I don't talk Thai!

I am about as meat and potatoes as it gets with my food. I'm not a food "prood" but I don't get down with new cuisines without proper planning. Basically, I need time to Google the menu before we go. Enter my 2 best girlfriends, Christ given sisters, trouble makers, food explorationists. Yes, that is a word.

Couple years ago when the 3 of us were finally in the same state (don't ask, its always confusion), 2 of the 3 of us really wanted Thai food (me not being one of the 2). I'm not a Thai food hater its just way outside my comfort zone. Way, like another continent comfort zone. Reluctantly, because I love these 2 so much, I went and ordered the most Chinese dish I could find (hey, I never said I didn't like Chinese only said I prefer familiarity and time to prepare).

 

So, Something that reasonably looked like beef broccoli came to the table and surprisingly it was really good. Now the other 2 are a different story. They sat across the table from each other chirping about this flavor and that flavor and this sauce and that sauce and tea drinks and so on and so on and so on and so on and so on, well, you get the point. They love Thai food. Love like licked the plate clean love. Yes, they have to love and forgive me and one of them did in fact lick their plate. Clean. No need to wash, clean.

This makes me think about what in my life I love enough to lick the plate? The obvious are my husband, my kids and my family because from my outward appearance you know I'm married because I wear a ring and I have kids (we won't revisit that "pregnant" post from yesterday), and I exist so you know I have to have parents somewhere (sunny Florida at this moment if I had to guess). But what else is plate licking important in my life?

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. Luke 22:14

I'm pretty sure if plate licking love was going to happen in the New Testament it happened at the Last Supper. Soaking up as much of Jesus as the disciples could and not wanting to leave anything on the table. Jesus commands us to love one another. To love even in the midst of misunderstanding, hurt and troubles, His command is to love (maybe even love it enough to lick the plate although I can't seem to find that in the Gospels). Peter, who would deny Jesus, sat at the table, soaking in (if not licking the plate) of Jesus' final words not wanting the dinner to end for he knew what was to come.

 "Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter." Luke 22:60-61

 

I love the story of Peter. After the denial, he sat in the presence of Jesus again sharing a meal and heard Jesus say I love you 3 times. 3 times the love for 3 times of denial. Redemption. I can relate to Peter. At a point in his panic and fear he denied he was a follower of Christ. It was a moment when he lost focus of the Jesus he soaked in and he panicked. At points in my life I know I can be counted guilty of denial myself. When I'm slowed down by traffic in the morning and get frustrated, denied Christ. When I get snappy about something someone said or I judge someone about their parenting, denied Christ. When I get mad about things I cannot change or influence, denied Christ and the list goes on. When I rely on myself when responding to something, I'm denying the grace and power Christ has over my life. Temporary panic reaching for quick rather that grip the grace that Christ provides.

 

Lord, I love you. I pray that you forgive me when I fall short. I pray the outbursts, frustration and less gracious moments be replaced with mercy, kindness and humility. I sit at Your table in awe of Your love for me and soak in the forgiveness and redemption I don't deserve. Thank You Lord. Amen.   

Made to Crave... Cheetos?

Ok, due to my Kindle Fire being so amazingly, super awesome I am currently reading a Jesus book, a parenting book, a husband book and a food book. Thanks to Amazon, I now pray before "knowing" my husband and am grateful after dinner (that "knowing" comment comes from Genesis, read it sometime, good stuff, Moses rocks). Right now I'm in the midst of finding a deeper relationship with Jesus (Not a Fan book) and divorcing my even deeper relationship with food (Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst who is also an amazingly awesome writer). So far none of my topics are overlapping like I thought they would. I'm managing to keep everything straight for now...

