This sweet guy needs prayers so very badly.
http://www.mycharmingkids.net/
Sometimes we need a good dose of reality to set us back in place. I often need reminders that life is precious and sometimes a missed nap (or two. or three. or... whatever) is not the end of the world.
Ohhhh it may feel like it at the moment - trust me - but in the bigger picture it's just a tiny speck in the parenting journey. God has called me to lead a much more powerful and impactful life than the one I have been living. I don't want to waste this opportunity fretting over the things that don't matter in the end.
So yeah, I needed this. More than you know.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
I'm tired. The end.
Ah, here's to another chapter written in the Oliver Saga.
Today was a doozy, people.
DOOZY
I'll keep it short by just saying that we had to leave a birthday party at Point Defiance Zoo before it even began. Yes, it was that fantastic. Imagine lots of tears, whining, flailing and hissing.
Oh and Oliver was pretty worked up too. Heh.
He hasn't napped in, Oh I don't know, what feels like about one million years, so the 2:00pm start for the party already had me quaking in my flip flops. Prime meltdown time! I was hoping (in vain, might I add) that he would somehow cooperate and be calm and cool.
HA HA HA HA HA! I'm so funny! Phew!
*Wipes tears from eyes*
Anyways, he was just basically uncontrollable today. Let's face it, the odds were not in my favor. I was grossly outnumbered 3 to 1 since John had to work today. You'd think I'd be used to the gross outnumbering right? Imagine me chasing Oliver while wearing the baby in a sling and waiting for Evelyn to catch up since she was running after me like I was going to abandon her.
Please. Abandon the good one?
Usually when he acts up I just try and deal with it the best I can, but today I decided I needed to be much more militant in my discipline. If he couldn't control himself, I'd follow through with my previously empty threats to "calm down or we're going home." I needed him to understand that his behavior was simply unacceptable. And let's face it, ANNOYING.
So anyways, I (literally) tossed him in the stroller and wheeled us the hell out of that place. I was able to contain my anger until we got to the car and then did what any self respecting parent would do.
I rolled up the window and yelled at him like a crazy woman.
He was crying so much he gagged and vomited all over himself. At this point I was so irritated I decided to just keep driving and let him soak in his vomit until we got home.
I know!
Mom of the Year 2009!
He eventually fell asleep from the sheer exhaustion of being evil. When I pulled into the driveway, he woke up with a look on his face that was like,
"Wuh? What happened? Why am I covered in vomit and where is my piece of birthday cake, lady?"
He acted like nothing had ever happened.
NOTHING.
*Sighs*
Sometimes I wish I drank.
Today was a doozy, people.
DOOZY
I'll keep it short by just saying that we had to leave a birthday party at Point Defiance Zoo before it even began. Yes, it was that fantastic. Imagine lots of tears, whining, flailing and hissing.
Oh and Oliver was pretty worked up too. Heh.
He hasn't napped in, Oh I don't know, what feels like about one million years, so the 2:00pm start for the party already had me quaking in my flip flops. Prime meltdown time! I was hoping (in vain, might I add) that he would somehow cooperate and be calm and cool.
HA HA HA HA HA! I'm so funny! Phew!
*Wipes tears from eyes*
Anyways, he was just basically uncontrollable today. Let's face it, the odds were not in my favor. I was grossly outnumbered 3 to 1 since John had to work today. You'd think I'd be used to the gross outnumbering right? Imagine me chasing Oliver while wearing the baby in a sling and waiting for Evelyn to catch up since she was running after me like I was going to abandon her.
Please. Abandon the good one?
Usually when he acts up I just try and deal with it the best I can, but today I decided I needed to be much more militant in my discipline. If he couldn't control himself, I'd follow through with my previously empty threats to "calm down or we're going home." I needed him to understand that his behavior was simply unacceptable. And let's face it, ANNOYING.
So anyways, I (literally) tossed him in the stroller and wheeled us the hell out of that place. I was able to contain my anger until we got to the car and then did what any self respecting parent would do.
I rolled up the window and yelled at him like a crazy woman.
He was crying so much he gagged and vomited all over himself. At this point I was so irritated I decided to just keep driving and let him soak in his vomit until we got home.
I know!
Mom of the Year 2009!
