The Best Form of Discipline I have Found-A Real Mommy Moment

I thought as my kids got older they were supposed to be over their "terribles" but that doesn't appear to be the case.  Consequently I find myself searching out discipline ideas and tactics for handling the "strong willed" child more than ever before.  But of all the things I have found and read and tried this one seems to always work best: paying attention to my children.  It seems like for every 10 minutes of quality time I give them I get 20 minutes of peace and calm and kindness and playing well together in return.  It is when I am trying to "get things done" that I spend so much of my time settling arguments, setting time out buzzers, calming down a meltdown and comforting a crying child, not to mention trying to get my own emotions under control and not flying off the handle.  When I take time to watch the latest crazy dance, or play a game, or push swings, or color on the couch I have far less discipline problems.  I am not saying they are gone entirely but they are much less and I feel better about myself as a mom because I am not tense and angry and I am doing what is most important for a mom to do: pay attention to her kids.  Case in point: Small Fry was having a day.  I think she had been in time out a few times and had been sent to her room a few times to calm down until she was ready to talk nice and not scream and kick and be rude.  Time after time she came back to find me and stomp her foot and clench her teeth and scream at me or her sister.  Finally while she was in her room again the thought came to my mind, "the tea set" and I said to my husband, "is there something that you can do with pumpkin for a few minutes so that I can do something just will small fry and give her the attention that I know she is needing right now?"  He agreed.  I went in to talk to her about not acting the way she was and how I needed her to say she was sorry for how she was acting and use kind words and she was crying and just wanted to be held.  I told her that when she was ready to be calm then she and I would go on a special date to run some errands and buy some cookies so that we could all have a family tea party.  She was super excited about that idea.  (Now in case you are thinking this, I did not feel that the tea party was a reward for her acting the way she was.  I felt that she had fully mended the damage done to the best of her 4 year old ability and used the tea party as a much needed time for us to be together in hopes that it would lessen any future outbursts for the day).  We went to run errands while my husband took pumpkin to the school with him where she got to be the center of attention.  We bought cookies that small fry picked out and grapes and got home and got the tea set all ready.  We found extra stuffed animals to have as guests to the party and were ready and waiting when sissy and dad got home.  Then we all sat on the floor for a fabulous party complete with spills and pinkies up in the air.  It was wonderful.  The girls loved every second and the best part of all was that we didn't have another incident with tantrums or melt downs for the rest of the day.

It is not nearly as easy to play with my kids as I thought it would be before having kids.  It takes time and creativity and effort but man does it ever make a difference.  They would have me be at their beckon call all day long if it was up to them and that just isn't possible but when I make time with them-and do some of the things they want, or come up with a creative thing for us to do together we just have better days, and I can't think of an easier form of discipline.  Put it to the test.

Countdown to baby

WARNING: This post is candid and honest.  If you can't handle that then pass it by.

