Beautiful Mama

Being a mom can often be hard, stressful, tiring and scary. At the same time, it's also the most rewarding job out there, worth every moment. No doubt in my mind, when I look at these beautiful faces.







But it's often a thankless job. I know my kids and hubby love and appreciate me, but it often goes without saying. That's why it means so much when someone from the outside looking in recognizes and appreciates the kind of mom I am.

Layana at Raising Reagan passed along a sweet blog award to me, the Beautiful Mama award, and it's such a nice one because it's about motherhood--the thing I'm most passionate about!

While I don't typically pass along blog awards (boo on me), I do want to pass this one along, just to recognize some other moms who inspire me through their blogs. There are SO many mommy bloggers out there who inspire me so this was tough to narrow down, but here are a few:

Ariel from Dreams to Do, who always has a knack for eloquently writing what I'm thinking. Her post on losing control really hit home for me, because I've been there. Love her perspective on it. We're very similar in many ways, so I always love reading her blog.

Maria, from Every Day is Country Song, who had a long and emotional road to travel on the way to finally bringing home her sweet girl, Piper.

Noel (who also nominated me for a Very Inspiring Blogger award, thanks Noel!) from High Heeled Mama, who's always so fashionable and has a great perspective on showing her daughter the importance of being fit, active a healthy. She makes me feel bad for sitting on my butt all weekend (in a good way!)

Nancy from Ordinary Miracles & The Crazy 9, who's a mom to 7(!!) with some touching adoption stories and amazing and inspiring photos of her sweet kids.

Meghan from Love Meghan, whose post on unconditional love had me nodding my head in agreement.


If you also want to play along, here are the rules:
1. Use the above image in your acceptance post.
2. List 3 things you love most about motherhood.
3. Nominate as many other deserving mamas as you'd like!

Three things I love most about being a mom:

1. Being needed. This one kind of sounds selfish, but it's true. I love that they need and want me to be there for them, hold them, snuggle them, read to them, kiss their boo boos, talk to them and teach them. And I love doing those things.

Even if it means reading Lorelai the same book over and over again...



dealing with Aidan's tricky school situations...



or handling one of Logan's massive meltdowns.



2. Seeing their tight sibling bond grow. My kids love each other, and it makes my heart swell with joy. The way Aidan and Logan care about and look after their sister and each other is a gift. I hope it lasts forever and ever.




3. The unconditional love I feel. It's overwhelming sometimes how much I love my kids. It'll hit me when I'm snuggling and rocking Lorelai before I put her to bed and I just don't want to let her go. Or when the boys get off the bus with huge smiles on their faces, excited to tell me about something that happened at school. Or when we're playing outside or having an impromptu family dance party in the kitchen after dinner.



Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky.


Also, linking up with Mandy's Mama Memoirs (another mommy blogger who inspires me, btw!), because what's more appropriate to share about motherhood than the reasons why I love it so much?! :)

We go to the pet store for entertainment

Please tell me it's not lame to go to the pet store and pretend  like it's the zoo?

Because that's what we did this weekend--took the kids to the pet store for entertainment. It was a rainy Sunday so we figured why not, since we had to run errands anyway. The kids loved it!



I mean, we're clearly not fooling anyone. The zoo > pet store, which we'd know since we just went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago (I should probably get those pics off my camera and blog about it, huh?). But the zoo is an hour and a half away, and the pet store is less than 10 min. Convenience wins.



Birds, fish, reptiles, mice, ferrets, hamsters...and even a pair of guinea pigs humping (yikes). Yeah, we totally laughed behind the kids' backs and pretended nothing was happening. See? Free entertainment.

Although, the begging has already started for a guinea pig or hamster. That's SO not happening. But I do have to admit--those guinea pigs were pretty dang cute when they weren't getting frisky in front of our eyes :)

Linking up with Heather and Megan:

Conversations with Lorelai

Another round of Lorelai-isms to share, and as always, I'm mad that I can't remember every single one of the many funny things she says.


Her forehead is looking better, but she's still got a noticeable mark. I'm getting worried it's going to scar forever...


Lorelai: Mommy, I want to say something: DUKE.
Mommy: Duke what? (Of course in my head I was saying "sucks")
Lorelai: Duke. (That was so totally random. At least she didn't say 'Go Duke'--a travesty in this Tarheel-lovin' family!)

Lorelai (listening to a song on Pandora during dinner one night): Daddy, do you like this song? (She was very intent and serious as she was asking)
Daddy: Yep, do you?
Lorelai: I do! (starts jammin')



Aidan: Ewww Lorelai, did you fart?!
Lorelai: No, I burped.
Mommy: That was out of your mouth?
Lorelai: Nope. Hahaha!

Lorelai: (In a high-pitched voice) Aw, no fair, I didn't get chips! (while she shrugged her hands.)
Aidan, in response: She's so cute.



