I have a theory and it is probably way wrong, but here it goes:
St. Anthony (the patron of lost things) is just an overgrown 3 year old child. Has anyone ever seen a toddler who likes to play tricks on it's parents? You know, take something, hide it, then when they are asked where it is the child smiles, giggles, then runs away? Then the parent has to go chasing after the kid and coax him/her into telling them where said item is. I think this is what St. Anthony does.
I am FOREVER losing things!! I search for them - no luck. I ask St. Anthony for his help finding said item. It is found in the MOST OBVIOUS location possible. My theory is that this is his way of making sure we still rely on the help of better people than ourselves. So the next time you have lost something, just imagine St. Anthony sitting in heaven looking down at you with the ornery look of a silly 3 year old!
Showing posts with label Things we say. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Things we say. Show all posts
Monday, May 13, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Teaching the little lady the essentials!
My daughter is starting to talk - well learn how to. Her latest two words - "attack" and "Jesus." You might be thinking, what in the world are you teaching your kid? Well.... the essentials!
"Attack" - During bath time (her favorite part of any day) I have decided that I can make this amusement time - FOR ME! She has bath squirties! I fill them all up and squirt her in the chest or back, usually while saying "Baby's under attack!" in a fun voice. She giggles because the water tickles. She has learned to turn the tables on me though. Now she hits the top of the water with all her might, splashing me (and everything else in the bathroom) and says "ATTACK!" So now my dear, sweet daughter thinks being splashed with water is what "attack" means! HE HE HE! I am ok with that.
"Jesus" - This one makes my heart smile. Although she learned this from a book that plays an off key version of "Silent Night." It also has LED lights around the baby Jesus that makes Him a techno-colored nightmare. It really is very odd to have a glowing baby Jesus in a book. But she and I have had many conversations about the baby Jesus. I love the fact she is learning her faith, but I need to find other methods than the glowing techno-colored nightmare!
Next words don't need to be such opposites! But they probably will!
"Attack" - During bath time (her favorite part of any day) I have decided that I can make this amusement time - FOR ME! She has bath squirties! I fill them all up and squirt her in the chest or back, usually while saying "Baby's under attack!" in a fun voice. She giggles because the water tickles. She has learned to turn the tables on me though. Now she hits the top of the water with all her might, splashing me (and everything else in the bathroom) and says "ATTACK!" So now my dear, sweet daughter thinks being splashed with water is what "attack" means! HE HE HE! I am ok with that.
"Jesus" - This one makes my heart smile. Although she learned this from a book that plays an off key version of "Silent Night." It also has LED lights around the baby Jesus that makes Him a techno-colored nightmare. It really is very odd to have a glowing baby Jesus in a book. But she and I have had many conversations about the baby Jesus. I love the fact she is learning her faith, but I need to find other methods than the glowing techno-colored nightmare!
Next words don't need to be such opposites! But they probably will!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Learning not to compare
I suffer from a condition where I always feel like I am failing as a mom. This has been made worse by my daughter's former pediatrician making me feel like a horrible mom because my daughter is off the charts tall and way below where she should be in the weight category. She is tall and thin. She doesn't look sickly and is very active - always walking and bouncing around. So am I starving my kid, NO!!! I mean what was God thinking when he gave me such a wonderful little kid? I am forever comparing myself to friends I know with kids a little older than my daughter and in my head I don't measure up. But I have been trying to figure out that not everyone is perfect and I need to stop being so hard on myself but when things like this happen...
So I was feeling especially exhausted a few days ago. I had got home from work at my usual time (3am) and my daughter was WIDE awake. Well since her dad had to work the next morning and I knew she wasn't going to go back to sleep anytime soon, so we went out to the living room (farthest we could get away from daddy so he could sleep) and couch for cuddle time. She was awake until 530! Talk about EXHAUSTED mommy. She woke up a little later than her normal 10am - she waited until 1030. Somehow those times don't add up. 2.5 hours of play time does not equal 30 minutes of sleep in time. So in the morning she had created one very nasty diaper. It was like road construction tar caked on her little tushy and wipes were NOT doing the trick. So at my wits end I decided to sit her on the toilet and use the cloth diaper sprayer to get off the majority before giving her a bath. Well the water coming out of the diaper sprayer is super cold and she DID NOT LIKE IT!! Poor baby!! But she did get a nice warm bath after with loads of play time. The entire time she was screaming because her bottom was super cold I was crying and trying to calm her down. As she was bathing I told her, "I know, I know, C's mom would never do this to her." Later on when she was happy because she got loads of play time in warm water I was reflecting on what happened and said to my little lady, "well yeah, C's mama might do it. I wouldn't put it past her to let her boys play in the mud then hose them down on the back porch before letting them come in the house too." Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to keep your life sane.
