A Fresh Start

Today is the first Monday of a brand new week and with this new week comes a fresh start. I am deciding to make better choices for myself and for my family and I am starting right here right now! 

I am striving to create a daily routine so that Everett knows what to expect every day/week which I am hoping will help to make our life more balanced.  I feel like our day-to-day lives have been jam packed with randomness and I am ready for a more laid back and relaxed approach to our day.  

Another area where I am really trying to make vast improvements is our food.  The diet sodas are out (I know, it's a nasty habit) and healthy food is making its way back in.  I am planning on making Mondays our "grocery day" and I am using a new way to plan our meals this week.  I am really excited about this because every evening I will be making a fresh, healthy, and hopefully delicious meal for my family and every meal this week will be recipes that I have never tried before. 

My social life is getting a face life too.  I am definitely a "yes man" and I feel like I always have to say "yes" or be accommodating to any all circumstances that come my way.  I end up being stressed out, let down, frustrated, and overall very grumpy and that is really taking a toll on my emotional well being.  I have finally come to a place where I have realized that I don't have to become friends with every mom who I happen to have a few things in common with or stay friends with people from my past.  I have a few really great best friends who love and support me and that is such a blessing.   

And last but not least I am really trying hard to work on being able to let go of the "small stuff." It drives me nuts that the clean clothes have been sitting in the laundry basket for a few hours days but instead of brushing Everett off so that I can  fold them, I am taking the time to play and interact with him.  Rather than trying to dictate how many buckets of toys Everett gets out, I am working on allowing him to decide and then helping him pick them up when it's time to go.  Now is not the time to worry about a clean house- now is the time to enjoy my kids! 

I love a fresh start- I feel like I am really coming into a new chapter in life and I love it.  How about y'all?  Have you started fresh recently? 

When It Was Just Everett and I...

June Instagram Photo

I have survived the first few months of having two kids and it is really drastically different from how I thought it would be.  

When it was just Everett and I... 

I didn't have to worry about how much time I spent with him and whether or not I was spending enough time with him. He was my whole world and I have been so lucky to have spent almost every moment over the last two years with him. 

Now there is a whole new little dude in our lives and there is the little added stress of making sure that I am spending enough time with both boys. I want to give Nolan the same amount of attention that I gave to Everett when he was an infant but I have learned that it just isn't possible.  I did realize that the quality of the time I spend with the boys is what counts.  

When it was just Everett and I... 

I would always hold him or nap with him which was so lovely.  I could catch up on tv while he was napping in my arms or we would cuddle and nap peacefully together. 

Now, very (very) occasionally I am able to catch a nap with Nolan or hold him while he sleeps but usually I lay him down in the rock and play or in the co-sleeper so that I can spend time playing with Everett.  When If Everett naps, I use the time that he is sleeping to connect with Nolan and give him some personal attention with out his brother.

When it was just Everett and I... 

I wore him from time to time but not really out of necessity. It was really nice to be able to just have him with me all the time and wearing him was fun and I liked the ability to be "hands free."

Now I get more use out of my ergo then I ever did when Everett was the only child.  Since Nolan is big enough I can wear him in it and often do wear him throughout the day so that I can have him close and be attentive to Everett.  I can also wear Everett when he wants to be held but chores need to be done. 

There have definitely been some adaptations to our old routine but life with two kids is the "new normal" for our family and I am so happy.  I love having these two boys that will grow up together and (hopefully) be the best of friends like my siblings and I.  God has truly blessed Tyler and I. 

FBP: We Kissed Tia Goodbye

One Sunday morning a few weeks ago, while Tyler and I were rushing to get ready for church, Everett was screaming yelling insisting that I turn on “Mater's Tall Tales” for him for the umpteenth time.  He was refusing to cooperate in getting ready and declining his breakfast and continued to demand that I turn on Mater. 

I was over it.

Read the full post here over on my blog at FredericksburgParent.net!  

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Letters to Everett: 9/22/13

Dear Everett,

You are transforming right before my eyes and I can't believe how much you have changed in just one short month.  You are coming out of your "afternoon tantrum" phase and that make daddy and I very happy.  We are still taking a break from "tia" and I think that is helping us a lot. Most days we don't even turn on the television and you don't really seem to mind or miss it at all. You do want us to hold you a lot still, so you spend a lot of time in the ergo or the sling.  It's pretty cute because you ask us to hold you by alternating between saying "hold you,"  "hold me," and (my favorite) "you hold you." 

Your vocabulary is really growing by leaps and bounds.  Instead of getting frustrated when you don't know what a word is, you really try hard to come up with a way to help me understand what you want.  You are able to remember things from weeks and months past and it is amazing to hear you talk about everything.   You like to announce what everyone is doing, where we are going, and you want to know what everyone else is doing too!  Some funny things you say include "cool dude," "nice to meet you," and "kapish." 

