No Wonder Kid Three is Confused

What is it about being a baby or toddler that makes people want to call you by something other than your real name?

I don't get it either but that's the way it goes. Kid Three, in his short 22 months of breathing, has already sported many 'a nickname.

"Toot" - The Foxy Mr. has always called him this. No one knows what it means. He didn't "earn" this name the way it implies.

"Puppy" - This is perhaps the most fitting. He follows his brothers around like a puppy. He will fetch whatever they tell him and he adores them so much I wouldn't be surprised if he licked them, given the chance.

"Monkey Boo" - I usually only call him this when I'm trying to catch him... as in "come here you little monkey boo." No, I have no idea what that means. I probably picked this one up from my sister or something --sounds like a name she would use.

"Munkin" - One of my favorites. One day I attempted to call him a monkey but then my brain tried to say Pumpkin. It came out Munkin. He hears this if he is being mischievious.

"Little Buddy - With 2 older brothers and a dad who adores him, you need no more explanation.

"Baby" - Because NO ONE wants to see him grow up too fast.

"Bug Chum" - The latest one to make the list. I'm watering plants for a friend out of town. There are wapillions of mosquitos in her backyard. Puppy was helping me but by the time he went to bed he had huge red bumps all over his face and arms. Poor little bug chum.

"Kid Three" -Although we never really say this one out loud. It's his "tri-dub identity" to protect his little baby self.

What about your kids? Do you have a favorite nickname for your youngins? Do tell.

This Almost Made Me Want Another Baby

Friday morning, back porch with coffee, floors already mopped, laundry done, quick review of my favorite blogs, and baby eating a "nan na."

I said it almost made me want another.

The scenery wasn't as nice when the nan na was gone.

*Cue crying toddler*

When You Shouldn't Let Him Lead

My Bible Study group is amazing, so it's no surprise we had an amazing discussion about marriage this week. It reminded me of something I've tried to practice over the last several months.

Not following my husband's lead. (Take it easy lady, in the small country church. Let me explain.)

Now before I go on, I'm going to make one thing very clear. The Foxy Mr is awesome. He is the steadiest person I know. I always know what I can expect from him - and that spells LOVE to a girl who delights in security and dependability. And he's human, like the rest of us. There. Let's move on.

When things happen that can twist your nerves like a ball of string in a dryer
Like a tough day at work
Or the kids' incessant bickering
Or an electric bill that is astronomical
Or just an "off" day from lack of sleep
Or any other event that can make you want to roll your eyes back in your head...way back.

When stuff like that happens and his mood is a little off, I am careful not to follow. I try not to take it personal. If I do, I end up mirroring the frustration or irritation and then the whole house is off kilter - and the kids wonder what in the world is going on! I don't dismiss his concerns, but I know how important it is to set the tone in the house. I do whatever I can to keep positive and give him space (and pray for him). He bounces back much quicker than I do!

Happy people are more fun to be around. Knowing that fuels my effort to look on the bright side of things and to keep my chin up. And to smile more at him when he isn't having the time of his life. (Cause the Foxy Mr definitely makes me happy, even when my world is on fire.)

Ladies, do you need to stop following his lead (or someone else in your house) on this one? Do you set the tone for a nice evening with a smile, kind word or encouragement to your husband when he walks in the door? Or do you join the crowd when he comes home grumpy from a bad day?

It's hard to stay in a bad mood when you're around happy people that love you.

Thankfully he does not follow MY lead when I'M grumpy. (or when I'm in the passenger seat of the car but that's a totally different blog post...)

Reason #1682 I love him big.

Maybe it's NOT that complicated

The Foxy Mr and I had some good car time this weekend. Driving through the hills of Missouri we found ourselves analyzing, and well yes, critiquing some of God's creative work.

"It's crazy how complex everything is," I say. "I mean, consider how the body works, all the details and systems, the plants, and nature, and how everything works together. It's so complicated."

"Maybe it's not THAT complicated." he says to me after a couple of miles of silence. "Maybe our mind is just so limited that it seems complicated to us. Maybe you're looking at it wrong."

Of course.

I love simple truths. I often find myself looking at things wrong. I get overwhelmed easily and start to feel the pinch of stress when I think my calendar and clock are bossing me around. Praise Him that the things I see as complicated -- organizing my life, raising my kids, serving my family -- He sees as not that hard to handle.

