7 Quick Takes

--- 1 ---

Yesterday, the Pope, who I love, quoted this from St. John Chrysostom, "Not to share one's goods with the poor is to rob them and deprive them of life.  It is not our goods that we possess, but theirs"  How freaking awesome is that?!?!?!   I mean, for realz.  Aaron and I, in our quest to finally be debt free have kept this in the forefront of our minds.  I will have more to say on this in the future, but the bottom line is, we really are just stewards of the money God gives us.  The more we actually live that reality, the happier we will be.

--- 2 ---

Speaking of the Pope.  I had a dream last night that he was in the US of A for World Youth Day.  And we were there with the boys. I was on a side street trying to get lil' A's shoes on and he happened to walk by.  The pope bent down and helped me get the shoes on because he could tell I was struggling.  It was an AWESOME dream for lots of reasons.

--- 3 ---

The husband is in massive trouble.  Like, he can't even picture the amount of trouble he is in right now.  EVERY.SINGLE.MORNING my greatest struggle is to try to eat before I throw up (I throw up if I do not eat rather quickly).  This is SUPER hard to accomplish because I have two small children that need to be fed, changed, etc...THEN when all that is done, I have to make breakfast (because, unfortunately, this pregnancy has left me with very few options that don't make me want to vomit).  Finally, I can sit down to eat breakfast, but that usually ends up being a fiasco of the children crying/needing me/begging for the food I am eating, you get the picture.  So, about 80% of the time I vomit before I even get to breakfast.  NOW, in an effort to be fully disclosed, while I eat breakfast I do check my interwebs (blogs, facebook, etc...) while the kids play on the floor.  Anyway, this morning was a disaster with constant distractions, so eating breakfast was near impossible (the crescendo was lil' A taking a handful of cars and whipping them across Joey's face because he dared touch one of the 'lined up' monster trucks).  In absolute frustration, I said, 'I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BE ABLE TO EAT MY FREAKING BREAKFAST'. To which the husband responded, 'well, maybe if you got off facebook you'd be able to'.  Yeah, you read that right.  That, along with, 'oh, crap, your birthday is on Monday?', has put him very VERY tightly in the doghouse.

--- 4 ---

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them". I put that quote on the facebook yesterday after watching the series finale of 'The Office'. I adored that show and it was a bummer to see it end yesterday.  BUT, that quote actually made me say 'wow' out loud.  I love love LOVE being a mother and having my family, but I think about college/my twenties and how awesome they were, and the thing is, I wished most of it away.  I mean, I used to sleep in and drink beer!  And travel, oh my gosh, have I ever traveled.  This life that I have now is awesome, and way better than anything I did before, but I for sure didn't realize how good those ol' days were :)

--- 5 ---

In other, 'The Office' news, at the end of the show, one of the main characters, Jim, was reflecting on the time he spent at his workplace.  Reflecting on how he really grew up there, met his wife through work, had children, etc...  I really resonated with that as well, seeing as though I have been at Saint John Neumann for almost ten years and will be leaving in one month (next week is my final youth group meeting).  It's just crazy to think of the 23 year old girl that started work as a Coordinator of Youth Ministry and the 33 year old wife and mom that I am now.  Lots of stuff to contemplate.

--- 6 ---

Busy busy weekend on the horizon, 2 youth events, 2 presentations, and housecleaning needs to be fit in somehow.  Deep breathe in...(prayers appreciated).

--- 7 ---

Did you read this article.  It's about Abstinence only sex education.  It's good stuff and I liked it.  Then, my friend Mary wrote this article.  I thought it was pretty brilliant too.  Interesting things to think about.  How I wish Sex Ed wasn't even touched in public schools, but alas, we have decided it is a 'need' and so it is.  Anyway, I am glad my parents made me sit in the hall during that portion of class :)  I know, I know, what a prude!!!!!

Have  good week!

