Worth The Wait: Landon Buys a Bike

I seriously can't believe how fast this kid is growing up. 4 months ago he was still wearing pull ups. One year ago he was only speaking in 3-word phrases. Now he's whizzing past me in his new bike yelling back at me, "mom I don't need your help!" 

I was going to wait to get him a bike for Christmas, but it just seemed too far away since he has been asking for a bicycle since the summer, which gradually increased to begging come September, and ultimately it broke my heart a little when I saw how devastated he was the day he was the only kid at the bus stop without a bike. We are really not the parents who give into their kids' every demand or latest or impulsive want, especially when these things don't actually promote their intellectual or behavioral growth, are not Eco-friendly, and product of smart/obnoxious 'kid marketing'. Landon knows he cannot just get everything he wants when he wants it. Even in the middle of July, he's satisfied with "let's put it on your Christmas list and ask Santa for it." What I have also come to realize is that it's really not these things they want and it is not ever these things that make them happy (well, beyond 30 minutes) - it is us - it is us they want to spend quality time with them, to talk with and play with and give them our positive, creative, and praising attention. That is where you will find their true happiness, and that is what also promotes the highest level of developmental growth.

So, here we are at the end of September, a few more months til Christmas when I realized the kid can't ride a bike in the winter anyway. So rather than just give into it, we made a fun lil life lesson out of it. I told him we could wait until Santa brought it for Christmas....OR, we could see if he collected enough money in his piggy banks to buy one himself. He ran into his room, carried both his piggy bank and his train bank out to me and said, "I think I have enough for a nice new blue one!" And off we went to the bank to cash in. He watched intently as the teller dumped all of his patiently collected coins into the machine and handed him back $37 dollars. We took that money to a used bike store and bought a $30 (practically) shiny new 14-inch blue Hot Wheels bike, complete with a bell and training wheels. I really wish I got a video of this whole experience because I have never seen Landon so happy in our entire 4 years together. He was absolutely thrilled beyond words.

He confessed he loves his bike more than any of his choo choo trains, more than real trains, and more than The Polar Express train. I've never seen him take such good care of anything either. I am absolutely sure that this is because he waited so long to get it and because he bought it himself out of his own money. Every time I carry it up or down steps he holds onto one of the handle bars and says, "mom, please be careful with my bike and especially my training wheels, I don't want you to ruin them." Every morning when he wakes up he wants to go for a bike ride, first thing. He rides to the bus stop every afternoon with it and he rides after school. He has so much fun riding it, which I absolutely love too because I can actually walk at a normal pace with him. Every day we go out for bike rides around the lake, enjoying the exercise and taking in the beautiful autumn sun and air together. Sometimes we talk-  we talk about school and family and friends and the weather and Paw Patrol and choo choo trains and Halloween. And other times he rings his bell at me and tells me with a smile "get out of my way mom!" and pedals off 30 feet ahead of me for some alone time. 

Although it's bittersweet to see him like this - there is no denying there's any ounce of baby or toddler left in him - I have never felt more proud of him and I really feel like I am at the happiest and most peaceful point I've ever been in my life with him to date. 

& at least I still have one baby left.

Apple Picking!

I know I am totally 'basic' with all these apple picking photos but I totally don't care - We literally had one of the best days we've ever spent together as a family this past Sunday at Lang's Apple Orchard in Woodstock IL. I was recovering from a headache and we really didn't feel like going to one of those crazy 'carnival' orchards with petting zoos and corn mazes and lines and lines and lines swarming with people. We were really just looking for a no frills orchard where we could just leisurely stroll around, enjoy each other's company, and pick some good apples, and this place was exactly that. It was a family owned orchard with rows and rows of little dwarf apple trees, barely anyone else there, and tons of beautiful ripe apples, all ours for the picking. It was so nice to have a festive fall activity planned for the day without having to pay an arm and a leg for parking, admission, food and other add-on expenses whenever there are animals or rides or games or ridiculous things with a price tag present. The owner greeted us as soon as we parked our car and was super nice and informative about which apples to pick and which to stay away from and answered any questions we had about our dreams of someday planting and growing our own apple tree (we're serious). I will absolutely be the annoying basic white girl every single September now to come, and take just as many photos.

