Independent

So are your kids hugely independent? Does your child look you in the eye and then continue to do what he/she wants to anyway? Did your child start at 10 months testing you? Mine did.

One night I was giving L and bath and she tried to stand up in the tub. I sat her down and said "We're sitting." She looked up at me with the most precious expression, and then stood up again. My thought was, "Holy crap, here we go." She proceeded to stand up about 20 more times, all the while looking at me daring me to stop her. Each time I sat her down and said something along the lines of sit down, we are sitting, time to sit, etc. How does a 10 month old start testing!?!?!

The next night I could tell my method was working because she only tried to stand up about 6 times. Since then all I have to do is say "sit down" once and she stays.

Then came her testing int he high chair. She started a new thing of swiping the food on her high chair tray all over. She thinks its hilarious to send the food flying. The first time I said "No" in a firm voice. She looked me straight in the eye, yelled at me in baby Chinese and swiped again. Over and over we went through this. Does anyone know where this strong will comes from??? Couldn't be from me!

She swiped once with daddy and he told her no...oh you would have thought he just beat her. Her little lip came out and she sobbed for about 2 minutes. Then swiped again. Apparently daddy saying no has much more of an impact than when I say it. She just yells at me and does it again. So these are our new things! Is it normal for a 10 month old to do this?

I have spent many years working with people who have disabilities. People from age 11 months all the way to almost 70 years old. I was used to not being defiant until about 3 years old because my kids at school/work were so delayed. So this surprised me that L would test me so early. But I think this is a typical development at this age, so we are grateful for neurons connecting the way they are supposed to.

I am continuing to let her know when she is not supposed to do something, but also replacing the behavior. For example, when she goes to swipe, she can't swipe food, but can swipe with a wipe at the end of the meal to "help" me clean up. Hope all these strategies I've been passing out to parents for several years work with my little rascal.


Other new and cool things L is doing...
1. Following one-step commands "sit down and come here"
2. Walking 10 steps fairly well
3. eating big girl food -- bread, cheese, yogurt, apples, pears, grapes, blueberries, baby puffs, rice, chicken, beef, bananas, refried beans, tortillas, and some others I probably forgot.
4. Signing milk and more
5. Has imitated moooo, meow, and neigh
6. Laughs so much more -- she used to laugh at something only once. Now she laughs frequently
7. She tries to follow the big kids from room to room to play with them
8. This afternoon she may or may not have swallowed a penny. Guess we will find out tomorrow.
9. Looks like our little girl has an under bite, so at about age 6 or 7 she will probably have to wear a hockey mask to fix the jaw.

Have a wonderfully wonderful day! In just over a week our baby girl turns 1!!!!!

Birhtday Wishes

L's Bday is only 2 weeks away, any Birthday wishes you would like me to write in her baby book for her? I will include in her baby book all of the birthday wishes that have already been written.

More Friends

A follow up to my friends post.

Writing today to tell you about some more friends I have made since being a military wife. Please know that this does not include all friends nor the friends I've been able to keep since before I was a military wife. These are a few of my friends who have made an impact in my life and I want to bless them a little.

Carla D. -- You took to our family like white on rice. You found another extrovert who loved to meet up and hang out and you did that with us. One of my favorite memories was when you came to our pool, all 8 months pregnant of you and G was swimming and splashing and smiling. She was so joyful!

Sandee M. -- I enjoy how much you care about other people. You are truly looking for ways to help support people. Whether that is leading a small group, youth group, nursery or whatever. You look for ways to bless people.

Ivana M. -- You took us in right after joining recruiting. You knew what kind of life we were about to get into and you looked to support us as much as you could. You came with me to bible class, we met for lunch! You were a great support as we transitioned to the awful life of recruiting.

Whitney M. -- I love that we can be such good phone friends. You and Tyler have been an example of a strong Godly marriage that was somewhat lacking in our lives. We both appreciate your joyfulness and servant heart.

Lauren S. -- We've been through some rough times. Thank you for supporting me when we had major concerns about L. You answered questions and let me talk. It was a very rough pregnancy and you were there!

Gina S. -- I love that you share your true deep thoughts. In fact, I don't even always respond to your emails because they have touched me so much. You share what is truly on your heart and provide guidance through wisdom.

Kelly S. -- I love your exuberance. You are honest and sincere. You look to support people who may have known any love or support before. I love that about you!

