4.15.2013

Yes please

So here I am again, on my "lunch break" we'll call it, while the kids are napping. I should probably be cleaning, but it's ok. Laundry and dishes are being washed right now so a small break should be allowed ;)

Anyway! A lot is going on around here. Some good, some bad and some ugly! We won't get into all of that just yet, BUT I want to say I'm just learning so much about life. So much about family as a structure, so much about people, and just so much about me. You know, being a mother truly has made me a better person. I can say that I've always had a good heart, but I let things get the best of me, and let an ugly side of me come out. Hey, I'm not perfect. We have all had our good and bad days, right? Yes. Well Moving here to texas and taking myself out of certain environments has, in my opinion, made me into who I really am. It's brought that "good person" back out of me. Not that it was gone, but it was definitely a bit hidden. I had let myself slip out of ME and into a completely different person. I don't know how else to explain that.

So anyway, I'm just looking at life a lot differently lately. I've learned a TON from my mom since moving here to texas. She has always been a good example, and is just a good person. Period. She always taught me to look for and try to only see the good in people, and to also choose wisely where to put your energy. By that I mean pick and choose your battles. Don't get so worked up over things that don't deserve it, or that you can't change. For example, if someone is being ugly to you, SURE you can get on their level and fight back, or you can just let it go. I've learned to let it go. If something happens in life that you have NO control over, JUST LET IT GO. Getting worked up isn't going to change that situation, so why waste your energy? Don't.

I'm trying to look at things differently, as well. Abraham Lincoln has some pretty great quotes floating around out there. One of my recent fav's is "you can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." SO PERFECT. Change your perspective. Life opens up so much when you try and find joy in things. The more positive you are, the more you'll be able to welcome positivity into your life :) amen and the end.

On another note, I'm trying to be and eat healthier. I've been having a green smoothie for breakfast in the mornings or a peanut butter banana smoothie which is DELICIOUS and healthy. A few ice cubes, 2 bananas, half(ish) cup of almond milk, tbsp of peanut butter, and a half cup of cooked oatmeal. Try it. Soooo good. I told saia it really tastes like ice cream! He didn't think so, but that's just because the kid eats REAL ice cream daily. Ohh to have the fastest metabolism! What a blessing. Haha. Anyway!  So I'm also tryyyyiinngg to fit in a little work out here and there. Ill be honest, it doesn't happen every day that's for sure! It's hard with three kids, but not impossible, so I'm doing the best I can and that's what matters. But just a little note to my future self if you don't mind :

Andie, if you plan to get pregnant ever again, PLEASE remember a few things.

1. Though you're probably craving soda, don't drink it. It'll make you unnecessarily fat and it'll suck to work off after your pregnancy.

2. Though those cookies and little Debbie's cakes DO taste so good... Don't eat them. They will make you fat and it'll suck to work off after your pregnancy.

3. Get your fat pregnant ass up and take a walk. Every. Single. Day. IT'LL MAKE YOU LOOK BETTER AND FEEL BETTER, ESPECIALLY AFTER YOUR PREGNANCY.

Please trust this advice, because its coming from your old large self that is currently trying so hard to get rid of the soda that you drank as well as the cookies and little Debbie's cakes you chose to eat.

SINCERELY, 
Me. Well, you. Or I guess, US.

4.12.2013

Advice

I'm sitting here at the kitchen table, surrounded by two messy children in their booster seats with food half on the tray and half on eir clothes and the floor. The table has two cups with straws, cheezits, a left over syrup bottle from breakfast and a spoon. If my husband came home right now, he'd wonder what the heck I've been doing all day and why this room is such a disaster! Well, honey, I've done 4 loads of laundry; all washed folded/hung and put away. I've cleaned the living room and partially cleaned the bathroom! Sure the kids are a mess but they've had baths, naps and the two meals they should have had by now. Not to mention, the baby was bathed, recently fed and is now sleeping peacefully in his swing. I feel accomplished! Of course my job isn't yet done, but the sun is still shining so I've still got time ;) but for now, this is the only "me" time ill get today, so I'm gonna take it :)


Blogging is kind of relaxing. It's nice to take 10 or so minutes a day to just kind of relax and evaluate your day. Or tell a story. Either works! After all, it is MY time, so I'm going to use it however I wish!

So anyway, a while back a few of my friends who were going to be first time moms asked me for advice on being a mother, what worked for me and what didn't, etc. I was thinking about that today a lot while I was cleaning. First off let me say this, our house isn't always clean, he laundry isn't ALWAYS done, and our meals aren't always the healthiest... HOWEVER.. I do try my hardest. This is my job. I chose this. I chose to be a mother and a wife, it's what I've always wanted, and just as another person in their "dream job", I strive to do the best I can. Sure I don't always succeed, but every little ounce of effort counts. Am I right or am I right? I thought so.

