Divine Role of a Mother

Snuggling a warm new little body and gently kissing the soft wet skin.  First night without much sleep and many more from then on.  Messy diapers and piles more of laundry to wash. Feedings accompanied with spit up.  More clothes to wash.  Colic and soothing baths.  Teething causing drool and chapped faces.  Look of abandonment with immunizations.  First taste of solid foods.  Most of it ending up on their face rather than in their mouth.  Rolling, scooting and crawling begin.  Tiny pieces of food and paper found in their mouths from things the vacuum had missed.  Watching more closely as they crawl to the stairs as that little body moves faster now.  Cheerios and carefully diced foods are grasped in a chunky little fist.  On to standing, then cruising, and finally to walking with bruises from occasional tumbles.  First sickness and fever with never ending nights.  First words and many more come from little lips. A scribbled drawing made from broken crayons.  More food dropped on the floor than was ever eaten.  Slobbery kisses and soft hugs.  A hand holding yours that never wants to let go.  Licked spoons from the cookie dough just made.  Naps often not taken and tantrums often thrown.  Books and toys scattered all around the room.  Sweet "I love yous" and "please".  Crayon marks on the walls and couches.  Smiley faces drawn on every paper in the house.  Snacks and juice boxes found in the strangest of places.  Dirty face and sticky hands.  Proud hands flying when taking the big slide down.  Emptying sand out of shoes and pockets.  Hand holds out a surprise: It's a booger just for you.  Sweet kiss on the cheek.  Toothpaste marking the bathroom counter and sink.  Floods from storms in the tub.  Finding the missing phone in the play kitchen.  Soggy cereal that never got eaten because dancing is always more fun.  Night terrors and endless nights.  Potty training and accidents.  Stacks of books that have been read hundreds of times.  Songs and snuggles before bed.  Noodle art and painted pictures.  Sibling fights and "I'm sorry".  A visit to the zoo.  A snowman made and tears from it melting too soon. Broken dishes from a little hand trying to help set the table.  Stick and rock collections.  Flying kites. Toys spilled from every box.  Skinned knees and kisses to make it better.  First time learning to ride a bike. Making friends and learning to share.  More tantrums and time outs.  Handfuls of dandelions picked just for you.  Tears needing wiping from a fight with a friend.  Free hugs and "I love you this much".  Snuggles on a couch as they read their first words.  A nightmare.  Cooking many new things in the kitchen together.  Jumping in puddles.  Muddy shoes worn throughout the house.  A homemade card with "MommY I luv yOU". A kiss on their forehead as they sleep sweetly.


I haven't been a mom for too long, but I have had days of happiness, sorrow, frustration and pure joy.  My children are my joy and blessing.  Throughout the details of my day I do ordinary things, but what I do is purely divine. I am a MOM to three beautiful kids.  I am grateful to the mothers who taught me through love and who knew that the everyday things that they did was a part of something so grand and divine.

Signs of Spring

I think Spring has finally made its way to our home.  We had so much cold and snow that I never thought it was going to come, but one day we looked out and saw this beautiful sight.

We have since had some nice days and have seen baby bird eggs in a nest and run our feet through fresh cut grass.  Welcome Spring!  Oh how I have missed you.

Six Months and Growing

Clarissa is growing up way too fast.  Before turning six months she started solids.  My kids have never really cared for rice cereal or pureed foods.  Clarissa was no different.  She thought it funny more than fun to eat.

She went in for her six month appointment and weighed a whopping 18 lbs 1 oz.  She doesn't seem to care for extra nourishment.  Clarissa is our happy, take-it-as-it-comes girl.  She can light up a room with her smiles and hearty laughs.

She never wanted to roll, sit, or attempt crawling until we got back from Utah.  She decided to do just about all in the same week.  Clarissa can get to anything she sets her eyes on.  I am constantly removing things from her mouth that the other kids leave on the floor.

 These three just are crazy and never just nice smiles for the camera.  Oh well, I love my fun kids.

Some days it is fun just to make letters out of our bodies.

Or make up puppet shows for Mommy.

Or even better is making messes, especially on our faces.

She decided she loves sweet potatoes.

