An Early Morning

The girls get up so early!!!! Last night was a bad night between not being able to fall asleep myself (what is wrong with me) and the kids sleeping like crap I maybe got 4 good hours.. maybe! I just keep telling myself how fast they grow and that "this too shall pass".

We made whole grain pancakes this morning and now the girls are playing outside. I'm drinking coffee enjoying the nice breeze and cooler temps. Somewhere around 1 or 2 it will probably be in the 100's or at least close.

I love watching the girls play right now. Their imaginations are just taking off and it's so amazing. It's moments like this - where they are playing sweetly in their castle taking care of their babies and reading stories to each other - that melt my heart. Or when they call, "momma come see there's a tiger behind the fence.  It's big" all with precious faces of pretend fear.

I want to preserve these moments forever. I cherish them and am so thankful and blessed to be able to witness them growing, changing, and learning. It's the little passing moments that make time freeze for a minute and remind me what life is all about. I savor them.

Raising Healthy Girls

So I have many many issues about the current society we live in. I'm not getting on any kind of a soapbox, but I will say society's moral degradation is making me heavily consider some different options for my kids when it comes to decisions about how we will be raising them. One of the biggest issues, where I feel society has gone terribly wrong and I am even at fault for getting caught up in at one point in life, is the ridiculous pressure put on body image perfection. My girls are only 3.5 and I already think about how I am going to fight a battle to raise them to have a healthy body image this day in age. Society is going to make doing that very hard, but I also know it can be done with effort, prayer, and perseverance.

I came across a blog post this morning that was so refreshing to read. I've read it over twice already in hopes of drilling it into my head. Many points she makes I already do but it was still nice to read someone put into words what I am always thinking. We already talk about being healthy instead of using terms like skinny or fat. I never talk about myself needing to lose weight (even when I am working on it). I try very hard to tell them how smart they are, sweet they are, and kind they are as opposed to constantly telling them how pretty they are (even though they are of course gorgeous in my eyes). I do tell them they are pretty because I feel that it is important in building self confidence, but I DO NOT overdo it. I don't comment on other women's bodies - at all. We do go out to exercise in some way every day, and we talk about how it is making them healthy and strong girls. I tell them often that they are strong. I think strong is a great word to use because it pertains to physical and mental attributes. And I try every single day to teach them about kindness to others, because I know love of others is what this life is all about. If they don't learn another thing except kindness and loving others, I will feel successful.

So many people put too much emphasis on looks, outward beauty, and body size. We're bombarded when it comes to commercials, marketing, reality tv, and tv in general. It's best to just avoid it. I'm all about being healthy and trying to teach that to my girls. I'm still learning it myself, but it really is in an effort to teach good habits and heathy behavior not for them to look a certain way or fit an image of societal perfection. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and I will teach them to look inward not outward.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

The writer of this blog post hits on some things that I haven't done and will start to incorporate one day like... "Encourage your daughter to run because it makes her feel less stressed. Encourage your daughter to climb mountains because there is nowhere better to explore your spirituality than the peak of the universe. Encourage your daughter to surf, or rock climb, or mountain bike because it scares her and that’s a good thing sometimes." I also haven't learned to cook kale yet but it is on OUR future to do list. That is something we will learn together. I think these things will come in time but it was great to see her put it into beautiful words for my future use.

I hope I will remember this post and reference it many times as life happens with these two. Cheers to raising healthy girls #healthygirls!

sisters

learning kindness

Pryscillaisms & Unfriendly Water

Pryscilla & Eden stayed with my parents for a few nights... here are some more funny things they said that we don't want to forget!! Also, Silas is about to turn 5 months old. He is rolling over and about to start eating real food. I can't believe it! He's still my main little man. I CANNOT get enough of him :) :)

Conversation with a 3.5 year old ~

KPaw - I'm off to work. One day you will go to work too Pryscilla
P - No I won't
KPaw - Why do you say that?
P - Girls don't go to work, just boys go to work

This is most likely a "Pryscillaism" (term coined by my dad) from our recent conversation that went a little something like this:

