We have exciting news in our house of no dull moments!! I am expecting my third child and we are one happy family. I figure I will be 6 weeks tomorrow, but I go to the doctor on the 23rd of this month for my first official visit and I will find out how far along I am a bit more accurately. My due date according to my calculations is May 6, 2015.
I am still dealing with a ton of emotions right now - I am so super excited about this new life growing inside me, I am a bit scared about Matt and me being outnumbered by children now, I am emotional from the rush of hormones raging through my system, I am completely and utterly exhausted because I am in my first trimester... You get the picture.
Anyway, I would like to do a lot of things this time that I only wish I had done with the previous two pregnancies. One thing I would like to do is keep a pregnancy journal which I may just do on this blog. I would also like to take more pregnancy photos this time, especially family photos featuring my pregnancy. More than likely this will be my last pregnancy and at the moment that makes me a little sad, but I am pretty sure if you ask me in about 7 months I will be ecstatic about this being "it" for me! ;) I know that pregnancy and child-rearing can be rough, but I absolutely adore both. I enjoyed my pregnancies before, aside from the "morning" sickness lasting several months and all of the aches and pains that come along with carrying a child.
According to one pregnancy app on my phone, my Baby Bean, as I so lovingly refer to my new child, is the size of an orange seed - talk about tiny!! I think one of the most fun (funnest?) things about this particular pregnancy is sharing it with my daughters. Jessalyn will be nine next month and Mattilyn is 4 and they both love to hear updates on the baby. I think they will really trip out when I bring home the first sonogram pictures. Both girls are hoping and praying for a baby brother, and of course I would love to add a baby boy to family, but I assured Jessalyn that if this baby happens to be another sister for her she will fall in love with the baby so quickly she will never remember hoping for a brother.
My silly 4 year old cracks us up every single day with her "Mattilynisms" and I actually thought to write a couple down that she has said since finding out she will be a big sister - something that she is STOKED about! Anyway, we told the girls about the baby along with everyone else this past Sunday, September 7, 2014, Grandparent's Day. Mattilyn informed me later that day that if this baby is a girl she would like to name her Annalise or Lily (Annalise is her American Girl's name and she just loves the name Lily). However, if this baby is a boy she wants his name to be Georgia Bulldogs or Love Georgia Bulldogs.
Last night I had loaded both girls up and we went to town to grab some supper. I was in line at a drive-thru and Mattilyn, in the backseat, prayed, "God, please make it a boy if it's a girl. And if it's not a girl please leave it like it is!"
Now that I have written my first post of this pregnancy, I really must get up and go to work. I am honestly so tired right now that I could just go to bed and it is 9:07 am. I must go to work, so I will leave you for now. I will try to be better about posting more often.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
The greatest job in the world
Being a mom is tough. I'm not only talking about midnight feedings and emergency room visits and rushing from cheer practice to football games to the grocery store and back. For some reason becoming a mom usually brings along something known as Mom Guilt.
I inherited a huge dose of this and I am trying to muddle through and find a way out. We tend to feel guilty about things we have no control over. When we work full time we feel guilty for spending so much time away from the kids, when we stay at home we feel guilty for not being perfect. Am I ruining my kids? Are they going to grow up and hate their mom and regret their lousy childhood? Why can't I afford to buy my kids the newest best stuff? Maybe if I sacrificed a little more of myself I could make life better for my kids.
ENOUGH!
When God created us He created a beautiful thing. He graced mothers with compassion, love, understanding, strength, and the ability to raise her children so that they will rise and call her blessed.
There are times when I want to throw in the towel. I feel like a complete failure and like my girls will suffer because I'm their mother. My stress levels feel like they reach the danger zone and I need a mommy time-out. Say I take a couple hours to myself... know what comes along? Mom guilt. A dash of guilt for taking time to myself but also a dash of sanity. God created mothers to be incredibly strong but we are still human and need a tiny break sometimes. Usually after a small break I miss my girls so terribly that I just want to run back to them and hold them and rock them.
I guess I have said all of this to say this: Being a mom is tough. Yes, that has been established. Being a mom is worth it and in my opinion, the greatest job in the world. Children receive one childhood and as a mom it is my job to ensure mine have a healthy and happy one. I thank God for giving me two of his angels to raise in Him.
