Max On Life by Max Lucado

If you are a busy mom like I am, then sitting down to read a book cover to cover just doesn’t happen. In fact, reading more than a few pages at a time isn’t always an option either. With “Max on Life” you can read a page at a time and not miss a beat. This aspect stands out to me because it is simply the only way I get to do any reading…one page at a time.

“Max on Life” is a collection of questions that Max has been asked and the answer he has given along with many scripture references to back up what he writes. His position as Pastor and writer has invited some really unique questions. Some of these questions I have wondered about myself and others were new and intriguing. Each answer was well thought out and each scripture reference really gave an opportunity to expand your reading experience.

The book is separated into categories covering many life topics such as relationships, parenting, death, doubt, etc. Then each category is filled with questions regarding that topic and Max’s answer. Best part is you can pick a topic and then a question so you are reading what pertains to your situation. Or (if you have time) read it cover to cover for a great spiritual experience.

Samuel turned one

The candles have been blown out, the balloons are deflated, and family has gone home. Samuel's first birthday celebration has officially ended and I can finally relax and look back at his first year of life and look forward to the years to come.

It does seem like I just had him but that is because labor, delivery and his first days of life are memories I refuse to let fade. This year has been long, productive, and exciting. Some days were just us getting by and others were filled with outings, friends, and new adventures.

I am more excited for what toddlerhood holds then I am sad about no longer having a "baby". He is learning so much every day, there is no time to be sad. For that matter I won't write about all the things he has done this past year since most of you have either seen it for yourself or heard me talk endlessly about it. So, I want more so to focus on the now and what is to come.
Development- As of now Samuel has a large vocabulary for a one year old;
Ma-ma
Da-da
Na-Na
wow
uh-oh
meow
hi
woof
moo
ball
bird
this (often said "wsthis" meaning "what's this")
and that's the order he said them all. I didn't realize how many there were untill just now...wow! He is quit the chatter box when he wants to be and often refelcts my jestures and sounds. He also has learned to shake his head yes and no but often combines the too and looks likie a bobble head...it's hysterical. Cognatively he is making leaps and bounds. Physically he is still a peanut and sees no need for walking. Sam and I were "walking" him yesterday and he just looks too small to be walking alone. But all it will take it letting go of one hand and he will be off. I wonder where he will go first. I really do look forward to chasing after him despite all the negative things I hear.

Eating habits of a one year old - Samuel is still nursing..often (thank you to my other nursing mommy friends who support us in our choice to breastfeed past 12 months). Along with that he is eating three meals a day and a snack. It seems that our entire day revolves around food either being cooked or eaten. Right now his top food choices are; capers, cottage cheese, rice, chicken soup, salmon (any fish really), lentils, scrambled eggs, and pasta with marinara sauce. These are just his favorties, he loves almost anything...except birthday cake of any kind. Find by me. Infact, his excellent eating habits have inspired Sam and I to make many changes in our diets.

Friends and favorites - Samuel is charmer, gaining the attention of store clerks, waiters/waitresses, cashiers, and complete strangers everywhere we go. But when his friends are around (ie. little ones close to his age) he doens't seem phased...and neither do they. I do look forward to the days when he specifically asks for his friend Jayden to come over. However, he may request a visit from Juliet becuase he has a little crush on her Mommy.

Toys for boys - Any kind of ball or anything resembling a ball is the toy of choice. It's even better if it's a toy that involves the use of many balls so then he can hold one in his hand and play with the others. We thought it was appropriate to have a baseball themed birthday party for him complete with peanuts and crackerjacks...it was a big hit (pun intended).

Potty time - I know I've been talking about it so much but I am super proud. Samuel is still using the potty daily and I am still handing out stickers....and picking them off my feet later.

I have learned so much in the past year from this little person and am so amazed at how much he has learned. I lookforward to all the excitment this next year holds. I don't care to hear antying about terrible twos becasue I refuse to go into that time with a rotten outlook. So far this method has proved well.

Stickers, stickers everywhere!

I just picked yet another sticker up off the floor. As I unstuck it from itself I couldn't help but smile.
Lately I have been pulling stickers off the bottoms of my socks, peeling them off the rug, scraping them off the side of various pieces of furniture, and I believe I removed one from the fluffy cat’s tail. Each time I find one of these once loved but quickly forgotten about mementos my heart melts a little more. I smile, sigh, and find a place to display the little reminder of how much my little boy has learned and grown in the past year.
I imagine that in most homes stickers are forbidden for anyone under the age of five for the reasons I mentioned above. I also imagine you are waiting for me to explain why I so much enjoy finding them all over my house.
Samuel LOVES stickers. We discovered this some time ago and after a few tries he learned not to eat them. He loved them so much that I thought it best to put them away and use them as a reward sometime in the future. As most of you know we recently bought Samuel a potty and began the attempt of potty training early (for those that don't know, we started a few weeks ago, around 11 months). After his first success I decided he needed something special.... A STICKER! He loved it. He stuck it on his leg, held it between his fingers, talked to it, and brought it to lunch. Unfortunately that particular sticker didn't survive lunch. I was bummed that I couldn't save it as a reminder that he actually used the potty but I figured he earned it and could do with it what he wanted (except eat it) and in the years to come there would be plenty of opportunities to hand out stickers. I never thought I would have so many opportunities in the next few weeks.
Since then he has earned at least a dozen stickers for making pee-pees in the potty. I am so proud of him and that is why I smile when I see these stickers, even if they are plastered to my laminate flooring and need a warm compress to remove. I even had to pull one out of the pee filled potty but I did it with pride. My little boy, at 12 months old can now use the potty regularly at least once a day!
A side note; I hesitated blogging about this. I know some will read it and make snide remarks. I have heard it all before regarding my choice to cloth diaper, make my own baby food, and breast feed until he self weans. After more thought I figured those people should stop reading my blog because I plan on there being many more posts bragging about his accomplishments.

