'Tis the season to be grateful.

The Christmas season is upon us. This year I am especially grateful to have our little girl celebrating the season with us. She is a sweet, precious, angel clearly gifted to us from the heavens. I am SO SO grateful that she is here and in good health. Such a happy, smiley baby and I'm so proud to be her Momma. She's only been with us four and a half months but I can't imagine our lives without her. It feels like she's always been here, part of our family. Ian loves her too. He calls her 'his baby' and gives her too tight hugs and big kisses.

I feel so blessed. Wishing you and yours the best of the holiday season. xoxo

Ian and Ave

Avery 4 months

Bad day - good day

I've been crafting this post in my head these last few days (ok, maybe weeks). About how hard life can be. How difficult mothering is at times. How TIRED I feel most days. Yesterday was a BAD day. I was not the best of mothers yesterday for many reasons. By the end of the day I was in complete and utter despair ... and yet, today was a much, much better day. Just like that -from dark and bleak to light and hopeful (probably something to do with not allowing the consumption of any Halloween candy today). Then I read this blog post: http://thehappiestmom.com/?p=898 (via Soule Momma blog) and it rang true for me.

I have been giving a lot of thought to what makes people positive vs. negative (genetics? upbringing? can you change yourself if you're a half empty kind of person? If yes, how?). I'm reading a book right now call the optimistic child. It talks about how to inoculate children from depression. I've only just started reading it but it is interesting.

So that's it. No ranting and raving today. Just quiet gratitude for a good day.

Halloween is in the air!

Parenting

Being at home with Ian full time has been eye opening. Spending time with him 24-7 is fun, tiring, and many times incredibly challenging. I have been reading a lot of books on discipline lately. Mostly out of desperation because frankly, I have been really struggling in the last few months to find an effective way to get his cooperation. The best books to date have been:

1. Secrets of discipline by Ronald G. Morrish. This book is very easy to read and very practical. It explains in a very clear way why rewards and bribery etc don't work. This book made me realize that I should not have to beg, plead or brib my child to listen to me. I am the parent, the adult and that is reason enough for him to listen to me (as long as my requests are reasonable).

2. 'How to talk so children listen and listen so children talk' and 'Liberated Parents, Liberated Children' by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. These two books were very, very powerful. I wish all parents would read these books.

I've noticed that since reading these books things have slowly been getting better. I find myself enjoying my time with Ian more. That's a really great feeling because there is nothing worst than the feeling of not wanting to be around your own child.

10 weeks

I have a lot to say about how the last 10 weeks have changed me. Changed my family. How spending 24-7 with little people has taught me so much about myself and my kids. But there isn't much time these days to type. So for now there are pictures.