Lisa

Monday, March 7, 2011

Photo Challenges

Simple Beauty at The Paper Mama:

Sweet Shot Tuesday at My 3 Boybarians:

Cookies at The Trendy Treehouse:

My photo of Troy was chosen as a favorite at The Trendy Treehouse last week, and my photo of Ella was chosen as a favorite at The Paper Mama. :D

Sunday, March 6, 2011

I Heart Faces: Best Face from February

I love this photo because it captures Ella’s personality perfectly: happy, engaging, a little quirky, sweet, and playful!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Happy 25 Months Ella!

Wow! I’m still getting used to the fact that I have a 2 year old!

You bring a smile to my face everyday with something new you say. Recently you started saying “I need sumthin! (something)” which cracks me up! I love the conversations we have and I love that we can communicate . . . it really is such a blessing. You also continue to love to sing and dance. You often sing “Jesus Loves Me” to Troy and he’ll smile back at you. I must get this on video soon!

Your bed is quite the story. You must have monkey, baby monkey (a baby sock monkey), and Simba when you go to bed. On top of that, you must also have TWO blankets, and you must turn your music on, and pull a little toy that makes music for a minute. You certainly love your bedtime routine.

Your hair is wild, but pretty. It has beautiful curls that I keep thinking are going to fade, but I hope they don't! You love to have your hair put into a "pony" (pony tail) now that it is finally long enough without looking too silly.

You continue to charm everyone . . . all the college students we are around love you, and we are so thankful to have them in your life. You made quite the splash the retreat again this year. At the retreat you discovered the fun game of throwing things into the river, especially rocks. Now anytime we are near a river you insist on throwing a rock in.

I don't even know what to say about your personality. It is so special - easygoing, friendly - yet very certain of what you want and you like to tell us about it. For example, sometimes you insist I take your photo, as well as monkey's photo, and Troy's photo (like in the one below).

You are becoming more and more independent and insistent that you do things by yourself. I'm glad that you have the desire to get things done and to learn how to do things, but I'm also wary of it at times. I know it is part of the growing up process though. I also know that it is only one of the many challenges and blessings that lay ahead.

Ella @ 24 months

2011 Project 365: Week 9

Day 56 (2/26/11):

Day 57 (2/27/11):

Day 58 (2/28/11):

Day 59 (3/1/11):

Day 60 (3/2/11):

Day 61 (3/3/11):

Day 62 (3/4/11):

What is in my camera bag?

I'm linking up with some other Project 365 blogs. Check them out!

Week 8

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Toddler Chores

Even though Ella is only two years old, we’ve already been trying to teach her how to do some chores and how to help out around the house. I want her to learn that it is important to help out within the family, and to learn to do without complaining. I want her to learn to take the initiative when it comes to being involved in taking care of responsibilities around the home. I firmly believe that starting at a young age can help instill the quality of hard work.

We’ve been teaching and encouraging Ella to help out around the house for many months now. I think the first thing we taught her was to take trash to the trash can. At first this involved lots of coaching to keep her on task when she was taking something to the trash can, but now, she’s really good about taking things we ask her to take. She loves to take Troy’s diapers to the trash can – I think she really feels like a big helper when she helps with anything involving Troy.

A large part of this process is training myself to teach her and to have patience with her. Many times it isn’t helpful or useful to me at the moment to get her to do a chore or to help out. Many (or even, most) times it would be easier and faster for me to complete whatever task I’m trying to get her to do, but it is important that she learns to do them, even if it takes longer for something to be completed.

For example, I’ve been teaching Ella to help me pick up her toys. I’ll admit that at first this tested my patience. She would get distracted and play with the toys that were still out or pull toys out that were already put away, but now she does great helping me put the toys up. In fact, it is actually helpful to me if she helps put the toys up!

My husband came across a link on Focus on the Family the other day describing age-appropriate chores. I found it to be a very informative article. Although I don’t agree with everything on the Focus on the Family website (especially concerning teaching on faith that is not in accordance with God’s Word in all areas), it can be a very useful resource in parenting!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

“I do it SELF!”

Ella has always been independent, but in these past couple of weeks she’s started expressing it in a different way. The phrase “I do it self!” has become a regular part of her everyday speech. Whether she is trying to take off her shoes, put food on her fork, put on her panties, get her milk out of the bag, brush her teeth, or read a book she’s determined to do it herself. Although some tasks she is certainly capable of completing, there are others with which she still needs help. I’ll ask her if she needs help, and she’ll promptly respond “I do it SELF!”

Seeing Ella’s attitude reminded me of a mindset that I need to avoid in my own life. I need to be careful that I don’t think that I can do everything by myself. I can’t, and I shouldn’t try to do everything by myself. I need to put my life into God’s hands. I must trust in Him as Proverbs 3:5 states: “Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” I must be careful to avoid the self-centered and haughty attitude that says, “I don’t need God.” As Jeremiah 10:23 states: “Oh Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”

Thankfully, after Ella tries to do something a few times, and realizes that she needs help, she’ll request help: “I need help!” Part of the growing up process for her is to learn to trust in her parents, and to learn to ask for help. I need to learn the same thing as a child of God. I need God’s help. I need to rely on Him. I need to realize that I am nothing apart from Him. I cannot do it by myself.