I believe it's time for a new post. Unfortunately for you, lack of creativity always leads me to lists. I love lists. They make my random thoughts seem less random. So without further ado....
raising kids means:
1. Bruising on your butt from sitting on one too many sharp toys.
2. Mutilated feet from stepping blindly on legos or matchbox cars in the middle of the night.
3. Sleep deprivation that causes you to forget key ingredients in recipes that you know backward and forward.
4. The plans you make will most assuredly change due to vomit, pee, or tantrums.
5. Most surfaces in your home are coated with some sort of sticky substance.
6. Laundry is never done.
7. Nothing is ever done.
8. Quiet is something you only see on horror movies.
9. Extra doses of humility due to all the honest comments kids can mutter. (like the time a little girl behind me asked her mom in a not so hushed voice why my butt was so big.)
10. Naps are something you force on little people, not a luxury you spend on yourself.
11. You begrudgingly adopt terrible phrases like, "because I said so." or "I'm the boss." or "I am going to turn this car around."
12. Hot summer days are spent outside sweating watching kids on a slip n slide and making snow cones when you would so rather be spending it directly in front of the air conditioner reading.
13. Reading the same paragraph in your book for 3 days straight.
14. Getting used to telling people sorry in the grocery store as they pass by your kid who is obliviously blocking their way.
15. Hearing things like, "thank you" or "today was so fun" makes you feel like the Michael Phelps of moms.
These are my random thoughts for the day. Sorry to subject you to them, but you made it through, so congratulations for that. And now you can say that you started and completed at least one thing today. You now have my permission to feel productive.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
evidence
It's officially summer around here.
I know this for many reasons.
And because I don't have anything interesting to post about I will list them here. I also considered photo evidence but was too lazy to take the photos.
summer evidence:
1. Our front porch is littered with bikes and sidewalk chalk and jump ropes and all other various outdoor activities.
2. The pool is open and cleaned and ready.
3. Jonas received his summer buzz cut and is enjoying the bliss that comes with not having to comb his hair.
4. The library fines are paid up and the library basket is perpetually full.
5. We have begun to take advantage of happy hour at sonic. (lemon berry slush... mmmm)
6. My family gathers around the TV to watch so you think you can dance (even though we considered protesting it when the bald brother didn't make it)
7. Summer camps and memberships have been purchased. (this year it was thanksgiving point)
8. Dinner is being served later and almost 100% of our meals have something grilled. (this is just my way of having husband participation)
9. The sibling arguments have been kicked up a notch thanks to them seeing each other 24 hours a day.
10. Otter pop wrappers are everywhere. on the kitchen counter, on the coffee table, in the bathroom, pretty much everywhere but in the garbage can.
All this evidence adds up to summer. Ready or not, here it is. What's your summer evidence?
I know this for many reasons.
And because I don't have anything interesting to post about I will list them here. I also considered photo evidence but was too lazy to take the photos.
summer evidence:
1. Our front porch is littered with bikes and sidewalk chalk and jump ropes and all other various outdoor activities.
2. The pool is open and cleaned and ready.
3. Jonas received his summer buzz cut and is enjoying the bliss that comes with not having to comb his hair.
4. The library fines are paid up and the library basket is perpetually full.
5. We have begun to take advantage of happy hour at sonic. (lemon berry slush... mmmm)
6. My family gathers around the TV to watch so you think you can dance (even though we considered protesting it when the bald brother didn't make it)
7. Summer camps and memberships have been purchased. (this year it was thanksgiving point)
8. Dinner is being served later and almost 100% of our meals have something grilled. (this is just my way of having husband participation)
9. The sibling arguments have been kicked up a notch thanks to them seeing each other 24 hours a day.
10. Otter pop wrappers are everywhere. on the kitchen counter, on the coffee table, in the bathroom, pretty much everywhere but in the garbage can.
All this evidence adds up to summer. Ready or not, here it is. What's your summer evidence?
Monday, June 15, 2009
humpty dumpty's fall
As I mentioned in the last post, Caleb had the privilege of receiving stitches this weekend. Nothing too serious, just 5 stitches above his right eye. He hit the handle bars of a four wheeler while riding with brian.
Apparently he cried initially, but then kind of went into shock at the sight of the blood; (there was a lot of it... that i know from his clothes i got to wash) At the hospital, he was really quiet and brave. The nurse said she never had such a well behaved kid in the ER. We are sure she NEVER says that to anyone else.
Things went well until the final two stitches. He said he could feel it and it hurt and began begging and pleading and kicking and screaming. Four people held him down while he cried and asked for his mom. (awww) Brian said the nurse just turned her head and started bawling.
Caleb has that effect on people.
This is Caleb pre-accident, enjoying a PB&J sandwich. This is the only thing on earth he will eat that doesn't have a primary ingredient of sugar. But don't you worry, he's got himself some Swedish fish there too.
This is the little dude post ER visit cranky and in need of his Lightening McQueen fix. Luckily I sent Brian with our portable DVD player and the beloved movie. I must have been inspired.
