Oh just a little Hide and Seek...

I don't think I will ever be ready to go back to work. At all. Being a stay-at-home mommy, even temporarily, is an extremely rewarding job! My children complete me. Easton turned 5 weeks old yesterday and he is smiling all the time! It thrills Madi that he actually changes his expression from just sleeping, crying and sitting!  I am also finding more and more time to play with this sassy little thing during the day. Chores are getting done earlier. Easton is sleeping more and more.  And I still am not taking Madileigh to daycare for fear that she will bring something home! Which means we get to play.. all day!

Now she is wild. If Easton is anything like her, personality wise, I am gonna have my hands full! Her new thing is the alphabet! We are getting pretty good at it! She definitely has the tune down pat! And we have almost perfected her counting to 10!! It was “One… Two… Five… Nine… TEN!!!!” but she has gotten much better! One way we have improved this is by playing hide and seek! She loves it!! We take turns counting (she always cheats so I have to be fast) and we chase each other when found! Not sure why because I haven't even attempted to establish that whole “run to base” thing! I have to admit, I probably like playing this with her more than she does! The hysterical giggling that erupts every time I scream “There you are!” is priceless beyond measure!

 She has come up with some pretty impressive hiding spots tho. She hides in the cabinets (of course), in her closet, in her  tent, behind couches, in laundry baskets, between bar stools, behind doors and even UNDER the pack-n-play! (I leave that last one just for her!)

She is a firecracker. I get it. She is two. She is trying to be independent and figure everything out. I like that she's trying to run circles around me… the key is not to let her know when she has succeeded, or let her see my smile of "you go girl" approval as I turn away from yet another Madileigh-mini-meltdown over doing things “her” way! She is my angel. She is my heart. I am very proud of the little sassy girl she is and I pray she, and Easton, will always have a personality all their own!

My Big Boy!

I know a lot of my posts are about my wild child for now and the main reason is because Easton is very laid back! Sure he sleeps like any baby but after being around Madileigh all the time and hearing her screaming and running around, he just doesn't get phased by much! But now we are hitting another milestone!! Smiling was huge for us! Me and Madileigh just eat that up! I love watching her trying to get him to smile! She talks so sweet and tries to tickle him and honestly, I think he really likes it! I cant wait til he starts to giggle back!! Thats gonna highlight my everyday! 


He is starting to lift his head up more and more! I am so proud! Now this was huge for me when Madileigh did it to but it is so much fun to have her here to cheer him on with me! "Way go Eeson" she says! I love just sitting down with her and putting Easton on a blanket on his belly to play and hearing her get so excited saying "Look Mom, Eeson head!" and then we dance and clap and praise him for getting so big!! She loves him so much it melts my heart! 

Im pretty sure he was making fun of our cheering ha!

I am and will always be their biggest fan but I hope that my babies will always support and cheer each other on too! I hope they develop an unbreakable bond and realize that in the end they will always have each other!! Besides, they are gonna have to turn to each other for comfort when I embarrass them every chance I get!! Yup. Im gonna be that mom!!

So we made a cake to celebrate!! 

Just Another Monday... Or Is It??

I have never liked Mondays. Rather they don’t like me. I always feel the worst. I always seem to have extra cleaning and laundry to do from the weekend which causes me to automatically wake up in a bad mood and dread the day ahead. Grrr Mondays.

I have had the privilege of being home with my two beautiful children for almost 5 weeks now. I am teaching them. I am watching them grow & learn… I get to see each milestone along the way like Madileigh singing her alphabet tune and perfecting her counting to 10 or Easton starting to smile and follow voices and trying to hold his head up!  (I get to witness them first). I get to cheer and dance and be silly for them. I get to love on them constantly and they are admiring me.

But it is the moment when they are unwinding for the night. Its when my son only wants to be in my arms to drink his bottle. Its when I am watching Madileigh tell all her babies goodnight before curling up with me and Easton with a book just begging to sleep in here with us. Its singing lullabies into their ears to dance them to sleep and having Madileigh say “Again Momma.”  Its these moments that I realize my Mondays are truly special days no matter how stressful they may seem. Its these moments that make my heart smile. Life is worth living simply because of these little Monday moments that turn my attitude around and really make me appreciate how truly blessed I am!

Stay At Home Mom Syndrome Attacks Again...

Although extremely rewarding, I am finding that being a stay at home mommy is not easy! I have been talking about it a lot lately and I was not surprised to find that it is harder than any job I've had. Some days are spent with little conversation, quieting screams, wiping poopy butts, making bottles, making breakfast, making lunch, disciplining, spitting up battles, getting a toddler to nap, doing laundry, cleaning house and planning nightly meals; but it has me wondering how many times is this "I wanna just be a mom" syndrome is gonna attack?? I in no way feel like the world is going anywhere without me as I sit and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Toy Story another morning with my babies!

