You Know you're a mom when....

{Delight: a high degree of gratification, extreme satisfaction. Something that gives great pleasure}


{Pleasure: a source of delight or joy}


{Blessed: Bringing happiness, pleasure, or contentment}


{Love: A profoundly tender, affection for another person}



You know you are a mom when these words describe to a tee..the way you feel about your children. I am truly blessed, indeed.









Click on the above link for more You Know Your a Mom When-sDaze.
You'll be glad you did!

You Know you're a mom when....

The lovely Arizona Mamma over at Daze in the Desert came up with this great idea for a blog hop. It's called...

You Know You're a Mom When-sDaze.

In her words she writes, "As parents, we constantly find ourselves saying things that we just can't quite believe came out of our mouths, or misting up over a few scribbles on a page, or finding ourselves in situations that could only be the result of having offspring. So today I present "You know you're a mom (or dad) When-sDAZE."
I thought it was such a great idea and couldn't wait to join.
***************************************************************************

I think the following photos should be preceded with a disclaimer.

Due to their nature, I hesitated whether it was wise to post them at all.

These are not for the faint of heart.
Or the "queasy of stomach"!

Of course, I am only thinking of prospective parents.

I have your best interest at heart.

I in NO way want to be the deterrent to being fruitful and multiplying.

Let it not be so.

This unfortunate event happened back in 2006.

The shock and horror of it has faded some.

I feel as if I am finally ready to talk about it.

You Know You're A Mom WHEN..........................................

You have the unfortunate mishap of stumbling upon THIS in your bathroom.

No matter how hard you try, you are unable to make sense of the situation.

Nothing you have experienced in your life could've prepared you for this moment.

Due to the sheer magnitude of the situation,

You desperately search for an explanation.

And then reality strikes.

There is absolutely NO way to explain what your eyes have witnessed.

And so your shoulders sag.

You search for a clean piece of floor to lie down on.

And then you assume the fetal position. 

You are quite sure that there is a real possiblilty that you may not ever recover from this. 

And if you do, you will never be the same.

And would you believe, that all of that chaos and destruction was executed by this little cherub?

You better believe it!!!

Yep...and that was how I knew I was a mom, on that particular day in history.

It is my fervent prayer that I never have to re-live that bit of history again.

For the sake of my dear son, I feel I must give a small explanation.  Contrary to my initial belief, this was not contrived or purposefully done.  Apparently, a little "toot" gave C-boy a lot more than he had bargained for.  However, he was unaware of the sheer magnitude of the situation until he entered the bathroom. Well, the shock of the "pile" in his drawers sent him into a bit of a panic.  In order to be free of the stinky dilemma he tried to kick off his underwear. He didn't want to get his hands anywhere near the situation. That made sense to his 4 year old mind. However, his britches did not become free instantaneously.  So he continued to kick (and possibly flail) until he was free of them.  To this day, I am still unable to wrap my mind around the amount of flailing that must have taken place.  But to find "residual" on the top of the door frame in the closet next to the bathroom, leads me to believe there was some serious thrashing that took place.  If only I could have been a fly on the wall! On second thought, I'm thankful that I wasn't.  Considering what I found on the wall!

Pop on over to Our Daze in the Desert for more....if you dare!

Mom n' Me Monday

Mom n' Me Monday was created in an attempt to make myself get in the picture with my kiddos. When my kids are grown, I don't want to look through my photos only to find that I am not in any of them! So, I'm on a mission to "capture" these memories.
************************************************************************************


S-girl is our dear, sweet little girl.
Today she is 4 1/2.
We saw her sweet little face, for the very first time when she was 10 months old.
On our computer screen.
We were immediately in love.




Video Hosting - Upload Video - Video Sharing



This was the first day we held S-girl in our arms. Here is a short clip.
She had just celebrated her 1st birthday 4 days before.
She was terrified.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest.
I could feel it as she pressed against me.
She cried.
Silently.
Huge tears rolled down her cheeks.
And yet not a noise did she make.
My heart hurt for her.
She had most likely never seen anything like us before.

But this quiet, fearful little one, had a strength and vibrance that surprised us all.
One open heart surgery, and 3 1/2 years later, she amazes us each day.


Those first few weeks were difficult.
I questioned whether her fear would ever turn to trust.
Today her child-like faith is simple and true.


In those first few months, I wondered if this little girl would ever laugh.
Today she laughs louder and harder than anyone in our family.
Our sweet S-girl has 3 brothers who adore her.
And she adores them.
She can karate chop and wrestle with the best of em'.
She is always "game" for any adventure presented to her.
And there are many.
She hugs us daily and often just clings to my leg and says, "I love you, Mommy."
And we love her.
Boy, DO WE LOVE HER.
***********************************************************************


Now, because I loved my sweet friend Shannon's out take last week. (you know..the Arizona Mamma)
And because the majority of photos of "moi" turn out like this.
Because I believe this post has become much too serious.
I thought I would share this.