So I have been thinking lately about how excited I am to have this little boy in my arms.  I am so excited to have a baby in our house again.  My girls are excited.  My hubby is over the moon excited.  I am feeling fine with changing diapers (though I have no idea what to do with changing boys), and getting up at night, and blow out's and spit up.  But actually having to bring the baby into the world, as in push him out of my body does not sound the least bit appealing to me in any way right now.  In fact I just plain don't want to have to do it.  I am searching high and low for some other option besides pushing him out or having him cut out but have not seemed to find any luck in the matter.  If you happen to know an alternative route please let me know cause I am looking for anything right now.  I know they say that you forget the pain of birth after it happens and that is why women go on to have multiple babies (plus there really aren't any other options) but let me tell you people, I have not forgotten.  I had both of my girls naturally and I will be darned if I do that again.  It was my choice both times.  I mainly did it out of fear of feeling inferior to friends that are "all natural" girls.  I didn't want to be the one they were talking about as "not knowing what she is doing to her child" by having drugs during the birth process.  With Small Fry it was long and hard but she was transverse and so the doctor assured me had she been turned the right way it would have been much easier.  I felt a bit of pride having actually done it and decided that I could probably do it again with a baby turned the right direction.  So when it came time to have my little pumpkin I was set to do it again but this time experienced the worst back labor ever and was so super exhausted by the time I had to push that I thought I was going to die.  Plus my little pumpkin came out on her shoulder.  I remember in the last few minutes of pushing I said, "Heavenly Father I either need to get this baby out or let me die cause I can't take it any more."  And she was born and I didn't even want to hold her because I was bawling, so grateful it was over.  The year following her birth was extremely hard for me.  I had post partum depression for almost a good part of the year.  I hated breast feeding and had to stop because I was feeling so resentful towards my little baby every time I had to do it.  I didn't hold or snuggle her nearly enough.  We were not bonded.  In fact I would make myself go into her room while she was sleeping and list off things that I loved about her because I was so overwhelmed and emotional and frustrated that they didn't come to my mind easily at all.   I suffered alone-no one knew.  My husband always told me he just thought I was tired.  But there were times that I was ready to pack up and take off-only I didn't have any place that I could go.  When she approached her 1st birthday I finally started to see that I was getting out of the biggest low I had ever been in, in my life.  So I think all of that plays into not wanting to actually have to give birth either.  I don't want to have to go through all of that again.  I feel very blessed that God has trusted me enough to let me have another child to redeem myself as the mother of a new born.  And by all means I don't feel the slightest bit inferior for planning on having drugs this time.  And if you will pardon me for just as second as I step on my soapbox I just have to say that I think that giving birth is such a completely personal thing and such a completely personal decision that no one has the right to ever say that it can only be done in one way, or that there is one best way in which to do it.  The same goes for feeding your baby, to what kind of diapers you use, to how you have them sleep, to what you have them wear.  I know some people have strong opinions in one regard or another but it is a sensitive and personal thing and should not ever be open for public scrutiny (in my opinion).  And now I will step down.
Having said all that, I was on Pinterest the other day and came across a blog post about things that one must do in her last weeks of pregnancy and it made me laugh (because they are so true) and also nearly cry because it means I will have to experience so many of them all too soon.  If you are a first time mom, you need to read this because there is a good chance there are some things no one has told you.  Oh and take time to read the comments because they are also very informative.  You can go here to read the post.  And while you are at it check out this post as well on 10 Things No one Told you About Giving Birth (don't read it with your children around okay-there is one photo that is not kid appropriate but it portrays exactly how I felt while breast feeding).  It is a candid post-if you can't hack it don't go.
And just so that I haven't sent anyone into a state of panic over my own mental state-I know I will have to give birth and I will do it and it will be fine.  I just want my little man in my arms so that I can hold and snuggle him and kiss him as much as I possibly can because I am so grateful that I get another chance to do it.

Yogurt Help

We live off of a major Interstate highway and recently a semi-truck carrying cartons of yogurt wrecked.  When these things happen the stuff is brought into town and anyone in town can come and get what they want or need.  Well I currently have a fridge full of plain and vanilla yogurt so I am petitioning all of you to share your yogurt recipes or links to some.  I know I could use all the inspiration I can get and my friends and neighbors who read my blog and also have fridges full of yogurt would appreciate them too.  Thanks.

Easy Cheaters Method Striped Baby Quilt

I wanted to make a cute striped quilt for my little man that is on the way.  I have seen some on Pinterest like this one:

Source: littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

that I love but when it really comes down to it I don't have the energy or time to make one-plus standing in the fabric store trying to pick out all the matching fabrics and then waiting for them to be cut is really more than I can handle right now.  But finding a striped piece of fabric in the clearance section that I can make into a cheaters quilt-now that I can handle.
I found this piece of fabric in the clearance section at JoAnns.  I instantly thought, "I can just sew along the stripes and make it look like a stripe quilt that I pieced together."

 I was planning on buying a piece of fabric for the backing but the other day when I was in the thrift store I found a quilted mattress pad (it had plain white fabric on one side and batting on the other plus the elastic band around the whole edge to fit over a mattress).  It was in super good condition and only $1.00 so I bought it.  I cut the elastic band off the whole thing leaving me with one solid quilted piece of fabric.  I cut it to match the front piece I had bought, pinned them together and then sewed along each stripe.  I finished the edges with some seam binding and the whole thing was complete in a couple of hours.

 It is not perfect but I love the finished product and I love that it cost very little and took very little time.  So the cheaters method to making a stripe quilt is to find striped fabric and quilt along the strips.

My Pinterest Pledge

Isn't Pinterest the most amazing thing ever!!!  My problem is that I can't stop pinning and I need to do more trying; thus I have made a pledge with myself to not just keep pinning new ideas but to actually try out more of them.  Who's with me?

Make Ahead Monday: Salad Dressing Mixes

I know, it has been FOREVER since I have shared some make ahead monday ideas but I have had a few great recipe experiences lately that I just had to share with everyone.  Both of these I found out of necessity; wanting to make a recipe that called for these salad dressings but not wanting to run to the store to buy the actual salad dressing.  I needed Italian dressing and ranch dressing powder (you know the mix packet).  I had neither on hand but wondered if I could just make my own.  The recipes I found are FANTASTIC.
Here is the link to the ranch powder recipe  I made mine using powdered milk instead of powdered buttermilk and I liked the results just fine.
Here is the link to the Italian dressing mix  I love this.  I love the flavor much better than bottled Italian dressing.  Both of these recipes are great because you can make a big batch of the mix and then use it in small quantities as needed.  Just make sure your spice cupboard is stocked before you start making the mixes as they use a lot of spices/herbs.  These are well worth your money and time.

