Sarah's 1st Birthday

Okay, in a burst of sudden blogging motivation... I bring you another blog!  Want to know how Sarah's first birthday went down?!  Me Too!!  Just kidding, I was there, but I'll share it with all of you who weren't here to celebrate with her...

So first things first.  In order to have a party, there have to be invitations...

 

 

 



 

I went through a website to order her custom invitations and decorations.  I've included the back of the invitation in case this design tickles your fancy and you want to use their website for any future birthday's you may be planning.  They have all kinds of stuff, and after using them, I can highly recommend!

We wanted to keep her birthday pretty simple.  Mostly family with a few friends.  I heard a rule about kids birthday's that the number of kids should equal same number as the child is turning.  So Sarah was turning one, and we had one other baby attend.  I think it kept her from being overwhelmed.  It was really sweet actually, because as people arrived, she didn't know what to do with all her favorite people in one place all focused on her!  I know she felt special!

The night before the party I set about decorating the space we would use for her party.  I don't know why but the night before her party I got so excited.  There is just something about a child's first birthday that is so incredibly special.  It's the first day just for them, to celebrate the little person that they have become, and to insert a little more magic in their childhood.  I still get teary eyed still when I think about it.  Anyway, I wanted to decorate after she went to bed so when she woke up, it would be transformed magically into a celebration... I'm not very good at the documenting, but I did get a couple of set up shots...

 

 

We also had colorful table clothes on all the tables and some things dangling down around the food, but in true-to-me fashion, I didn't take pictures.  I really need to work on remember the camera.  Anyway, the next morning I blew up a bunch of helium balloons and made four low bunches that I put around the room.  I made them just long enough that from Sarah's view point they were high, but that she could pull down and play with.  It was her first exposure to balloons, and I wanted it to be a fun experience. I also didn't get a shot of those or the finished product... drats!

 

After I got everything set up, (and Sarah had her morning nap), we took her over to see her party space.  Like I said earlier, it was important to me to not overwhelm her too much, so I tried to ease her into her party, rather than have it hit her in the face all at once.  I have a video of her coming into the room, but I haven't had time to edit it and get it up, but it will be coming soon. 

 

Not long after I introduced her to the space, people started showing up, and it was time to get her dressed in her special first party outfit.  I started her out in a headband, but quickly changed that out for her party hat, which she happily wore the rest of the time.  Here are a few shots of her outfit...

 



 

And now for a photo bomb of pictures from the party... Ready... Go!!!





(Obviously me and blogger had a war over photo placement, and I believe I lost.  Grrr...)
Moving right along we come to the all important photo's of her cake(s).  I commissioned Publix to do a custom design that matched her theme.  I think they did a fantastic job!  Plus Publix cake is so yummy.  The big cake was chocolate with whipped icing, and her smash cake was strawberry with whipped and butter cream frosting.

 

Yay for 1st birthday's and cute birthday girls!  I know she had an absolute ball!  She opened all of her presents herself, was surrounded by people who love her dearly and got to eat lots of ice cream!  (She didn't really care for the cake, but she got sneaky and was getting ice cream from me and her two grandma's ~ she LOVES the stuff!)  I think the party lasted the perfect amount of time, and boy did she sleep good that night.  I love this little one so stinking much and I can't wait for next year's party.  I already have idea's rolling around in my head of what we will do!

 

 

Whoops!  What party is complete without a goodie bag!?  Here's what we put in Sarah's bags and what the presentation looked like...

 

 

Inside there was a sheet of stickers, two rubber ducks with a "1" on them, a party blow out, bubbles, and crayons shaped like cupcakes.  All fairly age appropriate and fun for 1 years olds to play with.  I also had lots of snacks available for toddlers, so they had their own section on the food table.  Again, I failed to document.  Well guys, I think this is it for me tonight.  It is way too late for me to be attempting to blog, so forgive any mistakes you see!  I love you all and will be back for more mommy blogs soon!  Happy Birthday Sarah!