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Mother's Day

This morning began with vomiting and I thought, ‘Happy Mother’s Day to me’.  You see, I try not to complain about It too much, but this pregnancy has left me sick, a lot. Again.  Only this time, I have two boys, 14 months a part that need me to care for them no matter how I feel.  “Happy Mother’ Day to me”.  Being a mom is tough. We know that.  I never, ever,  realized how tough it would be.  As I have said before, I blame my mom forthat.  She made it seem easy, so I had no idea how hard it would be.  The sleepless nights, the constant stress, the financial strain, and the always having to be ‘on.  In addition, I now have the joy of a toddler, who is constantly whining; not sharing with his brother, and often times a step away from a total meltdown.  My gosh, no one warned me exactly how tough it would be (or maybe they did and I just didn't listen)!  But, come mother’s day...we all know.  There are commercials that remind us mothers are heroes.  There are shelves and shelves full of cards to affirm the work we do.  Many of us insist on being pampered (I did get my Panera breakfast sandwich in bed with a smoothie this morning).  We claim that this is the day, the day we will be appreciated for all the thankless things we do, constantly, for our children.  Being a mom is tough.  “Happy Mother’s Day to me”.

But, you know what is tougher? 

Desiring a child, so desperately, and being told “no” by your body.  

Desiring a family to call your own, but instead living as a single person, unsure of when and if that will happen.  Awaiting your sweet baby’s entrance into this world, only to have your child pass away before you ever had the chance to hear their cry.  Having spent years with your children, only to outlive them one way or another, maybe they were taken through an accident, or a sickness.  This year, I know too many mothers who will have to celebrate this day without a child in their arms.

Do you know what I can’t imagine? 

Having to celebrate this day, when you are supposed to thank and love on your mother, but your mother has passed away.  Having to process this day knowing that for whatever reason, your mother has decided to not be a part of your life.  When my father’s mother died, he said he felt like an orphan…although he does a great job celebrating my mom and all of his daughters, I know a part of him still aches for his mother to be here.

There are other things I can’t imagine…a child who is fighting for our country today.  A child who lives out of the country.  A child who is sick and might not make it.  A mother who is emotionally unavailable. A mother who is plagued by mental illness who cannot ‘mother’ her own child.  So many, many things make this day difficult for a great number of people.

So as this day crept up this week, I was more and more aware of the privilege, not the burden, that comes from being able to embrace my children every day.  As I woke up this morning, I asked that each of my boys lay in bed with me for a while. I studied their faces, and thanked God for gifting me with these sweet little creatures I do not deserve.   I called my mom to wish her a happy mother’s day and was aware that not everyone gets that opportunity and I should be thankful for it.  Today is a day that celebrates the sacrifice mothers make, and it is good, it should be celebrated.  BUT, Let us not forget those who need extra love today, because it is a day they dread all year long.  Let us not forget motherhood is not a given or a right, but rather, a sacred gift that should not be taken for granted.  That’s what I’ll be trying to do today (in between requesting special treatment from my husband, "But it’s mother’s day!!! You HAVE to mow the lawn and clean the family room"), and I encourage all of us, mothers or not, to do the same.

And, indeed, Happy Mother’s Day to me.

7 quick takes with no pictures

--- 1 ---

So, I tried to explain this really profound lyric to my teens and they totally didn't get it. I'm gonna try out the blogging world.  Jay Z (is that how you spell his name?) sings this song with coldplay, and in it, he says, 'It's tough being bobby brown, to be bobby then, you have to be bobby now'.  The point being that the 80s rockstar version of Bobby Brown is what created the 2013 version of Bobby Brown who is kind of drug addict with lots of problems.  Anyway, last week Chris of Kriss Kross died at 34 of an overdose. I found myself thinking of that lyric again. I mean, he could have just been an average dude, with a family, couple of kids, working a regular job.  Instead, he is dead at 34.  'To be bobby then, you have to be bobby now'.  Anyway, I think it's deep.

--- 2 ---

Lil' Aaron sucks at sharing, which I know is okay, because we have to teach him.  Where we are at right now?  When he freaks out and rips something out of Joey's hand, he gets in trouble.  BUT, when he wants to make us proud, he gives joey the worst.toy.ever (like a piece of paper or something) and says, 'share', like we should be proud.  Sorry sucker, offer him your new monster truck from Auntie Annie and then I'll be impressed.