❤️

School Days

Can't believe Landon's already been in school now for three weeks. He is loving his new preschool, all his new friends, and has officially started spelling his own name :) We've been so proud of this little guy lately. And yes, he is riding a "real yellow school bus" to & fro. I know, what?! I of course was holding back tears the first day. Time!! Slow down!!!

Last Bits of Summer

Had a really, really awesome summer 2014, & capped it off soaking up the late August sun by our pool and "beach". We're going to miss it (a lot) but we sure are excited for preschool, apple picking, pumpkin spice lattes, and cinnimon scented pinecones. Bring on the fall :)

GIVEAWAY! Salba Chia Seeds

As we are entering fall and back to school season and packing our children's lunches, it wouldn't be more appropriate than to host a giveaway for these amazing, convenient, & extremely nutritious Salba Chia Seeds.

I became obsessed with chia seeds after Blair's birth, as I was trying to get back into shape, as well as eat as clean and nutritious, and conveniently as possible while breastfeeding. Chia Seeds have become probably the number one staple (minus coffee ;)) in my diet. Here are the mind-blowing facts - 

That's: - 5X more folate than spinach

            - 6X more calcium than a glass of whole milk

            - 6X more iron than kidney beans

            - 8X more omega-3 (ALA) fatty acids than salmon (EPA/DHA)

            - 15X more magnesium than broccoli

            - 2X more potassium than bananas

            - 3X more fiber than oats

            - 70% more vegetable protein than soybeans

            - 30% more antioxidants than blueberries

Yes, they are truly amazing. After adding in some chia seeds to your daily diet, you will soon start to realize that you feel much FULLER much sooner (and in turn, eating less), your digestive system will never be more clean and on track, you will have so much more energy. This is a promise. It is no wonder how they became known as the 'ancient super seeds.'

I frequently add my chia seeds to yogurt, hummus, smoothies, and sprinkle them on top of salads and even ice cream and brownies or other desserts. Salba also makes ground chia seeds that you can add into baking mixtures - bread, oatmeal, pancake, or cookie mix! Another favorite is sprinkling some chia seeds on top of the peanut butter in PB/banana slices, PB/apple slices, or PB/jelly sandwiches. You will probably soon come to find yourself adding them to everything ;)

So in honor of starting the school year off right and forming new, long-lasting healthy habits for ourselves and our little ones, I am super stoked to be offering one of you guys an awesome chance to win all of the following:

- One lb Whole Seed bag of Salba Chia Seeds

- One lb Ground Seed bag of Salba Chia Seeds

- One Sleeve of Boost Packets (perfect for traveling or on the go!)

All You Need To Do to Enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post, telling me your favorite way (or how you plan) to incorporate your chia seeds into your diet.

To Gain Additional Entries:

1. Share a link to this post on Facebook & tell your friends about it!

2. Share a link to this post on Twitter (Easy way to do this is just to hit the "share it" button at the bottom of my right sidebar)

2. "Like" Salba on facebook (www.facebook.com/salbasmart)

3. Follow Mumma's Corner (either via google friend connect, bloglovin', or subscribe to posts by email)

4. Share this giveaway on Instagram by taking a screen shot of the salba chia seeds benefits image above, tagging salbachia and lisab3 and including the hashtag #salbachiamummascornergiveaway

*Please leave a separate comment on this blog post for each additional entry, letting me know your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram username if applicable, and be sure to leave your email address on each post so I know how to contact you if you're the lucky winner!

**Giveaway will run for 3 weeks from today and will officially close at 12:00pm cst on 9/22/14.

Good luck!