Okay...I've finally taken the plunge and split this blog. I now have way more blogs than I know what to do with. Honestly, I doubt I'll be posting more often. This blog will probably see less action as posts will be put in their appropriate blogs! Okay - so here's the list:
Daycare-duck - http://daycare-duck.blogspot.com/
For daycare-related posts
Rambling-duck - http://rambling-duck.blogspot.com/
For my ramblings. Spiritual, philosophical, goofy, etc...
This blog - Swimming-duck - http://swimming-duck.blogspot.com/
This will remain my attachment parenting, cloth diapering, natural living, positive discipline sort of thing.
WHY DUCKS? I have no flipping idea. Honestly, I originally chose the duck because my goal was to keep things positive. You know how a duck looks serene even though it's paddling like hell underneath? Welllll...I've done okay. Not real great recently, but overall okay with that. To me it makes me think of being persistent and determined even when the going gets tough. So...I decided to stick with the theme.
And there's another one that I shall not name. It's a private blog for Boo. E-mail me or message me on facebook if you want the link and permission to access. I have to have your e-mail addy in order to grant you access.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sometimes You Feel Like a Tramp
Did the title catch your attention? :)
Honestly I've been feeling kind of funny lately because my wedding band doesn't fit on the appropriate finger right now and my engagement ring has been broken for awhile. We have the ring and the diamond - they're just not joined together anymore as they should be! We've been wanting to get it fixed, but honestly it seems that there's always things that are financially a much higher priority. Jewelry is just not high on my list. So it's been put off for years. And I'm okay with that. My commitment was made internally and I don't need a shiny rock on my finger to remind me. However, with being preggo and carting a toddler around I sometimes wonder what people think. Also, I'm still mistaken for under 21 on a somewhat regular basis. So, put that altogether and what does it look like? Unwed teenage mother...lol! No offense to anyone who is or has been. I'm just not one, so I think it's funny that I probably come across as one! Add the fact that I have a "tramp stamp" and well, there you go. In my defense I had no idea that tattoos on a female's lower back were called "tramp stamps" when I got mine! I certainly am not now nor have I ever been what I would consider to be a "tramp." And no, I'm not saying that all unwed teenage mothers are tramps...I just thought it was a fun title for today's post!
So what's on my "tramp stamp?" Actually, it's the Celtic trinity symbol. Yes, I have a "tramp stamp" that symbolizes my relationship with God. How's that for a big contradiction? I like it - it's a reminder to me that I belong to God. My one complaint is that since it's on my lower back I pretty much never get to see it. I'd like to get a tattoo someday that I can actually look at without the use of a mirror!
So, this post really has to do with nothing. Just me rambling. I think at some point I am going to split this blog. I'll keep this one as it was originally intended, start one for daycare type posts, a private one for Boo, and one for my religious/philosophical/life ramblings. I'm not sure when I'll get around to this. It sounds like a lot, but I probably won't post anymore than I do now. The posts will just go to different blogs, so this one probably won't see action pretty much every day like it does now. Anyways, I'll quit rambling. Need to go do dishes. OH JOY!!
Honestly I've been feeling kind of funny lately because my wedding band doesn't fit on the appropriate finger right now and my engagement ring has been broken for awhile. We have the ring and the diamond - they're just not joined together anymore as they should be! We've been wanting to get it fixed, but honestly it seems that there's always things that are financially a much higher priority. Jewelry is just not high on my list. So it's been put off for years. And I'm okay with that. My commitment was made internally and I don't need a shiny rock on my finger to remind me. However, with being preggo and carting a toddler around I sometimes wonder what people think. Also, I'm still mistaken for under 21 on a somewhat regular basis. So, put that altogether and what does it look like? Unwed teenage mother...lol! No offense to anyone who is or has been. I'm just not one, so I think it's funny that I probably come across as one! Add the fact that I have a "tramp stamp" and well, there you go. In my defense I had no idea that tattoos on a female's lower back were called "tramp stamps" when I got mine! I certainly am not now nor have I ever been what I would consider to be a "tramp." And no, I'm not saying that all unwed teenage mothers are tramps...I just thought it was a fun title for today's post!
