A Week Off...

This week Dear Hubby has a week off...so I would like to invite you to share our staycation with us! 

We had a really crazy weekend celebrating Bean's 3rd birthday.  The events included:-

• a Charlie & Lola birthday party on Friday.  We played pin-the-tale-on-Sizzles, pass-the-parcel & many other classic games.  Good fun...
• Toy Story 3, with friends Saturday morning.  OK, so I packed Dear Hubby and friend off to the cinema with the kids, while I had some girly time with my friend! 
• Rugby.  We enjoyed watching the Springboks beat the (fair) English.  So, maybe more for Dear Hubby's benefit than Bean's...but she loved having the house FULL of people!
• Birthday Lunch, with Grandparents, aunties, uncles....let's just say Bean was in her element & got spoilt rotten!

So, Monday morning & all 4 Stamp Family members are getting what they need from the day...  Egg in a Basket breakfast once Dear Hubby had enjoyed a sleep in.  Bean is enjoying CBeebies, while playing with all her new toys.  Pea has had milk, breakfast & a nap.  Me...I'm still not dressed!  Ever since I was a preteen I have enjoyed lolling around in my PJ's....

I can't wait to share our week with you.......

Encourage one another into doing good...

So, I can't quite find the reference for this - but I'm sure it's a biblical principle!  The thing is, not too long ago Dear Hubby & I realised that Bean needed some encouragement.  For too long now all she has heard is...don't do that to Pea!  Shush, Pea's asleep!  Don't do that!  Stop!  No!  Don't!

Bean has a very kind & generous heart.  She's not malicious by nature.  She hasn't been doing anything that is naughty.  She has been a two-year-old, adjusting to life with a little sister.  And all she has heard is NO!  I know I wouldn't respond very well to that.  We want to encourage our children to do good works, to have kind & gentle hearts.  We don't want to exasperate them into rebellion. 

Reality is though...we have a vulnerable little person living with us now.  Bean needs instructing, so that Pea comes to no harm from her big sisters enthusiastic attention.  How to balance these 2 things?

Well, in addition to our other discipline tools, we are now using a reward system!  Hopefully this will inspire Bean to do good... In Bean's bedroom now hangs a reward chart, where she gets stickers for achieving certain goals that Dear Hubby & I agreed on.  When the chart is full...Bean gets a surprise present.  One that is all wrapped & looked after by Pea!

I know that this is not a new idea in raising children.  The revelation, for us though, was to encourage Bean to doing good.  To inspire her to keep self-control & make good choices in her heart.  The tool reminds all of us to look for the good in Bean...and stop focusing on the No's & Don't's.  I needed the reminder as much as anything! 

The results...3 weeks in we're already 2 presents down.  Bean & I are enjoying a more loving relationship.  Bean & Dear Hubby are loving hanging out.  Pea & Bean - they've always been good!

Wow...long time, no posts!

So, no posts for such a long time.  I hadn't realised just how long it has been.  I've reconnected with family life!  Much has been achieved.  New frontiers explored.  Peace restored.  Life with 2 under 3 is going well.

During the radio silence The Stamps have seen some good changes.  We have introduced a new discipline tool for Bean, that is yielding positive results!  We have introduced solids to Pea!  The homestead is more under control & a relaxing place to be - it had become a dump & run zone as I tried to live life at break neck speed!

Dear hubby is entering a new phase in his career that is throwing up some great challenges.

I have reclaimed control of my domain! I will fill you in over the next couple of days...

A Timely Reminder...

So, last week was a crazy week.  Sorry you didn't hear from me.  Life really was manic & my head got lost in it all.  Not good.  Not fun.  But today I came across this timely reminder and encouragement to regain focus.  To reconnect. This week I am investing time to assess my endeavours outside the family & home, to ensure that I can fully engage in the call to being a wife, mother & home-maker.

Enjoy...be encouraged...

http://www.truewoman.com/?id=1279

The Stamp Family Cure-All

Last night didn't see any of the Stamp's getting the required amount of sleep!  Poor Bean woke in the wee small hours burning up!  This morning she slept in til really late...not like her!  She is usually up at 7am. 7.30 at the latest - if we've been out partying!!!  So, my pale, poorly & just a tad warm girly is snuggled up on the couch. 

Days like today call for 2 things!  One - Trackie bums!  (All 3 Stamp girls are currently donning a pair...what a beautifully, comfy sight!)  And two - The Stamp Family cure-all...Soupy-not-Gloopy.

