It's been on my heart lately to be more careful about what I say. I'm a talker and a lot of the time I think of my words right as they are pouring out of my mouth. That's a dangerous thing for a lot of reasons. I'm wondering often now when I am offended or think of how another could be offended by someone's words I've heard or seen online; how many times have I said something that has affected someone like that?
It's a fine line to walk, as Christians we are called to spread the word and share the light, and not be meek but be kind with how we share. I am a very opinionated person on things of my faith, and things just aren't and there is a time and a place to share my opinion. Another thought is, should I have to filter my words in fear that I may hurt someone? No. Of course not, I dont have enough time in the day to think about every single thing I say and if someone could possibly maybe take it the wrong way or take offense to it, but there is something to be said about being cautious, thoughtful, and compassionate about how and when I speak.
For instance, a long time ago (this goes into my stance on "the Mommy wars") I know I talked a lot about how I would never ever ever let Brayden go to sleep with a bottle or sippy cup. Without saying it, I insinuated that if another Mom let their child go to bed with a bottle/sippy cup that they were doing something wrong. What did I benefit from vocalizing that thought out loud? Nothing really. No one asked me my opinion, no one was seeking out my advice. I said it to make myself feel and look good. Who knows if I offended a Mom in saying that to make my own self feel better, who knows it I made a Mom flat out feel bad or question herself (such a horrible thought!). Fast forward a few years and I am now the proud mother (ok, not so proud about it) of a strong willed little girl who goes to bed every night with a sippy cup. Oops. Thanks for that humble pie God, sure tastes good!
That's a dumb example, but it is one. I've been reading LOTS of friends/loved ones opinions lately on things like Common Core Curriculum, Breastfeeding, Co-Sleeping, Home Schooling, Private Eduation, Public Education, Working Moms, Stay at Home Moms,....whew. I have opinions and some knowledge on all of that but I've also been on the receiving end, of not very thoughtful opinions from other friends, and other friends who have been very kind and deliberate with how they vocalize their opinions.
My child goes to a public school. I'm ok with that. There may be schools in our area that offer a better education. I am ok with that. I understand Common Core is a big change, and no I dont know everything there is to do with it. But, we can't afford Private School, and if we could, I dont think it would be the right choice for Brayden anyways; we can't afford to home school, but I know for sure thats not the right choice for Brayden. So regardless of a law, an education system, regardless of the homework sent home, or what is taught in school, I trust God with Brayden and I know that he is Mike and I's son. Mike and I's to raise. Mike and I's to teach the MOST important lessons in life too. If I counted on the school system to do that, to teach my kid right from wrong, I was in the wrong midset when I sent my kid to school in the first place. I respect my many friends who privatly educate their children, the ones who homeschool, the ones who publicly educate. I support their decisions in what is best for their child, and that they are doing their best as a parent.
I'm going to save the stay at home mom/working mom post for another day because I dont want to feel I have to shorten it because this post is going to be forever long!
To you Moms (and Dads) out there, give yourselves a pat on the back. I can for one say, parenting has enough of it's "this is SO hard" moments without us getting down on ourselves or others! Keep up the good fight, keep chugging along. Remember the moments are fleeting and there are memories to be made. Have a wonderful day!
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Where do babies come from?
Oh boy....I knew this question would come, and it kind of has a couple of times now in our household. Thankfully without being completely deceptive we have been able to steer Brayden in another direction so that we can discuss it more with him at an age that we feel is appropriate. That being said, I couldn't help but share a chuckle I had the other night after Brayden made a remark concerning this topic. He had seen on a TV show that the family had a new baby and simply asked "How does the baby get out of your tummy Mom?" He was totally in tune and paying attention to me so I knew I wasn't going to be able to get out of it and I asked him how he thought it came out, and he of course answered as my son would and said "That's why I asked you!" LOL And I sat and thought for a second of how to answer him since I was caught off guard, when he blurts out "That's ok, you don't have to tell me Mom, I know." I continue looking at him. "You poop the baby out don't you?"...I didn't want him to think I wasn't taking him seriously, but I had to laugh because I just...well I had too. And my laughter is what saved me because by the time I stopped Brayden was onto being interested in something else. So here's to all the Mom's out there with the cutest little poopers around ;)
Thursday, April 10, 2014
1 Corinthians 13 for Moms
1 Corinthians 13 for Moms
If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,but have not love,
I am a housekeeper not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,
but have not love,
my children learn cleanliness not godliness.
