Wow! 6 years old!

Six years ago today, I became a Mommy for the very first time. Jacob Nicholas was born on this day in 2003, at 3:53pm and my life was forever changed.

Dear Jacob,

You are 6 years old today! I'm having a hard time believing it. Six years have flown by and I know the years to come will also. You are truly a gift from God and I love you more than you'll ever know. I remember bringing you home from the hospital and thinking, "Did they really let me leave with this baby? I don't know what I'm doing!" I learned.

You are in Kindergarten and at the very top of your class. It's not a surprise to me, though. I'm constantly amazed by how smart you are! You are playing your first year of coach pitch baseball and you're the starting 3rd baseman. You have a natural talent and can hit and throw like 9 year old. In the past year, you have lost 4 teeth! In fact, you're missing both of your top front teeth right now. You love sports. Any type of sport, but you love watching football. You decided last football season that you're a Florida Gators fan. Since, Daddy is a UGA fan and I'm an FSU fan, it's a hard pill for us to swallow! But, we're letting you be independent and form your own opinions. (We hope you change your opinion on this one.) You love to play outside...mainly practicing baseball and throwing the football. You also love to draw. Your favorite foods are mac and cheese, cheese quesadillas, and pizza. Your best friends are Matthew, Jordan, and Noah. God is working in you and you're learning to listen. You love going to church and especially love AWANA....this is your first year in Sparks. You are such a sweet and well mannered boy. Everyone loves you and says how kind and well behaved you are. You also have a tender heart. It doesn't take much to hurt your feelings and that's hard for me, as your Mommy, to deal with sometimes....some kids are cruel.

Jacob, my sweet, sweet boy, you changed my life forever when you came into this world. I thank God every day for picking ME to be your Mommy. You bring so much happiness into the lives of everyone who knows you. I am blessed to be your Mommy!!

"I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be."

I love you forever and always! Happy 6th Birthday!!

It's a God Thing

About 2 years ago, shortly after I opened my Etsy shop, I got an order for a white pillowcase dress with a pink monogram. As I prepared to make the dress, I had an overwhelming feeling that God was telling me to pray over this dress. It was a strong urging, like nothing I had ever felt before. So, I prayed over the dress. I prayed while I made, when I shipped it, and I've prayed several times since then. I didn't know what to pray, so I just prayed for God's blessings on the baby girl who would wear that dress. It left a HUGE impression on me!

Fast forward to January 2009. I am a faithful blog stalker reader and I have a few blogs that I read daily. Well, JMom of Lots of Scotts is one of those blogs. In January, she posted about a fellow blogger, Kelly, who had just delivered a precious baby girl after struggling for years with infertility. Her baby, Harper, had some serious complications after birth and JMom was asking for prayer for Harper. So, I started stalking following Kelly's blog. I've read every blog post since January. After a while in NICU, Harper got better and went home.

Fast forward, again, to Saturday (September 12). I decided to get caught up on my blog reading and Kelly's was the first one I came to. I read this post and got chills. The dress looked familiar, so I went back to my Etsy account and shook my head in disbelief. There was an order from Kelly Stamps on August 17, 2007 for a white eyelet pillowcase dress with a pink monogram. If you read Kelly's post, she talks about how this dress was her "Faith" dress. She bought it before she got pregnant, in the midst of her struggles with infertility. I had NO idea Harper was the baby girl I prayed for until Saturday. It is absolutely amazing how God works!

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:9-12

4 years ago...

...at 9:33am, God blessed us with our precious little princess.

Dear Olivia,

Today is your 4th birthday. I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. So, forgive me if it's hard to believe that you are 4 years old. You are our little princess. I remember when Miss Kristy (ultrasound tech) told us we were having a girl. I was shocked. I always thought I would be a "boy Mommy". Since I have never been a "girly-girl", I didn't know what to do with a little girl. I learned. And I love it.

