Walking

Ruth has been taking steps now for close to a month. Saturday we were visiting our friends the Fox's, it was cool outside so I had her in pants...they have wood floors. Anyone with a crawling baby and hard floors know pants do not equal a happy mobile baby. So she started walking a bit more. Earlier this week she was standing up walking 3-6 steps falling down and crawling until she was a few steps away from her intended object and standing to finish.

All that cuteness has ended and she is now walking all over not caring when she falls just getting up and going again. She has picked up her speed and the classic watching them try to run and falling over is happening :) And trying to pick everything up to carry it books, toys, 8# weights (luckily she can't get them off the ground).

So when would I say she officially went from Ruth walks to Ruth is walking...Wednesday, September 2, 2009...That would be at 10 mos and a day :) She is pretty stable when she goes not looking like your classic almost toppling kid...unless she has a big butt cloth diaper on :)

She has also almost perfected getting down off higher surfaces and is taking great joy in climbing already! I caught her standing on a little plastic chair to reach a red ball on a shelf this afternoon! Oh Lord Help me! I remember Martha being a little more of a cautious climber I think. Advice anyone???

I hope she has gotten enough practice in that I do not have to forcibly prevent her from continuing to practice her skills when it is way past time to sleep tonight! It feel so wrong but she can not go explore while we all sleep! I can't sleep like that!

Sit, Push and Glide - Run Bike

Monday Martha's Run bike came while she was napping. Dan took it out and put it all together for her! When she woke up we took her out for a short ride before dinner. She was so funny at first trying to figure out how to balance it on the two wheels :) It took some adapting and the hand grips gave her a sore thumb but she loved it and was quit upset when we made her come in for dinner.

After dinner it was getting dark so Dan set her with a head light and off we went. She go better and better. We went to a small "hill" down the street and she went down the sidewalk there quite a few times. She even got it figured out balancing with her feet off the ground for a bit. We didn't want to stand in one place so I convinced her to go find more hills in the neighborhood. She was doing great going down a longer hill and picking up speed...welp guess it was a bit too much because she had a little run in with the concrete. After a few tears and a little hugging/ carrying she wanted to ride all the way home and wasn't too happy when we said we had to go in.

Tuesday we went for a post lunch ride around and she got the sitting, push and glide down. Twice I was ahead of her and she came "flying by" me and I said there she goes. After about 10 min she was stopping to have me come up so she could fly by me! We went home for some water and got a rest in...and of course had to go out with daddy in the dark before bed.

Now she got really good went probably 40 feet down the hill from the night before all with no feet. The last time she was swerving from side to side...looking like she was really pushing her abilities. It was so funny to see her come to a "screeching" more like pounding halt at the bottom before going into the street. It has no breaks so her feet have to stop her.

With that amazing balancing I told her I bed she could start trying to put her feet up...she couldn't get them in the right place and they hit her tire and she stopped quite a few times. Then as she got a little tired but didn't want to quite she tried putting her feet up w/out being moving and had another little crash and scrapped knee. Dan carried her I carried her bike (the thing weight like 10# so it's no be deal)...we told her she was missing her hill and after a min she was down off again.

So today we will have to get out again! Man I wonder what she will do today! I have some video and will do some more and try to get it uploaded! I also have hundreds of pics to upload from the last ah ya know month...so be looking for that on our site soon!

Run Bikes Prequel

So for like two years I knew I wanted Martha to learn to ride a bike without ever using training wheels by using a run bike. But the things cost so much! This summer Martha's tricycle is really too small for her to comfortably use, though she really loves riding! So I started looking at run bikes again. Dan though we could mod a regular little bike...we tried that and the thing was a little too tall and way too heavy! So I put on my wish to buy list the run bike.

Well last night Dan said I could order it! I already knew I wanted a Strider Sports Run Bike. If you don't know anything about them go to the site and watch the video's they are so cool! So first thing this morning I got to searching for one on sale. They retail for $98 not including shipping! I found through a Google search then shopping.com at Upside Over on sale for $58.80 with free shipping! SCORE! I've been looking at this store for over a year and am so excited to be bbuying from them. I ordered it pretty quickly and then wanting to share my great find went to the main page for the link...well nothing showed up so I did a little digging and started getting worried. Then checked my email and found a shipping confirmation! I must have gotten the last one! Upside Over sent my shipping confirmation 9 min after my order confirmation!

Funnily my little girl's favorite color has switched from Blue to Pink most days so she will be getting a pink run bike, next week most likely! I am so excited! Oh she is too :)

Growing and Going

Last week Ruth started standing in the middle of the room. Now last I remember they say that happens what after a kid learns to walk right? Ah no not her...apparently gatta keep up with sister or something because she was 8 1/2 mos.