In a nod to Dear Hubby's heritage, it's my home grown version of Jewish Penicillin.  When my brother-in-law lived with us, I developed it when he was feeling ill.  Now I whip up a batch whenever one of us is under the weather...or just needing a little TLC! 

So, I thought I'd share the recipe (whilst my girls are tucked up resting!) - just in case any of you are needing comfort in a bowl!

Chicken Soupy-not-Gloopy

Brown off some chicken pieces (with bone in & skin on) in a heavy based, large pan.  Remove but keep the fat in the pan.  Put 2 chopped leeks, 2 sliced carrots, 2 medium sweet potatoes, and 2 large white potatoes into the pan and soften for a few minutes in the chicken fat.  Throw in some dried thyme or fresh if you have.  You can also add in parsnips, celery & onions, if you fancy - whatever you have in the bottom of your fridge!  Add in a good splash of white wine (when Pea is weaning I will leave this out - but the alcohol cooks off so can be eaten by children!).  Put the chicken back in the pan and add water until it is all just covered.  Throw in 2/3 bay leaves & season with fresh ground black pepper.  Bring to the boil & simmer until the chicken is cooked & you can chop the carrots with a wooden spoon, around 45mins.  The other veg will be falling apart.  Remove chicken & strip meat from the bones.  Season the cooking juices with vegetable bouillon powder, to taste.  Return the chicken meat to the pan.  Serve with lots of love, sympathy & crusty bread!

Life interrupted...

This time last week I was happily going about the Stamp Family daily routine.  Pea was due a weigh-in with the Health Visitor.  Nothing special, just she hadn't been weighed for a month.  So, off we all trundled. I had no concerns.  But, to cut a long story short...Pea hadn't gained nearly enough weight since the last weigh in.  The Health Visitor was concerned.  I very quickly became concerned.  Pea - was happy, kicking about and chatting away to herself!  The Health Visitor wanted formula feeds added in.

You'll remember, we had previously tried this.  Before, it was our own idea to try "topping up" after a breast feed.  We'd given up because Pea wasn't interested, so it wasn't making a difference.  But now, it wasn't our choice.  And we're not just talking about top-ups.  We're talking about whole feeds.  My heart broke!  We could still breast feed, just not 100%.  Like Bean had.

Painful emotions mixed together - I'll spare you a glimpse into the full, hormone fuelled, catalogue of emotions.  Feeling sad sums it up!

On a practical note, Dear Hubby started bottle feeding.  He has taught our girl well.  She is taking good amounts of milk, a few times a day.  If you're a breastfeeding mum and you need to add in formula feeds...get Daddy to start it!  It will head off any fights, you may have, at the pass! And really does make it easier all around!  It also has the added bonus of being lovely for Dad to get a hand in with feeding too!

Dear Hubby has also been very wise!  He is gently helping me to let go.  Encouraging me to see this as a new opportunity to shepherd (or guide) our daughter, according to her needs.  Dear Hubby reminds me that Pea is different to Bean.  We want to rejoice in & celebrate this.  Both our girls are unique.  So they each need to be "grown" in a way that is unique to them.  So, Bean was breastfed 100%.  Pea needs something different. 

As a mum, I know that my job is to serve my girls.  So, this means that I should shelve my desire to fully breastfeed and give the child a bottle!  It's what she needs.  It isn't going to harm her.  It will probably do some good!  I'll keep you posted on how the mixed feeding goes...

P.S. If you see any weirdness on my blog - please excuse!  I made the grand mistake of leaving myself logged in.  Bean got to the laptop before I realised what I'd done.  I can't see any nearly-3-year-old type entries...but you never know!!!

Life...

Just thought I'd share a recent Stamp Family portrait.  I love this because it captures our natures really well.  Dear Hubby, content.  Pea, watching big sis.  Bean, just happy.  Me, keeping a watchful eye.

This week I have had the delight of watching my daughters relationship flourish.  Bean dotes on her sister.  When Pea cries, Bean is there.  Comforting her, stroking her head.  Bean is forever talking to Pea.  Already teaching her how to do puzzles!  Pea is returning the affection with huge, special smiles I only see her give Bean.  Pea's face lights up when Bean is near.  They both love to sit & snuggle! 

Long may the bond of sisterhood continue!