Posts Tagged ‘Mamahood’
Happy Birthday Julia Mabel!
Posted on: November 23, 2010
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
Three years ago today, my precious Julia Mabel was born. By request we are celebrating with pizza and cake {clearly, she is my child}. With each passing day, she becomes such a wonderful little girl. Her laughter, her smile, her inquisitive nature. It has been a pure blessing to be her mama.
Mabel this morning playing with her new tea set from Uncle Matt and Aunt Kristen
Julia Mabel,
I love you! You are my delight, even in moments of trials. You have brought me countless joys and I am a better woman because of you. My dear, as your life changes over this next year, I pray that you will continue to grow in the understanding of who God is. I pray that you will more fully grasp how much you are loved {because it’s a lot!} and how much you mean to your family {especially your sister}. I love how you want to share secrets and whisper in my ear – even if it tickles like crazy and I don’t always understand you. You’re laughter and willingness to be crazy is something I hope you hold onto for life. Remember always that God created you, just as you are, to fit into our family perfectly. You’re life has touched us beyond words. I love you, I love you, I love you. Mama.
- In: Life
- 10 Comments
I lost Molly tonight.
The girls and I went to the library late in the afternoon and Hannah asked to take Molly along. I allowed it. At one point she set Molly down and I reminded her to hold on to her. The girls played, I read. And we left.
When bedtime came around the “great Molly hunt” that happens every night began. Like a punch in my gut, I realized Molly got left at the library. No sweat, right? We’ll just go there in the morning and all will be well, right?
Sure. Maybe most rational people {like Jonathan} can think that way. But not me. No, I’ve spent the last hour searching for a replacement Molly. All I can think is “What mom, what good mom, loses her daughter’s favorite bear?” What if someone took Molly? What if she’s gone forever?
Told you I’m not always the most rational person.
What if? Well, Molly is just a bear. And keeping track of a bear doesn’t actually show my ability to parent {right? please say no.}. And Hannah might have some sadness if Molly doesn’t resurface, yet I’m sure in time it’ll get better.
We said a prayer tonight that Molly would show up tomorrow. As soon as the library is open we’ll be there. Here’s to trusting God for Molly Bear!
*Update – We went to the library as soon as it opened this morning. I ran in alone, searched all the spots that we had gone yesterday before asking at the children’s desk. They had nothing and sent me to the main desk. I anxiously asked if they had a bear, and the librarian said it didn’t sound familiar but that she’d check. Lo and behold, I spotted Molly as soon as the lady opened the cabinet doors! Praise the Lord!
Hannah squealed when I came back out to the car with Molly in hand. She is one happy little girl: http://twitpic.com/34fhw4
Putting God First
Posted on: November 4, 2010
- In: Life
- 6 Comments
I’ve been challenging myself lately to stay connected to God through actively reading His Word. Being a mom, it’s easy it let my relationship with God take a backseat. The girls wake up during my morning quiet times, I need to do chores during naps, and by the end of the day I realize I’ve spent no time with God.
This month I’m reading through the book of Psalm. Start to finish. This means reading 4-6 chapters a day {not always an easy task!}. It’s only week one and I’ve been faithful, making it a priority in my day. Part of me thought that in doing this my week would go much smoother {girls acting like angels, house clean, dinner making itself} but it’s been the opposite. My house is dirty, the girls are coming off their travel highs and dinner, sadly, has yet to make itself. But, and that’s a big but, my attitude about it all is so much calmer. Sure it bothers me, but in a oh-man sorta way, not a I-can’t-handle-it sorta way. Being immersed in the Word reminds me of what’s important – my relationship with Christ, my family and my friends.
This newest adventure just might be the best one I’ve had in a while! I can’t wait to see how God reveals Himself to me this month.
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
- In: Life
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It’s hard being a mama. And some days I can focus too much on the hardness, and forget just how amazing this journey is. Being in Texas I had the chance to remember all the reasons why I love being a mama to my two precious girls. There are plenty more than I listed, but here are my current top ten:
1. Laughter. There is nothing so amazing as hearing my daughters laugh.
2. Walking into the kitchen to find Julia eating cooking dough straight out of the bowl.
3. Hannah’s tight hugs right before bedtime.
4. Julia’s inquisitiveness about everything.
5. All the dancing and twirling that comes with young girls.
6. Squeals of excitement each time Jonathan comes home from work.
7. Requests for “snuggles and kisses”.
8. Julia’s confidence that she is loved.
9. Hearing “Jack! Jack!” followed by giggling, running and laughter.
10. Sisterhood. A bond that is beautiful and wonderful to see grow.
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
SAHM Mushy Brain Prevention
Posted on: October 27, 2010
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
Jello Brains
Today I’m having my very first guest post by Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking. I just love this girl and I know you will too!
Sometimes my brain feels like the pulverized bananas plastered on the tray of my son’s highchair. Mushy. Browning at the edges. My day has been a blur of pureed baby food (both pre and post digested) and keep-the-house-in-one-piece survival tactics.
Don’t get me wrong–I love my job as a stay-at-home-mom. And I remember having the same “mushy brain” days back when I was a “career girl,” working as a critical care nurse with open heart patients. There is some level of monotony with every job, I suspect. Even the really important ones!
As a mom to a small child, with a husband who is super busy with grad school, I fight mushy brain syndrome with the following:
Carving out some time in the day to delve into a good book. Fiction can be really entertaining, educational, and just a hoot–but I try to throw in some history, science, and biographies, too.
