Love 'em, don't spank 'em

*** I just want to preface this post by saying that this is for my sake and I'm not putting it here because I think that anyone else needs it. I had found this post about a month ago and loved it, but couldn't remember where I had seen it. So when I found it again, I had to put it somewhere that I could always find it. It comes from a blog that I follow - the lady is a good Christian lady and has some great insights on lots of things "parent" related. It has helped me appreciate my girl more, and to LOVE her and not HIT her. Now I'm not saying that I won't ever spank her, but I do give it a second thought!
If you'd like to read more of this specific post, click http://memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/search/label/Discipline%20With%20Dignity Or to see her whole blog, Clover Lane, click http://memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/.

How to LOVE/DISCIPLINE your child:

Children need your attention. They need to trust you, and to know that you love them. They need your instruction in words. They need to model behavior. They need you to know their limitations...I'll tell you when I've felt the urge spank a child (and we all do!), it's because I've made the wrong choices! Not them! I've expected too much of them, I've skipped a nap, I haven't been consistent and clear in my expectations, I've dragged them on too many errands, I've stretched meal times too long! I've been too busy with other things...material things, worldly things, things so much LESS important than a spirit of MY child. Break downs happen because of US. If your child's behavior stinks, look at yourself good and hard....change YOUR behavior, change your lifestyle.

I think spanking is the "easy way out". It's a quick fix. It's a way of "training" a child, without doing the work. But we all learn....quick fixes all come back to haunt us right? You might see a change in behavior, but NOT in the behavior you want...everything you are trying to "train" against, will show up...anger, aggression, mistrust, dishonesty...the list goes on and on. After all...you reap what you sow.

There is NO right way to spank. There is NO "proper procedure" to follow. I've read spanking is acceptable if you don't do it in anger, and if you explain WHY you are doing it. That's more twisted than ever in so many ways. "I'm going to inflict physical pain on you, because you just hit your sister? I am not angry, but I just want you to hurt." It doesn't make sense at all.

Sometimes you might hear, see or think, "Geez, what that kid needs is a good old spanking!" I guarantee that what that child needs is EVERYTHING but a spanking! I think in the older generations, NOT spanking is associated with overly permissive parenting...where the child rules the roost and any behavior goes. Yes, there is a prevalence of that today...but I can assure you, it's not a result of not hitting the children...it's a result of parents being unwilling to spend time teaching their children the right way to behave. Unstructured environments, no bedtimes, no regular meals, no predictable schedule...the list is long. I think it's lazy parenting...and it has nothing to do with the prevalence of spanking...they are one in the same in a way...the easy way out.

What's the hard stuff?

Attention, love, change of scenery, a good healthy meal, a good nap, a good book, consistency, hugs, a stern conversation, a calm environment, a clear set of enforced rules, a time out to refocus, strong parental relationships, a long walk, some fresh air, a loving grandma, a safe home, knowing your child....the stuff that takes a heck of a lot more time than hitting them does. The stuff that takes a piece of you...your LOVE, your SPIRIT, your TIME.

I was excited about Halloween this year because I knew Sage would be a little more interactive and enjoy a costume a little bit more. I've been feeling crafty and frugal this year, so decided to make her costume. After some surfing the web, and discussing with various people, I decided on a cave girl. And I'm glad I did!

We started out at Savers, looking for some kind of an animal print pillowcase. Found one! and it was only $.99! And....it was Ralph Lauren...LOL! Then we went to Joannes to buy embelishments. For some reason I wanted her costume to have some **bLiNg** so we bought some sequins and beads. I wanted her to have some jewelry that looked somehow like animal teeth, so I found some teeth-looking things in the bead/jewelry making department. Oh, and some felt to make a bone for her hair. Purchases done! Total cost = less than $10.00. I also used some things I already had: beads,a thin piece of rope, and black leggins.

So, the finished costume consisted of: Cave girl dress, neclace, two bracelets, rope belt, shoe covers, beaded felt bone for her hair, a paper mache(sp?) club, and some black leggins.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention that we won "Best Homemade Costume." I was pretty excited about that! Now to start thinking about next year......

Dirt is Fun!

Who would have ever thought that one of Sage's favorite places would be out back behind the dog kennel in the dirt? Actually, I should have known it would be. She loves rocks and dirt! Sorry about the snotty nose....I didn't have anything to wipe it with.

McCall 2010

We took our annual trip to McCall the end of May. Usually we take friends, but this year we took Grandma. It was sort of a strange schedule- Mom, Sage, and I went up Friday night, then grandma came home on Sunday. Sage and I were there by ourselves until Monday night. Then Jim came up Monday and we all went home on Wednesday. Crazy but fun! We discovered that Sage loves the swimming pool.

Random-ness!

I was feeling like making something for Mothers Days gifts this year, so this is what I found to whip up. I sewed(sp?) the pin cushions, and then cut out the little flowers on my Cricut and glued them onto pins.


See dad, I can climb into the tub by myself!



Uh-oh.....I'm stuck!

Hangin' in the Backyard

These pictures were taken around the end of May. Sage really likes just hangin in the backyard. As you can see, she's playing in the dog bowl again. And, chillin with Gunner. And, just looking cute, like she does so well.

I wish I could fit in a bowl!

A couple of nights ago we were outside enjoying the evening and watching Sage run around. She was supposed to be swimming - hence the swimming suit - but she was finding may other things to do as well. One of there was play with the dog bowls. Eventually she was standing in them, and then sitting in them. Had to take a picture - it was hilarious! She won't fit in them for too much longer.....thank goodness!

