~ A Few Thoughts on Being a Mom ~

 

These are the precious faces I wake up to every morning!

 

When I wake up my day begins (obviously ;) )

My day of fixing food and settling fights and changing diapers and washing dishes,

wiping snot and washing clothes and cleaning house

and fixing food again and settling more fights and changing more diapers etc.etc.

you get the picture.

 

and if you're a mom I'm sure you have wondered at times what you are doing to make a difference in this world.how can cleaning the same space every week, and changing diapers and washing clothes ever amount to anything other than s.t.r.e.s.s!? the day gets long and demanding. sometimes it seems like everyone is demanding something out of you - all at the same time!

 

over the past year I have been thinking about the importance of being a mom.like I said before, I see motherhood in a whole different light than I used too. I enjoy my children more and realize that being a mom is one of the most important jobs you can come by.

 

we (moms) are making a difference! we are influencing little lives.they see everything we do.we can be a positive influence or a negative influence.

 

and than I started studying through the book- "The Ministry of Motherhood"- and it's just encouraging me even more to strive towards being a better mom.to be content where I'm at.to make life fun and interesting for my family.to handle every situation with love.to give lots of hugs and kisses.to laugh and to just enjoy every stage. i realize that all the diapers i'm changing and all the clothes i'm washing and all the food i fix will someday be accounted for.

 

i am human and i have days i want to crawl under the covers and "call in sick!" in fact, this morning I did just that. after i was up for awhile i felt too tired and stressed to go on.so the good husband God blessed me with, assured me its fine for me to go back to bed! i did just that and didn't get up till oh, maybe close to 11! :)  and the other day i told Joel that i'm tired of serving everyone!!  I'm not perfect and there's days i have to remind myself that my job is indeed an important one. i keep learning.i keep trying.

 

but i love being a mom. i truly do!

and to all you moms out there - you are doing a great work!

 

i want to be a postive influence.

i want to teach our children love and forgiveness.thankfulness.graciousness.longsuffering.kindness.integrity.

most of all i want to teach them what it is to love God.

i want my children to know that i am happy where God has called me! I want them to know that I love each of them for who they are.

 

 

my family is my life!

 

and i feel like a have a few bragging rights :) my job is made so much easier with a husband that supports me and loves me for who I am!

and he's a daddy dedicated to his family. I know not everyone is blessed in that way.and it's a blessing i never want to take for granted.

we love winters.Joel's work slows down so that means we get to see more of him! usually he has fridays off and we all love that. this last friday morning he decided to cook breakfast for us.he made a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon. the kids loved watching him and he let them help flip a few pancakes.

 

I am so glad they have a dad that makes them feel special.

i had that growing up.

i loved my dad.still do.he was always there for us.

and my mom.i want to teach our children respect like she taught me.i knew where mom and dad's relationship was.i read love from my mom.love and respect for my dad.

 

i want to love my children like she loved us.

I remember when we went on trips and spent the night at places where we had to sleep on the floor, mom was always concerned that there be enough blankets to make a soft bed for us.she wanted us comfortable.i felt loved.

I remember when she fixed egg sandwiches for us, or peeled an orange.

the egg turned out beautiful and fluffy.the orange was peeled to perfection with all the yucky white skin off of it.

every now and then we'd have an evening where we just ate leftovers for supper and everyone was responsible for their own food.but mom always made sure dad had a plate of food.

she put time and effort into us.

we felt loved.

 

 

now i'm changing the subject.but i know all of you are wondering how "little mush ball is doing." :) who wouldn't love these fat cheeks!? she stole our hearts.

and even tho' I'm not really a baby person ( i know it's part of being a mom but ... :) ) i love cuddling her and squishing her. i love every little sign of progress in her. she started smiling, has been for a little while.but it never gets old seeing that sweet smile! her and hailey already have a sister bond.she loves hailey.and hailey loves to talk to her and "mother" her. :)

hailey is very proud of the fact that we have "fwee (3) girls in the family!"

