Friday Phone Dump.

Posted on by

0

Ok I’m totally tagging along on this trend.  I also don’t like the word “dump”, but I couldn’t think of anything catchier.  Wop woppp.  I’m sososo thankful to have my new iPhone for really two reasons: taking pictures of my chile+the map feature.  Dorky I know.  I’m not cool with apps and all of that other stuff, but I don’t like being lost and I don’t like lugging around my fancypants camera everywhere I go.  I’m just not that Mom.  Fail.  I think it’s safe to say I already take enough pictures of my child though, yes?  Yes.  I’m aware.

So-if you’re not following me on instagram (sarahwickersham), you can see some highlights each Friday on thee ol’ blog (I also share all of my instagram pictures to my twitter as well).  I used to post a lot of my pictures to Facebook, but now I’m too lazy.  And I literally take a picture an hour so I didn’t want everyone to think I was bombarding them with my life.  Mostly because I’m just amazed at how cool and big my child now is.  Oh and Oliver’s pretty cute too.

Check back each week for the “dump”.  Ew.

PS {I saw this instagram template on Pinterest here.  It is for Photoshop users, so unless you have that program it won’t work.  It was only $5 bucks and supa cute!  There’s also a part of the download that allows you to automatically resize your pictures to fit right in the frames.  Easy peasy.  The font I used was “Dawning of a New Day”.}

Rainbows+Glitter.

Posted on by

2

For none those of you out there wondering how the one nap thing was going-I thought I’d give a little bit of an update.  Not a thrilling topic, I’m aware.  But one that I’ve had lots of questions about and experimented with quite a bit.

If you’ve read my other post on transitioning to one nap-you’ll remember that I followed her cues and when she started to nap crummily, I knew something was up.  After the night wakes, I was scared to go back to the one nap again-but I’m glad I tried it out for a second time.  Trytrytry again.

I started the one nap thing when we were away for the weekend, just because she would be super entertained and we wouldn’t have as much down time at home.  More distractions!  After a positive experience all weekend, we continued it the next week-and I can happily say we’ve never looked back.  Phew.  I actually adore the one nap.  Who woulda thought?

Our schedule right now is:

  • Wake at 6:30 AM
  • Nap at 1 PM
  • Bed at 7 PM
Sometimes her bedtime gets pushed back to 7:30 or even 8 PM, if she wakes up later from a nap.  Right now her naps are averaging anywhere from 2-3 hours each day.  When she naps reallyreallyreally long, I feel like I get SO much done, but I don’t count on it-because then I’ll be disappointed+sads when she doesn’t.  Also, sometimes Helen may fall asleep in the car for a few minutes around 9 AM and I let her.  It’s just a quick power nap to gear up for our morning out.  I don’t however, let her sleep anytime past 11 and I would literally dance on the roof of the car to keep her awake-because if they fall asleep at that point, you might as well kiss the later nap good-bye.  And you so don’t want to do that.  I’ve found the most important key to making the one napper work is wearing her out.  We’re talking activities out the wazoo.
Ok.  I am a former Kindergarten teacher, so I understand the importance of high quality entertainment.  I also understand that toddlers only like to do things for a very small amount of time, so basically we are never home.  Our home is for the birds.  ”Boring” says HL.
Most days, we wake up+read for a bit before heading down to breakfast.  Eat breakfast.  I let her play around with her toys while I’m cleaning up/packing her lunch for the day.  We then head upstairs to get ready to leave, and most days are out the door by 8:30 AM to get to wherever we need to go by 9.  Sometimes it’s an all out sprint for the door, but we make it.
We fill our mornings with things like the library, zoo, parks, playgrounds, the pet store, eating snacks+brunch, shopping, museums, sprinklers+pools and more.  Sometimes I’d really rather just stay at home+be lazy, but I know that having a little toddler around the house will drive me straight up crazee.  I think Helen+I have actually been our happiest since we have begun the one nap and focused less on her sleep schedule+more on enjoying our time together.  Having only one nap guarantees that she WILL sleep for an extended period of the time each day and I don’t have to worry about her waking up after 45 minutes, stirring around because she may or may not be tired.  SHE TIRED.
I think back to the dread of two naps and having to hurry back home to get her in bed, or literally feeling my stomach turn when she’d wake up after only being down for an hour, when she normally slept 2.  It was a very hard time for us emotionally and I feel vastly freed that it’s over.  I think I most feared having another child because of how frustrating this period of time was for us.  Sometimes I would literally just cry because I could not for the life of me, figure her out.  Now that I see there’s actually a light at the end of that deep and dark tunnel, I know things will be OK with #2.  Not that there is a #2 peeps.  Don’t get ahead of yerselves.  Oliver will alert you again in his fancy shirt.  Don’t know what I’m talking about?  Stay tuned…
I think the next time around I will be so focused still on HL, that I won’t have time to care as much or get as upset as I did the first time around.  Don’t get me wrong.  Naps are super important and I will place a great emphasis on them when we have another child-but this time there will be less magnification on confusedcrabbysleepdeprivedbaby+more on the little lady that can keep us busy and active.
Our days are seriously so fun now+I too feel like I need a giant nap to crash after sometimes what is a very.crazy.morning.
Like today when we tried to go to our local creamery to see cow’s being milked, baby pigs, chickens, etc.-and arrived to anything but.  Helen almost lost one of her shoes (Thanks to Aunt C recovering it, after I walked a half mile through snake infested weeds.  Hubs says thanks for not making him have to shell out another $50 smacks).  Aunt C stepped in cow manure in her fancy sandals.  We wore lanyard passes around our necks that we forgot to give back.  There was no shade, so it was hotter than H.  I almost tripped and fell into a hot wire.  There were no baby pigs+no cows being milked.  The self-guided trail had a rope in front of it that we were just supposed to assume we should go under, but instead we kept walking straight which led us into a place where people probably get kidnapped.  Sh show.
Don’t you see why I’m tired?  But a good tired.  A making memories tired.
So on that note.  Git out yer house+do something.  Even if it turns out to be horrible, it is something.  (Did you know that taking your child to Barnes+Noble and buying them a book only costs like $5+it can eat up an hour of time?  They have a train table and Starbucks for Mommy too.  I swear it’s the little things.)
Hooray for one nap!

