I Believe in Being Tired

The other day I got home from work, tired and just wanted to eat a meal in peace.  I wanted the boys to happily sit down and enjoy dinner and to allow me twenty minutes to relax.  But it never happens that way.  I am always eating a meal while wrangling boys.  On this particular day, I sat down to eat and heard a commotion in the den of my mother and father’s house.  I heard the front door open and close.  Ryder then came running into the room wanting my mother’s grabber (you know, those mechanical arms meant to get stuff off shelves too high to reach).  It was followed by wild giggling from mom and dad’s room. When I went to check out what was happening, I saw two pairs of legs showing from under the bed.  I realized Sawyer had let in the neighbor’s cat and the boys were excitedly trying to fetch it from under the bed…with a mechanical grabber.  This was just a ten minute portion of a night of rambunctious boy behavior.  Needless to say, I did not get a relaxing meal.   

I never knew what tired felt like until I had children.  Sure, I had had plenty of tiring experiences in my life pre-kids, but none that couldn’t be fixed with a long nap and a good night of sound sleep.  I was 27 when Ryder, my oldest son, was born.  Literally, from the moment he was born, I was tired.  Labor was exhausting, but paled in comparison to how exhausting a newborn baby was.  I eventually got into the groove of motherhood, but the demands of caring for a growing baby who depended on me for everything certainly was draining at times.  As he grew, the demands of parenting grew.  He became mobile and active, constantly keeping me on my feet.  Eventually, my sweet baby grew into an even more active and tiring little boy.  That active little boy was joined by my second son, Sawyer, in 2011.  Sawyer started off as a quiet, easy going infant, but it didn’t taken him long to catch up with his brother and become a handful as well.

            Today, Ryder is 5 and a half and Sawyer is a month away from turning 3.  And me, I am as tired as ever. My boys are rambunctious, demanding; they are rough as cobs and stubborn as mules.  They never stop, ever. From the moment they get up to the moment they go to sleep, they are into something. They are famous for their shenanigans.  Just this week I found a pocket full of glass shards in Ryder’s jacket, to which he explained he had been playing glass factory in a ditch at school, and on Saturday, I walked into my kitchen to find him breaking every egg I had into a boiler pot and stirring it with a whisk.  Instead of looking guilty he asked for white powder stuff (flour) to add to his “cake.” The amount of messes I clean up with these two is endless.  

Ryder is my blonde haired Dennis the Menace.  He talks always.  He is inquisitive, independent, unfocused and when he truly sets his mind on something (like wanting a new character on a video game or a new Lego to play with), he will wear me down to a nub until the end result is one he is satisfied with. He is loud and forceful.  He can talk my ear off about practically anything.  And, as crazy as it sounds, I do not know how I would function without him being just the way he is. Don’t get me wrong, there are times (like, everyday) when I want him to stop, hush, sit down, and be still.  But the infinite moments of laughter, joy and hilarity he has brought into my life cannot be counted.   I can go from upset and frustrated to giggling and smiling with just one funny comment from my never ending provider of laughs. 

Sawyer, on the other hand, is physical.  If it is there, he can climb it. He is bossy and picky and can give looks that kill.  He is a ninja and a sword slinger and always has a handheld action figure with him. Despite being almost 3, he still requires me to rock him to sleep every night, and no matter how tired I am and how much I just want him to go to sleep, I still enjoy those nightly cuddles from my baby who is almost no longer a baby.  And at night, often, I do just want to go to sleep, and honestly, neither boy sleeps well; I joke I haven’t had REM sleep since the summer of 2008.  They keep me on the move all day, and half the time, they keep me up part of the night too.  With them, I am worn out, but without them, I can’t imagine how I would survive. 

My boys are my life, and my life is sometimes hectic and overwhelming and tiring. But I have decided that the tired I feel at the end of every day is worth it. I believe in being tired.  I believe in the moments when I think I am going to give up, but instead realize I have learned something about myself, about parenthood, about a love that knows no limits, no matter how exhausted that love is. I believe that the amount of work and effort I pour out of me and into my children will pay off in the long run when they grow into men who will realize just how much I loved them and how hard I fought to raise them.  It will be what they remember.  They may not know how hard it was at times or how frustrated I may have felt, or even how happy they made me or how funny they were, but they will know that I worked non-stop, tirelessly to be the best mother to them that I could possibly be.  And sure, I am not perfect.  I get mad and yell; I get annoyed and irritated too at times, but even in my most exhausting moments, I know I wouldn’t trade that feeling in for the world.  When I look at my sweet boys’ faces at night, as they sleep looking like chubby cherubs, I know that all of the hard work and all of the moments where I feel worn out are worth it to know that literally every ounce of my being is invested in being their mother, their caretaker, their playmate, their nurse and their friend.   Being tired has taught me more about love than any other feeling in the world.

Put Me In Coach, I'm Ready to Play...Or Maybe Not...

T-Ball. The very word makes me anxious lately.  Why? Because we are gearing up for another season of "fun" on the field. The entire idea makes me feel like one heavy sigh....

Let me backtrack: Ryder started playing t-ball exactly one year ago.  I will never forget how excited I was last March when we signed him up for 4 year old t-ball in our local Coosa Valley baseball league.  I made sure he looked the part on his first day of practice.  Shaun and I had gone to Academy, and with giddy, we purchased all of the necessities for the season (plus some): balls, bats, pants, glove, socks, hat, helmet, bases, tee,  etc. On the day of his first practice, I had to work late. After I finished, I hurried to the field expecting to find a rambunctious and happy four year old adorably chasing baseballs.

Nope.

Instead, he spent the majority of the practice crying, throwing his head back and wailing "WHAHHH" and making dirt angels on the ground.  In the moments he didn't cry, he certainly wasn't paying attention.  Now, we had certainly faced some exhausting moments before this one with Ryder, but for some reason, this totally shocked and embarrassed me.  I immediately felt like crying myself, but instead, I opted to just bail and leave.  (you may have read a portion of this story in my blog It's a Hard Knock Life, For Us...Parent's That Is)

That moment is when the initial worry and fear set in concerning who Ryder was, what his talents were and how he acted with others.  Irrational fear, for sure, but still, I was faced with something I hadn't expected: he was the odd man out and the kid who looked the most out of place on the field, in my mind anyways, and I couldn't help but start visualizing him as becoming the kid who somehow didn't fit in off the field too.

