I don't know how many of you know that I'm a social work student in my final year of school. I'm in 400 level practice classes right now so I can intern in the fall before graduating. I'm so frustrated right now because one of my professors is teaching a class that is so complicated to understand: Macro Practice, but she makes it interesting by doing in class activities with myself and the other student in the class (yes, I said student, there are 2 of us). The other class, Micro Practice, is taught by a professor who takes life too seriously and has no sense of humor. Right now, my frustration stems from trying to outline a chapter from a book that goes everywhere with no organization. I don't understand how the writers of this book got away with writing in such a manner, and further, I don't understand why my professor chose this book to teach out of.
My tiredness, actually exhaustion comes from being restless because Jeremy is in training for 12 weeks and cannot come home. I am here, going to school, taking care of Sydney, and trying to do my best to keep my sanity. Poor Sydney is teething and a normal 19 month old that is finding her wings and voice. It's difficult to keep up with her when I feel like the house is falling down around me because I get so behind on housework as I'm trying to play with her and clean at the same time. Inevitably, I'm neglecting someone or something, and I don't want it to be her that's neglected. Where is the balance?
My class is at 8 am, so the night before, I have to pack Sydney's breakfast and lunch for Kayla's house, and most of the time shower, tonight, I don't have the energy. My desire for the time that Jeremy's gone is to do the best I can with everything, school, caring for Sydney in his absence, taking care of the house, paying the bills, and trying to lose some weight before summer so I can wear a bikini without scaring people. It'll take time for me to get into my rhythm, in the meantime, I'm functioning on a wing and a prayer.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Potty Training
So, our daughter, Sydney is 14 months old, and we bought her a potty chair yesterday to have in the house. Out of curiosity, we sat her on it with her pants and diaper on last night, then took off her diaper and pants and set her on it. Immediately, she smiled really big at us, and then she peed in it, with a poop immediately following. I'm amazed at how young she seems to be, and we are so proud of her, not to mention that she is more proud of herself than we've seen her. It's not a fluke, she signals us with "go go go", and we ask her if she has to go, and she runs (and I mean RUNS) to her potty chair. We have to hurry to get her on the potty, because she is in diapers, and she doesn't have much control yet. Out of the 9 times that we've been to the potty today, she's gone to the bathroom 7 times!
We are using a no pressure approach, just letting her govern when she goes, and giving her simple and enthusiastic praise. We will not be using the word "accident", because we never even expected that she would use the potty this quickly. She loves it, it makes her feel good, and it lessens our diaper changes. We've changed 2 diapers today, and it's 4:30 in the afternoon right now. I'm feeling so good, just bubbling over with excitement, and 15 months ago when I was pregnant with her, if you had asked me if I would be excited about this, I probably would have said no, and cried. I think that when I was pregnant with her, that I had a fear of her growing up so fast, and she has been growing so fast, but it's so rewarding, because as she grows, she keeps showing us that we are doing an incredible job as parents, because she does everything we have taught her. We have approached parenting from a slightly different perspective: we have made it a point not to fuss over her too much, we have taught her to do things for herself; thus creating a very self-sufficient person, we have shown her love everyday, we have made it a point to love each other as her parents, we have not done TV for her; thus enabling her to learn everything from us, and so many other things that I can never regret because she is turning out to be such a fantastic little person. I'm amazed everyday at her growth, and ours as well. I cannot be sad about her growing up, because I've witnessed everything first hand, and I know it is a product of our teaching.
I have faith that the potty training will fall into place just as everything else. She's learned so fast and so well, and we are so proud of her.
