"Pinch Proof" Our St. Patrick's Day Weekend re-cap.

Our little family was pinch proof on Saturday with all of our green on. Little Miss Carys got tons of attention at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in her green outfit and of course her red hair. Girlfriend does have just a touch of Irish in her blood J

Carys has just started really clapping and waving and we loved every minute of watching her clap and wave at the people in the parade. To say she LOVED IT would be an understatement. We made it a goal to spend as much time as possible doing fun family things on the weekends and this weekend we made progress on that goal. I am so blessed to be this sweet girl’s momma!

sidenote: I NEVER take pictures with my glasses on but I'm trying to embrace the camera and jump in photos more often.

checking out the bands

Waving to the cars

clapping along to the YMCA :)

Our Sunday was a lazy one we missed church which I hate doing but we just flat over-slept it was a much needed day of extra sleep for our entire family. After we lounged away our morning we played ball outside with our sweet baby girl.

Later Alligators...

Mrs.  A

Thanksgiving Tuesday

Have you ever had a week where everything that happens feels like it cuts you into many pieces and that you are constantly being handed your words on a silver platter? Well I am totally having one of those weeks I am learning just how much being a mom can test your patience, and remind you of your own short comings. I have had a trying week with my little girl and the funny thing is I can see myself in everything she's done recently. There's nothing like the actions of your child to make you realize your own shortcomings. My child is not a bad kid but she is definitely testing her boundaries this week and well frankly I'm feeling like I don't know how to deal with it.

 I am so thankful for the amazing women in my life that I lean on as my mommy mentors they have helped me walk through this more than they will ever know. I only hope someday to be the encouragement to a new mom that I have had from my mentors! Without these women in my life I am certain I would've broke down over a motherhood issue many many times. Thankfully the times I have had breakdowns these wonderful amazing women have been there to pick me up and dust me off and tell me to keep going. I can't tell you how many times I've called one of them crying and saying I've totally screwed up my kid only for them to remind me that kids are resilient and we are learning right along with them. I often forget that as a new mom I'm allowed to make mistakes I am human I am NOT supermom no matter how many times I try to convince myself that I am I always ALWAYS fall short!

In a world full of women who seem to be at war with each other over mommy issues I am so blessed to have these amazing women not judging me but teaching me and walking beside me! They exemplify the Titus 2 woman and they are some of my dearest friends! I hope I never forget how lucky I am!


Later Alligators...

Mrs. A

Sunday Meditations The Mission Field of Motherhood

My baby turned 1 last week officially entering the world of toddlerhood AKA the trying years and I have been busily running after her distracting her playing with her and in general enjoying her. But yesterday I was brought to my knees my sweet child bit and drew blood I was so stunned I yelled in pain and tapped her on the cheek to which she wailed! I immediately crumbled thinking myself a horrible parent and the thought has remained with me through today. I have felt myself unprepared for the years ahead and I find myself terrified of what's to come. I confessed this to my mom mentor that I feel completely unprepared to lead my child through the coming years and she reminded me that not only am I to lead I am to train, explain, and show her Jesus through my actions.

We've been speaking a lot about being burdened to save the lost souls of the world in our Sunday school class at church and I can honestly say sharing the gospel is a burden I feel for me God took this lesson in a completely different direction than I think it was presented and made me realize that my mission field is my home and my daughter is the lost soul I am trying to save. As much as I shutter to think of a future in which Carys doesn't choose Jesus if I don't live my life as an example that could someday be my reality. She is always watching me and learning even when I'm not speaking and I am terrified of that. I am crawling in the arms of Jesus and asking him to Lead me so I can lead her.

 I've never really thought of my home as my mission field before today but it is and I must make the best of every opportunity presented. I am reminded of the song lyrics we chose to put above Carys's crib "The Words I Would Say"  by the Sidewalk Prophets. The quotes we put above her bed are "Be strong in the Lord and Never Give Up Hope, you're gonna do great things I already know" but the lyrics I am reminded of now are "I know cause I've already been there so please here these simple truths" The reality is that the truth of Jesus and His saving grace is simple but teaching it to a child that seems like a mountainous task and one I am now responsible for completing. My only hope is to draw closer to Him and rest in His strength while teaching my children to do the same.

What about you have you thought of your home as a mission field before? and if so what are you doing to win the battle for Christ? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Later Alligators....
Mrs. A

To Everything There is a season!

As many of you know I lost my wonderful bakery job that I had taken late last year when the bakery decided to close I chose not to be angry at God for seemingly giving me my dream job and then taking it away. I walked right into another bakery job but the hours were demanding and I was working 50-60 hours a week when I was only supposed to be part time. Mr. A and I regrouped and prayed a lot I left that bakery job and chose to return to work full time.  I have now been at my new job for nearly two weeks. It was a hard decision that came with a lot of tears but we are blessed with a wonderful day care and I am holding on to the fact that it’s not forever. I can do anything for a little while even if it means leaving my precious girl at Daycare for 8 hours a day. She is happy and enjoys her time at “school” I am confident that our financial picture will improve with the added income and we can build to our savings and in a few years  probably when we’re ready for baby #2 I can be a full time stay at home mama. I was unhappy at first but Mr. A and I both feel this is what is absolutely best for our family.