If I scream at my children when they don’t follow instructions,
get frustrated and fault them for every mess in our house,
and have no grace and love
my children learn that Mom cares more about having things done exactly her way
than about listening to the needs and hearts of her children.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present “mommy,”
the taxi-driver to every childhood event,
the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child,
then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.
Before I became a mother I took glory in having it altogether.
Now I glory in knowing that God’s in control and His grace is sufficient for each day.
All the projections I had for my house and my children
have faded away into insignificance,
And what remain are the memories of my kids.
Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture,
dishes with missing place settings,
and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters, and markings,
But the greatest of all is the Love
that permeates my relationships with my children.
-adapted from 1 Corinthians 13 by Jim Fowler
Friday, March 7, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Lent
I grew up Catholic, and though I do not hold to many of the traditions or rituals of the Catholic Church, one that I do enjoy partaking in every year is Lent.
I didn't realize that it had come so quickly this year, until my sister told me yesterday that she was not going to eating sweets, and then was reminded again first thing this morning when I looked at the calendar!
Last year I gave up Facebook, and I am very tempted to do that again, but I decided to do something instead that had to do with my physical health as I am trying to get healthier so this year, for Lent I'll be giving up Soda. I had given it up for awhile but have gotten back in the nasty habit or craving it, wanting it, and dirnking it all too often.
40 days can seem like an eternity but I think fasting has so many spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical benefits.
Do you participate in Lent? If so, what will you be fasting from this year?
I didn't realize that it had come so quickly this year, until my sister told me yesterday that she was not going to eating sweets, and then was reminded again first thing this morning when I looked at the calendar!
Last year I gave up Facebook, and I am very tempted to do that again, but I decided to do something instead that had to do with my physical health as I am trying to get healthier so this year, for Lent I'll be giving up Soda. I had given it up for awhile but have gotten back in the nasty habit or craving it, wanting it, and dirnking it all too often.
40 days can seem like an eternity but I think fasting has so many spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical benefits.
Do you participate in Lent? If so, what will you be fasting from this year?
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Favorite word
Know how I said I'm a word person? A quote person? Cause I am. I'm like that in all aspects of life. Mike could buy me a dozen roses and I'd love it; Mike tells me that he kinda likes me, with that sweet little gleam in his eyes, and I'm putty. Lol. Dumb example but it happened this morning and I'm still giggling about it, because he sounded like the 19 year old Mike I first met and I loved it. (digress) I'm known to text you a lyric, a line from a book, etc. I just love words. And even though I talk a lot, more than the average person; I'm always amazed at how profound one little sentence can be and how much it can say so much more than just those words.
So anyways, without knowing it, at different times in my life I've had favorite words. I know this because I've caught myself saying it before, the funny thing is, I have a horrible memory and I can't quite remember what some of those words are. They aren't profound, just something that worked then, which I guess why would I need to remember them now?
A word that fell upon me, that you'll read in the about me part of my blog over there > is authentic....oh how I love that word. And I only recently fell in love with it. For awhile transparent and authentic were synonymous, and now I realize they aren't synonymous but they can go hand in hard. Sometimes its okay to be transparent, and that's something I'm learning. See, I'm not a layered person, usually what you see is what you get. I'm every bit the mess that I seem to be, every bit as emotional, and every bit as passionate. So to me, being transparent, is as simple as just "being". But I'm learning as I age that there is a time and a place to be transparent and sometimes there is a time and a place to be a little bit more elusive. Just like a card game, not putting all your cards on the table? Something I'm still working on for sure.
