It's Possible...

When I was growing up I didn't dream of being a Mommy...

I didn't have strong maternal instincts that were fulfilled the moment I found out I was expecting...

In fact I assumed I would become a Mommy... Eventually...

But it wasn't a priority...

At the risk of being criticized I have to admit that though I liked children just fine...

I doubted my ability to be a good Mommy...

The ability to give more than I received...

Instead I dreamed of being a married...

Yet independent...

Successful and wealthy career woman...

While I am not saying those are not admirable goals...

At this point in my life...

They seem superficial...

And simply naive...

I would love to say that the minute I saw the plus sign...

The instincts I so lacked kicked in...

But they didn't...

In fact after the most excruciating pain of my entire life...

They didn't even appear the first moment I held Aidan Kale...

There never was just ONE moment...

I became a Mommy in mind, body and soul over a period of time...

I realized it a while back...

When even my best day at work could not compare to my worst day at home...

When my craving for moments with my children exceeded any want I might have...

And all those dreams...

All those goals...

Make me smile...

Because I realize that while I was dreaming...

God knew His plans...

He knew I would welcome a baby boy who would teach me more about love than anything I ever imagined...

He knew the second would show me that unconditional love is possible no matter how many times it's divided...

He knew I would be pushed to my limits...

Doubt myself at every turn...

But that ultimately my life would be the life I never dreamed of but always wanted...

It's possible God provides the deepest desires of your heart...

But to see them...

You have to separate yourself from what you thought you always wanted...

And appreciate all you've been given...

Batter Up...

For Kamden Kane's third birthday he wanted a baseball party...

And since I am a die hard Kansas City Royals fan...

I thought it would be fun to have a Royals themed party...

From the looks of it...

I think we hit it out of the park...

Happy Birthday Baby Kam...

Be Mine...

Sometimes the man who claims he isn't very romantic...

Gets it just right...

Perfect in fact...

There is no one with whom I would rather spend forever...

My Wish...

They were your candles...

But you are my baby...

Too little to wish for all you deserve...

So as we sang...

You smiled wide...

Showing those irresistible dimples...

And as you blew out your candles...
This Mommy wished for you...
For health...
Happiness...
A love like your Daddy and I...
Dreams that keep you reaching high...
Success that makes you proud...
And the knowledge that regardless of what your future holds...
You always have a place of unconditional love...
Unconditional acceptance...
A place you can forever call home...

Precious baby boy...

May all your wishes {and mine} come true...

Lesson Learned From The Bachelor...

Ok, l have a confession...

I watch "The Bachelor"...

"The Bachelorette"...

And "The Bachelor Pad"...

In addition...

My husband watches all three of these as well...

In fact...

He will watch them without me...

{I probably should not disclose that...but I did}...

But more to the point...

They annoy me...

It's like a train wreck...

A scary movie where I peek through the fingers I have plastered over my eyes...

But last weeks episode resonated with me...

{I haven't watched it all YET...we have it on DVR}...

If you don't watch it...

Here is the low down...

There is this girl that everyone hates...

Everyone BUT the Bachelor...

In fact...

He is quite smitten...

Other girls insist on telling him she isn't the person he thinks she is...

Blah Blah Blah...

But it really doesn't matter...

And you know why?...

Ben explains it in last weeks episode...

She pays attention to him...

Quite simple actually...

While other girls are embracing the drama...

Trying to be friends with each other...

And forgetting why they are actually on the show...

Courtney stays focused...

She is a little evil...

Very manipulative...

But without a doubt going to win...

Because she makes him feel important...

Special...

Like she is "into him"...

She isn't playing coy...

Being mysterious...

She says...

 "I like you"...

"I want you"...

"And I will show you every possible chance I get"...

"Even if it means every other contestant on the show hates me"...

At first I could not stand her...

But after a few episodes...

I recognized her...

She's the ex-girlfriend who constantly pursued {though some would say stalked} the man that she wanted...

The one whose girlfriends hated her...

Mostly because she wasn't giving up...

It didn't matter if she made enemies...

{And she made a few}...

What mattered is that she got him...

And eventually she did...

She is married to him...

Has two precious little boys...

And when they talk about the good ole' days...

He says her craziness never really made him mad...

In fact, he was flattered...

But this week the Bachelor of all things...

Reminded me that though this girl no longer needs to fight for her man {thank goodness}...

She does still need to show him attention...

Affection...

Gifts...

Kindness...

Flirting...

She needs to fit it in almost every single day...

And though there isn't a doubt in my mind Courtney will win...

Women all over will gasp and shake their heads in disbelief wondering how he could've chosen HER...

When really if you think about it...

 It is quite simple...

He is flattered...

You Are Super, Valentine...

This year the boys chose Batman and Spiderman Valentines...

{I was surprised they passed on Hot Wheels, Cars and Toy Story...}

And because I am obsessed with themes...

I believed their Valentine boxes should match their Valentines...

Aidan's box needed to be at school today... 

After a few or so hours spent cutting, hot gluing and spray painting...

This was the end result...

I have to say when Aidan walked in and said...

"That is awesome"...

I knew it was hours well spent...

This weekend I work on Kam's...

Any suggestions for Spiderman?...

DIY Boot Toppers...

I saw and pinned posts on boots and knee socks...

But I could not find socks like the ones above...

So...

 I made my own by taking an old J.Crew cable knit sweater...

And cutting its' arms off...

BUT...

The legwarmers were too thick for my boots...

Then I found and pinned these...

This morning the light bulb came on...

And I cut my DIY legwarmers once again...

Big and bulky became this...

LOVE them!...

You could also use just regular socks with holes in the toes...

Cut the tops off and voila...

Oh the possibilities...

What do you think?...

My Forever Valentine...

Today you celebrate your 3rd birthday at school...
My blue-eyed Valentine...

Yet it doesn't seem possible...
You aren't a baby anymore...

Long gone are bottles of gunk...

Ginky and Guck...

Yet it feels like yesterday...

I met you for the first time...

Immediately falling head over heels in love...

All worries that I could not love two fading away...

As I held you in my arms...

Funny...

Demanding...

Crazy about your big brother...

Mimicking him...

Yet a person all your own...

Our baby...

Our blessing...

Our Valentine...

Not Everyone Will Like My Blog...

A long, long time ago I realized not everyone would like me...

I fight for what I want...

Have opinions I often express...

And will speak up about things in which I believe...

A lot of people love me...

However, some do not...

And though it took years...

I realized the more comfortable I was in my own skin...

The less I cared about who did and did not want to "be my friend"...

The ones who truly mattered were only ones I had the time and energy about which to worry...

When I started my blog, I was surprised that people actually took the time to read it...

People I didn't even know would say some of the kindest, most encouraging things...

But what I really wasn't prepared for...

What surprises and disappoints me the most...

Is that people I do know...

Take my blog as an opportunity to leave negative "anonymous" comments...

And though I accept that not everyone will like my blog...

Anonymous commenters who take the time to call me "smug and preachy" confuse me...

Because reading my blog is definitely NOT mandatory...

And if I insult you by simply writing about how MY life changed when I married my husband and had my boys...

Then I would suggest you simply stop reading my posts...

Because I will not stop blogging about these "offensive" topics...

And I hope that if you continue to read my blog that you take the time to comment nicely or not comment at all...