How to Make Pancakes with a Toddler in 15 Easy Steps

1. Read a book about Pancakes. (Optional)

2. Gather utensils & ingredients 

-       Pancake Mix

-       Milk

-       Egg

-       Pan

-       Pancake Flipper

-       Step Stool (so toddler can see and help)

-       Spoon

-       Plates

-       Forks

-       Butter knife

-       Butter

-       Syrup

-       Cup

-       Mixing Bowl

-       Measuring cups

-       Toddler (Most important)

3. Measure 1 cup pancake mix and pour into bowl. Toddler will want to stick finger in mix and lick it. Relax. It’s a part of learning. Let him do it. There are no raw eggs in it yet. 

4. Measure ½ cup milk and pour in bowl.

5. Crack one egg into the bowl and mix.

6. Let toddler stir. Yes, it will make a mess. Relax. It’s a part of learning.

7. Scoop ¼ cup of batter and pour into pan. Toddler should be nowhere near the stovetop. He should already know this concept a good year or more before making pancakes. If he doesn’t, stop what you are doing and have an overdue safety lesson before continuing.

8. Wait for pancakes to bubble.

9. Leave phone unattended while toddler takes pictures of the black countertop without you knowing.

10. Flip pancakes

11. Cook for a bit longer. Don’t worry about perfection. If toddler helps make them, he will care less about taste and appearance.

12. Remove pancakes from pan and place on plate.

13. Lightly butter and pour syrup on pancakes.

14. Happily agree to toddler’s genius request to wear a birthday party hat while eating because you understand his valid point-birthday hats have to be worn while eating "cake" (even pancakes)

15. Eat and enjoy (Bonus if toddler eats so much, Mom worries he will get sick.) 

Happy National Pancake Day!!! 

Still Small Voice

I sort of have an irrational fear that while I’m putting my children in their car seats, someone will come behind me and knock me over the head. They will take my purse, my child waiting to get in the car, my child in the car, or whatever they want. This explains my slightly paranoid looks over the shoulder as I wrestle them into their seats. Yesterday didn’t help in regards to this image in my mind.

It was broad daylight yesterday when I walked out of Kohl’s. I didn’t have my head down looking at my phone. I wasn’t distracted at all. I did however, have my hands full. My 2 year old didn’t want to hold my hand as we walked to the car. It’s a rule he holds my hand while walking in parking lots. As I somewhat dragged him to the car with his legs half bent and crying, I was reminding him of this rule. One hand was occupied doing this and the other was pushing the stroller. I hit the remote start to the car as we walked towards it since it was cold. I thought the car could heat up as I was buckling the kids in. We got to the car and as I was buckling in my 2 year old, I did several looks around outside of the car. I saw nothing. I looked back to my son and buckled the straps on his car seat.

Just as I looked up, a man wearing a camouflage jacket was walking, at a decent pace, towards me and my child in the stroller. He came out of nowhere. I stopped what I was doing and looked at him. He said hello and I respond back with the same. For a split second, I felt bad. I had judged him as someone up to no good. He could tell I was watching him. He quickly turned 90 degrees and went a completely different direction. I had a bad feeling. Something wasn’t right. Why did he turn when I saw him walking towards me? It was odd. Next he turned back around and came towards me again. “Excuse me. Do you have cash to spare so I can buy a gallon of gas?” He asked, as he kept getting closer. A sense of calmness mixed with knowledge of knowing what to say, and to do it boldly, came over me. I planted my feet firmly on the ground and stood up straight. I made direct eye contact with him and didn’t take my eyes off him. “I’m sorry. I don’t have any cash on me at all,” I responded with a serious look. I lied. I had cash, but there was no way I was about to lean back in my car and turn my back to him leaving my child between us.  He gave me a frustrated look and then walked away.

Here’s the thing. I’m all about helping someone who needs a few bucks, I am. Gut feelings and that still small voice override any ounce of compassion in me instantly though.  Something was off here and I sensed it right away when he came back towards me. Call it discernment, paranoia, or a sixth sense. I think God places a gift in Mothers the day He allows them to become a Mom. It’s the same one He gives Mother bears. Because of it, we can sense danger and stand up to it instead of cowering from it. 

What do you need to be bold about today? May you find that gift deep within and put it to good use. Listen. He still speaks in that still small voice.

Big Step

On a recent walk, I was talking to my husband about something I’ve been wrestling with for quite some time. In a brief and rare moment where I wasn’t rambling, he was able to slip in some advice. It was good, really good, and not just because he was able to spot a pause in my ramble. His advice gave me the direction I was looking for.

Ever have something weighing on you that you feel you should be doing but haven’t yet begun to act on it? I’m not talking about the pile of laundry near the washing machine or the dust on the TV stand that’s screaming for attention. This is something you can’t seem to shake. It's an awkward place between blatant procrastination and a longing to jump in head first and going for it. I have. It’s been going on for almost a decade. With much prayer and encouragement from loved ones, I’ve decided to take a leap of faith, and do it. I’m casting fear of failure aside and taking a big step. That sentence alone makes me take a big breath to slow my heart rate down.

I’m going to go skydiving. Okay, that’s not it, albeit on my bucket list. Drum roll, please…..I’m going to write a book.

I’m not sure how long it will take or what exactly it will look like. However, I've got a vision and am excited to see where the Lord will take it. If you think of it, would you pray for me in this journey? I’m walking by faith on this one, friends. I encourage you to do the same. What have you been putting off? Try taking a step of faith with me, and let’s see where we go with it. Hang on tight. It could be a wild ride!

