Weekend Links 8/29/14

Seems I have taken a little blogging break recently. But I am ok with that as we are busy living life and soaking in the last few days of summer.

(And not to mention very,very busy fighting/appealing/advocating for and applying for more therapy coverage for Clara, since we are being denied continued therapy until 2015. Not ok. Another post for another day.)

But. . .  I have been reading in my few spare moments because soaking in a few quiet minutes reading keeps me sane and my emotions in check. . . and goodness knows the constant insurance battle we are fighting brings out some strong emotions in this mommy. :)

Enjoy and happy Friday!

Life
Letting Go 
Let the Rhythm Move You
A Back to School Book Club for Moms

Special Needs
Does Money Buy Better Therapy?
It Is What You Make It

And a few pics of my sweeties playing together. . . Please note they look to be about the same size (and are currently in the same size diapers). Love them!

Weekend Links 8/22/14

Life
Smack Dab in the Center 

Special needs
Sensory Playground Lets Special Needs Kids Have Fun
What We Miss When We Rush
Study finds ABA Therapy Helpful for Children on Autism Spectrum

Life is a little crazy for us right now, but we will get through. . .

One day at a time over here, folks.

I am sure some of you have adopted this same mantra right about now, no?

A few pics of our little laid back sweetie drama queen. . .

This activity started out fun, and then ended in tears. You can pin this if you want. Had to document her screaming face of course,  before saving her from the ball pit. I am such a good mother.

Happy weekend!

Weekend Links 8/15/14

Just a few links on this Friday. . .

Life
Give me gratitude or give me debt 
Front-seat confessions: Why the car is the perfect place to bring up tough topics with kids

Special Needs
8 Sensory-Motor benefits of Aquatic Therapy 
5 Positive Playground Strategies for Children with Special Needs 

And a few pics. . . blurry but hey, I have never claimed to be a photographer. . .

Smile. . . It's the weekend!

Camille 7 months

 Happy 7 months to this girl!

She is at such a fun age/phase right now. Just cannot get enough of her smiles each day. . .

Loves: Sitting up, trying to play with Clara, trying to pull Clara's hair, laughing at herself in the mirror, banging blocks together, playing with toys that make noise, cuddling with us in the Bjorn, playing peekaboo, reading books, being a tad dramatic, snuggling, eating, and making her presence known by babbling VERY loudly.

Does not love: Honestly she is hardly fussy unless overly tired. That said, we do call her our "drama mamma" because she can go from laughing to yelling in about 2 seconds flat. Seriously 2 seconds. When this happens, Brandon and I look at each other like "Did I miss something here???"

Snuggle action. . . I would wear her all day long for these snuggles if I could. . .

Sleeping: 8pm - 7 or 8am. She usually sleeps through the night (meaning we don't have to feed her) although it is common for her to wake at some point and just babble to herself until she is sleepy again. She takes 3 naps per day, although sometimes just 2 depending on length of said naps.

Eating: She takes a pumped bottle every 4-ish hours and then gets at least two meals of baby food per day, at breakfast and dinner. This girl loves her some solids. I mean loves. Girlfriend just plain likes to eat. We also let her practice with puffs and she will rake them in her hands and bring to her mouth. She has started mimicking the chewing motion. Despite not having any teeth this girl is sure showing interest in real food! She is constantly trying to grab food off our plate. We have also introduced a sippy cup. . .  just to get her manipulating it and attempting to bring it to her mouth.

Clothes: Size 9 months
Diapers: Size 3 daytime and size 4 overnights
Shoes: Size 1 although these are getting snug!

Yes. . . the onsie says what you think it does . . .

Development: She rolled from back to tummy just this week and now will do so frequently! She babbles ALL day long and her newest sounds have been "Da-da-da-da, Na-na-na-na," and a few others. It is safe to say hearing "Da-da-da" for the first time pretty much melted Brandon's heart into a tiny puddle that he had to wipe up off the floor. And mine. And there may or may not have been some tears shed over this milestone (remember. . . first time for us ever hearing this).