 

I've never had issues with food. Not ones I would admit. I say that because being 110 lbs through my early twenties until I met my future husband (blame blame blame) I was happy with me (so I thought, lie #1). I could eat whatever I wanted, didn't really care what it was (pizza is my dirty little secret I'll tell to everyone) all the while not realizing that my 20 year old metabolism was why I could eat anything I wanted. Then comes late 20's early 30-nothings and with the 30's comes reproduction (blame the husband, he "knew" me all to well). So 2 babies in 4 years created a road map to my sole of stretchmarks and a belly button no longer where it belongs (which I think I've shared before). Am I still happy with me?

I've stressed for too long of what the "post" baby me looks like. Here is my reality... If I had the old me back I wouldn't have Colt Levi and Riley. There is a trade. Pray and ask God for 2 amazingly, super, awesome (too much?) kids without paying a small price to bring them into this world or have the skinny me back who was lonely and frequented bars entirely too much prior to happiness? I think this one is a no brainer.

 

I say all this because just this morning someone asked me if  I was pregnant again (belly button thing). Sigh. If she only knew the "armor" that closed that fort after Riley she would not have asked. Its not her fault that she asked and honestly I think she is probably more mortified than I am about even asking that question. I can either let that rock me and run as fast as I can into the arms of chocolate chip soft batch cookies or I can reflect on what good has come to me in the last 4 years. Life doesn't stay the same and we change for the better. I made a choice not to let it rock me cause this me, confident, wife, Mommy, I sure do like her alot.

 

"Each lost pound was not a quest to get skinny but evidence of obedience to God." Lysa TerKerust-Made to Crave

 

I will go before you
and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
I will give you hidden treasures,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the Lord,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

 

Isaiah 45:2-3

 

The answer is yes. I am happy with me because God went before me and said my life was to be great and that works just fine for me.

Where you go...

Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:17

The Book of Ruth has always been my absolute favorite book of the Bible. I may apply it to life in ways that may be considered by some differently but each has their own scripture that hits home. For me, I apply parts of the Book of Ruth to my marriage. But Ruth replied, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Ruth 1:16b.   Where you go, you're people will be my people...

I'm reading a book right now called Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman. Amazing book but it has some truth to it that is a hard pill to swallow. It talks about how Jesus wants us to be faithful sacrificial followers of Him not just "Jesus fish" on the bumper fans. Yes, there is a difference (and now I will enter the "offender zone" where some or most will not agree with my opinion). Hey, I'm just applying what Kyle says, blame him (but read the book first, good stuff). So how do I work in the Book of Ruth, being a fan of Christ and my husband all in the same post?

Its no secret that I absolutely adore my husband. He is truly everything God knew I always needed in one person (wow, I know) and so much more. My husband was given to my by God. Nothing I had every done on my own thinking I had a "type" ever turned out to be real until I met Jimmie. Then all the sudden the world made sense. I don't deserve him. I cherish my husband. As a husband, as my partner in life, a father to my children and as a friend, he is amazing to me. I love my husband. I honor him, I respect him, I believe in him, I support him, would do anything for him, he knows me, he loves me. When my relationship with Christ is the most exclusive relationship in my life, then every other relationship in my life will flourish with God's truth and wisdom.

 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

God wants my "Big Girl Pants"?

Does God really want my "big girl" pants? It's no secret I've birthed 2 children in 3 years. What is a secret is all the "clever" ways I think I'm hiding the damage they did to my body over the course of their journey into this world. Shirts, dresses, distracting extremely high heals to change the focus, its true, God does want my big girl pants. 

 

I used to be the "skinny" no eater in high school. I wouldn't eat breakfast, wouldn't eat lunch and then starving by the time I got home from school when I snacked on anything I could get my hands on until dinner. Chips have always been my drug of choice. Any and all, I don't discriminate. I honestly believe that I'm genetically part potato (insert snarky couch reference) because my other weakness is fries. Skinny McDonald's fries to be exact (not said in anyway to mislead and let on that fries will make you skinny, cause they won't). I get them when we casually drive through to get a snack before going home, get them as a side when I could have had a salad and the degradation goes on and on. The truth of the matter is my now 30+1+1+1 mommy frame can't keep up with the active 30-15 old me where belly buttons used to be where they belong.