He eventually fell asleep from the sheer exhaustion of being evil. When I pulled into the driveway, he woke up with a look on his face that was like,
"Wuh? What happened? Why am I covered in vomit and where is my piece of birthday cake, lady?"
He acted like nothing had ever happened.
NOTHING.
*Sighs*
Sometimes I wish I drank.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Potty training. So it begins.
I woke up this morning and decided that today would be the day.
I'm going to start potty training Oliver.
Yeah, I don't know what I'm thinking either.
We're talking about a kid who poops mountains, pees like an endless fountain and was born without a mechanism for moderation. He is an "all in" sort of kid. He's extreme in most things he does - his obsessions, his food, his moods.
So again. What am I thinking, you ask?
Well. For one thing, he'll be 3 years old in less than a month (SOB) and for another, I'm pretty tired of spending $100 at Costco on diapers and wipes.
So hopefully by the end of this week he'll be (mostly) potty trained.
Like I said, I'm going totally gung ho on this thing.
Side note - it seems as though the potty training is somehow interfering with his naps. Because I've been letting him walk around without any bottoms on (currently he is wearing socks and a tank top. heh heh) I think he does not like the idea of wearing a diaper during naps. So it looks like I may have to forgo naps for a while if I want to get him used to the idea of going to the bathroom on the toilet.
Dilemma: Giving up naps to save money on diapers but in turn, sacrificing sanity.
Really, I can't win this one can I....
Today's stats:
He's had one tiny accident but has already figured out he needs to sit on the toilet when he feels the urge to pee. He's already gone to the bathroom at least 6 times. We're doling out many gummy bears today.
He has yet to poop. I'm a little scared.
Hold me?
***
I'm going to start potty training Oliver.
Yeah, I don't know what I'm thinking either.
We're talking about a kid who poops mountains, pees like an endless fountain and was born without a mechanism for moderation. He is an "all in" sort of kid. He's extreme in most things he does - his obsessions, his food, his moods.
So again. What am I thinking, you ask?
Well. For one thing, he'll be 3 years old in less than a month (SOB) and for another, I'm pretty tired of spending $100 at Costco on diapers and wipes.
So hopefully by the end of this week he'll be (mostly) potty trained.
Like I said, I'm going totally gung ho on this thing.
Side note - it seems as though the potty training is somehow interfering with his naps. Because I've been letting him walk around without any bottoms on (currently he is wearing socks and a tank top. heh heh) I think he does not like the idea of wearing a diaper during naps. So it looks like I may have to forgo naps for a while if I want to get him used to the idea of going to the bathroom on the toilet.
Dilemma: Giving up naps to save money on diapers but in turn, sacrificing sanity.
Really, I can't win this one can I....
Today's stats:
He's had one tiny accident but has already figured out he needs to sit on the toilet when he feels the urge to pee. He's already gone to the bathroom at least 6 times. We're doling out many gummy bears today.
He has yet to poop. I'm a little scared.
Hold me?
***
Dude, this kid is huge.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Naps. Ring Slings. Grocery carts.
Oliver is trying to give up his naps.
He's not even three yet!
Is it too much to ask that he gives me at least one more good year of napping? Please? C'MON! Throw me a bone.
I just heard him come out of his room. *ANGER!*
Update: He wandered around upstairs for a while before retreating back to his room and flopping on the bed. VICTORY IS MINE.
***
I've always touted the greatness that is the Ergo baby carrier but my new obsession is now the ring sling! The ergo is great to carry front OR back but it does require alittle extra effort with all the clipping and hoisting. The great thing about the ring sling (look. I'm a poet!) is that it is easily portable. I can just roll it up and stuff it in my bag. Plus, I can carry Wesley a variety of different ways, from having him face me to sitting on my hip to forward facing like a kangaroo. I wish I had tried to use the sling when Wesley was a little lighter but he's still under 20 lbs so it's not so bad. My shoulder does seem to get sore after an hour or so but it is still quite handy to wear, especially when I'm chasing after the other two kids.
He's not even three yet!
Is it too much to ask that he gives me at least one more good year of napping? Please? C'MON! Throw me a bone.
I just heard him come out of his room. *ANGER!*
Update: He wandered around upstairs for a while before retreating back to his room and flopping on the bed. VICTORY IS MINE.
