Easter (better late than never)

I know Easter was weeks ago but it is such am important day that I feel like I can't go without a post about the weekend. I usually work on Easter Sunday so I kind of like to make a whole weekend out of it. I mean really the entire weekend is about Jesus anyway so why shouldn't we make the entire weekend about Him too. (Ok, our entire lives actually...).

I took Friday off and went to Chattanooga for a "Water for Elephants" premier. Part of the movie was filmed there and I loved the book so I jumped at the chance to go see it with my girls when they said they were going. That is a totally different post though!

My church has Easter services at the Murphy Center at MTSU. They have services Saturday and Sunday, and as I mentioned, I always work Sunday so Saturday is our day to go. I helped with the K-3rd grade kids this year while Cian went to Sunday (Saturday) School. We kinda matched and it might have been dorky but it was cute. I have to admit that I was kind of bummed about not actually being able to attend an Easter service but sometimes serving can be just as rewarding. And sure, Sunday wasn't exactly serving God but if Jesus can sacrifice His life I can sacrifice a church service so that other people can rejoice him and spend the day with their family. (Don't worry, it took me years to come to this conclusion as I spent years being bitter about working Easter Sunday and holding a grudge against all the people who I had to serve).

Sunday after work we went over to Bill and Karen's house and had a late lunch and did an Easter egg hunt. It was great to spend time with family and so much fun to hunt eggs out in the yard with everyone. Will and Maggie (and their parent's of course) came up from Birmingham so we had the whole family there!

Easter morning with his basket

Steve and I before he changed out of his nice clothes

Taryn, Cian, Olivia and Luke

Taryn and Cian love each other

Will hunting for eggs

Cian hunting for eggs

Mommy Monday: Mother's Day

First I should start by saying that I have been a terrible blogger the last two weeks. There, I admitted it. Now let's move on to more fun things! Yesterday was Mother's Day, a day that I really love. For many reasons having to do with my child and for the selfish reason having to do with the fact that I get to do whatever I want with my family that day. I know it may not always seem like it but I love being a mother but it really amazing. Yes, toddlers can be super frustrating but there is nothing more rewarding than a kiss on the cheek and an I love you from your child.

Motherhood is perhaps the coolest thing God has ever chosen me to do. Our pastor said yesterday in church that God chooses our mother's. We do not get to choose them, nor do we get to choose our children. It is really amazing and comforting to me to know that God chose me to be Cian's mom. When I feel inadequate or like screaming because he isn't listening or he is running out into the street it is ok. God chose me and if He thinks I can handle it, I can.

Here are some things about being the mom to a two year old:

• I feel like I spend more time punishing my child than hugging him. I am not sure that this is the case, but it sure feels that way.
• Some days yes, I do want to beat him. I just don't act on it. (I have an entirely new sympathy to my grandparents for sending their kids to pick a switch).
  
• With a hard-headed child lots of things can be a struggle, like getting dressed, brushing teeth, going to bed, eating...This is ok. I am glad he has a mind of his own, I just wish sometime he would use it to listen to me.
• I have been singing "Golden Slumbers" by the Beatles to Cian at bedtime since he was a newborn. This is perfect lullaby to me. I don't go into "Carry that Weight" I hope he doesn't carry any weight but casts it aside.
  
• Cian sings with me in the car now. I love hearing him sing, "I want to shout it out that I love Jesus and tell the world that God is good." This really warms my heart and makes me cry. Sap.
• I try not to compare anymore. Nope, Cian isn't perfect but neither am I. I will make mistakes, I will not always have the perfect child but I will enjoy every stage because it will be gone and we will fly on to the next one way too quickly.
• Though the tantrums drive me crazy, I love having a toddler. I love watching him run and explore. I love hearing him say "wait for me mommy" and "yun mommy yun". (that means run for those who don't speak toddler). Most of all I love hearing him say "That's my mommy"and "I love you too much". He will not always be so proud that I am his mom but I will always be proud that he is my son.
  

I am thankful for my mothers, for the one I have and the one I got when I got married. I pray for mothers everywhere, those who have their babies, have lost their babies, are waiting on their babies and the ones who are longing for the babies they don't know yet. The love you feel for your children is a love that no one can tell you about, it must be experienced. I love my Cian so much and can't wait to have another little booger to love with such reckless abandon. One day I will release them and I hope they too have the chance to feel this type of love.

My creations...

So you guys know I have been making diaper cakes for Special Kids. I had a wonderful opportunity to make quite a few last month. I am $725 away from my goal so if you like what you see below and want a sweet gift let me know!

Happy babies and Spring!

Sundays With the Georges

This weekend my godson Luke spend the night with us. This was a good chance for me to get used to having two kids to get ready before church. Only not really because Luke is 6 and can get dressed himself and brush his teeth. Unless this birth is like the SNL skit where the lady gives birth to Will Ferrell I will be getting both kids dressed. I did pretty well and we even had time to stop by McDonald's on the way. (Yep, healthy breakfast of champions--and I got a much needed diet coke).

We went to church and then came home to family nap time. Well everyone except Luke who played Little Big Planet. The weather was so nice that we went outside to play. This had us running around the yard, playing baseball and basketball and just having a good time while Steve mowed the grass and cleaned out the gutters. (Sometimes it is good to be the wife). I got some photos of them in the hammock but don't let them fool you, these guys were not relaxing in the swing for long.

