Off to a Warmer Place

Lately I've been feeling a mixture of anxiety and stress with a hint of excitement all at the same time (while fighting a cold). The reasons? Well, we're finally going on a long-awaited family vacation to Florida, but it'll be the first time we're flying with Ethan. Gulp. Now let me remind you that this is with a child who doesn't like sitting on laps, let alone sit still. Oh yeah and did I mention he also loves to scream. So I've been making lists and running around trying to prepare as much as I can to make this occasion go smoothly. New toys, check! New books, check! LOTS of snacks, check! A friend of mine said to me, "If his mouth is full he can't scream right?" Well, I wouldn't put it pass Ethan =0) Anyway even after I'm finally done packing tonight, I still can't shake this anxiety that's lingering because...
a) I don't like the feeling of having to pack everything so concisely and then can't even get to the bag (for Ethan's stuff) because it's checked
b) that I don't have much control over the travel like pulling the car over if Ethan's antsy/crying/whatever
I know I just need to give it to God and know that He'll be in control. I guess if he screams, he screams right? I'm sure he won't be the first or last kid that does that...I'll just have to tell myself "It is what it is" and try not to be embarrassed. Please be praying for us!

Side note: For some reason a week ago, I felt this strong urge to check my driver license's expiration date. I found it odd but decided to do it anyway...only to find out that it expired almost two months ago!!! Yikes, the airport security would have been a really bad place to find out this info. Anyway, I rushed to DMV and renewed it as soon as possible. Praise the Lord!

Our Week

Day 1 (Tuesday): Woke up with a bad sore throat and barely have the energy to pick up Ethan let alone leave the house to go anywhere. So in we stayed.

Day 2 (Wednesday): Brian stayed home in the morning to take care of Ethan so I can sleep in and stored up my energy to get through the day. The roads were pretty icy so he recommended I don't go anywhere. I guess no urgent errands for us so once again we were home bound. With some research, I found something new for Ethan to do because I can tell there was a lot of stored up energy and it's driving him crazy. So out came a wash bin with some soap and water to make bubbles and keep him occupied. It only lasted for 15 minutes, but he had fun...eating the soap bubbles and wanting to climb in. Of course Kaika couldn't resist and decided to chase Ethan around the house licking up the residues that he left behind. That can't be good for either one of them =0( Anyway Brian came home early which was a treat!



Day 3 (Today): Schools were cancelled due to more freezing rain which meant MOPS was also cancelled. Great. My only outing planned for the day. I don't think I can take it anymore. Then Brian asked if I wanted to come to the office for lunch since he had no plans and of course the answer was a big desperate YES! Ethan and I made a quick stop by the mall before heading to KJWW. When I got him out of the car, he looked up at the sky as if he hasn't seen it for days. I guess he hasn't really. After lunch he ran around the office like a mad man and I could tell it definitely lifted up his spirit to be out and about and to see another human being. I know it sure lifted mine!

We'll see what kind of day tomorrow will bring...

Side note: Not to be nosy or anything but the fact that the husband across the street refuses to shovel or put salt down, while his 8-month pregnant wife shuffles across their driveway trying not to fall, bothers me. Seriously, where is men chivalry these days?! Anyway see what I mean, too much time on my hand that I start spying on the neighbors.

Feast or Famine

I love days when I'm organized and the moment I get up in the morning, I already know what's for dinner. I have all the needed ingredients and can prep everything while Ethan's taking his afternoon nap. Planning ahead just makes life so much easier and these past two weeks have been exactly that. Gourmet meals on the table every night! Only if it's like this all the time, but unfortunately I have these other days/weeks where I'm either lazy or unorganized. I would feel this anxiety over me first thing in the morning and until I figure out what we're going to have that night, it just kinda looms over me the rest of the day. Then out of desperation, I ended up settling with mac 'n cheese, Dinty Moore's beef stew or the Helpers. My new motto for this year though is: It is what it is! and that sometimes we just have to be satisfied with how things turned out and not stressed out about it =0)

Just For Laughs

Lately, Ethan has been on a hug rampage. It's just the sweetest thing considering that he was never the cuddly, huggy child. We all get random hugs throughout the day even the teddy bear. I wouldn't say Kaika necessarily likes them and would run away most of the time, but I did manage to get this picture:

Those Darn Teeth

Last night Ethan woke up crying as I had gotten in bed which startled me since he rarely ever does that. I waited a little bit but knew from the way he was crying that something was wrong. So I got out of bed and went in to get him. I held and rocked him for awhile while standing (which by the way I can't do for a very long time with how heavy he has gotten), and then put him back to bed. Crying continued, apparently not soothed. I think it might be his molars coming in, but I can't tell for sure since I can never get my finger in his mouth far enough without biting down. So I sent Brian in there armed with teething gel. Repeat the holding and rocking process and back to bed. Head banging began and eventually crying again. Okay, that didn't work either I guess it's my turn again! I went back in once more and by this time, Ethan was so tired that my attempt to sit down and rock him in the glider actually worked! He did try to fight me at first, but eventually relaxed enough to doze off in my arms. Ah, so this is what it's like to cuddle with my precious son. What a RARE moment and as tired as I was, I felt like I could stay in this moment forever! But then again I knew both of us needed a restful night of sleep so in the crib he went and off to catching some zzzzz's.

