My Choice

Yesterday I am sitting next to the piano, teaching a lesson. Brookie is playing nicely all by herself, right where I can see her. Of course, like a good teacher, I should be focused on the student, but instead I'm focused on her. Because at that moment I'm feeling very overjoyed and almost overwhelmed at how good I have it.
I'm a Mommy.
I get to stay home with my daughter every single day.
We wash dishes together--she always helps.
We fold laundry together.
We read books together.
We walk to get the mail together, her pushing her dolly in the stroller, purse hung over the handles, cell phone inside. ;)
We cook together.
We laugh together at each other, especially when I say, "doooon't smile!!"
We talk to baby Joey in my belly. She says he kicks her, and she laughs.
She plays the piano and says, "Mommy, come play piano," and asks me to sing. I sing and play and she plays next to me.
We grocery shop together and talk about how yummy our food will be. We eat samples and little cookies from the bakery every time we're there.
We shop the mall together. I always ask her opinion. She always assures me, "it's cute". Maybe someday she'll be able to tell me if the outfit I'm trying on makes me look fat!

I work about 10-15 hours a week from home. I teach piano, nanny a little boy and am now starting photography. But my main job is caring for my husband, my daughter and my household.
Not a lot of Mom's can say that. Many have no choice but to go out and get a job, and for them I feel truly sorry and hope that their situation can change so that someday they can have the best job in the world.
Other's choose not to stay home, and for them I pity because they have given up the highest honor they could have--being a stay at home Mom.

I cannot go out and change the world. But I can change a very, very small part of the world through the lives of my children. I will raise them as close Biblical principles as possible and someday, when they are ready, I will send them out like arrows, darting out into this dark and evil world, making a difference for God.

And I will be fulfilled and happy, knowing that I have made a teeny, tiny little difference by making the best choice that I could have made in my life.

Every day isn't peachy. But for the days, even the moments that I receive a kiss, an "I wuv you Mama," and a hug when she still has chocolate all over her hands, I am willing to sacrifice a career for. You can't tell me that anything out there can even come close to the moments that I share with my daughter every single day.

Because I have chosen to make the most of the few short years I have before they are gone.

Awards Night

Brooke has only been in clubs for 2 and a half months, but they had their awards ceremony last night and she was so cute. It actually made me feel so old, because I remember my own awards ceremonies from AWANA. I can't believe my own daughter is doing it now!

I couldn't really get a picture of them handing her anything, but here she is starting to walk off the stage (pink plka dot dress) after she got it. I was just glad she didn't start crying or anything. :)

When she came back to the pew, opening her prize :)
a PURSE! What better gift for a 2 year old girlie-girl than that?

So yeah, I was the typical Mom snapping pictures like crazy. I'm so proud of my little 2 year old who is growing up so quickly! I can't believe how time has flown!

Baby # 2, Month Eight!

Well, I am 34 weeks now and VERY happy that the end is near! These pictures were all taken at 32 weeks, entering my 8th month. So I only have about 6 weeks left--maybe less if I go early! With Brookie I was induced at 8 days early, but would have gone into labor on my own within a day or 2 because I was having a lot of contractions, 3 cm dilated and other symptoms going on. :) My Dr. broke my water and within an hour I was in very active labor. I'm hoping that I'll go early again this time, but I'm NOT counting on it. I don't want to set myself up to be disappointed!

So in this picture below, I look HUGE! Of course I'm sitting down, but I just wanted to give a different perspective of how big that belly really is. :) Brookie wanted to "make Mommy pretty" so she was putting lip gloss on me. She got my lips and the rest of the area around my mouth. So yes, I looked very beautiful. (sorry they ahve a bluish tint...the white balance on the camera was not on the right setting)

I am happy to say that I feel GREAT. I have a lot of energy most of the time, still working out 45 minutes a day (riding 10-12 miles on the bike), sleeping good and just generally enjoying my pregnancy. My only complaint is getting up several times at night to pee. But that's just preparing me for being up with the baby at night so it's ok--plus I go sleep great in between trips to the bathroom! So I have no complaints!

Just think, only one more of my pregnancy updates and then there will be baby updates. I can't wait!!!!!

Oh, and by the way--I have a 3D ultrasound next week after my regular appointment. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see my baby. I saw him at 20 weeks in 3D, but now will be so different so close to the end. I will definitely try scanning those pictures and posting them!

A Prayer Request

Most of you who have followed this blog for any time know about my friend Jessica. She has had Ulcerative Colitis for about 5 years now. In July 2008 she lost a little baby girl at 26.5 weeks pregnant and has not been able to conceive again since then. There hasn't been any good news about her health since then and it's only gotten worse. She has started a blog to post health updates and I would like to ask you all to read it and comment please to encourage her. Of course, the most important thing is to pray for her! She's only 25 and it's such a young age to go through so much. Please click here to read her updates and give her a little encouragement! Thank you all so much!

The Park

We actually had a free night for once last week, so we took advantage. We drove Brookie to the park where she had a total blast. Nate chased her around and I sat on the hot pavement that helped my back pain. Weird, I know, but it was so relaxing on my muscles I felt like I was at the spa--except it was free! :) I am LOVING these pictures of her on the swings. :) Afterwards Nate took us out to ice cream. Vanilla with pecans and caramel--yum, yum! It was such a fun evening, and I'm enjoying every minute I have left with just my little girl before a demanding little infant comes along!

My Little Buddy

Brookie and I spend all day every day together. We have a blast. Of course there are those stressful moments, as with any 2 year old, but she is very good for the most part. She helps me cook and clean and do dishes like a big girl. We read books and new new favorite thing is to play a game. It's a bingo game and she LOVES it and actually knows how to play! :) Today we took some pictures of us having fun.

Sorry about the crazy hair. It was in pig-tails last night. :)

I was threatening to tickle her and we were both laughing :)

Of course we don't ever forget about baby Joey in there! Here is a picture of both my babies! :)

More cuteness :)

Brooklynne is learning about the moon and stars in the sky. Last night we were driving and she said "Mommy, I found the moon!" As we were driving through my brother-in-laws neighborhood, trees and houses blocked her view of it for a few minutes.
"Mommy, it's all gone. It fell off."
So cute. :)

Just wanted to share these cute pictures of her. Last week when I got home from a photo shoot, the sky was amazing and I had to get some pictures. They are a little blurry--I ended up stepping in a fire ant pile while I was taking them and they were running viciously all over my feet, each wanting a piece of me. Needless to say it burned so bad and I ended up with several bites and very itchy feet!

The pictures were worth it though! It was so beautiful! The pictures actually don't even do it justice! The tone was very orange and so perfect.
thinking "Mommy, why are you yelling and screaming and throwing off your flip flops and hitting your feet????"