Took the girls in for a much needed well "baby" check Thursday. Ruth weighed in at 16# 3 ounces at 26" tall...about the size Martha was at 1 year. Martha about two months past her 3rd birthday weighed in at just under 29# at 37" tall. My little babies are growing up so fast!

Crazy me must think Ruth should learn to walk faster as I gave her the walker wagon thing all empty yesterday and had a great time walking around the room with it :) Oh I forget how irritated they get when the push themselves into the wall! Forgot to take a pic but I got a video of it!

Last night in the kitchen I heard a thunk I turn around and DK told me Ruth tried to take a step towards him and bashed her head on a chair when she fell! Poor little thing...apparently doesn't agree with any development list! We still have one more week till she hits 9 mos!

Clothing Improv

A few weeks ago the girls and I took a trip to Chicago to pick up bike riding crazy DK. We visited Millennium Park when DK got off work. This was the first time we visited this area when Martha was awake. She though Cloud Gate AKA The Bean was pretty cool and was jumping up to touch it and such. Ruth nursed to sleep and took a great nap!

Her favorite of course was the water feature at Crown Fountain. First we told her not to get wet because I left her extra clothes in the car....after a potty trip and picking up a Hot Dog we returned to the fountain...and she started putting her hand on the wall where water was coming down it all went down hill from there, though she didn't go under the serious poor out! When we finally dragged her off she was cold and tired and we were starving!

While picking up food from Chipotle I needed a potty break so I took her in with me and got rid of all her wet clothes. I almost always carry a pair of extra unders for the girl and for some reason I had a new shirt too. So I put her dry clothes on and tied her all up on my back. You could not tell the child is missing bottoms! She was warm happy and close to momma...DK put Ruth on front in the Ergo and took the backpack. We had a nice walk back to the car before the torture of picking up the bike and driving home with tired kids.

Thank You Hy for letting us borrow this great wrap! The wrap is a 4.6 meter Nairobi Hoppediz Light. Ruth is nursing in a Cross Carry, tied behind her back to prevent some earlier leaning! You can see the Ergo hanging behind me and my backpack on me in the pic with Ruth...I prob looked crazy to people! Martha is in a Back Wrap Cross Carry.

What a great Birthday!

Yesterday was my birthday and the day after Martha's mysterious nightly fever fully ended so we needed to do something special! Martha wanted to go to the pool and I though that sounded great it was sunny and looked beautiful out! So I fiddled around for way too long in the morning looking for a pool to go to since the local one didn't open till 1 pm! Well it ended up we weren't ready to leave till oh 12:15 so I asked Martha before I took sleeping Ruth off my back if she was sure she wanted to ride in the car to the pool...she said no the stroller! So I altered what I packed (which was way too much junk! especially for such a small basket!) and packed the girls up...waking Ruth up...changed to my tennis and off we went!

I pushed them about 2 miles to the park where the pool is and it was not a bad walk at all...I wasn't even that hot! But we got there 10 min before the pool opened. Took a porta potty trip for Martha and then went to get in line...thankfully we got in front of the first set of day camp kids!

The big BOB Revolution Duallie just fit through all the crazy entry ways designed for privacy of those in the locker rooms! I partially dressed Ruth in the noisy locker room and then off we went to the kiddy pool! Martha was so excited but had to wait a few min for the life guard to say it was ok...so I finished dressing and sun screening Ruth while Martha got in and walked around...then all the big kids were everywhere splashing and getting water in her face and such and she got cold...so she came back to me and back to the water for a bit. Finally We were all off at the pool side. The water was FREEZING! Ruth however seems to be the only one that didn't really care...she probably has the most body fat...haha! We got in and out a few times and after while they had a safety check so I suggested we take out food and go eat in the snack area!

Both girls had a great time eating under the umbrella of the table. Finally we were about out of food...only apples left so we went back pool side. I threw on a little more sunscreen to be safe as it was about 2:15 PM! Martha went back to the water shortly later she deemed it too cold and wanted to go home. So we went back to all our junk and I dried off Martha and got her dressed...she wanted to eat so I put her in the stroller pulled the canopy and let her eat a cheese stick I found in the bottom of the lunch box (yeah I know dairy is on the no no list but oh that's another topic I don't even know quite how to deal with lately!). I got Ruth dressed and packed everything up in the stroller and off we went. BOB was an even tighter fit leaving and Martha didn't want to go...I told her we could go to the playground before coming home because I needed to feed Ruth but she was asleep so unhappily according to Martha we went on our walk home.