Like anyone, we have had good days and bad days.. But admittedly, even a bad day at home is better than the worst day at an outside job. On a really good day, Madileigh and Easton are both a little cooperative, playful, hungry at eating time, sleepy at nap time, the housework gets done, a descent meal gets prepared and most importantly, we enjoy one-on-one time playing!!

Now during the constant activity of this every day I am often rewarded with dancing, talking, laughing, playing, hugs and kisses. Madileigh even helps me with the laundry and cooking some days even tho the laundry ends up all on the floor in a trail behind her and a lot of food hits the floor. (she really enjoys helping!) Good thing she has her own mop and broom to help me too!

My temporary life, as a stay at home mom, is not glamorous or relaxing by no means but I am madly in love with my kids and I do get paid with "I love yous", hugs and kisses that are sweet enough to melt your heart. To me, that beats getting out of our pajamas before 3 pm any day!!


This is a little preview of my typical day!! =) 

We have good moods!! 

We make a mess! 

We clean our mess! 

We have meltdowns.

we watch Sissy have a meltdown

we just hang out! 

We play doctor! 

My Blog... My Daily Diary... Just Whatever...

Today we did a simple little crafts project.. We enjoy doing these! We also enjoy coloring pictures and sending them in the mail!! But today we made bookmarks! First, we traced Madileigh and Easton's hands on construction paper! Then we wrote their age (25 months and 1 month) on one side; and "____'s Little Page Keeper" With different names in the blank on the other side! After that all we had to do was cut them out and laminate them so they will last a long time! So sweet and they will be going in the mail tomorrow to put a little smile on the grandparents' faces in a couple days!! 

Oh, we also sang and danced a whole lot today!! Madi is just getting into the stage where she is learning words to songs and singing with me! Well I got her a little surprise... We got the Rio ("Buuurds" Movie) soundtrack and she is already obsessed!!! She tells me "I weady dance Mom" and we have to turn it up and shake our tushies all around. Priceless!!! We got a couple other songs too, from Gnomeo and Juliet and The Princess and The Frog, but so far Rio has taken over!!! 


Oh and another thing. Im not sure when she started but I am no longer "Mommy" or "Momma". For some reason my 2 year old (going on 6) has started calling me Mom. Just Mom. And in a sassy way. Seriously?? Where is she getting this from? I dislike it and she better go back... Soon! Im praying its just a phase. (Like when we were "Wee" and "Nohnie" ha! 

Not So Perfect Days...

Whew. What a day… of embarrassment and annoyance and tantrums and independence and so on and so forth. Let me be clear about something. I highly dislike the terrible twos. They are causing me to age prematurely and I am not a fan at all. Today my little family attempted to get some pictures taken. I wasn’t expecting much and I was on edge the whole time anyway. I really just wanted one good picture of the 4 of us, one of Madi, one of Easton and to get us back home! That would satisfy me. I am satisfied. However I was so embarrassed at the way my wild child acted in the process. She did not want to do anthing! She wouldn’t hardly smile unless I was acting a complete fool and shaking my tushi all around.. which only worked like once anyway. Then she wouldn’t even act like she knew her brother. She would sit on the little platform with him but wouldn’t hold him at all. She just stuck her hand out and touched him like that was the best she could possibly do ha. She was not feelin the pictures at all. I chalk it up to the terrible two’s but I doubt I try it again for a while!

 

So now I got to thinking... Am I the only one who has absolutely ridiculous times some days with my children? Do other kids not go crazy when in public and do all they can during the day to try to make you pull your hair out before lunch at least once a week?? Maybe I am just tired of Facebook. And the problem I see with a lot of Facebook posts is this: People only ever talk about the 1% of things that are perfection. Perfect pictures, edited as such, perfect posts about a perfect meal (not mentioning the fact that you fed your kids cereal for breakfast, snacks for lunch and leftovers for dinner the five days leading up to it), how positive and perfect you're feeling, turning illness into a great learning opportunity, talking about how great your kids are when we all know they drive you up the wall a little too, or the fact that your child vomited all over the car seat and herself while in protest to not bringing her “baby” along for the ride.

Typically, I try to be honest in my posting. I’d hate to make someone feel bad by getting a less than realistic view of my life and don’t think I’m anything close to perfect. I’m surely not. And this is a learning experience for me too.

Yes, like others, I do have good days, most really good days and the occasional “wow, my kids are the most amazing ever and made this day easy” days. And yes, I do post about those days. But for the most part my days, as a temporary stay at home mom, are about same.

With that being said, I am tired.

