Life Happens.

Life is what is happening right now. Don't let life happen to you, you happen to life. 

-Chris McLeod

Before we moved from Tulsa I saved that quote in my notes. 

Last night I felt like life was happening to me. The last couple of days actually. 

I've been stuck in a mom rut. 

Picture this: I'm awake, just after midnight, with Emerson. He has just eaten a bottle and thinks its time to get down and play. The fight between me wanting him to go back to sleep & him wanting to get down & play continues for over 3 hours. Since what Im doing clearly isn't working I wake Chris up. I feel like I'm about to lose my mind. 

I squeeze into bed, wide awake but so tired I feel sick to my stomach. Campbell is in my spot... & then I smelled it. I lean forward to take a closer whiff just to make sure, right as Cam smacks my face & yells "No, no, no. No poop!"

He's wrong. 

As I'm changing his diaper in the dark at 3:20 in the morning, he's now screaming "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!". I couldn't help but start laughing. Is this a joke? Is this really happening right now? Wait, its not funny anymore... Campbell's pjs & my bed are wet. Wet with pee. 

Just as I finish cleaning up the mess & climb back in bed with Campbell, so does Chris. I am thankful he got the stinker to sleep and freaking irritated at the same time that it only took him 20 minutes. 

I text my sister to break her the news that I will not be working out with her in the morning. Two & a half hours of sleep isn't going to cut it. Especially since I was up at 4:30 the morning before with Emerson, and 5:00 the morning before that. 

Why am I still awake? It is now 3:30am & Campbell is talking about Dinosaur Train. Maybe I am actually dreaming. I can hope right? Reality will smack me in the face in just a few hours... and it did. 

Here's to happening to life. Taking time to be in the moment & not just my to do list... or stressing about what I haven't accomplished on my to do list.
Sometimes that just means watching the boys live life. 

I will try harder to enjoy the moments when I would rather be sleeping, because although it is a cliche statement, I know in the blink of an eye I am going to wonder where the time went.
I am going to be wishing Emerson would let me hold him in the middle of the night.
I am thankful to hold him, always.

I am going to miss Cam sleeping so close to me I might fall off the bed.
I am thankful to snuggle him, always.

And little feet running down the stairs in the morning to find me will only be a memory.
I am thankful to be a mom. Campbell & Emerson's mom. Always.

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
-Dr. Seuss 

Annoying Mom Post

I hope Campbell is always as proud of himself when he concurs new challenges, 

as he is now, when he finishes a puzzle all by himself.

I hope he continues to be so eager to share his excitement with others. 

I hope he always finds joy in dancing crazy & being silly. 

I hope Emerson is always so content with life.

I hope he always finds it so easy to smile & laugh. 

I hope his eyes always shine as bright as they do now when he looks at his brother. 

I hope they will both know that their story is important... 

that they have a purpose... 

that they are children of God

 ...who wants them to do well, 

make good decisions, 

love others as themselves 

& live life to the fullest. 

...that they will find the good in every situation. 

...that they will be thankful for the lives they have been blessed with

& never, never, never. ever. give up. 

I hope they love Jesus.

...that they find joy in following his word 

& example of serving others.

I hope they will always know that their mom loves them. 

Loves them with her whole heart.

...that I will be there for them.

 Always. 

No matter what. 

Annoying Mom Post

January 17 | January 18

9:30 PM 

Start bedtime

11:00 PM 

Campbell finally falls asleep

12:00 AM

Emerson wakes up to eat

4:50 AM

Campbell wakes up crying & coughing

... & continues crying

He wants to go out in the living room & watch a movie 

It's not going to happen

I will not cave

5:50 AM 

Campbell finally falls back to sleep in my lap

I didn't cave :)

5:55 AM 

Emerson wakes up

Campbell also wakes back up as I try to transfer him to bed

More crying & coughing

I accept that the day has now begun

No one is going back to sleep

Sorry, Chris

6:10 AM
A movie begins...
the sun is up so I don't consider this caving in ;)

7:30 AM

Emerson goes down for a morning nap

8:00 AM

Campbell & I both fall asleep watching said movie

Chris sneaks out the door for work 

8:10 AM

Emerson is back awake, but falls back to sleep while eating

I am tired.

Is someone playing a cruel joke on me?!

9:25 AM

Campbell wakes up crying & coughing again. 

I see him walk out of my bedroom & go straight back to his room. 

He eventually makes his way into the kitchen, where I am,

wearing a headband as a necklace, toys in hand, happy as can be.

All is well again.

Thankful Thursday

This week I have been extra thankful for the day to day. 

Sometimes it feels monotonous & at times even boring, 

but there is no place I'd rather be than at home raising my boys. 

Here is a little peek, by the hour, into our home...

 7 AM- Cam & I are just waking up... for the 2nd time. Dad is in the shower & E is still snoozing.

Chris gets up with Campbell most mornings but since we slept on the couch together last night, I'm wide awake after he jumped on my stomach & tried riding me like a horse. 

It was a long night.

 Im thankful that doesn't happen very often anymore!

I'm also thankful that I am the one he wants. He knows I can make him feel all better,

that I know what to do to soothe him (most of the time).

 8 AM- Mopping. Probably something Cam spilt. Emerson is still snoozing & Chris is getting ready to leave for work after finishing breakfast. Cam & I usually follow Chris out to his truck, followed by a little crying & then waving out the window when we get back inside.  

I am thankful my husband has a job, that he works so hard & does a great job providing for us so that I am able to stay home with our boys. 

 9AM- Before Chris left I snuck in the shower... alone. Its a tricky task. If Cam hears the water running, he is sure to want in. Emerson has since woken up, done his morning stretching, been fed, changed & is now watching me blow dry my hair. 