At the end of the day I have the happiest kid I know. She is fed, changed and safe. So I am doing ok, right?
So I was feeling especially exhausted a few days ago. I had got home from work at my usual time (3am) and my daughter was WIDE awake. Well since her dad had to work the next morning and I knew she wasn't going to go back to sleep anytime soon, so we went out to the living room (farthest we could get away from daddy so he could sleep) and couch for cuddle time. She was awake until 530! Talk about EXHAUSTED mommy. She woke up a little later than her normal 10am - she waited until 1030. Somehow those times don't add up. 2.5 hours of play time does not equal 30 minutes of sleep in time. So in the morning she had created one very nasty diaper. It was like road construction tar caked on her little tushy and wipes were NOT doing the trick. So at my wits end I decided to sit her on the toilet and use the cloth diaper sprayer to get off the majority before giving her a bath. Well the water coming out of the diaper sprayer is super cold and she DID NOT LIKE IT!! Poor baby!! But she did get a nice warm bath after with loads of play time. The entire time she was screaming because her bottom was super cold I was crying and trying to calm her down. As she was bathing I told her, "I know, I know, C's mom would never do this to her." Later on when she was happy because she got loads of play time in warm water I was reflecting on what happened and said to my little lady, "well yeah, C's mama might do it. I wouldn't put it past her to let her boys play in the mud then hose them down on the back porch before letting them come in the house too." Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to keep your life sane.
At the end of the day I have the happiest kid I know. She is fed, changed and safe. So I am doing ok, right?
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
What's wrong with the world
I have been hearing that my generation has gone to hell in a hand basket. (I guess I should say I am in my late 20s, my parents in their 50s and grandparents in their 70s). Supposedly we are spoiled, rude, and don't appreciate what we have. Also we are supposedly so self absorbed that we are stuck in the birth control/abortion mentality that our elders worry for the generations to come.
Well why I won't deny that many in my generation are like this, I maintain that this is learned behavior and it goes beyond our parents problem. Why do I blame those in the 60s (yes, half way between my grandparents and parents' age)? Well let me tell you:
I have been noticing how people treat my daughter and I when my husband is not around. Since I look like I am in high school, often times I can appear as a teenage mother. While I know that it has been over 10 years since I was a teenager (oh sweet merciful Jesus I feel old), I do realize that I was a teenage mother when the 70+ year olds were, I would have been sent off to some home or sheltered away with some random family member until the baby was born then adopted. I would have then returned home after a miraculously amazing vacation and no one would ask questions. All this is besides the point, because these men and women of this generation are the nicest to my daughter and me. They are always willing to make funny faces at her. She LOVES them. I never hear anything negative about being a parent from these men and women.
Well if you move on to those in their 60s you would think aliens had invaded the world and exchanged the brains of that generation with crazy-town brains. I blame the "free-lovin" and Roe v. Wade infection. What have both men and women said about me, my daughter, or both of us together that makes me think we live in a world of "Men in Black"? (and my responses)
"She's cute. It is too bad your birth control failed." (Yeah, she was and still is very much wanted and loved and I never took birth control)
"Why would you ever want to ruin your life for at least the next 18 years?" (My life isn't ruined, it is improved. She makes me love waking up each day to see what she can manage to do to make me giggle and love her even more)
"You are throwing your potential away." (No, I am living out a greater calling)
"Why would you want another kid? They are expensive. One is more than enough." (Umm.. as long as God is willing to grant us another kid, we are willing to be the best parents we can be. We say bring on the fun! Plus, our daughter needs someone to fight with.)
And these are just a few of the ones I could come up with off the top of my head. Oh, and not to mention the crabby lady at church who feels the need to scowl at my precious daughter. It is not my dear daughter's fault you can't see the face of God in a happy child who just wants to play peek-a-boo with you. She was not being loud, nor destructive, and was barely being distracting. Had you smiled at her, she would have moved on to her next object of attention.
There is a silver lining to my rant. I am noticing a return to common sense for our generation and those younger. There seems to be a growing appreciation for the respect for life movement. Maybe it is because we are young and haven't been completely sucked into the culture (for the record I don't believe this one), or it is that we have noticed what our parents did, realized it didn't work and want to return to a better time in history. Either way, as soon as people learn to realize that babies are a blessing, not a burden, the world will be made a better place.