{A visit to Nana+Papa’s house, May 19, 2012}

Memories.

Posted on by

5

It’s weekend’s like the last one that flood your mind with memories.  The warm summer air rolls in and brings you right back to times you’ve cherished.

To celebrate H+I’s anniversary, we joined our family at the country club for dinner that evening.  My Mom and her family grew up literally across the street from the CCD in a house on the lake.  And then I came along and it also became a very familiar place to me.  Swimming, special parties, Shirley Temples…it’s a place I’ve always known.  It was almost surreal to bring Helen here, because now it will become a place for her to make memories as well.  As I child, I walked the same hallways-dined at the same tables and probably even played in the same sticks.  I just love making her a part of our family traditions.

This place was also very much a huge part of Helen’s namesake-her Gram and as you drive up the big hill, it’s hard not to feel her presence when you look around at all of the beautiful gardens+scenery.  I remember her most there.  She loved coming here and the people adored waiting on her+just being around her.  There wasn’t one person that didn’t know her by name and still as we return, 6 years after her passing, people are now excited to learn that her Great Granddaughter carries on her name.

I must say that life has gotten in the way and we haven’t been to the club as much as we would have liked as of late.  We are definitely going to make an effort to do more of that, so that HL can continue to experience a part of her history.  I have always felt at home there, because it’s a place I’ve always known.  I hope she too, will feel the same.  And that as she learns to put a napkin on her lap as soon as she sits down to a table or discovers her love for Shirley Temple’s (with extra cherries, please!), she too will be forever rooted in this place.  And that she will forever carry it in her heart, as I have.

Five Years.

Posted on by

2

Sorry for skipping out on another Friday’s {What Wee Wore}.  The truth is, I’m not sure I can do very well with deadlines and such anymore.  I plan to share WWW’s from time to time, but it may not be every Fridee.  Why?  Because I have more fun stuff going on, like last minute packing up our mini-bus to head over to the homeland+see some darling family.

We celebrated 5 years of marriage Saturday night with my Grandpa, parents, Aunts, Uncles+cousins.  It was grand.  Forget the night out on the town-there will be time for that later.

