And just like that I'm moving blog accounts.......................seeya at toddlerheaven

So my little girl has taken her first steps...........I was on the phone to my sister in England when it happened so it was nice that she could share in the moment even if she was thousands of miles away. It was only two steps but then everything starts one step at a time!

Got to show of my new car today (for those of you who don't know I got a 2001 Ford Taurus station wagon Monday and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!)to my friend and car seat guru.....my kid's car seats are now firmly installed you will be glad to hear. I haven't worked out how to attach Lola's mirror so I can see her even though she is rear facing and it is annoying the hell out of me The slightest cough and I I have to fight the urge to pull over to see if she is choking. I ask Charlie to report into me but I guess I'm not paying him enough because he won't answer my questions! 

Had an eye appointment today as my contacts have been irritating me. It turns out I have an eye infection well more of an irritation really so I can't wear my contacts for a week until it clears up. Great we finally the sun and now I can't wear my shades, oh well I guess if that is my biggest problem, life is good! Plus the great thing about this..............it got me out of the house for a couple of kid free hours.................see what a stay at home mom will do just to get some free time LOL. But get this............I was under strict instructions not to spend any money at Walmart but I had to wait an hour for my prescription...............now girls, is there a women alive who can browse for an hour at Walmart and not buy a thing? nope, didn't think so!

I'm finally back! I got a bit overwhelmed for a while by the great blogs that I was reading. I couldn't think of anything exciting to write about but then I remembered I started this blog so my family and close friends could see what was happening in mine and the kids life seeing as everyone is so far away. So I am back writing about my life.........

Today was ESD playgroup (early invention program). Despite what I first thought I actually now enjoy it. Especially as I am getting to know the other moms and Charlie is slowly opening up. He has his evaluation Friday to see whether he is going to graduate the program at three or enter their pre-school. I had a nap when the kids napped (such a guilty pleasure!). Lola is teething so the nights have been rough. I have no idea when the last time I got 8 hours uninterrupted sleep was.......04 maybe.........someone did say to me once, "well you don't have children to get more sleep"..........ain't that the truth!  Sometimes I think I would be grateful for 5 hours uninterrupted sleep though!

The kids did coloring in the afternoon, well Charlie did and Lola chewed on a crayon.........they must taste nice as she loves these things! I have been trying to think of a food alternative to the crayon. Something that will make color on the paper but is harmless (maybe even healthy?????) for Lola............any ideas anyone?

Charlie said sorry for the first time today. He said"sorry Lola" for "accidentally" hitting her with a stick.

Well this is the end of my first post in two months............I hope the next one won't be as far away........       

Wednesday April 4 2007

 

When I don't write for a while I feel this great pressure to produce something great............and BE EXCITED as I have a great website to tell you about (it is not for you if you don't want to be become hooked on the Internet) Go to www.stumbleupon.com. You enter all your favorite topics and it jumps you to all these weird and wonderful places that you would never have found on your own. You get hooked as you want to know where you are going next...............Already I struggle to blog much as I am reading everyone else's and now I have this, you may never see me again!

 

Found this great article for all you worriers out there about how to stop worrying and start living………..with this new website, who knows what great (or weird) articles I will come up with!!!

