Spring, Sunshine and the Sharratt Household

Man, we have had some beautiful weather lately!
And isn't it amazing how the
sunshine just makes everything better!

Crazy to think it is officially Spring!
I am so glad that winter is out the door and am looking forward to all the fun things to come this spring/summer!

Now that Tegan is getting a little older and can occupy herself for short periods of time, I have an intense itch to pick things back up at the homestead!
I cannot believe how long I have neglected our new home.
First on the list.. finish buying the rest of our blinds!

I am also on the lookout for some cute counter height stools. I cannot believe how hard it has been
to find the right style and the right height!

Some other things on our to-do list:
-frame and hang our photos
-rearrange the office/craft room
-put together the bonus room
-put together the guest bedroom
-fix our yard…

Our poor yard..

Randy and I are both so excited to get back outside and
start working on not just our yard, but our garden too!
We have SO much to do!
Weeds to pull, plants to plant, grass to fix and re-grow.. it is seriously going to be one busy spring!

Add our first family Vacation to that list, and Summer will be here before we know it!
In just over a month, California here we come!
This will be the first time Tegan gets to meet my mom's side of the family
and I cannot wait for beautiful weather, good Korean eats, and down time/pool time/tanning time
 in Palm Springs!

I can already tell that Tegan is enjoying the
benefits of the sunshine and spring so far!
It's been so nice to be able to get out and go for walks lately.
I'm bummed we don't have any good parks within walking distance, but
look forward to finding one we can drive to and set up picnic for the afternoon!
Also, once the weather is warm enough, you better believe I am going to pitch a little pool in our backyard! I can't wait to stare at Tegan's chubby little thighs
all summer long!

So… over the past month, Tegan has been:

Sleep training and is now sleeping in her own room all night.
Started drinking water from a sippy cup (still needs my help tilting it back).
Is obsessed with avocado.
Loves snacking on her Organic puffs.
Says da da da da.
Loves sucking on her own tongue (so cute, yet weird).
Sings along when she hears music or when daddy is singing and playing guitar.
Claps her hands and gives you high-fives.
Is still working so hard on trying to crawl forward.
She gives mama kisses (more like slobbers and eats my face) and is attached to me come night time.
She loves to go for walks.
Jump in her jumperoo.
And her silliest thing, she loves to fake cough.

Happy 1/2 Birthday!

So I have been a mommy now for 6 whole months! 

And let me tell you… in that time I have learned so much about myself!

From the get go, my daughter has taught me the real meaning of love.

She has taught me what it is like to be strong, in times when I want to be weak.

She has taught me about sacrifice and selflessness.

Because of my daughter, I want to be a better person.

I have learned to feel empathy like I have never before. 

She has taught me what it is like to feel true joy and how amazing it is to feel so proud. 

I mean, this list could go on and on... but I think one of the things I love the most..

is that my daughter has allowed me to understand 

what it truly feels like to be needed.

She doesn't just want me, or like me.. but she truly needs me. 

and just so you all know, I have quite the mama's girl on my hands. 

While we all know she loves her daddy, 

she is seriously my sidekick.

We do everything together.

So it kind of makes sense that she can get upset when I walk awake and leave her side.

With that being said. 

I am learning I have to draw the line at some point, as I don't want her to become 

a "clingy" baby and not want to be with anyone else but her mommy.

This leads me to say…

Parenting is HARD! 

And no parent has all the right answers!

If someone says they do.. they are LYING! 

It is so easy for someone to say (parent or non parent).. 

"Oh, I would never do that."

or, "My child will never behave that way."

Shoot. I am guilty of it.

I still am guilty of it.

But let me tell you,

when it comes down to it.. sometimes it is just easier to do some things 

a little bit differently or to give in when the going gets rough.

I have loved children for as long as I can remember,

but the kind of love you have for your own child cannot compare to anything else. 

That is why sometimes it is harder to stick to your guns than you thought it would be. 

I never thought the sound of a cry could break my heart as bad as it does 

when it is coming from my daughter.

There is nothing more I want to do than swoop her up and make her world better. 

Unfortunately, I am learning I can't always do that

(especially given certain circumstances…. such as sleep training).

So as of few weeks now, I am starting to learn the hard parenting lesson of 

… tough love. 

Although it is tough, I continue to remind myself the purpose of my actions.

I remember that my daughter is still going to love me in the end,

and I reiterate how what I do now will only benefit her in her future. 

That leads me to end with this.. 

and maybe not every parent feels this way..

But I have suddenly come to realize..

we really shouldn't give parenting advice unless the parent in need is the one asking for it.

I think when it is unsolicited, it is too easy for one to take it the wrong way and for that advice to become hurtful instead.

No parent is perfect, we all get that. 

But we are all striving to be perfect which means, we are much harder on ourselves than we should be.

xoxo

Wt: 16 lbs 5 oz (50%) Ht: 26 in (50%)

Things Tegan has done over the past month:
Started saying ma ma ma (without intent of course).
Fights her sleep (which is why we have decided to start sleep training).
Sits all on her own.
Gets up on all fours, rocks back and forth, and tries to crawl.
This has resulted in her crawling backwards instead.
Just started eating solids and has tried sweet potatoes and peas.
Sits in her stroller without her carseat insert anymore.