"You're like superwoman!"

Let me preface this with I in no way shape or form think I'm a great or superior mother, I'm just Rachel. Twenty seven, five foot six, brown eyed, small town girl, wife to David, Jesus follower, stepmom to Brent, and mommy to 2 little princesses who happen to be 14 months apart.

So, when I hear, "you've got your hands full!" multiple times every time I leave my home, it kind of goes in one ear and out the other. I used to tell people that my hands are full, but my heart is more full! Now I just smile and try to move along...quickly! The last time I was out with all three, Brent finally told one couple who said it, "we've heard that three times!" It does get old, but it's hard not to notice us.

I took all three with me to vote yesterday. Anna in our Ergo carrier, Reagan in the stroller, Brent by my side. It went smoothly, they did well. We left and went to target, I left Anna in her carseat and snapped into the stroller, wore Reagan in the Ergo on my back (that carrier is worth twice its weight in gold), and Brent tagged along. In the parking lot I saw a mom struggling with her older baby (he was probably about 10 months old), she glanced my way, my toddler happily attached to me, my sleeping infant, and the cutest second grader skipping next to me. She had an amazed look on her face. She sighed heavily and said across the parking lot, "you are like superwoman!" I smiled sheepishly, and she yelled, "no, really!" I assured her it didn't always go so smoothly, but sometimes we try to leave the house. Her acknowledgement of the craziness I seem to keep under control made my day a little brighter. I am no superwoman, but I am incredibly blessed with very full hands!

At the risk of sounding totally nuts...

I'll share this anyways. I had to take my well seeming children to the doctor today to find out they MAY have HFM, but shouldn't be contagious as long as they are fever free (and they have yet to run a fever).

Anyway, that's aggravating, but not so crazy. What is crazy is I think my children met their grandmother in the waiting room. My mother in law died 3 years ago this Christmas. The same year I married her most handsome son. She was funny, candid, witty, and real. I can't really say I know how I'd feel with her experience raising 5 boys watching over my mothering of her granddaughters, but I know she would be crazy about them. She was about their brother.

In the waiting room a lady with a broad toothy smile struck up a conversation with Reagan. Her smile, demeanor, even her voice was Faye's. She played with my little Reagan Faye. She told me she knew motherhood was hard, especially with such small ones, but as they grow it will get easier. She had that same candidness that my children's grandmother had. And for an instant, I felt like the lady who was the biggest cheerleader for my husband's and my relationship to succeed and grow, was sitting next to me. While it may seem crazy it is just what I needed as an exhausted mommy. I am deeply saddened that my girls won't know their daddy's mommy, but I do hope to share her character with them.

And so it goes...

I started back to work about 3 weeks ago. Everything has been going pretty well. Anna learned to gulp her bottle after a day and a half of refusals, Reagan got hand, foot and mouth on her second day, and I only cried the first two days back. Sounds fabulous, right?

In all seriousness, everything is okay. The babies miss us during the day and I'm up with one of them at least 3 times a night. More than anything, I'm pretty tired.

Reagan has grown to really enjoy school, and my husband says now drop off is easy. She leads the way to her classroom and waves to him. She loves playing with the baby dolls and outside time. Often she finds the mud, and I pick her up and she's had a necessary wardrobe change. Anna is such a happy baby. They all love her. A teacher from Reagan's old daycare is actually one of Anna's teachers now. She always is telling me what a great baby she is.

I have 20 extra special kindergartners. They make the time away pass pretty quickly, but keeping up with 11 wild boys and 9 energetic girls is contributing to my exhaustion for sure. Other than my little family though, there is nothing I enjoy more than the inner workings of a five year old's mind. They have it all figured out.

Getting into the routine has been tough and we have a few kinks to work out, but I am enjoying the weekends, the early morning snuggles, late nights with my babies. These times won't last forever. Might as well enjoy them. One day I will sttn (sleep through the night) again. I won't even know what to do with myself, it's been at least since December 2010!

Now that I'm a mom....

There are things I thought I wouldn't give up or things I thought I'd stop doing once I became a mommy. Now that I have two little girls that are going to look to me for guidance, I consciously think about all my choices.

Now that I'm a mommy, I don't think I will be tanning. After seeing my dad get a hunk of his nose carved out , my fair skin can stay fair. My girls will learn all too soon that they can bake without seeing their mommy do it. We will spray tan together!

Now that I'm a mommy, I skip the greasy fries. I'm not a crazy healthy food nut, but I will teach my gals it's about choices. Choose what is best based on what is in front of you. I'm not going to teach them to have to have special foods or dietary needs (though my big girl may anyway), but to just be smart about their food intake.

Now that I'm a mommy, I will have an adult drink from time to time. I'm not going to get wasted, but a glass of wine with dinner or a beer with my baby daddy is fine. I don't want my girls to see it as taboo to have a beverage, and I want them to learn that it is fine in moderation.

