Baby: Sun + Dotter

SUN + DOTTER

Check out what Janette (with FLP) has been up to with Sun + Dotter!  

She is offering online classes and personalized styling for all things baby...

Cool Stuff: Could Be Yours!!!

Must check out one of my brothers current online auctions...Super cool stuff, many current bids under $5!!!

Child Size!!! ($1, current bid!)

Awesome desk with drawer!

Bid HERE to buy it!!!

Featured Friend: Friday

1. Tell us about yourself and your family. 

Our little family started just 3 years ago in 2010 when Nick and I got married.  Then a year ago, Judah was born and has added the most incredible dynamic to who we are.  Nick works at Premier Marketing and is a photo wizard.  Seriously incredible.  He also has a photo company called SCOUT visual, so he stays busy with that as well.  I am an art teacher at an urban school that is grades K-5.  Judah stays with family and good friends while we work and saves lots of energy for fun with us at night and on the weekends!

2. You are the coolest art teacher, but what else do you do? 

Along with teaching art, I stay busy with a few little "hobbies".  I sell vintage clothing and other little treasures at a place called 600 Central here in Kansas City.  It's such a cool store with 4 floors of incredible vintage furniture and goodies.  Judah has gotten really great at helping me explore the city for great vintage finds.

I also do hair for weddings and other special events on the weekends (mostly in the Summer when I'm on Summer break.  (www.loveyourbobbypins.wordpress.com).  I enjoy getting to know all the sweet brides and being a part of such a special day in their lives.  I love having several artistic outlets to keep me busy!

3. Will you share some stories from the classroom? (Katie does THE best impressions.)

I love getting to be a part of my students lives on a daily basis.  It's so amazing to be a part of encouraging them and growing them into the incredible people they will be.  They already possess so many qualities that I am constantly envious of.  They are alive, free and unbelievably creative.  They are amazing.

 

I absolutely love hearing my kids talk about life and such.... They say hilarious things.  A few of my favorites off the top of my head:

"Mrs. Welch, all deez people be coffin (copying) offa me cuz minez be lookin crispy." (crispy means good)

"Welch, I straight up saw yo double ganger dis mornin.  Seriously. Same face. Same body." (doppleganger)

"Mrs. Welch, I wish I was deaf or Austin was mute because I am SO sick of hearing him talk.  Like...I seriously feel ill!"

"I done dug deep in ma heart for dis drawin, Ms. Welch.  I be rockin too thick here on dis drawin like da dude on Twilight.  Ya know?  He a'int got no shirt on cuz he a star.  Den down here I drew a buncha top hearts with top hats on"

I mean... they're brilliant, right?  Seriously.  They are hilarious and their creative minds constantly give me ideas and challenge me, and they're hearts do as well.  I am so blessed to get to do life with them everyday.

I do however, keep a stash of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Dr. Pepper for rough days. Most days are prefaced with prayer and asking God to make me like Him in His grace and love, because lets be honest... after about 145 questions about....nothing... I start to lose my mind. :)

4. Why is being a wife to Nick and a mom to Judah so awesome?

 Being a wife to Nick is the best.  He is the most laid back, patient man I've ever met. He loves well and is constantly serving me and teaching me how to be a better person.  He loves God with his whole heart and just lives it so humbly.  Watching him be a dad to Jude has been one of my favorite things about our marriage... it's such an amazing connection.  Judah has both of our hearts entirely.  He is just the epitome of life and joy.  I am constantly thanking God for who Judah is and that I get to be his mommy.... I can't even believe it. I have wanted to be a mom since I was about 5 years old.  I seriously carried around a life size doll until I was 12... ha!  Judah is everything I've ever dreamed of in a son.  I couldn't be more in love with him.  

5. Thinking of adding on to your family?

When we got pregnant with Judah we were sort of in the process of finding out about adoption.  We felt doors closing in a lot of different directions with adoption and when we found out we had a little nugget growing in my belly, we decided to put adoption on hold.  One of our first conversations when Nick and I met was about adoption and how it was a make or break deal with whoever we married because adoption was so heavy on both of our hearts.  We are thinking one more biological babe then adoption after that.  My heart beats a little faster even thinking about it.

6. Describe your dream house? 

Oh dream house, when will we ever find you?  We like a good mix of old and modern.  Nick loves clean lines and white everything and my heart falls for the history of a place and the stories that happened there.  I think the dream home would be an old fire house or building turned into a modern mix.  High ceilings, lots of brick, wood floors and white walls.  It would have to have a big back yard for our 120 lb. Weimaraner, Moses.  Maybe someday the dream home will come along, but our tiny bungalow is the place for now. :)

7. Judah Bear is just over one. What are some of your best moments with him so far?

I have life changing moments with Judah everyday, it seems. He teaches me so much about life and my own heart.  I would say some of my best moments with him have actually just been normal times at home, talking.  When he said, "MaMa" for the first time, I melted straight onto the floor and cried.  It was the best.  Also, bedtime every night is so sweet.  I love reading to him and when Nick and I surround him and kiss his head a million times before he goes to sleep, it's just one of those life moments where you feel like everything is right with the world.  I'm so grateful that I get to have that moment every night.  He's  a blessing.

