Mom Confession #208

Ok so maybe we are really not at our 208th confession but goodness I should have one a day and that would make it more than 208. Anyway, whew today was a rough day. I did cart the kids around all day. Trying to get stuff done. I feel so bad for single parents who have more than one child or even married parents who have more than one child but no family around to help out. I just loaded and unloaded and loaded and unloaded and in each trip both children got more and more fussy. Yall - I totally skipped Claire's nap and she takes 2 most days we are home! Poor baby fell asleep in the walmart shopping cart. And I wonder why she is throwing terrible two tantrums with me! I mean TERRIBLE TWO screaming on the floor, kicking feet tantrums. Her screams are so loud and hoarse that I am fearful her vocal cords will be damaged. Yesterday, Brent took care of the kids all night while I ran errands and they were little angels for him! Arg, they must be tired of me and I should take time away more often since it was all so good. Regardless, today I am exhausted. I actually remember when Adam was three slightly dreading getting out of bed b/c I would be faced with his tortuous threes!!! Today, was the first day I laid in bed and dreaded getting up to face Claire's terrible twos. I actually walked around thinking....hmmm I wonder what I am sounding like to strangers. I can't help but think of my friends Amber or Mari or Candice or Colby or Amy or Chelsea or Lynette or Elizabeth and I think they are always so calm and perfect and happy! How do they do it? How was I able to be such a wonderful, calm teacher and I am such a non-patient Mom to my own kids!!!! Arg!

Clairebear around 16 months old

So Clairebear is a doll. By this point in her life she has acquired a few nicknames. They are:
Swiper - because she is quick and will swipe something off a counter when you are holding her so quick!
Bumper baby - because oh my word....she bumps into EVERYTHING. Even when there is nothing in the way she will stumble and fall on her face. Sometimes she will zig zag and fall into a WALL! I turn around and she has new bruises on her forehead. Makes me a little sad. By the way, when I was a baby my nickname was Bumper
puppy - sometimes I call her puppy because she whimpers and begs for food like a puppy.
And of course Clairebear!

She by 15 months learned to climb up on the table and purposely fall/slide off. She all on her own will pick up her diapers and just walk straight to the trash and throw it away! WOW!!!!! She will wipe up anything that has spilled. She will put things back to the exact place she knows it goes. And she will sort her food. So if a green pea falls over to the rice she will pick the green pea up and put it back in the correct pile.

Way early on she was grabbing shoes to put on herself. She started doing this EARLY! She surprisingly almost always puts the correct shoe on the correct foot!

She also will try to put her bows back on her head. :) Mamma so proud!

She is a cutie!!!

10 things I hope my son will know

I saw this idea on the web (of course) and thought I would blog the same.

1. I love you with all my heart

Adam, I love every thing about you. You are so funny! You make me laugh often. I love how sharp you are. I love you more every single day!

2. It is ok to cry

Adam, life is tough and I want you to know even though you are a boy and I want you to be TOUGH, it is also ok to cry. It is an emotion given by God. Life will be unkind. Kids are unkind. Girls are unkind. Even parents can be hard. God will work miracles in your life and at those times when you are moved by the Holy Spirit show emotion! It does not show weakness....it shows strength in who you are.

3. It is ok to get dirty

Adam, as a toddler you would get dirt on your hands and raise them in the air and whine. You wanted us to see and wipe your hands clean. I get that! God wants to create a clean spirit in us. But as a boy....GET dirty. Messes happen! It can ALWAYS be cleaned! roll down hills. make mud pies. dig in the dirt. play in the ditch. explore the woods. climb trees. spill your milk. fall in the grass to catch a ball.

4. Accidents happen

Adam, this goes a little with the one above. But I want you to know that we are not perfect. God did not create to be perfect. He sent His Son, Jesus to be perfect for us. Perfection is impossible. So when you spill your milk. It's ok. Accidents happen. When you break a toy, it's ok. Accidents happen. When you leave the door open because you are so excited to be home, it's ok. Accidents happen. When you forget to take your shoes off because you want to come in and play, it's ok. Accidents happen. We all make mistakes and accidents happen.

5. Pink is great too! (this theme I stole)

Currently, as a four year old, you tend to choose pink as a favorite color. Now, later in the day your favorite color is blue or green or black etc. But when you want to color on a piece of pink construction paper...do it! If you want a pink balloon grab it! Color does not define who you are and who you will become. I LOVE you!!! I love YOU! I love you!

6. Life is a journey not a competition

Life is tough as I said before. This world puts competition on almost everything....sports, grades, clothes, friends, house, money, etc. It is tough and even our own mind and selfishness and sin adds to the competition. Remember to enjoy the journey that YOU are on. You may not learn to write your name faster than your 4 year old classmates but you can recite 8 Bible verses, the pledge, songs and states. Everyone learns different things and different speeds. One way is not better than the other.