***
I've always touted the greatness that is the Ergo baby carrier but my new obsession is now the ring sling! The ergo is great to carry front OR back but it does require alittle extra effort with all the clipping and hoisting. The great thing about the ring sling (look. I'm a poet!) is that it is easily portable. I can just roll it up and stuff it in my bag. Plus, I can carry Wesley a variety of different ways, from having him face me to sitting on my hip to forward facing like a kangaroo. I wish I had tried to use the sling when Wesley was a little lighter but he's still under 20 lbs so it's not so bad. My shoulder does seem to get sore after an hour or so but it is still quite handy to wear, especially when I'm chasing after the other two kids.
See! Look how cute!
***
I've been feeling a little off kilter lately and can't seem to figure out exactly why. I am just feeling extremely lethargic and unmotivated and it's beginning to wear a bit on the kids. I mean, I'm a total homebody but it's not fair for me to project that onto my kids, right? So that's why I've been trying to make more of an effort to take them out of the house during the day. John works such irregular hours that many days I'm home alone for very long stretches. This makes for some challenging dilemmas, such as grocery shopping. I've been wanting to try grocery home delivery but john always scoffs at the idea. I guess he'd rather have rice and egg again instead of letting me just buy normal groceries! Either that or Fred Meyer and Top Foods need to make larger grocery carts so I can shove all my children in there while fitting groceries in as well.
OR, I could just put the two in the cart and carry Wesley in the ring sling!I am such a genius.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
***
Speaking of, do you like his hat? Here he is eating "Wunch.... or di di di di dinnuh!" (see previous video)
So happy when I finally rescue him from his crib.
Playing on Yoon yi's deck. Must have been really bright out that day. heh.
Friday, July 10, 2009
A morning in the life
Update: Oliver got up at a reasonably early time today.
I got up and fed him yogurt. He was in a good mood and I'm working on it with a cup of coffee. Not a morning person but I'm trying.
Are you happy, Lisa?
***
5:05am: Hear strange noises coming from the kids' room. Angrily* pop out of bed, rip off eye mask and stomp into hallway only to see the tiny head of a one Oliver Bang scurrying back into his room and under the covers like he never left there in the first place.
Go in the room and whisper-scold him and tell him to stay. in. your. bed. until it's time to get up (which is basically whenever I roll out of bed)
*Would like to add that anger is disproportionate to violation. What can I say, I am not a morning person.
5:11am - Hear squeak of door as Oliver tries to slowly sneak out of room again and back into hallway
5:12am - Stomp back into hallway, throw Korean death stare in direction of boy (I say in the general direction of the kid because I don't have my glasses on so who knows what I'm actually looking at) and he obediently runs back in and tucks himself in.
5:15am - Hear rustling in his room but decide to give him another chance to fall asleep. Check on the camera monitor. He appears to be getting sleepy again.
5:20am - Check the camera one more time before replacing eye mask and attempting to sleep for a couple more hours.
5:25am - Begin to drift off.
5:49am - Sleepy but not yet in slumber. Decide to check monitor one more time.
5:50am - WHAT THE!
Oliver's bed is empty. Door is open.
Once again rip off eye mask, bound out of room and burst into hallway.
Hear smacking of lips. Hmm, sounds like Oliver might be throwing up? It is coming from down below. I look over the railing and see Oliver crouched in front of the living room couch.
I ask him to come upstairs.
He ignores.
I ask again.
He ignores. again.
In anger, I storm downstairs and find him.. get this.... eating macaroni and cheese out of a container.
With his hands.
5:55am - I'm fuming! Snatch container out of his hands and throw in garbage, despite his protests. In kitchen, find a stepstool placed in front of the refridgerator. Explains the macaroni and cheese. Btw, we have childproof locks on our utensil drawers. This explains the hands.
6:03am - Supress urge to spank and instead not so nicely nudge him up the stairs while whisper -yelling at the kid. He retreats to his room in tears, declaring that he's "so hungry!", and you want to know something? I don't even care.
You hear me? DON'T. EVEN. CARE.
My heart is made of stone. STONE.
