Super Hero

Cooper is the superhero in our house.  We even call him Super-Coop.

He loves to have capes tied on and to jump off the couch/bed/table in search of his next adventure.
(I should reign this in more, but I know it won't last... which makes me more tolerant about the couch jumping.)

He loves pretend and "being" someone else really cool for time.

But, he is a superhero in real life too. 

He is the first to try and make a bad day better around here. 

He is fiercely protective of his brother, even though he is the first to full-body-slam him to the floor, when given the chance.

He hates when I let Carter cry something out.  Always, wants to go make it better for him.  Hates to hear him cry.

He came home with a precious story the other day and I couldn't wait to share.

He is riding the bus back and forth to preschool right now, while I am watching my dear nieces for a time.  He has a love/hate relationship with the bus.

He LOVES the social aspect of it.

He HATES the idea of needing to use the bathroom and not being home yet.
(You know, I would have that fear too, probably, at this point in my life.)

SO, the ride home is a long one... at least an hour usually, which is nuts, but that's what it is.

Part way home, he noticed a couple of girls picking on a boy.  I'm not sure of the conversation, but he said they were teasing him about not having a family and some other things. 

Cooper could see the boy was hurting, was sad about being teased.  And, he reached out.

He gave him a treat out of the treat bag he got from a birthday celebration at school, hoping that would make him feel better.  (You must know that Cooper doesn't share sugar, generally. It's like gold to him.)

The other kids started asking for treats, naturally, and he refused to give them to anyone else.
(I have to add I am REALLY proud about this. I would have caved at his age and given all my loot away for fear of not being liked or noticed.)

When they complained, he simply replied that he was going to make that boy feel better and they didn't deserve it.  He said God wasn't too happy with people who hurt other people.

He's 5.

I can't tell you how much this does for my mommy heart.

He is listening.
He pay attention.
He loves God.
He is willing to stick up for the under-dog.
He isn't afraid to say "no".
He has no tolerance for injustice.
He is a superhero.

Love & Laughter,
abby

Runaway

I ran away once as a little girl.

(Ok, twice.  But, I'm not counting the time in high school.  Hormonal, moody teenager who just thought the world was unfair, doesn't count. I was hanging out at a friends house when my mom pulled up and yanked me into the car to take me home.)

I tell you this because I felt like running away again today.

As a little girl, we lived a few miles outside of town, in a little housing edition, but on a dirt road, none-the-less.  Real country.

I packed, angry at who knows what, and spewed out all kinds of crazy at my mom, I'm sure.  She let me.  Then I stomped out the door and started walking down that country road.  I know my mom could see me the entire time, out the windows of our home.

I walked, and walked and walked... all the way to the end of that road, where I had to make a choice.  Right or left. 

I chose to invent an excuse to turn around and go home. 

Amazingly brave, I know.

When I walked in with my "excuse" of forgetting something, my mom told me I had one chance, and I didn't get to leave again.  And, I'm pretty sure I was in my room for the rest of the evening.

Whew.... I know I was thankful.  What if I had actually turned right or left?? 
I know now, that she knew I wouldn't.  Didn't have it in me.

So, what's the story today?

Today, I am an overwhelmed mama.

Don't you know that I KNOW I am a blessed mama?
And, generally, a very happy one.

These boys, they are trying their very best to break me. (That's how it feels, I know it's not actually that way.  They are children, doing child-like things.)

I woke this morning determined not to lose my cool today.  To treat every situation with grace and understanding...

Fail. 

By 10:00am, my precious 2-year-old had bitten everyone in the house, leaving marks on two of us. And, the 5-year-old had had a meltdown of epic proportions.  Chairs were turned over, papers thrown, tears shed.

 Epic. 

Over a backpack and school lunch. 

You know, life or death stuff.

Something I have discovered through motherhood, is I'm not actually a very patient person.  Not really.

I like to think I am.

I'm not.

So, my resolve to not lose my cool, firmly planted, crumbled like a cake donut (doesn't that sound yummy??) and I lost my cool.

Called my husband, who can fix everything, including my bad mood most of the time, and he came home and fixed it.

(My children act a little different for their Daddy.  Anyone else??)

While, I felt momentarily better, I also felt like a failure.

I have to call my husband, home from work, to help me with these boys.

So, running away felt like a great option for about an hour.

Lots of deep breathing and lots of crying.

Being a mommy and a wife is hard.

Nobody really mentions this when you are growing up with stars in your eyes about "playing house" and being a bride, wife and mommy.

If you mentioned it, we wouldn't listen anyway.

Where am I going with this?

Ok, running felt like a great option, right after a bottle of red wine and a bubble bath.

I get why some moms and dads choose that option.  I really do.  There are days that are overwhelmingly hard.  I say this, living a really blessed, healthy, happy life.

So many are not so lucky.  They have really hard moments on top of hard days on top of hard, broken lives. 

Running away is never actually an option here.  I adore my family, my life.

LOVE these sweet children of mine.

And, this man who will come home and wipe my tears and tell me I am a great mommy, even when I'm not.

I could run, but I would miss so much.

All the smiles, and giggles.
All the learning moments.
All the joy.
All the hugs and slobbery kisses.
All the blessing.

So, in my mind, I took a walk.
Down that country road.
And I made it all the way to the end where I had to choose... right or left.
I turned around and came home. (I know my mama knew I would)

I took a breath and jumped back in.

Because it's worth it.

I am a blessed mama.

Love & Laughter,
abby

(Feel free to leave a comment about a day you felt like running... it will make my day!)

Currently

Currently, I am craving sunshine.
Desperately.

