Our lives as parents » Birthday

Parenting a Toddler

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:01:20 +0000

2nd birthday invitation design, train with animals

We are planning for the 2nd birthday party! I designed his birthday card again this year which I’m excited about. Soon he’ll want to do his own thing so I’m taking advantage of doing non-Disney themes as long as I can!

Each birthday I reflect on what kind of parent I am and how I did the past year. How does one parent a sensitive two-year old who isn’t afraid of thunder but worries about the dogs outside? A child that is quick to react to the moods of his parents? A child that will only relax when both parents are sitting down relaxing? Are all 2-year olds this sensitive? He is testing his independance by saying “No” to everything, even when he means yes. At least this tells me he is whithin normal parameters.

Aden isn’t quite two yet but at the end of this month he will be! Even though he is getting testy, I still believe he is more even-tempered than most little boys I’ve known!

Things I love about the almost 2-year old Aden: He is gentle with his toys! He gives great hugs! He tells me something new everyday, like there are clouds and planes in the sky! He is gentle and sweet and sensitive. He is very much like his father. He has learned our fear of bugs and snakes, which we have tons of, so the reinforcement will be with him for a lifetime.

I’m glad he isn’t one of those children that no matter what you do, it doesn’t phase him, but at the same time, everything we do affects him. He doesn’t like change and is upset when we are not both around. But when we are both around, he is the happiest little boy in the world!

I worry about how sensitive he is. I worry I won’t be sensitive to his needs. I worry I won’t be a good parent to him. I worry we won’t be able to keep up with his smart little brain. He has all his books memorized and we can’t seem to get to the library fast enough!

This next year we hope to broaden Aden’s mind, get him potty-trained and concentrate on being a happy family. Simple goals they sound like, but sometimes I have to remind myself to smile and laugh with Aden around otherwise he doesn’t laugh. Here’s to the child without to remind me of the child within!

~Life as Mom

Shopping for Boys

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:30:36 +0000

I decided to go to the mall last night after I picked up Aden from daycare. This was supposed to be a fun trip to buy myself something fun to wear for my birthday coming up this weekend. Kind of a therapy shopping session.

It was definitely a race to beat the clock. Not only did I have to get there quickly, feed my son while there, shop for Valentine’s Day cards and check out the children’s clothing specials, but I was supposed to find myself something gorgeous to wear.

I planned way too much to do in an hour and a half. Note to self: When going to mall only plan one thing per trip.

On a side note: I am always UTTERLY frustrated by the lack of choices in boys clothing. How is it that boys can only have one rack of clothes and girls can have a whole department? I’ve talked about this before, but it is still forever frustrating.

Maybe the whole mall trip didn’t go the way I planned because I’m just increasingly frustrated about being four years away from the big four zero. Ugh! How could I have gotten this old? How can I be this old and have a child so young? I have been seriously evaluating my life now that the big one is within sight. Have I got a lot of work to do! Ugh.

Speaking of shopping for boys, finally someone is getting the fact that women are photographers!!! I absolutely love this line of photography bags!

This is what I want for my birthday! A very special girly camera bag!

@kellymooreclark is giving away a bag! Go enter to win! http://kellymoorebagblog.com/

~Life as Mom

(DISCLOSURE: This is not a paid advertisement. This is a contest entry for a Kelly Moore Bag.)

Favorite Toys

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:44:33 +0000

After reading my post about Aden’s favorite toys, a very special friend sent us a set of wooden utensils for Aden to play with. He absolutely loves them! He can’t put them down.

Receiving this wonderful gift prompted me to look for matching bowls and plates and I found this wonderful wood toy company online called Heirloom Wooden Toys. They have tons of wonderfully natural wooden toys for all ages.

I especially liked that they had kitchen sets that weren’t too girly. Even a wooden tea set that could be used for boys. Recently we were at a friend’s house and they had a little kitchen for their girl and Aden loved playing with all the food and pulling out the drawers. I am glad I could find a more gender-neutral one. They also have puppet theaters which I think we are going to have to get for Christmas! Aden’s birthday is coming up too and I’ve been trying to figure out what I’m going to get him. I think this will be my new go-to website.

~Life as Mom

Milestones at 8 months

admin — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:40:12 +0000

Aden,

Today you are eight months old. Your personality is developing every day. We are at a family get together this weekend and are realizing that you aren’t too crazy about 50 dogs, 100 kids, and all the aunts and uncles in your face. But that is ok, your mother and father aren’t too crazy about that either.

You like to rub the side of your head when you are tired. You love for your daddy to hold you till you fall asleep. Only when you are very very tired will you let me hold you and rock you to sleep. You are just about to crawl! You are up on your hands and knees and rocking back and forth. Any second now you will take off and make our lives a lot harder.

We have to work on baby-proofing the house this week and lowering your crib. Again. You can pull yourself up in the crib which is great except that everytime you come down you hit your head on the sides.

You still love your baths and have enjoyed the pool the couple of times we have put you in. The rainy weather has made it difficult to get in the pool more.

~Life as Mom

All I want for my birthday is my son’s poopie diaper

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:57:46 +0000

So on my birthday my son had failed to have a, let’s say, full colon discharge for two days. This fact began to concern me and normally I do not worry about such things. Our doctor has told us not to worry about colon clearing unless it is over three days. I think this sort of worrying is training for when us adults get older. Many friends of ours in the medical professions have said they still don’t understand the elderly’s fascination with plumbing movement.

Finally my son delivered and cleared out the room. I genually felt more at ease once he did. As for the rest of the day I got birthday cake and a new video game (Fallout3) which I can’t wait to find time to play.