May 2012
7 posts
1 tag
FOR THE LOVE OF PULL-UPS
Last night I purchased a new brand of training pants for Noah (because the others were getting a bit too tight) and in an attempt to assuage his I’m-not-going-to-bed attitude, I reminded him that the faster he went to bed, the sooner he’d be be able to wake up and wear his new training pants. (He still wears a diaper to bed - potty training is hard!)
These new ones have fire...
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MY MIDWEST WOES
My dirty little secret: I suffer from hardcore Midwest disenchantment. Here, nestled between the rolling hills of the Ohio River Valley and the flat expanse of the Bible Belt, I find the years slipping by with little purpose.
I find myself caught up in the mundane - between the casserole dish potlucks, the coupon clipping, and the Friday evenings on a bar stool at a smokey bar - wedged by my...
SNAP
FACT: I peruse through the KY Special Needs Adoption (SNAP) website at least once a week and cry my eyes out while reading all the profiles. I wish I could bring them all home.
LITTLE BITS OF OUR WEEK(END)
This past week seemed to fly by with little notice. While I usually have a couple dozen or so photos snapped on my iPhone capturing the week’s adventures, I’ve only got three from this past week! So here they are. Tiny glimpses into our life.
Beer braised collard greens. Yum. Recipe here.
Noah and Brother D accompanying Sister Z on a trip to the doctor’s office for her...
April 2012
24 posts
4 tags
BLOGGERS FOR BIRTH KITS
Did you know that the maternal death rate in Papua New Guinea is 1 in 7? And that a basic, clean birth kit costing only $2 could drastically reduce that number? Adriel over at The Mommyhood Memos heads up an initiative to create and distribute clean birth kits to women in rural PNG. She has asked bloggers to spread the word in honor of Mother’s Day.
For a woman unable to reach a clinic...
2 tags
PINTEREST INSPIRATION: NOAH'S NEW ROOM
We are actively searching for a new home - one in an urban, mixed-use neighborhood across town from us. The school district there offers magnet programs that ours simply doesn’t so we’re hoping to get settled in and establish residency before Noah reaches school-age.
In light of this impending move, I’ve been pinning DIY projects like crazy for Noah’s new room...
5 tags
THE DYNAMICS OF AN INTERVENTION
I don’t like to discuss addiction and the issues that plagued Noah’s birth parents much on this blog (it’s depressing!) but this is something that I thought was worth writing. I’ve referred to addiction as a disease before and, after experiencing it firsthand in my family, I continue to attest to that statement. It’s not a problem that can resolve itself through...
1 tag
MINI WARDROBE: SPRING V.5
aztec henley | rope bracelet | moccasins | cutoff denim bermudas
I love all things Southwestern inspired so I try to throw little doses of it into Noah’s wardrobe. This particular outfit is perfect for those breezy, sunny days when a little more coverage is needed but is still comfy enough for Noah to tackle the playground with ease.
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EASTER: THE LATE EDITION
Our Easter was filled with lots of peeps, chocolate eggs, and praising our Lord and Savior.
Here’s a quick look at some of the fun parts. It is all Noah and it is all cute.
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OFFICIAL SIBLING VISITS HAVE ENDED
Noah had his last official sibling visit with Brother E and Baby S this past week. I gotta tell ya, dropping him, my mom, and Sister Z off at the DCBS offices Wednesday morning was bittersweet. In a certain respect, I am so glad that we are no longer working with social workers and foster care representatives within the constraints of their program and oversight. On the flip side, the security...
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DANDELION BLOWS
Noah Baby,
This morning, when dropping you off at your grandmother’s house for the day, your big sister was waiting with a special surprise. She sprinted across the dew soaked yard with her hands wrapped around a bunch of dandelion blows. With big puffed cheeks, she blew the seeds across the yard and offered you one of her treasures so you could do the same. You drew in a deep breath and...
3 tags
LASTEST DEVELOPMENTS IN TODDLERLAND
Some of the more adorable things that have emerged from toddlerland over the past couple weeks:
Noah is obsessed with all things related to our cat - feeding her, cleaning out her “pee pee box” (although, obviously, we don’t let him do that), playing games her, and cuddling with her on the couch in the evenings.
Noah has learned to say “You’re mean!” in the...
4 tags
AN UPDATE ON PRESCHOOL
J and I decided against enrolling Noah in the local preschool that would have provided him early intervention therapy for his speech issues. Initially, we were incredibly excited about the prospect but the longer we had to stew about it, and the longer it took for the process to be complete, we realized that it wasn’t the right plan for him at this particular moment. There are several...
4 tags
WHAT WE'RE READING - APRIL EDITION
(I’m hoping to do one of these posts monthly!)
We are huge proponents of early reading in the Noah Baby household. Noah has been struggling with his speech development above all so we’ve consistently integrated lap reading into his nighttime routine to help boost his language skills. Here are a few our current favorites:
1. I’m not Santa! This is an adorable story that...
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MINI WARDROBE: SPRING VOL.4
keds kids originals | heartbreaker tee
blue cotton jacket | straw fedora | skinny jeans
Noah’s wardrobe runs the gamut of styles - from relaxed hippie to indie rocker to casual prep. This particular getup would fall in that last category and is somewhat of a departure from what I’d normally select for him. Still, I’m loving the graphic tee with a message that is sure...
