When your kid hands you a pretend phone....

you pick it up!!  No matter how awesome you think you are, you're never TOO COOL to play pretend telephone with a toddler!

This morning has been fun.  Always busy for us.  I try and sip my coffee in between entertaining the kids, and making sure everyone is happy and fed.

This morning I thought I would try and be EXTRA intentional with Avery and I's time together. Epic Fail!

 I am excited about this new curriculum a friend of mine shared with me.  (Thank you Colleen Bacha!)
It's free and it's structured learning as well as FUN!  It's called, "ABC Jesus Loves me"

Here is the link if you're interested:  http://www.abcjesuslovesme.com/weekly2/week-1

Anyways, I pulled out our children's bible and started reading Genesis 1:1...IN THE BEGINNING.....(NO!, NO!, NO!, Avery screamed).  I kept trying different voices, big gestures...anything to help make the story more interesting....

NO!, NO!, NO!.....

ugh!  Parent failure, once again!   MISS INDEPENDENT wanted to read on her own!

Parenting is something I desire to perfect and something I want so desperately to pride myself on.  "Look at my kid,  Look what they can do!"  They have read the ENTIRE Bible...they know their ABC's...they read all the classical novels front to back.  :)

HAHAHA.....

when it comes down to it, every little tiny person is unique and their personality shines LOUDLY in the toddler years.  My daughter Avery is little miss Independent and it's my job to nurture that.  Yes, with independence, comes structure, boundaries, morals and values...but, like someone very wise once said, "break their will, but not their spirit!"

I am learning to go with the flow!  To chill out!  To fully take advantage of the times when Avery wants to hang out, to cuddle, to study God's word...and when she does want to hang out with me...or, like this morning, when she handed me a block that resembled a phone, and said, "mommy, hello?"   you bet your buns......

I answered it!!    Hello?

xo,
Kristin

Up All Night....

and it wasn't a party!  

Poor little Mila Bug has a cold.  its always an adventure in parenting when your child is sick.  More so, if YOU are sick yourself.  No one is there to make you chicken noodle soup, or wipe your nose, sing you songs as you fall asleep.  But, oh the joy it is to finally be the one who has the healing touch, the kiss that makes everything better!  I do enjoy being a mommy!  

What I appreciate more than anything, is my sweet husband, who shares in the midnight feedings, the ALARMING wake up calls of our toddler and baby, who desperately need a drink of water, or a boogy suck, or just a warm cuddle to let them know they are safe and loved.  Davin, is an amazing father, and It's an honor to be UP ALL NIGHT with these tiny miracles that WE made!

As Davin and I took turns waking up with the our sick baby all night...I Remembered the days of complete exhaustion after a long night playing cards with friends, or having a sleep over watching movies with the girls, eating wayyyy too much junk food, talking for hours and then deciding to watch the sunrise together!  

Those days are over, but the exhaustion is a raw reality today, reminding me of my very important job as mommy!  

 Since having kids, I've traded the card playing, for bottle making, the sleep overs with friends are easily traded for sweet cuddles with my gorgeous hubby, the movie watching has turned into a quick episode (or two, if we are really feeling spunky) of House Hunters or American Pickers!!  and the junk food and watching the sunrise...well, let's just say those have turned into secret cookie binging sessions during midnight feedings with Mila and now I get to appreciate the sunrise with my darling daughters!  :)

It's Sunday morning...Davin works part time at the church, so its another day of getting myself and the kiddos dressed and out the door and to church on time!  what a challenge!  

All chaos breaks loose...Mila is bawling..Avery is getting her head or fingers or some body part stuck somewhere and is screaming for help!  I dust one cheek with some rouge before attending to the babes....once we are all in the car, I take a deep breath, and drive to that sweet refuge of worship!

No matter what your Sunday looks like, and I know for a lot of mom's, Sunday's are CRAZY..and we often are quick to feel guilty about the true deep down overwhelming feeling that we've completely lost it and that we should be a better mom or wife.  The true reality of it all is, THIS IS HARD!

I am so grateful and thankful for that sweet place of refuge, for a church family to greet me at those doors and welcome me in.  HELLO!  I'm that crazy lady with disheveled hair, one cheek powdered, and 2 kids hanging off me like monkey's!

My church family is a safe place for me to be myself, and that's what it should be. I pray that each and everyone of you finds a church that you can call home.  Church friends, that you can call family! There is nothing more encouraging to a mommy then another mom friend who loves Jesus and can keep your eyes focused on His truth and love!  

Happy Sunday everyone..and to those mom's and dad's who were up all night...I salute you!  

xo,

Kristin

Breakfast of Champions!

YAY!  It's Saturday!!  That means pancakes and bacon, potatoes and eggs!  That means, warm coffee...sometimes HOT if I'm lucky!  and most of all, that means, DADDY'S HOME!

