A Place Where Friends and Family Can Be Updated

Sorry it has been awhile. I've been increasingly involved with that Military Wives BibleStudy and the time I have I've been catching up with my girls or the housework. Add in a husband with an unusual schedule and other things fall by the wayside. SO, here's an update!

-Brandon had his first flight in a T-34c airplane. .http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-34_Mentor . . .You've probably seen them in WWII movies. Because that's how old they are! :). . .They are really neat planes though and capable of some cool aerobatics. This first flight, however, was simply getting him used to flying again and pointing out this area's common landmarks for flight plans etc. Outside of throwing up twice, he was stoked by the experience. Said it was just a bit different from a cessna . He is currently waiting for his second flight since his on-wing (instructor) has been on leave or taking care of farther-along-students. They will give him a refresher flight in the meantime so all pilots only go so far in between flying.

-I am doing fabulous. I hit a rough patch a few days ago due to a tough night with both girls and random unneeded alarms. The longest stint of sleep at one time was probably only an hour that night. I have done very well (praise the Lord) thus far on little sleep but if more is taken I'm completely exhausted. Couple that with the thought that I have a whole day of diaperless baby, nursing baby, diapering the elder child, feeding the elder child, amusing the elder child, cooking and housework - I was a bit overwhelmed. It was one of those "Wow, there really is no break. It's not like a job where I can just stop. No matter how I feel I still have all these responsibilities". . . SO I broke down that morning (call it a way over-due baby blues?) and my sweet husband said that if I don't take a nap when they nap he will be upset and to not worry about housework etc. Just relax and play. So I did for two days and it is amazing how refreshing that was. I went horseback riding twice, read a bit of a book, played with the girls etc. Friday came around and I had to definitely hustle to catch up on housework before Sabbath- but it was well worth it.

-Arielle is at that super-cute and sometimes mildly-annoying toddler stage. I am still amazed by how obedient and sweet she is. She has her moments (who doesn't?) but overall "Yes, mom's" or "I help!!" abounds. I also experienced - for the first time - her helping actually helped. Well, wait. Maybe not. When I take laundry out to the garage she often trails me and picks up all those loose socks and such that drop behind - which is always nice. Anyway, I was folding laundry at our table when she runs up and says her usual "Momma, I help!". At which point I hoist her up into a chair, show her how to fold the cloth diapers and let her have at 'em. Imagine my surprise when she folded them correctly and stacked it off to the side!!! I have a video but (again) Movie Maker is on the fritz. I think we seriously just need to buy a new one. Arielle still loves Elly and enjoys "pushing her" in the jumper. She says her name now when she soothes her. . Sounds like "Is aw-righ, Eh-wee". . .

-Another reason I haven't posted is I went Diaperless Baby with Ellia. If you are curious - here's a link to the book I used: http://www.natural-wisdom.com/ and here's a link to a website regarding it. http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/ . . I have been planning on doing this for awhile figuring if I fail I am no worse off than where I otherwise would be: using diapers. Lo and behold this works and without the watched-peeing-craziness I thought it would be. Imagine that - a centuries old practice works in modern America! Elly does not wear diapers now unless we are out on the town. Even then, if she signals me, I will try to offer her a chance to eliminate. (Yes Brandon has read her signals and taken her successfully to the Bathroom - yay daddy!) Elly has loved not having diapers on, I have loved not spending money on the diapers and enjoyed seeing her face register pleasure at "mom finally getting it". This whole system (uncomplicated, really) works on the premise newborns tell you when they have to eliminate - just like they tell you when they're hungry or otherwise. Now that I've done this and seen it in action begs the question of why we assume they can't or don't know their elimination needs. By putting them in diapers they eventually stop listening to their bodies and obey the training of just going in their pants whenever. Then we need to retrain them when they are older to not do this. Theory aside, in practice I basically have a waterproof swatch of material under her most times (not as much any more) and when she signals me I take her to the toilet and offer her a chance to eliminate. When she does I make a cue sound (like Pavlov's dog). She is to the point where if I make a cue sound she'll go if she is able. This practice (especially at first) is a fair amount of timing as well. I know her rhythms and that she'll have to go such-and-such a time after nursing. It is not watching a pot boil. I just keep an ear out if she is on the floor or in the jumper type of thing. WHEW! Anyways, it's been an pleasantly surprising adventure. Helps the environment, Elly will not have to be retrained later, Helps our wallet and brings her and I closer. . . .what's that, you ask? What about the diapered 2+year old? What does she think? Oh, let me tell you. I think she will never be potty trained. She loves her diapers and applauds mommy and Elly for "pottying" but takes no interest herself. Actually offers us candy for going on the potty. Ah well. You live as you learn and I cannot unlearn these past 2 years with her in diapers. I would definitely do diaperfree with her. As it stands, I simply have to bide my time and wait until she can grasp the knowledge that all this time we taught her to go in her pants is actually not the correct mind frame. . . .

Oh, I also am planning to buy an Ergo Baby Carrier. I mention it becaue I am SUPER excited about that. I love our sling but I hate the fact that it hinders the range of one arm. This carrier is completely made out of collapsible cloth, allows the baby to feel you directly, be held in a sitting position so it is best for their spine (unlike others that hold 'em up between the legs), can be on your hip, front or back, works for infants on up to 45 lbs (for reference Arielle is 25+ lbs) and is built so the weight is being held around your waist/hips instead of your back and neck and last but not least: you have free range of both arms. Sound too good to be true?? Go ahead, try to find any returns or bad reviews. They are very few and far between.

Ok, well, that's it.

Oh! I was able to fix Movie Maker - here's the latest video.