7. It's better to give than receive

God tells us that whatever we do for the least of these we do for Him! Remember to give to others and by give I don't always mean financial. Give your time. Give your knowledge. Give your word. Give your strength. Give your heart! I promise.....you will 'feel better' if you serve others without expectations. Let me say that again....without expectations.

8. Accept others

Adam, accept others for who they are and their differences. You may not agree. Honestly, God may not agree but God did not give us permission to judge others. God said who has not sinned let them cast the first stone. Love others as Christ loves you! Christ didn't die on a cross so that we can pick and choose who to love. He died for us all regardless of sin. Love others as you would want them to love you! Again, that doesn't mean you have to agree. On the same topic....don't be grey in the position you stand for in life! Life is black or white! Gray makes us stand still or float. That is not ok. Take a stand and be strong and KNOWLEDGEABLE in your stance! (back up for stance with the Word of God)

9. You are special

Adam, you were created in the image of God. God knew who you were, who you would be before you were ever given to me. He knows every single hair on your head. And because of that intimate relationship YOU ARE SPECIAL! God has a plan for your life. LISTEN. LISTEN! Have a passion for the Lord. Read His Word and you will recognize God when he speaks to you! You will hear his plan! You are special. And because you are special.....I am blessed! You were a gift to me from God! I love you!

10. To be a child on your knees

Adam, I pray you are a child on your knees so that you will be a man on your knees.

My dear Adam, I prayed this over you before you were a thought in my mind. I fell in love with this song when I was in college and knew it was a song that tugged at my heart. Adam, God loves the innocence of a child on his knees and loves the humbleness of a man on his knees.

I need to say at this time that about 2 weeks ago after reading a book you asked if we could pray to God by your bed on your knees. SURE! And you have been asking to do that ever since. Praise be to God. At at this time I pray that God is giving you a passion for Him that never fails.


Love you sweet Adam! Love, Mommy

Oh my sweet children

Oh it must be said everyday but WOW I LOVE MY KIDS! I really think I have the best kids ever. (shouldn't every parent think this of their own kids?) I think Adam is so funny and handsome! His facial expressions and charasmatic gestures when he speaks makes me laugh! He will be told something once but when told again he will say something along the lines of 'ohhhh ooops ohhh yea I forgot silly me' Yesterday while cuddling in bed with me he asks to go skateboarding at the mall please!!!!! Skateboarding????? I think he meant ice skating. And Claire is just a doll. She is at this stage at 15mo where she runs full speed into our arms. I mean a full speed running sprint and just trusts that we will catch her when she dives into our arms. sign Tonight when I took her to bed she cuddled up with me in the rocker and snuggled her little nose into the crook of my neck and sighed! I true sigh of relief that the day was over. Awe I just love them.

Prayers

Tonight during story time I read Adam a book that said something about At night it is time to kneel and pray and thank God for the day and Adam says, 'Mommy, I want to pray to God by my bed on my knees.' OK!!!!!!! Sure! Anytime!!!

Couple of Adam funnies

This morning while in the bathroom Adam panicked and said Mom, one and two....there are only two toilet paper rolls!!! We are almost out and then we are all gone!!!!!!! Mom, why are we going to Toyota? Me: because I need them to turn a light off! Adam: not mine? You can't turn mine off because when we go into the garage and the garage door closes, it gets dark and I can't see. I need my light to see.

Mom Confession

Hmmmmm Couple of confessions: Have you ever seen your 14mo old go for the dog food and you stay seated thinking surely she won't eat it. OOOOps there she goes but surely she will spit it out! NOPE! Down the belly it went! Who does that? And I just let her! Ever smell your child's dirty diaper in a store without a spare and think.....hmmmm she hasn't sat in it yet. Maybe I can go to the bathroom and shake out the clump and put the diaper back on and keep on going? thought crossed my mind.

Adam & Claire

Well Adam and Claire are growing up so fast. Adam steals my heart daily! I find him extremely handsome and funny. He still is hard headed and stubborn but hey we do our best! Adam entered pre-school this year and it is his 2nd full time week. Monday/Wed/Friday 9-1:30. We were sitting at dinner and he just starts quoting the pledge WORD for WORD!!! He paused at the end and that was it! I was shocked and it made me cry! Amazing. Just blurted out the pledge of allegiance!!!!! He sings his hot dog song and peanut song over and over again too. The go as follows: 5 little hot dogs frying in a pan. The grease got hot and one went BAM!! Count down and the last line goes like this...1 little hot dog frying in a pan. The grease got hot and one went...Hey wait.....put me on a plate! The peanut song goes like this: peanut sitting on a track. His heart was all a flutter. Around a bend came number 10.....SPLAT Peanut Butter!!! So funny! Claire is the most adorable baby I have ever seen! And I am being a little partial because I have friends with ADORABLE babies but Claire just steals our heart daily too. It helps that she is a little cuddle bug when she gets tired. I love it! And she eats well and sleeps well so that always helps a Mama think her baby is adorable. :) LOVE MY KIDS!!!