Favorite Toys at 12 Month's Old

Hiya Friends!  So we meet again!  I know I'm the squeaky broken record that always comments about how I should be doing more blogging, but really life gets busy and I'd rather live than worry about what I take the time to send into cyber space (how's that for a 90's reference to the interwebs ~ ha!).  I should document more, I should share more, I'm a bad blogger... blah blah blah.  So just know that I love you if you still checking in on us and I'll try to do better.

So today, I want to do a quick update on Sarah's favorite toys at 1 year.  The last time I did an update like this she was into completely different toys.  So here are her top 10 toys as of today...

 

1. Books - Sarah is obsessed with books!  Seriously the first thing she does every day is run to her book shelf, pick out a book and run back to you with it.  And her favorites?  You will read them over and Over, and OVer, and OVEr, and OVER again.  Yes it gets tiring and I often find myself hiding certain books that just can not read again that day.  She loves them, and if she can't find someone willing to read to her, she will sit and read them to herself.  All day, every day we read books!  Any waking hour is story time in Sarah's world. (It's actually cute, because she'll hand you a book, and if you don't respond she will sit down right in front of you and encourage you with sweet noises.) (Of course, if that doesn't work, she has been known to take it from you and shove it back into your belly and yell at you, if she feels like being sweet isn't getting the job done ~ toddlers eh?)

 

 

2. Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Learning Home - Okay, so we got this as a hand me down from Sarah's cousin who had outgrown it. Some of the pieces were missing, but a quick inquiry to fisher price and for a whopping $5.00 I got all the letters, balls, shapes, key, and door knob.  Sarah loves this thing.  She loves to crawl through the door, turn the light on and off, open and close the window and mailbox and listen to the radio that is on the back.  I love that it teaches while she plays and honestly it's not that annoying for being an electric toy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Playskool Poppin'Park Roll 'n Pop Express - Okay, so this little train comes with three balls that when being rolled about will pop out of engine.  Sarah doesn't really like the ball pop part of this toy so much as she loves to push it around on the floor.  She moved so quickly from crawling to walking that I think she missed out on a lot of the joys of pushing something around, so she loves to push this around.  Now I will warn you that this toy gets annoying fast.  It has a little song that it plays as well as it makes monkey sounds and it's so repetitive that when she gets to going with it, it can drive you a little crazy.

 

 

4. Hangers - Yes the child still loves to play with hangers.  I have no idea what the draw is for these.  But she gets super excited if she can get her little hands on one of these to play with.  I try to not let her take these out of her room, but they are definately a favorite to find one lying about.  You should see her face light up if I put a bunch of them on the floor while I hang her laundry.  She is in hog heaven!

 

 

 

 

5. Tupperware - Sarah has access to some of our lower cabinets.  I purposefully put things in there that she can play with.  So she loves to get into the tupperware, pull it all out and run off with one (or more as the day goes on).  There are several reason I think she likes tupperware. First, she gets to play with something of mine that I don't take away from her.  Second, she likes to practice putting the top on and off.  Third, she can pretend to drink from them like daddy does when he's finished with his cereal.  Fourth, they make good hats. And fifth, they are colorful.  I mean what else could a kid want!?



 

 

 

 

6. Rice Box - I made up a rice activity box for Sarah to play with.  She is really getting into sensory activities so I wanted to make something for her that she can squish her hands in, fill and spill different cups and containers and generally manipulate.  I went to the dollar store for most of the items I put in the box and it just so happens that it's Easter time right now, so found some carrot shaped eggs that we like to "plant" in the rice and then harvest.  I got a great tip from a YouTube vlogger to put a cheap plastic tablecloth under the box to catch any overspill, that way it's safe to play with outside because all the rice can be easily put back into the box, thus saving the birds.  I haven't been brave enough to let her play with it inside yet... but maybe when she's better at keeping it in the box we'll attempt that.

