For My Birthday!

Yesterday was my 25th birthday! To some I am incredibly young, to some, I am much older than they are. To me, its just another year.

I have had a wonderful birthday. It really started the day before when I went out to eat with my friend Kendra. We ate at this restaurant called Gengis Grill. Very very yummy! Its Mongolian BBQ. You have your own bowl, and you go up and decide which meat, seasonings, veggies, and sauce you want, and then they cook it. Very good eating. So good in fact that the next day when Bennett took me out to eat, that is where I wanted to go.

The 28th dawned bright and early, and while I wasn't exactly ready to get up, I did. And we played with the girls for a while. Then they gave me my birthday gift. Bennett got me this beautiful heart necklace that has a cross in the center. And Alyssa got me chocolate. And all of them, Bennett, Alyssa, and Makayla, got me a birthday card. It was wonderful. Then we went and had lunch, and then went to the mall. Over all it was a wonderful day.

Then last night we watched the season premiere of The Unit....one of our favorite shows.

Anyways, I am very thankful for my family. They mean so much to me, and my birthday wouldn't be anything without them.

:)

New Proposal for Ben & Jerry's

I thought that this most be a joke. But nope...they actually did it. PETA has suggested that Ben & Jerry's substitute human breast milk for cows milk in their ice cream! You have to read it. It will be the highlight of your day. I thought about writing some cute response, something that would make everyone laugh, and that would be suited to something so outrageous. But I couldn't think of anything better than what was written by my blogging friend. That being said you can read what she wrote here....it is also well worth the read.


On another note, mom is doing well, and should come home tomorrow!

And we are well on our way to our October 16th closing date for our house!!! Yea!

Little Girl

A little girl. Sitting alone. Scared.

In her heart she knows that all is going to be okay. She believes.

She fights being scared.

She knows that it isn't a big deal. Her mom isn't sick. It's just something fairly routine.

She knows, doesn't she.

She hugs her mom. Jokes with her. Comforts her, in that way that only she can. She is the child, and children have that place in their mother's heart that no one else can touch. A place specifically reserved for that child. The place they where once directly connected to. A place that no matter how far apart this life takes them, they will be together.

The little girl sheds a tear.

But she knows it's going to be okay....doesn't she?

It has to be. Her mom is invincible. She has had to be all her life. Even at her darkest moments she will not let demon of darkness win. She may be knocked down, but she is never out. In the end....we win!

Little girl, all alone....no, not alone. Held in place by her Father's grace.


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My mother is having surgery today. Nothing major, fairly routine. Please keep her in your prayers, that she will have a speedy recovery.

:-)

What day of the week is it.

WOW what a week. I don't even know what day of the week it is, well, at least I didn't till I looked. I have been going non stop. But the good news is that things are moving right along with our house buying. We are getting closer. And yet it still seems so far into the future.

The other thing that has made this week crazy is that I am starting my own business. Stressful...but hopefully it will mean that I can bring some income into our family, without having to leave the girls with a sitter. :-)

Well, the girls are sleepy, so am I, hubby is cranky, and so am I. Seems like the perfect time to go to bed. :-)

Night!

To Cover Up, or Not to Cover Up....That is the question....

So I am sitting here, going through and reading some blogs that I try and keep up with. Learning the ends and outs of blogging...(I am still new at this)...and I read about this story about a woman who was asked to cover up while nursing on an airplane. Now I am mad....it is so frustrating that this still happens. I hear about it all the time. I feel it all the time. Every time I am out in public, and its time to nurse Makayla, I stop and think. I look around. Do I see anyone that I think will cause a seen? To cover up, or not to cover up, that is the question. I usually try not to make other people uncomfortable...which in its own way is my choice...but if I decide for whatever reason not to cover up...that's my right!!! I mean, I don't get mad when some chick is walking around wearing a shirt so low cut, and so revealing that she shows everything but the nipple...(and some even show that.) I don't run over to her and through a blanket over her and say, "I'm sorry, but so that we don't offend anyone else, please wear this blanket."

I look down at my little girl. She is nursing right now. She is beautiful. She sees that I am looking at her and she smiles. Milk runs out the corners of her mouth. There is nothing more beautiful...people ought to have their heads examined.


Now I really will go have that ice cream...and I will put extra chocolate on it too!

Gallons of ice cream...

Unbelievable.