Exhausted really.

I am tired because I basically have not slept in 2 and a half years and it is hitting me on this very day. Yes, Madileigh is two, but I count a portion of the 10 months I spent incubating her. Madileigh has started staying up way too late and still not napping at all most days. On the nights she is not running around playing or watching Toy Story, Easton takes over. It seems they alternate the nights. She only stays up late on the nights he sleeps really good and he seems to only wake up a lot on the nights she just happens to crash. Something. Always something.

Now before the anti-complaining, sugar-coating mommies think it- I am fully aware these are the responsibilities I signed up for when becoming a mother. I get it. None the less, the thought, most days, does not make the job any easier…. But, despite all of this, I would die for my babies and it is safe to say that I am ready to cuddle up because despite how I feel, I am still not nearly as tired as Madileigh looks. (even tho she will fight it hard for a couple more hours)

I just needed to vent. 

Here are some of our pictures, (the only presentable ones ha):

My Little Fashion Nightmare...

She absolutely thinks she is going in public. Great.

From the moment I heard “It’s a girl!”, I immediately envisioned pretty ruffled dresses, cute little bows and playing dress up!

That was until she hit two. I have thoroughly enjoyed dressing her and making sure her hair was fixed and had a bow everytime we left the house. She matched. She was in style. It was fun. Now she has become an independent, self-dressing fashion nightmare trading her pretty sundress for tee shirts, mismatching her dress-up clothes with her everyday clothes, pairing polk-a-dot pants with nightgowns, green striped shirts with pink leggings and even the socks with sandals statement. Of course these on the days I win the battle and she actually takes her Minnie Mouse pajamas off.

I still try to dress her, and sometimes succeed but she is always insisting on picking her own clothes and dressing herself. So, I redirect. I focus my battle--and it is, most days, an extreme battle--on getting her to be weather-appropriate, and just let the "fashion" slide… for now. Im sure she will eventually have a sense of fashion, or at least matching right? That is something all girls develop at some point isnt it?

Until then, there is this…

Amazing slipper.. I know!!!

tough decision on the shoe choice!

princess and reebok... classic!

oh yea you bet! those are absolutely horse pajamas!!!

It is summer... dont even know why she insists on pants!

The statement..... wow. And yes those socks say 'Tuesday'

Never Underestimate A Quiet 2 Year Old....

yes. that is a lot of spit up. i know.

Well I have just had a wonderful morning with my little pirate! He has been in the best mood just smiling up a storm and sleeping so pleasantly... That is until he got the poopies and started spitting up what little bit I could get him to eat! Oh but of course he would also start screaming every time I put him down! So I attempted to hold him. Rock him. Whew! Finally some peace and quiet!

Come to think of it... Too much peace and quiet... What is my wild child doing??

Great. Just fantastic.

She is testing me. I get up, Easton in tow to go see why I dont hear her dishes clanking and her talking to her baby dolls in her room... And then I smelled it. Clean. Way too clean smelling to be my hallway. And then there she is. Grinning from ear to ear and rushing out of her tent on her bed. Little did she know that she was already caught because of the lovely aroma that filled her room.

Me: "What ya doin sis?"
Madi: "Madi workin, I busy."
Me: "Busy doin what?"
(& then I opened her tent)
I just looked at her.
Madi: (smiling) "That Madi soap!"
Clever.

How easily I underestimated a two year old that can open doors. Her father got her some new soap. Just got it yesterday but she loved it! She had a blast in the tub last night with it! And now.. Foaming kid soap and shampoo (both green in color) cover her babies, body and her bed (soaking all the way to the matress)! This is not good. Have you ever rubbed soap into fabric? Or felt that stickiness on walls or toys? Not fun. And on the one day I finished laundry early ugh.

bad idea.. very bad idea.

So today I made a time out for our house. And Madileigh is sat in it. Screaming. For a long time so I could clean this mess up. Also, we will be making a trip to get some sort of child proof for the doors.

I really cant stay mad at her long. Im not even sure im mad. Maybe im just super annoyed to have extra cleaning ugh. But I know now why they say if it gets real quiet, your kids are probably up to something! Im just glad it was the soap and not something with a less desirable smell.. Again..

You Enrich My Life!

Recently my father-in-law sent me this email. I read it and I liked it. It made me smile but I didn't really think much of it... Until last night.

-The email reads:

"When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in  particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing... never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times. Life is

full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at

hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today... that you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or Parent-child or friendship!

So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine."

-Johnny got the email too, and at dinner that night, which was not burnt, Johnny made a comment similar to the email and it made me smile because I know that he was thinking of me when he read it! It wasnt a super compliment or anything but it sure was one of those little moments that make my heart smile!