Sibling Love

One of my most favorite things about being a mom is observing the relationship between Jake and Natalie. Yes, they do fight (sometimes it seems like that's all they do!) but there is a lot of love between the two of them as well. A couple of scenarios come to mind...


We were at McDonald's one day having lunch. (Those of you familiar with my family know this could be any given day of the week!) I was chatting away with my friends Ashley and Cher when a woman came running up to our table.
"Excuse me," she said, in a very concerned voice. "Does the little boy in red belong to any of you?"
"Yes," I replied. "He's my son."
"Well," the woman said, looking even more serious, "he just shoved that little girl in the blue shirt."

Now, I know Jake. He's not perfect by any means, but he doesn't typically go around shoving random people. Sure enough, I glanced towards the play area and saw my little Natalie, dressed in blue, lying on the floor giving her best "Jakey pushed me" cry.


"Oh, it's okay," I heard myself saying. "She's his sister."


Now here's the strange part, the part that explains the uniqueness of sibling relationships everywhere. The woman, who had been terribly concerned just a moment before about this poor defenseless little girl in blue, was now smiling. "Oh, I understand!" Then she laughed and said as she saw Natalie coming towards us "Oh look, here she comes now, ready to get some sympathy."

If this situation had been any different, if Natalie had been pushed by another child, or if Jake had pushed a child that wasn't his sister, all eyes in that McDonald's would have been on me, waiting to see if I was a mommy who meant business when it comes to discipline. However, since it simply involved a brother and a sister, it became a mere source of amusement for those who witnessed it. Funny how that works. And before you feel too sorry for Nat, she instigates more than her fair share of conflict!


I realize that's not the most heartwarming story, but I do have something to report that is much more touching. Today was unseasonably warm, but very windy. (As bold as my little girl is, there are two things that frighten her: thunder-'shunder'- and wind.) Jake and Natalie wanted to play outside, so they opened the front door and decided to wait on the front porch while I got my shoes on. As I rounded the corner from the kitchen to the door, I glanced at the open doorway and treated to one of the sweetest sights I have ever seen. Jake was hugging Natalie very tightly, looking up at the sky and speaking to her in a very soothing tone. Nick said to me, "Do you see that? Nat was scared of the wind and so Jake is holding her." I stood there watching and wishing desperately that I had a camera handy. It was such a beautiful brother/sister moment.


I'm incredibly grateful to God for the gift of my two children. I hope and pray they will be lifelong friends. It looks like they are off to a pretty good start.

Christmas Preparations

Last weekend we put up our Christmas tree. Jake was very eager to help out with the ornaments, so Nick and I told him he could hang a few. Well, he took his job very seriously and refused to let us do any of it! It was so precious seeing how determined and excited he was to decorate our tree. Here he is, hard at work...

Of course, the finished product looks a little different from previous years. The bottom of the tree is heavy with carefully placed ornaments, while the top 2/3 of the tree is completely bare. Though we commented under our breath about doing some "rearranging" while Jake was busy working on the tree, it has been a week now and the tree is exactly the way Jake left it. You know what? We don't want to change a thing. I think our Christmas tree, decorated eagerly by sweet Jake, is the most beautiful one we've ever had.

The Faith of a Child

Today was a dreary day - cold, damp, and gray. Not that it stopped my children from wanting to play outside. Jake got a mop and decided to 'sweep' the water off the yard and sidewalk. Natalie joined him initially, then decided to sit with me on the porch away from the drizzle (smart girl, that daughter of mine). As Jake was mopping, he looked up at the sky and said, "Hmm, I think a big storm is coming." I answered him, "Oh, really?" "Yes," he replied. "Mommy, Jesus is going to turn on the thunder and it will go BOOM BOOM!"


Basic science to a four year old I guess! Or it something more? That innocent comment reminded me of a time several months ago when we were having a huge thunderstorm. Nick was working late, and the kids and I huddled together in Jake's bed waiting for it to pass. Natalie was particularly scared - she doesn't like 'shunder.' I tried to comfort her and explain that storms are loud and scary but they eventually go away. My words made little difference. Then Jake spoke up.
"Nawie, it's okay. Jesus will take care of us. " As I followed his lead and began relating the story of Jesus calming the storm for his disciples, my heart swelled with pride. Not pride in myself, but pride in the fact that my young son was already beginning to grasp the depth of God's love and concern for His children. Jake wasn't scared. And why should he be?


