TORO!

I found a way to share my love of Spain with Dominic by teaching him about the art of bullfighting. I hum the Toreador song and shake a blanket at Dominic, and shout "TORO!" and he comes running through the blanket giddy with laughter. We did this all week! I hopped on utube to show him a little bit more about the real thing. He instantly recognized the song and started bouncing to it, and his eyes lit up with joy as he realized that Mommy isn't crazy and this is actually a real sport. :)

Think quick

Our friend Josie has brought us cupcakes two weeks in a row now, and Dominic has cupcakes on his mind 24/7! It is the last sweet thought on his mind as he drifts to sleep, and the first word he joyfully proclaims in the morning, at the top of his lungs, unrelenting until I produce something from the kitchen which resembles a cupcake.

So a Mommy had to get clever, and quick. I took all the bananas we had in the house, and threw in some butter, sugar, whole wheat flour, eggs - you see where this is going? :) I decided against adding nuts and chocolate chips, but I think he will still be happy with the end result - banana "cupcakes!" I guess I could find a way to whip up a healthy "frosting" of yogurt or something....but why spoil a good thing.

Meanwhile, I'm just pleased with myself for outsmarting a 2 year old! Go Mommy! :)

Love and Logic - a godsend to my household

I think that my ecclectic and improvisational parenting style has worked well with Dominic up to date, but as we've entered the stage where he realizes he has CHOICES, and the power to say "no," I've duly noted that my style needs to be narrowed, and structured better!

Instead of inundating myself with discipline books which I think can confuse the good common sense we already have, I try to rely on where my instincts lead me in parenting. I feel I can finally breathe a sigh of relief with this book - since it just so perfectly clicks with my nature as a mother, and my hopes for our family. It just feels right! MY FAVORITE aspect of this approach is that it asserts that the MEAT of life is to enjoy our children, and to enjoy our relationship with them, and to let the discipline aspect be the side dish. It really celebrates the joy of being a parent and a child! This is great for me, as I was having undue stress and anxiety in my expectations of Dominic, most of which were unrealistic.

The techniques are designed to allow our children to learn by their own experiences, with out superfluous lecturing and explaining on our part. It asks that we help our children think things through by asking questions until they arrive at the conclusion. It asks us as parents to not repeat our requests, but instead demonstrate our hopes and expectations through actions. Assuming all things are going smoothly, the approach asks us to involve them in life by presenting them with a variety of choices through out the day which we as parents pick, and then allow them to pick from those choices (boots or sneakers today? crackers or cheese for a snack?). Through this, children feel important and confident, and probably more cooperative. It discusses the importance of setting limits, and following through with consequences with out fail (which could be any consequence you feel would be reasonable, but is generally a time out away from an otherwise very very very fun and loving parent....which then allows a parent AND child to regroup, and allows the child an opportunity make better choices of their own will) The consequence you choose to give your child for poor behaviors, along with the natural consequences we allow our children to experience, will eventually lead to the goal of self-discipline, which is definitely my goal for my children. I won't be there to tell them right from wrong their whole life. It's a more complex concept for children at this age, but I think if the seeds are planted early and nurtured, that the values will grow and develop with out much effort on the parent's part.

I just love the creative ways it suggests for dealing with temper tantrums and other toddler drama - it has been effective and intuitive! And unlike most books on "discipline," it really really REALLY addresses the stages between 0-6, which is truly the foundation for everything else in a human being. There are certain areas that I am not as comfortable with, for example the pure implementation of this approach would require me to surrender more control of Dominic than I wish to, and keeping him safe is main priority at this point. We may dilute the method until he is ready for the rest of it, and I'm excited about applying this technique when he is older! But overall, I think this is really intuitive and practical advice, that many of us already use instinctively! So it's not earth-shattering, but it really maps out a structure that can be followed until they are teen agers (and beyond :) So I can take a deep breath now, and enjoy the feeling that God has lead me to a place where my gifts as a mother might serve Dominic best. Thank you SO MUCH, Signe, for recommending this and loaning it to me. It has been a godsend to our household!

http://www.loveandlogic.com/faq.html

Even Einstein was a napper!

