2008 June — We are THAT Family

The Dream Vacation

12:01 am Bykristen

I’ve told of you of my daughter’s deep love for dolls.

And I love that she loves them.

Whatever it takes to keep her little.

Santa brought her an American Girl doll last year.

She even celebrated her 8th birthday with other girls and their dolls.And oh, the love runs deep.

It seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit one of the only American Girl stores in the United States on our way to our Family Reunion this past weekend.

So, we did.

My daughter had saved $30 over the past 3 months by doing odd jobs for family members. It took quite a while for her decide on a souvenir.

I mean, who could decide easily with choices like these?

And after an hour in the store, my hubby pointed at this giant poster of the girls with their matching dolls and said, “Okay, that’s a little much!”

Yeah, it was time to go. I was tired of looking at price tags for tiny doll clothes that were more than people clothes, anyway.

My daughter was thrilled, paid for her souvenir and we headed towards the hotel.

Now, my son is six and typically very laid back. The last thing I expected was this:

“Hey, Mom and Dad, did we plan this whole day to stop there just for my sister?” he asked.

“Well, yes, we did,” my hubby said. ”It was special and something we probably won’t do again.”

He thought about it for a second and said, “Do you think sometime we could plan a special trip just for me?”

“Sometime,” my hubby said. “But lets be happy for your sister, okay?”

“Oh, I am.” And then a few minutes later, “I know!” he exclaimed. ”I know what my dream vacation would be!”

We prepared ourselves for some outlandish Nascar or Lego dream.

“My dream is to take a trip and find some toot putty. The kind that comes in a little can and you put your finger in it and it sounds like toots,” he said.

“We might be able to make that dream come true on this trip,” my hubby laughed.

The sheer joy on his face was priceless.

Toot putty.

A dream come true.

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DIYP #5- Picture Perfect Plates

7:00 am Bykristen

I’m so excited about today’s DIYP! I saw this idea about six months ago in the 2007 Winter Issue of Better Homes and Gardens. And I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.

One of my favorite things to decorate with is photos. I love old family heirloom pictures and recent black and white photographs of my kids.

I also have a plate fetish and love my small collection of toile plates.

This project incorporates both photos and plates to form something picture perfect.

Last night, I gave my DIY project to my Mom for her birthday. I loved it so much, I’m going to make some to keep.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose a plate. I chose a white/off-white theme for a classic look for my mom. (I did a photo plate collection of my mom’s grandchildren. I didn’t pay more than $4 a plate since I shopped the clearance tables).

2. Enlarge photo. I increased mine to an 8×10 and printed them (Walgreens) in black and white. (I think any snapshot would be lovely, I decided to do portraits. A wedding photo or birthday picture would be a great idea for an anniversary gift or birthday present).

3. With a pencil and a compass set to half the diameter of the plate’s center area, make a circle on a piece of copy paper.

4. Cut the circle out.

5. Use this as a guide to place on the photo and cut the picture into a circle.

6. Adhere the photo to the plate with double-sided tape.

7. Display plate with a plate stand (Walmart, $3.50)

Total Cost of one photo plate: less than $10

I thought my mom would enjoy a collection of plates featuring her grandchildren.

By the way, she loved them. They brought tears to her eyes. Happy 60th, Mom!

Don’t forget to check out the awesome giveaway going on RIGHT NOW! Wouldn’t you like to win this? Or a custom one? Go, now, it ends tonight!

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Who Will I Be?

12:01 pm Bykristen

My eight year old is changing.

She has always been strong and independent. As a toddler, she pushed away my hand and refused extra help.

Once she started school, she hugged me in the car, but not in front of her friends.

But lately, I’ve noticed a difference.

She hasn’t been able to get enough of me.

At first, I didn’t note the little things. She was a bit more affectionate, emotional and needy.

It was a little more obvious when she started clinging to me and asking me not to leave at night for my random coffee with friends.

Last week, she asked to sleep in one of my old t-shirts. I thought it was funny, but harmless, so I let her have her pick.

Four days ago she asked if we could dress alike for church and begged for me to wear her glittery lip gloss. (I did and was surprised by the yummy flavor!)

Yesterday, she curled up in bed with me, wrapping her arms tightly around my chest and asked if we could snuggle. She mumbled something about loving my “mommy smell” and buried her face in my neck.

Okay. She had my full attention. All the little things had formed one big thing.

We talked and giggled and I discovered that my little girl was transforming into a big girl. We’ve seen a touch of moodiness and some tears. But even more, a deep questioning of who she will be.

And she’s looking at one person.

Gulp.

She is watching me so closely. I can feel the sideway glances and can sense her desire to mirror me. Her hand is reaching for mine like a tiny child.

I feel like I’m a good mom, far from perfect, but the Mom I’m supposed to be. But when I think about her wanting to emulate me, I falter, a little.

I’m a little impatient. And I’m too quick to speak, and slow to listen. I am vain about some things that don’t matter and I complain about some of my responsibilities. I yell too much and don’t pray often enough.

When I see my daughter wanting to be like me, I have to ask myself one question:

Am I what I want my daughter to be?

And I feel challenged to be the best, not only for my children, but for me. I want to live everyday to the fullest and accomplish my dreams, that are separate from my role as Mom.

My life is not over; it has just begun.

My daughter wonders who she will be.

And so do I.

Food for the Soul:

I Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Don’t forget to check out the awesome giveaway going on RIGHT NOW! Wouldn’t you like to win this? Or a custom one? Go, now, it ends soon!

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How About a Giveaway?

7:00 am Bykristen

We have a winner! Congrats to Kimbrah! Check your email! Thanks for commenting and visiting. And thanks to The Rocking Pony for the giveaway!

I think I’ve made it pretty clear on this blog o’ mine that I don’t want my kids to grow up.

Too quickly. And then there are days, I’m looking at boarding schools.

I’m just saying.

They make me laugh. They make me cry. They make my world a sunny place.

