March!

Woah. It's already my birthday. I can't believe how quickly this year is going by. My kiddos are growing up so fast and the seasons are changing. It's an amazing time in our lives.

The weather has been warming up, though it's off and on, but anytime we can we take full advantage of it. We've been riding bikes, going for walks, playing in the grass, taking the dog out to play ball - anything to get out of the house. Jack is loving it and Owen, as always, is just a happy camper to come along for the ride.

Jack is proving to be a difficult toddler, terrible twos aren't an accurate description of our daily lives. Though, I'm sure lots of other people have it way worse, this is my blog and I'll cry about it if I want to (though, I'd love to hear other stories and any suggestions/advice). He can be such a great kid, he is such a great kid, but he's mastered the art of not listening, intentionally doing things he's not supposed to do, and when he gets mad he goes into this 10-15 second rage and needs to hit, throw, push or do something physical to clearly explain why he's mad. I don't know where he gets it from, Clayton and I are both pretty mild people. I'm hoping it's a phase. I know it's a phase. I just need to put myself in time out more - and eat more chocolate.

Owen is walking. And talking. He's huge. Where did my baby go? He says lots of things: More, Jack, Bella, Momma, Dada, nanana (banana), mmmMMMmm (as in 'delicious!'), whhaaachaaaaa (as in high five...it's the noise we make as the slapping happens. Don't judge.), uh-oh and good job (though, sounds more like goo jooo). He's only 10 months. He's a genius.

Clayton is such a great husband and spoiled me for my birthday. He took the day off (and tomorrow too!!) and made me my favorite breakfast (biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs - YUM!), he got me some brown converse (YAAY!), some circle mirrors for our bathroom that I've been eyeing for the past two years, a picture frame and a coupon organizer. He's amazing. We got ready and took the boys to Monkey Buizness (best three dollars spent! Jack LOVED it and Owen, again, was just happy to hang out). After lunch at Applebee's we came home and Clayton let me have time to sew! I made two skits, both of which I don't like (but hey, it was good practice!) and then we fentured back out to Fred Meyer so I could get some dairy free ice cream to go with the yummy cake Clayton is baking me!

Good day.

I'm a very lucky lady. Oh, and read this:  Read this. Be a better Parent.  It's worth the five minutes of your life. I'm not perfect, VERY far from it, but it makes me cry to think that a father, or mother, would treat their child like this. There are ways to go about telling your children no and belittling them isn't one of them.

And now, pictures!

He looks like a two year old in this picture.

Clayton asked me to document the first time Jack watched ninja turtles. He liked it for 10 seconds and then moved on.

Water and corn starch = solid 30 minutes of fun = solid 45 minutes of clean up. 

CHEEESE!

He's so big he can sit on a big boy swing this year! 

And so can Clay...

Snuggle muffin!

So cute!

<3

I'm crafty.

I think I've used up my alone birthday time. I can hear children causing a ruckus. Until next time. <3

Anything but Glamorous...

Motherhood is many things. It's also NOT a lot of things. Even though some Moms will lead you to believe that they can pull of changing a poopy diaper and still feel sexy, they are lying. To you and probably themselves.

Motherhood is not glamorous. When I imagined becoming a mommy I thought it would be sunshine and smiles, sweet butterfly kisses and silly dances, bubble baths and cuddly naps. I thought it would kind of be like Mary Popins, without the obvious acid trip in the middle. It is those things, 3% of the time.

The other 97%? It's poop from their toes to their armpits,  unidentifiable throw up (is that the cat's or the baby's?), tantrums, screaming, throwing, kicking, mess making, etc.

I spent last weekend reading a mommy blog (www.crappypictures.com) and I laughed so hard I cried. Several times. She knows what mommyhood is all about.

Then, yesterday I stumbled upon a different kind of mommy blog (parentingfromscratch.wordpress.com). That one made me cry and feel like a bad mommy.

I love my kids. My boogers. My loves. They are my walking, talking, car-playing, block-throwing, worlds. I wouldn't change anything for a million dollars (unless the million dollars meant no more I-am-two-hear-me-roar-throwing-a-fit-all-day stage, I'd probably change that).

Everyone has their own parenting style. Everyone does things VERY differently. When I think of staying home and raising my little people I think of teaching ABC's, counting, laughing, chasing, making cookies, painting, and everything being roses, rainbows and bliss. But, even when I don't have daycare kids and get to pretend that I am a simple stay at home mommy, bliss rarely occurs. And by rarely, I mean occurs once or twice that day for approximently 25 seconds.

The dog is barking, the dishes are dirty and stinky, the baby pooped, Jack fell, Jack pushed the baby, Jack wants to color, Mommy closed the door to pee (seriously, WHY does the bathroom even have a door anymore? I should just take it down and use it for a fun corner shelf or headboard like I see on pinterest all of the time). It just doesn't happen, at least not for me.

I can't help but wondering if I'm doing something wrong, am I not mommy enough? Are my expectations too high? Too low? Are my kids behind in development? Ahead? Slow? Out of control?

But, then they nap. I eat some chocolate and realize that I miss them and can't wait for them to wake up and that's when it happens.

Motherhood. It's such a confusing, hard, frustrating, rewarding, amazing, daunting, endless job.

And I love it.