This girl ADORES her big sister. Literally adores. Reaching for her, attempting to touch her, looking at her, smiling at her. . . all. day. long.

Not sure what this frown was about. . . Maybe she is wondering why we are trying to swing when it is 500 degrees and 100% humidity outside. Just a guess. . .

Happy 7 months, Camille!! Can't wait to see what this next month will bring!

Turning parched ground into springs

Isaiah 41:17-20. . .

I stumbled upon this portion of scripture one morning recently and the words hit me in a new way, like never before. I love when God surprises me like that. 

He knew I needed these words. This hope. This promise.  

“The poor and needy search for water,
    but there is none;
    their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the Lord will answer them;
    I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
    and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of water,

   and the parched ground into springs.

19 I will put in the desert
    the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland,
    the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know,
    may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One of Israel has created it."

So many times I want to drink my own water, if you know what I mean. Hard times come, frustrating situations happen, and I try to satisfy my own thirst with my own agenda. My own personal sense of control.

I am sure you have been there a time or two. . . 

Yet what God is really saying here is just be still. Just wait with hope. Just hold on a second longer because while you are searching I am fighting for you. 

Yet so many times I am so preoccupied with my own thirst that I miss the bigger picture. The pool of water that is right in front of me. The overflowing spring that is right in front of my big brown eyes. 

Searching for water? Overwhelmed with what feels like an unquenchable thirst? Smack in the middle of your own personal desert, whatever that may be? 

Just keep holding on, friends. . . 

Because God is fighting. 

God is using you and your story to move mountains. 

And that dry, brittle ground you now see will soon transform into a beautiful wellspring of life.  Psalm 41 holds the proof.

Weekend Links 8/8/14

Life
FOMO: it's a real thing
When comparisons are choking the life out of you
Let's stop editing our lives
The parenting books were wrong (and other good news for moms)

Special Needs
Problem Solving Discipline & Sensory Processing 
Sensory Processing Disorder in Babies and Toddlers 

This girl . . . full of smiles. . . 

And drool. . . Thus a bib is worn all day everyday.

This girl. . . she would be outside all day everyday if she could. . . specifically, swinging all day everyday. Love her sweet expression here. 

Friday dance. . . Happy weekend!

Summer bucket list check in

So remember that summer bucket list? We haven't been able to do as much as I would have liked thus far, but we have done a few things and are having a lot of fun & making memories! And that is what is important when all is said and done. There are still a few weeks left of summer so here's to hoping we can check a few more boxes between now and then. Therapy 3x a week + in home appointments + trying to work from home doesn't leave much extra time. :)

Here are a few pics from our summer adventures. . .

The McDonalds by our house has a really cool toddler play section. Lots of musical toys which is right up Clara's alley. . . as long as there are no big kids around. . .  (We did not eat there because I would like to ensure that the meat we consume is well, meat. Just saying.)

Children's Museum. . . As I have mentioned before, the ball pit was a HUGE hit.

Toddler time at the library. . . this outing was an epic fail. . . but hey, at least we tried! Clara did however enjoy playing nicely banging as loud as possible on the computers.

Totally not impressed. . . pic was taken mid-meltdown.

Farmers Market. . . we didn't stay too long, but we scored some delicious bread so let's consider this a win. This picture however. . . it's safe to say we have taken better. (Locals. . . check out the Great Harvest Bread Co. . . amazing!)

Lots of time outside + swimming. . . This was not on our list but it has been happening so you know, I feel the need to document.

And lastly, a fire station tour. . . you will notice also that this was not on the original list, but after completing such a fun activity I had to add it and then check it off. I know some of y'all do the same. Don't try to deny your OCD tendencies. Mmmmmkay?

Clara loved sitting on the truck and taking a few pictures. She was making herself crack up! Such a fun memory with my biggest girl.

Please take note. . . all the moms are attempting to look and smile while all the children are going bonkers & looking anywhere but towards the camera. . . such is life! 

Here's to a few more weeks of summer!!