When I was little, silence scared me. I needed sounds to keep me company. Not creepy, random sounds that I couldn't control, like acorns falling on the roof, leaves rustling outside, or cars backfiring. (Hey! I'm from GA!) I needed people sounds. If I was busy, the radio was sufficient. But, since I am a visual person, I always preferred TV. We only had channels 2, 5, 8, 11, 17, and 36 back then. The fact that I can remember that is evidence that I loved TV. I knew what came on almost every half hour of the day and what channel it came on. I had my own personal TV schedule. I didn't always watch it while it was on, but it was nice to hear people talking and be able to look up to see them if I wanted to.
As a teenager and now as an adult, I have a very small library of movies that I like to pop in while I'm cleaning to keep me company; Ever After, My Best Friend's Wedding, Shakespeare in Love, Finding Nemo, Jonah and the Big Fish, etc. They are all light hearted, feel good movies, or as some would say "chick flicks". Our friend Ronnie always called them "U rated" (U=uterus). The sounds, the predictability, the feel...they all make me happy. It's an escape. It's a vice. When I was forced to be inactive during my neck injury and surgery, I watched every single episode of The Golden Girls. It came on three times a day, and I didn't miss it. Sure, there were other shows too, but Dorothy, Sophia, Rose and Blanch were my real friends. They were always there when I needed them to make me laugh.
When I was pregnant, I was home alone a lot on days when I was not subbing. I do NOT like being alone. I am an extrovert. I get sad when I'm alone, and get energized when I'm around people. So, while everyone else was working, I had the TV on. It was my friend. It entertained me, taught me, kept me connected with the world around me, etc. So, after Beulah was born, when I was going through PPD, the TV continued to keep me company.
Today Show--until 11 AM, NBC
Cosby Show--11-12 PM, Channel 8
Fresh Prince--12-12:30 PM, Channel 8
Reading Rainbow--12:30-1 PM, PBS Kids
Clifford the Big Red Dog--1-1:30 PM, PBS Kids
Curious George--1:30-2 PM, PBS Kids
Trivial Pursuit--2-3 PM, Channel 10
The Doctors--3-4 PM, NBC
Oprah (because there was nothing else on)--4-4:30 PM, ABC
Jeopardy--4:30-5 PM, NBC
Ellen--5-6 PM, NBC
Scrubs--6-6:30 PM, Channel 8
Deal or No Deal--6:30-7 PM, Channel 12
Jeopardy--7-7:30 PM, NBC
Wheel of Fortune--7:30-8:00 PM, NBC
8:00-10ish depended on the day--Chuck, Biggest Loser, SYTYCD, American Idol, The Office, etc.
You can see why this was a problem. The TV was on from morning to night. If I went into another room to do something, I even turned the TV on in there, sometimes for just a minute or two. It was a compulsion, and addiction. With a schedule like that, there's no time for a quiet devotional or listening to God (*sarcasm*). (No wonder I was depressed!)
As most babies do, Beulah loves the TV. She loves the sounds and moving images. There are certain commercials she will always turn to see, even if she's busy playing with her back to the TV. When she hears it, she turns and watches it. If I want to keep her busy while I try to clean or eat, I put in The Wiggles. She will actually laugh at Dorothy the Dinosaur! It cracks me up!
Sure, this may not be a problem now, but I can see how it could be down the road. Even if we're watching a "kid friendly" show, commercials are unpredictable and sometimes raunchy! Have ya seen the soft porn Hardee's or Victoria's Secret commercials? I mean, COME ON!! Those commercials come on in the daytime when kids are watching TV! And, Lord knows Beulah shouldn't be watching what comes on the TV guide channel! From celebrity gossip to Punk'd to Flava Flav and his brothel! ADULTS shouldn't even be watching that junk, trash, gross, nasty, yucky stuff!!
So, here I am complaining about what comes on TV. But, I have a choice. I can turn it off. Before we had Beulah, we went to some friends' house for dinner. Jeanne and David have two elementary aged kids. The TV was not on, and was not the center point of the living room. Over dinner they told us that they record a few shows that they feel comfortable with their kids watching, and edit out the commercials before the kids watch it! And, they always preview a show before they'll start recording it on a regular basis. In fact, when their oldest was around seven years old, they had a rare night where they watched TV while it was being broadcast. When the commercials came on, the kids said, "What is that? What happened to the show?!" They didn't even know what a commercial was!! We LOVED it! We talked about doing something similar.
I always admired my friend Anna because when I went to her house, her TV was NEVER on. From the time her baby was born (and probably before), she played classical or Christian music softly in the background. She also read her Bible while she nursed and prayed for friends and family with her infant baby. She would say to me, "Me and Hanney (Hannah) just prayed for you!" I was blown away!