Why should any of us be? I worry excessively over many things, and all that anxiety is just wasted energy. I pray that my faith will become more like a child, more like my four year old who knows that Jesus controls the thunder and all the storms that come our way. There is a song I like that says, "sometimes He calms the storm, and other times He calms His child."


God is in control . Jake truly grasps this. I hope one day I will too.

No fair!

Jake has picked up a frustrating habit as of late. If something isn't to his liking, he will respond with "no fair!" Now, sometimes life isn't fair(all of us adults know that for a fact) but he will use it in situations like this:

Me:"Jake, time to put on your shoes."
Jake: "No fair!"

Natalie:"Jakey, tum on, les go!"
Jake: "No fair!"

I grew irritated one day after hearing this for the millionth time, and finally told him he wasn't allowed to say it unless he used it properly. He didn't quite grasp this, so I waited until he said it again.

Me: "Jake, we are going to take a bath in about 5 minutes."
Jake: (You guessed it!) "No fair!"
Me: "Remember, I told you to only use those words in the appropriate context. There is nothing fair or not fair about bathing."
Jake: "Oh. So when can I say it?"

I would like to report that I used this opportunity as a beautiful teaching moment with my son. I'd like to say that I sat him down and gently explained the proper usage of the term 'no fair.'
But it was late and I was tired, so I said the first thing that popped into my head. "Genocide in Darfur. THAT's not fair."
Poor Jake looked terribly confused. Then he said softly, "What's 'cide, Mommy?"
"Oh gosh, " I thought to myself. "What have I done?"
"Um, don't worry about it honey," I told him.

Thankfully he didn't ask anything else. I still wish I had responded in a more appropriate way for a four year old. But you know what? I haven't heard "no fair" since!

Weekend Entertainment

I'm very blessed to have a husband who wakes up with the kids on weekends so that mommy can get some extra sleep. (Anyone who knows me is aware that I NEVER turn down a chance to sleep!) One of the best parts of these weekend siestas is a chance to overhear Jake and Natalie interacting with their daddy. For example, here is a conversation from a recent Saturday morning. Allow me to set the scene...


Nick has just brought the kids downstairs and is getting ready to help them get dressed. I hear Nick say, "Come here Nat, let's get your clothes on."


Jake: "No, Daddy, do me first!"

Natalie: "No Jakey, Daddy do ME!"

Nick: "Jake, wait just a minute while I get Natalie dressed."

Jake: "But I have POOP!" (yes he is potty trained, but he still needs a pull-up at night)

Nick: "Umm..."

Jake: "Mommy says whoever has poop gets changed first."

Nick: "Well, okay then. Jake, come here and I'll help you get changed."

Jake: "See Nawie, I get to go first because I have poop!


He may as well have added a big "HA!" at the end of that sentence, because he sounded so dang proud of himself. Like having excrement in your pants is this really great thing. Silly boy!

Just yesterday he was telling Nick about the substitute teacher in his preschool class.

Jake: "Daddy, Mrs. Russell isn't in my class anymore. Now we have Ms. Waura"(Laura, for the preschool-language challenged).
Nick: "Oh, is she nice?"
Jake: "Yes. She's much bigger."
Nick: "Really?" (stifling a laugh)
Jake: " Uh-huh. She's as big as the clouds!"

While I appreciate Jake's astute observations, this is NOT one I will be sharing with his preschool teachers!

Let me just end by saying thank you to Nick for allowing me my lazy weekend indulgence. Hey, he has golf, and I have my cozy bed. Works for me!:)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Sixty years ago today, this world became a bit brighter. A sweet, gentle soul was born in a rural NC town, and her memory still touches those who were lucky enough to know her. She was beautiful, humble, kind, patient, and loving. Most people called her Jennifer, but I had a special privilege. I had the honor of calling her Mom.

