The day I was "The Best Mom Ever"

It doesn't happen often... but every so often the skies part and the sun shines down and a rainbow of unicorn sparkles appear and I am "the best mom ever". I love hearing those words.

Today provided me with the opportunity to just hang out.

First Leanna and I scurried out of the house this morning to FINALLY buy her paint. It was great. She ended up choosing purple! What a great choice.

Then we headed home to grab the boys and let Josh head out for a tux fitting and lunch with his best friend and other groomsmen. So I snagged my boys and the 4 of us headed out for a delicious lunch at IHOP. No pictures sadly but it was fun and everyone behaved so awesomely.

All of a sudden on the way home I decided to detour to the park. It was such a beautiful day! We had a great time!





And then we ended our day with a trip to Lowe's, purchasing some items for the new house and we decided to head to the new house to work on a few things.




It really was a GREAT day. I am beat.

Night!

Taking Pictures of Small People...

I love my small people they often make me laugh. They often make me wish to pull my hair out. They most certainly are my greatest trial of patience. They also are my greatest joy.

Picture taking of three small people?

AHHHH! Nolan wants to touch the camera, or oooh look a deer, or oh my goodness WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING ME SISTER, or oh wow I have a hand? Hudson has a thousand other things he would rather be doing, looking at, killing, creating, karate chopping and the list goes on and on and on. Leanna will sit and model for 45 minutes for me and never get grouchy.

And so I give you a few shots to show you what I mean. Up first Nolan.

Oh what you had that focused on me when I was further away? My bad! What is that? Can I touch it? Better yet can I lick it?

Oh that is so funny I am going to fall back and laugh hysterically... ready WATCH!

Oh look I have toes. I am going to bend over and touch them at the exact moment you snap the picture. Okay? Okay!

The best picture I got of the mister? Looking at the camera and midly in focus = winner!


Now for the Hudson man. He is sooo active and sitting still doesn't happen often. I often have to threaten BEG him to sit still and let me take ONE picture.

This picture screams Hudson... mischief in the making.

Then he had the NERVE to stick his tongue out at me!

But... then he laughed after sticking his tongue out at me and I got this one.

To be fair I think the first picture is my favorite just because it is SOOOOO Hudson.

Then there is Leanna... and I would show you three pictures of her...but really there is no point. They all look the same. She is sitting and smiling and well easy to photograph. So here is my favorite I took of her today.


Such a pretty little girl she is turning into. It makes my heart hurt to look at her.

Taking pictures of them is sometimes so rewarding... others not so much. But I do it because I know I won't remember if I don't. I know that I will look back on these and treasure them soooo much.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

In the Moment...

We took a walk tonight. We took a walk with some friends.

Hudson, Leanna and I bundled up and took a stroll in the falling snow. It wasn't anything to write home about. Just a chance to be a fun mom. A chance to say "yes" instead of "no".

We didn't talk about anything and to be honest they kinda walked, kinda ran around crazy running and try to do snow angels and catch snowflakes on their tongues.

It was fun. It was cold. It is a memory. Hopefully a fun one. One that they will look back on and think. Mom always took us for walks in the snow. That? Worth every minute of frostbite my toes are now feeling. Sorry folks just keepin' it real!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 26...Nolan Walks

I love my little man so much. However, he isn't so little anymore.

I love everything about this kid. His goofy grin, his giggle and now his wobbly I can run (when he really can't) style of walking. He gets so proud of himself. He runs and then claps his little hands.

I attempted so capture it on film... you decide just how cute he is!











Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 2...Apple Picking

We have created some pretty fun traditions in our family. I love to go out of my way to make awesome and fun memories for my little guys. I want them to know that their momma loved spending time with them and that FUN was important to me.

I want them to have fun but I also want to let them have opportunities to grow and learn in the moments.

One of our favorites has to be our annual Apple/Pumpkin picking trip in October. We have gone every year. We love it. We get up soooo early and we stop at a gas station and get hot chocolate and donuts (and usually gas too) and then we sing songs and play eye spy and talk and it is such a fun time.

Sometimes family goes and sometimes we go all by ourselves. We pick apples and talk about silly things and sometimes serious things. The most important thing is that we are together and laughing and playing and we get to come home with WAAAAYYYY to many apples and some pumpkins and sometimes a bellyache from eating to many apples :)

This year was our 7th annual trip :) We had so much fun.

He still makes my heart pitter patter. I just love him.

Nolan was perfectly happy to sit in his stroller and have some yummy apples to munch on.

Hudson had a blast getting the apples from up high in the tree.

This is the group that went this year.

I love to spend time with my family. This trip is something we mark out on our calendar for months. As soon as the kids start seeing halloween and fall stuff come out they ask when we are going.

So today I am thankful for being able to spend time with my family. For making such a simple trip something so important and fun.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Day 1...My kids

I know this seems like the easy way out. Oh I know what yeah everyone is thankful for their kids.

However sometimes I don't think I truly display the right attitude about being a momma.

How easy it is to dwell on the negative. How simple it would be to think well I don't have a choice... I have to be mom.

NO! The truth is I did have a choice. I CHOSE to be a MOM. That is the life I had wanted since I was a little person. Now I am a MOMMA TO LITTLE PEOPLE! How amazing and awesome is that? Some see it as a duty. Some see it as the 'norm'. I see it as this amazing and awesome job I get to do everyday.

I don't want to take for granted how lucky I am. I know so many mommas that don't get to spend as much time with their little ones as I do. I know so many woman who want a child of their own and I am soooo blessed to have three amazing small people AND that I get to be with them so often.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that God really gave these little ones to me. I was specifically chosen to mother Leanna, Hudson and Nolan. I never feel like I measure up or that I am "Good enough" or even half as a good as some other moms. It makes it hard to be thankful to be a mom when you feel that way. However God knows my heart. He knows the hairs upon each of my babies heads. He knew I was best for them and they were best for me.

