Not So ...

I am starting to think like a Blogger. I mean in my head all day I am thinking to myself, "Is this blogworthy"..."Could I write about this?" I'm sure it comes as no secret to any of you that my life isn't all that glamorous these days and quite frankly it's hard to come up with anything exciting you might want write about when your days consists of the same things: dirty diapers, laundry, dishes, squeaking a toy, and a few files to process.

Due to the fact that I work from home, I usually do most of my computer work and housework in some bum clothing (or dare I say it, ..my pajamas!) A luxury, I'm sure some of you are thinking, but not great for ones self image I can tell you. Usually around lunch is when I make it to the shower and then get dressed in something totally blah...afterall, I have no where to go, but I do at least give my husband the courtesy of being clean with a little mascara & a little lipstick on by the time that he comes home. But then I usually top off my look with a holey sweat-shirt, out dated jeans, and a pair of hot pink crocs! Oh, I know the fashion Gods are cringing right now. I'm always worried that Stacy and Clinton are lurking behind a corner somewhere, secretly taping me for an episode of "What Not to Wear"...and TRUST me I would break everyone of their 360 degree mirrors if they put me in there right now . But I have to admit, Im a good candidate.

I have been feeling a little "not so glamorous" lately. A couple of stories come to mind. One of T's cousins just went to Sri Lanka and rode an elephant (sorry Im using you as an example L, Im so jealous!).....meanwhile I sat in my holey sweatshirt and hot pink crocs waiting for something to blog about. How's that for insult to injury? Feeling not so important, nothing exciting going on...and you hear someone in your family is out riding elephants in Sri Lanka...How's that for glamorous? Sounds pretty darn glamorous to me and would definitely make for a good blog post.

Another story about the "not so glamorous" side of motherhood is a story my friend D told me. She is a fellow homeaker and mommie that also struggles with the issue of not feeling all that important or glamorous these days. She is a mom of 2 precious boys and one of those boys is having career week at his school, with dad doctors coming in with a medical instruments, and other "cool" jobs and WITH props! Well, her son said, "Mommy, I want you to come and talk about being a mom."

She laughed and said, "My job isn't so important and what do you want me to bring, the laundry?"

His reply is priceless, "Yes mommy, your job IS important. I want you to come in and talk about all the important stuff you do ...and you can even bring in that thing you use to make my bacon in."

Isn't that just wonderful? Isn't that all it takes to bring you out of your, "not so glamorous" pit? Afterall, us mommies are very important to those little ones. In fact, absolutely critical in their life. As I say in my profile, being a mommy is challenging, rewarding, and very important. Why can't I remember that every day? I also say there that I am a chef, laundress, nurse, etc. and those titles sound a whole lot better to me....but to THEM, those sweet, tender, wee ones we are raising, it's just as important sounding to be "the mommy who makes good grilled cheeses", "the mommy that washes my clothes", and "the mommy that kisses my boo-boos and puts a band-aid on it".

Perhaps not so glamorous, but important, yes indeed. And about the fashion, well, it just doesn't make any sense to do laundry in high heels, now does it? Yes, I could use a little help and motivation in this department to say the least, but I feel pretty confident that my children will not remember what I wore to cook their food, clean their clothes, or brush their hair...what I am certain of, however, is that they will remember me doing them, being there, and just loving them. And to them, I need to show them that I love what I do and that I think my job IS extremely important and exciting (even with no elephant rides....then again, there's always tomorrow).

Good Email

This is a good email a friend sent to me. I thought it was worth sharing here. If we could all realize these things NOW then we would be truly living life with no regrets....

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck


(Written after she found out she was dying from cancer).


I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending
the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't
there for the day.


I would have burned the pink candle sculpted
like a rose before it melted in storage.


I would have talked less and listened more.


I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the
carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room
and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted
to light a fire in the fireplace.


I would have taken the time to listen to my
grandfather ramble about his youth.


I would have shared more of the responsibility carried
by my husband.


I would never have insisted the car windows be
rolled up on a summer day because my hair had
just been teased and sprayed.


I would have sat on the lawn! With my grass stains.


I would have cried and laughed less while watching
television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it
was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed
to last a lifetime.


Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd
have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment
growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist
God in a miracle.


When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have
said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would
have been more "I love you's"; more "I'm sorry's."


But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize
every minute...look at it and really see it.
live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING
THE SMALL STUFF!!!


Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more,
or who's doing what.


Instead; let's cherish the relationships we have with
those who do love us.


Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with,
and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves
mentally, physically, and emotionally.
I hope you have a blessed day .

-------------------------------------------


See, told you it was good. Now, if we can put all this into
practice then we'd be doing pretty good.

Even More Gifts

The following is a quote from Ann over at Holy Experience about her 1000 gift list. She has a way with words. This is part of the reason I was so inspired to do one myself:

"Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don't see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the tings that I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me."

She proceeds to say that in looking for the gifts she has gotten to know herself a little more. The things that she loves is part of her identity... I think this is so true. Obviously what I might see as a gift, something I love, might not be cherished by another. It is fun to do this list, but I have to say, very challenging as well. I am so glad that I set my goal at 100 instead of 1,000. Not that God hasn't given me a million gifts, but to try to notice them, not sound weird, and to try and not be redundant is rather difficult.

Here are a few more of my gifts/loves that come to mind:



36. The way K says "hotel"...she pronounces it "Ho-Tail"
and when corrected she says, "Ho-tel-a" So cute

37. J's long eyelashes and pudgy cheeks

38. having a brother and a sister

39. silver streaks at my husband's temples

40. 10 years of living with my best friend & sweetheart

40. the back of K's neck..so delicate, feminine, pretty

41. memories of my PapaJ loving the back of my neck (just as
I love K's)

42. memories of my Mom's purple velour zip-up robe (there
was nothing softer to hug on)

43. a sweet pet, always glad to see you

44. watching the excitement that our kids and dog have
when "Daddy" pulls up after a days work

45. unexpected morning kisses

46. family photographs that capture a moment in time

47. the comfortableness with a best friend

48. laundry being caught up (well, almost caught up)

49. a sunny and warm afternoon that gives you energy
and motivates you (because afterall, bathing suit season
is ONLY 3 months away. )

50. sunshine from a bottle that gives you that fresh sun-kissed
glow without all the worry of skin cancer! (plus it's fast)

Sweet Sisterhood

I had so much fun creating the video for J's birth that I created another one for the girls. (You might be seeing a lot of these videos because they are just so darn fun to do!) It also helps on days that I just don't know what to write about. Lately, I haven't been so inspired with any good thoughts or funny things to share...Oh, the pressure of this blog thing to be inspirational, moving, or witty! None of that today, just a movie montage to enjoy.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Welcome to the World J

I realize J is 5 months old now and seems a little ridiculous to post this now, but I wanted to share. Since we did not have a working video at the time of J's birth, I made this slide show for him. Oh, it was a special day. Love my boy!

WARNING: There is a very graphic photo of c-section. Sorry to those that are sqeamish, but I actually love that we have this picture. It's one of my favorites.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Handsome

"Daaaadeeeee?"

"Yes, K?"

"Tomorrow, I want you to look handsome."

"Ok, K."

me: "T, what did that mean?"

T:"She wants me to wear a tie tomorrow to work."



Oh, how very sweet. She thinks her Daddy is handsome, especially when he wears a tie! I think she thinks a lot like her Mommy. I think he's pretty handsome myself. And Oh, baby girl, you get your good looks from him! I hope you always think he is the most handsome boy there is!

Karate Kid

K said today, "Mommie, I know karate."

"You do?" I asked.

"Yes, watch" This is where she proceeded to give me the latest karate moves.


"Hi-Ya!" with a kick of right foot,

"Hi-ya!" left foot,

"Hi-ya" right arm,

"Hi-ya" left arm.



"That's great, K. Would you like to take a karate class?"

"Nope, Someone might want to fight me and I might get dead."


Thought that was worth sharing/remembering. Love that girl!

My Girl

Turning into a big girl.

It frightens me how M poses like this sometimes!

I seriously hope no one in my family wore this polka-dotted dress to a prom! Madelyn, however, says she wants to wear it to hers...I'm reminding her of that!

We call this one "Beauty and the Bar"

Do You See God?

George Strait sings a song "I Saw God Today" and it's great. I'm a big fan of country music anyway, but , oh, this one is good and it really makes you think. In the song he sings about seeing God through daily things, a birth of a daughter, a flower sprouting out of concrete. God leaves fingerprints all over, do you stop to notice them? Do I? I call them "God moments"..those times you just see something and think, "Wow! That's amazing" and only done by something way bigger than you. Those "fingerprints" are all over our every day lives, and yet most of the time they go un-noticed, or at least overlooked as not that miraculous, that special.

