Kids say the darndest things....

Today i will share random comments and statements that my 5 year old says, she makes me laugh so much and well shocks me as well lol.

Makenna Moment #1- "Mom there is a App like ABC mouse.com, but only it's for adults with brain injuries you should check it out"

Makenna Moment #2- You know you've had a baby when your daughter busts in the bathroom while your taking a shower and says: "Mommy will i have LONG boobies like you when i am a grown up" Me: "Not if you age gracefully" Makenna: "Ok mom i'll be careful".

Makenna Moment #3-"Mom i don't curse the day you were born, I love the day you were born because it made you my mommy"

Makenna Moment #4- "Mom i'll be back i have to write down the reason's girls are better than boys, and (makes noise like she's exhausted) it's gonna take me a long time. she comes back a bit later: With her name and my name on the top of the paper with checks, and daddy is written with a big X on it lol.
  
 

I am back!

I apologize for my absence, my internet was down at home. So i wasn't able to update, and spent my last few days doing a little bit of nothing. I have found myself plagued with some neck pain, and well that has not been fun. I really do not have much to report in way of entertaining, but that just means nothing big has really happened. Today i will embark on my super saving grocery trip, and hit 3 grocery stores and a fruit stand today. I really dislike grocery day, because Makenna really dislikes shopping. This means she is talking nonstop, and actually climbs all over the cart like a monkey. Usually by the time i get home, i am ready to be tranquilized. But hey the price we pay to have enough food to feed our family for a week, especially when you are on a tight budget. I look at those whom bring home much less income than my family, and have alot less to spend on food and necessities. I find it challenging sometimes to buy enough food to last the week, because although i love him my husband has a never ending stomach. We like to call him the human vacuum, because he literally devours food in seconds flat. I am usually just sitting down to my meal, before he's up for seconds or sometimes done completely lol. So making sure i make enough for his appetite, for him to take for his long work shifts, and for snacks and drinks is just hard sometimes. That is why i go to multiple stores, it's not my idea of fun. But going to those different places help me to get what i need, and by getting certain stuff where it is cheaper means i have more wiggle room. I pretty much budget everything down to the penny, because well those penny's sometimes make the difference between enough bread and milk for the week. Well i have a little princess staring ever so annoyed at me, so i suppose i should go see what she wants. I will write something more entertaining later!

Happy Mothers day!

 Below you see my beautiful mug shot, that was me on my birthday. I was expecting my first and only angel, and couldn't be more blessed and excited. My pregnancy wasn't exactly the easiest one, in terms of stress and stuff that i was going through. but i rubbed that belly every single day, and i thanked god for the gift he gave to me. I was scared and unsure if i was really cut out for motherhood, and can remember crying thinking what if i am just not a good mom.

 Before i knew it i had this beautiful bundle of joy in my arms (as you see below), she was perfect in every single way. I couldn't stop looking at her, and couldn't bring myself to not be near her. I was so proud of my precious baby, and was so afraid if i blinked or walked away even for a minute that this dream would be over. I remember spending the first week, really not getting any sleep at all. Not because the new important job i had kept me from doing so, but because i just had to watch her breath. I had to know she was ok, and was afraid i would miss something.

 Now we fast forward 5 years later, and i have this gorgeous little girl as you see below. She has taught me more than i thought i could even learn, and showed me how to love unconditionally. She has of course gave me a run for my money, and had her rough patches with colic and health issues along the way. But it's because of her that i earned my wings in the mommy club, i know what true love is because of Makenna. I also know what it's like to truly be exhausted, to never have a private moment, to be truly selfless, and want another person to have everything life can offer before i have anything for myself. I watch her grow and morph into this little person everyday, and i swear i wish i could just hit the stop button. It's going so fast and i find myself afraid i will miss something all over again, the days go by so fast. I know i haven't always been the most perfect mom, because well we all make mistakes. But i always get back up swinging, and never will i give up fighting to make your life a million times better than i can ever imagine.

Above is a picture of my mom and of course Makenna, making silly faces and making me smile. This women taught me everything i know, and it's because of her that i have become the mother i am today. She like me made mistakes, and learned along the way. But it's her never give up attitude and tough nature that made her the best, even when faced with adversity. Anyone who knows her will tell you she's a fighter, she faught for a chance, she fought for me, she fought to give me everything she could. She fought cancer TWICE, has been through more things medically than most do in a lifetime. She is a true fighter and no matter what is swung her way, she comes out on top. I want to Thank my momma! for always being there, and teaching me the ropes. I also thank my little munchkin for making me a mommy, and giving me something to live for every single day.

To all you mommy's out there! thank you and give yourself a hug. We are the makers of the future!

