Starting Over Is Not Easy ... Mother Baby Child Blog
I was over 35 when I gave birth to Baby Max. My middle son was 11 years old and my older son had just turned seventeen. It wasn't easy starting over again ... Mother Baby Child is a blog to share parenting experiences, as well as what marriage is like after being a single mom for so many years. Get info on having a baby, raising children, babies, tweens, teens, homeschooling, mom blogs, work at home mom. business marketing, Christian and celebrity moms blog posts.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ~ Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups oatmeal
1/3 cup applesauce
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
* Can use Cacao, Carob Chips or raisins
Directions:
Turn oven on to 350 and Preheat while mixing all of the healthy cookie ingredients together in a medium bowl. Use table spoon to measure out cookie sizes and flatten with the back of the spoon. Bake 15-20 minutes.
I know this is Wordless Wednesday, but I am wondering if your 2 year old does this, too? This picture was taken a few weeks ago when I noticed that he was walking the cars over and facing them in the same direction. He has since graduated to lining the cars up against the wall with the fronts facing outwards or directly beside each other on the floor.
Today our toddler lined up 6 signs from his train set. He really took his time to line them up meticulously and facing him), slid the little train past it once. As soon as the train went past, he picked up 3 at one time and looked. He then picked up the other 3 signs (all 6 in hand) and put them away.
I love watching all of the quirky "things" as much as the athletic and creative gifts he has, but he has been doing things that make me wonder whether it might be OCD or not because I do not remember my other children doing the same things so young. Does this look familiar to anyone?
Anyways, Happy Wordless Wednesday to you :) Thanks for stopping by!
My jaw just about hit the floor when I read that Hilary Hinton a.k.a. ZIG ZIGLAR died this morning. It is was not the shock of death itself as this man has been blessed to live a long 86 years. Although I never met Hilary, I have been reading, watching his videos and quoting Zig Ziglar for years. It felt like the loss of someone I knew. I'm sure other "students" can relate to the sentiment. Zig Ziglar was a legendary motivational sales trainer and Christian.
My heart goes out to his family and friends! May he rest in peace!
My favorite quote from Zig Ziglar:
"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through." Zig Ziglar
One thing I know, No matter where I go, I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks ~ Little Big Town
When you've had the life that I've had, there is beauty and peacefulness ...
it feels like a rebirth; it feels secluded; it feels closer to God!
I want my children to feel closer to God, respect nature and have a sense of
pride that comes from non-materialism opposed to how things used to be ...
Yes, the heat and bugs can be a lot; the frogs and owls are loud at night ...
Yet, there is always something new to explore and appreciate!
We see an average of 5 to 10 different birds each day. I didn't know that
I would learn to appreciate birds so much; I was scared of them before :)
Flowers grow wild in the sandy ground ... A miracle that unfolds before
our eyes and without expectation; just there for all to enjoy
It is springtime in the boondocks ... I'm loving it!
Boondocks Lyrics by Little Big Town
I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I came from
I was born and raised in the boondocks
One thing I know
No matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks
And I can feel
That muddy water running through my veins
And I can hear that lullaby of the midnight train
And it sings to me and it sounds familiar
I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I came from
I was born and raised in the boondocks
One thing I know
No matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks
And I can taste that
honeysuckle and it's still so sweet
When it grows wild
On the banks down at old camp creek
Yeah, and it calls to me like a warm wind blowing
I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I came from
I was born and raised in the boondocks
One thing I know
No matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks
It's where I learned about living It's where I learned about love It's where I learned about working hard and having a little was just enough It's where I learned about Jesus And knowing where I stand You can take it or leave it This is me, this is who I am
Give me a tin roof
a front porch and a gravel road
and that's home to me
feels like home to me
I feel no shame
I'm proud of where I came from
I was born and raised in the boondocks
One thing I know, no matter where I go
I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks
I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks
You get a line, I get a pole
we'll go fishing in the crawfish hole
5 card poker on Saturday night
church on Sunday morning
You get a line, I get a pole
(You get a line, I get a pole)
We'll go fishing
(We'll go fishing in the craw fish hole)
Down in the boondocks
(5 card poker on Saturday night)
Church on Sunday morning
You get a line, I get a pole
(You get a line, I get a pole)
We'll go fishing
(We'll go fishing in the craw fish hole)
Down in the boondocks
(5 card poker on Saturday night)
(Say a little prayer for me)
Church on Sunday morning
You get a line, I get a pole
(You get a line, I get a pole)
We'll go fishing
(We'll go fishing in the craw fish hole)
Down in the boondocks
(5 card poker on Saturday night)
(Say a little prayer for me)
Church on Sunday morning
Going Through Age 13 ... Again! Please Pray For Peace!