So what's on my "tramp stamp?" Actually, it's the Celtic trinity symbol. Yes, I have a "tramp stamp" that symbolizes my relationship with God. How's that for a big contradiction? I like it - it's a reminder to me that I belong to God. My one complaint is that since it's on my lower back I pretty much never get to see it. I'd like to get a tattoo someday that I can actually look at without the use of a mirror!
So, this post really has to do with nothing. Just me rambling. I think at some point I am going to split this blog. I'll keep this one as it was originally intended, start one for daycare type posts, a private one for Boo, and one for my religious/philosophical/life ramblings. I'm not sure when I'll get around to this. It sounds like a lot, but I probably won't post anymore than I do now. The posts will just go to different blogs, so this one probably won't see action pretty much every day like it does now. Anyways, I'll quit rambling. Need to go do dishes. OH JOY!!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Water Fun!
Here's some stuff that we did this morning. I have a white storage container that I filled with water. I poured a bit of dish soap in and gave each child a whisk. I also added some blue food coloring for kicks and giggles. The boys got to whisk and create bubbles in the water. I also got out some water toys - fish, rubber ducks, etc...They had a great time whisking and playing with the toys!
While they were waiting for lunch I got out a container of soapy water and some clean sponges. I let them have fun scrubbing the lunch table and the table legs. This was great. They had fun and some crusted on food was cleaned up. They were happy while I finished making lunch and they were proud of their hard work!
I plan to do a lot more of these kinds of activities with them. I'm planning to start putting a container with dish soap in the kitchen for them to bus their own dishes when they're done with lunch. I think they'll really enjoy this and hey, it'll save me a step. I won't have to pre-rinse before loading the dishwasher.
I'm considering starting another blog. Yes, another one. I've been writing about daycare activities and happenings so much that I feel it should have its own blog. The point of this blog has been getting lost in all of my ramblings about daycare I think. So we'll see if I can bare to set up one more stinkin' blog to keep up with!
While they were waiting for lunch I got out a container of soapy water and some clean sponges. I let them have fun scrubbing the lunch table and the table legs. This was great. They had fun and some crusted on food was cleaned up. They were happy while I finished making lunch and they were proud of their hard work!
I plan to do a lot more of these kinds of activities with them. I'm planning to start putting a container with dish soap in the kitchen for them to bus their own dishes when they're done with lunch. I think they'll really enjoy this and hey, it'll save me a step. I won't have to pre-rinse before loading the dishwasher.
I'm considering starting another blog. Yes, another one. I've been writing about daycare activities and happenings so much that I feel it should have its own blog. The point of this blog has been getting lost in all of my ramblings about daycare I think. So we'll see if I can bare to set up one more stinkin' blog to keep up with!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Soothing to the Soul
Ahhhh - I got out for some knitting tonight. There's a local group called Craft Exchange. I've only gone once and I've been meaning to go back. It consists of some really nice women who like to craft. Mostly it seems to be made up of women who knit and crochet. There's at least one quilter in the group and I thought I heard someone mention scrapbooking. It was truly peaceful to sit and knit without someone pulling on my leg going "mommeeeee." I actually felt like I made decent progress! I feel very soothed after getting out of the house BY MYSELF!!!
I've decided to be Montessori-inspired!
A lot of you know that I was an infant teacher at a Montessori school for awhile when T and I lived in the suburbs. I have to say that I've been interested in Montessori ideas ever since. There's some good bloggers/resources online for Montessori at home. I've been looking into some of those activities - the lentil bean activity was one. I'm planning on incorporating this into my daycare. I can't claim to be a Montessori program per se, but I feel that Montessori-inspired would be an appropriate phrase.
One of the hard things is that Montessori materials are extremely expensive. However, with a little bit of online research and craftiness, there are plenty of Montessori materials that can be made at home. So in my overabundance of spare time *huge eye roll here* I'll be making some Montessori materials and working to get this into our days more and more. I don't think we'll jump in full speed. I just plan to gradually incorporate more and more of this until it's a regular every day thing for us!
