Another reason why I love her

Back in July, we took a vacation up north to visit my sister. We were fortunate enough to get to spend time with her husband's family that I just adore!

His sister went in the house with her new born to feed the baby (natural style, if you catch my drift). Mooka had been in there watching tv, which meant they were sharing the couch during lunch time.

Suddenly, Mooka comes running outside, face completely flush and said "I have to talk to you!"

Her next words were priceless, "Mommy, what is she doing to that baby?"

I had to explain how babies get fed from their mommies, which I think helped solidify her decision to not have babies ever.

Fast forward to this week, when we went to the hospital to visit my step-mom. We decided to make a pit-stop on the baby floor before leaving since it's the same hospital where I delivered Baby Bear.

We were able to get a small view through the window of the nursery as there were several families standing around looking at their new loved ones. I had no prouder moment when the following conversation ensued:

Moo (to her brother): Hey, when you were in there they fed you with their boobies.

Me (quietly): No, honey, only Mommy could do that.

Moo (not quietly): O, hey, Mommy fed you with her boob when you were in there.

Baby Bear: I want to go now.

Me: Yeah, me too.

She's not a shy one that little girl of mine!

Babies and belly buttons

A few weeks ago, we pulled in to the Payless parking lot and proceeded to get out of the car. When Mooka got out of the car, in a moment of complete randomness, she nearly burst into tears explaining how she did not want to get married.

ME: Okay, sweet heart. No one is going to force you to get married. May I ask why?

MOO: Well, when you get married you have babies and I don't want to have babies.

ME: Okay.

MOO: I'm going to just live with you forever.

Baby Bear: Yeah, me too.

I thought it was a sweet conversation and moved on.

Tonight, in another moment of randomness, she starts naming the different phases in a person's life - baby, kid, teenager, mom, grandma. I said, well sometimes people are adults and don't become a mom. Which must have triggered her adamant opposition to marriage and babies again, because she started in on "I don't want to have babies."

ME: Honey, why don't you want to have babies?

MOO: Because when you have babies, your belly button stinks.

ME: My belly button smelled like that before I had babies.

MOO: Pause...Mom you are so gross!

:)

Because our lives did not stop

After much deliberation, I have decided to continue to post here. The point of this blog was for me to have a way to document my children's lives, especially considering how horrible I am at scrap-booking and please don't mention the baby books.

So while our lives changed, they did not stop.

And thanks to the back dating option in blogger, I will be able to go back and fill in the blanks.

Continued thanks to all of you who stop by here on a regular basis and who have been supportive/patient as we define our new normal.

Mini blog vacation

As soon as I get my life organized, I promise to be a better blogger. Until that time, enjoy these!

You're never too young to start

The other night, I took the children on a hunt for pink, blue and green feathers for the Christmas tree. (Why be traditional, right?!) So, after I picked everyone up from school, off we went on our trek to the craft store.

As soon as we walked in the door, Baby Bear says "Mom, can we get some toys." I said, no, I don't have money for toys today. He reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out several coupons cut from the Target toy catalog. He hands this wad to me and announces that he had brought coupons so it won't cost a lot of money.

First - I picked the children up from school and went shopping.

Second - Neither child knew this was the plan.

Third - I wonder how long he has been toting around coupons in hope of that perfect opportunity to use them?!?

Never a dull moment :)

Tis the season

For a little gingerbread house making fun!

I recently got an email announcing a gingerbread house workshop and honestly peed a little due to the excitement. I was certain after the instructors saw some of our mad construction skills, they would want to cast a bronze statue of our creations.

(See here and here, if you have no clue what I'm referring to)

Alas, we weren't recognized during our class, but we had a great time.

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

Today, I am thankful for my family. For me, that can be interpreted a couple of ways.

I have a wonderful extended family. I love the holidays and the time for getting together. Seeing my grandma, my crazy aunt and uncle, the cousins that I rarely get to see, my parents and brother and sister - I love every minute of it.

Then, there is MY family or OUR family, the one that A. and I have to work at every single day. Some people make having a family look super easy and sparkly-butterfly-fun, then there are those that throw in the towel and go their separate ways to achieve sparkly-butterfly-fun. Well, A. and I fall somewhere in between except there aren't a lot of sparkles and more sparks. But, at the end of the day, we entered a covenant with God that we would make this thing work. And on the days (months) when I forget that, A. gives me my space and I've learned to give him his. I think we both wake up most days and try (it may only be for 5 minutes, but, it's an attempt) and until we get it right, we'll keep trying. And for that, I am thankful.

Side note...I asked the children what they were thankful for this morning.

Mooka: I am thankful for all of the people in the world, even those that I don't know.

ME: And you?

Baby Bear: Candy.