Talk to your little munchkins...

Sometimes we have to stop and just talk to our children, take the time to see how they feel and what they think. I know so often our life is busy, and we get caught up in it all. So many places to be, things that must be done, and people expect so much of you. But remember our children are little people too, they hear things that are going on. They take parts of conversations, even when you do not know they are listening. Children are smart enough to put it together, but are not always mature enough to handle it. If noone takes the time to talk to them, and see what is on their mind than who will? My daughter has made me painfully aware that she hears everything, she mimics and repeats stuff she even hears in public. If i didn't take the time to talk to her, and explain things than i shutter to think what she would say. We have to take the time and teach our children about words, how they can hurt others. That they can do so much, without us even meaning for them too. Teach them about what is mean, and what is not nice to say. Teach them not to pick on others, that everyone is different and that's ok. If you don't than who is going to teach them? I think that is part of the problem sometimes, those who matter are not talking to our youth. They do not know what's appropriate to say, what is best left unsaid, and what our words could do. A little girl in our neighborhood doesn't filter anything she says, she is raw and judgemental. She has no clue what that even means, she has no idea that her words are hurtful. I find myself keeping my daughter from interacting with her, because i do not want her to pick up those habits. But that is exactly what made me think about it, that her parents have not taught her. She hears things being said around her, and repeats them because well that's what she knows. So i don't blame her, and really i don't blame her parents eithier. There is no parenting manual, and we do the best we know how. I'm not perfect and trust me i've sat back a few times and thought, hmmm maybe that wasn't the best way to handle that. I know i've joked a few times, that the way i handled stuff definately wasn't going to get me mother of the year lol. So that's being human, we learn by our mistakes. But it's important that we do learn, and work hard to make the needed changes. We have to talk to our kids, explain what bullying is, tell them about the world, teach them about how others may percieve things and what that even means. There is a way to teach our children about being a good person, without overdoing it or sharing too much for their age. It's easy to look at our beautiful blessings, and think they are too young to understand. But i tell you my 5 year old understands more than i realize, she pays attention and she hears and see's everything. By taking the time to answer her questions, and listening and redirecting what she hears or thinks makes all the difference. Ok i am done on my little rant... Happy Saturday everyone!

Go kiss your babies, and make sure they know how much they are loved. Be the best you possible, and remember your children see and feel more than you think. Be proud of everything you say and do, and make sure you go to bed at night with no regrets.

I make this look GOOD!

I know for most mothers getting your children to eat healthy food, is almost as impossible as getting them to clean their room. I recognized that my daughter was eating entirely too much junk, and i knew something needed to change. I took a look at my kitchen, and well what was in my grocery cart as well. I realized that without really putting much thought into it, i was making junk the easiest food to grab in my house. It was no wonder everyone grabbed the bag of chips, instead of a orange or some grapes out of the fridge. When i see something needs to be revamped, i take my time and do some much needed research and reading. I re-evaluate the situation, and come up with a game plan to make the needed changes. The one thing i knew had to be done, is make the healthy options easier and more prominent in my house. So i stopped buying junk food, and the stuff that is left i either put it up out of sight or i put it behind the healthy stuff. My goal was to make grabbing fruit a no brainer, and make sure they did not keep digging to find the junk. I began keeping a bowl of fruit on the counter, but noticed it was not being touched so much. So i put it in the fridge, and what do you know that bowl started to disappear. So i kept on going and began making snack bags, which consisted of serving sizes of grapes, blue berries, and strawberries. Now that i have done that i am on a mission to make the "frozen" treats healthy as well. Freezing my daughters favorite snacks like blueberries, making fruit and yogurt parfaits or as my daughter calls them "ice cream". I have a bag of frozen blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, and cherries. When my little one has been playing hard, and wants or needs a frozen treat i grab her one of the above mentioned snacks. She doesn't feel like she's being cheated, and honestly she is just as happy.

I am the type of person whom is always evaluating my house hold, and the way that things are done. This includes the way i handle relationships, and how i respond to others. If i see a negative trend starting, than i go to work to find a better way to handle it. I have been laughed at a bit, because i am always changing things up. But what they do not see is how it helps to keep us moving in a positive direction, by never allowing behavior or actions that could cause problems get out of hand. We are constantly growing as a family, and not afraid of change. Yes my changes even go down to the movement of furniture, which is usually done because i am bored with the way things work. If i change even the appearance of things in my house, it helps to re-energize us. It's much easier to not fall into a slump, when things are always new and exciting.