One thing to keep in mind - if you love your children, you are great mom! Maybe you don't have much money and can't buy them new things - You are a GREAT mother. Maybe you work two jobs and stay gone until time to put your children to bed - You are a GREAT mother. Maybe you stay home and feel like the majority of your day is scrubbing floors and walls and building pillow forts - You are a GREAT mother. Maybe you are a single mom doing your best to stay afloat - You are a GREAT mother. Maybe your kids are grown and you feel like you don't have a big influence on them anymore - You do and you are a GREAT mother. As moms we need to stick together. We need encouragement and reminders that we are enough. I think you are doing a great job!
I am going to finish this blog now since I have a four year old begging for some mommy time!!
I inherited a huge dose of this and I am trying to muddle through and find a way out. We tend to feel guilty about things we have no control over. When we work full time we feel guilty for spending so much time away from the kids, when we stay at home we feel guilty for not being perfect. Am I ruining my kids? Are they going to grow up and hate their mom and regret their lousy childhood? Why can't I afford to buy my kids the newest best stuff? Maybe if I sacrificed a little more of myself I could make life better for my kids.
ENOUGH!
When God created us He created a beautiful thing. He graced mothers with compassion, love, understanding, strength, and the ability to raise her children so that they will rise and call her blessed.
There are times when I want to throw in the towel. I feel like a complete failure and like my girls will suffer because I'm their mother. My stress levels feel like they reach the danger zone and I need a mommy time-out. Say I take a couple hours to myself... know what comes along? Mom guilt. A dash of guilt for taking time to myself but also a dash of sanity. God created mothers to be incredibly strong but we are still human and need a tiny break sometimes. Usually after a small break I miss my girls so terribly that I just want to run back to them and hold them and rock them.
I guess I have said all of this to say this: Being a mom is tough. Yes, that has been established. Being a mom is worth it and in my opinion, the greatest job in the world. Children receive one childhood and as a mom it is my job to ensure mine have a healthy and happy one. I thank God for giving me two of his angels to raise in Him.
One thing to keep in mind - if you love your children, you are great mom! Maybe you don't have much money and can't buy them new things - You are a GREAT mother. Maybe you work two jobs and stay gone until time to put your children to bed - You are a GREAT mother. Maybe you stay home and feel like the majority of your day is scrubbing floors and walls and building pillow forts - You are a GREAT mother. Maybe you are a single mom doing your best to stay afloat - You are a GREAT mother. Maybe your kids are grown and you feel like you don't have a big influence on them anymore - You do and you are a GREAT mother. As moms we need to stick together. We need encouragement and reminders that we are enough. I think you are doing a great job!
I am going to finish this blog now since I have a four year old begging for some mommy time!!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Kids say the darndest things
So, being a mommy is THE BEST thing ever. A close second? Being an aunt to some of the coolest nieces and nephews on the planet. I love them all so much and I am thankful that my girls are growing up with great family! I grew up with some awesome cousins and I'm happy that God has blessed me with who He has.
Now, my kids say and do some of the funniest things, and there are times when I receive a text from my brother or one of my sisters-in-law that has me in stitches over something one of their kids says or does. That being said, I received this text last week from my brother about my 3 year old niece that watched him change my 2 year old nephew's diaper (My 7 year old, Jessalyn, was there also):
Joey says: Changing Tucker's diaper, Preslee walked over and said, "Is that a long tootie? I want to have a long tootie! Jessalyn, Tucker has a long tootie, do you want to have a long tootie?" Jessalyn said, "Preslee sit down."
We all got a good long laugh out of this text and Joey told us that Preslee was dead serious as she was saying this. Two days ago, my brother's wife Cassey wrote me to say:
Preslee: "Why don't I have a long tootie?" Cassey: "That's the way God made your tootie." Preslee: "I don't want God to make it. I wanted to Jesus to make it and I wanted it long!"
They are taking their two girls to Disney World next week and I told Joey that Preslee was going to be so excited! He said, Yeah, maybe it will take her mind off having a long tootie. LOL
Now, my kids say and do some of the funniest things, and there are times when I receive a text from my brother or one of my sisters-in-law that has me in stitches over something one of their kids says or does. That being said, I received this text last week from my brother about my 3 year old niece that watched him change my 2 year old nephew's diaper (My 7 year old, Jessalyn, was there also):
Joey says: Changing Tucker's diaper, Preslee walked over and said, "Is that a long tootie? I want to have a long tootie! Jessalyn, Tucker has a long tootie, do you want to have a long tootie?" Jessalyn said, "Preslee sit down."
We all got a good long laugh out of this text and Joey told us that Preslee was dead serious as she was saying this. Two days ago, my brother's wife Cassey wrote me to say:
Preslee: "Why don't I have a long tootie?" Cassey: "That's the way God made your tootie." Preslee: "I don't want God to make it. I wanted to Jesus to make it and I wanted it long!"