THE RSVP

RSVP (invitations), request for responses
Etymology
From the French RSVP, répondez s'il vous plaît, meaning “reply please”.

My mother was always one to RSVP within days of receiving an invitation. She thought it impolite to wait and unacceptable to not RSVP at all, so I followed suit. I was never quite sure what "RSVP" stood for but I always knew what it was asking of me. I didn't get the chance to personally request others RSVP until I was 24 and hosting an anniversary party for my parents. The RSVPs came in promptly and all were in before the requested date. (I should note that the majority of the guests were my parent’s age.) The party was perfect. Years later I once again would be asking for an RSVP to a party I was hosting but this time the guest list had a different look. It was a much younger crowd. The RSVP dead line date was drawing nearer and many of the guests hadn't responded. It was right there on the invitation, clear as day, along with the proper contact information. I panicked. "The invitations never got there", was my first thought. I began calling guests and was a bit put off by what I found. The invitations had been delivered but the RSVP was ignored. After making some phone calls and hearing many half hearted apologizes and excuses I came up with a tentative head count (something that is very important when ordering food, planning seating, or preparing gifts for guest.) I became bitter by the lack of respect for the RSVP and began to question if it was something personal. (Unfortunately for them, but thankfully for my feelings, I later found that some others had the same problem.) The party went well and, to my surprise, some guests who didn't RSVP showed up.
Now, as I prepare for my son Samuel's first birthday party I also prepare myself for the dreaded RSVP...or lack thereof. I decided to be proactive and have begun to inform guests of the party two months in advance. I am getting creative with goodies for the kids so as not to be left with bunches of goody bags or worse, not enough. I have planned a menu that will be easy to expand on short notice. I even booked a venue that will comfortably accommodate any amount of people that may show up unexpected. I am also contemplating having the invitations read “Please, please, please RSVP” but that may be pushing it. So, I can only wonder, has the RSVP become a lost art for my generation?


Another thought (and possible next blog); Are “Thank you” cards no longer expected? For what occasions are they a must and when are they just not necessary?

This Week’s Small Change

This Week’s Small Change
(the link that got this blog post written)

I love the concept of "simplicity" especially as it is put by "Simplicity Parenting".
Sam and I have decided to keep gift giving simple by applying the following gift giving rules;
1. 3 gift limit. This rule made shopping fun because I got to pick something special for Samuel just from me. Sam also picked out a special gift for Samuel and we both agreed upon the third. For each other we set a one gift limit and under $10 (for this year). That is a real challenge; we will definitely be applying rule number 2 for this Christmas.
2. Make the presents! Making a present, re-gifting, doing something, or selling/trading something of your own to get something for someone else makes it so much more personable and so much easier on the wallet. We will only apply this to the immediate family so don't worry friends, your little ones will get real presents from us on their birthdays :)
3. Buy it for someone else. When Samuel (and our future children) is old enough to make a list of what he wants we hope to have him purchase a thing or two from the list and then donate it. I recently sent my sister something for her birthday that I would have loved to keep for myself and it felt great to send it to her instead.

So why am I blogging this? Pretty much to hold myself to it! This is something I have always felt strongly about but for some reason held off on applying until we had a baby (and coincidentally this is the same year we have not a penny to spare on gift giving).

2011 will be the year of simplifying for me... I can already feel the weight lifting from my shoulders.

Zoo

We are going to the Zoo today and renewing our membership. I am super excited knowing that we can once again go to the zoo any day/time they are open even if we haven't a dollar to spare (that is most days). I <3 Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens....and so do the Sams.

It's the little things

Lately my husband has been bringing Samuel into the bathroom when I am showering and lifting him up over the curtain so all I see is his sweet face.

Samuel has been grabbing my face with both hands and pulling me into his face so he can give "kisses". In reality I think he is tyring to eat my face or teeth on my chin but I still love it.

My husband has taken it upon himself to put together the diapers after they are washed. When I do it before he gets home he seems disappointed.

Every time I eat a yogurt I know it only cost me .0625 cents.

I tried to give Samuel rice cereal last night and he turned it down and wanted to nurse instead.