9 Things I've Learned about Motherhood

1. Do not underestimate a good swaddle. Swaddling is magical.

2. Muscus is a big deal. If they can't breathe, they can't breathe.

3. Sleep is overrated. Enjoy the late nights. I betcha you'll look back someday and wish for those quiet times again. You can't hold them forever.

4. Eating well makes a huge difference. It not only helps you feel better, but if you're a feeding mother, you'll learn the necessity of good food. It's the difference between a content sleepy baby or a gassy cranky one. Eat smart.

5. Prayer and quiet time is necessary. End of story.

6. Learn to say no. Sure, you shouldn't let a baby completely determine your life, but things will change a little, and that's okay. It's kind of what you signed up for, right? We still go out with friends, but we also set limits. We do extra stuff only twice a week, and we try to be back home by 8pm. This stage won't last forever, and for us, it's what works.

7. Exercise. You can't take care of others if you don't take care of yourself first.

8. No one's kid is the same, so not all advice should be either. Use what you can, and don't worry if what works for someone else doesn't work for you. I bet your kid will be just fine if you choose to have him on a schedule or not. :)

9. Leave the dirty dishes. This one is hard for me because I like a clean house, but guess what I love more? And guess what else? I'M NOT MISSING IT.

I think there's a writer in everyone.

No matter how much experience you have, how old you are, or even if you feel like you're short on words, we all have something to write. If you enjoy writing or not...now that's a different story, but for those that choose to write it, I love your blogs. I love the opinions and words from other people that are so similar, and some so different than myself. I love the honest truth and the eloquent words. Carry on.

Quick 1 minute brownies!

Have you ever wanted brownies, but you just need one? That's me, because I don't like sweets sitting around (or I eat them). :) Just so you know, this recipe is phenomenal, but only for the people who like "fudgey" brownies. These aren't the dry crispy kind. :)

Mix in a safe microwavable mug:

4 Tbsp Flour

4 Tbsp Sugar

2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa

2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

2 Tbsp Water

dash of salt

Microwave 1 minute. You can thank me later.

Isaiah 46:4

For all you mommas out there, have any of you ever had a kid that spit up buckets? I don't mean a few wet burps either, I mean...BUCKETS. Jonathan and I stopped calling it "burping him" and we now call it "spitting him" because it's gotten so bad. It's usually around 3oz of liquid. Poor little guy hates it coming up just as much as I hate watching it. Yes, he's on Prilosec for acid reflux, and I think it helps him feel better. Unfortunately, it doesn't really help the spitting in the slightest. :) I'm okay with having a kid that is wet all of the time and constantly wearing a bib. There are bigger problems in life. He's healthy and mostly feels pretty good I think. It's not affecting his growth, so I'm okay with it. The only time it's hard to handle is when I'm tired, he feels miserable, I'm completely wet, he's completely wet, and he's screaming because he's still hungry. Now that, that is hard. I don't know why you never hear about stories like this before you have kids. I mean, I guess people don't want to be debbie downers and tell you about all of their problems if your child is going to be just fine. I get that. But I mean, NEVER had I heard about this until Truett. The doctor says he is perfectly fine as long as he's growing and not showing signs that he's in too much pain, so we are thankful for our very chill child, considering how he's probably feeling. What a trooper!

On the flip side, I'm thankful that Truett is a great sleeper. We bath, feed, and spit him around 10 or 11 and put him down, usually with his eyes wide open, and we don't hear his voice again until 6 or 7 am. I'm not sure how we got so lucky there, but that's okay with me. On days when I think, man this spitting is a lot to handle, I realize that I guess that's why God allows me to get good sleep. It really is a give and take. He's growing...and he's happy. Thank you Lord for your many many MANY blessings. We sure don't deserve them all, but you keep sending them down one after the other. If I thanked you every day of my life, I would never come close to catching up.

Sometimes I get kinda cranky after I have to give Truett a bath at 2am, and then rock him for 4 hours and he still won't go to sleep. But then I think, in a couple of years when he doesn't want to be held anymore and he says, "I can do it myself, mom." I bet I'd give my left hand to rock him for 4 hours in the middle of the night, which is why I enjoy each and every minute with Little T, regardless of what time it is.

I. Love.

1. Vans shoes. Have you ever worn them? My oh my, they're comfortable.

2. Scentsy warmers! My favorite is Whiteout. It smells like fresh Winter. I can't describe it any more perfectly if I tried. My good friend Candace sells it, and you can order it here if you're looking.

3. Baby Gap. For the love of all things wonderful, that place is absolutely ridiculous at making baby clothes. I don't go shopping much.

I.

Cannot.

Resist.