But, getting back on track, I think I've been saying for awhile that I am transparent, an open book, etc. but I was missing what I was wanting to say, and that's that I want to always be authentic; genuine. There so many reasons I'm passionate about it.
One of them is, everything in our culture is fake. Instagram is fake and Facebook is fake. Ok, I shouldn't go that far. They are disingenuous. Because the 1200 or so pictures I have on Instagram don't show the days I'm fighting with Mike. The bad day that I had at work. What I really looked like after my accident. They don't show the dog pee I stepped in on the way to the bathroom. Or even what I look like on the days that I don't wear makeup and I really look like I didn't wear makeup. On Facebook, I don't tell you about my total epic failures as a wife. I don't let you know about a fight I had with my friend. I don't post a status update that let's you know that I fear a bad choice of mine will disappoint my parents. Or when I am homesick for my family. That's where being transparent comes in. It wouldn't be good for my marriage if I aired my dirty laundry on social media. There's a time and place. There's things to be kept private. But at the same time, you guys are seeing my highlight reel. The photos I wanted to take, the things that I want to remember. Want to know how I know that? Because I see yours, your Pinterest, doesn't matter that you haven't bought one of the swimsuits you pinned, or that you haven't made one of the crafts you have pinned to your I'm So Crafty board, in my mind, you've made them all, done them all. I've seen your status updates on how great your day was, on your romantic date with your husband, on the educational activities you did all day with your kid. And I felt like less, I felt like my life, who I am as a wife and a mom couldn't compare. And I shrunk a little inside. Maybe you can understand, I know I've blogged on it before.
Two, we're in this together. I'm the youngest of 7 kids. I think I am slightly competitive, but I'm not one of those good at everything type of people. I'm not very sports inclined, but I do enjoy a good win. But in the age of Mommy wars and one-upping, all us Mom's are really saying is I am not sure if I am doing this right but I'm sure as heck not going to come off like I don't know! Our insecurities become our biggest hurdles because we are unwilling to say I don't know for fear of judgement. I know I am speaking from my own trials here. I was a very judgemental stay at home first time Mom, and then God gave me a second child that was nothing like my first, and I work two jobs. And then stuff got real, and I got real and I wanted to be around real people. No that didn't mean I wanted to only be around people whose life was like mine. That meant that I felt guilt for trying to make other moms feel bad that they couldn't stay home or chose not too because now I am the mom who knows what it feels like to say goodbye to your heart every morning as you shut the door and walk away from your child. I just wanted to talk to moms who felt like I did, who wondered if they were doing it right and could freely talk about that, or ask each other for advice without worrying that it would make them look like less of a mom, the one thing that makes us feel important and worthwhile.
Authentic, genuine. I want to be the same Laura on the computer as I am in person. If I've never met you and you only know me online, I want you to know that if we met up and went to coffee, we could talk just this easily, because I am who I say I am. I'm not perfect, heck, a lot of the time I feel insecure, unsuccessful, and out of place. I know that anyone who does know me, knows all of that. My house is not out of a magazine, though my daughter's hair is beautiful, its rarely not a tangled mess, my kids eat processed food for dinner almost every night, my husband and I haven't been on a real date in a few months....that's the nitty gritty. It's my real life. So without airing my dirty laundry, without hacking out drama on social media, I do strive to be authentic. To be genuine even in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of finding out who I am and what I am good at and what passions drive me at different times in my life. I feel like if we shed the masks, the judgement, the fear and could be truly ourselves without reservation what we'd learn is that we are all a lot more alike than we thought, and that it's a lot less lonely when we are authentically, genuinely, wholly just us.
So anyways, without knowing it, at different times in my life I've had favorite words. I know this because I've caught myself saying it before, the funny thing is, I have a horrible memory and I can't quite remember what some of those words are. They aren't profound, just something that worked then, which I guess why would I need to remember them now?