As much as I want to slow down time, I must admit that I’m glad we’re out of the teeny tiny baby stage. I loved my newborns, don’t get me wrong, but I’m thankful they all sleep thru the night and are on solid food. You know? It takes me a good year to feel normal again after the birthing.

I mean, honestly, after I had my babies, I was one of those moms who was disheveled, leaking breast milk, and just trying to get thru the moment. The whole natural process wasn’t exactly natural.

We made one more baby step towards toddlerhood last week. We went from this giant diaper bag:

To this:

This handy diaper/wipee case holds several diapers, a wipe case and it has a pocket for my wallet and phone!

And we did it with the help of The Rocking Pony, an adorable Etsy store. I discovered Karen’s lovely store, through her blog. She wrote the most amazing post about the birth of her fourth child who has Down’s Syndrome. Her honesty touched me. And I could relate to her.

She is a super talented seamstress and designs incredible one-of-a-kind shirts. Just look at this one that I’d like to get for my son. And I love that one for my daughter.

The Rocking Pony has generously offered to create an amazing shirt for a reader. Go and look around here, come back and leave a comment with what you liked or what you’d like Karen to design for you (she can do ANY size shirt)!

Comments will be closed on Saturday evening at 10 pm (CST). Please leave only one comment.

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Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You-Not Meant to Be A Cook

7:00 am Bykristen

Hi, welcome to this week’s edition of ‘Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You! You can read about the guidelines here if you want to link up and grab the ‘fro button.

I ran across this picture, taken around Christmas, of me at ‘my desk’ also known as, my kitchen counter. That got me thinking about my use of my kitchen, in general.

And specifically about this fact: Just because I love food, doesn’t mean I enjoy preparing it.

I feel so much better about confessing that.

Some of my favorite memories involve the yummiest of dishes that I did not prepare.

Cooking does not come naturally to me. I don’t have auto measurements programmed into my brain.

I do not watch cooking shows.

I do not say “Bam” when I throw spices into my food.

I do not own an apron, although I think they are pretty. (I’m sorry Apron Queen ,I hope we can still be friends).

I am not meant to be a cook.

Oh, I cook. Often. But in an effort to be transparent, I would call it more of a heat and stir method.

The word ‘cook’ is really a compliment and a stretch, at best.

If I had to recall a homemade recipe from memory, it would include a can of this and a frozen bag of that.

My specialty would be Texas Chili, which I make up with whatever I have on-hand, but is surprisingly spicy and tasty. But just the phrase my speciality in reference to my cooking, makes me cackle.

Loudly.

But my chili makes people think I can cook. And that’s just fine with me.

I let my hubby cook whenever he wants to, which is usually when I say we’re having grilled cheese.

Now, baking? That’s a different category entirely. I somewhat enjoy baking because of the results if produces. I love cakes and cookies and pies (I think that covers all the baking categories).

So, do my thighs.

Once, I bought a store-bought casserole and put it in my own casserole dish for a church function.

Shame will do that to you, people.

I consider my microwave a dear friend.

I’ve burned myself so often that I keep a stick of butter nearby just for such instances. Nothing like being prepared or serving that stick by mistake. Oh, I kid, about serving it.

I was asked to contribute family recipes to our Family Reunion Cookbook. I racked my brain for hours and every recipe I came up with involved a can good. I sent them in. This wasn’t even embarrassing until I started packing for the Reunion.

We had just renovated our kitchen in the picture. The granite is black and tan speckled. The cabinets are black with sanded edges to make it look aged. The walls are a deep mustard color and the cafe curtains (one of my favorite parts) are barn red and mustard.

You would think this color and renovation would inspire me.

Oh, and it does. I do some of my best mundane blogging on that granite.

I’m a smart girl and I can read, like on a third grade level. So it’s not so much that I cannot cook, I’m just not meant to be one.

I’d like to thank Happy Mommy for inspiring me with this post after she tagged me with a cooking meme. Check hers out here. She’s a real cook.

Now, it’s your turn to share ‘fro you to me!

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An Important Parenting Tip

7:00 am Bykristen

I’d like to offer you a parenting tip today.

I took this photo a couple of months ago. Just because I want to remember the rolls.

There’s just nothing cuter than a baby girl in a dress.

The chubby legs. The cute tush. The femininity.

She inherited her thighs from me. One day, she will not thank me.

One of the best parts of all those little girly dresses is the diaper covers.

You know, because they coordinate.

We all know how important that is.

The other day I was in a hurry to pick up my older kids from VBS. I had about 57 seconds to change a diaper and shove her pudgy feet into her shoes.

I quickly changed my squirmy girl and forgot to put her diaper cover back on.

Maybe because it would take too long or because cute doesn’t matter when you’re in a hurry.

We will never know.

I grabbed a shoe and realized I dropped the other one somewhere in the house.

After a quick shoe hunt, I grabbed her up and decided she could ride with one shoe on and I would put the other one on at the church.

But. Something. Happened. During. That. 57. Seconds.

Because when I got to VBS and reached to unbuckle my child from her car seat, not only was her diaper cover missing, so was her diaper.

Oh, yeah.

She was nekid. At VBS.

Under that cute dress.

So, here’s my tip: diaper covers are not for cute only. They are actually functional in keeping the toddler from removing her diaper while Mommy is not looking.

While I realize this isn’t exactly an earth-shattering tip and even considered obvious by some (ahem, hubby), this is my third kid and honestly the first time we’ve gone to church with an exposed, um, bottom.

So, I just thought I’d share.

You are welcome.

I’m here to serve you.

For more helpful tips, visit Works For Me Wednesday

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Flying By the Seat of Her Pants

8:00 pm Bykristen

Can you say:

Fly.

Away.

Hair.

For more Wordless Photos, visit 5 Minutes For Mom!

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Hungry

3:08 pm Bykristen

I don’t know the meaning of hunger.

Oh, there are moments, when I’m dieting, that I think I will faint without something sweet.

Not exactly the definition of starving.

But at my fingertips, I have a vast array of choices and could satisfy my stomach at my choosing.