All season, I felt a knot in my stomach when it was practice or game day.  Sure, I would smile and laugh on the outside, but on the inside, I was expecting him to fall apart. Keep in mind he was four years old, probably an immature four year old at that, but I couldn't help feeling almost embarrassed if he had an unsuccessful practice or game.  I knew that was silly beyond words, yet I still worried that his inability to focus and his almost spastic behavior at times was going to follow him into adulthood. (Don't pretend like you have never judged a kid on his behavior: a kid has a meltdown or even just acts goofy in Walmart, a restaurant or anywhere else and you make assumptions on the kid and/or the parenting choices of the kid's mom and dad. We've all done it.) My worry was one that I think all parents (or at least those willing to admit it) have: worry that our kid will somehow not fit in with the other kids.

We live in the South  and in the South, sports are a given.  Shaun was athletic and played multiple sports growing up, including running track and playing football.  Now, as for me, I wasn't the most athletic person ever growing up, but somehow that seemed OK because I was a girl. I tried telling myself that Ryder was just a baby and that he would eventually develop an interest in sports. During particularly rough games, I would joke about his athletic prowess. If I am being honest, I did it out of my own insecurity.  Later when I would look into his blue eyes and chubby cheeks, I would feel guilty for joking about his performance, as harmless as I thought it was at the time. It's like the girl who makes a fat joke at her own suspense before anyone else can.  I do not want to tear Ryder down; I want to build him up in a healthy way.  I also don't want to become the parent who obsesses about a sport and ruins the fun of it for my kids.   And honestly, I wasn't even that obsessed about winning, I just didn't want Ryder to be the reason we were losing and cause other team parents to see him as the team distraction. 

 I love Ryder more than anything in the entire universe, and all I want is his happiness.  And I think in my weird way, I thought his awkwardness on the field or the possibility of him maybe never excelling in sports would make him unhappy, cause him to be made fun of or bullied (which is another irrational fear I have; I say irrational since I never dealt with bullying firsthand, yet for some reason, I fear it for my kids) and all any parent really wants is for his or her child to be happy and fit in. 

Back to t-ball.  Somehow we pushed through our ten games and Ryder did show much improvement on the field, meaning he didn't fall out crying during the games, but I still ended the season being very much aware of his place on the team as occupier of the outfield, where his unfocused little blonde self could spin circles happily without interfering with the more skilled or serious players.

September rolled around and with it came fall ball (because once a year is not enough).  We decided to play again in the hopes that if we made him play again, he would continually improve. Thankfully, we were able to get on pretty much the same team with the same coaches who knew Ryder and also knew how to deal with his lack of attention and athletic prowess.  One thing that did make my outlook more hopeful for fall was the fact that Ryder, who had been formally diagnosed with ADHD over the summer, had started medicine to help with his focus (that is an entirely different blog).  In all honesty, the fall t-ball experience was admittedly more enjoyable than the spring before it.  The medicine surely made a difference in Ryder's over all behavior, and we were seeing that in every aspect of his life, on and off the field. Shaun began working more with Ryder one-on-one, and we really started to see improvement, but the one thing I started to notice was that Ryder really had (and still has) no great interest in outside play, period. He would practice in the same way he did homework.  He would do it, he just didn't want to. Ever.  And although he liked the games, he would come off of the field not with total excitement over the game he had just played, but instead asking if I had the iPad with me.  And even at home when we would go outside to simply play, no baseball involved, he wasn't very interested for very long.  In general, he gives out and gives up quickly when it comes to outside activities. It just isn't his "thing" so to speak.    

Ryder is a tech kid.  He can operate an iPad, iPhone or gaming system like an adult.  This caused me to develop even more concern.  I worried about him spending too much time on electronics, not being able to play face-to-face with others, and I decided the effects of making him play a sport would be beneficial.  I believed (and still do) that he needed t-ball to help give him a reason to get outside, interact with others and to give him a break from the Wii. I hoped it would be a skill and hobby that he would grow to like and one that would push him to do more than just build Legos and beg for Minecraft and Harry Potter Wii games. I want him to be active and healthy.  But Ryder's desires are often elsewhere.  When I pick him up from extended day, he is usually in the corner building Legos, sometimes with others and sometimes alone if no one elsewants to build Legos.  The workers have even jokingly informed me that he will frequently ask if he can go back inside when they go to the playground at extended day because he had rather be indoors playing with blocks and Legos than outside running around.  It isn't that I don't see the fun in Legos or even games, but I just don't want his only extracurricular activity in school to be president of the Dungeons and Dragons club, know what I mean?  

Overall though, fall ball was more enjoyable than spring ball, but it did introduce a challenge I had not faced during 4t: practicing and playing baseball games during the week while also going to real school.  Long days in school, followed by afternoon practices and homework were definitely an adjustment for me and Ryder.  Overall, he enjoyed the games and the other kids, but late night games after a day of school and homework were sometimes (and still are) a recipe for disaster.   Managing homework (oh yes, nightly homework in kindergarten) and t-ball and a toddler and a job stressed me out, but we managed.  
     
Back to the present: So here we are again, back to spring t-ball. Tonight is the first game, and I am a bit anxious (especially since over half the games don't even start until 7pm, a bit late for any five year old, especially one who is easily distracted and may not wholeheartedly want to be there.)  He is, however, excited over the hoopla that has gone into getting ready for a new season (i.e. new outfit and cleats.  It is like dress up to him.)  So tonight we go to the field, and continue to do so twice a week for two months, and I hope for no meltdown, will try not to obsess over the ridiculous and promise to let him just have fun.  Because that's the one thing that sometimes I forget, especially after an especially bad practice or game, that this is meant to be fun.

I am also realizing he may not be who I thought he was. And that is OK.  He is great. Period.  I recently read an article about parents being happy with their children even if they turn out to not be what they thought they were going to be (Jack doesn't become a doctor but instead is a mechanic, Susie makes Cs in school, Becky isn't the prom queen) and it really made me think.  Jason Sanders poses the question in his blog Would That Be Okay?, "What if your kid never really does all that great in sports? While all of his friends are making diving catches and hitting home runs, the only action he sees is during practice. In right field. Where he likes to pick flowers and see how long he can stare at the sun before blinking. Oh, and that’s when he’s in the 11th grade. Would that be okay?"

Wow. Hit home for me, that's for sure.  I realized that A.) I am not the only worrier wanting my child to be a success, and B.) I would probably be worried about who he is and who he is becoming no matter what, even if he was the Cal Ripken of Coosa Valley t-ball.  I think what I have worried about isn't even really about sports; sports just happen to be the catalyst to cause me worry since he is not as skilled at it as he is at everything else.  I'm sure if he were struggling severely in school, I would be worrying irrationally over intelligence and future careers.  I have to just step back, let him be the best inquisitive, rambunctious and unfocused five year old that he is and be happy because that little boy is exactly the little boy God wanted me to have.       

