GOT THEM ALL CUT

A few months ago, I trimmed Jared's "bangs." 

 He had a long piece hanging in his eyes, so I just cut it even with the rest.

It wasn't a "real" haircut.

Last week, he received his first REAL hair cut.

Mike did the cutting.

I did the distracting to keep him still.

Yes, we did it in the living room.

Basement is too cold.

Unfortunately, I did not save a lock of hair.

:(

I have one from all the other kids.

Next time

as long as I remember.

UNTITLED

No more clip-ons.

Time marches on.

MOTHERHOOD IN REAL LIFE

I don't know about you, but I always wanted to be a Mom.

I had dreams of rapt faces listening while we snuggled and read aloud stories...

of late night ice skating and game nights and lots of laughter...everyone eating what is put in front of them (ha!) and a perfectly neat, clean house (double ha!).

However, growing up with a large(r) family, I knew it wasn't all fun and games.

Motherhood came very naturally to me.

I didn't flip out with my first born 

(or any of the subsequent ones)

 or not "know what to do" or anything like that.

I honestly don't relate to those who are shocked and scared and out of their mind etc.,upon the entrance of a new person to the family. 

I'm not saying I knew everything or did everything perfectly, I am saying it was not a huge adjustment for me.  

It felt right.

I still dream of rapt faces listening while we read stories..and fun family events and laughter..

AND, a lot of times I even get that.

(My kids LOVE the Magic Treehouse Series (by Mary Pope Osborne) and they pretty much do sit engrossed in the story.  They even gasp at the right parts.  :) )

In between dreams and laughter, we have this thing called reality.

Being a mother (and/or father) is hard work.

Not all days are full of laughter.

In fact many of them, at this stage of the game, are filled with tears.

Tears of anger, hunger, sadness, rebellion, and weariness.

Days are filled with dishes and laundry and vacuuming and cooking and picking up toys for the umpteenth time. Days are filled with dirty diapers and accidents and noise and disciplining.  

Days are filled with running from here to there.

Days are filled with messes.

Days are filled with words.

Kind and unkind.

They can't be undone.

Lord willing:

One day, I will be able to sit and read a book uninterrupted.

One day, I won't have little hands pulling at me for the 30,000,000th time each day.

One day, I'll be able to use the bathroom with out having a single knock on the door.

One day, I won't have to repeat myself so much or yell just to make my voice heard.

One day, I won't have so many dishes or so much laundry or so much mess..

Then again, one day I won't have little hands coming to be kissed with a boo boo.

I won't have someone sneaking into my bed to snuggle in the middle of the night.

You see the tension here.

Those days that are far from the ideal are tough.

I find that I need to be intentional. 

For us, yes, it is all roses.. ;)

most people can't say the same.

All kidding aside,

I don't mean to paint a bleak picture.

It is most certainly worthwhile and wonderful and a blessing--and hard work.

Like I said, it is the in-between times.

Make time to laugh and snuggle and be silly and let the schedule go.

The mess will keep (and lets be honest, it will not only keep--it will multiply!!).

Kids won't.

Motherhood..Parenthood..is hard work.

It is heart work.

As an older mother told me recently, I am in the working/sowing years.  She is in the reaping years.

Press on.

Each day is a gift.

In the grand scheme of things, each day is one to mold and build up to complete a masterpiece.

A human life shaped by experiences, that begin now.

Little secret?

Our lives as parents are changed just as much as those we are molding.

Raising these kids..

it takes a load of patience, lots of prayer and grace.

Learn to cherish each day, no matter what it brings.

We all make mistakes and no one is perfect.

It is however, no mistake that your children are yours.

Happy Parenting.

NATURAL

MJ's first time.

Apparently, he is a natural.

Hit the bottle (yes, bottle--NOT large target!) 5 out of 6 times.

Maybe we should send him out for deer instead?

;)

14 MONTH OLD BABY

Today, my baby boy is 14 months old.

He is still not walking.

My latest walker.

Now, he is cruising along furniture and will walk holding hands..

in addition to climbing on--or IN--EVERYTHING!!

(including pots)

Well, he did take 3 steps solo, between Mike and I.

He gets excited to walk, but he gets too excited and doesn't want to do the work--so he just falls forward into the waiting arms, 95% of the time!  

It'll come, I know.

He is also still nursing a couple of times a day.

4 on average.  

Another first for me.

I never in a million years dreamed I would be nursing this long.

I have mixed feelings.

Jared loves cucumbers, goldfish, and waffles.

He eats almost anything.

Prefers sauce on his pasta, jelly without peanut butter, and wants nothing to do with eggs.

He loves his siblings.

He loves climbing on and teasing his siblings.

Since he turned one, he does take a nap daily (finally!!)

Jared despises socks.

He makes some very interesting faces.

He babbles quite well.

Says "Mama" when he is upset.

No real talking otherwise--but he will shake his head yes and no.

I'm probably missing some things.

Happy 14 months.

RECOMMENDED

I'm currently reading this book.

(picture courtesy of amazon)

www.amazon.com

I would recommend it (especially) for all of you young moms, or moms of young children.

It addresses issues such as housework, heart issues, friendship, mentoring and so much more in a simple, straightforward way.

As an added bonus, there are study (or non-study) questions at the end of each chapter along with a video clip if you choose to access it (I have not, at this point.)

Check it out!

It is an "easy" read with some convicting material.

By the way, this is completely my own recommendation.

Neither Amazon, nor the publishers had anything to do with it.  :)

LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHTS

My first thought for today.

When did a having three kids become a "large" family?

I think where we are now (maybe because I come from 5 children?) is a "normal sized" family.

6 or more is becoming a large family.

I personally know families with 8, 9, 10 and even 16 children.

More than one of each (except the 16).

Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 ~Psalm 127:3

HAPPY is the man that has his quiver full of them!

 Isn't that what everyone ultimately wants?

Happiness?

My second thought for the day.

2013 brought some changes for us, in keeping with our big event(s) every year since 2003.

Re-cap:

2003:  I graduated college, got my first full time job teaching, started dating my husband

2004:  got engaged

2005:  got married

2006:  MJ arrived

2007:  Bean arrived

2008:  Bought a house, Mike got a new position at work

2009:  Missy arrived

2010:  My grandfather passed away, we got Heidi, Boogie arrived

2011:  Started Homeschooling, Switched our Church membership

2012:  J arrived, had our first PLANNED homebirth

2013:  Put up pool, Went on our first family camping trip, and Mike got a new position at work

Makes me wonder what 2014 holds.

Third Thought.

This past November, we started Speech Therapy with Boogie.

Just had his hearing tested last week.  

No issues, Praise God!

He talks a lot, but drops a lot of the beginning sounds and the longer the sentence--often the more garbled it gets.  He has come a long way to be sure.  I think he just needs a boost.

Funny thing is, we have the same therapist that worked with Michael.

This time we're going the private route, because he is too old for early intervention-- but she still comes to the house.


AAAANNDD..

I lost my train of thoughts...I started this last week.
Sorry, it happens.
Talk to you soon!