Now that I'm a mommy, I want my girls that I'm all about them, but the whole world isn't. Our church goes and volunteers at the local children's home. As soon as the girls are old enough, I want them to get their hands dirty in the work of helping others.

I'm sure there are lots of other new perspectives I will take as I become a more seasoned mommy, but Anna is done eating and Reagan needs a clean diaper! My day is about to get started in full force. Now that I'm a mommy, there is nothing in the world that comes close.

My Little Sister...

...is growing up.  I usually just post about the babies and me on here, and this is still about me (hey, isn't everything?), but it's more about life in general.  My baby sis is getting married in less than 2 months.  Crazy?! In the past three and a half years, I've become a wife, a stepmom, and momma of two, so I know life comes at you pretty fast.  I'm so excited for my sister, my friend, my boxing partner to embark on this fabulous journey.

Now, I'm working on her lingerie shower plans and her gift for her bridal shower this weekend.  As I get her gift together, I find myself tearing up a little.  Partly because it's a pretty sentimental gift, and it is reminding me of my life's blessings, and partly because she is going to be going through these amazing experiences soon!

I cannot wait for the festivities these next two months will hold (though traveling with two babies in tow leaves a little left to be desired).   What a really wonderful and exciting time for my beautiful sissy, the goregous bride to be!

We love you, sis, Auntie, and buddy!  We are so blessed to have you in our lives!

This Crazy Life

It's official, I really stink at schedules.  I'm great at routines, but not schedules.  I think this flexibility is probably why I'm able to manage a kindergarten classroom and two children under the age of two.  My oldest child needs routines, but if I force her to do things at certain times, I end up with one very loud, ill child.  I can't handle crying it out, and for that reason, my sweet Reagan has went  down for her nap by riding in the car the past few days (unplanned, but that's just how it worked out). 

Because of this and a few other things, a little part of me is really excited to get back to work.  Mommy needs a routine too.  I'm all about the babies, but I've kind of lost myself a little.  I doubt I'll get it back completely ever until, well, never.  But I do look forward for a few hours a day to focus on something other than whose diaper I changed last, what to feed my very picky toddler for lunch, and which side I nursed my infant on last.

Lately, I have been having a really great time photographing my little Anna.  It's been something that I can do for fun, a little creativity, and it requires nothing other than my imagination, a sleeping baby (or two---somethings are impossible to do with a toddler running around), and whatever we have laying around the house.

Anna the Country Singer

Anna Climbing the Tree & Taking a Rest at the Top

Jumping on the Bed

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my girls, and I if I knew it were possible for our family, I would stay at home with them and LOVE IT, but because I know that being a working mother is a reality for me, I go in and do that job with my whole heart.  I feel like it must be God's will for our family for me to work outside our home.  My most important work is here, but I can enjoy my work too!  I'm a mommy ALL of the time, and a teacher for a few hours M-F ten months a year.  I love both of these fabulous jobs I've been blessed with.  Who knew though that two little people could wear me out more than 20 five year olds? What a crazy life!

15 months

My sweet big baby had her 15 month birthday yesterday.  That meant today we got to go in for her 15 month check up and a couple shots.  She did really awesome, making her momma really proud.

At Reagan's two month check up, a whole year ago, she was a fat chunk.  I loved her rolls for the record.  All that good mommy milk made her top the growth scales and she was a shorty.  Today is a much different story.  She is a VERY active girl, and because of that she was 20 lbs 10 oz making her in the 17th percentile in weight.  She took a growth spurt and jumped from the 20th percentile in height to the 68th.  She's a tall skinny model baby.  What's funny though, is that I still see her as my chunky girl.

She's is meeting all developmental markers well.  She uses a few words, hey and bye being her favorite!  She picks up things and carries them, she stacks blocks (in our house, she prefers bowls), and she self feeds (though not very successfully with utensils).  She is already exhibting her "spirited" personality with her bedtime refusal.  Her doctor gave me some reading material and the behaviors she's showing are very characteristic of two year olds... I"m not looking forward to those terrible twos!  We discussed bedtime at length, and when the doctor was telling me that we, as parents, take too much credit in being the child's safe place, that they can associate the crib as that safe place, Reagan shook her head, quite fervently, no.  It was as if she was saying, "uh-huh, my mom is my safe place."  We all found this quite amusing.

In just a couple weeks, Anna will be having her two month check up.  I am really dreading it; it helps that Reagan has taken her binkie.  It soothes her after those scary shots.  Anna isn't really the best at self soothing, either with a binke or a thumb.  She's just not into it.  We'll pray that she'll be just as tough as her sister was today.  I'm so in love with my fuzzy headed little girls.  I can't believe my babies are already 15 months and 6 weeks.  The time is flying!