Rub 'n Buff Redo (Take One)...

Labor Day weekend we bought a new couch.  You know how when you get one new thing it sparks change in the entire room?  I love that!

I moved the dining room rug to the living room, got rid of the living room rug, moved a table, and got rid of a table.  Lots of change!

That said, I have a little cabinet in my foyer that was my Me-Me's and the handles on it were broken.  I had taken several of the broken handles off and it has been bare for years.  I periodically have looked for replacements, but have had no luck.  I didn't want to settle for something I didn't love, so I've just waited.

Well, I was in Hobby Lobby last week picking up some mats I had cut and looking for Rub 'n Buff.  (My friend Missy had suggested this metallic rub for a mirror that I found at a yard sale.  It's for our master, but needs a little "umph".  More on that little project later.)

While in Hobby Lobby I looked through their handles and found these:

 

Before


The color made them too "country" for me, but with Rub 'n Buff already in hand, I saw potential.  Anthropologie potential.
 

After.


I really love the way they turned out.  I think they are Anthropogie-esque AND at a price of $4.50 each instead of $17+. 

Handles...In Progress.


Now I think she needs a little paint...kinda like new earrings sometimes call for a new dress!


Mommy is not perfect.

At LEAST once a week I lose it...Really lose it.  An example of a "lose it" moment:

We are on our way out the door (not late yet) and I have calmly stated, "Put your shoes on" 18,000 times as I gather my all my crap together.  As as I'm FINALLY ready to walk out the door feet are bare.  "Losing it" sounds something like this:
 
"WHY ARE YOUR SHOES NOT ON?!  WHAT IS SOOO HARD ABOUT THAT?!  IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES I HAVE GOTTEN LUCY IN THE CARSEAT, MADE A BOTTLE, PACKED A DIAPER BAG, MADE US ALL WATERS, because you asked me to and I was being NICE, PUT MY SHOES ON AND ALL YOU HAD TO DO, which I told you 18,000 times, was PUT YOUR SHOES ON!  PUT YOUR SHOES ON NOOOWWW!  and thanks to YOU, now we are late.  UHHH!"
 
This rant ends with me slamming the door to the garage, loading up my crap and starting the car.  My little ducklings stop whatever non-shoe-putting-on activity that they were doing (probably something messy that I will be cleaning up later) and they are all business getting in the car.  We ride in silence.

I seethe in silence for the next five minutes.  My jaw hurts from where I have it clenched.  Although in the moment I felt 100% justified..."I just wasn't being HEARD!", about 5 minutes later the Holy Spirit shows up and I feel really crummy.  I beat myself up and think about how childish it was for me to throw a tantrum and wonder why I can't "Choose to Love" in every moment of our day.  And my two little ducklings are very quiet and very obedient and it is eerie and weird and it makes me feel even worse.

Just like when JB and I fuss, I know I'll feel crummy until we patch things up, so that's when I put on my mommy-panties and apologize.

"Listen you two, I'm sorry that I yelled.  I love you both SO much, but I just get SO frustrated when I ask y'all to do something and no one listens to me.  Mommy works hard to get us where we need to be and I need y'all to help me by being good listeners.  Would you feel angry if you wanted me to listen to you and I wouldn't? (They nod.)  I lost my temper and the way I yelled was not loving at ALL.  Will you forgive me?"

And, just like our loving Father, they do.  They always do.  And when that thick cloud that was hanging over us all lifts, I'm so thankful and glad that I asked.  Mommy is NOT perfect, but she always loves her babies.

To Expectant Mothers...

I absolutely LOVE the post To Expectant Mothers:  A Warning over at Power of Moms.  I have to say that all of the things Becky talks about are SO true...even after your third child.

We love to laugh at Lucy's sweet faces she makes.  We ooo and ahh over every little sweet grunt and coo she makes...awake or asleep.

I take her picture ALL DAY LONG.  It's just so EASY with my iphone...and I agree with Becky that even though I take a ton, none can capture how stinkin' cute she really is.

I love how JB interacts with our newborns.  He loves to cuddle with them.  He speaks so sweetly to them.  They sleep on his chest every evening.

...plus he's a master burper!

 

I love watching Jay and Betsy and how they mimick us.  Every day their first question is "Where's Lucy?"...I love that.



I snuggle and sniff and rub her fuzzy head and give her kisses on her sweet neck and cheeks until she's annoyed.  Jay loves to do this too.  (JB tells us to quit, but we can't help it.)  I love the smell of her breath and her little wrinkled neck.







When I think of her growing up I want to cry.  When I think of "unloved" babies I want to cry.  Everytime she grows out of a sweet little outfit I want to cry.

 

 

Just Stay Little.

I am easily influenced.

A few years back a good friend told me I was "easily influenced".  At the time it bugged me and I dwelled on those two words for a long time.  You know how once you "name" something it really becomes noticeable and it's in the back of your mind nagging you?