Hubs also was a perfect lad and came through with my new clutch.  Howevs, it is smaller than appeared and I just don’t think it’s going to cut it.  I’m now in the market for something that still looks less baby Mama (like LotsaDots) and more chic Mama, to tote around my phone+few necessities in.  On the prowl.  Fir rils.

Oh also, at 5 years of marriage you’re supposed to get something wooden. H is getting a tree.  You already know he’s excited about this.

What a lovely few days of soaking in the sun+family.  More to share soon…

{My once babies Allie+Mags, with my now baby, Hels}

We Bought a Zoo.

Posted on by

2

Yesterday we went to the zoo.  For the second time in 2 weeks.  Because we bought a zoo.  Ok not really bought it, but became members of our local zoo.  That’s kind of like owning your own piece, yes?  As I’ve previously detailed Helen needs lots of things to do this summer because she’s busybusybusy.  Our house simply doesn’t cut it anymore.  Like at all.  We’re both much happier now that we’re gone most mornings and back just in time for nap.

The zoo is the only place we decided to become a member of for this summer because we’ll already be occupied with things like going to our neighborhood pool, story time at the library+visiting other random spots here and there.  Helen is very into animals right now and I thought this would be the perfect fit for her.  We went ahead and purchased the membership that was for two adults and two guests, in case family+friends ever want to accompany us.  Children under 1 get in free-so at this point Helen doesn’t really count as a number either.  With a one time admission of $13 per adult and a $6 parking cost, it seemed well worth it for us to go ahead and join (since we knew we’d go more than once+when you’re a member parking is free as well as admission to other fun events like Boo at the Zoo and Christmas at the Zoo).

The first time we went it was rather crowded, but that was also Mother’s Day weekend+a Saturday.  When we went yesterday we didn’t get there until 9:30 AMish and it wasn’t as bad.  It started to fill up as we left, but next time if we get there right as the gates open-I think we would be even better off.  The park also provides lots of shade as you’re walking, so it keeps pretty cool in the morning.  Even if we didn’t go just to look at the animals, the scenery and Dip N’Dots is enough for me-just something out of the ordinary.  I also feel that as we’re really starting to introduce Helen to animals-and especially those of the “zoo” genre, it is beyond priceless for her to actually see them in real life.  ”Hey Helen, remember that elephant we were reading about in our Polar Bear, Polar Bear book?  We’ll there it is right in front of you!”  or “There’s the giraffe that we point to on our flash card every morning and now you’re feeding him a piece of fruit!”  Real life experiences are just amazing for their little minds.

Some of the things at the zoo are a bit “too old” for her right now, but our favorites thus far are:

  • Riding the carousel
  • Splash park (there’s also a playground to burn off some energy-but it’s too big for her right now)
  • Train
  • Feeding the giraffe
  • Petting baby sharks
  • Looking at the flamingos
  • Standing next to the giant aquariums looking in at the bright colored fish inside
I’m probably forgetting something or we will discover new as we visit again. And again.  And again.  No doubt we will be zoo experts by the end of the summer.  I’ll also try to get some better pictures of the things we love, but for now, it’s super hard to juggle the camera+baby-so I’ll have to wait until Hubs joins me again.
And no ducks aren’t really zooish, but Helen sure did love pointing at them.  I love how you can see shades of pink in the water from the flamingos that stood a bit outside of the picture.

Maybe someone said, “Show us your lion face?”  Either way, I literally laughed out loud and nearly fell out of my chair when I saw this.  Oh.My.Child.

Dedication Sunday

Posted on by

2

This past Sunday, on Mother’s Day, Helen was dedicated at our church.  This was a very important Sunday to us because it was the day we officially dedicated ourselves to raising Helen up in a Christian home.  Not that we hadn’t felt this way prior, but it means something to stand before your congregation, family+friends and commit out loud.  To have all of those people holding you accountable in this moment and in years to come, as the parenting continues.  We are very fortunate to have a tight knit group of people around us who support us+will help us raise Helen in such a way.  It can be a challenge everyday (seriously EVERYDAY), but one that’s well worth it.

Prior to Helen’s dedication, we attended a parenting class at our church-and I wanted to share some of the information (just snippets) they passed along to us.  It really encouraged me+I hope it will do the same for you.