Well why I won't deny that many in my generation are like this, I maintain that this is learned behavior and it goes beyond our parents problem. Why do I blame those in the 60s (yes, half way between my grandparents and parents' age)? Well let me tell you:
I have been noticing how people treat my daughter and I when my husband is not around. Since I look like I am in high school, often times I can appear as a teenage mother. While I know that it has been over 10 years since I was a teenager (oh sweet merciful Jesus I feel old), I do realize that I was a teenage mother when the 70+ year olds were, I would have been sent off to some home or sheltered away with some random family member until the baby was born then adopted. I would have then returned home after a miraculously amazing vacation and no one would ask questions. All this is besides the point, because these men and women of this generation are the nicest to my daughter and me. They are always willing to make funny faces at her. She LOVES them. I never hear anything negative about being a parent from these men and women.
Well if you move on to those in their 60s you would think aliens had invaded the world and exchanged the brains of that generation with crazy-town brains. I blame the "free-lovin" and Roe v. Wade infection. What have both men and women said about me, my daughter, or both of us together that makes me think we live in a world of "Men in Black"? (and my responses)
"She's cute. It is too bad your birth control failed." (Yeah, she was and still is very much wanted and loved and I never took birth control)
"Why would you ever want to ruin your life for at least the next 18 years?" (My life isn't ruined, it is improved. She makes me love waking up each day to see what she can manage to do to make me giggle and love her even more)
"You are throwing your potential away." (No, I am living out a greater calling)
"Why would you want another kid? They are expensive. One is more than enough." (Umm.. as long as God is willing to grant us another kid, we are willing to be the best parents we can be. We say bring on the fun! Plus, our daughter needs someone to fight with.)
And these are just a few of the ones I could come up with off the top of my head. Oh, and not to mention the crabby lady at church who feels the need to scowl at my precious daughter. It is not my dear daughter's fault you can't see the face of God in a happy child who just wants to play peek-a-boo with you. She was not being loud, nor destructive, and was barely being distracting. Had you smiled at her, she would have moved on to her next object of attention.
There is a silver lining to my rant. I am noticing a return to common sense for our generation and those younger. There seems to be a growing appreciation for the respect for life movement. Maybe it is because we are young and haven't been completely sucked into the culture (for the record I don't believe this one), or it is that we have noticed what our parents did, realized it didn't work and want to return to a better time in history. Either way, as soon as people learn to realize that babies are a blessing, not a burden, the world will be made a better place.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Promises to my child
Who knew that having a child of my own would make me extra-aware of others parenting styles. (Doesn't it happen to every mother?) So here are my promises to my child based on the observations of others.
1. You will know you are loved. I will tell you at least once a day that I love you. I will do my best to show you as much (or more) affection as you need to know it. I don't want you questioning if you are loved - EVER.
2. You will know the meaning of the word, "No." I will not be afraid to use this word when it is needed.
3. You will not get everything that you want. But I will do my best to make sure you have everything you NEED. And you will know the difference between wants and needs.
4. You will know how to act in public. I will teach you what is appropriate and what is not. If you have difficulty with this concept - I am not afraid to leave whatever public venue we are at.
5. I will do my best to praise you in public and private and correct you as privately as possible. Now if your behavior warrants it, you will be corrected in public as well.
6. You will know the Benedictine teaching of moderation and utilize it in your life.
7. You will dress modestly as long as you live in my house. (and hopefully after)
8. You will know the importance of your faith.
9. I am always here to listen to your stories, concerns, and to kiss your boo-boos (real and imagined)
10. You will know the importance of personal hygiene. I will make sure you don't smell bad and look like you have bathed recently. Now if you come home covered in mud after playing hard with siblings or fishing with your daddy, I reserve the right to hose you off before letting you come inside to bathe.
1. You will know you are loved. I will tell you at least once a day that I love you. I will do my best to show you as much (or more) affection as you need to know it. I don't want you questioning if you are loved - EVER.
2. You will know the meaning of the word, "No." I will not be afraid to use this word when it is needed.
3. You will not get everything that you want. But I will do my best to make sure you have everything you NEED. And you will know the difference between wants and needs.
4. You will know how to act in public. I will teach you what is appropriate and what is not. If you have difficulty with this concept - I am not afraid to leave whatever public venue we are at.
5. I will do my best to praise you in public and private and correct you as privately as possible. Now if your behavior warrants it, you will be corrected in public as well.
