Don't you ever grow up

I have so much to catch up on here about the boys but tonight, for my records, here is a tid bit. Last week Hank taught himself to take his shirt off by himself. No big deal? Huge deal! He can now fully undress and dress himself. My baby is growing up. He is needing me for less and less and is communicating more and more. This past weekend we got Hank a big bed and the crib is sidecarred to it. Lots of space and a low to the ground sleep surface for both boys. Tonight was their first night in the new set up and all I wanted to do is crawl in there with them. However Hank reminded me that I had to get out of his bed and go get in mine and be quiet. He is such a little man now and him turning 3 is proving to be much harder on me than any of his other birthdays or even Miles' first birthday. I love them both so much and I love watching them grow. Some days are so long and I desperately need an hour of cardio by myself yet the months and years just fly by. I don't want to forget any of it. Okay, maybe the parts that I almost lose my mind but everything else...the pudgy cheeks, button noses, mullet curls, how I still have to help H reach the sink or water fountain, the tiny crocs, the all night nurse-a-thons, the ergo back carries, the way Miles loves on Maw Maw, the way H  still doesn't pronounce "s" in any words. Help me Lord to treat every day like a blessing and an opportunity to minister to my family.

*I had to climb back in their bed twice before I was able to finish this post. And I guess that is okay. I got a queen size on purpose because I know many nights will be spent in between my two boys. 👶🏻😴👶🏻

Babies and Best Friends

I always wanted to have babies at the same time as my best friends for the obvious reasons like:

-you talk about pregnancy all day because each of you care about it equally at the same time.

-you can try to force your kids to be besties because they will hang out all. the. time. Beginning at birth.

-zoo trips, cfa play place. Nuf said.

But now that my friend Jordan has joined the mom club there are so many more reasons that get trumps like:

-all out of wipes? I got you!

-forgot an extra outfit and baby just exploded breastmilk poop all over his? No worries, I got this!

-baby bored with his toys? Search your besties diaper bag for new entertainment.

-did you leave your snacks in the car? I have extra because when there are two or more toddlers present you need two of everything! Thanks Shea!

-need to run an errand? Don't want to pump? No worries, I have a boob for each baby!

-up every 30 minutes last night switching sides for the baby and have a short fuse with the toddler? No judgey eyes from your bestie mom friend!

-need encouragement when you are too tired to thumb through your Bible? I bet your girl has got you with a scripture text like BAM.

This list could go on and on but you get me. Having babies at the same time as your bestie is where it is at! I highly recommend it.

(Sorry Miles you got left out of this fun)

Miles: 9 Month

Stay a baby forever, pleaseeeeeee

This month:
-you said "mamama" atleast once. So you may not have meant it but we're putting it in the books!
-you are pulling up to your knees regularly.
-you started going from crawling (army style) to sitting.
-we celebrated your cousin, Ridge's, first birthday.
-you started giving high 5s.
-your 3rd tooth popped through. Top right.
-you started crawling a few steps at a time on your hands and knees.
-you are trying to pull up on everything!
-top L tooth through 4/23/16.
-you weighed 20lb 7oz on 4/11/16.

Hank cuteness:


H- "Ma, you love Daddy."
Ma- "Yes, I do. He's my best friend."
H- "He is a nice boy."


One of our friends, Anna, left two baby dolls at our house. Hank lifts his shirt to tandem nurse. Proud moment. #normalizebreastfeeding

On the way home from Georgia:
H- "I love Daddy because I work with him. He's nice. He will cut grass. He will fix a big hammer. He knows us."

When praying you often thank God for:
-getting to go to Nana and Gigi's and Pap's.
-Taylor, Pay, Cade.
-Maw-Maw, Memommy, Hollie, Rowan, Ramsey, Ridge.
-your food, your drink.
-Milesy.
-getting to go fishing, catching fish.

Your Sunday school teacher informed me that you are the one who always prays and your classmates all look at you when it is time to pray because they know you are going to be the one to say the prayer.

You can finally steer the gator at Memommy and Pap's.

When I was a nanny...