 

 

I need to run.

hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

A day with my girls...

today was one of those days when Braxton headed out with his hero - who happens to be his daddy. He LOVES,LOVES,LOVES to go to work with Joel. It's been awesome with the jobs that Joel has had, it's easy for him to take Brax along.
When Joel was hauling, Braxton thought it was great to ride in Daddy's truck!
Now with the mowing business, in the winter it's a perfect opportunity to go because Joel doesn't need to cut grass. Braxton can walk along and help pick up sticks and pinecones...and he thinks he is such a big helper! :) He wins the "grandmas' " hearts and sometimes ends up hangin' out with them while Joel works. And often comes home with something...one day it was a pair of gloves for him and Hailey, one day it was a "school book", another day it was sidewalk chalk etc.etc. Not sure what he's gonna say when summer hits, because then he won't be able to go along (unless I pack us all up and we go for the day) Maybe I'll just do that! I miss going to work with my man!

So while Braxton was off doing what he loves, we got out the butter and sugar and baked some cookies. I did it for her sake. It took alot of patience but it payed off to see the joy in her face! *note her small pile of m&ms beside the cookie bowl.* Every now and then she'd pick one up, pop it in her mouth and look at me and grin!

I asked her what she'd like for lunch. Her reply was, "cookies."
Of course you'd love cookies now wouldn't you!? :)

After the men headed off to work me and Hailey were in the living room, taking care of Madalyn and suddenly there was a *WHOP* against the window. It scared us a little but I told Hailey that I bet it was a bird. We checked and sure enough, there was a mockingbird in a major stupor! :) We touched it and finally chased it enough to loosen it's brain :) and it took off.

 I have a hard time believing that our baby is 9 weeks old already! I had her in for her 2 month check up and she weighed 12.8 lbs! She is the fattest baby I've had yet! Roll-y fat! :) She got her shots and it broke my heart to hear her cry.I always dread the pain of the needle but I do it for their good, so hopefully someday they'll understand :) Joel went with me...but he didn't want to hold her during the shot! I told him "here I let you come along and you don't even want to do the dirty work!" Oh well :)

 

It was a fun day with my girls.

 I missed my boy.

Tomorrow he's staying home :)

I can imagine he will beg to bake cookies.

That's just the kind of child he is :)

 

So long.Till next time.I'll try to show up here more often.

 

2013 !?

Happy New Years to all you you out there!

 

Funny, I wasn't even planning to blog tonight.

But as I sat here listening to my children talk my heart filled with this warm feeling of contentment.

They also happen to give me the giggles!

This next part really has nothing to do with the New Year. It just reminded me of how much I have to be thankful for.

 

 Listening to Braxton and Hailey play (B is playing polly pockets with H :) ) it tickles me to hear them refer to each other as 'hon.' It's "hon" this and "hon" that!

 

I love the way Hailey says "Madawyn Skye" instead of Madalyn. H informed me yesterday that she "wuffs (loves) babies!" May her house be filled to the brim when God calls her to motherhood! ;)

 

And it hits my funny bone to hear Hailey in her cute, high pitched voice say "Sanks." You'd think we live in Amish country. No slam to the Amish at all... it's  just that "sanks" is way more popular there than the proper "thanks!" :)

 

Tonight at the supper table I was lovin' on Madalyn and Braxton pipes up and said "Mommy is a kiss freak!"

Kiss freak if there ever was on! Yep, that's me! :)

 

As I look back over 2012 I see that I have so much to be thankful for! There's many things I regret about this year...but the same things I regret, I'm also very thankful for because through the mistakes I made, I learned some valueable lessons!

Lessons I hope will not need to be relearned in 2013!

 

So here's to the New Year...

 

May I always be more thankful,

May I sing praises to God daily,

May I encourage those around me,

May I be the mother and wife God meant me to be,

May I always see the positive in everyone....

 

these are only a few of the things on my heart.

the list could go on and on!

 

May all of you have a very Happy and Blessed Year!

 

 

 

 

 

Oh Baby!

 

 

November 28 , 2012

 

Tuesday morning at my house was a very normal morning. I started cleaning out my fridge, my freezer and getting everything back in order from the weekend. (Monday I didn't get anything done :) I was too tired! )

So imagine my surprise Tuesday night, when I finally sat down to relax, and suddenly started having signs of labor! I was surprised, excited and panicking all at the same time!

Surprised because it was a whole 3 weeks before my due date, excited because I really was ready to have this baby, and panicking because I didn't have anything packed or ready to go!

Joel was at a meeting...the kids were still up...and I was trying to function and think and remember what all I needed to get ready to take along to the hospital.

