No, I'm not training for a marathon or something of the sort. I wish I was, but I'm not. I am however doing something of equal or greater importance in that of training Cillian.
It is not easy being a mother of a tiny tot sometimes. The consistency required of me to train Cillian can be exhausting at times, but in the end it is always rewarding, I'm discovering.
I decided to write this post to share some of Cillian's recent behavior which I've been very happy with, resulting in the last few weeks of what I'll call tot training. My philosophy on childrearing is constantly evolving and refining, the more I read, the more I observe, the more I learn. I think children are such fascinating little creatures - resilient, bright, inquisitive, naturally affectionate, fun-loving. But without proper guiding and training, these sweet little people can so easily grow up to become monsters - unbridled, selfish, and therefore, in most cases that I've heard of or seen, unhappy.
Some basics of my ideas of training and disciplining - going hand-in-hand - are that consistency is fundamentally key. Also, one should not discipline without having trained first. My understanding of training is that it is teaching what kind of behavior is expected of the child; discipline is teaching a consequence for disobeying the understood training. For example, if a child runs through the house screaming because they are being chased and they know they will be tickled if caught, that is simply a kid reacting like a kid. Enter training. Eventually that screaming is going to get on someone's nerves or wake up a sleeping sibling. Whatever the case, if one desires the screaming to stop, something has to happen. The child needs to be taught that the screaming is not tolerated before they are punished for disobeying. They have not disobeyed yet - they haven't been taught what is expected.
So, what I am doing with Cillian is training (and disciplining too). I am teaching him to obey me. In learning to obey me, he will learn what kind of behavior I expect from him. If he is disobedient, he is disciplined for what he understands. He is doing pretty well so far.
An overview of the last few months - since Jameson was born in November, I noticed that Cillian was having more trouble obeying and being his normal happy self. I had expected something like this, as the arrival of a new sibling can be expected to upturn the usual routine for the older one(s), which can result in regression. I'm pretty sure that's what happened with him, especially since, on top of learning how to handle less attention, the craziness of the busy holidays were hot on the heels of Jameson's birth. Naturally, his routine was severely disrupted with all of the late nights, the hustle and bustle of driving here and there, traveling hours at a time in the car, etc. etc. His little self couldn't take the inconsistency which resulted in random little fits of piercing screaming when we couldn't understand what he wanted or needed. It was quite frustrating.
Now, not only are we back on schedule with our normal daily routine, but he is talking more and can therefore communicate better to us. This makes training a lot easier for both parties.
The few things I've been teaching Cillian are:
* to come to me
* to stop doing something
* to keep hands to yourself/hands in your lap (this comes in handy when he's sitting with me and I'm either on the computer or have something I don't want him to touch)
* to be still (mostly during diaper changes and prayers is this one utilized)
* when I count to three, at the end of three if he doesn't obey, there will be a consequence
* during church, if I have to take him out, it means a spanking for him, not playtime
Yesterday was quite successful. He is obeying more and more every day. I know I have to keep reenforcing and being consistent. It is working before my very eyes... I have a cheerful and gradually more obedient 19-month old who is a joy to be with.
Something else I've noticed... the more I play with him and spend time being with him, the more he wants to obey. He knows that I love him and feels safe in the boundaries I create for him to protect him and to teach him how to obey. I wouldn't describe Cillian as an especially willful child, but he, like every little tot, is inquisitive enough to test the boundaries at every turn. It is the nature of a child, I believe. And I simply have to remember that he is testing those boundaries I place for him to make sure that he is safe. He is happiest when he knows he is safe. I can see that training and discipline take a vital role in ensuring that for him. And in turn, my reward in this consistent work is not being pushed to my emotional limit and exploding in anger at my child who is merely doing what he knows - he is what I create of him. If I teach him to obey, he will be obedient. If not, he will be a constant frustration to me, which is unhealthy and unfair to both of us.
Cillian truly has a dear, very happy disposition. It is my job as his mother to preserve his pure God-given spirit and weed out the sinful nature and human selfishness that can develop in him if left unattended.
Please pray for me, a young mother, as I continue learning and teaching for the benefit of my children. I am so grateful for this calling. It is such hard work, but so good and so fulfilling. Glory to God for all things and especially these children He has entrusted us with to bring up in His ways!
Have a wonderful day and thanks for reading. :)
Here's the Quote of the Day!
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." ~ Proverbs 22:6
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Year, New Lifestyle
First post of the new year!!! Happy New Year, folks!
There's nothing like being motivated by the fresh start presented by the new year. I have to confess that I'm certainly one of those "New Year's Resolution" people. But I like to try making them as realistic and achievable as possible.
Caleb and I normally make a Top Ten list, including the classic eat better and exercise more plan, as well as a book list we want to get through in the coming year. Last year I can't remember how many books we wanted to read, but we managed to get through all the Harry Potter books, and nearly all of the Chronicles of Narnia books together, which I think is pretty good! This year, some books on our list include The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit, finishing the Last Battle (last book in the Narnia series,) and the Hunger Games Trilogy, as well as some spiritual books (lives of the saints, books on Orthodoxy, etc).