So as I gear up for a season of t-ball fun with a little boy who may or may not want to go to games, who may or may not get into trouble for not paying attention, who may or may not be more concerned over whether or not his mom will buy him a new Wii Disney Infinity character than focusing on the field, I just have to remember to let him be him.  And when I see those other parents who act like the world is ending when their kids mess up or the team doesn't do good, I will just smile and know that no matter how Ryder acts, I will always be happy with him and for him, even if instead of saying "put me in coach" he says "I don't want to play, coach."

It's a Hard Knock Life, For Us...Parents That Is...

Parenthood is hard. I know, the occasional few who spout things (typically on Facebook , where they make their lives appear near perfect) like "my kids are so easy!" or "I don't know why everyone said parenthood would be hard? It is a breeze."  I think those parents fall into one of three categories: they have abnormally well mannered children; they have only one child that is very young and hasn't gotten old enough to create true havoc; or three, they are flat out lying. But for the typical mom and dad, parenthood is tough, messy and, well, not for the faint of heart.

If you have ever read this blog, or my FB statuses, or well, just met me, you know I take the more honest approach to parenthood. I am pretty vocal about the goods, bads, highs, lows, challenges and meltdowns that are all common in parenthood.  When I hit a low, I usually wallow in my thoughts or take to my blog to get out my feelings.  I feel like I say most of what people experience or think but don't always vocalize, and probably certainly not in writing (much to my mom's dismay).  But it is the truth.

When I was pregnant with Ryder, I visualized a wonderful life as a mom, and I definitely have that, but what I didn't picture was meltdowns in restaurants, at parties, and most recently, ball fields. I didn't imagine fights over picking up toys, how exhausted I would feel when a day was through and how much damage my kids could do to my personal belongings.  I didn't picture how angry I would get at times or how frustrated I would occasionally feel. But what I have come to realize is that this is all normal. Sometimes I feel horrible for feeling overwhelmed or for being discouraged at times; I think about those who have lost children or who have children who are not healthy, and realize how truly blessed I am, but I am only human and sometimes feel like I am treading water to stay afloat.  But feeling less than thrilled about parenthood at times does not mean that I am not grateful for my amazingly beautiful, intelligent, healthy and happy family. It just means that I am real, a person and that sometimes, I need re-energized and need to vent.

My first lesson in how hard and scary parenting can be came, well, about 2 days after Ryder was born. I will never forget the panic I felt at taking care of newborn Ryder, panic which I was completely unprepared to experience. In those early days, I worried, fretted and felt like I had been hit hard by a MAC truck. It was far from the visual I had of myself sitting beautifully in a bed with a gorgeous baby and looking picturesque.  Instead, I was chunky, disheveled and prone to crying.  Motherhood involved being up all night, wearing maxi pads in my bra, and doing 888,000 loads of laundry.  My house, which I had always kept super tidy, became a baby toy breeding ground, and my once carefree life of being able to hop into a car and go as I pleased was replaced by having to spend four hours trying to get myself and baby ready, bathed, fed, and packed only to realize about the time that I was FINALLY ready to leave, it was baby's nap time and, if I wanted him to not be cranky, I had to wait for him to wake up, only to then need to be fed, changed and so on until it became either too hard or too late to go anywhere that wasn't utterly necessary.  Factor in my crazy hormones and breastfeeding, and I was crying before the day ended, partly because I hadn't expected it to be so hard and partly because I felt guilty that I even thought it was hard.  

As Ryder has gotten older, his needs have changed, my expectations have changed, but parenthood still remains challenging. Although the perks of parenthood are numerous and wonderful, the difficulties are also quite real. Also, because Ryder is an extremely hyperactive little boy who has a rather short attention span, I am faced with challenges that not all parents, especially those with children who are more even keel and calm,  do not always deal with, or at least not to the same degree. (And I know, many of you do deal with the same issues.)  Sometimes I win, a lot of times he wins and many times, I am left feeling, well, drained.

Add to this baby number two, Sawyer.  He was a dream baby who never caused any problems. (I felt this way probably because the second time around I wasn't so in the dark with what I would be facing as a new mom and prepared myself for the worst)   Then he hit toddlerhood.  Now he is following in the footsteps of so many two year olds before him with meltdowns, screams, and a general desire to do exactly the opposite of what I want him to do.  And he has become a partner in crime to his older brother.  This where I get back to the original point: parenthood is difficult, challenging and even worrisome.

As moms and dads, we worry about our kids, their behavior, the way we are raising them, the way they interact with others, the way they will turn out and even the way others perceive us and our parenting styles. The tiredness of parenthood isn't just from the crayons on the walls, the paint in the clothes, the play-doh in the carpet, the toy that is broken, the plea for just ten more minutes at bedtime, the poop on the floor or the battle over eating carrots.  No, it is much more than that.  Now, I also worry with how others view me when I deal with these situations.  This is madness, but it is such an honest fact.  Seriously, have you ever judged someone for his or parenting style or lack there of? I have.  Have you ever thought "What they need to do is discipline little Susie and she wouldn't act that way?" I have. I have also felt like I was on the receiving end of those harsh judgements.  I feel sometimes that I am judged if I yell, spank, don't yell, don't spank, take them out, leave them in, you name it. 

Many times I have been in public with my kids when a meltdown ensued, and I immediately felt like everyone was forming a negative opinion of how I was handling it.  The thing is, parenting is hard. Kids do not always act the way we want them to.  Sometimes, I am just trying to make it without crying or losing it. I don't need other parents making me feel more crappy about whatever it is I am facing.  And sure, sometimes I am positive I am overly sensitive to these situations.  Ryder had t-ball practice yesterday. It was a disaster. He cried over everything, laid in the dirt, threw his head back and wailed "WAHHHHH!" I was surrounded by moms I didn't know and 8 other kids, none of which were crying. I already felt tense.  And though not directed at me, one mom instructed her kid who was playing in the dirt with Ry to get out of it or they were going home. Though not stated specifically (and probably just a result of my own insecurity), I couldn't help feeling like there was probably judgment attached to how I was handling (or lack there of) Ryder who was also playing in the dirt.  Truth be told, I was just trying to make it through practice with an aggravated husband, a whiney and uniterested four year old, and a two year old who was coming apart because he couldn't get on the field. I have been in restaurants when my kids cried, yelled, got loud and I could feel the stares from people around.  There are always the blessed few who lean in and say "Mine were just like that; don't worry, they aren't bothering anybody," but there are just as many who give me and other parents the evil eye.  Heck, nowadays I even get the evil eye for pulling out the iPad so I can ensure peace in a restaurant, and often, it comes from other parents.  Don't believe me? Just read the comments under this article: "Gadgets at Restaurants Quiet Kids, But Not Critics."