My friend came to the rescue. She picked up the kids and me and Joel flew around trying to get stuff ready. Joel wanted to go. There was no way on earth he wanted to deliver this child! ;)

A whole 12 hours after labor started, Ms. Madalyn made her first appearance.

We fell in love! Her tiny hands and feet. Her innocent little cry. Her tiny nose.Her soft little lips.
...It was perfection...

 

 

 

 

 

I am amazed, and humbled, grateful and so excited that God blessed us with another healthy, sweet baby to love on. The responsiblity of raising these  precious ones is great. We count it a priviledge that God chose us to parent these three. We count on Him to give us the wisdom needed to raise them for Him.

 

 

The hospital stay was great! I was spoiled. I could call anytime I needed something and it was handed to me :) I loved the opportunity to look through the menu at mealtime, call the kitchen and order MY choice of food. It was good food! :)

 

The nurses were great!

I got to rest up.

It was wonderful.

 

I was excited to come home though! The first night I was home, we sat down to eat supper and Brax looked at me and said "I'm so glad you're home mommy." I melted!

 

The first day here was exhausting.Reality hit hard with the two oldest. Tears came alot quicker, attitudes soured a bit.But I think after 5 days they are slowly adjusting to a "new normal." So am I. Part of the new normal for me is getting up every 3 hours during the night. I cheat a little sometimes and let her sleep till she wakes up and then it's closer to 4 hours. (Don't tell Doc that!) ;)

 

Now I'm doing this thing called "recovery." This is the hardest part for me. I feel like I recovered well. But everyone here seems to think I dare not do much! I guess with my history of hemoraging, everyone is scared. I try to obey - somewhat. But I think it's good for me to do what I can, a little at a time.I can't wait to go shopping and all that kind of fun stuff. It will come.

 For now I'm feeding and cuddling my baby -  and sometimes doing dishes and laundry and cleaning up the house : D All on a moderate level of course! :) Angela glories in her power to tell me to sit down, or take a nap!

 

A big thank you to everyone who has given time towards helping us out! From taking our children for the day, to bringing me shampoo, washing baby clothes I didn't have time to get ready! :) making us meals and cleaning up the house etc, etc. It is greatly appreciated and not taken for granted! I hope to be able to do my share of helping others before to long!

 

Today Madalyn is 1 week old!

I really can't believe it's been a week already!

 

 

We love you Madalyn Skye!

We thank heaven for you!

You're our beautiful little girl. A touch of heaven in our home.

So innocent. So sweet.

Forever we will love you!

 

Pictures :)

Ok, so I decided now that this blogger is finally letting me upload pictures I will sit down and make time to update with a few pictures, for those of you that love to keep up with me and mine :). The kids just TOTALLY enjoyed the beach the other weekend. It's actually fun taking them now that they can occupy themselves.

And they think sleeping in a motel is THE COOLEST thing ever! I love my kids :) and how it doesn't take much to make them happy :)

I can't believe my Braxton is 4 1/2 already! He lights up our home with his sense of humor and charm! He definitley uses his humor to his advantage at times ;) He's a fun loving little guy with a very strong personality. His memory amazes me! Right now we are working on memorizing Psalm 23 and he knows up to verse 4.He looks out for his little sister. She's lucky to have him for a big brother! He thinks stuff through as much as she doesn't, but he's right there to help her out if she needs him :) Bella, our puppy is a playful puppy that jumps and runs and wants to play all the time, but sometimes she's to much for Hailey. She can actually knock Hailey over and Hailey gets so upset.But it warms my heart when I look out my window and see Braxton go over to Hailey, take her hand and come walking my way with her.He's definitley got his daddy's soft heart!

They thought "family night out" at Frankies Fun park was pretty awesome. I thought so too! I love time spent with my little family. They had so much fun mini golfing. We got our laughs, that's for sure!

Hailey is definitley a mama's girl but in the last 6 months I have seen her draw near and dear to her daddy! She'll get up in the mornings and ask where daddy is and run and squeal with delight in the evenings when he comes home. Her daddy (and mama ;) )  love to tease her because she is so funny when teased! She is learning to stand strong and hold her ground! The other night Joel was teasing her, and he had her swallowing hard a few times but she stood firm and strong and stayed on top of that one. I thought it was so funny! She loves to kiss the baby and will randomly walk over to me and kiss my stomach. She's going to be quite the "mommy"  this this next baby :)

In just a little over a week I get to spend an anniversary weekend with this man. I can't wait. I am so blessed to have my best friend as my husband! It's been a wonderful 6 years and I'm excited to see what the next 6 years hold for us!

