Looking back...

This time of year is really hard on me as a momma.

All my babies have birthdays within 2 months of each other.

Leanna turned 6 a few weeks ago. It seems like I blinked and she went from this...


to this....


Hudson decided he just had to turn 4. Why couldn't he stay 3? Hmmm... why did he have to get all big on a momma? My baby boy...

who is this young boy small person?


And now coming up very soon WAYYY much sooner than I would like. My BABY (my forever baby!!!!) is going to turn 1!?!?!?! It seems like just yesterday he was ....

and now this???

What???? WHO said they could grow up? It sure the heck wasn't me. This momma has decided that from now on the months of August, September and October can be skipped. That'll teach 'em. Grow up on me... HA.

Seriously? Why does it seem to be going so fast?

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Some summer fun so far...

It has been CRAZY busy with things going on lately. I can't believe how swamped and busy it is! This week is no better. Hopefully I will be blogging some fun stuff as catch up in the next few weeks. But for now...

Some pictures of our summer fun so far....
Our very own Crocodile Dundee ladies and gentlemen!

Some cute girls who were traumatized because I asked them to stop and smile for just one second!

Hudson and his friend Allyson isn't she cute?

Leanna and Madelaine.

Leanna dumping ice cold hose water on her brother and his reaction :)

Lots of fun stuff has been going on. Just not so much down time to get it posted here. But I will! Promise!

Upcoming awesomeness? The Muny with friends to see Beauty and the Beast, a Dance Recital, MOPS KICK OFF and a post about my new Sign Language Class I am taking. Sheer craziness!

Happy Monday!

Momma to 3... The one the only the CRAZY,

*Shay B*

Ummm so yeah....

It has been an emotional couple of weeks at the Brewer household. Crazy and emotional and busy and crazy.

I am a momma to an ALMOST kindergartner cause yeah that post earlier??? There will be another on her actual first day of kindergarten because well I have to write it. So I can have it. So I can remember the feelings and the crazy that go with being a momma...Not gonna lie I want to have it in writing so when I print this book for this year I have it all!

My days now are filled with just my boys. It is fun filled and a little crazy and a little weird. The dynamic has shifted. Hudson is the oldest at home now. Nolan still my baby.

Activities have changed from playing house and tea party ('cause well Leanna was pretty darn convincing) to... boy things like shoot 'em up bad guys and cars relay races in the kitchen and Spiderman instead of Little Mermaid (did I mention Leanna was convincing?)

I am so thankful to be a momma to such different and exciting personalities. God sure knew what he was doing when He gave me all my small people.

This guy here...

He knocks my socks off ladies

and this guy here...

Well I wouldn't trade him for a million bucks...

But this girl here....

I kinda miss her. In all of her awesome bossy and "convincing" ways.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

She went to school today....

I am so on an emotional roller coaster of crazy right now. I am unfortunately going to have you take a trip down memory lane with me today. I am sorry for any misty eyes or sadness.

My baby went to school today. Summer school but her first day of any kinda school besides Sunday School ever.

She is being taught by someone that isn't mommy. She is playing with (or I hope so anyway) new friends. Learning new things. Off on her own without me there to hold her hand or kiss her boo boos or make sure she can get off of the monkey bars herself.

It was one of the most awesome days of my life. While at the same time one of the saddest days too.

7 months old here...


Not quite 2 (I was a very pregnant momma at this party get together)


with her brother...just before he turned 2 and she turned 4...

her first bubble!

Our friend Casey took this photo last October when she had just turned 5...

With her brotherS (plural) here...


And today before I sent her off to school...





Tell me where it went ladies? Where has the time gone. She went from baby to big girl and I swear I didn't even blink. I am so thankful she is independent and strong and smart. I am so thankful God graced me with this little amazing person. I am so thankful to be her momma.

I am so a little sad today.
A thankful and tearful
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Generations

The lovely lady Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers has a lovely little meme on Tuesdays called Gratituesday and I decided it would be fun to join in. So today I give you...

These girls are sitting there with my Great Grandmother. Nana is the girls' Great-Great-Grandmother. I love that we are so lucky to have 5 living generations on my Dad's side of the family. Not many people can say that.

These are my cousins with their grandmother. She has had a long and somewhat hard life but she is always smiling. She to has Great Grandchildren. 4 generations.

My cousin with her great grandmother. We lovingly call her Nana. Others call her Grandma. Others still call her Little Grandma.

Freaky family trivia... ready? This is my Nana and my Great Aunt. Who is 16 days older than my Father. That is right my Granny and my Nana were pregnant at the same time. Nana not even with her baby! My Granny with her oldest.


This photo makes me a little weepy. There are 97.8 years between these two and yet a language of love is still spoken. Between a Great-Great-Grandma and her Great-Great-Grandson. There share more than just a bloodline... My nana she doesn't hear so good. While hers is age related and Nolan's is well we still aren't sure of the how. They both connect on that level as well. So thankful for this memory captured.


