What parts of me will they get?

My cute little monsters

When you are pregnant with your children, you kinda wonder what they will look like and kinda wonder what they will act like. Will they laugh at fart jokes? Cry when you yell too loud? Then you start watching your tiny  babies grow and change and become their own tiny little person with their own tiny little personality. As they get older and older you start to see THEM. The person they are going to be. Sometimes you see yourself in them , sometimes you see your spouse. Sometimes you smile. Sometimes you cringe.

I started thinking what parts of me  I would want them to get and what parts of me  I  SO don't  want them to get....

What I hope they DO get


I hope they both love to read.


They both already seem to love books as much as do.  I hope in continues through their lives and  makes school that much more enjoyable to them.  I remember my sister and brother hating book reports and other school stuff  because they disliked reading.

I hope they both love animals to a fault.

I can't imagine my life without the amazing dogs that have been in it.  I love riding horses and  will pet  a cat whenever I have the chance.  I want them to always be kind to animals. They need our help as much as we need theirs. Maybe they'll even volunteer with them someday.

Charlie and K 2009

I hope they are artistic.

It's so much fun to create and even if they are not the next Picasso....i want them to feel comfortable with whatever they do. Just because it doesn't look like someone else's doesn't mean it is bad.

I hope they can just BE.

Sometimes it just feels good to be by yourself and do what you want to do.  That may be the introvert in me talking but you  need to learn to be and do things by yourself and be ok with that.

S collecting her "treasures".....seed pods from the trees

I hope they love to document their lives

Whether it is photo albums, video, journals, or  family tree stuff... I love to remember what I've done and how I felt about it. It's so comforting and grounding to me.  I love that my mom did it for us and now I'm doing it for them.  Maybe they'll do it for their kids too.

Hold still, S..... with K in 2011

I hope they'll be choosy about their friends

Friends are so important in our lives. It's been hard for me to accept that quality is better than quanity as I've gotten older. They don't have to settle when it comes to friends.

I hope they love to sing

Nothing makes me happier than singing in the car. Music just sends me to a better place. I hope they always love to sing and it beings them as much joy as it brings me.

What I hope they DON'T get


I hope they talk more than me

It's hard to make friends and feel like you fit in school if you're too shy or scared to talk. I want them to feel free to speak their minds ( as long as they have nice things to say)

I hope they have a thicker skin

I hate when people pick on me even if their joking. I never think it's funny and sometimes I wonder if life would be easier on me if I did.

I hope they can let some things go.

Sometimes I'm so hurt that i can't move past it and it has, I'm sure, put up walls in my life. I'm not saying they should let people walk all over or hurt them. I'm saying that once it is over, I hope they can either forgive and move on or just forget about the person all together.

I hope they like to play sports or at least like to watch them.

I was horrible at sports as a child and still am. Again, it made school miserable and made me feel left out.  If I had played or at least gone to games, maybe it would have helped. I kinda watch our home town teams now but  I'm no super fan.

I hope they don't get my crappy immune system.If someone sneezes in Ohio and there's a westerly wind, I'm sick the next day. Where as their dad never seems to get sick. But I will say that  I'll take a million small colds over a horrible, life threatening illness any day.

I hope they only see the good/ positive side of things (at least most of the time)

I feel like it's an inherited trait in my family. Sometimes I feel like I'll never be able to break the cycle of negativity and I sure as heck don't want them to be that way. Again, I want life to be easier for them than it was for me, emotionally.

I hope they are not so scared or so unsure that they don't follow their dreams

Everyone has dreams or things they think they might want to do or be. Just because someone else doesn't think it's a good idea,  doesn't mean they should do it.  They should do things for themselves. not for other people . Not even for me and their dad. It's their lives and their dreams. Please go live them.


What is your top thing you hope your kids get from you and the top thing you hope they NEVER get from you?

