Free Spirit Delaney!

She is always coming up with new things to do.  She uses her imagination so much and sings songs she learns in school.  Sometimes I can pick out the tune and words enough for her to teach me one!  She teaches Blake how to do many things too.  She had her first “real” haircut the other day, more than 3 snips or a fake one from Lisa.  She was so still and loved it.  She plays with babies more now that she knows about her new sibling and teaches her animals like her cousin Kaitlyn has taught her.  She was the first to climb up in the tree too, of course!  She is independent and free spirited, but will still cuddle with you and rock anytime you will rock her.  She is loving in her own special way!  I just love watching these kids grow up and turn in to their own people.  God blessed us so much by giving us the opportunity to raise two of his most perfect children.

Daring Delaney

Delaney loves to try new things, volunteer for something, and go first every time she can.  She has such an outgoing personality and is fearless.  She asked to be buried at the beach and begged to go tubing on the Intercoastal waterway.  In camp this week she is in a class with 2 and 3 year olds, one of the younger ones, and they are doing Science Camp.  She is the first they say to push the button on the blender to make soap, dig her hand in to squish out the water to make paper, jump in line to get her face painted…etc.  She isn’t afraid of anything and that makes me afraid. 

How do we, as Americans, teach our children how to be afraid enough to be cautious?  I don’t want them to meet a stranger because I want them to be able to learn from everyone, help those that need it, etc.  But I don’t want them to get abducted, raped, or abused either.  How do we shelter them, but also let them shine with their outgoing personalities…I don’t want to hold her back (I am sure Blake will some though, he is VERY cautious in all he does). 

One out of four little girls in America are touched inappropriately in same way.  One out of FOUR!  That is so scary!  One out of six little boys are.  I already know one person that has had this occur and it’s so sad and makes me want to throw up!  Usually it’s someone that child trusts and us as parents trust with our child.  It’s that one on one time that is so dangerous.  We have to protect them from that and teach them to understand about private parts and how they are PRIVATE!  Even at a young, young age.  Unfortunately this world is not what is was when it comes to being safe 10, 20, 30 years ago.  Things have to be done differently.  I pray that neither of my children will have to go through this and I plan to do all I can to keep them safe, but we need to spread the word and hope that all parents teach their kids what is inappropriate.  Who knows when another child, teen, adult, won’t know when enough is enough.  Teach your child to say no and mean no!

Underwater fun!

The kids have really learned how to swim, both go under water, but Blake jumps in and swims without a support to the stairs and does it again.  A friend let me borrow an underwater camera, we had fun with it!  I can’t believe how cool the pictures are! 

After the kids enjoyed time playing Delaney wanted to get out and play in the garage, I was behind the stairs for a min collecting a few toys and by the time I knew it Blake said, “Ut oh Delaney, Mommy!”  She had climbed up on her own, which I didn’t know she could and was in the middle of the baby pool underwater, I couldn’t get to her quick and it felt like forever.  I can’t believe it, you never think it’s going to happen to your child!  I pulled her out and she sat on my lap crying for a while, then just say there still for like an hour.  She was so scared, my heart throbbed all day and I still hurt when I think about it.  I always will now.  She told me she held her breath and didn’t swallow any water, I’m not sure, but at least she knows what to do!  Blake is my little hero though, who knows what would have happened without him today!

July 4

There was a parade in the morning at OIB.  This is a tradition there at Christmas time (well weekend after Thanksgiving) and July 4th.  Anyone can participate in it.  Some walk, ride bikes, and decorate golf carts to ride.  This year the older grandkids and Granddad decorated our cart and were in it!  The little kids got a pre-show ride down Craven Street with Granddad.  Delaney waved to no one the whole time.  It was so funny.
The Forth of July at the beach is always lots of fun.  Granddad decorates the house and pool and my mom's sister Dotty Blake (this is the family Blake is named after) and her family all come over to celebrate with us.  This year we had my dad's brother Wes and his family there too!  We had a great time out by the pool.  Kevin grilled a BUNCH of hamburgers and hotdogs and we had homemade ice cream that my mom and dad made, it was so good!!!!

 My cousin Kim Sumrell and I on July 4.

Taylor, Colason, Creighton Williams, Meredith Sumrell holding Delaney, Katherine behind Blake and her twin Rebekah beside Peyton.

A look into our lunchtime...

11:55, We arrive home from picking Blake up from Dayschool
11:55, fixing sandwiches for lunch, Delaney goes straight to the only cabinet in the kitchen she knows she can get into and quick!
12:00, Blake falls off the sofa and lands on the back of his head while I'm picking up spices
12:02, I'm trying to get him calmed down and finish making sandwiches, Delaney helps with the laundry that is out in process

12:20, Blake is falling asleep, even though I'm sitting with them eating too, the ipod is playing Jimmy Buffett, and Delaney is being loud.  He does this all the time, it's so funny!  Don't try to take his food away though, he'll wake right up!
12:30, a peak under Delaney's high chair after lunch. She thinks it's more fun to drop food on the floor then eat it. if she does put it in her mouth she like to spit it out, look at it and drop it on the floor or eat it again. Later she' goes back to see what crumbs she can find to taste.
12:35, the timer goes off for Blake to finish eating. He won't use his teeth to chew, he sucks on everything so it takes him forever. The timer is helping him learn to use his teeth so he can eat quicker. It seems to be working so far.
12:40, I carry him upstiars to put him in bed for naptime (about a 1.5 minute process), I leave Delaney with the toys
12:42, I find Delaney at the bottom of the stairs waiting on me to come back down.
12:55, I take Delaney to put her down for a nap, as I pass the downstairs bathroom, I see the toliet paper roll. I used the potty just before we left to go get Blake, when in the world did that happen?

So how protective can you be as a parent? We want them to physically be safe, but if we hold them and comfort them through everything they'll never learn how to brush off and deal with bumps and bruises. We don't want their feeling sot be hurt or for them to feel defeated, but how do we prepare them for life that is so unfair if we take care of everything for them? When do we start to let them learn from their mistakes? NOW! As a parent it is so hard to see your child fail, cry, get hurt physically or emotionally. But looking back on life, I am where I am today because of all those things. What's the line when it comes to protecting your child?

I am proud to say that through tears I have taught both my children how to sleep. Only a few nights were through tears, but it was worth it in the long run. I lay them down after a book, snuggle and song and they drift off by themselves. Both of them sign with me and after I leave most nights putting themself to sleep. If they wake in the middle of the night they will usually go right back to sleep. They may talk, or even call for us, but never longer than a couple minutes. I feel like they have learned their first step of independence by not needing me or Kevin to go to sleep. Did I cross a line by letting them cry some nights (Delaney is fussing a little while I write this trying to go to sleep for her nap.) Where is that line? When do you begin teaching indepence? 12 weeks? 12 months? 12 years?

It's tough to parent in a world when society is telling you to do different things then you think is right. Luckily Kevin and I both are on baord with our parenting styles. I feel blessed that we agree on so many things. We have our parents to thank for that, they raised us in a way that taught us to teach independence through love and tears. Maybe it's because we are both the second child/baby?

I know I am doing the best I can as a parent, but is it good enough?  I do not want to fail them, there has to be the perfect mix of teaching and protecting.  I pray to God everyday for their health, safety, and independence, I know that He is guiding me, I just trust in Him and have faith that he'll direct me as needed.

"I didn't do it!"  I found her like this later that afternoon.