Encouragement for You

"Mama-ing," as sweet Julia calls it, can be exhausting and often very isolating.  So I'm hijacking Julia's blog today (forgive me, sweet friend!) to let her know that she's doing a wonderful job.

All our girls together :)

Julia, I know that you're working hard with very few thank you from those little sanity-stealers angel-girls.  I know how you fight momma guilt and bitterness and try to pour yourself out as a sacrifice.  I know how hard you pray and how many sleepless nights you put in.

I just wanted to know that it matters to God.  It matters to me.  It encourages me.

And that's all I wanted to say.

(Oh, yeah... and I love you, sweet friend!)

Buffalo gals won't you come out tonight...

...and dance by the light of the moon.

Our girls have been loving all things moon-related lately.

Did you see the moon this past week? It was glorious and bright. That, coupled with our unusually weather has made some some pretty spectacular evenings with our girls.

There was one night in particular. We took the girls out to look at the moon, then we let them run around in the yard barefoot for a few minutes. They loved the feel of the cool grass on their feet. Barefooted babes in January (1133). Doesn't that just make you smile?

Last night Brad took me outside to show me the ring around the moon---all full and bright (1034). Magnificent! I love that things like that speak to him (1035). I love that he knows they speak to me too, so he comes and gets me (1036).

This warm weather also allowed us to go for a run and make a quick stop at the park to swing on the swings with our friends Laila and Nori (1037).

We also got to smell and admire all the confused flowers in the garden (1038) and see the daffodils sprouting (1039).

We also got to enjoy a morning at Fresh Pasture Farms (1040).

It was so much fun to watch Brynne fearlessly run around with the chickens (1041). 

And how cool that the girls were allowed to, gently, gather our eggs to take home (1042).



 There was more besides just the moon and the weather.

I got to sit down to breakfast--for two hours (!!) with one of my dearest, closest girlfriends (1043). It was the first time we'd gotten together, without there being a baby involved, in over two years. It brought much joy to my spirit!

Brynne had a great ear check this week! (1044) We might have two healthy girls this winter yet!

Hadley learned how to make corn in her kitchen this week (1045). She boils the water, and seasons it up with salt and pepper. It's pretty darn cute!

Mama Loves: Being Pushy

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! So glad that you've stopped by!

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found: 

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

Share it with us! Blogging has made me a better mama, because I've learned about all kinds of great things, like those listed above, from mamas just like you. Here's your chance to share it with all of us!

To link your post up, click on the linky tool at the bottom, and follow the directions, it's really easy. You can also add this beautiful button to your post. Just grab the code in the box, copy and paste it into your post. Easy.

<center><a href="http://pontificationsofatwinmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Mama%20Loves" target="_blank"><img alt="Manic Mother" src="http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv66/MaAldrich/MamaLovesButtoncopy.jpg"/></a></center>

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Hi there! I feel I need to apologize for not showing up last week. My sister came to visit, Brad had been home a lot, and quite honestly, I didn't even know it was Saturday until we were half way through the day. Forgive me? Mama did really love the break, so thank you for your grace.

I'd love to keep on with Mama Loves in 2012. I've said it before, I've been very blessed from all your fabulous posts! Clever activities, ideas, recipes, toys, books, gear---all of it!

A note on that---if you're on Pinterest---Pin those great posts! Pinterest is a great way to get traffic, and maybe some new readers. People love great ideas on that Pinterest, I tell you! I've started a Mama Loves board on my Pinterest page.

Got everything pinned last night. HOLY COW! People love your mama-approved ideas! The Dapper Snappers were a clear winner with 26 repins and seven likes in a matter of 56 minutes! Woah! So--if your stats were blown-up last night---I might have put you on Pinterest. Who knew Pinterest would be so popular at 10 PM on a Friday night?! Oh, and, Melissa, someone left a comment wanting to know where they could buy a Mommy Hook. Can you help?

(Please email me, if for some reason, you don't want me to include your post(s) there---I'll take them down strait away!).