I think God is intentionally putting stuff, throwing things in our face, wanting us to give due thanks and gratitude, yet we often are so caught up with "life" that we just seem to see it and move on, without a real thought about it. When did we get in such a hurry? When did we become so caught up with ourselves and what WE can DO that we overlook the awesomeness of our God and what he has created for us all around us? It's not like God said, it was done, and then he set this big thing in motion and then just forgot about it....HE IS, HE DOES..present tense.

I know everyone might stop and see a rainbow, a waterfall, a sunset or sunrise, a massive ocean, a beautiful moon and say, "Wow. Thanks, God." But do you see it in the little things? Do you see it in the pudgy little baby fingers grasping for a pacifier, a new sprout of grass growing up through the weeds, or through the wrinkles of an old woman's face? Do you see it there? Or even harder, can we find God in the dirty dishes, the basket full of soiled laundry...Do we stop to thank him then for the plates to eat off of and the clothes that cover our back?

I want to see God more in the little things, including the soiled laundry and piles of dishes. I want to perform these things with a joyful heart so that others can Him through me...most especially my 3 children. Just something deep I was thinking about today.

FABULOUS!

Here are a few favorite photos of K

Seeing People

T and I had a conversation the other night that really made me think (dangerous...I know) I had gone to our neighborhood convenient store for a few things and when I returned he asked me, "Was it Carol or Mary..Or was it Steve working?" (I have changed the names not necessarily for protection but because I honestly am unsure of the names...which is EXACTLY the point of this blog) My reply was, "I ..uh...I don't know. I don't know their names. How do you?" Ty couldn't believe I didn't know the workers by name at a convenient store that we probably go in at least twice a week. I had never really paid attention, never really went any further than making my purchases with maybe a "thank you" and a "have a nice day." He not only proceeded to tell me their names, but told me details about each person. Like, "You know Carol, she really has some health problems...." I was stunned that he knew these people that well. He said to me, "They're people too E." Stab in the gut.

How in the world have I not noticed people the way T has? I guess I thought I was polite and no need for anything else. Not true. He knows these people not as just store clerks, but as people with real problems, joys, bad days, good days, etc. What a good guy T is for "seeing people" the way he does...to stop and ask, "how has your week been?"..or whatever that might bring up conversation that leads you to really get to know someone.

There are so many times I overlook things, people. Not really seeing their hurts, their needs, etc. How many people would have benefitted from me simply stopping and asking something, probing a little deeper? Could I have somehow made their day a little better by offering some encouraging words if I knew what was going on with them? I think we tend to even do this to family and friends, not just strangers. Who is hurting deep inside, or dealing with an issue and you have no idea? Shouldn't we all be a little bit more like T and really "see people", know people, be there for people? I think we all fall short of this all the time, not just me (well, I hope I'm not the only one). I would like to try and get better about this...my new mission..."SEE People."

Growing Like A Weed

Gifts Continued...

26. Someone to take care of you
when you are sick

27. An answered prayer...my mother's
mended heart...to have her here
with me today

28. cool foreheads & dry noses

29. a well-worn heather grey t-shirt
that feels so good!

30. little girls, future women, lending
a helping hand to help their mom
clean and disinfect

31. squeals and laughter from baby boy
who loves to be touched & cuddled

32. 3 healthy children that at one time
actually grew inside of me

33. a dad, husband willing to set aside
everything and play "mommy" for 3 days

34. Hot and Sour soup

35. watching sisters play, imagine,
& pretend together

Be Careful What You Wish For...

Sorry to the handful of people that read this blog that I have not posted in a while. I have been in a Nyquil haze for the past few days and was scared of what I might write while under the influence.

It was maybe two weeks ago that I wished I could just have a "sick day" and be able to lie in my bed, watch tv, take naps.....whatever I wanted to do. I wanted this to have a "me" day, a day to rejuvinate and re-charge so to speak. Well, I MEANT I wanted a PRETEND sick day, not a REAL ONE!