This year, my personal list is much the same as last year's. I'm back on track to losing the baby weight I've gained with (now) two bouncing baby boys. Caleb and I are doing something a little dramatic for our diet this year. We've decided to base it on portion control - eating only one serving of whatever we're eating, and cutting out what I'll call "fluff foods." Fluff foods are the ones you eat mindlessly because they're there, and hey, you feel like munching on something. You're not really enjoying the fluff food, because it's normally not quality food that one might relish.
That said, the diet, or rather, lifestyle changes, we've decided to make are these:
* Don't eat past 8 PM
* Endeavor to drink as much water as possible (and for me, this means drinking quite a lot, as I'm nursing)
* Eat as much natural, whole, real food as possible - eggs, meat, dairy, whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, etc.
* Eat said food in allotted serving sizes and therefore get used to eating less.
* Stop eating before we are full, and drink water before, during, and after eating so as to fill up sooner. This will help us to feel full when really, we've just filled ourselves up with water and just enough food that we need.
* Enjoy eating the food we prepare for ourselves. This is key - not to do anything else while eating (reading magazines, being on the computer, busying around the kitchen, etc.) The focus is the food and to enjoy it fully. Eat only when sitting down, so as to focus on the food and conversation around the table.
* Quality over quantity is the general idea. The better the food, the less you need of it. The better the food, the more you can savor it. The less you eat, the smaller your stomach, the more you lose.
In addition to this lifestyle change, I am planning to (rather than to entirely overwhelm myself with exercising and working out,) increase the action in my lifestyle. If I'm taking a walk out in the woods, tramping through sticks and leaves and up and down hills, I'm not going to be thinking about the workout I'll end up getting - I'm going to be preoccupied with the beauty of being outdoors and feeling the fresh air.
I am hoping to start swimming again soon, which I would LOVE, because there is no form of exercise I've ever craved as much as swimming. It is my favorite. And in order to strengthen my body again with as little strain on my joints as possible, swimming is the perfect way to achieve that. My goal is to eventually get back into running and maybe even attempt my first ever marathon (starting with a mini). That would be incredible... But for now, I'll keep it realistic and achievable.
Steady as she goes...
I have a tendency to load up my plate, so to speak, and try too much at once, resulting in a predictable crash and burn only weeks after setting lofty goals for myself, plowing on hard core. Hopefully that will not happen this time. I'm planning on trying to be as consistent as possible. That is my overall goal this year.
Consistency.
This will probably sound amusing, but my general goal is to... make goals for myself this year - monthly goals, weekly goals, daily goals. I don't think I'm a naturally goal-oriented person, so it only just occurred to me fairly recently that I would probably have a much more organized lifestyle if I made goals for myself. Novel, eh? I know, I know... I'm a genius.
Said goals will include personal, family, spiritual, organizational, and project-oriented goals. Haven't come up with any yet, but it won't take me long to think some up. I'll probably make a list. I'm good at lists. I like lists.
So, all in all, I'm very excited for this new year! I'm content right now. There is so much to be grateful for, and I'm on my way to discovering just how much.
Thank you, God, for this year, a fresh opportunity to begin anew.
Wishing you all a very happy and successful new year. Happy 2012!
Here's the Quote of the Day:
"For the wonderful qualities of faith are two: that it both accomplishes great things, and suffers great things; and regards the suffering as nothing."
~ St. John Chrysostom
There's nothing like being motivated by the fresh start presented by the new year. I have to confess that I'm certainly one of those "New Year's Resolution" people. But I like to try making them as realistic and achievable as possible.
Caleb and I normally make a Top Ten list, including the classic eat better and exercise more plan, as well as a book list we want to get through in the coming year. Last year I can't remember how many books we wanted to read, but we managed to get through all the Harry Potter books, and nearly all of the Chronicles of Narnia books together, which I think is pretty good! This year, some books on our list include The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit, finishing the Last Battle (last book in the Narnia series,) and the Hunger Games Trilogy, as well as some spiritual books (lives of the saints, books on Orthodoxy, etc).
This year, my personal list is much the same as last year's. I'm back on track to losing the baby weight I've gained with (now) two bouncing baby boys. Caleb and I are doing something a little dramatic for our diet this year. We've decided to base it on portion control - eating only one serving of whatever we're eating, and cutting out what I'll call "fluff foods." Fluff foods are the ones you eat mindlessly because they're there, and hey, you feel like munching on something. You're not really enjoying the fluff food, because it's normally not quality food that one might relish.
That said, the diet, or rather, lifestyle changes, we've decided to make are these:
* Don't eat past 8 PM
* Endeavor to drink as much water as possible (and for me, this means drinking quite a lot, as I'm nursing)
* Eat as much natural, whole, real food as possible - eggs, meat, dairy, whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, etc.
* Eat said food in allotted serving sizes and therefore get used to eating less.