A word that fell upon me, that you'll read in the about me part of my blog over there > is authentic....oh how I love that word. And I only recently fell in love with it. For awhile transparent and authentic were synonymous, and now I realize they aren't synonymous but they can go hand in hard. Sometimes its okay to be transparent, and that's something I'm learning. See, I'm not a layered person, usually what you see is what you get. I'm every bit the mess that I seem to be, every bit as emotional, and every bit as passionate. So to me, being transparent, is as simple as just "being". But I'm learning as I age that there is a time and a place to be transparent and sometimes there is a time and a place to be a little bit more elusive. Just like a card game, not putting all your cards on the table? Something I'm still working on for sure.
But, getting back on track, I think I've been saying for awhile that I am transparent, an open book, etc. but I was missing what I was wanting to say, and that's that I want to always be authentic; genuine. There so many reasons I'm passionate about it.
One of them is, everything in our culture is fake. Instagram is fake and Facebook is fake. Ok, I shouldn't go that far. They are disingenuous. Because the 1200 or so pictures I have on Instagram don't show the days I'm fighting with Mike. The bad day that I had at work. What I really looked like after my accident. They don't show the dog pee I stepped in on the way to the bathroom. Or even what I look like on the days that I don't wear makeup and I really look like I didn't wear makeup. On Facebook, I don't tell you about my total epic failures as a wife. I don't let you know about a fight I had with my friend. I don't post a status update that let's you know that I fear a bad choice of mine will disappoint my parents. Or when I am homesick for my family. That's where being transparent comes in. It wouldn't be good for my marriage if I aired my dirty laundry on social media. There's a time and place. There's things to be kept private. But at the same time, you guys are seeing my highlight reel. The photos I wanted to take, the things that I want to remember. Want to know how I know that? Because I see yours, your Pinterest, doesn't matter that you haven't bought one of the swimsuits you pinned, or that you haven't made one of the crafts you have pinned to your I'm So Crafty board, in my mind, you've made them all, done them all. I've seen your status updates on how great your day was, on your romantic date with your husband, on the educational activities you did all day with your kid. And I felt like less, I felt like my life, who I am as a wife and a mom couldn't compare. And I shrunk a little inside. Maybe you can understand, I know I've blogged on it before.
Two, we're in this together. I'm the youngest of 7 kids. I think I am slightly competitive, but I'm not one of those good at everything type of people. I'm not very sports inclined, but I do enjoy a good win. But in the age of Mommy wars and one-upping, all us Mom's are really saying is I am not sure if I am doing this right but I'm sure as heck not going to come off like I don't know! Our insecurities become our biggest hurdles because we are unwilling to say I don't know for fear of judgement. I know I am speaking from my own trials here. I was a very judgemental stay at home first time Mom, and then God gave me a second child that was nothing like my first, and I work two jobs. And then stuff got real, and I got real and I wanted to be around real people. No that didn't mean I wanted to only be around people whose life was like mine. That meant that I felt guilt for trying to make other moms feel bad that they couldn't stay home or chose not too because now I am the mom who knows what it feels like to say goodbye to your heart every morning as you shut the door and walk away from your child. I just wanted to talk to moms who felt like I did, who wondered if they were doing it right and could freely talk about that, or ask each other for advice without worrying that it would make them look like less of a mom, the one thing that makes us feel important and worthwhile.
Authentic, genuine. I want to be the same Laura on the computer as I am in person. If I've never met you and you only know me online, I want you to know that if we met up and went to coffee, we could talk just this easily, because I am who I say I am. I'm not perfect, heck, a lot of the time I feel insecure, unsuccessful, and out of place. I know that anyone who does know me, knows all of that. My house is not out of a magazine, though my daughter's hair is beautiful, its rarely not a tangled mess, my kids eat processed food for dinner almost every night, my husband and I haven't been on a real date in a few months....that's the nitty gritty. It's my real life. So without airing my dirty laundry, without hacking out drama on social media, I do strive to be authentic. To be genuine even in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of finding out who I am and what I am good at and what passions drive me at different times in my life. I feel like if we shed the masks, the judgement, the fear and could be truly ourselves without reservation what we'd learn is that we are all a lot more alike than we thought, and that it's a lot less lonely when we are authentically, genuinely, wholly just us.
