Maren: 18 months

Maren is 18 months old, and full of personality.  She is a roller coaster of emotions, but lately has been pouty most often.  Her entire physique changes when she doesn't get her way: slumped shoulders, protruding lip, bowed head, sad eyes, and a slow, pathetic walk to a corner where she lets out a disappointed, "Ohhh..."  It happens so often that it has become our little joke to see how quickly I can get her to giggle or smile again.  She also has a quick temper, and will scream at Ezra so intensely that he sometimes comes running--with real fear for his well being--from "the dragon" (ie, Maren).  We have already had to train Maren to take a deep breath, which she will do if prompted, to try and calm her body.  Most of the time, after a big deep breath and a hug, the anger is quelled.  I am not sure if this is a toddler girl in a stage, or if we have a serious drama queen on our hands.  Ezra never had great pout shows or screaming tantrums, but then again, he didn't have an older sibling who was a constant tease.  I guess if being a mother was an easy job, I might get bored.  It isn't easy, and most days we ride the roller coaster of getting in fights, and remembering to love one another. 

Maren is creative in her use of words, and for the time being, doesn't seem interested in increasing her vocabulary.  Last month, her most commonly used phrase was "da-bab-ba-dee", which covered everything she didn't know how to say.  It was the mommy guessing game as to what her catch-all phrase was trying to communicate on any given day.  She has given up on that mouthful, and just points now, which is more efficient and less frustrating for both of us.  She does use other catch-all phrases, such as "mo-du-why", which means "more (fill in the blank)".  At bedtime, when she and I snuggle, she requests songs by saying, "ba-ba-bobby".  That word used to mean she wanted me to sing "Ba Ba Black Sheep", but now just means she wants music.  We play another mommy-Maren guessing game; I sing a few measures, and if it is not to her particular fancy, she lets me know right away.  "No, no no!" she will say, and then I try again until I find a favorite.

Maren can also be intensely sympathetic and compassionate.  She is deeply concerned about Ezra when he cries; she rushes to his side, or scurries off in search of Bear, or gives him hugs and pats.  She adores her daddy, and screams in delights, and melts into uncontrollable giggles when the garage door opens, signaling that daddy is home from work.  Maren is also very aware of our family unit and seems most at ease when we are all together at home.  If Ezra, for example, gets up to use the bathroom during dinner, she often dissolves into tears, but then immediately composes herself when he returns.  When Ezra goes to preschool, Maren usually wanders the house aimlessly, and asks every 10 minutes or so about her brother, "Ez-er-ra?"

Maren loves bouncy balls, nesting cups, beads, "me-me" (Minnie Mouse), and her babies.  She also has a few favorite matchbox cars that Ezra has loaned her.  She enjoys the book There's A Nightmare in My Closet, mostly because she loves to share her super-dramatic scared face when the nightmare comes out of the closet.  Silly girl!  Maren is also in love with baby oranges (cuties, clementines, Halos), and she will eat as many as I am willing to peel.

Oh, and drawing!  She loves to draw.  She sometimes uses drawing as a stall tactic at naps and bedtime!  Maren doesn't have very many words, but "draw" is one of them.  The trouble with her great interest in drawing is the markers, pens, pencils, and crayons end up on paper...and everywhere else.  She has a great desire to make marks, but not a great understanding of the appropriate bounds to her artistic endeavors.  Let's just say she has blue pouty lips a lot.  (Yes, I need a picture of that.) 

At her recent check-up she was in the 93% for height, and with her quantity of hair, could easily pass for a 2-year old.  She transitioned beautifully into nursery; she practically takes herself in and hardly looks back at us.  Awesome! 

  

Dancing in the empty bathtub with Ezra: her favorite thing!

Granola Love

Homemade granola is on my favorites list right now.  It is my go-to breakfast most every day.  My granola love is all the more sweet because Jane gave me the-biggest-metal-mixing-bowl-you-ever-did-see as a Christmas gift.  The mixing bowl is big enough to easily hold the 40 cups of oats my recipe requires.  Jane is the hero of my non-messy granola-making endeavors.  (Please take a bow, Jane!)  Previous to receiving this gift, I needed to use three of my biggest--not really so big--bowls, and I usually spilled a quarter of my oats onto the countertop and floor.

My granola recipe is based loosely on one I found in a cooking magazine, and includes yummy ingredients such as coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and cardamon.  My favorite mix-ins are pumpkins seeds, sunflower seeds, dried blueberries, coconut flakes, and walnuts.  Granola is a happy way to start my morning.     

Boots!

We get a few mid-winter thaws here, and when the snow melts, our backyard turns into a muddy mess.  Of course, Ezra and Maren love to play outside when we have 70 degree days in February, but the quantity of mud sometimes causes more headache than its worth.  As a practical solution to cleaning mud-caked leather shoes regularly, I opted to find the kids some rubber boots.  I love the idea of rubber boots: easy to put on, easy to clean, good for puddle jumping, mud-sloshing, and gardening.  My current rubber boots were purchased at a farm supply store in Iowa ten years ago, and I still wear them outdoors whenever the sun shines.  

I do believe my practical purchase was laced with inspiration because the boots were love at first sight for Ezra and Maren.  They both want to wear them constantly, in the house and outside.  And, as an added bonus, I am, officially, a super awesome mom right now.  "I love my boots, Mom!  I love my boots!"  Ezra exclaimed.  "I have fire chief boots Mom!  I'm cool!"  Maren danced and tapped and twirled to express her excitement.  

I have made a few purchases for my kids in which the small monetary input was far and away outstripped by the happiness, usefulness, and quality play output.  For example, Bear has been a part of our family for nearly 2.5 years, and he is still cherished by Ezra on a daily basis.  I found Ezra a toy push mower for $7 at a consignment sale when he was 18 months old, and he still loves it--and so does every other boy who comes to our house to play.  Maren has very simple tastes: bouncy balls from the dollar store are her endless delight.  I think this latest purchase needs to be added to that list.  I see many months of usefulness and happiness from rubber boots.

Success and Failure are Equal

This past Saturday, our stake had its annual women's conference.  The conference started with a big group devotional and musical number, and then we separated out to classes.  Seven different 45-minute classes were offered, but there was only time to attend three.  My first choice class was a parenting class taught by a licensed professional counselor from a neighboring stake.  I tend to gravitate to classes of this nature because these professionals often have a few extra tools in their tool belt for understanding human nature.

I was not disappointed in my choice; his class was exceptionally informative and enlightening.  Before the class started, he drew a large 3 x 3 block chart on the chalkboard with a different short phrases in each block.  Each short phrase operated as a conversation starter; as his audience, we chose those topics that seemed the most interesting, and then he discussed the concepts behind the statements.

"Success and failure are equal" was one of his nine short phrases.  I love the concept.  Essentially, it is this: family life is all about growth, not success or failure.  We are here on earth to learn and improve.  We win some, we loose some.  Ultimately, our attitude should be the same, no matter the outcome:

"You succeeded--great--what did you learn?"  
"You failed--great--what did you learn?   

Success and failure are the same.  In either case, we use the experience--positive or negative--as a springboard for further learning.  He pointed out that the amplification of either success or failure can move us into Satan's territory.  The amplification of success is pride.  The amplification of failure is worthlessness.  On the other hand, if you cultivate a culture of learning and growth in your family, humility is the dominant virtue.  I see this principle at work in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).  The master was pleased with effort, not success or failure.  The goal is growth.