*Nine* My Cool Jet is 9!

How do 9 years seem to go by so quickly yet so slowly at the same time?  

 

 

My baby girl is a big 9 now. That seems to much bigger than 8, so much closer to the teen years.

 

I look in awe at her beautiful face and wonder how our family got so blessed to have her.

 

She comes up with her own idea of how things should be and works hard to enforce her way.

 

Brijet plays so well with her siblings, making them all laugh to pieces.

 

 

One of her favorite foods is Chinese food so it is a special treat for her and her daddy to go out to a Chinese buffet together.

 

My Brijet is simple. She loves art and these little Glamour stuffed animals.  She says she will be an author, illustrator, teacher, and be super rich when she grows up.

 

She also says she will not marry anyone cause boys are gross and she will have no kids cause kids are just too hard on a mom.

 

I am loving my front row seat to witness her journey and loving every scene along the way.

All About The Chaz - *15*

Fifteen years ago changed my life forever. We became a family of 3, the beginning of my journey as a parent. I can remember that powerful feeling of pure love the moment I held my sweet baby Chaz.

 

Wen and I carefully chose a name and discussed newborn care. We had ideas of what parenthood would bring us, what this tiny being placed in our arms would need, but parenting teaches you so much. Everything isn't in the parenting books and, although parenting advice flows freely, things still came as a surprise and fell under the 'no one ever tells you' category of parenting.

 

 

Dear Chaz,

 

This front row seat to watch your journey through life has been one of the best parts of my life. Seriously. I eagerly watch with anticipation for the next act or chapter yet hold tight to the last image. It isn't easy to watch you grow and become your own person because you will always be my baby. 

 

 

 You are so loved. You have been loved on from day 1. You were the first grandchild of the families. Oh you so loved the attention.  

 Your aunts and uncles adored you.  You learned a lot from each and every one.

You loved playing outside and going for walks. You started asking questions as soon as you could talk and never stopped. You never followed the crowd, always opted for your own ideas.  

 

 You learned everything so quickly and then were eager to learn more.  Reading became a passion, it seems, and you just kept reaching for more.

 

I have loved watching you grow and change over the years. You have a great sense of humor and make me laugh daily. I love that you question and research everything.

 

I cannot believe you will be a full fledged adult in just 3 years. I remember watching you grow yet wonder where the time even went. I am so thankful that I was chosen as your mama. I look back and wonder how we got so lucky. You are truly one amazing young man.

 

I really look forward to watching you change through these high school years. I am eager to see where life takes you; yet, I want to hold you tight and savor these times together.

 

Happy, happy birthday.

 

I love you so very much, my son.

 

Love, Mummzy.

 

Dear Chaz, You Teach Me So Much

I just adore you.

 

I love watching you grow and change. 

 

You are my oldest baby, my sweet boy, yet so grown.

 

 

 I remember your stories of your imaginary friends. You always questioned everything and were eager to learn more. You taught me so much about how to be a mom.

 

I love how you give me history lessons. You make them so fun and have a wonderful speaking voice.

 

You have a firm set of beliefs, research everything, and keep an open mind.

 

You are caring and have a great attitude about life.

 

Simply put, you make my heart sing.

 

I am blessed to have a front row seat to view your journey in life. I am loving our time together and am eager to see where life takes you!

 

Love,

Mom

Their Childhood Versus Mine

I need to record their reactions when I tell my children about my childhood. Seriously, they look at me like I have 3 heads.

Wash dishes *by hand*
Do all the laundry, including iron and put away
Change my brother's cloth diapers
Then wash them out
Babysit my baby brother without my mom around
Vacuum all rooms
Walk to school without an adult
Cook
No air conditioner
No cartoons on demand
No computer

My childhood was way different than their childhood is. It is just interesting to note the differences.  Time and technological advances changed so much.

Oh, they cannot fathom their nana spanking or screaming! She is a sweet lady with them filled with hugs and makeup.

