The Power of a Mother & Easter

What are you gonna do? Right when I feel like I'm motivated enough to post more regularly, is exactly when I feel like I have nothing worth while to offer my readers. Life continues to be busy and the constant ticking away of time is yet another reminder of how I wish life would come with a pause button. Caroline was upgraded to a big girl bed this past Friday- A. BIG. GIRL. BED. Wow, since when wasn't she an itty bitty baby anymore? Armed with a twin size mattress, a six piece big girl sheet set, a cute pink polka-dot puppy pillow, and some new mermaid jammies, we were ready to roll.

Going from crib to big girl/boy bed can be a trying time for a mommy and daddy, but I've found that the Super Nanny's approach works wonderfully- that is if the parent can consistent and constant (that can be the tricky part)! When children want to get out of bed and seem to be resilient to all your other efforts try this approach and see what happens.... it is suggested that when a child gets out of bed to pick them up (with no words to be exchanged) and to put them back into bed. Cover them up, give them their security toy/blanket/ binkie/etc. and walk out. Keep it short, simple, and sweet. For littler-little ones, a lot of the times, they just want to know that you are present for them to feel safe and secure... don't, for-the-love-of-8 hours-of-uninterrupted-sleep lay down in bed with them! (I know that probably sounds mean, and really, what's wrong with a little snuggle time? But if this is something you do on a nightly basis the longer you go the harder the routine is to break. I've heard of some people that have their 7 year old sleeping in bed with them!) Simply put your child into bed and sit/stand there. No talking, to singing, just BE. When they start to fuss pat their back, then take a break. If they fuss some more try a soothing ssshhhhh, then stop. Knowing that you are present is all they need in order to feel your love. Isn't it amazing that with one mother's touch, one mother's voice or soothing sound, that a child will stop whimpering the instant they feel or hear those things. Mother's hold so much power when it comes to feeling loved and safe. It ALL begins with us. What an awesome and privileged responsibility that God has blessed us with.

I used to think Caroline looked so big in her crib, but now that her sweet little body is resting on a twin sized mattress she looks so small and baby-ish. 

My sweet angel

So, the Easter festivities were rolling in full force this weekend complete with decorating bunny and egg shaped homemade sugar cookies, stringing Easter candy necklaces, dying eggs, and time with family. 

Kiddies doing their thaannng

 Caroline aka: a hot mess, did more eating of her cookie than decorating...

Easter egg hunt

(Isaac looks like he is already in a sugar induced coma) 

Givin' the egg a shake to see if there was candy or change for his piggy bank

She was showing daddy her pretty new flip-flops

Isaac using their new swirly light spinner to see if there was an egg in the corner.....

turns out it was just a boulder to their super hero castle. :-)

Children out-takes pictures taken after church.

One of Joel and I

(don't you love Samuel's reflection in the mirror)

And the whole gang

Hope you had a beautiful Easter holiday!!

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Cheesy scrambled eggs, home-fried bacon, and fried new potatoes. Mmmmm. Life is too short to not enjoy good food!!

Not a Care in the World

The other day was a hot 92 degrees, mostly muggy beyond belief, until later in the day we were blessed with a gentle breeze promising evening thunderstorms. Earlier in the week I found myself being irritated with my home and all the junk being kept in it, which just kept finding itself more and more on the floor or ledges rather than in its own place. This had me thinking that if more and more "things" kept most conveniently finding themselves in less than desirable locations that: A. We have accumulated far to many "things" for our very modest 1300 sq ft, 3 bedroom home, or B. Joel and I have become exceedingly too lazy in completing our hourly, daily, weekly chores. I decided it was more of A than B which transpired in to a much needed purge/evaluation. I finally got down to business (thank you, Sarah from Clover Lane, to help jump start my 40 bags in 40 days)! First up was the bathroom pantry, then the hall closet, on to the living room, the laundry room, the collect all crap unfinished mud room.... and so it was, three days later, I collected five tubs and two garbage bags of stuff.  Perfect timing for the garage sale that was happening over at Joel's folks and two days later we were $400 richer!

Release, exhaustion, complete satisfaction! All of my decorative items now have a place, the laundry is washed, fluffed, folded, and put away into drawers and closets. All surfaces high and low have been dusted, floors vacuumed and steamed, candles burning, and thus my mind, heart, and soul are content and at peace! I'm soaking up my slice of heaven here on my front porch sitting my bum in my bouncy iron outdoor chair, drinking one of my favorite beers (Fat Tire),

and looking at magazines. Isn't it amazing how those heavenly sunbeams that hit your skin can make you feel or the soft gentle breeze blowing through your hair?

Right now I'm thoroughly enjoying "just being". Being still, being thankful, keeping it simple, and so proud of where I am now and where the future might have me go. My starter house isn't perfect. My house came with plenty bumps and bruises that have yet to be addressed but it's the journey of making your house a home that should be enjoyed right? I'd like it to all happen overnight but reality is quite opposite. There are still projects that need to be painted, the laundry room still has work to be done, the second bathroom still needs to have the shower doors put up, but who cares? It can wait. Right now it is all about enjoying the simpler things. Simple as in the beautiful clear sky, the bright sun, the soft breeze, the sweet delicate blooms of my bleeding heart........ 

the steady bounce of my porch chair..........

 and the taste of my bubbly ice cold beer....

At this moment all is right in the world.

Easter Basket Winner

 And the winner is.........

jgoode said...

Your pics are gorgeous!

Congratulations! Please contact me for your necklace design.

Thank you to the two ladies that took the time to enter my giveaway. :-) LOL....maybe if I'm lucky I'll get three entries next time. 

Cheers~

Amber