Blogahon

Cookie Monster

2011-09-22T12:46:00.002-06:00

It's official: his grandma, Tutu, has spoiled him rotten. She is the reason why he got his first taste of an oreo. And, as is pretty clear in the above photo, he's a fan. Oreo's #1 fan!

We're just gearing up for first birthday cake fun over here. It's only a little more than a month away. I cannot believe it. {sniff, sniff}.

The {Almost} Perfect Sister

2011-09-19T13:09:00.002-06:00

Last night I got to accompany Sean to a cocktail party that's thrown at the beginning of this annual convention they do in the insurance world each year. I was excited to go {in the minority for sure!} because I like to get dressed up, I like an open bar, and I like talking to other adults, even if it is a lot of awkward small talk. Is stay-at-home mom written all over my face?

Thankfully my sister, in the kindness of her heart, agreed to watch the kids. I love her for her readiness to spend time with her nieces and nephew. I love that she lives close to us. I love that my kids love her and think she's so fun. Problem #1 for the night to happen - finding a sitter - solved!

Problem #2 - what the heck am I going to wear?! Being the stay-at-home mom that I am, I hardly have anything in my closet that even resembles a cocktail dress. But really, even when I wasn't a stay at home mom, I hardly had anything in my closet that resembled a cocktail dress. One of my biggest strengths and weaknesses is that I am so practical. The core of who I am just will not allow me to spend $100+ on a dress that I am hardly ever going to wear. I just can't do it.

But my sweet, kind, fun, twenty something year old sister loves to get dressed up. And her budget and inner core are very different from my own, so I got to raid her closet. And even though she is 2-3 inches taller than me, and we are built very differently, as we analyzed while I went through her closet hours before the cocktail party, I found a dress that worked! She even provided the matching shoes - my feet are still paying the price of those heels! - and jewelry.

Problem #3 - my hair. I have a hate/hate relationship with my hair. It's just blah dark brown, hasn't been cut in over 6 months, has no body, and I just plain have no idea what to do with it.

About a week ago while surfing pinterest, I found a hairstyle I wanted to duplicate. It had a step by step video, it seemed easy enough, and the girl seems to have similar hair as me. So what if she's a hair-stylist and went to school for this and does hair for a living? I could totally figure it out and make it look just like hers.

I tried for an entire hour to fix my hair in this do. I think the video is slightly over 4 minutes. Sean was being very patient, feeding the kids and getting everything ready before my sister came over and we had to leave. I just needed to be alone and concentrate.

I finally got the hair done to my liking. I thought it looked pretty good if I did say so myself. And I did. To myself. In the bathroom mirror. Now I only had 20 minutes left to do my makeup and put my dress on, but that's double what I normally have, so that was fine.

When my trendy, fashionable sister walked up the driveway to babysit, I pranced out in my her heels and dress, wanting her to say how fabulous my hair looked, that she couldn't believe her practical, plain sister could do her own hair outside of the regular down, flat, drab look she normally has and have it come out looking so great.

You have two bald spots in the back of your head was what she said. Brutally honest, trendy, fashionable sister. Apparently I hadn't pinned the back properly and had pushed the pins up in such a way that showed two bald spots on either side. The front looked so pretty and perfect, but there was no way I could walk around all night with two bald spots in the back of my head!

There was no time to fix it. We were already running late, and Sean's patience was thinning by the second. So I pulled the pins out, ran my fingers through my hair, tsked at myself in the mirror, and was ready to go.

Running low on patience husband was not so keen on taking a picture before we left, so I quickly gave Hattie my phone and said snap it!

The only photo of my fancy-shmansy night out :(.

I had to go with the regular old flat, I obviously don't know what to do with this mop, hairstyle. But the silver lining is Sean decompressed in the car, and I got over myself. We had a good time!

