Not that you asked...

I've been thinking lately of the best advice or lesson I've received about my marriage and thought I'd share it. I've heard it from more than one person, but I think the Church teaches it as well and that's where I believe I heard it first. It's really simple but so amazing. Put your spouse first. Love him or her first and then focus on the kids, yourself, everyone else. 

Of course we need to Love God first but then love your spouse. I love the look my kids get when Kevin and I hug each other. Shea always has to run in between us saying, "I want hugs! I want hugs!" But that makes perfect sense since his whole being was created from our love. Even Meara, at six months, squeals with delight when I show her a picture of us together. I believe it's intrinsic and makes a child feel so whole when their parents show their love for each other. I was talking to one of my friends about this and he comes from a divorced family. He confirmed what I said by saying, "When my parents didn't get along, all I wanted from my whole being was for them to love each other. I wanted to do absolutely anything for that to happen and that was all that mattered to me." I think it's so easy to get caught up in the day to day, -"The kids need this, the kids need that, I'm exhausted, etc." to the point you don't even connect with your spouse until you're exhausted at the end of the day. Kev and I have tried to make a point to give each other at least one decent hug a day and as silly as that sounds it has done wonders for both of us. It solidifies that we're 'team' in the whole parenting thing, and it shows our kids where our priorities are at. We love our kids so much more when we love each other.

I know I have a lot to learn when it comes to marriage and stuff, but this has been such a blessing. Thanks Kev!

I'm that blogger...

So I did it!! I'm that blogger (blahher ;) that only wrote for one month and one day!! Arg! I always wondered why that happens -besides life being busy. Now I know, but in my case it's odd. I actually got sleep. Sleep. Sleep. I'm still trying to believe in this word. It was really hard to let our baby 'cry it out' and I still have mixed feelings about it, but I'm amazed that I can lie her down in her crib and she falls asleep. This is a phenomenon (thank you spell check!) that my two year old is still working on. Anyway, with sleep came a whole new adventure called 'getting my life back.' I know moms don't ever really get their life back, and there's a cool beauty in that, but I'm beginning to be able to think again. Which means I have less of a need to spew my brains (gross) which means less blogging. There. I figured it out- thanks for your patience. :)

Two thoughts that have seriously overwhelmed me this past month are: 1. I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude that I'm able to be a mom, and 2. the answer to true freedom and joy in life is to let God Love you. Yup, I think I just said I have the answer to everyone's problems. Ha! Seriously though, people have always commented to me that I seem truly happy (not that I always am, of course) but I realize it's because I invited God to come into my life and be Him. Loving Him. (God is Love so it's a pretty cool deal) I have no other motive right now than to explain the freedom I have in my life. Every time I feel anxiety that something could happen to anyone I love, I just have to let go and know God takes care of us. Even when bad things happen He takes care of us. Why does God let bad things happen? Because God has not taken away our free will and evil exists in our world and that combination allows bad things to happen. It's deeper than that and more involved I'm sure, but all I know is that when I asked God to take over my life, it became more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed of. Really. (I have two little munchkins and an amazing husband to prove it. :)

Well, that was deep. 'Deep thoughts by Merry.' Remember that SNL skit? hehe.  I haven't had much time to reread this, but I'm determined to put up another post since it's March 2 and my goal is to do little blurbs at least 10 times this month. Since I feel so grateful, instead of spoofing motherhood, I'm hoping to offer fun thoughts and awesome advice I've received. blah, blah, blah. :) Thanks if you read this!

You know you're a mom when...

I always liked David Letterman's top 10 and lately I've found my own going through my head. I know I may sound like I'm trying too hard to be funny, but maybe I am. Maybe I just need a laugh. :)  (some of these are facebook repeats...)

You know you're a mom when...

10. It's a luxury to have an uninterrupted shower.

9. It's totally acceptable to bathe your kids with baby wipes. (I know, a repeat)

8. You discover baby puke down the front of your shirt 2 miles away from home and couldn't care less because you're out of the house alone.

7. The five second rule becomes the five hour rule or even the five day rule. Who cares if my kid wants to eat an animal cracker I told him to pick up off the floor five days ago? He doesn't seem to care and we're not on the subway or anything.