I have noticed the rise in food costs and the increase in fuel. I’ve renewed my membership to The Grocery Game to build up my pantry and we’ve opted to stay closer to home for our summer road trips.

But, we are still eating as much as we want (and that’s why I need to diet) and we have enough money to purchase gasoline, even though we cringe at the pump.

My home is slightly affected by the changes in our economy.

But when you look at our world and read about the Global Food Crisis, I am in the minority.

Tomorrow, June 25, has been declared a day of fasting and prayer for hungry people around our globe.

Can you imagine offering your daughter soup made from tree leaves? Or encouraging your son to sleep during lunch, so his hungry tummy won’t hurt so badly?

I cannot.

Blessings abound in America. When we see $4 a gallon, we complain, but we continue our life.

We eat.

Today, I watched a video clip about an 11 year old boy in Indonesia who was being given to an orphanage because his parents could no longer feed him and his two younger brothers. How could they? I swallowed the lump in my throat as I heard his mother say, “Be tough.”

Love knows no limits.

Take a minute to pray for those who are less fortunate. When you look into the precious face of your child today, picture the mother across the ocean who is asking God for a miracle to feed her child, and pray for her.

The next bite of food you take, pause, whisper a prayer for those without. Share this with your kids and make a difference. You can visit Compassion International and give here.

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The Gifted & The Talented

7:00 am Bykristen

Last week, my 8 year old daughter spent 6 hours taking tests.

In the summer.

Because she is special.

Or at least that was her response when I told her she was going to do some achievement tests.

Yes, her self esteem is doing well. Thank you.

I explained that we were allowing the gifted and talented testing to help eliminate boredom and excessive talking in the classroom.

Oh.

When I picked her up the second day, she told me all about another student she met.

“Mom, she is so smart. And so are her parents. Her Dad is working on a medication to cure diabetes, right now. And her Mom is on the research team with him and she’s testing the medicine on lab rats!” she explained excitedly.

“Wow,” I said and I will admit I felt rather ignorant. I mean, the smartest thing I’d done all day was keep my toddler’s reaching hand out of her poop diaper.

Because yesterday she was quicker than me.

And so, baiting my smarty-pants daughter, I said, “Well, that is awesome. I guess most of the kids who tested with you have really smart parents. Right?”

She thought about that a minute and I could almost hear her brain working.

“I guess you’re right. I must get it from Dad.”

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I’m Glad I’m a Woman-Reason #27

5:42 pm Bykristen

Have you heard about the female hiker who was just saved after spending 70 hours hanging off of a cliff?

She attached her sports bra to a logging cable in order to signal for help.

The bra caught the attention of a group of lumberjacks who called a rescue team.

Can you just imagine that conversation?

Rescuers credit her ingenuity. That bra gave her sagging morale a real push-up. If those men hadn’t seen the waving bra, she would have been under the wire. She needed their support.

Just one more reason I’m glad to be a woman.

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Where Everybody Knows Your Name

7:00 am Bykristen

I almost didn’t tell you about this.

But I knew you, my dear, faithful readers, would understand.

Because you know me. You know my kids.

And you can completely understand how it is entirely possible to end up in the Emergency Room. Twice. In. One. Week. (Actually, about 5 days, but who’s counting?)

Oh, I wish I was kidding. I thought about not sharing this because, you know, you might think I was serious about the name of my blog.

I mean, I wouldn’t want you to think we really are THAT family.

But. We. Are.

We met my parents for dinner at one of our local favorites. We cleaned our plates and let the baby join the other kids in the game room area. She was having a ball, sticking her hands in the gum ball machines and eating off the floor.

She sauntered back over to our table, crawled up on the picnic table seat and with all four adults watching, she slipped through the space between the bench and the table and landed head-first on the concrete.

The hit made a sickening sound.

I jumped to grab her and smeared ketchup all over my hands. So, when I picked her up, my family thought she was bleeding.

And it probably would have been more of a relief to see a small gash.

Nope. Nothing.

Only a pale, screaming child, who began vomiting from her head injury.

I’m so not kidding.

And she couldn’t walk. We let her stumble around for about 12 seconds and decided an ER visit was for dessert.

My parents took my older kids home and the hubby and I sped to the hospital.

They rushed us back to triage to check her pupils and look her over.

The nurse recognized me. From my visit on Father’s Day.

So did the Doctor.

By this time, our toddler was acting more herself (as in dumping the contents of my purse onto the floor).

As the Doctor tried to decide whether or not to sedate her for a CT scan, the nurse commented on our frequent visits.

And so I said, “Yeah, we’re like THAT family.”

I thought my hubby was going to choke on his own saliva. Later he said, “My word, why didn’t you just pull out your laptop and see if the ER had WiFi, so they could read today’s entry!”

I told him I couldn’t help myself.

They gave our toddler a bag of cookies and cup of apple juice to see if she would continue throwing up.

She didn’t and she enjoyed the snack.

They sent us home with stern instructions to wake her up every few hours all night long and return if she vomited or her stumbling grew worse.

We signed off on all the papers they shoved in our face as the discharge nurse called, “See you in a couple of days for stitches.”

That’s verbatim, people.

And the receptionist encouraged us just to ‘come for coffee next time if we really wanted to see them.’

Yeah, we’re pretty much gonna have to move. To another town. Immediately.

*Update* Our toddler showed no further signs of a concussion and after we berated ourselves for our negligence, we all slept happily ever after. The End. Until the next time…

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A World Without Purpose

12:00 pm Bykristen

A high school in a small Massachusetts’s town had 17 pregnant girls at the end of the school year.

Seventeen.

Apparently, these girls made a pact to get pregnant on purpose. The majority of them are 16 years old or younger.

You can read the article here. Here is an excerpt:

“Time magazine reporter Kathleen Kingsbury, who wrote the story, said the seaside city has experienced a lot of economic hardship and seems to have many young people without direction.

“They didn’t have anyone really instructing them on how to create a life plan,” she told CBC Newsworld by telephone.

