The Bangert Buzz

Gotta Love This Girl!!

2012-02-04T15:03:00.001-06:00

If you know Taryn, like most of you who actually read this do, you will agree with me when I say there is NEVER a dull moment with this child! She sucks up every waking moment of life and shoots it back out of every wiggly appendage and orifice she has! (We're actually concerned she might be lactose intolerant...but that's a whole other rabbit trail no one wants to read about!)

It has taken this peace-and-quiet, order-obsessed mama an embarrassingly long amount of time to truly appreciate and enjoy our adorable "time-terrorist"...but to be fair, it took an insane amount of spankings to get there too!

But whether it's a sore-bottom day or all cuddles and sunshine, there is always laughter with this one! Case in point...there is never a shortage of Sports Illustrated magazines in our house and lately, thanks to the Super Bowl, never a shortage of Tom Brady pics. Now I happen to believe that a certain member of our household bears a certain resemblance to Tom Brady...and I'm not saying that I married that certain member because he looks like Tom Brady...but I'm not complaining either!

(Is it just me?!?)

Anyway, it appears that there is a genetic component to personal attraction because I'm not the only Tom Brady fan in the house. After a few days of ogling the most recent SI cover, I informed Taryn that his name was Tom Brady. "Yeah," she said dreamily.
"He's so handsome!" I baited her.
"Yeah...like Bro-ey."

I hope her brother remains the standard for a worthy beau when she's a dating teenager. Until then, I plan to thank God everyday for the all the life Taryn brings to our days!

It's 11:30 a.m. on a Friday...

2012-01-28T14:44:00.001-06:00

Just baked some fresh, honey-wheat bread from scratch...

and FINALLY hung my "school wall" vision outside Brody's room!

Ain't no big thang!

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A Testimony

2012-01-25T14:16:00.000-06:00

I have been in denial for a long time now that I could ever have a child old enough to start kindergarten! I still see my hulking almost-five-year-old as the wobbly-walker in the picture from my last post...much to his dismay!! But reality waits for no man, and I am over my head in notoriously-lengthy Christian school applications.

Of the 20+ pages I've had to fill out, I was asked to write a VERY brief testimony of my faith in God. For those of you who know me (or read the rabbit-trails of this blog), it's obvious that my conversational, stream-of-consciousness writing doesn't lend itself to concise answers. And so I wrestled....type, edit, delete, type, run out of space, delete, re-type, still run out of space, delete, etc., etc., etc...Until I arrived at the following (not nearly all I wanted to say, but enough to fit in the amount of space allotted). It was a great drill for me because while I enjoy talking about God's bountiful presence in my life, I have a feeling people might rather hear this shortened version!

As is the case for most people who were fortunate enough to grow up in a Christian home, I cannot pinpoint a specific time or way that I came to Christ. Who he is and the sacrifice he made for me was always communicated in my family. However, as I continue to grow in Christ I find that with each new day comes new opportunities for self-sacrifice and submission to the will of God in His Word. (Mk. 8:34-36) My hope is that by the end of my time here on earth I will be able relate to the Lord as intimately as Job and speak his words with my last breath:
"I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not...I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:2-6)

Life

2012-01-19T23:27:00.001-06:00

Just came across this gem as I was looking for pictures for Great-Grandma Bangert's obituary. It never ceases to amaze me the ways in which God reminds us how precious and short our life is on this earth. It seems like just yesterday that I took this picture...and Great Grandma Bangert was alive a well. Mercifully, she has gone to be with Jesus, and those sweet cheeks (Lord-willing) are four years closer to joining her.

Is It In the DNA?

2012-01-17T21:44:00.000-06:00

I'm not gonna lie and say neither Scott nor I would really care if our kids didn't like basketball. But we have mentally disciplined ourselves to always communicate that whatever hobbies they enjoy will always be encouraged and supported.

So what if I happen to enroll Taryn in gymnastics rather than ballet? She is only 2 afterall, and if she really wanted to wear pink tutus and dance around like a fairy, she would've protested...well...more than the weekly "pry her screaming body from my leg" protesting that she does at the beginning of each class.

And I did put Brody in soccer for a whole 3 months before switching him to basketball. It's not my fault that he's not a fan of running-simply-for-the-sake-of-running...well...ok, technically it is since we know the Bangert side could run a marathon without ever training! But I mean...look at that shot!! Be still my shooting-guard-momma's heart!

Ok...I said "shooting guard" not "point guard"!!

On Holiness

2012-01-07T16:04:00.000-06:00

Our progress in holiness depends on God and ourselves - on God's grace and on our will to be holy. We must have a real living determination to reach holiness. 'I will be a saint' means I will despoil myself of all that is not God; I will strip my heart of all created things...I will renounce my will, my inclinations, my whims and fancies, and make myself a willing slave to the will of God.
~ Mother Teresa (in Something Beautiful for God)

Putting the "Merry" in "Merry Christmas"!!!

2011-12-25T22:17:00.000-06:00

In Case You Were Wondering....

2011-12-23T15:36:00.000-06:00

Brody: Who is Batman's wife?
Me: Batman doesn't have a wife.
Brody: Why?
Me: Because Batman has to put himself in danger fighting the bad guys and he wouldn't want to put his wife in danger too.
Brody: I think God just didn't give Batman a wife.
Me: Oh really?
Brody: Yeah. I think when God makes the bad guys into good guys he'll give Batman a wife.
Me: Uhhh....

First Love

2011-12-16T09:32:00.000-06:00

"I Don't Want To!!"

2011-12-11T21:57:00.000-06:00

It always amuses me when I consider that I have two kids who use the same (very common) phrase....and yet....they never quite mean the same thing!

Both kids were very vocal in insisting that they did NOT want to sit on Santa's lap this year...

...But Brody is all business, and business needed to be taken care of!

...And Taryn ALWAYS means what she says!!

(hint: lower left corner)

Our Divine Photographer

2011-12-04T22:46:00.000-06:00

I have been spending the past few months hemming and hawing over what to do for our Christmas picture this year. Do I shell out the dough to hire a professional or just wait for the true personality of our family to become captured in a random photo? If you've gotten our last few years worth of cards, you'll know that we never go the "traditional route"...mostly because we have Taryn who lives a very spicy life that shines forth in every picture we've ever taken of her!

