My Mom

My Mom is so old I have only ever seen her childhood in black and white.

She is the small one in the front... this picture is further proof that she was born a "mom".

She was probably not even in school yet and already carrying a purse.

Today is her birthday...

I will not tell you which one exactly, but she is somewhere between 35 and 62.

 That's her holding Daniel... she looks good for her age right?

oh ok fine.... that was me, here is Daniel.

 Same serious, calm, sleepy look on her face. Newborns must have that affect on her.

How do I describe my Mother?

She is selfless.

I find myself trying not to call her for help on a regular basis because I know that she will drop almost anything just to come help me with the kids, or let me take a shower, or bring me a gallon of milk.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people,

promptly announces she never did care for pie. 

~Tenneva Jordan

 She is worries too much, but I think its only because she loves us all so much.

She panics over absolutely nothing.

But in times of actual crisis she is somehow utterly calm.

I'm learning this is a mom thing too, never let them see that your afraid.

It makes no difference if we were five years old and getting stitches for the first time,

or twenty five and having complications after having a baby...  she was what we needed.

I cannot forget my mother.  She is my bridge. 

When I needed to get across, she steadied herself long enough for me to run across safely. 

~Renita Weems

She loves our Father, and he loves her.

And that is priceless.

They showed us marriage isn't a fairytale and its not about happily ever after.

Its work, and compromise, and sacrifice.

But its also a promise to God, to each other and to us.

"Faithfulness lives where love is stronger than instinct."

~Paul Carvel

She has a great sense of humor, people are just drawn to her because of it.

That and the fact that I think she reminds everyone of there own mother.

She has taken on the role of of motherhood, and now grandmother, so entirely that I think its just a part of her personality.

 

If you have a mom, 

there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.  

~Robert Brault

So Happy Birthday Mom... here is my gift to you, one last quote I really liked.

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. 

She never existed before. 

The woman existed, but the mother, never.  

A mother is something absolutely new. 

~Rajneesh

This means that you have "Mom Years".... kind of like dog years,

and thanks to Julie and I you are only 26.

 I guess we could say that what doesn't kill you actually makes you younger! 

Love you.

Sideswiping You with Random on this Idle Tuesday.

Today is a whole lot of random things with random pictures.

And don't mind me if the pictures have nothing to do with the words... its that kind of day.

I need ice lately.

Not the kind that is covering my driveway and blocking my huge pregnant butt from escape,

the kind in the bag at the gas station.

The kind that only crazy pregnant ladies and their poor exhausted husbands are buying in the dead of winter. I need it and I don't know why. I'm like this at the end of every pregnancy.

And no I have no iron deficiency... I'm just weird.

last major shopping trip pre-baby...

he loves me... no matter what he says.

I am also addicted lately to the smell of clean laundry, 

Tom is going nuts... I have air fresheners plugged in everywhere. 

Plus fabric refresher spray...

plus candles...

I always love this smell but once again my growing belly has created a growing addiction.

Its like the bigger I get the bigger my quirks get too.

 

My feral children scavenging during the super bowl...

Dinner is whatever you can reach kids! Mommy is busy screaming at the tv...

 

And I'm not ready to talk about it yet.... maybe after next years super bowl when we get number 7.

But not yet.

 

I am burying my sorrows in the laundry... because I gave up drinking and the boys are out of socks.

 

I started with this...

and two hours later I was only at this...

I would like to blame them...

but they are so cute and innocent looking, who would believe me?

 No my distraction is this...

Portable adult conversation in the midst of my life here on Sesame Street.

Plus I'm nine months pregnant... I have to sit down a lot right?

(ps... that is the mammoth cup I fill with aforementioned ice.

 I need help.

I don't like ice out of the tray and this is getting to be and expensive 2-3 bag a week habit.)

 

Next bit of random... I want to post two not so flattering but HILARIOUS pictures of people.

But I don't want to get in trouble...

 

 soooo here is one of me first.

thanks for that one Bella...

Ok, now that that is over with on to the good stuff!

Remember Aunt Jeanne you can't be mad... 

You know I didn't even see you there mom... not your best moment either.

But once again, you can't be mad... and if your feeling mad just scroll up.

Ok... next!

hahahahaha....ahhhh.... I know what your all thinking, and you don't have to thank me. 

Its my gift to you.

Happy Random Tuesday!

Crazy Pregnant Me

I am finding it hard to write while pregnant.

Every thought in my head is negative and I can't seem to keep my thoughts running in any kind of orderly fashion.

One minute I furious over some random thing that happened two days ago. 

Then I'm concerned about making a grocery list for the last major pre-baby trip to the grocery store... 

in three days.

Then all I want to do is find the time and energy to organize the pantry and the cabinets because for some reason in that moment I cannot imagine having a baby with semi messy kitchen.

Not that the baby would know the difference.... or anyone besides me really.

When I get this close to having a baby I feel manic.

I suddenly empathize with all the pregnant cats I have ever seen.

They act so weird in the days and especially hours before birth... 

pacing, 

laying down, 

getting up, 

pacing more,

wanting to be with you, 

wanting to be alone, 

making weird other worldly noises.