I am thankful for the happiness I feel every morning as I watch Emerson stretch after I unswaddle him. 

He is so happy, smily & talkative. 

 10 AM- The little babe is back asleep so Cam I  are reading his children's Bible. His favorite stories are the ones with animals... no surprise :)

I am thankful for quiet time with my big boy. 

11 AM- Mary Ann & Macy came over to stay with the boys so I could run to the post office, walmart (out of milk... again) & vote.

I am thankful for good friends (& their kids that love my boys).

Mary Ann might as well be my 4th sister. 

 12 PM- Leftovers for lunch then its off to dream land. 

I am thankful that we always have food in our bellies. I've never once had to worry about not being able to feed my family.

 12 PM- Now I get some quiet time with the little guy. He must be growing... he's been extra sleepy this week.  Cam thought 20 minutes was a long enough nap. He is wrong... but while I snuggle this guy Campbell watches Curious George... it's part of his wake up routine.  

I am thankful for happy healthy children!

 2 PM- I tackle the laundry that I have been avoiding for too long while Campbell colors.

I am thankful for clothes... warm clothes. 

 3 PM- Cam is back in bed & actually asleep this time. Emerson is also asleep... again. I use this time alone to enjoy some coffee, send a recipe to Mackenzie & start making a "Christmas Shopping List".

I am thankful for technology. 

I would seriously never communicate with anyone if it weren't fore email & texting. 

 4 PM- The boys are still asleep so I work on my bible study. 

40 Days in The Word... check it out. 

I am thankful for the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us all. 

I am thankful for prayer & the guidance & comfort I receive from my Heavenly Father.

 5 PM- Time to start dinner. The boys are awake... & starving. We all eat before Chris even gets home tonight.

I am thankful football season is over & Chris will actually be home before 8 tonight!

 6 PM- Chris made it home, wrestled on the floor with Cam, ate his dinner & is now helping me send a birthday picture to Colton. 

I am thankful for my family... both sides. 

I can't even talk about this right now without getting all emotional. 

My family is the greatest. I cannot wait to see them all soon!

 7PM- Campbell LOVES his dad. Emerson is partial to his mom... 

only because he needs me to survive :)

I am thankful for Chris. He is a wonderful dad. 

Campbell & Emerson are so lucky to have him.

 8 PM- Chris & Cam are in the shower... Emerson is on his way there too :)

Baby buns are the cutest. 

I am thankful for running water. 

I would have sucked as a pilgrim!

 9 PM- Campbell is snug in bed. Chris is finishing up some work. I am feeding Emerson.

I am thankful for out home. 

...where we can feel safe & make memories.

A place of our own to be a family. 

 10 PM- Finishing up laundry while they announce on the news that Obama will serve another term as president. I will respect him as the President of the United States & pray for him everyday. 

I am thankful to be an American!

11 PM- Finally in bed, lights out & ready to doze off with Chris on one side of me & Emerson on the other. It has been a good day. 

I am thankful for every day. 

Every day I have with my family. 

Every day I am healthy & able to take care of my boys... 

all 3 of them :)

Annoying Mom Post

. . . . . . . . . . On My Mind

Im jumping on the "I'm thankful for" bandwagon...

only I'll just be doing Thankful Thursdays.

Today I am thankful for:

Words of Encouragement 

...from friends, family & peers I admire. 

 Yesterday I heard someone say "words don't matter",

they totally do! 

Today I have been blessed to be uplifted. 

I didn't even know I needed it.  

The Small Things

...watching Campbell play

lunch, a play date & good conversation

a snoring baby with a milk mustache

filling up the car for less than $75

Sunshine

Nap time

Acts of Kindness

... from a friend. We are out of milk. 

The baby is finally napping & Campbell is going to loose it if he doesn't get milk 

RIGHT NOW. 

Don't worry. Mary Ann saved him. 

Receiving a small gift just because.

Thank you!

Prayer

...for wisdom & guidance.

For blessings & understanding. 

For peace & comfort.

For thankfulness. 

Annoying Mom Post

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . on my mind

I just read of a family who will welcome their first baby boy into the world today. 

They will also say goodbye.

As I sat reading their blog, tears were rolling down my face

& Campbell was looking at me in total confusion. 

I feel so sorry for this couple who I don't even know. 

I also can't help but be thankful. 

I am thankful for this day with my boys. 

I am thankful for the whining and constant snotty nose. 

I am thankful for the sleepless nights & spit up in my hair. 

I am thankful for the hugs & eskimo kisses. 

I am thankful for their healthy bodies & minds.

I am thankful I can scoop them up whenever I want, 

to read them a book,

snuggle them,

smell them,

feel them breath. 

I am thankful for the big cheesy grin, full of pizza.

I am thankful to hear Cam call me Mamma.

I am thankful I can teach them & watch them learn. 

I am thankful my world revolves around them.

I am thankful they are mine.  

I am thankful for the future,

that they have a future.  

Annoying Mom Post

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . on my mind

When Campbell says "bobble", 

he really means bible, 

as in sing "Jesus Love Me" right now.

...for the bobble tells me so :)

Annoying Mom Post

Every once in a while a thought crosses my mind that I feel like posting on facebook.

Before finishing typing it out, I delete it.

 I don't want to be that mom all the time. 

I'm just ok with it most of the time ;)

Truth: Im totally the annoying mom that only posts pictures of her kids.

Their real cute. I can't help it. 

So, I'll post them here instead.

It's my blog... I do what I want :)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . on my mind 

It's time to pack the newborn clothes away. 

After buttoning Emerson's footed outfit up this morning 

I noticed he couldn't extend his legs because it was too short (& tight).