My Mommy Challenges - #1

So as a mom....I feel as though I am faced with a handful of new challenges that I am learning how to tackle. One of these is what I will call the "Mother's circle of friends".

These are the mother's that I turn to to help bounce ideas off of, take comfort in when having a hard day and can share endless stories and pictures of my kiddos with without annoying the crap out of them! Because they are momma's too!

Some of these mother's we luck into...we have our close friends pregnant at the same time, therefore we all migrate to motherhood together. This is always fun...because you know them pre-mommy and they know you pre-mommy. To them...you are the girl who could go out and party until 2am and they get the chance now to hear stories about bottle feedings at 2am. Your kids can grow up friends and then you have someone to tease about those stories "back then" that we all promise to tell our kids to embarass the parent :)

Then you have family that are like friends. I am lucky that for two of my 3 pregnancies, I was pregnant at the same time as my sister-in-laws...this was fun...you are all apart of the same family and not only are they built in friends (this might not be true for all) but the kids are cousins and have a great support system and built in playmates at all family functions.

Then there are the new mommy friends...the ones that only know you with a belly or stretch marks. It is what brought you together as friends. Your kids are on the same team, dance class or school. This is where my challenge comes in...meeting new mom friends. All of a sudden I am back in Junior High scared to talk to the popular kids. Ridiculous I know...but making friends can be difficult...and I am not normally a shy person, but I find myself in situations that instead of introducing myself, I back off. This must be changed! Katelyn is in dance now...and I have a friend that takes her daughter to the same class. So I have one friend there...but I am pretty sure I have never reached out to say hello to other moms in the class. Also, I am looking at putting KK in soccer...again...this would be a great opportunity for Katelyn and myself to make friends.

So I am going to push myself....force myself into those awkward situations where there is no other choice than to say "Hello my name is...." I will update...hopefully before long I will have a few new mommy friends :)

As I write this post...I realize this sounds as though I am saying that moms are only friends with other moms...and that IS NOT where I am going with this...I find that my single friends as well as those friends that are married without children are very important in my friend group. First of all they accept me and my crazy mom stories without judgement and I am hoping that I haven't scared anyone from having children with some of my crazy stories!! I think I am really just saying that I hide behind my kids sometimes when making friends and even keeping up my current friendships. I need to realize, I have to have a life too and take the time away to let myself rejuvenate. Well...here is to friendships!

Tomorrow can't be Thursday...can it??

Okay...so this week has FLOWN BY!

I was out of town for a bachelorette party this past weekend and I can't believe I haven't even blogged about the fun we had...I will.

But since returning...I feel like someone pressed my "GO" button and it has not been turned off!! Monday always flies by and then I worked good ol' 8-5 yesterday and today....so by the time I get home and squeeze in playtime, dinner, bath and bedtime....then some laundry and cleaning....I am worn out...so I have been so lazy that I haven't even felt like getting online!! Crazy, I know :)

But I will resume regular duty tomorrow...the kids head to MDO and Austin and I are headed to Target, Hobby Lobby and I am getting my hair cut (yay yay yay....it is much needed!!!)

I must add in the best part of today though....when I got home and walked into our bedroom...I found a envelope with my name on it...and it said "just because"....and inside...a gift certificate to the spa for a mani & pedi!!! What a great hubs :) It has been 19 months since I have had either....so this will be a real treat!! Double points for him tonight!!

Well...until tomorrow!!

Conversations with a 3-year old

Well it is Sunday...and I am wigged ....I mean WORN out...I will explain tomorrow LOL...but anyway, I was out of town this weekend so she stayed with my parents and it was SOOOOO GOOOOOD to come home and see her smiling face and hear what she had to say. Kids will say anything...and I love it!

So I decided I would post some of the best things I hear from my precious KK...she makes me laugh on a daily basis.




Real life examples...

In the Car.....

KK: "Mom....Mom...MOM!!" (said all 3 in a matter of a second)
Me: "Yes KK..."
KK: "There is a GIANT bugger in my nose"
Me: "Really? Well..."
KK: "Don't worry mom...I got it out"

(minutes later while on the phone with her dad...I had told him what she had said...and so he asks her what she did with it...she laughs and tells him she wiped it on her carseat...NICE...)