Hopefully one day here very soon I will be able to drag my brood down to the farm where my Nana lives and get me one heck of an heirloom. A five generation shot. Just got to find the $$$ and the time and the people to make it happen.

Love...it really is ageless...


Love
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

SIX MONTHS!?!?!?!?!?!

I can't help but want to cry just thinking about that.

He is 6 months old. Where has that time gone? Why did it go so fast?

Nolan turns 6 months old today. He is such a fun addition to our family. I am so thankful for him and his sweet smile. He has added some new "speed bumps" as well. However mostly (so far) they have been manageable and a little crazy although the sign language we have been learning has been a fun thing. I am enjoying it a lot.

The kids think it is cool to have a little brother who always smiles at them. Hudson can make Nolan laugh and laugh and laugh. Leanna loves to mother hen him. She talks to him all the time and pays attention during his speech therapy so she can make sure she is "doing things the good way" and she loves to "help Hudson remember" too. Even if he doesn't like it.

All in all the little guy has made our lives so wonderful and we are so blessed that God decided to give us Nolan.

Some exciting stats I don't want to forget.

Nolan you are....

18.8 pounds!!!!
You are eating almost all baby food now. Although your favorites are peas, carrots, any fruit and sweet potatoes.
You HATE green beans and squash A LOT.
You have been rolling over and over and over.
You are sleeping through the night (12 hours).
Your speech therapy is going very well and Ms. Cathy thinks that you are an extremely smart little guy.
Your trying to sit alone but you tripod for a few minutes then weeble and wobble and fall over. Soon hopefully.
You are really starting to reach out and grab for toys and well at least chew on them now.
No teeth yet but boy are you working on them.

I think that is enough for now. I love you Nolan Scott. You continue to amaze me and I pray all the time that your little life and spirit continue to touch people.

We love you buddy, big guy, little man, FAT head, puddin' nose, tubby bubby there are still a few more but... You get the idea!

I have no theme...

I have realized my blog has no real theme to it. I blog about everything and anything I am thinking, feeling, talking about, eating, playing whatever. I have no direction or focus.

Which is fun sometimes and others is a little infuriating. Right now my life feels like that no direction or focus or anything. It is distracting and well... infuriating (to reuse a word).

We are working on that here. It seems/feels like that is all we are working on right now. I am not sure how to not work on it. Any advice other stay at home moms? Am I missing the SAHM schedule train? Everyone else seems to be riding it but me? Which for me is weird because up until this last 3.5 months I was the most scheduled and disciplined person I know. Now... you might as well call me willy nilly. 'Cause that is how we are living life here in the "B" casa.

Keepin' It Real,

*Shay B*

Busy???? Nah....

Hi if anyone still reads this. I am still around. Just busy. I never thought I would be this busy with two small people and one cooking. We are soooo much busier than we have ever been before! It is a good busy.

The children are wonderful. Leanna is smart and talented and learning lots of new things! (upcoming pictures and posts I promise). Hudson is energetic and snuggly and well crazy. Nolan is still cooking. He is causing Mommy lots of trouble and Leanna and Hudson are getting anxious and when I tell them they have to wait til they start seeing pumpkins... let's just say it isn't pretty.

Josh is working. ALOT. Some days it feels like he is still driving the rig. It is nice to have the weekends but he is busy. Working hard.

Me I am working and cleaning and cooking and baby preparing and driving and swimming (ALOT man has it been hot!) and having hose fights and running around and planning a camping trip! (More on that later too I know I am crazy.)

I hope the few that still read this are having a great start to summer and are having fun and busy times! I think we may have hit a rhythm or a "new normal" for now and I will be back to posting like the B.C. (Before Crazy) times!

Wednesdays...

Wednesdays are the never ending day for me. I am sooo tired by the end of them I can't keep my eyes open half of the time to drive us home from church.

This may sound hateful but I really am looking forward to the summer break when church ends!

I am trying to "stay in the spirit", "grin and bear it" but it is seriously rough for me. There is no class for the little guy and we seriously go because it is a meal a week I don't have to cook and Leanna has her friends there on Wednesday night. I know it is important and all but man is it getting rough. So this week (well what is left of it that is) I am praying for peace, calmness, adrenaline and sadly (I know I shouldn't but I am being open and honest here) the finish line.

Hope ya'lls weeks are rocking it! And well just because I can a picture....

Perfection...

Have you ever seen your daughter be too hard on herself? My little girl gets so frustrated when she is drawing. She wants it to be perfect or the best and if it isn't "perfect" in her eyes, she crumples it up, cries, and thinks she is "terrible" at what ever she is working on or trying to accomplish.

My little girl is soooo much like me it is scary sometimes. I love her. She is bright and funny and caring and amazingly thoughtful (for being 4 anyway) but man is she hard on herself. It breaks my heart. Because she is good; she is trying; she is doing her very best, and I know her picture is amazing and beautiful and creative.