My second son turned 13 years old a few weeks ago. He didn't want me to post any pictures of his "special day" nor does he want me taking any pictures of him anymore. These may be my last for a while. This part of 13 is really a drag ... I am sneaking in these pictures of him for Wordless Wednesday today and a few more blog posts about his last few weeks (as soon as I get them written) because this is also a huge part of my life. They are pictures of him at a skate park (parent supervised) and they so project exactly who he is right now. His individuality and being understood have been mastered; now he is fighting for "respect" that struggles to maintain to give. He started fighting with us a few weeks before his 13 birthday. We laughed it off as testosterone kicking in, but ... REALLY ... I think this is on point. Any time I ask him what is wrong with him (when he picks a fight and then apologizes for it), he says "I don't know".
Don't get me wrong! He is still a very sweet boy on most days :) He is just not the same cooperative person that he was at twelve and I can tell that his teen years are going to be hard.
I am going through age 13 again ... it is frightening to me.
The funny thing is we are also going through the "teens" with our 15 month old baby. He has gotten quite "terrible two" lately :)
Quick Slideshow Video | How To Recycle Wood Pallets | DIY
I found this wood pallets video on YouTube and though it would make for an interesting Wordless Wednesday topic. There as so many DIY projects to accomplish by using wood pallets. You can typically find them listed for free on Craigslist ... I was inspired to learn more after seeing a neat wood pallet planter and raised garden ideas on Pinterest.
Have you been using wood pallets for your DIY projects? Please share any ideas that are not shown in this video. Thanks :)
14 months 3 weeks old - He still fits in the baby carrier :)
We were headed for an organic farm tour and decided to pull out the old baby carrier. We were not sure if Max would still fit and like the baby carrier. He did let us ride him in the carrier for quite a while until he wanted to get down to play with the dogs at the farm :) It is so funny to look at this picture and see how big he has gotten; our baby is almost as long as his father's upper body ... WOW!
Doesn't it look like he's thinking, "Mom, REALLY? Are you really putting me in a baby carrier?". That angelic face always says so much :)
I thought this would be a cute Wordless Wednesday picture and short story to share. I do look forward to checking out your image(s), please feel free to share the link in the comments area! Hugs & Blessings!
Helping Moms In Business Does Mean More Than You Think!
My mother posted the little graphic above and it's BIG message really touched my heart. I have been waiting for Wordless Wednesday, so I could share it with you. Isn't this quote so true? This quote makes me feel like emailing everyone in the world; especially CEOs of companies. They have no clue how hard it is for some mothers to establish themselves as virtual assistants, mom business owners, work at home moms, etc. These moms really do have to possess more drive, organization and commitment - than the average person - in order to become successful mom business owners or telecommuting moms - while raising children and managing a household. I know this from experience ... CEOs do not just throw opportunities into mom's laps ... these mothers have to find work they can do at home! This is why so many moms turn to direct marketing companies and / or learning how to market online. Yes, there are some moms that dream of starting a business, but there are even more moms that just need to make money working from home and do whatever they can.
If CEOs REALLY understood this, there would be more onshore telecommute jobs and less struggling moms / mom business owners!
