Portsmouth, New Hampshire

This smile is after traveling 10 hours. We left Maryland at 6 am and made it to Portsmouth at 4 pm.




Our next stop was in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We bought Pizza at Portsmouth Pizza! We found another playground just around the corner where our kiddies could stretch their little legs. We met Emily and her Mommy there. Very nice people. Very friendly. We had a long conversation with Emily's Mommy about the weather in New England. Winter was the focal point. It's not that bad. However, if you don't like snow, it's not ideal.

Greenwich, Connecticut

On our way to Maine we stopped off at this really cute park in Greenwich, Connecticut. It is just outside of the New York/ Connecticut line. Very affluent area. Each mom or Nanny parked a BMW SUV, Mercedes Benz SUV, Land Rover, Escalade, or some other high end vehicle. There was even a mom in heals dressed in some designer dress that seemed to be playground specific. Unfortunately, we only found one friendly mom while the others were.. not into socializing. Wired.

The Little Miss

Daryl is into telling stories. Very LONG stories. She is remarkably animated with her facial expressions as she tells her stories. In common conversation, some of her regular phrases are,

"That is kind of Funny"
"I know...:
"Maybe someday we can...that would be cool"
"I'm jealous"
"I have an idea!"
No, no. You can't do that by yourself!" (usually said with a very sad face or in tears)

This is Daryl's second year in preschool and she is a pro. She is also delighted to see her friends again on a more regular basis. Daryl has also made it known to us that she wants to be a doctor and that Spencer wants to be a doctor as well. As if four kids in College at the same time wasn't enough - now Med School!!!

Oh, and she loves to make silly faces for the camera.

Spencer Has Two Teeth

Spencer has two teeth! He has had them for at least a month. He can rotate a full 360 degrees on his bottom or scoot backwards on his tummy. He loves to smile and laugh. He will make it known that he is unhappy when a toy is taken from him. He loves to eat paper. His sister loves to pick him up even though she has been strongly advised NOT to. His oldest brother is very concerned for his welfare and alerts mom when his next oldest sibling is playing too rough. He is loved by all and receives lots of attention. We still consider him to be Mr. Cool, Calm and Collected.

I'm a "Kids First Mom"

This quiz is from "iVillage"

"Kids First Mom"


The results of The Balancing Act indicate that you are a "Kids First Mom." You are the type of mom that chooses to be very involved in your children's life and development. Although you want your children to be independent, you like to have an active role in the decisions and choices your children make. You enjoy planning activities for them to do alone or for you to share. You carefully monitor their choice of TV shows, friends, and extracurricular activities. You are the type of mom that is likely to be homeroom mother, scout leader, Sunday school teacher, or PTA president. You love to be involved all aspects of your children's life, and they love all of the fun you have together! You enjoying running them from practice to practice, fixing their lunches, and being there to welcome them off the bus when they get home from school.

Your children are the most important thing in your life. You are the type of Mom that regardless of whether or not you currently work, you would probably rather be home and a homemaker. You would be happiest being at home, spending all of your time with your children and nurturing your family. You realize that staying home may have some monetary sacrifices attached, but it would be worth it to you.

However, putting your children first can have some negative consequences. If you choose not to work, you may not have the monetary means to provide your children with certain extras like sports, dancing lessons, or scouts. Also if you are the type of mom who becomes so involved in spending so much time with her children, when your child begins to be independent, you may develop the "Who am I?" syndrome. Without your children being the center of your attention, you may have to struggle to regain your identity as a person.

Children of "Kids First" Moms are often very secure and more willing to take risks because they know they have the support of their parents behind them. They often get excellent grades in school because mom is always there to help them study or get their homework done. You really enjoy knowing what they are learning at school. Best of all -- your children are proud you are there and care so much!

