12 Days of Motherhood

I know that this means I have too much time on my hands…. But I thought of this song as we were watching “Franklin the Turtle” before bedtime tonight. I found my mind wondering and thinking of what a cool song I could write about Motherhood to the tune of “12 days of Christmas.” I know that I was thinking I should take down my Thanksgiving décor after the kids go to bed, which spurred the thought where I will put my Christmas tree, which then spurred the thought I get to listen to my Christmas CDs soon, which then progressed…. Or some may say digressed to this lovely song. Please sing it outloud for the full enjoyment of this song. I suggest you don’t cheat, but to layer the days just as in the song. You get to say poopy more times that wayJ Do you think I should go to bed??? I do.

12 Days of Motherhood!
By: Jennifer Sullivan
November 16th, 2008 9:45 pm


On My 1st Day of Motherhood, my children gave to me…..
a home full of love and joy.

On my second day of motherhood, my children gave to me
2 droopy breasts
And a Home full of Love and JOY!

On the 3rd day of motherhood, my children gave to me…
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And A home full of Love and JOY!

On the 4th day of motherhood, my children gave to me…..
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And A home full of love and joy.

On the 5th day of motherhood, my children gave to me …..
5 poopy messes
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And a home full of love and joy!



On the 6th day of motherhood, my children gave to me…..
6 scheduled play dates
5 poopy messes
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And a home full of love and joy!

On the 7th day of motherhood, my children gave to me…..
7 piles of laundry
6 scheduled play dates
5 poopy messes
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And a home full of love and joy!

On the 8th day of motherhood, my children gave to me…..
8 wins at Candyland
7 piles of laundry
6 scheduled play dates
5 poopy messes
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And a Home full of love and joy.

On the 9th day of motherhood, my children gave to me……
9 bins of toys dumped
8 wins at Candyland
7 piles of laundry
6 scheduled play dates
5 poopy messes
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And a Home full of love and joy!

On the 10th day of motherhood, my children gave to me….
10 unread magazines
9 bins of toys dumped
8 wins at Candyland
7 piles of laundry
6 scheduled play dates
5 poopy messes
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And a Home full of love and joy!

On the 11th day of motherhood, my children gave to me…..
11 purple stretch marks
10 unread magazines
9 bins of toys dumped
8 wins at Candyland
7 piles of laundry
6 scheduled playdates
5 poopy messes
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And a Home full of love and joy!

ON the 12th day of motherhood, my children gave to me…..
12 Sonic pop runs
11 purple stretch marks
10 unread magazines
9 bins of toys dumped
8 wins at Candyland
7 piles of laundry
6 scheduled play dates
5 poopy messes
4 goodnight books
3 hours sleep
2 droopy breasts
And a Home full of love and joy!

AMEN!!!! Thank you BROCK and EMMA! I LOVE YOU!

Journey with my Partner!

Have you wondered if you are in a situation that is bigger that you are? Do you ever feel that "life" has taken over? I debated on being this transparent on my blog, but obviously I feel led to write from my heart so here is my heart. Marrige is hard work. Dennom and I love each other to the core, but over the past year, it has been so easy to put our realtionship on the back burner to careers, children, trying to be a "perfect" mom, a need for your own space, and just out of being plain tired. WE have been blessed and survived 8 great years of marriage. Those years have brought us 2 GOd sent kids, a beautiful home we own, 2 cars that are paid for, and great health. But if you don't water a plant, it won't grow on its own. Dennom and I are watering "our plant of marriage" now, but I feel we have learned a huge lesson over this past year. Marriage is hard work, it required sweat, blood, and tears. I feel like God deserves a huge "GLORY" for helping us to be stronger then we ever have been after 8 years. No we did not ever have a horrible marriage, no we did not have any terrible event that rocked our world, but YES we got too comfortable with each other. Just like our relationship wtih Christ, if we don't make time for that relationship, it will not grow. God brought this to our attention and I praise him that both of us were receptive to his nudging. It is correct to assume that the nudging may not have come at the same time for both Dennom and I, but Most importantly- it came and GOD is good. During the time I was waiting of a mutual nudging of my partner, GOd taught me it is not always bad to have to wait. It made me rely on him the most I ever have. I praise him that he gave me a husband that allows his heart to be "worked" just as the soil in a farmers crop has to be plowed up to be soft again, and I praise GOd for continuing to keep me close. Dennom adn I both know we are partners for life but GOd is the ultimate understander of our inner most being. There are times I KNOW Dennom has no idea what I need, but GOD does. I think I have realized this during this past year. I am truely thankful for his undeserving love he gives to me with out question. I thank him for my beautiful marriage and for always giving us opportunities to grow. It may be hard, but I would rather be growing, than just "here." So, in conclusion, God is good, I am too emotional, and Dennom relies to GOd to figure out how to put up wtih me. Thank you Lord:) I have a piece of art in my office that says "Faith is not believing God can, it is knowing he will." That is what I have to praise him for tonight.