“Some of them decided that this was going to be their life plan, that they were going to be mothers, and by being mothers, they would be someone.”

This is so disturbing to me.

Let’s show our kids, by example, that our lives have purpose and direction because we follow Him.

Be purposeful.

Food for the Soul:

Psalm 33:11, “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

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Is That Bad?

7:00 am Bykristen

A friend and I stopped by Chick Fil A the other day. I needed a sweet tea.

“Uh, yes, I need a large sweet tea,” I said to the drive-thru speaker. “Want anything?” I whispered to my friend. She shook her head no.

“Okay, Kristen. That’s $1.67,” the speaker answered.

As I pulled around, I could feel my friend staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

“That lady, in the speaker, she KNEW YOUR NAME!” she said in disbelief.

“Oh, that. Yeah, I come here. A lot. It’s funny, she recognizes my voice now and . . .” my words trailed off.

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Because she was really staring now. Intensely.

“What? Oh, is that bad?”

Obviously it never dawned on me that it wasn’t normal for fast food restaurants to recognize you BEFORE they see you.

This opened up a whole new dimension of thinking. Hmmm, I wonder how many things I do that aren’t normal for other people.

Wow. That’s deep.

I’m a little worried now. Can you help me decide if these things are bad?

Besides knowing my name and debit card number, the Chick Fil A lady frequently comments on how easy it is to make sweet tea at home and how fattening it is.

I still go back. Almost daily. Is that bad?

My baby’s second and third words were ‘chicken nugget?’ Is that bad?

My one year old got into the pantry the other day while I was in cyberspace. She dumped out a bag of tiny marshmallows. She shoveled them in her mouth. I let her. Is that bad?

I love Carmel Delights made by the lovely Girl Scouts. The other day, my daughter asked if there were any left. “No,” I replied quickly. No, because I’m hiding the last two to eat later. When I’m alone. Is that bad?

I do not enjoy unloading the dishwasher. Every once in a while, when I feel overwhelmed, I pretend they are still dirty and wash them again. Is that bad?

On a full moon, sometimes I innocently hand the baby to my hubby, KNOWING she’s stinky. Is that bad?

I love cupcakes.

More than some people.

Is that bad?

Sometimes I go to Target. Okay, I go 4.5 times a week. When I wear red, my kids wonder if I work there. Is that bad?

Occasionally, I slip a tabloid into my cart at the store and then hide it when church people come over. Is that bad?

When I REALLY need a break, I leave my 8 year old to watch my other kids and go to the movies—

Shoot. I KNOW that’s bad. Just making sure you’re still reading! And I’m completely kidding!

Since I’m starting to see faults in my moral compass, I’ll leave it with just one more . . .

I have been known to hurt people for chocolate. Is that bad?

This was originally posted in February 2008

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DIYP #4- An Instant Vase

7:00 am Bykristen

I love magazines. I always have a giant pile next to my bed that I’m making my way through.

Some of my best DIY projects are things I’ve seen in decor magazines. I tear out my favorite pages and stick it into a folder for inspiration later.

And you’ve been wondering who tore out magazine pages in the dentist’s office?

[sheepish wave in progress]

I saw this idea in the latest Better Homes & Gardens “100 Decorating Ideas for Under $100″ Issue.

It’s by far one of my favorite quarterly publications.

I love fresh flowers. I wish I could have a gorgeous vase full in every room. All the time.

But I’m not THAT family, unfortunately.

Every once in a while, my hubby brings home flowers. *Hint, Hint*

And after holidays, like Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, I buy the half price bundles. But most of my fresh flowers come from my flower beds or when my kids bring me ~~weeds~~ flowers with the stems wrapped in wet paper towels.

Now, here’s what I do with them thanks to this great idea: I gather an empty toothbrush holder, a salt shaker or a cheese sprinkler.

I can stick loose stems in the tiny holes. These are perfect holders for little weeds or the fragrant Gardenias from my yard.

I just fell in love with this idea because I have these little containers on hand and they look so nice in the bathrooms and entryway.

So, go, pick a flower and grab an instant vase.

It’s sure to brighten your day!

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To Whom It May Concern

7:00 am Bykristen

Dear Mr. Fly,

In an effort to explain my children’s recent behavior, I must start at the beginning.

A week ago, my family drove 40 minutes to the Ikea mega store. We only go a few times a year, so I’m sure you can imagine my shopping excitement. But as soon as we arrived, my sweet son became ill. My hubby, who understands my deep-seeded shopping issues, encouraged me to make a quick run through the store with the other children, while he tended our son.

Well. That was a lot of pressure. With such a limited window of time, I hurried through the enormous store and grabbed a few items from the $1.99 bins. And that’s when I discovered this:

I didn’t travel all that way in order to buy a fly swatter. But it was pink. And it was a $1.99. And it was a twin pack. No further explanation needed.

Once I got home, I put away my new packages of napkins and paper plates and the $.99 tote bags. (Of course, I threw away the one my son puked in on the way home. I’m not that frugal). I stuck the fly swatters on top of the ‘fridge.

Even though it’s terribly hot here, I like to pretend there is a breeze and open my back door so I can keep an eye on my kids playing in the backyard. Some of your friends take the opportunity to make themselves at home.

Now, I’m not a calloused person. I care for God’s creatures. While you’re not my favorite, I don’t want to kill you. But unfortunately, every time you land on something in my home, my kids scream, “Poop! Every time a fly lands, he poops!” Sometimes they throw the word, “vomit” in there, too.

Well. Since we’re up to our ears in poop & vomit most days, I couldn’t exactly encourage this.

So, I gave my kids each a pink fly swatter and taught them how to use it.

Not my finest parenting moment.

But I would like to apologize, Mr. Fly, because I got busy cooking dinner and I eventually noticed my children were missing.

I was shocked to discover them in the back yard.

With the swatters.

They killed your cousin and your aunt and probably, your grandpa.

I even heard my daughter say, “Die, fly. I don’t even care if you have a family.”

She was rebuked and the swatters were taken away.

