Holding Grudges

I thought of this in the shower this morning and just had to write it down. The thought came due to a current spat in the family but I have yet to voice it:

Holding a grudge is like scratching an itch. You have that irritating itch and the only enjoyment you can give it is to scratch, even though you know you shouldn't.

You scratch, and scratch, and scratch...until finally the itch is now a gaping hole in your body, bleeding.

Now you know it is going to leave a scar, and some people like that. Me, on the other hand, has had plenty of scars in the past to want to deal with another.

Think about it.

Sleep, sleep...Please Sleep.

So far I have learned several different ways of getting a baby to sleep. The most unpleasant way, which you do have to do sometimes, is lay the already-sleepy bundle in his crib and sit close by until he drifts off in sobs. I hate doing that, but won't enforce it every night until he's older.

My favorite I have learned myself. This takes some time but it is quite amusing: Carter's last bit of energy before falling off to sleep is in his arm (whichever is free when I am holding him), so he is waving it around furiously, eyes closed, body limp, but his arm is a-going trying to stay awake. I carress his face which automatically relaxes me so he gets annoyed with my efforts and uses his waving free hand to grab ahold of mine and take it off his face. While he has my hand I force his down to my chest and keep it there until he wriggles it free and starts waving it around again. There begins a game of starting over the sequence until he just gives up his tired arm and drifts off.

Another fun one is leaning close to his ear, as he is nestled in my arm and against my chest, and whisper softly about....well, anything. Afterall, he is only just begun to learn words...who cares what you're talking about? Just be positive, he can sense your moods. Don't raise your voice above a soft whisper just because he's screaming. When he stops to take a breath he will hear the soft sound of your voice and soon quiet so he can hear what you're saying. Usually, when he's hooked he will stay that way until he's out.

Other small things you can try, you may already know: a fan going for white noise, a list of lullabies or just one if he really likes it (I'll write the lyrics to Carter's favorite at the bottom), one designated rocker or chair for cuddling with Mama (or Daddy). Do you have any other ideas?

Our family lullaby: Author unknown.

You're my honey-bunch, sugar plum
Yummy-yummy yumchkin.
You're my sweetie-pie.
You're my cuppy-cake, gum drop, snoogly-snookim
You're the apple of my eye!

(And I add this part)
The appel of my eye. The apple of my eye.
I will love you 'till I die
Because you're the apple of my eye!

Improved AVO-NANA Recipe

Have you read through the first recipe with this name? I made some changes that I for one enjoy a lot better. The other smoothie was just a little too rich for me.

First, instead of one frozen banana you have two. Then mash only 1 avocado and add to it about 3 teaspoons of sugar and a squeeze of half a lime (try to get all the juice from it). Thirdly, add the bananas to the avocado mix plus a splash of vanilla soy milk, as much as you desire it to be soupy. Last thing to do is blend everything together and serve while it's still cold. Yummy!

This one was sooooo much better. Try it!

For Laughs

Do you know why a mother's skin is so perfect for her baby? It gets a milk bath every day!

The Natural Teether

My 5month old son has got his first tooth...it just broke through! Now his second is on it's way. I can see it peeking. He has a hard time with the toy teether we have for him. He just can't seem to hold onto it very well. Then one day he was reaching for my snack apple and I let him suck the juice after I took a bite, and I got an idea.

We started him on apple juice just a week before he turned 5 months and he loves it. So, I started slicing apples into wedges big enough that he won't choke and small enough for him to grasp and fit into his little mouth. He's having a great time with his sweet mouth toys! I could even hear him chomping down on the the tender innerds of the wedges. He is not taking chunks out of it, but I am seeing it as great training for his chewing muscles!

Also, we let him know that we are enthusiastic about his teeth. That makes him happy. He wines and puts his fingers on where it hurts, but we praise him (or his healthy body that God gave him) for growing that pearly white! That makes him smile.

I use a baby gum and tooth brush already for him. Boy, does he like that!

Taste for the Health Nuts

AVO-NANA SMOOTHIE

1 1/2 ripe acocados

1 peeled and frozen banana

a squeeze of lime

a cup or more of soy milk

intructions:

1. chop up fruit into bit size pieces and mix until it's slightly blended

2. squeeze in some lime juice to keep it from getting brown

3. use a mixer or blender and cream together the ingredients

4. add soy milk (as much as you desire)

5. mix once more and now you have your smoothie

Carter-video

http://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&tab=wm#inbox/120df51082414133