Ode to My Son

Tweet

My, My, My
How could this be
That my child is a dictator
Who is only three
I thought you were easy
When you were just one
But now you are quite the high-maintenance son

Your list of demands
Makes it hard to keep up
With your "no sauce on my pasta!"
And "ice in my cup!"
You're the three year old ruler
Yes, that's what it's like
Who still wears Pull Ups
Since you pee at night

You cry "Get Away!
I can do it myself!"
But still want me to dress you
and to buckle your belt
You hate wearing socks
And any long-sleeved shirt
You want to be "free"
but that's just one of your quirks

You hate getting wet
And don't want dirt on your clothes
Is my list done yet
Of the things that you loathe?
No, it's just the beginning
Yes, that's just the start
Yet somehow you still manage
To capture my heart

Some days I see you
And see pieces of me
And some days I wonder
If you're three or thirteen
Lord, help me love you
The best that I can
And not tear my hair out
Or forget who's in command

I know we'll get through this
And I'll look back and smile
But Lord, give me patience
Because I've been here awhile

So as you lay sleeping
I'll kiss your sweet face
Tomorrow's a new day
Lord, give me grace.

(Copyright 2009 - by Jaimie Bowman)

5 Minutes for Mom

Tweet

This is a great website full of encouragement, stories, ideas, ways to save money, etc... They are having a contest that ends today to win a Wii Fit: Visit here to enter!

A Good Night's Sleep

Tweet

Last year we had a bad experience with a new mattress.  In my effort (okay, obsession) to find a good deal, I found a mattress company on craigslist that said that the mattresses were factory-direct and we could get factory pricing on a Cal King (which are so expensive!).  Off we drove to downtown LA, and $500 later, we had a new mattress.

Fast-forward one year:  We called after 6 months of having the mattress because it was sagging. They hassled me, so I threatened to contact the BBB, and they promptly brought a new, better pillowtop mattress.  Well, it has been less than 6 months now and the mattress was sagging again.  I really prayed about this, because I didn't want to ever have to deal with them again.  I was really disappointed we had a 2nd bad mattress and we were out $500.  Every single morning I was waking up with back pain and feeling tired all day long.

Last week someone posted a Cal King pillowtop mattress on Freecycle that was 4 years old ("like new" it said), but they wanted a new mattress because it was too soft for them.  I immediately emailed our story but knew it was probably gone.  Well, we ended up getting it.  I was ECSTATIC!  It has now been about 4 nights since we've had the mattress- a beautiful, new (to us) Serta pillowtop with memory foam.  It is absolutely amazing.  And the best part?  I have had the BEST nights sleep the past 4 nights, woken up with no back pain, and I wake up not even tired!  It is such a huge blessing.  Good things come to those who wait!  

Bad news?  We discovered in the process that our box springs are broken (which we got from that first company), which may have caused the sagging mattress (although M says that happened not too long ago when he stood on the bed to change a light bulb).  Anyway, we need to buy new box springs so it doesn't happen again, but I don't mind that cost - it shouldn't be much.

Here are some more pictures taken recently- in the leaves across the street from our house, and in Palos Verdes overlooking the ocean.  

(This first one is of the boys rocking out - look at Micah's face :) - they wanted to each stand on a drum while they were playing guitar - it was so funny!)

Where to Begin

Tweet

There are just so many things rolling around in my head that I've wanted to blog about, it's hard to know where to begin!

Yesterday we visited the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist for Micah.  This Dr. was pretty much our last stop, after already visiting an Audiologist and Allergist.  We wanted to find out if there might be anything else causing his incessant runny nose that has not stopped for the past 4 months.  We also wanted to see if there might still be any fluid in his ears.  We didn't want to tell Micah we were going to yet another Dr.'s appt., so at lunch we got him ready and just said "We're going to meet a nice man." Well, he's smarter than that and immediately started saying "I don't want to meet a nice man!" When we got into the Dr.'s office (which had a play area even), he started loudly saying "I want to go home, mommy!" But thankfully we were only there about 30 minutes from start to finish, and it was the most enlightening Dr.'s visit yet.  The doctor took one look and said "Oh yes, I see fluid in both ears right away, especially on the right side." He also took one look at his x-rays and said "Wow, those are big adenoids!" and "Those tonsils are large!"  In the end, he recommended that Micah have both his adenoids removed and tubes put in both ears.  He said we most likely will immediately see the runny nose stop and he will get sick less often.