You fill our days with so much laughter and happiness. Everyone loves you. Strangers comment on your beauty. (And, you usually respond with, "Yes, I know. Thank you.") You are a very smart girl. You surprise us daily with your vocabulary and you're even reading some words. You are a little fashionista who LOVES shoes. Any kind of shoes. And pink. Everything must be pink. But, you also love trucks and dirt. You are a well rounded little girl. You love Minnie Mouse, Strawberry Shortcake, Hannah Montana, and The Disney Princesses. Your favorite TV show is iCarly and your favorite food is pizza. Your favorite restaurant is Pasquales. You adore your big brother, even though you fight with him every hour of every day. You have a kind heart and you love animals. Especially cats. Your best friends are Sarah Beth, Emmy, and Mary Grace. You love gymnastics and you want to play tball this Fall. You love to color and draw on your MagnaDoodle. This weekend, you decided you love catching crickets.

You, my sweet girl, are a bright ray of sunshine in my life and I am so blessed and thankful to be your Mommy.

I love you "Cricket"!! Happy 4th Birthday!!

Do you ever

feel like your life is spinning out of control and you're just along for the ride, holding on for dear life?

I have felt this way more often than not lately. Everyday life is taking it's toll on me mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I find myself getting so caught up in what needs to be done that I miss what's happening right now. Lately, I've gotten too caught up in the image I feel I need to uphold. The Mommy who has it all together. (Or at least most of it.) The problem is, that's not me. I don't have it together. I'm just in survival mode. And, I'm extremely disappointed in myself. Defeated. Ashamed. Disgusted. Shall I go on?

And, my babies are suffering because of it.

Am I good Mommy? Yes, I think I am. But, I could be better. I could try harder. My sweet boy asked me no less than 5 times (if not more) to read him a new book this afternoon. He even waited patiently beside my sewing machine for 5 minutes. I never did it. I was caught up in getting my work done. And that, my friends, is a shame. I am ashamed.

What Do They Think of Me?

I got this great idea from another blog I read. The kids really got into it and some of their answers are funny!


1. What is something Mom always says to you?
Jacob: "I love you"
Olivia: "Don't get any more candy!"

2. What makes Mom happy?
Jacob: "When we are good."
Olivia: "When we play outside."

3. What makes Mom sad?
Jacob: "When we hit each other."
Olivia: "When we don't play outside."

4. How does your Mom make you laugh?
Jacob: "She tickles me."
Olivia: "She tickles me."

5. What was your Mom like as a child?
Jacob: "Good."
Olivia: "Like me!"

6. How old is your Mom? (30)
Jacob: "16"
Olivia: "22"

7. How tall is your Mom?
Jacob: "31 inches"
Olivia: "I don't really know. Just tall."

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Jacob: "Watch TV"
Olivia: "Play on the computer."

9. What does your Mom do when you're not around?
Jacob: "Laundry!"
Olivia: "Drink water"

10. If your Mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Jacob: "Singing songs"
Olivia: "Cooking"

11. What is your Mom really good at?
Jacob: "Drawing a snowman."
Olivia: "Taking pictures"

12. What is your Mom not very good at?
Jacob: "Building a house" he added "Because that's just really hard to do!"
Olivia: "You spank our butts!"

13. What does your Mom do for a job?
Jacob: "To keep the house clean."
Olivia: "To take us to the duck pond."

14.What is your Mom's favorite food?
Jacob: "Apples and kiwi"
Olivia: "Macaroni and cheese and broccoli"

15.What makes you proud of your Mom?
Jacob: "When she plays soccer with me."
Olivia: "When she swings me."

16. If your Mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Jacob: "Bob the Builder"
Olivia: "Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty or Belle or Dora! I can't choose!"

17. What do you and your Mom do together?
Jacob: "Cook brownies."
Olivia: "Dance and cook."

18. How are you and your Mom the same?
Jacob: "We have the same skin."
Olivia: "We are girls."

19. How are you and your Mom different?
Jacob: "We don't weigh the same." Well, isn't that the truth!!
Olivia: "You wear glasses and I don't."

20. How do you know your Mom loves you?
Jacob: "You hug me."
Olivia: "Because we're a family."

21. What does your Mom like most about your dad?
Jacob: "When he hugs you."
Olivia: "He loves you."

22. Where is your Mom's favorite place to go?
Jacob: "To Nana and Papaw's house and read a book the whole way there!"
Olivia: "To the fabric store."