For a Toddler

In my house, if you record Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood for a toddler, he will want to watch episode after episode every day.  Watching it at daycare will not be enough.  He will ask for it as soon as he comes home.  If you are the parent watching Daniel Tiger with the toddler, you will inevitably have the theme song stuck on repeat in your head.  All day long.  And singing this in your head all day long will make you miss your little and have you counting down the hours until you can pick him up.  When you get home he will ask for Daniel Tiger and the process begins again.

August's vocabulary and ability to say near complete sentences has flourished recently!  Every night when we come home he asks very politely with his big brown eyes, "I wan iger," in that sweet, slurred, missing sounds toddler way of his.  Every now and then he throws in a 'please' and really, who can deny him his wishes at that point?  It's extra sweet when he brings the remote, as long as he's not hitting as many buttons as possible.

There is one book that is my saving grace in the car.  He has a little board book that has big machines in it.  Like 8 pages of combines, tractors, and construction equipment.  You would think he would get board after a while, right?  Nope, it's been in my car for at least a month and it's the first thing he grabs for when he gets in.  I can hear him reading the whole way to town and back home.  It is looking more than rough around the edges and when it finally falls apart, I won't be able to part with this little treasure.  It will get tucked in a box beside his foot prints, baptism certificate, and first shoes.  One of those sweet little treasures I'll keep and give back to him, someday.

I am so excited for the upcoming holiday season!  My mom found a shirt last year that is PERFECT for my child!  It says something about being mom's cookie taster.  That was quite literally one of his first words, and it is clear when he says 'cookie'!  He loves to bake with me and wants to sit on the counter and help dump ingredients into the mixer.  He knows where each grandma keeps their cookies and stands there asking politely for one until he gets it.  Not that he needs any to make him sweeter!

If you give my toddler anything food, he won't forget.  If you give my toddler a tractor ride, he won't forget.  If you give my toddler love and attention he will give it right back!

School Gardens

Many of you know that I have been posting pictures or comments about our school garden.  I am in charge of this project after the torch got handed to me at the end of last summer.  This year I have only had a couple of kids faithfully come, but that makes it all the more special for me.  I can pour into these few kids more specifically than a huge bunch.

One young girl that signed up to be a garden mentor basically apologizes for existing sometimes.  I have continually told her she doesn't need to apologize for anything when she comes to the garden unless it's something very serious.  My secret goal for her for the summer was to boost her confidence and her ability to be bold.  On the day that I took her and another student to fair, I talked to them about what to expect and things they could talk to the judges about and my own fair days.  She did not apologize once and was so confident when talking to the judges that she was asking the questions too!

I love building relationships with kids in the school that I wouldn't normally come into contact with.  When we get back to school, They have one more adult to come too and trust.  When we get back to school, the kids will continue to talk about the school garden.  Its so great to interact and teach these kids in a non-academic setting and see their dedication and pride as the summer marches on.

School gardens are an amazing project!  Ours started 3 years ago with a grant.  I remember that beautiful spring day with a few of us staff members building the garden beds.  I helped out a little that first summer during summer school.  The kids were so excited to get out and get dirty and take home some veggies.  Last year, I signed up to come every Thursday to help.  I hauled August along and he loved being there too!  That's the beauty of this project.  It's not just for the kids that attend school there.  It's a benefit to the teacher's kids, parents who come along to help, and to other family members that come with the students.  All of these different individuals working together for a common purpose is so cool!

Many of these kids don't know how vegetables they eat on a day to day basis look in their natural form.  Some of the things we've planted the last couple years are new to me as well, so I'm learning right along with the kids.  I've never eaten egg plant before.  We grew it last year and the plant looked pretty neat with beautiful blooms.  This year we planted okra.  I still have no idea what it will look like on the plant, but the plant itself is huge!

I will continue to advocate for our school garden and encourage kids to come.  They need a connection that keeps going after school is out for the summer.  They need a connection to each other, and they need a connection to their food.  Every school should have a school garden!