This article certainly supports my belief that all people who can nap, should try to! :) We grew up in a family where the nap was SACRED. My parents still can't get through the day (well they can...but they're not as happy) with out their afternoon nap. I remember on weekends as a child laying in bed and whispering to my sisters and giggling while our parents were napping. Often, we didn't sleep, but often we did too. I started taking naps again in college, in between classes and work. It gave me that extra boost to finish off the day strong. And now as a Mommy, I need it for my prayer life, my general calmness, sanity and level of sweetness towards my husband at the end of a day! I'm also a night owl, so it helps me be more productive at night in doing school work or getting house chores done. So it's no secret, unless there are extenuating circumstances, I am almost always napping while Dominic is napping. I use the first hour to catch up on things, and the second hour to sleep (okay, ocassionally the third hour if he gives me one!) And voila. A happy, refreshed Mommy. Hopefully I'll get to hang on to my naps just a little while longer!!! :)

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/site/c.huIXKjM0IxF/b.2419153/k.8430/The_Short_Story_on_Napping.htm

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Harold!

My Grandpa turned 89 today! We gathered yesterday to celebrate him at my parents house, and we reminisced about all the years he has seen come and go. He is a war veteran who has survived World War II with many close calls, a bad case of malaria, a few minor strokes and heart attacks, and most recently, a pacemaker surgery. God has blessed him with good health inspite of all these obstacles, and the most loving, gentle and faithful spirit I have ever known. While he can't springboard me across the pool into the deep end or do cannon balls with my siblings anymore, he will always be the strongest, kindest, liveliest and most optimistic person I know. I love you, Grandpa!

Ethical Consumerism

After a conversation with a dear friend this morning about the conditions of sweatshops in the world, it reminded me of how important it is to make ethical choices as much as possible when we shop - this is something I have gotten away from now that we only have one income - it's harder to make a dollar stretch now. With stores like Walmart cutting prices way down, it's difficult to resist getting more for our buck, especially when we have families to care for. But there's a reason we're getting more - it's because others are getting less, and those workers have children to clothe, feed and send to school too. More lately in the news we've been hearing about the toy recalls due to the use of lead paint. If one Thomas the train car can make a child viciously ill, can you imagine what can happen to those who are painting thousands of them day in and day out?

These are two mere examples of the economic injustice that's going on every single day in the world which is "out of sight, out of mind" for most of us. There is no easy solution, because by avoiding the endorsement of sweat shop products, these workers may lose their jobs completely, and that isn't good, either.

We may not be able to save the whole world, but the little that we can do will mean so much to those we can reach. And what a wonderful lesson we can teach our children to pass on to their children!

Here's a great article about fair trade shopping. Buy choosing different chocolates, coffees and fruits, you can make a VAST difference in the lives of people across the globe.
http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/fairtrade/whatyoucando/index.cfm

There are also several American co-ops who are working to stop sweatshops. This website offers a wealth of great resources and information!
http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/boycotts/index.cfm

I haven't even skimmed the surface, there are so many amazing efforts happening here in our country. I hope to do much more research on this and related issues, because they are heavy on my heart each day. After my work at St. Mary's as an education and awareness coordinator of social justice, I see the world in a completely new light. God hasn't called me to be a tourist, but a worker in the vineyard. I can do much more with my time at home with my family - aside from prayer, so much activism can be done from the computer alone! I take my inspiration and my purpose from the Gospel of Luke who reminds us "to whom much is given, much is required," and I hope these words will lead us to revolutionize the way we pray, think and live.

Family portraits 2007

Last Saturday, we had our pictures taken in the garden, and I wanted to share some of my favorites here. I've wanted to do this for so long now, it was so great. I'd only change the fact that we decided to do this outdoors in the summer!

25 months old update

I forgot to do a 24 month update! I was finishing up summer school and then having multiple birthday parties for Dominic that it totally slipped my mind! I'm not sure where to start...so free association is probably the way to go....

Dominic is increasingly doing more and more things for himself, which is just wonderful. He loves to peel his own bananas, and hard boiled eggs, pour his own drinks (water usually!). He likes to put sunscreen on, brush his teeth and shampoo his own hair. We've been reading a book about a little bunny who gets dressed all by himself, and Dominic loves to pull his shorts on in the morning. We're still working on the shirt! :)

He is parroting every thing we say, which is pretty exciting. He's learning the context of short expressions and we are always tickled when he uses them appropriately. Just now I was swiffering the floor and I heard "wait a minute mommie, wait a minute mommie!" And he came toddling around the corner with his vacuum to help. I also find myself surprised when it gets quiet in the house, and I go searching through the rooms expecting him to be smearing deoderant on the walls, and instead he is sitting sweetly with his books and sometimes is even reading to his teddy bear!

