I'm in trouble...

So Elli has never been a big fan of meat & I have a hard time getting protein in her diet. Her favourite favourite food in the whole world is cheese so I usually trick her into eating meat by melting cheese on top. Usually works really well & she's very happy. Today she outsmarted me.
She picked up each piece of turkey by the cheese, shook it very carefully until the meat fell off, then ate the cheese.
*sigh*

Sensory Fun with Baby

Fingerpainting for Father's Day.

I made edible paint out of gelatin, she wasn't a big fan but definitely gave it a taste test.

Getting cleaned up was her favourite part.  She loves nothing more than water.

Stirring up some "soup".

Rice crispy sensory bin.  Don't know if she or the dog ate more. :)

Rocks are her fav toy.  She can play outside with the rocks for ages!

More Rainy Day Musings

I'm not sure when it happened, or how it snuck up on me so gradually, but my baby girl is not a tiny baby anymore.  As we prepare for her little brother this fall it has become so clear & real that she isn't & won't be the "baby" anymore.  Part of me is sad, part of me is excited to see her grow.
Nightime wakings have become infrequent enough that I can often find myself cherishing the moments of rocking her in the dark of her nursery, kissing her head, humming her to sleep.  I know these times aren't going to last much longer, that soon I'll be rocking a different baby to sleep at night.
Her understanding of the world around her has become impossible to ignore.  While listening to the radio the other day the chorus of a song repeated the word "goodbye".  She started waving bye-bye to the radio.
This very apparent knowledge that she is so aware of the world around her now has lead to some major contemplation & decisions on the part of my hubby & I.
What we watch when she's around.  What we listen to.  What language we use.  What we talk about.  Who is a part of her life.
Until she is old enough to choose her own friends, this is a responsibility we need to take very seriously because we are teaching her what kind of friends to choose.  The people we bring or allow into Elli's life will shape who she is, that's a fact.  I am honoured & humbled by the responsibility we have been given.  We have the power to (for the most part) surround our daughter with people of honour, integrity, kindness, love, fun & joy.  We have the power to give her role models we would be delighted to see her emulate as she grows.  We can show her in everyday life what healthy, happy relationships look like with family, friends, co workers & even random people we encounter in the world.
We can fill her life experience with people who work hard, love truly, live honestly & follow their dreams.  Who have fun, embrace joy & celebrate life.
So thank you to all the people in our life who do this, who fill this incredibly important role from near or far.  Whether we see you every day or once a year you are helping to shape our daughter's outlook on life & people.  Who she becomes will be in no small part because of the role you played in her life.

Jr High Has Changed!

A few things sure have changed since I last subbed jr high a few years ago!
When did kids start being able to complete & submit assignments via iPhone??  Computer, sure, but iPhone?
Now I've always understood having water bottles in class, but these kids were drinking Booster Juices & eating snacks!
I remember when listening to the radio during group work was a huge treat, here each group of kids had blue tooth speakers synced to their phones.
Whatever happened to handwriting?  These kids were turning in "good copies" that looked like they'd been printed by a third grader (or worse).  Not a single one of them could handwrite more than their name when I asked them.

Jr high is really different now!

There's Something About Rainy Days...

There's just something about soft, rainy days.  With the fresh breeze bringing the smell of spring (finally), the birds at last returned twittering in the trees, a hot cup of coffee in my hands & my puppy at my feet.  It gets me feeling all introspective & calm.  I love mornings like this because they get me thinking.  You know what?  My life is pretty fan-freaking-tastic.
Yes, I have a baby sleeping that is currently recovering from the stomach flu.  She was up at 1am, up at 8am, cried for an hour & is now back down.
Yes, I was awake all night thanks to an overactive brain & pregnancy insomnia (one of life's cruel jokes).
Yes, my poor, exhausted hubby who is also battling the stomach flu is passed out upstairs after getting home from work at 2 am.
My kitchen is a mess of dirty dishes & unwashed bottles.  My living room is littered with the accoutrements of caring for a sick baby & I have more loads of stinky laundry than I care to think about waiting for me.
I'm pretty sure the bath toys from last night are still littering the floor of the shower & I'm not sure what (or even if) our family is going to eat today with the way we've all been feeling.
But, sitting here on our back porch, breathing in the rainy air, sipping my coffee, life is great.
Life is great in despite of & because of the hassles I just listed.  Life is great because of what all these things add up to mean.  I have a family.  A beautiful, amazing, (typically healthy) family that I would do anything for.  Including let my house get turned into a disaster, sacrifice my much needed sleep & wash non-stop poop & vomit covered laundry.
No, I don't always feel this way.  If you had asked me at 1am how I felt about life you probably would have gotten a withering glare.  These moments, however, are vital.  These moments where I take it all in stride, see the big picture & love it.
That's what rainy days are for.