While the surgery is still to be scheduled and will be at least 4-6 weeks away, I already tear up at the thought of him going under and having an IV in his arm and a breathing tube in his nose. I know tons of parents that have gone through this, but it doesn't really  make it easier.  We cannot  be in the room with him and just know he will be so scared.  I still remember my surgery (having my tonsils out and tubes put in) when I was about 5.  But we'll just pray that he does great.

Jaden, on the other hand, is sporting a double ear infection this week but has no fever or anything, so I'm waiting this one out.  The ENT said he would probably recommend doing that, so I'm fine with it.  But he has definitely stepped up his tantrums lately and now says "NO!" and lays on the floor when he doesn't want to do something.  I can't believe how strong he is, too!  Time to start disciplining :(  He has been making us laugh lately by shouting "Wake Up Jeff!" which is a phrase from the Wiggles (from him it sounds more like "Day Duh Def!!!!")  Tonight we went to a kids puppet show at the mall, and the puppet fell asleep and Jaden shouted "Day Duh Def!!" three times. It was SO funny.  

Other things I've been wanting to write about?  Today we found out that a former church member and youth leader of ours passed away... very, very sad.  Please pray for her daughter who is now without both parents and is in college.

School started this week again... It's hard getting back into the routine.  I always get sad when the holidays are over because there is always something so fun to look forward to from October-January.  I don't know... Martin Luther King, Jr. day is GREAT, don't get me wrong, but no major parties planned, you know?!

Here is a picture from this week; I have been trying to upload more but it's not working so I'll try again later...

Doing Life Over

Tweet

Have you ever looked back on your life and thought, "If I could do it over, I would definitely do this..." I guess at the New Year I started reflecting on my life, because this question has been hitting my head a lot. These things aren't necessarily regrets, just things I did not do that I now think "Well, if I COULD do life over, I would do this." Here are a few:

-Learn to do a cart-wheel. Yes, it's true, I'm probably the only adult on earth that never learned to do one! :)
-Be in a few plays. Sometimes as an adult, I see a good play (I recently saw "The Sound of Music") and I think "Oh MAN! I would have loved to be in something like that!"
-Travel to another country (like Ireland or Europe or Israel) during or right after college. (Mexico and Canada don't count)
-Date more. I did make the decision not to date throughout high school, feeling "chosen of God", but looking back, I don't think one or two dates would have hurt! :)
-Dance more. Dancing was not really smiled upon in our church circles, so I didn't get much of that in.

Now, I understand that I still can do some of these things at my tender young age of 32. But trying the cart-wheel out might just break my neck. I don't have time for play practices that infringe upon my valuable TV time watching LOST. My buns can't handle being in an airplane for longer than 5 hours, so most foreign countries are out. I do date my husband, thankfully :) And the dancing - well, I get in what I can at weddings.

For the sake of not appearing like I am daily living my life in regret, here are a few things I am thankful that I WAS a part of when I was younger:

-Sang ALL the time, any place I could (solos with accompaniment tracks). I started doing that when I was about 12 and continued all the way through college.
-Had a "Jaimie W--- in Concert" night in Niland, California when I was 16. (Yes, Niland- the armpit of CA - teeny, tiny town). It was advertised with posters throughout the town. Keep in mind that the whole concert took place using a Karaoke machine (which had just come out, so they were all the rage) :)
-Lived in New York for a summer (during college) with my youth pastors' family, which was the furthest and longest I had ever been away from home.
-Went white-water rafting in Oregon with my youth group (life-threatening experience, let me tell you!)

And, more recently, bared my weight to the world to lose 23 pounds when I was on the Dr. Phil show 3x back in 2004. (If you're wondering, NO, with a capital N-O would I ever do that again!) :)

So, I guess we all have different life experiences, some good, some bad... But it seems only natural to look back and wish you had done (or hadn't done) certain things.  I would love to read yours, too! :)

New Year's Eve

Tweet

Today is New Year's Eve 2008 - are you doing anything special tonight? Every year we have either gotten together with friends or gone to Morro Bay (for the past 2 years), but this year we decided to stay home. The boys are both sick again- Micah has an ear infection that has made him wake up screaming in the middle of the night, and Jaden has a bad cold that kept him up all night last night. I am fine with staying home, as I am not a night person and don't particularly enjoy having to stay up until 1am or so. But I do wish we were going to Morro Bay again, our refuge away from home, although it just didn't work out this year.