* Stop eating before we are full, and drink water before, during, and after eating so as to fill up sooner. This will help us to feel full when really, we've just filled ourselves up with water and just enough food that we need.
* Enjoy eating the food we prepare for ourselves. This is key - not to do anything else while eating (reading magazines, being on the computer, busying around the kitchen, etc.) The focus is the food and to enjoy it fully. Eat only when sitting down, so as to focus on the food and conversation around the table.
* Quality over quantity is the general idea. The better the food, the less you need of it. The better the food, the more you can savor it. The less you eat, the smaller your stomach, the more you lose.
In addition to this lifestyle change, I am planning to (rather than to entirely overwhelm myself with exercising and working out,) increase the action in my lifestyle. If I'm taking a walk out in the woods, tramping through sticks and leaves and up and down hills, I'm not going to be thinking about the workout I'll end up getting - I'm going to be preoccupied with the beauty of being outdoors and feeling the fresh air.
I am hoping to start swimming again soon, which I would LOVE, because there is no form of exercise I've ever craved as much as swimming. It is my favorite. And in order to strengthen my body again with as little strain on my joints as possible, swimming is the perfect way to achieve that. My goal is to eventually get back into running and maybe even attempt my first ever marathon (starting with a mini). That would be incredible... But for now, I'll keep it realistic and achievable.
Steady as she goes...
I have a tendency to load up my plate, so to speak, and try too much at once, resulting in a predictable crash and burn only weeks after setting lofty goals for myself, plowing on hard core. Hopefully that will not happen this time. I'm planning on trying to be as consistent as possible. That is my overall goal this year.
Consistency.
This will probably sound amusing, but my general goal is to... make goals for myself this year - monthly goals, weekly goals, daily goals. I don't think I'm a naturally goal-oriented person, so it only just occurred to me fairly recently that I would probably have a much more organized lifestyle if I made goals for myself. Novel, eh? I know, I know... I'm a genius.
Said goals will include personal, family, spiritual, organizational, and project-oriented goals. Haven't come up with any yet, but it won't take me long to think some up. I'll probably make a list. I'm good at lists. I like lists.
So, all in all, I'm very excited for this new year! I'm content right now. There is so much to be grateful for, and I'm on my way to discovering just how much.
Thank you, God, for this year, a fresh opportunity to begin anew.
Wishing you all a very happy and successful new year. Happy 2012!
Here's the Quote of the Day:
"For the wonderful qualities of faith are two: that it both accomplishes great things, and suffers great things; and regards the suffering as nothing."
~ St. John Chrysostom
Friday, December 9, 2011
Out of the Mouths of Babes...
Cillian has been talking a whole lot more recently. Mostly his lingo consists of made-up gobbledegook that greatly resembles that of the Ewoks from Star Wars. Sometimes I could have sworn I've heard hints of what sounds like Korean. I've been trying to keep up with all of the new words he is learning, having begun a list in late September adding up to nearly thirty words, I believe.
But now, he is such a mimic that he is capable of repeating much, much more. He seems to be retaining some favorites though...
Here are mine.
His new one is "Peat?" (please) and I love it because it always sounds like a little question.
He calls nearly every animal a puppy. When we're at the grocery store, we like to take him to look at the fish. "What do you see, Cillian? Are those fish? Can you say fish?" "Puppyyyyy!!!!"
About forty percent of the time, when learning a new word, Cillian will come out with it backwards. So, sometimes I have to mentally reverse whatever he is saying to see if it makes any more sense to me... I have a verbally dyslexic child.
Another one of my favorites is when I'm doing laundry and he helps me out by (very usefully) opening and closing the dryer door. When the dryer is empty enough of clothes to make an echo, he'll poke his head in and shout, "Echo! Echo!!!" (which comes out sounding more like, "Ahcowww!!")
I think my absolute favorite might be the way he says "ok." It sounds like "ah-kee." After we're finished wiping him down from the mess of eating a meal, we get him down from his high chair and tell him, "Ok, go!" And he'll run away yelling, "aah-kee go! ah-kee go!!"
He's beginning to put two words together now. So, as his vocabulary expands, I'm sure we'll be seeing more conversational elements to his talking. I love this. Sometimes Caleb and I just die laughing at the things he comes up with. I wonder how much we'll be laughing when he's actually coming up with ideas of his own later on.
My mom kept note (as much as possible) of what my siblings and I said when we were little, and reading it now hardly ever gets old. I hope I'm able to do the same. I don't ever want to forget this.
We're living "the young years" and I love this time. It's difficult at times, but greatly outweighed by cuteness, laughter, and a plethora of chubby cheeks.
Here's the Quote of the Day... I really believe this one with all my heart.
"The soul is healed by being with children." ~ English Proverb
But now, he is such a mimic that he is capable of repeating much, much more. He seems to be retaining some favorites though...
Here are mine.
His new one is "Peat?" (please) and I love it because it always sounds like a little question.
