Potty Training Success

I cannot believe that I have not written this yet, but Tate has been Potty Trained for almost a month now! One day he decided he just didn't want to wear diapers and he's been in big boy underwear ever since. The last pack of diapers we bought have now lasted us over a month, which is a record!!

He is doing so well with everything- we are so proud of him.

I have to run to the grocery store...no time for elaborate blogging but I did want to give an update about our latest success.

Love to all~
Merideth

So, as you saw, my husband broke into my blogger account the other day. I was totally blown away by his post- it means so much to know that I am not alone. But then again, even when we are alone- we are NEVER alone if we have Jesus. As a SAHM sometimes we can feel alone- even if we go to playgroup, volunteer at church, have lunch with girlfriends, attend a bible study, etc. We still spend endless hours talking to people that are under 3 feet tall. I have to remind myself to talk to God too. He is always there, always ready and always interested in what I have to say.

Stained

Before I had children, I had two types of clothes: work clothes & play clothes. My first baby was born and had a bad case of acid reflux for 6 months. I gained a new clothes- stained and not stained. The stained clothes were for Target & Wal-Mart- the unstained for Sundays & Dates with my hubby. Now, after two babies I have 2 more categories- really bad stained and not so bad stained. I'm not kidding. Every single shirt I own has a stain. Even my black shirts have little reminders of baby spit up- you know where the black is blacker in some spots than others. It is inevitable. No matter what I wear- I will be stained.

And so it is, the life of a mother. Constant reminders of the little ones who count on you. I consider myself lucky. I'll take stained any day!

My beautiful little family

My wife would never believe that I would post anything on here, but I just wanted to say how proud I am of our little family. Everyday I thank GOD for the opportunity to raise our children and be with my wife. He has answered all of my dreams and even though it is tough, it is always worth it.

Hang in there Mer, I am fighting with you and I believe in us. You are a great mother and our boys are always shown love. I love you and thanks for the memories that you have helped create together.

Your Hubby

Peace in this life

My stove top has dust on it. That should tell you the extent to which I have been fulfilling my "homemaker" duties. I have become quite creative in dreaming up meals that don't require a heat source other than the microwave. I used to love to cook. I would try new recipes and sit with anticipation as my husband took the first bite of my creations. I used to scour cookbooks for healthy, yet declicious-sounding meals. I used to make sure I had each food group represented and tried to serve food of every color of the rainbow. Last night my oldest son had boxed macaroni and cheese and cut up fruit for dinner. My youngest, when after turning his nose up at canned chicken noodle soup and a helping of black beans, would only accept oatmeal for his supper.

I am tired.

My floors need to be mopped. The carpet needs cleaning and I NEED a BREAK!

It is so very hard to remain positive after a day like yesterday when Britton literally screams the whole day unless I am holing him; when Tate feels personally rejected because, no I won't let him have bubble gum since he has swallowed every other piece I have ever tried to give him. The laundry is piled and our suitcase from 3 weeks ago sits on the bedroom floor unpacked.

This too, shall pass. I know that, Lord.

The most creative thing I did yesterday was build a fort for my son. I think I made his day...possibly his week. He delights in the little things.

Help me, Lord to count my blessings. To thank YOU for the constant chatter streaming out of my toddler's mouth- for he is able to speak! To revel in rocking my baby to sleep for the 4th nap time attempt- he is alive to hold and cuddle.

Ground me, Oh Lord. Give me strength to press on through fatigue and dissapointment. Remind me that I am ever so blessed and though sometimes I feel like I am on the brink of insanity- I prayed for this life for years and years and there is no place I would rather be, no one I would have rather become than the person you made me to be.

Thank you , Lord. Thank you.

Thoughts

Soooo, I haven't exactly been the most avid blogger lately. I rarely blog without pictures to post but I think that a blog should be about more than photographs. Memories, thoughts, dreams- they all belong here.

Today was so rainy and cold- the kind of day that all you want to do is drink coffee and read a book on the couch covered in a favorite quilt. As mother of young children though, that just cannot be done. There are bowls of cereal to be filled, sippy cups to distribute, sticky hands to clean and food-laden floors to mop.

The Playgroup girls and I threw a little impromptu shower for Michelle today. It was nice to have the gang back together again. We haven't met all together since December and doing so again reminded me of why this group was started in the first place.

As I looked around the room today at my precious mother-friends, I thought how amazing it was that I was in the presence of truly great women and all WONDERFUL mothers. We each have our own way of doing things- one mom tries to keep sweets from the hands of her toddler, another mom thinks organic foods are the key to good health, a few moms let their kids wander without worry while some moms hover over their little one "just to make sure". No matter how we parent or what choices we make for our children, I know without a doubt that we are all doing what we think is best for our kids. We may make different choices along the way for our babies, but one thing rings true for us all- we LOVE our children and we are doing the best we can, the best way we know how.

*****

Something else that has been on my mind latley is the MOPS group that our church is starting. I have been prayhing faithfully that the women who are called to work as leaders in this ministry will find their way to me- or I them. I have never been more passionate about any other ministry in my life. I truly believe that God has called on our church to charter and support this group. There are countless mothers out there in this city, county, state and world who are all going through the same things right now. They are all filled with the excitement of being a new mother yet plaqued by the fear of never "being enough" or "doing enough". The blessing is that the Lord IS Enough- that is all we need to know.

Please pray for this group as we continue to recruit our leadership team. 4 positions have been filled but 4 more still remain. I know that God has already chosen these women- some of who may not feel ready or adequate (I was neither) but as I may have mentioned here before- God does not call the "ready" or "equipped" or "adequate"- He "prepares, equips and empowers" the called.

Blessings, sweet friends.