 

 

 

 

7.  Music - Okay, so not really a toy, but I have this CD/album downloaded on my phone and iPod.  When I need to distract her and get her to play by herself for a few minutes, I will play this CD/album (what do you call a former CD that is now a collection of mp3's...?) and she will happily walk around just listening to it and dancing.  She LOVES music and loves to be able to hold my phone.  So it's a win win.  I keep it locked so she can't get into it, but her picture shows up on the when she tries, so her and the baby on the phone listen to her favorite songs.  On a sidenote, the song "If You're Happy and You Know It" is her all time favorite song right now.  She knows how to do all the motions and is a favorite play activity.

 

8.  ........

9.  ........

10.  ........

 

Okay, so I totally thought I was going to do a post of her top 10 toys, but seriously, she really doesn't play with that many toys.  Not that she doesn't have a ton, because she does!  But she would seriously be happy with just her bookcase most days.  All the rest of the things listed here are a far cry from her love of books.  And I just have to go on record, (mostly because it is really bugging me...) that I really don't like to buy Sarah character things yet, i.e. the Dora book pictured above.  That was a gift from Mike's mom to Sarah but the child has worn that book out, so I couldn't not include it!  Our copy has already had the batteries replaced and had to be taped back together from where she has loved on that book just a little too aggressively.  (We also may or may not have bought a second copy of Brown Bear Brown Bear because she loved that book so much too...) And no, it's not that she's being destructive with them, she literally reads them and kisses them and totes them around everywhere and they just can't withstand her baby lovin's....

 

So yay for toys and toddlers!  What do you little toddlers love to play with at one year old?

One Whole Year Old

My precious little Sarah,

You are one year old today!  For one whole year you have been lighting up our lives.  I can’t believe it really.  As of today, you are officially a toddler and no longer a “baby”.  It seems like just yesterday I was seeing you for the first time, all small and pink.  It brings tears to my eyes to look back and remember that feeling of looking into those gorgeous blue eyes of yours and falling head over heels in love.  I can’t imagine my life or this world without you!  You have grown and accomplished so much in your first year of life.  You are incredibly smart and independent.  Nevermind walking, you can already run and jump and communicate with us the things you want or need.  You can say a few words, and are frantically working on your vocabulary to learn even more.  You comprehend a great deal of what is said around you and are quick to respond when we ask you something.  If you hear a book title, you will go and find it for us to read.  If I ask you to close the cabinet or drawer you left open, you’ll go back and close it.  You will point to foods you want to eat and come us to with your blanket and bear when you are sleepy and ask for milk with your hand.  You truly amaze me everyday.  You have an incredibly sweet nature and are quick to give or ask for kisses.  You light up when you see people you love and overall you’re a very happy baby.  Along with the farewell to your baby year of life, we will say farewell to other things.  You’ve already shown a desire for independence and will often want to do things on your own.  You’ve learned our teaching methods and will pass that on to others you encounter.  If we clap your hands, you will clap ours and the next persons.  When we show you something new, you want to share it with everyone you meet, just in case they didn’t know that button lights up when you push it, or that the bunny in the book is fuzzy.  I love that you love to share your experiences with others.  I know that the year ahead will hold lots of excitement and surprises and I can’t wait to see what you will do next.  But for now, know that I love you with my whole heart.  Thank-you for making me a mommy and for being the best little one year old any mommy could ask for!  I love you Sarah Marie!

Mommy

Current Nicknames:  Lovey Dove, Sarah Bear, Baby, Snooky Loo (Grandma)
Favorite Food:  Yogurt, Applesauce, Cheese, Broccoli
Comfort Things:  Blankie, Mr. Bear, Paci
Favorite Toys:  Books, Tupperware, Laugh & Learn Dog
Favorite Songs:  "If You're Happy and You Know It", "You Are My Sunshine"
Favorite Show:  Peek a Boo, Hide and Seek (Basically anything on BabyFirstTV), Little Einsteins
Favorite Activity:  Reading, Looking at pictures or inside cabinets, Running in wide open spaces, Pointing to things you want to know the name of, Hiding in curtaings/looking out windows,
Current Size:  12M, 12-18M, 18M, Size 4 shoe (You're kinda in an size range rather than one size by itself)

 

 

 

A New Blog!