Cousin Time

I attempted something I thought I would never do. I flew alone with all three kids to visit family in Utah.  I thought I would be more nervous when the time came to go, but I really wasn't too anxious.  It helps to have pretty well-behaved kids, but it went so smooth that I actually enjoyed it.

Aliyah enjoying the flight

Joshua was unsure at first, but by the end was saying "wahoo"

Did packed in a full week of fun including:

Riding trains (Frontrunner and TRAX)

Joshua was living out his dream of riding on a train.

We visited Temple Square

 

Met new cousins (Nora is just a sweet petite beauty)

Visited the Dinosaur Park

Joshua spent most of his time holding sweet Cooper's hand

 It was a fun time with family and went way too quickly.  We will be back soon enough to try and get in some more fun.  I love family and am so grateful to be able to take time to be with them.

Easter Traditions

We began the Easter celebrations with our traditional Passover dinner.  The kids surprised us and loved it all.  They are picky eaters, but loved the lamb, eggs, unleavened bread, romaine lettuce and apple crisp for dessert.

The kids enjoyed coloring eggs and would check on them in the fridge constantly to make sure they were still colored.  

Our Easter Sunday was a beautiful day full of good messages, beautiful weather and some very excited children.  Aliyah and Joshua loved finding eggs and were content with the few that were hidden to find.  It is so nice to be able to still get away with little pleasures.

Ultimately, it was a wonderful time to focus on the resurrected Christ who has provided every means for us to be HAPPY.  I am grateful to my Savior for the sacrifice he gave for me and my family so that we can be together forever with our God.  I love Him and only have a glimpse of the love He has for each of us.  I know He lives!

Sick Kids = One Tired Mommy

Winter brought sickness to this house.  For three weeks we were mainly at home wiping noses or sucking out noses, keeping fevers down, running humidifiers, making doctor runs, and having lots of no-sleep nights.  It hit each child pretty hard and made its rounds a couple times.

While we had sick kids we tried to make the best of it.

Staying in jammies almost all day

Learning to roll over.  

(Clarissa has only done it a few times, but seems to surprise herself each time it happens.)

Having four teeth come in at the same time and sleeping in random places because of it.

(Joshua has never fallen asleep without me placing him in his bed or being in the car.  We couldn't find him, but later found this.  It was definitely a much needed nap.)

Turning four months old and being such a happy baby despite being sick.

Having good bonding time.

Doing a little bit better at having home preschool.  Joshua has surprised us with his knowledge of counting and how to write a few letters.  He has a great older sister that is teaching him.

Finally feeling a little better so we can enjoy all the snow we have been getting.

 

Trying hard to get along while being stuck inside together for so long.

With so many days of whining/crying, having snot all over my body, little sleep and a whole lot of trying to get kids back to being healthy I have really come to appreciate having healthy children.  I felt very overwhelmed at times and wondered how I could manage it all...well, I figured out a whole lot of prayers and a little chocolate goes a long way.  I am grateful for being able to be with my kids constantly so that their needs were met.

It was times like this that helped make it through...

 

They are such good kids and I love being their mom.  It is often a challenge to make it through the day, but I am so blessed to be called their MOM.

"Me Joshua..."

Joshua had a fun second birthday recently.  He has grown up so fast that I feel our baby walked out the door and brought a big boy in.  I can't believe how much he can do and say.  He especially is Mr. Independent.  It can really drive me crazy, but he is getting better at actually doing things himself that I don't pull out too many hairs lately.

Joshua is funny...way out of control hilariously funny.  My stomach hurts often from the laughter he brings in our home.  He makes us happy (and CRAZY), but usually happy.

Joshua's latest love is trains.  Trains anything...toys, pictures, clothes, actual trains, stickers, movies...you name it.  If it has a train, he will ask for it.  He was overwhelmingly spoiled with trains for his birthday and he has been in heaven since.  We should have just tossed in a big box of batteries to go with it.  He runs those things practically all day.

 It is great to be TWO!  He definitely is our little man.  He is such a smart kid and can figure anything out.  He is strong and determined.  We love him and are so grateful to have him in our family.