As a mom, I worry if my kids don't fall in line with other kids, not because I want them to be followers or to simply be popular, but because I want them to be happy, feel a part of the group, be healthy and active and know they are loved.  Even in my most frustrated moments, I try to take deep breaths, remember I know I am trying with the best of my abilities to be the best parent I can be for them and try to encourage and praise them for all of the positives in their lives, to never tell them I am disappointed in them as a person, maybe in choices or actions, but not them, you know?  I also try to be honest about the way I feel because, if I am being honest, it is a defense mechanism for the sometimes slight embarrassment I feel about a meltdown they are having in public. But I also am honest so that other parents will know that it isn't just them feeling frustrated, flustered or worn out.  Sometimes, motherhood is like warfare and you have to get dirty and get in the trenches and know that those battles you face may indeed make you tired or feel like you are losing.  It won't always be fun or easy, but with great effort and strategy and the confidence in knowing you are not alone in the uncertainties of parenthood, you can come out on top.

I guess the point of this is that I think it is easy to look around when your kid seems to be doing well and minding and make a judgment about how other moms are handling or disciplining their kids, but just remember, parenthood isn't easy for anyone.  We all have those days when we give in, yell, or lose our cool.  Days when we don't respond the way we wished we would have or when we stoop to the level of bribery just for a little peace.  We also all experience times when our kid is being good, and we find it easy to pass judgment on others.  Just remember, that momma is probably doing the best she can, so simmer down and cut her a break and let's all try to have a little kid compassion.                 

Weapons of Mass Destruction

It has been a few months since I have posted. At my house, things are good, but busy as always.  We are fresh off of the heels of the holidays and done trying to stick it out for another New Year's resolution (which is the subject of another blog yet to be written).  My family (which includes the Markers) are all finally finished with the year of the great move. If you didn't know, we have all been in the process of house jumping since February of 2012.  Now that we are all mostly settled, life is simply trudging along at a normal pace.

My kids, which are usually front and center as the topic of these posts, are also moving at a face pace. Literally, the boys are growing so quickly and are clearly about as "All Boy" as they could possibly be.  I think in the new year, I will continue to watch them really develop their unique personalities.  Since Sawyer is close to turning two, I have been forced to start thinking about the possibility of having another child: this includes thinking about if I really DO want to try again for that elusive girl baby I have always wanted so desperately.  As my intelligent brother put it, "Mica, you have to think about what you will be more disappointed about: not having another baby and never knowing if you would have had a girl OR having the third baby and getting another boy, 'cause let's face it, that is probably what will happen." True. I know it is true, and I am starting to be OK with the idea that I honestly may never have that daughter to share all things girly with.  Honestly, I am not sure my nerves and or house can take another Mecham, at least not at this moment! Why? Because my kids are rambunctious, wild, loud, rough, and destructive little boys (I mean that lovingly. They are the very definition of what little boys are made of.) 

It's funny, as a kid, I pictured myself as mom to a sweet and perfect little girl. Instead, I am mom to two of the most adorable, but also most mischievous and spirited kids on the block (seriously, I have even been gifted the copy of the text Raising Your Spirited Child for Pete's sake!). They keep me laughing, or crying, or yelling, or sighing pretty much all of the time.  At the end of most days I am worn totally out, but when I stop to think about it, I so enjoy every laugh they provide, even if the laugh is due to them breaking something or saying something a little girl would probably never say.

When people say "How are your kids?" I almost instinctively reply, "Great, they tear everything I own up, but they are wonderful!" And it's true; they somehow manage to get into more messes and tear more stuff up than the average kid.  They are literally like atomic bombs running around my house (why do you think the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 was nicknamed "Little Boy?"  Probably whoever named it had all boys who also destroyed everything in that person's house.)  They are like adorable weapons of mass destruction sent to make sure every effort I put into keeping my house clean is futile. My mom used to say Ryder reminded her of Brad when he was a kid with his talkative and rambunctious personality, but now the general consensus is that Ryder has passed him by leaps and bounds. The other day my aunt Scarlett invited the entire family over for dinner and I, in all seriousness, asked if we were really invited. This is because I am aware that we are loud and destructive and know that we have become that family that others sometimes dread to see coming.

It must be genetic, when my mom was a kid, her family from Texas would visit.  Her uncle and aunt would bring their four rowdy sons to Alabama. For my mom as a young girl with only a sister, these visits were hugely anticipated.  She would get to experience the fun and roughness that I think only a boy can provide.  She has memories of things like trying to wring the neck of a chicken, only to have it half decapitated and running through my grandmother's freshly washed linens hanging on the line, spurting blood wildly everywhere.  My mom has confessed that she and Scarlett would hide away all of their most precious baby dolls when the Lankford boys came to ensure that nothing unfortunate happened to them.  When I was a kid, we would go to Texas to visit those same four boys, all grown up and fathers to their own sons.  One of my most vivid memories of visiting them was when one of my Texan cousins, who was all destructive boy, accidentally drove a go-cart into a pond.  That sounds like something I could see Ryder doing one day, though I sure hope he never does. Well, fast forward 18 years, and I am the mom of those "Lankford boys" and everyone we know is hiding their dolls when they think we are coming to visit.  Scarlett even posted on my FB page recently the following status: "Mica, You know You and Ryder and Sawyer and Shaun are always invited to our house... U know we love you all... Just Warn me first...lol, might need to put up the breakables.....hehehehe"  So, what type of chaos do they (and I am mostly focusing on Ryder because he is older and has had almost three years of a head start on Sawyer) cause around my house? Let me give you some examples:

1. BROKEN DRAWER: Sawyer is really coming along as quite the climber. He tends to fly under the radar, though, because he is so quiet.  But do not underestimate him. This is the second drawer he has broken in the new house.

 2. BLOODY NOSE: Quickly a day of fun can go south when the play is rough and tough like my boys.  This is the kind of play boys do best, even if someone does end up getting hurt. Don't worry, no major damage was done.

 3. BROKEN KEY: OK, this one was a mind stumper.  Ryder was holding my key; I turned around for a few minutes gathering my stuff as we were heading out the door to work and school. I turned back around and a stunned Ryder said something along the lines of "Uh oh, it broke."  This took all of 3 minutes.  Sigh...