About 10-15 min in Martha was asleep too :) Oh the bliss...so I took my sweet time because I felt like my whole return walk was uphill! As I was walking down our street I though geeze this is great but I still need to pick up a few things up at the local grocery store...so I stopped in the driveway and unloaded the basket and junk in the stroller and off we went again. I rocked the stroller while I waited forever to check out...what the heck was everyone doing at the grocery store at 3:30 pm!!! Both girls stayed asleep and back home we went :)

Oh the peace but I was starving so I went inside went potty grabbed some food and a chair....as I was walking out the door Martha was waking up screaming! So I quickly grabbed her and started nursing her back to sleep...that worked but Ruth woke up especially with the noisy wind chimes in the front yard. Took Martha in to the couch...got Ruth. Took care of her and go to eat my food! I played with Ruth a while and then put her on my back for another nap...ordered 2 bras (oh yeah more on the bra hunt to come in the next 2 or so weeks). Next Martha woke up quite unhappy so I nursed her. When Dan arrived home I had Ruth sleeping on my back and Martha sleeping/ nursing in my lap! Martha had a great oh 3 hour (segmented) nap and I didn't have to fight with one kid for a nap! OH YEAH GREAT DAY!!!

I got some time to relax while Dan Ergo'ed Martha while cooking dinner...then I got called to "watch" the soup so he could go mow the yard. In I went and Ruth woke up so I had all sorts of things to do. We had a nice dinner...toward the end my parent's called to wish me happy birthday. (I got tons of Facebook birthday wishes.) And then Dan and Martha made me a cake while I got to take a shower ALONE!!! I got yummy carrot cake with cream cheese frosting yumm! Martha only got a little tiny bit because she was acting crazy after licking the icing while cooking.

I finished up the night by washing the girls quickly in the tub to eliminate sunscreen. Then everyone got in bed with sleeping daddy had some mommy milk and went down without much fuss :) Which is huge as lately I've been having to literally hold Ruth down till she was crying and finally ready to quit trying to sit, crawl, climb, stand and go to sleep!

God Why?

Do you ever have one of those days where it seems like one event after the next you just keep asking God why? Then a few min later you think we'll maybe ___ or oh ___ was why . Today is one of those days!

The God why events started with Ruth being tired and not wanting to go to sleep. The Fed Ex Man brought Martha's New car seat. So we of course had to get it out and she had to play in it and wanted it put in the car. And she though it was great fun to scratch the foam off a packing piece so I guess the face that shortly earlier Ruth was covered in dog fur from the floor was the alternative reason I needed to vacuum. So all those things happened. And thankfully the rain was on hiatus during the car seat install. Then all the sudden we had to run around fast and get ready for her gymnastics class. We made it into the car just in time to avoid the big drops., and turned out upon getting into the car that the microwave time was fast so we were not late but early! Then the short drive to gym...Ruth still didn't go to sleep so I didn't have to wake her up for that we all "crawled" into front seat to get ready to get out in the rain. We got inside well before the big down poor. No one else was there for class yet so I got to take care of scheduling a make-up and checking on when I signed up for summer class.

Ruth zonked out during class and Martha had a great time playing with a little cohort Megan...they have similar personalities so it can be interesting but it was good :) I sometimes forget that my child has a bit of a aptitude towards the sport until she is listening good and things all click :) I hope she can continue to develop in her behavior so she can keep having fun...because man does she have fun when she's learning and doing great! So the rain lets up and I think maybe I can get Ruth in her seat w/out waking her up...fail! Donno for the reason on this but she is happily out currently!

Home we spend a long time preparing and eating lunch! I love that with removing "problem" foods Martha has started eating good for me again...well at lunch anyway! The world is not aligning for breakfast these days and dinner seems to be hit of miss. Well the down side to this Martha eating thing is that she is so distractable and active it takes forever! In and out bits and breaks. I was done long before her and she started eating before me! So I go about trying to get things done that need done. She goes off outside to push an imaginary child that needed a pushed again on the swing set and I take Ruth to put diapers in the dryer. Zeke promptly comes to steal Martha's food. So I angerly sent him back out side, finish loading the dryer and tell Martha we need to remember to crate Zeke for meals because "I can't handle this"! (A phrase that gets repeated frequently back to me). I put her plate up high on the counter and turn to pull a chair up so she can come get more...didn't realize Ruth was holding onto a glass bowl! Crash...mad mommy glass everywhere...dog and Martha banished outside...Ruth gated into the Living room. Apparently I need to do a better job at keeping my kitchen floor clean because this is like the 2nd time in the last week that God has helped me get it nice and clean.

