Thursday, July 24, 2014

life with littles


3. Unplugged Play (for mom)

I've been thinking a lot about how I can improve my parenting skills. It may seem funny to say that I feel like I am melting in the summer heat (because it's SO much hotter so many other places)....but I find that we are inside more and that we tend to gravitate towards "shows" watching (as my kids call it).

When I was a kid I had creativity spewing out of my ears. I was always making and creating things. I loved getting the magazine Hearth Song, and would long for chances to ask for presents from there. Once I got a pack of colored bees wax, and I would spend HOURS making figures. Mostly animals. I also had a knack for sewing...something my mom instill in me (she is a fantastic sewer).

I look at Katy and I see me. She can spend endless hours painting and cutting paper. I helped her sew a dress for one of her dolls, and I can tell she is going catch the sewing bug. That is, of course, as soon as I feel brave enough to give her free reign of a needle and tread.

I have been thinking of creative gifts to give to my kids this season and with Katy I am loving the idea of getting some creative books to help her get excited about making and creating her own things. Hopefully we can find ways to unplug more and get creative.

So for her birthday and Christmas I am going to get these books, look through them, find my favorite ideas, and box it up with all the supplies to create a few of the projects contained within. I know she is going to go gaga over them. It's probably just as much of a gift for me as it will be for Katy.

life's full of surprises


The circus arrives without warning...and sometimes, so do babies. 

I can hardly believe that we will be drafting another player for Team Beardshall, but this circus is set to perform January 5th. And with my track record (of having babies early), this poor kiddo is probably going to have a Christmas birthday. 

Sometimes unexpected surprises are the best kind. I can honestly say I am very excited to meet this kiddo, but I'm a bit scared to be outnumbered. I'm also anxious to see how our family dynamic will change. I can only imagine good things are in store for us.