This was Caleb upon arriving home to me. His eye was swelled shut, as cuts like that tend to do and he was unbearably frustrated at life with one working eye. He was exhausted and cranky and in pain and frankly, not all that enjoyable. After trying to smother him with love which he clearly wasn't interested in receiving, he finally broke away asked if he could watch Lightning McQueen (cars). Brian put it on and settled beside him. He not so politely told him to go away. Brian came and told me and I assumed he just wanted his mom. So I went right in there to snuggle up with him.
He looked at me, sighed, and said with struggled patience and a hint of exasperation like you speak to a child who clearly needs to have it spelled out for them, "Mom I'm watching BY MYSELF."
I left him in peace. I know better than to disturb the king.
Apparently he cried initially, but then kind of went into shock at the sight of the blood; (there was a lot of it... that i know from his clothes i got to wash) At the hospital, he was really quiet and brave. The nurse said she never had such a well behaved kid in the ER. We are sure she NEVER says that to anyone else.
Things went well until the final two stitches. He said he could feel it and it hurt and began begging and pleading and kicking and screaming. Four people held him down while he cried and asked for his mom. (awww) Brian said the nurse just turned her head and started bawling.
Caleb has that effect on people.
This is Caleb pre-accident, enjoying a PB&J sandwich. This is the only thing on earth he will eat that doesn't have a primary ingredient of sugar. But don't you worry, he's got himself some Swedish fish there too.
This was Caleb upon arriving home to me. His eye was swelled shut, as cuts like that tend to do and he was unbearably frustrated at life with one working eye. He was exhausted and cranky and in pain and frankly, not all that enjoyable. After trying to smother him with love which he clearly wasn't interested in receiving, he finally broke away asked if he could watch Lightning McQueen (cars). Brian put it on and settled beside him. He not so politely told him to go away. Brian came and told me and I assumed he just wanted his mom. So I went right in there to snuggle up with him.He looked at me, sighed, and said with struggled patience and a hint of exasperation like you speak to a child who clearly needs to have it spelled out for them, "Mom I'm watching BY MYSELF."
I left him in peace. I know better than to disturb the king.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
the good and the bad, the peace and the quiet
My husband took the three older kids camping this weekend, leaving me alone at home with one tiny baby. There are both good and bad things about this.
Good:
1. I got me some SLEEP! I was reminded of what is was like to have just one tiny little baby that slept 20 hours a day. Sigh... it was nice to relive that this weekend.
2. This is probably the first time in a year that my laundry has been all caught up. But once those kids walk in with their camp fire smelling clothes, that will go right out the door.
3. I had the chance to sit and focus on Porter's little face and study it. I have discovered a favorite look he pulls. After he sneezes, His eyes bug out and he gets this look like he was just in another dimension and he is wondering how he just got back. It's priceless.
4. The house stayed relatively clean. And spill free for a few days. I'm pretty sure that is a record for the books.
5. There is nothing like a little alone time to make you reflect and renew your appreciation for your family. Especially the husband that changes the light bulbs (doing laundry in the dark is a lot more time consuming than doing laundry with light). And the husband that takes out the garbage. It is sitting by me right now, stinking up the joint.
Bad:
1. I realized how total silence in a LARGE, empty house at night can be a little creepy. I channeled my husbands OCD for checking the doors to make sure they were locked. Which takes half the night because there are like a thousand doors on this house.
2. I spent way too much time and money downloading songs off itunes. Loving her (listen to "it doesn't hurt") and this. and this.
3. I wasted a lot of time watching stupid movies that I never cared to take time to watch before like Flashdance.
4. While camping, Brian got the privilege of taking Caleb to his first visit to the ER for stitches. (apparently Caleb is so efficient at being pathetic, he managed to make the nurse cry.)
5. I had grand plans of being very productive; Porter, however, had plans of getting all his mommy cuddling time in. He won.
All in all, it was a nice, quiet, much needed restful weekend. And I have a feeling my kids will be having me pay for it all next week.
Good:
1. I got me some SLEEP! I was reminded of what is was like to have just one tiny little baby that slept 20 hours a day. Sigh... it was nice to relive that this weekend.
2. This is probably the first time in a year that my laundry has been all caught up. But once those kids walk in with their camp fire smelling clothes, that will go right out the door.
3. I had the chance to sit and focus on Porter's little face and study it. I have discovered a favorite look he pulls. After he sneezes, His eyes bug out and he gets this look like he was just in another dimension and he is wondering how he just got back. It's priceless.
4. The house stayed relatively clean. And spill free for a few days. I'm pretty sure that is a record for the books.
5. There is nothing like a little alone time to make you reflect and renew your appreciation for your family. Especially the husband that changes the light bulbs (doing laundry in the dark is a lot more time consuming than doing laundry with light). And the husband that takes out the garbage. It is sitting by me right now, stinking up the joint.
Bad:
1. I realized how total silence in a LARGE, empty house at night can be a little creepy. I channeled my husbands OCD for checking the doors to make sure they were locked. Which takes half the night because there are like a thousand doors on this house.