Now, down to business!

My bloggy friend, Mandy always talks about stuff with her girls that has "stood the test of time".

Our girls love to push things around, which is better than them pushing me or each other around, which--let's face it, that happens, anyway around here, sometimes.

For their birthday last year, our girls got, what we refer to as a "vacuum-sweeper popper". They push that thing around every. single. day. It's their vacuum when I vacuum---they're such great helpers!

Our girls recently received some more things to push around:

A pram to push their babies around (I know you probably call it a buggy, but I like that the girls know it as a pram--makes me feel a bit British. Would you like a spot of tea?):

We also have a fabulous new shopping cart:



I would highly recommend all three of these toys. They are durable, well made, and our girls absolutely love them! Push toys have definitely stood the test of time around here!

Do you have push toys that your littles love?

Can't wait to see what you're loving this week!

You kiss your babies with that mouth?

So, I've been thinking a lot about this word of mine that I chose for this year.

Be.

There's more I want to be. And I want that to start with being myself here, in my writing.


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I haven't been dishonest, or misrepresented myself. But, there have been a few posts I've done over the past year that I've been---well, I've been scolded about---through comments or by people I know in real life. And, this oldest child, people pleaser, pretending-that-it-doesn't-matter-but-secretly-caring- a-lot-what-other-people-think-even-though-I-hate-admitting-that-to-you-right-now doesn't like to be in trouble, and I don't like to disappoint.

So, I've found myself tempering my writing.

I don't like that. That isn't being me.

I've found myself not always saying the thing I'd say to you if I was sitting across the table from you at a coffee shop.

Probably the clearest example of this would be cussing.

I don't hold a candle to truckers or sailors, but I do cuss sometimes. Mostly, it's for emphasis.

You see--we've taken words like epic or awesome, which used to be reserved for truly extraordinary, awe-striking things like space travel and The Grand Canyon, and we've made those words arbitrary. We use them for things that we won't remember a week from now like the "epic-fail" of wearing your shirt inside out all day, or the "awesome" flavor of toothpaste the dentist used to clean your teeth. Cussing is sort of my epics and awesomes. And--it just cuts to the point.

But, even if the whole epic-awesome-arbitaryness wasn't true, I'd probably still cuss.

Now, maybe you're running to your Bible to find me a verse to tell me why I shouldn't say this. Maybe cussing is offensive to you. Here's something else: sometimes, when I talk to Jesus, I cuss too.

I'm not being irreverent. Being reverent has nothing to do with words, and everything to do with attitude. I only need take one look at our beautiful girls to be brought to my knees in awe that he could make that.

I cuss when I talk to Jesus, because he wants a relationship with me. He wants to be just like a friend sitting across the table sipping coffee. Talking to him is no different than talking to those friends. He doesn't want me to pause to use words like "thee" and "thy", because I don't use those when I talk to my friends, or ever, really. He just wants me to be real--even if it includes the occasional curse word.

So, for example: I watched Brynne tumble down our basement steps on Wednesday----top to bottom----her neck bending in ways that took my breath away. I don't think I could tell you the sheer terror that swept through my body as I watched her fall, unless I told you that this scared the HELL out of me. And this was my prayer in that moment, as she's falling:

Brynne! Shit, Jesus, help!

And our Brynne. I collect her in my arms. She utters one word:

Uh-oh.

And then, she with her rubber neck, runs off to play. While I'm sobbing and shaking, continuing to say lots of shits and thank yous to Jesus.*

You know what though? I think Jesus loves that. I think he wants that. He wants to come into my mess; to be included. He doesn't want me to wait till designated prayer times, or a moment when I can clean up my language, to be included. Real relationship isn't designated or contrived like that. It happens all the time, and that's what Jesus wants, I think. Even if it includes cussing. I know I certainly needed help as Brynne toppled down our stairs. I couldn't wait for an appropriated, curse-free time to ask.

And really, if your kid was falling down these stairs, you'd probably say shit too. I'm 93% sure you would.

