Elizabethtown

I love it! Ellie said "freaking" the other day. Oo...

2010-03-16T02:11:59.787-04:00

I love it! Ellie said "freaking" the other day. Oops. She is also obsessed with talking about private parts, which often makes me glad most people around us don't speak English.

So cute! The Cosby thing got me. When my (older) ...

2010-03-15T16:50:47.192-04:00

So cute! The Cosby thing got me. When my (older) sister was little, a couple african american coworkers of my Dad's stopped by, to which my sister alerted him by saying (after watching sesame street) "Dad! There's a couple of Gordon's at the door!"

now that i see miss G-love i'm not sure the other ...

2010-02-26T21:41:08.631-05:00

now that i see miss G-love i'm not sure the other outfit will snap around her belly. i'm in love.

that nekked picture of her makes me want to squeal...

2010-02-26T12:05:29.894-05:00

that nekked picture of her makes me want to squeal!

Amen, sister! First of all, I was a biter (big sho...

2010-02-25T11:41:18.734-05:00

Amen, sister! First of all, I was a biter (big shock, right?!), and not just of children. Apparently my mom used to tell adults who wanted to pick me up that it wasn't advised since I usually bit strangers. Anyway, I think I turned out okay and have even a little too much self-control. You're doing all the right things (i.e. being a GOOD mother) and it will eventually pass. And, for the record, my doctor told my mom I bit because I was frequently sick and it was my way of expressing my frustration with pain and discomfort (even when I could talk about it). In other words, I wasn't a "bad" or "aggressive" child and neither is H. He's just 2, with a new baby sister and a previously broken arm and some ouchies in his mouth. This would be enough to make a few grown-ups bite, too! You are absolutely doing right by him in my humble opinion. And, "yay" for both of you that he's now the little chatterbox we all expected! Love you and miss you!

awesome! i couldn't agree more. he's not going t...

2010-02-24T22:16:56.225-05:00

awesome! i couldn't agree more. he's not going to bite people forever. geez he's a boy! my brother was the 4th after 3 girls, and my mom had no clue what to do with him. he was a wild boy. his teachers in elementary school would always complain to my mom, and she chose to ignore them. he is now 28 and has a masters degree.

I stumbled upon your blog this morning and have be...

2010-02-24T11:31:05.846-05:00

I stumbled upon your blog this morning and have been thoroughly enjoying your words. I wanted to share a bit about the "biting" incidents with your son. I have 4 children and the last are twins. One of the twins crawled up to another child in the church nursery (crawled, meaning she was all of 7-8 mos. of age) and bit her nose. My precious, sweet daughter did this to the daughter of an attorney! Yikes! Did I mention that my husband is the pastor of the church with the nursery where my daughter bit the lawyer's kid? From there, I noticed that she would bite her twin for no real reason when we were strolling them in the side by side stroller. Oh dear. It was more than I could manage. I tried several remedies and even considered getting a stroller with front and rear seating. This was 14 years ago. Now, the lawyer's daughter and my daughter are great friends. Her twin has no permanent damage, physically or mentally, from the bites of her sister. It all passed in due time and my daughter is one of the sweetest, most compassionate young women I have ever met.
Take heart and keep hope. My go to phrase may help. "This to shall pass". Blessings, Lisa

Love it! Sounds like the Sunday school moms need ...

2010-02-24T11:19:05.942-05:00

Love it! Sounds like the Sunday school moms need to listen to the sermons a little more closely - judging others and the like. Thomas once bit his best friend at school - they were playing alligator. Sometimes things are done with harm in mind. What two year old boy hasn't bitten or done something aggressive when they are angry?

Wow. Just wow. What is wrong with people? It's my ...

2010-02-24T01:19:52.221-05:00

Wow. Just wow. What is wrong with people? It's my feeling that kids are just hard-wired to be hitters, kickers, screamers, or biters. Seriously, two year olds have almost no self-control and lack the ability to verbally express emotions. I would totally send my daughter to Sunday School with Henry.

We had a time of it being two, too. The day Ellie turned three was a BIG celebration day. It's a hard age. Thakfully most of us can't remember it.

Ok -I've let it go without putting in my 2 cents a...

2010-02-23T16:57:54.635-05:00

Ok -I've let it go without putting in my 2 cents about Henry biting. Here is the run down on why children bite. Now, before I commence my soap box, I feel like I must say that do have some knowledge on the area having a Masters in Early Childhood Development and 15+ years working with little ones. I've done this very subject presenting it at NAEYC training so here's the skinny - poor Henry; he's not aggressive, or any of the above so relax Mom and forget the other Mom's.