I know lots of people might say they have the best mom in the world, but I really mean it. My mom was incredibly special. She was SO kindhearted and loving; she had a way of making everyone feel special and valued. During childhood and adolescence, when so many of my peers would complain about their parents, I was always content to be home with mine. When I entered high school my dad began traveling more for business and my brother went off to college, so Mom and I got to spend lots of time alone together. I'm so grateful for that - we loved going to movies, out to eat, and shopping. We went to Pizza Hut so much that we began referring to it as "our place." "So," Mom would say on a Saturday morning, "how about we run to the mall and then eat at our place?" I loved that I could talk to her about anything, whether it was boys, religion, sex, friendships - whatever I had on my heart, she was interested in. Even when things got tough, she was someone I could count on 100%. For example, when I was around 17 years old I began suffering from terrible anxiety attacks. This led to bouts of terrible depression and confusion for me. I know how draining it must have been to live with me at that point and I'm sure that Mom vented to others in private, but around me she was always patient and understanding no matter how irrational I was. I'll never forget the time we went to Disney together and stopped somewhere in Magic Kingdom for lunch. I ordered chicken fingers for lunch and when we sat down I burst into tears. She asked me what was wrong and I sobbed that I had ordered the wrong thing and I wanted something else. Now, most of us might expect that from a 4 year old, but I was 19 at the time! Yet my mom, knowing the struggle I was having with my anxiety at that time in my life didn't lecture me or act embarrassed at the scene I was creating. Instead, she looked at me with compassion and said softly, "I'm sorry things are so hard for you right now." And she let me cry. I felt so safe and loved at that moment, and it is a memory that I carry with me to this day. It is a perfect example of the kind of mom she was. I aspire to be like her as a mother to my own children. I hope Jake and Natalie feel the same love and acceptance from me no matter what they face in this life.

Just as the world brightened when she entered it 60 years ago, it darkened 47 years later. In 1996, my mom began experiencing speech problems, confusion, headaches, and loss of coordination. In May of that year they found multiple lesions on her brain and she was admitted to the hospital for further testing. I remember coming home from the hospital one day around lunchtime with Geoffrey and Heather for a quick lunch break. "How about Pizza Hut?" they suggested. I began to cry. "But that's Mom's and my place," I said sadly.
"Well, we can still go there today," Geoffrey said. " Besides, you'll go there with Mom again."
Even though we weren't sure what was wrong with our mom at that point, a very eerie feeling settled over me. "No I won't," I thought sadly. I just had a feeling that Mom and I would never go to "our place" again. Unfortunately, I was right. Shortly afterwards, she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a horrible form of primary brain cancer. Her tumors were inoperable.
On August 7th, 1996, she died.

It's been a little over 12 years and I still miss her so much. Things get easier with time, but there is so much I want to say to her, so much I want to ask her now that I am a mother myself. I would love to feel her warm hugs, hear her sweet, calming voice, and smell her incredible smell. She never needed perfume; she just had this naturally sweet scent. (In fact, I saved some of her clothing because for the longest time it still smelled like her.) I would give anything for my children to know their Grandma Jennifer. I really wish she was here to celebrate her 60th birthday with us today. But instead, I will settle for what has been my tradition since she died. This weekend, Nick and I will take Jake and Natalie to Pizza Hut, the very same one that my mom and I used to go to. (We usually do it on her actual birthday but Nick had to work). We will eat, laugh, and remember my wonderful mother.

I love you Mom. Happy birthday! I bet the birthday cake tastes awesome in heaven.

Jake Demands A Recount

Yesterday I took Jake to a friend's house for a playdate, and on the way over we discussed the election. Here's how the conversation went:

Jake: "Will Mr. Kyle be at Charlotte's house?"

Me: "No sweetie, he is going to vote after he gets off of work."

Jake: "Why is he going to vote?"

Me: "Well, voting is a privilege we have in our country. We get to choose who we want our next president to be."

Jake: "Oh."

I paused for a moment, then asked him, "Jake, who do you want to be president?" I was interested in what his uncoached response would be. He's certainly heard political talk and CNN is on a lot at our house, so I wanted to know which political figure had caught his four year old attention.

Without missing a beat, Jake said, "I want Nawwie!" (that is how he says Natalie's name.)

Hmm, Natalie for president. What do you think? Would you trust this face with our country?

I can see it now. Here she is chillin' in her Oval Office.

Her first act as Commander-in-Chief would probably be to require all meals to begin with an Oreo cookie, and to end with ice cream. Protein and vegetables in between would be optional. Unless you count french fries as a vegetable.

So while the rest of the country celebrates this historic election, Jake's a bit bummed his candidate didn't win. But he shouldn't worry - I'm not counting Natalie out in 2040!

True Beauty

Yesterday Natalie and I were drawing pictures at the kitchen table. She drew several large circles and exclaimed, "oh these are boo-i-ful!" I chuckled and said, "Yes they are Nat! And so are you!" She looked at me quizzically for a moment and replied, "No, no, I not booiful, deeze (gesturing towards the circles) are booiful." Then I said, "Natalie, is mommy beautiful?"

