Flowers: We've Reached the Imagination Stage!

I'm grateful for good co-workers who say, "Don't you have your camera or phone handy?"
And I'm grateful my phone was in my pocket!

Today at recess Natalee took this 3 little pots and filled them with sand.  She's done this lots of times before and she lines them up on the bench.  Then she usually leaves them and hustles off to do something else.  

Today, however, she went and found 3 rocks and planted her "seeds" deep in her pots.  Then she stood still and looked and looked and looked the playground over with her eyes until she spotted a patch of dandelions.  She hustled off to pick some and came back and declared, "My flowers grew really fast!" 

And there you have her perfect little flower pots.  I'm so pleased that we've entered the imagination stage (FINALLY) and I'm excited to see these little developmental hills be climbed.  Now our weekend task is to find a way to let this girlie plant something real.  Time to dig out the pots, get some dirt and get our hands messy!  Weekend project!!

My Little Man

Sometimes I worry that in the sensory smart shuffle of life here at the Beeler house the little man gets lost in the ebb & flow.  The good news is he's too cute and too sweet for me to let that happen.  What I'm realizing is that the sensory smart/more natural lifestyle can be for everyone.  All of us.  And that includes Xavier. 
He is thriving from techniques I've picked up from school, from research, from friends...
We've started "cheering" at the table for brave eaters and Xavier has begun eating 'most' nights.  The other night he even ate all his broccoli. :)

He's doing well with herbal remedies for different little ailments too (cold, allergies, constipation, etc) and I think our diet changes were for the good of everyone so they'll be staying and more changes will be continual!

However...
I'm also realizing Xavier is his own person.  While Natalee (and I) like routine, structure, and repetition, Xavier doesn't mind flying by the seat of his pants.  He's happy to go along, excited when someone stops by, ready to try something new.  He is bashful and flirtatious--recently started "shying" away from people (which we are working on...I don't want him to be the child that hides behind his mother's skirts...if I wore a skirt that is).  He is also brave, ornery, and has wild ideas that Mike & I have never faced before.

So while we're trying to be sensory smart here at the Beeler house we're also giving due diligence to making sure we don't squash the spunky yet lovey little boy that Xavier's turning out to be.  We feed his sensory integration with messes, experiences, opportunities, and invitations...same as Natalee except completely different.  Ha...make sense of that.  It makes sense in my head!

We're so blessed...God knew Xavier was exactly the companion Natalee would need and vice versa.  He shows us how simple life can be sometimes.  He can leave the house, not knowing where we're going, with 1 little car in his pocket and be perfectly content.  The joy of not needing to plan ahead...
My son....

Just a Monday

Today was just a Monday.
Another average day.
Except...it wasn't.

Natalee had a fabulous day today.  Really fabulous.  These days like this are few and far between.
Today sensory processing disorder didn't exist.
Today the routine went flawlessly.
Today there were no meltdowns.
Today I said, "I'm so proud of you!" probably 20 or more times because of great behavior that most people take for granted.
Today we had great conversations.
Today she used her imagination.
Today she was a great example for her baby brother to whom she is an idol and his behavior was also exceptional.

What's the difference in today from yesterday or the day before?
I wish I could put my finger on it.

Because today, I wanted to hold her a little longer and say, "Don't leave me sweet girl.  I know this real you is in there everyday fighting to get out to me."

But I didn't.

Instead at bedtime I rocked her and told her I loved her.  We read stories.  And she said, "It's a really good day today, Mama."

So I said, "Yes, it is a super good day today Natalee...just remember that Mama loves you everyday no matter what.  But when you work hard to have self-control and remember to be kind and gentle then that makes it the best day."

I know she works hard.  Some days it shows more than others but I know everyday the things that other children do easily Natalee does with some increased degree of difficulty.  I pray that our super good days increase...that I can keep helping her find the right combination of herbals, behavior modification, diet, love and support to want to fight the hard fight instead of give in.  Because...well, she's worth it.