Ok, most children bite because they are not able to communicate what it is they want from other children. Its VERY COMMON; they become easily frustrated because of this. Look at it as cause and effect. You have something I want and if I bite you, then you drop it and I get what I want. Rather than, so in so, can I play with that toy or will you share your toy with me or may I have a turn? Henry doesn't go and take a chunk out of someone because he wants to. There is a reason for it. Most often if you ask the caregivers, their response is "I don't know what happened, they were playing just fine"...

Now this is not just a child's issue. Staff need to be a bit more vigilant in their supervision. A lot of times a good staff person will catch it before it happens; lots of body language and dialog happens before a biting incident.

If you are interested in a bit more, check out Bev Boss; she ROCKS in my book!

Don't be too hard on Henry - he knows what he is doing is not ok; continue to help him develop the communication skills he needs and try to just be calm as this too shall pass.

On a side note - Henry has had a BIG change with his new sister. It is not uncommon for children to express regressive behavior as a result.

Take care Elizabeth - you are a wonderful mother. Blessings -

Please clone your husband! And for the record, its...

2010-02-18T18:17:28.628-05:00

Please clone your husband! And for the record, its not just just you, she is freakin' adorable!!!

her eyes, lips, cheeks... i could go on. she is ...

2010-02-17T09:50:34.124-05:00

her eyes, lips, cheeks... i could go on. she is simply beautiful!

i want to borrow (read: steal) her

2010-02-16T22:09:27.056-05:00

i want to borrow (read: steal) her

LOVE her, oh my goodness! We were sad to miss the...

2010-02-16T16:44:21.712-05:00

LOVE her, oh my goodness!

We were sad to miss the dance.

Hey, consider yourself lucky. Mine picked his nos...

2010-02-14T23:22:27.926-05:00

Hey, consider yourself lucky. Mine picked his nose in front of everyone at his b-day party last year while I was telling him not to do it and that it was gross. He then proceeded to eat it. Yeah, I was so proud. The crowd went eeeeeewwwwww.

love it!!

2010-02-14T18:21:35.811-05:00

love it!!

oh, BOYS!

2010-02-12T21:55:42.339-05:00

oh, BOYS!

I LOVE INDIANA JONES LEGO! Over the holidays Mich...

2010-02-09T10:23:56.772-05:00

I LOVE INDIANA JONES LEGO!

Over the holidays Michael and I obsessed over them and wound up finishing Adventure 2. MUCH better than the original, so if you haven't played it yet you have something to look forward to! If you have an xbox, I'll totally send you Adv2 to play.

Crack that whip!

I LOVE this post. Came across a your blog by sugg...

2010-02-08T10:18:38.939-05:00

I LOVE this post. Came across a your blog by suggestion of a friend of the reppards. Anyhoo, I am a white mama to a little black boy via domestic adoption (and another on the way via Ethiopia). I am also a teacher and my district was one of two in the state that does not give students the day off on MLK day. Talk about discouraging!!!! But we celebrate Dr. King at our house too. Our family thanks Dr. King for listening to the voice of God and acting fearlessly to try to stop bigotry. Unfortunately, we have seen and heard far too many things in reaction to our family to truly believe that Dr. King's dreams have come true. But will keep spreading the dream!!!!!!

So I know you've mentioned this before, but I real...

2010-02-04T19:18:14.129-05:00

So I know you've mentioned this before, but I really noticed in this pic how big H's feet are, and look at those long fingers! He's going to be tall. Very tall :) Love that Gracie is totally unphased by H's tears. She already learning how to be the li'l sis!

i don't know you but i read your blog, and had to ...

2010-02-01T22:46:42.293-05:00

i don't know you but i read your blog, and had to say that she totally looks like henry when she smiles here. your kids are adorable!

Oh snap! And Amen!!! Couldn't love you more, Fri...

2010-01-29T22:11:05.728-05:00

Oh snap! And Amen!!! Couldn't love you more, Friend! Praying for all Phillips' and my own mouth tonight.

AMEN!!

2010-01-26T21:47:41.666-05:00

AMEN!!

find comfort in knowing that you are not alone, my...

2010-01-26T21:46:21.563-05:00

find comfort in knowing that you are not alone, my friend. love y'all!

Thanks, Elizabeth. I needed to hear that!

2010-01-26T19:00:21.024-05:00

Thanks, Elizabeth. I needed to hear that!