Berry Picking

It's that wonderful time of year again!  It's berry season!  Berry picking is one of my favorite summer pastimes and is quickly becoming a favorite of August's.

A few weeks ago we went and picked strawberries and August had so much fun!  We went with Whitney and Lynnae.  August instantly had strawberry juice on his white shirt-good choice, mom, and on his red and white sock.  He did pick and put many strawberries in the basket, some of them were a little green, but he knew what to do!  And then he tried to step on the strawberries...

And now it's time for black raspberries!   I picked one and gave him a bite and he was hooked!  August then started picking anything, even if it wasn't ready!  If he put one in the bucket, he took three out to put in his mouth!  He was reaching for the bucket the whole time.  We went the other day and I brought the carrier along just in case.  I snapped a branch and that was the end of him walking around.  He got so scared and a toddler throwing a fit in the berry patch is slightly terrifying!  He's at the stage where he sometimes throws himself down.  This was one of those time-and there are thorns EVERYWHERE!  It was hot packing him around on my back, but definitely safer!  I was worn out by the end!  Dustin went with us last night and got to pack August around.  He now understands a little bit more why I'm so tired at the end of the day!

Truth be told, we did not make it back to the house with very many berries at any given time, but we have been having so much fun!

Little Messmaker

'The world is mud-luscious and puddle wonderful.'  -E.E. Cummings

This quote completely sums up my little boy.

He LOVES being outside and is always gathering his shoes and requesting to go out.  We have spend loads of time in the garden and he loves it!  He wants to help me, a little too much.  He carries around his little rake and sticks digging at the dirt and pushing the cat down.  A man loves to bring you the smallest speck of dirt and will continue to give you more small specks, just because.

August is so attracted to puddles.  He loves his mud boots and has spent quite a bit of time belly-flopping after the rain.  And he gets in there quick as a whistle!  He then shoots that little grin filled with so much joy that it erases the fact that I just washed his white Nike shoes the day before and they are full of mud again.

And then there are meal times.  Spaghetti is the funniest to watch.  He INHALES that meal and very quickly requests for more.  That is definitely a no shirt required, followed by a bath type of night.

When we get up in the morning he gets changed right away and then I head into the kitchen to get breakfast ready.  Sometimes he joins me and other times I go to get him when its time to eat.  He very likely has almost every toy in his toy box out all over the floor.  It's oftentimes like a minefield in our living room.

This little boy has brought me so much joy and added so much purpose to my life, messes and all.

May Mishaps and Summer Struggles

So.  I have suddenly lapsed and fallen back into an ungraceful period that was basically all of my high school years.

It all started with a horseback ride.  I haven't ridden since last fall and this ride was wonderful!  Jenny rode like she typically would on the first ride of the spring.  She seemed a little lost at times since it was just me and her and she doesn't ever lead.  Over the next couple of days I was saddle sore.  This obviously wasn't my first rodeo, so I know what it's like to be saddle sore, and as I went back to work I knew something wasn't quite right.  My legs hurt.  All the way down.  On Tuesday I thought I was going to have to leave work early.  I was having a hard time walking and I felt like I was 9 months pregnant getting out of my chair.  And after plenty of ibuprofen, it finally eased away.

And then I fell.  August and I were walking back from the garden one day and I tripped on the gutter.  Did I mention I was holding him?  I managed to turn so he was up and he didn't hit the pavement at all, but I sure did.  I smacked my hand, elbow and hip.  Everything hurt, and just like before after a few days, everything got better...I thought.

And then I walked into my desk slide out...twice.  2 huge bruises on my thigh practically touching within a week of each other.  Smooth, I know.

And then I went on another horseback ride.  This one was a little different.  Jenny galloped and then bucked a time or two.  And I slammed back in the saddle.  HARD.  As soon as I gout out of the saddle, I was hurting.  My lower back was in bad shape and the pain came and went all weekend.  I thought I would be fine until I went to pick up August on Sunday night and my back spasmed and couldn't get him up on my hip.  Monday wasn't any better.  I went to the chiropractor and it turns out, my hips were all wonky.  I didn't know my body could pop so many times and I walked out feeling much better!