Proverbs 16:3  “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

A Birthday Letter to My Son

My oldest child has a birthday this week. I say my oldest, as if I have lots of kids. As if he’s a man in his twenties or something. Neither is true, and he’s turning two. It feels like he is two going on twenty some days. He’s growing up way too fast.  I decided to write him a letter for his second birthday. It recaps a few things from this year and explains why his Mom is the way she is.

Dear Son,

Happy Birthday! What a year it has been. We’ve laughed, cried, and had lots of fun.

It has been an eventful year for you. You became a big brother this year, thus being dethroned as the only special little person in the house. That’s a rough road to walk, especially at your age. You are a great big brother though, and are sharing your life in a wonderful way with him. I pray you will be best friends soon. I just know you two will have so much fun and probably get into lots of trouble too.

You broke your first bone and survived without missing much of a beat. You added a million different words, looks, concepts, memories, and most importantly- dance moves to our world. Boy, you can dance, and it makes everyone smile.

We said goodbye to Nana this year. She lives in heaven now. She was my Mommy and your Grandmother. She loved you very much. You made her smile even on the days she was feeling very sick and was in so much pain. Saying goodbye to her was very hard for Mommy. You made it easier though. You reminded me life goes on and is still good. You reminded me to cherish the little things you do, the everyday memories we make in life, and to remember we aren’t promised a long time together. We must make the most of the days we have.  You helped my broken heart start healing. Thank You.  

Adding your brother to our family has been a big deal. You’ve been a great helper, just like a big boy would. The day I had your brother, I left for the hospital before lunch. A few hours later, you arrived to meet him. I remember it vividly. You came walking in dragging your wheeled car/bag bag behind you. You had grown up in a matter of hours. You were no longer a baby. You were a big boy.  It literally took my breath away.

Lots of things take my breath away about you. You’re a kind hearted, long lashed, funny, loud music loving, fast moving, sand castle building, break dancing, wiggly, handsome little man. I couldn’t love you any more than I already do, and nothing will ever change that. I have lofty dreams for you and big prayers. I think you may just change the world one day. It’s not hard to imagine. You’ve already changed my world.

I think you will grow up to be a good man, much like your Dad. He’s a good man too. I love you, Son. It’s why I’ll probably cut your grapes in fourths for the rest of your life. It’s why I keep cleaning your ears in public, and fix your hair with freshly licked fingers in front of others. It’s why I kiss you…a lot. I know you think it’s too much. It’s not. It’s why I’ll play with your hair every time you get near for a cuddle. It’s why I’ll worry about you getting hurt, hover over you trying new things where you could get hurt, and double check your seat belt. I can’t help it.  I will love and want to protect you always, even when you can’t see it or understand.

On this, your second birthday, I wish for you a happy day. I wish for a day of no Time Outs. I wish for you a day of laughter, love, and maybe a gift or two from your Dad, Brother, and I. May your year ahead be fruitful and full of joy, growth, safety, good health, blessings, and fun.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy. Happy Birthday, to you! 

Love, 
Mommy

You Might Have a Newborn If:

You look at your sleeping child and wonder if they will ever realize how much you love them.

Smiles outweigh moments of spit up. You almost forgot about the spit up pooled on your clothing when a big toothless half grin pears up at you…almost.

You realize whoever said, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” is a liar. It’s elastic. Specifically, elastic waist pants.

Your sleep deprivation coincides with your minor case of undiagnosed OCD, when you get annoyed the breast pump doesn’t pump at the beat of the music playing on your IPhone.

You have a moment of tears when you try to fix a meal for your family and you can’t find a knife sharp enough to cut the skin off the raw chicken.

Almost daily, you have an internal conflicting debate about what to do with your 5 minutes of free time. Shower or eat? This may be your only chance for either.

You happily manage to “baby talk” in a high pitch tone while fighting a splitting headache.

A trip to the pharmacy or grocery store is a day or night out on the town, or at least that’s what it feels like.

You fear the day you have to grocery shop alone with two small children.

You try on your wedding ring on at least twice a week, hoping your swelling and weight have dropped enough to squeeze it on.

Cuddles and skin to skin somehow make you forget there is a world outside of your own home.

Any day you are not in your pajamas while you are fixing lunch is a successful day.

You Google “What to do if your newborn is….” at least biweekly.

Your distain for folding laundry has reached an all time high with the exception of doing your children’s clothing. Those are still just plain old cute. You never get tired of looking at those little pieces.

You only know what day of the week it is by what is playing on “prime time” aka “colic time” TV.

You got 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night. In related news, you had enough energy to make car sounds as you raced your toddler’s plate over to the breakfast table. 

You realize those who tell you to “Nap when the baby naps” have never had a sink full of breast pump pieces and Dr. Brown bottles. They mean well, so you smile and nod.

You caught your toddler brushing his hair with the Swiffer and secretly wish he would volunteer to “brush” the dusty furniture for you.

During the day, you wish you could capture all the sweet moments and stuff them in the baby book. Really, you do because you fear you won’t have time to ever write in the baby book.

When you look at your baby, you thank God for the precious gift He’s given you. You try to wrap your brain around how His grace and blessings are beyond what you deserve.

Almost Ready For Baby Boy's Arrival