We are using a no pressure approach, just letting her govern when she goes, and giving her simple and enthusiastic praise. We will not be using the word "accident", because we never even expected that she would use the potty this quickly. She loves it, it makes her feel good, and it lessens our diaper changes. We've changed 2 diapers today, and it's 4:30 in the afternoon right now. I'm feeling so good, just bubbling over with excitement, and 15 months ago when I was pregnant with her, if you had asked me if I would be excited about this, I probably would have said no, and cried. I think that when I was pregnant with her, that I had a fear of her growing up so fast, and she has been growing so fast, but it's so rewarding, because as she grows, she keeps showing us that we are doing an incredible job as parents, because she does everything we have taught her. We have approached parenting from a slightly different perspective: we have made it a point not to fuss over her too much, we have taught her to do things for herself; thus creating a very self-sufficient person, we have shown her love everyday, we have made it a point to love each other as her parents, we have not done TV for her; thus enabling her to learn everything from us, and so many other things that I can never regret because she is turning out to be such a fantastic little person. I'm amazed everyday at her growth, and ours as well. I cannot be sad about her growing up, because I've witnessed everything first hand, and I know it is a product of our teaching.
I have faith that the potty training will fall into place just as everything else. She's learned so fast and so well, and we are so proud of her.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Thankful
So I just returned from Barnum, the play at the local theatre. They did a good job, and now I'm faced with having to write a critique about it for my class. I'm thinking that I should do it while it's fresh in my mind, but it's bed time, and I don't want to write about it now. It was a nice play, I've always enjoyed plays, and this one is no different.
Paige stayed with Sydney as I went, and that was so nice to her. I just wrote to Deb (Our Cup Runneth Over) that the simple words of Thank You are always enough, and sometimes, I've thought differently. Like Paige taking care of Sydney, like she was her own daughter. Sometimes I feel like it's too much, but she does it, and enjoys it. She and Emmitt have taught Sydney so much, and they even have a cute nickname that I love, "Syd the Kid". How could I ever repay her for such wonderful care of my daughter, and her friendship on top of that? She's like a sister to me, she's incredible, and I love her. I hope she knows that.
Or Nicole, my birth instructor. I'm still overwhelmed by how she was brought into our lives, and how much she has impacted our lives. I'll tell that story later, but she asked for no additional payment when she attended our birth, she was my grounding force, the person who helped to get me to where I wanted to be in birthing, and provided so much support, both in person and on the phone. How do I say Thank You to her? I've written about 20 emails to her detailing my thanks, and everytime I do, I cry, because I feel like it's never enough. I'm so thankful for such incredible, beautiful women who are in my life. After all these years of having very few influential women in my life, now I have an abundance of them, and I'm so very thankful for them.
Paige stayed with Sydney as I went, and that was so nice to her. I just wrote to Deb (Our Cup Runneth Over) that the simple words of Thank You are always enough, and sometimes, I've thought differently. Like Paige taking care of Sydney, like she was her own daughter. Sometimes I feel like it's too much, but she does it, and enjoys it. She and Emmitt have taught Sydney so much, and they even have a cute nickname that I love, "Syd the Kid". How could I ever repay her for such wonderful care of my daughter, and her friendship on top of that? She's like a sister to me, she's incredible, and I love her. I hope she knows that.
Or Nicole, my birth instructor. I'm still overwhelmed by how she was brought into our lives, and how much she has impacted our lives. I'll tell that story later, but she asked for no additional payment when she attended our birth, she was my grounding force, the person who helped to get me to where I wanted to be in birthing, and provided so much support, both in person and on the phone. How do I say Thank You to her? I've written about 20 emails to her detailing my thanks, and everytime I do, I cry, because I feel like it's never enough. I'm so thankful for such incredible, beautiful women who are in my life. After all these years of having very few influential women in my life, now I have an abundance of them, and I'm so very thankful for them.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Post Following
I have been following a post about a couple who recently lost their baby boy to leukodystrophy, a day before his first birthday. They have beautiful pictures of their little guy, video, and have written a lot about him. The reason I mention this is because I realize that sometimes, I don't make time for God, I don't feel like getting up and going on Sunday mornings, I don't pray as often as I should, and I have often taken advantage of His presence. This family is somehow teaching me, from a distance, how to better love, understand, and embrace God and His love.
