Officially Eating Table Foods!!

So Snugglebug is officially eating table foods! We have gradually been introducing table foods and slowly with each meal he has eaten less and less baby foods. Today was the first baby food free day. For lunch we went to IHOP, and he ate a grilled cheese sandwich and a few slices of apple and drank a lot of milk to wash it all down. This was our first time to order off the kids menu. I was thrilled that he liked the grilled cheese. I was a little worried that he wouldn't.

We crowned him officially a toddler when he ate all finger foods for dinner. Nothing as good as grill cheese (pork chop, mac n' cheese, and corn) but table food nonetheless! My big boy!!

Excuse the quality of the pics. The lighting wasn't good and these were taken with my camera phone which also isn't that good.

He likes to sit with Daddy when we go out which doesn't bother me at all. It is the one time my husband gets to do all the work of feeding and holding, while also trying to eat. ;-)

Connectivity, Part 3

Originally, when I wrote my first post on Connectivity, I had no plans to make it a series. Yet, the one post has generated quite a bit of conversation. Part 3 is a result of a conversation with my dad and a sermon from this past Sunday at Pin Oaks Christian Fellowship.

My dad read the first post and suggested that to connect one need only listen to the other person. And it is true that people love to have other people listen to them. Andrew Carnegie states in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People "remember that the people you are talking to are a hundred times more interested in themselves and their wants than they are in you and your problems" (page 123). This is the 4th of Carnegie's 6 principles "to make people like you." Listening is very important, but after my dad and I talked it just seemed like there was one more element to connecting.

This past Sunday, Phil Morgan preached from Philemon 1:8-16. Verse 12 reads, "I am sending him [Onesimus]--who is my very heart--back to you." Phil explained that Paul understood on an incredibly deep level what Onesimus was going through, and he was going through the heart-ache with him. Phil explained that truely being connected to someone is knowing their heart, going through their troubles with them, and being there for them even when they don't know you are there (praying for them that is).

A light bulb came on for me, and suddenly, I understood that being connected is far deeper than what I had first thought. Being connected is being there for one another when things get really tough, and we have other things to do.

Phil explained that those with whom we share this deeper than the superficial connection are our support system. They are the ones we lean on, call upon, and depend on when the going gets tough. They are the ones we pray for and who prays for us.

As I write this, I realize that my first definition of co-workers was incorrect. My co-workers are not those with whom I share a job. My co-workers are in this job called life. They are the ones who know "my very heart" and I know theirs. I know what makes them tick and what keeps them going. I know what drives them crazy and what brings them to their knees. I know what makes them happy and brings joy to their day.

My epiphany is that I am deeply connected to some incredible women. These women know me better than I know myself. One friend told me that my son and I are a perfect match when she learned of Snugglebug's diagnosis. I wondered what she knew that I didn't. Now I know that she knew my heart in that moment better than even me. She is connected to me in more than a superficial gather-at-the-water-cooler-discuss-the-weekend-way.

In conclusion, Connectivity begins by listening but continues by getting to know the other person on a heart level. This does not happen overnight, and it is not one-sided. To open one's heart requires you to trust the other person. But, as Phil said on Sunday, "if you never take the risk, you'll never know the reward." We crave deeper relationships with people, but to have a relationship we must commit to being there for one another.

Note: I hope to obtain a copy of Phil Morgan's sermon and link it to this post. As I am not sure how to do that, it may take some time, so bear with me.

Fleeting Moments

I love to take pictures! Since Christmas 2007, when my husband gave me my camera, I have taken close to 3500 pictures. Most are of my son, of course, but nevertheless, that is a lot of pictures.

But, recently, I have noticed that there are moments when a camera is not available to catch a memory. They are usually fleeting moments that last but an instant or two. They happen at all hours of the day, and in various places, and are never scheduled. All we can do is take another moment and imprint them on our memories.

These moments are moments like today at church. My friend Laura went to retrieve a donut for her little ones but never made it back to her seat. She had one child on one knee and another child on another knee and a third between her knees and they were all sharing the donut. It was a precious scene. I just watched telling myself to never forget that moment. Another moment was shared with the entire congregation as we gathered around the same family and prayed with them and for them.