So for Day 1 of this month long thankfulness. I am thankful for the beautiful, crazy, make mommy pull her hair out, amazing, kind, funny, sweet and ALL MINE little people!



Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Numbers...

A morning by numbers in the Brewer household...

3 breakfasts eaten - means bellies are full

3 pairs of pajamas in the dirty laundry - means I have job security

1 load started - means I had made laundry soap (finally)

1 load partially folded - means that momma got interupted

1 girl off to school - means knowledge

2 boys home to play with - means I have lots of fun

2 pounds of hamburger meat thawing on the counter - means there is food in my fridge AND a plan for dinner (YES!)

1,000 tears from Nolan - means I have a teething and quite accident prone little man

1,000 tears from Hudson - means I have a slightly crabby/needing a nap 4 year old

258 pounds on the scale - means I have some work to do before Nolan's party

40 pieces of tissue paper on the table - means a craft was done and I should probably clean up

9 is the channel that is on the TV - means my boys love Clifford

7 unopened bills on the counter - means medical services were provided AND that momma is avoiding them

12:30 is the time for lunch - we are having grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup

40 minutes is how long my washing machine takes - means I will have clean clothes soon

90 minutes is how long my dryer takes - means I have a little more time to do nothing *winks*

12 apples were peeled and sliced - means one lucky husband is having apple crisp after dinner

36 minutes have been used to write this post... time to get back to work!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Leanna and Friends through the years.

I know this has been a weird montage of my babies small vs. big week. It may be for a few more minutes... I am struggling this year during birthday season. Sorry, but I blog to remember how we were doing as a family, how the kids were growing and how I am doing as a momma. Right now I am stuck in this why do they have to grow up phase...

Lily and Leanna through the years!

Lily and Leanna in 2007...

Lily and Leanna in 2008...

Lily and Leanna in 2009...

Lily and Leanna in 2010...


I love these two girls. They make me smile. Leanna and Lily always laugh when they are together. At nothing...at everything it is wonderful to hear them giggling together.


Leanna and Cadence through the years...
Leanna and Cadence in 2007...

Leanna and Cadence in 2008...

Leanna and Cadence in 2009...

Leanna and Cadence in 2010...

Leanna and Cadence like to play girly things when they get together. Without Cadence's influence in this area I highly doubt that Leanna would have ANY girly tendencies :)

Madelaine and Leanna through the years...
Madelaine and Leanna in 2006...

Madelaine and Leanna in 2007...

Madelaine and Leanna in 2008...

Madelaine and Leanna in 2009....

Madelaine and Leanna in 2010...

Madelaine and Leanna share a little something extra...the share the same birthday only Madelaine is 1 year older. It is hard for me to look at the 2006 picture. They were 2 and 3 there.

These girls all hold a very special place in Leanna's heart. To be honest they hold a special place in mine. It amazes me that so Leanna has so many little friends her age that she has maintained fairly close relationships with. She loves her 'girls' as she calls them and they are always at the top of her 'who' list.

So many memories. I looked at a ton today. It made my heart so happy for her that she has so many friends. It made my heart sad too though. They look so little and then well not so much.

Momma to 3,
*Shay B*

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*

Dear Nolan...

Dear Nolan,


Please stop growing.

Love,

Momma

All three!

The kids have been extra funny lately. I love the way the interact (most of the time). Leanna is such the mother hen. So protective and well bossy! Hudson he is the... what is the best way to describe him... He is energetic and fun guy. Hungry all the time! Nolan is mesmerized by him. He will just watch Hudson's every move and laugh. Nolan he is every bit of the baby of the family. He is doted on and played with. He gets into everything and is all over the place now.

They do love each other though and play very well together.

So I am pretty sure Leanna was sleeping here ;) Nolan was determined to get Hudson. Hudson well he was cheesin' it up!

Okay now everyone is looking at the camera in this house that is a success. Leanna is still awfully sleepy here though!

Now eyes are open. Nap time is over and no one is pulling anyone's hair out...now how to get them all to be still so the picture isn't blurry?


We'll just have to keep trying I guess :)

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Because it has been a minute...

Nolan is getting so big so fast. I often forget he isn't going to be a 'baby' anymore. It makes me sad.

He is 10 months old now. HUGE. Some fun things he is doing now:

- he finally has a tooth in his head and a whole mouthful full of puffiness and "white buds"

- he is pulling up and cruising furniture even

- he is saying "dada" even if it isn't at him

- he is eating tons more solid foods now (even with his only ONE tooth)

- he is pulling his hearing aids off even if he is wearing his hat

- he smiles and laughs and is just starting to imitate people.

There is still really no language development. He squeals and yells and cries but we are working on it. He is trying!

Speech therapy is going well. It sometimes all feels so tedious and for nothing. I know it isn't but sometimes it feels that way. I try not to give into the feelings of frustration. I have to remind myself to slow down and that this will take time, hard work, determination and well faith. I have to remind myself that God decided Nolan could handle this and as his momma apparently he decided so could I.

I love his little laugh and the gleam of mischievousness he gets in his eyes. He has an AMAZING smile. Everyone loves him. He is a pretty special little guy. I sure am thankful for him. Even if sometimes I want to toss him out of the window (you know after he has screamed for 20 minutes straight out of frustration or after the 60th time I have had to tell him to leave his hat or hearing aids alone). All in all I wouldn't trade him though.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*