I like to think that our picture this year is a gift from God to two very tired parents. I really wasn't expecting much as I herded the crew out onto our front porch after we got home from church today and set the 10 sec. timer on our camera. But the result gives me hope that all the sleepless nights, incomplete tasks, and days of non-stop spankings are actually producing beautiful children with beautiful souls. (I mean...sheesh...look at how much the kids have aged poor Bing...he's only 6!!)

I just wish I could change the way I'm sitting so my rear doesn't look so big...that sounds easier than laying off the Christmas cookies!!

Thanksgiving Adorableness

2011-11-28T21:57:00.000-06:00

Quotes From the Backseat

2011-11-12T00:04:00.001-06:00

This was my first opportunity to have all four of these cuties confined together in a small space. The pictures (which I took without looking while stopped at a red light) don't do it any justice! Aside from witnessing the adorable chivalry of Brody helping and buckling Audrey into his carseat, there was quite a deal of back and forth from the 4 year olds....and a bit more one-sided social desperation amongst the 2 year olds. Here are some of the highlights of the conversations....WAY better than T.V.!!

Brody: "Hi, Audrey! How was your sleep?"

Audrey: "Not very good! I had a hard night. I had to put lots of pennies in a jar!"

Brody: "Oh!"

Taryn: "Evie!"

Evangeline: (silent and steady forward gaze)

Taryn: "Evie!"

Evangeline: (silence)

Taryn: "Evie!...Evie!...Evie sleeping?"

Brody: "Audrey....your hair smells like yogurt!"

Audrey: "Well you smell green!"

Brody: "You're a goofus-maloofus, Audrey!"

Letting Go

2011-10-25T22:12:00.001-05:00

I've implemented a lot of hair brained ideas in my lifetime. I'm pretty sure it's hard-wired in the Davenport DNA. But I'll never achieve a higher level of all-around "crazy" than the day I decided it was time for Taryn's paci to go.
Now I realize that I haven't been as dedicated lately to chronicling the apocalypse that is parenting Taryn, but suffice it to say that any doubt I may have had about the depths of human depravity died the day she turned 2! Thus, out of fear that I would (yet again) bring a knife to a gun show, I mapped out a very intentional battle plan...Operation Paci Purge...which revolved around the trifecta of weaponry.
1. "like Bro-ey" - read the previous post to understand the underlying principles of this weapon
2. "I do it" - I challenge you to find a parent out there that isn't intimately acquainted with that phrase
3. "the pink one" - she's a girl...need I say more?

Soooo...Operation Paci Purge commenced just before bed when I casually pulled out weapon 1 and suggested that Taryn might be old enough to get a (pink...weapon 3 already at work!) musical soothing seahorse just like Brody's (yes...Brody has a pink seahorse...scroll back a few years to when I broke him of his paci to figure that one out). She was like putty in my hands, so I decided to proceed to weapon 2.

Now the success of the "I do it" weapon hinged on making her swap out the pacis for the seahorse all by herself. So I told her that in the morning she could take her pacis to the store and "buy" her seahorse with them. And while she spent her last night as my sweet baby, happily sucking herself to sleep, I was anxiously debating whether or not this was really gonna work.

But that's where the pink comes in to play! That girl can't say no to pink. So pink pacis packed into the pink purse hung on her shoulder as we walked into Target the next morning. I knew going in that we needed to go directly to the right aisle because the future of our nights would only be favorable if we walked out with that one, pink seahorse. We had no room for error or distractions. What I wasn't prepared for was the explosion in the night-soothing toy market. There was an entire aisle of every animal you could imagine making noises from the African Savannah to the muffled pulse of the womb. There is only one thing Taryn likes more than pink...and that's animals! After a momentary stop at a super-plush, life-like giraffe and a nervous reminder that the unnatural glow of the gum ball pink sea creature was "just like Brody's", we were in front of the cashier and facing our next hurdle.

I kept the exchange short and sweet as Taryn plopped her baggie of pacifiers in front of the bewildered (and somewhat disgusted) cashier. One sheepish shrug and a thank you carried us out the door and we haven't looked back since.

True...she did not sleep at all for nap that day. And yes...she still asks for her paci every time she gets in bed, but all I have to say is, "You used them to buy your seahorse. Would you like me to turn it on for you?". That's one less battle for a mom in the trenches!

Like Bro-ey

2011-10-06T23:11:00.000-05:00

The only thing that warms this momma's heart more than footie pajamas...is snuggling a divalicious, pink-obsessed princess who put back the sparkly-pink-hippo-footie-jammies so she could buy..."the ones like Brody's". I'm so grateful that she has such a great role model to copy!

There's No Place Like Home

2011-09-20T16:54:00.003-05:00

If you ask me where my home is, I would (of course) say up in heaven with Jesus. (wink, wink) If you ask me where my home is here on earth I would tell you it's wherever my family is. (wink, wink, wink). BUT....if you ask me for a tangible location where I feel the most at peace here on earth I would say a cabin just outside a little town called Alpine in the White Mountains of Arizona. This past weekend I got to share this little piece of heaven with Brody and Taryn and here is the result...

Soccer

2011-09-01T20:33:00.004-05:00

The majority of my time is consumed trying to keep these kids busy and wear them out. Any time I find a way to "outsource" this task, I consider myself doubly blessed!!

It Begins...AGAIN!!

2011-08-18T23:47:00.001-05:00

We had so much fun last year, we decided to go for round two. In other words...PRAY for us!!

The Preschool for Dummies

Summer Recap in Pictures (because I'm too emotional for words)

2011-08-03T22:21:00.002-05:00

We said a LOT of goodbyes...

...to incredible friends...

...a church with a super-awesome cow...

...what will someday become an arranged marriage...

...our "Houston grandma" a.k.a. Miss Bonnie...

...and our beloved Aunt Carolyn!

But while our hearts break for our Houston home, we are grateful for all that God has already blessed us with in our Arizona home...

...like our pool...and our mountains...

...and eachother!

Because the truth of the matter is, we have not yet been home, and what a glorious day that will be!!

Brody Quotes

2011-06-10T22:46:00.003-05:00

Brody: Do you know what my favorite dinosaur is?

Me: No, what?

Brody: Taurus Sex.

Brody: How does sun screen keep the sun from burning your skin?

Me: Well, it has ingredients that block the sun's rays. It's like a screen which is why it's called sun screen.

Brody: So...when it's done screaming it keeps the sun out?

Me: Should we buy some blueberries for our cereal?

Brody: Oh yes!! Your children would love some blueberries!

Without Cows

2011-05-25T22:26:00.003-05:00

It needs some work, but at least there are no cows!! (It's says so in the name....Sin Vacas).