So now I need to go back and mop when I wanted to be cleaning the unsold garage sale junk out of the garage so I can get the car in there again! Back to life...again doing a lousy job balancing it!

Food Allergy

Words that strike fear into many parents...especially ones with picky eating children. But really when you think about the problems that foods can cause your children and really realize what your getting into...it seems less scary. I've come to think of them as poisons...and I wouldn't let my child eat a chemical poison so why a "safe" food.

So over the last oh year probably I've been gathering info on food allergies, intolerance and sensitivities. Symptoms can range from your typical hives and breathing trouble to tummy upsets and wild behavior. So once I started paying attention I found that goldfish crackers make Martha go crazy...IE wild uncontrolled behavior a crazy look in her eyes. After she started having a dry diaper during quite a few nights I noticed that eating corn caused her to have a flood during the night. Then a few weeks ago she had more cows milk/ dairy than she probably has ever consumed at one time... almost an entire milk box from Panera Bread and a full bowl of potato soup...well an hour later her GI track was obviously jacked up...first plugged...then painful...then had a leaky spout. This is what really tuned myself in and I think opened up Dan's eyes that we might have something going on.

Today I took Martha to Dr. Shaw at JBS Wellness for EAV Testing in addition to our adjustments. Well turns out her digestive system has some serious issues with corn, trouble with cow milk/ dairy, and some issues with grains. So in addition to the general health supplements we were doing with her before we get more specific and some new ones. Look at the pic...seriously what would make a mother want to keep track of this many things for her 3 year old...well not eating, fussy eating, mood swings, refusal to nap or settle down for bed, nursing way more than is normal for a 3 year old and that's just a few... I finally came to the point that making a huge change in our diet no longer seemed as bad as dealing with everything else! That little spray bottle with the blue label is a homeopathic that is suppose to desensitize her body to the culprits.

So today when I quite racing around trying to get to the park I really though about food for Martha and I to eat...we ended up eating a baked potato loaded with olive oil (instead of butter), lots of salt, a little pepper and garlic powder, and some baby broccoli that came from Timber Creek as we arrived home. For a treat she had this really cool applesauce in a squeeze bottle. I know it's not going to be easy but Dr. Shaw said isn't not so bad that it should be permanent and her gut will heal and then she can eat in moderation these things! But for now we will be relearning how to eat for the next 2+ weeks.

Dr. Shaw is our chiropractor but offers much more than just spinal care check out the web site listed above. All us girls have been doing chiropractic care and I personally have old aches and pains that I though I would live with forever that are gone! Martha seems to be sleeping a little better and definably feels better...she was so cute today..."Dr Shaw you need to fix my back right here. I fell down at the spray park yesterday and it hurts. Look at my knee." She did get a nice scraped knee and such from a fall last night! And Ruth got over a nagging runny nose over night...coincidence or not I'm hooked!

Car Seat Sale!

Quick Fact Question: Do you know what that clip on your child's seat is for or where the correct place for it to be placed...see the end for the answer!

I'm done trying to get my tush between our infant seat and Martha's Radian 65 on trips so we budgeted and I just ordered a new seat for Martha! The Radian XT in Malibu. This seat will allow Martha to stay rear facing until she hit 35# and provides a great place for her sleeping head. If you don't know the benifits of extended rear facing check out a couple links. Car Safety 4 Kids and Car Saftey.org and CPSaftey for more info or search there are tons of articles and video's on why it's so safe! Martha and I watched a YouTube Video on it and talked about how it was safer when she was questioning it. We don't always have her rear...for family things or to fit us all in at the drive in we will switch things around...but taht didn't start till she was well over 20# and 2 years!

The store I had chosen to order from, Hip Monkey is having a 15% off everything in their store so I made budget!!!

I choose to purchase from Hip Monkey not one of the many other places not because it was on sale here but because all profits from the sale of their items goes to the Kyle David Miller Foundation. This foundations provides car seats to low income families to keep children that have reached 40# in a 5-point harnessed car seat. If you do not know the benefits of extened harnessing please visit their page and check out the info.

Now why I want the Radian's...I drive a CIVIC! The space in that thing is tiny especially when you have two rear facing convertable seats in the rear! Radian can fit 3, yet THREE seats across in pretty much every vehicle...even a Civic. Now with a Civic you can't fit them all facing the same way...but still! So with two rear facing Radian's I should just be able to fit and buckle myself in the back between them. If you want to seemore pics of crazy installs of three seats...search for it! For fun I may at some point see what I can do as I'll have 2 Radian's and a Graco Seat Safe Infant seat in 2 to 3 days! Parent's you do not have to get a mini van or big vehicle to have three kids fit...you just have to be crazy enough to try to cram everything in!

