Normally I don't compare myself to others. I just think it is a bad place to go. Trying to keep up with the Jones' or comparing my body to others...its just not good. I accept me for me and I accept my life for what it is. My body and my life are a reflection of the choices I make. 'Nuff said.
However, that doesn't mean I don't do a little comparing from time to time. Let me tell you a story that happened today...
Whenever I see people with babies, I always look at them and see if they are around Connor's age. Why it matters? I don't really know. But sometimes if people are alone and have a baby around Connor's age, I will talk to them.
So here I am, walking along today. I see two ladies pushing their babies in their strollers. I look at the babies and they look around Connor's age. As I am walking past them (I am known for being a fast walker) I hear them talking. Lady 1 says to lady 2 that she hasn't lost all her baby weight and that she probably never will be able to. Lady 2 says that she hasn't either, but is still trying.
Being the conceited person that I am, I wanted to stop and tell those ladies that I had lost all my baby weight plus 11 pounds. That's kind of mean right?
Though really, I worked decently hard to do that, so I am proud. And for saying this I will probably gain tons of weight with my next pregnancy and never be able to loose it!
Faith
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1
I've been thinking about things a lot lately, thinking about God. When I start thinking and searching, I realize that all my beliefs are based on faith. When you think about it, that really is a tall order...believing in something that there is really no evidence for.
For a very long time, I had a child-like faith. I never questioned, I just believed. Even now, I really don't question, I just wonder. And I actually notice, the more I wonder, the more questions I come up with.
Most of my questions aren't even deep. They more deal with life after death and how things will be in heaven...I mean, just thinking about eternity boggles my mind! I am curious about the makeup of our world...good vs. evil. What happens when we pray? Like, what goes on behind the scenes to determine an answered prayer versus and unanswered prayer. I believe that God answers prayers, but I also believe we live in a fallen world. So, is there some sort of spiritual battle going on when we pray?
One thing I am really intrigued by is how Jesus lived his life. When I read the bible, I kind of get the idea that he was a bit of a hippy. He did what he wanted. He hung out with who he wanted. He had a backbone. He stood up for himself, yet he accepted his lot in life. He had genius things to say, yet said them in common terms. We have a lot to learn from him.
I've always believed that my greatest way to witness to those around me is by how I live. I don't say this as a cop out. In fact, I am more than willing to talk about my beliefs with people. But, I realize many of my friends know my beliefs and don't want to talk about it. So, to me I think that means I keep on loving them as always and hope that eventually they will want to talk.
Faith, it is so complicated for being such a simple word. And even though I like the sound of Hebrews 11:1, it kind of baffles my mind. How can something that is in a sense a feeling, a thought be considered substance and evidence?
It all baffles my little mind.
For a very long time, I had a child-like faith. I never questioned, I just believed. Even now, I really don't question, I just wonder. And I actually notice, the more I wonder, the more questions I come up with.
Most of my questions aren't even deep. They more deal with life after death and how things will be in heaven...I mean, just thinking about eternity boggles my mind! I am curious about the makeup of our world...good vs. evil. What happens when we pray? Like, what goes on behind the scenes to determine an answered prayer versus and unanswered prayer. I believe that God answers prayers, but I also believe we live in a fallen world. So, is there some sort of spiritual battle going on when we pray?
One thing I am really intrigued by is how Jesus lived his life. When I read the bible, I kind of get the idea that he was a bit of a hippy. He did what he wanted. He hung out with who he wanted. He had a backbone. He stood up for himself, yet he accepted his lot in life. He had genius things to say, yet said them in common terms. We have a lot to learn from him.
I've always believed that my greatest way to witness to those around me is by how I live. I don't say this as a cop out. In fact, I am more than willing to talk about my beliefs with people. But, I realize many of my friends know my beliefs and don't want to talk about it. So, to me I think that means I keep on loving them as always and hope that eventually they will want to talk.
Faith, it is so complicated for being such a simple word. And even though I like the sound of Hebrews 11:1, it kind of baffles my mind. How can something that is in a sense a feeling, a thought be considered substance and evidence?
It all baffles my little mind.
A Taste of Summer
Connor got to try his first ice pop this weekend. Given that he is liking cold things in his mouth lately (can we say "bring on the teeth"), I decided to give it a try. He immediately put it in his mouth, but didn't exactly look excited. He just kept pulling it out, looking at it, then putting it back in his mouth. When I took it away from him, he freaked out...obviously he did like it.
I gave him another one today and being the bright child that he is, he managed to get it out of the plastic. I let him play with it another few minutes until he broke it up into pieces. Really, I did this for my own entertainment. It was so slippery that it took all his might to pick it up and then as soon as he would get it to his mouth, it would slip out of his little hand again. It was funny...probably at his expense though!