4. BROKEN SALT SHAKER: Eating at Logan's Roadhouse a few weeks ago, it took Ryder all of two solid minutes before dropping and breaking the salt shaker.  Not only is he destructive, but he can do it in record time.

 5. CRAYON IN SHEETS: I was cleaning house and intending on changing the sheets. Good thing too because I discovered my mini Picasso had been hard at work creating a "masterpiece" for me. This is why I always buy washable crayons.

 6: DISASTER IN THE KITCHEN: This can be contributed to both boys.  I was trying to clean out my pantries when Ryder came barreling through and spilled pasta and my stacked throw-away boxes all over the floor, and at the same time, an excited Sawyer chucked his milk to the floor, where it opened and leaked everywhere. Huge mess. Obviously. What to do? Take a picture of course. 

 7. EXPO MARKER IN THE FLOOR: Well, I guess he needs zero access to writing tools, but he loves to draw.  In this case he found an Expo marker in my school bag and decided to tag my floor with a little graffiti work.

8: TORNADO TO THE ROOM: This is what happens when he is at home playing. Why he cannot just play and then put up whatever it is he has and then get something else out is a mystery to me.
    

 9: CEREAL MELTDOWN: This one happened on Chris's watch.  He was eating cereal, and I have know idea how, but somehow spilled the entire bowl on his head and everywhere else too.  The rug did not fare as well as Ryder. Sorry Nikki
*CORRECTION: (Chris wanted me to add that it was TWO bowls of cereal Ryder spilled, ON TOP OF HIS HEAD, and then, when Chris had to give him a bath, he (Ryder, not Chris) pooped in the tub. And Chris had to then clean that lovely mess up too.)

 10. WOODY MASSACRE: Poor Woody. He has lived a hard life at our house.  This is what was left of him after Ryder, Greyson and Jake all got together and played one night.  On a side note, I feel obligated to report that Buzz Lightyear is also missing his jet pack, both wings, his helmet and his right hand.  Gone, but never forgotten.

 11: INK PAD INCIDENT: One night, Ryder casually walked into the den and said "Mica, I have something on me." (He calls me Mica often). I looked up and saw, well, this.  He also had left bluish purple hand prints all over my white cabinets in my bathroom. I have no idea where he found the ink pad. 

 12. MARKER INCIDENT: I found Sawyer in Ryder's bathroom in the dark. This is what was revealed when the lights came on. He had eaten a Magic Marker. The tip was never found (though I am sure some poking around in a poop diaper hours later would have led to an answer, but I wasn't willing to look!)

 13: LIPSTICK INCIDENT: (I am seeing the trend with writing tools).  Ryder made some art on his belly. I was more unhappy that he ruined my expensive Lancome lipstick by bearing down so hard as he wrote.

 14: CURTAINS OFF THE WALL: I knew something was amiss when Ryder came flying out of his room grinning in a half guilty, half funny way and casually proclaimed that nothing was broken in his room.  This is what we found.  If you can't tell in the picture, Ryder is bawling and Shaun is completely pissed off.  Those curtains will never hang correctly again.














15: FISH IN THE WATER: I had to make this picture big or you couldn't see the fish.  Swimming at lake Guntersville last year with the Minton family was a day to remember.  Ryder spent his first day on the water and rode a boat for the first time.  Saying he loved it was an understatement. What was the best moment? When he reached in the water and grabbed a fish (I'll admit; it was gimpy and maybe even bleeding). We laughed so hard that day. Only a true little boy will grab a fish and stare it down, nose to gill. I also can recall Ryder doing some button pushing that I am pretty sure Cory could have lived without.


















16: BROKEN LAP TRAY:  This one was funny because Ryder actually broke this tray the night I wrote this blog but before I published it. Dad had picked the boys up from school, and mom said Ryder walked into her house, went straight to the tray, stood on it and it went SPLAT! She said Mike had not even made it in the house yet from parking the car. When Mike walked in, she said "LOOK! Ryder just broke this." And Ryder, in a get-off-my-back tone, quickly replied, "I SAID (emphasis on said) I am sorry," as he shrugged his shoulders.

17: CATCHING A CHIPMUNK:  Unfortunately, I have no picture of this.  One day after school, Ryder was in the yard.  He saw something move and, being all boy, lunged to grab it. Guess what? He caught it. Want to know what the "it" was? You guessed it. A chipmunk. Seriously. He started yelling "I caught a squirrel! I caught a squirrel!" And when we realized what he had, we started yelling "PUT IT DOWN! PUT IT DOWN!" There was no time to find a camera. That is unfortunate.

18:  BABY IN THE DRYER: If you know Sawyer, you know that recently he has become the Edmund Hillary of climbing in our house. You must beware. This one will climb onto or into anything.  I catch him on top of tables, pushing chairs to get on counters, climbing furniture, sitting on the top of the back of the couch, and recently, I caught him in the bathroom sink bowl with the lights out brushing his teeth. This is the last place I found him. Before you call Child Safety Services, know that I am aware this is dangerous; I do not intend to let him fluff and dry in the dryer, and I am being vigilant to keep the dryer door closed (it normally is but someone left it open this day.) But, I just couldn't help taking a picture before jerking him out and getting on to him.

19: FROG AT THE PARTY: What all American little boy doesn't love a frog?  Ryder loves gross animals and he was ecstatic to catch a frog at my sister in law's birthday party. He happily carried it around all night, only whining when he couldn't make it balance on a balloon.  The funniest party was after he came back into the party area after being outside with the bigger kids sans froggy. I asked him where it went, and he honestly and casually replied, "Oh, down the doggy's froat (throat)." Rest in Peace little frog.

Do I need to go on? I thought so. (But believe me, I could. There may be a part deux).

Moral of the story--I think boys are on the whole more rambunctious than girls.  I am aware that some girls fit into the rowdy and destructive category and that some boys are easy going and don't mess up anything. But in the grand comparison, most of the people I know with girls never have experienced all of the mess and broken stuff that my kids cause. If there is a drink out, they will spill it.  If there is a valuable around, they will break it.  Dad had a vase he really liked and Ryder promptly tried to sit in it and broke it into pieces.  I arrived to find an irritated Cathy shoving Ryder out the door, telling him to go home.  It's what they do, and everyone knows it.  The boys and I all ate dinner the other night at Scarlett and Gary's house (yes, we got invited back again), and Ryder was in the den making a ton of noise while Scarlett, mom, and Gary all stood around the bar.  Scarlett looked up and said "Gary, go check on them; I hear something rattling "  Without so much as skipping a breath, Gary dryly replied "Shit's been rattling since they got here!" And well, that pretty much sums us up.