The Princess Turns Two!!

2011-05-20T14:09:00.002-05:00

God Is Bigger Than The Boogie-Man...

2011-05-14T13:23:00.002-05:00

...or in my case, completely disintegrating plumbing throughout my "currently on the market" house!

Daddy's Girl

2011-05-11T13:49:00.001-05:00

She is certainly her Daddy's girl!

"Pimpass!!!"

2011-05-01T14:04:00.004-05:00

There is no other word in Taryn's vocabulary that I love more than the way she says princess...mostly because it sounds like she's saying "pimp ass" which I find hilarious....but also for the enthusiasm with which she exclaims something that is clearly so dear to her. Every time she shouts it, I'm instantly transported back to that magical time of life when there was so little to challenge my belief that I could be something more precious and far greater than the boundaries of my humanity would allow. There was complete liberty, not to do whatever I please, but to live a life that human depravity could not touch. My home was an inpenetrable fortress. My plate was never lacking in the most palatable cuisine. I was always robed in the finest materials, and my benevolent conduct was unparalled!

Oh what a difference a day makes (or 28 years for that matter)! Something that comes so easily to the mind of a two-year-old, requires such discipline in my stubborn, 30-year-old will. My prayer is that my kids never struggle with the belief that they are royalty...not because they feel they earned it...and CERTAINLY not because they think it entitles them to do whatever feels right to them...but because they understood and knew the ways of their King, and saw the value in submitting their ways to His.

...and also that I'll one day get to wear as beautiful a dress as Princess Kate's! :)

Day One of Potty Training the Princess

2011-04-28T13:27:00.002-05:00

Somewhere in between Brody's desperate attempts to capture the "potty" spotlight, Taryn's 2-year-molars-diarrhea, and our psychotic, commitment-phobic buyers' 5th inspection...I pulled the plug! I have broken down into tears far too many times this week to tempt the fates with potty training a rabid-raccoon (don't knock the name-calling till you've spent more than 5 minutes with her!). I'm going to Costco first thing after nap and buying the biggest box of diapers they have!!

Prosperity

2011-04-25T14:27:00.002-05:00

Jeremiah 17:5-11

"Thus says the Lord,

Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind

And makes flesh his strength,

And whose heart turns away from the Lord.

For he will be like a bush in the desert

And will not see when prosperity comes,

But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,

A land of salt without inhabitant.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord

And whose trust is the Lord.

For he will be like a tree planted by the water,

That extends its roots by a stream

And will not fear when the heat comes;

But its leaves will be green,

And it will not be anxious in a year of drought

Nor cease to yield fruit.

The heart is more deceitful than all else

And is desperately sick;

Who can understand it?

I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give to each man according to his ways,

According to the results of his deeds.

As a partridge that hatches eggs which it has not laid,

So is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly;

In the midst of his days it will forsake him,

And in the end he will be a fool."

Life In the Trenches

2011-04-23T14:01:00.003-05:00

I was going to post a long description of the recent lesson God is teaching me about prosperity and gratitude in the process of our move back home to Tucson. However, as she often does, my dear friend Heather so artistically and poetically beat me to the punch! I have yet to meet anyone who so intimately understands and pens the hand of God as well as she does.

Life In the Trenches

Princess Panties

2011-04-18T12:54:00.001-05:00

Lord grant me strength!

Ode to the Home Depot

2011-04-10T12:49:00.003-05:00

The bond with Home Depot runs deep within the Davenport blood. However, I gained a whole new respect for the Construction Wonderland after having Brody's birthday party there yesterday.

It first occurred to me last fall, as I was cleaning out closets and packing up unnecessary clutter, that our house would be on the market and thus "off limits" for the type of destruction that a swarm of preschool party-goers would bring. The size of our wallets (or lack thereof) made the majority of party locations "off limits" as well; and, the unpredictability of a Houston spring made the park a risky proposition. I had recalled a party we went to for a little girl down the street at a local craft store...and maybe it was because we stare a the big orange sign from our backyard on a daily basis, or maybe it was that Davenport blood...but somehow I arrived on the male equivalent...The Home Depot!

If y'all haven't tried one of their free kid workshops, YOU HAVE GOT TO GO!! Saturday morning cartoons have nothing on a hammer and nails! They give you a mini-replica of the orange aprons the workers wear, a craft to build, and a personalized certificate of completion. Now imagine a Home Depot workshop full of cupcakes, balloons (that they blow up for you!), and all of your friends building, singing, and watching you open your presents! Brody was in HOG HEAVEN! And so were we...you wanna know why? It was ALL FREE!! Thank you Jesus!!

Psalm 127:2b "For he gives to his beloved even in his sleep."

The Birthday Boy

2011-04-05T22:22:00.002-05:00

ONE for the money.

TWO for the show.

THREE to make ready.

And FOUR to go!

The Run

2011-03-29T14:57:00.002-05:00

I have been attempting (unsuccessfully) to get this girl's run on video for months now! Being the ham that she is, she always stops whatever hilarious thing she's doing to say "cheese" the second she sees me with my phone or camera. BIG thanks go out to my friend Julie for capturing this spectacle for y'all to see! Is it wrong that I secretly hope she runs like this for the rest of her life?

Math

2011-03-25T13:59:00.000-05:00

My computer is too slow to upload this video a second time, so just click below to see the latest my "almost-4-year-old-going-on-40-year-old" child can do!

Preschool For Dummies: Math

How Superman Does Math

2011-03-17T13:44:00.001-05:00

At least we know he can do two things at once.

A Bicycle Built for Two

2011-03-13T12:45:00.000-05:00

Lunch with the Fire Chief

2011-03-10T11:50:00.001-06:00

Such a Stinker!!

2011-03-02T13:12:00.003-06:00

This kid is a total crack-up!! The things that go through his head and come out of his mouth keep me on my toes (and bent over with laughter). Here are some of my recent favorites:

I'm drawing you a picture so you won't be boring. Do you know what makes you boring?....bad germs....bad germs make you boring.

What color is Superman's swimsuit?

Do you know who's Spiderman's cousin?...Hunter...Hunter is Spiderman's cousin.

How old is Emily? (the neighbor's dog) Is she 10 like Mimi? (his grandma)

Does yogurt come out of my body as pee pee or poo poo? (it's a good thing his daddy's a doctor cuz I didn't know the answer to that one!)

PRAY!!!