Thankful for CHallenging Days!

It has been a busy week. I would like to always present that life is just wonderful, peachy, and no stressful days, but what good would it be to lie:) The last few days have needless to say been... hum... well... lets define challenging. I don't know if it is sleep deprivation from all of us, or what, but finally today I found an excuse i hope I can bank on as to why this past few days has been so challenging. yea I like labeling it that! I saw today that Emma is trying to cut both of her eye teeth on the bottom. I don't know why it makes me feel better to lable the chaos, tears, screaming, hair pulling, and fussy bucketness of my little Emma. But fact of the matter is that it does make me "feel" like I am still a good mom and I can blame the teeth as to why our days have been less then my favorite. So I pray those two teeth come in really soon and she gets to feeling more like herself really soon. What is so strange is that it comes and goes sooo rapidly. She will have a great half hour of cute as a button adn getting along with brother, then the next moment, nothing will satisfy her. I just don't like not knowing how to make her feel better. I have forgotten how helpful it is when they have words to say " my mouth hurts" or 'i am tired" but she is limited to "snack, mama, and bky *binky). BLess her little heart.

NOw that I have expressed the "challenges of the past few days" we have also had some great moments this week. Here are just a few:

1. Today Brock was wanting Emma and I to all take naps with him in his twin bed. HE said "mommy lets all have a sleep in." I asked "Babe, what is that" and he said "mom, you knwo a sleep in... where we all stay all night together. I realized he was trying to say a sleep over. That was pretty funny.
2. With the election this week, I took the kids with me to vote. YOu know I am an "embrace the moment" kinda gal. We went to the doughnut shop before the voting place so the kids could have something that would occupy their time in line. Brock wanted to check out the sample ballots and was really into why we were there. Once I got my ballot, i tried to sit at a big table so we could all be together, but he insisted that I go in teh "cool" voting booths. While Emma and I were standing there and I was hurriedly filling out my ballot, little explorer went over (while I was not looking) to check out the things that sucks the ballots up adn counts the votes. He was pushing buttons all over the machine. By the time I realized where in the world he had wondered off so quickly, I saw him. Oh my goodness. I gave the quickest mommy snap and look there could be given. I just was fearing he had either cleared the counter, or turned off teh machine. That would have been a great way to have him remember the 1st vote of his life (Headline of paper: Enid is still hand counting the ballots of the presidental election because 3yr old breaks voting machine). Thank goodness no machines were broke or turned off!
3. Another voting topic: Brock keeps hearing people talk about Pres. elect Barak??spel OBama. He came in to the kitchen today and said.... mommy, I am Brock Obama. Now he things that is soo funny, so that is what he likes to call himself now and thinks all the news channels are talking about him. WE all were MCPalin voters- so Daddy really likes when brock calls himself that:)
4. Emma has started this week to dance with her hands in the air. IF I did not know any better, I would say she has been going to a Pentacostil (spell??) church. That girl can move. So great to see such a free spirit. Her favorite music to dance to is our Christian radio station that has a lot of music with a bass best.
5. THe pics in the beginning are of Brock and Emmas favorite thing to play with this past few weeks. That is the play pen that our cousing had (Reese and Ryan) and after they grew up, it got passed to us. Not both of my kids are out growing sleeping in it, but they love to pretend it is either a hunting ground blind, or their tent. They spend hours playing in it together. This pic I happen to get, Emma and Brock were having a pretend nap and Emma was patting brothers back. So sweet. Brock also loves to help me clean. This pic was from last week when he was vacuming the breakfast crumps up in his undies:) Last pic, was Brock as a bday party. It was a costume party and he of course wore his spider man costume. He loved driving the Barbie 4 wheeler.
6. Last of the week, we had a family art project from the school for Brock to do. Each family from teh school was given a turkey feather to decorate. I asked Brock what he wanted on it and he thought about it. He said "Mommy, I think we should all decorate a family deer head on the feather." Hum??? I know that it is him project... but a family deer head on the feather. I know we will be labled the "redneck family" but I went to Hobby Lobby and found little tiny camo cotton balls and doll house furntiure deer. HE had the best time glueing the things on it. I have to say it is 100% original and Dennom is proud as punch. So glad he is. But we were definately involved as a family and that was the point. IT was fun!