He loves loves loves to spend time with friends and family, he gets SO EXCITED when we drive to Senele's house, or when we tell him Aunt Les, Uncle Steve or Ama and Papa are coming to visit. He also really enjoys the company of friends, and my heart is warmed as he makes the choice of his own volition to share and be gentle. He likes to rock babies and pat their heads...progress I am happy to see!!! ;) We're spending a lot of time in pools on the weekends thanks to the generosity of friends. He is becoming quite the fearless fish. He wants us to let him go and almost even convinces us that he is ready to propel himself around already.

Another milestone that I'm jumping joyfully about -we've finally reached that sweet spot where we can keep him peacefully with us through Mass on Sundays! From age 1-2 it was REALLY difficult, but our hard work has paid off. Bronius still has to hold him, but it's miraculous nonetheless. I still feel completely and utterly flattered that God chose me as Dominic's mother. I can't believe He found me worthy enough to entrust to me this beautiful soul, I cry everytime I think about it. Bronius and I have never been happier and more fulfilled. Thank you God for the blessing of our son!



An ensemble only a mother could love ;)



Getting our pictures taken at the horticultural gardens




Cracking and peeling his hard boiled egg

A bang up job

Today was a BIG day for me. For the first time in 15 years, I did something different with my hair at the salon. I very reluctantly asked for "side bangs," as I have at least a dozen times before...but this time....I didn't chicken out. :) I don't know why I am so fearful of change, but I am glad I finally decided to try something different today!!! :)

Feast day of St. Dominic - August 8

Tomorrow we're having a Happy St. Dominic day lunch for our little Dominic, celebrating the faith and ministry of St. Dominic de Guzman, and also my Grandfather who shared the name Dominic. I wanted to share a little bit about this special saint on my blog.



St. Dominic
Feastday: August 8
Patron of Astronomers
b. 1170 d. 1221


St. Dominic
St. Dominic (1170-1221). Son of Felix Guzman and Bl. Joan of Aza, he was born at Calaruega, Spain, studied at the Univ. at Palencia, was probably ordained there while pursuing his studies and was appointed canon at Osma in 1199. There he became prior superior of the chapter, which was noted for its strict adherence to the rule of St. Benedict. In 1203 he accompanied Bishop Diego de Avezedo of Osma to Languedoc where Dominic preached against the Albigensians (heresy) and helped reform the Cistercians. Dominic founded an institute for women at Prouille in Albigensian territory in 1206 and attached several preaching friars to it. When papal legate Peter of Castelnan was murdered by the Albigensians in 1208, Pope Innocent III launched a crusade against them headed by Count Simon IV of Montfort which was to continue for the next seven years. Dominic followed the army and preached to the heretics but with no great success. In 1214 Simon gave him a castle at Casseneuil and Dominic with six followers founded an order devoted to the conversion of the Albigensians; the order was canonically approved by the bishop of Toulouse the following year. He failed to gain approval for his order of preachers at the fourth General Council of the Lateran in 1215 but received Pope Honorius III's approval in the following year, and the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) was founded.

Dominic spent the last years of this life organizing the order, traveling all over Italy, Spain and France preaching and attracting new members and establishing new houses. The new order was phenomenally successful in conversion work as it applied Dominic's concept of harmonizing the intellectual life with popular needs. He convoked the first general council of the order at Bologna in 1220 and died there the following year on August 6, after being forced by illness to return from a preaching tour in Hungary. He was canonized in 1234 and is the patron saint of astronomers. Feast day is Aug. 8.

Mozart started at three....

The future is looking bright ;)

Flowers.....for me?

This is the romantic bouquet of blooms that I found at our table at the restaurant on Friday night! B had them delivered! And the restaurant sent us off with a lovely bottle of wine as an anniversary gift. We savored Morroccan lamb with a spicy harassa sauce and cous cous with figs....we were enamored with everything. It was such a treat. This was a really special anniversary!!!!

Play doh and M&M's .... school supplies???

