Mommy Confessions

Sometimes I feel like a "bad mom." You know what I'm talking about. These are the things that creep in and make me feel like a bad mom on a regular basis:

• Staying up late watching the Olympics and being totally worthless as a mother the next day ;)
• Eating fast/convenience foods - a lot...because I can't get dinner on the table
• Using my TV as a babysitter (AKA: more than one 30 minute show per day - I know, GASP!)
• Laying on the couch watching Carter play by himself instead of playing with him
• Not getting my Bible Studies done
• Getting angry (yes, I admitted that - angry) when I hear my children waking EARLY in the morning or from naps...
• Falling asleep on the couch rather than spending quality time with hubby after boys are in bed

Unfortunately, this is what my home has looked like a lot over tha past 2 months. I know I just had a baby, but my mind says things shouldn't be this way. I write this as I am sitting here watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my 2 year old because he asked nicely and I am too tired to say "No." So for all you moms out there who are as tired as I am, I'm claiming this verse for us today...

"There is a time for everything, 

and a season for every activity under heaven..." 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

...a time to engage in brain stimulating activity and a time to watch tv...

...a time to eat healthy foods and a time to eat junk...

...a time to cook and a time to get in the car and go to chick-fil-a...

...a time to play with kids and a time for them to learn the skill of playing by themselves...

...a time for peace and quiet and a time of screaming, hollering, and whining...

...a time to sleep-in and a time to get up very early in the morning because you have to...

...a time to spend quality alone time together and a time to both fall asleep and end up drooling on yourself while watching tv...

...a time to be a mommy of endless patience and a time for separation of mommy and toddler....

...a time to go to bed early and a time to watch team USA until midnight...

Maybe someday this difficult season will be over - right now things are crazy in our house, and I can't even remember the last time I brushed my hair.

Additional Note (added later in the day): 

After writing this post, I found myself singing this song today, and there is so much truth to it. I'm clinging to the fact that this is just a season and trying hard to tune my ear to "The Voice of Truth." Thank you to everyone who has read this and commented...I don't write these things to get comments - more to clear my head - however, your comments are always sweet and filled with encouragement - so thanks :-)

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

I would also like to add (for all of you who are in the same boat as me) that Stouffer's Family Size Frozen Meals are on sale for $3.99 at Publix this week. I'm stocking up! Jiff Peanut Butter (yes, I'm a choosy mom) is $3.79 and Tombstone Pizza's are $2.99 :-)

Happy Birthday, Choo Choo!

Today was Carter's 2nd Birthday! We have had so much fun celebrating his big day. It all started this past Sunday with his "big" present from us...

A Sandbox! 

This isn't just any sandbox, though. Daddy made this sandbox, and it has a top that turns into bench seats! 

We wish we had designed it, but sadly we did not. 

You can find the plans here. We modified it to be 6'x6'. 

Carter LOVES his sandbox! So does Fischer :-) 

We celebrated Carter's birthday today with such a fun day! This morning, I taught Carter how to say "birday" and how old he is - "two." He was able to tell people all day that it was his "birday" and that he was "two." Such a cutie! We talked to Grandmama ("Gree-mama") and Granddaddy ("Da") on the phone and they sang "Happy Birthday, to You!" 

Later in the morning we had his little friend, Ava Grace (and her mommy), over to play at the pool and in the sand box. They love playing together, and they are so cute! Ava Grace sang "Happy Birthday, to You" too! I didn't have my camera with me because we were focused on playing :-) Daddy came home to eat lunch with us, then AvaGrace and her mommy went home. At that point we took a nap until Daddy got home. 

When Daddy got home, we skyped with Aunt Bamie so that she could give Carter her present - a Cars GUITAR!!! Carter loves his "tar," and he plays beautiful "misk" with it! 

For dinner, I cooked Carter's favorites: Grandmama's homemade pizza, apples, and chocolate milk followed up by Nana's famous chocolate cake with sprinkles! We all sang "Happy Birthday, to You" as Carter blew out his candles. Carter asked me if he could have "more birday," and I finally figured out that he was talking about the sprinkles :-) 

This is how you eat pizza.

This is how you eat chocolate cake.

After dinner we opened and played with a few other presents. We can't wait to use the wheelbarrow in the sandbox!

We skyped with Aunt Bebe and Uncle Jason as well as Nana and Papa J ("Pop pop"). They all sang "Happy Birthday, to You!" and we had a great time showing them Carter's presents and talking with them. He loves skyping - he's such a ham! We also got to talk to Uncle Tim - it was his birthday today too - he turned the big 3-0 today!