6. You will know the Benedictine teaching of moderation and utilize it in your life.
7. You will dress modestly as long as you live in my house. (and hopefully after)
8. You will know the importance of your faith.
9. I am always here to listen to your stories, concerns, and to kiss your boo-boos (real and imagined)
10. You will know the importance of personal hygiene. I will make sure you don't smell bad and look like you have bathed recently. Now if you come home covered in mud after playing hard with siblings or fishing with your daddy, I reserve the right to hose you off before letting you come inside to bathe.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Daddy talks
I came home and found my husband taking a bathe (not something unusual). Since I was holding my daughter, when she heard his voice she smiled big, started bouncing on my him, and giggled. Again, nothing unusual. So we had this conversation:
Me (in a high pitched baby-like voice while hiding my face behind my child): Daddy, I have something to tell you.
Hubby: What?!? (along with a the general accompanying "oh crap, what happened" look)
Me (still talking like my kid) I kissed a boy
Hubby: Oh boy
It is at this point the baby looks away and refuses to look him in the face. She wouldn't look at him for quite a few minutes. It was very funny.
I think she knew she did something daddy wasn't going to approve of. This may have been the first of many daddy talks - but it was soooo funny and cute!
Me (in a high pitched baby-like voice while hiding my face behind my child): Daddy, I have something to tell you.
Hubby: What?!? (along with a the general accompanying "oh crap, what happened" look)
Me (still talking like my kid) I kissed a boy
Hubby: Oh boy
It is at this point the baby looks away and refuses to look him in the face. She wouldn't look at him for quite a few minutes. It was very funny.
I think she knew she did something daddy wasn't going to approve of. This may have been the first of many daddy talks - but it was soooo funny and cute!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Calling the priest....
I have learned that the words, "Oh, no, she never does that..." in reference to my daughter is usually viewed as a challenge to her and she promptly does it. One of the days I will remember this!
I was at my grandparents house today. The little lady was sitting on the floor playing quietly. I gave her my phone to play with (she likes to look at the pictures of herself). She has never called anyone - up until today. [Side note: some of the pictures are linked to phone numbers so when that person calls I see a picture of my daughter with that person. It makes me smile every time and is a quick way to see that whoever is calling is someone I know.] She was scrolling through the pictures of herself and came to a picture of her Godfather (who just happens to be a Catholic priest) holding her from her baptism weekend and she must have hit the "send" button because seconds after saying that she never calls anyone I looked down and saw the timer going and it said 20 seconds and counting and my daughter was chatting away. I looked at her and said, "What are you doing?" She laughed, smiled and I quickly picked up the phone. She had actually made the call and he answered.
I was pretty embarrassed! I had no reason to call him - and I knew he probably was busy working. The little lady decided she needed something to tell him that was very important and couldn't wait. Too bad neither one of us knew what she was telling him because it sounded like babble to the "adults".
There is a reason why I think she called him. Other than I gave her something that looked like a fun play toy with buttons. God thought he could use a smile. I was unaware that he was having a bad day, but he was. He enjoyed the fact that she called him and was chatting. Who can not smile at the sound of a baby chatting anyway? I believe God used my daughter to make someone's day better - and that is awesome. After apologizing for interrupting his busy day, he did express a hope that my daughter feels comfortable enough when she is 18 to call him up randomly and chat. So do I!
I was at my grandparents house today. The little lady was sitting on the floor playing quietly. I gave her my phone to play with (she likes to look at the pictures of herself). She has never called anyone - up until today. [Side note: some of the pictures are linked to phone numbers so when that person calls I see a picture of my daughter with that person. It makes me smile every time and is a quick way to see that whoever is calling is someone I know.] She was scrolling through the pictures of herself and came to a picture of her Godfather (who just happens to be a Catholic priest) holding her from her baptism weekend and she must have hit the "send" button because seconds after saying that she never calls anyone I looked down and saw the timer going and it said 20 seconds and counting and my daughter was chatting away. I looked at her and said, "What are you doing?" She laughed, smiled and I quickly picked up the phone. She had actually made the call and he answered.
I was pretty embarrassed! I had no reason to call him - and I knew he probably was busy working. The little lady decided she needed something to tell him that was very important and couldn't wait. Too bad neither one of us knew what she was telling him because it sounded like babble to the "adults".
There is a reason why I think she called him. Other than I gave her something that looked like a fun play toy with buttons. God thought he could use a smile. I was unaware that he was having a bad day, but he was. He enjoyed the fact that she called him and was chatting. Who can not smile at the sound of a baby chatting anyway? I believe God used my daughter to make someone's day better - and that is awesome. After apologizing for interrupting his busy day, he did express a hope that my daughter feels comfortable enough when she is 18 to call him up randomly and chat. So do I!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Problem with planning...