Wednesday morning I woke up with Madelyn around 3 am with one of her night terrors. I knew then that I was sick. Wednesday and Thursday I was totally out of commission. T took care of the children, laundry, dishes, EVERYTHING. I was worthless. Fever, chills, aches and pains, coughing, runny nose, ...YUCK! We thought briefly it was the flu, but thank goodness it wasn't. I couldn't even tell you one tv show I watched because I was in a fog of sickness and over the counter medications that I just slept on and off for two straight days! When I left my bedroom I wore a mask to try and not contaminate my nurse hubby or my 3 little ones. To no avail! K woke up Thurs. with a fever and we quarantined her in the bedroom with me. (I guess I can tell you this day we watched the Disney channel all day) Then J woke up with a fever Thurs. night. J has an ear infection and is on antibiotics now.

Today, Sat., T has a fever and I think M is right behind him on her way to getting this virus/bug. K, J, and I are much better today and fever free. I guess it's my turn now to play nurse maid. Honestly, I think I can handle this role better than being a patient. I am also going to try to eliminate these bugs/germs from my house today. Me and a bottle of clorox are on a mission to disinfect today!

Bottom line; Moral of the story here: Be careful what you wish for. I think I should have been a little more careful in my "sick day" wishes. Next time I'm asking for a day off, not a sick day!

Here today...Gone tomorrow.

Remember those pretty yellow daffodils that M placed carefully on our table..and the ones that have "bloomed too early but remind me that spring is just around the corner?" Remember those? I have obviously been enjoying them. Well, out of about 100 that were beautifully blooming, full of color and fragrance, welcoming you on the side of our driveway, I now have maybe 3 !!!!!!!!!!!!! I could probably choose some very colorful language to use here, but since family likes to view my posts, then I'll refrain and keep my cool, which is a lot more than I did when I discovered all my springtime little flowers in a heap in my driveway. M and her neighborhood buddies (or punks) apparently pulled up virtually e-v-e-r-y single one! Oh, and "because they told her to." Hey, that's a good reason, don't you think? I even heard myself yelling, "If they jumped off a bridge, would you?" Did I actually say that!? Im not in the best of moods this evening due to the recent loss of my little yellow friends, so that's about all of a post that I can muster tonight.

I think M and I need to have a long talk about peer pressure if this is any indication that she is going to do anything anyone tells her to do. (except me, of course, who had told her 3 times not to pick those little suckers without my permission) We have some learning to do!

Things I Love & I am Grateful for

11. and occasional afternoon nap that rejuvinates
the body and soul

12. the warmth of the sun on your face

13. daffodils, blooming too early, but reminding you that
spring is just around the corner

14. Little hands to hold

15. "morning hugs" from K

16. The opportunity to be able to work from
my home

17. The combination of a hot cup of coffee, a cool morning,
favorite furry socks, and some quiet time.

18. Hot soup on a cold, wet day

19. God's forgiveness and grace

20. Tender hearts of children

21. A mom's hug that nourishes the soul

22. Good friends that listen, relate, and care

23. Hand-made Valentines crafted out of love and made
by small hands

24. Kisses on the forehead from my husband

25. "God Moments"..those times when you see something
(like a sunset or a rainbow) and you stop to savor
in it and say, "Thank you for that today"

I'll kiss it and make it better

I have been a little down in the dumps lately. Nothing major, just the "blahs." I think a lot of it is hormonal, but confused that any "baby blues" would show up 4 months after delivery. With that being said, for a few days now I have just thought that nothing could cheer me up, nothing really excited me. Little did I know that all I needed was my mom and dad to "kiss it and make it all better."

Well, yesterday I had a brief conversation with my mom about my recent emotions and she gave me excellent advice. She said, "Why don't you get dressed up and make yourself look your best and go and..." "now this is where I thought she would say "Do something for yourself" Instead she said...."do something for someone else." Wow. What great advice. Parents are so wise. She also gave me a little hug, some encouraging words, and even stroked my hair a bit. Man, that felt good and did make my mood a little better.

Later that evening I had the opportunity to talk to my Dad on the phone. He has been out of town for a couple of months and so we haven't talked often. Funny how when he is in town he is no further than a mile from my home, but we don't see each other a lot....it's just something about knowing that he is there if I needed him or wanted to see him. Well, my Dad and I had a very typical conversation. We both tend to have a lot to say and we are passionate in what we believe in to say the least, so conversations are not short ever. My point is, we didn't really talk about me that much (about my "blahs") but it was just nice to talk to my Dad anyway.
I got off the phone, looked at my husband and said, "I feel better!" Just like that. My mood shifted after I got my "Parent Fix" for the day.