Well it's time for me to finish cleaning up my yummy treats, and get my house cleaned. It's a tough job sometimes, being the one in charge of keeping everyone healthy. But it's my job and i wouldn't change it for the world! I am a proud mommy and house wife, and i take my job seriously each and everyday. But of course as you might have noticed, i strive to always do it with a sense of humor and a smile on my face.

What friday night means to a mom....

Once upon a time the arrival of friday night, means no stress, no work, sleeping till noon, and partying with friends. At this time of the night I was in route to a club or party, I had no baby hips and was dressed to impress. My dolce and gabana perfume leaving a trail as I walk through the doors, the night was mine to enjoy. Now at 32 the only party im attending is the occasional birthday party, and friday night means a repeat of thursday lol. The most excitement I encounter is, grocery shopping by myself. Heck most days I feel accomplished if I went tinkle, and showered without an audience. Not exactly party central, but our priorities shift. Suddenly most of the stuff I considered important, are so very irrelevant to me now. So while a great portion of the world prepares to party, I will be watching the peaceful princess that is my night sleep. Tomorrow if im lucky i'll sleep past 8 am, and be thankful im not sporting sunglasses and a hangover migraine. 

Mommy's priorities are right where they should be, and if I ever question their importance I know a 5 year old whom will jolt me into reality.

Smiling on the edge of insanity

Some days my mommy stress meter goes through the roof, and i occasionally feel like i am standing on the edge of insanity. It's like the saying my mom has told me more than once, "the definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome". Yes that is pretty much my life, every single day i do our needed routines and some how expect a different outcome. Well i guess i would lean more towards, i pray for a different outcome in a way. Like bedtime routine, every day we embark on our shower, medicine, teeth brushing, night clothes and wind down time before the dreaded "BEDTIME". I know ever so well exactly what this adventure will bring, i know my bathroom will be soaked in water. Yet i find it necessary to plead please do not open the shower curtain while the water is on, do not walk around until your dry, please do not throw the wet wash cloth on the floor. But regardless of how i state the above, i still walk into my bathroom and am instantly transferred into "Wet N Wild". So after i get her to help clean up, kicking and screaming of course we move onto the next task. Brushing her hair! Yes of course my princess has seen the movie Tangled, so she is on a mission to become the next Rapunzel. Makenna has black hair which comes down far below her buttucks, and when clean and not drenched in food is absolutely gorgeous. But keeping it beautiful means mommy has to stay ontop of it, she absolutely hates to have it brushed. Yet of course talk of cutting it brings hysterics, and threats from my family. I really do not mind so much, i know until she's fully able to take care of it this is my duty. But those of you whom have met Makenna, know that she literally goes "ALL IN" when she is consuming any sort of food. This means she is not so careful and is usually covered in whatever food she is enjoying at the moment, yes even if her hair is in some sort of tight bun. Her eating habits are funny in them self, but that is for another post (I am confident a situation will arise). Once we get through all of that fun, we get to get ready for bed. This process is painful, she eithier spends 20 mins complaining about bed or takes FOREVER brushing her teeth and going potty. I than go forth into the unknown, and hope for an easy quick slumber. It never ends up being so, and on the rare occassion that it does i am absolutely shocked. Like this evening she actually went to sleep with minimal fighting, and only rolled around dramatically "getting comfortable" for 10 mins instead of her normal 30 mins. By the time i get her to sleep i am just plain exhausted, the idea of forming much thought or doing anything which requires energy is just out of the question.
Ok i seemed to have gone off subject a bit, my smiling on the very edge of insanity. This comes on behalf of any of the above, or from a long list of other fun adventures. However today i was particularly referring to the fact that, i never have a moment to think. I literally feel like it is never quiet, and i never can actually just be in my own head with my own thoughts. My mind is always in the midst of chaos, and some how i am expected to cook, clean, make appointments, do important errands, remember to tell someone of something important i was supposed to remember, and well if i am lucky try to do something i really want to do (funny i know). Today was no different than most days, but i felt like i was in a video game. My objective was to talk and actually be HEARD, without being interrupted or ignored. I actually thought about putting on a cape, and going into attack mode. However... reality soon crept in and i realized, that even in a cape no one would listen lol. In fact they would probably join in, and put on capes of their own. At that point what i had to say is long gone, and we (hubby, and daughter) are rolling around in the living room making light saber noises... and mommy's mind has went up in a cloud of smoke. This most definitely puts me on the edge of insanity, smiling of course because i love my life and my husband and daughter. I would not trade them or it for anything in the world, but it does not mean i have to be sane while enjoying it right?

Ok that is all for tonight, because sadly... this one blog has taken me a few hours to write because I've been interrupted! Now i am off to find my cape, and attack my bed and HOPE for a good nights sleep =) Till tomorrow my beautiful friends.