My Favorite Things

I apologize if my blogging has seemed a little sparse lately. We're keeping our heads above water, but it's constant work as we both try to finish up the last of our school work for this term/semester. Of course, we enjoyed a hearty Thanksgiving in Cove/La Grande. My aunt Steph & uncle Gareld hosted us out at their new home on "the property." In my laziness, I just posted pictures on Facebook. If you haven't seen them, you can find them here.

Last year, we had quite the trouble trying to locate a tree in Hermiston before December 10th, well, apparently they read my blog and so there are tree lots all over the city and have been up since Thanksgiving! Unfortunately, I just barely got the decorations and tree stand down, and due to unforeseen school deadlines, we will have to wait until at least Friday evening to pick up a fresh tree! It's exhausting! By then there are only two weeks til Christmas! Lame!

Next week I go to working three days a week at the Chamber. But, it's not all R&R. I have my stats final to take next week - which means catching up on my Stats, too. Plus, the apartment has been a bit neglected and needs some thorough cleaning, so until that happens, don't ask to use our restroom. Not to mention Christmas shopping & crafting & wrapping & movie watching (notice the lack of baking in there). As well as prepping for the babester's arrival. I haven't packed the hospital bags, washed the clothes, purchased a crib mattress, installed the car seat, put stuff away in the changing table..... it's hard!

And so I'm torn - some folks have requested a Christmas arrival of the baby. But, I have to say, I don't think I'm ready! Except .....

(To be sung in your head to the tune of

"My Favorite Things" )

Seaweed and rice all rolled with some tuna            

Flowing shirts that don’t make me a balloon

Fingers that don’t swell around wedding rings

These are a few of my favorite things

Sitting at the salon with foil in my hair

Not needing assistance to get out of my chair

Using the restroom less times than 18

These are a few of my favorite things

When I feel her move

When I’m scared of birth

When I’m not going mad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I want her out so bad! 

Raising a Girl

In just the last couple of weeks I've started thinking about my role in raising a girl in today's world, not just on having a baby or being a parent - but being a mother to my daughter. Of course, each person has their own unique personality that they are born with and develop over their lifetime and, I believe, beyond.

BUT, I wonder how I can give my daughter the tools to feel empowered about who she is, about her own role in finding joy and happiness, about her value and individual worth.

It's funny to go online and type into Google - "raising a daughter" or "raising girls." The information runs the gamut! There were some interesting ideas in this article on PBS.

I want to raise a strong daughter, who feels beautiful and empowered and willing to take chances. I want to be a mother who affirms her daughter's worth rather than makes her doubt herself.

But how?!

And, maybe the silliest of all - but I'm almost more nervous in hoping that we like each other. I don't think we have to always be "friends." But, I hope we enjoy each other's company and that she'll feel safe confiding in me. I think I was so blessed in that area - to have a Mom who loves me, but also seems to usually like me. And vice versa. It's a special thing.

What advice would you offer this momma-to-be? 

A now, for just a few words of advice from the patriarchs and matriarchs of our church....

"A mother-daughter relationship is where a daughter learns how to nurture by being nurtured. She is loved. She is taught and experiences firsthand what it feels like to have someone care about her enough to correct her while continuing to encourage and believe in her at the same time." - Elder Russel M. Ballard 

"You are your daughter’s guardian in more than the legal sense. Be present in your daughter’s life. Let her know your standards, your expectations, your hopes and dreams for her success and happiness. Interview her, get to know her friends and, when the time comes, her boyfriends. Help her understand the importance of education. Help her understand that the principle of modesty is a protection. Help her choose music and media that invite the Spirit and are consistent with her divine identity. Be an active part of her life. And if in her teenage years she should not come home from a date on time, go get her. She will resist and tell you that you have ruined her social life, but she will inwardly know that you love her and that you care enough to be her guardian. " Sister Elain S. Dalton