Oh yeah Radin's are great seats other than the small width thing too...they are low on the sides making it easy to get kids in and out for parents and kids...fold for travel...but heavy because they are made with steel alloy in the frame, yup not all cheap plastic in there...the company tests the heck out of them and from what I've heard they are the only ones that have solidly tested their seats to be safe for use without the top teether which can't be used for higher weight acording to vehicle manufactures....they have a awsome rear tether that can be used rear facing for Rock solid installs. BUT because they sit so low there can be install issues in some vehicles...so if you decide to get on try a friends first or get the $5 return shipping just in case!

YEAH that's right I'm one of those car seat freaks...but I'm not certified or anything...that is I'm not National Child Passenger Safety Certified...so have your seat checked to make sure it's installed and you are using it correctly because 80% of car seats are installed WRONG!

Fact Answer: The chest clip on car seats is designed to keep the straps on a child's shoulders in the event of a accident. For it to function properly it should be between their arm pits. First pull the straps up tight...you can't pinch a fold above their sholders and can only fit one finger between the strap and the shoulder it's properly tightened to hold your child...then pull the clip up right between the arm pits! If those straps are not tight enough your child could slide out from under their straps and be injured!

Yo Yo Weather

What is it with the weather being able to totally jack up my mood! Last week we had beautiful weather mixed with clouds and rain...I was all tired and pumped to have a garage sale. This week more of the same but colder and totally drained out!

We had a park day set up today but upon waking up looking at the weather thing on my shelf then out the window and at weather.com and fighting about food consumption I have resigned to a day of spending too much time on the computer and Martha watching too much PBS. There is just something about a non walking child that makes questional weather feel dabilitating! We were forecasted to make it to 60 today but I don't think it's happening it's like 55 and windy. It feels like the clouds are sucking up my energy source along with the sun! Add in fighting for food consumption and crabby teething or whatever baby and I just want a nap!

Update on getting out and using the fancy BOB stroller. Last friday was a beautiful day for a stroll! I took the girls to the bank...where the doors are barely handicap assessable...so I had to open the door by hand maneuver the stroller though the first door then do it again! Which sounds like a huge ordeal but really it wasn't until the door banged into the front because I couldn't hold it anymore. Every time I've taken that thing though doors I think there is no way it will fit...and it just does! Now I'm finding I need to have my arch insoles tested or replaced for flattening and get new tennis...my feet are aching lately! Just one more week left on my warrenty for my arch insoles...so I'll be off to the Good Feet Store before next week!

Also had my hand at hosting a garage sale for the first time Saturday. Well it was tons of work and the weather looked iffy and did end up raining a bit but I managed to make just over $100. I was most surprised by the number of people that looked at and purchased old but still on good condition sports bras. And on the flip side couldn't believe how many people commented on how I had mostly baby thing...of which I basically only sold the big stuff...swing, bouncer, a stroller (I didn't love)! I've got tons of baby clothes left! And a bunch of stuff in my garage still to pack up for giveaway or whatever!

Here's hoping for a nap on this dreary afternoon!

Disobedeance and Car Nap's

Why can't a wonderful morning at the park end in a nice way with a peaceful nap leaving mommy feeling like the world is great!

This morning we had a great time at the park day with the Lake County Attachment Parent's Group. After about an hour Martha was off playing in the sand and threw it in one of her friends eyes. I told her it was not OK and if she did it again we would leave. About 10 min later I see her throwing sand at people again. I promptly grabbed Ruth went over and removed Martha from the sand area...not at all gently...practically dragged her to the car...and buckled her into her seat. So part one goes off great and ends miserably for child #1...child #2 peaceful falls asleep while we are driving...well at least one of the two went good. Disobedience is at an all time high around here and I can't seem to find a single punishment that works...though it sure seemed removing her from her friends worked...but we'll have to see next time I guess. Big apology to all my friends I would rather have acted more calm and gentle but well you are all mom's you understand!

Next a trip to Wal-mart to get a few needed things and some food for little miss I never eat when you offer me and I'm immediately hungry and crabby when we are suppose to be doing something. We head to the car, put Martha in her seat and give her her cheeseburger, Ruth still sleeping back in and off we go home. Ahh bliss a nice shopping trip...I wore Martha in the Ergo...found the things I needed...and everything was great but I was starving and needed to pee! I look back a few min later and notice Martha sleeping too. So part two goes wonderful...happy mommy!