Man things have gotten quiet around here!  So sorry!  But once little ones get mobile, it seems a lot harder to do simple things, like update the ole bloggy blog!  Yes, little Sarah is on the go, Go, GO!  She's a very busy little girl and keeps us running to keep up.  Haha!

I know I need to write my 11 month post and few more posts of things that make her...her!  But for now please take a gander at our new blog!  Mike and I have some exciting news for you over at The Gill Gathering.  Just a little side note, this new blog is subject to change.  I am toying with the idea of setting up a new website entirely and having the blog attached to it, but for now, it is what it is!  So now there are two places you can keep up with us ~ yay!  I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think!  Talk to ya'll soon!

I hope I Never Forget... 9 & 10 Months

Wow!  I really fell off the band wagon when it comes to these monthly updates.  Looking back so So SO much has changed in such a short time.  The timeline is becoming a little fuzzy, but I'll go ahead and put down what you've been up to since that last post!

At 10 months old, I hope I never forget...

• My walking girl!  That's right.  In my last update you were just pulling up on things.  Now you're my big walking girl!  You took your first steps about two weeks after 9 months.  You now take 4 or 5 steps at a time when you decide to go for it.  There was a long time that you would book it around furniture and anything you could hold onto, including a smooth wall.  You were having some confidence issues, but once you saw your cousin Kylie walking during Thanksgiving you really got inspired to go for it all the time.  You still prefer to have a finger to hold, but you really and truly walk whenever the urge hits you.
• My little foodie.  You have decided that you are too big for baby food.  It's a shame really because I have about 6 cases piled up in the pantry.  But now that you can eat most big people food, you really prefer to eat what everyone else is.  You are by far a big fan of all white meats.  You LOVE turkey, chicken, pork, etc.  You really don't like to eat red meat though.  I guess it's just not your thing.  You'll eat just about any vegetable, but your favorite is definitely broccoli.  On this note, daddy has continued to push baby foods with you, so you will sometimes eat the jar food for him, but you get highly offended if you see me pop a top for you.
• Our baby birdy.  This is in conjunction with the last point, but if we are eating any kind of snack, you demand that we share, and if you like what you've tasted, you will follow us around with your mouth hanging open.  You are just like a baby bird.  Especially because you still insist on us feeding you.  You still have no desire to put food in your mouth yourself.  If I put it on your tray you wait for me to put it in your mouth, rather than pick it up yourself.  You will hold some finger foods, but won't eat it.  It's one of those things that makes you you.  I guess I could push you more, but I'm in no hurry for you to grow any faster than you already are.
• Our reading baby.  That's right you love Love LOVE books!  You love for us to read to you over and over and over again, and if no one can read to you, you happily read your books yourself.  We could line all of your toys up and tell you to pick anything to play with, and you would go straight to the books.  You LOVE them!  You really like poem books that have a rhythm to them, you also like books that have a button for you to push.  If it plays a song and you have moved on to another toy, you will stop what you are doing when the song ends, go back to the book, and start it all over again.  It's so much fun to watch you play and explore and to learn what you find interesting.  You are also getting into lift the flap books, but we can't let you play with them on your own yet, because you are little rough on them.  I don't think you intend to be, but you haven't learned how to close them back before turning the page.  I've showed you how to do it a few times, and you try.  Maybe with a little practice you'll be able to look at those books by yourself.  You are really good at turning the pages one at a time.  (By the way, board books only at this point.)
• You are a little eclectic in your clothing sizes at this point.  You can still wear some 9 month clothing, a lot of 12 month clothing and some 18 month clothes.  Most 18 month clothing is too long for you, but you have a long torso, so we put you in 12-18 sleepers to get the torso length right.  But the feet easily slip off your toes and you end up tripping all over them if you are walking around.  You are in a size 4 diaper.