After everything had settled down, I asked Carter if he was ready to go to bed. At this point, he had his blanket in his mouth. He said "No mommy, see fireworks." How silly of me, everyone's birthday is supposed to end with fireworks!!!! So what did we do? Well, we got on youtube and watched fireworks, of course :-) 

After the birthday fireworks, we headed to bed. I read Carter a little book and we looked at some pictures of him when he was born. We talked a little bit about his birthday, and it was at this point that my precious boy started singing.... "Happy Birthday, Choo Choo." Haha! How cute that he thought everyone was singing "Happy Birthday, Choo Choo," to him all day long :-) We said our prayers and thanked Jesus for Carter and his birthday. What a joy he is! I hope he's up their dreaming of his "Happy Birthday, Choo Choo!" 

My Two Year Old Baby

I can't believe my baby boy is 2 years old today! Happy Birthday, Carter. Mommy and Daddy love you more than you will ever know. You bring so much joy to our lives. I thank the Lord everyday that he gave you to our family to love and enjoy!!!

Paint on the wallpaper, crumbs in the car.

Six crayons lodged in the new VCR.

Stains on the curtains and jam on the floor.

That's what my two year old baby is for.

Giving his brother a punch and a kick.
So much chocolate he makes himself sick.

Banging his forehead and starting to roar.

That's what my two year old baby is for.

Scrapes on the arms and the elbows and knees.

Breaking my cell phone and losing my keys.

Dribble that's oozing from every pore.

That's what my two year old baby is for.

Losing his teddies and breaking his toys.

Making a quite unbelievable noise.

Asking for candy and then wanting more.

That's what my two year old baby is for.

Trying to take a bite out of some coal.

Trying to take a drink straight from the bowl.

Whining so much that he makes himself sore.

That's what my two year old baby is for.

Climbing on tables and jumping off chairs.

And when I'm not looking, a dash for the stairs.

My hole-ridden shirts I suspect that he tore.

That's what my two year old baby is for.

But...

To give me a cuddle and kiss me goodnight.

Pulling me closer and squeezing me tight.

I give him so little, he gives me much more.

Now that's what my two year old baby is for!

Found this poem here.

Carter's 23 Month Phrases

My boy turns 2 on Friday! I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS. Time flies when you're having fun :-) I thought I would get some of his phrases written down before we hit the bit T.W.O. milestone. He's a hoot - here's what he's saying:

Words: 
Darter = Carter (he talks in 3rd person)
Bot-dee = His special blanket or his favorite 4 foot sock monkey (gotta use context clues)
Tiss = Kiss
Cycle = Motorcycle
Topter = Helicopter
Tackter = Tractor (any large equipment)
eh-pain = Airplane
Sickle = Popsicle, chee-puss = cheese puffs, pot-ton = popcorn (these are all pool snacks)
aa-fie = Butterfly
Beet bah = Beetle (Beetle Bug)
Pider = Spider
Ant = ants
Pay-doh = Playdoh
Bee = All other bugs known to man other than spiders and ants
Sogs = Frogs
Tar = Guitar / Car (again, context...)
Tars = Cars (he can say trucks too)
Pay = play
barn = any type of house/structure
Pick-too = Picture (Take my picture)
Four-do-do = Four Wheeler
box = blocks
nex - necklace
nit-null = nipple (you'll have to ask his daddy about this one :-)
san box = sand box
ouch, itch, hurts, etc.... = signs of pain
Pees = Please, Nee-nee-nee = Thank you, Neex = Thanks (he is learning to be very polite, and he almost always says "Neex" after he is given something - yay!!!)

People:
Mommy, Daddy, Malls = Miles, Nana = Nana, Pop pop = Papa J, Mahmah = Grandmama, Da = Granddaddy, Jase = Uncle Jason, Bebe = Aunt Bebe, Bah = Aunt Bamie, Ans = Ansley, Abby, Dace = Ava Grace, Tye-ee = Kylie

Animals:
dog, cat, raff = giraffe, eh-fant = elephant, tige = tiger, eagle, bir (bird), horse (or neigh), tow (cow)

What does a chicken say? "bahck" rooster? "tock a do do" horse? "nay" cow? "mooo" sheep? "bahh" pig? "oick" frog? "rit-det"

TV Shows:
Bob (while touching his head) = Bob the Builder, Hot Dog = Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Tells = Veggie Tales, Watch Tar = he wants to watch Chris Tomlin play the guitar on YouTube :-), Monsers = Monsters Inc., Choo choo = Chuggington

Songs:
Wheels on the Bus (he likes the "round and round" part), Twinkle Twinkle (he says "weet-do, weet-doo" for twinkle, and then he will finish the word at the end of every phrase of the song), The Wise Man Built His House (he likes the building and rain parts), He's Got the Whole World (he always sings "whole world" and "hans"), ABC's (he will join in on random letters - C & D are common :-), Bah Bah Black Sheep (bah bah is fun to say), Ride a Little Horsey & Ring Around the Rosey (he usually ends both with "ah fah DOWN")

Prayer:
We are starting to have him pray at meals/before bed. This is our simple prayer for now:

"Nee-nee-nee, Dees for ah foo, Ah-nen" Translation? "Thank you, Jesus for our food, Amen."