Lorelai: Mommy, I need chapped lips (she meant ChapStick)

Lorelai: Mommy, I've had SO many birthdays!
Mommy: Oh yeah? How many?
Lorelai: (holding out some fingers) 2 3 4 7 birthdays!



She just slays me. So much personality. I love this phase where she's vocal and has legit, hilarious grown-up(ish) conversations. She's still a good mix of sweet and sassy, and the sassy is mostly still cute (though I know my days are numbered there...yikes).

 I often wish I could stop time, or bottle up her innocence and cuteness to keep forever.

Wacky Tacky Wednesday

Over-sized polka dot shirt, green tank top (so people "don't see my nipples"--what Lorelai literally said this morning), floral skirt, blue reindeer socks and mismatched pig tails. NAILED IT.



In my opinion, I think we topped the tacky from last time. Although...this morning Adam's ONLY comment was about her hair. So maybe it's not as heinous an outfit as I thought? Or maybe she's just totally on trend with all the pattern mixing. ;)

It's Week of the Young Child at daycare, so in addition to today being Wacky Tacky Wednesday, there was also an ice cream social this afternoon. It was perfect timing since the boys were out for early release and could join us. Pretty sure they ruined their dinner with two bowls of ice cream each, but they were sure happy to eat and get to play on the baby toys.



And then we played with inchworms, because apparently that's what we do now.



Lorelai was extremely eager to show her friend the inchworm the Aidan found.


Hope everyone's Wednesday was slightly less tacky, but equally awesome.

Pick a different book, please!

I know reading is fundamental, and one of the most important things you can do for your child is to read to them on a regular basis. I know that. And we do. Adam and/or I always happily read at least one book or chapter to the kids every single night.

But when Lorelai insists on the SAME book every night for days (and days) on end, it gets a little old. But since it's not worth the fight right before bedtime...I admit that sometimes I skip entire pages of the book. Or change the words. Or summarize so I'm not reading every word. Shhh, don't tell on me.



Thankfully she doesn't know the difference and she's still seeing the book, hearing the words and having quality snuggle time with me. But I know my days are numbered before she's onto my tricks. I just hope by that point, she's varied her choice of reading materials. I mean, I like Here Comes T. Rex Cottontail as much as the next guy, but Easter was weeks ago. Let's move on. Please. :)

Linking up with Heather and Megan:

Spring fever

We've got a serious case of spring fever in our house. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the air is warmer, and I'm loving it. And the pollen has even subsided, so we can be outside without turning yellow!




The kiddos seriously can't get enough of playing outside. Scooters, bikes, basketball, football, tag, races...you name it. All weekend, every day after school. Obsessed.


Speaking of obsessed, Lorelai is weirdly attached to this infant push toy that I've had in in the garage for goodwill for over a year now. She plays with it every time we go out and won't let me get rid of it. Whatever floats her boat, I guess.

From the time Lorelai went down for her nap both days this weekend, the boys were outside. I love that they're at an age where I feel comfortable letting them play out front by themselves. I probably wouldn't do it if we weren't in a quiet neighborhood on a cul-de-sac with virtually no traffic. But they know to keep an eye out for cars and not wander off.

They're both particularly obsessed with basketball and scooters. Occasionally at the same time. I should also note that we've bandaged up our fair share of scraped knees as a result of all this playing outside...






When Lorelai woke up, she was eager to join the boys. She pretty much stole the big basketball from Logan. She gets away with things 'cause she's so dang cute. I just know it.



He was a good sport though. He loves playing with her and even indulged her when she literally grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the little car so she could push him (usually it's the other way around). I think she interrupted a heated game of HORSE with daddy and Aidan. :)



And then there was the inchworm we befriended. Unfortunately, the friendship quickly ended after Lorelai tried (and failed) to squish him.



So inchworms, I can handle. But for the record, I have not stepped foot in the back yard because you know,  snakes. CANNOT handle. My spring fever would be quickly cured at the first sight of a snake in my front yard. That, or the first day of 90+ degree weather. Whichever comes first...

Oh Spring, I love you so much. Won't you please stay forever?

Flashback Friday: The dating years

In honor of mine and Adam's 11th wedding anniversary tomorrow, I thought I'd dig up some old photos of us during the dating years. We're high school sweethearts, so we've been together a looong time. Almost 17 years total without any breakups! I had trouble finding photos of just the two of us from every year we dated (where in the world are all of my old photos?!)  but here are a few gems.


Funny story about Adam's hair in the prom picture. I was out getting my own hair done and when I got home, there was a message from him on my answering machine that started with something like "please don't freak out, but..." I remember immedaitely thinking he was cancelling on me. Turns out, he was trimming his buzz cut and when he went back to touch up some stray hairs, he didn't realize there was no guard on the clippers, so he had to shave his hair REALLY short. I totally didn't care, just as long as he was still taking me!






That's me and Adam with my mom and my sister after my UNC-CH J-School graduation.

I took extra summer classes to graduate a semester early so I could wedding plan without worrying about school.

...And then we got married on April 20, 2002. The rest is history. ☺