2011-02-28T14:58:00.002-06:00

Alright people....now is the time when you pray! Pray that I don't go all "American Psycho" on everyone as I attempt to keep my house as clean as he did. Pray that between all that cleaning I will somehow find the energy to repeat EVERY WORD that Taryn shrieks in my face with exuberance...AND somehow plan/execute preschool lessons for my elephant that never forgets just how many days it's been since we've last done "school"...AND pretend that the one and only thing I want to do at the end of a long day is watch and/or discuss the state of the University of Arizona basketball team! In other words....pray for a miracle!!

Type A

2011-02-01T20:51:00.003-06:00

He has his daddy's razor sharp ability to memorize!

(Notice how annoyed "the princess" gets when she realizes someone else is hogging the spotlight!)

Putting the Pee in Peaceful

2011-01-27T21:43:00.001-06:00

She looks so peaceful, right? Now let me hit you with some reality. What you can't see under the bottom of this cutie-patootie is the fresh puddle of pee left by her brother mere moments earlier. What was supposed to be an adorable pic of my dainty princess following her big brother's every move and lifting her shirt to "pee on a tree", turned into an adorable pic of my princess posing on a puddle of pee. Every day is an adventure with this one!

Tiny Dancer

2011-01-23T21:48:00.003-06:00

Yes...We're Still Doing This...

2011-01-23T13:06:00.002-06:00

Just a brief recap of all the preschool fun we've been having since we came back from Christmas break!

Preschool For Dummies: "F"u"N"

Winter Fun

2011-01-19T12:44:00.001-06:00

Cuz...what else are you gonna do?

Peace

2011-01-16T21:25:00.003-06:00

...like faith, it's hard to find these days. It is a breath of fresh air when you do find them, as I did in my dear friend Heather's blog.

"But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." Hebrews 10:39

A Look Back

2011-01-07T22:42:00.004-06:00

We've been busy....

Ruth

2011-01-06T15:06:00.002-06:00

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

What higher service couldst thou for Him fill?

Tis hard! Ah yes! But choicest things must cost!

For lack of losing all how much is lost?

Tis hard! Tis true! But then - He giveth grace

To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.

- J. Dawson Smith

The Three C's

2010-12-08T15:14:00.003-06:00

It's controversial, convicting and crucial for anyone who values a relationship with Christ. I will freely admit that I DEVOUR anything that this man says/writes because, as hard as it is to hear, there is the hope that anchors the soul behind every word. (Hebrews 6:19)

Set aside an hour and listen at your own risk!!

Maintaining an Eternal Perspective in a Temporal World

A Quick Trip To The North Pole

2010-12-04T23:44:00.001-06:00

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

2010-12-02T21:14:00.002-06:00

I guess "classy" will never be used when describing Christmas in the Bangert household...

It Was A Success!

2010-11-26T23:04:00.002-06:00

I survived hosting my first Thanksgiving! As our time here in Houston winds down, I'm so grateful to have such precious memories from our time here! God is good!

Words to Live By

2010-11-18T14:11:00.002-06:00

I just read this in a parenting "self-help" book that I HIGHLY recommend (How to Disciple Your Children by Walter A. Henrichsen)...

"Holiness is absolute in that God is absolutely holy. His delight in His children, however, is not based on the degree to which they are absolutely holy, but on the degree to which they apply what they know. ...God did not give people the Word of God to make them smarter sinners. He gave it to them to make them holy saints. ...The application of Scripture to daily experiences is the best education our children can find."

Now seriously....if your kids are even HALF as difficult as mine, this book is a MUST READ!!

Cousins

2010-11-17T21:10:00.002-06:00

h-"I"-ligh-"T"-s

2010-11-07T13:56:00.001-06:00

Here's an update on what we've been exploring in preschool:
Preschool For Dummies: h-"I"-ligh-"T"-s

Trick-or-Treat?

2010-10-31T14:11:00.005-05:00

What "Fall" Looks Like In Our House

2010-10-23T14:02:00.001-05:00

A Hint of Fall

2010-10-19T22:19:00.001-05:00

Interruptions

2010-10-10T08:33:00.003-05:00

It must be a mom-thing, but I always feel so synced with my dear friend, Heather, who lives thousands of miles away in my beloved Arizona! I have recently been struggling with my own frustrations as a task-driven individual given the responsibility to relate to, nurture, and invest in two precious souls. Scott often calls me his little bureaucrat, and he's really not that far off. There is nothing that would give me more joy that to be locked in a windowless room with a large stack of papers to sort. (Ok...maybe one window!) Instead, my life is a series of "interruptions", as Heather much more eloquently explains. My prayer is that God will give me the ability to enjoy the souls he has placed in my care far more than the tasks that accompany them, and hopefully there the interruptions will die!

Typical Taryn

2010-10-04T13:40:00.002-05:00

Animal Sounds

2010-09-29T20:16:00.002-05:00

Complete Satisfaction

2010-09-19T21:08:00.002-05:00

I've often marveled at the fact that there are so many nuances that make each individual unique. For instance, the ability to satisfy is so dependent on the specific wants and needs of a particular person. My husband and I are two VERY different creatures with VERY different definitions of satisfaction; and yet, I find it amazing that God could take those definitions and align them so perfectly to bring about a day of complete satisfaction for the both of us!
For Scott, it was a day filled with the afterglow of a UofA victory over a top 10 ranked football team, doubled with the recent signing of a top 10 UofA basketball recruit (am I painting a clear enough picture of where my husband's wants and needs lie?).
For me, it was a day filled with organizational task accomplishment! (equally interesting and obsessive) If any of you have kids that are half as demanding as mine, you'll understand just how impossible it is to complete ANYTHING, let alone the compulsive need to clean, sort and organize. (and, NO, I am NOT nesting...we've taken GREAT measures to ensure that doesn't happen unless we're REALLY crazy enough to procreate another child!) Brody's bedroom is an intricate system of large buckets for large trucks, small buckets for small trucks, cubbies to shelve them all, and yet, it appears his toys prefer permanent residence in a gigantic heap in the middle of his floor. And he's the good one! Taryn's room can't seem to shake the stench of dirty diapers, and my husband has had mounds of medical books, papers, journals scattered all over our office/dining room that my recent binge at The Container Store couldn't even "contain." Until today!!
Today I trimmed the fat off an entire bookshelf in the office/dining room that was tottering under the weight of unused medical resources, replaced it with a fresh, smaller bookshelf from Brody's room, swapped Brody's death-trap-of-a-bed with the luxurious queen from Taryn's room...thus successfully switching the "when needed" guest quarters from Taryn's dirty diaper dungeon to Brody's truck shanty town. (I'm sure you're DYING to visit!)
But the icing on the cake...I was able to create a much more appealing site to post updates and information about the preschool curriculum I'm using with Brody. Kids' bedrooms - efficiently set-up, sorted, and organized. Preschool curriculum - more attractively set-up, sorted, and organized. Scott's medical paraphernalia - contained. Lindsay's mental and emotional state - completely satisfied!

