Growth

Everyone who knows me well knows that I am a Type A personality. I thrive off of structure and order. I love organization. I am constantly organizing and re-organizing my house to make the most efficient use of my space. I like everything to be in its place. I frequently say, "Cluttered house equals cluttered mind." When my house is tidy I feel most at ease. And when it is not, I get cranky.

I am also a bit of a control freak. I like things to be done my way and I fall into the trap of believing that my way is the best way. I don't usually welcome change.... if something works, why change it?

Marriage and motherhood have thrown a wrench into all of the above. Learning to live with someone who does not share your "cluttered house equals cluttered mind" mentality is challenging. Having two children not does help with keeping the house neat. I have often found myself snapping at my husband when there are so many toys on the floor that I can't hear myself think!

I am harder on myself than anyone else ever could be. I set expectations so high that I often feel overwhelmed by my self-imposed standards. While in the hospital with little bit I made a vow to myself and my family that I will try really hard to just take a "chill pill."

I value the people that live in this house a million times more than I value its tidiness. In those hectic moments I don't always act that way. I don't want my family's memories to be of mom having a hissy fit about the house. I would rather them remember me down in the floor, amidst all the crumbs, playing cars with them and chasing them around the house with the play vacuum cleaner.

I am a work in progress.... this change hasn't happened overnight, but the Lord is surely working on me! I am learning to step back and gain perspective before acting in a way that belittles or disrespects my husband.

Lord, thank you that You who has begun a good work in me is faithful to see it to completion!

Show us your life - wedding dress

I thought I would join Kelly in reminiscing about my wedding dress today!!!

I absolutely loved my wedding dress (and my wedding)! My dress was one of the first 5 that I tried on. I picked it up from the rack and initially put it back, but the shop where I was allowed you to try 5 and I had picked 4, so I went back and got it. The minute I put it on I knew that was it!!! My mom, sisters, and good friend Tanya were with me that day. The looks on their faces when I came out of the dressing room confirmed my thoughts that this was indeed THE ONE!!!

My dress was mermaid style with a sweetheart neckline. There was rhinestone beading at the breastbone and delicate beading around the neckline. It had long, sheer sleeves with a bell wrist. It was totally NOT what I thought I would get, but ended up loving it!!!

I'm biting the bullet

OK, so I "officially" started potty training A on Monday.

By "officially" I mean that I am getting him to sit on the potty in the morning when he wakes up, in the afternoon when he wakes up from a nap, and before bedtime. I am trying to remember to ask him during the day also, but I'm having a harder time with that one!!!

Everyday he has sat on the potty at least twice and peed. One day he pooped. Two times he has told me he has to go potty, without me asking him, and has gone. He is still wearing a diaper... I'm easing both of us into this process. Once he gets the hang of it and is telling me more often that he has to "go," then we will transition to big boy undies.

I know in the parenting world there is much debate over whether or not to offer your child a reward for pottying. The great child psychologists all have a different opinion on this one. I have chosen the path of reward and so far it is working. I went to Target and stocked up on 0.99 matchbox cars and bought a bag of M&Ms. I'm going to alternate which treat he gets when he goes potty.

So we are just getting our feet wet with this potty training thing. I feel like I am totally unqualified to do this, which technically I am, considering I have never potty trained a child before.

So, all you mom's out there who have done this.... what worked best for you????

Baby Jack

My sister Brittany delivered her first baby 3 weeks after Little Bit was born! This has been a very exciting summer for our family as we welcomed 2 new additions! It has been so much fun being pregnant with my sis and going through the sleepless newborn phase together too.

We were able to travel to Birmingham the week after Jack was born to meet him. Despite how exhausting the trip was with a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 week old, I'm so glad we were able to get some pictures of these boys together while they were newborns.

Here is A loving on baby Jack:

An uncooperative A with both babies:

Here is GiGi with both newbies:


Jack and Little Bit in their matching outfits that GiGi bought them:


Who can resist sweet baby feet?



Side by side in Jack's crib:



Sweet baby Jack:

Meal planning Sunday

I thought I'd join Steph over at Green Kiddos for meal planning Sunday!!! Here's what we're having this week:

Monday - Tacos with black beans as a side

Tuesday - Chicken lasagna and salad

Wednesday - Grilled chicken with linguine and veggies

Thursday - Creamy crockpot chicken with mushrooms. This is a delicious Southern Living recipe that this friend passed along to me.

Friday - Meatball subs and chips

What is your family eating this week?

Handsome in Pink

We made our 3rd appearance at church today since Little Bit arrived. A donned his new pink polo shirt and he looked so darn cute that I had to post a picture!!!

I've had to leave church the previous 2 Sunday's during the service to feed Little Bit. Today his feedings worked out where I wouldn't have to do that. BUT he grunted and squirmed so much that I took him out anyway and watched from the lobby. Next week he'll be old enough to go to the nursery and I look forward to hearing the entire message from the sanctuary!

Fast Learner

I have always been told that I am a fast learner and that I catch on quick to new things. Well, it didn't take me long to learn a few things about being a mom of two!

Here are some of things I have learned:

• I am not superwoman!!! Being the independent gal that I am, this has been a hard one to swallow because I do not like to rely on others, including my hubby. For my own sanity and the well being of my family, I am quickly overcoming this. Its been a sweet time in my marriage as we have leaned on each other because he can't do it without me either!
• I cannot do everything for both of my kids. Again, this is another hard one. Its good for them to learn to let someone other than mommy do things for them, but this is sad for me. As a mother of one, I could easily fill every sippy cup, read every book, change every diaper, and kiss every boo-boo. Not possible as a mother of two because there is still only 1 of me.
• Washing my hair everyday is a luxury that is temporarily lost. I hope to re-introduce this into my daily routine at some point in the near future, but for now, I am just thankful to even get a shower (which may or may not happen everyday either!).
• My kitchen floor may never see a mop again
• I may never run more than 1 errand a day again - it takes a lot out of gal to load and unload 2 kids in the car!
• I have to do a load of laundry everyday or the dirty clothes will overtake our house! Long gone are the days when I did all of the laundry for the week on one day!
• Adding 1 new child does not double the work - it triples or quadruples it!
• Adding 1 new child does not double the blessings - it triples or quadruples them!
• A mother's love knows no limits - who would have ever thought that I could love another child as much as I loved A? I didn't think there was that much love left in the whole world, but little bit has managed to steal my heart!
• My heart is so full sometimes that it hurts
• At the end of the day when I am exhausted beyond belief, seeing all 3 of my boys snuggling in A's twin bed gives me the strength to go on and do it all again tomorrow.

1 Month Old

Our sweet little bit is 1 month old today! I am resisting the urge to cry at the thought that it is already going by so fast!!!

The transition from 1 child to 2 has been much easier than I expected. I would not say that it is "easy," but it has been a really enjoyable time for our family.

Little Bit, at 1 month old, you are:

• Quickly outgrowing all of your newborn clothes
• Wearing a size 1 diaper
• Cooing - it is one of the sweetest sounds ever heard!
• You love your bouncy seat
• You usually fall right asleep when I put you on your tummy for "tummy time"
• You eat every 3 hours during the day
• Most nights you wake at 1:30, 5:30 and 9:00 to eat
• You are a very good nurser
• You like your swaddle ok.... sometimes you fight it and I have to take you out of it
• You're not a huge fan of the sleep positioner - you prefer to sleep on your back
• You love napping in front of your sunny bedroom window

Mommy, Daddy and big brother all adore you! We are so thankful God chose you to be part of our family!