Checking out his ice pop
I gave him another one today and being the bright child that he is, he managed to get it out of the plastic. I let him play with it another few minutes until he broke it up into pieces. Really, I did this for my own entertainment. It was so slippery that it took all his might to pick it up and then as soon as he would get it to his mouth, it would slip out of his little hand again. It was funny...probably at his expense though!
Checking out his ice pop
Liar
Did you ever notice that we all stretch the truth? We all lie. I was raised with the belief that
And adults used to love it when I would bring up that they lied to me about something! They would deny it until I stuck that line on them!
I think we all fall into one of two types of liars:
1. Over exaggerator
2. Under exaggerator
Oh well, I guess there are three...there are also people who just lie for the sake of lying. But I am not talking about those people today. I am more dealing with the general public.
As an over exaggerator, you always have problems. In fact, your life is always worse than everyone else's. And, whenever someone is going thru something, you are the person who has to tell a story of something worse that happened to you.
Then there are the under exaggerators. You are the people who act like your life is perfect, when it is really falling apart. Nothing is a big deal. When someone tells you a story, you look at them like they are crazy because since your life is perfect, you have never been thru anything like that before!
My opinion...there are positives and negatives to both types. Its good to over exaggerate for a story. It gets more laughs that way and most people do it. Yet, it isn't cool to always have to top everyone else's stories. That is just plain annoying. As for under exaggerating, when you act like your life is perfect, you are making others just feel even more imperfect. I understand not sharing every detail of your life with perfect strangers, but when someone is hanging their heart out there for you, at least try to act like you can relate!
Anyway, I have discovered that over and under exaggerations take place every freaking second of the day when talking to other parents. You either have perfect babies or they never stop crying. Why can't it be in the middle?!? Why can't we all admit that there are good days and there are bad days? Why can't we encourage a fellow parent when their child is have a bad day rather than trying to 1. top their story or 2. tell them our child is perfect? It doesn't help anyone.
We shouldn't be trying to tear each other down. We should be trying to encourage one another and build each other up. Come on people...
No more exaggerations!!!
Well, unless it is for a good story!
the intent to deceive is a lie.
And adults used to love it when I would bring up that they lied to me about something! They would deny it until I stuck that line on them!
I think we all fall into one of two types of liars:
1. Over exaggerator
2. Under exaggerator
Oh well, I guess there are three...there are also people who just lie for the sake of lying. But I am not talking about those people today. I am more dealing with the general public.
As an over exaggerator, you always have problems. In fact, your life is always worse than everyone else's. And, whenever someone is going thru something, you are the person who has to tell a story of something worse that happened to you.
Then there are the under exaggerators. You are the people who act like your life is perfect, when it is really falling apart. Nothing is a big deal. When someone tells you a story, you look at them like they are crazy because since your life is perfect, you have never been thru anything like that before!
My opinion...there are positives and negatives to both types. Its good to over exaggerate for a story. It gets more laughs that way and most people do it. Yet, it isn't cool to always have to top everyone else's stories. That is just plain annoying. As for under exaggerating, when you act like your life is perfect, you are making others just feel even more imperfect. I understand not sharing every detail of your life with perfect strangers, but when someone is hanging their heart out there for you, at least try to act like you can relate!
Anyway, I have discovered that over and under exaggerations take place every freaking second of the day when talking to other parents. You either have perfect babies or they never stop crying. Why can't it be in the middle?!? Why can't we all admit that there are good days and there are bad days? Why can't we encourage a fellow parent when their child is have a bad day rather than trying to 1. top their story or 2. tell them our child is perfect? It doesn't help anyone.
We shouldn't be trying to tear each other down. We should be trying to encourage one another and build each other up. Come on people...
No more exaggerations!!!
Well, unless it is for a good story!
Sleep
I have decided, it is time for me to sleep like a baby...and I mean that in a good way!
I have trouble sleeping. Chalk it up to being a night owl or whatever you want to call it, but I have trouble getting to sleep at night. It has become the norm for me to be up until at least 2am. And this isn't because I want to be. No. I would much rather be sleeping. But every night seems like torture. I just can't get myself to go to sleep.
Then something occurred to me.
They say that when babies are over tired, it takes them much longer to get to sleep. This is the same with me. Every evening I seem to go thru the same pattern. During the evening (say around 10ish) I get tired. But, I don't go to bed. Instead I stay up. I hang out with Ian or watch tv or something. Then, by the time we are heading to bed, I am wide awake. And so the nightly cycle begins.