This month marked the first time you had a "wipe out" that resulted in a scrape with blood and everything! You fell down one brick step and crashed onto the cement when we were at Grandma's house and received a pretty nice elbow scrape.  You were a champ about it though and only cried for a minute or two.  You have gained half a pound and have grown an inch and a half since your two year check up! Way to go dude! We moved you into 2T clothes because you were too tall for 24 month pants.  

Momma and daddy love you to the moon and all the way back! 

xoxoxox,

Momma

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For Letters to Everett, click here! 

For Letters to Nolan, click here! 

Weekend Links

Were you a fan of Boy Meets World? I can't lie, I am so excited for Girl Meets World to hit the air waves!


Want a laugh? Read 27 Reasons Why Parents Shouldn't Text.

I made this Buffalo Chicken Dip this past week and it was Ah-Mazing!

Tyler and I's alma mater made it to the top of the list of the most entertaining college pep bands!

Leave it to the tabloids.. in a parallel universe Jennifer Aniston would have a lot of babies! 

12 surprising things about parenting in India.. pretty interesting! 

It was a lucky night for these servers..

Instacram: August 2013

I love being able to share my photos so easily with Instagram! Check out what I've been up to this month! 

Are you following me yet? 

Find me: NotSoAverageMomma

Top Row:  1.) Snug as a bug 2.) Nolan blowing bubbles,  3.) Daddy and Everett fishing,  4-5.) Nolan and I got all snazzy for Brittany and Kenny's wedding

Bottom Row:  1.) Brittany and Kenny's wedding,  2.) Everett cheesing it at the doctors office, 3.) Big boy in the stroller,  4.)Nolan cheesing it at the doctors office,  5.) Sweet shades 

Top Row:  1.) Throwback Thursday: The dad crew 2.) Pig Paw and Everett,  3.) Playing quietly at the train table,  4.)  View from the barn  5.) Is anyone home?  

Bottom Row:  1.) Climbing up the ladder,  2.) Video: Hello animals!, 3.) Video: Ahhhh echo!,  4-5.) Lazy afternoon 

Top Row:  1.) Uncle Scott playing with Everett at the pool  2.) Fresh picked blackberries,  3.) Making laundry soap,  4.)  Snickerdoodle anyone?  5.) Rest in Peace "Mo-Mo" 

Middle Row:  1.) "If I could only reach this...",  2.) Old town Fredericksburg,  3.) More baby wearing,  4.) Video: angry morning  5.)  Love that bed head

Bottom Row:  1.) Video: Happy morning,  2.) Backyard butterfly, 3- 4.) Love this face,  5.) Peek a boo Everett

Top Row:  1.) Everett playing around at a farm  2.) Sleepy Nolan,  3.) He is becoming more and more obsessed with trains,  4.)  A photo grid of Tyler, me, Everett, and Nolan  5.) An unwelcome visitor in our yard

Middle Row:  1.) The many faces of Nolan,  2.) Baby wearing,  3.) Say cheese,  4.) Backyard bliss 5.)  Sweet boy

Bottom Row:  1.) Brothers,  2.) "Time in" for Everett, 3.) Sleeping brothers,  4.) My happy boys,  5.)  Everett playing on his swing set!  

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For more Instacram posts click here! 

Thanks to Jess for the original inspiration for this post! 

Letters to Nolan: 9/18/13

Nolan, 

You are growing like a weed and it makes me a little sad! You really love to be in the middle of all the action and get fussy if you are by yourself.  You are still nursing every two hours or so during the day and will sleep for one longer six hour stretch at night.  You enjoy cuddling with me in the wee hours of the morning and will sleep late in the mornings as long as I am with you.  Your brother really likes telling you "good morning Nonnie" as soon as you wake up and you always respond with a big gummy smile! 

You seem to really want to be on the move already and I don't think I am ready for that. Anytime I lay you on your belly you get your legs going a mile a minute! You kick-kick-kick and have started to be able to move your body just slightly.  You haven't quite figured out how to get your arms moving but you do like to push up on them- no wonder you have such great "muscles!" 

One of your favorite things is to be snuggled close to me, so I wear you the majority of the time in the ergo (or sling) around the house and while we are out.  We also moved you out of the infant seat and into the convertible car seat and you seem to be more happy about that. You have really taken to a small light brown lovey blanket that Grandmother gave to Everett but you have claimed it as your own.  You pull it up next to your face and rub it next to your cheek and in about two minutes you are fast asleep! 

I am enjoying every minute with you boy! Here's what you've been up to this month: 

08/18/13: First time jumping in the jumparoo

08/29/13: Weighed 17lbs, first time riding in your big boy carseat

08/30- 09/06/13: First trip to visit Great Great Grandma Howerton in Rehoboth Beach, DE

08/31/13: Can sit up by yourself without support for 3 seconds

09/02/13: First belly laugh (GG Grandma Howerton made you)

09/04/13: First trip to Grotto's Pizza/Grand Slam

09/05/13: First time at the beach

09/08/13: Grew out of 3-6 month clothes (into 6-9month clothes)

09/12/13: First time to ride in the shopping cart, first time to sit in a high chair

09/18/13: Four month well check- 17lbs 4oz (90th percentile), 26" long (90th percentile)

Momma and daddy love you to the moon and all the way back! 

xoxoxox,

Momma

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For more Letters to Nolan, click here! 