Another Night-Time Post
I'm laughing as I start this, and wondering if the average person laughs at themselves as much as I do. I'm trying to keep my little resolution to myself to blog more, but its my friends and family who have encouraged me to keep typing, so thank you!
I laughed because again, I start a blog in my mind and like my vagabond soul, I really could write this post on twenty different things tonight, because there's of course always something to talk about, but which thing should I pick?
Thank you for your private messages and notes about my accident post. I've probably read it about a dozen times since I wrote it because as therapeutic as writing it was, reading it kind of helps me process it because I feel like I am reading someone else's account of an accident, a story, and helps me remove myself from it. I've had no more nightmares since writing it, but driving is a daily struggle for me. I know it will be easier as time goes. Mike reminded me that it was "weather conditions" that caused the accident, ie ice, so its understandable that I am still nervous to drive since its still cold outside. I had to drive in white out conditions the other night and went to sleep over 2 hours early that night because it was so stressful for me. But it's getting better; thanks for the prayers.
Before I lose myself in whatever late night ramblings I can become passionate about on the drop of a dime, something I've been wanting to do for MONTHS is a very brief (hey, a girl can try to be brief) catch up on the kids, a paragraph in a baby book, a snap shot into their little personalities right now.
Brayden, 5.5 years old. We just signed him up for T-Ball. Kindergarten 1/2 days. He loves school, and loves his teacher, went through a very short period earlier in the year of not wanting to go but it only lasted a couple of weeks. He's back to loving it now. He never wants to talk about it when he gets in the car after school, it's like pulling teeth to get him to say what they did that day besides "play". He will always tell me what they did at recess, play zombies (I'm sorry, I have to laugh), play tag, and his favorite, play cops and robbers. He's probably the smallest boy in his class, but I love that he doesn't seem to even notice that. But school is a struggle for him academically. I love how his teacher put it to me this week: what Brayden lacks in knowledge, he makes up for in attitude. She told me he doesn't get discouraged or upset if he doesn't get it, that he will gladly try again. That's what I want to hear. He loves math (hear that Grandpa?) but is having a hard time with language. Mike and I are trying to learn how best to help him along from home. At this point we don't think we will retain him in Kinder another year but we will see how the rest of the school year goes. Bray's a social butterfly and even though he is the firstborn, he wants to be played with or he really doesn't want to "play" at all. Mike and I are not "gamer" type people, but Bray loves his video games. But he loves to be watched, and be played with when he plays them. We just got cable TV back (to my dismay) so I have to be careful in how much we allow him to watch or he'd watch all the time. Brayden is sensitive to the core, and has this streak of compassion and empathy, that when he feels it and shows it, gives me such great pride. Paytin is going to be his biggest challenge in life, being a big brother to someone with such a commanding, bossy personality. He is more the follower, her the leader. He's more sensitive, she's the trampler. It's fun watching them play; she makes him brave and he reigns her in. They are good for each other, albeit very exhausting. Brayden is a Momma's boy to a fault but has a very special relationship with Mike that brings out his competitive side. Even though I'm the one to kiss the boo boo's and the one he talks out his feelings with, the pride he has in Mike being his Dad, in Mike being a cop, in Mike being big and strong and a superhero in Bray's eyes is something so very special it melts me. Bray is far more like his Dad than either Mike or Bray see and it's fun to watch, like my own little secret ;).