I hope you can forgive us.

Yours truly,

THAT family

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Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You-Grace

7:00 am Bykristen

Thanks for joining me today for my little carnival of remembering. If you want to link up, you can read the details and grab the button here.

This is the first time I’ve ever written this story.

For months after my third child was born, I told it over and over to anyone who would listen. I think I was trying to purge myself of painful memories, doubt and guilt.

Then I read in some parenting magazine that women who tell their traumatic birth stories again and again need to let it go.

And so I did.

Until now. I stumbled upon this picture the other day (meeting my daughter for the first time) and I want to tell you the story.

After God did a miracle in my marriage, I started dreaming of having another baby. A third child. We already had a girl and boy and thought we were done.

But then, we fell in love again. And it just seemed right to create a baby from our new union.

I got pregnant right away, but that precious baby flew to the arms of Jesus.

Several months later, I conceived again. I was very sick from the beginning and spent almost the entire summer in bed, watching my six and four year old play in the backyard from my window.

My pregnancy was a nightmare. I faced serious problems throughout from a kidney stone, among other complications. During my pregnancy, I was seen by 5 specialists, took 14 rounds of antibiotics, and had a medical procedure by a Urologist when I was 27 weeks pregnant without anesthesia.

At 32 weeks, they diagnosed my baby with a failure to thrive and decided to deliver her.

I went through hours of labor and developed a fever from the infection that wracked my body and she was delivered by emergency c-section.

It was terrifying. I remember being rushed down the hall and the panic that surrounded me. And do you know how I felt? Even in that moment of terror, I was simply relieved that my hellish pregnancy was ending.

My hubby nearly missed the whole surgery because he had gone to Walmart for slippers. (Yeah, about six months after my baby was born, we argued about that!)

My tiny daughter was born and whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care because she wasn’t breathing well and they were considering transporting her to a hospital downtown.

I sent my hubby to be with her. He stayed by her side the entire night, praying.

She was born on Dec. 16th. Part of her name is Grace, to remind us of God’s grace to our marriage. I spent my birthday and my anniversary in the hospital. She stayed through Christmas and New Year’s.

Guilt was my friend during my hospital stay. I felt terrible for wishing for her early birth and scared that she wouldn’t make it because of my body’s inability to sustain her in utero.

I could write a post just about holding her for the first time, she was nearly a week old and another post about the NICU experience.

The night that I will remember forever was Christmas Eve. We were home trying to make things ‘normal’ for our other kids. It was bedtime and we got a call from the hospital. Our baby had taken a turn for the worse and they wanted us to come.

My Mom slept on my sofa and my Dad went with us to the hospital.

It was the most difficult night of my life, watching my tiny baby stripped naked, hooked to wires, fighting for her life. My Dad laid hands on her and prayed.

And I cried.

Nothing else mattered at that moment. Not the car I drove, the decor in my home or the money in the bank.

It was about life and not losing it. And about me, giving God my child.

That was hard.

She stabilized and we made it home just in time for Santa to fill the stockings.

I fought back the tears while my children unwrapped presents. At one point, my daughter said, “Are you sad, Mommy?”

My son piped in, “She’s just happy because Santa gave her just what she wanted: a baby.”

I hugged my kids and sobbed.

We spent Christmas afternoon at the hospital and every day after that until our baby came home.

We learned CPR and she stayed on a heart monitor until she was six months old.

We returned to celebrate her one year anniversary at the hospital and delivered gifts for the NICU babies and treats for the doctors and nurses (we hope to make this an annual visit).

And here she is today, a healthy handful and a true reminder of God’s Grace.

I don’t let her cry as much as I should and I spoil her too often. But when you come so close to losing someone so precious, it stays with you forever.

Food for the Soul:

I Cor. 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”

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Some Days, Parenting Bites!

7:00 am Bykristen

It’s not easy being the baby of the family.

Some days, it’s just down right hard.

Just ask my third child.

She is carted all over town. Many days, I have to wake her from nap time to pick up or take my older kids to their activities.

She is exposed to toys and choking hazards daily. Every person in our family has done the finger swipe to clear tiny objects from slipping into her esophagus.

She is not enrolled in a toddler music class or a tot program. Because I’m mean. And let’s just face it, I don’t plan to, until she asks.

If her pacifier hits the floor, it’s not even cleansed with spit. Odds are, it’s not even wiped off.

She can stand up to have her diaper changed, if I’m in a hurry. Which I am. In a hurry.

Her favorite food is fast and favorite drink is generally the one NOT in a sippy cup.

And her favorite phrase? ”Let’s go.”

Because we do. All the time.

She has come up with a new way of getting some attention in this crazy family. It stops us all in our tracks.

And oh, she makes her mark.

Literally.

[insert picture here] This is where I show you a picture of the BITE mark on my upper thigh area. But if you think you’re going to see my upper thigh, you’re kidding.

It’s for your protection. Seriously.

I thought she was going to hug my leg.

It turns out she was still hacked off that I pried her sibling’s Capri Sun from her sticky hands.

And now, when our sweet baby leans in for a kiss or puts her arms up to be held, do you know what I do?

I flinch.

So, how do you stop an 18 month old from biting?

Because being bit, bites.

I googled for an answer. I came across these tips from here.

1) Firmly say “No bite!” and remove the biting child offender from the situation.

2) Administer an appropriate consequence such as removal of the toy or a time-out for a biting child.

3) Lavish positive attention on the bitten person.

4) Use distraction between young kids and watch their interaction closely to avoid placing youngsters–especially one to be known to be a biting child–in a conflict situation.

5) Resist the temptation to bite a biting child back as a way to “show them” their wrongs. Use a positive approach instead. You don’t want your toddler telling his teacher that he bites because that’s what his parents do!

Yeah, #5 got me, so, we stopped biting her and that seems to help.

For more great tips, visit Works For Me Wednesday.

P.S. Between writing this and pushing the publish button, she bit me again. On the shoulder. Another fake hug. So, I’m open to suggestions.