It's Fall in My Book

2010-09-16T13:25:00.004-05:00

I know it's still in the 90's outside and there's like 3 possible hurricanes STILL heading our way, but it's September, DARN IT, and I've decided it's time for Fall! There is nothing better than the smell of fresh granola and since my kids turn into hellions if they have too much sugar, this is the amazing alternative I've found. If you're ready for fall, you should try this...it's SOOO quick and easy that Brody and I made it together in the 20 min. we had to kill before naptime (and Taryn wasn't ignored long enough to completely destroy my house!).

Low Fat Granola

Preheat oven to 325. Combine 1/3 c. fresh squeezed orange juice, 1/2 c. honey, 1 t. cinnamon, 1/2 t. vanilla, and 1/2 t. orange peel in a sauce pot and heat over med.-high, stirring occasionally until honey is melted. In another bowl, combine 3 c. oats, 1/4 c. wheat germ, 1/4 c. flaxseed meal, 1/2 c. chopped nuts, (and I obviously added a handful of raisins). Pour honey mixture over oat mixture and mix thoroughly until well coated. Spread mixture evenly onto baking sheet and bake 15 min. Take out and stir and bake another 5 min. Take out and sprinkle 1/2 c. flaked coconut over and bake final 10 min. Remove, cool and freeze for the best crunch!

Letter C

2010-08-22T21:29:00.001-05:00

He may not have figured out which hand he likes to use (could he be an ambiturner?), but I'm still pretty impressed with my little man!

First Day of Preschool

2010-08-16T20:37:00.002-05:00

We survived!!....for now....

Good Friends Are Hard To Find

2010-08-05T19:51:00.002-05:00

There is nothing more precious than a good friend who will ask you to read her a story and sit patiently while you stumble through it!

Walking With Style

2010-07-25T22:18:00.003-05:00

HELP!!!....I Have A Preschooler!!

2010-07-22T20:16:00.003-05:00

Summer is winding down and Target is full of school supplies! Yes...the school year is only a few weeks away, and for the first time in 3 years I'm interested in more than just the shorter lines at the Children's Museum. I have a 3 year old who is MORE than ready for preschool! The only problem is that I'm not ready. I'm not ready to find somewhere in the budget for the INSANE prices of the halfway decent schools! I'm not ready to deal with the tornado of trouble that swirls around a child under the influence of his peers! I'm not ready to give up my exclusive responsibility to "train up my children in the way they should go"! And then I realized....who says that I have to? Call me crazy, but I'm married to a licenced doctor who has just completed his 25th year of school and guess what wasn't included in those 25 years...yep, preschool! So I've decided to take the next year to have fun exploring the world with my son. He may learn absolutely nothing, but we'll have fun doing it!! He'll be in school soon enough...or maybe not...but I'm not ready to pass off my God-given responsibility just yet.
(P.S. If you're crazy like me, or just want to see how it goes, feel free to visit here or the link to the right..."my latest passion project")

I'm Not Buying What You're Selling

2010-07-13T20:38:00.003-05:00

Lately I have been working really hard to put aside my competitive nature and come to grips with the fact that Taryn might just be our own little Leo the Late Bloomer...I mean, she's like her father in every other way, so this shouldn't be a surprise...I kid!...we all know he's about to pass his board exam with flying colors...but seriously....he couldn't even read until 2nd grade!! (I will deny this comment was ever made if any of you squeal!)
It's just been a little tricky to go from a self-motivated little sponge like Brody, to...well....Taryn! She refuses to do ANYTHING for herself except those tasks which wreak havoc on my house and my sanity!
She is strong enough and well balanced enough to walk from one end of the house to the other...we've all seen her do it without a single bobble...but what life-changing milestone does my 13 month old decide to throw ALL her motivation behind?.........spoon-feeding herself at every meal!! But Lindsay...(you might ask)...can she even hold a spoon level?...of course not...SHE'S ONLY 13 MONTHS OLD!! So now I have a kitchen floor that looks like the crime scene after a turf war between Chef Boyardee and the Jolly Green Giant. I have Bing's vet telling me that I need to put him on a diet that DOESN'T consist of table scraps. And I have a perfectly self-satisfied baby that I literally take outside and hose off three times a day!...but she couldn't possibly be expected to walk or communicate using words other than Mama, Dada, ouch and the ever popular shrill shrieking! Her unique combination of unwavering determination and lack of product had me stumped. Is she a late bloomer or is she just playing us all?
Well, today I got my answer. Brody has been at Bible camp all week, so Taryn and I have had to rush out the door after lunch to pick him up at noon everyday. On this particular day, I slung my purse over my shoulder and yelled goodbye to Scott (who's been studying every morning for his big test). As I come around the corner with the intent to swoop up Taryn and rush out the door, I am met by a perfectly poised and toddling princess walking to the door! Now, how did I know that she was a princess? Why - it was written clear as day across the tiny pink purse she had slung over her shoulder before she headed for the door!!

A Girl and the Sand

2010-07-09T12:43:00.002-05:00

A Boy and His Wagon

2010-07-08T13:34:00.002-05:00

I'm sure you can tell by my blog silence that things have been a bit busy around the Bangert house! Scott has been diligently studying for his Dermatology Board licensing test (if you think of it, say a prayer for him on July 26th!). I have had my hands full organizing and carting kids to VBS, swim lessons and San Diego! Taryn has had her hands full avoiding any and all "accidental" walking....and Brody...well this is one of the many ways Brody has kept himself busy!

Happy Birthday/Father's Day

2010-06-20T13:47:00.002-05:00

Every year the month of June is a whirlwind. Let me just break it all down for you...

