I Confess.

I have said many times that my life is totally different than what I expected. I have learned to eat my words. A LOT. When I was young, my mom was a stay at home mom. She made it look easy. The house was clean. Dinner was always on the table, with place mats, napkins, water, etc. Dinner dishes were finished and we would sit down and watch TV together. She would do our laundry- and I would complain. Seriously, I would complain!! I would get annoyed if it was wrinkled or if she just threw it on my bed! What the hell was wrong with me (she started making me do my own)? 

Anyway.... I always thought to myself that wen I was a mom: #1 I would work #2 I would be on top of the house and all the wifey/motherly stuff.

Well, I quit my job and I SUCK as a stay at home mom. I am ashamed to admit this, but I used to think that being a stay at home mom was the easiest job ever. I really didn't think that it was hard to keep the house clean, the laundry caught up, dinner on the table etc. I believe that God ha His hand in my decision to stay home and my inability to keep up with.... life. He wanted to show me the truth. He wants me to know how lucky I was to have a mom who stayed home and did what she did. He wants me to step up.... I think.

So, I am confessing this awful, awful truth. Yes, I completely took my mother for granted, Yes, I totally thought that being a stay at home mom was easy. Yes, I "knew" that I would be able to be a perfect stay at home mom.

Okay....there it is. My confession. I feel better (Ok Lord, I have learned my lesson, I am ready to dive into the laundry again).


*Disclaimer: I am grateful that I get to stay home with my kids. I just want to be better at it.

PS Thanks for your help all weekend mom!

You Know You're a Mom....Whens-DAZE..... Grocery Shopping.

Arizona Momma rocks! Love her blog....and love this meme. SO head on over and show her some love!










Okay, today mine is about that daunting task of grocery shopping. Now, I *used* to enjoy grocery shopping....even when I just had Delaney and was pregnant. I would make my list, cut my coupons, and head out to Fry's and Safeway. Now, 2 toddlers, sometimes 3, not so much. Turns out they don't love it. I haven't been doing coupons as much (which I really need to get back to) and I only go to Safeway now (it's the closest). But, I do get to shop at the Commissary when my mom is up for the trip out there. The problem with the commissary is we usually can only go when Eric is at work, which means...kids.

So, I load up on snacks, their cups, suckers, etc. and we head out. Here's where the meme comes in....


You know you're a mom when, you race to get the ONLY shopping cart that has the super cool rocket. Oh and I do mean race. Sometimes, it comes down to getting dropped off at the curb so that the mom that is parking, can't get to it first. We always scope it out first. If the coast looks clear, we park and then head straight to the rocket. The rocket is WAY better than the car cart. Just the fact that it is up high, right next to my hands and NOT where they can suddenly escape in the produce department and you don't notice (which has never happened to me - ha), is HUGE!!!!!!

Happy kids....the beginning of the endeavor.

(Taken in front of the cart)

And the end...yes Delaney is eating a box and Brody is pulling down a flat of cans.

So, moral of the story- don't mess with a mom and her shopping cart (and if you see me at the commissary, don't even try and beat me to the rocket)

Mother's Day

My Nanny sent me this, I thought it was great! Love you Nanny and Mimi....Miss you both!

And Happy Mother's Day Mom- I love you so much!

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up puke laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, 'It's okay honey, Mommy's here'.

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football , hockey or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could say, 'Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon' twice a night for a year. And then read it again. 'Just one more time.'

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway?

Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M.when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us.

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray.

Dear Brody,

Dear Brody,

Today is your FIRST birthday! You are ONE today. I really can't believe it. Last year, on this day, your daddy and I checked into the hospital and waited to meet you. I spent the day (and the whole 9 months before) picturing what you looked like. At 4:51 that Friday afternoon, we got to found out. You were so cute! The doctor put you on my chest and I instantly fell in love. I looked at you and couldn't believe that you were my son. You and I spent your first time night in this world, by ourselves. Daddy was home with Delaney and we got some quality time together. I remember holding you against my chest, you were all curled up snuggling with me- what an amazing feeling.

I love you so much. You are the funniest little boy. I love how infectious your smile and personality are. I think that your laugh is the most adorable sound in the world. It cracks me up when you swipe your sister's toys, just because you want what she is touching. I love the way you love your blanket and the way you love me. When I get you out of your crib, you make my heart melt with your excitement. Your sleeping habits aren't the best, but every single time I am rocking you in the middle of the night, I look down at your chubby cheeks and I am in awe that you are mine.

