in parenting. How many times, growing up, have I heard a remark about "I hope you have a child just like you"? I heard it a million times. I may mostly be an easy going peacemaker, but people who know me best know that I am stubborn to the core. I dont dig my heels in a lot, but when I do, dont expect me to change my mind...

I ran out of pull ups the other day (for bedtime) and decided to try again at bedtime dryness, rather than just continue to buy Jeffery pull ups. He can stay dry during naps and occasionally wakes up dry. Tonight, I decided to wake him up to go at 11 pm, about 30 minutes before he potties his bed the first time. Bear in mind, this is the child that at almost 4 years old, still has a difficult time with Christmas morning. Waking up on his own is angelic, waking up any other way is a nightmare. Waking up nudy-the-booty in the bathroom was a first class temper tantrum. He cried, screamed, screeched, cried until he coughed up stuff. I held my ground, though. After 15 minutes or longer, I think he finally got the message: no exit until he pees. Needless to say, my sweet little boy climbed into the tub and peed there!
On the bright side, he was mad about it, being nasty and all and his feet getting wet, sprayed off with water and a paper towel...Oh the joys of teaching and it ended with a loving conversation about "Jeffery, what are you going to do next time?"
I am sincerly trying to do the parenting with love and logic and I love it when it works:)

One more thought on gratitude...

I'm not shy about talking about depression. I battle depression and it is something that I've had to accept, learn from and deal with. I own this issue and acknowledge depression with every food choice I make, everytime I commit to an hour of fitness and with a good nights sleep. I battled depression on a smaller scale in high school and shortly after being married, I became extremely depressed. I went from being an very active student to suddenly living out in the middle of nowhere, working 2 jobs and going to school full time and being a wife. Combined with lack of sleep, too many sudden changes, lack of exercise and sudden weight gain (30 lbs), bad nutrition and probably the biggest thing, the birth control, I became severely depressed. This was a very difficult time in my life. However, with medication for a while, some helpful books and the support of people around me who care, I've managed to stay on top most of the time. I am so grateful for the people who have supported me.
My thought on gratitude is this: because I do understand myself better now, I can take care of myself. I have learned to spend a lot of time learning about HOW nutrition affects our bodies so much. I've learned that I need to take care of myself to be a better person to those around me. And, equally importatn, I'm learning that nutrition affects my sons, who are so young, so much. Nathan has always liked fruit and vegetables. He promises to taste anything I put in front of him. Today for lunch he ate carrots with ranch and applesauce and was perfectly happy. Jeffery is a work in progress...David loves breads and carbs. I am so glad that I learned how badly sugars and carby foods affect my body because I can see it so clearly in him. Luckily, David loves cooked carrots and prefers spinach salads over iceburg. He will eat the healthy stuff. I am just so glad that I have battled depression and learned so I can take better care of my kids and can see it in David. I am considering altering his "diet" to elimate dyes and processed food, or at least keep it to a big minimum...

Thankful for things I have learned...

Jason and I are celebrating 9 years together this weekend. This is when we were engaged and I celebrate some of these little milestones more than our actual wedding. During this time, with the season of thansgiving and the end of the year, I wanted to celebrate things that I have learned during these years.

1) I am grateful that I can cook for my family. I started taking an interst in college and I am so grateful that I can prepare food that tastes good and nutritious. I have a lot of learning left to do, but cooking is an invaluable skill,

2) I am grateful that I have learned that taking care of myself is not selfish. Eating healthy foods, exercise, sleep, and doing things that I enjoy make me a better person and allow me to be able not only care for my family better but it also makes me a more intersting person, a better friend and someone worth knowing. I take ownership of the fact that I do battle depression. I am open about it because I think its vital that I acknowledge it every single day and I have "manage" myself to keep from slipping into the dark hole. Its not fun, but I know that if I do eat healthy (limit sugar intake), get sunlight, manage my life, exercise and sleep, I can survive it and I am grateful I undestand it and for the people who have helped me along the way. Krista lent me an excellent book called When your Body gets the Blues that I think every women who has battle depression (severe or "minor") should read this book).

3) I am grateful that I know that, even though I am a cluttered person, how much more peaceful the house is when its picked up. The kids play better and its not so chaotic.


4) I am glad that there are resources, such as the Flylady to help me, as well as the Relief Society and its programs. I'm not alone in trying to raise my kids. We are all in this together.



5) My Mom and I have always been close, but I am so grateful for her and that she's always there for me. I believe she is the one person who really gets me and still loves me!