TOP 10's

Top 10 Things I Love About Motherhood (So far...) 
IN RANDOM ORDER

1. The unlimited kisses and hugs. (Slobber and all...)
2. The smell of clean soft hair after bath time. 
3. Checking on them while they are sleeping and just watching the peace in their faces as they lay tucked (or sprawled out) in their comfy beds.
4. Christmas.  Holidays in general, but Christmas especially.  Everything is more magical through the eyes of a child.
5. Disneyland (For the same reason as holidays... pure magic!)
6. The adorable things they say... especially the sweet stuff, like, "I love you, Mommy"..."Mommy your the best"..."Mommy, I never, ever will leave you."  (Can I contractually bind them to that statement??)
7. Teaching them and watching them learn.  I love to hear things like, "Mommy, that Stop sign is an octagon", or "That letter is an M, like my name." 
8. The infectious laughs and giggles, especially during an impromptu tickle fight.
9. Listening to them pray or sing a song from primary.
10. The Christlike example they teach me of instant and true, forgive and forget... forgiveness.

Top 10 Things I Could Do Without, Regarding Motherhood (So far...) 
In Random Order


1. Poop messes... anywhere but in the diaper. (Because it's poop...enough said).
2. Throwing up...most especially because it means they don't feel good...and because it seems to be a rippling effect  around my house.  Once a kid does, I feel like I have to, and Marc starts gagging.  
3. The constant panic feeling that you are going to "screw them up".  (Please tell me I'm not alone).
4. The guilt you feel that, no matter how hard you work, there is always something you are leaving out, or forgetting or could be doing better.
5. Tantrums.  You know the kind. The screaming, kicking, make you feel handicapped and helpless kind.  Ugh.  I don't think any person, (even a child psychologist) can be educated on how to best handle that situation, especially on a child by child basis.  However, if I am the one that is the expert on my child in particular and her tantrums...then that's sad, because I'm clueless as to how to handle it! :)
6. Saying goodbye to consistently worry-free, slumber. Once you have a child, it's like your heart walking outside of you, and you will never sleep without your mind on them again...I'm sure even when they are grown.  Our Mommy Radar knows... whether it be a three year old standing 5 inches from your face in the night, or a teenager turning onto your street late at night.  We always know, and sleep is never again fully uninterrupted.
7. Losing my patience or getting angry.  I hate that feeling....that I never fully felt until I became a parent.
8.  
9.
10.


I gave up...I can't figure out anymore.  And to be totally honest, I guess I don't mind these things so much.  Because even the hard things, make the countless amazing things, so much more rewarding!


Those are some of my top 10's...what are yours?

I'm Gonna Like Me

I went to Costco the other day for three things: Peanut Butter (yes, we have to buy it in bulk when my daughter pretty much lives off of it), Formula (I need this in bulk now that I have weaned Carson from nursing), and Beauty and the Beast (because it's only my most favorite Disney movie of all time! Oh, and for the kids, too, I guess).  Somehow I ended up buying six or so things.  Dang Costco.  Anyway, one of the things I bought was a book for Montana.  At least, I thought it was for Montana but I've been finding myself reading it over and over again.  It's a book by Jamie Lee Curtis (the actress) and Laura Cornell.   It's called I'm Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self Esteem.

I highly recommend this book (click on the link above to buy it on Amazon- or go to Costco, it's on sale for two bucks less), and I look forward to buying the plethora of other children's books written by this creative authoring duo.

I loved the idea that it is teaching kids to like and love themselves, for exactly who they are.  For their strengths, amidst their weaknesses, when they excel and when they make mistakes.  This is exactly the type of thing I want to instill in my children.  But, as I read this adorable rhymey book with silly cartoon illustration, I thought of myself and the lack of "I'm Gonna Like Me's" that I say to myself everyday.

The very last rhyme of the book is this, "I'm gonna like me, I already do!  But enough about me - How about YOU?"

How about me?  Am I exuding this type of self esteem and confidence for my children to learn from?  Or are my subconscious actions and everyday self imposed standards showing them that your not done until it's "perfect".  Pretty sure I'm doing the latter...because I do that to myself everyday.  So, kind of using their idea, but in NO way trying to copy the authors book...I started thinking of things in my head that I could say, "I'm Gonna Like Me" to...and it kind of came out in rhyme as I thought it.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When I'm up in the night,

Worrying too much about babies,

And checking to see if their alright.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When I awake as a grump,

With little motivation to shower,

And I look like a frump.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When my house is spot-less,

But I'm still gonna like me, 

When it's a horrible mess.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When I run five miles at the gym,

Lifted weights, bicycled,

And ended with a 3 mile swim (Okay, that never happens...)

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When I'm lazy all day,

Catching up on my  DVR,

Wasting time away.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

Even when my gut looks like a muffin,

Because I had one too many scoops of ice cream,

And gave myself some extra stuffin'.  

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When I've worked my best,

To I fit into "those jeans",

And the buttons passes the test.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When I lose patience with my kids,

And  it means I'm not perfect,

BECAUSE NOBODY IS!

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When I neglect the To-Do tasks,

To read to my kids for hours,

Just because they asked.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When hormones over take my body,

And I'm a one woman monsoon,

"Look OUT everybody!"

I'm Gonna Like Me,

With a finished college degree,

But until that day comes,

I use everyday life to educate me.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

Lawyer, Doctor or CFO,

But I'm too busy for those now,

Motherhood is the most important job I know.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

When I'm awesome at stuff,

Because I am gosh darn it,

And my best is good enough.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

No matter what anyone thinks,

Because their opinion doesn't matter,

And negativity stinks.

I'm Gonna Like Me,

So that my kids can see,

That just who I am,

Is exactly who I SHOULD be!

And again to quote Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, 

"I'M GONNA LIKE ME, I ALREADY DO!  BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME...HOW ABOUT YOU??"

Update on Little C

I'm not sure if I've ever seen a baby smile quite as much as this bubba boy...

He is seriously my angel baby.  On a stressful day, all I need is a slobbery kiss from this boy and I melt.  He smiles at me and all my troubles are gone.  

When his Daddy was a baby, they called him "Drib" because he "dribbled" or "drooled" so much.  I think Carson could be appropriately named, "Drib Jr."

At his six month check up he was 16 lbs. and 24 inches long, if I remember correctly.  Both about 25th percentile.  His head circumference was in the 95th percentile.  He's going to be smart...:)

If there was ever a wonder that this kid is 100% boy, his mannerisms have solidified it.  He sure can eat! He puts it away like I've never seen!  Also, no matter how I try to pin his arms down, his hands always seem to find their way, ahem...down "there"...when I'm changing his diaper.  It's like some magnetic force that's installed in the baby making process of a boy.  It's a crack up!

He sleeps through the night and takes two good naps.  He's the celebrity baby of my gym's playcare, and the ladies in there fight over who gets to hold him and get their "baby fix".  He lights up when he see's his daddy, loves his Mommy to cuddle and love on him...but most of all, he ADORES his big sister.  No one can make him laugh or smile like she can...

And yes, it is always this loud at my house...

...I think I may slowly be going deaf...

....huh???

My Tiny Dancer

Montana has started a dance class once a week at the Elk Grove Dance Center with Miss Nancy.  And she absolutely loves it!  And so do I!  I swear, I am totally that Mom that walks away saying, "She was the best little girl in that class!  She has such natural talent and ability."  And I believe every word of it (as every, Mama does I'm sure!)

My little dancer:

She had and her friend Kami.

Love it!

The hokey-pokey

Also, have I mentioned Montana is a "Belieber??"