Choices

It is so hard to be a mom these days. Not that my mother and her generation did not have any struggles, just different ones. I am talking about the sheer amount of choice I am faced with every day in how to spend my time. Finding better, healthier recipes to feed my family, researching toys and activities to provide the most stimulating environment for my children, doing the basics around the house, organizing memories, sharing encouragement and information through a blog.

If one friend is very good at cooking, I adopt that standard for myself. And if another is very good at creating activities for her children, I adopt that standard for myself. And if another is very good at something else, I adopt that as a standard for myself too. Before you know it, I am trying to achieve the same standard that it takes five women's time and talent to do! Did the Lord place this yoke upon me or did I willingly take it from the world?

What does the Lord require of me? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God. That's it. Now that is a yoke that I can live with. Again, God's word breathes sanity into my life!

A few quick stories

It has been a busy month, and I keep meaning to put up a post. So here is one, imperfect and probably incomplete, but at least it's something!

Ashlyn is potty trained! Once we figured out that she equated underpants with a diaper, it went very smoothly. She was bare-butted for a few days, but then she was trained very quickly. She wakes up dry from naps and even overnight most times. Going number 2 on the potty can be dramatic...and we must allow at least 15 minutes for her to realize that she is not getting off the potty until she produces something and she does with the rare exception.

Matthew is crawling very well (and very quickly) and is steadily ruining his sister's world. She has been into puzzles lately and now only does them at the kitchen table to avoid her brother meddling with it. He is into everything, much more so than she was at this age. After Ashlyn used the potty yesterday, we were washing her hands when Matthew decided to chuck a toy in the potty. I thought it was a fluke, and began to wash said toy when he chucked ANOTHER toy in the potty. So now when we head to the bathroom, Matthew crawls excitedly down the hallway--squealing with delight--and we know what he wants to do. I spend the duration of the potty time trying to guard Ashlyn from her brother's attempts to access the potty and then when she is done, I immediately close the lid of the potty. "Rats, foiled again!" says Matthew.

We have seen a lot of our family over the past month. Mark's grandmother was in town for a few days, so we stayed with his parents for a visit. My mom visited for a long weekend and then about a week later, my dad stayed with us for a few days as well. The kiddos got pretty spoiled with grandparents and it was a lot of fun. Here are some pictures.

Here is Grandma Wendy with the boy...visited late May.

Here is Grandpa Dave with Ashlyn on the metro after a visit downtown. Below is Matthew snoozing in the stroller on the metro ride home also...tired kids!

Ashlyn modeling her play doh necklace. She really just happened to pose like this!

Grandpa Dave holding out the 2 pound bass that Ashlyn caught on her Barbie fishing pole...the only decent fish of the day! Daddy was so proud of her!

Matthew and Grandma Ruth snuggling a little.

A Big Day!

Well, it was a big day in the Harris household...Matthew turned 8 months old today and began to crawl. He might have first crawled yesterday but I didn't see...I put him down on a blanket with some toys and a few minutes later he was across the room trying to eat the dirt out of my houseplant. Hmmm...

Then this morning, he and Ashlyn were playing and she put down her cup of juice. He wanted it. He got up on all fours. He rocked once and then crawled...hand moved almost simultaneously with the opposite leg. Then again. Then again. He GOT the cup of juice! Here is a re-enactment of the episode...

Pig Tails and Patience

Ashlyn must always be in pigtails. For some reason--maybe because she can speak so well, or maybe because I see her so much as a "little person"--I sometimes forget that she is two. And then my expectations get all out of whack and when she does something that is typical of a two-year-old, like walking very slowly right in front of me or wanting to splash water everywhere, I get all annoyed. Putting her in pigtails helps. When she is in pigtails, it is easier to remember that she is my little girl and then I expect her to do these things. She must always wear pigtails!

We are loving shore duty. Daddy is home most days by 5:30, and we even get to see him in the morning before he leaves! We are like bona-fide normal people. Mark is taking the metro in to town and is enjoying his work...and the nice gym that he gets to use every day at lunch right there in the building.

Matthew is working on crawling still. He gets up on all fours and rocks away. When I get him after naps, he is usually rocking, (or pulling down the bumper to see me come in). He is still the happiest baby I've ever met, although lately he's been tired. We are trying to get him to sleep from his 9 PM feeding until around 5. Last night he made it until 6! He's tired because he cries a little, but he is crying less each night and hopefully soon he will not wake up at all. He is a sweetheart...he wants to hold my hand while he nurses.

Ashlyn is doing great. Although she is definitely two. She is teething a molar these days and is exceptionally whiny. She is into learning about letters these days. The other day when I got her after her "nap," she confessed that she did not sleep. I asked her, "You did not take a nap?" And she replies, "No, I just goofed off."

New Pictures

Here are some recent pics:

Matthew is up on all fours and rocking...and whining because he can't crawl yet.

Ashlyn is playing momma to her bunny. She likes to take him for walks.

Mark deserves "Dad of Year" for risking life and limb for this swing.

Ashlyn pushing Matthew in the swing. Awww.

Grandma Wendy getting giggles.

Matthew can sit up all by himself...but occasionally still falls over.

The boppy is a nice bumper.

Uncle Mitch stayed with us for a few weeks in Jan/Feb

while he completed a course in Norfolk.

Mark and I in February on our way to the Mighty Ike's dining out.

Grandma Wendy with ALL of her grandkids...Rose and Piper

came up for a weekend while Mitch was staying with us.

Ashlyn with her new sunglasses...thanks Aunt Rose!

Settled In

I've been getting threatened by the grandparents...post some more videos! More pictures! We moved and it was busy, but things are settling down again and we're beginning to get into a routine. Matthew is really trying to crawl and Ashlyn is talking more than ever. She will repeat whatever she is saying incessantly until it is acknowledged.

We are trying to get Matthew to sleep a 6 to 7 hour stretch at night, and he has made it two out of four nights. I guess I shouldn't say that 'he' made it since I was the one caving on the nights he didn't make it. I always doubt that he got enough milk during the day...one of the pitfalls of breastfeeding. I am also too slow in starting solids...but the boy doesn't seem all that interested in eating. Hmmm...

We recently made a quick trip to Tennessee to see Mark's grandmother and my mom, aunt and uncle. It was a fun trip and the drive wasn't too bad. I figured out how to recline Ashlyn's carseat so she truly had a La-Z-Boy. She was quite comfortable, but still didn't sleep that well in the car. The video was taken there...Grandma Wenny goofing off with the boy.