B-O-S-S

Last night we were getting ready to say our prayers and Mo did something quite amazing.
Mo and L are taking over  using my brother Jay's room and he decorated it with Chick-fil-a posters.  You know, the GIANT cow posters they have in the restaurant?  Well, my kids just love them.  They all have writing on them.  Cute sayings for different seasons to try and convince you to eat more chicken!
Mo decided during bedtime that she wanted to name the letters on the posters.  There was no prompting from me, she did all this on her own.

Mo: (after randomly naming letters) B-O-S-S, what does B-O-S-S spell, mom?
Me: What do the letters say?  (And I pointed to each letter)
Mo: Buh-Ah-Suh-Suh, like suh-nake!
Me: Very good, now say their sounds faster
Mo: Buh-Ah-Suh-Suh, boss!  It says boss!
Me: You just read your first word!!!

And then we did an excited dance and my big girl daughter beamed from all the praise.  Then of course she had to run down stairs and tell Nana, Papa and Uncle Nate.  And then wanted to read all the word on all the posters before going to bed.  I can't believe my 3 year old read her first word and that it was completely of her own initiative.

My Smart Mo,
You have yet to stop amazing me and I have every idea that it will be this way for the rest of your life.  You are such a bright girl and you have a sweetness about you that just makes me thrilled to be your momma.  Never lose your love for learning, it is a trait you are so blessed to have.
And don't think I am not lost on the first word you chose to read.  I know you like to be in charge, and it is no surprise that you would pick your own time (not durning our "school" time) to read for the first time and that you would read, "BOSS!"
I love you SO very much!
Momma          

Rainbow House

My parents recently got new patio furniture and decided to turn the boxes into a house for the kids to paint and play in.  SO FUN!  They had a blast being creative and messy.  They appropriately named the house, The Rainbow House since it is all the colors of the rainbow.  I am loving the time they are now spending on the porch playing house.  This morning L was being Jonah daddy and Mo was his daughter.  When Nana asked what they were doing he said, "I Jonah.  Doo doo!"  and started to sing the song from Veggie Tales "Jonah was a prophet, doo doo.  But he never really got. A doodly doo!"

I think we are going to repeat this activity at a certain little girls rainbow 1st birthday party!  I think it would be an awesome activity for a ton of toddlers to enjoy, don't you?

Ripe for the Pickin'

Enjoyed a great morning strawberry and blueberry picking! They are delicious!

Yes, They Are All Mine

My kids are close in age.  Very close in age.  And people seem to notice this when we are out and about frequenting our favorite stores.  I am used to the looks and smiles (people just can't help but smile at my adorable kids.  Not bragging, just stating a fact.)  What I fail to understand is the people who decide it is their place to comment.  Often the conversations with perfect strangers go something like this:

Stranger: Are they all yours?
Me:  Yes, they are all mine. (I want to respond, "No, I took one from the aisle over there.")
Stranger: Wow, you have your hands full. (eyes wide in amazement)
Me: Yes, we are rather busy.
Stranger: Oh my goodness, I guess so. -OR- How old are they? (3 1/2, 2, and 8 months).  -OR- Are they twins?  -OR- How do you do it? -OR- (my personal favorite) You are crazy.

And yes, I have had a perfect stranger in a store tell me I am crazy.  For having kids.  Three adorable sweet children.  (And they were actually being very well behaved when she said that!)

Why does having three children make me crazy?  What about me taking my kids shopping in a store invites people to think they can tell me that the precious blessings God has given me are a burden?  Don't get me wrong, we have challenging days.  Hard days.  Days I beg for God to grant me patience and wisdom so I can discipline and mold my three children into servants for Him.  Teach them His ways.  But, really, a stranger telling me I'm crazy, I was speechless.   Do they not know that children are a gift from God?  That I am blessed to call them mine?  What happened to "if you don't have something good to say, don't say anything at all?"  Do they realize I do only have 3 kids, right?  That isn't a lot.  Especially in this day in age where the Dugger family is showing all of the world that 19 kids can be a blessing not a burden!

Then, a stranger made my day.  A couple weeks ago we were strolling through Hobby Lobby.  I love that store and so do my craft loving kids.  I had Se strapped to me in the carrier and Mo and L in the double stroller.  It was a great set up.  I lost count of how many people stopped us and commented.  I am not sure how many times I had versions of the conversation above.  By the time we were at the check out I was so ready to leave, simply because I didn't want to hear it any more.  (Isn't that sad?  I felt like I was defending my children through the whole store!)  The nice cashier was ringing up my purchases when a middle aged lady walked past us.  I could tell she was sizing us up.  As she pasted, her mouth opened and I braced myself for another onslaught of criticism.  Instead this is what she said, "You have the most beautiful babies.  Oh, my.  There isn't an ugly one in the bunch.  How sweet."  I thanked her and said I would have to agree.  I have gorgeous children!  She erased all my tension and I left the store feeling like someone saw my littles for the blessings they are.  

