Sunday, November 26, 2017

It's CONFESSION Time

Let's start out with the biggest confession of today's post:

*Meet the newest member of our household.
Y'all - I don't even like cats.  And I won't even go into all of the events that led to me adopting a shelter-bound, eight-week-old-kitten.  But a week ago today, I ended up with a kitten in my arms and exactly zero things one needs for said kitten.  
But after about an hour, I had all of the basics and a heart that was smitten with all of her purring sweetness.  The best part?  The kids had NO clue.  Like, we hadn't even ever talked about getting a cat.  So imagine their surprise when we all walked into the house on Friday after traveling for Thanksgiving, and there she was?!  
It.was.awesome.  And they are all obsessed.  But mostly CK, who pretty much thinks the cat belongs to her and walks around holding her like a baby and wants to take her everywhere we go ("Can we PLEASE take her to church, Mama?").  
She was just what we all needed right now, I think.  And my therapist gave my spontaneous, cat-adopting decision two thumbs up.  OH.  And her name?  Perhaps the very best part.  MOXIE.  As in, Of Mess and Moxie, the book I am currently reading (and highly recommend).  Don't know what moxie means?  Look up the definition.  Perfection.  And so is our kitten. <3

*Everette was still in his crib until a couple weeks ago.  He could easily climb in and out, but never did when he was supposed to be in there for naps/bedtime.  I was scared to put him in a bed!  But, it was time.  And on his birthday, I surprised him with bunk beds in his room, which he loves!  And honestly, he's sleeping like a champ, and hasn't even skipped a beat.

*But whew, that boy.  I've said it a million times before, but he is t-r-o-u-b-l-e.  There may or may not have been two different occasions of items-lodged-in-the-nostril recently, which required the Nose Frida and lots of prayer to get out.  (First a piece of fake play money, and next, a sunflower seed - for inquiring minds.)  He also went through a stage of being curious about what was in the potty after he went #2. (No more details needed.)  He is wild and curious and energetic and pushes boundaries and plays rough.  He will also now spontaneously, and almost exactly when needed, say, "Mommy?  I love you SO MUCH" multiple times a day.  He is sweet, so sweet, and gosh I love him so.

*I must confess that we now have pizza at least once, sometimes twice a week for dinner.  Being a full-time-working mama of three solo ain't no joke, y'all.  But if I slap a vegetable on it, it has all the food groups, amiright?

*What's also hard?  Apparently getting myself dressed, since last week I realized at about 4:00pm that I'd worn my leggings backwards to work all.day.long.

*I had a hard time weaning Brooks from breastfeeding.  It just all happened so quickly... his first year of life went by in a fast-forward blur.  But, we called it a day, and bid all things nursing adieu.  And while I miss those sweet moments with him, it is nice to have my body back, all to myself, for the first time in almost two years.

*Yes, please.  Anyone else? -->

*My kids love Ranch dressing, y'all.  They are like dipping machines.  They always want to dip any and every food item into ANYTHING.  But mostly Ranch dressing.  I'm going to put some in their Christmas stockings, in fact.  #dontjudge

*I have to confess that I was so, so scared to publish this post - probably the most real and raw thing I have ever written in the six years of keeping up this little corner of the internet.  I also confess that I'm not sure how I'll ever be able to thank everyone for the love, prayers, and completely overwhelming outpouring of support I've gotten from friends and family, near and far.  And even anonymous sources... It has been the most humbling experience of my entire life.  So thank you, thank you all.  And please know that I will do all I can for the rest of my life to pay your kindness and selflessness and love and generosity forward.  I promise. <3

*I don't have cable/satellite anymore.  And the struggle is real.  I miss it more than I should probably admit.

*This is a little late, but I have to confess that we went to Babyland General for CK's birthday in lieu of a party, and it exceeded my expectations.  Several of her girl cousins, aunts, and her Bammy came into town, and it really was just the cutest experience.  
I've admitted it a time or two, but I absolutely love all things birthday and holiday... I love to surprise people and make them feel special and go over the top on the border of annoying and it just brings my cheesy heart so much joy.  Especially when I get to see this face out of it:

*A couple weeks ago I tried to get the polish off of my toenails for three straight days with no luck.  Like, I'd be sweating from scrubbing so hard with the cotton ball.  I finally realized I'd bought non-acetone polish remover.  Who even knew they made that?!  It was like a cruel joke.

*My friend's brother started this company and I'm so mad I didn't come up with the idea myself!  Brilliant!  I've used their services once and will absolutely use them again and again.  Need a new pair of running/walking shoes?  KICKFIX to the rescue!

*Cameron prefers to be naked.  Like, she more often than not walks around shirtless and pantsless.  #lesslaundry?  Truthfully, though, my mission is to always make sure she feels so confident in herself!