 

I say all this because my recent discovery, or you could say obsession (but not hiding in the bushes obsession), with Lysa TerKeurst has landed me reading Made to Crave. I've been a "I'll start Monday" mommy when it comes to eating better and trying to be a better me physically. My reality is, I wish my 30-15 body was who was chasing my children on the weekends. Yikes! I attempted 2 naps yesterday (attempted being the key word) which really I should only be doing in the event of re-pregnancy (I took that test and passed without studying). I am tired but no tired from the mommy demands. I'm tired because I don't eat energy foods and  what little energy I do have is locked up in the clutches of Mr. Smarty Pants and Miss Nosy Rosie.

 

So, what to do when I need to change my stinkin thinkin? Find a good book, crawl into the lap of the Lord and pray God change me. Before beginning Lysa's book, I never looked at my physical needs as something God needed to be part of. Sure I prayed hard for stuff like healthy pregnancies but as far as asking God to repair the pregnancy "damage" I never thought to ask. I've been through 1 Corinthians a few times and honestly skipped right over 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. Ding ding ding! What do we have for the winner Bob! I know, HELLO, its right there in the Word and I skipped right over it!

 

Lord, I give you my big girl pants. I pray today that I would honor you emotionally, mentally and physically with all that I am and the choices I make. I humble ask for discernment to make the right choices and that You be the only One I crave. Through Jesus sacrifice and Love, Amen.

All Aboard! SS Depression set to sail...

Yes, I sailed upstream on the SS Depression after my son was born in 2009. The trouble is, I had no idea I packed my bags for an extended stay until the trip ended. The entire first year of my son's life I was depressed and never realized it. I thought my feelings of being overwhelmed and exhausted were "normal" with a new baby. That some how this crying, screaming baby with colic some how broke between the time we left the hospital and the time we got him home and of course it was all my fault.

When I came home with my son it was horrible. I thought to myself, I've wanted kids my whole life. I've prayed about them, played baby dolls as a child, I've got ovaries so lets do this but when it was time to bring him home I was clueless. I think the "expectations" I had put on myself of being Super-Mommy were a bit distorted (ok, disastrous is a better word). I thought everyone else has done this why can't I. The reality was none of the other mommies had ever mentioned the train wreck that was about to happen emotionally after spending 40 weeks as an incubator. The one hour of the day I visited them to ooh and awe over their new bundle of joy was the one hour of the day they had mentally psyched themselves up all day to do. The roller coaster of emotions, restoration of "Whoville" post delivery and the lack of sleep breed insecurity, isolation and fear. I suffered alone. I never said to my girlfriends, moms, doctor, no one knew I secretly wanted to hide under the covers and disappear. Well, my husband knew and God love his heart tried but to him I was a train wreck he couldn't look away from.

I share this now not because I want anyone to feel sorry for me or to try and comfort me after the fact but because I've made a commitment. Transparency. The good with the bad this Momma is taking a road trip and Jesus is taking the wheel (thank you and cudos to Carrie Underwood)! Depression is no joke and if I can tell just one Mommy feeling overwhelmed, under-appreciated and exhausted that there is a light at the end of the tunnel no matter how long the tunnel I will. That yes, these bundles of joy we prayed so hard for, hand delivered by God do eventually stop crying and rest will eventually come.  

I think it is easier now to sit and say I was depressed more than I was able to admit it 3 years ago. I'm outside the hula hoop space (space in my general vicinity that I feel I can control, said no one ever) and can look with clear eyes and say what the heck. I recognize now with baby #2 that if that cloud starts forming over my head I take a seat and beg God for rest. I do. I beg God. I'm not ashamed. He's seen me at my worst.

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

 

 

Mommy Pooty Pants...