TWUMC VBS This week is the first time I have entered Adam into VBS! I have volunteered and I love every minute of it! First of all, it just warms my heart to have Adam in a place where he is getting engrained in the love of Christ! He has the BEST teachers! I love the enthusiasium & compassion of Ms. Natalie, Ms. Amber & Ms. Lindsay. Adam's Bible verse for the week is the following: Our Lord is great, vast in power, His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5 This vers upon first reading sounded like it would be tough to learn and this little 4 year olds KNOW it! Adam is learning it! Struggles but knows it! I have been watching him sing praise & worship songs and it warms my heart! Tonight though, he told me he wanted to stay with me in my class because he loves me and wants to stay with me. AWE! Love VBS!

I know it has been a while since I have updated the blog. With facebook being so easy, it makes it more difficult to update the blog. We leave for Europe tomorrow. We are going to visit MiMi & PopPop. I am super excited and really excited to see how the kids will do on the plane. I guess if I am being honest...I am super nervous and full of anxiety. But it is what it is. Claire is 11 months old today! Can you believe it!!! She is army crawling, pulling up and standing and cruising around the table. She is testing her limits where she will let go of the table and grab again. Practicing her balance. She has been such a joy easy baby but has awoken to the world at 9 months. At 9 months she has become very bossy and demanding and a little cranky. She takes up for herself with Adam. Almost to the point when Adam gets near her she screams in anticipation that a toy will get taken from her or he will poke her. Whew...that is exhausting. I can't believe the 'she is touching me' has already started! Adam is completely green and wants anything and everything she has! Now he LOVES her but still wants all the attention. He also doesn't know how to calm down and just be gentle with her. I just noticed Claire's 3rd and 4th tooth today! So she has a total of four! She pretty much got her first 2, sat up from a sitting position and stood and cruised ALL in the same week just about. This all happened around 9 1/2 10 months! Loving my kids!!!!

The Kimbanguist Symphony

Tonight while watching a random 60 Minutes a story on The Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra was aired. The Kimbanguist Symphony is the only symphony orchestra in Central Africa and the only all-black orchestra in the world. I have to tell you this story tugged at my heart. (As many do) I sit here (as I always do) wondering how I can make a difference. I believe that God did not save me as a 2lb. 2 oz. baby to sit around and mourn when I 'hear' stories. I know He has a purpose for me! Now, we can say that my purpose can be to be the best Mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend that I can be. But is that it? I have no idea. All I know is that I have and always have had a desire to give and serve. I want to do better and do bigger. I just don't know how yet. But anytime I hear a story of someone who started a foster charity or mentor program or anything where they have given back, my heart aches. My heart aches when I write to our little Martha in Kenya who is our Compassion sponsor child. I know she is extremely happy in Kenya where she receives rice and a doll for Christmas and is grateful. I want to raise grateful kids and a part of me feels guilty that my kids do not go without.

I just finished the book Redeeming Love set during the horse drawn carriage days. The children in the book received dolls made from corn cobs and the children were so grateful! My heart honestly aches for that simple grateful time time period.

Target

So today I went to Target for ONE reason and ONE reason only! I needed a gift card but of course I had to walk around. BIG mistake b/c of course I spent more but then Claire got a little upset so I went straight to the checkout. The entire way I was like gift card gift card gift card. I got up and paid and FORGOT gift card until I got in the car. I was so mad. I was just saying over and over I AM SO MAD! Adam says, Mommy you are not mad. You are Mommy. Mommy you are not mad, you are not Daddy. You are a Mommy. Mommy doesn't get mad. AWE! (yes I do) BUT AWE it warmed my heart that even though I DO get mad at Adam that he still sees me as his loving Mommy.

Claire almost 6 months old and Adam all of 3

Oh my heart is stolen by my daughter! Words can't express how adorable I find her to be. She loves to look all around. Her favorite person ever is her handsome brother, Adam. She watches him with such facination. I have to admit, we all watch him with facination. Claire is rolling over and over and over. She can roll half way across the living room. She is a pretty good baby. She really enjoys eating solid food. She also likes to be held and walked around. If she is ever in a fit that is what you have to do and it will work most the time. Unless she is hungry then Mommy has to fix that problem.

Right now, she goes to sleep ok. I try not to nurse her to sleep but sometimes that just happens. Today for nap I put her down and after crying a little I checked on her and put her back down and sound asleep she went.

She has a cry that is true girl in my opinion. Kinda sweet (if you are in the right mood) She has an absolute MY FEELINGS are hurt cry! And that one makes me laugh! And you almost can't deny her when she cries at you with that cry. Such a baby doll.

She loves toys and is at the stage where I can try to persuade her with a different toy but NO she wants what she wants! It's funny. I try to give her new toys and she will keep her eyes on the exact one she wants.

Adorable.

Adam is handsome as ever in Mommy's eyes. He is smart and so funny. With that comes strong-willed and defiance so there is a balance to everything when Adam is involved. That makes for a very tired Mommy but he stole my heart a long time ago so that makes it all worth it!