"NO!" she said a little too emphatically for my taste. "Mommy not booiful."

Darn. Where's the love? Oh well, you gotta appreciate kids and their honesty.


About 2 hours later I was buckling her into her car seat and out of the blue she said, "Mommy, I BOOIFUL!" My precious little girl, I couldn't agree more.


But I won't press my luck and ask what she thinks of her mommy...:)

Through a Child's Eyes...

Jake and Natalie are fascinated when I pull out my camera. (For the record, this would be a disposable Kodak One-Time Use camera - we really need to upgrade, don't you think?) The other day Jake wanted to take my picture so I handed him the camera and this is what transpired.

So this is what Jake sees when he looks at his mommy! Glad I was smiling. Unfortunately, there are probably many moments when I'm not. Lately I've been feeling irritable and impatient towards the kids, especially around dinner/bathtime. I hate feeling this way. I hope this picture will serve as a reminder to me to be the happy, positive mommy Jake and Natalie need.

Oh, and tonight during one of my grumpy mommy moments, Jake leaned over and gave me a great big kiss. His timing was impeccable; I was getting ready to gripe at him (for the 3rd time)for not getting in the tub quickly enough. Just another way that my 4 year old child keeps teaching me the concept of grace. Thanks, sweetie.

My Father's Love

Jake had a tantrum the other day - a raging, ear-splitting, nails-down-the-chalkboard kind of tantrum. And it was all because of chocolate milk.

The kids' preschool has Chick-Fil-A fundraisers several times a year, where 20% of your order total is donated to the school. Since you don't have to twist our arms to go to CFA anyway, I went through the drive-thru on fundraiser night to pick up dinner. Jake rode with me; Natalie was home with Nick. Things were peaceful as I pulled up to the window to place my order. I got our usual order (2 kids meals with nuggets, fries, and lemonade, a salad and sweet tea for me, and just waffle fries for Nick.) As soon as I paid for the food and started to drive away, Jake asked, "Mommy, what did you get me to drink?"

"Lemonade." I answered.

"But I want chocwat milk!" (There was a hint of whine in his voice at this point.)

"Well, you always get lemonade, so I just assumed you wanted it this time. Sorry."

"I don't WANT wemonade!!!! I want chocwat MILK!!!!!!!!"

"Jake" I said, trying to stay calm, "we have chocolate milk at home."

"BUT I WANT CHICKAWAY CHOCWAT MILK! GO BACK AND GET ME SOME! DON'T WANT WEMONADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He was crying hard at this point.

I pulled over in the parking lot and ordered him to stop whining. Right now. Of course he didn't. We sat there for several minutes, me lecturing him on gratitude and him crying about the unfairness of having to drink a beverage he wasn't in the mood to drink. I know my tone of voice wasn't the nicest because I was pretty annoyed at this point. The crisis eventually passed, with me promising that I would check with Jake next time before ordering his drink but that he needed to keep the whining in check. I drove home grumpy and irritated.

Later that night, I pondered what had happened. Yes, it was a bit ridiculous for Jake to be so upset; after all, he was getting a yummy meal to eat even if it wasn't exactly what he had in mind. But how often have I done the same thing? How many times has my Father up above given me wonderful blessings that I have ignored or complained about? I wake up to a beautiful day and complain that the temperature is too hot or cold. I gripe about being tired and stressed out as a mom, even though He has given me 2 of the most amazing gifts I could ever hope for in my children. I whine about my husband working too much, forgetting that we are extraordinarily lucky that he has a good job and that he loves and provides for us. The list goes on, but it is humbling and convicting when I think about it.


I think perhaps God has given us the gift of parenthood to illustrate the relationship He has with us. In spite of Jake's incessant complaining about the lemonade, I still love him more than I can describe. No matter how frustrating things may get, my love for Jake and Natalie is constant. How comforting to realize that God's love is the same for me. Even when I behave like a tantruming, ungrateful child, God still loves me and continues to bless me. He doesn't yell and scream at me; He doesn't yank His blessings away. How amazing and gracious He is - I hope I can learn to extend the same grace to my own children here on earth.

"It's A GRIL!"

The big news in our house these days is that Nick and I are grandparents! Yes, that is correct - Jake "gave birth" the other day. Since a four year old boy having a baby is medically unprecedented, I wanted to record the story here first, before the press finds out:)

The kids were hanging out in Natalie's room Tuesday morning when suddenly, Jake looked at me and said, "Mommy, I have a baby in my tummy."

