Mom's Rule!

me, my hot mama, emily

doug (r), ben (l), lauren and the darling mother of 3 under two years old!

We miss our mom's today.  I am so glad that even though we grow up, move out, get married, they are still our moms. No matter what.  We love you!

Carpe Diem

This month I will be turning the grand old age of 27.  For some reason, all week I have almost been haunted by the fact that live is passing really quickly.  A month or so ago there was a high school party on my street and my two girlfriends and I stepped outside to house to get a better peak.  The cops showed up, everyone dispersed.  We asked a a couple of guys walking by what was going on.  In his coolest Southern-African-American-teen voice he asked, "Y'all grown?" As in "why do you old ladies want to know about the younger crowds life?"  Yes, I am almost 27.  Apparently that means I am growing up, but somehow I still fell about 15. 

I still have a lot I want to do in life, and I guess I just realized that I can't wait too long to do it.  I want to be less critical and more patient. I want to play my violin more.  I want to learn more about the New Testament. I want to be a birthing doula.  I want to adopt sweet babies.  I want to birth more babies.  I want to show my children the world and travel everywhere! I want to stay in better contact with my family and dear friends. I want to be a photographer.  I want to run another marathon.  I want to be able to communicate better.  I want to write in my journal more.

I guess I will start by seizing the tornado that hit my bedroom and be in bed by 10.

And one quick picture to show that I am working towards at least one of those goals. Too bad I know nothing about editing. (Good thing Photography Club starts next week!)

Little boys make me laugh.

Things that make motherhood so entertaining are:

Cal was watching me get dressed and said, "Hey! That's my braaaa-ccoli." Bra/Broccoli...same thing. 

 Cal walked in to my room right after waking up one morning and said, "What time is it mom? What are we doing today."  I proceeded to tell him he really should try and wait a few more years before stressing about such questions.  A day or two later he came running in after waking up and with a face full of smiles said, "I had the best dream about horses mom!"  That's better. 

Cal new found hobby of making ice cream sundaes and chocolate milk all by himself. Whenever he wants (or I should say whenever mom is not in the kitchen).  I have to say I am impressed at his ability to dish a large bowl of hard ice cream and pour milk with out spilling.  (I should clarify that he doesn't always use a bowl.  Sometimes I find him pouring the chocolate syrup directly into the carton...that works too.)

Me: "Let's go potty before bed." Cal: "I already went."  Me: "When?"  Cal: "Ummm, on Thursday I think.  At Mateus' house."   

Answering the door in my bathrobe to find a friend who was returning my two year old. (I hadn't even gotten in the shower and he escaped.)

Cal: "I like orange potatoes and green basketballs."  (Sweet potatoes and peas.) 

It was a good week!

p.s. Strawberry picking was oodles of fun as well. Even if the two year old did insist on wearing his shorts backwards.

dougism

I love that I married such a down to earth, happy-go-lucky, determined, brainy, hard working man.  However, fashion just has never been his strong point.  For those of you who are lucky enough to know my Douger, you know he has his own sense of style. He is loyal to the tee shirt and jeans look. The "Snowboarding makes me happy"tee has become his soul mate. However, I think that chumming with too many "sophisticated doctors" has helped him to see the light beyond his Quicksilver tee shirts.  He said to me the other night, "...that was back in my tee shirt days.  Now I just buy meaningful shirts; like Baylor shirts."  

I wasn't aware those days were behind us, but...Now that his tee shirts days are over (except for his 10+ Baylor shirts that made the fashion cut)  I am looking forward to see what fashion trends he will keep.  And honey, scrubs do not count.   

And one or two more words about D.S. Lewis. I fell in love with him 11 years ago this month. And in a blink of an eye...I found myself plucking gray hairs out of his head today.  I am so happy we are now planting trees and making a home and family together.

I call her Dolce (with an accent)

I craigslisted. For my first time. I must have had beginners luck because I found a beautiful, really, really nice 2009 Women's Specialized Dolce Comp bike at a awesome price. It reminded me of haggling for 'real silver' rings and necklaces with your name on a grain of rice all those many years in Mexico. "10 Dollars." "How about 4 dollars and a soda?" My buyer was going camping the next day and still had not found a tent. She knocked $200 off her asking price if I would throw in a tent. Done! (Big thanks to Paola for sacrificing her new tent from craigslist!)

Today, just me and Dolce went for a ride. I almost forgot where I was. Quiet, cool morning, green pastures. I sang "My Bonnie" to the cows as I zoomed past them. (This is a well traveled biker road, but those cows really starred at me. I started to think maybe they haven't heard singing bikers before.) And then I would pass a road kill armadillo and remember, oh yes, Texas. That is where I am. It happened a second time. I made sure to steer very clear of its silvery armor this time...and found myself on the grated part of the road that wakes up the sleepy drivers. In a car, those things sound a little funny and perhaps give you a little vibration in your bum. K, on a bike those blasted things just about shake your brains out of your ears and wake up every single bone, muscle, tissue, organ, you name it in your body. I didn't see much of the second dead armadillo. I wish I could have been a bystander and watched my reaction in that moment. Just thinking about it makes me laugh.

Anyway. Note to self and anyone else who may need a boost. This morning was medicine for the soul. Go for a bike ride, preferably in the country with cows. Leave the kids at home. Sing.  Enjoy the endorphins. You will not be disappointed.

my motherhood confession

My baby is 3 months. I am not really one to post about all of the month birthdays- how much they weigh,what percentile their head circumference is, etc...however.  This month I feel like I have reason to celebrate.  This has been the month that I am back.  I don't cry as much anymore.  I am not overly tired.  I am not stuck at home all the time because I have a newborn.  I have much more patience with Cal.  I am cooking real meals multiple times a week.  Marriage is fun.  I biked 17 miles and ran 1 mile this morning.  Home projects are back in business.  Don't get me wrong, there is still more progress to be had.  Like, I still have a stack of jeans haunting me in my closet that I try on about 3 times a week.  Nope! They still don't fit. But that is ok.

I chatted with a friend in the Wal-Mart parking lot this week who just had baby #2 about her new life.  I told her about the times I cried my way through the dinner hour.  How Doug would walk in the door and immediately be given the two kids, while I ran- literally upstairs to take a bath making sure to lock the door behind me.  How there are times that all you want is your two year old is disappear for just a few moments so you can nurse in peace and enjoy your little one.  Motherhood is hard.  Every day. It just is. I am pretty sure that there will still be some challenging moments or days ahead...but in the mean time I am loving this new three-months-post-baby energy and feeling. 

And now... my darling, blue eyed, three month babe who is one of the two reasons that after a long day still makes everything worth it. 

my second born's bad habits

Dear Rhett,

I love you.

A lot.

(No reminder note needed...yet that is. See post below.)

I kind of like it, but you toot when you cry, or even laugh sometimes.  Although today is really only the second day where you have full blown belly laughed.  I love it! (We called Dad and left him a laughing message so he could partake in the joy.) 

You always have lint between your toes, your fingers, and under your double chin.

You insist on drinking some milk somewhere between the hours of 3 and 5 am. 

Other than that, you are perfect. 

Love, Mom