like christmas morning

It was like Christmas this morning. Carson has been begging me to teach him to read for a while now, so I purchased this book after reading rave reviews on Amazon. It arrived on our doorstep last night, and Carson woke up this morning ready and raring to go. "Okay! Time for my reading book!" he said. He rocked the first few lessons this morning, and I'm hoping he maintains this enthusiasm as things get tougher. Having been the reportedly nerdy kid who preferred to sit on the side of the pool powering through workbook pages rather than swimming on hot summer afternoons, it gives me a teensy (okay, a ridiculously large) amount of pleasure to see the legacy living on. See, I told you he had my genes after all...

the kids

Last week, I totally earned cool mom points for allowing my kids to eat Blizzards for lunch. Sure enough, though, Carson The Rule Enforcer was distraught when we came home and protested, "but I have to at least eat some vegetables!" He was appeased with an apple and settled down. What a weirdo.Ugh, and how did this one grow up overnight? Word is, she has a little boyfriend in her class at school. At the age of two. Pray for us.

these are a few of my favorite things...

1. TOMS. Okay, so I have fought the urge to buy these shoes for a while now. For one, they're a bit trendy, and I didn't want to be a follower. Two, they're pricier than the typical Target shoes I buy for myself. Sure enough, though, Matt came through for my birthday with a coupon that went something like this: "I bought some TOMS for some third world kid and apparently you get a pair free. Don't blow it." (Dear grandparents and other TOMS-unaware individuals out there- their company donates a pair of new shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. Brilliant marketing strategy for a socially conscious generation, huh?) That night, we headed to the mall to try some on. After trying the first shoe on, I was sold. In fact, I insisted on wearing them out of the store. I don't think I have done that since I purchase my first pair of Dr. Martens in 6th grade. Matt openly mocked me for this, but I could care less. They. are. so. comfy. I might just need another pair.



2. Jillian. Okay, I'll admit. I was skeptical of Jillian Michaels and her workout DVDs at first. I mean, really- how effective can a workout via DVD be? And a 20ish-minute one at that? Don't we need a treadmill, stair master, and elliptical added to the mix? In one word, NO. Holy moly, Jillian can give you a good workout. I judge the efficacy of my exercise by two factors: sweatiness and soreness post-workout. Her DVDs induce both. As I was getting Ripped in 30 this fine morning, I found myself audibly responding, "You're crazy, Jillian!" But for some psychotic reason, I wake up each morning excited for Jillian to tell me once again, "I want you to feel like you're going to die!" Love ya too, Jillian.

3. Lentils. Specifically honey baked lentils. Yep, I know I've completely lost y'all on this one because I might be the only person on the planet who craves lentils. But sometimes I get on food jags. Like the turkey sandwich on wheat with mustard, tomato, and extra pickles with a small cup of vanilla froyo I ate every single day in college. Aaaand like my current lentil obsession. Yes, I'm for real. I made a big batch of these for dinner one night this week and have pretty much lived off of the leftovers for days. Matt describes this recipe as "rustic" which is far from a glamorous description. But the sweet man always clears his plate and (gasp) sometimes asks for seconds when I make these. Either I married a fabulous guy or they really are that good.

4.Global warming. Oh hush, you know I'm just kidding. But I do love this recent phenomenon of spring in January. Once upon a time, I remember when winters were cold. This year, not so much. We're loving the 60 degree weather that has fallen upon North Carolina over the past week. Having the windows open in my house makes my mood substantially better throughout the day, and afternoons spent outside seem to lessen the degree of whinage in our home dramatically. It's a win/win situation any way you look at it.

on jacked-up foreheads and sibling love

Okay, first things first:
1. Yes, Mary Grace is a mess, as clearly depicted by yesterday's picture. This is her normal post-nap 'do.
2. No, she does not have a huge zit on her forehead, nor has she converted to Hinduism. This scab mysteriously appeared on her face after an apparently eventful night of "sleep". Maybe this explains the bedhead referenced in point #1.

And now, please partake in some sibling cuteness. These are not staged. They really love each other that much. Rumor even has it that they hold hands through the fence of their respective playgrounds at school. Ohmygosh, I can't handle the sweetness.

bed head

handprints on the mirror

Two little handprints have mysteriously appeared on my bathroom mirror. If I were a detective, I might note that these handprints just so happen to match those of a certain little four year old boy that resides in my household and would hunt down the perpetrator. But I'm not. I'm just a mom, and I have chosen to leave the prints for the time being.

Why the dirty mirror? I don't know- I just think they're so cute and unique to this chapter in my life. Before long, I will have kids shaving their faces and applying probably-too-much makeup in front of our mirror. These days of grimy fingerprints on everything in sight will pass, and I do believe that I'll miss them. I'll reminisce on the days of clingy little toddlers in footie pajamas begging me for just one more bedtime story (or two or twelve) . I'll look longingly at the Lego sets left by the wayside, dust clinging to their tattered instruction booklets.

I know I'm being slightly (and maybe, to you, annoyingly) sappy and admittedly influenced by this weekend's reading of Rachel Jankovic's great little book Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches ... but I also know that I have a little four year old who has somehow morphed from a baby into a boy overnight. And I have a spunky two year old who happens to believe that she's thirteen. As I witness this lightning fast process of growth and development otherwise known as childhood happening right before my eyes, I find myself soaking in their here and now because I know things will be so different in a few short years.

My God-given job is to be present and purposeful in my everyday moments of mothering. Which is easier said than done when I'm washing out yet another pair of poopy princess underwear or disciplining for the same offense for the 17th time in a morning. And you know those days of parenting little ones when 10am really seems like 9pm? When, despite every drop of creativity within you (plus some quality programing from PBS Kids), the rest of the day just continues to drag on infinitely long. And when the husband walks in the door from work, you feel completely justified in doing the "drop and run" (i.e. drop the kids off at his feet and run to the bedroom, behind lock and key, for a few minutes of quiet solitude). I know I'm not the only one who has those days.

But even in those days, I pray that I am reminded by those handprints on the mirror or the Hot Wheels under my feet or whatever "inconvenience" it might be at that moment that my kids are under my direct care and guidance for only a short time. And then they'll be off. Just like that.

Tomorrow, we might have a clean mirror once again, but for today, I think I'll enjoy the smudges.

better

Today's my birthday. I am one small year away from the big 3-0. I think that's when you become a grown up, right? Anyway, as my kids were being their normal Hot Chelle Rae-lovin' selves this morning (cue ridiculous video), Matt looked over at me and asked, "so, Catherine, is this how you imagined your life to be at the age of 29?"

My response? No. This is better. So much better.

I am so blessed.