Lately my two year old has been unusually polite. Since she started talking we have tried to get her to say please and thank you, but she has really taken it to the next level. I'll ask her if she wants a drink of water, "no thank you" she replys. Wow! She is really listening, I am a little intimidated by how much she is picking up. I have to really be consciencious about what I say in front of her, we are getting to that age where everything will be repeated. I really want her to have positive things to say!
My baby girl is really starting to be fun. She is 3 1/2 months old and so easy going. She wakes up each morning and coos, and assuming I hear her quickly enough doesn't do too much crying. She has a great big smile for me when I go to get her. It just melts my heart when she smiles at me. I loved when my first child smiled too, but somehow I'm more appreciative of my younger's smiles. I think its because I know that these days of smiling each time we see each other won't last forever and I really need to enjoy them while they are here.
I have been talking to other mom friends, reading stories online or in books about moms and of course talking to family about parenting. The ideas we have to get through to children are so intimidating. God, right and wrong, sin and death for heavy important things, and then there are the basics: reading, colors, names and words in general. I am no expert on these things and it is so important to teach them all these things. They do seem to get some of it though, at a shockingly young age. My toddler loves to learn and ask questions about things and people and especially she loves to tell me whats happening. No wonder she needs a nap every day. Concentrating that hard all day would exhaust anyone!

The PArk

We go walking on the neighborhood greenbelt. Its fun and great exercise, but what I love about it is all the wildlife. My daughter looks at all sorts of animals we would never/almost never see otherwise. She calls out "ducky, are you? Ducky, ducky are you?" I love the excitement of just seeing ducks.
My other daughter is only a few months old, but so easy going. She wakes up such a happy girl. This time around I appreciate the smiles she gives me every time we make eyecontact. It makes me want to snuggle with her and kiss her all over. I can't hardly believe just how trusting and confident they are in me.

Motherhood

Society seems so "me" oriented. Especially in the recent years. Instead of putting family first, moms are told to make ourselves happy first, then worry about the rest of the family. There is definately some merit to our need to be happy and that moms need to take care of themselves (ie not run themselves ragged). However, I think that this self-centeredness is causing moms to not appreciate the good being a mother does. So, I am going to do my best to talk about the positive aspects of being a mother. I want to focus on the positive to help energize myself. I want the positive reflections to encourage me to keep doing my best and work around, over, through, and out of any hardships that are bound to come.