Good Bye, Nap Time

Recently I've experienced the loss of a dear friend, nap time. Through

the years we've had our differences, such as leaving me for a week 

long vacation without any notice, but it would always return, usually 

penitent for the chaos its absence caused. A few weeks ago, both of my 

older children decided, whether independently or collaboratively I don't 

know, that nap time was a thing of the past. I had managed for quite a 

few months to get all three to nap in the afternoon at the same time, 

ensuring a couple hours of serenity, time to work on writing, sneak a 

scoop or two of chocolate ice cream, catch up on a TV show that my 

husband wouldn't watch, attempt a workout, or make a valiant effort 

with the mountains of laundry waiting for me in the basement. 

I feel unbalanced in adjusting to this new world of constant play. The 

children have responded to bleary eyed afternoons in different ways. 

My eldest (5) turns into a 17 year old with the attitude to match, and 

my 3 year old, despite being as tough as a mini linebacker, emotionally 

wilts like any unfortunate plant condemned to my house. And so late 

afternoons have been quite a challenge.  

The balancing act called motherhood is a constant learning process.

Nap time used to be instrumental in aiding that balance, and now

my equilibrium is recalibrating itself. I find myself searching for 

strategies that will bring order to afternoon chaos. The TV has

been on much more than I'd like lately. 

Yesterday I ordered the sleep deprived sweeties to their room with 

the instructions that they are to either look at books or play with 

puzzles. 30 seconds later I heard banging, pounding and screaming. 

I marched up and found them wrestling each other down to the 

ground. In itself not bad, but my 3 year old has gotten in trouble at pre-

school for not being gentle enough with his classmates, so rough 

housing is not allowed for right now. I had to put on a tough demeanor, 

put them to the tasks I had instructed, and amazingly they were quiet 

until dinner was ready. Again I'm reminded that I need to be the mom 

that is best for my children, not the funnest or the coolest, just the best 

for them. 

Although I feel nap time abandoned me without warning (or maybe 

I had ignored the warning signs in denial), I need to stop mourning

its departure and move on. I love the motto of the animated movie

Meet the Robinsons, "Keep moving forward." With God's grace,

that's exactly what I'll do!

The Tree Hunt

A couple weekends ago I became acutely aware of how sweet motherhood 
is. It's easy to get caught up in the go, go, go (and not as is Diego) and the 
do, do, do of it all, easy to lose sight of what's important, of what really counts. 
Sure the tantrums are tough and the defiance from the five year old brings to 
mind a scene of a classic stand off between a parent and their teen. But we're 
in the business of bringing amazing individuals from baby to child to adult. I'm 
convinced it's the most difficult and rewarding job there is. 

That weekend we drove an hour with our little crew and cut down our
own Christmas tree at a tree farm. Unseasonably warm, it was a great
day to be out with the kids. Our tiniest family member to needed to be 
nursed as soon as we arrived, and of course a massive poopie blowout
followed. With my car seat as a makeshift changing table, I struggled to
keep my six month old from squirming off the seat, desperately tried
to avoid smearing poop somewhere it shouldn't be, and braced myself
against the car door, which the wind attempted to force close. Once the 
wind got the better of me, and the door frame clunked against my temple.

Where was my dear husband and darling children? They were off exploring 
the tree farm and deciding what kind of tree they wanted. My husband's
expression was both questioning and relieved when he saw me trudge 
up the hill toward them. I explained the poopie episode, wind fight, and 
the bump on my head (I forgot to mention the struggle with the baby sling
I had just bought, couldn't get it nearly as tight as it was supposed to be.
It had seemed so easy in the store!). I received a sympathetic look and 
we proceeded with our small band of (what was it that day?), oh yes,
Christmas tree hunters (it could've been pirates, tigers, cowboys, or
bunny rabbits), that day we were all simply Christmas tree hunters, on
a mission to find the perfect tree. 

The children hopped, jumped, ran, and danced their way between the 
trees. A few were too short, a few too misshapen, a couple too tall. It 
had to be just right. Clearly the farm had been picked over a bit, and 
the drought from the summer was evident in branches colored a lighter
green to light brown. We wove our way through the small, symmetrical
forest until we stumbled upon a good contender, nicely shaped and a 
perfect height. Although not as green as I'd like, it was our tree. The 
children shouted their approval, out came the borrowed saw, and down
came our tree. There were a few shoves to claim who would pull the 
small plastic sled carrying the tree first, but after a stern scolding, a 
reminder to share, and apologetic hugs and kisses, we were off again.
Back by a small barn-like structure to pay for our prize, the children
attempted to befriend everyone who happened by and introduced them
to our tree. 

On our way home, I reflected over our little excursion and watched 
the children slowly become calm and glassy-eyed as nap time 
approached. Although a touch stressful at times, how sweet this time
had been. Letting our kids be kids, enjoying each of their personalities, 
loving every bit of who they are, and appreciating that God gave them
to us is what I took from that afternoon. 

