Birth-Day Part Deux

I am officially a mommy of 2, count them, 2 human beings that the Lord has seen fit that I raise.  Beings that He has seen me fit for this amazing task, I surly possess what it takes to do it.  (see the following Scripts for reference)

Philippians 4:13

Ephesians 3:20

Psalm 28: 7

Lincoln Teimoshi Takemoto made me a mommy for the second time on December 24, 2012 at 6:23 in the evening.  Yep, Christmas Eve......Jesus really wasn't born in December so technically he only shares Jesus' 'contemporary birthday' dates.  Every year we will decorate our house, buy our tree and wrap lots of presents in red and green but I will be more excited about balloons, birthday wrapping paper and birthday cake.  To this mommy, Christmas Eve will be a birthday party.  I will love Christmas ON Christmas but treasure and celebrate the night before as my 2nd son's BIRTHDAY!

I am writing about Lincoln's birth much faster than I did for Jackson.  With my first child I couldn't see straight for the better part of 2 months.  With Lincoln's arrival, I was so busy with Jackson that I didn't have time to not see straight.  Don't get me wrong, bringing home a newborn is a force to be reckoned with that has gale force winds of change like that of hurricane, but it was not nearly as shocking as the first.  I was prepared (I say this loosely because can one really prepare to raise a human) and not nearly as nervous because I knew I couldn't and probably wouldn't break him (case in point - Jackson)

Lincoln came home to the hustle and bustle of Christmas day but to be honest with you, I didn't even realize it was Christmas most of that day. To me, it was the day I got in a good shower, slept in my own bed and clipped off the hospital bands.  It was the day a sign decorated my garage welcoming Lincoln home.  It was the day I had to FaceTime my sick son at Grandma's house because he couldn't come home yet to meet brother.  It was the day I loved my husband a little bit more as I watched him hold his second son.  And it was the day I realized there was new sheriff in town and between his brother and him my heart felt like exploding.

The joy, insanity and feeling of having a baby is kind of addictive.  If you are a mom, you know what I am talking about....if I could go back and re-live them handing my sons to me for the first time over and over and over again I would.  There is something to be said for the second child....I truly took this pregnancy, labor, delivery and homecoming to heart in a whole different way. 

Welcome to the world Lincoln!! I gave you back to the Lord the very first second I held you and asked Him to help me be the mommy you need me to be.  Son, we can do nothing apart from Christ and I hope that is something you see me live day in and day out.  He has shown His favor with me by allowing me to parent you. 

Happy BIRTH-Day

Santa Baby

It's that time of year when mommies worldwide haul the kids off to get the perfect holiday memory captured on film - THE SANTA PICTURE!!  Most mommies hope and pray that their kids behave so that they will have spent their money on a great moment in time.  I, on the other hand, think that a 'screaming Santa picture' is money spent just as well spent as a smiling Santa picture.  Last year Jackson was 7 months old and didn't mind seeing Santa.  This year he is 19 months and has an newly found opinion about many things that happen in his little life - including Santa.  We were golden when Santa first arrived, Jackson liked the bells, the 'ho-ho-ho's' and waving.  He even was dancing!!

*Insert premature thoughts of this ACTUALLY being a smiling a picture**
(I kinda wanted the screaming one)

His attitude changed when Santa was close enough to touch him.  I looked at the 'elves' and said 'ok girls on 3, start snapping'. 

*This is where other mommies may not force their kids to sit with Santa - I am not she*

People, I give you this little gem......

And I will leave you with this little side-by-side......

 

!!Merry Christmas!!

We are not supposed to do it all....just do our best! GREAT ARTICLE!

My fellow pregnant friend and I were talking about the nerves that rattle a little  a lot before your baby arrives.  She has a few more nerves than me at the moment because it is her first and this is my second (I already know she (and I) won't mess everything up even though she doesn't know it yet).

I read this article ''Why Your are Not Failing as A Mother'  thanks to my friend Becky and loved the crazy truth behind it.  We never fail in the roll of mommy as long as we are doing all the things we can to raise good kids.

Keep going fellow Mommy-friend! God paired us with our children to better the world, lets agree with Him in confidence.

Happy Reading!!

 

He is probably crabbin' in this picture but I see a smile.....don't you?!

Mommies, read it and weep....with laughter

This article 'Think you are ready to have children?' made me literally laugh out loud!! The goat and the octopus parts were my favorite!

It is right on the money and I wish I would have been the one to write such greatness!

 

He knows he is cute.....knowledge is power....are you tracking with me?

Whitney Frank Photography

I feel so blessed because one of my oldest, dearest friends is the mastermind behind the camera of local business Whitney Frank Photography.

She has captured some of my most important life moments.  My second son is due in December and she is already armed and ready to snap his sweet little mug!

Do yourself and your memories a favor and call her!!

 



 

What are you waiting for?!?!?!?! Book her!! Love Her!! And Whit, if you are reading this, please know that I love you and you have truly blessed my life.

One Fish, Two Fish, A 1st Birthday Wish

Truth: 1st birthdays get WAY OUT OF HAND.

Truth: 1st birthday parties are more for the mommy

Truth: Jackson is BEYOND blessed and loved.

We celebrated Jackson's 1st birthday Dr. Seuss style. It was fun and fairly inexpensive thanks to our families, our church family and friends that helped.

Birthday Stats (mostly for my memory)
-it was outside
-it was hot
-there were 50+ friends and family who came
-we ate burgers, potato salad, fruit
-Jackson did not eat as much cake as I expected
-we used 30 little goldfish for centerpieces (the heat caused casualties)
-Jackson got an equal amount of toys and clothes
-2 hours is the perfect length for a 1st birthday
-we opened gifts after the guests left which was great
-we could not have done it all without the help of our families and friends

 

 1st Birthday success!! Happy Birthday Son.  I could physically burst with joy over who you are!

 

 

Some Catch Up - 12 months of success

Like stated in my last post....I am inconsistent.  I may start to to catch up....no promises though.  I have found I had more time to write when "The Boss" was not as mobile and took multiple naps a day.  We are down to only 1 nap a day, which is the saddest thing for a SAHM.  I felt like having a funeral for my free time and wearing black for a week in protest.  Neither of which would change Jackson's mind about his naps.  SAD.  Pity party over.  Back to the post. 

WE MADE IT TO 1 YEAR OLD

12 things I have learned in the first 12 months of Jackson's life. 

1) Mommies get to sleep again.....eventually......until the next phase decides to disrupt it....again.

2) Nothing goes 'according to plan' or how the book says it will or how other kids do it.  They change everything just as you are finally getting used to it.

3) I am a toddler mommy

4) Jackson is by far the best thing I have ever done

5) New mommies put way too much pressure on themselves

6) Jesus is the only way I could ever be a successful mommy

7) Feeding a toddler is often as hard as feeding a non-latching newborn

8) Time-outs often start sooner than expected

9) When Jackson falls, he learns to do it differently next time. Falling is good

10) My children will be older kids longer than they are younger kids so all hard stuff in the beginning isn't so bad

11) Shots are easier when they are newborns

12) Mommies and Daddies need to be on the same team/page to ensure success

**Bonus Lesson** In the first 12 months I have eaten a lot of crow (humble pie) are you tracking with me.  Being a mommy is HARD!