That's the only word that I have. I can't believe that I am here in this moment. We decided to put another offer on a house. This was our fourth one. And same as the previous three, something happened. I never knew that getting into a house was so difficult. I mean usually it isn't right. I am beginning to wounder if we are doing something wrong. I mean, its crazy. I wonder, God, what am I supposed to be doing? Where am I supposed to be at? Am I not hearing you right? I really don't know.

I know that Bennett is getting discouraged. I don't know what to say to help. I am not sure that anything that I can say will help. So I tell him I love him.

I eat another peanut butter cracker, and seriously consider eating a gallon of ice cream.

That's what I do. I eat. When I am bored, when I am upset, when I am sad. I love to eat. Sugary things, fattening things, baked things, bread. Bread is my favorite. I absolutely love bread. Fresh baked bread. And butter, you have to have a lot of butter.

Then again, all the weight that I have been losing will be null and void if I eat like I am wanting to eat. I have worked so hard to get off the pregnancy weight. (in a healthy way of course) And if I go to the scales in a few days and find that I have gained five pounds, it isn't going to make me feel better at all.

So I am going to skip the gallons of ice cream...all of those favorite flavors....creamy, yummy goodness....hummmm....maybe I will have just a little.... :)

Lets do lunch!

What a week. Almost every day I had wanted to stop and post something, and almost everyday something else happened. My week was filled with many things, many emotions. I will be so glad when we finally get into a house. There are just too many emotions involved in trying to find the right house for us. One that we can afford, that is in a good neighborhood, and that is big enough for us. But I think we are on the right track, and we are going to look at more houses tomorrow.

The girls haven't been sleeping well this week, which in turns means that none of us are sleeping well. Makayla is teething, and for the first time since she was born, she has been waking up four or five times a night. YUCK!

(My husband is patiently standing here next to me with the baby, I think he is done watching her for the moment. I just looked at him and smiled.)

This weekend I got to have lunch with one of my best friends from high school. It has been years since we where able to just sit down and talk. I had forgotten how good it was to just sit down and talk with my best girlfriend. One that already knows most of my secrets. I was able to skip all the introductory talk, and just focus on the newest things that where happening. We where able to talk about kids, being a parent, how different things are from when we where in high school, our families. Sitting there at the Micky D's play place, eating cold french fries, and drinking soda, I was able to connect with another adult. One who understands what it is like to be where I am. To walk in my shoes...(although they may be a different size, they are still shoes.) How energizing to confess something, and find out, your not crazy at all. There are other people that deal with the same things that you do, ie how to smile when your toddler shoves that pollen filled flower up under your nose. Or the more serious, the struggle between saving money for your future, or spending money on the now, and doing something fun to build your family. It was wonderful.

God is like that, or at least He should be. Sometimes we don't always treat Him like that though. He knows it all, and He has been there with us through it all. I am going to try and remember that more. And set up a lunch date with my Savior. It will be great!

(ps. Hubby took the baby outside for a walk...he is amazing!!!)

Motorcycle Mama...I mean mommy...

I had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. On Sunday we had my brother and his wife over, and I cooked brisket, potato salad, cole slaw, and baked beans. (I really enjoy cooking) It was nice to just have three days off in a row, although like I told Bennett, mothers don't ever really get a day off. It's not like part of our benefits package...ten paid holidays a year, plus six sick days, and two personal days. Nope, mother hood for the most part is 24/7. Even when we are "off" on our own, we still are thinking about our children.

My favorite part of the weekend was today. Bennett and I went for a ride on the motorcycle. I have missed riding. I haven't really been for a ride since before Alyssa was born. In a lot of ways I have missed it. Of course it's different now. Now I have to find a sitter. Now I have to make sure to nurse right before we leave. And of course our ride entailed stopping by Walmart to pick up diapers. (YEAH!!!) Nothing like walking through Walmart, in full gear, straight to the back, and picking up diapers. But still, we had a great day. Bennett and I truly treasure the time that we get to be alone. To enjoy each others company without the girls. I think that is one of the best things about our marriage. The ability to date. It isn't always easy. And most of the time, its down right hard. But it is always worth it. This year we will be married for five years. To some, that is a lifetime. To others, we are just beginning. But for us, its our life. We are in the middle of it. To those that would say, just wait, you are still in your honeymoon phase, I would say, well, if we are smart, and remember the important things, then we will always be here. Growing together, not apart. Learning that each day begins a new adventure. Yes, there are rocky times. Yes, there are times that we aren't very happy with one another. But there are many, many great times. I want to remember this one, when the waves come crashing against us. I want to remember this day, when I was a motorcycle mommy.