Raising Arrows

Today was "Grocery Day" here in the household. I considered for a moment to waiting for hubby to get home. Between the heat and past grocery shopping experiences. But I was up and dress by 7:15am, and the household started to stir. So we headed out at 8:15am. They made it through 2 stores (Target and Costco)  no fussing, they even had store Cashiers compliment they're behavior. Then we made it to Kroger. Now some would think this is where it turns ugly. Nope.
Any other situation, I would have changed 100% and said "The day is going down hill!!". But the moment the youngest started to fuss and cause a scene. Her siblings stepped up, and without being asked. Karalena started to try and find snacks, or something to keep her happy where she was. After I finally moved her up with me, we went to check-out. And THAT'S WHEN IT TURNED UGLY!
Vanessa had NO interest in checking out, I was trying to keep her seated, and unload, and Kris stepped over and started knock knock jokes. But Vanessa dismissed him. And that's when he actually stepped up to her and put her in her place.

"Vanessa no! Don't push me away. I am trying to help. Now I am going to sing to you and talk to you! " - Kris

And started to sing Itsy Bitsy Spider, and then they started say knock knock jokes. He seemed to have officially started understanding how to handle her. She isn't as " tag along" as Lena was.

Today was above and beyond amazing for me as a Mom. I saw my kids not only behave, but be helpful. They took over where I needed them to without being asked. And never once did I hear "well I did this can I get this for it.". They truly blessed me today, with their actions.
I am proud to call them "My Little Blessings".
Have a Beautiful Weekend
Tina

When life isn't rainbows and fluffy cats.

Went to the grocery store today, and if you could see my face as I pushed a cart full if kids and food. People everywhere were rude and not very kind all together.

Scene from Pixar Inside Out

And me repeating "Sit down now"  every 5 mins the entire 5hrs it took me to grocery shop.  My saving grace was the last store. The cashier at Target, was kind and all smiles. Even with my toddler standing on the seat demanding to be out of the cart.
It was the simple act of a smile and a look. That I took as "Hi Mama. It will get better". It wasn't the smoothest drive home, or the 45mins it took me to unload all the groceries. But it was the sarcastic, genuine trying to cheer me up "Well mom, life isn't always rainbows and fluffy cats", comment from my son.
So yes, life isn't always rainbows and fluffy cats lol!!!!
Blessings
Tina

The Sleepless Beauty.

Oh as I write this I am sipping on a big cup of coffee!! My sweet little blessing (who turns 2 in Aug) had us restless all night long. She has been doing so well lately, even survived a trip to Michigan (15-18hrs) without much fussing.

 But last night she seemed restless and really needing mama.
Its funny because I could hear the difference in her cry.  It wasn't the normal "Hey I don't wanna be in here!" cry. It was a "Something was wrong and I need my mama." cry.
This little girl has a vocabulary that is sometimes understandable, and sometimes not so clear. I try and get her to communicate with words, but sometimes she just can't. So I listen to the ques she gives me.
Ever since I had my son people would say listen to their cry, it changes based on their needs. And it does! 3 kids in and you can tell the difference if you listen. There is a hungry, uncomfortable, diaper change, gassy,  stubborn, tantrum, hurt, scared and frustrated cry.

Sometimes even at almost 2 you gotta give up a little of sleep for them. But don't worry, one day the tables will turn :).




Blessings and a cup of coffee,
Tina

When a passion grows

So I have been gone for awhile. We've been working on selling our house and basically raising 3 amazing children. Life has been a little insane I will admit, but it's also been amazing. Things have been coming together, and I have found God leading me into areas of life I never saw coming.
I have been looking into studying Postpartum Doula. This is something I have already been doing, not knowing it.

I started with a simple Google search, reaching out to my Midwives (my own midwife and friends who are home birth Midwives). I started searching different certification availability and got connected to someone who does it as well.
After that I went to my local library to check most of the books on the reading list for the DONA site. And it seemed impossible at the time but now, I've already gotten through 2 books, started a third.  I have since then started to look at a site called Thrift books. AMAZING find by my sweet husband. We have saved so much money this way.

So one of the books I started reading was "You Inc.", on our way to Michigan to see my sister and her family. As I was reading, the ask questions about why you do want to do what you do? And that really struck me. Why? It was very simple. I had to answer this question, and I could have answered the generic answer of because I love babies, or I love helping. And that's not why. The real reason is very real, and very close to my heart. Moms. Moms are the reason I desired to be there for them. I have blogged about this before, Moms being there for moms. And its very real, when I became a mom I was the only one in my group of friends to start a family. I felt a lone (not to get attention but it is true), in the most life changing time I felt a lone. Mainly because I got married right out of high school. So when we had kids MOST of our friends were getting married or still dating. I had my family and my sister (who had twins and was close to delivery of her third). I also had mentors who were Moms but they were in their own seasons. 

