This Just In: Daffodils Sprout in West Lafayette

Spring has sprung in West Lafayette and all is right with the world. I would venture to say that we live in the best neighborhood in America. We love it. It is not a huge neighborhood, but is full of wonderful, interesting people. It is the kind of place where you have to exercise early in the morning or in the middle of the day. If you attempt to get any exercise in the evening, you will find yourself taking many, many breaks to talk to friends and their children. We picked a great house and we wound up with phenomenal neighbors: priceless. There are TONS of kids in The Orchard and our kids our so lucky to have so many people to play with. It is ideal. If anyone had visited our neighborhood in Indianapolis, you will understand how grateful we are to live in such a terrific place.

Spring has led us to be outside almost constantly and even Sawyer doesn't fight about getting dressed and wearing shoes. Aaaahhhh, Spring. I am so glad that you are here. It has been a very long winter, locked up with an infant and a 2-year old. New spring pics courtesy of my new camera.

Children's Museum Fallout

The past two Fridays, I have put aside my anxiety about taking all three of my children out together and put myself to the ultimate test. I took all three to the Children's Museum of Indianapolis. When we lived in Indy, we visited weekly. Now that we live in West Lafayette, it is a day trip in a car that is far too small for all of my kids. The trip is complicated by having to nurse a six-month old while trying to keep tabs on my two other little explorers, and any mother who has breastfed will understand that trying to run after a two-year old with a baby on your breast is not easy. Especially when there are inquisitive children as far as the eye can see.

Surprisingly, my kids were great. They had a terrific time. I had a terrific time. The baby was an angel and Sawyer remained dry on the long drive to and fro...both times. Of course, the other wonderful thing about the Children's Museum? It is absolutely exhausting for children. They get to touch, play, splash, sift, run , clap, dance, sing, dress up, mold clay, dig for dinosaur bones, pee on miniature potties, wash hands in miniature sinks, ride the merry-go-round and, when the DeWitts' visit, eat a big cookie on the way out. (The cookie thing is the only way to get the kid from the museum to the car without tears shed.) The past two Fridays, I have spent the long ride back to West Lafayette basking in the glory of managing my three kids effectively under such duress. Due to the Children's Museum exhaustion, I was able to ride in complete silence while I drank a celebratory 20 oz. Diet Coke and ate a giant chocolate chip cookie. Aaahhhh, the sweet taste of success.

Six years of....

Last week, Jason and I celebrated six years of wedded bliss. Really. We are truly happily married and I am grateful every day to have married such a good man. The past six years have been the best of my life that I can remember. (I'm sure being a baby/toddler was pretty cool.) I want to list some of the great things about the past 6 years:

1. Knowing that I met the "one" within hours of meeting him.



2. Finding someone with the same twisted mind.



3. Looking at my husband each day and knowing that he is the one for me.



4. Our shotgun wedding.



5. All three of our beautiful, fun and ornery children.



6. Growing up together in so many ways.



7. Successes and failures, all leading to what we are today.



8. Knowing our level of comfort and love.



9. Looking forward in the same direction, almost always.



10. Laughter, laughter, laughter.
    

I am so lucky. Here are some celebration pics. Flowers by Jason. Cake by Madeline.

The Prince

We often refer to Eamon as "the prince" around here, as he is spoiled rotten...by his mommy. I just love that little baby boy and he endears himself to me almost every moment of his existence. I think I know, somewhere in my unconscious that he is my last baby. Therefore, I dote on him in the most ridiculous ways. Honestly, before the prince was born I was worried (that if he did turn out to be a boy) that his Daddy would focus on him to the exclusion of his darling daughters, leaving them feeling slighted and resentful. Wow. I was so wrong. I am the doter. Such a doter in fact, that I let the little prince eat his cereal off of my finger because he prefers it. He doesn't love the cereal and he doesn't like the spoon however, if he is given the nasty stuff on my finger, he laps it up. He is his Mommy's baby all over. Jason tries to feed him with a spoon, and I have to butt in and stick my finger in his mouth, perpetuating this ridiculous behavior. If you hear me complain that my son is "overly attached" or that I "can't go anywhere", you have full permission to laugh in my face and let me know that it is my own damn fault.

Fililal Therapy

In our constant efforts to raise a kinder, gentler Sawyer, I have retreated back to my graduate school training in Play Therapy. Now, much of Play Therapy is really common sense. A therapist will engage in various types of play with a child, constantly giving unconditional positive regard for all appropriate behavior, consistently tracking and reflecting feelings and actions so that the child feels as though he or she is the center of the universe. This type of Play Therapy would be referred to as "child-centered" and is a favorite of play therapists, especially with young children.

When a therapist sends a child home from therapy with his or her caregiver, the therapist might suggest some "Filial Therapy"; a process by which the parent engages in activities similar to those mentioned above. This type of therapy is said to build trust and help strengthen the bonds between parent (or caregiver) and child. This is what I am trying with Sawyer. She gets to be the center of the universe, as often as possible from 12:30 to 1pm daily. This type of therapy helps parent and child relate to each other ONLY over things that are fun such as playing dolls or painting. Sawyer loves it. I love it. We are bonding. The goal is that our bond will strengthen and the outcome will be deeper trust, love and of course: BETTER BEHAVIOR! I'll keep my fingers crossed daily for that wonderful half hour. Here are some shots of the projects we created today. We especially like to glue (Sawyer says boo) things that are edible.

Wacky Wednesday!

Just givin' props to the Dr. today. Dr. Suess that is. Schools all around the country love to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday in style by reading books, donning hats and, yes dressing crazy on Wacky Wednesday. Following yesterday's exciting "silly hat day", Madeline was instructed to come to school today with her clothes on backwards or inside out and to make even her hair "wack." No problem here, we love wacky! As many of you know, the girls barely ever let me do a thing with their hair and generally look like ragamuffins each day. However, since wacky hair was the prescription, Madeline was game. Of course, in true "monkey see, monkey do" fashion Sawyer wanted her mop wack as well. Here are some shots of wacky Wednesday. I think the kids were even wackier as a result of the cabin fever that is running rampant through the midwest!