It occurred to me just how precious these memories are as Snugglebug and I grocery shopped last week. Normally, he likes to throw the items on the floor and giggle as I bend over to pick them up. He also likes to reach and grab things off the shelves. (You've all seen it or been there!) But this day he was helping me. He would take the item and drop it in the cart. Never once did he drop it on the floor. Then in the produce section, I let him pick out the yellow squash. He would grab a squash and drop it in the bag. If it was a bad one, I would pull it out while he reached for yet another one. I suddenly realized that I can't catch every moment on camera. There are those moments that will only exist in memory.

Moments like my sister's son pulling up a stool and my sister allowing him to measure out all the ingredients in a dish she was making for dinner. Or moments like when my friend Liz set aside her chores to help me put Snugglebug's splint back on.

Even as I write this I realize that I miss dozens if not hundreds of these fleeting moments a day. I am too busy doing other things or trying to get to other things to realize the moment is a special one. I wonder just how different would life be if these moments did not go unnoticed. What would happen if I took a moment to imprint those moments into my memory?

The phrase "live in the moment" suddenly makes sense to me. To live in the moment is to realize how special that moment is and to plant it so deep in memory that it is never to be forgotten. All too often I speed through my day, multi-tasking, and planning the next activity. I take those moments for granted.

I've been replaying Snugglebug dropping squash into a bag all week. I don't ever want to forget it. That one memory has made me smile so many times. I can only imagine how much more positive my thoughts would be if all my thoughts were imprints like that one.

Busy, Busy, Week

Below: one of the baby goats at the Malone's Farm.


This week was busy, but oh, so much fun!! The fun of May is making up for the number of doctor's appointments in April.

We had a very social week which is very unlike me. I have acutally scheduled downtime in next week. I am very much an introvert. I like my alone time and getting out can be a real struggle for me. Which is not to say I have people issues. I just like being home.

But, I am changing my ways and am scheduling more playdates for Snugglebug and more time for myself. We finally were able to meet some of the moms in our local Mom's group. We had a playdate on Monday morning, prior to our Ortho appointment. I met two of the moms and two of the little boys, one of which is only days younger than Snugglebug. They were so cute playing together. On Friday, we had a meet-up at a petting zoo, which was very interesting, but boring to Snugglebug who found the hay far more interesting than the bunnies. I was able to meet more of the moms and feel I can safely say this is a great group. They were all so welcoming and friendly. I can't wait to get to know them better.

Wednesday we drove to Denton and met Miss Becky from Becky's Book Reviews and Young Readers for lunch. She and I have been good friends since college, and we love getting together whenevere we can.

Thursday we had dinner with the Malone family, who I have known for many years. Tammy writes Not Just Paper and Glue. My husband, Snugglebug, and I had a great time. We were even treated to homemade ice cream.

Friday was out petting zoo trip, and today is downtime for Snugglebug who is completely wiped our from our busy week. With naptimes rescheduled and some days completely ignored, he is in need of rest.

Next week, this social butterfly continues with a visit to the folks on Monday and another field trip with the mom's group to a Farmstead on Tuesday. And finally a couple of days of scheduled downtime.

We are having fun making new friends and visiting with old friends. It is nice to get back on track with life.

Snugglebug Reviews!!

Snugglebug has a review posted at Young Readers. I am also thrilled that we will be reviewing more in the coming months. We have a whole new box of books to review for Miss Becky! So visit Young Readers to see what we've been reading!

Snugglebug's New Leg Bling

Snugglebug figured out that is he wiggled his toes and flexed his foot, he could get his leg out of his splint. So Monday, we returned to Ortho and they put a cast on his leg. It goes all the way up to his thigh. He will have it on his leg till June 4th. Ugh!

A Tale of Guilt and a Fractured Tibia

It has taken me several days, well four to be exact, to work up the courage to write this post. The guilt had to subside enough for me to be willing to share our tramatic experience.

Last week, we met church friends at the park for a playdate. Before we left, I opted to take Snugglebug down the slide. On the way down, the rubber of his shoe caught the side of the slide and popped to one side. He cried for a few minutes but seemed to be fine. After our slide ride, we said our goodbyes and headed home for naptime.

Snugglebug was his normal self and had no issues with naptime. He had had fun at the park, was worn out, and went right to sleep.

After his nap, I noticed he favored his leg. Then when he tried to pull up on the coffee table, he cried as he put his weight on his leg.