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When Time Stood Still

7:00 am Bykristen

As I sat in the Emergency Room with my 6 year old son, I pulled his feverish body close to mine and rubbed my hands in his hair.

Not exactly the way I planned to spend Father’s Day.

My son had been feeling badly most of the weekend. In our home, the squeaky wheel gets the most oil and, well, he’s not squeaky. E-ver. He’s so unassuming and easy-going that by the time I realized he was really sick, his temperature was 103.8 and his throat was so swollen he could hardly swallow. He needed antibiotics and, of course, the only thing open was the ER.

And so, I left my hubby home with a napping toddler and an 8 year old to answer his ringing bell.

As we waited, I held my son’s small hand in mine. I traced his jaw line with my finger and noticed a couple of new freckles. I watched his dark lashes grace his cheek and the rhythm of his breathing.

Can I just say that I enjoyed every single minute of it? Not that he was sick or that we were sitting and waiting, but just the quiet of the moment, to take him in.

And notice.

How did he get to be so big? My chubby toddler with curls was long gone.

Three elderly people walked in and sat across from us. The husband escorted his frail wife in front of us to address the gash on her forehead.

They left a sweet 73 year old lady in the waiting room, named Emma.

She watched me stroke my son’s head. We started chatting. She was visiting her sister and brother-in-law from Ohio. Her sister was very ill with Alzheimer’s and she wanted to see her while she still remembered. She shared that it was hard watching her sister lose her independence and struggle with daily activities. Just a few minutes before she had fallen and cut her head on the dishwasher.

Emma told me she lost her own husband just six months ago, after 43 years of marriage. ”I don’t like living alone. It’s hard.” She shared that she had eleven children- ten sons and one daughter. Her daughter died when she was 36 years old with a brain tumor. She told me about her new job and how she was trying to live a full life. She told me her deceased husband’s favorite joke and smiled kindly at my son.

There was nothing to pity about Emma. She had a sparkle in her eye and a beautiful smile.

We were still talking when my son’s name was called. She stopped me and said softly, “That was my husband’s name, too.”

And something in that moment, made me want time to stand still. And I think it did. Just for a minute. Long enough for me to realize that it doesn’t stop.

But I should.

Because every day my kids are getting older. My parents are aging and one day I will be old. I might be alone, like Emma. And I want my eyes to sparkle because I have lived well.

I think my intuitive son sensed something about that moment. He squeezed my hand and once we were settled in another room, climbed into my lap.

“Mom, I don’t have to get married and move out one day. I can live with you forever, okay?”

“Forever?” I asked.

“Well, maybe me and my wife can move in with you.”

I hugged him and whispered to myself, “Stay six all day, okay?”

Time stood still and I noticed.

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Just an Average Day

7:00 am Bykristen

What a deal: Buy one can of spaghetti rings, get one ring free!

For more Show ‘n Tell, visit Kelli’s House .

I have no idea why this is all underlined, but I can’t make it stop. Go away. No, not you, just the pesky black line.

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King for the Day

12:01 am Bykristen

Hail to the King! Hail to the King!

In a few hours, my hubby will awake.

And be crowned.

He will relax on his thrown.

When he needs something, he will just give his bell a ring.

And his servants will heed the call.

His feet will be propped up on a cooler filled with his favorite drinks.

The remote is strapped to the chair, waiting to do his bidding.

Nascar will blare on the TV.

Favorite candy and snacks adorn the sacred area.

The streamers and balloons announce his Greatness.

A picture of his Royal servants will greet him. A Nascar grilling cookbook will quench his kingly boredom.

Coupons from his prince and princess are at his disposal. (One free back scratch and a Texas Tickle Crunch Box are but a few).

When he gets into his Royal Chariot, he will be surprised at the loving grafitti.

Especially since he has an important business meeting early Monday morning.

Happy Father’s Day, King Daddy and Hubby.

We love you!

I’ll add a picture of his Royal Greatness later today! Hopefully of his surprised face!

Yeah, I think he’s gonna have a good day. But would it be bad if I hid the bell?

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DIYP #3- Classy, Easy Paint Technique

7:00 am Bykristen

The easiest and cheapest way to transform a house is with paint.

We have lived in houses that needed a major ~~miracle~~ transformation.

And so, we’ve painted.

A lot.

So much, that if I even hint at painting, my hubby ~~moves out~~ gets very busy at work.

He’s not a fan of the paint can.

But he’s frugal and usually chips in once I’ve made up my mind to do it.

Amanda, a friend of mine over at The Eck Life, taught me this great paint technique. Her home is gorgeous and she’s an awesome do-it-yourselfer! This technique is classy and fabulous for a small space that you want to dress up like a bathroom or dining area.

My favorite decorating color is deep red. And there are two things I must have in every home I live in: a red front door and a red room.

And so, I used this technique in my powder room and I did it in red.

First, tape off the space-ceilings, baseboards and around outlets. This is really the key too good painting. I use the blue painter’s tape because it comes off easily.

Second, paint the room in a flat paint. It will look, well, flat.

And if you want my expert opinion (*snort*), you can’t go wrong with red, but not tomato red, go deep red or there will be many regrets.

Let that completely dry.

Now, this is the hard part for me because I do not excel at measurements. I’m more of an eyeball-it-kinda-girl. Since this drives my hubby crazy, he jumps at the chance to measure for me. Jump might be an exaggeration.

You’re going to tape off stripes. And since we’re going for even stripes, you better get out your measuring tape. Decide how wide you want your stripes. I think the smaller the room, like my powder room, the stripes need to be small. I made mine 3 inches. But if you’re doing a larger room, you want the stripes to make a statement, so I would make them around 6 inches.

We used a pencil and went around the small room, drawing lines to indicate stripes.

Tape off the stripe, a piece for both lines.

When you are done taping, you will take your high gloss paint of the same color and paint the inside of the stripes. (You only need enough of the high gloss paint for the stripes. For a small room, a pint will usually do).

Once it dries, remove the tape and you will be seeing stripes!