6:09am - Jump back into bed muttering all sorts of angry nonsense until John hisses at me to shut my pie hole, it's 6:00 in the morning woman!
6:20am - Allow myself to calm down. Breathe deeply. Say a prayer for patience and serenity and drift off.....
8:00am: I wake up to find that John is already downstairs making breakfast for the kids.
God must have heard my prayer for serenity.
Now if we could just work on the patience part.
***
He is very lucky he's cute.
I got up and fed him yogurt. He was in a good mood and I'm working on it with a cup of coffee. Not a morning person but I'm trying.
Are you happy, Lisa?
***
5:05am: Hear strange noises coming from the kids' room. Angrily* pop out of bed, rip off eye mask and stomp into hallway only to see the tiny head of a one Oliver Bang scurrying back into his room and under the covers like he never left there in the first place.
Go in the room and whisper-scold him and tell him to stay. in. your. bed. until it's time to get up (which is basically whenever I roll out of bed)
*Would like to add that anger is disproportionate to violation. What can I say, I am not a morning person.
5:11am - Hear squeak of door as Oliver tries to slowly sneak out of room again and back into hallway
5:12am - Stomp back into hallway, throw Korean death stare in direction of boy (I say in the general direction of the kid because I don't have my glasses on so who knows what I'm actually looking at) and he obediently runs back in and tucks himself in.
5:15am - Hear rustling in his room but decide to give him another chance to fall asleep. Check on the camera monitor. He appears to be getting sleepy again.
5:20am - Check the camera one more time before replacing eye mask and attempting to sleep for a couple more hours.
5:25am - Begin to drift off.
5:49am - Sleepy but not yet in slumber. Decide to check monitor one more time.
5:50am - WHAT THE!
Oliver's bed is empty. Door is open.
Once again rip off eye mask, bound out of room and burst into hallway.
Hear smacking of lips. Hmm, sounds like Oliver might be throwing up? It is coming from down below. I look over the railing and see Oliver crouched in front of the living room couch.
I ask him to come upstairs.
He ignores.
I ask again.
He ignores. again.
In anger, I storm downstairs and find him.. get this.... eating macaroni and cheese out of a container.
With his hands.
5:55am - I'm fuming! Snatch container out of his hands and throw in garbage, despite his protests. In kitchen, find a stepstool placed in front of the refridgerator. Explains the macaroni and cheese. Btw, we have childproof locks on our utensil drawers. This explains the hands.
6:03am - Supress urge to spank and instead not so nicely nudge him up the stairs while whisper -yelling at the kid. He retreats to his room in tears, declaring that he's "so hungry!", and you want to know something? I don't even care.
You hear me? DON'T. EVEN. CARE.
My heart is made of stone. STONE.
6:09am - Jump back into bed muttering all sorts of angry nonsense until John hisses at me to shut my pie hole, it's 6:00 in the morning woman!
6:20am - Allow myself to calm down. Breathe deeply. Say a prayer for patience and serenity and drift off.....
8:00am: I wake up to find that John is already downstairs making breakfast for the kids.
God must have heard my prayer for serenity.
Now if we could just work on the patience part.
***
He is very lucky he's cute.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Two more pointless videos... but who's counting!
Oliver is so weird sometimes. He insisted on wearing his Mickey hat during lunch.
Before I started filming, he was banging both drumsticks together. So cute.
Pictures and a video
I've been in a writing funk for a while so please forgive. I'm padding this post with lots of pictures which I'm sure will make Lisa very happy.
Also, four out of five of us Bangs have been sick - The lucky one who escaped illness is currently out celebrating on the golf course ;) - so it's been a rather dreary few days for us. Thankfully most of us are on the mend.
Anyways, enjoy the pics (All taken from my point and shoot Nikon)
Peanut taking a nap with Purple Monkey. She tolerates the kids pretty well considering they scream her name constantly. She can't help that she's popular, you know....
Doesn't Elliott look extra happy here? It's so difficult to get him to smile. I often say I have to act extra stupid to get him to crack. He's a tough nut, this one.
I tried to get a shot of all the kids but Oliver got bored and left. Obviously Wesley was trying to follow his big brother. I like how Evelyn is trying to look all casual in this pic.
Elliott's smiling so hard his face is gonna rip!
