Is Safest Always Best?

WARNING: If you do not like reflective commentary... do not read.

The title of this blog comes as a result of a conversation I recently had with a friend of mine regarding car seats (and by my observations of a few mothers' reactions to me at the playground). She is making a choice with her daughter that is deemed the "safest" by the transportation gurus of America. I did not make that choice. I chose a safe option, but decided that the small 10-15% improvement in safety wasn't that great a benefit and posed more problems for the three years that it would likely be occuring. Am I a poor mother for making that choice?

I make other choices that aren't the "safest" for Jonathan. I let him ride his tricyle without a helmet and he can get going pretty fast for a kid his age, I allow him to climb on things from which he could fall (although not high things from which he could break his neck or other appendages), we play in the rain when it is cold and have a great time, and he eats dirt and sand and I don't really try hard to stop it. He could fall and get a bloody lip from climbing, he could get quite scraped up from riding his tricyle like that (and has), and he could worsen a lurking germ by playing in very cold puddles. I know that. I choose to take those small risks because I want him to be a risk taker. A calculated risk-taker, but a risk-taker, none the less. It is not an easy choice, and I am not being a lazy or ignorant mother for choosing those things. These are choices I am making with the long term in mind. You can say "i told you so" if he gets hurt. But, I still choose risks. The kamakazee on his tricyle
Playing in the puddles when it is fifty degrees...

Those who choose the "safest" option as determined by other mothers and fathers across America are making a choice that is always commended. I agree... those kids are less likely to be injured and will be safer than my kid. I simply challenge the notion that I am making a less acceptable choice as a mother. Let my kid be the daredevil. That is OK by me. I have prayed about the choice to allow him to take small risks like this, and am trusting God with the things that I cannot control. So - safest mothers and fathers... carry on. But, don't think less of me because I choose differently.

Sarah

For Such a Time as This

Jamie changed his tune on the "baby pool". He previously stated that he didn't want a little kiddie pool because it would kill the grass. Today it was over ninety and he changed his mind. There are still some weeds in the backyard so what better way to kill them than to place a large plastic pool on top of them? So, we got an inflatable pool. Oh the wonder! Oh the delight! Jonathan just loved it. And, the water wasn't all that warm - he kept playing with the water trickling out of the hose. Then, Jamie got in with him and the two of them had a whee of a time.

This video is one of was my favorites as of late. Our camera battery was dead all weekend, but thankfully I charged it this afternoon and captured this precious moment on video.

Today was the first meeting of a new church in the town where we live that we are going to be a part of. God has reiterated the lesson of patience as we looked for a church these past 8 months. This church seems to fit us, and I am excited about this in a way that I haven't looked forward to anything here since we've moved. We've done tons of delightful things as a family, but it is very clear that God designed us for community and we've missed that greatly here. Maybe we are here for such a time as this to help start this new church?

Enough of the philosophy for this blog...

Hope you had a good weekend!
Sarah

A Year in Review

In reflecting back on the past year it is amazing to think of all of the changes that our family has seen.
Last year at this time:
1. We were living in a different city in a house that we had poured sweat and love into making our own.
2. Jonathan was 7 months and was just learning to crawl.
3. I was still working 2 days a week as an Instructional Coach.
4. Jamie had just had his first day with Medtronic as an associate therapy consultant.
Now:
1. We live in a house that we like, but that is not a labor of love.
2. We live in a city 4 hours away from our previous home.
3. Jonathan is now RUNNING fast and is 19 months. He is also talking up a storm and becoming more animated in his "conversations" all of the time.
4. Jamie just finished his first year with Medtronic and has received very positive feedback on his performance.
5. I am now a stay-at-home mom and am expecting baby #2 in late November/early December.

