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Sunday, May 10, 2015

Motherhood Day


Today motherhood is celebrated. It's a time to recognize the beauty and honor of women and the sacrifice and joy of mothers. Early this week we sent off Mother's Day cards to our moms/ Grammys and grandmothers/ great Grammys. It was so fun to have Janes finger print all over their special cards. She loved it and we had quite the laughs as she got paint everywhere!


Mister James pampered me throughout the week, first with some yummy chocolate, then some new sheets (ours are really warn and I had rubbed a hole :) where my feet are constantly rubbing), and then last night as I held sick little Jane he gave me my final gift: the body pillow. I'm excited to snuggle this during my naps and bedtime with this baby belly of mine.


Mother's Day morning he gave me a beautiful card with his sweet sentiments. And made his signature whale mouth crepes for me. Mister James, thanks for making me a mother, helping me feel loved and being a great father and husband. I love being a mother and learn much everyday from its role.




Saturday, May 9, 2015

Mothers


A mothers love is deep. A mother is not always someone who gave birth. A mothers character is woven through sacrifice and dedication. Mother is the highest noblest calling. As the world celebrates mothers tomorrow my thoughts have been going on what makes a mother. For every woman is to be honored on Mother's Day for truly every woman possesses the nature of motherhood. Nurturing, caring for others, being strong, protective, loving, hard working, fun, multi-tasker, giving, knowledgable, and so much more are the traits I see in motherhood. My mother is a true example of motherhood and all the beauty of womanhood.


I have always appreciated, loved, and admired my mother but not until becoming a mother myself did I really realize how much. As I brought Jane into the world, as I have stayed up countless nights, as messes are cleaned up constantly, as meals are prepared, dishes cleaned, baths made, diapers changed, tears wiped, swings pushed, car seats buckled, owies kissed, stories read, teeth brushed, tantrums calmed, toys played with, groceries bought, house picked up, laundry done, Cheerios scraped off he floor, boogers wiped, smiles and giggles had...and so much more that comes from being a mom. I have come to be filled with awe at my mother. She had/has 6 children and at one point 5 under the age of 6!! She's amazing. She has always been there for me and all my siblings. She believes in us. Trusts us. Loves us. She is a true woman and an amazing mother.


The last two days my Jane girl has been sick. She has slowed down, cuddled lots and been extra clingy and sensitive. On the second day I had a moment of frustration and an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy for all I was needing to do. As I sat in my rocker in her room she hugged my knee and out of no where handed me a tissue, gave me a kiss and picked a book called "Mommy Hugs." I then cried even more. This little angel taught me in a moment of anguish that I was needed and loved and cared for. There are moments that all women have doubt, feelings of inadequacy or a lack of importance. As a busy pregnant mother behind on lots of to-dos and must-dos I definitely can be hard on myself and in turn lose my patience with those I love. Times like this little angel moment give me the boost and reminder I need that womanhood, motherhood, is tough and so worth it!! There is nothing I would trade or desire more than to be a mother. I love my Mister James for being the man of my life and for the daddy he is to jane. I love my Jane bug and the snuggles and love she gives me, and I love our William boy who gives me kicks and jabs to remind me he's about to be a part of our family. I love the opportunities I am given to stretch and enhance the qualities and gifts I've been blessed with as a woman. I rejoice in motherhood and womanhood!!!


Friday, May 8, 2015

Sleepy Babies!


We got to go and see Penelope-May again this week. We brought dinner, held her, Mister fixed their computer, I cleaned up a bit, and got to take photos of the first "bath". It was so special. She is such a tiny sweet bundle!


She has some similar mannerisms to Jane when she sleeps. Like; putting both arms behind her head, having one arm spasm straight up, fingers out and leaving it up. It's adorable. Matt and Paige are such great parents and you can tell Miss Penny-Pie (that's what I like to call her) is very loved. I think she's got daddy wrapped around her finger already ;). On the drive home baby Jane was exhausted. She never falls asleep in broad daylight. It was so sweet to see her poor little droopy eyelids finally close. Oh babies are the sweetest!!





Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Midwives


Today is National Midwife Day and so I wanted to reminisce the special day Jane was born. It was a perfect first birth and a beautiful memory to look back on. I felt my water break at 8 at the Idaho Falls Court House, all the major contractions began at midnight and baby Jane was born 5:10 am. I never could have fathomed what this experience works be like or how hard it truly would be. My midwives and doula were perfect for our little family. James was the best support and literally helped me pull through the hardest moments of birth. Jane was a beautiful baby and was so very sweet the moment she was born.


Krista and Shayna were our midwives and were the perfect team accompanied by our wonderful Doula Natalie. They helped James and I know what was going on, stayed calm, brought humor, and truly were perfect. We could not have asked for a better support to bring our first baby into the world. Midwives are amazing!!! They travel at all times of night, get little sleep, have trained themselves to handle any birth complication, bless countless women and help babies arrive safely into this world. They really are incredible! The birth process and the woman's body are miracles. They are meant to be a natural and beautiful process, and midwives have allowed that process to be available to so many women. We live in an era where hospital births are the norm and the only way to go, but the woman's body is designed to have children. I'm so grateful I was blessed to feel and experience the birth process to its fullest with no medication and my mind and body working together so crucially. There is great power in creation. I am grateful there is modern medicine and hospitals for mothers and babies who would otherwise not survive, what a huge blessing that is for these times. Trusting ones body and abilities is empowering though and if you're body can and it is a safe pregnancy choose midwives, choose natural. Women are strong, babies are to!!! Happy Midwifery day!!


Monday, May 4, 2015

Creation


Yesterday and today we had some fun creation time. We got out some white paint and paper and made Mothers Day cards to mail out this week. Jane had a lot of fun painting, as you can tell. She is so funny and makes the silliest of faces right now. It's always so special to watch her create, she loves to color and paint! Il be special to mail her grandmas and great grandmas the special cards she created.

And then I had the opportunity to work on a little project for a dear friend. She had a quote stand out to her from the past April LDS Conference that she wanted to hang in her home and give as gifts. So she asked if I would design her something. This was a quote that had also stood out to me and so I was excited to piece something together for her worthy of this great little proverb. I love having the opportunity to create! I love making something out of nothing, giving life to a beautiful saying, having a product come forth with great meaning. This is why I love design, why I love being a mom why I love life. Creation is beautiful!


Friday, May 1, 2015

Cook'n

 


I haven't remembered to post to my blog as of late. I wanted to share the articles I wrote for the month of May for my little side writing job. It has been so fun to write articles each month and reminisce of cooking memories. I love food!! And I love eating! And now I'm learning to love writing about those loves.  Enjoy reading away!!

My articles are:
Yummy Flower Pots
Dinner Party Success
Spring Clean that Kitchen!
Pinterest Salad the Maindish

The Link is:

Love,
Carolyn

Citrus Cake


Today was super long. I had a lot of to-do's and didn't get half of them done I feel. But I got really important ones accomplished, like; write and send in all my articles for my food writing job, make eight packets for an FHE swap, bake a cake for the Young Women's dessert auction, spend some quality time with Mister James and Jane.


The Young Women of our church ward do a fundraiser every year to earn money so that they can afford going to camp. I was in charge the very first year we were here and it was a lot of fun. Recently they've been doing a dessert auction, and wow there was a lot of yummy goodies.


I made a lemon coconut citrus cake. It was really fun to decorate and prepare. I even let the person who won it keep the nice platter I put it on. Which I thought was a pretty nice added bonus! We were able to contribute but sadly have no pocket change right now to have gotten anything they auctioned. There were so many delectable treats that this pregnant mama wanted, but I was good and had to just be content serving this night and not getting. It sure was fun to see the battling of the auctioneers :).