And then Chase pushed Dustin off the back of the boat to be funny and he cut his leg on the prop and had to get stitches.  Here's hoping that he quits milking that injury for all its worth real soon and we are done getting hurt this summer!

Garden Gloves and Grubby Hands

It's that glorious time of year where one can be outside more and more and enjoy so many fun activities.

One of my favorites is gardening!  I have really grown to love this pastime.  It gives so much satisfaction in working hard and harvesting veggies that feed my family.  The past two years I have helped in some way shape or form with the school garden.  This garden is planted by all the kids at school and they are welcome to come during the summer to help tend it.  Whatever vegetables are harvested that day, the kids can take home.  Last year, I challenged the kids to think about what they would really eat that week and what was extra.  The extra we were able to put in the food pantry at the school that serves our school families.

I have a small group of Garden Mentors.  This group of kids has come to special meetings and have decided what goes in the garden.  They all worked together to prepare the beds for planting and have planted a bed just for them that they will harvest veggies out of to take to fair in July.  They are a very excited group and its a struggle sometimes to harness that enthusiasm!  :)  They are all very hard workers and I am very much looking forward to the summer and the time we will spend together in the sun and dirt.

I helped out many classes this last week get out and plant their assigned vegetable.  I heard lots of exclamations about dirt and worms and plenty of squeals.  They had so much fun!  Team Hoglan, our parent/teacher organization gave money so that garden gloves could be purchased for the garden.  The kids could not wait to get a pair on.

We also got our garden put in at our house.  We put in the usual, tried something for the third year in a row and hoping it works this time, and tried something new.  My child was made for the dirt.  He loves it and gets really upset when we have to go in the house.  He did not help with the actual planting of seeds, but had his tractors nearby to play in the dirt.  He loves walking out the garden with me to check on the plants.  Momma Cat Denise isn't far behind us when we go.  We're going to have to work on walking BETWEEN the rows when the plants really start coming up...

'To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.'  -Audrey Hepburn

Boy Momma

My little guy is now 16 months old and is definitely in the toddler stage.  Being a mom has its ups and downs, but I have been flooded with so much joy since becoming a mother.  There are countless things I have learned, and so many things don't phase me any more.

August is all boy.  He knew at a very early age what noise a tractor makes and knows where they are.  He is memorized when he sees one driving, and more so when he's riding in one.  Our living room floor is littered with tractors and other vehicles.  He loves to be outside and while it has been nice, has screamed, kicked and thrown himself around when it's time to come inside.  He knows to bring his shoes and say, 'Out, out.'  August also discovered puddles the other day.  I have no idea where he got that love from!  :)  We've been to the school garden and planted a few flowers and he has loved having his fingers in the dirt.  He likes to bang on worms and throw rocks around.

August has a bull in a China shop attitude.  He just doesn't stop moving all day long!  He loves playing with all of his toys...at once.  Many times our living room is a mine field of toys, books, blankets, and his shoes.  He is starting to climb on everything.  We've had the gradual shift of extra things like remotes to the back of the end tables to the top of the recliner and couch.  Since he's climbing, nothing is safe.  He's also gotten hung up on his toy box.  He's still a little short to get a toy at the bottom of the box.  I have taken pictures before I've rescued him...I'm not ashamed at all!  :)

And then there are those sweeter than sugar moments that make me wish the clock would stop for a while.  One day I had stepped to the bathroom to do something with the laundry.  He was playing and I heard him get up looking for me.  He saw me, turned to go back to his toys, turned back around to me and came and gave me a couple of kisses, just because.  He's kind of stingy with those kisses, so I take what I can get, when I can get them.  He ALWAYS comes running with his arms open wide to give me hugs, and now he's doing it when I pick him up at the end of the day.  He is a daddy's boy.  When Dad comes home at the end of the day, August wants nothing to do with me.  He loves animals and tries to be friends with Bonnie, and loves baby kittens.  I've sang hymns to him since I found out I was pregnant, and I continue now.  He sings along at night and at church and you can just hear the joy in his little voice.