--- 3 ---

The word sucks. I know I should stop saying it, and I know it really bothers lots of people.  But, 'stinks' just doesn't have the same effect (or is it affect, I actually have no idea what the difference is between those to words)...so, any suggestions?  Otherwise, I might just have to keep saying sucks and accept the judgment that comes from it.

--- 4 ---

OM lowercase g...we hired a new youth minister.  He is, how you say, AWESOME! I am so so so pumped. During the interviews, I was starting to get a bit nervous because I thought he was perfect and was afraid that he wouldn't get hired and then I'd be sad.  But, alas, everything worked out.  His name is Chris, we will begin the transition soon.  I am so excited to be at home with the boys, but some twitches of sadness are starting to occur. Can you believe I have been at SJN for almost 10 freaking years.  That is a lot of freaking years.

--- 5 ---

So, do you ever get frustrated and it isn't necessarily anyone's fault, but like, you have to blame someone?  That happened yesterday.  I was frustrated in this awful city (sorry Birmingham, you are not my favorite) and my friend Mario (shout out) ended up getting an ear full of not nice words about how I felt about the city.  Then, so did my husband.  I need to work on processing frustration.

--- 6 ---

We have a play date today with some of our besties that we haven't play dated with since before Easter...We are pretty excited.

--- 7 ---

And now, for your controversial moment.  I read this blog about food allergies that was circulating the interwebs and apparently ticked a lot of people off (for good reason).  The author was like, 'hey food allergies are clearly the parent's fault, just force your kid to eat things and forget about the consequences to work them thru their allergies'.  Clearly, a stupid thing to say, for a lot of reasons.  BUT, I do have to admit, I think a lot about the crazy increase in food allergies and why it is happening and how come it seems like some families are totally exempt from it.  Now, here's the thing, this isn't something I am emotionally invested in, so I can ask the next question pretty easily...but some people are, so answer gently (whether or not food allergies are a struggle in your family).  What do you think about the increase in food allergies?  Where is it coming from?  What are your conspiracy theories?  go!

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Five Favorites

ah... I'm doing it.  In general, link ups make me nervous. I feel like they are above my skillz in the ol' blogging world, but so many of you are doing it, that I feel like I gotta (hello peer pressure). So, tada...my five favorites...

ONE

So freaking delicious. You have no idea. None. No words.

TWO

Forgiving Husbands (I'm the sassy kind that tries to hurt when in fights, I say awful things, he always forgives. I have a crush on him.

THREE

 These are some of my teens, being awesome and Jesus-ing the song 'Thrift Shop'

FOUR

NAPS. 'NOUGH SAID

FIVE

Most fun book ever to read to children!

7 Quick Takes

--- 1 ---

Spiritual insight for the week, courtesy of Father John.  While struggling with habitual sin, it is helpful to think of a father watching his daughter learn to walk.  When she falls, he doesn't say, 'dang it, you are awful!  you are suppose to be walking!!!'.  Father, he says, 'Great job sweetheart, lets get up and try it again'.  Sometimes even cheering at the effort, despite the fall.  You're welcome on behalf of Father John.

--- 2 ---

Praise you Jesus for good weather and parks.  Please let it stay in the 70s for a hot second before we move into the uncomfortable reality of summer scorching weather.  Especially considering I cannot drink ice cold bud lights this summer.  God be with me as I struggle through my #firstworldproblems!

This is how excited I get when I have my first drink after pregnancy.  

--- 3 ---

My teens rock.  Wanna know why?  This week's meeting was on praise music.  Their challenge was to take secular songs and make them Jesus-e.  Lemme just tell you, I just about died when Gangnam Style and the Thrift shop were given a Jesus make over.  Just.about.died.

--- 4 ---

I just gave my child 2 starbursts at 8:25 am.  I am THAT mom.  And, occasionally, I am okay with it #notashamed

best mom ever. or worst
 depending on how you feel
about chemical laden candies...