 Saturday mornings are super special in the Anderson household.  It's a memory maker for us.  I know some day, our kids will look back and remember that Saturday's were the days that daddy was home and he cooked a yummy breakfast!  It's the one day a week (usually) when Davin doesn't have to work.  Like a lot of your husband's, Davin has to work 2 jobs in order for me to stay home with the kids.  We are grateful for those jobs, and thankful that I can be home with the kids!

I know a lot of mom's do not have that privilege, and y'all are loving your kids deeply, and as best you can!  Working mom's provide their kids with the most loving childhood they can get!  You give your children your best and they know they are loved!  Nuff' said!

 Some day's (most days) I feel like a failure, but at the end of the day, when the kids are all tucked into bed, I can take an honest look in the mirror (because that's about the only time I have to look in the mirror) and say....Well, done momma, you kept them alive!

Today Davin and Mila both have colds, so luckily, Avery slept in till 7:30am.  I was able to let Davin sleep in a little longer and I got up to feed Mila!  I was able to make coffee and enjoy a few minutes of solitude.  The air was crisp and the fog was fading with the morning sun.  I truly believe God is in those quiet moments!  I feel refreshed!

Praying for all you momma's out there today, whatever your Saturday looks like.  Maybe you're working hard at a job that you need, but sometimes wish you didn't have.  Or maybe your husband's home and you've planned a beautiful outing.  Maybe you're a single momma juggling all that the day has to bring you.  Wherever you are, may the spirit of God be your strength, may His hope be your joy, may His truth and His word bring you complete fulfillment as you rest in the promise that tomorrow is a new day..and today, like a mist, will be a faint memory tomorrow..make it a good one as you make memories with your family!

xo,
Kristin

MOMBIE'S THE WORD

Ok...so, what's a MOMBIE anyway?  (besides the fact that it rhymes with ZOMBIE) and if anyone has been a mom for more than 2 minutes, they can sympathize with the zombie population, if you believe in that sort of thing!   I didn't....UNTIL I HAD KIDS!

 I must say,  I rock the MOMBIE ZOMBIE look pretty darn well these days!  I used to be mortified if I even thought about leaving the house without make-up on.  Now?!  It's a GOOD day if I can get one eye covered in mascara!

Let's start with the highly scientific and educational definition of a MOMBIE: I will be referring to the highly accredited Urban Dictionary for my facts.

URBAN DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF MOMBIE: 

a woman who has a child and becomes a different person than she was before; her conversations all revolve around toilet training, feeding schedules, and the occasional housework; so-called because there's a certain glazed look in the eyes and she appears to have been brainwashed

EXAMPLE:  (Dana used to be pretty cool and loved talking about politics. Since she had her baby, though, she's a total Mombie--I asked what she thought of Obama and she looked at me blankly and asked if that was a type of stroller..

Can anyone relate?!?

When my first daughter, Avery Joy was born, it was the greatest moment of our lives!  Davin (my husband) and I were blissfully unaware of the amount of time and energy it takes to keep a tiny human being alive.  The amount of STUFF alone that one tiny person needs (or society says they need) was unfathomable!   We both had HUGE expectations about what being a mom or dad looked like and we quickly realized, to meet those needs, means we would have to acquire some superpowers, and both of us knew we were no superhero's!  I have never felt closer to God then when I became a parent!  

I have so many precious memories of Davin and I's first days with baby Avery! It wasn't long and we were no longer raising a baby, but a toddler...and then our second bundle of joy came, Ms. Mila Grace!  Our quiver is, as they say,  FULL!   We are currently in the midst of raising 2 kids under 2 years old!  May the good Lord give us favor!     

For me, parenting a toddler and a newborn has blown my mind! I just can't even believe that anyone makes it out alive!  

 The first few weeks (ok, months) after becoming a mom of two was complete chaos.  Pretty hysterical to think about now. 

I just wrote a few thoughts down...a simple poem to semi express myself.  :)

Up all night, with little sleep,

It's 10am, don't make a peep.

Baby's sleeping, 

Toddler's screaming.

What's a mom to do?

Reading books, making lunch

something stinks, I have a hunch...

wiping butts, noses too,

giving baths.  do I live in a ZOO???

Kissing boo-boo's while reading twitter,

it's my only sanity....can we get a sitter?

Feeling crazy, like a zombie,

I wouldn't trade it, 

I'm a MOMMY!  

Mila is turning 4 months next week, my oldest, Avery will be 20 months the week after.  It's all going so fast!!  I have left the fetal position, the crying fits are now to a minimum.  I actually make it through the day with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.  I have come to realize that the good Lord has blessed me with these 2 beautiful ladies, and has given them to me to teach ME how to be a better person.  To be more like Christ!  I am looking forward to teaching these girls all that I know, but something tells me that I am going to learn so much more than they ever will!  God has certainly begun a beautiful break down of my selfish desires, and in it's place he has put a new joy in my heart for 2 tiny human beings, who cannot survive without me.  They call me, MOM and THAT is a privilege.  

I hope you enjoy my daily blogs about the real, the raw, the beautiful life I lead...being a Mombie!   and when all else fails...there's coffee!  

xo,

Kristin