No, its not what you think. Mommy has been sufficiently potty trained for a very long time (only one "very" so I don't give away my age...) but I didn't exactly have the best of Saturdays. My husband got called to work Saturday. Grrrrrr. Its not a normal situation he works on the weekends but I told him to go and get it done (10 hours later he's finally home). Anyway, outside of my partner in crime being MIA for parenting responsibilities this weekend, I felt like a piece of me was missing. I just felt off my game. So, when I feel off my game what is the single-handed best thing I can do, alone, with my scary children?... Wait for it... Picture day! Yippie! What a fabulous idea (said no one ever).

 

Yes, I packed my kids and went to have their pictures made. Now, I won't forget to respectfully mention both Nana and Mammaw were present and accounted for on this adventure but its not the same. Hubby equals a fair amount of discipline when necessary so when its just mommy, alone (did I mention that already) as the disciplinarian, I get to turn into the green eyed monster who frets her children are behaving like animals. I know I am not a wolf or a hyena (I think a hyena would definitely raise wild children because they are all crazy-eyed and laugh all the time) but I never remember to pray it forward and thank God for a great day with my kids. Instead, I hide in my closet and beg God "why, why, why" at the end of the day. OK, dramatic. I've received my Emmy, lets move on.

 

Its so funny that I self punish myself about being a green eyed monster when I've seen other children and, although I try not to judge other parents, I know my kids have never acted like that (yet, said softly and out of ear shot of the kids). I do punish myself. If it wasn't because I felt like my kids were uncooperative for the pictures "I" wanted, I punished myself over the amount of money I spent on the final pictures (yes, when Hubby is not there all logic and reason fly out the door and I behave like a woman in a shoe store). I can't help it. I have a brain that functions well (most of the time) but when my kids are wild I just grab and go and shop only thinking about how fast I can get out and not if what's in my cart is healthy or not (why I bought stock in Little Debbie).

 

The truth is, my self talk, is destructive. Not only in the moment but for my health and my sanity. My kids were fine on Saturday and I survived but it was the picture of what I wanted to look like (glued together, neatly presentable, perfect awe moments from everyone in the shop wanting kids like mine) that didn't. There is only 1 me. This is the only me you get so whether I'm unglued or complimented on how well motherhood suits me, this is the me you get.

 

I've shared before that I'm reading Lysa TerKeurst's "Unglued" book right now and it is by far life changing for a life like mine. I'm always going to be this me but by God's Grace and Love I can see that chaotic moments with my children are gracious moments with my children provided by God.

Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12 (NIV)

 

 

This weekend...

I actually accomplished a lot this weekend. I successfully jumped off the no caffeine/sugary beverage wagon with a loud WEEEEE (ugh, a wagon I did not want to jump off of), I got to sew a few things, spend time with mom, visit the fabric store (a big WEEE there too as I skipped through the front door), spent time with great friends and wore the kids out at the park. It was a really good weekend. Just to recap:

I re-purposed a baby blanket Riley never used to make a bib (actually several bibs).

Pattern is from http://nested.typepad.com (insert all that legal stuff that should be said to give credit to the pattern designer, by no means try to steal credit, rights or privileges belonging until the originator of the pattern. Simple terms: go to the link and get the pattern to sew for yourself but I'm not giving you permission to sew and sell. You've got to get with Nested. I'm only sharing my finished project I made to use for my kid. Yep, I think I stink at the legal disclaimer...)

 

Cut

 

Cute. No finished bib does not come with a baby.

 

And...

 

Results from long play date with good friends... I love these moments. Speechless. Literally. Wink Wink to all the Mommies in the blog-o-sphere!

And last, I know I mentioned before about the whole 30 days of Pinterest (which was an epic flop by day 2) but I pinned something neat on Friday and thought about making it this weekend since I road tripped it to the fabric store. I saw these little Rick Rack Rose someone pinned on Pinterest and thought I would try some myself. Turned out super cute until my son ripped the rose off my hair snap. Sigh. Note to self, don't leave projects where little curious hands can reach them. Duly noted.