I love this one, whatever Luke is doing has Cian cracking up

The boys got a great idea that they would jump off the picnic table. Cian was jumping to me and then Luke jumped off. When I turned my head to watch Luke my little jumping bean jumped off the table away from me and face-planted! I did reach over and grab him around the stomach and I am not entirely sure whether that broke his fall or made it worse. Luckily this fall only resulted in scratched on his face and no stitches.

Pre-Jump

Abby had to get in on the fun

Tummy Tuesday

Hello! So for the next few months I am going to try to post a "Tummy Tuesday" post with some updates on my belly and what is going on inside it. (Don't worry, I won't show you my belly every single week, just when it has a change). I also want to try to write a weekly letter to little peanut george to keep track of what is going on in his/her future home.

Dear peanut,

We are so excited to have you on the way. I think I felt your little heartbeat early this morning. I felt like you were way up in my belly and I put

my hand there and felt a little bmp bmp bmp. This could have been my half-dream state or maybe my pulse but I like to think it is your little baby heart beating. Your brother had come to lay with me on the couch very early so he was right there with us.

I know they say with kids after your fi

rst one you don't take as many pictures and maybe second kids feel like they get the shaft. It is true that we haven't started talking about names yet or taken as many belly photos as we did with your brother but that doesn't mean there is less love. In fact, I think some second children may have it better in some ways when it come to the love department. Sure parents are tired and are chasing around other kids but with the first baby you have no concept of the love you are about to feel. Sure you have loved a

nd been loved but there is no comparison to the love you will feel for your children. With you, the second baby, I know how much I will love you. I know alr

eady that I will do anything for you and that the first time I see your face I will be changed forever. I am already changed forever because of you. I know that I will not break you and that you will be your own little person. I know already that God chose us to be your parents and if he has faith in us then we should too.

There are many long weeks ahead before you are here with us, but each of these weeks are fleeting. These long nine months are very very short. I know this time to enjoy every kick and uncomfortable moment because

they are the moments that are getting you ready to be in our family. I know that as God knits you together in my womb your story is being written and I am so thankful to be a part of it.

Love,

Mommy

My belly at 13 weeks

my belly at 13 weeks with Cian

Nursery Ideas: Owls!!

So it is true that I am only 13 weeks pregnant (photos Monday) and I have started thinking about a nursery theme. I actually started thinking about a theme a long time ago, before another baby was even confirmed or even conceived. I really like owls and I know they are popular but they are so stinkin cute. I think they could work for a boy or a girl as well.

I found these wall decals at www.janey-mac.com and I looove them! She has a million with owls but these were two that I liked, one boy, one girl.

We have some work to do before we get to the nursery, we are going to move my computer into the dining room and make the computer room our bedroom then convert our current bedroom into wija George's room. We are going to move the furniture from Cian's room into the baby's room and get him all new big boy stuff.

I love the dwell studio owl bedding for a boy and the pottery barn bedding for a girl but I am kinda leaning toward finding something really cool on etsy. (Actually my dream is to make my own bumper and crib bedding but I have to get a sewing machine and learn to sew before that can become a reality).

There are my ideas. I am sure I will post more as we convert Cian's room to a big boy room and get room ready for baby 2.

Mommy Monday: I have junk in the trunk...

Well actually I have junk in my belly. And by junk I mean a cute little alien being who will eventually grow and develop into a sweet little baby! Steve and I are expecting a baby in October. The official due date is October 16th but if this little bun is anything like it's brother he/she will probably be fashionably late. The due date is just two weeks before Cian's 3rd birthday.

Some things about this pregnancy:

• I am sooo tired. The second trimester is coming soon and I am hoping I will get out of this tired funk I have been in. The difference this time is that I know there is another level of tired coming in a few months when I have a newborn. What I don't know is how difficult it will be to live my life by every two hours without being able to sleep during the day because I will also have a very active toddler running around.
• Along with this I am going to be nightly around 8:30. I know Steve loves this as I usually leave him with the bedtime fight with Cian. I'll be back on my game soon, maybe.
  
• I am slightly bigger at this point than I was with Cian. This makes me nervous because I don't want to be bigger at 40 weeks. Looks like my stomach just knows what to do this time.
• I am still going to aerobics like last time and still running 3 or 4 days a week. This is me trying not to gain a thousand pounds. (Don't worry, the doctor said it was ok as long as I didn't so any marathons. That just means fulls right?..)
  
• I keep asking Cian if he wants a brother or sister and he says sister every time, without fail. I honestly do not care either way what the sex of the baby is. I am praying for a healthy baby but I am happy with the miracle God has given me no matter what. He hasn't made a mistake in choosing us to be the parents for this baby.
• I am super excited because I know so many people who are growing their families which means lots of friends for baby George.

I will post pictures of me soon but this is the actual size of our wija tiny right now:
We actually told our families a few weeks ago. We bought Cian a shirt that said "I am the big brother" and went over to each of their houses and let them see what the shirt said to figure it out. We had to give a few hints but I think everyone was excited for a new baby. This will be grandchild number 9 on Steve's side and number 2 on my side. This means twice the fun is coming in our house! Here is Cian in his big brother shirt from the weekend we told our parents. You can't really see the words because he is holding his favorite things int he world, his little toys. AKA, Star Wars Legos.