And I need to make a shout out to my seeester! I am so thankful for her. Thankful she was there to spend time with my kids while I got to have a night out on the town with my husband. Thankful she loaned me a pretty dress and stilettos and earrings to match. Thankful when I called at 8 (when we said we'd be home) and asked if it was ok if we stayed out later, she said yes, even though she was tired and had to go to work the next day. And, most importantly, I'm thankful she didn't let me walk out the door with two bald spots in the back of my head.

I am now on a quest to send her to beauty school, so she can learn to fix hair {particularly mine!}. Then she would be the perfect solution to all of my date night problems! Because, you know, that's her ultimate goal in life. ;)

Serving Others

2011-09-16T09:34:00.002-06:00

I am starting my second year in a young mother's group at my church. It has blessed and enriched my life more than I could have hoped. The group is the answer to a prayer I've prayed for a long time, a prayer for the 3 C's, as I'll call them - community, connection, and communion with other Catholic mothers of young children in my area.

This year we are studying and discussing God's Plan for Marriage and Family by JP 2. Last night, the key phrase I walked out the door of our first gathering with was to serve, not to be served.

What a beautiful marriage would be in store if my husband and I could just live by those words daily! If we would decrease, HE could increase.

Living out the gospel every day is so hard, isn't it? Selfishness is such a nasty seed that can be planted in the heart. It leads to ugly things like anger and resentment.

The answer is humility.

If our God, our Prince of Peace, our King of Kings can humble Himself to become a man, to come down to this earth from the paradise He created and SERVE mankind out of LOVE, why can I not joyfully serve the ones I love the most! I am called to do that. I am called to do much more than that.

This is why marriage and motherhood are so hard and so necessary to the transformation of my soul. Nothing has challenged my motivation or put my soul under a microscope like marriage and family have.

The ugliness of self-centeredness was there all along, but I didn't see it as often or as strongly when I was single and allowed to live according to my own desires and will.

To serve, not to be served.

And it doesn't take marriage or children to live this way. We are all called to be His hands and feet on this earth. We each have our own vocation. And the seasons change, but the words never do.

To serve, not to be served.

Sometimes we are our biggest obstacle in doing His work, right? And it's hard to see because our society is so me! me! me! focused. And life is so clogged with sin and hurt. Our bodies are so weak and tired. Disappointment is ever-present.

But He is here. Still serving. Giving us the strength and grace to keep going. To keep doing His work. Being His hands and feet. Serving. But we have to humble our hearts to accept His Work.

So the last will be first, and the first will be last.

And, just on a lighter note, imagine what driving and traffic would be like if we lived by these words!? Ha! Who needs marriage or kids to see our ugly selfishness? Just get in the car and drive. Next time someone is trying to cut me off, which happens often now that I have a mini-van (but that's another post for another day), I think I'll roll down my window and scream at them, Be humble!

Or maybe not.

We have to be His hands and feet to show His heart.

My Little Man

2011-09-08T20:29:00.002-06:00

He loves to grunt and rough-house. He's SO LOUD all the time.

At 10 months old, he already gets into way more than the girls ever did.

He lights up when we go outside.

Anything in the shape of a ball is his favorite toy.

Pillows are not for sleeping; they are for tackling.

He gets angry and throws fits that little girls just don't make.

He eats just about everything.

And has an obsession with the broom and vacuum cleaner.

A rough and tough mama's boy for sure.

Daddy's pride and joy.

Having a little boy is so much fun!

31

2011-09-06T12:20:00.005-06:00

My better half turned 31 today. I texted him this morning and reminded him that he's now closer to 40 than he is to 20. Not very nice of me. But, the truth is, being closer to 40 looks way better on a man than 20.

