Memoirs of a Moorings

I'm It

I got tagged by One Thoughtful Momma.......and I couldn't refuse because how rude would it be not to accept a tag?

 1.  What is one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
Take God at his Word. When His Word says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." I need to really believe this.

2.  What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? Slow down. Find a work schedule that does not leave me exhausted. 

3.  What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
Get quiet (for real) instead of being anxious during the moments when I'm quiet.

4.  What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it? Faith. It's a simple concept, but one that I often trip on time and time again. I need to start applying my faith and then walking in that faith instead of just thinking faith--I need to live it and see it in action in my life. Need to do some more studying about how faith looks in real life.

5.  What does your devotion time look like? A snippet here, a moment there. I rarely have time to simply sit and study and read so I do it piecemeal style.

Photo from Flickr Arnold Pouteau

Who Took My Memory?

There are lots of people who mistake their imagination for their memory.  ~Josh Billings

I find my first gray hair and now I can't remember a thing. I pray this is not a sign of things to come. I have never been so forgetful in my whole life. Today was pool day and I was supposed to provide swimming trunks and a towel. Good thing there were extra trunks and swimming diapers there for my two little guys. I thought pool day was tomorrow. And this evening I forgot the drycleaning guy was coming to pick up the clothes.

Is it because I have two kids? Or is it really old age? Perhaps because I'm working now? Whatever the reason I need to get a system and fast.

I find myself writing on a To Do pad and in my Mom Agenda calendar and then forgetting to look at it. I had a Palm, but always forgot to charge it. I have a Blackberry but by the time I remember that it has a Task menu, I've already forgotten what I needed to remember. I need a system and fast. Any tips? Comments and email welcome!

A Sweet Mess

"I always wondered why babies spend so much time sucking their thumbs. Then I tasted baby food." ~ Robert Orben

The thing I'm loving about motherhood the second time around is how I'm feeling so much more experienced. Not so nervous like my first-time mommy days.

With that big boy of ours being such a picky eater, I decided to start early on getting as many tastes into this new baby's little mouth. And he hasn't found a food that he doesn't like yet. Teething is in full effect and while he's not overly fussy, (Let's pray it stays that way) I thought I'd offer him something soothing and yummy. Yesterday, while I pureed up a bunch of fruits and veggies for him this week, he sat in his high chair and sucked on frozen blueberries from the mesh food feeder. And I didn't cringe over the mess one bit.

For those of you who know this little cutie, he is not much of a cryer at all, but he cried when I tried to take him out of the high chair to get him cleaned up. We'll be using more of this sweet treat for him.

The Truth, Teething and other stuff....

"Children’s mouths speak the truth." ~ Anonymous

In the case of this picture, babies' faces speak the truth. Going through my camera can be pure comic relief. This shot is from my mother's visit last week. (Come back soon Ma!) This pic was taken as soon as she walked in the door and grabbed the baby.

I'm sure if he could talk, he'd be saying, "Who are you and why are you so close to me?" or "Is there a reason why you are smiling so hard? Should I be smiling too?"

Our little baby's one tooth is coming in nicely. And he tried it out on me while nursing last night. Can we say ouch! I was shocked and my shock (and pain) must have been hilarious to him because he chuckled--twice. How do you let a baby know that biting is not acceptable during nursing? This is NOT a rhetorical question. I really want some feedback.

He's been knawing on the skin cover for the Wii remote. (Notice the grip he has on that thing in the picture). He loves it. Whenver I try to take it from him he cries so that it hurts my feelings. So it's official, that thing is his offical teether.

Seven Months and Counting.....

Every week is a new adventure with this perfect little baby. He recently started holding his own bottle which has gotten me so sad about him speeding toward the toddler years too soon. And lately I've been noticing how his little memory is kicking in. Every time he gets a bath, he reaches for the teething toy on the side of the tub. I love watching every single development. And he's discovered his "voice." He loves singing in soprano! Seven months already. This picture makes me giggle--the crooked smile, the ears like daddy.

Here's what he's been up to besides growing up way too fast:

:: splashing in the tub
:: grabbing the Wii remote (or anything else of interest in his sight)
:: loving all the pureed vegetables I make for him (sweet potatoes especially)
:: sits himself up in the car seat to look out the window
:: eyeing everybody's food plate like it's his own
:: welcoming in one lonely tooth on the bottom
:: still sucking those two fingers--still.

Living In the Now

"Children have neither past nor future; they enjoy the present, which very few of us do." ~Jean de la Bruyere

I was going through my camera today and discovered this one from the Fourth of July. This shot is becoming a trend. I have a shot like this from every year that we have set off fireworks since our big boy was two years old.

I adore how he loves to sit up underneath his daddy.....how physical touch is so natural for him...how he takes the time to simply live in the now and enjoy the moment. This mommy would do well to take a few tips from this kid. I'm learning to slow down and stop trying to beat the clock on the imaginary deadlines that I set for myself. Like if we don't get out of the house by 8am, I don't beat myself up. If I don't get to straighten the house up before bed, that's okay, the mess will be there waiting for me the next day.

I'm also realizing that Now will soon become the past, so I'm working to utilize the time wisely that I have with these two young hearts that God has given us. I realize it's now the school system or the church's responsibility to teach my children. It is me and my husband's responsibility. With that in mind, I have started teaching our big boy about the Fruit of the Spirit.

I posted up a tree and during the day when I catch him "bearing fruit": love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, he gets to put a sticker on the tree until it's full of fruit. I wondered if this would be even remotely interesting to him. And it is. We have two pieces up so far. There was one day when he had a rough time at daycare. I told him I was disappointed that we wouldn't be able to put any fruit on the tree. He pointed out to me that he'd used "gentle hands" with one of the other kids rather than hitting and when he came home he was gentle with the baby. Of course, I had to give him a big hug and a high five for pleading his case. He's getting it! I love that.

OPAM: July 08 - The Front Entrance (BEFORE)

There is a cheery welcome sign on our front door, but there is nothing cheery about the walkway up to the front door. When we moved in two years ago, there was an awful jungle like ivy climbing up the wall and taking over this planter space. We removed it and that's where things stopped. I'd like for guests as well as us to feel so happy when we walk up to the door. TThis dirt pit is not doing the job. This is my mission for July! I'm not at all the green thumb type, so we'll have to find a happy medium.

(I just noticed how one door says Welcome and the other No Soliciting. i.e You are welcome as long as you are not soliciting :-) )

OPAM: June 08 - The Boys' Closet (AFTER)

The boys' closet is done....almost. Now that it's organized and half of the clothes are hung-the rest are still in the laundry basket and the dryer, (How can two little boys have so many clothes?) I realize that the inside of the closet should be painted the same as the walls and the bars need to be re-painted white. I see that their room is just going to be a forever on-going project. And that's okay....as long as there is progress.

The before shot is here. What a mess. And how appropriate that Rhyan and I are reading Just A Mess at bedtime.

It's such a joy to go in there now. There's a bin for outgrown clothes on the shelf. A bin for baby blankets which I am always looking for. A little space for diapers. And I love that little shoes are all lined up and each boy has his own section. Sweet. And I found this little cheap dresser at IKEA and stained it dark to match the beds. (That was a project in itself.) Now if only Mommy can keep it clean!