Give it a try!

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You Guys are Amazing* Book Winner

10:15 pm Bykristen

Wow, I’ve been blown away and blessed out of my socks reading your comments today. And yes, I read every one at least twice! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, encouraging words and marriage needs with me. I am honored that our paths have crossed and I will be praying for those marriages that are struggling!

I wish I could send you all a copy, but the winner of the book (For Women Only) is Marni! Congratulations. Email me your address and I’ll get it out to you. For those of you who have this book already or are planning on buying it, once you’ve read it, pass it along to a friend.

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Men’s Week- When My Marriage Fell Apart

7:00 am Bykristen

This post is For Women Only.

Just like the book titled, For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn. (I’m giving it away, today!)

I read this book the week after Thanksgiving in November of 2005.

I remember the date exactly because it was the week my marriage fell apart.

Yeah. It surprised me too.

There had been a crack in the wall of my marriage. I didn’t see it or want to see it and then one day, after 11 years, the whole thing crumbled.

It was horrible. It was the first time that love didn’t seem to be enough.

We had issues and problems and pain. There were tears and fights and disappointments.

(Because Google is forever, I won’t go into details, but just for the record, this was very serious, but did not involve a third party).

Our marriage hung precariously over the edge of a cliff and we had one choice to make: Give it a nudge or hang on for dear life.

But we dug in our heels, went to counseling for months and decided to rebuild the walls of our marriage. One stone at a time.

During those months, I lost weight and my appetite. I mourned the loss of something I never had: the perfect marriage.

We talked, cried, prayed. And we forgave.

We also read. A lot. One of the most helpful books for me was For Women Only: What you need to know about the inner lives of men.

I entered my marriage as a naive young girl. And I didn’t know very much about men. I think this book impacted me so much because it explained how men think. Even after more than a decade married to a good man, I didn’t truly understand the way God had created him.

The book is filled with facts, statistics, national surveys, and interviews with men. The entire thing was an eye-opening revelation for me.

I don’t usually endorse books, but this one is amazing for women (and not just naive ones with endangered marriages) I would recommend every woman read it!

But the most important part of our rebuilding, was prayer and divine help from God. He walked with us through the valleys.

But we had to invite Him.

I know that you may have ascertained an opinion of my marriage before reading this post. And I don’t blame you. Some readers have even commented about our ‘perfect marriage’ or ‘how much we love each other.’ And while it’s not perfect or even close, it is good.

But, mainly because for awhile, it was very bad.

And I love him more deeply and we share more intimacy because of the bad.

So if today finds you in a crumbling marriage, please be encouraged. It can be rebuilt, even if your surrounded by broken dreams.

If your marriage is strong and secure, be thankful and remember to seal the cracks as they occur.

Many people don’t know that we nearly lost it all. My hubby and I feel challenged to share our testimony as opportunities are presented. It helps fortify the walls, ya know?

As you might imagine, just typing this post has made me feel vulnerable. So, virtual ((hugs)) are accepted and appreciated.

And give your marriage a big boost by buying your hubby, For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Lives of Woman.

He may be surprised to learn more about you.

Leave a comment by 10 pm (CST) tonight and you’ll be entered to win a free copy of For Women Only!

Food for the Soul:

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

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Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You-Everything My Hubby Needed to Know about Becoming a Father, He Learned in the 4th Grade

10:00 pm Bykristen

*Updated* We have a Golf Gift Set Winner! Congrats to Lisa of Stop and Smell the Chocolates. Email me your address. Thanks for playing along everyone!

Welcome to this week’s Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You Carnival! I’m glad you’re here. Newbies, please read these guidelines if you want to link up.

This week has been Men’s Week on the ol’ blog in celebration of Father’s Day. We’ve had some interesting discussions about our guys and men, in general. Today, I wanted to share about my hubby as a Dad.

He would never toot his own horn, so I will. He is an excellent father. He loves his kids, spends time with them individually and teases them constantly. He also prays with them every night and recently helped them memorize dozens of Bible verses. They are now going through the Chronicles of Narnia series.

One of our children is strong willed and we’ve struggled with methods of discipline. My hubby asked me to order some books on audio, so he could listen while commuting to work. He’s in this with me and although we have our fair share of disagreements, we are partners in parenting. And when he makes mistakes, he lets his kids know.

Oh, and he randomly wears diapers on his head.

Because it’s fun.

When I asked him what prepared him for Fatherhood, he answered, “the 4th grade.”

My hubby has some great childhood stories. Last week was a doozy. This is his 4th grade story (which also took place in the school bathroom):

My hubby joined several of his friends for a class bathroom break.

They were gone for a long time.

The teacher started looking for the missing boys. She followed the noise coming from the bathroom. “A A Aaaahhhhwwwoooooooo”

My hubby and his buddies spent an hour after school that day. Because they had an extra assignment.

They had to write on the chalkboard:

“I will not howl like a wolf in the bathroom.”

100 times.

Apparently, all that howling and writing made an impact because this what he learned in the 4th grade:

Howling is fun. Dad’s need to be fun. So, don’t take yourself too seriously.
Wolves travel in packs –Dads needs to spend time with their kids.
There’s always an Alpha male-It’s not all about fun, a Dad has to be a parent too.
Dad’s do their best work in bathrooms. No explanation needed.

I have to just add that my hubby actually offered to reenact a wolf’s howl, so you could get the full picture. Yes, he did. I’m telling you, he is a keeper.

And in celebration of men (who we cannot live with or without, most days), today’s giveaway is for the Golf lover and the Golf hater. Yep, that should cover everybody.

My hubby does not like golf. Unless there are two tiny words in front of it: Putt-putt. But we laughed at this Golf gift set because it’s practical jokes to play on the golfers in your life. (It even comes with an exploding golf ball!) So, leave a comment and I’ll announce the winner tomorrow!

And congrats to Jane at What About Mom? for winning the cool grill utility belt! (Email me address, m’kay?)

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MEN’S WEEK: My Hubby’s Favorite Blog + Giveaway!