Discovery of the Week

I've starting doing sign language with Ethan on and off since he was about six months old. A friend of mine swore that it was the best thing to teach her son. I guess now as a toddler, he can sign to her what he needed/wanted which eliminated the frustration. So I thought it was a great idea and decided to give it a shot, too. I even went out and got a book on it. Anyway I'm sure if I was more consistent with it it would have paid off, but I wasn't and often times would forget to sign. So I kinda gave up...until the other night when I saw his first sign: more. And guess what it was for? Food of course and it was peppermint chocolate chip ice cream to be exact! =0) I guess I gave him a bite after dinner and sign to him "more?" not thinking anything of it. Then he looked at me with eager eyes and signed it repetitively. It was great although I think I did get a little carried away with the ice cream 'cause it took him 45 minutes to get to sleep that night. Opps, it turned out sugar + chocolate at bed time is NOT a good idea!

On a similar note, Ethan has finally figured out how to put the mega blocks (that I bought for his birthday) together. For the longest time, he would just take apart what I had built or throw them around like they were confetti and just looked frustrated. But now he realized there's more to it than that. Gotta love these moments when the light bulb comes on!

Monkey Joe's

This week our adventures continued at Monkey Joe's, an indoor inflatable playground. Lots of bouncing, jumping and sliding - what a great place for Ethan to get his energy out, especially during the winter!



Watch me go down the slide!

Blogging "Twittering" Style

It's crazy how 21 degrees feels warm compared to the two straight weeks of below 0 temperature we've been getting. I guess it's all relative!

Family Museum

Today Ethan and I ventured out to the Family Museum and let me tell you he loved it! So many things to see, touch and play with...and of course to put in his mouth, too =0( The last time we were here he was only 3 months old which was more for my benefit than his (as I was in desperately need to get out of the house). Anyway, he's now at the perfect age to explore and have fun so we just might have to make frequent visits here to get us through the winter.


He loves different textures

Check out my new ride

On Being a Mamma

MOPS this week was extra encouraging as one of the mentors spoke about perseverance in this new year. Right away I knew the Lord was personally speaking to me because lately I've been struggling to keep on going as a mamma. I have great days with Ethan, but I also have not such great days where I'm super frustrated, have a major break down and want to give up. Those days are so overwhelming to me that sometimes I can't see past that moment. She spurred us on by reminding us that God is compassionate and merciful and will gives us the power to persevere through times like these. However, He won't do it for us but instead gives us the opportunities to step up and make that choice to persevere through an obedient heart. Along with that, we are to keep our eyes focused on the goal/finish line and not stray away from it. Then in the end I will be able to proudly say, "It wasn't easy but I persevered" and to know that Ethan turned out to be a man of God. And of course to also hear my Master say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Wow, what a message and the timing on that couldn't have been any better =0)

Blogging "Twittering" Style

So glad I don't live in Fulton, NY right now. It snowed there everyday since Dec. 28th and accumulated 4+ feet of snow...with more to come. Yikes!

Mamma Wisdom of the Week

Well so much for the "Terrible Twos" happening at the age of 2 because we're actually going through that right now at 14 months. Ethan started throwing temper tantrums and hitting and neither one of us knew exactly what to do. After doing some research online, we realized how we shouldn't underestimate his understanding of what's okay and what's not even at this young age. We just have to teach it to him by starting to discipline early and be consistent. So I gave it a shot today: when Ethan would hit either me or Kaika, I would say "Stop, no hitting" and put him in his pac n' play for one minute. Afterwards, I would go get him and give him a hug and a kiss. To my surprise I think he's getting the idea...I mean not all of it 100%, but at least he is starting to know that his behavior is unexceptable. I guess this is the beginning of a journey ahead for parenting and disciplining (through love) and to tell you the truth I don't really like doing it. Like what my pastor's said, "Parenting is not for the weak hearted" so I know God's helping me grow through this process, too.

On a different note, Ethan finally woke up this morning cooing instead of crying. Apparently this past two weeks, he has been waking up cold and couldn't go back to sleep (which totally explained the crazy 4 am mornings). Didn't think it was possible for this kid to wake up any earlier but was I wrong! Anyway, Brian and I took action and rearranged his room so his crib is away from the outside wall. We also put him in an extra layer of clothes at bed time and cracked his door open so the heat would circulate in his room. So far, so good!

Happy 2-0-1-0!

Ringing in 2010 with the Strouds as we watched Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve and played Dance Dance Revolution (my Christmas present)!



Take note of Brian's sexy tight-rolled pants as he relived the '80 - gotta love it!