Life happens so quickly. Let's enjoy every moment with our families,
always love and forgive each other, and always cherish what God has
given us.

Busted by Brownie

To say that I have a sweet tooth is an understatement. I prefer 
chocolate to any other form of sweet. I'm guilty of sneaking a piece
of cocoa goodness behind my children's backs more often than
I'd care to admit, but anyone who knows my kiddos, can testify
that the last thing they need is sugar. 

This last weekend I made a couple batches of homemade 
super dark brownies. Unfortunately neither were for myself. One
batch was for a baby shower at work, and the other was for
a friend who's a new mom again. I did hold back a few pieces from
the baby shower batch for myself... I mean my family. On Saturday
morning, after working late the night before, my husband informed
me that he had eaten two of the last four pieces of brownie due to
a stressful evening alone with the children the night before. "The 
last two are in there (the fridge), and are all yours... ," he reassured me. 

After lunch, the older two kids were playing elsewhere in the house,
and I was chatting with my husband in the kitchen. The thought of 
yummy brownies propelled me towards the fridge. The children were 
immersed in some type of pretend play scenario, so it would be 

safe to discreetly eat one of my brownies. 

I carefully unwrapped the tin foil, took my first bite, and there she 

was, my five year old, who has a sweet tooth just as big as mine, wide- 

eyed, mouth running a mile a minute about something. I didn't hear 

a word. I was frozen, brownie in hand, hoping that she hadn't 

noticed. Maybe if I didn't move, it would be okay. The longer I 

remained there, the more I realized I had to get the brownie out of 

sight before it was too late. With my lil' lovely still rambling about

some obviously important issue, I slowly lowered my hand to 

the counter, behind an enormous jar of peanut butter. I refrained

from chewing and shifted the morsel to my cheek like a squirrel. 

Just when I thought I was in the clear, the chattering slowed and 

I heard her ask, "What's that?"

"What?" 

"What are you eating, Mom?" she reiterated. I was busted.

"Oh, you want a bite of my brownie?" I asked, knowing full well

what the answer would be.

Her little eyes lit up and the corners of her mouth turned upward, 

revealing her dimples. She relished every little bite, just like her 

Mommy. After sharing the brownie, I quickly wrapped the last one 

in tin foil and returned it to the fridge. 

Guess what I had as soon as the kids were in bed that night?

My Life's Status Report

Has it really been nearly three months since I last posted?? Life with a five 
year old, almost three year old and a three month old is crazy! So while I
feel creative juices are still hiding somewhere in the deep recesses of my
brain, I thought I would let those who do follow this blog know that, yes, I 
am still alive and will continue to write. 

This is a status report on my crazy, wonderful life. 

• House - despite desperate efforts, still a disaster zone.
• dishes - not too bad.
• common areas - cluttered with toys.
• my bedroom - scary.
• kids bedrooms - not as scary.
• laundry - you don't want to know.
• yard - yikes!
• Children - all are well, and in never ending growth spurts.
• Avalon - 
• loves Pre-Kindergarden.
• thinks five years old is the new fifteen.
• broke her arm over the summer. 
• will not climb the monkey bars for a while.
• James - 
• enjoys two mornings of preschool during the week.
• knows more species of dinos than the average adult.
• is not potty trained yet (will start to tackle that next month).
• is not yet three, but most people think he's four.
• Benjamin
• started teething at ten weeks.
• is sleeping through the night!
• is wearing 6-12 month clothes at three months.
• is rolling over and cooing, so cute.
• Husband - is still sane but threatening a vasectomy.
• I - 
• am chronically sleep deprived.
• have about two minutes a day to myself.
• have about 200 emails waiting in my inbox.
• feel like my social life is on hold.
• haven't written in far too long. 
• am a little worried I've forgotten everything I've learned about writing children's stories.
• know that even though this is a crazy time of my life, it's also wonderful and must be enjoyed to the fullest.
• know that God is faithful and gives me the strength to do all I have to do every day.
• am starting to cook up some new stories and hope to have some one-on-one time with my laptop soon.

"Praise the Lord. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love 

endures forever!" Psalm 106:1

Here We Go!

I'm returning after a bit of a hiatus, now a mommy of three.  It's been over a 
month since my new little man, Benjamin Michael, has joined us. The last three 
nights he's actually slept soundly between feedings (Praise the Lord!), and I 
finally feel like my sleep deprived brain can string more than a few words 
together to write a halfway decent post. 


I now have a four year old a two year old and an infant. To say life is busy would
be an understatement! And despite drowning in diapers, refereeing the older two,
administering endless kisses to both real and imagined boo-boos, and perpetual 
dish and laundry duty, I'm absolutely thrilled. I've always wanted a minimum
of three kids, and now I have them. My prayer is, "Thank you, Lord, for the 
blessing and privilege of raising my three children, and please preserve my
sanity... ." It's a bit of a challenge when my four year old (Avalon) cross 
examines me as though a seasoned lawyer and my two year old (James) 
behaves more like a bulldozer in human toddler form. 