Perhaps it's that I am the one now kissing boo-boo's, giving the hugs, stroking the hair, and giving the pep talks. I love to do all that, but just maybe I needed a little bit of that myself yesterday. I am so thankful that I have my parents to still run to and let them "kiss it and make it better". Thanks Mom and Dad for all the wisdom, advice, but most of all the love and security you have given to me.

She is worth rubies

M and I had a good day this past Sunday. I came in from the grocery store, arms loaded down with bags and she helped me unload all of their contents on the counter and then put them away in their appropriate places. This seemed to set the ball in motion, because she then wanted to help me prepare dinner. She is usually not so eager to do household chores like these so I was excited about the opportunity and quite frankly, the help. First, she made dessert for her and K all by herself. (Albeit instant vanilla pudding, with only 2 ingredients) Still, she performed this task with joy and then wanted her next assignment. Her and I continued to prepare our dinner. I asked her to set our table and she went over and beyond what I would have expected a 7 yr. old to do. She asked for Windex, cleaned the top and bottom of our glass top table thoroughly, set out the plates and utensils, and then she topped it off with hand-picked daffodils from our yard that she arranged neatly in a small silver vase.

I am wondering as I am eating dinner and admiring her work, "Did I teach her something or did she teach ME something?" Perhaps both. I realize that she most likely did not learn any great culinary skills from me as I am no Emeril Lagasse, but I do hope she realized the care and time that went into preparing this meal for her and her family. However, I am humbled to say that I think I learned more from her in this area. I was reminded of the importance of such care and love that goes into the simplest of household chores. She not only performed her tasks with energy and a joyful heart, but she went that extra mile to make it an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love by carefully placing those pretty yellow flowers on that sparkling clean table.

I have to admit I am not the best when it comes to running a household efficiently. (afterall, I am sitting here writing this blog when I could be folding a load of laundry) I do love to cook and I love to spend time with the kids...its the cleaning that I don't enjoy. Sometimes it seems so overwhelming. I feel like I spend my wheels picking up and putting back, that there isn't much time left to clean, especially if I spent a lot of time doing my work on the computer. (my real job...well, the kind of job that earns $$) And when doing my household chores I have been known to grumble or complain once or twice about it. I know this isn't right. I am reminded of Proverbs 31

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."
Proverbs 31:10

Wow, "virtuous"...which means "moral excellence". Excellence in my work here at home...can I do that? Do I do that? Am I worth rubies? I'm afraid I fall way short of that daily. Can I be that? With a joyful heart and special care? Well, I think M showed me Sunday evening how to do it....I'm just wondering though, will she still do it with that same heart the 100,000 time she does it? I hope she does. If not, maybe I can remind her of this: Someone in my bible study said once that when she was asked to do something by her children or even when she performs a task she really doesn't want to do (cleaning the toliet comes to mind)then she says to herself (or out loud), "With a joyful heart I will." I have tried this many times and it works. It helps change your attitude about what you are doing and helps you not to complain. Trouble is, sometimes I forget to do it. I am on a mission to try to do it more starting today.

M is off to a good start. I think for sure she is "worth rubies"! It's amazing how not only you mold the child, but the child molds you as well. Thank you M for reminding me that I should perform even the most simple of tasks at my best and with a heart like yours.

Edit to this post: After thinking about this more through the day and after receiving very encouraging words from my mother today when I was having a rather low moment, I realized that my mother always did a good job at doing things with "a joyous heart". Growing up I often asked her to do the littlest things for me that I was perfectly capable of doing myself. One good example of this that my brother still teases me about to the day, is I would ask her to run my bathwater for me (I mean even when I was like 17, 18 yrs old!) Crazy, I know..but it was just something about her doing it for me and always willing to do it, and further more, was happy to do it for me....Well, that always made me feel so good. If she ever complained about things, I never heard it. What a happy, safe, comfortable place to grow up in. Thanks mom for also being such a good example for me! I obviously have much to learn from my mom in addition to my daughter. She also is worth rubies..in fact, the most valuable of gems!

100 Gifts

If you have never had the pleasure of reading any of the posts written by the ever talented Ann over at Holy Experience Blogspot, then you have truly missed out. What a gifted writer she is and wonderful Christian. Her posts never cease to amaze me and always make me think. She has a Thousand Gifts post that I think is a wonderful idea. It is an ongoing post about the gifts that she has. Not things she wishes she did have, rather gifts she notices on a daily basis that she already does have.

