Birthday 4+

The Monday after Sam's birthday was her day to celebrate at school.  She got to be the leader and bring in show and tell.  She brought in her ballerina barbie and this bird.  There are ibis birds that hang around McDonald's.  Sam loves to feed them, especially one that another lady calls Charlie, because he eats out of your hand.  The lady who named Charlie and feeds them gave her this bird with Charlie written on its chest.  It was a big hit with Sam and she has been telling many people about it, even though most have never met Charlie and get a bit confused.

I got to bring in cupcakes, pink of course.

Nana, Zoey, and I came to celebrate with Sam.

Zoey got a turn in the chair.

Zoey loves this rocking chair.  She says "bye-bye" for rock-a-bye.  You can tell which she means because goodbye involves a waving hand and rock-a-bye involves torso movement.  So she says "bye-bye" and tries her hardest to get in the chair, lifting her leg, putting it on the bar, and such.  Very cute.  She is a determined child.  I think I will have my work cut out for me soon.  Sam has been a busy body and into most things and of course very curious.  But she is a pleaser.  Zoey may not be so as much and she has a temper if she does not get her way.  Although the other day she crawled under our chair and got stuck.  I thought she would get mad and cry, but she kept at it for a couple minutes and finally wormed her way out.  I am trying to help her develop a better tolerance for frustration.

Nick the chair.

Before ballet pretending to be a pirate, saying Arrr!

Opening her cool animal play set from Grammy.

My silly sleeper.

I have come across some great articles recently that I want to share.  I am trying to shift and do more positive parenting, mainly less yelling, more praising.  Sam has been much better lately and I do not want to let my stress be taken out on her.  Some days it does seem like I use up all my patience on Zoey and Sam bears the brunt.  But I do not want to be that way and I know that yelling is the new spanking.  So I tried giving Sam do overs and that was somewhat successful.  But a lot of it is me and I am trying to relax about it more.  

One article that has inspired me is this one about smallies and biggies.  I do find that often, especially mealtimes, I fuss at Sam about a lot of smallies.  So I am trying to refocus there.

http://www.positive-parents.org/2012/01/biggies-and-smallies.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+positive-parents%2FbahS+%28Positive+Parenting%3A+Toddlers+and+Beyond%29

And my recent favorite, which I think every parent should read is one entitled "Don't Carpe Diem."  I do not think I exaggerate when I say it may totally change your perspective.  It goes along with a favorite quote of mine, "The days are long, but the years are short."  I try and remember that this time in my life is a short one, that in a decade the sleepless nights and other sacrifices of having such young kids will have faded.  I try and enjoy these fleeting moments, but the day to day of raising kids is hard, especially with busy lives such as ours.  I know a lot I take on myself, hosting playdates and signing up for baby classes, but these things are important to me.  Anyway, please read this article if you have not yet.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/dont-carpe-diem_b_1206346.html