He calls nearly every animal a puppy. When we're at the grocery store, we like to take him to look at the fish. "What do you see, Cillian? Are those fish? Can you say fish?" "Puppyyyyy!!!!"
About forty percent of the time, when learning a new word, Cillian will come out with it backwards. So, sometimes I have to mentally reverse whatever he is saying to see if it makes any more sense to me... I have a verbally dyslexic child.
Another one of my favorites is when I'm doing laundry and he helps me out by (very usefully) opening and closing the dryer door. When the dryer is empty enough of clothes to make an echo, he'll poke his head in and shout, "Echo! Echo!!!" (which comes out sounding more like, "Ahcowww!!")
I think my absolute favorite might be the way he says "ok." It sounds like "ah-kee." After we're finished wiping him down from the mess of eating a meal, we get him down from his high chair and tell him, "Ok, go!" And he'll run away yelling, "aah-kee go! ah-kee go!!"
He's beginning to put two words together now. So, as his vocabulary expands, I'm sure we'll be seeing more conversational elements to his talking. I love this. Sometimes Caleb and I just die laughing at the things he comes up with. I wonder how much we'll be laughing when he's actually coming up with ideas of his own later on.
My mom kept note (as much as possible) of what my siblings and I said when we were little, and reading it now hardly ever gets old. I hope I'm able to do the same. I don't ever want to forget this.
We're living "the young years" and I love this time. It's difficult at times, but greatly outweighed by cuteness, laughter, and a plethora of chubby cheeks.
Here's the Quote of the Day... I really believe this one with all my heart.
"The soul is healed by being with children." ~ English Proverb
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Two
First off, I want to apologize for my previous opinionated post, and especially if it offended anyone. I just now reread it with more of an open mind and realized I could have very easily come off as haughty or self-righteous, and I did not mean for that to happen. So, please forgive me if I have stepped on your toes in stating my opinionated views. It was unconsciously done.
On a bright note... I am relieved and happy to announce that Jameson Caleb Wilson is HERE!!! He was born, as I predicted, at a whopping 10 pounds, 3 ounces, on Wednesday, November 9th, at 4:21 in the afternoon. It has been a wonderful three weeks so far getting to know him and take care of him.
He is perfect.
The labor and delivery went very smoothly. My doctor scheduled me to go in at 6 PM Tuesday night for a Cervadel treatment (a cervix softener, which normally helps start labor). Caleb and I went to the hospital Tuesday night and found out that I had already started labor on my own (I had had some more real-feeling contractions the night before, though they were hardly regular.) My water broke on its own at 4 AM, Wednesday morning. And I labored for the next twelve hours, finishing with less than ten minutes of pushing.
So thankful not to be pregnant any more! Jamie was getting pretty uncomfortable those last couple months... now I know to really watch what I'm eating for the next one, since he was a "little" ten-pounder. They just get bigger from here on out, right??
Cillian loves his new baby brother. For a 17-month-old, he is (most of the time) surprisingly gentle toward him, which is really sweet to watch. Jamie receives many a kiss on the head and pats on the arm or back from his big brother.
So far, Jameson is a wonderful eater, a pretty good sleeper, and an overall content little guy (like his brother was as a newborn). I think it's really interesting how, with one's first baby, everyone tries to figure out which parent the baby looks more like, whereas the second is compared almost exclusively with the older sibling. I am seeing more and more of Jamie resembling Cillian, though he certainly has his own look.
Things really are pretty easy as of now, despite having another little one to care for. Caleb had nearly three weeks off this time around, which was an amazing help. My mom came back to help out for a few days when Caleb went back to work this week, and that was also much, much appreciated! So now I'm on my own. :) Tomorrow is the first day. Say a prayer for me if you think of it.
I must say, I am amazed at how quickly I'm recovering. I feel nearly back to normal already! And I suppose losing 20 pounds almost instantaneously certainly makes a difference in how I'm feeling. I tell ya... if you want to see yourself lose weight instantly, just have a ten pound baby. I love love looooooove being able to bend over again! My restless leg syndrome is gone, and I'm not nearly as breathless as I was while pregnant (so nice). I generally feel better all over as compared to my recovery with Cillian.
I'm probably getting less sleep with Jamie than with Cillian as a newborn, but then again, I don't remember too clearly just how much sleep I was getting as a first time mom. Thank goodness Cillian still sleeps in until 9 AM every morning now!
So thankful that Jamie is here now and healthy and growing. At three weeks old, he is now 11 lbs, 3 oz, exactly a pound more than he weighed at birth, which I am very happy for! Glad to know he's healthily gaining weight.
More updates soon. And pictures on facebook, I promise! Soon soon.
For now... here's the Quote of the Day. For the first time, I thought I'd make it original, since it applies...
Quote of the Day:
"Love, to me, is defined by how calm-hearted I can be during the multiple times I get up in the night to tend to this little creature who needs me to love him and keep him alive as much as I need him to teach me patience and purity of heart."