Thank you, Father, that your ways are higher than mine. When I can't see past the visible, remind me you are more capable than anything I can imagine. It's NOT that complicated...for You.

Uh-oh

Yes, this blog looks whacked. I can't take the design any longer so I'm trying to figure out how to download a new one. I probably just messed it up for good. :)

Maybe by next week I'll figure out the "simple and easy free template." whatev.

Maybe.

Locked in the car

It gets hot this time of year in Edmond. It gets hot early and quick.

Especially inside a locked car. ... says Kid Three.

Last week I was in a hurry when I jumped out of the car. I opened the door, pressed the L button rather than the U button. Door locked. I knew immediately when the door shut Kid Three was in trouble. 38 seconds later tiny sweat beads adorned my favorite baby nose.

9-1-1, what is your emergency?

I locked my baby in the car. I'm in the driveway of a friend's house, about 1/2 mile from the fire department. Can someone help me quick? He's 21 months old.

We have an officer and a locksmith dispatched. He will be there in a minute. (or whenever he feels like it)

5 minutes. Kid Three is amused by the faces I'm making through the window.

10 minutes. I am sweating because it's hot on the outside of the car - but Kid Three is laughing at his brother playing peek-a-boo.

15 minutes. His hair is all wet and he looks sleepy.

Still no officer.

20 minutes. Kid Three begins to say "Juuuuuuuice" and pull at his seat belt.

No help has arrived. I kind of start to panic. Are they WALKING here?

22 minutes and the locksmith and the police finally show up and to liberate my baby from the '98 Ford Expe-sauna. (The Invisible me slapped both of them for taking so long, but that's beside the point.) The locksmith apologetically collects his $780/hour. I give the little refugee a drink and take him into the air conditioning. All better. Free. Safe.

Please make a note: If you get out of your car, get your keys. Playing this little 9-1-1 game is both frightening and expe-hen-sive. You've been warned.

Sorry Kid Three. My bad. It won't happen again.

I'm in love with my fabric softener so I have to do this...

It began with a free sample of this: Downy Total Care. It smells SO GOOD. Olfactory bliss, no lie. It's the kind of smell that makes you double-sniff when you wake up to turn over at night. Dee-lish.

But they are not giving this stuff away. And the Foxy Mr. won't increase my grocery/household budget just because I've got a new love affair with fabric softener. (men...)

Lucky for me, my MIL recently introduced me to the idea of making my own laundry detergent. I agreed to the adventure because I thought it would be fun to try. Little did I know it would be so CHEAP and EASY. With my homegrown soap I can eliminate the $15 bottle of Tide and keep buying Downy.

And lucky for you, I'm going to share the love so you can continue to buy YOUR favorite fabric softener too!

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HOMEMADE LIQUID LAUNDRY SOAP

You need: Fels-Naptha bar soap, Borax, Washing Soda, Water, 5-gallong bucket with a lid

1. Grate the bar of soap and add to a saucepan with about a quart of water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. I used Fels-Naptha bar soap. The recipe says you can use Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soap. This is found at Ace Hardware (in Edmond).

2. Fill a 5-gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, 1/2 cup Borax and 1 cup washing soda (both found in the laundry or cleaning aisle at the store). Stir well until all the powder is dissolved. Fill the bucket to the top with more hot water. Let it sit overnight to thicken.

 

3. The next day the "concoction" will be somewhat of a gel. You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. (Examples: Lavender, rosemary or tea tree oil).

4. Use about 1 cup for a top load machine.  With that kind of value, I can afford my beloved Downy Total Care.

For Real This Time

Every week when I see my BSers I say the same thing... (that's "Bible Study girls" for my two last readers who haven't yet removed me from their Reader list...) I say, "That's it! I'm getting back on my blog...Twitter...and Facebook." And really, I only mean it for about 6 minutes.

I've.been.busy.

Busy moving...twice. Busy with an amazing ministry conference for single moms... Busy raising little world-changers. And laundry. (Their pants just keep getting bigger and taking up more space in the washer!!)

Today is one of the few days in the last several weeks I've sat alone with my 'puter on the sofa to read some of my favorite blogs. I cautiously clicked on my Google Reader for fear of how many posts it would show I have to read. I guess it resets once it hits 10,000 because I only had 43 on the list... Wow, I've missed a lot! Y'all are funny and thought-provoking. What have I done without you all for the last 90 days?

So, I mean it this time. I will now return to my regularly scheduled spontaneity. (What?)