For Letters to Everett, click here! 

Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

Tyler works for a really great company, so great that they take all their employees out to National's Park every summer to see the Nat's play! This is such a treat because both Tyler and I love going to baseball games and hope the boys will love it as much as we do. 

This was one of our first "big outings" with both of the boys and it went pretty great.  We took plenty of snacks for Everett and brought the ergo so that I could wear Nolan.  We took the stroller for Everett to ride in to/from the car and it was a nice place to put all of the junk that we have to have with us at all times. 

The boys made it through almost the entire game and Everett had a blast playing with Tyler's coworkers.  We were sitting in the President's box (behind home plate) so we had a full lunch buffet before the game as well as ball park style snacks during the game! Everett loved this because it meant as much food as his little toddler heart desired! 

Check out the photos from the day! 

Our (really hot and sweaty) family! 

We were so close!

Best picture of Everett EVER!!

Please disregard the chicken nugget I am trying to hide behind my back... 

Weekend Links

A couple of links this weekend... 

So beautiful!

I love (most) tattoos and learning about their meanings. Check out my best friend, Jessica's amazing tattoo and read the story behind it here! Be sure to peruse around her blog too! 

If you are a breastfeeding or pumping mom and are traveling through Vermont, be sure to check out the airports Lactation Station!

If you thought the Smart Car was little, check out this teeny car!

Think you can't garden in your small space? Check out these urban garden ideas!

Fall is almost here and that means we will be gearing up for our annual trip to the Graves Mountain Apple Festival soon!  Have any of you been?  I highly recommend it! 

Could you live without your smart phone? Check out what bold move this family is taking...

 

The video above reminds me about a post titled Distractions, that I wrote for my Fredericksburg Parent blog.

FBP: Our Family Bedroom

We have a “family bedroom” and yes, we like it that way.  

This is what Tyler and I will look like one day,

 well except for the cat. (Photo found here.)

Read the full post here over on my blog at FredericksburgParent.net!  

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Why Worry?!

You know when people take a piece of paper and write down all the things that they are worried about and then throw them in the fire as a way to symbolically rid themselves of them?  Well, it's still to hot out to set up a fire in the fire pit so I figured typing them out here will be my way of ridding myself of the worries I have. 

Here are some of the things I waste time worrying and being anxious about...

• something bad happening to my children
• something bad happening to my husband
• something bad happening to my extended family
• something bad happening to me 
• specifically something bad happening to me before my children will be able to remember me (hence the Letters to Everett and Letters to Nolan)
• car crashes
• airplane falling out of the sky
• terrorists 
• burglers/bad people
• soldiers being in/going to war
• war coming to America
• children that are mistreated 
• the future of America
• not getting to see my relatives enough
• not being a "good enough" parent

I know that it is useless to worry about the things that you have control over because you have control over them.  I know that it is useless to worry about the things you do not have control over because you do not have control over them.  So what should be left to worry about? For some reason it doesn't matter how hard I try, I still end up worrying!

I know that when I pass from this world to the next, that I am going to Heaven.  I know that this life will not compare to the next but it is hard to focus on that truth when I (feel like I) have so much going on in the here and now. 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 4:6-7

We could get into the whole "why do bad things happen to good people" debate but that doesn't really matter because bad things happen to good people and bad people and there's not much that we can do to change them.  So I am deciding to focus on today and today alone. I don't want to continue to worry about what life would be like if X, Y, or Z happened because they aren't promised to us.  Sure it is good to plan ahead; having a living will, where you will spend Christmas, have an evacuation kit, etc. but is there any purpose to worry about anything else? 

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these 

things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Matthew 6: 33-34

That's my plan and I am hoping to stick to it.  Does anyone else struggle with this? 

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For more Bible verses on worry and anxiety, click here. 

Nice Spec's Dude!

Sometimes I can't help but beam with joy over the things Everett does. This kid seriously makes me so happy and I just love him!  When we were visiting Tyler's mom for Independence Day this summer, Everett found a pair of his Aunt Riley's glasses and would not take them off.  They aren't prescription glasses or anything, just a cute accessory pair of glasses.  

Check out some of the photos from the weekend! 

Munching on some watermelon in his sweet specs! 

Don't mess with this guy, he means business!  

Apparently actually looking at the camera is over rated... 

There he is!

Yup, my little nose picker! 

What a ham! He wore those things so much that we decided to get him his own pair to take home with us. He of course promptly lost them but has found another pair already!  

What is so crazy is that I can't help but wonder where this glasses obsession comes from... hmmm?

FPB: Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Rissa J!  

You are the winner of the Not So Average Momma weePOD giveaway!  I will be contacting you shortly! 

Thank you to all who entered to win the weePOD, and thanks again to Prince Lionheart for participating in this giveaway!  Be sure to check back next week for my next post. 

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