~ NCW
On a bright note... I am relieved and happy to announce that Jameson Caleb Wilson is HERE!!! He was born, as I predicted, at a whopping 10 pounds, 3 ounces, on Wednesday, November 9th, at 4:21 in the afternoon. It has been a wonderful three weeks so far getting to know him and take care of him.
He is perfect.
The labor and delivery went very smoothly. My doctor scheduled me to go in at 6 PM Tuesday night for a Cervadel treatment (a cervix softener, which normally helps start labor). Caleb and I went to the hospital Tuesday night and found out that I had already started labor on my own (I had had some more real-feeling contractions the night before, though they were hardly regular.) My water broke on its own at 4 AM, Wednesday morning. And I labored for the next twelve hours, finishing with less than ten minutes of pushing.
So thankful not to be pregnant any more! Jamie was getting pretty uncomfortable those last couple months... now I know to really watch what I'm eating for the next one, since he was a "little" ten-pounder. They just get bigger from here on out, right??
Cillian loves his new baby brother. For a 17-month-old, he is (most of the time) surprisingly gentle toward him, which is really sweet to watch. Jamie receives many a kiss on the head and pats on the arm or back from his big brother.
So far, Jameson is a wonderful eater, a pretty good sleeper, and an overall content little guy (like his brother was as a newborn). I think it's really interesting how, with one's first baby, everyone tries to figure out which parent the baby looks more like, whereas the second is compared almost exclusively with the older sibling. I am seeing more and more of Jamie resembling Cillian, though he certainly has his own look.
Things really are pretty easy as of now, despite having another little one to care for. Caleb had nearly three weeks off this time around, which was an amazing help. My mom came back to help out for a few days when Caleb went back to work this week, and that was also much, much appreciated! So now I'm on my own. :) Tomorrow is the first day. Say a prayer for me if you think of it.
I must say, I am amazed at how quickly I'm recovering. I feel nearly back to normal already! And I suppose losing 20 pounds almost instantaneously certainly makes a difference in how I'm feeling. I tell ya... if you want to see yourself lose weight instantly, just have a ten pound baby. I love love looooooove being able to bend over again! My restless leg syndrome is gone, and I'm not nearly as breathless as I was while pregnant (so nice). I generally feel better all over as compared to my recovery with Cillian.
I'm probably getting less sleep with Jamie than with Cillian as a newborn, but then again, I don't remember too clearly just how much sleep I was getting as a first time mom. Thank goodness Cillian still sleeps in until 9 AM every morning now!
So thankful that Jamie is here now and healthy and growing. At three weeks old, he is now 11 lbs, 3 oz, exactly a pound more than he weighed at birth, which I am very happy for! Glad to know he's healthily gaining weight.
More updates soon. And pictures on facebook, I promise! Soon soon.
For now... here's the Quote of the Day. For the first time, I thought I'd make it original, since it applies...
Quote of the Day:
"Love, to me, is defined by how calm-hearted I can be during the multiple times I get up in the night to tend to this little creature who needs me to love him and keep him alive as much as I need him to teach me patience and purity of heart."
~ NCW
Monday, October 24, 2011
Waiting
It is the season of waiting. Everything is in place, nearly everything of importance is ready. All we're waiting for is a baby to show up. :)
This past Saturday, we got a new car seat (a toddler, forward-facing one) for Cillian, so that his old car seat can be used for Jameson. It has made a remarkable difference in his mood, now that he is able to see everything the way we do in the car. His first ride in his new seat was to church Sunday morning, and he smiled and laughed the whole way. I'm so happy he loves it. It's cute - he kind of gets this little grin when he knows he is about to get put in his seat. Such a nice change from the resistant mini tantrums we've been dealing with.
So that is a very important thing that is now taken care of with flying colors!
I just ordered a new diaper bag on Amazon.com, since we lost the one we had at a rest stop last May. (We've been using a borrowed tote for the time being.) Very excited about this new one though. It's called a Diaper Dude diaper bag, and it really looks quite manly. Designed for dads essentially, it is a messenger bag style with one shoulder strap (which leaves both hands free), and has several zippered compartments, which makes keeping things organized easy. A bit more on the expensive end for a diaper bag, but I think we'll be exceedingly happy with it! Plus, it's very masculine-looking, we will have two boys, and my husband is eager to use it. Win, win, win.
I'm visiting the doctor's office weekly now - 39 weeks as of Wednesday! My doctor estimated Jameson to be 8 pounds already... and that was last Wednesday. So, I've been trying to avoid sweets and sugary things for these remaining weeks so as not to contribute to making this baby any bigger than he has to be! I'm guessing that he'll be around a week late, and nearing 10 pounds. Just to be safely prepared. Due date is November 2nd, so I'm giving him until the 9th. But we'll see... he might be in more of a hurry than I'm giving him credit for. :)
In the meantime, I'm just enjoying the days I have at home with Cillian, my little buddy. We have such a nice routine, and though it will be refreshing to have a new change to adjust to, I sure will miss our peaceful mornings together, just him and me. I hope I can consciously pay as much attention to him as he needs from me, despite having a new little son to bond with. I'm looking forward to being a mother of two boys!