One afternoon, the girls were wondering where daddy was. I told them he was at work. They then proceeded to ask me, "mommy you don't work"? I laughed first, then explained, yes of course I work, but I get to do it at home. I take care of you munchkins all day long and believe me that is work!!! Then they laughed at me, and said "nooo that not work". I said, well I do other work too - I do all of that work for the sick babies, you know when you go with me to my meetings. Then I also work on the computer doing art and computer stuff. But yes you're right mommy doesn't go to work, so she can stay home with you! That's my most important job - to take care of you and our family! Who would have thought teaching them about their mommy & daddy's roles at 3.5 would result in an adorable little "pryscillaism" that girls don't work!! Amazing little minds that I'm very blessed to be shaping. She may not have it right BUT there is an underlying value in there I'm happy to build upon. Dad called me to tell me about this tonight and how serious she was when this little convo happened; I told him yeah in this house we're taking it back old school traditional :) Haha.

Here's another...

Eden is swimming at the house with my mom. The jets are making currents in the pool and she is swimming toward the current which is pushing her away. She asks my mom why the water is pushing her away and if it's because "the water don't like me"???? Tooooo precious!!!!

Miss E

Speaking of that work we do for sick babies. If you'd like to support visit the girls team page at the link below!

Check out our team page here! Join us in support of preemie, NICU, & angel babies. 

A Few Words From Miss P

Pryscilla: I'm not a baby anymore. I'm growing up. Really really fast. (with big girl expressions on her face of course)

Mom: I know too fast

Pryscilla: I'm sorry. 

Melted my heart!! She's such a sweetie!! 

Round 2:

P: Mommy Eden hurt my feelings

M: Why what happened 

P: She told me to go away

M: Well that wasn't nice of her was it

P: No...my heart hurts, (proceeds to hug me) and says my hearts not beepn anymore

M: Oh yes it is sweetheart yes it is

:) Didn't want to forget either of those moments with her! 

We like getting dirty

Taking their babies on a walk!

Love playing outside!

Love when the girls imagine!

One of my favorite times is when I come around the corner and find the girls quietly playing in their room. Tonight they were reading to their babies before putting them to sleep. They pumped milk to feed them too. So cute!!

Day #2 - swimming

So today was day #2. Miss Eden made some progress. She managed to get in the "blue thing" with her teacher a few times. The first time on her own and the next few with the help of Ms. Brittany pulling her in. All she wanted to do was get to the "white thing" where she could touch bottom and then she acted like a fish. She doesn't have a fear of water just deep water. :) Pryscilla did great again! 

Eden left her class to sit on the bench

We made a quick stop before heading to swimming

She started out in perfect position! 

See that grip??

He's Stolen My Heart

So I got very behind on blogging.  You May already know our newest addition was surprise a little boy. We named him Silas Michael. (And no not after uncle si on the hit tv show duck dynasty). In fact Silas just turned 3 months old and I watched it for the first time a few nights ago. I will say it was quite funny.

I'm so in love with little guy. Wanted to share his 3 month pics with you.

First Day Of Swim Lessons!!

Today the girls started swimming lessons at aerofit and wow did they show off their different personalities. Honestly it's sometime hard to tell the differences since they seem to switch off every few weeks. I'm always very slow to answer peoples repetitive question, "so do they have complete different personalities?" But more and more lately Pryscilla seems to be more adventurous & Eden is a bit more shy. They've never seen an olympic size swimming pool before so when we walked in they BOTH  freaked.  Crying, holding on to me, and scared. In the midst of all that their teachers introduced themselves and I made big deals about their pretty swimsuits. That seemed to do it for P. She turned the switch off and was ready to go. Unfortunately until the last 5 min of class we couldn't get Eden to go near the pool. I even resorted to bribery and she didn't care. At the end coach Mat got her to get in an area she could stand. She was still very timid but at least she made it in the water, right!! Pryscilla did great she did all of her kicks, blowing bubbles, and floating on her back and front with the teacher. I'm crossing my fingers for tomorrow!! If you have any "tricks" for me leave a comment please!! :) 

Eden wasn't going near the pool.

Until the last 5 min this is as close as we could get her

Here's P kicking away

Waiting her turn

Teacher talking with P

Very proud of herself

Eden joined in the last 5 min where she knew she could stand

Here she is kicking (on her own)