• Our curious cat.  You are definitely interested in everything around you.  You know what the word "No" means and for the most part you are good at listening to us and moving away from whatever we've told you you can't have, however, you will also cry if you really wanted to play with something and you're not allowed to.  We try to not to say "No" too much and use language like "Not for eating, you can touch and look, but not eat" When we say things like that to you, you know to not put it in your mouth.  It really cuts down on frustration for both of us, we're not cutting your off completely, but you know there are rules.  If you don't follow them, we'll take it away from you.  9 times out of 10 you if we give you a second chance you will do what you're supposed to.  You also want an explanation if we do say no and mean it, such as "Hot" or "Sharp".  You don't know what those words mean, but you know they mean you can't have it and are satisfied that we explained.
• The baby sleep olympics.  You are all over the place in your sleep.  You make rounds in your crib once you've gone to bed.  You will literally sit up and flop down with your head on the other side of the crib.  When we hear you rustling about in the middle of the night we always have to find your head and figure out how you are laying.  We have no idea how you get in some of the positions you do, but you will sleep in just about any position.  Our favorite is when you have your butt up in the air or have one leg propped up on the side of the crib.
• Blankie and Mr Bear are still your constant companions and your lovie comfort items.  If you've taken a tumble that makes you cry, you won't let it go until I've kissed it and you've told Mr. Bear all about it.  You'll be okay if bear is missing (like maybe he's taking a bath)  but you absolutely have to have a blankie if you are going to sleep.
• You've gone back to being a good napper, we're not sure if you are trying to go from 2-3 naps a day to just one, but you've been taking a longer midday nap than you used to, and are resistant to your morning nap.  You've also insisted on being held more like a newborn when I'm putting you down for a nap or nighttime.  You've realized that you little head doesn't really fit under my chin anymore, but you like to have your head near my heart.  There are also times you like to lean back and look at my face.  You like to point out my eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, and ears when you are falling asleep.  You also gone back to preferring for me to sing you our lullaby's.  We have about 4 songs we rotate through and if I start on one you don't want to hear, you'll shake your head one time until I sing the song you are looking for.  I guess I've kinda become your lullaby ipod.  It's neat and special.
• Bath time is another one of our special times together.  I am the only person you'll allow to bathe you at this point.  Grandma tried the other night when daddy and I went to my company Christmas party and you refused to get in the water.  The whole bedtime routine is really special between you and me.  I enjoy it and look forward to it every night.  Currently our routine is the same as 8 months, we do bath time, then naked play time, then milk, then lullaby's and you're out.
• You love naked play time.  I've been told that I should call it something else, but really, that's what it is.  I planned on doing some cloth diapering, but have ended up doing all disposables.  I want to make sure your skin gets to breath and it gets a break once a day.  You love it and it'll stop once you are potty trained and out of diapers (this is more of a note for anyone reading this that has questions)  But for now, you love it!  You think it's so funny to crawl around your room all naturale.
• Our sweet girl.  You love to give and kisses from everyone.  You will not only offer up kisses to people you like, but you will lean your head in to receive a kiss on the cheek or forehead from people you love.  It's really sweet.  If you see yourself in a mirror you kiss your reflection over and over again.  You also kiss your favorite toys and pictures in your book that you like.  You are so full of love and affection.
• I believe blue is your favorite color.  You tend to kiss things that are blue and pick up the blue blocks first.  You point out the blue lights on our Christmas tree.  I could be way off, but it's just an observation of watching you play.  I think I may have "pinked" you out a bit too much, because you tend to not like pink things when given a choice.  I don't think you really "hate" it, but are maybe just tired of seeing it everywhere.  So, I've been buying more color options when shopping for you rather than just getting the pink one.
• You are getting better at talking, you say a few words and are attempting others.  You were trying to bark like a dog the other night when daddy was playing with a dog ornament with you.  It was really cute!
• Which reminds me, you are scared of dogs.  Any type of dog makes you really nervous, even if we are holding you and showing you that the dog is friendly.  The worst thing that's happened to you is a dog licking your toe, but for whatever reason, you do NOT like them and want nothing to do with them.