Also, four out of five of us Bangs have been sick - The lucky one who escaped illness is currently out celebrating on the golf course ;) - so it's been a rather dreary few days for us. Thankfully most of us are on the mend.
Anyways, enjoy the pics (All taken from my point and shoot Nikon)
Peanut taking a nap with Purple Monkey. She tolerates the kids pretty well considering they scream her name constantly. She can't help that she's popular, you know....
Doesn't Elliott look extra happy here? It's so difficult to get him to smile. I often say I have to act extra stupid to get him to crack. He's a tough nut, this one.
I tried to get a shot of all the kids but Oliver got bored and left. Obviously Wesley was trying to follow his big brother. I like how Evelyn is trying to look all casual in this pic.
Elliott's smiling so hard his face is gonna rip! Do you like Wesley's shiner? It's actually just a scratch that I covered with neosporin. Shiny!
Deep thoughts....
I love Peanut.
Cousins! Don't they look like they're jumping?
Elliott's throwin gang signs, yo!
I found Evelyn asleep in my bed with my face mask. She must have found it under my pillow. HA HA HA.
BONUS VIDEO:
Deep thoughts....
I love Peanut.
Cousins! Don't they look like they're jumping?
Elliott's throwin gang signs, yo!
I found Evelyn asleep in my bed with my face mask. She must have found it under my pillow. HA HA HA.BONUS VIDEO:
I remember watching a video of when we were younger. Lisa and I were playing in our little pool out in the back and suddenly my mom started spraying us with the hose. Of course we screamed because the water was freezing cold but the funniest thing I can remember about the video is how distinctly you can hear my sister yell to my mom, "I HATE YOU!"
Man, we started at a young age. HEH.
Anyways, I tried the same thing on my kids but they thought it was pretty funny. I really thought they would cry (I'm so mean!) but they actually enjoyed being sprayed with the hose. Yes, it was THAT hot last week.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Time out, drama queen style
Lisa said the last post was kind of sad (?!) so I thought I'd post this video.
Go ahead, call CPS. Tell 'em I said HI.
*At one point, she screams so loud the camera practically overloads because of the decibel level.
Awesome.
**Don't forget to pause the blog music for full video effect.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Don't worry, I'm just saying...
I want another baby.
*SIGHS*
Don't worry, it's just the hormones talking. I don't really want another baby. Um yeah... not really. I'm just getting all nostalgic and choked up over the thought that my baby is going to turn ONE in a couple of months. How did that even happen?
I swear just yesterday he looked like this.
BONUS! You get a profile shot of the shnoz.
I know, you're welcome.
All of the sudden, he's this 10 month old kid who stands in his crib demanding that I come pick him up. NOW. He wants to devour pretty much everything he sees, including the spoon AND the banana peel. His cheeks are starting to lose their fullness, his thighs starting to firm up, his voice deeper and more authoratitve.
He's almost not a baby anymore.
In two months he'll be technically considered a toddler.
My last baby will no longer be a baby any longer.
Do you think it is possible to have empty womb syndrome? I think it might be. I have always wanted three children, no more and no less. But lately I find myself wistfully sifting through Wesley little baby clothes, hesitating as I attempt to pack them away. I still have bins and bins of Evelyn's old baby clothes, unwilling and unable to fully let go of the small stained onesies, the crisp outfits worn maybe once, some with tags still attached. In the back of my mind whispers a tiny voice,
"what if...."
But then a very loud voice, namely the one in front of my face belonging to my husband, booms
"WHAT. Are you crazy?!"
You think he'd indulge me just a little before shooting me down but nope. He is quite happy with our family of five and is not ready or prepared to deal with another baby, more costs, more noise. And I suppose I'm not really ready either. But I look at pictures of when the kids were all newborn babies and I'm suddenly overcome with a wave of nostalgia. Even at our yard sale last week, I couldn't bear to sell my maternity clothes. The maternity clothes that I've had packed up for months. Clothes I've worn for three pregnancies. Clothes I won't ever be wearing again.
Realistically, we can't have another child. We don't have the room or the money. I don't really even have the proper family support living close to me. But I do admit, my desire for another child is there. I suppose I'll just indulge my need for baby time with this kid while I can.
I mean... look how cute!
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