Not to go into a complaining session of the aches and pains of third-trimester pregnancy, but I sure feel ready to get this kid out. I can feel the stress on my body and the timer is ticking. I will miss all this kicking and moving though. Jamie is quite an active little fella. I think I saw a foot pop out the other day! He is head down and ready to go, which is something I'm particularly grateful for. This also means that his feet are continuously sneaking their way up into my ribs...
I'm finding myself looking forward not only to finally holding Jameson and getting to see him for the first time (and the physical relief that childbirth will bring), but actually going through labor and delivery naturally again. I have to say, I've never had quite a spiritual experience as I had when giving birth to Cillian. Truthfully, (and not to be mock-modest or anything) labor was not as painful as I expected it to be, and yes, it is painful - any woman who has given birth knows this! But it is truly the best pain I have ever felt. There is so much good in this kind of pain. And I wish every woman could experience childbirth as deeply spiritual. There you are, in the presence of God, sacrificing, laboring, being.
Fr. Meletios Weber says in "Bread & Water, Wine & Oil" that one can only find God in the present. He does not exist in the past nor the future, which are the dwelling places of the mind. But the heart, the nous, he says, dwells in the present. And there, we can be. Not reminiscing or imagining, as our minds' nature takes us to the past or future, but being. This is what I felt in the midst of the pain while in labor - the pain continually brought me into the present, where God was, and there I was able to work through it, contraction after contraction through the end.
Not all pain is bad... I think it's kind of sad how many women (and more specifically American women, I've read) seem to be so eager to request pain medication for such a miraculous occasion as giving birth to a baby. It is not an illness, or something to be avoided though there happens to be a "cure for the pain" nowadays. Women centuries and thousands of years before us have given birth naturally perfectly capably without medical assistance. Our female bodies were created to handle this joyous occasion, in all of its pain and pleasure. If God didn't include natural painkillers in the beginning, perhaps they aren't meant to be had! The pain meant to be felt is good, and even more, it is holy.
There are some things that are meant to be experienced organically, naturally, I believe. And childbirth, in my opinion is certainly one of them. There is so much one can miss in this experience. I just know for me, that I am determined to experience all of it, to feel all of it, as I believe God intended.
In childbirth, women are continually working out their salvation, hand in hand with God. It is good work. It is holy work, to bring a baby, life, into the world.
I didn't quite mean to get so zealous about the subject... do forgive me if I have been too opinionated!
I am ready. I'm ready to meet my Jameson.
Back to preparing... I have several long lists (anyone who knows me well knows that I loooooove making lists,) of what needs to be done before he arrives. Much of it includes last minute straightening and tidying and organizing, making some plans for Christmas (so I have it easier come December, when it's actually time to think about Christmas...), and also packing for the hospital. I really hope I'm prepared by the time he comes. I keep thinking that I've got several weeks left on the timer, but really, he could come ANY time now!
I'll keep you posted on how things progress. For now, I'll leave you with the Quote of the Day! This one made me chuckle...
Thanks for reading. :)
Cheers.
"People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one." ~ Leo J. Burke
This past Saturday, we got a new car seat (a toddler, forward-facing one) for Cillian, so that his old car seat can be used for Jameson. It has made a remarkable difference in his mood, now that he is able to see everything the way we do in the car. His first ride in his new seat was to church Sunday morning, and he smiled and laughed the whole way. I'm so happy he loves it. It's cute - he kind of gets this little grin when he knows he is about to get put in his seat. Such a nice change from the resistant mini tantrums we've been dealing with.
So that is a very important thing that is now taken care of with flying colors!
I just ordered a new diaper bag on Amazon.com, since we lost the one we had at a rest stop last May. (We've been using a borrowed tote for the time being.) Very excited about this new one though. It's called a Diaper Dude diaper bag, and it really looks quite manly. Designed for dads essentially, it is a messenger bag style with one shoulder strap (which leaves both hands free), and has several zippered compartments, which makes keeping things organized easy. A bit more on the expensive end for a diaper bag, but I think we'll be exceedingly happy with it! Plus, it's very masculine-looking, we will have two boys, and my husband is eager to use it. Win, win, win.
I'm visiting the doctor's office weekly now - 39 weeks as of Wednesday! My doctor estimated Jameson to be 8 pounds already... and that was last Wednesday. So, I've been trying to avoid sweets and sugary things for these remaining weeks so as not to contribute to making this baby any bigger than he has to be! I'm guessing that he'll be around a week late, and nearing 10 pounds. Just to be safely prepared. Due date is November 2nd, so I'm giving him until the 9th. But we'll see... he might be in more of a hurry than I'm giving him credit for. :)
In the meantime, I'm just enjoying the days I have at home with Cillian, my little buddy. We have such a nice routine, and though it will be refreshing to have a new change to adjust to, I sure will miss our peaceful mornings together, just him and me. I hope I can consciously pay as much attention to him as he needs from me, despite having a new little son to bond with. I'm looking forward to being a mother of two boys!