I would like to start a gift list of my own. Now, I'm worried that it might take me years to get to a thousand (not that I don't have them). I'm making my list one hundred. I will randomly post these 100 gifts from time to time. I hope that this challenges me to focus less on what I don't have and more on what I do. It's all a matter of perspective and I would like to try to change mine to an overall more positive one. There are so many things we have everyday that are gifts to be thankful for. Here are a few of mine:

1. Marrying my sweetheart: a protective and loving man who still
takes my breath away
2. Curly brown ringlets
3. Chocolate sprinkles on little noses
4. Knock, Knock jokes told by young ones that don't make sense
but make you laugh anyway.
5. Imaginations of my children when playing with dolls.
6. Shared smiles and laughter.
7. The tickling of Butterfly Kisses
8. Lint in tiny little toes
9. The sound of my son drinking his bottle and the smell
of his little head
10. A bed, a home, a family

Its A Boy!

The most recent addition to our family is J, our son. That still sounds weird to me. A baby boy. A whole new territory for us. I mean, you have to be careful with those little suckers...I have learned to change a diaper at lightning speed ..you get in and out really quick and if you don't you are likely to take a warm shower, if you catch my drift. All new experience for me as a mother, but I don't think I could have planned it any better myself..first 2 little girls and then a boy.

The day we went for our ultrasound, I think T and I just assumed it would be another girl, although we really wanted a little boy. Then the ultrasound technician said, "Oh, and by the way, It's a Boy." T and I both let out a little gasp and my tears started rolling. I explained to the tech that I really would've been happy either way, but oh, I was so excited it was a boy! Needless to say, the nursery was painted baby blue and filled with little boy stuff. We were both so excited.

The day J came into the world was so great. His big sisters were so excited wearing their hand made "big sister" shirts and arriving at the hospital that morning at 5 am right along with us. He came out looking just like a boy. It was amazing. I don't know why, but he just looked like a boy, and just like his daddy as a matter of fact (once again). The nurses took him out into the hall where grandparents and big sisters were waiting. M just cried when she saw him. She was just overcome with emotion....she too desperately wanted a baby brother. The first few weeks of J's life I had a lot of mommies in the house! M just wanted to hold him and feed him and K wanted to brush his hair. A real live baby doll for them!

J is now 4 months old. He is a "textbook" baby. He cries when he is hungry or tired. He has slept in his own bed from the day we came home and he has just come right into our home and fit in so nicely....he seems content and comfortable here (despite all the hair brushing by K!) He is growing like crazy. It seems like yesterday that he was a little infant/peanut in my arms and now he is ready to roll over, eat food and soon to be sitting up.

God has a sense of humor though to have given us our boy last. Im going to be 52 years old when he graduates from High School! Oh my. I'm not sure if I'm going to have the energy to keep up with a high strung, into everything little boy. His daddy, a former high school basketball player and all around good athlete, now has a bad back, a bad leg, and two bad ankles....not sure if he'll be able to "hang" with the little man either! I know God's plan is best..even if that was so that we would have a strong boy to help us get around.

I am so blessed to have a son. There is definitely something different about the bond between a mother and a son. Not sure if I know exactly why, but I do already have the sense that I will be extremely jealous of the little girl that steals him away from me one day. He's my little man, and right now I can do nothing wrong in his eyes..I'm his whole world and to be completely honest I rather like that feeling...who wouldn't?

I look forward to watching my little guy grow up. I know I will have to deal with dead frogs, muddy shoes and stinky clothes, but as long as he loves me a little of the way he does right now...then no problem. (I don't know....I could live without the dead frogs!)

The Angel

K is our second born and second daughter. Her sister named her "Lolly" before she was born and called her that for several months after she arrived. Well, K came into this world totally at peace and comfortable. From my best recollections, I'm pretty sure she slept through the night at just a few weeks old. She rarely cried as a baby, as a matter of fact she once had an ear infection and I didn't know until a routine doctors appointment. I didn't know because she wasn't fussy or anything. Always content, an angel from the start.

K is now 4 years old and still that sweet angel. She is my peace-maker, the eager to please child, the understanding one. Now, she has learned to defend herself, so she too does have her moments with her sister, but immediately after they argue, she will be the first to apologize and give a hug. She wakes up every morning with a smile and a hug for you and I love to hear her go up to J first thing in the morning and say, "Good morning little J, good morning." How sweet is that?