Now, I am incredibly grateful that my child only cried when he is hurt. This was true even as an infant. He cried constantly but only because of the pain of acid reflux. Since then, he complains only rarely. So, when he cried I knew something was wrong. I checked for swelling but found nothing. He didn't cry when I felt of his leg and ankle; it was only when he stood on it that it hurt.

Upon the advice of my sister and my sweet husband, I called the doctor who ordered x-rays as soon as we walked in. The x-rays showed a mild fracture on his tibia (the small leg bone between the ankle and knee). I looked at the x-ray and couldn't really tell that it was a fracture. It certianly didn't look like the x-rays they showed on ER. There was no massive gaping between parts of the bone, only a tiny little bump.

After a temporary splint was placed on Snugglebug's leg, we were sent to an orthopedist who replaced the temporary splint with a sturdier one that was to last three weeks. We were also given strict orders to immobilize him! Yeah right! How is this possible with a child who just learned how to crawl and pull up!

Needless to say, after only three days, the sturdy splint needs to be replaced and we are headed back to Ortho on Monday. Hopefully, they will understand that I just don't have the hear to pin him down for three weeks.

As for the guilt, it has waned over the last several days. Several people have told me the same thing happened to them or to friends of theirs. The Orthopedist even said the fracture is called a Toddler Fracture and that he sees them quite frequently. I felt so guilty the day it happened because it was my decision to take him down the slide. Yes, a freak accident indeed, but still I blamed myself. I realize how ridiculous this is but still it is hard to deny the guilt one feels.

Guilt is a whole other topic that I am focused on at the moment. Perhaps, I'll write a post on it in the future. For now, suffice to say, the best medicine against guilt is the encouragement of others. I called my sister and said, "you have to tell me I'm not a bad mom," as I wailed into the phone. She encouraged me and told me several stories about her kids that made me laugh. In the end, I still felt guilty, but her words resonated with me for the next couple of days.

Everyone I have met and that has heard our story has been so encouraging and has told me not to feel guilty. It has been a wonderful feeling knowing that the strangers who are all too often critical can be countered by the strangers who are encouraging and uplifting.

And finally, I can't forget the words of my sweet husband. The ever-calm police officer had no issues whatsoever with me or the accident, never blamed me for the injury, and was so consoling. He came home early and went to the doctor with me, never taking a moment to even change out of his uniform. He was the stability as I constantly pushed back the tears. And, as is usually the case, while I panicked, he was a calm rock, making jokes, and telling stories. So, I got a police escort from the doctor's office to radiology. Which made for great jokes for the nurses. They really enjoyed the irony!

My Day Before 9 a.m.

7:30--Snugglebug wakes; I crawl out of bed, get dressed, brush my hair and head down the hall
7:45--Snugglebug is up; diaper changed and ready to eat breakfast
7:50--My bacon is cooking and I am mixing Snugglebug's oatmeal
7:55--Oatmeal is ready and so is a very smelly diaper. I haul Snugglebug out of his chair and down the hall to change his diaper. I discover the diaper is a creep up the back dirty diaper and since he is now wearing a splint on his foot I can't take him to the tub as I normally would. So, I wipe and wipe and wipe. The poop is smeared half way up his back and all over his clothing. I peel the clothes off and finally, get him cleaned up and changed.
8:00--The bacon is burned, burned, burned. I put Snugglebug back in his chair and feed him his oatmeal.
8:15--Snugglebug is finished eating and since the house smells of burnt bacon, I open the windows and turn on the fans. Snugglebug is happy to be watching the birds through the now open windows, so I leave him and return to the kitchen to make my breakfast.
8:20--With my eggs on to cook, I return to the living room to check on Snugglebug and spot something wet and brown on the floor while also stepping in something wet. I determine it is cat vomit and return to the kitchen for paper towels. Only after closer inspection determine it is not cat related and while cleaning up the first two spots, step in another spot. My next thought was Snugglebug's foot landed in his own poop while I changed him and he was tracking it. But, there was no poop on his foot. I then realized it was dripping from his diaper!
8:25--I take the eggs out of the skillet and haul Snugglebug back to the bedroom to change another outfit and another diaper. This diaper isn't up the back like the other but still very full.
8:35--A third clean outfit is on Snugglebug and another clean diaper. I wash my hands thoroughly and finally sit down to eat my eggs for breakfast.

By now it is almost 8:45, and I post on Facebook: Cynda is all pooped out!