Not to go into a complaining session of the aches and pains of third-trimester pregnancy, but I sure feel ready to get this kid out. I can feel the stress on my body and the timer is ticking. I will miss all this kicking and moving though. Jamie is quite an active little fella. I think I saw a foot pop out the other day! He is head down and ready to go, which is something I'm particularly grateful for. This also means that his feet are continuously sneaking their way up into my ribs...
I'm finding myself looking forward not only to finally holding Jameson and getting to see him for the first time (and the physical relief that childbirth will bring), but actually going through labor and delivery naturally again. I have to say, I've never had quite a spiritual experience as I had when giving birth to Cillian. Truthfully, (and not to be mock-modest or anything) labor was not as painful as I expected it to be, and yes, it is painful - any woman who has given birth knows this! But it is truly the best pain I have ever felt. There is so much good in this kind of pain. And I wish every woman could experience childbirth as deeply spiritual. There you are, in the presence of God, sacrificing, laboring, being.
Fr. Meletios Weber says in "Bread & Water, Wine & Oil" that one can only find God in the present. He does not exist in the past nor the future, which are the dwelling places of the mind. But the heart, the nous, he says, dwells in the present. And there, we can be. Not reminiscing or imagining, as our minds' nature takes us to the past or future, but being. This is what I felt in the midst of the pain while in labor - the pain continually brought me into the present, where God was, and there I was able to work through it, contraction after contraction through the end.
Not all pain is bad... I think it's kind of sad how many women (and more specifically American women, I've read) seem to be so eager to request pain medication for such a miraculous occasion as giving birth to a baby. It is not an illness, or something to be avoided though there happens to be a "cure for the pain" nowadays. Women centuries and thousands of years before us have given birth naturally perfectly capably without medical assistance. Our female bodies were created to handle this joyous occasion, in all of its pain and pleasure. If God didn't include natural painkillers in the beginning, perhaps they aren't meant to be had! The pain meant to be felt is good, and even more, it is holy.
There are some things that are meant to be experienced organically, naturally, I believe. And childbirth, in my opinion is certainly one of them. There is so much one can miss in this experience. I just know for me, that I am determined to experience all of it, to feel all of it, as I believe God intended.
In childbirth, women are continually working out their salvation, hand in hand with God. It is good work. It is holy work, to bring a baby, life, into the world.
I didn't quite mean to get so zealous about the subject... do forgive me if I have been too opinionated!
I am ready. I'm ready to meet my Jameson.
Back to preparing... I have several long lists (anyone who knows me well knows that I loooooove making lists,) of what needs to be done before he arrives. Much of it includes last minute straightening and tidying and organizing, making some plans for Christmas (so I have it easier come December, when it's actually time to think about Christmas...), and also packing for the hospital. I really hope I'm prepared by the time he comes. I keep thinking that I've got several weeks left on the timer, but really, he could come ANY time now!
I'll keep you posted on how things progress. For now, I'll leave you with the Quote of the Day! This one made me chuckle...
Thanks for reading. :)
Cheers.
"People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one." ~ Leo J. Burke
Monday, October 10, 2011
I Have a Pet Named Peeve
Alrighty... here goes. I'm shaking things up a bit. I know I usually make it a point to write POSITIVE posts, but I just couldn't help but slip on this one. Not to say this post promises negativity, but it's simply not a typical Acclimation Central post. However, my hope is that it'll just make you laugh or nod in agreement.
I would say I'm mostly a tolerate person, but when it comes to certain particular things, I can get a bit peeved! Fundamentally, I think incompetency and incorrectness are my biggest peeves.
However, without further ado, here are a few of my particular pet peeves.
1 - Bad grammar, especially when it's obvious that laziness is behind it rather than ignorance.
2 - Bad spelling, same reason.
3 - An incompetent parking job... especially when more than the allotted space is taken up, which inflicts inconvenience upon other neighboring parkers. Also, when said impinging vehicle is not expensive enough to be taking up two spaces.
4 - Whining. Adults, children, teenagers alike, I can't stand whining. (Not that I should be hypocritical - I do my fair share of whining! This post, for example, could be interpreted as whining, I suppose. Oh dear.)
5 - Unnecessary swearing - both in movies and in real life. Use a more intelligent means of expressing yourself, that's all I ask. You'll be doing yourself a favor. :)
6 - Rudeness. It makes me want to punch things. And people. Ok, not really.
7 - Sarcastic eye rolling.
8 - Food on the floor - it merely means I have to bend over and pick it up. Pathetic, I know, but it's a true pet peeve.
9 - Missing socks... anyone who does laundry knows that those machines just eat up socks like they haven't had a meal in weeks. It's true, I'm sure of it.
10 - Forgetting something even when I've repeatedly and determinedly done everything I can TO remember it. (I have a sneaking suspicion this is only going to get worse the older I become.)
11 - Prepositions that are incorrectly added to the end of a sentence at.