Regardless, I am grateful for how "things" are in comparison to what the Internet was like 13 years ago ... If you did not know computer programming or have a direct marketing business offline (Mary Kay, Avon, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, etc), then your work from home options were very limited. We did not have Google Ads and Facebook networks at that time; there were only a few mommy websites to browse for opportunities and these were very basic HTML sites without Craigslist, Elance and Freelancer feeds because those resources did not exist. Thinking of this reminds me that we are fortunate to have the Internet ... Yet, there are still not enough work at home "jobs" in comparison to work at home opportunities. This is why it is important for more people to support mom business owners opposed to Amazon, Ebay and larger corporations that sell the same types of products. Unfortunately, this is something that has not changed as much as the Internet. People still prefer to shop at Walmart for pink slime meat than support their local farms; they prefer to shop at Bath & Body at the mall opposed to supporting a friend selling Avon.
This really needs to change and this is why I like that little graphic so much. It's huge message made me think towards the sky ... not just "the sky is the limit" ... I looked out the window to the beautiful sky and I prayed. I thanked God for all of the challenges and opportunities; I also prayed for his mercy and change :)
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of Lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters:
for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
~ Psalms 136.1-9
No matter what our economy or personal situations, we have the love, support and grace of our Lord and he provides the discernment, strength, humbleness, knowledge and motivation to do all that we need to do. We just need to remain faithful and grateful during our life processes. Be thankful for where you are at in your business / work at home experience; also, if possible, help other moms accomplish their goals by assisting them in their work, training them in what they do not know and buying from mom business owners.
Hugs & blessings to all mom business owners, mom bloggers, mom marketers and virtual assistants that are "doing your thing" to contribute to your household ... while raising children and handling all that is involved with having a family.
We haven't taken our baby out to a restaurant in 6 months. 1st because I get all freaked out that he's going to get sick from touching and trying to eat everything he touches. 2nd because there are no organic food restaurants where we live and 3rd because I worry about how the food is cooked ... I was outnumbered this time and ended up giving into my husband and 12 year old! We took the baby to have his 1st Chinese restaurant experience (scrubbed the table and chair with Purell). He loved it and was such a good baby!
Wordless Wednesday pictures of our 14 month old eating his first ice cream cone (well, it was really frozen yogurt). We enjoyed watching him!
Mama, what is this?
Ice cream? I'll just give it a little lick, ok?
Can I use it as a microphone ... "La La La"?
That is what cold is ...? This is a brain freeze?
OK, I'm gonna slow down and use my finger as a spoon :)
I was amazed by how well he did (he is a very active toddler after all). He was open to trying a variety of foods, though did not like and threw the Chinese donut first (both of his brothers always liked them best). This is the first time that he did not throw his plate of food (as he does at home). He actually ate off of a plate for the entire meal. He did make a little mess on the floor and his face, but no food on his clothes. I could not believe it! I was extremely proud that he DID NOT want to get down and run all over the restaurant.
It's been raining in Florida - On & Off Rain ... Very Warm Winter
Family up north has been explaining what a calm winter it's been for them. It has been the same here in Central Florida with just a little rain and sunshine soon after. This makes for very tropical feeling / warm weather. It feels like it's going to be a scorcher this summer. The funny thing is that people from the North visit Florida during Christmas and January (lots from Canada). They spend time at the beaches and even let their children swim. We find it far too cold to brave the waters at that time of year and the beach water is in the 90s during the summer time (like a bath and not refreshing at all). They come from the North and swim then, too. I would have never thought these the worst times to visit Florida when I lived in the North and dreamed of vacationing in Florida during the Winter or Summer months. I think the best time to visit is mid-March through June. The weather is like summer in the north and you miss all of the congestion during the months that people typically visit.
OK, I wasn't going to do a Wordless Wednesday until I saw this picture ...
Would you buy your daughter a pregnant Barbie doll?
How about the breastfeeding doll? Think these teach the norm or not?
BTW, here is the link to Barbie Midge Happy Family that sells for $110 to $125 (thanks to Nicole Searfoss for sharing the info this doll) - Pregnant Midge she has a magnetic belly and promotes family. Unfortunately, they took this one out of production in 2002 and replaced with this $69 Barbie Midge Happy Family in 2003 and also Barbie Nikki Happy Family because people complained that it promoted "teen pregnancy". The replacements came with the baby instead of the pregnant mommy doll.
