We Shouldn't Be Parents...

 Do you ever think that you shouldn't be a parent? I have thought this to myself quite a few times because of little mistakes I have made here and there, but its those big mistakes that just make you think you are the worst person to be responsible for a child. Sometime around February, Wess and I were getting ready to go to a movie and hand over Isaac to a babysitter for the first time. I was rushing around eating dinner and getting myself ready. Wess was washing dishes when I decided to set Isaac down on the couch and start pumping a bottle for him. When I turned away from Isaac to talk to Wess in the kitchen I heard a loud THUMP and saw a panicked look on Wess' face. Isaac had fallen off the couch onto his back. I rushed to pick him up as he was crying hysterically. He stopped crying shortly after picking him up and we looked over his little body to make sure nothing was wrong and thankfully nothing was. I was so upset at myself and wondering, WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING?!  Letting Isaac lay on the couch so he could roll off! DUH! He has fallen from sitting and hit his head multiple times since, but nothing can compare to what happened today. I always ride my bike to meet Wess for lunch somewhere and today we were meeting at the park for a picnic, but this morning was somewhat of a strange morning and it seemed like so many little things were going wrong along with Isaac being a bit fussy. I was rushing around once again with taking a shower, making sandwiches, and taking care of Isaac. We got everything packed up, on the bike and made our way over to the park. We made it there with a enough time to spare and relax. While Isaac and I were waiting for Wess, we walked down to the river to dip our feet. I let him stand in a very shallow part of the river while holding onto my hands. He always likes to slip out of my hands and try to stand on his own, but he can't stand on his own just yet. When he slips out of one hand I grab onto his other hand. I got a little nervous picturing him fall on the river rocks so I picked him up right when Wess showed up. I handed Isaac to Wess as I made my way up from the river. As we were eating I was feeding Isaac some food when my sandwich fell on the ground and later the Tupperware fell everywhere. It just seemed like all kinds of little things were going wrong. We were eating our lunch in a grassy area, but there were some flat stepping stones around us. Wess was letting Isaac stand between his legs without holding on and he would slightly fall forward as Wess would catch him before falling. I was talking with Wess and distracted him from catching Isaac so he fell on one of the flat stepping stones hitting his mouth. There was blood everywhere, which was a first for Isaac. We couldn't really tell where the blood was coming from so we took him over to the bathroom and cleaned off his mouth. He had bit down on his lower lip, cut his top gum (we are assuming) with his bottom teeth, and scraped his chin a little. I was so worried that there had been some horrible damage to his top teeth because of the blood, but as we wiped the blood away it stopped bleeding and his teeth were right where they were before the incident. Isaac fell asleep on the ride home and woke up happy. I decided we didn't need to go to the doctor and that I would just keep an eye on him. He was back to his normal playful self for the rest of the day and is now sleeping the night away, but it all just made me feel like I shouldn't be a parent; that I shouldn't be responsible for this child. I know I have so much more to look forward to especially because Isaac is a boy, but when he gets hurt I feel like the worst parent in the world and just so sick to my stomach. The joys of being a parent!

(shortly after his fall)

Enjoy Motherhood!

- Momma Root

Get Organized

I love morning walks with Isaac and, as you can see in the photo, he does too. I love to get outside in the morning because the air is so fresh and the sun is so happy and the scenery ain't so bad either. While on one of my walks a couple days ago I was thinking, as I do all the time about way too many things. I didn't really enjoy the walk because my mind was preoccupied with all the stuff I have to get done... make Isaac's food, go grocery shopping, vacuum, do laundry, clean the kitchen and bathrooms, work on Christmas gifts (starting early, I know), take a shower, and the list went on and on in my head. There are times where I feel so overwhelmed that I don't know what to do, so I sleep, haha! I have never been one to organize on paper or be organized at all. I guess you could say that I have had this list in my head and it has always worked... until now! I guess I could blame my forgetfulness on being a mom. Lists not only help forgetfulness, but they help me stay on task, keep my priorities straight, and actually feel like I have more time in the day when I use a list.

To the left is my example of how I might organize my week. Sunday is the only day Wess is free from work so I choose not to do house chores or grocery shopping on this day. Isaac and I just hang with daddy on Sundays. Due to the fact that I am new to being a mommy, it took me a while to come to the conclusion that I need to write things down, not on a napkin, but on paper in an organized list. A couple months back I made a list of house chores that I needed to get done and I got them all done in one day. It was a celebration every time I checked a chore off the list. Though it worked out really well, I did not continue with the list making, but I know I need to because this house is out of control! Usually I sleep during ONE of Isaac's naps, but yesterday I took a nap every time Isaac did taking 6 hours out of my day! Needless to say, things are getting done today and I'm working on making a printable chart for everyday duties. I recommend to all moms if you haven't obtained one already, something of this sort: a day planner, refrigerator calendar, dry-erase board... If I start this habit of making lists now, I believe life will be just a little easier when Isaac is older and we have another child.

Enjoy Motherhood!
Momma Root

Questions of the day:
How do you get organized? What helps you get stuff done?

The B-I-B-L-E

The B-I-B-L-E
Yes that's the book for me
I stand alone on the word of God
The B-I-B-L-E

Children's songs are awesome! I listen to Sunday school songs with Isaac while he is playing not only for him to learn, but for me as well. I don't remember any children's songs because I haven't been involved in Children's ministry for a long time and obviously haven't been a child for a long time. We listen to kids radio on Pandora and I find myself singing those crazy songs at random, but The B-I-B-L-E is on my mind all the time. I realized yesterday morning what I was actually singing and that I probably don't stand alone on the word of God. I tend to find other things to "stand on" for wisdom, strength, and peace. I have been reading the Bible in a Year and a trying to read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Obviously I haven't been reading the Bible every day because I am just now close to finishing Exodus. I get a little selfish at the times I can study God's word and take a nap! Yesterday while Isaac was taking his first nap, I caught myself surfing around on the internet before hanging out with Jesus. Isaac woke up before I was able to open the Word. For some odd reason "The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me..." popped in my head as I was going to get him from his crib. Singing the song gave me the idea that Isaac and I should read the Word together. He is only 8 months old, but when we think babies aren't listening they actually are. As he sat in front of me, with some toys to keep his attention, I read to him Exodus 33 -34 and Psalm 29. He was looking at me the majority of the time and I believe he enjoyed listening to my voice or he was just drawn to the pages of the Bible (he loves to rip things apart).

I read him books all the time ("Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?", "Green Eggs and Ham", "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb", and pretty much all of Dr. Suess), but nothing that takes as long as reading 3 chapters in the Bible and he paid attention! Not only will Isaac possibly gain knowledge from the B-I-B-L-E, but his attention span could be lengthened. My hope is that I raise Isaac to stand alone on the word of God and that we continue reading together.

From our reading, Psalms 29:11 says, "The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace", which is so comforting to hear especially when you are a mom. I need God's strength everyday because when I try to do everything I do on my own strength I get frustrated, overwhelmed, and burned out. I also need the peace of God to help me not worry when Isaac hits his head or runs a fever or has worse problems. Having the peace of God helps me give Him complete control. God is there for you at all times you just need to go to Him and sit at His feet.

Enjoy motherhood!
- Momma Root

Question of the day:
What do you like to read to your child?

Article: Reading Books to Babies