Kate is Two

Kate, you are two.

Funny how someone so little is full of so much.

You are full of humor as you squeeze my cheeks between your two little hands and say, "chubby Mommy(when you read this later on in life please know that was a term of endearment at our house)." Or when you dance a jig for no reason at all.

You are full of snuggles as you constantly wrap your little arms around my neck so tightly when I carry you. Or when you pull my hand to your face so it can rest in its palm. Or when we rock each night, for you won't let me forget to, and you rest your head on my arm.

You are full of mishief as you poured what had to be 500 small beads across our floor. Or when you smeared toothpaste on our walls and carpet. Or dumped that bottle of shampoo out across the bathroom floor (I'm still working on that one). Or when you spread Grant's body wash on the kitchen floor (yes, kitchen). Or when you showed me you poo pooed by exposing your dirty finger. Or...well...you get the point.

You are full of love as you hug your brother and sister and "pet" them on their heads. Or when you say unprovoked, "Mommy, I wuv you too." Or when you put your baby in her bed and comb her hair.

You are full of giggles when Mommy makes funny faces at you or when Daddy tickles you. Or when Hannah and Grant are being silly.

You are full of song as you hum and sing as you go throughout the day. Or as we rock at night and you join in with our favorite song, "Baby Sunshine."

You are full of confidence when meeting new faces and new places. You fearlessly enter a new environment and don't bat an eye.

Kate, you are full of life. Outgoing. Easy going. I foresee you being the life of the party. A friend to many. Openly affectionate. As with Hannah and Grant, I look forward to seeing how the Lord has created you and will use you. You are a blessing to us and I know you will be a blessing to many.

Happy Birthday sweet baby Kate...

5 days late...

But that's how you roll with the third.

Five Minute Friday: Race

 

Each day starts in my mind like a race. Racing for what, I'm not always sure. Racing to accomplish. Racing to meet people's expectations. Racing to finish. And it seems in the racing during the day I miss out on life. I get frustrated when the race gets slowed down by spilled beads, kids' questions, unexpected guests, distracted interests. And, at the end of the day, after I finish the race and put the kids in bed I wonder, what did I just do? Was the race that important? Did I miss out on valuable moments? Was it worth losing my temper for the hundreth time when what I hoped to accomplish did not get accomplished? And so, the last few days, I've tried to slow down, to run with meaningful purpose. To take a deep breath and tell myself, it will get done in due time. And so I can enjoy the little faces that I am so fortunate to see every day...for I am reminded these faces will not always be here. These moments will soon pass.

 

Glade Expressions Collection

In all my free time (ha), I also do a little "Bzzing" as a Bzz Agent. They are kind enough to let me try some products and then give my feedback on them.

Recently I received the Expressions collection...which included the oil diffuser and the spray. I really enjoy them both. I keep the oil diffuser in our bathroom and the smell lasted quite a long time. Even my husband commented on how nice the house smelled when walking in from work. That's a big deal!

While the diffuser is a big hit with my husband (though he'd never outright admit it ;)) the spray is a big hit with the kids. They love to go around the house and spray. The smell lingers for quite some time (especially if the kids got extra enthusiastic about it). I like the variety of the smells. My favorite are the Fuji apple and the cotton linen...two smells you just can't go wrong with.

So if you've ever been interested in trying it, I'd say go for it. I don't think you'd be disappointed!

Five Minute Friday: Welcome

Welcome...

to a time out

to refreshment

to an impromptu photshoot

to a 4 year old photographer

to photos taken with one hand

to tears

to laughter

to sillines

to imperfection

to messy hair, mismatched clothes

but perfect smiles

to letting loose

relaxing

to chilling out

to big blue eyes

to enjoying my children

to crooked shots

to scabby boo boos

to blurry pictures

to kisses and hugs

to too many pictures

to never enough pictures

to letting go of the plan

to living life

to not worrying about what other people think

to being real, even in pictures

to embracing the moment that too soon will pass

Welcome to real life

Welcome to the Harman Hood on this Friday afternoon.

Art Party!

As you saw from Mommy's last post, I'm six.

Six, and still blogging in that same voice as when I was days old. Is that weird?

Perhaps.

But, I press on.

My sixth party was a success despite the fact I was a bit overwhelmed and medicated on cough/cold medicine. Though I didn't tell Mommy, I was a little tired. But when presents, cake, and art projects are involved I must endure. I had to endure.

What didn't endure were all my pictures. It seems Mommy lost the majority of my party pictures when she took the SD card out of the computer. So, along with my first birthday pictures, my sixth birthday pictures are sparse.

Thankfully, we did manage to salvage some.

Per my request, Mommy made me an art palet cake. Later on, I added sprinkles to pizazz it up. I think we lost those pictures.

When my friends arrived we decorated art aprons in preparation for our painting project...fall trees with button leaves (hence the random picture of the buttons). We lost the actual pictures of the final art project. Go figure. Since my party was also the first day of fall, we thought painting fall trees on canvases would be perfect.

And, after our painting extravaganza we proceeded to eat my yummy cake and then, on to presents. We managed to save one picture of me opening my new My Little Ponies, a favorite around this house these days.

And that's my party in a nutshell. It was fun and I'm already planning my seventh birthday party. I just wish they came more often than every year!

Another Year Older

Another year passes...
How can it be?
It seems you were just growing inside of me.

Six years now I've known you
Six years I have seen
The Lord unravel a girl, now long and lean
with freckles that cover the bridge of your nose
and long narrow feet topped off with painted toes.

Our Hannah, so tender, so mild mannered, so sweet
all wrapped up in a package so small, so petite.

Great things come in small packages,
this I know is true
Because I've gained so much joy through knowing you.

You hugged me so tightly at a time of great loss.
You've given so freely, even knowing the cost.
Your coins you collected, and gave them to me
for a Coke at the drive thru, you couldn't wait to see
the smile on my face as I saw your surprise
It's moments like these that make Mommy cry.

I see the Lord's grace moving through you each day.
May He move in your life in a mighty way
And cultivate the gems I'm beginning to see
and use them for His Kingdom and for His glory.

Hannah, you are precious, a gift undeserved.
A gift I can't describe with these simple words.

But know you are loved, by us and by Him.
You, Hannah, are a beautiful gem.

Love,
Mommy

At the End of the Day

 

John and I, well, we're like an old married couple at the end of a long day.

 

Slap worn out.

 

Sitting in front of the t.v.

 

Worn out from what, you may ask?

 

Maybe it's from the incessant "mine" argument that ensues over every toy.

 

Or perhaps it's from chasing John all around the house with the yellow school bus.

 

He doesn't laugh, by the way.

 

Or it could be from the thirty minutes of pacing up and down the sidewalk, one behind the other, with the ball popper and stroller.

 

And then again, it could be from throwing a variety of items down the flight of stairs to see which one crashes the loudest.

 

Oh yeah, there's also the defending of the sippy cups that occurs. That can wear on you.

 

Regardless of the reason(s), it's good to know at the end of the day we can enjoy one another's company sitting side by side while resting our tired eyes on the magical screen that promises stillness and silence...even if only for a moment.