Exhibit A - We're both 21-22 in this picture (*sigh*) -

It feels like so long ago. We were such babies. Already engaged babies. Sean was about to leave for Mexico to study abroad for 3 months. He was so skinny. A young wuss, as I remember his older brother calling him. Of course I thought he was hot. And he was. :)

BUT

Today, at 31 years young, he is way hotter :) -

And that's just the icing on the cake, because with age (and 3 babies), comes maturity. That 21 year old boy is now a man. 10 years ago, he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. Today, he definitely doesn't have all of the answers, but he works hard to provide for his 3 children and enables me to stay home doing what I absolutely love doing, mothering full time. And he's good at what he does, so he's climbed the ranks, made a name for himself. A name I'm proud to belong to.

He has a big, tender heart. He's witty and sharp. He's good with words and patient with me. These are a few reasons why I fell in love with him to begin with, and now, ten years later, all of these personality traits I love so much about him are refined and stronger.

This weekend, we got to steal away for a date night to celebrate his birthday, thanks to his mom who offered to watch the kids. We went to church together, alone, with no hooligans distracting us. I heard one of the best homilies I've heard in a long time, but I wonder if it's just mostly because I actually got to hear it ;). It was nice to just be together, worshipping, with NO KIDS.

Then we went out with Sean's aunt and uncle for Mexican food because in our house, nothing is a celebration without a good margarita. And Sean's new found love, tres leches, was his birthday cake of choice. We had a good time.

And the festivities will continue tonight when everyone is home for a more child friendly birthday dinner for Daddy! You bet there will be balloons and streamers, homemade cards and singing, and sticky hands and lips as we celebrate 31 years of the coolest (and hottest) man we know.

Happy Birthday, honey!
You're like a fine wine that just seems to get better with age.
Lucky me. :)

Sugar and Spice

2011-08-31T20:13:00.004-06:00

The other day Hattie came home from school very excited to show me a drawing she had done in art class. Her art teacher asked everyone to pick their favorite place "in the whole wide world," and then they had to draw a picture of that place.

And what did my sweet Hattie draw?

Her house! :)

I was beaming.

"You picked to draw our house as your most favorite place?" I asked.

"Yes," she said. "Some kids drew a picture of the zoo or the beach or the mall, but I just love to be at home the most."

Baby girl melting my heart.

That right there is better than any raise or bonus or promotion that anyone could ever give me to tell me I am doing a good job.

Then she explained her picture. We were all inside watching her pick a flower outside, and Ben was crying (as Ben tends to do these days - teething!).

"And the tiny little house next to ours is Mimi's house, but it's far away, so I had to draw it small," she said. I thought that was pretty amazing for her to add depth like that to her picture.

Definitely a work of art to be forever cherished by my heart.

And the picture's pretty good, too.

7 Quick Takes

2011-08-26T05:17:00.000-06:00

I'm linking up for 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary for the first time.

~1~

Kindergarten ain't not joke! Hattie has matured so much this first week in kindergarten. She has to like walk herself to class and like tie her own shoes and open all of her food packets without any help whatsoever! Who knew my child was so capable!?!

I am quickly realizing that our church preschool is a sheltered environment, and I WANT TO GO BAAACK! I miss it. I am having a hard time with the letting go thing. I can NOT imagine how I will leave my child in College Station, Texas (WHOOP!) for her freshman year of college in t-minus 13 years and just drive away. Thank goodness for baby steps!

~2~

We had well check-ups Tuesday after school. Who plans doctor appointments on the 2nd day of school? I was already stressed and tired, and then I had to be at the doctor at 4 pm. We waited in the waiting-room for ONE HOUR before they even called our names. Ben was a teething, miserable mess, and the girls teetered back and forth from being hyper to hungry. It was a hard, hard afternoon, BUT I could still see the silver lining: my kids are well, on-track growth and developmental-wise. They are healthy in every way possible. An occasional hard afternoon that wares on my patience is nothing to fuss about......... so I tried not to. Still, I was glad to put everyone to bed early.

~3~

This is my current favorite show. Seen it? Most of their experiences are so similar. In the 3 episodes I've seen, the people who died all saw light, except one. That one was enveloped in complete darkness but still felt safe and warm and "home." I just find it so fascinating and a little bit scary.