--- 5 ---

So, wanna know the mom I want to be?  Last night, at about 1:00 am, I saw flipped by 'Project Runway'. I don't watch 'Project Runway', but there was this lady who was in her 50s or 60s.  And her grown children surprised her in the studio to encourage her and all three of them did this 'shake your booty' dance.  I want to be the type of mom that a) shakes my booty at 60 b) raising grown- a$$ children who want to shake their bootys with me.  true story

--- 6 ---

Uncle Mike and Aunt Kellie bought lil' A a monster truck that is battery operated. It pretty much has not left his side since they gave it to him.  Currently, my child who just finished his starburst is watching a documentary on Monster Trucks, while holding his monster truck.  Maybe I should get off the internets and care for him?

--- 7 ---

1.5 months.  But who's counting?  (Teens, I love you dearly- but this pregnant mama is getting pretty psyched to no longer have to worry about leaving children, figuring out babysitters, etc...) 1.5 months.

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On the eve of my oldest child's 2nd Birthday

My little big boy munch chi chi-

Aaron, you are two.years.old!!!!  Can you even believe it?  This year has been busy and it has been awesome. I got to watch you be a big brother and you get to teach your little brother how to be a big brother.   Watching you grow has been awesome.  I say to you all the time (when you are not driving me crazy). ‘you’re the best!’.  And I do so because really, my son, you are the best.  So, let’s spend a second and talk about your second year of life shall we?

You continue to be a joy to everyone around you!  Your smile lights up rooms.  You are silly and you love to make people laugh.  When you get excited, you say, ‘wow’ really really loudly!  It took you awhile to start talking and, truth be told, you are still kind of getting used to expressing yourself that way.  BUT, you have full conversations with everyone, the only thing is, we have no idea what you are saying.  Sometimes, because mommy has been tired with taking care of you, Joey and the new baby, I really need your joy to remember how awesome everything is.  A few weeks ago, I was working on the computer and you were trying to get my attention.  Just like they tell you not to do, I was ignoring you.  You climbed right unto my lap, took my head between your hands and said, ‘num nums’ with this crazy smile J  It was awesome.

Oh, did I mention num nums? I guess that leads me to my next point.  Let’s talk about the things you like…Kid, if you could eat all the time you would.  No joke.  The first thing you do in the morning is request food and those requests continue from the wee hours of the morning until right before bedtime. I don’t think you are hungry, you just like to eat.  Now, if we could only get you to enjoy your vegetables, we’d really have something going on.  

Although nothing quite has your heart like num-nums, next in line is definitely cars.  Who knew how much of a car dude you would be.  You ask to play cars like, every twenty seconds.  You line them up and then move them and line them up again.  Just recently, you have started to make them fly.  Your obsession started at your Grammy and Papas house and both sets of grandparents have indulged your addiction.  

Sometimes, people say you shouldn’t let toddlers watch tv. Um, your daddy and I do not follow that rule.  Your favorite shows to watch are Yo Gabba Gabba (we went to see them live this year, you SOBBED when DJ lance left the stage) Barney (I will go straight to heaven for letting you watch that) and, Lazy Town (I don’t like this one as much for you, but alas, when I really need you distracted, it happens).  And of course, 'cars' of any type.  Then, would you believe your cousin Rocky introduced you to Monster Trucks??? Um, sweet son, I never thought I would have a kid that watches Monster Trucks, but, alas, I do. You watch like a fanatic.  People laugh when we give you the ipad and let you watch them because you sit so still, memorized.  

And then there are balls!  Balls of any kind.  Soccer balls, footballs, basketballs, etc…you are a boy through and through!  Your auntie taught you this awesome game!  She says ‘set’ and you drop down on three fingers, then she says, ‘HIKE’ and you run off.  Maybe a foreshadow of what’s to come.  Two words…ready?  GO BLUE!