They are taking their two girls to Disney World next week and I told Joey that Preslee was going to be so excited! He said, Yeah, maybe it will take her mind off having a long tootie. LOL
Surveys :)
So, one of the cutest things that I am glad I started so many years ago is asking my girls the same survey every couple years. I first asked Jessalyn when she was 3 years, 5 months old. I just asked Mattilyn her first survey and coincidentally enough she is 3 years 5 months old! This makes me very happy :D
I am going to try to post both surveys on here so everyone can enjoy these as much as I do. The second survey I asked Jessalyn was just before she turned 6, so now that she is almost 8 it is time to ask her again. These just really make this mommy smile!
Since I don't see how to attach a word document, I will copy and paste the whole survey for each girl at age 3 as well as the one from when Jessalyn was almost 6. This might get a tad long, but to me it's worth it :)
I am going to try to post both surveys on here so everyone can enjoy these as much as I do. The second survey I asked Jessalyn was just before she turned 6, so now that she is almost 8 it is time to ask her again. These just really make this mommy smile!
Since I don't see how to attach a word document, I will copy and paste the whole survey for each girl at age 3 as well as the one from when Jessalyn was almost 6. This might get a tad long, but to me it's worth it :)
Jessalyn Rose Butler - 3/12/09 – 3 years old
1. What is something mom always says to you?
be sweet
2. What makes mom happy?
me!
3. What makes mom sad?
i'm bein uggy
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
tickle me
5. What was your mom like as a child?
like me
6. How old is your mom?
(she stretched her arms out and said that old)
7. How tall is your mom?
(this time she stood on one foot and stretched tall and said this big)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
play with me
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
work
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
me
11. What is your mom really good at?
me
12. What is your mom not very good at?
whippin my tail (i'm not even joking, this is what she said)
13. What does your mom do for a job?
write
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
broccoli (i thought for sure she would say mexican)
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
cause you hug me
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
mickey mouse
17. What do you and your mom do together?
play hide and seek
18. How are you and your mom the same?
cause we different. cause we do want to be the same and we are the same.
19. How are you and your mom different?
cause that's how God made us (i LOVE this kid!)
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
i'm gonna miss my movie. i'm not saying until you let me have smiley faces (her candy)... yeah, i bribed her to answer these questions....
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
when he bes sweet
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
the mall (wow, she DOES know me!)
be sweet
2. What makes mom happy?
me!
3. What makes mom sad?
i'm bein uggy
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
tickle me
5. What was your mom like as a child?
like me
6. How old is your mom?
(she stretched her arms out and said that old)
7. How tall is your mom?
(this time she stood on one foot and stretched tall and said this big)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
play with me
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
work
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
me
11. What is your mom really good at?
me
12. What is your mom not very good at?
whippin my tail (i'm not even joking, this is what she said)
13. What does your mom do for a job?
write
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
broccoli (i thought for sure she would say mexican)
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
cause you hug me
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
mickey mouse
17. What do you and your mom do together?
play hide and seek
18. How are you and your mom the same?
cause we different. cause we do want to be the same and we are the same.
19. How are you and your mom different?
cause that's how God made us (i LOVE this kid!)
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
i'm gonna miss my movie. i'm not saying until you let me have smiley faces (her candy)... yeah, i bribed her to answer these questions....
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
when he bes sweet
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
the mall (wow, she DOES know me!)
Mattilyn Iris Butler – 8/8/13 – 3 years old
1. What is something mom always says to you?
I’m three
2. What makes mom happy?
from me not telling bad words
3. What makes mom sad?
when I say bad words
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
tickle me
5. What was your mom like as a child?
me
6. How old is your mom?
uh, 4
7. How tall is your mom?
(stretched her hand up) this tall
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
paint
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
go to field trips
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
me
11. What is your mom really good at?
taking sissy to school
12. What is your mom not very good at?
taking me to school
13. What does your mom do for a job?
making tags
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
taco
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
tickling her
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Dora
17. What do you and your mom do together?
we go to field trips (vacation)
18. How are you and your mom the same?
singing the ABCs
19. How are you and your mom different?
I have curly hair
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
say she loves me
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
tickling him
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
wet ‘n wild
I’m three
2. What makes mom happy?
from me not telling bad words
3. What makes mom sad?
when I say bad words
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
tickle me
5. What was your mom like as a child?
me
6. How old is your mom?
uh, 4
7. How tall is your mom?
(stretched her hand up) this tall
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
paint
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
go to field trips
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
me
11. What is your mom really good at?
taking sissy to school
12. What is your mom not very good at?
taking me to school
13. What does your mom do for a job?
making tags
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
taco
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
tickling her
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Dora
17. What do you and your mom do together?
we go to field trips (vacation)
18. How are you and your mom the same?
singing the ABCs
19. How are you and your mom different?
I have curly hair
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
say she loves me
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
tickling him
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
wet ‘n wild
Jessalyn Rose Butler – 9/17/11 – 5 (almost 6) years old
1.