My friend Deanna doesn't even HAVE a TV!
So, it's time for a change. After a long and happy love affair, I'm breaking up with TV. Today is our first day apart. I'm sure I'll watch a little while Beulah's napping, but I've downloaded a ton of children's Bible songs, classical music, and other children's music to play while she's awake. We may watch some game shows when Daddy gets home, but I want us to be more careful about what's on, especially now that Beulah's going to be picking up so much so fast.
I don't want to break up. I LOVE TV. Please pray for me to be strong. Pray that God will keep me company. Pray that I'll meditate on the things of God and spend my time filling Beulah's eyes and ears with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), rather than things of the world. I hope to keep up with the news via the internet. Pray that I won't plunge myself into a new addiction with the computer (which I have done in the past).
And, just for a laugh, this is Beulah's favorite commercial. Go figure! I'll have to let her watch it on the computer from time to time just to make her smile. :)
Monday, November 16, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Beulah, 7 Months!
My Boo is 7 months old today! Everyday Andy and I say to each other, "She is awesome!" We are overwhelmed by the blessing of having Beulah in our lives. There is not much more exciting than watching a human being accomplish something she couldn't the day before. She has grown into such a happy and delightful little girl.
Many people have said that Beulah looks more and more like me the older she gets. I love it that she crinkles her nose when she smiles, because I do that too (see pictures below). She also loves to stretch her body like me when she wakes up. Andy loves to watch the two of us do our morning stretches together. The crazy thing is, she naturally stretches the exact same way I do! She's growing like a weed, so we had to raise her jumper because her legs have gotten so long. When she stands on my lap, her head is higher than mine!
Beulah's sleeping continues to get better and better. She's now taking at least two 2 + hour naps a day. And, even better, she sleeps for 11 hour stretches at night, only waking once or twice! Several nights she has slept seven hours straight before waking up, and then went right back to sleep! Praise the Lord! We are ALL doing SO much better these days!
NEW THINGS BEULAH CAN DO
*She's crawling!! (see video below) Andy's mom said Andy crawled the exact same way when he was a baby. This morning she crawled all the way across the living room to get to me! My heart was so full!
*She babbles M's, D's, and B's. If she wants something, all she has to do is babble a "Ma ma", and I'll do whatever she wants. :)
*She can pull up half-way (to her knees)!
FIRSTS
*solid foods: sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, squash and corn. Carrots are her favorite.
*She had her first cold. Fortunately it was a short, two day cold.
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES
*She gives me kisses! Well, actually, she puts her wide-open mouth to mine, smiles, and licks my mouth. Oh well...it's sweet and I love it!
*She raises both her arms above her head, and we say, "so big!"
*She lays on her back, holding her feet in her hands, and opens her legs straight out to each side.
*She sits on her bottom and leans forward to suck her toes. (see video below) Hilarious!
*Sometimes she'll play while her legs are in a straddle split. (see picture below)
*She'll look at her hand while opening and closing it repeatedly.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH SMILE/LAUGH
*She always smiles when mama blows her kisses or makes kissey faces across the room.
*Our amateur beat boxing always makes her happy.
*Her best laughs come when we munch her belly or her neck. (see video)
*She loves to go places and steals the show when she flashes her smiles and blue eyes at passers-by.
It seems that Beulah will have a pretty strong personality. She can be very feisty and determined. She'll throw a toy when she's finished playing with it. And, if she doesn't want you to do something, she will PUSH you away from her. Sometimes I feel like I'm wrestling with her when I put her shirt on. Often I just have to pin her arms down! But, if she wants something, she's going to go for it, and you better be ready. Last Wednesday I wasn't ready. I was standing while holding her when she turned and threw her weight back. She fell back against the arm of the chair and because I was still holding her legs, she continued to fall until her HEAD stopped on the floor. I immediately dropped to my knees while holding her close and started praying that God would protect her, heal her, spare her... When she calmed down, I nursed her and saw that her mouth was bleeding. That was the greatest moment of horror I've ever experienced. Andy and I checked her out and couldn't find the source of the blood. But, by then she was smiling and acting normal. We're guessing her gums smacked together and that's what caused the blood. That or something was really wrong and God had mercy and healed her on the spot! I wouldn't doubt it! People keep saying, "It happens to everybody!" But, I can't say that makes me feel any better.