In high school I had "rules" for what my future husband would be like (in no particular order):
1. "Tall" - I am short and wanted my children to have a "fighting chance" at being average height.
2. Faithful and good father for our kids.
3. Have a shorter last name that is higher up in the alphabet that is also easier to pronounce. I was always annoyed at being last at graduations, the end of classroom role....etc.
I did good in the first two categories. The third one....um... it is one letter shorter, but closer to Z than A in the alphabet. I did fall lower! But the jury is still out on being easier to pronounce.
I was talking to a co-worker (a 19 year old) about her boyfriend and she laughed when I told her my "rules." I have to laugh at them too! Nice to know what was important at the time!
1. "Tall" - I am short and wanted my children to have a "fighting chance" at being average height.
2. Faithful and good father for our kids.
3. Have a shorter last name that is higher up in the alphabet that is also easier to pronounce. I was always annoyed at being last at graduations, the end of classroom role....etc.
I did good in the first two categories. The third one....um... it is one letter shorter, but closer to Z than A in the alphabet. I did fall lower! But the jury is still out on being easier to pronounce.
I was talking to a co-worker (a 19 year old) about her boyfriend and she laughed when I told her my "rules." I have to laugh at them too! Nice to know what was important at the time!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Nicknames
My child may never learn her name. Why is this? Because we keep calling her by nick names. Here are a few of the good ones:
Chipmunk (her daddy gave her this name when he saw her on the ultrasound. She had and still does cheeks that could hide half a tree's worth of nuts like a chipmunk)
Pumpkin (she was born right before Halloween)
Sassy Pants (she has her mama's attitude)
Stinker Pants (she has the ability to do what we don't want her to do right when we don't want her to do it)
Fluffy Butt (Cloth diapers are thicker than disposables and she is so thin it makes her diaper look so much larger)
Tinky (my mom calls her this because my nickname was Tinkerbell and she is a little me - in personality, not looks)
Angel baby (She is our little gift from heaven)
Princess (she knows she rules this house)
Cutie Pie (her daddy calls her this)
Chipmunk (her daddy gave her this name when he saw her on the ultrasound. She had and still does cheeks that could hide half a tree's worth of nuts like a chipmunk)
Pumpkin (she was born right before Halloween)
Sassy Pants (she has her mama's attitude)
Stinker Pants (she has the ability to do what we don't want her to do right when we don't want her to do it)
Fluffy Butt (Cloth diapers are thicker than disposables and she is so thin it makes her diaper look so much larger)
Tinky (my mom calls her this because my nickname was Tinkerbell and she is a little me - in personality, not looks)
Angel baby (She is our little gift from heaven)
Princess (she knows she rules this house)
Cutie Pie (her daddy calls her this)
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Mom and Dad-isms
So I have noticed that my husband and I say some very odd things now that we are parents. Many of which can be completely misinterpreted if taken out of context. Here are a few examples:
"No, keep your legs down." (diaper changing and dressing)
"Confessionals are not accommodating for 2 people - even if one of them is 25 inches tall and weighs less than 14 lbs." (talking about holding my daughter while in the confessional)
"Come on, please burp!"
"Poopy ! Yeah!!"
"Don't puke! Don't puke! I don't have time to bathe you today, please don't puke." (also been said in combination with "Don't puke because you won't get a bath if you do." but that was said after she was anointed with chrism and smelled heavenly)
"How's my fluffy butt doing?" (Cloth diapers!)
"What are the rules? No peeing! No pooping! Keep feet out of the diaper."
"I'll let you bite my noise if you will stop crying."
"Come on you stupid burger!" (Said while trying to clean out my daughter's nose)
"No sweetie, we kiss with our mouths closed!" (She likes to lick people)
"No, keep your legs down." (diaper changing and dressing)
"Confessionals are not accommodating for 2 people - even if one of them is 25 inches tall and weighs less than 14 lbs." (talking about holding my daughter while in the confessional)
"Come on, please burp!"
"Poopy ! Yeah!!"
"Don't puke! Don't puke! I don't have time to bathe you today, please don't puke." (also been said in combination with "Don't puke because you won't get a bath if you do." but that was said after she was anointed with chrism and smelled heavenly)
"How's my fluffy butt doing?" (Cloth diapers!)
"What are the rules? No peeing! No pooping! Keep feet out of the diaper."
"I'll let you bite my noise if you will stop crying."
"Come on you stupid burger!" (Said while trying to clean out my daughter's nose)
"No sweetie, we kiss with our mouths closed!" (She likes to lick people)
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