 

Conversations: Three Cakes and a Bugar

Children, 

You keep life interesting. We love, love ya. Here are some of our conversations this evening. 

Hensley: "I got a bugar, Mommy." Holding your finger out with a lovely surprise attached to the tip.
(Yep, that's my job. Bugar collector.)

Tegegne: "I got three cakes!"
M: "What? How did you get three pieces of birthday cake?"
T: "Remember when you were looking for me and I was playing with those kids at that other party?"
M: "Yes, I thought you were with Dad."
T: "Well, I ate cake with those people at that party. One lady knew me!"
M: "Seriously?! That's hilarious! It's not okay that you didn't know where we were."
T: "I could see you and Dad. I knew where you were."

And then there's Fields...who smiles and grunts, pulls my hair, and grabs the back of my neck so hard with those little chubby hands, digging his little nails in. "Ouch, baby!" says Mama. You turn eight months in a few days. You are becoming a little boy, always wanting to stand and being rough and tumble. You'll be keeping up with Hens and Tegegne in no time.

T: "Mommy, tomorrow is Mother's Day and we have 2 surprises for you." (You are no good at keeping surprises, Tegegne. And you cannot stand to have one kept from you!)
M: "Oh, I'm soooo excited."
T: "You may be getting that special drink you like in the mornings..."
M: "Don't tell me what it is, but will you make it for me?"

Good night kids. Thanks for making Mother's Day something sweet to look forward to. You are the reason I get to celebrate.

Love,

Mom

Cheers To: Something Beautiful

Cheers to something original...

And something practical...

To something cool...

To something edgy...

And basic...

 And simply beautiful.

(all sourced here.)

Happy Birthday: You're Two

Well Hensley, you really enjoyed your 2nd birthday party. We had pulled pork sliders with crinkle chips, pickled beets, strawberry spinach salad and iced tea. Daddy made you a strawberry baby bunny cake, since Bunny is your go-to comfort lovey. Besides us, your guests were Nana & Grandpa Jones, Grandpa Ben and Grandma Debby, Taryn, Micah and Hazel, and our neighbor friends Jon, Hilary, Jaylen and Livia. 

You got the coolest Fisher Price A-Frame house from Uncle Eric and Aunt Erica (3rd to last photo). Plus a bath time baby, new Zara outfit and coat, coloring book, and a memory game. 

Tegegne and Dad went to a 3D movie last night, since today was all about you. Sweet, thoughtful Daddy. 

Love,

Mom

Dear Hensley: You're Two Today!

Happy Birthday Hensley Ruth! You are two years old today. Two years ago we had no idea what was in store when we met your tiny 7 lb 11 oz newborn baby self. Now you are about 25 pounds and have more personality than we can handle! 

Your first complex sentence was, "Daddy, I like your g-asses (glasses)!" 
You are a real jabber box, but you're most used phrases are sending important messages to your big brother and partner in crime. Those are "Stop It!" and "Be Quiet!" and "No THANK you." Along with "Come get me!" and before bed it's "God b-ess you." and "I love you." Besides words it's giggles or squeals or whining. You two are very close. Sharing a room has been so fun, but Tegegne has recently been lobbying to move his bed to Fields's room. (Hate to break it to ya buddy, but that baby dude still cries at night. Ain't much quieter in there.)

On the days that Tegegne is in school, you are attached to my hip. You hang out with me on the counter while we bake, you often take a good morning nap, and we play with Baby Fields and sometimes Baby Hazel. You like soothing Fields with the same phrases I use. It's so cute to catch you in a motherly moment... "Mommy's comin', mommy's comin" while you pat him gently..."Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh...it's okay." Then there are your not-so-motherly moments where you take his pacifier, trying to somersault over him, or try to hold him when I'm not looking (in which case you are trying to be helpful but he's nearly your size, kid.) 

Tonight we will surprise you with a cute little cake, candles, and a balloon after dinner. Your big party is Saturday with our extended family and a few friends. We are so excited to celebrate you, sweet sweet Hensley! Thanks for hamming it up round here.

Love,

Mommy

P.S. I must say, I really love it that I had a daughter. I mean my boys are wonderful too, but you and I...well, we both love shoes. (Enough said, right?) And hats and candles and chocolate and singing.  Even though I get so annoyed when you loose my earrings while getting into my jewelry...I secretly love it. I love it that I'll pass down my favorite necklace to you. You are becoming a little girl before my eyes and I am imagining you in high school. I know there will be times you won't wanna hang out with your dear 'ol ma, but I'll cherish the times you do. 