I look at Ryder like he is Dennis the Menace.  As much as Dennis did to get into a mess, the outcome was almost so comical that Mr. Wilson simply couldn't stay mad at him.  As for Sawyer, he is a bit more ninja like in his mess making, doing it while sucking a pacifier and not making a sound.

I still would love to have a girl one day, but I am so very glad I was able to experience the fun of a boy.  God knew what he was doing when he gave me my perfect boys. It has done me a lot of good. I can roll with the punches better and as a bonus, worms don't seem nearly as gross as they used to before a boy.  All in all, as unlikely as it may have seemed, I love being a momma to a couple of rowdy boys.  Even if people dread to see us coming, I know that when we get there, we will probably have them laughing in no time flat (and we promise to buy anything we break.)

So, do you have a rambunctious boy (or girl for that matter)?

Christmas at the Mechams

This is late in coming, I know, but Christmas 2012 was a whirlwind of fun and family at our house this year.  Shaun was off for 17 days, and I was off for roughly a month.  Because I was scared the boys would get the Flu that was spreading like wildfire in the Bluff, I decided to keep them home as much as possible while I was off. This meant I lost some "Mica alone shopping and wrapping" time but gained tons of "fun kid loving and playing time"! All in all, Christmas was fabulous; it was however, very different from Christmas last year!

In 2011, Sawyer was a baby, 7 months old, and could not even crawl that well. 2012 was an ENTIRELY different story. He was literally like a monkey and was everywhere! I cannot keep that baby contained. He is 23 lbs of exploring, curious, smiling, pacifier-sucking mischievous toddler.  My big problem is keeping him from climbing on my dining room table, which is taller than most, and keeping him from dragging a stool or chair to the stove to climb up and mess with the oven knobs. I cannot take my eyes off of him. He will be on something, in something or behind something before I know it. One night I couldn't find him and looked everywhere before I discovered he had been locked in my kitchen pantry. He was smiling from ear to ear when I did find him, like it had been one fun game of hide and seek. He removed Christmas decorations from my tree on a daily basis and broke quite a few.  Basically, he was as much of a hassle as one would expect a 19 month old baby to be; add to this the rambunctious four year old who is often the subject of my posts and that makes for a lot of chasing during the month of December for this momma!

Ryder had an exceptionally great Christmas.  Because of his over the top gasps and "That's Awesome!" responses, buying presents for him is so much fun.  He can get a book, a toy or a shirt and he will always act like it is the most fabulous item he has ever seen.  Shaun says his audible gasps are inherited from Cathy Marker, and I think it is one of his most adorable behaviors.  He saw Santa at the Polar Express in Calera at the Railroad Museum and, though it was a hassle to tote him and Saw and all of the unnecessary crap we took with us, it was such an amazing experience. If you have never heard of this, Google it. We rode a real train and went to "the North Pole" and met, you guessed it, Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Ryder ate it up.  We were packed into our seats, but Ryder was buying every second of it. He sang and giggled and thought he had been to THE North Pole.  Sawyer was a wiggle worm and hard to hang on to but enjoyed it.  Ryder  also got to go on two field trips at school (days I actually sent them to school in December) to the Let It Snow exhibit at the Cultural Arts Center and to the Polar Express event held at HBES.  Ryder thought, again, he had visited the North Pole and possibly was confused by the very different locations of each of them; however, the 4 year old imagination prevailed and he totally bought it again. 

We had fun family get-togethers this year, and one huge difference this year from last was that this year, we celebrated in our new house in Southside. It was fabulous! We decorated and Shaun decked the house out in wreaths and Gwen Christmasfied (sp?) my mailbox (a bit overkill, but a lovely and sweet gesture).  And we hosted the Kelley/Mecham Christmas party and the Mecham/Minton/Marker Christmas party before Christmas.  We had a blast, the boys ran around like crazy and we all enjoyed the added space of our Buckhaven home! (Though I would be a liar if I didn't admit it felt weird not being in mom and dad's Tawannah house after 30 consecutive Christmases there.)

Christmas Eve and Day came quickly and we celebrated with Christine in the am and with Chris and Nikki that evening, who this year are now proud owners of the Tawannah Mountain Home, as I so affectionately call it! It was great to get to still go into my childhood home for a holiday party and feel so comfortable. I am so glad it stayed in our family.

Christmas Eve was chaotic, pulling out gifts and arranging them ever so tediously.  Now, if you saw my FB pics, you probably know I let myself get slightly (*cough, clear throat*) out of hand with our gifts. I totally admit it. But truthfully, I had no idea until we pulled it all out that I had done that. Clearly I underestimated the size of space to fill up in my new den. I had been buying since summer and really sort of forgot what I had.  That being said, I don't regret it.  I have no greater memories than walking into my den Christmas morning growing up and seeing the mountain of gifts brought by Santa. My parents were overkill Christmas buyers too (I learned from the best), and though the individual toys were fantastic, it was more of that feeling of walking into such an amazing, magical room filled with every child's desires that stands out to me. I wanted my boys to have those same associations with Christmas morning.  I guess I didn't think about how my four year old brain probably thought these Christmases were bigger than they really were, but I still, the memories are priceless.  So, that being said, it was over the top, but we had a fantastic day.  Ryder was thrilled when he entered the den and our family just relaxed and enjoyed each other and what wonderful blessings we had been given.  Randy and Gwen and mom and dad came and hung out and the day was picture perfect.

Of course, I cannot mention Christmas without saying how thankful my family is for all of our blessings.  We love the Christmas traditions we have, but recognize that the true reason for the season is the birth of the Christ child.  Without him, we would be eternally lost with no hope.  We talked to Ryder about the basic concept of Jesus and he was so funny when we asked him why we celebrated; he would respond accordingly, and then would want to know when Jesus' party was and were we going.

Despite the fact that Christmas ended officially on December 25, we didn't wrap it up until the 28th.  This is when we had our big family Christmas with the Markers/Markers/Mechams.  Brad and Allison came home and celebrated with our family on the 28th.  The presents were ridiculous and our family had such an amazing time.  The star of our Christmas party was the newest Marker, who had not been introduced to the family in person until then, Thatcher Bradley Marker.  I cannot even describe how cuddly, sweet and great it felt to hold that pudgy ball of baby.  He was precious, and I cannot wait until I see him again!  The bigger boys had a blast chasing and sword fighting and Sawyer thought he was just as big Ry, Grey and Jake! All the boys were excellent and had such a good time.  One big memorable moment came when Anna opened her special Christmas gift, along with Savannah, who also got the same thing: tickets to see Justin Bieber. I have never seen two more excited teenagers in my life. I am not going to lie: I am totally jealous and wanted to go. There. I said it.