Monday
What is the Gunny Sack -Making the world Cuter -Debbie Doo -DIY Show Off
DIY Shop - Lines Across My Face -I should be mopping the Floor
Great Fun 4 Kids

Tuesday
How to Nest For Less - Tip Junkie - My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia -The Kurtz Corner
Sugar Bee - Romance On A Dime - Debbie Does Creations - Funky Polka Dot Giraffe
The Winthrop Chronicles

Wednesday
 Thrifty Home - Someday Crafts - Sew Much Ado
- Junk in Their Trunk  - Southern Lovely  -SNAP

Thursday
 Beyond the Picket Fence - Somewhat Simple - Live Laugh Rowe
Loving this Crazy Life - The Shabby Cottage
The Taylor House- House of Hepworths 
Two In Diapers-Mommy Brain Mixer


Friday
Naptime Crafters - Stay At Home Nation
Young and Crafty -  My Turn(ForUs)
Delicate Construction
Serenity Now
Here Comes the Sun

Saturday

Six Sister's Stuff
Polkadot Pretties
Cheerios and Lattes
Natasha in Oz -Say G'Day

Co-hosting the Mommy Brain Mixer

I was super excited when I found out I got to co-host the Mommy Brain Mixer with  Cassie over Two In Diapers. She is so sweet and her family is just adorable.  It is so much fun to meet other mommies and hear all the other crazy stories and know I'm not  alone in my craziness. Please join us and tell us your best/funniest/craziest/poop-filled stories!

Welcome to week 8 of the Mommy-Brain Mixer, ladies!

Last week we had a fabulous 112 link-ups! The Mixer is thriving!

If you haven't noticed, one of my favorite things to do here at Two In Diapers is to share stories about motherhood and my littles. One of my favorite things about sharing these stories is your comments with stories of your own children!

Welcome to...

At the Mommy-Brain Mixer, we will be linking up our writings about anything and everything motherhood!

We want to see funny posts, serious posts, sweet & sappy stories, mommy-brain episodes, memories from when your older children were younger, thoughts & lessons learned, and anything related to motherhood or little people. You know that post you wrote yesterday about your teething baby? Or that hilarious post you wrote about your 2nd grader's school play? Those are perfect, so link 'em up! 

The Mommy-Brain Mixer is the perfect place to find some great new blogs to follow, make some wonderful new blog friends, and enjoy some entertaining new reads!

To make things even more fun, my friend Mar, over at Raising Bean, is hosting a sister link-up for you to join, too!

Head on over there after your finished here and link up your recipes, DIY, arts & crafts, and sensory activities!  

Let's get to it, friends!

 

RULES:

1.Follow Two In Diapers

{the first link below}

If you are new to the Mixer, please leave me a comment so I know to follow you back! I try to get around to all the posts but, as the Mixer is growing, there are some weeks that I'm not able!

2. Follow your co-hosts

This week's lovely co-hosts {the first 3 on the linky} are:

Emily from Entirely Emily

Eva from The Evas of Bellabini

Lena from Mom2MemphisAndRuby

3. Link up your mommy post!

4. Make sure to visit some of the blogs in the link-up and maybe even follow them!

{and comments are always loved} 

5. Tweet about the Mommy-Brain Mixer to help spread the word! 

Tweet  

6. Grab this adorable button and place it somewhere on your blog!

<a href="http://www.two-in-diapers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i523.photobucket.com/albums/w351/laurenjh04/Gracie%20Marie/mommybrain-mixer200.png" /></a><br/>

7. Don't forget to check back throughout the week, as we gain many new links throughout the week!

If you are interested in co-hosting a Mommy-Brain Mixer, send Cassie an email at twoindiapers@gmail.com!

What we DO for our kids

There they are... those two annoying little kids. If I never watched them again, I'd be ok.

A few weeks ago I talked about what I won't do now that  I'm a mom. There were lots of things that may or may not have happened anyway. I got to thinking about how many things that I never thought I would have to do.

 Below are my list of things that :
1) I really had no idea  I'd have to do
2) I was really hoping that wouldn't  have to do
3) I knew was going to do but totally  in denial
4) Things I only do because I love them SO much

- Putting up with certain people in our lives, because I HAVE to

- Having to bite my tongue around those people...because I HAVE to

- Wiping the butts of my daughters' friends ( nobody told me about that one)

- Watching so much Dora and Diego that I want to blow my brains out.

- Going outside when it's WAAAAAYYY too hot or WAAAAAYYYY too cold and then 5 minutes later going back inside becuase they changed their minds

- Being a short order cook, waitress, and dish washer everyday

-Scheduling out play dates , trying to get other moms to come over or  go to their house and working around our naps and their naps and after school events

- And I'm not there yet  but having to spend countless weekends engrossed in  whatever sports they decide to go into  ( not looking forward to losing my weekends too... I'm not going to lie)

- Cleaning up the same room 3 times in one day

- Carrying around a mini Walmart in my purse of : snacks, drinks, books, tissues, band aids,  toys, crayons, notepads. I forgot what I used to have in my purse before kids.