May 31-June 6 - our annual trip home to Az

June 3rd - Our anniversary

June 4th - Aunt Carolyn and cousin Levi's birthday

June 17th - Mimi and G.P.'s anniversary

June 18th - G.P.'s birthday and the annual Houston Dermatology Society party

June 19th - Father's Day

June 28th - Grandma Bangert's birthday

June 29th - UT Houston Department of Dermatology party

Thus, when June 18th rolled around, I had misfiled it in my mind as a Saturday rather than in its proper place on Friday. Perhaps if Scott had given me the date of his Houston Derm. party rather than just telling me it was on Friday, I wouldn'tve made such a critical mistake...but as it was, I woke up Saturday morning and waited patiently until it was a more suitable hour out west (which I thought was pretty good for me who often forgets that it's 2hrs. earlier there and sends texts to my family at ridiculous hours of the morning!!) to record and send a video text of the kids wishing G.P. a happy birthday. It wasn't until I actually sent the video and saw the date marked clearly as 4-19-10, that I realized my error! Well, G.P.....just in case you didn't know it already...

1 overworked, burnt-out-from-studying son-in-law...

1 sleep-deprived and physically exhausted daughter...

2 wild-and-crazy grandkids...

1 neglected and manhandled-by-Taryn grandpuppy...

and over 1,000 miles between us...

...may have resulted in us wishing you happy birthday a day LATE....but it certainly has no bearing on how much you are loved and adored in our household!! So happy belated birthday and happy Father's Day!!

The Terminator

2010-06-13T14:24:00.001-05:00

I wish my phone took longer videos so you could see just how many times she went back for more...laughing all the way! She's tough...and kinda scary!

Five Years!!

2010-06-10T14:53:00.002-05:00

Beautiful Bangert Babies (I know I'm biased)

2010-05-27T20:12:00.004-05:00

There Are No Words

2010-05-19T14:04:00.002-05:00

Birthday Girl!!

2010-05-17T14:25:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday, Princess!!

2010-05-15T08:20:00.003-05:00

Big eyes...and dare I say...a BIG mouth!!

Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

"...so that we may share His holiness."

2010-05-11T14:11:00.001-05:00

Oh to be anything other than a fragile jar of clay!

One To Show The Prom Date

2010-05-02T21:13:00.003-05:00

I am often told that Brody tackles every task with such enthusiasm and joy. I often tell them that they don't know the half of it!

"All In"

2010-04-28T14:00:00.004-05:00

Maybe it's because I haven't had a good night's sleep for about a year now, but I really feel like God has been raising the stakes lately. There are so many wondefully easy things in my life that I have taken for granted, and now they are gone...replaced with demands and expectations from God that are FAR more difficult! If this is what aging is all about, I have to admit some temptation toward the deal Dorian Gray makes. Thankfully, my dear friend, Heather, has yet again brought me clarity with such eloquence! Thank you, Lord, for uping the ante and forcing me all in! (I may or may not have been playing poker lately!)

High Five!!

2010-04-21T22:07:00.002-05:00

My Favorite Birthday Gifts

2010-04-18T21:11:00.004-05:00

Psalm 127:3

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord..."

There's No Crying in Baseball!!

2010-04-15T20:00:00.008-05:00

So I'm 29 now. I don't know how it happened, but I woke up Tuesday morning and I was suddenly "pushing 30"! And let me tell you...after the weekend I just had, I was feeling (or should I say hurting) every year of it!!

I threw the first of many fiasco birthday parties for my big 3 year old man. It all started out so good. The "B is for Brody's Birthday" theme...perfect! The coupon for buy a dozen, get one free at the BEST neighborhood bagel shop (which coincidentally fit in with the "B" themed food)...perfect! The super cheap kiddie pools filled with bubbles (again with the "B" theme) for the expected second week of 80+degree weather...perfect! The super-easy rainbow chip cake and frosting with beautifully crafted upper and lower-case b's made out of smarties....perfect!

And then, I got a little cocky! What could be better than a baseball pinata filled with "b"-licious treats for the kids to collect? And who better to make such a pinata than an ex-5th grade teacher who's been out of the game for 3 years and had a whopping 2 years experience before that making paper mache knight helmets? And just for a little added fun....why don't we make this a mother-son project (both of whom have the same horrifically controlling personalities) and really drive the nail in the coffin? Needless to say, a 30 minute project turned into two days of torture and a crying 3 year old who is suddenly capable of expressing to me that my "mean words hurt his feelings!"

So...a little dejected and mostly guilty, I crawled out of bed Saturday morning ready to kick this party where the sun don't shine!....And, of course, the sun wasn't shining...ANYWHERE! The beautifully decorated backyard and hot and sunny weather forecast that existed when I went to bed, was nothing more than a cold and soggy mess.

(soggy and deflated dreams)

(My soaking wet table cloth, balloons & signs)

(My bubble pool (and bead tray) filled with rain water instead of bubble water)

I had 7 hours to clean and redecorate an entire inside of the house, set out a selection of "b"-licious food and drink, and schlep two kids through the pouring rain to get 2 dozen bagels and a helium tank because my precious husband waited till the last minute to remember that he was supposed to be in Galveston for a conference that day! BUT - the ray of sunshine on an otherwise exhausting and WAY-not-worth-it day...THE PINATA!!

It wasn't much to look at with its cracking paint and "love dents", but it held up for every kid to get 2 turns AND for the birthday boy to break it open with the help of his daddy!

So take that "B"-irthday party! And that goes for you too, 29! Let's do it again next year!

My Latest Obsession

2010-04-08T14:25:00.002-05:00

So I've always known that my dear friend, Lori, was an incredibly talented artist and creator of beauty, but I completely underestimated my own lack of self-control when it comes to obsessing over her latest endeavor. Click Here at your own risk, but be warned...you'll want to buy everything she makes!! (ok...maybe only if you are a girl or have a little girl...but she promises to put a boys line out soon!!)

My Baby Boy...

2010-04-05T14:06:00.002-05:00

...is 3 today! Happy Birthday, my sweet little man!! You are your father's miniature and your mother's personality. Your infectious love of life and incessant need to communicate it with all who will listen can crack even the grumpiest of strangers (remind me that we need to have the whole stranger-danger talk!). You are gentle and kind, even to the most ferocious little sister; and you diligently seek out the needs of those around you. My prayer for you, from the time you were in the womb, is that God would grant you the heart of Moses.

Exodus 33:13

"Let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight."

