A little catch up

Yes I know we are terrible at posting. I started working in May and am using that as my excuse, while in reality its more me than my job that is the reason. We call our blog a pocket reference because we prefer to be brief. We have frankly taken that too far.

So...our summer.

May: Mike finished classes and I started working as a clinical dietitian at Porter Adventist Hospital. I love it because being a religious facility, it has statues of Christ and scriptural references in all its decor. Its mission is to extend the healing ministry of Christ. Plus, being adventist they serve lost of vegetarian fare which has partly inspired me to to semivegetarian eating (they actually are calling it flexitarian now- more on that later). It has been much harder than I expected to train and learn the job, but am starting to feel more competent.

In June went to Las Vegas for a wedding and we blessed Aubrey there. My parents even flew out for the blessing so we got to see Mikes family and my parents. It was a real treat. We all slept in one room which was interesting. It worked out for the most part, except a couple incidents of a not sleepy Elena who decided to change Aubrey's diaper only to realize she could take it off yet not put one on. During a nap, a not so sleepy Elena snuck out and covered herself in soap as is she were putting lotion and hair conditioner on. It is true that boredom breeds mischeif

July: For the 4th we did fire works. Surprisingly Aubrey loved it while Elena became terrified and begged to leave. It was probably better. She has gone to the bathroom before we left and when we arrived for fireworks we found her going commando, in a dress. Trying to keep an active two year old modest that way is impossible. We also found an awesome park that has a stream running through, a petting zoo and train rides. The park is free but it was 1.50 for the train and zoo. Totally worth it and soo much fun. They even had bouncy stuff just because it was the 4th.


No that one is not my kid- we took Elena's friend Catherine with us


On the side we have been trying not to kill Elena for peeing all over the floor (I promise we aren't hard on her-she has been potty trained for almost a year), and I have been trying not to gag from the pee smell in her room. FYI- baking soda is amazing. We carpet cleaned once which didn't help much but a friend recommended baking soda (hello- why did I not think of that before?). We dumped 2 big boxes on the floor and let is sit for hours and it greatly improved it. I revoked my ban on not allowing anyone to come over due to odor issues. Maybe we will make some friends now haha.

Here are a few fun pictures...

I think I want to make a shirt that says love the chub with her picture on it. So cute- and I actually love that she sucks her thumb, I think is makes her cheeks stick out more.

Perspective

Recently I have had some flash backs from my childhood, but now I am the mom and I can see Elena just as I was as a child. This has done two things for me. First, I have a great deal more sympathy and understanding for why my parents did some of the things they did. For example, why my parents made us eat our dinner off the floor once, and of course there is the dinner for breakfast if you don't finish it. I don't remember why I ate dinner off the floor, but I am sure it was provoked by something. Regardless, I myself have contemplated the same tactics I because sometimes I feel as though I have tried everything else and am willing to try almost anything just to teach Elena a lesson. Things I thought were mean of my parents to do, I now see some rational behind them. No my parents were not mean or crazy, they were normal. I have been much more forgiving of my parents as I find myself battling the same things.

The second, and more powerful thing I have learned is that as a child you do not remember what you do to provoke your parents, all you remember is how they react. I know children still need to understand what behaviors are acceptable and not, but I am completely convinced it is so much more important to react properly because that is what sticks with them when they get older. How I live my life is the greatest teaching tool. Even if other parents look at my children and see all sorts of behaviors they wouldn't tolerate, it doesn't matter. Let others think what they want to think. What matters is that I am a constant and righteous example.

Now that I have this perspective lets see if I can apply it...

Sisterly love

Tell us, do we watch too much WWF?