Wednesday

We have been busy playing out all week. Its a little difficult to get used to get used to the time change in the mornings the first couple of weeks; but we do love the evenings. The Treasures have stayed out until 6:30 came in to eat, take a bath, read and bed. I love it that way. There is just something about the 4-6 time that is no fun indoors. It seems to fly by when they are out having fun.
Here are a few more pics from the day I took the dance costumes. I haven't turned my camera on the past few days. I have been doing taxes. (ick)
oh before I forget:
Sharon asked for me to describe Caitlyn's personality.
Caitlyn is full of life. Very strong, determined, Joyful, sweet, funny. She is 100% Treasure sent straight from Heaven. She has brought us so much happiness. She is a dream fulfilled... a prayer answered.
All of my children are very different from one another. I know some people have children that have similar traits. My children have each challenged my parenting skills differently and I have had to have a unique plan for each of them. I have learned to love them for their differences instead of attempting to fit them in a mold that would be easiest for me. Right when Jacob began showing traits that were unfamiliar to Ryan's, I began attempting to fit him into the same mold that Ryan had fit. That was the only experience I had at being a parent and Ryan happened to be a very mild child that did not challenge my parenting skills much and so I just thought this parenting thing is easy. I was even one of those parents that sometimes looked at others in the store with their tantruming child and thought they did not know what they were doing! (GASP!) ;) Believe me I am 100% a changed mommy now. Full of compassion and wanting to help a fellow parent in need:):)
That all changed with Jacob. He came home in desperate need of love and nourishment.
He was a great baby. As soon as he became a toddler however I knew something was different. He did not talk as early as typical babies his age and he grew quite frustrated easily. Just saying no didn't work like it did with easy little Ryan! ;). Then Chloe came home and was a good baby but again did not fit the mold of Ryan. Two babies together = all kinds of different scenarios in the disciplining ring. You have hair pulling, biting, fighting over a toy, both needing you right now, getting out of a checkout line in a store was hard work and you better have dum dum lolly's or something handy! and the list could go on and on. I will add you also have double the laughter, double the giggles, double the love. and it was so worth it. You have them entertaining each other alot. If anything I wish I could just go back and relax about my parenting skills a little, not worry about Jacob's speech that wasn't developing on schedule, and enjoy them more.
Jacob began speaking around 4 which is way later than your average bear, but that's ok, he has a vocabulary that is pretty amazing now. That's one reason I love homeschooling. It is great for us because I can study things and choose things that Jacob will enjoy that won't bore him to extreme, that won't frustrate him. I can make a lesson plan that will fit him and help him excel and help him to grow in his love for learning.
Anyway, by the time Caitlyn came home I had learned quite a bit and have relaxed and enjoyed her so much. Again though, she has challenged my parenting in different ways than the other 3 Treasures. She came home older than Jacob and Chloe and we had to form a bond. They were so young they bonded pretty quickly. We did not focus on a lot of discipline with Caitlyn for a long time. One example, at 11 months old when she came home, she decided she did not like high chairs. In fact she despised them and let everyone know it. She preferred to sit in her daddy's lap and eat off of his plate. Some people would have thought we were spoiling her and needed to set limits straight from the start. We on the other hand felt there was something she could not stand about being in a device that held her, perhaps a memory from her past that she did not care for, perhaps she cried and cried and no one came? We don't know, so we decided to play it safe rather than sorry, and chose to give in on this. After all she is only a baby once. When she is older you can sit down discuss why its ok to sit in your own chair and eat off your own plate. Right then when she had no way of communicating with us other than her cry telling us she was unhappy, we chose to make her happy. Some people would say that's spoiling, you need to set limits. For us it was gut instinct that she needed this.
Why am I talking about all of this? I have no idea !;) It just kind of came out when I started posting today!
I guess I just want to say enjoy your children. Enjoy everyday. Enjoy their differences, listen to the voice of God inside you speaking to you, directing you on how to handle challenges that arise. Don't try to mold them into someone they aren't. Try to find the positive and focus on it. That child that is throwing a tantrum, or pushing and stretching the limits will one day use that same determination and strong will to do something positive, with some guidance and love and most importantly, lots of prayer! Remember that the same God that chose you to be their parent, chose you because He believes in you. He has faith in you and will put in you whatever you need to help them in whatever challenge you are facing. Here are a few verses that help me remember that He will give me the answers if I seek them:


All your children shall be taught by the Lord,and great shall be the peace of your children.
—Isaiah 54:13

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!(Psalms 113:9)

(James 1:5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put into confusion.Psalm 71:1

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6