4. A good Starbucks ristretto grande vanilla nonfat extra hot with light whip latte.

5. My camera.

6. Journaling the day away.

7. Coldplay

8. Chocolate

9. A good pedicure

10. My family.

Done.

It's not about you.

Sometimes I want to shout that to people driving on the road that cut other cars off. I mean, surely where they are going is more important than where I am going, right? And certainly the people in their car are more valuable that the people in mine. My grandpa used to speed in front of those rude folks on toll roads and pay their tolls for them. Now that's love.

I want to tell it to the rude, impatient man waiting to check out in line at Walmart behind me that's practically breathing down my neck, "Please learn to be a little more patient, sir, or at least keep your distance. I need to check out just like you. You're giving yourself a heart attack stressing like that."

I want to scold the little kids laughing at the old man in the wheelchair. "Hey, he lost his leg fighting for your freedom."

I want to shout it at the woman who was in a hurry and nearly ran a kid over who was trying to cross the street. "Do you really need to get to Sonic before 4pm in exchange for this kid's life? How bout I give you a dollar for your coke and you slow down."

I want to tell the man who leaves his wife and kids each night to fend for themselves while he's off hanging with his buddies, "Don't you think you'll wake up one day and regret that decision? You can't get time back."

I want to ask every American who has 17 coats hanging in their closet if they can find a way to give away just one to someone who may be cold this winter.

There are a million choices every day. I've learned that the little things matter. We're all the same.

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 19:30

Reliving memories.

I found this poem that I wrote in April 2008:

Today I woke up and spit on the world, because it smiled at me.

I knocked down the door and cursed the ground as it gently let me be.

The sunshine kept me warm and well and the grass just made me smile.

And I kicked the dirt in fury as I walked on for a while.

I did not see the fluffy clouds, though white and full of good.

I only saw the cracked old tree where a baby tree once stood.

"That's an ugly tree." I exclaimed as I picked up its last fruit

I threw it down and smashed it in my anger, with my boot.

The tree looked down in sadness as it waved it branches slowly.

"You took my one and only son, the apple I'd been growing.

And carelessly you took, only thinking of yourself.

Now you please be off, and go live life, in your grandest richest wealth."

I needed nothing really, but I took from what he had.

I realized what I'd done just then and I dropped my head, so sad.

The day would not get better, the suns hot rays would never fade.

Then the tree that I had wronged reached out, and with his branches gave me shade.

...and I found this post from May of 2008. How hilarious to read back about it. I hardly remember writing it.

"Right now I want to talk about how fluffy the couch is and how it reminds me of a huge marshmallow covered in expensive graham cracker sprinkles. I want to jump on the bed and see how many times i can touch the ceiling with my head before laying down in total exhaustion. I sooooo want to dust the top of the refrigerator just for fun...and strangely, love it. I can't wait to pick the rocks out of the bottom of my tennis shoes with a toothpick and I cannot stand it how much I want to climb a hill and get my feet so dirty that when I take a shower, I leave dirt rings in the bottom of the tub. I want to do my homework, but opening a book is worse than Chinese water torture. I need a good trip to the zoo and some Vanilla Dr. Pepper. I need a hug from my brother and I need to hear the muffin joke from Roxanne. I want to drive 200 mph--on a motorcyle. As long as it's black, I think I could pull of the hardcore look. I want to type this whole post in the phonetic alphebet but I can't type a schwa unfortunately. Now that...that would be fun."

A few reminders

God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change. 2 Peter 3:9

You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I'm telling the world your wonders; I'll keep at it until I'm old and gray. Psalm 71:17-18

You eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. Matthew 6:22

We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. Proverbs 16:9

Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--you choose. Proverbs 18:21

Life in Black and White

Easy Potato Soup

Most potato soups are cream based, but not this one! This recipe is simple, quick, healthy, and really really good! Trust me, I made it tonight for dinner!

1 bag (32oz) frozen hash browns

1 carton (32oz) chicken broth

1 cup water

3 Tbsp flour

1 cup milk (I use Soy Milk)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup real bacon bits

1/4 cup green onions, sliced

Optional:

1/2 diced onions

1 stalk celery, sliced

HOW TO...

1. Dump the hash browns, chicken broth, and water in a crockpot on low. (You can also add 1/2 cup onions and a stalk of celery if you wish, but I prefer it without.) Let this sit 6-8 hours.

2. After step one is finished, mix the milk and flour together in a small bowl and then add to the soup mixture. Turn the crockpot on high for 30 minutes and it should thicken.

3. Add the cheese, bacon bits, and green onions to the top of the soup.

Happy Cooking!

Journal

I bought the little man a journal today. He doesn't know it yet, and he won't for 18 more years, but someday I hope he'll read each word and feel so incredibly loved.