  

Homemade Scensty

The cheapskate me and my stand against having so many petroleum based products in my home led me to wanting a way to still use my Scentsy warmers without using the Scentsy brand petroleum bricks.  Thanks to Pinterest and a little trial of my own, I've got it.

1 Tablespoon grated beeswax
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
10 (or so) drops of your favorite essential oil or a combination of two
-can also use extracts (vanilla extract for example) and spices (cinnamon, ginger, etc).

I've got lemon essential oil burning right now...renewing!  Love it!  This concoction isn't as "powerful" as the scentsy bricks but it definitely works and when I had it burning the night I had Bunco at my house I had 2-3 of the 12 present comment & want to know which scent I was burning (peppermint oil & vanilla extract that night).

This is my small warmer in the downstairs bathroom.  For the large warmer I just double the beeswax and coconut oil.  If you'll remember, those 2 ingredients were also used in my homemade lotion that I bought when my friend and I went whole foods/organic shopping so I already had them on hand.  Score!

The New and Improved Butter Keeper

Love, support and encouragement comes in many forms. 

Introducing......

The best butter keeper!

Before I bought my first Butter Keeper my mom had ordered me one, unbeknownst to me.  She was going to surprise me...but of course I jumped the gun by finding one at the Dutchman.  However, after using them both, I've dubbed the one from mom the Best Butter Keeper.  I like it because it has the spot for the water underneath that I can refill every couple of days to keep the butter fresh but I don't have to cram the butter up into a small circle hole...it gets to remain in it's whole "stick" form.  Easier, less mess, tidier.  And every time I look at it, I'm reminded that, even though sometimes mom might think I'm a little extreme and nutso she supports me, and more importantly loves me enough to see a butter keeper and think of me. 

Becoming a Reality...the Logo

My sister over at the crafty cAve, has been instrumental in helping me make my dream a reality.  Technically, you don't have to have signs and cups and logos to have an in-home daycare/preschool, but it sure has made this all so much more 'REAL' to me...and enhanced my excitement that much more.  The name was mostly her creation, with the guidelines from me that I wanted it to go with a key memory verse for the children.  Last weekend, I took one of our old kitchen windows, painted it, she helped me sand it, and then we laid out my logo.  It's hanging right outside my front door for all the world to see!

I love it.  It's very eye catching.  If it weren't raining right now I'd hustle out and take a picture from my sidewalk so you could see how visible it is!  When I announced my decision to my Facebook friends, Andrea also surprised me with a new twirly straw tumbler.  I know my logo was a pain for her to put on the cup but she did it so well and so graciously. 

Thanks, crafty cAve for all your hard work!  You're helping me stay focused and sensory smart!

Coming soon I'll be posting on our home reorganization...how I got my husband to donate his prized DVD shelf for preschool supplies, cubbies, tables, and so much more!

It's Not a Box

This is one of my new favorite books...

Not a Box.  

It's great for talking with Natalee about the different things we can pretend a box to be.

Imagine my surprise when I sat down to read tonight and discovered my brand new book should be retitled

Not a Coloring Book!

 

My dear, sweet, responsible Natalee took our new book and wrote with her new Easter ink pens (thank you Grandma Num's goody bags) on almost every single page.  

 

Rather than recount the story I'll show you the inscription I wrote to her on the inside cover of the book tonight.

Natalee,

When I scolded you for writing in this book 2 big crocodile tears rolled down our cheeks and you said, "I was just writing you a message, Mama."

We had a long talk about where you should write messages (on paper!) and your punishment was to turn in your new pens and $4 of your Easter money to buy a new book.  

I didn't tell you this, but I am impressed with how you marked within the lines of the pictures. 

I love you and everyone makes mistakes, sweetheart.

Love,

Mama

April 10, 2012

From the first page...

to the last...

 She loved me enough to make herself sit down and painstakingly write me "messages" when:

A: writing is not her first love, nor is sitting still

B:  staying in the lines is a learned and difficult feat lately

and

C:  there were a lot of pages!

I'll put this book in her memory box and someday we'll laugh about it, and I'll remember the love of a child and hopefully she'll remember the sweet forgiveness and understanding of her mama.