Paytin is a whirlwind. She's 2.5 and I just shake my head when I think what I could possibly type about her. She's trouble and nothing but it, from her attitude, to her adorable ringlets, to her piercing blue eyes, to her pout. She has an attitude that explodes from her tiny little body, and a stubborn streak that leaves Mike and I's jaw's open more often than not. We look at each other and shrug and ask each other what to do with her on a daily basis. She's the princess that got the big bad daddy who said he'd never get a cat, to get a baby kitten. She loves animals, some days she loves princesses, and she always wants whatever Brayden has, or is interested in. She wants to be just like him on most days, though I'm not sure if its because she loves him so much or because she wants to bug him. She is a busy body and likes simply to get into things and not really play with them. She LOVES baths, and hot dogs. Another way her and Brayden are totally different. Paytin is a steak and eggs girl. She's a carnivore. She'll eat whatever I'm fixing for Mike and I long before she eats kid food, ok, minus hot dogs. But Brayden on the otherhand wants only processed food, or kid food. Paytin is not a dessert girl and Brayden would eat nothing but sweets if I let him, haha. Back to P, she sleeps with us, and has gotten away with it because of her breathing problems but its hard on this Momma's sleep so I'm hoping to change that soon. She takes at least one bath a day, sometimes 3-4, really. Sometimes that's the only way I get things done. And she wears about 4 pairs of shoes a day, and goes through roughly 4 outfits. She loves to get dressed and undressed. She is her Daddy's girl. In the same way that Brayden has Mike's sensitive side (not many people see), his perfectionist side, his organized side, Paytin has his tough side, his commanding personality, and already some of his wit. She is just tough, ie why she got to stand in the corner today, fists clenched at her side, because she decided to deck me in the nose in the middle of the driveway for no good reason. Oh boy. She grits her teeth and furrows her brow, and if she wasn't really being so darn defiant she'd be the cutest thing you ever saw. She's not potty trained, but not far from it. She's a cruddy sleeper and I wish she would take a normal nap, seems her abundance of energy only exhausts me. But Mike gets her, the same way that I get Bray. We love our kids equally no doubt, but when Mike is about to throw in his towel not understanding Brayden, I get him, and when I have thrown in my towel not being able to deal with Pay, Mike gets her. I'm grateful for that...
Whew...why is blogging so exhausting? I think I'm gonna end this post right here and pick up somewhere else. I hope to do some mini posts too. A funny thing a kid said or did, a revelation, a resolution, what have you. But hopefully some short, medium and long posts in no particular order!
I laughed because again, I start a blog in my mind and like my vagabond soul, I really could write this post on twenty different things tonight, because there's of course always something to talk about, but which thing should I pick?
Thank you for your private messages and notes about my accident post. I've probably read it about a dozen times since I wrote it because as therapeutic as writing it was, reading it kind of helps me process it because I feel like I am reading someone else's account of an accident, a story, and helps me remove myself from it. I've had no more nightmares since writing it, but driving is a daily struggle for me. I know it will be easier as time goes. Mike reminded me that it was "weather conditions" that caused the accident, ie ice, so its understandable that I am still nervous to drive since its still cold outside. I had to drive in white out conditions the other night and went to sleep over 2 hours early that night because it was so stressful for me. But it's getting better; thanks for the prayers.
Before I lose myself in whatever late night ramblings I can become passionate about on the drop of a dime, something I've been wanting to do for MONTHS is a very brief (hey, a girl can try to be brief) catch up on the kids, a paragraph in a baby book, a snap shot into their little personalities right now.
