I thought it was suppose to get easier

Growing up I was always under the assumption that having babies was hard and that it gets easier as they get older. Boy was I wrong. The older our girls become the harder and more difficult our life seems to get. We love our 3 girls more than life itself but wow, some days I really need a drink at 4 o'clock. No one ever told me that being a mom would be such a challenge.

I'm currently reading 2 books trying to better figure out how to get a grip on the dynamic of our house. The first one I'm reading is The New Birth Order Book by Kevin Leman. I think I've discovered more about myself reading this book then my kids. While the girls are still to young to know if they will fall under the typical birth order it's nice to know what to look for.

The other book I'm reading is The No-Cry Discipline Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. Since I started reading this book I have felt a sense of calmness come over me. I know that I am a long ways off from where I want to be but it's a start. Here are some reminders from the first section that I read;

• First: Solve the real problem: Tired? Hungry? Frustrated? Bored? Overstimulated? Scared? Confused?
• Be consistent.
• Offer a choice.
• Play a cooperation game.
• Make it talk.
• Engage the imagination.
• Sing a song.
• Tell a story.
• Be silly.
• Use 5-3-1 Go! (Give fair warning.)
• Have an eye-to-eye discussion.
• Use positive words. (Avoid no, don't, stop.)
• Use when/then, now/later, you may/after you.
• Distract and redirect.
• Use family rules.
• Make it brief, make it clear.
• Think it, say it, mean it, do it.
• Follow daily routines.
• Use happy face cards.
• Use a time-out to interrupt misbehavior and calm emotions.
• Be firm-it's OK.
• Be flexible. Don't fret. Pick your battles.
• Give compliments, encouragement, and kind words.
• Build a foundation of love, trust and respect.

Until next time ~ Anita

Cupcakes make a good breakfast.

I love fall! The cool, crisp weather. The beauty of the fall colors that only God can create. And of course fall baking!

Yesterday I made 2 loaves of banana walnut chocolate chip bread and 2 dozen black bottom cupcakes. (I had planned to make snickerdoodle cookies, but never got to them.) I love the satisfaction of putting all the ingredients together, sticking them in the oven and poof a few minutes to an hour later out come wonderful treats. The house fills with such appetizing smells and the warmth of the oven feels so cozy.

I was up really early for Life Group today so I did feel like it wasn't to big of a deal to eat a cupcake when I got home. Besides, I did have some banana bread for breakfast.

Until next time ~ Anita