And finally, my sweet hubby came through with the yearly tradition of making me find my Christmas gift via treasure hunt, but the surprise was that this year, I made him go on his own treasure hunt! In the end, he bought me some beautiful personalized jewelry, and I bought him a grill, both which we will get lots of use out of (well, okay, maybe he won't use my necklaces or bracelet, but I sure will enjoy the food he cooks on the grill!)

All in all, our first Christmas on Buckhaven Drive was so fabulous, and I can only hope our upcoming Christmases are just as amazing.

So, how was your Christmas? 
       

30 Days Of Thanks, Mommy Edition

Ah, November, a time of thanks. It is a Facebook tradition to celebrate all that we, and I guess by we I mean FB users, are thankful for each day by posting a "Day of Thanks" status update.  You have all seen them, and most of you probably post them (right?), and many of you cannot keep up with them and then are forced to post multiple thanks in one day:

 I'm behind, so Day 4: I am thankful for my family. Day 5: I am thankful for my health, blah blah...

Don't get me wrong; I am not judging. I too started with good intentions and then slowly forgot about the "Day of Thanks" post.  I also think it is pretty safe to say we are mostly all thankful for the same things: God, health, family, friends, children, church family, pets, etc.  And I am no different. I am certainly thankful for these same blessings I have in my life. I believe God is almighty, powerful, merciful and is my hope. I am thankful for his love for me and my family and for the salvation he has insured for me through Jesus Christ. I am thankful I have a loving husband, amazing children, wonderful parents, a beautiful home and a secure job.  But I am also thankful for the small, seemingly insignificant things as well. And as a mom, I am thankful for a whole plethora of things, ranging from medicine to cartoons, SO here is my list of my 30 Days of Thanks, Mommy Edition.

I am thankful for...

1.A doctor's office that is open on the weekends. My kids ALWAYS get sick on the weekends.  Why? I have no idea; it is one of the mysteries of the universe, up there with missing socks in the dryer.  When we were younger, most doctor's offices were closed on the weekend and a parent's only option was to go to the ER, and though that still happens occasionally, the fact that the offices are open 24/7 is a huge blessing. 

2. Pack N Plays.  Now that Sawyer is 18 months old and into everything, I am constantly on the move chasing after him.  I cannot trust him; as soon as I take my eyes off of him, he ends up in trouble.  More than once I have found him stirring the toilet water with his hand or sitting fully dressed in a wet bottomed bathtub. If it weren't for a Pack N Play, I would quite possibly never be able to take a shower in peace. 

3. Spaghetti-Os: Hear me out. Saying Ryder is a picky eater is an understatement, and unless you count french fries, he eats zero vegetables. So, even though you holistic health conscious moms are silently shuddering (along with Jennifer Foster), I somehow feel justified in feeding Ryder Spaghetti-Os because they claim to contain 20% of a child's needed daily vegetable intake, and they even come with meatballs, which boosts extra protein, or you can opt for Spaghetti-Os Plus Calcium. I see this meal as a win win. 

 4. Five Point Harness Car Seat: Sometimes, I am going to be honest, I go somewhere simply so I can strap my kids into the five point car seats where I know they will be safe and so that I can relax for a few minutes without having to worry that one of them is into something that he shouldn't be. Don't act like you have never done it.   

5. Mickey Mouse Club House: I swear I sing the Hot Dog song in my sleep, but it is like baby crack, and my kids will quietly watch it every time.  Thank you Disney Jr. 

6. Disney Jr App: Number five brings me directly to Number six. If you weren't aware, Disney Jr has an app that is free (bonus, because I would totally pay for it) which allows my kids to watch unlimited episodes of Mickey Mouse, as well as other favorites including Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Doc McStuffins on the go.  Now my kids will not only quietly watch TV at home, but in public as well, which is a lifesaver when we go out to eat.

7. iPad 2: Alright, this is another extension of Numbers six.  We wouldn't have the joy of watching the Disney Jr app is we didn't have an iPad (or my iphone or Shaun's droid for that matter) to watch it on.  I must say, I am very glad to be raising my kids in the digital age.  Otherwise, I might never get to enjoy a meal in public.  Not in peace at least.

8. Daycare and the wonderful women who work there:  I am a full time working mom, so my children must go to daycare. I would like to be a stay at home mom, but I have to admit, I love my job, and it provides my family with many luxuries.  This means my kids must go to daycare.  There are times I wish it weren't this way, like when they pick up every illness floating around, but seriously, I am very thankful for them. They (ECA --shout out in the Bluff) take great care of my boys; I have formed friendships with the workers and totally trust them, and honestly, if it weren't for them, my trips to Wal-Mart would be painful.  They do a yeoman's job.

9. Pacifiers: What a perfect invention, a plug for a baby. Genius.

10. Disposable Diapers: Now, I know some of you moms love washable diapers (probably the same moms who cringed at the Spaghetti-Os), but those are not my style. I am very thankful I can take that pile of poop, fold it up and throw it out. No scraping, dumping, soaking, wringing out, or washing necessary.  

11. Washable Magic Markers:  Ryder thinks he is an artist, and maybe he is (gets it from me) but sometimes, he creates his masterpieces on my walls or even on his own body.  The other day I came home, and he had drawn blue lines all over his body. I asked what they were supposed to be. He said (as if it was a stupid question) "my bones!"  Luckily, they washed off easily in the bath tub later that night. 

12. Play Doh: Not all moms are down with the mess that kids can make with Play Doh, but me, I LOVE it! A can of Play Doh will keep Ryder occupied for hours, and it is one of the only play activities I really enjoy doing with him. Play Doh is fun. And it vacuums up pretty easily too. 

13. Hokes Bluff Drug Shoppe: I want to give thanks for the sweet pharmacists and staff at HB Drug. They ALWAYS help me out when I need it. I swear, I have joked that I want Candace to be my pediatrician because I trust her judgment more than the doctor's on certain things. In fact, I still drive from Southside to HB for my prescriptions.  Walgreens may be open later, but there, I am just a number, and at HB Drug, they know me by name and treat me like family.   
*(I do want to note, however, that I have had good experiences at Rainbow City Walgreens.)