And yet another reminded me of a strangers ability to be kind.  Two days ago we were in Target.  It was not one of my children's finer moments.  Let's just say one child bit the toe of another (almost drawing blood) and I was in the middle of disciplining.  Yes, it IS how you are imagining it.  Lots of crying and weeping.  An elderly lady walked by.  I was distracted with the situation but my dad was there and had a conversation with her that went something like this:

Lady: Oh, are they twins?
Dad: No, just siblings.
Lady: They are both yours?
Dad explained he was the Papa, Nana had the baby and I was the mom.
Lady: Oh, you have three?  You are so blessed.  I don't have any.  I sure do hope I get to see you again before I leave the store.  They are just so adorable.  He must be tired.  (Referring to the biter who was crying, unaware of the discipline issue going on.)

What a sweet lady!  It brought tears to my eyes when my dad relayed the entire conversation to me.  I could not imagine not having any children.  I wanted to adopt her as a Grandma and let her love on my kids all she wanted, but I didn't get to talk to her again and I didn't know what the conversation was till we were headed to the car.  But she was right, I am so blessed.  I have three beautiful children.  They have been entrusted to me and I am proud to be called "Momma."  In fact, it is one of my favorite things to be called.

Thank you Lord for two perfect strangers who remind me that not all shoppers are cruel and nosy.  Some are sent from you to lift me up and remind me lessons I have already learned.

Happy Resurrection Day!

What joy I have found knowing that my Savior lives!  We had a wonderful day celebrating the fact that the tomb is empty and my redeemer is preparing a place for me to spend eternity with Him.  What an amazing God we serve.  That he would humble himself and die for me, never ceases to blow my mind.

Me and my littles after sunrise service.

1 Peter 1:3-5 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection if Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."  AMEN!

Se is 8 Months!

So, it is hard to believe all the things my sweet little Se has been doing lately.

She can communicate.  It is crazy!  She mimics the sounds I make and can clearly say mama, dada, all done (signs it and says "alda"), hi (both the wave and sound), papa, and she signs milk while going "mmmm."    

She can self feed.  She loves eating puffs, cheerios, and fries.

She can drink from a sippy cup unassisted.

She has invited her own way to crawl.  She uses her legs and toes to push her forward on her head.  Yep, that's right, my little girl likes to get a round on her head and shoulders.  Just take a look at the video for proof.  It cracks me up every time I see her do this.  Boy, she is EVERYWHERE now days.

She still loves to sing.  If she is in worship with me she just pours her heart out so loudly to God.  It makes me so happy to see her love for worship at a young age.  Thankfully we go to a church where the people around us are blessed by her joyful noise, not annoyed by it.

She loves her dada.  If she sees him, her legs start going, she squeels and starts saying "DADADADA!!!"  It is the sweetest things.  And of course, daddy just eats it up.

She still doesn't sleep through the night.  This is normal for my babes and doesn't bother me as long as she nurses and then goes directly back to sleep.  That happens 98% of the time.  She is also a night cuddler.  I don't get many snuggles throughout the day (she likes to GO!), so I love our quiet nighttime feedings where she snuggles to me all relaxed.

She eats up the attention she gets from her siblings and is generally a happy baby!  Love you sweet Se!

Making Baby Food

For all three of my kids I have made their baby food. There are several benefits to doing this. The top two are; it saves TONS of money and I know exactly what goes into my babies bellies. Many mommies I know feel intimidated at the very mention of making baby food. I have to admit that I was among those mommies when Mo was little. Thankfully I found this website.  I also found great ways to make the process easier.  Now all I need is a nap time (1 1/2 hours) twice a month and I have enough baby food to feed my baby Se.

Here is a peek at how I make peaches: 

One bag of thawed frozen peaches

 

Pour them in a food processor and blend until desired consistency is met.  (Water can be added if needed)

Place in ice cube trays, muffin pans, cupcake pans-whatever is handy.

Freeze, then pop out and place in zip lock baggies clearly labeled with contents and date (behind the tray-I store mine in one big tupperware so they are easy to find).

For veggies, I use the microwavable bags. (Money saving tip: I buy them on sale at $0.78 a bag and each bag makes 6-8 meals.  Tons of savings compared to buying baby food jars!)  Just pop the bag in the microwave for 5 minutes, puree and freeze. It is SO very easy. Hope this encourages those mommies out there like me that it is possible to make your own baby food without spending hours and hours laboring in the kitchen while your littles run a muck around your house. If I can do it, you can too! And don't forget to check out wholesomebabyfood.com.  Not only do they have great recipes for making your own baby food, but wonderful advice on what order to introduce solids, allergy information and exactly what nutritious things are packed into each and every bite you give your little one.