What is something mom always says to you?
Wash your hands before you eat.
2. What makes mom happy?
When I laugh.
3. What makes mom sad?
When I be mean.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tickling me
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Just like me
6. How old is your mom?
I don’t know… 47?
7. How tall is your mom?
Tall as that chair over there (and she pointed)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Go shopping… Spend time with me!!!
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Clean up the house
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
umm…. Her children
11. What is your mom really good at?
Making art with her first daughter
12. What is your mom not very good at?
umm… making, like, stuff out of wood and stuff…
13. What does your mom do for a job?
She works at a shop with her daddy
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
coconut
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
That she loves me very much
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
ummm… umm…. I have NO idea… uhhh….. a judge on cupcake wars
17. What do you and your mom do together?3322
We make art together
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both like to do art and we are both good at it. And we can both do it really fast.
19. How are you and your mom different?
We have different colored hair
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She tells me, she kisses me, she hugs me
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
That he’s sweet
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Shopping
11. What is your mom really good at?
racing?
12. What is your mom not very good at?
uhhh…. Very good at adding… umm.. I don’t know anything you’re not good at (I LOVE her!)
13. What does your mom do for a job?
she makes car tags and she works at a Christian store
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Mexican
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
cuz she loves me
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Arthur’s mom because she is really nice
17. What do you and your mom do together?
go on “Jessi trips”
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We are the same because we both like art and we both like racing
19. How are you and your mom different?
cuz we’re different people. That’s all I can say.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?....
Cause she kisses me and hugs me a lot
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Cause he’s nice and he’s a good daddy
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
to her house
Wash your hands before you eat.
2. What makes mom happy?
When I laugh.
3. What makes mom sad?
When I be mean.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tickling me
5. What was your mom like as a child?
Just like me
6. How old is your mom?
I don’t know… 47?
7. How tall is your mom?
Tall as that chair over there (and she pointed)
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Go shopping… Spend time with me!!!
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Clean up the house
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
umm…. Her children
11. What is your mom really good at?
Making art with her first daughter
12. What is your mom not very good at?
umm… making, like, stuff out of wood and stuff…
13. What does your mom do for a job?
She works at a shop with her daddy
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
coconut
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
That she loves me very much
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
ummm… umm…. I have NO idea… uhhh….. a judge on cupcake wars
17. What do you and your mom do together?3322
We make art together
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We both like to do art and we are both good at it. And we can both do it really fast.
19. How are you and your mom different?
We have different colored hair
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She tells me, she kisses me, she hugs me
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
That he’s sweet
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Shopping
Jessalyn Rose Butler – 8/8/13 – 7 years old
1. . What is something mom always says to you?
she loves me
she loves me
2. What makes mom happy?
When I be good and listen to her
When I be good and listen to her
3.
What makes mom sad?
When I don’t listen to her or be good
When I don’t listen to her or be good
4.
How does your mom make you laugh?
When she acts silly and tells jokes
5.
What was your mom like as a child?
She was a lot like me. She loved art and she
loved racing
6.
How old is your mom?
30
7. How tall is
your mom?
6 ft
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
spend time with her girls.. and daddy
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
work
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
being the best mama in the world
6 ft
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
spend time with her girls.. and daddy
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
work
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
being the best mama in the world
11. What is your mom really good at?
racing?
12. What is your mom not very good at?
uhhh…. Very good at adding… umm.. I don’t know anything you’re not good at (I LOVE her!)
13. What does your mom do for a job?
she makes car tags and she works at a Christian store
14.What is your mom's favorite food?
Mexican
15.What makes you proud of your mom?
cuz she loves me
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Arthur’s mom because she is really nice
17. What do you and your mom do together?
go on “Jessi trips”
18. How are you and your mom the same?
We are the same because we both like art and we both like racing
19. How are you and your mom different?
cuz we’re different people. That’s all I can say.
20. How do you know your mom loves you?....
Cause she kisses me and hugs me a lot
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Cause he’s nice and he’s a good daddy
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
to her house
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Get in my belly!!
