Thank Heaven For Little Boys

From This:

To This:



I will never forget the day that my husband and I went in for our ultrasound, pregnant with our 3rd child. We were excited and anxious to learn if we would have a boy or a girl. Naturally, having 2 daughters already I really wanted a boy. Of course we would have been happy either way, either way we were blessed to be carrying a healthy baby after 2 miscarriages.

The warmed up jelly was put on my belly and the lady took a look at our growing child safe inside my womb. "Do you want to know what it is?", she asked us with a smile. I just knew she would announce the coming of our 3rd girl.
"Yes," we both answered simultaneously.

"Ok, you see that little thing that looks like a turtle head?" (What? My mind was racing, confused.) "It's a boy," she said grinning. At that first "b-" that came out of her mouth T and I both gasped and the tears came. We embraced and kissed. We were so excited. Cloud Nine.

I felt like I needed to explain myself to her somehow so I said, "I promise we would have been happy with a girl too. I mean..ugh...," the words wouldn't come.

"Happens all the time," she said. "I am really happy for you."

Just a few months later, after painting everything baby blue our baby boy arrived and I remember being so amazed that he even looked like a boy. Something about his waist, his build. It was different. Actually he has proven to be different in everything, in a way that I'm not quite sure I was prepared for.

I know you have heard many stories on here of my boy eating glass Christmas balls, mascara, toothpaste, Windex, and even Excedrin, playing in the potty, and climbing on furniture. I think that he took me by such surprise and that he is so full-throttle that my days are filled with things like these. However, they are also filled with sweet and precious moments from him....moments that make my heart melt. I love my boy, my "buddy" and I am so grateful for him.

J's birthday was this past Monday, September 28th. My boy is TWO!

To My Birthday Boy:

Here are some things about you now:
-you love to be outside.
-you love balls: footballs, baseballs, golf balls, basketballs
-you love trains, and call them "choo-choo"
-you love your new pet cat, "mow mow" and you named her/you pick her up and carry her everywhere.
-you love to run
-you love to go in the car
-you are talking up a storm and putting 2 and 3 words together.
-you like to climb. anything.
-you like to jump off things.
-you like to collect things in your pockets, like rocks or jellybeans.
-you like to laugh
-you like to be startled (like when someone says "Boo") you think it is so funny
-you like to watch Stuart Little, Thomas the Train, and Winnie the Pooh, but you won't sit for long.
-you like to try every one's food. surprisingly, in doing so, I have discovered that you like tuna salad, chicken salad and even BBQ.
-you like to smell your food before you eat it. If it doesn't smell good to you, you won't try it.
-you saying "Hi" and "Bye" to everyone you see in passing.
-you love your family
-and we love you

Just a Few of the Things that I love about you:
-your toes
-your long eyelashes
-your big smile
-the smell of you
-your adventurous spirit
-your determination
-your sense of humor
-your laugh
-your playfulness
-your energy
-your friendliness
-your spunk
-your hugs
-your kisses
-your "night-nights"

I miss your newborn stage, when I could sit and smell your head and bathe you in kisses. Those times aren't as often now, because you have so much you would rather be doing. I miss those times, but I love seeing you grow into a strong little boy too. You've certainly got me on my toes Buddy and keep me busy. It is an adventure and I am so lucky, even if I have to stop and remind myself of that on occasions. I love you with ALL my heart. I am so thankful your my son. Happy 2nd Birthday.

Love,

Mommy

Can't We Just All Get Along

I am on my soapbox today, and unfortunately you get to here about it.

There have been so many examples lately in the news of people forgetting their manners. We have tennis professionals losing their cool, senators yelling out inappropriately, even singers not waiting their turns in lines. Isn't this everything we learned to do correctly in elementary school? Didn't our parents teach us to be respectful and courteous to others? Why have we forgotten this? Are we too stressed out that we "crack" under pressure or have we become too full of self so we don't care about others anymore? Good question.

I'm only getting started here....

Supposedly, because I didn't see it, but Barbara Walters insulted Paula Deen on the view insinuating that she helps contribute to childhood obesity. Puh-leeze! Does Walters bother calling all the grocery stores and food manufacturers who make doughnuts, oreos, sugar filled cereals that are all marketed for children? No. She does not. Can't WE, as normal people with capable minds, choose for ourselves to eat things, or do things in moderation? People make choices. Bad choices come with consequences. These consequences have to be handled by the person who made the decision in the first place. I say if you want to eat cheese cake with butter on top..then go ahead!

Another incidence in the news that caused a lot of controversy is the mom that drug her kid around the Verizon store on a leash. I feel bad for the lady. Clearly, she might not have made the best decision, but come on... What if she would have instead, picked the child up and spanked him a couple of times to discipline the child? Would people have felt the need to intervene and call the authorities on her? ...YES, they would...it has happened before. Who are we to tell someone they can or cannot spank or discipline their own children?

