Don't want to forget

how excited our two sweet kiddos are about this third babe growing in my belly! They've been elated since we first told them about tiebreaker (our affectionate nickname for little #3), Brayden especially. He talks about the baby, wants to share his room with the baby, already bought a toy for the baby, asks so many questions about the baby. It's beyond adorable! He kisses my tummy every single day, and usually asks to be able to kiss it more than once at a time, he says he wants the baby to know him, melt me! Paytin just kills me with laughter, a pretty age appropriate response is that she knows to her knowledge ability that I have a baby in my tummy but she also think she has a baby in her tummy, more specifically a baby boy named Brayden, very creative huh? Everytime she sees Brayden kiss my tummy she always wants me to kiss her baby too. When I tease her about her belly chub when she's in the bath, she insists it's her baby :). They just melt me and add to the overall excitement! I'm 1/4 of the way there and just over 10 weeks along!

Just what I needed

I had a really bad day yesterday, and today set out to find some encouraging words from a few daily devotional websites I sometimes read. I was really blessed when not one, but ALL three spoke exactly to the day I had before and gave me the exact encouragement, three different verses, for how I needed to approach today. Here's one that blessed me in particular and I hope it blesses you too:

Give Yourself a Break

by Joyce Meyer - posted July 03, 2014

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
—Philippians 1:6
If you find it difficult to like yourself, you are not alone. I struggled with self- rejection during much of my life and I have discovered many others also struggle with the same thing. But that is not God’s plan. He doesn’t want you to feel afraid and insecure . . . or to be consumed with achieving perfection in hopes of being considered valuable.
God is the only one who can perfect the good work He has started in your life, but it takes some time. And during the process He wants you to recognize you are making progress. So give yourself a break and say, “I’m okay and I’m on my way!”

Be Careful...

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!

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 ;)

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

Speak Life

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?