Through the eyes of a child

Update: Ashlyn is feeling much better. We went back to the doctor last Friday and found that her ear infection had now moved from her right ear into her left ear. The doc asked me how many times a day I was giving her the antibiotic and I said, "Once a day like it says" she asked me if I was sure it was once a day and not twice a day. I told her, yep it's once a day (and I'm thinking, that's what Dr. Coombs told me to give her) Then she said that usually it was twice a day that is prescribed and to go home and look at the bottle and call her back and let her know so she could call in some more if we needed to. So I left, ran home and pulled the bottle from the fridge and to my horror...it said "give one teaspoon twice a day for ten days" Ok so I'm "Mother of the Year"--Oh wait, that was neglectful, but I don't have enough kids to be nominated for that title, plus it was already handed out for the year. Oh so close! So I must be a crappy mom for a minute! Anyway, I filled the cute little pink syringe and squirt it in Ashlyn's mouth and I called back embarrassed and told the receptionist that I was a crappy mom and had read the bottle wrong. For some reason she didn't find it as funny as I did. ;) So needless to say, we have made a 180 and Ashlyn has been given her antibiotics faithfully ever since. She is feeling much better and isn't as whiny as before...thank goodness! I pray my future children don't whine!

So backing up to a time before the illness set in...which I think was from Nursery because that place is a petri dish of germs. When Ashlyn isn't listening or is being naughty I have been using the techniques taught by Supernanny (yes I have her book too) where I get down on her level and look her in the eyes and tell her that she is being naughty and if she does it again, she will be in time out. Well, the time out chair has become more of a circus act than punishment. She lays across it, stands on it, slides to the very edge of it, falls off it, you get the point.

So my friend Anna told me that she had the same problem with Gavin and that she now has him put his nose on the wall. So I've started to do that. Well I have to admit that it is one of the funniest things I've ever seen because she will start out with her nose touching the wall and then she sticks her nose up in the air and rests her chin on the wall as to say to me..."Mom...my nose isn't on the wall" Cleaver. The other day I told her that if she played with the water dispenser again, she would have to put her nose on the wall, so she walks over, pushes aside the garbage can and puts herself into time out. Cole and I just looked at eachother and laughed and I grabbed the camera. However, once she felt that she had served enough time, she went right over to the water and pushed the button and turned and laughed. HELLO! You don't get to store up time outs!

Today, we spent some time outside playing on her swing, looking at Grandpa's garden, pulling leaves off of the tree, blowing bubbles, and looking for those stupid Box Elder Bugs! I hate those things! If they are Box Elder--shouldn't they stay in Box Elder County????

She was so funny because I would "blow" the bubbles; I have a bubble gun that is battery operated...best invention ever, I don't get light headed! The bubbles were landing on the grass and she started to get down on her knees and pop the bubbles with her mouth--gross, but she thought it was hysterical.

Anyway, I started to think about what the world must look like to her. As I watched her face, it was so fun to see her get excited about the simple things. It made me realize that I need to slow down and enjoy these moments with her. I need to spend time exploring things that interest her and that I take for granted that I have around me. We had so much fun just playing outside and she is at such a fun stage. So here's to more memories and a goal for living in the moment. :)