~4~

I just love this picture! Hattie is so tender and maternal with him. I love. it. This picture speaks volumes of why siblings ROCK! :)

~5~

Sean bought me a sewing machine two years ago for Christmas, and I just opened it up this past week to try and figure it out because I found something that I both want and feel like I could sew. I spent about an hour with that sewing machine before I got frustrated and walked away (gave up!). This common theme of not being able to follow written instruction just keeps popping up in my life. When will I ever learn!? I'll tell ya when: when someone who knows a thing or two about sewing machines comes over to my house and shows me how to thread it and use it. Any takers? My learning style = reflective observation.

~6~

I am going to see The Help this weekend - can't wait! Did you read the book? I did. It was good. I am in a book rut right now. Any suggestions?

~7~

She spent all day on Tuesday being a kitty-cat. She told me early in the day that she was a kitty-cat, and her name was Rose, and that was the end of it. She wouldn't break character for anything. It was a loong day trying to figure out what her meows meant. I finally got to a place where I could tolerate all of the licks "kisses" I got on my arms and legs. Her brother was amused atleast :). She is a mess! Such a performer, this one is! I love almost every minute of it!

At Summer's End

2011-08-22T09:16:00.001-06:00

I will miss my girls for sure. And kindergarten feels like the big leagues - I feel like a small fish in a big pond. BUT I am so looking forward to spending some one on one time with my sweet, squishy baby. And the girls could use some time apart from one another, fo sho!

This morning when I walked in to wake them up at 6:45, they were both sitting at the edge of their beds. Nervous, no doubt. Hattie couldn't eat much breakfast. Her tummy hurt. Mary Ellen ate all of hers. I don't think she fully understood what was coming.

By the time I got Hattie to school, she had lightened up, and her nervousness turned to excitement. The halls of the school were packed and overwhelming, even for me. However, as soon as she walked in her classroom and spotted a friend who she had met at a kindergarten social recently, she left my side, and never looked back. Her teacher had them sit in a circle and asked them how they were feeling. My Hattie, almost the smallest kid in the class, was the first to shoot her hand in the air. She answered, "I was nervous this morning but not anymore." She's going to do GREAT!

My bear, my sissy, my sweet Mary Ellen had a harder time. She always does with leaving my side. She's only 3! But I know she will soon be asking me every day if she gets to go to school today. She's only going 3 mornings a week this year. And that's plenty for her right now.

It's going to be a great year! And I know by the end of it, they are going to seem so much bigger and look like such babies in their first day of school picture to me. This whole growing up thing just is not fair, I tell ya! Can't I just freeze time?

Great Gift Idea

2011-08-19T09:08:00.001-06:00

For Hattie's birthday, she got a butterfly garden.

I would say it is one of the best gifts Hattie has ever gotten. It costs less than $15 at Walmart. It's fun and easy. Both my girls checked on the caterpillars and/or butterflies several times a day. And the whole kit comes with a great informational guide about how the caterpillars turn into butterflies and why they do the things they do while transforming. Sean and I even learned a few things. And, most importantly, it pacified the hankering that Hattie has for getting a pet right now ;).

Last night, we said goodbye to our two friends, named Rocky and Sleepy. Rocky because Hattie thought the caterpillar looked like a rock all curled up. Sleepy because the caterpillar never really moved, so I told her it was resting when I really thought it was going to have the same fate as caterpillar #3 who, sadly, never got to spread its wings and fly.

Here's a picture of the girls watching the butterflies fly away. I love the look on M.E.'s face :).

It was bitter-sweet for Hattie, but one actually sat on her finger for quite a while, long enough for me to run inside and grab the camera and snap a shot. That was special for her and eased her goodbye blues.

We definitely plan on doing this again some day. Probably around the time someone starts begging for a dog or cat :).