PS: It is fixable I just wasn't up to getting the glue gun out. Again. Still turned out just like the picture. 

 

My cup was not empty, it was in the cabinet behind the Goofy mug…

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Psalms 37:5 (NLT)

Yesterday my cup was empty. Not runneth over with gratitude, not half full of hope. Nope. Empty. So empty in fact, it had been ran through the dishwasher and put back in the cabinet. I was tired. The kids had me up Tuesday night at 9:30, 10:30, midnight, 2:00AM, 3:30AM and 4:30AM which was the last and final straw for me so I got up and took a shower to start my day. All day long I lagged behind, couldn’t really follow or form a thought and all I could think about was either taking a nap in the “pump” room at work or taking a nap when I got home. Sleep was so much more valuable to me yesterday than even food. Transparent moment: I grumped. I blamed. I was mad. I grumped.

  

 I blamed my kids for the reason I was tired, I even tried to be mad at my husband who slept peacefully beside me while I was managing a wandering toddler at 3:30AM and another kid needing a boob at 4:30AM (oh, if only men could breastfeed…). Sigh. The reality is my husband won’t allow me to be mad at him because he knows how I am. He didn’t sign on (i.e.: marry me) knowing that at some point in his future I would not be a mommy mental case due to the stress of my own children. Those little suckers freak me out and they are mine. Could be the reason he constructed my home with walk in closest in ALL the bedrooms in the event I need a good place to hide.

  

In the midst of my grumps and my pouts and my need for a nap (all before 5AM), I remembered Lysa TerKeurst’s Unglued* book I’m reading. I am 64% through the book (Kindle Fire progress %) and to be honest, Lysa gets ripped off a lot. Not a judgment, not saying she is a theft magnet but she shares 2 points in the book (up to my 64%, remember) specifically where her computer and some very sentimental pieces of jewelry get stolen and how she coped with the loss. Gratitude list. Yep. Not searching the Internet for security companies or Ninja lessons but reflecting on all the reasons in life to be grateful. Sitting down in the midst of the loss to reflect on finding everything. She prays through a list of things in her mind she is grateful for until the gratitude has the energy to lift her from her seat to carry on with her day.

 

 So I did that. Instead of fuming (semi-fuming) in my bathroom for being tired I ran down the list:

Lord I am grateful to have 2 kids to wake me up.

I am grateful for a husband sleeping beside me.

I am grateful for a bed to sleep in.

I am grateful for a job to get up for.

I am grateful for my home.

Lord I’m grateful you listen to me.

 
The funny thing was after I said these things and a host of a lot of other little things (tooth paste, running water, etc.) I didn’t fume anymore. The tired was still there but the desire to blame everyone else was not. Yes, I did have my moments throughout the day of feeling tired but the rest I received in the Lord that night was amazing. My 5 month old slept from 7PM to 4AM (again, if I haven’t said it loud enough, thank You Jesus!), my son stayed in his bed all night and I woke up feeling refreshed and renewed. Not only did I feel refreshed but I willingly got in the shower at 4:20, dressed, packed kids for daycare, lunches, milk bag, pump, dropped husband off for a 7am meeting, successfully took 2 kids to daycare (by myself!) and got in a last minute nursing session before having to be at the office. Take it easy on pillar construction though. I'm not gloating or bragging but grateful. Today turned out to be a great, rewarding and restful day but tomorrow could be a train wreck all over again. I can only be grateful for today because today is all I've got.  

 

I cannot tell you how movable this book is in a life like mine. My faith has claw marks from trying to hold on and Lysa’s wisdom in her book comforts me where I am and not where I'm trying so hard to be. Reflecting on God’s truth while disciplining a 3 year old made in my image (with my short attention span, sassiness and lack of patience, my mini me), balancing baby girl, being a good wife, a housewife (of which I do not have a reality show nor am I cut from the Stepford cloth), being a “work” wife all while desiring to sit at the feet of Jesus and be still. Unglued sings to a heart like mine that there will be chaos, but through God’s Grace there will be peace.  

