Mothers Are Super Human

I know that for some women, mother's day really sucks. Maybe you've been trying to conceive for years or maybe you've lost a child. Maybe you've lost your mom! The truth is, the relationship a mother has with her children is so unique that we all want it in our lives. We want a healthy bond with our mamas and us women want to BE mamas.

Any person who will literally share their body with someone else, who will give up so many freedoms and rights, anyone who puts their needs aside-this is a pretty remarkable human being!!

This morning was particularly difficult. One of my children fought so hard with me, he almost puked. The constant verbal abuse, the hitting, the screaming, breaking things and causing a scene - all for something so small, he even forgot why he was fighting me. We were late to church (where apparently, my the back of my skirt was unzipped for a while...how fitting) and had to leave early while dragging a screaming kid to the car. 

As I settled the other two down for a quiet time, I thought of my own mother. How many of her Mother's Days were spent like this? How many times did we trample over her kindness and sacrificial love? How many times was she misunderstood and taken advantage of?

I know for a fact that I was an extremely difficult child. I also know that my mother went to great lengths to love me anyways, to build me up and encourage me through very rough times. I am so thankful for her example in my life. Without her, I would have no idea how to love my own children.

Moms are super human, y'all. Do not underestimate their power in the world!!!

Camping in Leavenworth

This weekend, our family joined 5 others on a beautiful camping trip in Leavenworth Washington. I haven't been there since our honeymoon back in 2005! While driving through the mountains, it was so awesome to reflect back on the last 8.5 years of our marriage. God is so good!!

This was Ruthie Mae's first camping trip and she was fantastic!

She pretty much did this the entire time:

She even got to hang out with her baby friends!

Apparently Leavenworth has many boulders to climb. Lucky for us, some of our camping buddies had  lots of climbing gear and they knew how to use it! The kids had a blast encouraging one another.

Lazzy got a bit scared while rock climbing. 

So, we took him out of the harness so he could do more rock climbing ;)

Elijah killed it on the rock!

He even lost of shoe half way up, but he just kept going.

Although the sun was out, the air was pretty chilly. We stayed close to the fire as much as possible and made sure to eat s'mores day and night.

S'mores made with JUMBO marshmallows!

It was awesome to be higher up in the mountains, to see so much beauty and to be with friends. Can't wait for many more camping adventures this summer!

Siblings-Lazarus and Ruthie Mae

Ever since she was born, I've thought Ruthie Mae resembled Laz. They look so much alike but it's their joyful enthusiastic personalities that really make me think I've had the same baby, twice!

 They're even eating the same food in this one!!!!

It kills me! Seriously, if someone promised me that all my babies would be this happy, I'd have 100 of them!

Happy 6 Months Ruthie Mae!

Ruthie Mae is 6 months old today.

6 months!!!

I think I've become sentimental, y'all. Suddenly, when I think about Ruthie Mae getting older, I want to cry like she's going off to college! She's reached plenty of milestones this week:

Crawling

Eating solids in a highchair:

Finger foods

I am so thankful for this precious cheerful child. She brings us so much joy!

Insta-Life

My almost teenager takes weeding very seriously. He worked 2 whole hours to fill the bag with weeds for $2.  His brother wasn't much help as he just flung dirt into the air. 

Team work.

I'm lovin' all the freedom I have now that my children are older. Lazarus gives me a much needed break every morning by disappearing for 30 mninutes. He reappears dressed like so:

Nailed it.

I really should start paying Elijah for all the hours he babysits Ruthie Mae. He genuinely loves this little lady.

If she's awake, he's holding her.

Ruthie Mae found her feet. Nuff said.

I had a birth last weekend. It was my first here in Bellingham and I was so thankful for the experience. I'm not quite ready to be working regularly again, but a client here and there will keep me on my toes. Ruthie Mae refuses to take a bottle (never had a baby like that! thought some parents were just being dramatic-now i know they're not.) Thankfully, the birth center is right next door. 

Coach laboring mama.

Feed my baby in the lobby.

Administer hip squeeze.

Feed my baby in the lobby.

Assist during pushing phase.

Feed my baby.

It worked our perfectly! I'm just so thankful for my life right now.

We Are 5

My dear friend Shannon blessed us with her photography skills and captured our little family of five. It was a windy cold afternoon, Lazarus was in true form and Ruthie Mae had taken only 1 nap that day. Still, Shannon was able to work her magic. I'll cherish these sweet moments forever!

The messy moments of motherhood are real. They happen, daily. But they do not compare to the joyful times I have with my sweet little family. I am so thankful for these people!!

That Moment When....

That moment when you walk out of a church parenting class encouraged and feeling ready to tackle bed time with patience and grace, but you can't find one of your kids. 10 minutes later, after enlisting every mother and child, you find your kid. You come home and all of your children are screaming. Only one has a legitimate reason. The two with working legs refuse to get out of the car. You're at the door and they refuse to move two inches to the right so mama can open the door. Everyone, still screaming. Only one has a legitimate reason.

That moment continues once you're inside and one child goes limp. Not. Gonna. Move.

FINE.

You lose your patience and slam a door. Apologies all around. Finally, the older two are obeying with jammies on and brushing teeth.

You feed the child who was screaming for good reason and finally, there is calm. Middle child sweetly comes to inform you there's been a mess in the bathroom "but I already said sorry to you".

MMMmmmmmmm Kay. 

Then, a BLOW OUT. You know the type - Code Red, all hands on deck, I guess it's bath time BLOW OUT. You strip her nekid and head to the bathroom.

Ahh, yes. The mess = a broken drain, a pool of water in the sink (with toys floating) and water all over the floor.

You take a deep breath to prevent another reason for more apologies, clean it up and bathe the baby. Who slips into the water and chokes on soapy suds. More valid screaming.

Moments like this make me feel so incredibly defeated. I'm a failure of a mother. It's way too hard. Why would anyone sign up for this?

Thankfully, this is not all the time. It's just a moment and it's usually sandwiched between lots of awesome moments. I'd like to become better at shrugging things off and even laughing at life's messes. I guess practice makes perfect?