These past two weeks have been a flurry of activity, but restful as well. This is our first experience having "Christmas break" from school. Micah is going into week 2 of no school, no speech therapy, etc... and I have to say that I have loved it! Martin has had a good amount of time off, too, so we've gotten to spend a lot of time together as a family. We have had considerable less meltdowns from Micah, I think directly related to not rushing out the door, not going to school and coming home so tired. He has also finally turned a corner these past 3 days and has gone poop on the potty every time! Woo-Hoo! That is a major accomplishment in our house that I HOPE continues. It is about time - he is now exactly 3 1/2 and we thought this day would never come!

I was reflecting today over my post last year on New Year's about New Year's Resolutions. I had three resolutions last January, which included:

1) Go to bed earlier. Like, be in bed at least by 10:59pm (almost) every night.
2) Blog at least once a week.
3) Take an advanced photography class to boost my skills for my business

So, did I do it? Mostly yes to #1, Yes to #2, and No to #3. My photography business was very slow this year, partly due to my choosing, and partly due I think to the economy. I am very excited though that I was asked to do my first official wedding next month! It is a casual wedding with not a lot of formal shots, but exciting for me nonetheless!

Do you have any New Year's Resolutions? I am not going to make any resolutions this year, YET, until I find one I know I can keep :)

Happy New Year!

Christmas Night and All is Quiet

Tweet

As I sit here reflecting tonight on all the festivities of this past Christmas week, I am so thankful for my little family in our cozy little house.  The boys are snug in their beds, M is off to Blockbuster to rent the new Chronicles of Narnia (the first one was on TV last night so now we have to see the new one), and I sit here in quietness.

This week was both joyful and stressful at times.  Having an 18 month old and 3 1/2 year old makes for some really fun and laughable times.  I love this age, where everything is so exciting and new.  This was the first year that Micah really understood what Christmas was, and he was happy to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  Somewhere along the way he heard about Santa Claus, asked about him, and the story has just gotten bigger and bigger for him every day.  We wanted to downplay Santa as much as possible, but the little boy just wants to BELIEVE! :)  Tonight at my aunt's house, my dad came in dressed as Santa and Micah got to meet him and hug him, and we don't think he knew that was really his Papa. I loved the boys excitement about every single part of Christmas - from wanting to see every Christmas display at Target every time we went there, to gasps when we drove by any house with lights, to driving through "Candy Cane Lane" and hearing their shrieks with excitement, to seeing Santa at the mall and wanting so badly to tell him what he (Micah) wanted, etc... It was a year to remember.

The stressful part also comes along with the territory, as having an 18 month old and 3 1/2 year old is like having to transport an entire army. When we go to families' houses (multiple houses, I might add), we have to remember the diapers, wipes, binkies, blankets, changes of clothing, food (because of course they won't touch any food there besides chips), entertainment, a favorite toy, water cups, a portable high chair, and the list goes on. Because both of our boys do not have any cousins within 10 years of themselves, they are usually the only young children present. Houses are not always baby-proofed, and so we are dodging to and fro trying to keep (mainly Jaden) from breaking precious collectibles, eating someone else's appetizer plate, not playing in their toilet, going in private bedrooms and rummaging through drawers, etc... I probably make him sound like he's out of control, which he's not, but he is extremely active. After about an hour I am exhausted. Martin and I take shifts with them, but it is still a constant job just to get through the event. We managed to make it through 2 visits that were each about 5 hours each, and we have one more to go this Saturday. At this moment, in my exhaustedness, I just wish it would END!

Last night at the Christmas Eve service, I had to sit in the nursing mother's room because my boys were wanting to talk loudly during the quiet readings and solemnly sung Christmas carols. I felt sad, like I was missing out, in the cold and dark room with my boys, while everyone on the "outside" was cozy, warm and comfortable. YET, I realize that this is probably the only year that I will experience that. My boys are very young, at a tender but active age, and it probably won't be like this again. So, everything in perspective. Not everyone has a husband who is a worship leader and leading the whole Christmas Eve service, so understandably most moms in my boat have someone to help out. It was just a hard night for me; a hard week in some ways to try to enjoy the season while working extremely hard. So tonight, I'm tired and worn out, but very thankful for ALL that Christ has done for me, in me and through me. I'm so thankful for my boys, who I love with all of my heart. Even though it is a hard stage in life, they are worth every effort.