poop happens

Poop happens.
I suppose that means different things to different people at different times of life.
Can i tell you what it means to me today?
It means that holding and loving on my baby caused a wardrobe change right before it was time to leave for work. Pants AND shirt. And belt.
It means staring at said baby for 5 minutes trying to determine the correct 'approach' at cleaning her up.
It means that once i figured out which angle to take, she happily munched on a wipe (I'm just going to assume it was one of the clean ones) while simultaneously trying her hardest to stick her feet right into the middle of that ooey, gooey mess formerly known as a diaper.
It also means a feeling of great satisfaction once i actually completed the clean up process without the aid of a haz-mat suit (which, by the way, i think the hospital should provide post-delivery).
You know what else it means? She did it again when i picked her up after work.
I love being a mom, but sometimes poop happens.

I did. I do. I will.

10 years ago, I said I do to my best friend. I committed to spending the rest of my life with him. As long as we both shall live.

That was 3,653 days ago. We have not liked each other every one of those days (especially day 3…. Whew! That was a rough one!), but I can honestly say, as cliché as it may sound, I have loved that man with all my heart every single one of those days. And it’s true… I love him so much more today that I did the day I said ‘I will’.

10 years ago, it was just him and I taking on the world together. I think we really thought we knew it all! I am proud to say now, that we will never know it all… and that’s quite alright…. but, man, have we learned a lot together!! Marriage is hard work and I can’t think of a better person to be in the trenches with, working through it one step at a time.

I am grateful for a husband that will laugh with me. And at me. Because, let’s face it, if you can’t find it in yourself to laugh, there is a whole lot of stuff in life that will make you cry!

For better or worse      
        We’ve experienced great… but I have no doubt that there is even better ahead of us. We’ve gone through bad, but I’m sure we’ll see worse.

For richer or for poorer

                We started dirt poor. We still feel poor. But we recognize that we are rich beyond measure.

               

In sickness and in health

                I never knew what ‘sick’ could truly mean, but I’m blessed to have a husband that stuck by me right through it. And that really helps us appreciate the ‘healthy’.

To love and to cherish
        cher·ish  [cher-ish]  verb (used with object)
1. to hold or treat as dear; feel love for

2. to care for tenderly; nurture

3. to cling fondly or inveterately to

As long as we both shall live

                Yep. I often joke with him, when he does something I find a bit, um, jerkish, that it’s not that easy to get rid of me. Because I’m sticking around FOREVER.

From this....

To this....

.....I can't wait to see what the next 10 years hold.....

...one sweet day at a time...

spelling bee.

I think most parents speak in code around their children when they don't want all the details of their conversation spilled to little ears.... whether that means we use secret words, speak with our eyes, or in this specific case, we spell out the key words:
So, my mom and I were talking about taking the girls to the zoo. But it's been super hot, and this mama wasn't about to take 3 little girls to the zoo in 90 degree heat. So, we decided we'd wait until that day before we decided if we would go or not. That way, if we did go it would be a surprise, if we didn't there would be no disappointment.
I was telling my hubby about these plans so he would be in-the-know, but Eden was nearby. So, I just told him my mom and I may take the girls to the Z-O-O tomorrow.
That little girl didn't miss a beat. "Z-O-O. That spells zoo!"
ugh.... secrets out.
I forget that she's learning to read. And with reading, comes spelling. Who knew??!
"Mommy, I'll tell you how I knew what that spelled. Because it's in my Kindergarten book! [gets book] See... right there... Z-O-O. They are going to the zoo. That spells zoo."

Sometimes.

Sometimes parenting is exhausting.

Sometimes discipline is hard.

Sometimes you wonder if the work is even worth it.

Sometimes you wonder if anyone even hears you.

Sometimes it seems that all your attempts are wasted.

Sometimes your attempts to raise responsible, respectful little humans seem futile.

Sometimes you feel like all you do is yell.

Sometimes it seems as though the only word you say is no.

(Sometimes it seems as though the only word your kids say is no!)

Sometimes you just wish for one day to go…. smoothly.

Sometimes you wonder when the last time was that you actually just relaxed.

But….

Sometimes it’s fun.

Sometimes you laugh more than you cry.

Sometimes you see a glimmer of hope.

Sometimes you hear a ‘please’ or a ‘thank you’. Or, even better, an ‘I’m sorry’ or an ‘I forgive you’.

Sometimes you get hugs and kisses.

Sometimes you see the results of your faithful training.

Sometimes your cranky 3-year-old comes to you at 10am and voluntarily tells you she is going to lay in bed until lunch time. Because even she knows that she needs a time out. And she comes out 30 minutes later as a completely different little lady.

Sometimes that’s all you need to keep plugging away, one day at a time, loving these little people with your whole being, knowing you are doing your best and nobody can ask anymore of you.

Sometimes I think this is more than I signed up for, but ALL THE TIME I know that I wouldn’t want it any other way!!

{heard around the house) June Edition

• "I'm just not fast. God just made some people that way." -Jada; she seriously is sooooo sloooowww.....
• "Can I spend the night? Because today is tomorrow." -Jada; I've heard these comments a lot recently, as she tries to figure out time relationships 
• "This is NOT making my day." -Eden; super pouty, because she didn't get the princess cup
• "Mommy, I almost called God 'Daddy'!!" -Jada; she laughed about it, she had no idea how much that 'mis-speak' swelled my heart
• "mmmmm....." -Kate; as she pulled her thumb out of her mouth and admired it. Must be tasty!
• "This IS the crazy house!" -Eden; when her daddy told her he was going to send her to the crazy house

Talk to text

Eden was having fun with the talk to text feature on my phone last night... Seriously, so many giggles. She's fun :)

{heard around the house} May Edition

• "Knock, knock, knock. Penny! Knock, knock, knock. Penny!" -Jada; ahhhh BBT
• "Mommy! We're helping Kate do somersaults!!" -Eden; note to self... the big girls are NOT ready to babysit. (no worries, Kate survived. And i removed her from the dangerous situation.)
• "This is the best lice treatment ever. Because we get to do it together!" -Jada; yeah, it's been a long 6 weeks around here. I'm about to burn down the house...i think that's the only way to  kill those bugs!
• "I'll huff and i'll puff and i'll blow your butt down!" -Jada; unprompted, in the middle of dinner.
• "No more monkeys humping in the bed." -Eden; I don't know what to say... She's her father's daughter??
• "I got skillz...." -Jada; because she used her hair tie to shut the light off. Serious skills.
• "Mommy, when will I be old enough to go to Haiti?" -Eden; I really can't wait to take her!
• "Thank you." -Kate; after I told her how beautiful she is.
• "Mommy, I need to go pee - I have a headache." -Jada