6. It's normal for you to stick your finger in your kid's diaper (without realizing it) to see if it's dirty. (I don't actually do this, but I do hold my kid's butt up to my nose and smell it, which I think is almost as gross.)

5. You check your pants before you put them on in the morning to see how much baby puke is on them. If it's only a little, they're ok. (I think most people get 2 or 3 wears out of pants before washing them again, right?)

4. You think pureed apples and cinnamon by Gerber might possibly be able to substitute for your apple pie filling. (??? not sure where that came from-I'm always amazed when adults think pureed baby food tastes good.)  

3. You're excited to go food shopping and then proceed to talk to everyone who works there because you're just so darn happy to be out of the house.

2. You secretly wish there was a johnny jumper adult version made for you...

1. And the number one way you know you're a mom is... when you're so filled up with love you feel like you're going to explode when those little hands and feet come running to hug you.  :)

Alright, I know number one is a softee. I was going to write -when your deodorant runs out in public and you go to use a baby wipe to make it better, but I thought that was over the top. I've never done that. In public. :) If I just had time for a shower, I wouldn't need to use baby wipes! hahaha just kidding. Well, that was the best I could do for this naptime...

A Christmas Miracle

Christmas was so beautiful this year. It was our first Christmas in our first home with a new baby and my first time hosting a major holiday. The Christmas miracle? I loved it. The hosting that is. Well, I loved Christmas too of course, but when my family agreed to coming over for both Christmas Eve and Christmas, the miracle happened. I went into action. I put all the appliances on the counter, put all the spices on the windowsill, rearranged things just so, and began baking. Cookies, my gram's homemade candy, tiramisu, appetizers, and Christmas dinner, -my mom helped but it was nice to have her in my kitchen, preparing a ham together, etc. It was so nice. I think it's funny that it was easier to host my family than to go somewhere else because my kids just chill out at my house instead of getting hyper or something at another house. It never fails that when someone has us over at night, prepared a sit down meal and all, the baby or Shea has a meltdown and one of us is bouncing around a room trying to get them to calm down. They're great kids, but there seems to be a magic hour when 'stuff' hits the fan and goes all over. Sorry, that's a bad mental image. 

Speaking of images, I told my brother at Thanksgiving that my baby never spits up on me. Well, I don't believe in jinxing, but she has now puked on me almost every day since. I usually have a blanket around, but it has somehow found it's way to my clothes. Like the puke is magnetic and so are my clothes.

I apologize that this post is somewhat boring, but I realized that I haven't written in awhile and I wanted to warm my fingers back up. Really it's because I haven't had the time -as it is with everything it seems. I didn't get Christmas cards done either this year. We still have to take the kid's 'Christmas picture' but for me that requires cutting Shea's hair, which requires bathing him and all that just takes time, ya know? Well, we do bathe our children, at least with baby wipes. I do that 'we're going out of the house so while I'm changing my kid I should wipe their hands and face off' -or in my baby's case, clean the creases of the rolls under her chin. That's an adventure I don't love thanks to baby puke. For the record, we do give our kids baths. -maybe not as often as most parents though...

Anyway, if you're reading this, I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas and I hope the New Year is filled with joy! (Although I didn't do the cards, etc, I did spend time with my family just taking in how Blessed we are. I loved watching my two year old get just as excited about chocolate milk in his stocking as he did the legos or train set). I hope you have time to just take in how Blessed you are too, and if you're still reading, thanks for being in our lives!!

Welcome to Jupiter!

I love what kids say. A couple weeks ago my two year old Seamas (Shay-mus) :) blurts out, "Welcome to Jupiter Mama!" "Oh, I've been wondering where I've been!" I respond.  It's nice to know someone knows where I am. He also likes to say things like: "The guys are coming!!" when I'm home alone. Today it was, "Can I talk to the robbers Mama?" "Sure, go right ahead." I don't even know where he learned who robbers are.

The other day while giving him a bath he says, "Welcome to the party!" yikes. I responded "Where's my drink? of water?" It's just so fun to hear the random stuff he comes up with. Some of my favorite made up words are fork=goop, carry me=carmen, and when you say "Smile!" he closes his eyes. We're not sure where that came from, but you can imagine it doesn't help us take good pictures.   :)   If you have time, write down your kids saying in the comments section so we can laugh together!