Since I dropped her, I've been much more cautious. But, unfortunately, that doesn't keep things from happening to a mobile baby. The next morning she leaned forward in the tub and sucked water up her nose and mouth. That afternoon she was sitting in the floor and leaned forward to reach for something and hit her head on a door frame. She constantly crawls towards cords, and is not afraid to throw herself towards whatever she wants. Yesterday she was sitting with me on the bed, and Andy came over to sit with us while he was brushing his teeth. In a matter of a split second, she "leapt" out of my arms and across the bed, reaching for his tooth brush. We were both in shock. Thankfully she didn't get hurt because she was on the bed. Whew! The ol' ticker can't take it! Andy said, "Honey, you better get used to this." I told him that I think she's trying to kill herself!
Despite the bumps and bruises, it is such a joy to parent this child and watch her grow. Thank you, God, for allowing me to be her mama.
Many people have said that Beulah looks more and more like me the older she gets. I love it that she crinkles her nose when she smiles, because I do that too (see pictures below). She also loves to stretch her body like me when she wakes up. Andy loves to watch the two of us do our morning stretches together. The crazy thing is, she naturally stretches the exact same way I do! She's growing like a weed, so we had to raise her jumper because her legs have gotten so long. When she stands on my lap, her head is higher than mine!
Beulah's sleeping continues to get better and better. She's now taking at least two 2 + hour naps a day. And, even better, she sleeps for 11 hour stretches at night, only waking once or twice! Several nights she has slept seven hours straight before waking up, and then went right back to sleep! Praise the Lord! We are ALL doing SO much better these days!
NEW THINGS BEULAH CAN DO
*She's crawling!! (see video below) Andy's mom said Andy crawled the exact same way when he was a baby. This morning she crawled all the way across the living room to get to me! My heart was so full!
*She babbles M's, D's, and B's. If she wants something, all she has to do is babble a "Ma ma", and I'll do whatever she wants. :)
*She can pull up half-way (to her knees)!
FIRSTS
*solid foods: sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, squash and corn. Carrots are her favorite.
*She had her first cold. Fortunately it was a short, two day cold.
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES
*She gives me kisses! Well, actually, she puts her wide-open mouth to mine, smiles, and licks my mouth. Oh well...it's sweet and I love it!
*She raises both her arms above her head, and we say, "so big!"
*She lays on her back, holding her feet in her hands, and opens her legs straight out to each side.
*She sits on her bottom and leans forward to suck her toes. (see video below) Hilarious!
*Sometimes she'll play while her legs are in a straddle split. (see picture below)
*She'll look at her hand while opening and closing it repeatedly.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH SMILE/LAUGH
*She always smiles when mama blows her kisses or makes kissey faces across the room.
*Our amateur beat boxing always makes her happy.
*Her best laughs come when we munch her belly or her neck. (see video)
*She loves to go places and steals the show when she flashes her smiles and blue eyes at passers-by.
It seems that Beulah will have a pretty strong personality. She can be very feisty and determined. She'll throw a toy when she's finished playing with it. And, if she doesn't want you to do something, she will PUSH you away from her. Sometimes I feel like I'm wrestling with her when I put her shirt on. Often I just have to pin her arms down! But, if she wants something, she's going to go for it, and you better be ready. Last Wednesday I wasn't ready. I was standing while holding her when she turned and threw her weight back. She fell back against the arm of the chair and because I was still holding her legs, she continued to fall until her HEAD stopped on the floor. I immediately dropped to my knees while holding her close and started praying that God would protect her, heal her, spare her... When she calmed down, I nursed her and saw that her mouth was bleeding. That was the greatest moment of horror I've ever experienced. Andy and I checked her out and couldn't find the source of the blood. But, by then she was smiling and acting normal. We're guessing her gums smacked together and that's what caused the blood. That or something was really wrong and God had mercy and healed her on the spot! I wouldn't doubt it! People keep saying, "It happens to everybody!" But, I can't say that makes me feel any better.
Since I dropped her, I've been much more cautious. But, unfortunately, that doesn't keep things from happening to a mobile baby. The next morning she leaned forward in the tub and sucked water up her nose and mouth. That afternoon she was sitting in the floor and leaned forward to reach for something and hit her head on a door frame. She constantly crawls towards cords, and is not afraid to throw herself towards whatever she wants. Yesterday she was sitting with me on the bed, and Andy came over to sit with us while he was brushing his teeth. In a matter of a split second, she "leapt" out of my arms and across the bed, reaching for his tooth brush. We were both in shock. Thankfully she didn't get hurt because she was on the bed. Whew! The ol' ticker can't take it! Andy said, "Honey, you better get used to this." I told him that I think she's trying to kill herself!
Despite the bumps and bruises, it is such a joy to parent this child and watch her grow. Thank you, God, for allowing me to be her mama.
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