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living This is Dale Carnegie's summary of his book, from 1948 Table of Contents 1.     Fundamental facts you should know about worry 2.     Basic techniques in analyzing worry 3.     How to break the worry habit before it breaks you 4.     Seven ways to cultivate a mental attitude that will bring you peace and happiness 5.     The perfect way to conquer worry 6.     How to keep from worrying about criticism 7.     Six ways to prevent fatigue and worry and keep your energy and spirits high Part One Fundamental facts you should know about worry If you want to avoid worry, do what Sir William Osler did: Live in "day-tight compartments." Don't stew about the futures. Just live each day u ntil bedtime. The next time Trouble--with a Capital T--backs you up in a corner, try the magic formula of Willis H. Carrier: Ask yourself, "What is the worst that can possibly happen if I can't solve my problem? Prepare yourself mentally to accept the worst--if necessary. Then calmly try to improve upon the worst--which you have already mentally agreed to accept. Remind yourself of the exorbitant price you can pay for worry in terms of your health. "Those who do not know how to fight worry die young." Part Two Basic techniques in analyzing worry Get the facts. Remember that Dean Hawkes of Columbia University said that "half the worry in the world is caused by people trying to make decisions before they have sufficient knowledge on which to base a decision." After carefully weighing all the facts, come to a decision. Once a decision is carefully reached, act! Get busy carrying out your decision--and dismiss all anxiety about the outcome. When you, or any of your associates, are tempted to worry about a problem, write out and answer the following questions: What is the problem? What is the cause of the problem? What are all possible solutions? What is the best solution? Part Three How to break the worry habit before it breaks you Crowd worry out of your mind by keeping busy. Plenty of action is one of the best therapies ever devised for curing "wibber gibbers." Don't fuss about trifles. Don't permit little things--the mere termites of life--to ruin your happines. Use the law of averages to outlaw your worries. Ask yourself: "What are the odds against this thing's happening at all?" Co-operate with the inevitable. If you know a circumstance is beyond your power to change or revise, say to yourself: "It is so; it cannot be otherwise." Put a "stop-less" order on your worries. Decide just how much anxiety a thing may be worth--and refuse to give it anymore. Let the past bury its dead. Don't saw sawdust. Part Four Seven ways to cultivate a mental attitude that will bring you peace and happiness Let's fill our minds with thoughts of peace, courage, health, and hope, for "our life is what our thoughts make it." Let's never try to get even with our enemies, because if we do we will hurt ourselves far more than we hurt them. Let's do as General Eisenhower does: let's never waste a minute thinking about people we don't like.   Instead of worrying about ingratitude, let's expect it. Let's remember that Jesus healed ten lepers in one day--and only one thanked Him. Why should we expect more gratitude than Jesus got? Let's remember that the only way to find happiness is not to expect gratitude--but to give for the joy of giving. Let's remember that gratitude is a "cultivated" trait; so if we want our children to be grateful, we must train them to be grateful. Count your blessings--not your troubles! Let's not imitate others. Let's find ourselves and be ourselves, for "envy is ignorance" and "imitation is suicide." When fate hands us a lemon, let's try to make a lemonade. Let's forget our own unhappiness--by trying to create a little happiness for others. "When you are good to others, you are best to yourself." Part Five The perfect way to conquer worry Prayer Part Six How to keep from worrying about criticism Unjust criticism is often a disguised compliment. It often means that you have aroused jealousy and envy. Remember that no one ever kicks a dead dog. Do the very best you can; and then put up your old umbrella and keep the rain of criticism from running down the back of your neck. Let's keep a record of the fool things we have done and criticize ourselves. Since we can't hope to be perfect, let's do what E.H. Little did: let's ask for unbiased, helpful, constructive criticism. Part Seven Six ways to prevent fatigue and worry and keep your energy and spirits high Rest before you get tired. Learn to relax at your work. Learn to relax at home. Apply these four good workings habits: Clear your desk of all papers except those relating to the immediate problem at hand. Do things in the order of their importance. When you face a problem, solve it then and there if you have the facts to make a decision. Learn to organize, deputize, and supervise. To prevent worry and fatigue, put enthusiasm into your work. Remember, no one was ever killed by lack of sleep. It is worrying about insomnia that does the damage--not the insomnia.

So it feels like springtime has finally reached the northwest. We have been able to get out and take Easter pics (more on my flickr account), have Easter egg hunts (this is a work in progress with the kids) and had trip to a friends little farm. The daffodils are out, blossom is on the trees and the water table and sand pit are open for business. Charlie and Lola (especially Lola) love being outdoors so I have high hopes that this will be a fun summer for us.

 

We saw some baby chicks today and now I want a chicken coop and of course with all the spring babies about, conversation in our house has come around to “when should we have the next baby?” and “should we have another baby”. I want another but the discussion has made me realize, that I have finally found my “groove” with the two I have. I have just started carving out time for me and I am looking forward to running, sewing and enjoying the summertime with Charlie and Lola. I don’t know if I am ready to be ill and crazy again. At the time you don’t believe it but I am now more than ready to admit it, I am crazy when I‘m pregnant (pssssss don’t let Brian know I said that LOL!). Anyway it has been agreed that the discussion is now closed till the end of summer and then it will be considered again. But who knows about the chicken coop………

    