I knew it all. I juggled multiple kids like it was a walk in the park. Why? I left after an 8-10 hour day, took my pug for a walk on the cliffs with my roommate, came home prepared a meal with out being interrupted to change a diaper, sit with somebody while they poop on the potty, pull chairs to the counter for one to "help" me cook, put chairs back at the table when said helper doesn't want to listen, discipline helper when tantrum is thrown, oh, crap! something is boiling over!! Sorry, back to the point. Then I ate my dinner, cleaned the kitchen (no interruptions during these tasks either). Then I either when out with friends or binge watched shows with Bea. After that I would go to sleep and sleep for a solid 8 hours. I mean never even roll over, solid. Sun would come up, I'd run a mile and hit the 8E and start my morning routine with the children I loved more than anyone in the world. I wasn't exhausted. I was young, rested, and full of life. I had no problem making decisions about what was best for those kids in each situation. I was not mentally, physically, or emotionally exhausted. I was in tune with their bodies and how much sleep they needed or when they'd be hungry again. Plus I didn't have to worry about any major parenting decisions. My boss gave me the orders and I carried them out. No lost sleep over where they should go to school, organic everything or nah, spray the outside of the house with pesticide and risk having kids and dogs exposed or nah, discipline allllll day long or turn my head because I'm tired of the battle, neglect the house for extra time outside or stay inside just to have a big mess again by bedtime, cook something special for my man or frozen pizza again. I was 20 something playing mom by day and enjoying every single bit of San Diego by night and on the weekends. Fast forward a few years. I get married. Will is pampered and taken care of like a king. Fast forward another year. Enter Hank. Then two years later. Enter Miles. Life is crazy!!! There are so many days I am asking the Father to renew my mind, please, just renew my mind. I am exhausted. I have been waking up SEVERAL times a night for 2.5 years, I have had leaky breastfeeding boobs for 2.5 years, I care more now than ever about what is going in and on our bodies, Will works more than than ever, I'm home more now than ever, I repeat myself a bagillion times a day, I bandage bumps and scrapes, lunch turns into food art, my strong willed child turns every day events into super toddler negotiations, I save the dogs and cats from the toddler, I save the baby from the toddler, I pay the bills, run the errands, did I mention I breastfeed and my body thinks I need 3500 calories a day? This is my Life. The one I have always wanted since I was old enough to think that far down the road. All of those things listed above that sound like complaints? They really aren't. I want to do those things for my family. Maybe just not all of those things in one day or every single day. I read a post from another blog my sister suggested I read and have Kleenex handy. It was about the stage of life I'm in. Well I did. And I cried. I related with the words there about feeling like you aren't doing anything well. I love Will and think about him all day but I'm not that great at loving him when he gets home because I'm worn out. I love Hank to death. It there are days I feel like I have only yelled because I'm sick of the twonager attitude. I want Miles to stay a baby forever but I do want to sleep again. Renew my mind. Lord, you have to renew my mind. I nap with my boys every day and I won't feel ashamed or embarrassed about it because when I look on each side of me and those precious angels with long lashes and squishy cheeks are in that deep breathing stage of sleep, there is NO where in the world I'd rather be, or anything I'd rather be doing than raising my boys with Will Ginn. How blessed am I to have a husband who works so hard to provide for our wants and needs, who desires and loves sustainable living and farming like I do, who loves to be active and eat healthy like I do, who came from such a great family, who never and I mean never complains about anything. Most of the time he leaves me wondering if I contribute anything positive to our family. My Maw Maw and my Mom tell me frequently, "these are the best days of your life". I know they are right. These babies never get enough of me. I can meet almost all needs with the magic boob milk. So Lord, renew my mind. Help me to always remember that I need to live in the present and make great plans for the future. Because when this season is over that doesn't mean the fun and the love is too. Help me to embrace each new phase and to be open to transforming daily because I HAVE to start resembling Him more and me less. Have to. Cheers to coffee, iced from Jack's preferably, dates with my man, swing sets from Nana assembled by Pap, and all the things little boys are made of. Play ball!

Just for the record

 I need a prayer wall where I can write down answered prayers like Mrs. Clara in War Room. The pen needs to be attached to the wall and there needs to be no paper involved because life in this house is crazy lately. In the meantime I'll write down the answered prayers here while it's raining outside, Hank is watching a movie, Miles is babbling, and the pups are snoring.

 Not too long ago I prayed for a virus to stop and not be spread. Well it was my prayer and about 10 others praying the same thing.....and we were spared.

I prayed aloud, Priscilla Shirer style, in my kitchen for complete healing for my flu infected toddler. Boom, done!

I prayed for a girl that I could invest in, boom!

I prayed for stay at home mom friends that were like minded and that loved Jesus.... Boom, friendships growing.

I prayed our stolen dog would make it home again... Boom, pug snores fill the living room.