12 - Many, many more verbally grammatical errors... I won't get specific.
13 - Spilling things on myself, particularly when it's a freshly laundered shirt I've been looking forward to wearing.
Generally... most of these things I don't even get thaaaat mad about. They're just things that red flag my brain as incorrect or bothersome. But I hope you got at least a bit of a chuckle out of this post. I apologize if it left a bad taste in your mouth.
I hope you have a great, pet-peeve-free day! Cheers.
Here's the Quote of the Day:
“The road to success is always under construction.” ~ Lily Tomlin
I would say I'm mostly a tolerate person, but when it comes to certain particular things, I can get a bit peeved! Fundamentally, I think incompetency and incorrectness are my biggest peeves.
However, without further ado, here are a few of my particular pet peeves.
1 - Bad grammar, especially when it's obvious that laziness is behind it rather than ignorance.
2 - Bad spelling, same reason.
3 - An incompetent parking job... especially when more than the allotted space is taken up, which inflicts inconvenience upon other neighboring parkers. Also, when said impinging vehicle is not expensive enough to be taking up two spaces.
4 - Whining. Adults, children, teenagers alike, I can't stand whining. (Not that I should be hypocritical - I do my fair share of whining! This post, for example, could be interpreted as whining, I suppose. Oh dear.)
5 - Unnecessary swearing - both in movies and in real life. Use a more intelligent means of expressing yourself, that's all I ask. You'll be doing yourself a favor. :)
6 - Rudeness. It makes me want to punch things. And people. Ok, not really.
7 - Sarcastic eye rolling.
8 - Food on the floor - it merely means I have to bend over and pick it up. Pathetic, I know, but it's a true pet peeve.
9 - Missing socks... anyone who does laundry knows that those machines just eat up socks like they haven't had a meal in weeks. It's true, I'm sure of it.
10 - Forgetting something even when I've repeatedly and determinedly done everything I can TO remember it. (I have a sneaking suspicion this is only going to get worse the older I become.)
11 - Prepositions that are incorrectly added to the end of a sentence at.
12 - Many, many more verbally grammatical errors... I won't get specific.
13 - Spilling things on myself, particularly when it's a freshly laundered shirt I've been looking forward to wearing.
Generally... most of these things I don't even get thaaaat mad about. They're just things that red flag my brain as incorrect or bothersome. But I hope you got at least a bit of a chuckle out of this post. I apologize if it left a bad taste in your mouth.
I hope you have a great, pet-peeve-free day! Cheers.
Here's the Quote of the Day:
“The road to success is always under construction.” ~ Lily Tomlin
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Some of My Favorite Things...
I'm feeling rather euphoric for some reason. I believe this calls for a post on favorite things... Here are some that come to mind - thinking about these things makes my heart smile.
Hope you enjoy them.
- A newly clean-shaven husband (it reminds me of our wedding day...)
- Baby dimples
- Green lights. They mean go. :)
- A quiet house
- Long sleeves on a brisk fall day
- Discovering a new blog
- Watching Cillian explore something new
- Striking color combinations
- Clear skin
- Sitting down to a dinner cooked by my husband
- Feeling Jameson kick
- Crafting :)
- Seeing Cillian's excited little face when he hears an airplane
- An organized purse
- Reading Harry Potter to Caleb (just finished book 6!)
- Looking through old pictures and reading old letters
- The voice of Josh Groban
- A stylish new outfit
- Playing word games
- Surprises
- PEACHES
- Not dropping things on the floor (as in, I HATE bending down and picking up something I've unnecessarily or clumsily dropped.)
- Practicing new piano compositions
- Receiving personal mail
- Snuggling
- Good deals and sales
- Climbing into bed before 11 PM
I could think of many more, but I'll leave it at that. :) For now, those are my favorite things of today. I'd love to hear some of yours.
Here's the Quote of the Day:
"Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them."
~ Leo Tolstoy
Hope you enjoy them.
- A newly clean-shaven husband (it reminds me of our wedding day...)
- Baby dimples
- Green lights. They mean go. :)
- A quiet house
- Long sleeves on a brisk fall day
- Discovering a new blog
- Watching Cillian explore something new
- Striking color combinations
- Clear skin
- Sitting down to a dinner cooked by my husband
- Feeling Jameson kick
- Crafting :)
- Seeing Cillian's excited little face when he hears an airplane
- An organized purse
- Reading Harry Potter to Caleb (just finished book 6!)
- Looking through old pictures and reading old letters
- The voice of Josh Groban
- A stylish new outfit
- Playing word games
- Surprises
- PEACHES
- Not dropping things on the floor (as in, I HATE bending down and picking up something I've unnecessarily or clumsily dropped.)
- Practicing new piano compositions
- Receiving personal mail
- Snuggling
- Good deals and sales
- Climbing into bed before 11 PM
I could think of many more, but I'll leave it at that. :) For now, those are my favorite things of today. I'd love to hear some of yours.
Here's the Quote of the Day:
"Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them."
~ Leo Tolstoy
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