Then something beautiful happened.  One day instead of those words nagging me I just went ahead and owned them...because they were true.  I AM easily influenced.  Let me tell ya, this was a wonderful feeling and it led me to exploring this statement about myself.  I'm a pleaser.  My "love language" is words of affirmation.  Knowing that I am easily influenced helps me to be aware that I need to surround myself with positive influences (daily prayer, good friends, Bible study groups, excellent parenting books/resources/blogs, etc.)  Over the past few years, being aware of that one simple statement has helped me GROW in my faith, friendships and parenting.

Personalities are formed at such an early age.  As my kids get older I am learning that if I observe what "makes them tick," I can parent them better.  Not only can I be better at "filling their love tanks", I can help them "name" qualities they have that we will have to nurture as they get older.  This is SO important because a quality (ie. easily influenced) can certainly be "fed" in healthy ways, but it can also be "fed" in very unhealthy ways.

Betsy is a "pleaser" for sure.  Sometimes it is a subtle "Do you like how I am listening Mommy?" and sometimes it is way more obvious.  Last night she is sitting beside me on the couch and hollers into the kitchen to JB, "Daddy, I really love this football game!"  Then she turns and whispers in my ear, "I really don't like football.  I'm just saying that because I know it makes Daddy happy."

I busted out laughing.  I'm telling you what, she's hysterical.  So many things about her are wise beyond her years and she has a VERY complex personality for a four year old.  I know that the more I observe and learn about her, the more I can help her GROW.  I'm up for the challenge!

PS:  I'm noticing WAY too many quotations here...I'm picturing myself as Chris Farley (SNL skit) flying into the air!

Betsy's Mother's Day Poem...

My video never loaded, maybe it was too big.  Here is a link that her school sent me.  I must say that the poem selection for her was perfect.  She is the queen of "dirty little marks" and is VERY familiar with The Magic Eraser.

http://youtu.be/EOWDBm8eT3I

Lake Fun...

We bought a boat in March.  We love it!  It's such a great place for us to spend time together as a family.  We were saying the other day that we shouldn't have waited this long.  I'm glad we did though because the wait makes us appreciate our new toy all the more!

I'm very patriotic.  "The Fourth" has always been my favorite holiday...even before I had a July 4th baby.  Growing up, our family vacations were always during that week and I've been blessed to see Independence Day celebrations in most of America's greatest cities.  I get goosebumps during The Star Spangled Banner, tear up when the choir sings patriotic songs at church and LOVE a red/white/blue color combination.  That being said...One of my favorite things I've noticed about being out on the lake is the patriotism.  Whether on boats or on lake houses there are American flags everywhere!  I think it is because there is something about being so small and riding around in that big water, the wind blowing your hair, God's beauty all around you...You feel truly free.  That feeling of freedom makes me thankful and proud to live in America.


These three are pretty thankful too!

Me and You...

Thought I'd start off with some tears in case you haven't seen this one.  This preggo mom about lost it!

sniff, sniff...So...I had a big day Friday...I was fortunate to attend two very special Mother's Day programs.

JAY

Jay's class sang a really sweet song and each of the children read a paragraph they wrote about why they love their mom.

One thing I found interesting was that not a SINGLE child said they loved their mom because she BUYS them THINGS, takes them on TRIPS, DRAGS them to multiple organized sports...etc.  I did a similar exercise with Jay's Sunday School class yesterday, and the result was the same.

All of the responses were ACTS of love...and many of the boys responses were related to food (I guess "the way to a man's heart"...starts early!).  Examples...
-I love my mom because she plays games with me.
-I love when my mom spends time with me at the zoo.
-I love when my mom rides bikes with me.
-I love my mom when she makes me macaroni and cheese...or "steak, broccoli and chicken"...or spaghetti.
-I love my mom because she reads books to me.
-I love when my mom paints my nails.
-I love when my mom holds me and hugs me when I'm hurt...

As mothers, the responses of these little people show us that all the "extras" that we THINK may matter to our little ones really don't.  When it comes down to it they just want US.  Like newborns...what matters to them is for us to spend time with them, feed them, comfort them, hold them and love them.  


It's that simple.

BETSY

I have heard many wonderful things about the "Mother's Day Tea" at Montessori schools.  It is a really BIG deal and a very special event for the children and the mothers.  Usually it is for 5 year olds (I was very disappointed when Jay didn't get to do one last year since he wasn't 5 on Mother's Day).  At Betsy's new school there are only a few 5 year olds, so the 4 and 5 year olds got to participate.

It was yet another example that if you expect more out of your children, they will EXCEED your expectations.

Betsy met me at the door and led me to my table.  The children decorated and set the tables all on their own.

The table looked beautiful! 

The children made our plates and served us.

After bringing our food.  They poured our tea, complete with sugar and cream!

They sang several cute songs and then recited long poems in pairs (Will try to upload Betsy's in the next post).  The finale was them singing Kenny Chesney's "Me and You", with their little thumbs pointing to themselves when they said "me" and their little pointers outstretched to their moms when they said "you".  Not a dry eye in the room!  I will never think of that song the same way again!