Not much of a shopper...in a store at the mall

Sales Girl: "Everything ok in there..."
Me: "Yes, thank you" (door opens) "Do you have a necklace that would look good with this?"
Sales Girl: "Yes...I can grab you a few options to try on"
KK: (with a roll of the eye) "MMMMOOOOMMMM....are we going to have to close the store down??"

At home....

Me: "Bryce....come here....I have to wipe your nose"...."Bryce...Bryce...your nose!!!"
Bryce: nothing....just runs off
KK: "Mom...he FEARS the Kleenex"

About to leave the house...such a DIVA
KK: "Mom...I just need to pick out a few bracelets and then I will be there to get my hair done...just give me a few minutes"

Sitting in my bathroom....she had to go pee pee...
Dad standing there....waiting...

KK: "Dad...the bathroom needs to be green...."
Kev: "Well, the other bathroom is green..."
KK: "No Dad...THIS bathroom needs to be green...and you really need to decorate...it's so boring"

Really!?! She is refering to the masterbath...and it is true...it needs a makeover...but where does she get this stuff! But my favorite will always be..."I love you..." it just sounds so sweet with her little voice...love that girl!!

Good night!

Fashion Challenged....

So I will begin by saying, I do not think that I have always been challenged in the realm of fashion, however since I have pregnant for 27 of the last 36 months (not to mention the odd post pregnancy months), my fashion sense got lost somewhere between stretchy pants and nursing bras.

Normally, these days I don't particularly care. I probably should, but I don't. I am happy to be in something that is comfortable, easy to move in and has minimal spit up/snot/baby goo...whatever... on it. Sad huh!

After baby #1, I was still somewhat vain...ready to get that pre-baby body back. Look like that put together mom with a great stroller and cute diaper bag. In my mind I did pretty good...and as my daughter turned one, I hit the second trimester with twins. During the pregnancies I feel like I did a good job of looking my best. I was still working in an office, so obviously there was a dress code and I tried to get out when I could. Then when I found out with the boys being 8 months old and KK 2 years old that I was pregnant with number 4, vain went out the window.

Now I want to fit into my clothes, not because of any size, but because it would be so dang expensive to replace all my jeans :) However, I feel like all my clothes in my closet are COMPLETELY OUT OF STYLE. I have a few key pieces that can go from year to year, no problem, but the last thing you want to do 10 weeks post pregnancy is shop for skinny jeans...but this is exactly what I had to do last night.

A good friend from college is getting married in a month, so this weekend I will head to Dallas to celebrate her "last night" as a single lady! Needless to say, PJ's just wouldn't cut it at a bachelorette party...or around my super cute friends :) So last night Katelyn and I loaded up with a mission in mind to find momma an appropriate, body flattering outfit for the festivities.

After an hour of being defeated...I finally sucked it up and fessed up to how "uncool" I have become. I walked into a store...and when they said "HI! Welcome to _____ let me know if I can help you," I actually said, "YES!" I possibly was a little to excited to welcome the help of a trendy worker put an outfit together so I wouldn't have to think about what went together or didn't. So, in a matter of minutes, I was in the dressing room with my little helper...put on the outfit and BAM! We had a winner! Even Katelyn said..."Mom, your blouse is so pretty"....I love it...where does she get this stuff??? Anyway...I have an outfit to wear...YAY!

Ended up with a shirt that I feel like I will be able to wear for various occassions...a pair of skinny jeans (shocking...I know!) and a great necklace :) I am actually excited to get ready tomorrow!!

So I am off to enjoy 24 hours of no kiddos this weekend...which I feel is much needed. Funny thing is...after 5 minutes on the road, I know I will be calling just to see what they are doing :) Have a great weekend!!

Date Night On Demand

So with four kiddos, the hubs and I find it hard to still do a typical date night. You know...a shower, a cute outfit, makeup and loading up in the car to sit down to a meal that someone brings to me and then head to a movie with popcorn and twizzlers. Ahhh...the good ol' days....I kid, I kid....but reality is a babysitter for four is as expensive as the actual date night and grandparents are free but I find it hard to ask them to watch them because they do so much for us all the time.