Take a look at how the little man has changed:

He loves our shoes... here he is in my slippers about a week ago:
Last summer at the pool near our house:

The little Hawkeye last summer, walking with our fingers: Our family on the last day we had together in our previous home:
The J-man, about 2 weeks ago outside of our new home:
Later ~
Sarah

Should Have Bought a Boat

According to a radio commentator that Jamie heard today, we are ahead of the previous record for annual rainfall that was set in 1893. This is one of those years where if they predict a 10% chance of rain - it will undoubtedly pour all day long. We live in the Midwest because we want to see our family more than twice a year - not for fabulous weather or other amenities. But, usually the weather isn't all that bad and I don't mind. I MIND this much rain. Oh well. I'm guessing that God isn't going to change the current weather trends just to suit my selfish fancies.

Jonathan still loves bugs. Just before I shot this photo, he was on his belly with his face plastered to the cement, looking into the crack for a bug that had crawled down there. I guess he thought the light might be better from a bit higher up.
Today we had a blissful twenty minutes of quiet play. Jonathan loves to be rough and tumble, but he will play quietly IF I am playing with him. Today he played with these new craigslist treasures for 30 minutes without asking ANYTHING from me. It was wonderful! I love playing with him, but a break every so often is quite nice.
Jonathan's latest favorites are: bubbles (and the bubble shooter that I bought), the BOB (our wonderful jogging stroller) - he asks to ride in it "Bob?, Bob?", Tropical Sno Cones from the WONDERFUL tropical sno cone shack up the road, playing with the Bares (our neighbors), and playing in Uncle Nate's truck (new found love from the weekend of our visit there).

Wishing you sunny weather even if we don't get it here...
Sarah

Visit to Iowa

We had a wonderful trip to Iowa this past weekend! Jamie took off Thursday and Friday so that we could spend time with both of our families. It was nice to be able to see everyone, even if the time with each family was a bit short. Jonathan had a great time at both places... he was wiped out yesterday. Evidence for this: I had to wake him up after he had been sleeping for 3 hours in the afternoon. This is unheard of for us.

Jonathan had a great time playing with his cousins, and I loved the fact that a couple of his cousins were old enough to keep an eye on him in the backyard so I didn't have to be out there all of the time. Sofie, Drew and Jonathan... off to the races: Drew was born two weeks after Jamie and I were married, and he is the closest in age to Jonathan on that side of the family.
Jamie, Jonathan and Uncle Marc:
Jamie, Jonathan, and Grandpa Sam on a walk to the playground:
I was a bit lazy with my photo-taking this trip. Bummer... No pictures of Jonathan with his grandmas :+(. And, it was Mother's Day. Both mothers certainly deserve to be pictured here!

Sarah

Going with the masses

Well - it seems as though my friends with their blogs think that it is best to make the blogs "private", so I am going to follow suit. Why? Because I really don't have a reason not to do so and it can't hurt. So, starting tomorrow, you'll have to log on to view the blog. Sorry about that for those of you who think that is too much of a pain. Just want to keep the wrong eyes off of the Guild fam.

Lots of love,
Sarah

A few of Mommy's Favorite Things

Jonathan has his favorite things, but there are things about being his mom that are priceless and are my favorites:
1. When Jonathan wants me to go somewhere with him (often his room or outside), he will come over, reach up, take my hand, and lead me to where he desires. I love it when he does that.
2. One of the words in his vocabulary is book. For a while it was simply, boo. We worked very hard on emphasizing the end of the word so that he would hear it and repeat the word with the end on it. It worked, but now he says book with exceptional emphasis on the "k" at the end. It is one of the things I most enjoy hearing him say and I laugh.
3. Playing outside with the little man. I am a sucker for fun, outside toys. We now have bubbles, sidewalk chalk, sand toys, a water squirter, bikes, etc. I appreciate it when Jonathan allows me to sit in the chair and relax while he plays with rocks (or whatever else) - this happens infrequently. I usually have to be an active participant.
4. Coloring with Jonathan is also a favorite of mine. He is very focused on the task and loves to have me help.
5. When Jonathan says, "pweese", it is hard to say no. It is so cute. But, I have managed to stick to my guns no matter how high the cuteness factor. Usually he says it when I can easily say, "yes" so that is very nice.

Jonathan received this onsie and visor from my parents after their trip to the South in January. Pretty funny, huh? He didn't mind wearing the visor.

Happy May Day!
Sarah