Your baby needs a Family

Notes from Babywise chapter 1

Too often, parents lose sight of this fact, getting lost in a parenting wonderland of photos, footsteps and first words. Baby becomes central to their existence. Yet the greatest overall influence you will have on your child will not come in your role as an individual parent, but in your joint role as husband and wife.

Great marriages produce great parents.

A healthy husband-wife relationship is essential to the emotional health of children in the home. When there is harmony in the marriage, there is an infused stability with the family. A strong marriage provides a haven of security for children as they grow in the nurturing process.

The goal of parenting is not simply to avoid excessive anxiety, but to create a world of confidence by what we do with each other as by what we avoid doing.

To be a good mom or dad, all you need is to continue as before.

To improve the quality of the parent-child relationship, parents first must continue to evaluate the quality of their relationship with each other.

Too often when a child enters a family, parents leave their first love: each other.

Rather than welcoming children to the family, children are treated as the center of the family universe.

Achieving balance:

1. Life doesn’t stop once you have a baby. It may slow down for a few weeks but it doesn’t stop.

2. Date your spouse. If you had a weekly date before the baby, get back in the swing of it as soon as possible. A friend or relative is capable of meeting your child’s needs and the baby will not suffer separation anxiety from one night. If you never had a date night, start now!

3. Continue those loving gestures you enjoyed before the baby came along.

4. Invite friends over.

5. At the end of each day have “couch time” talking about the day’s events which takes place before the children go to bed. This will demonstrate expression of togetherness. Children actually are assured of mom and dad’s love relationship through this tangible demonstration.

To excel in parenting, protect your marriage. Also resolve to be your child’s parent, not a peer. Potential peers are everywhere. Yet the child has only one mom and dad. Don’t let your baby down. Governing that life is in your child’s best interest.

Friendship with your child is a positive long-term objective, so exercise patience. Today, your child needs your guiding hand. Yes, welcome him or her as a wonderful addition to the family, but never place your child at its center. Instead, build a team spirit. When parents plan for family unity, everyone wins. Only then will life as you know it never be the same. Really, it just got richer.

It's so Flufffffy!

“I love Despicable Me so much,  I wanna share it with the world. That movie never gets old”- Osh




That is very much the same way when you love someone truly madly deeply, you want to share your love with the world. When you have something that you’re so proud and in fond of, you don’t hide it, instead you put it out on a lamp stand so everyone can see. It gives you the drive and the passion to run to the top of the highest mountain and yell it out! And that kind of love never gets old.

What I Believe

I BELIEVE there is one perfect and almighty God, eternally existing in three persons who are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I BELIEVE the Bible, including both the Old and New Testament, is the Holy Spirit-inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God.

I BELIEVE that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). I believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God and He was born of a virgin to become our Savior and Messiah

I BELIEVE that “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life” and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). I believe that salvation can not be found in any other, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). . I believe that salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of eternal life is available to all of us who put our faith in Jesus, the Savior.

I BELIEVE that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). I believe we cannot live a healthy and successful life apart from receiving God’s forgiveness to us and our extending forgiveness to others.

I BELIEVE that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). I believe God has more for us than we can imagine if we will live His way and let Him live through us.

I BELIEVE that we are to bear with one another in love and endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). I believe that cultural, racial, political, denominational, generational, or geographical differences should not in any way limit our love for one another as brothers and sister in Christ, or keep us from the unity in which God wants us to live.

I BELIEVE that “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27). I believe that God is the God of the impossible.

I BELIEVE that we should be “anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving” let our “requests be made known to God”. And when we do “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). I believe we should pray about all things instead of worry about everything.

I BELIEVE that “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). And “if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears Him” (John 9:31). I believe that worshipping God is the most important thing we will do in our lives.

I BELIEVE that all believers are commissioned by God to bring the good news that everyone can be “reconciled to God” through Jesus, God’s Son (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). And we are to teach others to “observe all things” that God has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). I believe the Holy Spirit enables us to spread this good news and He, “the Spirit of truth,” will guide us in all truth and help us to live in a way that is consistent with God’s will. (John 16:7-15, Acts 1:8).

I BELIEVE Jesus said, “Whatever things you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22), and “if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:19-20).