Parents have the God-given responsibility to take charge of the home.  Children may not like the rules but that’s okay because the job of parenting is really an issue of stewardship between the parent and God.

Children are a gift from the Lord and must be treated with respect.  Even when we must do the difficult work of correction or setting limits that our child doesn’t understand, we try to do it in a way that values the child in the process.

Sin corrupts family life.  Parenting has a sanctifying effect on all family members, even revealing sin in our own lives that we never knew existed.

All family members must take personal responsibility for their own actions.  All family members need to develop the humility to acknowledge their own mistakes, take responsibility for them and avoid manipulative techniques.

Anger is good for identifying problems, but not good for solving them.  Anger is a God-given emotion to reveal that something is wrong.  Unfortunately, many people take anger further and use it to solve problems.  That’s when others get hurt, relationships develop tension, and larger problems of bitterness and resentment grow.  The solution is to use anger to point out the problem and then move into different routines to solve it.

It’s not enough to be right, you also have to be wise.  Wisdom often comes from others.  Becoming involved in on going parent support groups/Parent Mentor’s can give parents added insight and direction.

Children need character training.  God is interested in the heart not just behavior.  Parents who only use behavior modification techniques inadvertently teach their children to look good on the outside, leaving the heart virtually untouched.  Effective parenting strategies require a deeper look.  Long-lasting soultions come when children develop the character they need to be successful in life.

Good communication is essential.  The whole area of communication in family life often determines the strength of the relationships between members.

God gives wisdom and power to those who ask for it.  Parents need the power and wisdom of God and must learn to rely on him in the midst of parenting struggles.

Parenting is a walk of faith.  Understanding God’s role in our lives relieves us from compromising our fear of rejection and allows us to remain obedient to God in our parenting role even in the face of abuse from our children.  We have a job to do and with God’s grace we will do it.

{Helen’s Baby Dedication, May 13th, 2012}

Helen Goes Couture.

Posted on by

2

Earlier this week, Helen was in her first fashion show.  I know, you’re thinking I’ve gone all Toddlers+Tiara’s on you, but that’s not the case.  Yet.

Lest I remind you that I used to be obsessed with all things fashion and my favorite designer in the 7th grade was Gucci?  I spent most of my time sketching in a notebook and studying different types of fabrics.  My circle of friends and I used to pine after the latest designs inside the pages of Vogue and W.  It was probably kind of odd for such youngsters to live+breathe for such things, but we did.  To the point where we dreamed of someday being models+fashion designers and even had our own runway shows down my home’s long hallway.  We laid out our fashions in my room, had our hair+makeup done and walked the catwalk to some pretty happenin’ tunes, paired with the video camera at the end, capturing it all (that was later showed to the Senior football players thanks to a fellow model’s big bro).  If I had more time, I would totally post one of those on here, because they were downright hilarious.  I must say though, we did have the walk, down.

When Helen was asked to model in a fashion show for one of the local high school’s, I was more than excited!  One of our family friend’s (who is a second year fashion student) made an outfit for her (dog paw print material-perfect for our little dog lover!) and another little boy to wear, and I was just thankful it still fit after she gave it to us at Christmas.  Since she’s not 100% steady, I had Abby carry her out on stage-we’ll save the actually catwalking for the hallway :)

She looked a bit starstruck up on stage in front of so many people-but at least she didn’t cry.  Maybe she was just perfecting her model pout?  And of course, I couldn’t handle much more than getting up and being out the door by 8:30 AM-so I didn’t pack my camera.  Only phone pics to document this event.

I was so proud of all of the girls in the show-it truly was amazing to see some of their creations.  I definitely couldn’t have pulled anything off like that!  I am so excited that Helen has an amazing high school to attend when she’s older that provides such awesome opportunities.  I can’t even imagine being able to be part of something like this as a tween.  The only thing missing was RuPaul.

You betta work.

Helen Walks the Runway. from Fly Little One on Vimeo.