If you could listen to a bit of my day you'd hear:


"James do NOT drink out of the dogs water bowl!"
"James! We do not stand on the back of the couch!"
"James, spit out that dog food, and we do NOT eat dirt!"
"James? What is in your mouth?"
"Oh James, that's gross."
"Avalon, no tattling."
"Avalon, you are not the mommy."
"Avalon, I am the mommy."
"Avalon, your mouth is getting you into trouble. Close it."
"Both of you, back away from the baby."
"Personal space, Avalon, back up."
"James, too close to the TV, back up. Back up more.
"James, do not touch the baby's head, OR EYES!"
"Inside voices, please... INSIDE VOICES PLEASE! Let's practice inside voices."
"No running in the house." (a second blur goes by) "No running!" 
"No yelling in the house... if you want to talk to me, come here (as I shout back)."


I'm sure most of you mothers out there relate to my list of frequently spoken 
mom statements. Sometimes I have to suppress a chuckle after some of the 
things I say. And yes, my two year old boy is as boy as they come. He eats 
dirt, dog food, and even toe lint. His hugs are really more like tackles and 
"gentle" is a word that doesn't compute in his male toddler brain. But he's 
amazing with captivating blue eyes and a smile that doesn't allow you to 
stay upset very long. 


My four year old (going on twenty two) is a pure delight, thoughtful, sweet and so
full of love. I love how much she loves her family, immediate and extended. I 
can't wait to see what kind of personality my new little one possesses. What a 
crazy, exciting, chaotic adventure this life is. I feel like I'm in a roller coaster at 
the top of a steep hill, saying to myself, Hold on and here we go!  I'm 
determined to enjoy the ride and call on the Lord to help me be the best mom 
for my children, and wife to my sweetie.  

Guest Post on Redwood's Medical Edge: Pacifier Use

I'm happy to be guest posting again today on Redwood's Medical Edge. 
This time the topic is pacifier use. Have pacifiers been falsely vilified? 
What is the latest research telling us concerning pacifier use and successful
breastfeeding? Read all about it and weigh in on the conversation here.


Jordyn Redwood is a RN who has eighteen years of ER and ICU 
experience who also writes suspense novels. Her debut thriller, Proof,
is coming out June 1st, 2012. Being a medical suspense fan myself,
I can't wait! Her blog is devoted to medical accuracy in literature and is
always an interesting read. 

Ready or Not...

You may have noticed that my posting has been less frequent lately. Even now,
my foggy brain is struggling stringing words together to transfer to the computer
screen. Sleep deprivation secondary to advanced pregnancy is to blame. My 
mother teased me earlier this week that it's God's way of preparing the soon
to be new mother for what will be elusive after her new baby comes. I've even
said this jokingly myself in the past, but it makes much more sense for a new
(or new again) mom to be well rested before her new bundle comes into the
world. Waking at least twice a night to go to the bathroom and then not being
able to go back to sleep despite extreme sleepiness just isn't right. 


If the lack of sleep isn't enough, there's the fact that taking a nice deep breath
isn't an option. Deep inside there is a sweet little baby bottom pushing up against
my lungs, causing the classic third trimester shortness of breath. So, here I am
putting forth a conscience effort to focus my thoughts while gasping for air. 
Dramatic, I know, but true nonetheless. 


Despite my physical complaints, I've been obsessed with readying the house for 
baby #3. This includes ungodly amounts of laundry; salvaging what I can from
my two year old's former newborn clothes; arranging a space in our bedroom for 
a crib, changing table and rocking chair (thankfully our bedroom can 
accommodate); cleaning out and organizing cabinets to make room for baby 
things; figuring out how to squeeze more linens into my linen cabinet; and the 
list goes on. 


Last weekend, my poor husband experienced a bit of shock when shopping for 
the new baby. For my second child, we were able to use a lot of same things 
(excluding clothes) I had for my first one, the majority of which didn't make it 
past baby #2. Reality set in big time when we purchased a new pumpkin seat 
(infant car seat) and set it up in the car. All child seats have been shifted in the 
old minivan to have the pumpkin seat in the only seat that has a latch system. 
Thankfully, my two year old is happy with his new place in the van and my four 
year old is thrilled the be in the "way back" like a big girl. 


I now feel mostly ready for our newest member to come and join our family. This
next week's objective is to pack my hospital bag. Talk about a reality check. I'm 
a bit (or more than a bit) apprehensive about transitioning from two children to 
three. I hear varying stories about the process from other mothers. Most say it's 
easier than when you go from one to two, but a few say it's absolutely nuts. I'll 
opt to believe the former and trust God that He'll give me the rest, strength, time 
management, and organizational skills that will surely be needed. 


I plan to post at least twice a month over the next couple months as this 
transition takes place and then try to go back to weekly as I've done earlier 
this year.