For the final leg I get the things inside and the chicken in the freezer...go potty and head back for the sleeping kids. Ruth transfer in her seat still asleep...score! Kid had a great nap! Martha out of her seat...asleep...into house...asleep...into bed laying on me...asleep...I start to inch her over to go after lunch...WAKE UP. Potty trip...mommy milk...I'm done and starving so I tell her to go back to sleep...of course requests where I'm going and wants to come to...AAHH the peace is ending! I tell her I will bring her sandwich and she needs to stay there. She ate like 3 bites and didn't go to sleep yelling ruining my peace...I did get to eat my sandwich at least...finally dogs bark...Martha still doesn't go to sleep and yells of questions down from the hall...Tess goes in where Ruth is sleeping to take a nap and it's all over. Everyone is awake and mommy never got time to recover! I threaten (another disciple thing I'm not proud of) next time I will leave you asleep in the car...I leave it on and put a baby monitor in there so it's not like I abandon her but you would think I did when she wakes up and it takes more than 5 sec for her to be freed from her seat and with me.

Maybe one day life will line up...until then I'm off to try to tend to life and my girls as always!

Library Cards

I've been looking for my lost library card for oh like 6 mos! I finally gave up and went to pay the $2 for a replacement...they guy gave it to me for free!

After I was done getting my pic retaken I asked at what age they give kids a card. He said how old is she, I said 3, he said I can do that. So I filled out the form, she sat on the chair and after a bit we got her to smile. Martha didn't hear the camera click and was upset that he didn't take the pic but I assured her he did and a min later the thing came out of the machine. So my baby is the proud owner of a Library Card! Man too bad the camera was at home! I so want fancy phone and plan!

She took great joy in being able to place her items on the counter with her own card when we were done with our time playing in the early education center!

Swim suit shopping

I've been trying to get Martha a swim suit that fits for months now. Found a great suit that looked like it would be perfect at a rummage sale for $1 and she HATES it! Got a suit from Target top was good bottoms way too revialing! So tried the next size down...bottoms still bad top almost too small. So I tried Lands End at Sears for her today! Pretty good fit and thank goodness they were on sale. This kid seems to only fit in expensive things! Their clothes fit her nicely also...too bad my budget and my kids shape don't match up! I do know that she will use the heck out of it as we swim year round...and I love the fact that the top will decrease the need for sunscreen and the little skirt on the bottom will cover up any gaps from her tiny tush!!

She got to pick the color/ pattern...though there were not many left to pick in size 4... the pattern she wanted was the one they had! I'll hold off on washing them as I check around but I doubt I'll have any luck finding anything else!

Got out and took a walk today too...ahh the bliss of getting a toddler oh wait I think she's a preschooler now, to sleep... then I had to take Ruth home to do a diaper change and Martha woke up...then Ruth was fussing so I had to check on her and some people out noticed the babies and though my stopping was an invitation to come peek in my stroller and stand in the sidewalk so I couldn't get by! They woke up Martha and didn't even seem to care after noticing and talked about how cute the girls were...EEERR AAHH seriously!

Raising Spirited Kids

I long ago discover Martha is a spirited child! And the book Raising your Spirited Child was recommended to me but the local library didn't have it at the time I was looking for it so I didn't get around to reading it. Well I found it at a garage sale a few weeks ago and started reading it last weekend while we traveled.

Yesterday both girls were having a car nap so I was reading in the parking lot. I was reading the chapter "EXTRAVERT OR INTROVERT: FINDING THE ENERGY TO COPE" and I came to the conclusion that some days the reason Martha and I clash and I sit and try to recover and unable is because she is STRONGLY extroverted and I'm mildly introverted. I need some time alone to recharge and she needs time with me! So that leaves my energy reserves sorely depleted and it gets ugly! Now if I could just get the time to read through the book and the brain power to assimilate it all we might be able to learn to get along! There is way too much good stuff in this book! It's well written for parent's of these spirited kids as you can literally read a paragraph or two and come back to it not lost! Hmm I wonder if I can get into one of her seminars! Now I'm wanting to get a the rest of Mary Sheedy Kurcinka's books!

I suppose if I can't get my recharge time I'm going to have to start singing one of the many Steve Green kid's bible song to get me though the day. His song Without Complaining from the Album HIDE 'EM IN YOUR HEART VOL. 1 was my matra when dealing with everyday life for quite some time. Come to think of it that's when I started being able to cope with life's challanges more. Welp guess I need to work some more on my bible memory though children's music!