I've had some unusual assignments this summer for class....below is my latest assignment, which was to sculpt an animal which I identified with while Bronius sculpted an animal he thought represented me. And then we cam together to discuss them (Bronius didn't enjoy the discussion as much as the sculpting, but hey! At least he participated!) It was neat. And the other day B didn't believe me when I said my tummy was too full for dinner because my assignment was to eat a whole bag of peanut M&M's. Okay, so it's a partial truth - we just used the M&M's for graphing purposes. But it was the dinner hour and I was famished! ;) So far, the projects in grad school are reminiscent of kindergarten, and I'm lovin' it. ;)

B's cat/dog


















J's teddy bear

Our Anniversary

Today is our anniversary! :) 4 years ago we were in Daytona Beach, Florida, joining joyfully in holy matrimony in front of our friends and family, at the basilica of St. Paul.



Since then, we've traveled, endured job changes, moved to our first home, had a baby, survived the deaths of our beloved grandmothers, had more job changes, watched our extended family continue to grow, started graduate school...and we'll see what God has planned for us next! ;) While always a bit anxious about the unknown, I am so thankful that Bronius is by my side, and I am by his! How blessed we are to have each other!



There is so much more I want to say, especially exalting my husband for his humble and Christ-like ways as he ministers to me in our marriage - but a munchkin needs a bath and I need to do homework. After that, I have THIS to look forward to!



Bronius brought home these artful and glamourous chocolates from a local chocolatier that absolutely SCREAM Julia-ness. I sauteed some wild Key West shrimp for dinner tonight for Bronius, so we are both happy with our favorites tonight! ;) Tomorrow we will spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament together before we go to our favorite restaurant for dinner.

AND LOOK what we have to look forward to after THAT! Good thing I have a dentist appointment coming up!



My dear Mother in Law, who pours out her love to us in so many humble ways, and helped us immensely by watching Dominic while I had an unavoidable day-time class this summer (the rest are all night classes or online)......she baked us a chocolate cake!!!!!! :) We thought we'd share it with her tomorrow night so she could enjoy the fruits of her labor ;)

We are thankful for the examples of our parents and our siblings who have modeled the values for marriage and family which we treasure in our lives. I imagine we would have had to work much harder from scratch with out the shining examples that we have!

Fun with friends and family

Today was such a treat! I got to meet my best friend Jamie's little son, Maclaren! He is 5 weeks old and as sweet as can be! Here we are together with our little guys.



Jamie's husband Josh is the pastor of Rice University's chapter of Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, and they have a beautiful life together, and now a beautiful son.



Then we stopped by my brother Steve's place, he brought us Greek food from our favorite restaurant, and we swam in his amazing apartment's pool and watched "The Bridge to Terabithia" together. Could I ask for more???? :) I love you, Steve!

Birthday song

I truly must apologize for my dreadfully goofy singing....I promise you, I sound much better than this when no one is listening! ;)

Beata Vita

I was reading some excerpts from St. Augustine's early writings, and one of his letters was called De Beata Vita (On the Blessed Life). I've been familiar with his contributions to our church, but I my eyes were definitely opened as I had a chance to read more in depth today (thanks for taking a long nap, Dominic!) The expression "the blessed life" just stuck with me, and I thought it would be a good new name for my blog. I hope it will remind me always of how God has richly blessed me, and that I must always return those blessings to him in prayer and deed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo

The Legend of the Trevi Fountain

I've been having a lot of dreams about travelling, and for those who know me, travelling is life!!! I think I've been suppressing my hunger for travelling, and it's popping up in dreams all the time. I don't know when we'll have a chance to go abroad again, but I'm really looking forward to backpacking with our kids in family hostels all throughout Europe for a few summers. I just don't know if I can wait that looooooooong!!!!!! :)

I had forgotten about our stash of Italy pictures from Jan 2005. I added it on the sidebar here with my other links, so I could reminisce like an old sap. If you happen to visit them, please excuse my odd expressions....I was 4 months prego and not feeling like being photographed!

My favorite countries are Italy, Spain, India and the United Kingdom states, and I've had the fortune to travel to all of these places twice (thanks to Dad's frequent international business mileage)! Perhaps they are my favorite since they're the only ones I've been to ;) But lately I've been nostalgic for Italy, and if you know the legend of the Trevi fountain in Roma, if you toss a coin behind your left shoulder into the fountain, you will return to Italy again. So I am posting this picture, in hopes that this wish will come true again one day! :)

In the middle of the action

This is where he is happiest ;)


And a funny side note....after I heard a typical crashing sound, I came into his room to see this....he had moved the entire set off the table, but it was completely in tact! I can't even move the tracks around with out them coming apart!

Friendship

I don't know who loves their friends more, me, or Dominic! :) We had so much fun today with our friends!!!! :)