There are many resources geared to Kid's First Moms who have younger children. Younger children love being with you, and doing things with you. Children as young as 20 months can "help" pick up toys, clean cabinets, etc. Simple, educational, and fun activities are plentiful on both the Internet, and in bookstores. Other ideas include: libraries, museums, etc., that often have "story times" providing interaction for your child with other children, and also some adult interaction for you. Once your child reaches 2, there are many "Mother's Day-Out" programs that for one-three days a week for several hours, provide both interaction with other children, and a break for you.

Pre-Schoolers are also interested in being with you. As their world expands, so can the activities that you enjoy together. They can be of even more help to you around the house, Children as young as 4 can make up a bed, help with vacuuming the house, etc. There are also online activities and educational software available from approximately 3 and up. Preschoolers love crafts of all kinds, "making things", etc. Again, libraries, museums, etc., offer many programs geared to pre-schooler age, and are a great source of education and interaction with others.

Early school-aged children, while not at home with you all day any longer, also need your help and support. The habits you help them establish in their early school years will be appreciated throughout all their school years. This age child needs structure. Many kids find a well-established routine after school helpful to them. During summer months, a routine of a different nature is usually necessary and helps to ensure a "happier" summer.

These books were selected for your particular type and for excellent resources in general to help you be a better Mom. You can order them online through Online Psych and Amazon.com with complete security. Click on the title for more information (and often reviews of the book):

All Mothers Work: A Guilt Free Guide for the Stay at Home Mom, by Cindy Ramming

20 Teachable Virtues: Practical Ways to Pass on Lessons of Virtue and Character to Your Children, by Barbara C. Unell, Jerry L. Wyckoff

1001 Things to Do With Your Kids,by Caryl Waller Krueger

1001 More Things to Do With Your Kids, by Caryl Waller Krueger

Parenting A to Z : A Guide to Everything from Conception to College, by Irene M. Franck, David M. Brownstone

Parenting With Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility, by Jim Fay, Foster W.

Parenting For Dummies-- the manual that we all wish our kids would have come with!, by Sandra Harding Gookin

Mom! He Hit Me: What to Do About Sibling Rivalry, by Elaine K. McEwan

Solving School Problems: Kindergarten Through Middle School by Elaine K. McEwan

Grasshoppers, Purple Bathtubs, and Other Surprises

A friend shared this with me... very helpful.



By Wanda I. Allen

When our first child was born, I felt confident in my ability to be a good mother. I had studied child development in college, and I was firmly convinced that if I applied scientific principles of child rearing, everything would go smoothly.

As we welcomed four babies into our family during the following six years, I began making discoveries that weren’t in the textbooks. There were some things no one had told me—some important things!

My knowledge of child development had prompted me to welcome the assistance of little helping hands when baking cookies, for instance, but it hadn’t told me how to keep four pairs of hands and feet out of the batter, give everyone a stirring turn, remember to add all the right ingredients, save enough dough to make the cookies, and keep calm all at the same time. That problem was mine to solve.

When, in a day’s time, I was confronted with a crayon-decorated purple bathtub, a pound of margarine smeared on the carpet, a quart bottle full of pears broken on the kitchen floor, and a tearful little boy whose pet grasshopper had escaped, I felt overwhelmed and frustrated.

In the middle of turmoil the answers began to come—not all at once, but little by little, just as the problems had come. When our four-year-old borrowed the wrench and dismantled his tricycle, I was upset and indignant. Questioning him, I received his answer, given in all sincerity: “Well, they shouldn’t make tricycles so children can take them apart!” When I could see humor in the situation, the problem shrank before my eyes.

The morning I found a newly opened box of cereal completely emptied on top of the kitchen counter, I resisted the impulse to scold two-year-old Melody long enough to hear her explanation: “I was just trying to get Heidi some breakfast, and it kept coming out!” A scolding for that episode would have deprived me of seeing a spark of love and kindness being developed in a toddler.

When Curtis broke into his new savings bank, at first I saw only the intent to damage and destroy. After a calm, understanding interview with our son, my husband, Dell, learned that Curtis was simply trying to disprove a statement he had heard—that this bank was one nobody could open. Having proved his point, Curtis hasn’t disturbed the repaired lock since.