I know some may disagree and that’s ok all families have to make choices based on what is best for their family at that point in time and we did that. It goes without saying that our new dynamic change has required some changes in the A household I thought organization with a child was important before but now with both of us out of the house 90% of the time it’s imperative! 

We must keep our home in working order through a serious of checklists in order for our limited family time to be maximized enjoying our time together instead of dealing with a messy home or staying home because we’ve exhausted our budget eating out. 

Our budget got tightened even though technically there is more income as we have several big house projects we are saving for. We chose to start a program called emeals we paid a set fee of 35.00 and for six months we get our menus planned for us as well as a complete shopping list based on what sales are at the store. Thanks @LeahMarie for introducing us to the concept not all of the meals are amazing but they are all fairly simple and if we don’t like a certain meal we might just replace it with a convenience meal such as soup or chili in the winter and grilled hamburgers or salads in the spring and summer. It’s been very helpful to us since we started the program in January and has become invaluable for helping us prepare a shopping list each week since now I get up early and go shopping on Saturday mornings for the week ahead. We also created a chore chart based on doing a few chores an evening so we don’t have to spend our entire day Saturday cleaning. We’re looking forward to having quality family time on Saturdays going to the zoo, the park, and eventually the swimming pool and soaking up our sweet girl’s smiles ;)

We’ve never really been this structured with our cleaning schedule or our meals although I have aspired to be. Truth is I’m a closet slob my living areas may look neat and tidy but that’s only because I cleaned like mad before anyone comes over. I hope this structure will help us to become a neater family. We’re doing well so far with our daily tasks and we’re taking it one day at a time but we have discovered that this system is much better than the alternative when we both have full time jobs. So I’m no domestic diva but I’d like to be and I hope maybe these baby steps will get me there.

So that's what's been up with the A Family lately!

Carys K. you are 1

My Darling Carys,

Saturday you turned 1 and mommy can't believe how quickly time flew. I truly feel as though I blinked and you were 1. You are such a busy bee little girl you are constantly on the move and you've started walking in the last few months and you are getting more confident every day, I am certain by the end of this month you will be a pro! You weighed in at the doctor's office today at just under 20 pounds and your 28 inches tall you're in the 25h percentile for both height and weight and Dr. Bowen your pediatrician was quite pleased with your development. Your hair is still fire red and getting quite long, and your are eyes still just as blue as can be.

A typical schedule for you looks like this:

Wake up 7AM-Eat breakfast which is either oatmeal and a mashed up banana, or pancakes cut into bites with some apples and cinnamon and a sippy with milk
then you play with mommy until time to leave for daycare

we  get to daycare at 7:45 and you spend your day playing with Miss Eva while there you eat a morning snack when you get there usually just some fruit or maybe some puffs, then you eat lunch at 11  and you eat whatever is being served that day, you are eating straight table food these days and you really enjoy your food you usually have milk with lunch too. you usually nap from 12PM-2PM
Mommy picks you up from daycare at 5:30 right after afternoon snack which is usually some yogurt, and we head home to play and hang out til daddy gets home at 6:00 then we play with daddy for 1/2 an hour and it's time to eat dinner you eat whatever the family is having for dinner and then it's bath time you absolutely love bath time and always get mad when it's time to get out but mommy can calm you down pretty fast with the excitement of tooth  brushing which you love as long as you get to hold mommy's toothbrush while she brushes yours with your toothbrush then you get to brush mommy's teeth or at least pretend to, then it's story time with daddy while you drink your milk and then it's night night by 7. You are sleeping like a little champ only waking up on off nights IE when you have teething pain or when you don't feel good.

You are such a little social butterfly and neither mommy or daddy have yet to see major bouts of separation anxiety from  you, we aren't sure whether to count our blessings or brace ourselves cause it's coming. You love having your picture taken and you always have to see the photo you point and say see. You had your first overnight stay with your grandparents recently and you did great mommy and daddy were so proud.

You have a few words in your vocabulary and we know you understand more than you say. You can say mama, dada, baba, up, see, bite, and nite nite, and you understand no no, dog, and go.

 Your favorite toys are stacking toys that you precariously stack together and then knock over with the silliest little grin and gleeful squeal. You are such a happy baby and everyone who meets you falls in love with your infectious giggle. Your favorite past time is feeding the doggy you giggle hysterically when you toss food on the floor and Missy gobbles it up, this does not thrill mommy or daddy but you are so gosh darn cute you usually get away with it.

Mommy got a little teary eyed today when I read an e-mail from a website I joined when I was pregnant with you that used to say "Your Baby This Week" it now reads "Your Toddler This Week" this made mommy sad to think you are growing up so fast, but happy at the same time you are turning into such a little lady. Mommy's favorite time with you is in the mornings when I've just woken you up we sit together in your room and you become such a little cuddle bug especially if it's a chilly morning. Mommy cherishes that time baby girl please don't give it up too quickly.

Mommy and Daddy love you more than we ever could have imagined and you are such a joy in our lives we count ourselves blessed many times each day when we see your sweet smile. I hope you are always as infectiously happy as you are at this age!

Love,
Mommy