The Bucking Donkey

2010-04-03T20:42:00.004-05:00

He was young - in fact, I still thought of him as my baby. But he was plenty old enough to start learning what donkeys are made for.
"Stop that!" I said to him one day in our stableyard. I didn't like his jumping and kicking all the time.
"But Mother," he said, "I'm just having fun! Besides, I want to be the buckingest donkey there ever was. I'll never let any other rider stay on me! If he tries to hang on, he'll hit the ground faster than he can say 'Whoa!'"
I blew out a hot breath. "I'll say it once more, my son: God didn't make donkeys to buck people. He made donkeys to carry people, gently and carefully - and their packs too."
"Plenty of other donkeys can do that, Mother. I'd rather be a BUCKER!"
"If you're a bucker," I answered gravely, "it will be for a very short time - because men have no need for a donkey that won't be tamed."
- The Bible Animal Storybook (Mack Thomas)

It's sad when a children's book becomes so convicting! Thank you, Jesus for taming this bucking donkey!

Good Questions

2010-04-01T13:17:00.004-05:00

Me: Brody, do not throw those shoes! That could really hurt someone if they get hit by them.

Brody: Throws the shoes while my back is turned.

Me: BRODY LEE BANGERT! What did I just tell you?!?

Brody: Uuuhhhmmm... (cautious smirk on his face)

Me: What did I just tell you? (in my very stern "don't make me ask you again" voice)

Brody: the wheels are turning....VERY slowly

Me: practicing my "teacher wait-time" strategy, but getting impatient

Brody: (the lightbulb goes off) You said no!

Me: I said don't do what?

Brody: Don't throw my shoes. (solemn realization of where this is headed is beginning to creep in)

Me: And what did you do?

Brody: (very quietly) I threw my shoes.

Me: Do you think that was being obedient? Did you do what mommy told you?

Brody: No. (the smirk has turned into a "but you still love me, right?" half-smile)

Me: What is our verse about obedience?

Brody: (repeats Eph. 6:1...although lately he's been saying "parents obey your children..." and I'm not quite certain it's by accident...he makes sure to get it right this time, though!)

Me: Next time, when mommy tells you not to throw your shoes, what are you going to do?

Brody: Don't throw them.

Me: Thank you. Now let me put your shoes on.

(momentary silence filled with obvious relief that he gave the right answer to avoid a spanking)

Brody: That was a really good question, mom!

Me:....(Come on!!!....what would you do?!?)...hysterical laughter!!!

Best Buds

2010-03-26T22:18:00.002-05:00

Well....sort of....

Dining with Dinos

2010-03-15T20:20:00.002-05:00

The Anti-Climax

2010-03-10T15:00:00.002-06:00

It rained and the workers laid the pavers wearing rain coats...since we do not have raincoats, we did not witness the momentous occasion. Apparently there are no rain delays in Houston (probably because nothing would get done in this crazy swamp!!). The ordeal may be over, but tales of the cement mixer still live on in our house...for now anyway!

The Spectacle, Part 2

2010-03-07T13:04:00.002-06:00

So two days ago I heard the sound I had been dreading all week...the rhythmic beeping of a cement mixer backing up! With a flurry of excitement we rushed out the door and down the street to gawk (yet again) at the all-too-flattered workers. Thankfully Mimi was here this time, otherwise Taryn would've been left amongst the wreckage of train tracks and race cars scattered in the mad dash from the living room to the front door! I'm not sure that there are many people in the world who can attest to the fact that standing and staring at a working cement mixer for more than 30 seconds is by far the most BORING activity one can engage in...but I can! Not even the workers had to endure such mindless torture...the driver was moving the truck so the chute would fill in the right places and the ground crew were diligently packing and smoothing the cement. I would've gnawed my right arm off for a pair of their rubber boots to end my agony! Does Jimmy Choo make rubber boots? Anyway, after about 20 minutes I decided to play the "let me bribe you with food" card and I lured him back home with the promise of the Chic-fil-a playground. Now we wait with baited breath for phase three of the driveway debacle...laying brick pavers!! Stay tuned!!

"I Like Your Loader"

2010-03-03T13:17:00.003-06:00

It's no secret that my soon-to-be 3 year old has an unhealthy obsession with construction equipment. He could name 100 different types of trucks before he turned 2 (thank you You Can Name 100 Trucks book!). And we have yet to make a round-trip ANYWHERE without spotting at least one cement mixer, one dump truck, and one flatbed truck (thank you Houston freeways!). But this obsession has only just recently crossed over from "kinda cute in a mildly annoying way" to "ok...now you're just embarrassing me with your Rainman craziness".

We had the pleasure of enjoying a front row seat (from the comfort of our living room picture window) to the holy grail of all truck-obsessed-boy-"dom"...the tearing out and re-surfacing of our neighbor's driveway! For an entire morning we sat and watched a skid-steer (thank you, again, You Can Name 100 Trucks!) tear up concrete. It was like watching the garbage truck pick up our garbage...only LONGER!!

When I noticed that it was nearing nap time and a certain toddler hadn't done enough toddling to warrant sleep, I came up with the brilliant idea to ride our tricycle past the neighbor's and briefly watch the loader up close. What I failed to predict in the Utopian version of events in my mind, was the spectacle of yellow and blue striped, pirate rain boots...a bright red UofA hooded sweatshirt (with hood raised)...and large red, Lightning McQueen sunglasses...all haphazardly placed on a tiny body pedaling furiously down the street on a red, yellow, and blue tricycle. Couple this with the gigantic horse-dog and kangaroo-mom strapped to a "Taryn-joey" half-jogging to keep up...Let's just say we left our dignity sitting politely on the couch back home! And that's not even the "embarrassing Rainman" part!!!

We stopped a safe distance and awkwardly stood staring at the rumbling loader (which was really only awkward for me since the worker seemed to heartily embrace his 15 seconds of fame). And just when I was about to nudge us along on our merry way, the motor turned off and Brody sensed the gravity of the gift that was laid before him...an actual opportunity to express the unbridled joy he had experienced. With a manly nod and the deepest voice he could muster he said, "Hey man...I like your loader."

I've decided to tell myself that the worker didn't speak enough English to understand what Brody said. It's easier to accept than the alternative...that he was rendered speechless by the absurdity that was currently parading itself in front of him! But whatever the case may be, once Brody had made his point, the desire to ride his bike outweighed his desire to watch the loader and he abruptly turned and continued down the sidewalk. I chose not to glance back, but it was at least a few minutes before the confused worker felt he had sorted out the bizarre events sufficiently enough to turn the loader back on and continue working.

Mimi's Coming!!!

2010-03-02T13:46:00.003-06:00

Oh, Let's Go....Fly A Kite!!!

