Trying to Do Better

I'm trying to be a better parent. It's definitely a two-steps-forward, one-step-back process. I've learned a lot more about parenting young children now that my first kids are getting older. Most people don't have the luxury of getting do-overs but with a large family that's a bit spread out in age, I kind of do. I used to think that the purpose of discipline was to stop an undesirable behavior. With that end in mind, the disciplinary technique didn't matter all that much. As long as it wasn't extreme, anything was fair game. But as Hero and company get older, I've realized I was very off the mark. I think the whole purpose of discipline is teaching self-control. Bad behaviors come and go. Learning to be centered, calm, and rational is a skill that lasts a lifetime. Of course, the best way to teach this is to model it. So, it's come full circle and I've realized that discipline is a lot more about ME as a parent than the children. You might be wondering what's prompted this introspection. Right now we are surviving rather than thriving, as a family, and I just hate that. I don't mind having a loud and crazy house. But I think that, lately, with a pre-teen in the house and younger kids totally willing to parrot anything that she says, we're heading in a direction that's not good. Pray for me that my new found resolve weathers the storm.

Double Dose

of stats, that is! Today was my fourth weigh-in. It was a rough week, mentally. I felt a bit close to losing control at times, especially with the Peanut Butter Brownie pizza staring me down. Plus we used our TGIFridays gift card on Friday and that's the first time I've been out to eat. But I must have done better than I thought - I was down 1.8 lbs, to 199 even. That's a total weight loss of 7.8 lbs in four weeks. 10 more to go to my first goal and I'm hoping to be there by spring break. I'm going to start tracking measurements this week too. And, for the more important stats - Elle's 6 month doctor's visit showed a perfectly average baby. She's in the 50th percentile for height and weight now (she's 16lbs and I can't remember how long and I've already archived the sheeet it was written on, bad mommy). She can sit supported now, but she's still in no hurry to do things on her own it seems. I'm okay with babying her now though, as she's had some kind of respiratory illness for about a week. She's stuffy and coughy but still in good spirits, little sweetheart.

Pics and Stats

Not of me, silly. Not yet, anyways. But I'm still on track. This was the first week that I actually felt tested. The weekend was very stressful with James up skiing and I desperately wanted to fill up on comfort foods. I ate SO many bananas, blueberries, and blackberries LOL. But I powered through and recorded a 1.2lb weight loss. As long as I'm in the 1 to 2.5lb range weekly I'm okay. Here's to my final week in the 200s!

I like this picture of Elle with her funny hat and impish grin. And I had to share this pic of Cecily all decked out in the outfit Grandma made for Christmas for her. There are such cuties, although I might be a bit biased.

Food All Around

Woot, I'm slowly catching up as I'm now recounting stuff from January. On the 5th (10 days short of six months) Elle had her first taste of solid foods. She took to it like a champ and I'm now glad I have some use for all of that breastmilk stored in the freezer (since this girl decidedly does not "do" bottles). I've waited longer and longer to introduce solids for each kid. I'm going to say officially it's because that's what the expert guidelines are changing to, but honestly I think it's because it's easier to do without the mess for as long as possible. We started with rice cereal and will be moving onto yellow vegetables and adding barley as a grain this week as well.

And, on a side note, GO PACKERS. Seriously, though, I wish that we were in Wisconsin for the Superbowl so that I could go to someone else's party and eat someone else's lovely food instead of having to host my own LOL. Hmm, I'm putting off a food obsession vibe lately, it seems. I must be "dieting".

Proverbial Better-Than-Christmas

The kids got a bunch of toys for Christmas. I always start off with the best intentions of a toy-free Christmas because I'm so sick of picking up junk from every room in the house. Inevitably I get mommy-guilt and the kids do wind up with toys. And then, days after Christmas, they've lost interest and find better things to play with - like the attachments to my new canister vacuum. Some things never change, right?

Allegra's Birthday

I actually feel rather current blogging about Allegra's 9th birthday today, as she finally had her "friends" party yesterday. We celebrated with a small family party on New Year's Eve, and then yesterday Allegra and three of her school friends went skating. It's hard to believe (I know, I know, so cliche) that Allegra is nine. Nine sounded so grown up for Hero. I don't know, though, I still think of Allegra as little. Maybe it's because she isn't pulling away, trying so hard to grow up quickly like Hero was. Allegra still likes to play with little girl stuff and loves to cuddle. I don't know that she, with her special personality, will ever grow out of it.

Photo Bomb

I forgot to post yesterday about my weigh-in. So, how many of you thought that was by design because I'd done bad?? LOL Actually, I did pretty good - I lost 2.4 lbs (exactly the same as last week). I'm a little nervous about this week, just because it'd be hard to sustain those kind of numbers for a third week, I think. But as long as I lose over a pound a week for the first two months I'm okay.


And now for a blitz of Christmas Day pictures - it was hard to pic just a few!