*Lysa TerKeurst is the author of many books including Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions (published 2012) Zonderzan

HTC with a side of NIV please...

In my last post I was all excited it was Friday and hoping to get something creative created for the weekend while shamelessly plugging pictures of my kiddo rolling over (which she has taken to a professional level now, thanks). Yes, I did make something that I'm not willing to post pictures of just yet because I'm still working out the details (the handles, grrrrr) but its a work in progress. Being a work in progress leads me to my next adventure (I said very early on it a post here and on my SSDesigns page, I have a really short attention span so I go on A LOT of adventures, stay with me).

 

A couple weeks ago a friend sent me one of those chain emails "forward if you love Jesus, don't forward if you don't" type emails. I will be honest, yes, I love Jesus a lot but I'm not one to forward those emails unless they really have a faith directed message. Sorry chain originators and senders. This specific email compared how much we text, play with, play on and carry our cell phones and what would it look like if we took God's Word everywhere we took our cell phones. So, last Friday (not the yippie Friday but a week later) I started packing around my Word. I have a big NLT bible that has been my new drug of choice (yes I said drug) because I like the writing style but I've always been an NIV girl. I also have a pocket sized NIV version that I carry in my purse (so I guess that makes it purse size...).

 

I make it a point that where the phone goes, the Word goes. At first, lets be honest, I was nervous. Here I am packing around a bible and I feel like people are going to look at me like where is my soap box with all my political stickers attached to stand on. No, this is not the case. This adventure is just for me. I'm terrible with my "smart phone". I do take it everywhere. I play games, I check emails, I text (oh goodness do I ever text), I check news which is odd because I really don't like watching the news, I take pictures of moments with my kids when while taking the picture I miss the actual moment with my kids then I tell them to hold on (try that with a 5 month old) while I shamelessly post the moment to my social network and then text it to all their grandparents. I'm not as bad as most but I'm just missing out on things I should see while walking with my head up and not down giving myself carpel tunnel syndrome.

 

Enough. I decided to carry my Word to see if instead of responding with a snarky "I told you so" text to a friend I reach to God's Word for direction and guidance. Instead of taking my phone to the "pump" room at work I take my Word too and then see which one I use. It has only been a few days into this journey (6 to be exact) and some days are harder than others (because I'm making some dietary changes while on this 30 day journey, hangry and caffeine deprived) but I can tell you that at the end of this 30 day journey I will be forever changed. It will be and has been tough but I'm up for wherever God takes me. I'm journal-ing as well to track all the ways I'm changing on this journey. I'll keep you posted! Probably with some more shameless pictures of my children too but timing of taking those pictures will be better planned, promise!

Its Friday!

Woo hoo! Its Friday! I am so grateful its Friday! End of a work week and beginning of a creative week! Yippie! Well, technically all that excitement translates into getting the house cleaned, laundry done, chase the kids, try new foods, take a bath (Mommy...), visit family, find time for friends and some how some way find time in the midst of the Mommy Demands to be creative. Pinned some good stuff today (Michael Miller, Riley Blake and Amy Butler to name a few... makes me drool) so I hope to try to at least make a pillow this weekend! Trying to jazz up the house now that we are contemplating selling it. Need to add some color in the rooms we have returned to "Soft Cloud" (by Porter Paint) which is a polite way of saying white but not white white. Wish me luck.

 

By the way, not meaning to brag but this is what someone else has been doing this week...

 

 Thinking about it..

.

 Finding my focal point...

 

Tuck legs to the chest...

 

 

 Gravity...

 

 

Almost there...

 

 

Rub boogers on my blankie...

 

Tada!

 

This is what we like to call taking a Little Mommy Brag Break brought to you in part by all the moments that make us go awwwwww. 