She is getting so big! Starting to say (or at least try to say) more and more words all the time. She said her own name for the first time today. She loves the animals at Aunt Julie's (Allen) house, and is a good helper collecting eggs from the chickens. She likes to play in her pool on the back porch. Mary Poppins is her favorite movie right now. She is just tons of fun!!

Biker Chick! (cheep cheep)

Look.....see.....I'm blogging! Although, sort of in a cheating way. This is how I had to do it - Signed onto my Walgreens account (where I happened to download some pictures so I could have them printed) stole the pictures from there, and now blogging at work on my break. I'm a cheater!!

Alas, here it goes....

So Sage is officially a biker "babe." Jim got a motorcycle a couple of months ago to help out with fuel costs. So far it has only been for commuting purposes, but he finally took Sage on her first ride around the block the other night. Up to that point, she has just looked at it, sat on it, pointed to it, "talked" to it, and DREAMED about riding it. Needless to say - she LOVED it and did not want to get off. What you can't tell is that she was wearing her pajamas and no shoes. I know, I know - I'm such a bad mother! They only went around the block, and VERY slowly. Well....now she is officially hooked. Don't know if that is a good or a bad thing. Guess we will find out in the years to come. As long as she doesn't start wearing leather....

I have other new posts brewing in my mind - Sage's first Pool, Grandpas funeral, Memorial day, backyard fun, taking baths in her pajamas, etc. See ya then!

Soon. I promise!

I've been thinking about doing some serious blogging! I promise! Just need some extra time......

Watch out!

So Sage started climbing stuff this weekend! I'm so scared now! I had a chair up to the kitchen counter so she could watch while I was coloring her easter eggs, and when we left the kitchen I left the chair there. A little while later I thought she was just at the back door watching the dogs, but no....she had climbed back up on that chair all by herself. Luckily there was nothing in her reach! Then, later that day she was trying to climb up our TV stand. Yikes, I'm afraid she's going to fall off of something, or climb out of her crib. As if I wasn't worried enough about EVERYTHING else......

Let the fun begin!!

We have a One Year Old!

Dang it, I always end up with my pictures in the reverse order. But I'm feeling too lazy to fix them, so maybe you will just have to start at the bottom and work up.

Opening presents....with a little help

Sharing cake with Daddy!

But, anyway.....our baby is now a one year old. So I guess we shouldn't call her Baby Sage anymore.

Her one year stats:

Weight: 21 lb 9 oz (60.04%)

Height: 29 3/8 (61.15%)

Head Size: 18 2/8 (84.62)

Sage is such a happy girl. She waves at everyone, and makes her funny faces at them. She likes our cell phones better than any of her toys. She likes to read books - especially "Five Little Monkeys." Baths are one of her favorite thing ever! Her favorite foods are cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. Can you say "dairy lover!!" She knows the meaning of no, but laughs at you when you say it to her. She continually pulls the dvd's off of the shelf, no matter how many time she gets her little tushy "spanked." She fills our lives with so much joy and keeps us laughing all the time.

Sage's first was year was great. She was very healthy and happy until the last few weeks. She had roseola, a cold, and then an ear infection all within 3 weeks. So we are hoping that her sickness is over for a looooonnnggg while! She is back to sleeping well, and being her happy self again.

Her birthday was Feb 1st, but we didn't have her little party until Feb 6th. There were just a few of us, but it turned out good and she loved her cake! She did a great job at destroying it. I made her cake, and I was pretty happy with how it turned out.

Her own little cake to destroy - it was not really cute, but it was "Sage-sized"

She enjoyed tearing up the cake!

She did NOT enjoy the birthday hat!

My first fondant cake - if you don't look too closely, it looks OK.

What now?

So, tell me? What exactly are you supposed to do when you are told your dad only has 9-12 months left? Aaahhhggg!! I hate this!

???

Jim took this picture with his phone. He was outside feeding the dogs and Sage was on the inside making faces at him. I think this is pretty funny. Sorry for the dirty door!

Uh-oh, she climbs now!

When we got home from church today.....at 5 pm (yuck!)....I was running around trying to get dinner, and clean up the house a bit before some family came over for a minute. I came around the corner to check on sweet little Sage, and she was STANDING in her rocking chair. First I thought....SIT DOWN before you fall on your head, and then I thought.....wait, how the heck did you get into that chair let alone standing up in that chair? So we got her down, and she proceeded to climb back up in it again and again.

She is just learning things way too quickly these days. She's in a different drawer every time I turn around, and she likes to get in the dogs buckets and play with their stuff (double yuck!) Now that she is walking all over, she no longer wants to sit on my lap and be a nice girl at church. She thinks she should be able to walk all over and play with all the nice people. And now that we have super late church.....she's even more of a terror. Good thing she's so cute, or I might get really mad at her.

Here she is in action

Breakfast time.....and a little surprise :)

So this is kind of a long video, and its not that exciting, but if you fast forward to about 2:10 and then listen really close, you'll get a good chuckle. Or at least I did!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Bob!

January 2nd was my dad's 75th birthday. We had a big family party for him on January 1st at Mark's house in Kuna. My sister Julie got him this funny birthday hat to wear, and he was such a good sport about wearing it.

He had three birthday cakes - two of them chocolate.....his favorite!

Sage with her Grandpa on his birthday

Love you dad - hope you had a good birthday!

** I forgot my camera for the party, so I had to steal the first two pics from Kim & Mike's blog. Thanks Mike!