I have to go get ready for my husband's work party. I'm finally going to see people he works with when I'm not pregnant. Yeah, no pressure there... spanks or no spanks? definitely no spanks. If you've ever tried wearing them you know they are NOT worth the inability to eat or the lack of blood flow throughout your body. -although I think you can burn a few calories just trying to get them on. :)  I also found it funny that when I ironed my outfit earlier (I found time to iron! and actually did it!!) the song "oh there's no place like home for the holidays" was going through my head and it took on new meaning for me.     :)
Peace!

No Greater Love

I could only laugh last night when my husband came down the stairs and said, "Let's just ram our heads into the same wall so I only have to fix one." Then I realized that I must sound like I complain a lot on facebook when I put my kids up for rent and such. ;) Truthfully, I can't get over how awesome my kids are and how amazed I am that I get to be their mom.
So here's my latest musings...
I was holding Meara (Mare-ah) who just turned 4 months and I was amazed that Love creates another human being. We have two already created in our marriage of 3 years. -Less time than it took me to go to college... And then I thought of the line in the Bible, "There's no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (somewhere in the Bible, I'll look it up in a minute-what a good Catholic I am!) Then I thought "Well, I'm called to lay down my life for my kids." Yup, parenthood is martyrdom, although I'm far from being a martyr. And then I realized, I have to lay down my life for my ultimate friend, my spouse. -and we all know marriage is martyrdom. Just kidding Kevin!! And yet it is. We are called to lay down our life for our spouse and children just as Christ layed down His life. Yet instead of thinking of it as nails in our hands and thorns in our head we need to remember that we get way more out of our little sacrifices each day than we could imagine. -Just like Christ had the ultimate resurrection victory, we get the victory of stronger marriages and family when we live in Love, especially sacrificial Love. Just a side note for moms- (or dads) I always think of how the Church was born when the spear pierced Christ's side and blood and water flowed out. I don't think it's just coincidental that when our kids are born (our domestic Church), blood and water flow out. -or whatever happened in your experience...I'll leave it at that. :)
Whoa! So there's a deep thought for ya. I really am just so grateful that I get to be a mom. Butt kicking and all.    :) 

Oh -that quote is John 15:13  

I made it! aka -Parenthood kicks my butt.

Yay! I made it to the fifth posting! It has definitely taken me multiple days of lukewarm coffee cups to get here, but I can tell you this whole mom blog thing has already helped me clear my brain! A new type of therapy. ADHD mom blogging therapy. (I really just said mom blogging 5 times fast in my head, so you know I need help!!) 
Anyway, my husband and I had the epiphany this week that parenthood seriously kicks our butts. Yet it totally kicks butt at the same time. I am so in awe that I've been allowed to care for these two awesome children during my life here on earth. Some parents have been dealt such a tough hand and my heart breaks to hear about what they go through. I almost started crying today when the doctor gave my 4 month old a simple shot! Part of that is the build up of a tough week last week (you know, gouged cornea, mastitis, sick kid...parent butt kicking!) but I find that if I remind myself of what others have been dealt I can at least mentally get through the week if not emotionally. :) Thanks Kev!
Why do women have the ability to break out into tears? I've never seen a man do it. I don't cry that often so I was definitely bummed to put in my first 'crying phone call' to my husband at work. -like he doesn't have a tough job or something, the poor guy needs to deal with his sad wife while in between conference calls. It would have been really great if he had put the call on hold and said "Honey, I'm sorry you're sad, it's going to be ok." to some CEO by mistake. Anyway, he is so loving and that's part of marriage so he didn't mind. Which reminds me of great song by Sara Groves called Loving A Person - if you have a chance to check it out.
By the way, thanks to anyone who is reading this. It makes it so much more fun to write! I have a bunch more thoughts and ideas I need to get out but I'm averaging 10 minutes of alone time per day. I'm sure you know how it is. Just a warning, I had mastitis this week so I've been suppressing my 'breastfeeding sucks' blog. Do yourself a favor and don't look up the word mastitis and I wouldn't read that blog if or when it happens unless you need some womanly camaraderie. :) Thanks!