K is also our deep thinker. T and I distinctly remember watching a movie with the girls when K was only about 2 years old...maybe even 1 and a half. In the movie the characters are on a train and they are stuck because they have run out of train track (I think this is what happened..don't hold me to it). A normal child at that age would say, "uh, oh" or "They're stuck." Instead K looks at all of us and says, "They need help." Now this might not sound like much, but Im telling you at the time, we just looked at each other and knew she was going to be a problem solver, a deeper thinker.

With coal black hair (that she is very proud of by the way) light green eyes and an olive complexion, she too is a beauty. Some people say she looks like me, but they're just being nice. Somehow all three of my children have come out looking just like their dad, which despite all my very hard work with 3 c-sections and a total of 27 months of pregnancy, I am very happy that they do. K's outside beauty is equally matched by her sweet disposition and beautiful soul.

K too is growing faster than I would like. Although there are no signs of a toddler anymore, there is one thing that she hasn't been willing to part with and that is her elephant blankie. I have to admit, it's dirty, raggedy, and even one ear is beginning to fall off....but I will be just as sad as she to see that little blankie disappear one day. Somehow if she still has that, she stays young. Speaking of growing up, K said the other night, "Mommy, I know what I want to be when I grow up."

"What, sweetie?," I asked.

"A Mommy," she responded.

I couldn't think of any greater job for her and I can't think of any greater compliment for me. Sweet, Angel, K...and my baby girl.

Oldest of Three

I thought that my first few posts should be about my kids. I thought I would tell you a little about M today. M is our first child, a daughter who is extremely beautiful with brown, curly locks and great big blue eyes. She's a charmer from the first sight of her. Everyone stops us in public to tell us about how "striking" she is...and she is.

M is 7 going on 17 in a hurry. She loves lip gloss, "fashionable" clothes, and Hannah Montanna. M has a heart like no other. She is very caring and compassionate, a mothering type. She does have her moments with her little sister, but for the most part she has such a sweet heart. I remember her helping put on my 95 year old grandmother's slippers: oh, she loved "Granny". She is also a worrier by nature, much like her mother. She worries about health of people she loves, people that are homeless, and so on. Her thinking is much deeper than we usually recognize. She is also growing up faster than I would like for her too.

Oh, how I wish I could keep her young, with those sweet brown sprinkles that cover her nose and that sweet voice that she has right now. But she is aging quicker than I would like...Big teeth are replacing baby ones and the voice is getting more adult sounding. She is becoming more independent every single day and I can't help but wish I could freeze time; to be able to protect the innocence, the youth. Instead I watch her daily grow into the woman she will be and hope all the time that I'm doing my part it guiding her to be all she can be.

Oh, how I love my M. There is nothing quite like a first born.

First Post

Well, after months of lurking on everyone else's blogspot I have finally decided to join the blogging world with a spot of my very own. I have to admit the whole blogging world has made me laugh, cry, and procrastinate doing my work a whole lot! I had never even heard of blogging until a a friend introduced me to another friend's blogspot several months ago. I entered the unknown territory somewhat aprehensive, but soon found myself addicted to the whole blogging world. I have become obsessed with finding out what is going on with my favorite bloggers...not much different from the days of the housewife that watched their daily soap operas. Instead of Days of Our Lives or All My Children we are reading about fellow moms, real people, just like us. There are some funny people on the blogging world . I will not be one of those.



I mainly wanted to start this to help keep family posted with the ins and outs of our little family of 5 and to also chronicle my kids as they grow up. You find yourself thinking that you want to make mental notes of moments, funny sayings, photographs, so that you won't ever forget them. You know how that goes....you forget them. After all you have 7 loads of laundry to do, cheetos to dig out from under the cushions of your sofa, diapers to change, bottles to give......I think you get my drift. Somehow, no matter how much we want to remember those times, we do forget them. I thought this might be a good way to remember them. I can post from time to time on my kids, my family so that not only I have a place to refer back to but my kids will also as they get older.



For those that have found their way to this post, please know that I won't post daily, but I will post when I have the time, or quite frankly when I find the energy to think on a higher level than I use to watch Barney, Dora the Explorer, or Hannah Montana and inbetween the 7 loads of laundry, cheetos in the sofa........(By the way, I just spent $72 for 4 tickets to see the Hannah Montana movie....I can't think of a better way to spend my Saturday! )



I hope that all who do find there way here enjoy watching the daily insanity of my life with 3 kids and a husband and all the joy that comes along with it.