I often forget just how little you still are.  You are on the go and learning new things each and everyday that it's easy to wrapped up in all the accomplishments and looking for what's next.  But you are still little.  You're still a baby and love your squishy little face and little hands and the excitement you have in everyday life.  I love the sweet snuggles and hand holding you already like to do.  I love that you are small and need us.  You're the biggest you've ever been, but your biggest is still little bitty.  I love you baby girl!  I look forward to each and every day I get to spend with you.  You're my favorite little 10 month old! 

Love forever and always,
Mommy

First time playing with leaves

First time at a pumpkin patch/corn maze

First carosel ride

You and me hanging out

Love those cute gill cheeky's

My happy girl

Your cute Thanksgiving dress

Rules For Me, For My Daughter

Recently my sister sent me a link on facebook to this blog post about rules for Mothers and Daughters.  Needless to say, by the end I was in tears.  There is so much that I anticpate doing with my girl(s), and I thought, I need to do this.  I need to sit down and write out rules for us, or really rules for me.  And maybe one day when we're in the throws of adolesence, I'll need this reminder.  So here are my rules:

1.  Be Present.  Go to every event minor or major, just so she knows you're proud of her and her hard work.  Bake cookies or cupcakes for birthday's and eat lunch with her at school when she asks.  Chaperone field trips.  Always be available to her.

2.  Show her how to love.  Love her deeply and passionately with no restraint.  Show her that love, in it's purest form, is what living is about.  Let her fall in love with whoever she chooses and if she gets hurt, cry with her.  When she's ready, encourage her to love again.  Giggle and gush over the boy(s) she likes.

3.  Let life happen.  Throw the rule book out the window every now and then.  Desert for dinner, late bedtimes, and pink hair are okay.  Let her know rules are important, but so is living.

4.  Validate her opinion.  Let her discover who she is and not who anyone else wants her to be (including yourself).  Back her up.  Her voice and thoughts are important.  The way she thinks and processes things is perfect.  Even if it's different from you.

5.   Show her God.  Everywhere you go and everything you do, teach her to see the face of God.  Pray with her and for her daily.  Show her how to have faith and trust in things unseen.  Marvel at creation with her.

6.  Hold her hand.  Let her know your hand is always open to her.  Squeeze her hand when she needs support.  High five her when she's excited.  Stroke her hand softly when she's upset.  Always have a free hand to offer her.

7.  Talk to her and listen.  Share, share, share.  Share secrets, share dreams, share fears, share feelings.  Listen when she talks.  Let her know it's okay to tell you anything and everything.  Don't be scared of any topic.  It's your job to talk about anything with her.  Be her friend.

8.  Teach her.  Teach her all the things you know.  If you don't know, learn together.  Struggle through that tough test or subject with her.  Make flashcards and quiz games.   Teach her through living.   Always take the opportunity to teach when you can.  Share in her frustrations and set backs as well as her triumphs and excels.

9.  Be silly.  Laugh a lot.  Sing, dance, wiggle, tickle, imagine, play.  Be goofy and spontaneous.  Dress up.  Don't worry about what you look like.  Follow her imagination.

10.  Tell her she's beautiful.  Everyday.  Let her be a girly girl or a tomboy.  Either way, tell her she beautiful with sweat running down her face or dolled up for a date.  She is perfect the way she is.  Lift her up.  Tell her she's beautiful.

11.  Get messy.  Play in the rain, make mud pies, finger paint, mix food with your hands, use glitter.  Make memories. Don't worry about the clean up.  Live in the moment and get dirty.