So, this is me. A Jesus-loving, mama of twins, who uses the occasional four letter word, with a husband who gives me complete grace, even when I let our kid fall down the stairs.

I've told more than one person, I like you more, once I've heard/read them cuss. I mean it too. I like people who cuss. There's something about it that's real; genuine. I like people like that. Maybe this post will have you like me more. Or maybe you'll decide you don't like me at all. Maybe I won't be your flava. But, here I am. I want to be all here, when I write. This is me. I hope you like me both inspite of, and because of. Either way---here I be.


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*I don't make a habit of swearing in front of our girls. The whole falling down the stairs thing--desperate circumstances.

Cheers to a New Year and Much to be Thankful for

So many things to be thankful for this past week. I'm so thankful that we're starting 2012 off healthier than we ended 2011!

1115. Hadley's fevers to indicate that something is wrong.

1116. Mama's intuition.

1117. New antibiotics.

1118. Ear infection diagnosis.

1119. Many fevered snuggles in the middle of the night.

1120. Napping with Hadley.

1121. Energy through those five nights of interrupted sleep.

1122. Fever-less day finally arriving!

1123. The girls giggling at their papa juggling clementines in the kitchen.

1124. Hanging the girls' art in our home.

1125. Brynne's love for the color orange, just like her papa.

1126. Playing in the snow with my girls.

1127. Multitasking.

1128. My sister surprising us with a visit.

1129. Hadley sitting on her Masa's knee, petting Noodle (Yes, Noodle, the poodle).

1130. Someone else to read Clifford.  

1131. The girls' fascination with the moon, because of the beautiful, lyrical book, I Took the Moon for a Walk that I don't mind reading over and over again.

1132. Ringing in the New Year sound asleep.

Be

Last year I wrote about my word for the year--Ebenezer--a reminder of God's love, presence and assistance.

Ebenezers were everywhere as I navigated becoming a mama in 2010--hardest, most rewarding year of my life!

Yesterday as I was perusing Pinterest, contemplating this past year, I landed on my word.

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It's struck me how very quickly this past year has gone.

The girls have gone from babies to toddlers right before our eyes:

They can do crafts now.
They say "uh-oh" (their new favorite word) at least a thousand times a day.
Their hair is long and beautiful--people no longer question their gender.

It's glorious--watching them grow and change! I delight in every moment of it. So very thankful that God chose me to be their mama.

So. Be.

Often, along with this Mama gig, I'm quick turn to tasks. Thankful? Yes, immensely so, but I forget to just enjoy my girls. To be present to them. To just be with them.

Be present.
Be engaged.
Be silly.
Be carefree.
Be a teacher.
Be a student.
Be creative.

Do you have a word? I'd love for you to share it!

May 2012 be a beautiful, meaningful year for all of you.

Sharing this here and here. Join us!

2011 in Review

Wow! I thought 2010 brought changes!

When I look back over our year, I feel so incredibly blessed. Our girls have gone from babies to toddlers. It's such a joy to watch them grow!

In 2011 we:

Played in the snow

We celebrated a first birthday!

We learned to walk.

I broke up with the breast pump.

We started wearing pigtails (some days it's still like trying to herd cats, but the cuteness factor makes it very worthwhile) and figured out how to use smart phones.

We went on many grand adventures, sailing the Seven Seas in our pirate boat.

We went swimming in the backyard.

The girls weaned, which was bittersweet for Mama. 



We went on our first ever family vacation to visit our friends.

And were photographed by the very talented Melissa!

We went apple picking and pumpkin picking for the first time.

The girls discovered their love of gardening.

We (barely) survived the transition from two naps to just one nap.

Probably the biggest accomplishment of 2011, for me, and the biggest change over all, was to watch the girls learn sign language. We're still learning too! I've stopped counting, but I know they have well over 100 signs. It's so wonderful for them to be able to communicate with us, and for us to know what they're saying!

I can't wait to see what 2012 will bring us.