Chaos

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 58

     The definition of chaos is: complete disorder and confusion. Yeah. Chaos. That was our birthday dinner for Shane and Casey tonight. It was complete and utter chaos.

     There were 20 different conversations going on at once. There were babies crying. There were toddlers screaming. Playing. Laughing. Yelling. Running. Dogs moving around under our feet. Dinner was scarfed down. So was cake and ice cream. There was a brief peace as soon as we handed the cake and ice cream to Adelyn and Casey, but that was short lived. And after they had consumed all the sugar and butter one could ever hope for, chaos resumed. Literally. Chaos.

     It was amazing chaos. It was hilarious. It was the kind of chaos where you find yourself just sitting and staring at it unfold in front of you, dumbfounded. I would catch someone's eye doing the same thing, and laughter would break out.

     I'm so thankful that even chaos can be beautiful. When you think of the chaos we experienced during tonight's birthday dinner for Shane and Casey...isn't it better than the alternative? A dull, quiet, uneventful life.

     Thankful for Shane and Casey. Thankful for chaos. Because it means our lives are filled with little ones who make having a quiet birthday dinner at home impossible.

(These next pics are from yesterday, but I didn't add them last night, so here they are)

Some cool birds I saw while walking Roxy.

Adelyn picked out this gem of an outfit all by herself. We were going to Old Navy, and according to Addy B, this is how a princess dresses. Please notice: the rain boots, the Rapunzel princess dress, the raincoat, the beads, and the panda hat. The people at Old Navy probably saw us walking in and thought, "oh, thank god this woman has brought her poor child in to shop for some clothes."

Beauty Marks

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 57

     Beauty marks. The term my family uses to describe freckles and moles. I love freckles. And, actually, I love moles, too. Probably because my family called them beauty marks. Freckles and moles were never seen as something that needed to be remedied. In fact, they really were seen as emblems of beauty. Something that sets us apart.

     Patty and I both have a mole under our right eye. In, literally, the exact same spot. My Dad has four freckles under his right eye. I love those four freckles. Patty and I have freckles on our palms and on the inside of our fingers. Which is very rare, actually. And the other day while I was giving Adelyn a bath, I noticed that she now too, has freckles on her palms and fingers. Our entire family has lots of freckles and moles on our arms. Which I think makes our arms look really beautiful. Especially with a nice hint of sun.

     The other day, Adelyn came into my bathroom as I was drying off from a shower. Matt was off that day, and she had been watching a show in bed with him. But, she gets antsy, especially when she has the opportunity to go through my jewelry case. She came into the bathroom wearing a few necklaces. As I continued drying off, she all of the sudden said, "awww, poor Mama has a boo-boo." I was confused as to what she was talking about until she came over, and pointed to the stretch marks on my tummy. They are pretty red and pronounced still. I know they'll start fading soon, and I'm not worried about them. But, what did worry me was this: what do I call them? What do I tell Adelyn they are? It's not a "boo-boo." They aren't scars. So, what are they?

     I stood there a minute not knowing what to say. I kind of fumbled around a bit, until I realized, they're beauty marks. If anything should be called a beauty mark, shouldn't it be stretch marks on a tummy? A tummy that was the first home for my sweet babies. Where they grew, and where I fell in love with them?

     "Those are just Mama's beauty marks," I told Adelyn. Beauty marks. Not something that needs to be remedied. Not something that needs to be fixed. They are emblems of beauty. They are marks of greatness. Because nothing my tummy could ever be or do, could ever be greater, than when it was home to my babies.

     Thankful for beauty marks.

The Broiler

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 56

     As I stared at the red, hot coil of the broiler in our oven this morning, I was reminded how proud I am to be a part of my family. I was toasting up some Ezekial bread for breakfast. I have no idea when or why or how this started, but our family never uses a toaster, or a toaster oven, to toast anything. In fact, none of us even own a toaster, or a toaster oven. We use the broiler. It is much faster, and it gives a better toast on whatever it is you're toasting. Sure. There has been the occasional burned hand, and black, smoking bagel here and there, but for the most part, it is a perfect toasting tool.

     The reason it makes me so proud to be a part of my family is this: it's our thing. And most people don't get it. They find it odd, or weird. Unconventional, even. They always ask, "how do you make toast?" But we get it. It's our thing. Every family has things.

     Thankful for my family. Thankful for things that make us family. Things more than just flesh and blood. Things like gloppy. Red cars. And broilers.

