From that first moment that I saw the 2 pink lines on the pregnancy test(s), I knew my life was just beginning. October 21, 2011... the day I learned that I would become a Mom in exactly 8 short months. One of the best days of my life, besides June 21, 2012 of course. So many different thoughts went through my head... Boy? Girl? What kinds of things did we need to get for baby? What Doctor will I use? Do I need to change my diet? What will the baby look like? What kind of personality will he/she have? Going back many, many years..I knew I always wanted to be a mom one day. And the kind of Mom I wanted to be? A loving Mom. But there is so much more to this amazing job title "Mom." "With love, anything is possible."
Below I am going to list the goals that I have set for myself as a Mother. The person that I want to be for my boys. The expectations that I have set for myself in this role. The role that I treasure and cherish with every ounce of my being.
1. To be a Mom who does everything with LOVE
I will begin and end every single day with hugs and kisses for my children. Throughout the day? They will receive hugs and kisses at any given moment. We will smile and laugh all day long. When there is a problem we are facing, we will deal with it and they will be given the love they need. They will always know how much they are loved, no matter what. Even when I am disciplining my child, it will be done out of love. My children will know that every decision that is made for their life will be based upon all of the love I have for them. They will learn about Jesus and the endless amount of love that He has for them, and from day #1 they will know just how truly special they are.
2. I will have Patience
There will be moments when the children are full of energy and I am about to lose my cool. They are climbing all over the furniture, attempting to jump off..maybe even running around with pots and pans, making noise that the neighbors can probably hear. I might feel like I could burst or scream to the high heavens. During these times, I will take a deep breath and remember just how blessed I truly am. I will take a moment to myself, (...might hide in the bathroom for 2 minutes!) and enter the room with a clear mind and remember that they are only young once. That these little boys are everything I could have ever dreamed of, and so much more. That these moments are creating a lifetime of memories for each one of us.
3. I will use every given opportunity to Teach
At Parker's current age of almost 14 months old, he is a little sponge. The wheels in his mind are constantly spinning and yearning for new information to be thrown at him to process. New words, new commands, new questions.The color of each of his crayons, the name of the flower on the side of the road that we pass on our daily walk, the sounds each animal makes, body part names. You name it...I am teaching it. Right now it just seems so simple to me. As the day goes on, from waking up, through breakfast, play, nap, lunch and into the afternoon, there are just so many different things to teach him. Everything is a lesson right now. It won't always be that simple. Down the road I will be teaching more intense life lessons, but right now I will use every moment to teach. There is so much to be learned in this life we are given. My children will always know that they can ask me whenever they have a question. I will be there to teach them.
4. I will be the Mother who raises a "kind" boy
Strong, masculine, fearless, athletic, smart, successful. These are some adjectives that many people use to describe a boy, or a man. Not often do we describe a boy as "kind," as this is an adjective most commonly used to describe a girl, or woman. Did you ever see the little boy or girl crying on the playground because they fell off the monkey bars and got hurt? What did the person look like that went over to him/her to make sure they were okay? The little girl... right? The little girl who had compassion for her hurt playmate. It is rare that it is a little boy who rushes over to show compassion and to want to help in this kind of situation. Well... my goal is to raise a son who is the one who runs over to the injured child and offers to help. Asks if they are okay and what they can do for them. Kindness goes a long way in life. It begins on the playground and works it's way through adolescence and into marriage. I hope to teach my boys how to be kind to one another and to always remember that you never know what someone else may be going through. Life is tough and I hope that my boys understand that kindness goes a long way.
5. I will be a FUN Mom who encourages an active lifestyle
There will be days where the only thing on the agenda is running errands and cleaning the house, but I want to be the Mom who brings "fun" to everything we do. You only live once, right? There is always time for a trip to the playground or a pit stop for an icecream cone. We will laugh as much as possible and see the positive in every situation. When the weather cooperates we will take a walk, play outside, and get exercise. Too often these days children are spending all of their time sitting in front of the tv, ipod, ipad, video game, etc. My hope is that my boys will want to play on the swing set (instead of being forced outside!) and will know the rules of flashlight tag by the time they are 7. Baseball, soccer, kickball, 5k, tennis...are some of the words that will be in their vocabulary, and not words like Nintendo, DS, computer, lazy, xbox etc.
6. I will be available, in tune, and in the moment
I want to be the Mom who makes herself available to her children. When they have a question or need help with something, I will be right there for them. There will be times when I am busy making dinner or on a phone call, but in 5 minutes I will be right there for them, offering my undivided attention. This may be hard at times, because I may want 2 seconds of peace and quiet but I will realize that this little person needs their Momma in this moment. And I will cherish it. I will love being needed. And I will offer everything I have to give. I will be aware of what is going on and will provide whatever is that my child needs.
7. To be a parent that my boys can trust
I strive to be the Mother that my boys can feel comfortable coming to with any problem they are facing. I want them to ask me anything they have questions about or tell me any story they want to share. I feel that right now with an almost 14 month old it has been easy to create a trusting environment, one that Parker can feel safe in and know that I am there for him no matter what. That I will be right there for him when he falls, will kiss every little boo-boo he gets, and will nourish him and tend to all of his wants and needs. I feel like it will not be that easy when my boys get older because life gets a little bit more complicated; girls, highschool, adolescence, sports, grades, and the list continues. I will be there for them no matter what!
To My Son Parker and unborn Baby #2, I love you so much and want so much for your life! I am so happy and blessed to be your Mom! I love you!