It's Been Too Long

2011-08-15T12:56:00.000-06:00

This summer has been the best and busiest summer I've had since I became a stay-at-home mom. I think it's been a combination of my children's ages and the fact that I, for the first time ever, hired a sitter for two mornings a week to keep Ben while I spent those morning doing anything and everything with the big girls. I remember when Mary Ellen was a baby and needed that morning nap, the mornings were so long trying to entertain Hattie while her sister slept. I wasn't looking forward to that when summer was nearing, and I knew the girls would be home all day, every day. Our budget allowed for me to either put Hattie in a summer camp of some kind 2 days a week or for me to hire someone for Ben while I took the girls out on "adventures." Thanks to a friend who gave me some great recommendations for sitters, I'm glad I chose the latter and got to enjoy the fun things of summer with my girls while Ben napped comfortably at home and was well cared for by his baby-sitter, who happens to be a very sweet, beautiful college girl, so I'm sure he didn't mind :).

And now we are nearing the end of summer, and it's true that I am sad to see it go. In just six short days, we will be back to having to be somewhere at certain times and carpool lines and packing lunches. I am looking forward to having some time alone with Ben again while Hattie goes off to kindergarten and Mary Ellen goes to preschool 3 mornings a week, but it will be an adjustment for all of us.

As we close on Summer 2011, here is an update on my kiddos and what they've been up to:

Hattie turned 5 on July 4th. She is ready for kindergarten and is so excited! We have "meet the teacher" this Friday, and she is ready. I am nervous. Most of her summer at home has been spent playing barbies and littlest pet shop with her sister. They have played so well together all summer. They fight, yes, of course, but Mary Ellen is finally at an age where they are good playing partners, and she's pretty easy-going about allowing Hattie to boss her around while they play. That's their dynamic.

Hattie's favorite place to be is at the YMCA pool. She worked really hard all summer perfecting her swimming skills. While she's not a strong swimmer yet, she can definitely swim. And I'm so proud of her for just kind of figuring it out herself while watching and playing with other kids at the pool. We did no swim lessons this year.

Hattie has become a fairly good writer and reader. Sean or I can tell her to write a word, something easy that she can sound out, like cat or dog, and she can sound it out and write it, and it's legible! I'm so proud of her. She's always just wanted to learn and do well and please. I think she's going to be a shining star in kindergarten!

Mary Ellen just turned 3 this past weekend. At 3, my middle child is in love with all things girly and prissy. She loves her barbies, dress up clothes, jewelry, purses, and makeup. Just this past Sunday, she was enjoying her new birthday presents while Sean was watching her and her brother. Hattie and I went school shopping. One of her presents from her grandparents was makeup. Sean went in the bathroom to shave, and when he came back to the playroom he found this:

Poor Ben! The things he will be subjected to because he has two older sisters are endless.

Mary Ellen has always played well by herself. I guess it's a second/middle child thing because I've heard other moms say this about their second child. She is just more independent and has no reservations about doing what she wants, when the thought comes to her mind, like putting makeup all over her brother.

If you've been around Mary Ellen at all this summer, you have probably witnessed her obsession with swimsuits and braids. Not a day goes by that she doesn't request to put her swimsuit on and demand that I braid her hair. She is very conscious of being dressed to impress at all times and wants to get out of her pjs almost as soon as her feet hit the floor in the morning.

Mary Ellen has a very tender side to her, too, though. She still cries when we leave her in nursery on Sundays, probably because we aren't consistent with it, but she goes often enough that she knows the women there. I know the first day of school will be hard for her. She will definitely shed tears. She is very close to me, and does not like when I leave the house without her. And when I return, she always runs up to me saying, "Mama's home!!!!" like it's the best thing ever :).