Mother’s Day

Posted on by

0

Yesterday was Mother’s Day+what a wonderful day, it was.  Waking up to a beautiful morning and a new iPhone on the counter in a shiny red Verizon Wireless bag was just delightful.  Please know I have been complaining to Hubs about my ghetto slider for quite some time now, and he finally caved and made.my.life.day.  The whole weekend was also just really great-filled with yummy food (shout out to Scotty’s Lakehouse, YUM 7 Tidals dip!)+shopping (newly obsessed with Francesca’s).  I was sad to see it end, but also really tired too.  DOOL on the couch is calling my name…

I will soon share more from our fun weekend, but here are a few snaps of Helen+I yesterday as the festivs were winding down.  You see, it is rare that both of us are without food in our hair, in clothes that match (and aren’t yoga pants) and have done our hairs.  I also rarely agree to being in front of the camera, but I figured since it was my special day-I would oblige.

Of course, Helen had other plans.  She was running on E at this point and wanted nothing to do with being held or the camera.  She didn’t care if all I wanted were a few nice pictures of us or that it was my “day”, or that I just wanted to hold her tight for a moment.  But isn’t that just the epitome of Mother’s Day anyways?  Loving them even though they’re using their entire body weight to push back against you or that no matter how much you reason-they do something, anything else?  And yes I was frustrated.  And I told Hubs to just take her and went inside to eat a York pep patty, but then I loved her again in like 5 seconds.

Yep.  It’s good to be a Mom.

{Helen, romper.  Mommy, Wildlife Blouse}

Word.

Posted on by

5

Yesterday was all kinds of interesting on the blog.  I guess that’s what happens when you speak your mind+have a view point that may be opposite of some.  Someone did make fun of me for not reading anymore though and equated it to not eating spinach?  Well, I don’t eat spinach either-so I guess I’m seriously failing at life these days.  I will also keep my fingers crossed that the ladee frin who was posting scrips about women being evil has moved on to another blog land…Or maybe not and we can all be enlightened again.

Now, back to the regularly scheduled program.

Phew.

I usually post Friday’s {What Wee Wore} today but felt after all of the hullabaloo yester, I would save that for next week.  Sorry!  I did have something fun planned!

Helen is napping after a long walk at the park this morning+Oliver also joined.  I was hesitant to bring him because it’s hard for me to maneuver the stroller and an 85 pound dog, but he looked like he desperately need out tha house.  We feel ya bud.  However, he was in the very back with the stroller+GoPod, which made him nervous.  Weims are so strange-I told him, “It’s a STROLLER.  STOP.”  And because dogs don’t speak English he continually tried to jump over to the middle seat, next to Helen on top of all of my gear.  Strike.  I had to corral him back with one of HL’s drumstick’s and the thing almost did it all again before we got there.  UGH.  On the way home I had to literally drench him with my water bottle to keep him seated.  He did get out of the vehicle tail wagging and is now also napping.  So it was a successful trip.

My family is coming into town this weekend for Helen’s dedication and to celebrate Mother’s Day.  We are also taking our first trip to the zoo tomorrow, which will most likely involve lunch at Patachou (egg salad+greens please!).  I am so excited to have a house full, but really need to get cleaning.  Instead I’m avoiding it by writing this post.  YES.

Next week I will definitely be sharing pictures from all of those fun happenings+Helen’s new room.  We finally got her moved in last night and are loving it.  I’m trying to plan out a few crafts/DIY projects to share as well.  I also plan to write a cloth diaper post (one year-later) hopefully, among a few other gems.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

{Helen’s first time finger painting}

Backlash.

Posted on by

69

**Comments are now closed.  Thank you to everyone who was able to have a constructive conversation, even if we don’t share the same point of view-but of course, some people had to start name calling and that just gets ugly.  Save that for the silly forums.

You all know I don’t read books anymore.  I just read blogs.  How unliterary of me, I’m aware.  Anna is dry heaving as I type out these words.  I love reading about people’s lives each day, and blogs are really my outlet as I wind down in the evening (with my plate of cheese+grapes…a sick obsession I know).  One of the blogs I absolutely adore reading is Project Babies, that is about a young family raising their first daughter (a few months younger than Helen) and have another on the way.  She is very fashionable+fun, so I love “catching up” with her each day.  Yesterday, she posted on her Facebook page the following statement+since has had to shut down her blog because of all of the backlash…{please read the Facebook post+full quote below}

The post in full reads:

“No more hesitation.  Christ was not ashamed of me while He hung on the cross and died…why should I be ashamed of Him today?  Matthew Timmerman and I voted YES to the amendment today.  Not because we hate homosexuals, not because we are ignorant rednecks, and not because we didn’t “educate ourselves” on the amendment.  When the voting screen asked me if marriage is between one man and one woman, my heart and head both cried out YES!  our Christian faith is explicitly clear on the subjects of marriage and homosexuality (and many other issues).  There is no gray area.  We believe in loving everyone just as Christ loved us, but we are not interested in rewriting the Bible or His commandments.  It doesn’t matter what our opinions are, God gave us rules to live by and when we willfully choose to follow them, then we deceive ourselves.  Your whole life, Christians, is to reflect the truth (yes, the WHOLE truth) found in God’s word.  The Bible is inspired, authoritative, and infallible.  You believe it ALL or you believe none.  As a Christian, marriage is a covenant created by and ordained by God between one man and one woman.  Popular or not-this is our vote and we stand by it.”

Kristin was also featured on the LOFT yesterday and their company started receiving hateful comments and protests, so they had to remove the content from their page surrounding her.  An online forum (that makes fun of Mom bloggers-mature, I know) has close to 1,000 comments surrounding the post-spewing cruel words and she has reported threats to being made to her+her family (not from GOMI).

I stayed up late thinking+praying about this last night.  I was so proud of her, for speaking her mind-but yet so sad that she’s literally being punished for her freedom of speech.  I didn’t really want to post about this, but felt God weighing on my heart to do so.

Several sermons in our church lately have been about following Christ in the WHOLE Truth, not just parts.  Not the parts we want to, because they are easy for us to do.  You know, the parts that we just want to skip over because they might actually set us apart from others or make us have to endure persecution or go through hardships.  It’s easy to just agree with everyone else out loud, but know in our hearts that we feel differently.  We just figure that God will know what we really mean.  Even if we deny Him in front of everyone else.  Right?

I’ve lived this lie.  I’ve agreed because it’s easier.  I’ve backed down because I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers.  I’ve let down my Father, because I just wanted to fit in.

And that was wrong.

The fact of the matter is, is that I 100% agree with the statement above and in no way, do I plan to waiver otherwise from here on out.  It is a sticky situation, but it is also black+white.  You either feel one way or you don’t.  It’s not about the person, it’s about the issue.  Feelings are not involved here.  It strictly about defining a word.  The definition of marriage is the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as a husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc. {per Dictionary.com}  It’s like trying to say that we should call pants, shorts because they’re kind of the same-but not really.  We don’t just go around changing words because now we think they should mean something different.

I am in no way saying that I don’t have love for those with different life choices than me.  Shoot I know many people who have relationships with those of the same sex, and they happen to be some of the most amazing and successful people I know.  Better parents.  Better caregivers.  Better employees.  Better citizens of our community.  Better at a lot of things than those who just happen to have the typical marriage.  But that’s not the issue.  The issue is that we just can’t change what the term marriage stands for.  Why can’t we call it something else?  I believe that all people, who want to be in a partnership of any sort should have equal rights-stories of people not being able to make important decisions health care related or regarding finances, etc. is just ridiculous.  So I see the need for SOMETHING to be done.  But let’s just not do what America typically does and put a Band-Aid on an issue, call it something it’s really not-and try to move on without someone noticing.  Because too late, we notice.

At the end of the day, I am proud of my faith+what I believe.  Just as you have your ideas and opinions, so do I.  And I’m entitled to them.  You may think I’m crazy and out of line, but I probably feel the same way about you.  Can’t we all just understand that?  How is it fair for you to have an opinion but I can’t?  Shouldn’t we just agree to disagree?  Won’t you just respect that we were all created to be different and instead of conjuring up hate, use this energy to move toward a change?

People please.

I am proud of my blogger friend for standing up for her beliefs.  Stand up+stand out.  Be bold for what you believe.

And I know, I know.  This blog is usually about what book my daughter is reading or some cute outfit I just bought her.  But life is more than that.  People are hurting on both sides.  Let’s not react in hate, but in love.  Let’s try to see one another’s point of view respectfully and move forward in a way that’s problem solving, not problematic.

Carry your cross.

{The difference between merely believing Christ did what the Bible says he did and trusting Christ is the difference between hell and heaven.  Buck Parsons}