14. Happy Hiney from Hughes Pharmacy: This is an amazing diaper rash cream, and believe me, I am an expert. It may cost 12 bucks for a teeny tiny jar, but it is like gold when my baby's bottom is raw.  I never like to be without it. 

15. Munchkin Microwaveable Sterilizing Steam Bags:  These nifty little inventions allow me to sterilize Sawyer's pacifiers easily and quickly. I keep a bag on my counter, and as I feel the paci's get dirty (after hitting the floor or having gone out in public with us) I put them in the steam bag. Once I start running low on sterilized pacifiers or when my bag gets full, I add a few ounces of water and pop that baby in the microwave for 90 secs and BAAM! Sterilized. If not for these bags, Sawyer wouldn't have had a clean pacifier past 6 weeks old. 

16. TUBES! Okay, I know I haven't had the best luck with tubes. Ryder has had 6 sets, 4 in the past year alone, and Sawyer has also had tubes.  Both boys had troubles including constant draining, staff infection, etc, BUT without tubes, it would have been so much worse. I swear, I think if my kids had been born before tubes were a routine process, they may very well have ended up deaf. 

17. Peanut Butter: Without peanut butter, Ryder would never get protein. It is a staple in our house. 

18. On Demand from Charter and Netflix: Thank goodness for instant access to kid friendly television shows. This keeps my kids happy and keeps me from having to buy 18 billion kiddy DVDs that will be watched nonstop for a month and then forgotten about. 

19.  Breastfeeding: I know I am known as the breast feeding weirdo in my circle of friends (heck, probably in my family too) but I believe in it, and enjoy it for the benefits of health and closeness it has provided for me and my boys. It has also allowed me to connect with a group of women through a support group held monthly at GRMC. They have become friends with whom I share a common bond. The benefits have been great--no bottles, no formula, no washing or sterilizing, no carrying coolers, as well as a reason to take a break with my baby, and there is almost nothing in a baby's small world that nursing can't fix. I wouldn't have made it through our ear problems last year in one piece if it hadn't been for nursing Sawyer at night.  Give it a fighting chance ladies...

20. Baby Monitor's: This seems silly, but it allows me to sleep peacefully knowing that even though my baby is in the next room, I can hear him clearly and loudly through my monitor. Otherwise, I might be so asleep he would scream for hours before I realized it.

21. LeAnn Browning: Does this one make you laugh? It is legit. Without her I wouldn't have the beautiful pictures to document the growth of my gorgeous family.  She is an amazing friend and an excellent photographer. If you haven't used her, you should. 

22. Friends With Kids: I have been lucky to have a large group of friends who all have wild kids (this is a compliment).  It makes life much more enjoyable to have friends who are fun and who all understand when your kids melts down in public, instead of giving you the evil eye like you can't control them.  I love my girlfriends; I have fun with my girlfriends, and I really whole-heartedly enjoy every second I get to spend with them and their kiddos.  Ladies, you know who you are; thanks for the friendship and the shoulders on which I can lean when my kids drive me nutty.

23. My wonderful family members who offer to help out with the kids: I am one lucky momma.  I have an amazing family. I have a husband who is a great dad and loves his boys tremendously, parents who help with my kids and help with my daily chores, a mother in law who helps my entire family out in numerous ways, sister in laws who lovingly offer to babysit. I even have extended family, aunts and uncles, (that's you Scarlett and Gary) who help me with my kids by allowing me to have parties at their house in the summer. I love my family. I have been blessed (even if mom does lose my kid every now and then while babysitting or put buttermilk in his cereal or peaches in the sippy cup).  

24. Sit N Stand Stroller: If you have a small kid and a big kid, you will agree that a Sit N Stand stroller is FABULOUS! It may have a crappy turning radius, but it sure makes life easy by allowing the baby to have a comfortable seat and providing Ryder with a big boy seat, something that has been a life saver when going on outings to places like the Georgia Aquarium or the Birmingham Zoo.

25. Tear Free Shampoo: I think we moms take this for granted. My kids are not still when I wash the shampoo out of their hair every night.  With tear free shampoo, I don't have to worry about getting the suds in their face.

26. Nebulizers with Albuterol: OK, this one is controversial because it has its down side, but if it were not for breathing treatments, my poor boys would be miserable and would have very labored breathing when they are sick (like always). It may not be fun to deal with, but I am thankful for the medical help it provides in making my boys feel better when they are sick.

27. Washable Bed Pads: Ryder typically throws up in the bed on average of twice a month. He has tons of congestion and if he coughs for more than a minute, he pukes everywhere (be aware of this if you ever ask him to spend the night, BTW).  He also still sleeps in a pull up, which occasionally leaks.  I HATE changing sheets, especially if I just changed them and then he has an accident, SO I always put sheets on the bed, then I put a washable bed pad where he sleeps and finally, tuck a flat sheet over it.  This way, if he has an accident, I simply pull of the top layer of sheet and bed pad, throw it in the washer, and the fitted sheet is clean and in-tact. I call this the Throw Up Plan, and I have perfected it. It cuts down on changing sheets and makes my life oh so much easier.     

28. Oatmeal: I think if it were not for oatmeal, Sawyer might starve to death. Well, that and Carnation Instant Breakfast.

29.  Fashionable Flats. I love clothes and shoes. I particularly love high heels, but as a momma, I learned real quick why moms get a bad rap for the way they dress.  Sometimes with kids, in order to function and maintain control, you must dress comfortably. It would be a disaster taking my kids to a place where I would possibly need to bust out in a run to catch a kid who has gone AWOL on me in public. But now that cute flats are all the rage, I can chase kids while looking adorably in fashion. A definite plus. This is one trend that I hope continues.

30. Blogger: Why am I thankful for my blog? Because, my blog allows me an outlet to vent my mommy frustrations to an audience that understands.  If I post every frustration on FB, then everyone who is my friend has to see it. So the guy from school I am friends with has to see my mommy rant clogging his FB Timeline (which I am not going to lie, does happen), but if I write a blog about my nervousness or anxiety concerning parenting, then I can simply share a link and only those who are interested have to read. I can connect with other moms and maybe help somebody else out with one of my mom problems or someone can leave me a comment or send me a message and make me feel better about whatever it was I was writing about, so if you have a comment, please feel free to post it!

BONUS: 

And Finally, I am thankful for my boys, Ryder and Sawyer: Without my two precious boys, none of the previous 29 reasons of thanks would matter or exist, for me anyway.  They are my world; I love them more than my own life and am more thankful than I could ever express in words for them.  They are my true blessings this Thanksgiving.

So, what are your Thanks for the month?