2010-02-23T20:06:00.001-06:00

Jesus' Dog

2010-02-11T19:58:00.003-06:00

So it's been raining here...not an uncommon occurrence in the swamplands...for weeks now!! But thanks to my brilliant neighbor, Kelly, I discovered all that I had been missing in the widely acclaimed museum district of Houston. A few Tuesdays ago, we hit up the Natural Science Museum...FYI, Tuesdays are free from 2pm-close...and got to look at HUGE dinosaur bones, wildlife recreations, and honkin' jewels (I know what I'm asking Santa for next year!). It was fabulous...although between you and me, I found the "space" area to be a bit sub-par considering Houston is the home of NASA...umm, Houston, we have a problem!

So flash forward a few weeks to a depressed household with noses pressed to drizzling window panes and no Mimi to cheer us up. Why not take advantage of the Museum of Fine Art's free Thursdays? (BTW...I can give you a lot of reasons why not...including, but not limited to: squeaky stroller wheels, cranky babies that are indignant about being strapped into a stroller with squeaky wheels, and a 2 year old that hasn't gotten to run weeks in a room full of breakable art). Needless to say, after a grand total of 15 minutes motoring through beautiful oil paintings that made my heart yearn to be childless for just one moment, and desperately trying to convince toddlers that statues are cool, we gave up and decided to take rides up and down the escalator....basically the highlight of Brody's entire visit to the museum! My highlight, however, came much earlier when we turned the corner and saw this version of the Last Supper by Sabastiano Ricci. My aforementioned neighbor, Kelly, was trying to muster all the "look kids isn't this so exciting" energy she could as she addressed the painting to her daughter.

Kelly: "Look, Abby! It's Jesus and his disciples!"

Abby: "And Jesus' dog!"

And sure enough, upon closer inspection, there was the scroungy, skeletal mutt eating scraps at the bottom of the table...if I had my actual camera instead of my phone you could see the spectacle for yourself! So there you have it...our journey out of the nitty-gritty and into the fine arts!! I think we'll stick to the Children's Museum from now on!

What Is Going On In That Head?

2010-02-09T14:55:00.002-06:00

Hide and Seek?

2010-02-05T13:33:00.002-06:00

Valentine Cards

2010-02-03T15:15:00.003-06:00

It's been raining here for like a week now and we were desperate for a project.

Why not break out the glitter and paper doilies!?! It's Valentine's BABY!!

On a completely unrelated note...guess who impressed his momma and made an awesome "c" out of glue and glitter for his aunt Carolyn? (please refer to the blue heart in the upper left corner of the first picture for photographic evidence of this miraculous event). Beginner's luck, I'm sure, as he's yet to replicate this feat...but still impressive if you ask me!

Insanity

2010-01-24T20:29:00.003-06:00

We all have our vices. My husband's is technology. I haven't the foggiest idea why one t.v. would require so many wires, but I'm pretty sure they are what keep him sane amidst the chaos that is life 1000 miles away from home with two crazy kids and endless hours of studying. Let's all just say a quick prayer that when our receiver gets back from the repair shop he'll remember where each one of those wires go...if not for him, then for me!!

The Post Holiday Let-Down

2010-01-06T14:41:00.003-06:00

So Taryn has been sleeping really well lately (if you follow my blog you will see what a crowning achievement this has become!). I wonder if it has anything to do with the new "white-noisemaker" we brought back with us from Christmas? No - we are not such horrible parents that we consider white-noisemakers a desirable stocking-stuffer...Taryn's new noisemaker is the 2 1/2 year old screaming "I HAVE TO GO POO-POOS!" in the bedroom next door. Before you lecture me on the imperative nature of a young child's bowel movements, allow me to provide you with some backstory.

Just 2 short weeks ago, we rolled into Tucson on the fumes of Rockstar Energy drinks and several failed attempts at finding Nemo. The holidays were officially underway and my kids wasted no time capitalizing on the backlog of grandparent-love-slavery that had been awaiting them. For the next 10 days there were an endless number of arms for holding, hands for giving treats, eyes for watching, and feet for following on forced marches! Somewhere along the line, the prospect of infinite love and attention turned my clueless two year old into a devious dictator. Suddenly he had willing subjects to order around who ACTUALLY did his bidding! It was paradise on earth...until the dreaded day we packed up the car and drove home...paradise lost!

In just 2 short weeks, my 2 year old has completely forgotten how to do ANYTING by or for himself!! Included in that vast list is his ability to go to sleep peacefully. And being the expert little sinner that he is, he's figured out the one chink in my iron-clad, you-can-scream-as-long-and-as-loud-as-you-like armour...Poo-Poos!! All you have to do is scroll back a few months in this blog to re-live the horror that was potty training in the Bangert household...a horror that Brody clearly realizes still lurks deep in the depths of my heart! What Brody has underestimated, however, is that part of my job as a professional mother is to track the ins-and-outs of his bowel movements and I know a bluff when I hear one!! Not only that, but my desire to strip off my spit-up stained clothes and collapse on the couch with a glass of wine FAR outweighs the prospect of cleaning a wild card poop. So there, Brody! I'm calling your bluff!....And sweet dreams, Taryn!

It's GONE!!

2009-12-15T21:53:00.003-06:00

Well....it only took me 2 1/2 years but I have FINALLY gotten rid of the paci! I have no one to blame but myself. It was really more of a pacifier for myself that it ever was for Brody. From the day he was born I depended on that pacifier for every measly wink of sleep I could get!! In fact, I never let him have the dumb thing outside of his crib/bed because that was it's sole purpose...to give me sleep. I hadn't really realized how pivotal the paci has been in the past 2 1/2 years until I came to the realization that it was time for it to go. After all...my most treasured memories with my firstborn son revolve around his pacifier. There were those first rocky months when he wanted to eat every hour and the only way I could get him to sleep through the night without eating was to plug him with his pacifier at 15 minute intervals. Then there was the glorious night that he was able to grab his pacifier and put it in his mouth all by himself. And I can't forget the rare occasion when I would rock him with his paci during the day because he was at the doctor for his shots. Or how about those nights filled with the smell of vapor-rub that I spent rocking him because he had to make the tearful choice between breathing or his pacifier? I won't even go into the joys of potty training in the middle of the night with a drooping pacifier in a half-asleep mouth. But I think what I am going to miss the most is walking past two closed doors after a long, exhausting day and hearing the sound of sleeping babies happily sucking on their pacifiers. Thank you pacifier for all you have done...for both of us!!