Final thought of the week... even thought it was a challenging week of 5am waking up (thank you time change) and teething, I am trying to remember to be thankful for these times as well. I know it will definately make me appreciate even more the good days that everyone is happy and well rested. So- thank you Lord for air, thank you Lord for family, and Good health!

We have an emergency.

Well, just about the time sleep was becoming a wonderfully loved thing in the mornings at my house... (drum roll) we welcome the lovely time change. I may sound a little negative, but I am just trying to give an honest journal experience to my kids in the future. I know one day they will be teenagers and I will be begging them to wake up before noon, but for this season in life, I am begging the Good Lord Above, to give them some sleep dust to keep them asleep at least until 6am. Yes, I am praying for 6am. They have loved waking up happy and cheerful, ready to go at 5:30. I did not even know that people could function this early, but there are cartoons on that early. WEll, I know things could be worse... so I thank GOd for their health, my house, and my lovely family. Who needs sleep:)

TOday was pretty normal for us. Brock had school, and he is really enjoying it this year. Last year, music was not his thing (i tried not to be crushed). He did not really want to sing much at story music time, but this year>..... His teacher ( who is also his Nana) said he is participating and sings me songs when we get in the car to come home. He is just really growing up. So fun to watch. His latest thing to say is "mommy, we have an emergency." He was in the bathroom and yelled this to me- very loudly. Of course I run thinking the toilet is clogged, or who knows what. The emergency was the toilet paper roll was empty. He is such a man. haha But those kinda things crack me up during the day. I can honestly say there is absolutely NEVER a dull moment around here with those two. I love it- I am getting some gray hair now but I love it.

Bounce, Bounce, Bounce

Today Nana and Papa took Brock to see Aunt Ameila and Uncle Bubba. It was homecoming so there was a parade and Uncle Bubba got to be in the parade. FOr those of you who know my dear bro- that in itself if funny that he got to be in a parade! I am sure he loved it! From what I hear, they all had a great time. I just a got a few pics, so I thougth I would share them. I don't know who had more fun Brock... or Aunt Amelia and Uncle Bubba.

Candy, Candy, and More Candy....

We had a great night trick or treating. OUr neighbor kids all got together to go to the houses on our street of the people we know. We had a great crew. It we had an Indiana Jones and Spider Man as our only boys leading the pac. It was amazing that we had all the Mom's and Dad's joining the kids as well. That was really fun. Our cousins got to follow the pack as well, they were a mouse, and the Cheese:) and their dog Elle was "a human." After that we went to our friends house for a 2nd annual Jensen Halloween Party. It was great fun. The kids all played, and the adults got to enjoy watching all teh cuties in their costumes. IT was fun. The highlight of the evening had to be our dear older man neighbor down the street. Brock calls him "Mr. Jonnie". HE and Brock have bonded. He had a little table set up at his house that had his candy, a dancing musical ghost, and best of all He was wearing an ELVIS mask. The kids enjoyed his house and I have to say I think he really enjoyed the kids. Earlier that day we got a little "Love Me Tender" song out of him. Fun times. It has been fun to see the kids growing up this year. They have so much fun doing things together. Emma likes to follow big brother and he likes to "hold" (or drag) her hand when he is going places. People say it just gets better and better, but I can't imagine how much "funner" it can get. Their ages are just pretty priceless. Cute story before I quit! Dennom and I were going over "trick or treat" things with Brock, and telling him to say "trick or treat" when people answered their doors. He said I don't want to say that. He then said- I want to say "please." Where he got that I don't know- but we had a good laugh.

Photos at Government Springs

Here are a few random pictures we took at the park on Thursday. THis is at a local park that has such beautiful flowers and trees, we like to go there often! IT is getting harder and harder to get a good pic of both of them together, so I told Nana that I think I am starting to enjoy the random not looking at the camera pics! They had fun, and we were tired. I am glad to have an on call photographer to capture such fun pictures. Mom and I got our exercise chasing them around the park. The weather had been so beautiful this past week. It is hard to believe that it is November. We wore shorts this past week. Crazy!