Ben, or my Benny-boo, as I so affectionately call him, has grown and grown and grown. The secret is out: this boy loves to eat! It took him a while to warm up to solids, but now, he devours most things I give him. I am finally bumping him up to taking solids 3 times a day. With that, he eats about 22 ounces of formula. He is much bigger than the girls were at this age, take it from me and my aching back! At 9 months, he is still not crawling, but that is due entirely to the fact that he learned to go from his tummy to sitting. So anytime I put him on his tummy, he almost immediately sits up. And his sisters have been too kind with giving him something to play with when all of his toys are out of reach.

I love having a son and I love the age he is right now. I really think 9 months is the best baby age. He has finally dropped that 3rd nap and is taking two solid naps a day. He is teething his top two front teeth, which stinks, but he's also processing and learning so much. His babbles and squeals are to die for. And the way he says "mama" when he sees me, melts me.

I guess the biggest difference between him and his sisters at this stage in the game is how mad he can get. If I take something away from him he protests much louder and with much more force than his sisters ever did. The girls have always backed off fairly easily, but he challenges me more, already, and he's not even a toddler yet. Also, he is way more into Sean than the girls were at this age. If Sean is around, Ben can't take his eyes off of him. He watches his every move. It's funny to me how when Ben says "dadda," it's always so happy and playful. When he says "mama," it's usually in a whiney voice, like he needs or wants something.

So that's what the kiddos have been up to. Growing and ever-changing and developing. And for that, I am so thankful to my God who has let me borrow and love these precious lives He's created.

The Evolution of Facial Hair and My Iphone

2011-02-24T12:17:00.001-06:00

Do you like my title? The two are related. To prove it, read on.......

Sean got me an iphone for Valentine's Day. Nothing says love like an iphone :)! I am currently addicted to Words with Friends, though I totally suck at it. Do you wanna feel good about your verbal abilities; then play a game with me! I do it all in the name of elevating others' self esteem. I'm not really trying to beat you ;).

I love the fact that I can take videos and photos of my kiddos so easily now, too.

The other day I was downloading pics and videos that had piled up on my phone. Upon the completion of my download, I realized that I had not been the only iphone photographer in the house:

Yes, my husband is very much obsessed with his facial hair. It is forever evolving. And I have just learned to turn a blind eye and ignore the mustache when it pops up, which usually occurs around the time he is getting together with some guy friends he wants to impress. I don't understand it.

And although he may look like a total weirdo, creep, I can assure you that I am the lucky one in the marriage....... not quite sure what that says about me, but there you have it!

On Love and Motherhood

2011-02-12T12:06:00.006-06:00

Everyone who is familiar with the bible at all knows it. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 is one of the most popular passages:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I just recently sat down with this passage for the first time in a long time. It hadn't changed. I still remembered it well, but what had changed was me. I was now studying it through the eyes of a mother. That's how long it had been since I had opened my bible and actually read this popular passage.

What struck me the most when I read it this time around was the sequence of the definitions of love. First and foremost, love is PATIENT.

There is meaning behind every little detail of the bible, so surely this is significant, I thought. And this sent my mind thinking and dwelling on my mothering and my love for my children.

The definition of patient is: bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness.

After I read that, I immediately thought back to a photo shoot I had just tried to accomplish that day with the children. Valentine's day is upon us, and I wanted to capture a cute, perfect image of my children for a Valentine's card for the grandparents and special people in our lives. But of course, a perfect picture with 3 children is a hard task to accomplish:

My picture taking efforts were fierce, but I came back with nothing.

The lighting was terrible because my day had been so full with diapers and meals and cleaning and carpool lines and naps and nursing and crankiness that I wasn't able to do the photo shoot in perfect lighting.

No one would cooperate and look at the camera.

And smiling? Forget it. Any smiles I got looked fake because no one was having a good time while Mommy barked orders for the "fun" picture I was trying to achieve.

The baby didn't last long before he started crying.

Mary Ellen ripped her heart in half almost immediately.

Hattie wouldn't sit still. She wanted to get down, run off and play.

I was left with a lot of frustration and a bunch of non-perfect pictures.

This is just how motherhood is a lot of the time, isn't it, especially when one has many small children.