"You do?" I replied, slightly amused, but I had heard him say this before. After all, several of my friends have had babies recently.

"Yes!" Jake said. "And I'm gonna push it out!" With that, he began grunting "UUUUHHHHH, UUUUHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" The next thing I know, he picks up one of Natalie's baby dolls and says, "Here it is!"

Trying to contain my laughter, I ask if it's a boy or a girl. Jake ponders this for a moment, looks at his new arrival, and says, "it's a gril." (There are no 'girls' in Jake's vocabulary, only 'grils.')

Smiling, I congratulate my son and turn to leave the room. I was thinking that surely this was just a cute game he was playing, one that would be forgotten as we progressed through our day.

I was wrong. This little 'gril' has been very present in our lives this week. Jake laid her down on the couch for a nap before going to preschool, all snuggled in a blanket. He slept with her some nights and I would hear him say things like "you can have some water after we read a story" in a very gentle and soothing tone. When I went to get him up Thursday morning, he was in the playroom pretending to change her diaper. For now, baby gril is a part of our family.

I love seeing this tender side of Jake. He's fairly sensitive anyway, but oh how this really tugged at my heart! Years from now, when the timing is right, I am excited to see him be a daddy because I can see already how much love he has to give. He's certainly off to a good start.

True confessions

My name is Kristen, and my four year old son loves to carry purses.


Yes, Jake is all boy. He loves running around outside and wrestling with his male buddies, Nathan and Campbell. He is fascinated by his penis. He adores his cars, trucks, and trains. But he needs something to tote those vehicles around, and his container of choice lately is a hot pink purse. Before we leave to go somewhere he will even say, "wait a minute, let me get my purse!"


Yesterday I had to take Natalie to Pediatric Express for a strep culture. (I must say this is a wonderful place to go if your child is sick and you can't see your regular doctor.) The poor girl was very clingy and lethargic, so I had her on my lap when the doctor walked into the exam room. The doctor greeted us and then looked at Jake, who was patiently sitting on a chair on the other side of the room.


"Hey there," the doctor said. "Aren't you a good big brother? You're even holding your sister's purse for her."

"Um, actually," I said, "that purse is his."

"Oh!" the doctor said, chuckling a bit.

What can I say? We're a fairly liberal family! Secretly though, I must confess I hope his purse-carrying days are just a phase. The thought of him getting teased one day just breaks my heart.

Besides, hot pink is really not Jake's best color!

Pictures

I rarely take pictures, and when I do they often don't turn out very well. Thank goodness that my sister-in-law is an expert photographer (among her other many talents). Really, over half of the photos I have of my family are because of her - I am so thankful that she shares her talent so generously with me. You're the best, Heather!

BUT, these photos I'm posting right now are ones I took. Anyone reading this who knows me is probably in shock right now. I'm sort of in shock myself! They're not anything spectacular, but hey, at least I got off my unmotivated rear and actually took them. Maybe turning 34 inspired me!

Vive La Difference!

Natalie started preschool this year. She goes 2 mornings a week, and has the same teachers Jake had when he was her age. It cracks me up when I read her daily progress note and it says things like, "Wow, she and Jake sure are different!." Truer words have never been spoken.

Jake is a pretty mellow child. He does have SPD, but aside from that his temperment is fairly laid back. He is sweet, but also very much all boy. He LOVES his cars, trains, trucks, and airplanes. He is vehicle obsessed. To this day he carries a car or train with him wherever he goes. And he always brings along enough to share with his friends, because in his mind, how can you have fun without a vehicle of some sort? I love his generous spirit. He is only 4, but really does take the time to select enough things so that each person in our group that day won't be left out. Yes, he has meltdowns and disagreeable moments just like any other child, but he makes my heart melt on a daily basis. An added bonus is that he plays independently extremely well, which is great for Mommy when I have a million other things going on or I just need some downtime.

Then there's my Natalie. She is one of the feistiest children I have ever known. It makes our days challenging, but also tons of fun. She loves to be silly and loves music, singing, Dora, and Oreo cookies. And ice cream - boy can that girl put away some ice cream! One of my favorite recent moments with her was the other day when we were driving in the car. She started crying that she had a boo boo and "kiss it mommy!" I explained that I was driving and couldn't reach back to kiss it. She cried a bit more, then stopped. I heard a big MMM-MUH and glanced in the rearview mirror just in time to see her kissing herself. How resourceful, that daughter of mine! I just love her so darn much, even when she's pushing my buttons!