Jo-Ann R. -- You are a servant with a wide-open life example of how God works in peoples' lives.

Christina M. -- When we got to Pitman, right away you looked to help our family. You helped to organize the shower for L, you organized meals for our family after L was born...is organizing your gift? Thank you taking to us as we figured living in a new area!

I hope that you have people in you life who have blessed you! If you can think of someone please let us know about them!

Happy Birthday

L's Birthday is just a few weeks away. These are a few birthday wishes to her...

I wish you many smiles and laughs.

I wish you one-minute moments. You know the ones where we belly laugh, we dance naked after your bath, we welcome daddy home the moment he walks in the door, the first bite of your favorite food. These are the moments to treasure in life.

I wish you another healthy year.

I wish you joy.

I wish for you to dance when your favorite song comes on.

I wish that you never for a moment feel far away from God.

I wish you know and choose God's love.

I wish for you peace.

I wish for to never wonder where your food will come from.

I wish for you to live in this moment.

I wish for you to know challenges and to know you can overcome those challenges.

Do you have any birthday wishes for L?

Life

L has been asleep for 3 1/2 hours! So I thought I would write a post rather than just waiting for her to wake up.

Life is very interesting as a military family. I have to say that one of the most unexpected issues I have learned about since marrying Matthew has been the issue of making friends. My family moved some as I was growing up and it was always easy to make friends. Then I went to college and made friends. Moved to Hawaii where I began to understand a little about discrimination and learn that making friends as an adult was not the easiest. In Hawaii I had one friend (a mom with twin 1 1/2 year old boys) who became my friend RIGHT away. But other people were slow to reach out. I think in part because I was not a Local and I think also that people assumed I would just leave. I did leave, but when I moved there I wanted to stay in HI. I had not planned on meeting a Marine. However, I made friends still fairly quickly; and then I married a military man.

You see, when most people meet us and find out M is a Marine, they are kind, friendly and make some of the following comments:
"Oh, you must move a lot."
"That can be a hard life."
"That must be hard."
"How long are you here for?"
and a few times, "Thank you."

At first I thought the "How long are you going to be here" question was a regular question of curiosity. I have now figured out what that question really means -- "Are you going to be here long enough to make it worth it to become friends." Most people move along and then greet us if they see us again. So, since becoming a Marine Corps. wife; I have learned, in the eyes of some, that most of the time I am not worth getting to know because I will be moving in a matter of time.

There is a second group of friends who will be our friends up until the day we move and then act as though we have disappeared. They never talk, reach out or communicate again.

Then there are the few who wade into our military lifestyle. These are a rare and special breed of people who take the time to get to know my family and myself. These are people who I have realized have a deeper faith and a great appreciation for living in the moment and taking advantage of friends when God provides them.
These are friends who model Jesus' true calling for his people. Spiritually these people, I think recognize that we are forever connected by God.

I am not this amazingly special person who all people need to know...but I do need, crave and desire close friends who will love me and who I can love back. Learning how rare friendships are, I have come to treasure them!

To those of you who have become our friends in spite of us moving away, Thank you!

So a small and insignificant tribute to a few of my friends...

Christie S...You were my first military move friend --- I think about you almost every day and pray for you too. I do love you so much!

Rebecca S...Your frequent phone calls and support are outstanding! You have guided me through several difficult times and I love you.

Katy M...You are a friend who stands the test of time! You become forever friends and we love you!

Pitman -- how do I narrow down the friends we made. The whole church understood our military situation (thank you Patti for opening some insight) --

Patti S. -- You and Dr. Sikes (I still can't say Mr. Steve) welcomed us and opened Pitman doors for us. It was so good to have a Yorkie connection all the way over in NJ.
Brenda P. -- You have the heart of a servant for new moms. You are dedicated and so loving
Mandy -- You have grown so much and you stretched your heart wide open for us
Melva T. -- You are an amazing model for us who are trying to figure out this Christian mom thing
Linda K -- You have been there and done that and share with those of us who are there now. We know we can make it because you are the example
Katherine C. -- Your joy is incredible and contagious. You keep your joy through trials which would knock many people down permanently
Marlene -- You love the Lord! You are learning to rely on the Lord! I love when you share how prayer works immediately in your life!

We are now in a new place and making new friends. There are already a few who stand out and I am excited to tell you about more friends to come.

There are more to write about but the baby is crying -- so pausing for now. Off to catch the tears...

Would you post about special friend/s you have had in your life.