Precious.

Phrases:
He can count to 10, but he usually skips #8.  (un, do, wee, four, fie, six, seben, -----, nIne, den)

He can identify and draw a circle.

He knows lots of his colors. He ALWAYS gets orange correct - always ("orysh"). When he is having a moment, and doesn't want to/can't remember a color he will inevitably say "red." These are the favorites - orysh (orange), red, bue, geen, ye-do (yellow), back (black), white, pink, pur-tue (purple)

He tells me when he has used the bathroom = "poop mommy" / While we are on this lovely subject, he will also tell me when he has a diaper rash = "poop hurts" - oh the joys :-)

He says "no" very matter of factly. He says "yeah" when he is trying to say "yes" - always. When I tell him to say yes, ma'aam, he says "es nan"/ yes sir is "eser."

He thinks EVERYTHING is "Funny." He will crack up laughing a say "Darter Funny / Mommy Funny / Daddy Funny / Bot-dee funny (that would be monkey, not blanket)"

"Bee high" = Big high (refers to something tall or high up)

"Daddy bed bee high" = Daddy's bed is very tall (as he is climbing into bed with me on a lazy morning)

"Jase ride cycle" = We have a GI Joe doll which he calls Jase because Uncle Jason is in the Army....this doll is always riding his motorcycle.

"Tars bee high" = he put his cars on a shelf up high.

"See Mommy, Bot-dee ride Four-do-do," "Darter ride four-do-do" = Look mommy, Monkey is riding the four wheeler. / Carter is riding the four wheeler.

"Pick-too mommy, cheeeeeese" = Take my picture mommy, cheese (accompanied by big cheesy grin)

"Pider mommy pider" = Come kill this spider mommy - he does NOT like spiders.

"Hep mommy/daddy" = I need help with __________ - said in a very whiney voice

"Beetbah mommy, (tosses something), (shrugs shoulders) a beetbah, Darter see beetbah" = This sequence happened outside....he was saying "Mommy here's a beetle bug" then he threw the beetle as far as he could, "Where's the beetle bug? Carter will find the beetle bug!" and it happened over and over again :-)

"See Tars Malls" = Would you like to see my cars, Miles? (as he is shoving a car in Miles's poor face)

"Neex Mommy/Daddy" = Thanks mommy/daddy (and is said after we do anything for him or give him something - very polite!)

"Daddy pay box/pay-doh/tars" = Daddy come play blocks, play-doh, cars, etc with me!

"Was up dog?" = What's up dog? (the dog is said with ascending tone)

"Pees Homey" = Peace Homey. (yes, his daddy taught him this one - along with the one above :-)

"Sheesh Barn" = this is what he calls Fischer's crate :-)

"Darter pay tar" = I want to play the guitar.

"(Darter) watch hot dog" = I want to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

"Trucks round" = The trucks are driving in a circle.

"Doe mommy/ Doe daddy / Doe Malls" = Here you go mommy/daddy/Miles.

"Darter pay Ans ah pool" = I want to play with Ansley at the pool.

"Darter dive mommy's tar" = I want to drive mommy's car (sometimes I let him get in the front seat when the car is parked and off and pretend to drive :-)

and last, but not least:

"WAAAAAAAAAAAR Eagle, HEY!"

Ok, I know there are more - these are some of the regulars! You can pretty much combine any of the above in any way and he's probably said it.  I will add more as I think of them. He really never stops talking, and he repeats everything we say! It's so fun watching his vocabulary develop! We could listen to him talk and sing ALL DAY!

What a joy (albeit a "bee high" challenge) having an ALMOST 2 year old :-)

Duck Pond

The other day, we headed over to the UAH duck pond with Ava Grace and her mommy. We had such a good time feeding the ducks, geese, and turtles!

These ducks and geese were NOT shy! 

Carter REALLY wanted to touch the ducklings!

 

They retreated to their mommy where they were safe. 

Carter thought the bread was tasty. 

We had a great time! 

Who's Who?

I have had so many people tell me "Miles looks like you! / Miles looks like Kevin! / Miles looks like Carter! / Carter looks like you! / Carter looks like Kevin!" Here are some pictures where we are all very small and in somewhat the same positions - it's up to you to decide!

Who's Who? 

Who looks like who? 

Daddy's Fabric

I made a new outfit for baby Miles the other day. It's the Creations by Michie pattern #109. The infant shirt and diaper cover will be perfect on these hot days! The fabric was some that Kevin's mom had given me. I believe it was fabric that she had bought when Kevin was little - that would make it 25+ years old. It wasn't in perfect shape, but I was able to work around most of the bad spots. I hand embroidered a little baby carriage on the shirt.

I think the lil' man likes being in his daddy's fabric!