I prayed for health for my grandmother.


Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. He is a personal God and he is kind. Thank you Lord.

Miles: 8 Months!

This month:

- You are 20lbs!

- You loved teething on an apple

- Hank and Mama got the flu (first time ever). Mama nursed you through it and you stayed well!

- You are scooting everywhere. You are still on your belly but have picked up speed.

- You rode in the buggy at aldi and loved it! You proudly smiled at everyone in the store.

- You have been cracking us up with all of the funny faces you've been making. 

- You learned to clap! So precious!

Hank is 2 1/2 and has been such a pleasant boy lately. Quick to listen and obey (most of the time), ever growing vocabulary, the best imagination, and has been so helpful with brother. Still loves to spend the day at Nana and GiGi's once a week. Used his Valentine's money from Memommy to buy two snakes and a snack. Had the nasty flu that took a full 7 days to get over. Went to his first church Easter egg hunt and made resurrection rolls and loved it. Already has a farmer's tan from playing outside in the nice weather. Requests cinnamon toast for breakfast daily. Went fishing every day last week. Weighs 26lbs and is 35.5in. He *is* two but I really do enjoy him most days. Since it has warmed up we have visited some parks and the outdoor CFA play place and gone on daily walks...heavenly! He requests Li's place for lunch after church every Sunday. Hilarious. Has been asking to go to Ramsey's house to play trains a lot lately. Love you Hank and I am so glad I have you to keep me entertained with your stories and to keep me laughing by trying to boss everyone around. 

Proudly showing his boo boo. 

Miles: 7 Months!

                               

- We didn't get to weigh you much this month due to missing babycafe and some sickness. On 2/2/16 you were 18lb 11oz.

- Your daddy turned 30 this month and we threw him a surprise party. It was fun.

- Daddy planted your tree, a Macintosh Apple, with our placenta planted under it. 

- You have 2 teeth! You cut your first tooth on February 15th, bottom left. The bottom right came through a week later, the day before you were 7 months. 

- You were whistling very softly this month.

- You are scooting around on your belly now. 

- You still smile at everyone. 

- Like your brother, nursing you is such a joy. Those sweet smiles and the cuddles are priceless now that you are getting on the move. I love knowing that all of your rolls are from mama's milk. So empowering and so absolutely incredible to know the Savior and experience his design for me as a mother and you as a nursing babe.

- You take a short morning nap, then about a 2 hour nap with Hank and me, and then another short afternoon nap. 

- You usually start out in your bed and then after you wake up once or twice you get in our bed because mama is tired!

- You go to the nursery during worship now but mama usually gets paged to come get you before the service is over. I like it that way. You still go to Sunday school with me.

I love my boys. Parenting you two is so beautiful when I let the Lord renew my mind. I used to wonder how I could take care of two. Now it is just normal. It may take a little longer to meet needs but they get met. Daddy is done with basketball season which is nice. 

Hank is as smart as ever with an always growing vocabulary. He loves going to Nana and GiGi's and Maw Maw's house. 

Miles: SIX months!

This month you

- started rolling from belly to back regularly

- learned to splash with both hands in the tub

- rolled across the living room several times

- started sitting up unsupported

- are talking "yah yah yah" and "ba ba ba"

- you started nodding your head in ma's 28th birthday

- sleep in the pack n play in ma's rm for the first time bc the co sleeper doesn't give you the space you want

- are weighing 18 lbs 8 oz

- are the happiest baby, a joy to our family, and you are growing very quickly.

This month Hank told Ma he loved her for the first time unprompted, talks about his ma's milk is so good and "tastes like milkshake". He also says "no please" ( meaning no thank you ). After hanging out with Anna Kiker (4yo) you started calling me "Mom" sometimes, I want to cry and I do not like it one bit. You are not a teenager, ugh!

Staying home with you boys is my delight. Some days I'm tired, frustrated, and exhausted but I still choose you two. We still all lay down for naps every afternoon together. Ma in the middle. I cannot believe it has been six months since I caught precious Miles on his birthday. There aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done but I am gonna try to love you two and your daddy so recklessly that you won't ever forget it. 

*Also note: Daddy bought Miles a Macintosh Apple tree to plant next to Hank's horse Apple. Our placenta was planted under Miles' tree (thanks for the idea, Nancy) and his tree was planted with love by daddy and Hank on 2/7/16. Looking forward to watching my boys and their trees grow.