In Search of the Elusive Nursing Bra

A few of my friends and family have heard of know of my search for a nursing bra that actually fits...so here is the update and latest saga.
I seem unable to find a nursing bra that fits! I tried on everything that was near my size at Be By Baby and only one fit but I refused to buy it because it was too wide...inhibited my ability to move my arms in front of my body. Next I went on a venture with Bella Materna and tried oh every style they make in a few sizes They were great to work with sending me extra's to try on after I talked to them on the phone about my saga. I even tried the Intimacy bra store the Opera show had their intervention thing for...no luck! I did end up keeping one Bella Materna that fits pretty good...support is iffy but supper comfy except the darn band rolls under the busts and messes up the support and fit so it slides around way more than I would like or a bra should! Then I tried with New Mother New Baby in Northbook where Hy and I are teaching BWing and CDing classes...she is going to order me an Anita in a 32 G (yes I know 32 and G!) I'm hoping that will fit....because in Bella Materna I'm like a 32 H/I! What the heck!

I want to write angry letters to all the bra manufacturers about lack of consistancy and lousy size selection!

But today I attempted to go to Betty Schwartz in Buffalo Grove because when I called I though they said they had 5 styles in 34 F and some in 32 G...yeah I heard WRONG they had 2...one Anita underwire (that darn brand has no size consistency) and a really old Leading Lady in a cotton soft cup...it even had the 3 step old hook and eye nursing "clip." If I wanted a plain old underwire I would have been all set as they did have a few of those to try!

Yeah and no exerciseing today though we are planning a family walk in a few min...hopefully Dan can wear Ruth down and transfer her to bed...I took too long being "held" down my a nursing toddler while typing...daddy says its too late!

Martha woke up with Dan this morning at 5:30! after going to bed at 10:30 or 11. And Ruth woke up just before 6am because Martha was being noisy talking with daddy in the bathroom! So I was a bad mom and put Martha in front of PBS for way too long and wore Ruth for some napping while I got all sorts of cleaning done in my kitchen...it looks quite nice...I even managed to load almost all the dinner dishes!

In retrospect I'm glad the girls woke up early as the grinding and what not to resurface our road was quite noisy at 7 am! I though it was really cool to watch the stuff being shot into the truck and what not Martha didn't care she was missing her show! After we got done "shopping" both girls were asleep and I though the loud uneven road was going to wake them up...it didn't and I sat in the car while they slept because transfering would end all the happy sleeping!

The road is a dusty icky mess! So I'm happy we didn't breath that in!

Rain Rain Go Away

Rainy day today but it's ok for the morning we had a mom from the attachment parenting group come over to look at diapers I was selling. So I real quick tidy's up a bit and vacuumed the place and finally got the new sheets on the bed! Martha had a great time playing with Gilly and her mom bought a bunch...I recouped $80 YEAH!

Martha spent a little time playing in the backyard today and couldn't understand why we couldn't go for a walk or to the park....I just don't feel like dragging a little baby out and possibly getting drenched on! And again Martha went down for a nap w/out a fuss!!!!!

Now if I could just minister to my hubby and get the kitchen tidy's up for him! One day...the darn thing just exhausts me it never ends!

Baby Swimming

So a fellow mom posted about Tink-Tinks blog on swim diapers and I though I'd jump in being a big swimming family!

I researched tons before Martha was born and when she was little on swimming. Found a great school, Chicago Swim School, that was only 40 min away to take her for classes. It had the 90 degree pool recommended for little babies and swim class and I could go during the day...so we did for about 6 mos. It was great but the road construction killed my trip and I really didn't need a swim class just a warm pool. So we started going to the Gurnee Park Districts Family Open Swim at Laremont School as supplement and eventually for our full swim time during the school year. They have an awesome warm water therapy pool! Their swim classes didn't ghive with our lives so we just did the open swim even though it challenged our family. We have to get up and go to "early" 9 am service to make pool time worth it because it's from 11:30 for 1 pm and a 20 min dip in the pool is just not enough for Martha.

I love Imse Vimse Swim diapers! The Med size fit my first from 6 mos to potty trained at 28 mos...granted shes a tiny one! She wore it under a Splash about Happy Nappy (for her 2nd layer protection required by public pools) and then their baby wrap(wet suit) on top to keep my skinny mini from turning blue!

Size by age/ height on the IV's not just weight because if you don't have enough rise and need to use it's poo catching abilities. Thank you Happy Nappy for catching the stray breastfeed poo IV missed because the diaper needed more rise! As long as the waist is tight it's all good! The legs are tight no mater what!

This same IV diaper worked on my 2nd at 2 mos but is going to need to be uped in size before too long.

When I knew I was having another baby I knew I wanted the Baby Sung to keep the little one warm in the pool...you supposedly can use it w/out an additional swim diaper but I have always used the IV under it and in the beginning used a Small Happy Nappy too...I so don't want to be the mom to have the pool emptied!

Welcome to Blogging

I've decided to join the blogging world! Join me on my journey while I try to raise my two girls in a God honoring way!

