Thinking

I've been thinking lately...

My kids deserve a better, cooler, craftier hands on mother. Recently I read that one of my sisters-in-law does preschool with her 1 year old. They have a lesson and then make crafts like home-made edible play dough, masks, and Valentine cards to name a few. On top of that she manages to take pictures of it all. Lately she's also started sewing her daughter's clothing, and her house is clean!

I have another sister-in-law who blogs like super woman and takes pictures of everything and everyone. (I'm pretty sure she has more pictures of my kids than I do.) She makes the best rolls among other things and her kids are always dressed like they just stepped out of a catalogue. Her house is clean too.

My other sister- in law (I have a few) is crafty and sews blankets, and cross stitches. Her kids are involved in music groups and soccer buddies and her house looks like a page from Home and Garden. She is always dressed in the cutest clothes and her hair is always done.

So, what's my problem?

Don't my kids deserve a mother who rises with the sun, is showered and ready before everyone wakes up and has a hot delicious breakfast on the table?

Instead they have a mother who is on a first name basis with the employees at McDonald's.

Don't my kids deserve a mother who builds forts and plays dolls and Lego's all while managing to can home grown peaches and strawberry jam?

Instead they have a mother who is worried that then the blankets will get dirty or that the baby will eat/choke on the Lego's and not to mention, believes wholeheartedly in Smuckers.

Don't my kids deserve a mother who not only buys glitter but let's them use it?

Instead they have a mother who buys it and then hides it because it may or may not get all over the house and I just can't take that chance.

Don't my kids deserve a mother who will pull out that complicated Mouse Trap game and put it together so they can finally play with their Christmas gift?

Instead they have a mother who says, "Let's wait to play it until daddy gets home!"

Don't my kids deserve a mother who makes a nice warm home cooked dinner every night complete with homemade dessert?

Instead they have a mother who gives them hugs, kisses, loves and squeezes and then calls Costa Vida.

But alas I have to remind myself, "For me, nothing is better than being their mother. For them, me being their mother is better than nothing!" So true.

Thanks Cara!

The Results.

The results of the ultrasound are in....

We are having a baby!! That's right, we are still not finding out the sex, nor did we peek when they went down to check the femur. What we did see was a beautiful, healthy little baby that loves to lie on his/her arm. In every picture we got and in the past 3 ultra sounds the baby had one or both arms up by its face. I like to think that it's in there just kicking back with its arms behind its head, floating around.

So far this baby is pretty calm for what it's been put through. At 14 weeks I had a placenta abruption which caused some problems, then last week I slipped outside in the drive way which caused me to bleed again and on top of that I have two kids that climb all over me. The ultrasound did show that I still have some internal bleeding left from the abruption but the baby seems to be growing fine and hasn't been harmed by any of it.

Other than that, everything looked great!

We are all so excited to see this little baby, the kids especially. Since they can't be involved in much (no kids allowed in the hospital under 14) we decided on the names so that they can at least get used to calling the baby by it.

If it's a boy, Charles Mitchell (Charlie)

If it's a girl it will be Charlotte Emmy (Charley)

Easy enough for them to remember, since it's the same no matter what we have!

Hopefully the next few months go a little smoother for this little one. Who knows, maybe if I have a better delivery this time I might consider having another one. I said might.

Notice.

Lately I have been wondering if Mitch notices me, or the things I do around the house. I know it's hard to miss me; I'm already huge, I'm loud and I fill his ears the minute he walks in the door with stories of the days happenings.
But I mean, does he notice me and my efforts?
Does he notice that his bathroom towel is always clean? And that I switch out the bar of soap in the shower before it runs out?
Does he notice that his sock drawer is always full? And that I color coded them so that he can find them easier?
Does he notice the fridge is always stocked with his favorite juice? And that's it's always up-front and facing out so that there is never any confusion?
Does he notice that even though I may not have gotten a shower that day, the kids are always bathed and clean?
Does he notice how much of an effort it takes me to cook dinner with a baby on my hip, a 5 month pregnant belly, and a 3 year old on my leg? And that it's been a long time since I've burned anything?
Does he notice the effort that goes into just keeping the house picked-up, and not even deep cleaned? And that when I do deep clean it takes everything out of me?
Does he notice that sometimes at night I lie in bed and silently cry because I am so exhausted and every part of my body hurts? And that I get up the next morning and do it all over with the possibility that I won't get a shower again?
Does he notice?

Today these beautiful flowers were delivered with a note that said, "Just Because."
And when Mitch got home tonight he also thanked me for being so good to him and added, "I notice you work very hard to keep our family happy and I notice you."

So, does he notice? I know he does.

Bored.

I'd like to change the backdrop to our blog. Every time I log in I think, What am I a grandma? ( No offense mom, you're super cool, and so are the bears and nick-knacks you have around the house.)
I don't even know where to start. I'd like to do it myself this time, or rather for free. Anyone willing to help me? Anyone?

Here's a little picture for your viewing pleasure, courtesy of Mitch and Owen.

Halloween Week.

We took so many pictures this year of the kids in their Halloween get-up, but unfortunately my kids don't know what it means to strike a pose. We did pay to have them professionally done by a lady, (OK, my mother-in-law paid) so we'll post those when we get them back. For now, we think these are to DIE for!

Owen at his preschool performance. Here he is singing even after the song was done.

Owen and his cousin Berkley after the performance. Owen was a pirate, Berky a Samurai.

Lola and Owen playing the piano before we went out trick-or-treating. If I ever need to get something done fast, I just open up the lid and sure enough they will gravitate over there and play until I'm done.

Lola was a witch, but of course she wouldn't wear the hat. She did help herself to plenty of Owen's candy though. We both did!
God bless Dentist's!

Lola's 1st Birthday!

Can you believe this peach turned one? I can!

I remember all the late night feedings, the pumping, the bottles and changing her diaper twice an hour for months.

Phew!

What a mile stone this is!

We had a lady bug birthday party and invited all our family for the celebration.
For dinner we had pizza, Lola's favorite!

After, she opened up gifts and played with the paper and boxes that the gifts came in. That was fun.

And the bags, she liked the empty bags.

She got a walker/stroller from Grandma and Grandpa Stephens that all the kids fought over, especially her brother.

Next, it was time for cake. She usually doesn't like cake or ice cream so she started out slow.

She dipped and tasted...

And then she just dove in.

She ate..

And ate...

And then it was time for a bath in the sink!

Which she didn't like one bit.

But once she was out she was happy and sweet as pie again!
Happy Birthday Lola!

We love you and have loved this last year with you in our family!

Here we go again!

Sick as a dog.