Love,
Mom
Friday, August 16, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
13 Month Update
July 21, 2013
{2 weeks late}
Parker Daniel,
13 months already! Time with you is flying by, which I seem to say every single month. We have been having such a great Summer and staying very busy. Lots of beach days, pool days, playground trips, walks around town and just trying to spend as much time outside as possible. We have been watching Uncle Jack most weeks on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which has kept us even busier. But, Parker, you LOVE your Uncle Jack. On the mornings that we are going to pick up Jack, I ask you if you want to go see him and you get SO excited and want to go outside to get into the car. Your little face lights up as soon as you see him, and his does also! The little bond you two have is the sweetest thing. I mean, you are just so lucky to have a ten year-old Uncle! Here is a whole bunch of pictures showing what we have been up to the past month!
Parker, this past month since you turned 1 has been so much fun. I just enjoy watching all of the new things you learn every single day! You have been repeating everything that we say! You love to talk and get a response from us. At 13 months old you can say "hot, on, off , mow (milk), car, momma, dada, Jack, Nini, cookie, buh buh (bye-bye), hi, pa-pa (paci)" and probably more that I am forgetting. You are wearing Size 3 diapers (still!) but when this box runs out, we are moving up to size 4. You haven't been eating THAT great the past week or two, but you definitely have your better "eating" days. You have 3 cups of milk per day. You weaned yourself all by yourself from breastfeeding right around your first birthday. It was so easy for both of us; I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Your naps have been very sporadic every day. Some days you are ready for a nap at 9:30/10 and some days not until lunch time. Today you slept from 10:30am-1:00pm and then didn't have an afternoon nap, but went to bed right at 7pm. Lately you have been LOVING your pacifier (paci). You not only love sucking on one but holding one as well, especially when you are going to sleep. Before you fall asleep you usually switch from one to the other every 30 seconds, until you are tired enough that you just settle for one of them and hold the other. It really is the funniest thing to watch. I don't know HOW I am going to wean you from this..but it won't be for a while I am sure. My MOST favorite time of day is when I am cuddling with you and rocking you to sleep and you spit your paci out to give me a kiss, wide open mouth and everything. And lately you have been putting your arms around my neck and giving the biggest bear hugs ever. Melt my HEART. It's almost like you know that our lives are going to be changing a bit in 12 weeks or less...(but that's a whole separate post..that I need to write soon!) And one last thing before some more pictures.. This morning you were cuddling in bed with mom and dad and I closed my eyes for a few minutes. Daddy showed you how to rub my arm and you followed him and did so. I realized it was you doing it, and it was the sweetest thing in this entire world. You just know how to make me melt! I am so proud to be your momma. You are the most sweetest little boy!!!!!!! I couldn't have asked for a better son...I love you so much to the moon and back Parker Daniel.
{2 weeks late}
Parker Daniel,
13 months already! Time with you is flying by, which I seem to say every single month. We have been having such a great Summer and staying very busy. Lots of beach days, pool days, playground trips, walks around town and just trying to spend as much time outside as possible. We have been watching Uncle Jack most weeks on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which has kept us even busier. But, Parker, you LOVE your Uncle Jack. On the mornings that we are going to pick up Jack, I ask you if you want to go see him and you get SO excited and want to go outside to get into the car. Your little face lights up as soon as you see him, and his does also! The little bond you two have is the sweetest thing. I mean, you are just so lucky to have a ten year-old Uncle! Here is a whole bunch of pictures showing what we have been up to the past month!
Parker, this past month since you turned 1 has been so much fun. I just enjoy watching all of the new things you learn every single day! You have been repeating everything that we say! You love to talk and get a response from us. At 13 months old you can say "hot, on, off , mow (milk), car, momma, dada, Jack, Nini, cookie, buh buh (bye-bye), hi, pa-pa (paci)" and probably more that I am forgetting. You are wearing Size 3 diapers (still!) but when this box runs out, we are moving up to size 4. You haven't been eating THAT great the past week or two, but you definitely have your better "eating" days. You have 3 cups of milk per day. You weaned yourself all by yourself from breastfeeding right around your first birthday. It was so easy for both of us; I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Your naps have been very sporadic every day. Some days you are ready for a nap at 9:30/10 and some days not until lunch time. Today you slept from 10:30am-1:00pm and then didn't have an afternoon nap, but went to bed right at 7pm. Lately you have been LOVING your pacifier (paci). You not only love sucking on one but holding one as well, especially when you are going to sleep. Before you fall asleep you usually switch from one to the other every 30 seconds, until you are tired enough that you just settle for one of them and hold the other. It really is the funniest thing to watch. I don't know HOW I am going to wean you from this..but it won't be for a while I am sure. My MOST favorite time of day is when I am cuddling with you and rocking you to sleep and you spit your paci out to give me a kiss, wide open mouth and everything. And lately you have been putting your arms around my neck and giving the biggest bear hugs ever. Melt my HEART. It's almost like you know that our lives are going to be changing a bit in 12 weeks or less...(but that's a whole separate post..that I need to write soon!) And one last thing before some more pictures.. This morning you were cuddling in bed with mom and dad and I closed my eyes for a few minutes. Daddy showed you how to rub my arm and you followed him and did so. I realized it was you doing it, and it was the sweetest thing in this entire world. You just know how to make me melt! I am so proud to be your momma. You are the most sweetest little boy!!!!!!! I couldn't have asked for a better son...I love you so much to the moon and back Parker Daniel.
Love,
Your Momma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)