A Mother's Touch...

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 55

     Tobin is teething. And it makes him a bit crabby. This afternoon, right after I finished nursing Tobin before his nap, he did something that reminded me of my Mom. He was still fussy and not settled after being nursed, so I gave him his pacifier. As I gave it to him, he grabbed both of my hands with his, and held them on his face. And instantly, he calmed down. He had been fussy, wiggling around, and acting like he was about to start sobbing. But, with my hands on his face, he was completely calm and still. And he slept peacefully. I thought to myself, "what is it about a mother's touch that can make everything all better?" And actually, I've known the answer to that question since I was a child. A mother's touch makes everything all better...just because. It does.

     I've experienced it: when I was a young child, I woke up in the middle of the night one time with a stomachache. Because throwing up was one of my biggest fears then, I was sick with worry on top of being sick to my stomach. I went into my parent's room, and woke my Mom. She let me lay in bed with her, and she put her hand on my stomach, and she prayed for me. After she prayed that I would feel better, she left her hand on my stomach. I know this doesn't make sense, but with her hand on my stomach, I felt better. 100%. Stomachache gone, and I even fell back asleep quite quickly. Until she moved her hand. The instant she moved her hand, my stomach felt sick again. I asked her to put her hand back on my stomach, and presto: stomachache gone again.

     I have no way to explain this phenomenon. My Mom's hand made my stomachache disappear. My hands on Tobin's face calmed him instantly, and helped him sleep in peace. I guess there is just something about a mother's touch that really can make everything all better. I don't know why. It just does. I'm blessed to have experienced it as a child. And even more blessed to have experienced it today now that I have children of my own.

     Thankful for my Mom. Who taught me everything I know about being a Mama. I learned from the best. I'm thankful to call her one of my best friends. I'm thankful that she is the kind of Mom that calls everyday. Multiple times a day. I'm thankful we are the kind of family that misses each other. I'm thankful that I call her everyday, multiple times a day to talk, and it's not the least bit weird. In fact, it's weird if we go all day without talking. I'm thankful that I learned from her at a young age that a mother's touch can heal a multitude of illnesses. I'm thankful that Tobin learned from me today. I'm thankful that I was able to pass on that knowledge to him.

Par-tay!

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 54

     We celebrated Casey's 3rd birthday today. Whoa. How is he three already? Ahhhh...my parents were so right. It goes so, way, too, incredibly, fast. Birthday parties with toddlers are chaotic events. But fun. Oh, so very fun. Birthdays are just about the most exciting event in the life of a toddler. Even if it isn't their own. I love how excited kids get for birthdays. The whole day is just one big ball of excitement, noise, and sugar. The best kind of day.

     Thankful for Casey boy. His life is so very precious. And our entire family is blessed to say that he's ours.

Calm before the birthday storm!

Long Lost Family

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 53

     Went to my cousin's baby shower today. Love baby showers. Girl talk. Baby talk. Enough said, right? I also got to see family members that I have not seen in years!?! How does that happen? Personally, I know I always say to myself, "I need to get together with her," or "I should host a big family dinner sometime." But, the years go by, and it doesn't happen. So sad. Seeing family today reminded me that, family is a part of one's history. And history--our past, our childhood, our lives leading up to the present--makes us who we are.

     I must find time for family. I'm thankful for today, because it showed me that I need to stop saying, "I'm busy, I'll do a family dinner next year...when things aren't so hectic for me." The years come and go. I've been wanting to host a big family dinner at my house for forever...so, I'm going to stop contemplating, and start planning.

     Thankful for today. Thankful for family. Thankful for the history I have with my family. Thankful for the new little cousin that will be joining our family soon. Can't wait to meet him!

Adelyn's new princess nightgown.

Sweet tired boy.

     

Casey

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 52

     Today, what made me so happy and thankful that I wanted to cry tears of joy, was this: We were over at my sister's house. Adelyn and Casey wanted to watch, The Lorax. Casey loves to act out the movie as it is playing. It was the end of the movie, and two characters hug each other because a truffula tree seed was planted. Casey stood up, and hugged Adelyn. They hugged for about 10 seconds. A real embrace. A real, good hug. Then Casey stepped back, looked Adelyn in the eye, and said, "I love you, Addy."

     My heart melted. So incredibly thankful for Casey. And the life and love he brings to our family.

Is this the cutest diaper, or what?