Who Rules the Roost: Round Here

Feel Like Your Kids Are Running the Show?

One of the unfortunate parts of being a parent is that

you cannot give your children everything they want. In

addition, you must also ask the kids to do things they

don’t want to do (homework, go to bed) and to stop

doing some things they do want to do (teasing, whining).

If you are really doing your parenting job, therefore,

along with being warm, caring and supportive, you must

also frustrate your kids on a regular basis.

When you are frustrating your little ones, the children

have two choices. First, they can cooperate and tolerate

the frustration. Second, however, youngsters can

engage in what we call testing and manipulation. Testing

and manipulation are the efforts of frustrated children

to get what they want or avoid discipline by getting their

parents emotionally confused.

When trying to “press your buttons” like this, a child has a “choice” of six basic tactics.

All parents and teachers recognize the strategies we are about to describe!

The Six Basic Testing Tactics

1. Badgering: “Please, please, please, please!” or “Why, why, why?” “Just this once!

Just this once!” “Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!” There are some children who could

have been machine guns during the last war.

2. Temper: An aggressive attack or emotional outburst. Younger children, who aren’t so

good with words, throw themselves on the floor, bang their heads, holler and kick

around ferociously. Older kids, whose language skills are more developed, come up

with arguments that accuse you of being unjust, illogical or simply a bad parent in

general.

3. Threat: “I’m going to run away from home!”, “I’ll never speak to you again!” and “I’m

not eating dinner and I won’t do my homework!!”

4. Martyrdom: May be kids’ all‐time favorite! Your

daughter indicates that her life has become an

incredible burden since you are totally unfair. “No

one around here loves me anymore,” “I never get

anything” or “You like her more than me!” are

examples. Crying, pouting and looking sad or teary

can also be effective manipulative devices.

5. Butter Up: Here’s a switch: Butter up takes an

approach that’s different from the other testing

tactics. Instead of making you feel uncomfortable,

the child tries to make you feel good. “I think I’ll go

clean my room. It’s been looking kind of messy for

the last three weeks. And after that maybe I’ll take

a look at the garage.” Ever heard a parent say,

“The only time my son’s nice is when he wants

something”?

6. Physical Tactics: From a parent’s perspective, this last form of testing is perhaps the

worst. Here the frustrated child may physically attack an adult, break something or run

away. Physical methods, of course, are more common in smaller kids.

What’s Going on Here?

Most kids would never be able to describe the underlying mechanics of testing. But we can

tell you exactly what’s going on. Here’s how it works: The child’s testing is saying to the

parent something like this: “You’re making me uncomfortable by not giving me what I

want. But now I’m also making you uncomfortable with my badgering, tantrums, ominous

statements or feeling sorry for myself. Now that we’re both uncomfortable, I’ll make you a

deal: You call off your dogs and I’ll call off mine.”

If you do give in and give the child what he wants, you are guaranteed that any testing will

stop immediately—in a split second no more hassles. Some people say, “Thank heaven—

there’s a way of getting rid of testing and manipulation!” There certainly is, but there’s a

catch. The catch is who’s running your house? It isn’t you; it’s the kids. All they have to do

in a conflict is get out their big guns and you are chopped liver.

For many parents being able to enjoy their kids again means being able to manage kids’

manipulative behavior quickly and fairly. How do you do that? Recognize manipulation for

what it is, never give children what they want when they are testing, and know when it’s

time to stop talking!

I just read this newsletter from 123 Magic and it hit home for sure. The only way I can stop my kids from manipulating is when I use their counting and timeout strategy. Luckily Tegegne's doctor recommended it to me several years ago. I checked out the dvd from the library and have used it ever sense. 123 Magic worked for me! I know several of my friends agree that establishing a timeout routine early on helps immensely with disciplining young children. 

I'm totally going to make a "time-out pad". Genius.

Time out for us is the least exhausting way for me to let my kids know that I rule the roost round here! 

Love,

Mom

Kid Stuff: Artwork

Tegegne, Hensley, and I have enjoyed coloring lately. Even when I get out three coloring books, they end up migrating to my book and all three of us color on the same page, bumping hands and all. I was thinking that we should pull out more than our coloring books this week and found these ideas from 2 creative friends. The last image is a sweet collection of kids artwork.  

(ideas from Sam. ideas from Katie.)

Kid Stuff: Colorful and Cute

From bath towels to bedding...

And so much more...

All this and more at Zara Home. 

Disclaimer: I didn't receive any kickbacks for this post, nor do I ever when I promote products or advertise stores. (Hmmmm...am I missing out on something?! Maybe I should look into this.)