Flyin' Old School

I had a moment that mattered most the other day. Terry got Isabella her first bike. He has been wanting to get her one for a while now. She woke up from her nap and found it in the front doorway.

After much excitement, consisting of jumping up and down, climbing on the bike, and asking daddy to push her around, she said, "It's just like the missionaries! YAY!" You see, we have had the missionaries over our house at least once a week due to Terry's new calling in church. They usually travel to our house with their bikes. That little statement of hers meant more to me than she will ever know. I think of this quote: "Diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world." Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Having those missionaries in our home has been such a blessing to our family. What a wonderful spirit they have. If you would like to have that same feeling, have them over your house. I promise you won't regret it. Go here.

Isabella has been giving me those "aha" moments a lot lately. She has been reaffirming me that I am actually teaching her things and she is learning. As a mother, those moments mean so much to me because I feel like I am actually accomplishing something. As a mother, it is hard to feel accomplished. There is never a moment where you can say, "I'm finished and look what I have done!" Even when my children grow up, I will never be finished being a mother. But, in those special moments, you realize that you are actually doing something that is rewarding. I am happy to know that it will actually pay off in the end. That will be when eternity begins...

I've got a feeling

Usually when I hear the phrase, "I've got a feeling," I'm busting a move to the Black Eyed Peas. Yesterday, I was saying it over and over in my head after I found Isabella in my bed, playing a game on my kindle, with blue eye shadow covering her body.

(The blue doesn't really show up in the picture)

I've got a feeling, this is just the beginning.

I've got a feeling she's going to be getting into a lot more trouble.

I've got a feeling this is the start of her michevious ways.


I woke up yesterday morning extremely tired for some reason. I sat down to nurse Avaree while Isabella played in the living room. Seconds later I dozed off. I woke up with Avaree asleep in my arms and Bella nowhere in sight. I calmly walked to Avaree's room and laid her down before searching frantically for Bella. I walked in my room and found her laying on my bed with her legs crossed, playing a game on my kindle and completely covered in something blue. I asked her very nicely (trying not to laugh) What is that? Where did you get it? She pointed to the bathroom... "right there." I looked in the bathroom and found this:

This is her attempt at destroying the evidence. In moments like this, I honestly can't stop laughing, but I'm sure my mood might change after several offenses. That morning, Terry caught her climbing the counter to grab a banana for herself. She has also been found multiple times coloring her body. So, to keep my optimism, I will sing on, "I gotta feeling, woooohoooo, that tonight's gonna be a good night!!" because, ultimately, the messes can be cleaned up and the markers can be wiped off.

I'm a Rough and Tough...

...and nothing's gonna knock this girl down... Yes, these were the words I was repeating last night after the second and third time up with my 2 year old in the middle of the night. It's been rough trying to change little Bella's sleeping habits. She has always been a good sleeper; since 3 months old she was sleeping through the night. The problem is getting her to sleep. Let's just say we followed more of the attachment style parenting, letting her sleep with us and then transitioning her to her crib. When she got her big girl bed, it was easier for us because we could lay with her and then quietly ease out of her arms once she falls asleep.  Since Avaree came along, we have been trying to change her habits, but it seems almost impossible.

Have you heard the new No Doubt song? They are my all time favorite band. When I heard they were back together and making a new album, I was THRILLED! When I hear their music my blood heats up, I get the chills, I sweat, and I just feeling like singing (more like screaming) and dancing. The first single has come out and I can't get it out of my head. Especially last night, when I was repeating, "Get get get, in (bed), and settle down!!!" to Isabella. But, after that stressful night, I am up and running, trying to get ahead with my laundry and tidying up the house. Just like Gwen says, "I'm a rough and tough, and nothing's gonna knock this girl down!" The motto for any mother!!!

Little Avaree sucking her thumb!! ahhh!

Smile and Carry On

I braved a trip to Publix today. I was behind on everything today. I only needed a couple of things for dinner and hoped to run in and out. (So silly of me for thinking this) Bella always picks the racecar buggy to sit in. I put the kids in the cart and placed my bag next to Bella. Apparently, this is forbidden. Bella flipped her lid. She demanded I remove the bag from the seat next to her. For some reason, I was not going to tolerate her stubbornness today. I thought, "Why CAN'T I put my bag there? I'm in charge." So I let the bag there and carried on with my grocery shopping as she continued to cry, which turned into screaming. I now changed my mind about the bag, but at this point consoling was not an option. She was too far gone with her fit throwing, nothing would have made it better. So, I decided to just get what I needed and leave. The next ten minutes consisted of me running through Publix frantically, Bella screaming, and Avaree sound asleep in her carseat (thank goodness!). People stared and some tried to console her. Someone even brought her a balloon. I started thinking about my mom, grocery shopping with 7 kids and I could hear her stories of how people would rudely make comments to her as her kids threw fits in the store. Was someone going to make a snide remark to me?? I was thinking of comebacks I could say if anyone attempted to be rude to me. It was becoming too overwhelmed so I stopped, shut my eyes, and took a deep breath. Everything was still and I heard the words, "Smile and carry on." I opened my eyes and did just that. I even brought it to a laughter as I approached the checkout lane. I'm sure at this point people thought I was crazy. I sang the hymn in my head, "Carry on, Carry on, Carry on!!!"

Well, Bella cried all the way to the car and home. All because she refused to have my bag sitting next to her. Later, right before laying Avaree down in her crib, I had a moment. I looked at this beautiful baby smiling from ear to ear and I counted my blessings. Count your blessings, name them one by one. I am truly blessed. These little meltdowns don't matter in the grand scheme of things. They will be forgotten. What will be remembered is Bella saying, "Come play with me mommy" and her singing happy birthday to me everyday. What will be remembered is Avaree's little hands touching my face. I will remember Bella's face after catching her coloring her hands and feet in the kitchen with markers. I will remember sweet little Avaree trying her hardest to hold her head up and look at me as I pat her over my shoulder. Her beautiful blue eyes. Bella's messy curls. This is what I remember about today.