So back to the advice. Rule #1 NEVER fall behind on your family's laundry. Ever. Ok just kidding, because its gonna happen to us all, but at least try not to, because it truly sucks! Remember up there how I said I've done 4 loads? Yeah I'm still not done. I have two more to do. Granted that does include blankets and sheets and such, but still. Rule #2 if you DO get behind on the laundry, and say you begin it but don't fold it right away so it ends up extra wrinkly on your bedroom floor for a day and a half, DON'T worry. Folding it and putting it away isn't really THAT bad. Laundry is kind of like working out. Starting it sucks, but once you're doing it and then finally done, you realize it truly wasn't all that bad, or hard, and didn't take that long. Rule #4 if you don't have more than one child, don't complain about having no time to do anything!!!! Just kidding. This is all just becoming awkwardly funny now, but on a more serious note, with each child I have, I realize how much I can really do in a short amount of time. 2 hours for a nap used to mean me watching the Ellen show, maybe a little prep for dinner and making our bed, ON MY GOOD DAYS. Crazy right? Shooooooooot, NOW a 2 hour nap means cleaning our bedroom, the living room, bathroom, doing laundry, prepping for dinner AND watching Ellen! It's kind of that feeling after you get off the phone with someone who drops that dreaded line "I'm heading that way and just wanted to drop by" ..... So you say "suuuuuure!" In your high pitched fake-as-hell voice, hang up the phone and become a crazy person cleaning everything in sight, knowing you have MAYBE 10 minutes to get the job done, and surprisingly, you do! That's how nap time goes for me. I know if I finish my job early, I can relax. Though most days the second I sit down, I hear someone making noise/waking up.. But that's ok too, because atleast that part of my job is d.o.n.e. mission accomplished.

Sooooo back to the advice? Yeah I really don't have any serious advice other than do what's best for you and what WORKS for you! Some people get up before their kids to get things done, and sure I could do that since my kids sleep till 9:30, but who wants to wake up earlier than they HAVE to? I enjoy my 9ish hours of sleep each night. I am up every 3-4 hours to feed the baby but no complaints there. In my opinion I have it good, and that's something I remind myself of often. Especially when I'm feeling frustrated or discouraged. My days don't always go as planned, and most days I look like a mess until 10 minutes before my husband comes home (or I just look like a mess. All.day.long) BUT I have three happy healthy children who have all the love and support in the world! I have a hard working husband who I know loves me and would do anything for our family, and THAT to me is what life is all about. Not counting the good times, but making each good time count ;)

4.05.2013

How did I get here?

Have you ever had that thought? How did I get to where I am today? It's not really a literal question, as if I feel someone dropped me into this life that I didn't have before, but more of a whoa, look at my life type thing. As saia and I sat at the dinner table last night, I asked him if he could believe that we are where we are today. We were sitting with lyric and Luve and baby vita was in his swing. He said "yeah, and I love it!" Perrrrrrfect answer, my darling. Haha but truly it's just crazy where we are today. We have surely come such a long way and have grown so very much. Love and dedication are to thank, as well as The Lord. We have made our fair share of mistakes, but The Lord knows our hearts and have helped us get to where we are today. If someone had asked me the year lyric was born where I saw my life in 3 years, I would have truly never expected it would be here. I would have answered with every detail of my life now had they asked where I WISH to be or WANT to be in three years. That goes to show you can have whatever you want. I'm truly so blessed, and so happy in my life. We have these three perfect little blessings, and a happy marriage! We're not perfect but we are perfect together and aaaaaanyone who has a problem with that can kiss my big fat ass. Haha but really. I'm happy, Saia is happy and our kids are the happiest out there! Life is great.

Ok part of that last statement was false. My poor Luve is NOT happy. He's struggling! Poor guys lips have been swollen for three days now and he has a rash al over his legs! We were at the drs yesterday for his 1yr check up and vita's newborn check up. The dr said the rash is just irritated skin. The ONLY thing I can think of that has changed is at I've been putting the color fizzy bath things in their bath water. They got som from the Easter bunny and maybe his skin just doesn't like it? It might not even be that, but that's the only thing I could come up with. In other news, he's still having a hard time adjusting to the new baby. He's still not a fan of him, and I truly can't wait for the day that they will be In the same room together and I won't have to worry about Luve pinching poking or hitting him! Oh what a dream ;)

So other than my poor boog having a hard time, life is grand. Vita is a little over two weeks old and is conquering the world already! Talking, running around and eating pizza. Ok I kid. However he is still a fantastic sleeper and eater! What more could we ask for? Oh, his one fault...... He kid has peed on me more times than lyric and Luve EVER did, combined. He's peed on lyric once too, so now each time I go to change his diaper, she runs and says "careful of the water mommy!" Lol it's hilarious. That dang water, gets us every time! ;)

Ok, so there is One thing I haven't mentioned that I wanted to hold off on until I got final results. But now they are here! Our baby Vita failed his first in hospital hearing test the day he was born. He passed his right ear but failed his left. I was assured it was probably just liquid in the ear, or due to him moving around so much. I was told to come back within 5-10 days to have him retested. Though I've heard lots of stories of this kind of thing happening, I was still a little worried. So after a week and a half I brought him back in for the retest. I was told if he fails, we will be referred to an audiologist to see what was going on. I was sure he'd pass! As the test went on for about 20 minutes, I watched the percentages go up and down. As it neared the end, I knew he wasn't going to pass. I immediately felt the tears coming to my eyes but tried SO hard to hold them back until I left the hospital. The nurse that helped me gave me the card with the # to call if someone hadn't contacted me by Friday, so I could set up an appointment. As I left the room out to my car, the tears just started to fall. I looked at my perfect boy and asked myself if this was real, and if it was, how will I prepare myself to deal with this, forever. I got home and told saia, and he assured me everything would be ok and for me to pray. He's just great. So comforting, and I love him for it. Anyway, the next two days until his drs appt I made all kinds of noises to see if he would react to them. Some he did, some he didn't. I was sure he could at least hear a little, which was comforting. Anyway, yesterday at his drs appointment I let our pediatrician know about his hearing results and asked if he could check if there was maybe fluid in his ears. He said they actually had the testing machine there and I didn't need to go to the audiologist. They tested him and he can hear perfectly from both ears. I felt such a strong release of built up worry and confusion. Thaaaaank The Lord. Truly. We are blessed. Three happy healthy children who are perfect in our eyes.