I have always been a bookworm, but I’ve found it difficult to set aside good chunks of time for reading since I became a mom. So, a couple of months ago I actually started taking a class outside of the home. I really enjoy the subject (world missions) and having deadlines “forces” me to do the reading. The class also gets me out of the house, hanging out with new people, and learning new things. Perfect!
I’ve also learned that as a SAHM it’s easy to get isolated. There’s a lot to do within the walls of my home, but I need to connect with people–moms, friends, family, neighbors, the community. Most of the time, some measure of housework has to be “sacrificed” for this, but it’s more than worth it! We need other people.
When all else fails, it helps if I just go outside. Water the plants, take a walk, sit and look at the trees and give my synapses time to recover from to-do lists and plastic toys.
A date night with the hubby never hurts, either. 🙂
Here’s to being a living-in-the-moment, mushy banana cleaning, brain exercising mom!
{photo credit}
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Alicia is a tea-drinking, book-reading, sushi-eating, candle-lighting, bread-baking gal who loves her family and all things domestic. She is a stay-at-home-mom to one squishy little boy, wife to Andrew the Golden-Hearted, and blogs regularly at Alicia’s Homemaking.
Visit Kristen at We are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday.
A Real Texas Wedding
Posted on: October 25, 2010
- In: Life
- 4 Comments
Yesterday we celebrated the marriage of two very close friends, Matt and Kristen. You might recall that Julia was their flower girl. It was a beautiful ceremony and I am so thrilled for them!
Julia was cheesing so hard in all her pictures that her eyes were almost always closed or look closed. But man was she thrilled to be up with with Kristen!
I’m not one to really cry at wedding. But…. I nearly cried. And not at the exchanging of the vows, or the pronouncement of the couple, or even the sentimental feelings of remembering my own wedding. No, I nearly cried at the very beginning when Julia was walking down the aisle. She did an amazing job as flower girl {not being scared, dropping flowers all the way down and not making a peep}. When she first started, she looked back at me a little apprehensively, and with a reassuring nod and some encouraging “You’ve got it” she marched on down. And my heart swelled with pride and sadness. Pride that she was doing something rather brave for a 2 year old, and sadness that she’s growing up so quickly. I pray that I truly live in the moment, that I treasure this time and enjoy our time together. Because one day, she’ll be walking down the aisle, and she won’t be a little girl anymore.
Potty Training Your 1 Year Old
Posted on: October 21, 2010
- In: Life
- 15 Comments
{Be sure to check out my Fall Apron Giveaway!}
I’ve started potty training Hannah.
Before you think I’m crazy {after all, she’s only 16 months old}, it’s not quite the potty training one might think. There’s no bootcamp or hours spent locked in the bathroom. It’s just a s-l-o-w process of getting Hannah comfortable with going on the potty.
When Hannah turned one, I introduced the potty to her. In the beginning she really wasn’t all that interested, but after a couple of months she loves it. She’s started communicating when she needs to go, which is great, since this girl poos 5-7 times a day. I’d say we are about 50/50 on actually being on top of things. But 50/50 means I’m only changing 2-3 dirty diapers in a day, which is amazing!
We did a very similar method with Julia, slowly introducing her to using the potty at an early age. Even though she wasn’t fully potty trained till this summer, she has exclusively pooped in the potty since 20 months. For that reason alone, I love starting potty training young. I know that Hannah is her own person and might very well take longer. But, it’s been wonderful seeing her excitement for the potty and the bonds that are happening between her, Julia and I as we are walking down this newest adventure together.
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
Julia Mabel – Little Flower Girl
Posted on: October 13, 2010
- In: Life
- 2 Comments
Later this month Julia is going to be a flower girl in some dear friends’ wedding. I’ve been practicing with her on how to walk down the aisle {our hallway} and drop the rose pedals {pieces of shredded paper}. Isn’t she a cutie, if I do say so myself?
Part of my mama heart is a sad because Mabel is growing up so fast {she’ll be 3 next month!}. But the other part makes me thrilled to watch her grow and become such a beautiful girl.
I love you Mabel.
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
Our family’s educational plans {at this point} are to homeschool the Windhamettes. For various reasons we love the idea and I have been looking forward to both the challenge and excitement of being their teacher.
At the beginning of September we started “school”. Tuesdays and Thursdays for 15-20 minutes the girls sit in the kitchen writing or reading. Hannah doesn’t do much other than scribble on paper, but Julia has really taken off over the last few weeks. We have books that can be written in with dry erase markers, so she practices her numbers, letters, shapes and identifying colors. It has been an absolute joy {most times!} and she is loving it {most days!}. We’ve taken a couple of “field trips” around the neighborhood to learn about different things in our city {what are/how fire hydrants work, why we don’t feed wild animals, etc}. I keep it pretty low key, going at Julia’s rate and allowing her to decide how things go {like when to stop – she usually wants to go past the time limit but Hannah doesn’t}. Our school days are making me look forward even more to our time when we really start “schooling”.
Pumpkin Patch Kids
Posted on: October 6, 2010
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
I have a slight obsession with a local apple orchard. I can’t help it. All you can pick and eat apples? Um, yes please. Plus, the atmosphere is so comfy and inviting. I took the girls there last week for a photo shoot. Not sure why I ever thought two toddlers would sit through pictures, but I tried it none the less. And then about half way through I broke our camera. A-W-E-S-O-M-E. Thankfully, Leah was there and used her camera for me.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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