"Secrets of Motherhood"

Oh man have I had a rough past week. It seems that every time Sale goes out of town Halia gets severely sick. A few days before Sale leaves I start making a list of "things" and "projects" I'm going to do during the 5 days he will be gone. Well, I guess Halia got worried we wouldn't spend enough time together so she made sure of it by coming down with a horrible stomach virus. She was so miserable, poor thing. I had to miss work all last week. A few days later I got sick. (Halia was still very sick by now) What more could go wrong after cleaning up her vomit and diarrhea off the kitchen floor for 6 days? Sale finally gets home and he gets sick! Not to mention various other family members, cousins, grandmas, and grandpa also got it. Soooo fun!

It is weeks like these where I really contemplate motherhood. Days have gone by where I have not seen the outdoors, my hair needs to be brushed, dishes are piling up, towels, blankets, and vomit buckets are spread everywhere, (just in case Halia explodes) and I feel like I just want to climb in bed and forget about my responsibilities as a mother and a wife and go the sleep for a day.

Well, hallelujah for a new week! My mother gave me this great book called, "A Mother's Book of Secrets" by Linda and Shawni Eyre. I have started reading it during these past sleepless nights. I have been motivated and rejuvenated by these amazing women/ mothers, and their stories and adventures of raising a family. It has reminded me about what it is I love about being a mother. I freaking love being Halia's mom and I'm so lucky she chose me! I highly recommend this book to any mother. Every section is only two to three pages and is so full of insight and ideas. I love to get advice and hear what works for other families and try to incorporate new ideas into my own family.

Some of the "Secrets" I have learned so far:

• Look for the light in the trenches (they will be gone before you know it)
• Some days "Motherhood is like being pecked to death by a duck" ( I felt this last week, not fun.)
• Let some imagination in once in a while
• When we visit "Wit's End," it makes the precious moments that much better (tested this out already last week. It's true!)
• Serendipity (I wonder what will happen to me today? Instead of, "what do I have to do today") Example: oh, its ok that Halia had diahrrea all over the tile floor in the kitchen, I needed to mop anyways so I guess I will just have to do it sooner than later. :) Ha ha!
• Enough is Enough ( just spend time)
• Prayer works (sometimes its all that gets me through the day.)
• Take time for yourself (Seriously!)
• Nurture your marriage, its the best gift you can give your children. Its number one. After all, when they are all gone and grown, its just you two again.
• "Whatever" (who cares what anyone else thinks, no one is really that perfect library mom. Say, "whatever!" a lot, and pick your battles.)
• Look for magnificent opportunities for creativity instead of being irritated
• Be your own kind of "Best Mom"
• Push to make memories instead of life being the same every day.
  

These are just a few ideas for me to remember and work on. I love being a mom more and more everyday. Thanks mom for the book. Its just what I needed to remind me of why I'm doing what I'm doing. Thanks to all my friends who are also amazing mothers and inspire me to be better. It sure makes this adventure fun when you have others to relate and brag to. Below are some pictures of the madness and memories of late. Halia has too much energy for her own good.

Poor sick babies! Still so cute.

Her head sliced open from the side table in the hotel room in Vegas. She was running as usual

All fixed up!

Just being Halia! Goofy girl!

1st Easter Bunny experiance at the Baby Animal days. Thanks for taking me grandma!

Crib and bedding for sale!

I have a client who is trying to sell this beautiful crib and bedding. The crib is a sleigh bed style and converts into a toddler bed and also into a full bed. The crib and bedding was used a total of maybe 4 times and is basically brand new. She would like to get rid of it, so... for everything, including the top of the line crib mattress, she is asking 300. What a deal! If you are interested contact me and I will put you in contact with her.
My client is also an amazing seamstress and has sewn a few adorable things for Halia. Below is the cute Hello Kitty skirt she made for her. Halia is so funny because when I got her dressed on this particular morning, she was insisting on putting on these boots! I thought is was so cute, she kept sayin, "shoos, shoos" so I gave in and let her wear them even though they totally didn't match her outfit. (I changed her shoes before we left to be seen in public anywhere) :)

Quick update with new pictures :)

Christmas was so much fun this year. Halia was too easy to spoil, as you will see with the pictures below.

Halia loves her cousins Charlee and Addy. One of their favorite things is to have "pajama parties."

Halia with all the goods from mom and dad. (I know we went a little over board, but its mostly all educational stuff?!) :)


Takin a ride on her very own pony from Grandma and Grandpa

Waiting patiently for everyone to arrive so they can open presents.

All the cousins with Sale's Gram and Mom

Halia has discovered a few of her favorite things to do lately.....

She loves to play in the snow on our little hill

Eat with her feet on the table. Or.... eat her feet?

Curl up on her sponge bob chair, (from Grandma Booty) and read a good book. (Don't worry, my mom is really talented and made a really cute pink cover for the sponge bob chair. yikes!)Halia's hair is getting thicker and longer, so we have been trying out a few new styles. Below we have the "whale spout pony." Sale was not a fan of this one. :(

Below here we have Velcro curlers.... very cute in a stick your finger in a light socket kind of way... more pics to come on this issue. We have yet to try the side "whale spout" and the "piggies." Maybe tomorrow?

Remember about 7 months ago when I did a post about Halia biting, and I wanted any advice I could get? Well.... I told you.... my kid is a baby vampire! If you don't believe me just drop your kid off with Halia in nursery and you'll see! Yes, that is blood drippin from her mouth!

I know these pictures are sad, and you must be thinking how horrible I am to make her pose for them, but she actually wasn't crying and was pretty lively. :) The other baby she bit was pretty hurt though, I won't post any pictures of that. JUST KIDDIN! Actually, she tore that thing inside your upper lip that attaches to your gums, right off. She fell on her face with her sippy cup in her mouth. She bled, and bled, and bled, for over 2 hours. She couldn't get stitches, so the doc said just let it be and it will heal. You should've seen her sheets the next morning. Yikes! But I have to say, I'm a little concerned, she just kept sucking her binky the whole time she was bleeding. Blood was dripping from behind her binky down her chest. Gross!... I know! I guess she likes that iron salty taste? RENESME?! J/K :) I'm sure there will be more accidents like this to come, since she runs everywhere she goes. Oh the joys!