I found their blog site one night because I was searching for the Rock Cycle for Earth Science class, and found another blog that mentioned this family. I visited their blog site, and stayed up for about an hour, and just cried while I read about their baby boy. My heart broke, and instantly I sent prayers up to God.
Today, I looked at their blog site, and Deb had posted a song, "There is a Reason". I agree, completely, there is a reason that I found their site. I think that everyday, we choose to pay attention to cues that God presents to us. There are always teachable moments that God gives to us, and it's up to us to learn. I want you all to know, I'm learning to learn from God.
We may not know the reason that Noah was taken from his family, but I do know that he has taught his mom and dad so much about themselves, life, love, and God that they did not know.
So many tests are done during pregnancy, to make sure the baby is healthy. We made choices when I was pregnant with Sydney not to test for Down Syndrome, because we knew that no matter what, we wanted her. I am sure that Deb and Josh would have felt the same way about Noah during Deb's pregnancy, because Noah was there to teach them, and to learn from them. Their capacity for love and faith is bigger than ever.
I really appreciate that Deb and Josh have chosen to share this very important time in their lives with all of us who are watching, listening, and learning along with them.
I dedicate this blog to Deb and Josh, who are teaching me to look to God, make time for God, and believe in God so I may teach my Sydney the same. Thank you, Deb and Josh. God Bless You.
I found their blog site one night because I was searching for the Rock Cycle for Earth Science class, and found another blog that mentioned this family. I visited their blog site, and stayed up for about an hour, and just cried while I read about their baby boy. My heart broke, and instantly I sent prayers up to God.
Today, I looked at their blog site, and Deb had posted a song, "There is a Reason". I agree, completely, there is a reason that I found their site. I think that everyday, we choose to pay attention to cues that God presents to us. There are always teachable moments that God gives to us, and it's up to us to learn. I want you all to know, I'm learning to learn from God.
We may not know the reason that Noah was taken from his family, but I do know that he has taught his mom and dad so much about themselves, life, love, and God that they did not know.
So many tests are done during pregnancy, to make sure the baby is healthy. We made choices when I was pregnant with Sydney not to test for Down Syndrome, because we knew that no matter what, we wanted her. I am sure that Deb and Josh would have felt the same way about Noah during Deb's pregnancy, because Noah was there to teach them, and to learn from them. Their capacity for love and faith is bigger than ever.
I really appreciate that Deb and Josh have chosen to share this very important time in their lives with all of us who are watching, listening, and learning along with them.
I dedicate this blog to Deb and Josh, who are teaching me to look to God, make time for God, and believe in God so I may teach my Sydney the same. Thank you, Deb and Josh. God Bless You.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
New Shoes
I went to class today, and as usual was perturbed by my professor. I have never had a more arrogant professor in all my life, and he teaches Earth Science. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't think of an Earth Science professor as being arrogant, but he is. He talks a lot, and I think he does it so he can hear himself talk. We did a group activity today, and that was a welcome relief to the same old lecture that he always does. I paired myself with a student who didn't know my name, and repeatedly called me Tabitha. I'm not sure how Teva sounds like Tabitha, but evidently to this guy, it does, strange.
After class, I needed a break from the everyday monotony of eating, cleaning, caring for Sydney, so I took her shoe shopping. She got the cutest little sneakers to toddle around in, and I'm thrilled about them. Her foot has grown from the size 4 that she was, to a size 5. She's a growing girl. She officially can eat 2 whole scrambled eggs for breakfast along with other food. I'm so proud of her, because she didn't eat much before. I might actually get her weaned off the bottle before she is 18 months old, that will be so nice.
We visited my grandmother after going new shoe shopping, and had dinner with her. She is always so thrilled to see us, and that's always so refreshing and wonderful. We live 15 minutes apart, but our lives are so full of life that we hardly see each other. I will be happy when my schedule calms down a bit so I could spend more time with them.