Look closely at my eyes.
Or don't.



Here, let me crop in nice and close.
For clarity's sake.
What is wrong with my eye.
I kid you not, one out of three photos of me looks like this.
I even try and make a mental note to keep my eyes somewhat "even" looking, when I smile.

Obviously, it doesn't work.
Does anyone have a diagnosis for what "ails" me?
I need all the help I can get.
Speaking of help, can anyone recommend a good anti-aging eye cream?
It looks as if I am in desperate need of some.******************************************************************************


I can't wait to see your pictures. You can grab the code under the button below and paste it into the body of your post. Then add your link into Mr. McKlinky below.

To use Mr. McKlinky, be sure to link your Mom n' Me Monday post, not your main blog url.

To do this, go to your blog. Click on the title of your Mom n' Me Monday post. The url in your browser window will become a direct link to that post. Copy that url and paste it into the Mr. McKlinky window, along with your name, or your blog's name.

If you don't want to grab the Mom n' Me button, just link back to the Peanut Gallery so other's can join in if that's what their little heart's desire :)!








<a href="http://peanutgalleryexithere.blogspot.com/search/label/Mom%20n%27%20Me"><img src="http://d.imagehost.org/0530/Mom_n_me_meme.jpg" alt="BWS tips button" width="125" height="125" /></a>

Mom n' Me Monday

Mom n' Me Monday was created in an attempt to make myself get in the picture with my kiddos. When my kids are grown, I don't want to look through my photos only to find that I am not in any of them! So, I'm on a mission to "capture" these memories.


*************************************************************************************


This is C-boy.
He is 9 years old.
The day that C-boy was born, was one of the most momentous days in our lives.
After much waiting and heartache, we became parents.
We were even more ecstatic that God had kept him in the “oven” for 38 weeks.
This was something that was never expected.
After going into pre-term labor at 23 weeks, it was our goal and the doctors goal to keep him in for as long as possible.
However, things had progressed- without sharing too much information- and it seemed highly unlikely that he would stay in too much longer.
But God is not about statistics.
God is about miracles.
And so, C-boy stayed inside, baking until he was good and ready.
And so were we!
14 weeks of strict bed rest has a way of messing with your mind!

Words that describe this boy are:
Active, creative, and inventive.
Smart, silly, funny and sweet.
Smiley , cheerful, and stubborn.
He has had his share of obstacles to overcome.
But has always had faith that “Jesus would help him”.
Because of this, our faith has grown, too.
I love this kid.

Because of him, I have read almost every parenting book there is to read!


Because of him, we have learned patience.


Because of him, our days are full of action and delight!


Because of him, we laugh a lot and life is always an adventure.
Because of him, I can truly say...

I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
1 Samuel 1:27


*************************************************************************************

I can't wait to see your pictures. You can grab the code under the button below and paste it into the body of your post. Then add your link into Mr. McKlinky below.

To use Mr. McKlinky, be sure to link your Mom n' Me Monday post, not your main blog url.

To do this, go to your blog. Click on the title of your Mom n' Me Monday post. The url in your browser window will become a direct link to that post. Copy that url and paste it into the Mr. McKlinky window, along with your name, or your blog's name.

If you don't want to grab the Mom n' Me button, just link back to the Peanut Gallery so other's can join in if that's what their little heart's desire :)!





<a href="http://peanutgalleryexithere.blogspot.com/search/label/Mom%20n%27%20Me"><img src="http://d.imagehost.org/0530/Mom_n_me_meme.jpg" alt="BWS tips button" width="125" height="125" /></a>

The way it really happened..

So, this is the way we do things around here.
I happened to run into the library to pick up some books on hold.
I mozied on over to the children's section.
We needed to fill our book basket with some new and interesting reading material.
You know, the kind of books that stimulates a child's imagination.
The kind of books that allow them to travel to exotic places right in the comfort of their own home.
You know "living books". The kind of book that teach facts, that would otherwise be boring, in an animated, riveting new way!
Well, we found just that.


Now, to be clear, I didn't thumb through this book before I checked it out.
It happened to be one of the "display books".
You know, the ones that sit on the top of the book shelves as if to say "pick me".
And yes, I will admit, this is how I pick many of the children's books that we check out. Somehow, squatting down and thumbing through a bajillion books, just isn't my favorite thing to do.
The title got me.
Welcome with Love.
I bit.

Fastfoward to that evening.
S-girl always has me read a story, or two, or three, before bedtime.
So we snuggled into her bed and began to read said book.
We read about a family who is preparing to welcome a new baby into their home.
Jack, the little brother is telling us the story.
They are setting out tiny socks and clothes and really just "nesting".
"Ahhh, what a cute little story!" I think to myself.