I’d like to get serious for a moment buddy if you don’t mind…I might even cry a bit when I write this.  People have said, if you want to, and you are able, it is a really cool thing to give your child the gift of a sibling.  It took awhile, I think, for you to understand that Joseph was a person and not just a toy, but when you did, you fell in love with him like we did.  Son, you are an awesome big brother.  Now, don’t get me wrong, you sometimes forget to share (sometimes? um...maybe always!) and ‘no no joey’ is one of your favorite things to say.  But, MAN do you love your brother.  You always wake up a bit before him, but when you hear his first cry, you always say, ‘It’s JOEY!!!’ and run to his room.  You love to be the first person to wake him up.  You love to say, ‘up’ and I lift you in his crib and you boys jump together.  Sometimes I can tell you get annoyed with him (mostly when he touches your cars) and sometimes you get a little sassy when he is grabbing our attention, but for the most part you look out for him.  When he started crawling, you started to crawl again, so you two could play together.  You pet his hair often.  And, every time you get a little carried away in excitement and hit him (yes...it happens) you say ‘sowwy’ and show him ‘gentle’ by rubbing his face.  Aaron, Joseph is SO lucky to have you. 

 I can’t wait to watch you two grow up together, as playmates and as best friends.  He will look to you, buddy, to know how to act, and so far you are giving him SUCH a great example. I watch him, watching you, all the time.  To know that you will be there to protect him, sets my mommy heart as ease.  The best thing we ever did was have you and then, have another right away.  And now, my goodness, you get ANOTHER brother.  Do you know that you are already giving him kisses in my belly and praying for your newest little brother every night??? You get to practice holding a baby with Thomas and with the twins, and you are going to be awesome at it. God knew what he was doing when he gave us you, first, to lead your brothers through life.

Your daddy sometimes tries to be tough, but even he can’t hide how cool he thinks you are.  When you talk to him, it makes him smile.  He loves when you give him snuggles.  You like to watch him play video games and he likes to get up with you in the mornings (um, 'likes' might be a bit of an exaggeration!) so you can have ‘dude time’.  There is a lot that amazes me about you kid, but watching you turn my husband into a daddy has been so cool.  He is a good dad. And you are an awesome son.  I like how that works out.

A couple more things so I don’t forget.  My favorite thing to do with you?  I clap and sing, "Question????  Who, is, the best mom, eveeer?" and you answer, "MAMA!!!!"  We have gotten so good at it, usually I only have to say, ‘QUESTION’ and you scream it out.  But baby love sometimes I stink at being the best mom ever.

There have been a handful of times this year where I haven’t been a good mom.  When I have been tired and snapped at you.  I hate when I do that.  Especially when you don’t deserve it, and when I am just tired.  I have been really sick with your newest brother, so a lot of time you have to play on your own, and even sometimes help with Joey (you are the best wipe-getter and diaper thrower outer ever)! Sometimes, I have to just bum around on the couch until I can get the energy to take care of you guys, and you have been so awesome with that.  I love when you come up to me and sneak right next to me to sit down.  I love that you are patient with me. I love that you seem to understand how sacred it is when I have to say, ‘sorry’ to you and that you always look at me with a smile,  reassuring me that it is okay and you have forgiven me.  I am going to try to be a better mommy for you next year, and the year after. I want to keep working at it, so I can be the type of mom that you deserve.  It’s hard work.  But I am trying.  Thank you for understanding when I screw it up.  Hey, at least this year I didn't crack your skull!!!!

Can I tell you a secret?  The older you get, the more it hurts to love you.  I know that sounds crazy, but it is true. I never ever understood what loving someone so much it hurts meant, until I had you.  My heart sometimes actually feels like it will explode for love of you.  Thinking about what a cool kid you are makes my eyes well up. I worry about you more than I knew humanly possible.  The hurt isn't bad, but it is real.  I imagine it is probably a taste of how God feels for us.  I want everything good to come to you, I want you to know how special you are, I want you to be happy, and more than that, I want you to be good.  If I could kiss you and hold you forever, I would.