2. I spent way too much time and money downloading songs off itunes. Loving her (listen to "it doesn't hurt") and this. and this.
3. I wasted a lot of time watching stupid movies that I never cared to take time to watch before like Flashdance.
4. While camping, Brian got the privilege of taking Caleb to his first visit to the ER for stitches. (apparently Caleb is so efficient at being pathetic, he managed to make the nurse cry.)
5. I had grand plans of being very productive; Porter, however, had plans of getting all his mommy cuddling time in. He won.
All in all, it was a nice, quiet, much needed restful weekend. And I have a feeling my kids will be having me pay for it all next week.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
a tribute to the pacifier
As a mother of four, I have a deep devotion to pacifier. I have written about this before. I am aware that I give my kids a crutch by using them. But hey, who doesn't have a crutch? And I figure I am going to mess my kids up anyway, so why not get a little bit of a head start?
Pacifiers are necessary to a happy home for many reasons. But two of the most important are these:
A calmed baby makes for a calmed mommy and calmed siblings. One tiny peep out of our little baby has Caleb in mortal distress screaming as if his life hangs in the balance, "QUARTER IS CRYING!!! QUARTER IS CRYING!!!"
Pacifiers also help other people watching the baby calm him. And I do so much need other people to watch my baby on occasion.
Much to my dismay, Porter did not feel love pacifier love right away. My dismay turned to horror as he flat refused the paci. But i remained calm and bought paci after paci, confident that we would find the right fit for him.
we did.
Thank you, Mam company. And may you be blessed in your paci making endeavors.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
truth sayers IV
Said Hailey, [while rocking Porter, gently trying to calm her fussy baby brother]: "It's okay baby... oh, what would life be like without you? I wanted to see you so bad..."
This little sweet sentence from our resident mother in training made me pause and think. Babies are hard. Everything gets more difficult. Blogging for example has been hard these past few weeks. One little addition to our family has thrown routines out the door, created more mess, more chaos, less free hands, more diapers to change, and little to no alone time.
But in the midst of all of it we have found
a stronger family bond,
more laughter,
deeper joy,
more reflection,
tender moments,
and just a greater sense of happiness
So what would life be like without Porter? I imagine it would be the same as life without any one member of my children:
incomplete.
Oh and in case you are wondering Brian, it would be incomplete without you too.
This little sweet sentence from our resident mother in training made me pause and think. Babies are hard. Everything gets more difficult. Blogging for example has been hard these past few weeks. One little addition to our family has thrown routines out the door, created more mess, more chaos, less free hands, more diapers to change, and little to no alone time.But in the midst of all of it we have found
a stronger family bond,
more laughter,
deeper joy,
more reflection,
tender moments,
and just a greater sense of happiness
So what would life be like without Porter? I imagine it would be the same as life without any one member of my children:
incomplete.
Oh and in case you are wondering Brian, it would be incomplete without you too.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
through her eyes
My little brother got married yesterday. It was a busy day full of sunshine and happiness and family and all that good stuff. But being the mom of four, I was slightly overwhelmed. It was hard to get them all dressed up all nice and get them ready on time for pictures. It was hard to work everything around baby Porter's feeding schedule. But what was hardest was keeping tabs on Caleb.
We were constantly loosing the monster and we were constantly finding him doing really embarrassing things, like running through (and drinking from) a neighbor's sprinklers, taking pictures with some stranger's camera, tormenting a cat, tackling other children, and stealing bubbles to blow on the bride and groom from some elderly lady.
While I was thus occupied, Hailey enjoyed the fairy tale in her mind as she imagined life as a bride. She carried my camera around, snapping away all night, and when I got a chance to look at them this morning, I couldn't help but smile at her detailed eye. I am glad she really captured the day. Because all I would have remembered was chasing after Caleb as he ran way from me, laughing hysterically and shedding random articles of clothing and flinging them at people's feet.
Yes, it was THAT fun.
Here are her highlights:
This was just lovely to Hailey; first, because it was pink. And second it was scrapbooking on an extra large scale. Visual Heaven on earth for her.
Hailey couldn't get enough of the whole floating candle concept. I think she just might become a candle maker because of it. it should fit well with the pyromaniac inside of her.
This table was an utterly beautiful sight to her. This sealed the whole "weddings are the greatest thing on earth" deal for her. You get to wear a pretty white dress, be the center of attention, decorate with flowers, eat cake, dance with a handsome boy, AND you get piles of PRESENTS?! Life does not get much better in the eyes of a little princess.
I love this pic of my dad and Porter, his 19th grandchild. My parents will be leaving soon for South Africa to serve a mission and they will miss Porter's babyhood. So this picture got me right in the heart. (yes, I do have one).
This wedding was the highlight of Hailey's young life. Mainly because she saw for the first time what was in store for her one day. As she lay in bed that night, she started talking about her wedding day and wondering how soon she could get married. I explained to her, that she has to be an adult and has to find a good man that she wants to kiss on the lips and be with FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER.That scared her off the idea really well.
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