Wednesday March 28, 2007

 

I have discovered that the secret to having a great day lies in the day before (or you could say, if you want to have a great day tomorrow, it lies within today!). Anyway, when I have my house organized – not everything, just key areas -dishwasher emptied, floors clean, high chair clean, toys put away, train track rebuilt, animals back into the ark and not in every corner of the house (yes plastic animals), my day fully planned and my diaper bag and snack bag organized all the night before, the next morning goes soooooo smoothly. The kids are happy as their toys are ready for them first thing, I can get to the breakfast in an orderly manner and everyone seems so much calmer when everything is organized. I even get to watch Joyce Meyer…………yes I know a moment to sit down and relax in the mornings; I must be organized (LOL). Whereas when the opposite happens, it is a horrible mess of screaming kids, an unhappy mother who is trying to calm the chaos, get breakfast ready whilst trying to clean a plate to eat breakfast, trying to stop Lola eating yesterday’s snacks of the floor, no Joyce Meyer to remind me to thank God for my life and to be nice to people (I need to be reminded of this on a daily basis before I go out into society)…………makes you wonder why I ever go to bed with the dishes not done and the train track not built but yet I do………………

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away any shadows.

-Saint Francis of Assisi

 

Tuesday 27 March 2007

 

I was watching Oprah today and one church is challenging everyone to go 21 days without complaining………….I could do it if I never got out of bed………….interesting challenge though wonder how long I could really go if I tried…………………

 

Matthew flooded the bathroom today and I mean FLOODED. It even seeped through the walls into the next room (if you are asking yourself where was his mother……………you are NOT the mother of two toddlers!). I changed 12 diapers and changed 5 sets of clothes before noon (yes I do have only two children). One decided to put her bowl of cottage cheese on her head and the other threw his bowl of spaghetti on the floor……………….what I’m not allowed to complain about this…………I don’t think I will be taking the challenge anytime soon……………..

Monday March 26 2007

I just have to say how much I love my Monday playgroup. It is really more a couple of friends having a play date but then isn’t that what playgroup is meant to be? I really believe that it is so important to have a support group especially if you are a stay at home mom and I am blessed with a couple of friends who’s advice I respect and enjoy being around

 

That is what I am thankful for today.

I am also thankful I found this article on Dr Phil's ten life laws...........I like the law about you are your own life manager. It has made me ask myself, would I fire someone else if they were my life manager based on my life to date............I don't think I would fire them but I don't know if they would get a pay rise either LOL

 

Dr. Phil's Ten Life Laws

Life Law #1: You either get it or you don't.
Strategy: Become one of those who gets it.

It's easy to tell these people apart. Those who "get it" understand how things work and have a strategy to create the results they want. Those who don't are stumbling along looking puzzled, and can be found complaining that they never seem to get a break.

You must do what it takes to accumulate enough knowledge to "get it." You need to operate with the information and skills that are necessary to win. Be prepared, tune in, find out how the game is played and play by the rules.

In designing a strategy and getting the information you need — about yourself, people you encounter, or situations — be careful from whom you accept input. Wrong thinking and misinformation can seal your fate before you even begin.

Life Law #2: You create your own experience.
Strategy: Acknowledge and accept accountability for your life. Understand your role in creating results.

You cannot dodge responsibility for how and why your life is the way it is. If you don't like your job, you are accountable. If you are overweight, you are accountable. If you are not happy, you are accountable. You are creating the situations you are in and the emotions that flow from those situations.

Don't play the role of victim, or use past events to build excuses. It guarantees you no progress, no healing, and no victory. You will never fix a problem by blaming someone else. Whether the cards you've been dealt are good or bad, you're in charge of yourself now.

Every choice you make — including the thoughts you think — has consequences. When you choose the behavior or thought, you choose the consequences. If you choose to stay with a destructive partner, then you choose the consequences of pain and suffering. If you choose thoughts contaminated with anger and bitterness, then you will create an experience of alienation and hostility. When you start choosing the right behavior and thoughts — which will take a lot of discipline — you'll get the right consequences.

Life Law #3: People do what works.
Strategy: Identify the payoffs that drive your behavior and that of others.

Even the most destructive behaviors have a payoff. If you did not perceive the behavior in question to generate some value to you, you would not do it. If you want to stop behaving in a certain way, you've got to stop "paying yourself off" for doing it.