Currently, I am giving myself a pep-talk about the rest of the week.
(Lack of sunshine, rain, mud = kids indoors = crazy momma.)

Currently, I am trying not to be overwhelmed by life and gloomy matters.

Currently, I am thankful for my husband who works really, really hard and almost always comes home to me and makes me laugh, even after a hard day. 
I adore him.

Currently, I am missing a slow, leisurely pace around here.
(Of course, when it's slow, I would miss busy. That's how that goes.)

Currently, I am planning several trips. 
I LOVE TRAVEL.

Currently, I am washing a load with 5 pairs of "soiled" underwear from the first day of potty-training.
(You didn't have to know that, but I decided to share.  You are welcome.)

Currently, I am blessed.
I am always blessed and sometimes I just need to remind myself.

Love & Laughter,
abby

Have to laugh

I have had the strangest, funny day and feel like I must share.

To start the day I flushed my phone.  The iPhone I've only had a few months. 
How, you ask?  Delighted to share.

Standing in the bathroom washing my hands, trying to put myself together for the day when my oldest walks in, does his business then walks out.  Never flushes, that one.

So, I did it for him, as I was grabbing the towel to dry off my hands.

Forgot my phone was on the counter, under the towel.  It flipped around in the air, in slow-motion, of course.  As I watch (unable to do a thing about it, as these situations always tend to be) the crazy phone does a complete flip into the toilet and manages to get sucked down the pipe.

Completely.

I stood in shock.  Both boys were standing right outside the door in the hallway, when I squealed.  They rush in and I tell them exactly what has happened and they mimic my horrified expression.

Then we cracked up and laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes.  Cooper got the belly laughs, which is pretty contagious.
(Pretty sure Cooper will tell this story to everyone we know and don't know for the next 3 months, like he tends to do.)

So, no communication isn't really an option.  I load the children up, drop one at Grandma's house and go to replace it.

Turns out insurance DOES cover flushed phone.
Amazing!

Then, this afternoon, I took little two-year-old-crazy-man with me to a dear woman's home so I could get a couple of dresses taken in a smidgen.  He got quiet halfway through the second dress.

Never a good omen.

I am not kidding when I tell you he looked like he had applied war-paint in the bathroom.  He had found the brightest shade of lipstick this sweet woman owns, and had applied it liberally to his face, head, chest, shirt, arms and hair.

And this lipstick was about the stickiest, non-smudging, lipstick I think you could find.

She has a white/cream colored bathroom, naturally.

Bless her, she laughed and helped me scrub my little man for 10 minutes before I called it "good enough" and threw the dresses her direction and headed out the door with a half-dressed, war-painted tot.

At home, I dunked him in the bathtub and scrubbed with all my might.  Then placed him in his bed for a nap.  He fought, but I won.

It was only 2:00 pm.  Oh my.

Walking back into the bathroom to drain the tub, I glance over and guess what's sitting in the bottom of the toilet???

You got it.

iPhone.  Back from the depths of the stool...

I have laughed more today than I have in 10 days, probably.

My life is hysterical.

Love & Laughter,
abby

Two

This little one is a big-boy two year old.

Already.

Gulp.

You know these children of mine are just doing what they're suppose to.
Growing.
Thriving.
Making me crazy.

I can't wait to see what this year holds for both of them.

Carter is our "quiet" one.  But, he is quickly catching up.  Just in the last couple of weeks he has started speaking so many new words.  And he is putting them together in sentences.  "Oh NO!" is one of his favorite phrases.  As is, "I love...", never a "you" on the end of it.  Just, "I love".  Absolute sweetness.

He loves to watch Curious George.  It is his favorite, currently.  And he can say "George"... ridiculous cute.  It usually comes out sounding like "Georgie". 

He has his pout face mastered.  If you tell him anything he doesn't agree with, it comes out in a flash.  He has a stomp and arm movement that goes with it.  (Like a sad soldier walking away.)

He is a master of messes.  Carter can empty a room of every object faster than anyone I have ever seen.  I have pretty much given up keeping his room cleaned up.  As long as he can get to his door without tripping, I am calling it good for now.  (Picking my battles.)

His favorite time of day is bath time and anytime a snack is mentioned.  He LOVES to eat and to splash around in the tub. 

He sang Happy Birthday To You all day long on his birthday.  "Happy day tooo you..."  So ridiculous cute.

Carter has this innocence, this special spark in his eye.  He is so full of love and fun.  It's infectious. 

He adores his daddy, myself and his "bubba".  Every morning they start the day as best buds, giving hugs and checking each other out... like maybe something will have changed over night.  It's one of my favorite times of day.  Watching these two boys greet each other and the day.

What a blessed life we are living.

Happy Birthday, sweet Carter.  You are a miracle and I am so thankful each and every day.

Love & Laughter,
abby

Well Read

I am one of those people that has several books going at one time.

Here is what I am currently reading...

Anybody have something on their "you have to read this!" list??

Love & Laughter,
abby

five and a half

That's how old Cooper is today.

What a treasure this boy is.

His start in life was not "easy".  It was not without obstacles.  But he, and WE, persevered.

God is so good. 

Today he had his annual cardiologist appointment.

Look at that face and tell me you don't think
 he is the bravest little man!

He can smile!  It's not so bad!!

Let's get these off!

He told Cory to tell me not to worry,
"It's not a big deal, Mama."

Glorious news!  All is well. 
He is a healthy, 44 pound, silly-fish.  Just the way we like it.
Who said he could be this big already??!?!  Not me.

Never take a moment for granted with this one. 

Our lives were forever changed the moment he entered it. 

Blessed.  Oh. So. Blessed.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Love & Laughter,
abby