One of the hard things is that Montessori materials are extremely expensive. However, with a little bit of online research and craftiness, there are plenty of Montessori materials that can be made at home. So in my overabundance of spare time *huge eye roll here* I'll be making some Montessori materials and working to get this into our days more and more. I don't think we'll jump in full speed. I just plan to gradually incorporate more and more of this until it's a regular every day thing for us!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Putting Things In Perspective and Some Other Rambling
Okay, now that I finally have my long awaited home daycare license, I feel as though my mood and irritation with the midwest has calmed a bit. Granted, we both really do want to leave the midwest and will likely high tail it out of here the first chance we get. But for so long I feel as though we've been stagnant in reaching goals we've set for ourselves. T going to nursing school has seemed like a "pipe dream" for us...unattainable. Daycare licensing is one of the steps, actually the biggest step, that needed to happen in order for T to go to school. The rest of it is coming along. T is doing awesome in his EMT class. I'm so proud of him! Granted, EMT work will be a HUGE paycut for him. Hence the need for the daycare licensing. But it will be great experience in the medical field. And the more experience the better. Especially since nursing school entrance can be a bit competitive. So hopefully having the EMT license will give him a way to bring in income while he earns the CNA. CNA will be a slight step up in pay from the EMT. But more money is always better, however slight. So he has a rough road ahead of him of juggling schoolwork with work in the medical field. I so wish that I could be his "sugar mama" and support him through school. But I chose the wrong field of work for that and we live in the wrong area for that! So it will be an uphill battle, but doing nothing would be far worse than struggling through this! And he will have free tuition for at least part of his degree - so even though it has to be in Illinois, we can't really complain there (as much as I like to sometimes).
I will add that I think sometimes people get the wrong impression when we say we want to leave the midwest. It's not a matter of leaving people or friends or family, but of experiencing life outside of this little part of the world that is all that we know. I think there is a lot to be said for broadening one's experiences, experiencing other ways of life, other cities, etc...I think it is a huge opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. So what we will do now is what we've been trying to do for awhile. We will try to reconnect with and enjoy family and friends that we live close to while they are close and appreciate the time that we have. And when we leave those relationships that are worth having will still be there. I strongly believe that distance cannot tear down a strong relationship. I've seen proof of this time and again in my relationships with people. Some stand the test of time and some don't. I used to take it personally when relationships went by the wayside, but I realize that's part of life and part of the weeding out process. Some friends are gold and some were there just to have fun for awhile...just the way it is!
I will add that I think sometimes people get the wrong impression when we say we want to leave the midwest. It's not a matter of leaving people or friends or family, but of experiencing life outside of this little part of the world that is all that we know. I think there is a lot to be said for broadening one's experiences, experiencing other ways of life, other cities, etc...I think it is a huge opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. So what we will do now is what we've been trying to do for awhile. We will try to reconnect with and enjoy family and friends that we live close to while they are close and appreciate the time that we have. And when we leave those relationships that are worth having will still be there. I strongly believe that distance cannot tear down a strong relationship. I've seen proof of this time and again in my relationships with people. Some stand the test of time and some don't. I used to take it personally when relationships went by the wayside, but I realize that's part of life and part of the weeding out process. Some friends are gold and some were there just to have fun for awhile...just the way it is!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I'm LICENSED for home daycare!!!
FINALLY...I'm LICENSED for home daycare. Took long enough. I feel like this huge weight has been lifted off of me. Now that I'm licensed I can get referrals from the local Childcare Resource and Referral agency. Come on referrals. Mama needs a new pair of shoes. Well, actually, a car...but whatever!
T did soooo much to help me get ready for the visit today. I'm really lucky to have him. Poor guy - I don't think he knows if he's going or coming these days thanks to my preggo mood swings! I'm lucky he puts up with me and is willing to tackle my "honey do" lists!
T did soooo much to help me get ready for the visit today. I'm really lucky to have him. Poor guy - I don't think he knows if he's going or coming these days thanks to my preggo mood swings! I'm lucky he puts up with me and is willing to tackle my "honey do" lists!
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