Fussing and moving

Yesterday Martha didn't nap and went to bed before 8pm unheard of for her! Granted she still doesn't sleep through the night but anyway! Ruth on the other hand is having an awful time getting to sleep darn little teeth. Every time I though we might get outside I had to put fussing Ruth on my back or nurse her and she'd fall asleep...and after yesterday's crying while strolling I wanted a happy baby in the thing! So we never made it for our stroll today :(

Martha has taken to it's lying...saying daddy said I could when he never did or vise versa. So I decided that her wanting to read books...and we would read a story from her kid's bible on lying. Well the only one I could think of that was listed was Cane and Able. While she just loved reading it...I don't think she really got it. So I tried a different kids bible still no go but she seems to really like that bible so for like 20 min we read stories out of there motley over and over...she made me read the one about the Sumerian over and over...asking about the guys owies on the picture and why the guys were mean and on and on.

But Martha went down for a nap easy and I got to do some video footage of Ruth on the move. She crawled sideways (didn't remember Martha ever doing that but it was cute!), forward, scooting, and sitting! Poor kid is having developmental milestones up the wazoo...and a tooth poking at her little gum's!

I did wear Ruth during a family walk and getting her to sleep then having her wake up the second I removed my boby from hers on the bed...I do hope my easy to nap little one returns sometime before she turns 3...ok seriously way before!

Day 3 BOB

Went for a 40 min walk around he neighborhood...got funny looks from the road workers as I wrangled the stroller around the holes they had put in the sidewalk corners redoing things...but it went pretty easy...feels so GREAT to be exercising again! Ruth is getting crazy fussing with teeth coming in and really would rather just be worn or put down to learn to crawl....she didn't enjoy today's stroll much!

All Martha wanted to was to go to the park but that got nixed because she was being a stinker! But I did take her out for tricycle riding while Dan did dinner later. Nothing lengthy here...and in case you didn't figure it out I'm back posting because I want a log :)

Day 2 BOB Use

So it's Mother's day and it started off grand...haha...hubby telling me to get up or we were going to be late to church...me tired and not wanting to...the nursing sleepy children...then racing to get ready...only to be followed by a comment that we are too late to make it to first service...then being told to get in the car...the sitting in the road looking at the clock on the car...and returning to the house because we are indeed too late.

So fold some laundry and we end up a little late to second service...SAD isn't it! After church we "race" to the pool to get a little big of Martha's much loved swim time. Since there were only 30 min left of family swim the supervisor says we can go for free! YEAH! We have a great time get showered and come out to find Ruth and daddy "picnicing" on the grass! So Martha joined Dan and I head to the car to nurse Ruth.

Then BOB gets use #2 we load the girls and head to the nearst park...nice walk there interesting to push a big stroller and hit buttons to get walk lights to change but it's all good! Ruth fell asleep on the ride in so we park her for a nap while we all run around the playground and go down slide...ahh the freedom of the spiral slide as an adult...so fun :) We got Martha to go by herself again for the year and shorly afterward Ruth wakes up so I took her around the "jogging" trail for some exercise! We did 1 mile and it was great...except for going up hill into the wind! WHOA I'm out of shape with some aching shins! Dan pushed the girls home and got to check out the stroller.

Joining the Stroller Brigade

So I finally convinced my husband that a nice double stroller would make life easier for me...so off we go to REI's last day of the sale for a hugely discounted BOB Revolution Duallie.

I still couldn't decide if that is the stroller I wanted I was back and forth on the BOB Revolution, Baby Jogger City Elite or Summit 360 and the Bumbleride Indie. Well BOB was the cheapest and if I couldn't convince my hubby that the extra $'s were worth it so while he still can't believe I need or should ever spend $500 on a stroller I get to! And I plan to use this blog to help me get good use out of it!

So we got it home and that day I made Martha go on a ride with Ruth to "test" it out. And since our neighborhood was underboing curb, sidewalk, and driveway reconstruction...I got to do all sorts of "testing" it. Down the sidewalk drop like nothing! Even with a 10+ pound differance between the two girls. Down over curbs...a little bumpy but everyone seemed fine. Up over curbs...too a little muscle with the weight imbalance on the single swivle wheel but very doable. Over dirt and gravel...had to push a little but still easy to stear. Through the yard...just push a little harder. Since I'm not in the kind of shape nore do I even own a bra that can handle a jog the fixed wheel will have to wait till later!

After Martha's great test ride she was off following the neiborhood girls around on ther trycicle saying she was riding with the girls...and I kept little Ruth in the double because it is so nice to drive compared to the $45 I've spend on 3 "junky" strollers sitting at my house.