Find and control the payoffs, because you can't stop a behavior until you recognize what you are gaining from it. Payoffs can be as simple as money gained by going to work to psychological payoffs of acceptance, approval, praise, love or companionship. It is possible that you are feeding off unhealthy, addictive and imprisoning payoffs, such as self-punishment or distorted self-importance.

Be alert to the possibility that your behavior is controlled by fear of rejection. It's easier not to change. Try something new or put yourself on the line. Also consider if your need for immediate gratification creates an appetite for a small payoff now rather than a large payoff later.

Life Law #4: You cannot change what you do not acknowledge.
Strategy: Get real with yourself about life and everybody in it. Be truthful about what isn't working in your life. Stop making excuses and start making results.

If you're unwilling or unable to identify and consciously acknowledge your negative behaviors, characteristics or life patterns, then you will not change them. (In fact, they will only grow worse and become more entrenched in your life.) You've got to face it to replace it.

Acknowledgment means slapping yourself in the face with the brutal reality, admitting that you are getting payoffs for what you are doing, and giving yourself a no-kidding, bottom-line truthful confrontation. You cannot afford the luxury of lies, denial or defensiveness.

Where are you now? If you hope to have a winning life strategy, you have to be honest about where your life is right now. Your life is not too bad to fix and it's not too late to fix it. But be honest about what needs fixing. If you lie to yourself about any dimension of your life, an otherwise sound strategy will be compromised.

Life Law #5: Life rewards action.
Strategy: Make careful decisions and then pull the trigger. Learn that the world couldn't care less about thoughts without actions.

Talk is cheap. It's what you do that determines the script of your life. Translate your insights, understandings and awareness into purposeful, meaningful, constructive actions. They are of no value until then. Measure yourself and others based on results — not intentions or words.

Use any pain you have to propel you out of the situation you are in and to get you where you want to be. The same pain that burdens you now could be turned to your advantage. It may be the very motivation you need to change your life.

Decide that you are worth the risk of taking action, and that your dreams are not to be sold out. Know that putting yourself at risk may be scary, but it will be worth it. You must leave behind the comfortable and familiar if you are to move onward and upward.

Life Law #6: There is no reality, only perception.
Strategy: Identify the filters through which you view the world. Acknowledge your history without being controlled by it.

You know and experience this world only through the perceptions that you create. You have the ability to choose how you perceive any event in your life, and you exercise this power of choice in every circumstance, every day of your life. No matter what the situation, you choose your reaction, assigning meaning and value to an event.

We all view the world through individual filters, which influence the interpretations we give events, how we respond, and how we are responded to. Be aware of the factors that influence the way you see the world, so you can compensate for them and react against them. If you continue to view the world through a filter created by past events, then you are allowing your past to control and dictate both your present and your future.

Filters are made up of fixed beliefs, negative ideas that have become entrenched in your thinking. They are dangerous because if you treat them as fact, you will not seek, receive or process new information, which undermines your plans for change. If you "shake up" your belief system by challenging these views and testing their validity, the freshness of your perspective can be startling.

Life Law #7: Life is managed; it is not cured.
Strategy: Learn to take charge of your life and hold on. This is a long ride, and you are the driver every single day.

You are a life manager, and your objective is to actively manage your life in a way that generates high-quality results. You are your own most important resource for making your life work. Success is a moving target that must be tracked and continually pursued.

Effective life management means you need to require more of yourself in your grooming, self-control, emotional management, interaction with others, work performance, dealing with fear, and in every other category you can think of. You must approach this task with the most intense commitment, direction and urgency you can muster.

The key to managing your life is to have a strategy. If you have a clear-cut plan, and the courage, commitment and energy to execute that strategy, you can flourish. If you don't have a plan, you'll be a stepping stone for those who do. You can also help yourself as a life manager if you manage your expectations. If you don't require much of yourself, your life will be of poor quality. If you have unrealistic standards, then you are adding to your difficulties.

Life Law #8: We teach people how to treat us.
Strategy: Own, rather than complain about, how people treat you. Learn to renegotiate your relationships to have what you want.