I can't believe how fast this year has gone. I remember being terrified about having two kids. I didn't know how to do it. It didn't matter to you though. You just knew that I was your mommy and that I loved you. That was all I needed.

We just finished your first birthday party. It was so fun. I am sitting here writing this with tears streaming down my face because I am so overwhelmed by my love for you and your sister. Tonight, I have a 2 year old and a one year old. Wow....thank you for making it so easy to be your mommmy (if you want to sleep more though, that'd be okay).  I love your guts Monkey. You complete my world. Happy Birthday.

Love,
Mommy

You Know You're a Mom....When-sDAZE

I LOVE Arizona Mamma! She is great! If you haven't read her blog- GO! Go now. I will wait...

Click here........

Did ya do it?

Anyway, she started a new thing today called "You Know You're a Mom...When-sDAZE" and it's so fun.

Here I go:

You know you are a mom when you are so tired of laundry, you let the little wear diapers all day to subtract from the loads you will need to do.

You know you are a mom when you pick the boogers out of your kids nose....and then wipe them on your clothes.

You know you are a mom when you have phrases like "I'm losing my mind" thrown back in your face by a 2 year old.

You know you are a mom when you are holding your baby boy who is almost one and get teary eyed thinking about how big he is...even though it is 3 in the morning and it's the 3rd time he's been up.

Thanks for this Arizona Mamma! Can't wait 'til next week!

All Before 10

I love people that have this jaded sense of what a stay at home mom does. I love the "you don't have anything to do" or "you're home all day" kind of comments. I must admit, I was once one of those 'people'. Now, having had kids, I know better. Here was my morning:

6:30 am- I am awaken by Delaney screaming "Mommy!" an hour after getting Brody back to sleep.
6:45 am- I am awaken again, this time by Eric telling me what time it is- I jump out of bed, put put on a bra and go into the living room.

6:50-7:10- Get juice cups ready, pour coffee for myself, change Delaney, get cereal for the car, wake up Brody, change him, get shoes on, get in the car.

7:10- 8:00- Take Daylen to school. This trip involves a lot of crying after Daylen gets out of the car....and on this particular day, it included a giant poop by Brody.

8:00- Turn on Oso, change poopy diaper #1.

8:05-8:30- Open all the blinds, throw a load of laundry in washer, check email, make breakfast for kids.

8:30-9:00- Kids eat breakfast, I chug coffee, I unload the dishwasher and get out food to thaw for dinner

9:00- Change poopy diaper #2 of Brody's, change poopy (ie?) diaper of Delaney's, answer phone.

9:15- Shower time! (I lock the kids in my room with me while I shower, I baby gate the entrance to the bathroom though otherwise Brody like to play, splash in the potty)

9:16- Take toilet paper out of Brody's mouth (didn't get the gate up in time)

9:17- Take chapstick away from Delaney

9:18- FINALLY get in shower

9:20- Get out of shower with hair full of shampoo to get Brody 'unstuck' from under the bed

9:23- Get out of shower again.....see above! Seriously KID!

9:26- Done with shower.

9:30-10:00- Put on makeup, "do" hair (put it in ponytail), get dressed, make bed, get kids dressed, make Delaney's bed, put clothes in dryer.

That's all before 10:00...... hmmmmm....notice, no sleeping in, no day time TV. Totally not what I thought. It is so exhausting, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

You Know You're A Mom....

You know you're a mom when....

you feel your legs to see if they need shaving and realize that they are NOT spiky-yay (b/c the hair is so long it is soft now)!

you wipe your kids nose with your finger.

you check to see if they pooped by smelling their butt.

you sing the theme songs to all the cartoons in the shower.

you know the line up of Playhouse Disney.

you park next to a shopping cart return thing because it's easier.

you drive a killer mini-van.

you are always prepared (for the kids...not so much you).

you can shower, do your makeup, hair, get dressed in about 30 minutes.

you think sweats are da bomb!

you can get yourself ready, the kids ready, the dog fed, the diaper bag packed and the car turned on BEFORE your husband is done brushing his teeth.

you suck on a popsicle first so that it doesn't stuck to your little ones tongue.

you get excited to sleep for a few hours in a row.

you can't imagine your life without your kids

you have never felt so full of love that it blows your mind.

Okay, I know that this list wasn't for everyone. This is an abbreviated list of mine that goes on and on.... think about your "Now that I am a mom" list. Pretty crazy!