I am happy to be home now, in my haven. I am so proud of our little house. I don't know if I ever want to leave this house, it's been such a wonderful first home for us, I will miss it when that time comes.
Sydney is in bed, and I need to do the same. Mornings come early around here.
After class, I needed a break from the everyday monotony of eating, cleaning, caring for Sydney, so I took her shoe shopping. She got the cutest little sneakers to toddle around in, and I'm thrilled about them. Her foot has grown from the size 4 that she was, to a size 5. She's a growing girl. She officially can eat 2 whole scrambled eggs for breakfast along with other food. I'm so proud of her, because she didn't eat much before. I might actually get her weaned off the bottle before she is 18 months old, that will be so nice.
We visited my grandmother after going new shoe shopping, and had dinner with her. She is always so thrilled to see us, and that's always so refreshing and wonderful. We live 15 minutes apart, but our lives are so full of life that we hardly see each other. I will be happy when my schedule calms down a bit so I could spend more time with them.
I am happy to be home now, in my haven. I am so proud of our little house. I don't know if I ever want to leave this house, it's been such a wonderful first home for us, I will miss it when that time comes.
Sydney is in bed, and I need to do the same. Mornings come early around here.
Monday, September 15, 2008
First Blog
So I lie in bed, just relaxing after a long day of going to classes, playing with Sydney, fixing dinner, and trying to get some things done around the house. Life has been so busy, I'm taking 3 classes, that include 2 sciences and a theatre. My suggestion to anyone thinking that they would like to take 2 science classes in one semester: DON'T! It seems as if everyday of my science classes has been a struggle. In one of them, I hardly feel as if I've accomplished anything; I took my first test, and made a 78. Needless to say, I was shocked, I'm not taking this class to be "average", I'm taking it so I can make a really good grade. My other science class, our professor failed to provide us with some crucial material, and so I failed my first two quizzes. I really have been trying so hard in these classes, and I think it will pay off in the end. Today, I took my first test in my other science class, I think I did well on it, wasn't able to answer all of the questions, but it's better than not answering any.
My theatre class is teriffic. It seems like it will be a reasonably easy class, and that makes me happy. We just got through seeing The Light in the Piazza. What a wonderful production, and now I have until next Monday to write my critique on it and turn it in.
My home life is going well, Jeremy is gone for another 7 weeks of training, but he will get to come home 2 more times in that course of time. We had him home this past weekend, which was so wonderful. I was so happy that Sydney could see her daddy, and he was thrilled to see us. He has some especially tough training ahead of him now, so please remember him in your prayers.
Sydney has been going to my good friend, Paige's, during the day while I'm in school. I joke with Paige and say that she is her's on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, because she is there for so long. I do love that Paige is able to watch her, because we parent in much the same ways, and that's extremely important. Sydney has been learning so many new things, and has been eating really well. She will be 14 months old on the 17th of September, and she is doing so well. I am proud everyday to be her mommy.
It is time for bed now, morning comes early.
My theatre class is teriffic. It seems like it will be a reasonably easy class, and that makes me happy. We just got through seeing The Light in the Piazza. What a wonderful production, and now I have until next Monday to write my critique on it and turn it in.
My home life is going well, Jeremy is gone for another 7 weeks of training, but he will get to come home 2 more times in that course of time. We had him home this past weekend, which was so wonderful. I was so happy that Sydney could see her daddy, and he was thrilled to see us. He has some especially tough training ahead of him now, so please remember him in your prayers.
Sydney has been going to my good friend, Paige's, during the day while I'm in school. I joke with Paige and say that she is her's on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, because she is there for so long. I do love that Paige is able to watch her, because we parent in much the same ways, and that's extremely important. Sydney has been learning so many new things, and has been eating really well. She will be 14 months old on the 17th of September, and she is doing so well. I am proud everyday to be her mommy.
It is time for bed now, morning comes early.
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