My sister-in-law and I found out we were pregnant with our second children around the same time. We told my parents together and went through 9 (technically 10) months of pregnancy together. At my baby shower we took a picture together with 3 of my friends who were also pregnant. You can tell in the picture that I carried my daughter very high and Cassey carried her daughter very low. This past week Cassey sent me the picture from my shower so I could see how differently we carried our girls.
My now 3 year old daughter was looking at pictures on my phone this evening and she came across this picture. I asked her who was in my belly and she responded that she didn't know, so I told her it was her. I then asked her who was in Aunt Cassey's belly and she said she did not know, so I told her it was Preslee. She thought about this for a few seconds then asked, "Mama, did y'all eat us? Is that why we're in your bellies?" I literally busted out laughing and she looked at me with this really serious look on her face and said, "Mama, your lips are too small to eat me in your belly". I LOVE the sweet innocence of a child!
My now 3 year old daughter was looking at pictures on my phone this evening and she came across this picture. I asked her who was in my belly and she responded that she didn't know, so I told her it was her. I then asked her who was in Aunt Cassey's belly and she said she did not know, so I told her it was Preslee. She thought about this for a few seconds then asked, "Mama, did y'all eat us? Is that why we're in your bellies?" I literally busted out laughing and she looked at me with this really serious look on her face and said, "Mama, your lips are too small to eat me in your belly". I LOVE the sweet innocence of a child!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Jessalyn (7) loves telling jokes. I got her a children's joke book which she carries around and has read every joke to us numerous times. Tonight she made up a couple jokes and asked them to me:
Q - Mama, what did Douglas say to the town that was being really silly?
A - That is re-Douglias. Get it mama? like ridiculous, but reDouglias.
Another joke by Jessalyn:
Q - What did the shoe say to the sock?
A - Let's play football!
Now my silly child is saying that everything is re-Douglias... strange humans I am surrounded by ;)
Q - Mama, what did Douglas say to the town that was being really silly?
A - That is re-Douglias. Get it mama? like ridiculous, but reDouglias.
Another joke by Jessalyn:
Q - What did the shoe say to the sock?
A - Let's play football!
Now my silly child is saying that everything is re-Douglias... strange humans I am surrounded by ;)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Antelopes are tasty!
Jessalyn (7) went on a field trip with her 1st Grade class today to the Jacksonville Zoo. I took her to school early, then came home and Mattilyn (3) and I began to talk about the zoo. I told her that I want to take her one day soon and we will see all kinds of animals. Following is our conversation:
Me: You will see all kinds of animals. Do you know what kinds?
Mattilyn: Like doggies!
Me: Well, elephants and giraffes and hippos and rhinos and...
Mattilyn:: and puppies?
Me: Oh, and there is a train and you can see jaguars and hyenas and antelopes...
Mattilyn: Oh! Antelopes on the train? I love antelopes! We had antelopes at Mimi's hospital the other day and one fell on the floor and we threw it in the trash.
Back story: My mama (their Mimi) had knee replacement surgery last week and we went to visit her in the hospital. Our church sent mama a huge fruit basket with all sorts of fruits and cookies and crackers, etc... Mama had just finished her dinner and had some cantaloupe leftover in addition to the other fruit. Mattilyn had eaten a banana, grapes, and a plum before finishing off the cantaloupes. One piece of cantaloupe fell on the floor and we threw it in the trash. ;)
Moral of the story: When I take Mattilyn to the zoo and we get on the train, I better sneak some cantaloupes on because she expects "Antelopes" to eat on the train!!
Me: You will see all kinds of animals. Do you know what kinds?
Mattilyn: Like doggies!
Me: Well, elephants and giraffes and hippos and rhinos and...
Mattilyn:: and puppies?
Me: Oh, and there is a train and you can see jaguars and hyenas and antelopes...
Mattilyn: Oh! Antelopes on the train? I love antelopes! We had antelopes at Mimi's hospital the other day and one fell on the floor and we threw it in the trash.
Back story: My mama (their Mimi) had knee replacement surgery last week and we went to visit her in the hospital. Our church sent mama a huge fruit basket with all sorts of fruits and cookies and crackers, etc... Mama had just finished her dinner and had some cantaloupe leftover in addition to the other fruit. Mattilyn had eaten a banana, grapes, and a plum before finishing off the cantaloupes. One piece of cantaloupe fell on the floor and we threw it in the trash. ;)
Moral of the story: When I take Mattilyn to the zoo and we get on the train, I better sneak some cantaloupes on because she expects "Antelopes" to eat on the train!!
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