*Speaking of my girl, can we please talk about how incredible it is to see her learning how to read and write?  I mean, I'm a teacher for Pete's sake, so I work all day long with kids and watch their little minds grow and see the lightbulbs go off as letters become words and sentences and paragraphs and stories.  But oh-my-mama-heart ~ seeing your own child become a reader and a writer is one of the coolest life experiences I've ever had.

*And can we please give props to her amazing kindergarten teachers?  She got in trouble today for being disobedient and had to have some quiet time in her room.  I confess that I couldn't even be upset with her, when she snuck out to throw the following notes down from the top of the stairs:
 "please please please please come up here and sing you are my sunshine"
"my heart feels all crushed up and sad"

Look at that inventive spelling and phonemic awareness!  Also?  Girl can't stand to disappoint her mama. <3

*And one more thing about my mini-me - she is 100% obsessed with school supplies.  Like, she watches YouTube videos about notebooks and binders and markers and organization.  Ha!

*Brooks is over a year old and I finally just put pictures in the frames in his room.  Mostly because the other day Everette pointed to a frame with the fake, inserted picture that comes in it and asked me, "Mommy, who ARE these people?"

*I confess that I just discovered the Swiffer WetJet.  Why didn't anyone tell me about this glorious thing?!  I give my floors a good mopping every week (ish), because I have a one-year-old who likes to eat ALL THE THINGS.  But man, this little gadget is a floor-cleaning game changer.

*I am the WORST at keeping plants alive.  Like, give me all the tiny humans and I am 100% confident in my ability to be in charge of them.  But throw a potted something-or-other in front of me and it's basically a countdown until it dies.  So, don't ask me why - within the past three weeks or so - I now have five new potted flower arrangements outside, a lucky bamboo plant in my bedroom, a handmade succulent assortment, and three other mysterious indoor plants (because the sign promised they'd purify the air in my home #sucker).  Add in the cat and three kids (and a Christmas tree) and the list of living things I'm now in charge of is up to like fifty three. #sendhelp  I may or may not have to write "WATER THE PLANTS" in my daily planner.  But at least I don't have to write "FEED THE CHILDREN," right?

*And speaking of that Christmas tree, my last confession is that I have - for obvious reasons - been a little anxious about the holidays this year.  But I decided to dive right in to all things Christmas, because as my pastor reminded me through his sermon this morning, we need the Advent season, we need Christmas and everything it brings.  So it may be hard, but dangit, I'm going to try to choose joy as much as possible within each holiday moment.  I mean, how can I not when I get to experience it all through their eyes?
We decked our halls and got our Christmas tree at the local tree farm and hung up all the ornaments... I decided to tuck away my type-A for a minute and let the kids go to town decorating the tree.  It was so, so awesome.  I've got to put some lights up outside on the house and get a new tree-topper, but things are beginning to look a lot like Christmas around these parts.  And you know what?   I think it's helping all of our hearts not feel so "crusht up anb sad." <3

Have a wonderful week!!

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Thankful, Today & Always

If I've learned anything throughout this year, it's how to remain thankful always -- even in the midst of a storm.

I'd be lying if I said it was easy to wake up each morning since January and focus on my gratitude.  But, as I've put in the work to wade myself through this heartbreaking season, I have made a decision - a conscious, effort-filled decision - to try to focus on my thankfulness, my gratitude, each and every morning... from the minute my eyes open and I take my first breath of the new day.

How can I not feel so overwhelmingly grateful when I get to spend my life being their mama?

This year, we continued our daily Thanksgiving tribute by adding to our thankful banner.  And this year, CK and E had the following as part of their thankful lists (Brooks wasn't quite ready to participate):
Cameron Kate:
Mommy
Daddy
Ellie
Everette
Brooks
Our House
Buddy
Melvin
My Cousins
My Friends
My Family
Mrs. Shadrix
Mrs. Leo
Raleigh
Hadly

Everette:
God
The Color Orange
Brooks
Mommy
Daddy
Jumping
Going to School
Sissy
Climbing
Miss Katie
Miss Shannon
Jasper
Ranch Dressing

So on this Thanksgiving, my most favorite day of the entire year, I find myself feeling so thankful to have three amazing, healthy kids - three kids who have had their little worlds rocked, but who are happy and joyful and resilient and strong and brave and who make me so, so proud.



I am thankful to be unconditionally loved by a God who will never, ever betray me; who I can trust without borders; and who may not be able to guarantee a pain-free life, but who does promise that joy will come in the morning.

I am thankful for my "framily" - my family and friends who have gone above and beyond to make me feel loved and supported and strong and brave.  So, so brave.

I am thankful for a job that never feels like work, students who make me want to be a better version of myself, and colleagues who inspire me every single day.

And I am thankful for Thanksgiving.  A day where we eat and drink and be merry, surrounded by some of the most important people in our lives.

Happy, happy Thanksgiving to you and your people.  Love, me and mine. <3