Oh help me I am like that!

I want to talk, 

He is not listening, 

I want his help, 

he is doing it all wrong,

I need to sleep, 

I cannot lay in bed one more minute.

I am hungry, 

nothing sounds good.

I want to watch a movie, 

this movie is too intense or sad or slow paced... 

I even make weird noises every time I have a random pain or try to get up off the couch to fast.

So what to do to keep me sane?

Pray... a lot.
The ultimate cure would be to give birth...

but in the mean time I will attempt to keep my sense of humor, here is what is keeping me smiling in these last days of gestation.

1. Bella's baby name ideas:
Antenna

Tika

Rosela.... those are for a girl, of course.

For a boy we have, 

Eric... after a prince in a movie...

or Furry... don't ask I have no idea.

She is really mad that we have picked names without her and begs us to reconsider a few times a week. I love her very much but I have an older cousin who wanted my mom to name me Ursala.

Thank you mom for not listening to the whims of a cute child. 

I will not be changing my mind anytime soon.

2.Tommy has asked me often lately when he can go be a "workin man yike Daddy... and fix stuff?"

"When I's bigga?"

He melts me.

I hope he retains this need to be productive once he is old enough to mow the grass.

3. My sister told me that Bella clapped her hands on her head the other day and said loudly,

"I am losing my Mind!"

Hmmm... wonder where she heard that?

4. Poor Daniel is very confused... he has been coming up to me and putting a hand on my belly and saying over and over "Baby? Baby?"

I say yes and he moves his hand to my elbow or leg and asks again,

"Baby? Baby?"

I say no.. mommy...

Then he goes back to my belly and says "Baby!" 

He then "kisses" the baby... which means he slams his face, mouth open into my stomach.

Slobbery... slightly painful... but oh so adorable.

17 Days and counting people... if you know any good jokes leave me a comment!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

So this post has been a long time coming and I'm determined to do it before we become a family of six.
Along with a million other things like laundry and organizing the pantry... but I'm getting off track.

These were taken back in the fall by one of my many sister in laws.

I have six by the way....and one sister of my very own, and they are all very talented in their own ways.

This post is about Kristin,
Kristin's talent for photography especially benefits me.

If you are in the market for a husband I suggest you start the interview process by finding out if he has a sister who is into photography.... if he does he's a keeper.

Ok well make sure you like him too.....
Honestly though when I met Tom Kristin wasn't doing this yet, which is why there are very few pictures of our dating days, sad but true.

I am not so great about documenting everything even now and that is partly because I know that if Kris is there I don't need to worry. The photos will be taken and they will be a better quality than anything my point and shoot could ever produce.

The best part (besides the beautiful photo's) is she came to us!

So when Daniel's attitude came out we simply put him in bed and took some without him.

It was so much better than trying to keep him happy at a studio with a bunch of other cranky toddlers and their exhausted parents.

I love this one... its possibly my favorite.

....wait no this one...

.... I can't choose I give up.

Also I'd like to point out that the conditions in my yard are not ideal.

Our house is ugly,

old siding, lots of tools and things up back with whatever random car Tom is working on,

I don't want to make us sound like we live in a trash heap, but its a work in progress and we would like to add on to the house soon, and sadly that means siding and landscaping will be the last thing to get done.

I was convinced there would be something in the background of these shots that would make me cringe.

Like the old washing machine that has yet to make it to the scrap yard.

But she worked magic.

Her specialty is kids.
Obviously these are her nephews and niece but she is a big sister to nine and also a nanny.
If she can't get your children to smile for a picture then it can't be done... sorry.

However she does all sorts of different photography.
These she took for me just last weekend.
I hate pictures of myself... these however are some of the best I've had in a long time.

I love this in color and faded... and she even did it in black and white!
Too many options!

 

She was so good about telling me how to pose. I felt awkward but it ended up looking natural and flattering.

Seriously she did a wonderful job... I should get a picture of myself today and you'll see the difference!
This is not me nine months pregnant.... this is me through her rose colored camera, and I love it!
Its nice to feel pretty instead of huge for a change.
And now I really can't wait to see the cute newborn pictures we'll get!

So check out her blog.
She doesn't write as often as I wish she would because she is always busy editing her last photo shoot.
I suppose that is more important but still, I want more cute pictures to look at...
so comment, follow and encourage her people... more blogging Kris!

If your interested and want to book something or get some prices you can email her at kbphotography10@yahoo.com or find her on facebook.

Isabella's World

I am trying to loosen up.

Not worry so much.

Give up a little control.

So I gave my four year old my camera, and left her to her own devices.

The first batch are at our house, the second at my mom's aka Nana.
Side note: Please ignore my frightening appearance... showering and putting on make up take energy that I just can't spare these days.

The world through Bella's eyes....

What I like most... Daniel's face in the tent.
she took a picture of her favorite video game on my laptop... why???
Her fingers in the diaper change photo.
Her face in the picture with Aunt Julie... so serious!

All around this was way more interesting than I thought it would be!
I'll be doing this much more often.... and I'll probably need a new camera sooner as a result.
Oh well... life is short and childhood is shorter.