By the way I used both of these while making Cafe Rio Chicken:

Source: chef-in-training.com via Heather on Pinterest

Thoughts on Maternity and Pinterest

Consider this your heads up....If you type the word "maternity" or the words "baby announcements" in the search bar on Pinterest you will get way more pictures of bare bellies and other parts then you really care to see.  I am shocked at how "free" some pregnant women are.  I mean to each her own right, but I just find some of it confusing.  Like what does a man and a woman in their underwear with her belly bare, sitting on the edge of a bathtub have to do with anything?  And if that happens to be you and you read my blog I apologize for not understanding your artistic view of pregnancy.  So I asked my husband if he thought I should wrap myself in some chiffon fabric and frolic in the woods for a pregnancy shoot to show off each and everyone of my stretch marks to the world.  Ya, he didn't really go for the idea.  To be honest I wouldn't want to in a million years anyway.  A pregnant belly is a beautiful thing but I don't need my son to some day look the pictures and say, "what the he** were you thinking?"  And actually my pregnant belly really isn't that gorgeous: stretch marks, and three stubborn belly hairs that grow back right over my belly button no matter how much plucking I do.  No one wants to see it anyway.  I will let the other free mothers out there fill the Pinterest world with their bellies-mine will remain hidden under fairly undesirable maternity cloths and pants held together with a hair elastic.

Random Tips

This is one of the reasons why I wanted to dabble in blogging again-having a place to share random and sometimes helpful tips and thoughts.  Here are three new tips that I have put into practice in my life:
1. Paint your toenails before having a shower then when you get in the shower run your toes under the cold water for a couple of minutes to set the polish then proceed with the shower as usual.  A great way to multi-task and saves time on waiting for nail polish to dry.  You have to keep them under the cold water for a least a couple of minutes in order for it to work.
2. Speaking of showers have you tried shaving your legs with hair conditioner.  I read about it on a Pinterest post which said that it made your legs super soft and saves you money.  I have been doing it for a few weeks now and love the results and even my super sensitive miss picky small fry has commented on how soft my legs are...so there.
3. Do you like to hang your laundry out to dry but hate crunchy towels?  I do.  I don't use fabric softener because it is so blasted inconvenient (if you have an older washing machine like I do) and it makes my girls skin rash bad so when I hang my towels they always end up crunchy.  Then I read a laundry post on Pinterest (of course) and it said to dry your towels in the dryer for 5 minutes prior to hanging and you will no longer have crunchy towels.  I did it, I hung them out to dry and the end result...FABULOUS. 

Something new and exciting for Small Fry & Co.

We just found out this past week what our new addition to our family is going to be:

My heart has completely melted into a puddle of blue with puppy dogs, dinosaurs, baseballs and dump trucks.  I was kinda rooting for a girl cause I have all the stuff I would need but the minute I found out it was a boy I melted and actually couldn't even sleep that night cause I was thinking of all the great baby boys things that I wanted to make or get like:

This super cute dinosaur hoodie (just bought a 0-3 month hoodie to make one of these for my little man)

Source: livinglovinglearningnaturally.com via Heather on Pinterest

and I have got to have one of these crocheted baseball hats for some new born photos

Source: etsy.com via Heather on Pinterest

and maybe a monster crocheted hat too

Source: theboytrifecta.com via Heather on Pinterest

I bought some super fuzzy fleece to make one of these boy blankets out of old flannel shirts

Source: thismamamakesstuff.com via Heather on Pinterest

 and I just happened to make a few of these last month for my Tiny Socks Baby Co. booth and I think I might have to make 3 or 5 more.

 I am in love with all things baby boy already and I still have to wait 4 more months to meet my little man.  Can't hardly stand it.

And now I found a summer drink I could make everyday

I usually make a big batch of homemade popsicles at about this time of year but this year (thanks to Pinterest) I found a new summer treat: Koolaid Slushes.  These are so super easy to make and DELICIOUS.  The recipe says to freeze them before slurping but I haven't found any need to do that.  They are perfect right from the blender and besides (what 2 and 4 year olds can wait an extra 30 minutes).  You have got to try these.  A perfect summer treat.