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Note: I wrote this post over a month and a half ago so it’s a bit outdated, but in the spirit of chronological order and not wasting what I’ve already typed, I’m posting it anyway.
How is it that two hours out in the sunshine can revitalize a person SO MUCH? Thank You, God!
Children
Hadassah is two and a half and is turning into a young lady before my very eyes. She’s full of energy and intensity and I still have to remind her often to “be kind to Noah,” but yesterday while I was sweeping the floor she ran and got a washcloth and wet it and busily wiped down every surface she could reach in the bathroom. =) She routinely makes friends with strangers, loves any and every kind of food or drink, and the cognitive wheels in her little brain are turning at lightening speed. She’s my first child, so every new stage blows my mind. How is she old enough to understand cause and effect, if/then statements, emotions, and the concepts of “later” and “maybe”?
Noah is eight and a half months old and while he may be an easy going baby, he is no couch potato! He just started climbing stairs and pulling himself up on things. Everything goes in the mouth. He doesn’t have any teeth yet, and the hair is still pretty sparse; but his bright, knowing eyes, wide mouth, and toothless gums all contribute to the adorable “little old man” persona that he’s had since birth.
Noah is now ten months old and is a pro at walking along furniture. He has a big ol’ winning personality + two bottom teeth. The hair is coming, slowly but surely.
Working On
Cutting quilt blocks. I really, really, really want to get all my fabric scraps sewn into quilt/comforter tops before we move!
The blocks are cut and have been stuffed sorted into boxes by quilt project. Currently I’m working on matching Sunday dresses for Hadassah and me.
Editing pictures. I was behind on editing all of the pictures I took of Hadassah, so I’m trying to do better at staying current with Noah’s pictures while catching up on Hadassah’s so I can tackle BOTH of their baby books.
This is encouraging. I actually have gotten some things done in the last month and a half since I wrote this post. =D Pictures are all edited and I just ordered a bunch of prints for frames + albums + grandparents and made photobooks for the grandmas. Just started on a family photobook.
On my list today is to catch up on some journaling for myself and for baby books, as well as organize a list of recipes that I want to create/tweak/update.
Reading/Listening To
- M is for Mama podcast
- Luke
- anything Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie
- Peace Child by Don Richardson(?)
- Reaching America by Gary Miller
Struggling With
Getting my two and a half year old to fall asleep for naps. We took her pacifier away for good the beginning of last week (it was causing more issues than it was helping). She’s always been a good napper and will usually nap for two hours in the afternoon, but ever since we took the pacifier away she has had serious issues falling asleep. She has some stuffed animals and a blanket but hasn’t really connected with any of those long term.
Any tips? Please share below what your toddler’s nap routine looks like and what has helped!
As a side note, today was the first day that she did NOT have trouble falling asleep. Perhaps our two hours outside before naps helped. =) Not so easy when it’s actively snowing and 22* outside….
I’m afraid I brought the pacifier back for bedtime.…
Recipes
Currently working on
- apple crisp (just finished!)
- cookies and cream ice cream (finished this too)
- chocolate zucchini cake
- and about twenty others
Moving
We are still planning to move to Nebraska the end of June, so I will probably start packing before too long. Between now and then we also have to finish some renovations and sell our house, and Ryan is going on a two week mission trip to Togo to work in a hospital there. We have some friends we want to see, and some people we want to host, and let’s just say the empty weekends between now and the end of June are few and far between!
Well, I’ve started packing things like books, and fancy dishes, and decor. Ryan is back from Togo, and life stays busy,
Want to see more?
On your way west to NE, you will pass thru IA. Waving!
I love reading your updates and keep up with you and your littles. Such a breath of fresh air. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Love reading your posts. You are a truly an amazing woman and an awesome Mom. My granddaughter is a Mom like you with 2 children, boy 4 and girl 18 months. She was a teacher and decided to stay home when her son was born. Her husband is an Administrator and works many long hours, but she is an awesome Mom. She lost her Mom to cancer when she was 22, but her Mom would be so proud of her.
Bless her for prioritizing her family!
The only thing that helped my oldest fall asleep for naps and bed was new books from the library that we only saved for bedtime and naps. And he had to stay on his bed to look at them. Audiobooks probably would’ve helped too.
Well, Nebraska! That’s far! I thought maybe I’d bump into you here in Ohio one day, as I did outside of Berlin one day when purchasing apples! Alas, I m running out of time. Best wishes and many blessings on your future endeavors. Love seeing your sweet family!
Briana,
I changed my email address to this. Thank you for sharing your life’s journey with us. From a single young lady to a mother of two, you are a wonderful adventure. God is so faithful and true in His blessings.
Your ole pal,
Linda (Gillenwater) Wright
Amen! Got your address changed. 😉
I love all the update photos. The kids are adorable! I love your reading or listen to.. as a gramma I took the well beloved paci and snipped a little of the tip off and gave it to her for her naps and said sorry it’s broken but that’s the last one. It worked in a few days. Good luck with the move
My son quit naps at 2. His bed time was 9:30 anything before that we would be up by midnight. He would sleep untill 8 or 9 in the morning.Your Babies are beautiful.