30 days of what....

Yes, I have an incredibly short attention span. Its genetic (FYI, always blame your parents...) so I have to embrace my flaws (and blame my parents). So, I haven't exactly started off my month of "Pinning" with a bang. A failed attempt at making my own babies wipes was the best I could do first week of September.

 

Having 2 kids now basically means take all your extra money and toss it in the toilet then flush. Might have to give a courtesy flush to make sure all the extra money has successfully been sucked away. OK, back on track, what I'm getting to is the fact that now there are 2 kids I have to be creative when it comes to gifting.I haven't exactly been keeping up with fulfilling all the great ideas pinned politely on my work computer but this past weekend I really found a winner. 

 

Someone pinned http://glitteradventure.blogspot.com/2006/11/exploding-box-class.html which the writer calls "Exploding Box Class". Looked cute. The writer basically takes some scrapbook paper, card stock and pictures to create a little "picture book" in a box. I can totally do scrap booking so this was my chance for redemption in failing at the first 8 days of September! The writer not only writes great step by step directions (attention span issues, remember) but your finished project looks just like how she explained. I love these little boxes. I wish I could have kept one but I made them for my son's teachers so I had to give them away. I highly recommend pinning and trying the tutorial from Glitter Adventure!

I titled my boxes "Follow Me from 2 to 3"

 

Take the lid off and they just pop open.

 

They turned out so cute!

 

And the award for most theatrical performance in parenting goes to...

OK, so as I re-read my last post about my son not being potty trained I am sooooooo grateful that I'm having a way better week. That Friday, I took off work to stay home staring at my 3 year old while he either peed on the floor or peed on me. Luckily, my little man being the rockstar that he is mastered the potty by Saturday night and Mommy was able to burn her "buff" and retire from Survivor island. Lets face it, spending much of your day racing to the bathroom with a kiddo who is trying to learn when to tell you he has to go affords you the opportunity of being peed on for much of the day. Just wanted to share that yes, I am still auditioning for lead actress in a dramatic series so keep in touch but that my son is now potty trained!

Mommy, you should get a new job cause you suck at being Mommy...

Sigh. I know I'm not a failure. I know its a little severe to post with such a dramatic title but that's how I'm feeling this morning. My son just turned 3 at the beginning of August so with birthday cake and party favors comes the new class at daycare. We've been told for the past several weeks now that our son would be progressing to the next class to be with the 3 year olds but what we were told yesterday was a different story.

 

We've know all along that our son has not mastered the potty. Ding ding ding, we do know what we are dealing with here (anyone find a turd in the tub and a duck in the toilet?...). He's an emotional kid so we have to step lightly around certain subjects and make him curious and adventurous to try something new. Well, the potty has not been one of those adventures. More like a miss-adventure. I feel like my son will be ready when he's ready and I've spoken with other mom's who had kids who took a while and other mom's who had their infants on the toilet. He talks about the potty, we leave the door open (#1 NOT #2, over share, I'm sorry), we've got the underpants in the sock drawer, he will sit on the potty then nothing. We've tried rewards, we've tried suckers, we even have a chore board to help encourage him with magnets and nothing. So now, on top of making absolutely no progress at home he's told he can't go to the next class with his friends.

 

Of course I take it personal. I've failed as a parent because my kid is not competitively up to speed with the rest of the kids his age. AAH! I just want to scream and cry and throw myself on the floor until someone passes by telling me that's not going to work (what I tell my son when he throws a fit for candy). That competitive comment, that's a joke by the way. I don't care that my kids don't meet other people's expectations. I get that he's not trained like the rest of the kids in his class (maybe I need to resort to kid gates and newspapers in the kitchen... joke) but you know, I don't really care. I know my son and I know he will get there when he gets there. He said to his daddy yesterday as he was leaving school dissapointed about not having a new name tag for his new class "I'm almost ready daddy". Yes, honey, mommy believes you, you are almost ready. 