When you become a mom things change A LOT. I needed that person who could come over and just see the hot mess I was trying to figure out. When I had my son, life was about no sleep and being with him, and I needed people who understood that. Luckily I had my sister and I also my Best Friend at that time who understood that. 

When I had decided to become a Stay at Home mom, I started seeking out new moms of the church who needed that safe circle of moms that you could be comfortable and open. 

You could confide in and just ask for help when feel like you are losing it. 

Photo Credit: www.mothertreebirths.com

And that is when I decided that someone needed to be there for these moms. Even if it was baby #1 or #6, every mom needs that person who can come over at midnight because you feel insane. Or come over at 6 am to just help you start the day. 

And that is WHY I decided to follow my passion of helping moms get through this life change. To love on them and tell them it will be OK. Postpartum Care is the most important thing a mom can have, to have someone in your corner while you ugly cry, just stare at a wall or even just feel normal. 

Everything is still in the works for becoming a Postpartum Doula, but I am excited to know this is God's calling for me, and I plan to try and blog about our process, as well as fun things me and the kids learn in life, as I have the past.

Blessings!

Tina

We need more trees!

Well, this weekend has been crazy busy and fun!
We celebrated hubby's 33rd Birthday!! We attempted an outdoor movie night, only to get rained out. BOO! But we snuggled into our 1,000sq ft house with 11 adults and 7 kids.
But today we broke out of the house! We went to our local Botanical Gardens, and we walked everywhere we could. Let them play at the WOW (World of Wonders) kids area, where they have a water play yard. And in the giant sand mountain where they can live their Pirate Dream!
A long our venture we discovered this amazing Cherry Weeping Willow. It was like a safe haven from the sun and heat, it was amazing. And the kids enjoyed it so much. My kids are not blessed to have trees in their yard to climb so this was very special. The trees where almost saying "Come climb me!", with their low branches, and knots designed just for their small (well small Lena feet lol). They got first hand lesson from their daddy as well. Which seemed to bring out the kid in him! I loved it. I also sat back with our youngest (Too much mulch for her to eat) and saw my children looking up at it. Looking at how the tree branches intertwine, and create an amazing canopy.  Then my son asked why the branches looked like vines and asked, if you could swing from them. Oh how the brain works!



 Then they discovered a tree under the willow that had what looked like arms open wide waiting for a child to sit in them.

And they took to them as excited as seeing a loved one! They ran to it and asked their daddy to help them. They didn't wanna leave either, my son looked at me and said "We need more trees". Oh how I agree, we need more trees! We need the free play, be wowed by God's creation and enjoy the great outdoors! 

I hope sometime this week you get out and enjoy a tree or two!

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)

Blessings

Tina

In A blink of An Eye!

This morning was a hard morning. Vanessa was up at 4:45am, even though I tried to let her cry it out, she was pretty much starting to wake the house up. And after nursing and rocking she pretty much thought it was play time. She was UP, and I laid her down for 1hr praying she'd drift off. No such luck to be found.
About 5:50am I decided it wasn't worth waking the older 2 and got up. And at that point I decided to express my discontent on social media, only to get God's Answer from a good friend (Who is pretty much in the same boat as me with baby sleep habits.).

 "......BUT as much as I'd love for some sleep myself, I know it'll be over all too soon & the snuggles & kicks in my side & arm cramps in the middle of the night will be what I long for when he's fast asleep by himself in his own bed."

How true is that? Satan was trying to stomp all over my "Embrace Imperfection" with and unhappy, no sleeping in for you, baby. And a friend showed me the basic truth, one day you will miss it. You will wonder when did she grow up? In a few short weeks my baby will be 1yrs old and no stopping her then. She will be 7yrs old in a blink of an eye.

Now I say this with a happy heart now, and conviction... but 12hrs ago I rolled my eyes, and thought BUT I'M TIRED NOW! And God smiled back and said "I'm tired of your whining so put your big girl panties on and look!" and at that moment, her brother came in, invited her into his room and all 3 of my kids played together. My baby, who is now 7, took responsibility for my youngest. When did that happen? I blinked in a moment of tiredness and he grew up before my eyes.

There will ALWAYS be coffee, but there always won't be babies. Love them, rock them, and suck it up!

Blessings
Tina

Where have you been?

When people ask me "Why haven't you been blogging?"
I simply say "I'm a mom".... that should be all that needs to explain why, or so you think huh? *Insert sarcasm*

I'm JUST a mom of 3, just a homeschooling, stay at home, live in maid, mom of 3.