So, Kev and I have found our alternate version...Movies on Demand :) On Friday night...and even some Saturdays, once we get the kids to bed, we get in our comfy jammies and add in snacks on occassion (I LOVE oreos and milk!!)and flip through all our options on our movies on demand feature with U Verse. Sometimes we pick a new release and other times we pick and oldie but a goodie. I typically fall asleep in his lap and finish watching the movie the next day:)

These are my favorite nights....and it truly is a "date" for us. We finally kick back and talk about our days and have actual conversation, instead of the quick back and forth regarding the kiddos. It is easy to get lost in those conversations...it's not like you don't talk...but when it is always "Is his diaper changed?" "when is his next bottle?" "Did she take a nap today?"...there is always conversation, but sometimes it is just short answers...so to actually still take time for each other to ask about their day and listen to the good and bad really has helpe us appreciate each other. I don't want to wake up in 10 years when the kids are too busy doing their own thing and realize I have no idea who my husband is....that is a big fear of mine. So I am truly trying to concentrate on God first, then my marriage and then my children.

It was sweet tonight though...on our way to eat dinner, Kev and I made a pact that after our kids are too busy for us (ha!) that he and I will go back to dating....makeup, dinner outside the house and movies that will probably be WAY to expensive :) Until then...we will be checking out movies on demand and enjoying being at home with our 4 munchkins!

I am.....

I Am...a mother of four children.


I Want...to get through all my laundry today....


I Have...been blessed with two amazing parents


I Wish...I knew what I was doing when it came to this parenting thing LOL....taking it a day at a time


I Hate...feeling insecure


I Fear...something bad happening to one of my children


I Hear...Dora, and the sweet sound of 4 stuffy noses :)


I Search...for clothes in my closet that will fit me right now...I usually settle with comfy pants :)


I Wonder...what life will be like in a year


I Regret...that I get caught up in chores at times and don't enjoy the small moments with my children


I Love...the Lord and the sweet family he has blessed me with


I Ache...when I hear of people hurting and dealing with sorrow


I Always...have a messy house!


I Usually...wear contacts, however I have been wearing my glasses alot more now


I Am Not...the best friend, child, sister, wife or mother...but I sure do try :)


I Dance...with my daughter :)


I Sing...ABC's, Itsy Bitsy spider, Old McDonald on a daily basis


I Never...have it all together.


I Rarely...get all dressed up anymore...I kinda miss it!


I Cry...at sports movies.


I Am Not Always...on time these days...and I always used to be early.


I Lose...jewelry my husband gives to me...REALLY bad habit I need to break!


I'm Confused...as to why cell phones cost so much!!


I Need...to be content with what I have and not have a "grass is greener" complex.


I Should...get out more.


Who Are You?
I borrowed this fun idea from a blog I follow, Sizzlin Savages! Thanks!

Baby Rogaine?

So this week has been relatively uneventful. I did venture out yesterday to take all four kids to the mall. Are you thinking I am crazy?? Well...I am...I did have my mom with me, however, it took us 27 minutes to load up...and then about 20 minutes to get us all unloaded.

We had 4 kids, 2 strollers, lots of toys, peanut butter crackers coming out of our ears, coats, hats and a huge diaper bag. It was interesting to say the least...3 of the 4 kids were angels...so 75% in my book is pretty much perfect. Carter was not in the mood for the mall and he decided to let everyone know. I am sure I was getting looks from everyone, luckily for me, I don't even notice it anymore LOL.

We got home and we were all tired and ready for bed. Too bad it was only 4pm...so I sucked it up and we ate a great dinner (Thanks Mom!) and played and laughed and everyone went to bed. As sweet lil' Austin fell asleep before his last bottle I noticed this...


(forgive it being sideways....uploading a pic on blogger tonight is frustrating me...arg)

But do you notice my poor child's balding head LOL....All of my kids went through this from laying on their backs before learning to roll over...however, Austin has this long hair under the bald spot. Cracks me up! Now I am wondering if he will end up losing it all...will it come back brown (please please please) or blonde? I have 2 blondes and a brunette now, although Carter has some serious highlights coming through...but come on...I would like once for someone to look at one of my children and say, "_______ looks JUST like you!". We will see!!

Alright...that's all I got...maybe tomorrow something crazy will happen :)