Brayden, 5.5 years old. We just signed him up for T-Ball. Kindergarten 1/2 days. He loves school, and loves his teacher, went through a very short period earlier in the year of not wanting to go but it only lasted a couple of weeks. He's back to loving it now. He never wants to talk about it when he gets in the car after school, it's like pulling teeth to get him to say what they did that day besides "play". He will always tell me what they did at recess, play zombies (I'm sorry, I have to laugh), play tag, and his favorite, play cops and robbers. He's probably the smallest boy in his class, but I love that he doesn't seem to even notice that. But school is a struggle for him academically. I love how his teacher put it to me this week: what Brayden lacks in knowledge, he makes up for in attitude. She told me he doesn't get discouraged or upset if he doesn't get it, that he will gladly try again. That's what I want to hear. He loves math (hear that Grandpa?) but is having a hard time with language. Mike and I are trying to learn how best to help him along from home. At this point we don't think we will retain him in Kinder another year but we will see how the rest of the school year goes. Bray's a social butterfly and even though he is the firstborn, he wants to be played with or he really doesn't want to "play" at all. Mike and I are not "gamer" type people, but Bray loves his video games. But he loves to be watched, and be played with when he plays them. We just got cable TV back (to my dismay) so I have to be careful in how much we allow him to watch or he'd watch all the time. Brayden is sensitive to the core, and has this streak of compassion and empathy, that when he feels it and shows it, gives me such great pride. Paytin is going to be his biggest challenge in life, being a big brother to someone with such a commanding, bossy personality. He is more the follower, her the leader. He's more sensitive, she's the trampler. It's fun watching them play; she makes him brave and he reigns her in. They are good for each other, albeit very exhausting. Brayden is a Momma's boy to a fault but has a very special relationship with Mike that brings out his competitive side. Even though I'm the one to kiss the boo boo's and the one he talks out his feelings with, the pride he has in Mike being his Dad, in Mike being a cop, in Mike being big and strong and a superhero in Bray's eyes is something so very special it melts me. Bray is far more like his Dad than either Mike or Bray see and it's fun to watch, like my own little secret ;).
Paytin is a whirlwind. She's 2.5 and I just shake my head when I think what I could possibly type about her. She's trouble and nothing but it, from her attitude, to her adorable ringlets, to her piercing blue eyes, to her pout. She has an attitude that explodes from her tiny little body, and a stubborn streak that leaves Mike and I's jaw's open more often than not. We look at each other and shrug and ask each other what to do with her on a daily basis. She's the princess that got the big bad daddy who said he'd never get a cat, to get a baby kitten. She loves animals, some days she loves princesses, and she always wants whatever Brayden has, or is interested in. She wants to be just like him on most days, though I'm not sure if its because she loves him so much or because she wants to bug him. She is a busy body and likes simply to get into things and not really play with them. She LOVES baths, and hot dogs. Another way her and Brayden are totally different. Paytin is a steak and eggs girl. She's a carnivore. She'll eat whatever I'm fixing for Mike and I long before she eats kid food, ok, minus hot dogs. But Brayden on the otherhand wants only processed food, or kid food. Paytin is not a dessert girl and Brayden would eat nothing but sweets if I let him, haha. Back to P, she sleeps with us, and has gotten away with it because of her breathing problems but its hard on this Momma's sleep so I'm hoping to change that soon. She takes at least one bath a day, sometimes 3-4, really. Sometimes that's the only way I get things done. And she wears about 4 pairs of shoes a day, and goes through roughly 4 outfits. She loves to get dressed and undressed. She is her Daddy's girl. In the same way that Brayden has Mike's sensitive side (not many people see), his perfectionist side, his organized side, Paytin has his tough side, his commanding personality, and already some of his wit. She is just tough, ie why she got to stand in the corner today, fists clenched at her side, because she decided to deck me in the nose in the middle of the driveway for no good reason. Oh boy. She grits her teeth and furrows her brow, and if she wasn't really being so darn defiant she'd be the cutest thing you ever saw. She's not potty trained, but not far from it. She's a cruddy sleeper and I wish she would take a normal nap, seems her abundance of energy only exhausts me. But Mike gets her, the same way that I get Bray. We love our kids equally no doubt, but when Mike is about to throw in his towel not understanding Brayden, I get him, and when I have thrown in my towel not being able to deal with Pay, Mike gets her. I'm grateful for that...
Whew...why is blogging so exhausting? I think I'm gonna end this post right here and pick up somewhere else. I hope to do some mini posts too. A funny thing a kid said or did, a revelation, a resolution, what have you. But hopefully some short, medium and long posts in no particular order!
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