Dating tip Part 1: Being yourself in SOONER than usual

New dating secret for guys and girls (from a guys perspective): Instead of bringing your best self to the date. Why don't you bring your worst. Or at least offer some insight on how it really might be if you as couple were to last. At least she would know a little of what she would be getting herself into. Most girls already know what dicks guys can be. How obnoxious we can get. Or even disgusting...(this one is my forte). For example: I made it clear to my now WIFE that I make a lot and enjoy making stinkers. (my friends know this about...(LOL NOW A LOT MORE PEOPLE know this), the guys will understand what I mean.As I type this she is vomiting in her cuz you know why, but 5 years ago she this coming into it. Eliza new this going on the 2nd date. YES 2nd Date. First date I laid on the charm real thick. 2nd Date I loosened up a lot more. You guys wanna have and be yourself and if the right feeling is in the air and there is comfort the CHEMISTRY will ONLY BUILD by being the REAL YOU....GUYS DON'T RUSH AND SAY I LIKE TO HAVE SEX by 4th date, RESPECT the WOMAN and her needs. AND LADIES if you wanna RUIN a chance for an actual RELATIONSHIP for something SERIOUS, just have sex with the guy on the 4th date. Showing that person right away for both sexes is not attractive except for fuck buddies and one night stands.



Osh


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Second Trimester: The Honeymoon stage of Pregnancy

Some women sail through their pregnancies but I wasn't one of them. Counting down to my last day of first trimester took the longesttttt.  I couldn't wait to get into my second trimester because every book I read it said that for most women it was the honeymoon stage of pregnancy.Thank the Lord that was true for me. My hormone outbursts subsided and I began to enjoy being pregnant little by little.

It was hard for me in the beginning because I didn't have the happy feelings as everyone expected me to have but  when I found out it was normal to feel this way, I started feeling better and doing things that made me feel like myself and normal. I also kept reminding myself it's HORMONES to blame. It will pass.

I gave up on reading those pregnancy books that always discuss the worse case scenarios which freaked me out and gave me nightmares! Instead, I read  Skinny Bitch "Bun in the Oven" which was really encouraging and repeated "I am feeling this way because I'm pregnant " every time I started feeling PMSy. Reading the Bible, prayer, attending church, talking to a counselor, pastor, friends, family and husband. Support system is a must! Some days I isolated myself but I soon realized that made me even more depressed and worse so i forced myself to go out with friends and be around people who  loved and cared about me even when I didn't feel like it. The more I did it the more I noticed the good changes in me.

I didn't color my hair or do my nails in the first trimester or even blow dry my hair. Gradually, I started taking care of myself and doing things I normally did and slowly I entered the honeymoon stage. My energy came back and I was able to plan and do things whereas before, even thinking about doing something later in the evening gave me panic attack.

It's been nice these past few months. Emotionally I am much better these days. Physically, I started having heartburn in the beginning of my 5th month and it is expected to get worst the last three. As long as I'm laughing, I can deal with anything.

I am looking forward to meeting our baby and I hope my Third Trimester makes up even more for my first one.

My First Trimester: Hell and Back.

Breathe. It's been awhile since I've blogged; maybe because I was too busy being pregnant. Yes, it's true and it's finally really showing! I am going into my 6th month this February and our baby girl Emma Olivia Cholakian is due May 18, 2011.

The most popular question: Were you planning?
Answer: Yes and No. It was Spontaneous.
We took Osh's aunt Hasmik morkur's advise which was: If you want to have a baby try to conceive in July or August that way you'll skip having a winter baby which would decrease changes of the baby catching a cold and you'd have your baby right before the start of school year. Made perfect sense so we gave it a shot or else we would have waited another year for July or August.

I had heard about morning sickness in the first trimester but no one had told me the emotional ups and downs that I might experience. I never threw up but it was hell. The only way to describe the first trimester is PMS symptoms times a gazillion other than fatigue to the max, it included: Major mood swings, anxiety and a mixture of depression, mixed feelings, uncertaintity and extremely touchy. I cried about everything and nothing. First it was every day, then it became every other day, once a week, every other week and so on. I thought I was losing my mind and all I wanted was Prozac because I have been told that it can cheer you up. Unfortunely when you're pregnant the only thing you can take is a bubble bath.

Looking back,  I don't know how I did it because I didn't think I could live one more day feeling the way I did. I am so fortuante for having a supportive, loving husband, family and friends who helped me through with encourgaing words and lots of prayers. I am even more grateful to God for carrying me when I couldn't walk. I prayed myself through every day. This time, I learned that when I couldn't take or do anything to better my situation, I had  God to depend on and cry out for help for everything. He has been faithful.

To the Women we Love and Respect

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape –
But a woman of strength looks deep inside to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything –
But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her -
But a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future -
But a woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be blessings and capitalizes
on them.

A strong woman walks sure footedly –
But a woman of strength knows when to ask for help.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face –
But a woman of strength wears an aura of grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey –
But a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

http://www.maternityawareness.org/pdf/poem7a-3.pdf