I admit, when I first heard the news of Michelle Duggar being pregnant with #19, my first reaction was to be very judgmental. Why? It is not my place to tell her how many children she should have. As long as they are providing for them on their own then I do not have a say in that. In fact, it is down right rude that I even entertained the idea in my head to judge her.

Finally, (because I could probably go on and on with examples)who are these people that feel the need to ridicule a mom that blogs about her family? There are actual people that have started their own blogs to poke fun, accuse and humiliate another blogger. They have accused her of lying, taking money and tried to dig up dirt on her and her family. I am appalled. Who cares if someone gets money for putting ads on their blog? I say, "Good for you" and sign me up! We all have our shortcomings and make many mistakes in life. Some people blog about them. Some people keep them private. I'm no genius, but I think if you don't like someones blog, simply STOP reading it.

When someone is eating a Krispy Kreme doughnut, it is not your duty to tell them that it is going straight to their hips. If someone is spanking their child because they ran out in front of a car in the parking lot, it is not your place to think they are not a good parent. If someone wants to have 48 children they should be able to do so without getting criticism from everyone else.

With all this being said, I am not advocating to NEVER step in. It's a matter of good judgement. If a loved one needs confronting because of an addiction, if a complete stranger is in need of help, if you see a child getting bullied, or someone being attacked...by all means I think you should intervene and do what you can. I am (not so) simply saying that we might have become people so full of themselves that we see it our right, even our "duty" to but in and try to help at any time WE think we can. Why don't we just do a better job of taking care of our own children and loved ones and stop criticizing everyone else for being lousy at it. Let's stop being so prideful and righteous. Quite honestly, it's making me sick! (and I include me in this as I have been very guilty of these acts myself)

"And that's all I have to say about that"---Forrest Gump

Trash to Treasure

The other day on my way out of my neighborhood I noticed someone had put some furniture out for garbage day. It caught my eye because it was a lot of wooden pieces. Most of the pieces were broken or in terrible shape, but then I saw this:


I quickly put it in the back of my car and brought it home, knowing I could make this chair look better and give it a good home. I painted it white and sand papered the edges to give it that shabby chic look. I have not yet replaced the brown leather seat on it, but it might be growing on me just the way it is. I have not found the perfect place for it in my home, but currently I have it in our family room so that I can marvel over my repurposed ,FREE chair. Don't you just love things that are free?

(I realize that this is not a close up, but I was actually taking a picture of my room after I rearanged the furniture the other day. Still, you might be able to catch a glimpse of my free chair.) And please, no nasty comments about my large, drab brown and very filthy couches that are in the picture. Now those are two pieces that NEED to go to the garbage!

Now my eyes are peeled to everyone's garbage every week. You never know when someone's trash will become your treasure. The littlest things can make my day.

I Heart Patty.

After much persistance on my part I finally got my husband to agree to have someone hired to clean our house. I have been spinning my wheels forever just trying to maintain the laundry and the toys picked up, let alone keep J occupied, run carpools and do bankruptcy petitions. I never have time to actually CLEAN anything..you know like dust, mop, clean bathtubs, etc.

A couple of months ago Patty came to my rescue and I am delighted! She does a fantastic job and is very reasonable. We only have her every other week, but that seems to help out a lot. Patty came this morning and J and I ran some errands. As we returned home the overwhelming smell of cleanliness infiltrated our nose. Ahhhh...so pleasant. Apparently I wasn't the only one with that feeling, because as I turned around to look at J behind me, he was down on the floor and his nose was buried in the carpet smelling it! Funny, funny boy.

First Kiss

They grow up too fast. Plain and simple. While I feel like I am on auto pilot most days, I think my kids are on fast forward. My sweet K, who is in kindergarten this year, proved my theory correct the other day.

When the kids got into my car after school they were saying, "Teller kissed K! Teller kissed K!" K had a sheepish grin on her face, but held her chin low as so not to make real eye contact with me. Later that night my husband and I questioned her about THE KISS. We asked, "In the mouth?" K replied, "Ugh, No. ON the mouth." Ok, good. I think I asked that wrong in the first place. Good to know it wasn't IN the mouth, just ON. I then asked, "You didn't like it did you?" She looked at her Daddy looking at her and she shook her head No. With that her Daddy gave her a big hug. She looked at me while peering over his shoulder, still in the embrace, and with a huge grin she mouthed to me, "I really did though".

Fast forward I tell ya. Could someone grab that remote and put us in slow motion for just a while? Mainly so that her Daddy can have time to get prepared!