You either teach people to treat you with dignity and respect, or you don't. This means you are partly responsible for the mistreatment that you get at the hands of someone else. You shape others' behavior when you teach them what they can get away with and what they cannot.

If the people in your life treat you in an undesirable way, figure out what you are doing to reinforce, elicit or allow that treatment. Identify the payoffs you may be giving someone in response to any negative behavior. For example, when people are aggressive, bossy or controlling — and then get their way — you have rewarded them for unacceptable behavior.

Because you are accountable, you can declare the relationship "reopened for negotiation" at any time you choose, and for as long as you choose. Even a pattern of relating that is 30 years old can be redefined. Before you reopen the negotiation, you must commit to do so from a position of strength and power, not fear and self-doubt.

Life Law #9: There is power in forgiveness.
Strategy: Open your eyes to what anger and resentment are doing to you. Take your power back from those who have hurt you.

Hate, anger and resentment are destructive, eating away at the heart and soul of the person who carries them. They are absolutely incompatible with your own peace, joy and relaxation. Ugly emotions change who you are and contaminate every relationship you have. They can also take a physical toll on your body, including sleep disturbance, headaches, back spasms, and even heart attacks.

Forgiveness sets you free from the bonds of hatred, anger and resentment. The only way to rise above the negatives of a relationship in which you were hurt is to take the moral high ground, and forgive the person who hurt you.

Forgiveness is not about another person who has transgressed against you; it is about you. Forgiveness is about doing whatever it takes to preserve the power to create your own emotional state. It is a gift to yourself and it frees you. You don't have to have the other person's cooperation, and they do not have to be sorry or admit the error of their ways. Do it for yourself.

Life Law #10: You have to name it before you can claim it.
Strategy: Get clear about what you want and take your turn.

Not knowing what you want — from your major life goals to your day-to-day desires — is not OK. The most you'll ever get is what you ask for. If you don't even know what it is that you want, then you can't even ask for it. You also won't even know if you get there!

By being specific in defining your goal, the choices you make along the way will be more goal-directed. You will recognize which behaviors and choices support your goals — and which do not. You will know when you are heading toward your goal, and when you are off track.

Be bold enough to reach for what will truly fill you up, without being unrealistic. Once you have the strength and resolve enough to believe that you deserve what it is that you want, then and only then will you be bold enough to step up and claim it. Remember that if you don't, someone else will.

 

I must admit, I am much more interested in reading other people's blogs than typing my own, which is why you won't hear from me for days. I intend to write and then get sucked into other people's lives....................some people are great writers, other have interesting lives and some people are just plain crazy (these are my favourites)...........but all are great to read. Hey especially if your like me and don't get out a lot!

We went on a family Outing today to two stores which took four hours. I think only a hour or so was spent in the stores. The rest of the time was spent diaper changing, feeding, cleaning, napping (not me unfortunately!). We were meant to go to Wally World (our name for Walmart) but we were done! Ross, Michaels and KFC................this should have taken 2 hours max............. life with kids is like living in a different time zone to people without kids as anyone without kids would be asking how could it take so long???

My legs are just getting back to normal after my first running attempt on Friday. But I am not discouraged, I will go on!

Charlie is on his fourth day of "holding it"................if you have been reading my blog you know what I am talking about..........if not go back and look LOL anyway so tomorrow promises to be a fun day...........NOT! Though I have playgroup and I do look forward to that.

Today was a very quiet day. In fact had I not done that “where does my time go exercise” earlier in the week, I would have in fact been asking myself that question. “My nanny” came round for a couple of hours in the afternoon and this time I used her (not the best wording I’m sure!) to wait in the car with the kids whilst I ran in and out of a couple of places…………….this is so great, I don’t know why I didn’t get one earlier!

 

Charlie is now starting to talk really well. It is so cute now he can say, “thank you mom”. So it seems that all the worry was for nothing. It feels to me that Lola grew up over night since her first birthday. She is holding her ground with her older brother and they fight over EVERTHING. But just when you are at the end of your rope with them, they decide to play together and it is the cutest sight ever (well to me!). We are currently learning baby signs but all Charlie is interested in is animals, so we know all the animal signs (useful when you are at the zoo) but not much else.

 

Plans for tomorrow

 

Brit is looking after my kids whilst I go for a walk/start to run

 

Weekly grocery shop