10:00 pm Bykristen

(Don’t forget to check out today’s giveaway and yesterday’s winner at the end of this post).

Since this is Man’s Week here at THAT family (I just want to grunt every time I type that), I thought I’d share a tip and tell you my hubby’s favorite blog.

Other than mine.

The blog is written for husband’s and is aptly called, iAMHUSBAND. I must admit, I subscribe too.

The insightful author has dedicated his blog to helping husbands be better husbands. He encourages and challenges hubby’s to take their wives on date nights, starve their eyes from lusting after other women, help their wives through bad days and surprising them with trinkets or something special.

Now we’re talking.

He also gives ideas for dates, advice, and encourages men to read the latest and best books on marriage. Like For Men Only by Shaunti Feldhahn.

I read For Women Only two years ago and it changed my marriage. I’ll be sharing about that later this week.

This was a post from last week on iAMHUSBAND,

“You have twenty-four hours to surprise your wife with something nice. The only catch is that it can’t be that thing you usually surprise her with; this has to be something different. Do something, buy something, make something, or say something. Get creative, think big, think small — just think. And then come back here and share with us what did.”

Does it get any better than that? Someone telling my hubby to do something nice for little, ‘ol me?

And, guess what? He did.

That works for me. Share this little tip with your hubby. You’ll be glad you did! Go see what works for everyone else at Works for Me Wednesday.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave a comment so you can be entered to win this:

Yes, I am not holding back this week. Only the best for you. This is exactly what the griller in your life needs because this handy tool belt holds all the grilling necessities.

It will change his life or at least the steak he’s cooking.

Leave a comment by Wednesday night at 10 pm (CST) and I’ll announce the lucky winner on Thursday.

Congrats to FavAunt (email) on winning the giant Remote Control!

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One Size Fits All

6:00 am Bykristen

I thought I might try and explain this photo—but, really, there are no words.

For more, check out Wordless Wednesday.

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Men’s Week: Men & Mom Blogs

7:00 am Bykristen

I am a mom.

This is a mom blog.

I write about my good days filled with amber-colored sweet tea and sniffin’ the necks of my yummy kids.

I write about my bad days filled with super glue, Taco Bell and The Heimlich Maneuver.

I post about my feelings and fears, my vanities and victories.

You understand; because you are a mom.

Or are you?

I assume, as I type furiously in my pajamas, at my laptop, that my readers are women.

I mean, I know there are occasional male readers. Who else would leave the toilet seat up?

*Snort*

But seriously, every once in awhile when I write about moaning over Strawberry Shortcake or post pictures of my rear view, it dawns on me after the fact (like weeks later) that men might be reading what was intended well, really, for women.

And then, I feel weird.

Don’t get me wrong. I like men. Especially, the one who is sitting next to me, reading over my shoulder. I value his opinion and he reads just about everything I write. He likes me. He’s nice that way.

But I’ve heard through the grapevine, that some of the men in my extended life think my blog is too personal.

Probably. But don’t we (women) want it that way?

Even my own sweet hubby, had second thoughts about me posting this. But I’m so glad I did. Why? Because you encouraged me and helped me through a difficult time.

And so, here’s the crux, do you write with all this in mind and not say all you’re thinking or just let it all hang out? Well. I’m not exactly a ‘let all hang out kind of girl, but you know what I mean.

Not to mention, there are some great dad blogs out there. Do a lot of men comment on your blog? Do you visit dad blogs?

Help me, oh, my dear internet friends. We’re focusing on men this week and I need a woman’s view!

By the way, in celebration of MEN’S WEEK, I’m giving away a much-needed item for the man in your life, every day this week! Yahooooooo!

This is up for grabs. What man wouldn’t want a giant universal remote control? I’ll choose a random number from the comments and close this little giveaway down around 10 pm (CST).

Men’s Cookbook Winner: P.S. He Loves You. Congrats, girl! (Email me your address and I’ll mail it tomorrow)

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Father Knows Best-Giveaway!

7:00 am Bykristen

Father’s Day is on Sunday.

Yeah, you better do something about that. Soon.

In honor of father’s, I’ve deemed this Men’s Week on the blog.

So, we’re going to talk men everyday this week. About them.

Why? Just because we can. M’kay?

Now, ladies, I landed me a good one almost 14 years ago. He’s not perfect, but perfectly created for me. We are the kind of couple who enjoy spending a lot of time together, I guess because we were best friends in college.

We don’t really like to go our separate ways on the weekend and we wear matching shirts. Oh, I kid on the shirt thing. (Although I could dig up a picture of us in matching sweaters, if I wanted to. But, my hubby draws the line on some things and that’s one of them).

The things I love about him?

He encourages me to be myself and lets me think I’m getting my way on important matters. He works hard every day and cares deeply.

His love for his children defines him. He was created to be their Dad. He is the fun parent and leads his children by example.

And, he appreciates my deep love for sweet tea. I, mean, really, what more could I ask for?

Well.

He can cook too.

Growing up, when my Mom would leave my Dad in charge of dinner, we knew what we’d be eating. He called it SOS. (As in _____ on a shingle). I’ll just let you figure out that one. It was actually quite yummy, but not exactly eye candy? I’m just saying.

So, marrying a man who knew his way around the kitchen and enjoyed it, was a pleasant surprise. He even asked for Rachel Ray’s latest cookbook for his birthday last year.

But I know, there may be more men out there like my Dad, serving up SOS on those girl’s nights out, than like my hubby, preparing something I can’t even pronounce.

I found something to solve that problem. It’s a cookbook called A Man, A Can, A Plan. I bought it for the title, but there are some great recipes in there!

This cookbook just cracks me up.

Leave a comment and tell me something you love about your hubby/dad/male pet and you could win this fabulous cookbook in time for Father’s Day! Please only leave one comment and this little contest will end Monday night at 10 pm (CST time).

Oh, and I have a “My hubby drives me nuts when he does this. . . ” list, too.

Just so ya know. Yeah, we’re not that cute.

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