Some people say, "Oh, I've only had girls, I don't know how to be a boy mom."  I say, get a good stain remover, some trucks, be prepared for plenty of bumps and bruises and you're good!

SCHUETT UP 'N PLAY

My little boy is just over a year old, and he is weaned!  The closer we got to being weaned the more spontaneous I felt I could be again.  Once he was weaned I felt like I could say yes to so much more!  Now, I loved our 1 year journey of nursing, but I was constantly thinking about time and when I had to be home to nurse, if I would need to bring my pump, etc.

When the chance came to join our staff basketball team to play against the other staff teams in our district, I jumped at the chance!

I haven't played basketball in 10 years.  Paints a pretty picture, doesn't it?

Basically, I am completely enjoying myself!  We just have fun at practice and get totally schooled by the PE teacher.  I was quite rusty the first practice, but was reassured that the hoops were at regulation, even if the basketballs were junior size.  And let me tell you about the first time we ran full court!  WOW!  I might be very active walking the halls of school dozens of times a day and chasing around my boy, but man!  I am not in running shape!  I was sucking air pretty quick-and it wasn't even a real full court!

Our first game I was determined not to ask for the first sub, but after a few minutes my resolve was almost broken!  There were plenty of us sucking air!  We lost our first two games, and finally won our third this week!  It has felt really good to play again, even if I still do a lot of the same things I did 10 years ago.  I still flinch when the ball comes at me, I still can't make a basket during a game, I still get hit in the face from time to time.  I haven't really ever played co-ed games.  There's just a few guys playing, but they do bring it when they come to play!

I am really proud of myself for getting back out there and being active again.  I'm really enjoying the off-work time I've been spending with some of my co-workers and the laughs we have enjoyed.  I've really enjoyed the teamwork we have been sharing, and our cheerleaders that come to support us every game!

With 5 games left, we're all hoping we can keep putting up the points and W's!

Left Arm Hold

So earlier this week I came across this article and I thought, this is just some dumb article stating that most women/people carry their babes on the left side.  I've done it forever and I feel that most people I see carry their babes on the left.  It starts like that yes, and then it really explains the reason why.  Right side of the brain controls the left side of the body.  Right side of the brain deals with emotions-babes and toddlers are an emotional roller coaster.  Even when I carried August in the carrier, chances are that I had my left arm still under his bum for support.

Before I became a mom, I thought I was a caring individual.  Becoming a mother has made me care all the more.  And it's not just about my own child.  My heart goes out to all my kids at school, and all the others in their classes.

I've found it hard to describe how the love I give has changed since I've had a baby.  Over the summer I read The Road From Gap Creek and I found a couple of paragraphs that sum things up pretty well.

"It's hard to explain how having a baby and taking care of a baby changes the way you look at things.  It sounds a little silly when you try to put it in words.  But the truth is having your own baby makes you feel connected to everything else.  With a baby you ain't alone in the same way as before.  You're taking part in the future and with the people that come before you.  All you have to do is take care of this little living thing to have a part in all creation.  You feel foolish telling that to somebody, but that's the way you feel.

The reason you feel so important as a mother is because you are important.  Nobody else in the world will care as much and love as much this little thing that cries and don't know where it is and needs its butt cleaned up from time to time.  Nobody can ever love it like you do.  All its life depends on what you do for it now.  The most important thing is just to let it know that it's loved."

It's been such a joy to watch my son experience the world.  His face lights up when Dustin comes home at night and when I open the door when he wakes up.  He loves to be held when we make supper or go on the hunt for Bonnie.  My favorite is our bedtime routine when I sing his lullaby and he lays his sweet head on my left shoulder for a moment or two.