And, if I feel that way about you, I can’t imagine how God feels about you.  I can’t believe, actually can’t believe, that He has trusted your daddy and I to care for you and raise you to hopefully be a saint.  I love that you are starting to understand how cool God is.  How much Jesus loves you. When we go to Church, you always say, ‘HIII!!!!’ really loud to the cross and then you blow Jesus kisses.  You are learning to behave in Mass and you can finally bless yourself and say Amen.  50% of the time you sit nicely through prayers at nighttime!  Your daddy and I continue to pray that we can do a good job to show you how much Our God loves you.  We fail at it all the time, but we keep trying.

Baby boy, I have a love/hate relationship with this growing older thing.  On one hand, you become cooler each day, and I adore getting to know you, teach you, play with you, smile with you and laugh with you (we laugh so much) but darn it all, you are losing that ‘baby thing’. You are a now a toddler, you’ll soon be a little boy, and then a kid, then a teen (gasp) then married! But for now, we will be so thankful for your second year of life and we will ask God to bless your third.

I love you baby boy.  I am so blessed to be your mom!

Mom

April 28^th 2013

7 Quick Takes- kind o' crabby style

  

--- 1 ---

Quick takes are a day late!  Oops. I wasn't going to do them.  Instead, I was going to do a post entitled, '10 things that are ticking me off', because lots of stuff is ticking me off.  BUT, I will wait on that post and keep it classy in this one!  Well, kind of.  You might still get a bit o' sass, but isn't that what you have come to expect?

--- 2 ---

Rough week around these parts.  The roughest, actually.  Many of you know our good friends who lost their son at 32 weeks.  I have seen a lot of good things, I have seen a lot of bad things.  But, I perhaps have not witnessed anything so tragic as the loss of our friend's beautiful son.  It is so awesome to know he gets to dance in heaven, it is so unfair (can't think of a better word) that our friends didn't get time with him here on earth.  If you know the couple, please pray.  A lot.  This week they have shown a strength I have not seen before.

--- 3 ---

Black radio ticked me off this week.  I was listening to 1200 (a Detroit station) and they were discussing whether or not black men/women should 'cross over'.  Here's the 411, I get that some people aren't into interracial dating and marriage (however, you need only look at the beautiful babies to know Jesus approves), but it was the things they were saying upon calling in.  "My son had one of them over and I told them to 'get that trash out of my house'".  "Interracial dating is like a Jewish person being with a Nazi .  Etc... now, check it. I know there are ignorant people in the world, but with a touch of reverse-ness, this radio show would have been put on blast.  But, of course, it wasn't.  Then, I found out in Georgia, there are still segregated proms.  Are you joking me!?!?!?! I can't even.  A black prom and white prom.  People, it's a little much.

--- 4 ---

You know, these might just be full of sass.  Today, I got ticked (surprise) about people using their 'studies' to tell me how my kid is going to be screwed up.  As many of you know, Aaron and I don't read parenting books and don't follow most parenting fads, we raise our kids with our gut.  The thing is, I dig all of you that read books and follow "studies". You AP parents, who co-sleep and discipline with gentle redirection....Love ya! I swear.  But, I would love it if you'd stop quoting 'studies' saying if I don't, my kid is going to be screwed up.  I shouldn't care, but it is such a stupid thing to do.  I have more to say, about certain, 'doctors' that turn these things into spiritual issues...but alas, I shall refrain.

--- 5 ---

How about niceness?  Do I have it in me?  This morning, Big A let me sleep in (it was much needed, sleep was not a thing that came easy this week), and then woke me up saying, 'the boys said we should go to ikea for breakfast'.  I hate Ikea, it scared me, it is too big and they try to trap you in the store by making it a maze...but, they have cheap and delicious breakfast (hopefully, not with meat made from horses).  Anyway, it was awesome.  And then, in 10 minutes, we are going to swing by a carnival.

--- 6 ---

Oh, I should be cleaning my house and doing laundry today. I REALLY should.  My house is a mess, my room smells like there could be a dirty diaper hiding somewhere in it.  But, alas, I opted for a pajama day today. Bad choice?  Probably.  It's still happening.

--- 7 ---

1.5 months left until stay-at-home-momhood.  Um, excited much? I am.

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