12.  Share traditions.  Share both you and her fathers family traditions.  Share that secret recipe and do things the same way it's always been done.  Take pride in family and belonging.  Show her the family tree.  Share family secrets and stories.  Let her know she claimed and is a valuable member of your family.

13.  Teach her social skills.  Show her how to make small talk, look people in the eye, be kind to everyone, and be a friend.  Don't expect her just to know.

14.  Make her a fighter.  Show her when to stand up and when to walk away.  Teach her to pick battles.  Words are always better than fists, sometimes silence is better than words.  Teach her the differences.

15.  Kiss, Hug, Snuggle.  Never underestimate the power of showing of love and affection.  Don't be scared of physical contact.  We're all human and need these things.
 
16.  Be the safe harbor.  Let your home be the one place she can always come and feel safe.  Always give her a key.

17.  Teach her to be independent.  Let her choose her path, then teach her to stand on her own.  Help her along the way, but let her take the lead.  Give her the tools and knowledge to be successful, then let her fly.

18.  Do makeovers.  Let her do your makeup and hair.  Let her use every sparkly clip she can find and call you a princess.  Let her put the brightest shades of makeup on you.  When she's ready, teach her to do her hair and makeup.  Get manicures and pedicures together.  Go shopping.  Put on pretty dresses.  Be girly.

19.  Comfort her.  Be home when she's sick.  Drink 7up and watch movies on the couch with her.  Stay up all night when she can't sleep.  Fight invisible monsters.  Hold her when she's crying.  Let her sit in your lap no matter how big she gets.  Let her fall asleep on you.  Hold her hand.  Always answer her calls.  Be encouraging.  Be mommy.

20.  Read to her.  Let books take her on adventures.  When she's bigger, let her read to you.  Always have books available.  Share pop up books and chapter books.  Take her to the library.

21.  When she is lost, find her.  Physically or figuratively.  If she can't find her way back to you, find your way to her.  Never give up. Never stop searching.

22.  People are people.  Teach her to value all people.  To be humble. We're all equal.  Every single one of us.  Some might get paid more than others.  Some might have more "power" than others.  But everyone started out the same and will end the same.  Birth and death.  Don't let anyone make you feel "less than" and don't make anyone else feel "less than".  People are people.

23.  Trust her.  Whether she's ready to take that first step ever or first step on her own.  Teach her to trust herself.  She knows when she's ready.  Help her believe in herself by believing in her.  Trust her.

24.  Give consequences.  You are her mother.  It's your job to teach responsibility, cause and effect.  Discipline when it is needed.  She will be a better person when she has boundaries.  Set those boundaries.  Make sure she knows why she is being punished.  Always hug after.  Discipline and move on.

25.  Be proud.  Be her biggest number one fan, ever.  Let her hear your voice shouting above all the rest.  Let her see you sitting in the audience or crowd.  A mother's love is like no other, it can not be replaced.  She needs you.  Be proud of her.  Be proud to be her mother.  Claim her always as your own.  Your baby.  Your little girl.  No one can ever change that.  Love her completely and be proud.

So these are my rules.  What are yours??

Songs... And being lyrically challenged

So it's no big secret that I'm lyrically challenged.  I'm just not musically inclined, in fact, I'm musically retarded.  I just don't understand music and couldn't play an instrument to save my life.  I've tried, it's not pretty...  But I do have a beautiful baby girl who loves music (she takes after her daddy that way).  And she loves it when I sing to her, it actually calms her down most of the time.  So I've been dusting off my children's song repertoire and it's slightly convoluted.  I have even taken the time to look up a songs proper words and attempt to commit it to memory.  But when the moment hits, the actual words flee from my brain like a scarecrow running from fire. 