I think my problem is staying up too late. I am allowing myself to go past the point of no return. Thus getting no sleep. So I have decided, it is time.
It is time to take the advice they give us parents about our babies...put them to bed before they get tired! So that's it. I need to get to bed before I get to the point of no return, before I cross over to the dark side and am no longer tired.
I mean, honestly, why do I force myself to stay up when I am tired anyway?!? Only problem is, what happens when I get tired at 8pm?
Hmmm...
I have trouble sleeping. Chalk it up to being a night owl or whatever you want to call it, but I have trouble getting to sleep at night. It has become the norm for me to be up until at least 2am. And this isn't because I want to be. No. I would much rather be sleeping. But every night seems like torture. I just can't get myself to go to sleep.
Then something occurred to me.
They say that when babies are over tired, it takes them much longer to get to sleep. This is the same with me. Every evening I seem to go thru the same pattern. During the evening (say around 10ish) I get tired. But, I don't go to bed. Instead I stay up. I hang out with Ian or watch tv or something. Then, by the time we are heading to bed, I am wide awake. And so the nightly cycle begins.
I think my problem is staying up too late. I am allowing myself to go past the point of no return. Thus getting no sleep. So I have decided, it is time.
It is time to take the advice they give us parents about our babies...put them to bed before they get tired! So that's it. I need to get to bed before I get to the point of no return, before I cross over to the dark side and am no longer tired.
I mean, honestly, why do I force myself to stay up when I am tired anyway?!? Only problem is, what happens when I get tired at 8pm?
Hmmm...
7 Months
Weight: 17 lbs
Accomplishments:
Crawled backwards
Finds everything he isn't supposed to play with...and plays with it anyway!
Sleeping thru the night (mostly)
Puts everything in his mouth
"Grabs" at things printed on fabric
Cuddles with his "blanket buddy" at night
Reaches out and stops his baby swing by holding the frame
Smiling/responding to people on video chat
New Experiences:
Swing
Slide
Movies (at the theater)
Different foods (carrots, sweet potato, peas, etc.)
Got a library card
I just can't resist a good bath picture!
Connor loves sucking on apple cores
Accomplishments:
Crawled backwards
Finds everything he isn't supposed to play with...and plays with it anyway!
Sleeping thru the night (mostly)
Puts everything in his mouth
"Grabs" at things printed on fabric
Cuddles with his "blanket buddy" at night
Reaches out and stops his baby swing by holding the frame
Smiling/responding to people on video chat
New Experiences:
Swing
Slide
Movies (at the theater)
Different foods (carrots, sweet potato, peas, etc.)
Got a library card
I get so much joy watching Connor discover new things. Watching him follow a bird flying in the sky or staring at a baby that is crying. Grabbing for my cup or cuddling with his "blanket buddy". I feel like he changes so fast. What he liked last week, he doesn't like this week. And what he couldn't do last week, he now does it this week. I feel so fortunate to be around him, watching him grow and change and become his own little person.
I just can't resist a good bath picture!
Connor loves sucking on apple coresWeekend Update
Awww, old school Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live...oh how I miss thee! But that isn't the point of this post!
The Good:
We had a good weekend over here on our side of the world.
Thought you would like to know.
Thought you would like to know.
The Good:
A BBQ at someone's house from our church.
Connor laughing whenever I laugh.
Catching up on Scrubs.
Grocery shopping...our cupboards were seriously lacking!
Coffee.
Discovering the worlds funniest website.
Starbucks.
Talking on the phone to people I love.
Catching up with people via email.
A girlie movie.
Discovering the worlds funniest website.
Starbucks.
Talking on the phone to people I love.
Catching up with people via email.
A girlie movie.
The Bad:
Ian being out of town All Weekend.
My neighbor being so noisy that she woke Connor up at 11pm.
My Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks tasting burnt.
Laundry, laundry and more laundry.
Rain and cold weather.
And thankfully no ugly!
Overall, it was a good weekend.
But then again, how can you have a bad weekend when you are raising the cutest child on the planet?!?
My Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks tasting burnt.
Laundry, laundry and more laundry.
Rain and cold weather.
And thankfully no ugly!
Overall, it was a good weekend.
But then again, how can you have a bad weekend when you are raising the cutest child on the planet?!?
How was your weekend?
Hope it was swell.
And here's a little video for you...just to show you how riveting my weekend was! Actually, I think it's cute to see Connor's chubby little finger spinning the wheel on his Tonka truck!
And here's a little video for you...just to show you how riveting my weekend was! Actually, I think it's cute to see Connor's chubby little finger spinning the wheel on his Tonka truck!
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