Hadassah seems to be taking after her dad – she needs a lot of sleep and still regularly takes 2 hour naps! Noah seems to have my genes and needs less.
So glad to hear Ryan went to Togo. I, too, had a missions trip to Togo last summer (hardly anyone knows where Togo is!). I was at the Village of Light in Kpalimé. We also toured the southern hospital in Tsiko. I have missionary friends in Kpalimé as well as at the northern hospital in Mango! Praying all Ryan worked with were blessed!
How neat! Ryan was working in Mango and had a wonderful time. Maybe we’ll get to go back together as a family some day!
Your children are beautiful. Isn’t motherhood magical? You are doing a fine job. My only thought on the pacifier challenge: my children were ADDICTS. When the time came, I poked holes in the nipple. It lost its appeal quickly, and pretty soon I could just remove it and they forgot. Good luck. The kinks always get worked out. God bless.
Thanks, Bernadette. I like your approach to motherhood. =)
You have a lot of things going on in your life, especially with moving coming soon. The same will be true for your child. Don’t feel like you will be a failure if you have a child with a pacifier. It gives them comfort. They won’t be using it when they are in college. When we were going to be traveling overseas (12 hour flights, 4 days of travel in 1 carryon suitcase before getting our luggage at the final destination), I thought it was time for my almost 5 year old youngest child to stop his pacifier. Then I had a flash of common sense! WHY was I wanting to make a big change before we would be gone 5 weeks in a foreign country? I could wait until we got back. I am SOOOOO glad I waited. When we got back we just stopped. While we were traveling and frequently in different places, I, most of all, was glad I had allowed my son this extra comfort. BTW, I didn’t have those issues with the older children, but this child had more challenges and with all of life going on, I had gained more wisdom in not making a big issue of something that would eventually work itself out.
Thanks for that, Julie! <3
I love seeing new pictures of your children. They are growing and so adorable! The one of Hadassah on the little riding toy car…with her little bare feet up in the air…how sweet! Noah is getting so big!
I continue to use both of your cookbooks constantly…rarely do I ever use the THM cookbooks, because yours are SO good, and if I’m looking for something in particular, you almost always have what I’m looking for! Thank you!!!
Aw, thanks, Bonnie! Hadassah always wants to “wear barefoot,” as she says.
You might try finding some Chamomilla. It will help the anxiety and help little miss fall asleep for nap. Natural is good and you may not need to use it but a few times until she gets the hang of it. Hang in there momma, this too shall pass.
I always enjoy you updates of your family and busy life! So refreshing. Praying for a smooth move to Nebraska!
Especially considering the upcoming move etc ! As a great grandma , I would say if it makes bedtime easier, let her have it ! I have never seen a graduate with a soother ! The transition will be easier when a bit older and life a bit more settled ! Just my thoughts! Soothers are wonderful! Not all babies accept them !
Thanks, Helen! I’ve been very glad that both of mine take them.
That would be my suggestion ! Give the soother for night !
I am a grandma now, so technology is a bit different than when my kids were young (understatement), but what I did to encourage resty-time involves a digital clock with numbers large enough for the child to see without leaving the bed.
You explain how the clock works (can be done when not nap time) and that the numbers show what time it is. When nap time comes, you put the clock where the child can see it easily from the pillow, tuck them down very cozily, and tell them, “I’m not saying you need to SLEEP, just rest quietly until the numbers on the clock say (choose something easy about 30-60 min later, i.e. 3:00 or a round number near when you wouldn’t mind them getting up). You just need to rest quietly here until the clock says that number, then you can get up. Momma and Noah need to rest also.” Almost guaranteed that they fall sound asleep staring at that clock watching the numbers change– problem solved!”
Thanks for the suggestion, Jeanne! I think nowadays they make color changing clocks that turn green or something when naptime is over. Maybe I need one!
So thankful for warmer temps and getting the children outside more and more!
Hopefully we’ll get to see y’all once more before the move. We’d love to hear about Ryan’s experience in Togo!
Yes! We’d like to see y’all!
How exciting to be moving to Nebraska!!! We live in Lincoln. It a wonderful state , “Nebraska, the Good Life”, which you will soon discover for yourself! Better get used to wearing red! ❤️. GBR – Go Big Red! ❤️
Precious pictures and precious times for you and your family. I always love when you share pictures and updates.
I have a question….. what are your thoughts on erythritol? I have read THM post and much on the internet and am not sure how safe it is to use. Soooo hard as you don’t know what to believe.
Thanks for any thoughts,
Melody
I’m sorry – I haven’t studied it at all.
Don’t feel guilty about bringing the pacifier, aka binky, back! The rule I have is it stays in the crib/bed (same thing I do with the kiddos I nanny) once they’re 1yo. She’ll give it up when ready, she’s had and has lots of change happening and that pacifier is her comfort.
That’s a good idea. Lately Hadassah has been bringing me the pacifier soon after getting up and saying, “I’m a big girl.” XD