Phriday Phun

Phanks to Candid Carrie And this is a picture Moira and I decorating our Christmas tree last year... Christmas already you say? Yes, because Christmas dinner is at my house this year for the first time EVER, 2 families, several food restrictions, and a Granny freshly out of the hospital.

"I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me"

On a brighter note, I want to hear y'all families traditions, What did you eat? What did you do?

It's Tuesday Already??

Is it just me or does time go faster everyday? I thought time flew in high school, and after high school, Then Moira was born, and now that Clara's here time is going so fast. If the world doesn't slow down I'm going to fall off!! Okay maybe not.. I was sure I just gave birth to Clara yesterday but she's teething already! Wait let me step back and do the math, oh yeah, "yesterday" was three months ago.

I wrote about dh's cakes yesterday.. well sometime in August I have 2 more to do. Can't give away too much info, just incase the soon to be birthday lady stumbles upon this humble blog. But I'll totally post pictures when they become available. But for now I give you the birthday boy, and his wonderful (sometimes modest) wife, and the two best little girls in the world. Oh yeah and one shamrock cake.

 

Manic Monday?

Maybe not.. Last week was mayhem enough. Got home from KY to a huge mess, Spent all week getting caught back up. Just in time for DHs birthday party.. half of the people didn't even show, so the 2nd cake I made was a huge waste of time. Oh well, The best part of throwing a party is it forces me to clean my house. Aside for some scattered toys, and the cake mess the party did it's job, means tomorrow all I have to do is a few extra dishes. Maybe tomorrow will be a relax and play day, hope so anyway because it's the girls and I all day.

The Best Way To End A Day

One of the things I enjoy about my girls' is that they are my ever changing constant. Being alone with them (which is almost all the time recently) always seems to bring me back to where my priorities should be. Last night after bath time I was trying to get Moira in her jammies and keep both her and Clara entertained. Before I knew it she was playing the sweet baby game of "find the foot" And all of a sudden she is really good at it. Watching her do that and playing peek-a-boo with her older sister has got to be the greatest way to end a rough day. No matter what happens during the day when I tuck my babies in and think "I'm so glad I'm the Mommy" It's been a good day

Shots and Blood Draws

Today was stressful enough to say the least. We're spreading out Clara's shots, and trying to follow the recommendation of Doctor Sears. The girls' insurance is rather limiting however so all we can do is spread out the shots and combo shots. And decline them of course, but what is the good of declining a shot when it creeps up two months later in a combo.

As if my mind wasn't swirling around enough information, add a two year old with diarrhea, and the voice in my head that says "she's allergic to gluten" I've been putting off asking for a test for months, wondering "how I could possibly know it's gluten?" and thinking "her insurance won't pay for that!" Thankfully they are going to pay for it. YAY!

So I show up at our local hospital weighing the pros of our loving our pediatrician and the cons of hating the local hospital. Dh went into the back room with Moira when they called her back. It must have been 15 mins later they call for some butterfly needles because they don't have any, then awhile after they get those they call me up to the front and tell me that they canceled it and we have to come back once her arm heals because they couldn't get any blood today. We're guessing that they went through the vein on my two year old! The girl up front said that they could call someone down from the peds floor next time..NEXT TIME?? where were they this time?? **sighs** the stool culture is in now, and I guess we'll go next week and demand for someone from peds.

Time

Time's fun when you're having flies

Today it's really hit, Clara will be 3 months old in just 2 days. It seems like just yesterday I was waking DH up saying "I think my water just broke!" Today Clara can hold her head up high, she follows our fingers with her eyes, she has the BEST grins! I'm having a really hard time about backing off and letting Moira play with her baby sister a little. I'm trying to work on going off of Clara's cues. Today they were playing so good. Moira was telling her stories, and holding her hands "dancing" with her. I could see her doing what we did with her/do with Clara. And when she started clapping babys hands and cheering it got the best laugh out of Clara that I've heard yet! I was so glad that I got to share in their moment. There is something truely amazing about seeing two babies that you brought into this world playing and enjoying it together.

Too many decisions!!

This task seems impossible, finding the best style/ recources to match the needs of our little girls. Moira I can understand well. I know what she likes to do, and When I see books/recources that looks like it would interest her I can bookmark it, or take note of it. Not even worring about if Clara will get use out of that tool. but then I have to think about does it fit into our household, Such as the Montessori approach. That would suite Moira's personality very well, she loves to learn by exploring (as many kids do at this age) but the question with that lifestyle is do I have the patience to teach like that? There are times when it's easy. Earlier today I was working in the kitchen, clearing the table, and she then got the broom and dustpan and was "sweeping" the floor. That was easy because it didn't intefear with what I was doing, but what about when she wants to take part in the same activity as I am? I've been praying for patience.

After concidering if our household fits the life/learning style the next decision is does it fit in with our belief system? When looking at the Montessori methods of teaching, it seems like they are lacking when it comes to the arts. I've found another method much like that of Maria Montessori's that focuses a lot on play time and make believe for younger children. I would love for my girls to grow up with a healthy imagination. However the waldorf resources I was looking at all incude faries, and wizzards and gnomes. I'm not that opposed to make believe magic in moderation. However I don't want my girls to go overboard when it comes to those things.

That being said I know that as we are homeschooling our girls We get to call the shots when it comes to what toys, books, lessons we use. There is no cookie cutter that we have to follow, and I'm greatful for that. It's just nice to feel like I fit in to a category. I suppose I can just use the methods, and we can have our own selection of toys/learning tools. *sigh* There really are to many decisions to make. I wish DH would voice an opinion about this (and in a nice way)

Part two

I adore watching my oldest grow and learn everyday. However I am concerned about what things will be like when her little sister is born. Will that change things for the worse? or for the better? I hope that Moira doesn't feel like I've abandoned her when her sister is born. I'm sure after the adjustment period she'll be okay, I just know how close we are now, and I don't want to have my precious baby girl resent me for bringing another precious baby girl into the world, and our home/hearts. I'm hoping that they will be close growing up. They are already both so special to me. So far with the first two entries into this and I still haven't told you the entire reason I've started this record of our adventures. We are going to homeschool our children. it's just a matter of finding the style that suits our girls and us. We are christians and want to include religion in our home studies, as well as the respect that is found within the Montessori methods of teaching. I plan on using this page to record our journey.