 

Its not about training them to follow and be like the rest but train them to be the best little person they can be. Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

 

Love you little boo.

 

Maybe this is why I suck at potty training... I just don't know the mechanics...

30 Days of Pinterest....

I'm a pinner. I'm not ashamed, I don't need help, I love my addiction. My problem is I'm a stalker pinner. I pin and pin and pin and pin (when I should be working), pin some more but I rarely ever go home and try what I've pinned. So, September 1, 2012, I will be on a 30 Days of Pinterest journey. Wish me luck... So far I'm going to: re-purpose a men's shirt, make nursing pads, make smelly Vick's knock offs for the shower, appreciate my kid's teachers, make a petticoat, glue all the holes shut in my kids bath toys, pack some plates, put swim noodles in my boots, make some wall art with push pins, make a mirror out of spoons, sew a turtle, sew a tunic, make a tote, sew a boat, write some chores, glue some magnets, bake piggy cupcakes, reuse scrapbook paper, make an overpriced baby carrier and then breathe. Did I mention I have 2 small kids? And a husband I'm confident who will need me food to be cooked? Ekk! I better get started!

Did I mention I only get an hour and a half to save the world?

Now that I've officially returned to work (mentally, physically I've been back for 4 weeks now), my mornings include the chaos of being half-asleep-semi-hysterical with trying to not forget my breast milk and getting out the door on time. Pack the purse, pump, lunch, kids lunch, kids bags and car snacks all in the hour and a half I have to get out the door in the morning and not be late to work. I have a husband,a good one, but it wouldn't sound so dramatic if I said he helped me.

What I didn't mention in my morning ritual was my hostage negotiator skills trying to dress a 3 year old and the fashion runway show of clothes going on and off my 4 month old (I still have clothes in the drawer that she's grown out of...). Did I mention that I only get an hour and a half in the mornings to save the world? I constantly panic over the feeling that if I didn't forget something for the kids then I must have forgotten to turn off my curling iron (kind of like OCD and ADHD packed in a short 5'2" frame).

 

After successfully getting in the truck with no time to spare, I take both my kids to be raised by someone  else for 8 hours of my day (at least its not by wolves) then I spend the rest of my day gazing at pictures of them on my social network to make sure I don't forget what they look like. If missing my kids during the day wasn't bad enough, I return to work meeting demands of everyone asking me in 1 day what they've needed to know for the past 12 weeks. Sigh. Now added to my daily routine at work I have to find time to go pump 3 times a day where I'm fairly confident anyone can hear the romantic sound of my Medela Pump In Style going "waka waka waka" through the door.

So this is my day. Up at 5am, herd the kittens (can't wait until Runchkin starts to walk, will be fun chasing 2), pack the snacks,  hit the road and off to work.

Did somebody say boobs?

No, if you accidentally found my blog thinking you would actually see boobs I'm sorry to disappoint you. This blog is about me and my journey as a mommy of 2 in a world where Kindergartners go to school with cell phones and "Tweeting" and "Pinning" are no longer for the birds and the housewives. I'm a happy mommy of a 3 year old son and a 4 month old daughter who have truly shaped me into a better person than I ever knew I could be (well, by shape, I don't mean willingly accepting the "road map to my soul" stretch marks from their pregnancies...). They call me mommy. They cry for me, they cry at me, they throw up on me, that poop on me, they need food from me, they steal my side of the bed, they give me their germs, they steal my phone, one of them chews on my shirt, leave crackers in my purse, hid race cars in my shoes and I know that's not the end of the list of what they will do to me but I don't remember who I was before I found race cars in my boots. They have melted their daddy's heart too (did I mention I do have a husband, a good one, and surprisingly they don't give him the enjoyment of doing any of the above to him, he gets off lucky somehow...) and made him a huge sucker who I'm afraid will be handing over the checkbook and keys to the car in the future. Stay tuned!