We live in a world that likes to define people by what they do. This can pose challenges to stay at home Moms as what we spend our days doing often has no immediate visual results. I can spend hours cleaning and within ten minutes of the kids arriving home from school the house looks almost the same as before I started. So how to we feel successful?
My Sister and I were talking a little while ago and without really thinking I made the comment, "you know your a good Mom if your kids are healthy and happy." After I thought about it I realized that comment is in no way true. I've had years of a not so healthy kid and it was not a reflection of my parenting skills. My kids have also often been unhappy, not because I was a poor Mom but because they made poor choices. So what is a sign of good parenting? After some thought I have determined that it isn't something that can be seen. In my opinion a good Mom is someone that daily, consciously tries to be one.
I think the key to feeling successful is to stop looking for outward signs of success and instead look inward. Reminding yourself that you are a daughter of a God who knows you better than anyone and loves you. Remembering that our time here on earth is a time to improve and grow, to travel down a path toward becoming a better person, not to reach perfection in one mad dash. I guess it is not so much what we do as it is who we are. I am reminded of the story in the Bible of the people praying in front of large crowds or those that were fasting and letting everyone know. Christ said that they have their reward of others looking up to them as being so great or holy. He went on to say that those that pray in secret and fast with happy faces will have a greater reward for He knows all that is in our hearts. When we spend more time working on our hearts and less time worrying about what others see or how they might be judging us we find peace and happiness within ourselves. Something that I think we are all looking for.
So my goal is to forget what the world is telling me about how I should look, what I should be or do and instead enjoy the smiles of my boys, relish the love of my husband and spend some time talking with my Father in Heaven. I think everything else will fall into place (don't worry I'll still work on keeping the house clean and healthy food on the table).
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Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
9 months
It is amazing that in nine months Frederick went from this cute tiny baby to... 
this just as cute and very interactive tike.
We took him in to get his picture taken in honor of this milestone but Frederick wanted no part of the photographer. We managed to get a few ok shots by having him sit on my stomach (bring back memories of Brandon's photo session at about this age Mom?). I was hoping to capture his new clapping skills and his infectious smile but I'll have to settle for home shots of those. 
As I mentioned Frederick can clap now and we often find him quietly clapping to himself. His first tooth came in about two weeks ago (bottom right) and he now has his bottom left and top right coming in. New teeth coming in don't seem to bother him but he did have a bit of a shock when he bit his big toe yesterday. He is a very happy little guy, he loves going outside and will burst into tears if you touch a door and then don't take him out. We've been lucky in have nice sunny weather lately so have been out for plenty of walks. We are about at the age where he could possibly have outgrown some of his food issues. It is hard to decide when would be a good time to try it when you know that if he can't tolerate it his stomach will hurt making him uncomfortable and causing him to be fussy and have a hard time sleeping. I did try soy oil which he does still react to. He has his shots tomorrow and next week his Nana and Pappy are coming so maybe after they leave I'll try something else. He loves his solid food and has tried a few bigger pieces of banana but has no clue of how to feed himself. He can pick up things just fine but doesn't even try to put it into his mouth. Basically the only thing he puts into his mouth by himself is his thumb. Sometimes a few toys but those are usually met with gross faces. Oh Frederick has also started playing with my, or his, hair when he get tired. It is really cute when he is ready to go to sleep he starts sucking his thumb and rubbing my hair if I am holding him or his own if I'm not. His eyes are brown in the middle but still blue on the outside. I'm not sure if they are going to stay that way or if they are still changing. He is a great little boy, very loved and well hugged and kissed daily.
this just as cute and very interactive tike.
We took him in to get his picture taken in honor of this milestone but Frederick wanted no part of the photographer. We managed to get a few ok shots by having him sit on my stomach (bring back memories of Brandon's photo session at about this age Mom?). I was hoping to capture his new clapping skills and his infectious smile but I'll have to settle for home shots of those. As I mentioned Frederick can clap now and we often find him quietly clapping to himself. His first tooth came in about two weeks ago (bottom right) and he now has his bottom left and top right coming in. New teeth coming in don't seem to bother him but he did have a bit of a shock when he bit his big toe yesterday. He is a very happy little guy, he loves going outside and will burst into tears if you touch a door and then don't take him out. We've been lucky in have nice sunny weather lately so have been out for plenty of walks. We are about at the age where he could possibly have outgrown some of his food issues. It is hard to decide when would be a good time to try it when you know that if he can't tolerate it his stomach will hurt making him uncomfortable and causing him to be fussy and have a hard time sleeping. I did try soy oil which he does still react to. He has his shots tomorrow and next week his Nana and Pappy are coming so maybe after they leave I'll try something else. He loves his solid food and has tried a few bigger pieces of banana but has no clue of how to feed himself. He can pick up things just fine but doesn't even try to put it into his mouth. Basically the only thing he puts into his mouth by himself is his thumb. Sometimes a few toys but those are usually met with gross faces. Oh Frederick has also started playing with my, or his, hair when he get tired. It is really cute when he is ready to go to sleep he starts sucking his thumb and rubbing my hair if I am holding him or his own if I'm not. His eyes are brown in the middle but still blue on the outside. I'm not sure if they are going to stay that way or if they are still changing. He is a great little boy, very loved and well hugged and kissed daily.
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