I’ve learned some of life’s most valuable lessons from preschool children: to greet each day with enthusiasm and eagerness; to pursue adventure despite obstacles; to delight in new discoveries; to enjoy spontaneous fun; to regard the eating of toothpaste and the emptying of sand-filled shoes on the carpet as minor problems, not major catastrophes.

I had thought my college classes prepared me to control my environment so things would always go smoothly. But I’ve learned that when five children are hungry or tired or both, things don’t go smoothly. When I accept this as an inevitable—even adventurous—part of daily living, I can be more flexible and less demanding. When I can scoop my mud-covered two-year-old into my arms and deposit her into the bathtub for an unscheduled bath—and remain unruffled—I know I’m making progress.

The BLITZ is ON!

"It’s in the doing, not just the thinking, that we accomplish our goals." - Thomas S. Monson

Wow, how many hits over the head does it take for one to finally get the picture? Too many. Oh... where do I begin?

HIT #1

On a pretty consistent or persistent basis, Darrel graces me with useful tidbits. For example:
Overweight and obese women have been told to exercise for 55 minutes per day, five days a week, in order to lose weight.

or

when I belly ache about wanting to go out for date night his suggestion is, "let's go to the gym!"

He's been doing that since I had the boys. They are 2 1/2. No change.

HIT #2

Repeatedly, I look in the mirror and don't really recognize the figure standing before me. When did my face become so ROUND! It use to be long and somewhat slender.

That has been 8 months now. No change.

HIT #3

I would think about my strategy and the idea of a BLITZ would come to mind.

Blitz - concentrated effort: a concentrated effort to get something done.

I kept visualizing myself working out daily, burning a high amount of calories and losing the weight in about three months. Nothing extreme, just a consistent workout and controlled eating habits.

That was months ago. No change.

HIT #4

Reading a friend's blog, she recently turned 30 and looks good for her age and is a mother of five. You wouldn't think she was either. In looking at her and reading that she had been going to gym and working out, I said to myself, "I want to look good for a 31 year old mother of four ".

That was weeks ago. No change.

HIT #5

I bumped into a friend that I haven't seen for a while. For the first time, I thought to myself, "Oh, please don't think I'm pregnant because I'M NOT!" I was embarrassed to walk up to her in fear that she would congratulate me.

That was last week. No change.

HIT #6

I read another friend's blog and she has started running again. I felt all of what she was saying about putting on extra pounds after the kids and not getting rid of it. I thought, "I am a wimp... when did I become a wimp when it comes to physical activity and fitness?" I talk about losing weight but talking about it is doing nothing good for my figure. She recommended a book - Ultra Marathon Man Confessions Of An All-Night Runner by Dean Karnazes. I picked it up from the library.

That was Monday. It started the change.

HIT #7

Darrel and I were unwinding together after a long day and we were talking about a multitude of random things. Michael Jordan was one on our list. As a teenager I idolized Michael Jordan. I had posters of him all over my room, I wore his jersey, I made a leather Chicago Bulls winter coat in my fashion design class and did many other obsessive things. So, tonight when I discovered that Mike and I have something in common... I wasn't exactly flattered. Can you guess what it is? Check out Wikipedia and you'll see.

Hint:
Mike is 6 ft 6 in,
I am 5 ft 9 in,
and we both...

This was tonight. I ran on the treadmill for 55 minutes and I read chapter 1 of Ultra Marathon Man.

Yet another friend (who is doing P90X) told me to visual myself as I want to be. I should even find a picture of someones body and cut out a picture of my head to put on it. If it wasn't so late I would do that right now too.

Here are a few I'm considering:





Florence is pretty inspiring as well...



or this lady...



Point is, I have to stop the thinking and start the doing.
Thursday, July 31 is when I started to change. I hope to see encouraging results by October 31. I'll be keeping a personal log to track my own progress.

Good luck to all of you striving to look, feel and be healthier.

Special thanks to my Husband and all my friends who have inspired me to change and oh, thanks Mike.