How funny that 2 kids from the same gene pool can be so different! I'm so blessed by both of them.

Preschool Porn?

Thanks to DVR technology, the kids often ask me to rewind certain moments of their favorite shows so they can watch them again. Since they watch programs such as Dora, Thomas and Friends, Little Einsteins, and Max and Ruby, imagine my surprise the other day when Jake calls out to me, "Mommy, I want to watch the porn again."

I turn around, certain I didn't hear him correctly. "What, Jakey?"

"The porn," he says calmly, pointing to the television where Dora and Diego were playing in a forest.

"What the heck is their twisted relationship anyway? Aren't they cousins? " I think to myself. It took me a few seconds of studying the program before I made the connection that Diego was SOARING through the trees on a PULLEY; therefore Jake's little ears had combined the words to come up with "porn."

"Oh!"I exclaimed, very relieved. "You want to watch Diego soar on the pulley again."

"Yes," smiled Jake. "The porn."




I will truly miss the day when that word is no longer innocent for him.

So random!

Kids really do say the funniest things, and often these things are repeats of what we say to them! Case in point: yesterday morning I went into the playroom to get Jake after my shower. He was trying to reach something on a high shelf in the closet, so I offered to help him. He asked me for the pumpkin (one of those trick-or-treat buckets). I pulled it down and noticed it was full of odds and ends (happy meal toys, hair clips, veggie tales figurines) so I emptied it out before handing it to him. He said, "Mommy, why did you dump that out?" I said, "Oh, honey it was just some random stuff. Nothing important." In a clearly disappointed voice, Jake replies, "Aww Mommy, but I LIKE random stuff!"



Without meaning to, he just cracks me up with the things he says. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face so often, Jake. I love you!

A Star in the Making?

When I was a little girl, I did a few radio commercials as well as church and school plays. I loved dramatic arts, and my shining moment was in high school when I was awarded a "Best Actress" plaque for my role in the play "Grease." I have often wondered if either one of my children will have a flair for drama. (No, I'm not referring to the 2 year drama Natalie sometimes delivers!) It's too soon to telll for sure, but Jake really likes to play pretend. He might tell me, "Mommy, you be Thomas and I'll be Gordon" (referring to his beloved trains). Or, "You be Dora and I'll be the prince. Rescue me from the high tower!" It's so cute to see his imagination at work.



Yesterday I took the kids for a walk. We decided to stop and take a break on the sidewalk near our house. Jake sat down and said, "Mommy, you be God and I'll be Jesus, okay?" Umm, okay. Not sure where to begin I say, "Hi Jesus! I'm sure glad you're my son." Lame, I realize, but I thought it was a decent effort! Jake (as Jesus) began pretending to calm a storm. Meanwhile, Natalie has been observing this whole time and decides to jump in and participate. She runs over to Jake and knocks him over on the concrete. (Perhaps she was trying to play the part of Satan?) Alarmed, I ask Jake repeatedly if he's okay, then I turn to reprimand Natalie for what she has done. As I am doing this, Jake picks himself up, looks at me and says, "I'm okay, God. I'm okay."



My little boy!!!!!! He gets hurt but continues to stay in character! I laughed and felt a small surge of pride. Perhaps he'll get one of those "best actor" plaques one day after all.

Let them be little...

The title of my blog comes from a song I heard once called, "Let Them Be Little." It really sums up my feelings as a mom of young children. In this age of technology and fast-paced living, I want to give my kids the gift of true childhood. Too often we are rushing around trying to get to preschool or the next playdate on time, followed by the rush at the end of the day for dinner, baths, and bedtime. I'm determined that Jake and Natalie will have the chance to savor the innocence of being young. Because they really do grow up SO fast.

"Let them be little, 'cause they're only that way for awhile
Give them hoppe, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little."

Never thought I'd do this...

I must confess that I used to make fun of blogs. Never in a million years thought I'd have one. But then some friends of mine started blogging, and I found myself eagerly checking their updates. Then I realized that I also want some sort of record of my thoughts and experiences throughout my journey as a mom. So, I'm taking the plunge and entering the world of blogging! (We'll see how it goes - I tend to get grand ideas and then neglect to follow through!) If for some reason you have stumbled across this and find my little life worth reading about, then welcome! I'm glad you're here.