I am thankful for my mom being strict. I am thankful she taught me how to take care of a home so it wasn't such a shock when I grew up and did it alone.

My kids have a list of chores to get done on a regular basis. They often grumble about it (as I did as a kid) but it is good for them to have some responsibility. Responsibility doesn't just magically appear when they turn 18 and leave home. It has be encouraged, nurtured, taught. Each family has their own way to trying to accomplish this. Each parent hopes they are choosing the right way for their children to grow into kind, responsible adults.

I hope they will realize one day just how much love and care we put into raising them. I hope they understand why we made them work hard at school and taught them how to take care of a home. I hope they see how much we worked on our marriage to make sure we provided a stable home for them. I hope we are modeling a decent marital relationship for them.

 

These four have my heart and I only want the absolute best for them.

 

Thank you, Dax

Thank you, my sweet Dax, for teaching me that there is more than one right way of doing things.

 

 

Thank you for teaching me to seek out happiness and find joy.

 

 

Thank you for showing me to step out of my comfort zone.

 

Thank you for helping me find smiles as we navigate these food allergies.

 

Thank you for teaching me to look for adventure in a day of play.

 

Breastfeeding is Bliss

I had my first baby when I was 16 and knew I wanted to nurse my sweet baby.

I knew no one who nursed their baby. I do not even remember seeing a picture of anyone breastfeeding.

I read about it in a book and they talked about it in birthing class. That was my limited knowledge of the whole thing.

I had no idea it could become a controversial thing. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I just decided to go with it and see what I could do.

It was the most amazing thing.

It was just so natural.

I was in awe that my body could grow a tiny human being and then nourish him fully.

It was more than nourishment though.

Nursing my babies brought them comfort when they were upset, calmed them when they were overwhelmed, brought smiles and joy to tiny faces.

I loved our bonding times over nursing my sweet babies.

I am very blessed that I was able to nurse all 4 of my children.

There is nothing better in the world that seeing your newborn baby smile with content and joy as they satisfy their tummy.

Each of my children nursed for different amounts of time. Each came with their own set of difficulties. I am still nursing my 28-month-old son even though I swore 24 months was my maximum nursing limit!

Funny how babies change their mamas.

Parenting a Toddler With Food Allergies/Intolerances is...

*Reading every label

and then reading it again.

*Using 2 knives for the peanut butter and jelly sandwich and toast with butter and jam

because the jam has to stay safe.

*Hiding unsafe foods for the older kids

because the toddler likes to sneak food.

*Preparing several meals at once to keep all happy

and labeling the safe one for the toddler.

*Extra prep and anxiety for any party or get together

because you have to bring safe food and dessert so the toddler can feel included.

*Chasing a toddler around and never letting him out of your site at gatherings with food

because someone will eventually set something unsafe down and your toddler will get try to eat it and be ill.

*Watching for signs of reaction with breath held

because you aren't sure if he actually ate that unsafe food.

*Carrying around medicine/Benadryl/EpiPen and having an action plan

because he could react at any time, anywhere.

*Educating every person who will be with your toddler

so you can have another set of eyes and hands if needed.

*Taking up a ton of your time to research recipes and safe foods

because avoiding 7 foods makes cooking a little difficult.

*Calling restaurants or scouring the online menus

to try to find a safe place for family outings.

*Packing safe food for even short trips around the city

because you are not positive there will be a safe restaurant close by in case you do not get home in time for the meal.

*Planning playdates around food

to be sure the toddler can have safe foods and happily play.

*Questioning every tummy ache and vomit

because that could be a reaction to a food.

*In my thoughts all the time, every day

because food is everywhere and all the time.

*Scouring the health food section at the stores or finding specialty store

because you need unique things like millet flour, coconut milk, psyllium husk, nutritional yeast, and tapioca starch to make safe, tasty foods.

*Learning how to substitute ingredients in recipes

because finding a recipe that excludes all your child's allergens is hard but you still want to make yummy foods for them.

*Sometimes lonely.