A mom of a 7yr old that asks 1001 questions in the first 5 mins of his feet hitting the floor, a 4.5yr old who insist on being the baby yet a big girl, and a now 11mth old who destroys the house in 10 secs if left to her own, as well as hates being left a lone (please read this blog to understand her). BUT I love it, and I chose to be mom and wife first. Now that sleep has finally come our way, I feel like I can finally get back to blogging! So I am going to try and commit to blogging as often as I can.

Because LIFE is NEVER boring over here in CRAZY TOWN!!!

Blessings,

Tina

Just let it go!

So as most know me I have the hardest time letting go. Letting go of control and just letting it ride. The past 4 months have been the hardest, Yes Nessa is 3 months old but I count my 9th month in this post. It has been the hardest because for once I have a needy baby. Meaning she needs and only me! I love her dearly and look forward to our relationship but man can she wear me out.
Anyways today due to lack of sleep and behavior issues we summed the children to clean their rooms and organize them, while I figured we could do small projects. Well I started projects and Nessa would start fussing. If I held her she was happy and giggled. I tried the rock and play, floor gym, swing, even the Ergo. Nope, none of that worked, this girl wanted my full on attention. And no one was to get in her way.
As the day wore on my patience grew small, I wanted to accomplish something! Besides nursing, diapers and cooking. I do that every day, I really don't mind it but I wanted a project to complete. I wanted to feel validated by doing something that changed something in the house.
We sat down to dinner and we finished dinner and the kids ran off to finish their rooms before showers and bed, I looked at my husband and said "I just want to do something!" and he said something that 5yrs ago that would have started the biggest fight. "Sometimes you have to accept that you can't do much right now", now that ladies and gentlemen would have fired me off and made me say things disrespectful and hurtfull. Or maybe even not speak to him and just slam cabinets, or walk off to the bedroom with Nessa and act like he doesn't exist tonight. But because A- I have learned that doesn't solve anything B- God gave him to me, to lead me and be the voice of reason and C- I have learned to hear blue through pink after 10yrs of marriage (thank you to the study Love & Respect). Now I haven't perfected hearing blue through pink, so I am not the perfect wife who says "oh thank you dear! I love you all" the time. Sometimes I do step on his air hose and waits til he turns purple. But tonight, I heard God say "Listen! He's not saying accept it you won't be doing anything til she's self sufficient. He's saying I know it bothers you, I know it frustrates you that you are not going and being 'do it all mom' . But let it go and let me help you. Accept that you need me, it's ok."
And I listened and I heard, and I still tapped on the air hose a little with my disgruntled attitude. But I accepted and let it go. With being a mom of 3 now life hasn't been the easiest transition for me, but I still love every minute of it. And I know God will bring me through all of the trails of this new path of our life.

The Woman Behind the Curtain

You open your Facebook and the first picture you see is that mom who's post are about her perfect children, her goals she's accomplished by 8am, which is everything you have on your to-do list from yesterday. And you think "must be nice" as you step over toys and laundry you haven't picked up yet to get to your coffee maker.
I am here to tell you if you look behind the curtain, that perfect mom is only a front for a normal mom. Just like the Wizard of Oz, you won't see the reality of her struggles til you pull back the curtains and see she is a normal mom. Motherhood is not the cleanest or easiest job there is. I think some have the illusion of TV mom's who's house is spotless, kids playing in the perfect yard, and she's making dinner from scratch in heels. Well ladies that it is NOT reality.
And I feel like moms are afraid to show real motherhood in the fear of judgement from "The Perfect Mother's" groups. But at the same time we are setting up failure for future mother's who thinks they are failing because their homes and Children are not perfect 100%.
We need to take a stand and show them reality. We all have Mondays on Wednesday and some times Thursday too, and our children have melt downs, and some times we have cheerios on our floors. Life isn't perfect, but that's ok.
As long as we have a fed, healthy, some what clean (insert a laugh) children you've done an amazing job today mom! And just know that for today, you are an amazing person who brought life into this world and you work hard to sustain that life. And if you don't hear these words from anyone today "you are amazing and wonderful and Thank you for choosing motherhood".
"Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."  Proverbs 31:28-30

School is where you are

Friday we explored our local Garden today, and I packed the magnifying glasses and nature journal. I figured it would be a great learning while having fun day.
We got to the butterfly house, and I was nursing my youngest, while the other 2 explored and "wrote"/drawed in their journal. When one lady, who was watching them explore freely, asked my son "how old are you?". He politely told her 6, she then looked at me, "shouldn't you be in school? Or does 1st grade do half days?" I smiled then my son jumped in "No I'm home schooled, I'm doing my work now... " and proceeded to educate her on All the butterflies in the Butterfly Garden.
It was a proud moment, that not only is he proud to be home schooled. But it was also that he paid so close to attention to what he learned that day he could teach them.
I love the fact that with home school, it isn't limited to being in the same area every day. It's about learning with what's around you, and learning where you are. And I love that they are proud about home school.