I love my little family and time spent with them!

Well, I can do more pictures later. My little ones are now stirring so that means I will have to go get them breakfast :) And, it is high time for me to run and start my day! Hope all of you have a great day!

Summer Fun and 28 weeks

Well, whataya know!? We're still alive! I know it totally goes against blog manners to ignore your blog for so long! I mean, really, pretty much all summer I've ignored this part of the world. Lack of inspiration and time. But here I am, to give you a quick update of all that's going on in our world.

This summer has been a challange. I'm not even gonna go into detail but lets just say I'm a work in progress,one of God's slow learners but I am glad for all that He's been teaching me.And in those low times, it always helps to remember that He teaches us because He loves us. Still sometimes when God starts pointing things out, it's tough! And with the pregnancy hormones to place on top of that, it's alot tougher! :) But He saw me through - and my husband, he's been such a dear and stuck right with me. I love him more as the time goes by.

Talking about my husband...the six short years we've been together have been so incredibly awesome! After Jesus, he is my best friend and I can't ever imagine leaving him for the love of someone else! And the reason I say this, is because yesterday my mom told me this story of an 80 year old guy that divorced his wife of 60 years for a "younger chickof 70 something." Yes, that makes my blood boil! 60 years!!! Still makes me mad everytime I think of it! So sickening... On to happier thoughts...

Since I started this post last week, and am finally back to finish it, I have actually reached my 29 week mark. Yes, I am so not ready yet! I have alot of cleaning to do yet, we have names to pick out and I have shopping to do for the baby. whew!
Joel came home last night and said (very jokingly of course) that we need to have another baby after this one because of all the cleaning and oraganizing that is suddenly going on. Help!! maybe I should quit the nesting process ;)
I considered myself a fairly good housekeeper until I got into the corners and cabinets! Horrors..but I guess this summer has been unusually busy so I'll blame it on that! ;)
I'm having to remind myself that I need to make time to do some fun things in between because my mind is one track right now and that sadly is cleaning! :(

Braxton and Hailey are growing up too fast! They are both riding bikes without training wheels now.Not sure why that hit me the way it did but suddenly I'm like, "ok you two, you may slow down the growth process just a tad now!" If you know me, that's amazing I even feel that way because ever since they'd been born I was so excited for them to hit the next stage -( would you already just pee in the potty, or walk, or talk or eat by yourself!) I guess once they hit age 3 I start enjoying them a whole lot more. They're so funny and keep me laughing!We can communicate well, be silly together and they start asking the cutest questions! ("why mommy?" is not included in cutest questions, just in case you wondered!) I think it's funny because sometimes when something goes wrong they'll wonder why it happened that way and I just tell them "oh because, sometimes things like that happen." So when Braxton asked me why something was the way it was the other day, Hailey answered "cuz, somtimes things like that happen." :) It scares me how much they pick up! Definitley keeps me on my toes!

Well, since blogger will NOT let me upload pictures I'm going to quit writing because this is looking like a rather boring blog update! I need to figure out what the problem is but I did wanted to let you guys know we're still around! :) Just pretend this is a snail mail letter, you know, like the ones back in the 60's and 70's that you would so eagerly grab out of the mailbox and  read, even if there were no pictures included and it was incredibly boring! ;)

hope y'all have a lovely week! I'm off to more cleaning and organizing ;)

If this ain't the truth...

One of my friends had the above picture posted on facebook this morning. It cracked me up. It is so true! I don't have to more than sit down for a little bit and all of a sudden one of the kiddos needs a drink RIGHT NOW, needs to pee ASAP or they are HUNGRY!
Yep, the joy of motherhood ;) Wouldn't trade it tho', crazy as that may seem to some people :)

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother."
Lin Yutang

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
Tenneva Jordan


"Good family life is never an accident but always an achievement by those who share it."
James H. Bossard


Wishing all of you moms, and everyone else too ;) a great day!