- Answering the same question 20 times in one days without screaming

- Trying really hard not to run away at least once a week

-Being so tired at night that you forget  what you used to do with your own time

- Never getting another solid night of sleep ever again

- Lost my boobies breastfeeding ( wouldn't trade it for the world but sad that they got even smaller than they were before. I didn't think that was possible.)

What did you have no idea/ in denial/hoped wouldn't  happen when you had kids?

Monday
What is the Gunny Sack -Making the world Cuter -Debbie Doo -DIY Show Off
DIY Shop - Lines Across My Face -I should be mopping the Floor
Great Fun 4 Kids

Tuesday
How to Nest For Less - Tip Junkie - My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia -The Kurtz Corner
Sugar Bee - Romance On A Dime - Debbie Does Creations - Funky Polka Dot Giraffe
The Winthrop Chronicles

Wednesday
 Thrifty Home - Someday Crafts - Sew Much Ado
- Junk in Their Trunk  - Southern Lovely  -SNAP

Thursday
 Beyond the Picket Fence - Somewhat Simple - Live Laugh Rowe
Loving this Crazy Life - The Shabby Cottage
The Taylor House- House of Hepworths 
Two In Diapers-Mommy Brain Mixer


Friday
Naptime Crafters - Stay At Home Nation
Young and Crafty -  My Turn(ForUs)
Delicate Construction
Serenity Now
Here Comes the Sun

Saturday

Six Sister's Stuff

Cheerios and Lattes
Natasha in Oz -Say G'Day

15 things I hope my girls remember me saying

When I am talking to my girls, I often hope that I'm saying the right things. The things they will remember, the things that will make them stronger, the things that make them feel not alone...and if I say them enough be ingrained into their little brains for life.  Even if they don't realize it . There is still a bunch of things that I can hear my mom saying in my head all the time so I figure it must work :)

1.  You are the best you that ever was. God doesn't make mistakes.
2.  You can be anything you want. I mean it , anything. (OK maybe there are a few nos in there but that's another post)
3.  You can tell me anything. I won't judge you or yell at you. Just be honest with me.
4.  You can ask me anything. I'll tell you the truth ( to a point)
5.  Dress how you want, draw what you want, read what you want, be who you were meant to be.  Not somebody else. Don't change for anyone.
6. You is smart. You is good. You is important.( yes, I know...it's from " The Help"  but it's still good to tell them)
7. Wait to kiss the boys, it will be worth it. They don't kiss good for a long time.
8. Just because he says he loves you, doesn't mean you have to do anything you don't want to.
9.  I'm always on your side ( unless you are hurting yourself then I will stop you)
10. You will have a lot of friends in your life. Some will stay. Some will go. And some might even come   back. They all don't have to last forever but you hope they do.
11. Only be with a guy that loves you even when things aren't perfect because life never is.
12. Watch how anyone treats their pets, that's how they'll treat you.
13. You can be nice but don't let people take advantage of you. Stand up for yourself.
14. You two(k&s) should always look out for each other. She will be your best friend some day.
15. I'll always love you no matter what. Even if I'm mad at you, I still love you.And even if you are mad at me, I'll still love you.

What bits of wisdom are you trying to ingrain into your kids' heads?

Monday
What is the Gunny Sack -Making the world Cuter -Debbie Doo -DIY Show Off
DIY Shop - Lines Across My Face -I should be mopping the Floor
Great Fun 4 Kids

Tuesday
How to Nest For Less - Tip Junkie - My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia -The Kurtz Corner
Sugar Bee - Romance On A Dime - Debbie Does Creations - Funky Polka Dot Giraffe
The Winthrop Chronicles

Wednesday
 Thrifty Home - Someday Crafts - Sew Much Ado
- Junk in Their Trunk  - Southern Lovely  -SNAP

Thursday
 Beyond the Picket Fence - Somewhat Simple - Live Laugh Rowe
Loving this Crazy Life - The Shabby Cottage
The Taylor House- House of Hepworths 
Two In Diapers-Mommy Brain Mixer


Friday
Naptime Crafters - Stay At Home Nation
Young and Crafty -  My Turn(ForUs)
Delicate Construction
Serenity Now
Here Comes the Sun

Saturday

Six Sister's Stuff

Cheerios and Lattes
Natasha in Oz -Say G'Day

What I probably won't do now that I'm a mom

I was at my book club a while back , talking with another mom. One who has kids much older than mine ( college age, high school and elementary). On a side note...this woman doesn't look a day over 35.  I can't hate her though because she's so nice, funny and likable. Sigh..