4 tags
THE CYCLE OF ABUSE
This evening I nearly ran over a little toddling baby with my car. I turned the corner onto the street adjacent to our house and had to come to a screeching halt when J yelled out and I heard random screaming to stop from the sidewalk. THANK GOD that J was in the passenger seat because he saw the little boy before I did. I wasn’t going very fast and I’m a pretty observant driver so...
BLOG PARTY!
Hey there! I’m linking up with the 5 Minutes for Mom Blog Party! My name is Mary. This is me. I’m a foster mama*, wife, wannabe writer, and project manager by trade. I’m introverted and nerdy. I’ve never come across a craft beer or piece of chocolate I didn’t like. I aspire to be more crafty and a heck of a lot crunchier.
This handsome fellow is my husband...
ON BUDGETING
Image via flickr
J and I have struggled with our budget ever since we started living together and sharing expenses. While we always make our bills on time and never have any trouble providing the basics for our family, we find ourselves eagerly awaiting our next paycheck every month because we’ve overspent. And savings? Well, I can’t even touch that subject. We’re totally...
4 tags
SEASON OF CHANGE
Noah’s mother graduated from rehab this past week. She is now 6+ months sober. Saturday morning she moved into transitional housing just a few miles from the rehab facility to begin a work program administered by the same group. She hasn’t been able to make unmonitored phone calls in over seven months. The few times we did speak, her calls were limited. Her new placement affords...
3 tags
MINI WARDROBE: SPRING VOL.3
raglan holey tee | bermuda shorts | tiny toms cordones
Comfy cotton shorts with a vibrant Aztec pattern, deconstructed tee in the perfect shade of bark, and an impacting pop of red with weather-resistant wool tiny toms that will last into the fall and early winter seasons. This getup is basically a mini gender neutral version of what I’m pining for this season - the perfect weekend...
5 tags
FAITH
(The church where J and I were married)
I am a believer. It’s not a topic that I discuss frequently on this blog (one other post here) for my family is my religion. The forgiving and unadulterated words of Christ provide my faith. My belief in unconditional love, forgiveness, and the holiness of my Lord and Savior constitute my spirituality.
At fourteen years of age I was saved. I was...
3 tags
BRAVEHEART, THE MOTORCYCLIST
Noah Baby,
Yesterday morning, at 6am, you decided to wake early and begin very spirited play. I was stirred from a deep, deep sleep and dreams of lottery winnings when I caught a glimpse of you coming down the hallway from your room to ours. Condemnations for your raucous behavior were about to impart from my lips when I noticed that not only were you riding your motorcycle, wearing a...
6 tags
ON KENTUCKY BASKETBALL AND SISTERLY BONDS
Kentucky: home of the bluegrass, bourbon, the Baptist Belt, ham that is country, and the best damn college basketball program in the country. Basketball is ubiquitously religious in this state. It is the place where you encounter eighty-five year old grandmothers with big bouffant hair who probably know more about the game than you do. It is a state where blue and red rivalries run deep,...
3 tags
PRESERVING MEMORIES
(Noah’s first roller skating experience - the only photo from the day and I didn’t even take it. Mom fail.)
I do a terrible job at documenting. At least, I used to think that I did a fairly good job but the world of blogging has exposed to me that I am actually failing in so many respects (exhibit A, exhibit B). During Noah’s first year with us I was so focused on...
3 tags
MINI WARDROBE: EASTER
chino trousers with braces | chevron bow tie brown converse sneakers | white oxford
March 2012
11 posts
MOTHERHOOD IS
…feigning sleep, cramped in a toddler bed during an epic thuderstorm with a three year old knee stuck in one ribcage and a sharp, plastic baby doll arm jammed in your back.
The things we do for love.
4 tags
ON DISCIPLINING A THREE YEAR OLD
I’m going to be honest with you: when it comes to disciplining a toddler, I have no idea what I’m doing. It has been trial and error and, honestly, we’ve yet to find a method that works exclusively for the changing moods of our (very) dramatic youngin. As this article points out, there is no single method that is right for all families. The author states: “since people...
3 tags
THAT OLD, TIRED "SOMEONE'S GOING TO CALL CPS ON...
I love reading other parenting blogs and all the great parenting articles on sites like the Huffington Post and Babble but one thing that really rubs me the wrong way is when people make jokes about how their unorthodox or “unsafe” methods will bring Child Protective Services to their home (when, in fact, they are excellent parents). It’s a constant running gag in parenting...
2 tags
MINI WARDROBE: SPRING VOL.1
wayfarer sunnies | hooded vest and chino shorts | marley tiny toms
With Spring upon us and temperatures in the 80s in our region (unbelievable!) I’m on the hunt for Noah’s warm weather gear. I’m loving this combo of a relaxed tank with unexpected trim, brightly colored bottoms, comfy canvas shoes, and the all-too-classic wayfarer sunnies.