So what is the end result?  Songs with my own words substituted.  Most of the time, they center around using Sarah's name in some way, just so she knows how special she is ;-).  Poor child may get a bit of a shock when she realizes the songs she knows don't match those of other kids.  But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it... Do you want to know some examples of my songs to Sarah?  Great!  Keep Reading!  (Whoa, did I totally just ask you all a question like a children's show?  Yes.  Yes I did... that just happened... Maybe playhouse Disney is on a little too much in the background... haha!)

Let start with her favorite... Ironically the tune I use for this is actually the "Clean Up" song which I know every word... but along the way it changed and she loves when I sing my version.  Her whole face lights up:

To the tune of Clean Up, Clean Up
Sarah, Sarah
I love you!
I love you!
Sarah, Sarah
I love you so much!


To the tune of Bingo:
There was a mommy who had a baby
And Sarah was her name-o
S-A-R-A-H
S-A-R-A-H
S-A-R-A-H
And Sarah was her name-o.
(And repeat through like the Bingo song)
(Hey, I'm teaching her spell her name.. It works...)

To the tune of Jesus Loves Me:
Sarah's hungry this I know
For her crying tells me so
She's so hungry yes indeed
Hurry with the food mommy
Yes, Sarah's hungry
Yes, Sarah's hungry
Yes, Sarah's hungry
Her crying tells me so...
(This is always, Always, ALWAYS followed with the real version.  Because by then she's eating and calm and I want her to know the proper words)

To the tune of the Aardvark Song:
I love my Sarah
My Sarah loves me
I feed my Sarah milk and honey
My little Sarah goes...
(click you tongue 3 times)(or insert any babble, noise, movement of the moment)
Continue on with other animals, adding the mix but always ending with Sarah.
(No, I don't feed Sarah honey.  I know infants should NOT eat honey, it just rhymes and goes with the other words)

Some songs I just substitute Sarah's name into the song...

Grin Again Gang
Grin Again Gang
Get Gung Ho and Jesus
Smile sweetly Sarah so you'll send Satin sadly away
Buck up brother Bill
Because a bunch of bigger boys
Became a bunch of better boys
Behind big big smiles
Grin again gang get gung ho about Jesus

Some songs get similar words and yet I know they aren't right:
The Farmer and the Dell
The Farmer and the Dell
The Farmer and the Dell
Hi Ho the Cherry-o
The Farmer and the Dell

The Farmer takes a wife
The wife takes a horse
The horse takes a cow
The cow gives the milk
The milk turns to cheeze
The cheese stands alone
(I know it starts with the farmer, then the wife, and ends with cheese standing alone, gotta get there somehow)

Or
Hush Little Baby
Hush little baby don't say a word
Papa's gonna buy you a mocking bird
And if that mocking bird won't sing
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring won't shine
Papa's gonna buy you a lemon or lime
And if that lemon or lime is sour
Papa's gonna buy you a big tall tower
And if that big tall tower falls over
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named rover
And if that dog named rover won't bark
Papa's gonna buy you a green grass park
And if that green grass park turns brown
You'll still be the cutest little baby in town.


Other songs that get regularly sung to Sarah:
Jesus Loves the Little Children
Old Mac Donald
Yankee Doodle
Twinkle Twinkle / ABC's
5 Little Speckled Frogs
Row Row Row your Boat
I Am A Promise
Anchors Aweigh


And of course I have my lullaby's I sing to her.  I always sing these in the same order and they are her falling asleep songs if she's having a tough time at naptime or nighttime.

Baby Mine
You Are My Sunshine
Twinkle Twinkle
Goodnight Sweetheart (3 Men and A Baby)

I sing each song 3 times through before moving on the the next.  Usually by Twinkle Twinkle she's asleep or close to it.

So, um, yeah.  This is just a random little blog about the songs and music that are a part of Sarah's world.  I will say that she still prefers music that have no lyrics or singing when she's listening to recordings.  Jazz is her favorite, but classical comes in a close second these days.

Are you lyrically challenged?  What songs do you sing to your little one?