Any who.... we were talking about how when you are younger  ( teens, twenties, pre-kids) you are so much more adventurous and want to do all of these crazy things.  You really don't think a thing of it....until... you have kids.  You don't mind risking your own life but then you think , I want to see my kids  go to school, graduate, get married, have kids, etc. The list can go on and on.  She said her thing was skydiving.  Another woman in the group ( her mom )  said that she learned to fly a plane ONLY when all of kids were grown and out of the house.

So I started thinking... what did I think was no big deal or that I wanted to do that I won't probably ever do now  or until I'm much older.

Here's my list of things I may never do again or when my kids are much older:

• Skydiving
   Don't want to go splat
• Getting really really really drunk
   I want to be aware if my kids need me and don't want to do anything we all would regret some day.
• Leaving the country without them
  This I may do later when they are older
• Shooting guns
   So much can go wrong there
• Riding or Driving in a fast car/boat/ small plane/ATV
   Really do I need to explain that one?
•  Jumping Horses
   I used to jump but I fell off/been thrown off numerous times.  I don't know if I want to take that chance. But I may change my mind when they get older.
•  Going to bars late at night in really bad parts of town
   Why did I ever do that in the first place?
• Eating exotic foods that are alive
   eewwww and gross and food-poision-y

I'm sure there are more I could think of and will. If I do , I'll add them in later. Remember these are just my issues. I'm sure there is at least one thing you won't do now that you are a mom... what is it?

Mean Girls...then and now

Have you all seen the movie " Mean Girls" with Lindsay Lohan?  I hate to say but I love it. And  I do because it is a comedy, Tina fey is in it, and  it's the kinda conclusion you wish scenarios like this would have. The mean girls figure out that it's wrong and learn their lessons. We all know that doesn't happen.

I have had my share of time with "mean girls" in my life. I would have to say grade school was the worst for me. They were down right cruel.  My hair, my clothes,  my glasses, what I watched, what I read, what I drew......everything was fair game.

There was one in 6th grade, I think, and we were having a battle of the two 6 grade classrooms. We had to decorate our door with some kind of  design and it was a top secret. So I go into the bathroom one day and  R is there. She is a girl I that I have known since I was little. We played together since we could walk.  She comes up to me backs me up into stall door and says " What are you guys doing to your door? " " I'm can't tell you." " If you don't , I'll tell everyone we played my little ponies last year." I couldn't remember if that was true or not  but I was mortified because people already made fun of me as it was. So I spilled the beans and prayed no one would find out it was me and hate me anyway. She didn't have to do that.  She used what I thought was our joint past/friendship against me to shame me into something. I never really trusted or talked to her again.

And then there was K. She made it her personal goal in life to laugh/point fingers at me whenever she could. She pants-ed me twice in gym class. I finally learned to really knot my shorts after the first time.( And not to buy flowered underwear :) )The thing is I never did anything to her.  Why did I deserve that? I'm sure if I asked her why or if she knew she really tortured me, she would have no idea. And probably say she never did those things. That 's just as sad.

The high school mean girls were just too busy with the boys /hair/clothes/social lives to bother me too much. They just used me for pens, loose leaf paper, and tried to get answers from me.

Now in my thirties...the mean girls are older,wiser, and better able to cloak their meanness in false flattery and just plain old stabbin' you in the back when you aren't around. Didn't their mommas love them enough? Don't they have anything better to do like...I don't know...raise their kids?

I look at my daughters and wish I could spare them this kind of pain. I know they are going to have mean girls in their lives. I hope they can deal with better than I did. I don't know how to tell them to deal with it because I STILL don't know how to deal with it.  I already see myself in K. She's so trusting and thinks everyone likes her even when the other kids decide to play keep away from K without telling her. She's so blissfully ignorant. I hope she keeps that just enough to not let things like that bother her. I want to tell them to not let it bother them because they won't have to deal with them forever but that's not true. And going to public school , there's the chance that they may have to deal with them for 14 years..YIKES.  I always think I  should tell them to tell themselves....(see below)

Word of the Day: Momnipulator

(n) : a mom who uses her kid or flattery to make you think she's your friend (she really isn't) and she likes you (she really doesn't) so you will help her, do things for her, and not feel bad about it.

She's like a frenemy but worse because kids are involved.   Learn to spot them before they spot you :) This has been a pubic service announcement.