Would you think the same if you saw a child with this doll?
Maybe I should start calling these "Wordy Wednesday" blog posts :)
BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY POEM by Lea Hunt
Baby runs laps in the living room; every pillow and blanket ends up spread around. White teeth while smiling and laughing, "Hi Mama", "Hi Dada", "Hi Ra Ra" (brother) ... mornings are filled with beautiful baby sounds.
Baby playing with his favorite toys; scattered on the floor with such finesse. Cars, Percy and Thomas the Tank Engine; chewed cardboard books, 123s and ABCs ... afternoons are such a beautiful baby mess.
Lots of hugs and kisses, climbing mom like a little monkey, taking walks on sunny days, cheerios and cracker snacks, yoga with Nina, dancing with DJ Lance and Angelina ... late afternoons and evenings of beautiful baby play.
Splashing in the bathtub, pajama wrestling, reading and rocking the night away, mama singing your favorite lullaby, sighing, deep breathing and slight snores ... beautiful baby sleeps sound after another busy day.
Lennon comes to mind and heart as I pick up crumbs, blankets, pillows and toys, I would not wish it to be any other way; especially as the grateful mother of three sons ... this is my last beautiful baby boy!
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." Matthew 18:12-14 (NIV)
His face was serious, but there was a little smirk as if he was trying to hide his excitement ... No matter what his age, a mother knows these faces on her son :)
Ripping the paper so quickly it's a blur ...
A quick peak, but can't see the shoes through the tissue paper ...
Pure excitement that mom got the right shoes ...
Happy because they are the right size 14 shoes ...
This is my 18 year old son that started college yesterday (thankful to his Grandma for helping with this). He is 17 years older than our baby ... He is 5 1/2 years older than my middle son ... As the oldest child of a single mother and a boy that never got over his Grandfather's death, he has had a lot of pressure on those feet over the years and some teen issues, too ... Yet, he woke up earlier than usual and ready to go to class; he felt liberated, excited and proud.
HE FELT FREE ...
I feel so proud and grateful that he is coming around to his old self.
I can only pray that his little brothers can live up to those size 14 shoes :)
"Now you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was going somewhere, I was running!" ~ Forrest Gump
Spreading his wings and keeping balance. Our baby is no longer an infant, but a toddler boy and establishing his independence. He loves the world; family, nature, family, toys, milk bottles and snuggling with mama, daddy and brother. This was his first long walk outside. He walked a bit and then ran ... He did a total of about 1/4 of a mile on 1-10-2012; this was his first long walk outside. This was also the first time that he kept shoes on for ANY length of time :)
Our baby was supposed to walk with his brother, but he turned and started running the way he wanted to go instead of forward :) He is an individual!
We visited this mailbox like 10 times ... he must like blue or that red flag.
Baby walking towards the trees. They consumed his interest for quite a while.
Checking out this really cool tree ... it had a florescent green and lacey appeal.
Baby walking with his big brother so long as he bounced the basketball :)
Baby walking forward as brother walks backwards - long walk ahead :)
Baby running outside for the first time. He ran so hard that I had to catch him to stop (I will post the video) and he just cried from exhaustion. It hurt me to see him so frustrated, but I also felt proud ... maybe he will run track?
Our baby walking video: Age 1 year old (Jnauary 2012)
It's Wordless Wednesday and moms worldwide are posting pictures of their children from the holidays. I am always a little wordy on Wednesdays ... LOL :) Here are my 3 sons posing their best at the photo studio. The woman photographer was impatient with my 12 year old and EVEN MADE HIM CRY, so I could not share all of the images. I would have left the studio, but we were on a tight schedule because my older son was to catch a flight AND the pictures were a gift for my mother. This added insult to injury for sure as we did not have time to leave and go to another studio. I will write a detailed blog post about this horrible situation and link it to this Wordless Wednesday post. For now, I am happy to share their cute faces and the gratitude I have for each one of them.