I sometimes feel that God must feel that way about me sometimes... I am trying so hard, and my intentions are good, yet I don't do it "perfectly" so I beat myself up and get frustrated and discouraged. I wonder if He wants to scoop us up, hush us, and tell us what we are doing is amazing and beautiful and creative and it is ENOUGH in His eyes.

I need to remember to display this in my everyday life. I need to remember that God sent his Son because we would never ever be perfect. That level is unattainable for us, for me. I need to know that if I feel in my heart I have loved those babies, loved that man of mine, cleaned the house, kept their basic needs met, taught them kindness to others, to each other, taught them about God's love for us to the very best of MY ability (which he knows) then that is all he asks of us. To give him our very best each day.

So that is my new standard. MY VERY BEST. My very best efforts, my very best laughter, my very best cleaning, my very best kisses and hugs to those babies, my very best attempt at scheduling and including and keeping. The guilt has to go.

So for the next couple of weeks and months if you are planning on dropping by, or visiting, or heck even if it is a planned visit and My Very Best Intentions don't meet up with my kids, my time, my day. Please forgive the piles of laundry/dishes/dust/toys that may be around. That day, loving on my babies must have needed all of MY VERY BEST that day.

Sobbing... At work...

Treasure this time. Absorb as much into your memory as you can, because these days will end. Believe it or not, you're going to miss the chaos. You're going to miss the noise. You're going to miss the fingerprints on the windows. You're going to miss the look on their face when they go all day without going potty in their pants and they declare themselves a big boy/girl. You're going to miss reading "I think I can and I Love You Forever" 25 times a day, and you're going to miss the silliness that goes along with sweet, simple childhood.

Oh my gosh... *sniffs* *smiles*

Thank you God for letting me be a mommy please don't let me miss it. Let my eyes be open. Let me know that I have some amazing kids. Allow me to raise them to love you and trust you. Remind me to love them.

I read this today and let me tell you I am having a rough time of it. I am not sure why. Hudson potty trained this week. Leanna is learning to read. She did a math workbook this week and didn't really need my help. They were asked to help at church on Wednesday night and they did it without batting an eyelash or giving an attitude. Oh dear Jesus slow it down. It is going way toooo fast. Slow down clock. Please they are sooo big already. Slow. Down. Please.

TYGF

So today is thank you God for day! I do so love these days it gives me a chance to focus on the positive. I love putting into words the things I am thankful for. It gives me a chance to speak out loud and praise God for the things I most often over look. It can be something as small as a fall breeze or as big as you surviving the terrible two's with your children. Just come on in and speak the words out loud and let us and Him know what you are thankful for.

So TYGF... Thank you God for loooong walks.

I have been taking long walks. Sometimes in the mornings when I wake up. Sometimes at night after the kids have gone to bed. Sometimes after I get home from work and the kids just aren't quite ready to go inside yet.

I love the weather being just right for stepping outside in jeans and a t-shirt or shorts and a sweatshirt (which seems to be my uniform most afternoons after work) and just picking a direction and walking. I love breathing the crisp cool air, taking in the leaves falling from the trees, my kids finding joy in a butterfly or a cricket.

It is so nice to just enjoy. To not be running from here to there. To just walk and take it all in. And hey here's hoping it is helping with the weight loss too!

What are you thankful for today?

Has it seriously been a week already?

Okay so the title here will give you some idea of how crazy our household has been here lately.

A good crazy I suppose but a BUSY crazy!

We have had birthday parties and events. Not just for Leanna and Hudson but the rest of the universe as well. Not to mention just in this little month of September we have 9 more events to attend that include birthday parties, weddings, BBQ's etc. You get the idea.

I have pictures from the birthday party that was a lot of fun for the kids. I will try and get those posted in the next day or so.

We have moved rooms around which was a feat to begin with because Leanna's bed broke and so a new one had to be gotten. (Good bye daybed from mommy's teenage years *sniff sniff*). Leanna's old bedroom is now a playroom for the kids. Which I think will be perfect for us seeing as how the rainy/cold season is already or will soon be upon us.

All of this crazy living reminds me that as a momma I am pulled in so many directions. Don't get me wrong sometimes those directions are fun and exciting and hilarious and other times they are serious, busy, sad and anger filled to...but I need to remember to find a time to be still. To not be a momma or a wife or a friend or a member of some team, committee, or even a worker. But to sit and be still and read and pray and sing and worship and have my own moments of quietness and remembering who really is in control of my days. Because I can promise you it isn't me. It isn't my kids or my husband or my job or my family. It is God and I think here lately I am not hearing him clearly enough because I am letting the craziness well up in my ears and drown out his quiet words and reminders "Hey I am here...are you listening...", "What are you getting angry for?", "Take a breath and stop cleaning and go enjoy a walk in My goodness", "That butterfly that your kids are so excited about isn't a science lesson it is a lesson in My goodness and kindness and worthiness".

Too often us mommas forget some of the important things. (Not pointing fingers here unless you count myself). I need to slow down and remember God is good and so is life and yeah it is crazy but it doesn't have to be that way sometimes. Sometimes I make it crazy all by myself.