Words of Wisdom

I found this quote in a magazine recently (I can't remember which one) and it has been hanging on my refrigerator ever since. Maybe these words will resonate with you as well:

The tendency to run away from suffering is there in every one of us. We think that by seeking pleasure we'll avoid suffering. But this doesn't work. It stunts our growth and our happiness. Happiness isn't possible without understanding, compassion, and love. And love is not possible if we don't understand our suffering and the other person's suffering. 

Getting in touch with suffering will help us cultivate compassion and love. Without understanding and love, we can't be happy, and we can't make other people happy. We all have the seeds of compassion, forgiveness, joy, and nonfear in us. If we're constantly trying to avoid suffering, there is no way for these seeds to grow.

Thich Nhat Hanh, Your True Home

Gerber Baby

My sweet boy

It was nearly impossible to get him to sit still for pictures!

{Notice in the second picture that his toe is pulled back. Carter has done this since he was a newborn and still does. This little similarity is sometimes the only thing I think they share. They are so so different!}

10 months

thirty

via

I am turning 30 next week. How this is possible? I still feel 12 years old on most days, but regardless of how I  feel about it... it's true. June 21 will come and go and then I will be 30. 

Wow. 

Approaching this milestone has made me reflect on my life thus far.. specifically the past 10 years. While I have had many amazing experiences in my twenties, I can't say that I'm sad to see them go. I, unlike most people, coasted through my teens years with very little difficulty. In direct contrast, my twenties handed me a big, fat dose of reality :) 

I started this decade as a college junior living at home with my parents and will finish it as a married, mama of two boys. The years in between included this:

-Moving 5 times 

-Buying our first home

-Owning 3 cars (6 if you include Jeremy's cars)

-2 degrees 

 (a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master's in Counseling)

-Several years of unforgettable work experience

 (both positive and negative)

-The marriage proposal of my dreams followed by 

  a fairy tale wedding

-4 pregnancies

-Birthing 2 two beautiful, healthy baby boys

Not too shabby if you ask me. 

In so many ways, I feel like the same person I was as a little girl with strong convictions and big dreams. In other ways, how can you ever be the same after enduring things like heartbreaking losses and disappointments or the miraculous love of motherhood? 

So here's to a new decade filled with more laughter, family, fun, and hopefully a few more hours of sleep! :)

9 Months

9 months

• Learned to drink from a straw
• Started clapping his hands
• Started pointing at everything
• Favorite foods: bananas, yogurt, cheese (including grilled cheese), pears, sweet potatoes, and puffs!
• Enjoys "wrestling" with his brother (most of the time) 
• If you ask him to "love mama" he will lay his head on my chest
• Also loves giving mama wet, sloppy kisses!
• Pulling up and cruising on everything 
• Attempts to destroy anything he can get his hands on

For the moms...

If you are a mom and anything like me, then you probably enjoy browsing lots of things on the internet posted by other moms. Things like facebook posts, tweets, instagram pictures, blogs, etc. While these things, in and of themselves, are not bad ... I think they deserve a word of caution. As moms, we are all proud of our children and want to share their accomplishments and the funny/cute things they say and do. We do not, however, always want to share the down side- the frustrations, loneliness, insecurities and countless tantrums we encounter on a daily basis- and I'm not sure why this is. Perhaps it's because in this new, technology-obsessed world we can meticulously control the images others have of our lives. While I'm not one for "airing out your dirty laundry", I do whole-heartedly believe in being transparent and honest- especially as a mother.

So let me share a little of my experience in this area. My first born, Carter, was a difficult baby. He wasn't colicky, but he cried a lot and hasn't been a good sleeper since his first night in the hospital. As a new mother, it was really difficult for me to hear about other people's infants who were sleeping 12 hours/night at 6 weeks old. I tried my best to comfort him, but nothing (other than nursing) would soothe him and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really frustrated by all of it. Eventually, he outgrew this stage and developed into a very pleasant toddler, though we still 3 years later.. struggle with naps and nighttime sleeping. I've learned to accept this about Carter- and I'm ok with it.

A different (and more sensitive) issue was that of his delayed speech. Carter didn't talk until after he turned two (27 months, to be exact). I had done everything in my power to encourage his verbal development and he could literally only say a handful of words on his second birthday. As a very expressive and "early talker", I was baffled as to why he wasn't the same way. Many other children his age were talking in sentences by this point, which only made matters worse. In my gut, I knew there wasn't anything seriously wrong with him.. I had enough experience working with developmentally delayed kids to know that. I stopped reading things on the internet and did my best not to compare him with his peers- because if I did, he inevitably fell short every time. Then in February 2011, he started gushing out new words everyday and now possess a vocabulary far above his age level.

I say all this because I don't want any mom who ever reads something I post about my boys to feel insecure or to look at her children and compare them to mine. I confidently know the strengths of my kids, but I am also keenly aware of their weaknesses (and mine) and am more than willing to share them, if need be. Carter started reading this week, but he cannot hold a pencil properly and refuses to color. He isn't terribly interested in throwing or catching balls, but he can name the top 50 country music artists (and their songs) on iTunes. My little man, Cooper, is far more physically advanced than Carter, but hates sleeping in his bed most days- as he still prefers the arms of his mama. I strive hard every single day to be the mother God called me to be, but I lose my temper and patience regularly.

Each of us were given the children that God specially designed for our family. Let's work on being transparent and honest with each other.. because Lord knows that young moms need more support and encouragement than anyone else.

Food for thought:

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel." -Steven Furtick

"Comparison is the thief of joy." -Franklin Roosevelt

Can any other moms relate? I hope so.

Here and There

First post via my iPhone so bear with me! Here's a look at us lately...

8 Months

Last month was a big one for our sweet boy! Here are a few highlights:

-His first two bottom teeth arrived :)

-He started saying "Dada" all the time!

-We have continued to try new foods, but his favorites are still carrots, sweet potatoes, and corn. He isn't really picky, but definitely shows a preference for certain foods. The ones he isn't crazy about (some fruits, green beans, etc) take much longer for him to eat.

-He is still on the move (but not on all fours yet) and into anything he can get his little hands on! The boy is super strong!

-He typically is ok staying with Jer or my mom (as long as I'm not in sight), but he would still prefer his mama 100% of the time. The only exception to this was on Easter Sunday when he sat with Uncle Taylor the ENTIRE service and even fell asleep (snoring!) for part of the time!

-His weight gain has slowed way down due to how active he is... I'm certainly not complaining ;)

I'm really enjoying every stage with Cooper and wishing time would slow down. It's true that it goes by SO much faster with the 2nd baby!