4 tags
CRAZY SHIT PEOPLE SAY TO FOSTER PARENTS
Kara over at Matt and Kara Adopt wrote a post titled “Dude, really?” (very fitting) about the odd questions/comments she’s heard since she got pregnant. I’ve mulled over creating a similar post in the past about the crazy shit I’ve been asked/told about foster parenting Noah. So here it finally goes.
“Isn’t it going to be hard if you have to give him...
3 tags
FLOOR LANDSCAPES
There are little things that remind me of Noah during my laborious day at work that instantly bring a smile to my face. Whether it’s coming across a spare diaper in my pursue, a wooden block that Noah has hidden in my coat pocket, or, like today, seeing unexpected photos he’s snapped pop up in my iPhone album feed.
Given the iPhone debacle that occurred a few weeks ago when he...
3 tags
THE UNIVERSE IS LAUGHING AT ME
This weekend J and I visited family where lots of public school-exposed kids romp around and there were several instances when Noah shared drink cups with said kids and put toys from a shared bin in his mouth that he shouldn’t have.
My exact words when J expressed his dismay at me for allowing Noah to do so? “Oh, he’ll be alright. He needs to be exposed to germs to build up...
4 tags
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February 2012
9 posts
2 tags
APARTMENT THERAPY HOMIE AWARDS
Noah Baby has been nominated in Apartment Therapy’s 2012 The Homies for Best Family Blog. The list is comprised of lots of terrific parenting blogs, many of which I have on my blogroll, so I’m honored to be included alongside them. If you have a moment to spare, I would appreciate your vote. I will repay you by posting cute photos of Noah’s first skating rink experience. I...
3 tags
YOU GOT THIS
The third week Noah was with us I remember bouncing him on my knee in a crowded restaurant trying to calm his piercing screams when I looked at my mother from across the table and uttered the words: I don’t think I can do this. And I wasn’t just referring to battling that particular lunch-time cry fest.
I don’t quite recall the circumstances that led up to that declarative...
HELLOGIGGLES
Noah Baby has made is HelloGiggles debut! I submitted this content awhile back so it might be a familiar story to some of you readers but, nevertheless, I’m touched that the HelloGiggles staff enjoyed it and decided to publish it.
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NIGHT THREE OF THE BIG BOY BED
We have now entered three consecutive nights of glorious, uninterrupted sleep in Noah’s “Big Boy” bed.
Why, OH WHY, did I wait so long to transfer him to the toddler bed? Maybe I can credit his ease of transition and adaptability to the fact that he just turned three but I was honestly so hesitant to tackle this particular milestone. He never once tried to climb out of his...
3 tags
NOAH AND HIS LUNCH TIME CHAT
I check in on Noah nearly every day around lunch time by calling his babysitter (my mom) and he demands to speak to me on the phone. This is pretty much how the conversation goes every.single.day.
Me: Hi, Noah, what are you doing?
Noah: Mama? Hewwo? Mama? Hewwo? Hewwo?
Me: Yes, Noah, I'm here. What are you doing?
Noah: Boo-boo!
Me: Boo-boo? Do you mean you hurt yourself?
Noah: Yah, D'zzy did.
Me: Your sister gave you a boo-boo? It was probably an accident. I'm sure you're okay.
Noah: I hot.
Me: You're hot? You mean you feel like you have a fever?
Noah: Yah, I hot. (I hear him trail off.) Mamaw, I hot!
Me: Noah? Noah?
Noah: Mama? Hewwo? Hewwo? Bye-bye. I luh.
Me: Bye-bye. I love you too.
And then he hands the phone back to my mom. It took me awhile to figure out what the "I HOT" business was about. Finally, one day, after picking Noah up from my mother, she told me that she had given him chewable kids tylenol because he was a running a slight fever. Now, even at home, he very dramatically places his hand on his head and in the most sincere voice possible says, "I hot", expecting to get one of those sugary tablets.
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THE COST OF HAVING A TODDLER
THAT happened to my iPhone last night. I placed it on the speaker dock in our living room to charge the battery and, moments later, Noah came running full speed into our kitchen with it in his hand, exclaiming, “Mama! Mama! Hello? Hello?” Apparently he saw a notification from Words with Friends pop up on it so he pulled it off the dock to bring in to me, assuming that someone was...
3 tags
PROS AND CONS OF PRESCHOOL
Noah was accepted under early admission to the preschool in our neighborhood and while I’m 95% sure we plan on enrolling him once all the paperwork is straightened out, I decided to make a Pros and Cons list anyway. ‘Cuz that’s what I do. (The site Listography has literally saved my life for this reason.)
Pros: - Convenience: The school is about 5 minutes from our house and...
THE BOY BOND
I have no idea what passes through the minds of sons and fathers when they interact. But I can say that in my home boys reign supreme and are constantly concocting plans to trick and lightheartedly torment me and our (female) cat. I’m regularly subjected to tickle attacks, double dessert sneaking, and staying-up-past-bedtime marathons. This along with the infamous toilet seat left up,...