Soon, the midwife arrives.
She proceeds to set out instruments that will be used during the babies birth.
Oh look, big sister is listening to little Jack's heartbeat with a doppler.
Could you get any more delightful than that?
At this point, I think,"Hmmm...this will be interesting. A home birth. I'll get to explain to S-girl that some people choose to have their babies at home. Yes, we are learning something new here."


Then mom, with labor not progressing, decides to go for a walk.
In a snowstorm.
I think, "Well, what woman in her right mind would do this?
Is she going to get lost in the woods?
Is this going to be THAT kind of story?
You know, where the baby is born in the woods and a friendly bear comes and snuggles mother and child until they are found?"


Oh, PHEW...she found her way home.
Now she's explaining to Jack that during labor she might make a lot of noise, because that's what it's like when babies are born.
Yelling and screaming will help her to feel much better. (She obviously hasn't heard of the GLORIOUS epidural. I kid, I kid)
I keep eyeing S-girl to see what she thinks of all this. At this point she is very quiet. As if she is pondering it all.


Ahem... the walk in the snow storm did the trick.
Labor is progressing.
Mom is yelling so loudly the whole town hears it.
I'm thinking, "Oh, I'm so pleased they are actually showing that walking during labor is O.K., and can be beneficial for the progression of labor!" (just the R.N. in me!)
Who KNOWS what S-girl was thinking!
I must say, at this point, I am beginning to wonder where all of this is leading. (I mean, I KNOW where it's leading...but you know what I'm sayin'.)



O.K..... I think I KNOW where this is leading.....




But, nothing could have prepared me for this turn of events!
How did she go from fully clothed, to fully un-clothed with a baby in between her legs all in one page!!!!???"
I continue to read calmly.
I am desperately trying to hold in my laughter.
For some reason, this picture is conjuring up the giggles in my mature, 36 year old self!
But we are at the point of no return.
S-girl has already seen the picture.
So we might as well chalk it up as a LEARNING EXPERIENCE!
After I read the page, S-girl looks at me, wide eyed and says,
"THE BABY CAME OUT OF HER BUTT????"
I, of course, went on to explain the "3 hole scenerio"!
Ya know, the one where mommies have three holes.
One for peeing, one for pooing, and one for pushing babies out!!
Oh, you haven't heard that one before?
Well, yeah, I'm quick on my feet and thought it was a pretty sophisticated way of explaining it all to a 4 year old!
Her next question was, "Is that lady going to eat the baby??"
Looking at the picture, I can see where S-girl is coming from!
Her mouth is open, for goodness sake!
I quickly reply, "No honey, she's just catching the baby!" But I think to myself, "With the way this book is going, they'll probably eat the placenta!"


Moving on....O.K...I guess we are not moving on yet! Somebody, get that baby a blanket. We don't want hypothermia to set in! Especially with a snow storm raging outside!
Oh, and get mom a blanket too! Please.



And finally, they are all tucked in.
Now we get a lesson on all things placenta.
I must say we did enjoy the lesson, though!
And guess what?
It was a very HEALTHY placenta.
For which, we are all thankful!



And finally, Jack is so happy that everyone gets to sleep together that night.
And so am I. And so am I!!
I'm thinkin' little Jack may have a few nightmares after all his little eyes have witnessed.


So how was S-girl, after seeing such a fascinating portrayal of childbirth?
Just fine, thank you.
In fact, when D-man went in to say good night, I had him ask her what she thought of the story.
She didn't even remember I had read a story.
Out of sight, out of mind!
Or maybe that was just a "coping" mechanism.


Thank you Jenni Overend and Julie Vivas.
For stimulating my daughter's 4 year old imagination!
For teaching her something in a new and exciting way.
For taking her on an adventure, right there in the comfort of her own bedroom.
I don't think I could have described it any more vividly myself!



***disclaimer***
I am in no way against "natural" child birth!
I am in no way against "the family bed"! (except for at my house!)
I AM against "eating the placenta"! (not done in this book)
Lastly, I AM against "natural" childbirth when it comes to little ole' me!
Give me an incommodious hospital bed, a snap up gown, and an epidural in my back...and all is well in the world!

Thank you and Goodnight!

edited to add: I wrote this awhile ago, but just had to share it over at O My family book week. Visit her to see more wonderful book reviews.

Thank you that I was born in China.

S-girl's bedtime prayer always starts with,

"Dear Jesus, sanks (thanks) that I was born in China and sanks for my China mommy and for her protectin' me and sanks for Daddy and Mommy fudopting (adopting) me...."

I love how she adds the f to adopting.

Not sure where she came up with it, but I love it.

Thanks, God, that she was born in China.



Thank YOU for her China Mommy.



Thanks that she made the choice to protect her.


Thanks that WE got to adopt HER!



Amen.