Mommy gut

No, I am not referring to that adorable "pouch" mommies are left with after having kids.  You know, the one that has all the little white lines on it from being stretched to abnormal proportions.  I'm referring to the gut that is a little deeper in ... the mommy gut.

I've only been a parent for about 4.7 years so I'm not an expert, but I have learned one thing ... you may be left with a little pouch, but you also get the mommy gut.  I've seen it with lots of parents.  It's just something that comes along with parentood.

What is mommy gut?  It's an extra sense you get when you become a mommy.  It can pick up small things and it can pick up big things that other people don't normally pick up.  For example I could be in bed and yell out to Matthew that one of the girls had a foul diaper.  He'd be confused about how I knew ..... it had nothing to do with smell since there would be two closed doors between us.  I'd tell him I just knew.  After being right so many times he'd learned to trust my mommy gut .... "How did you know?!?!"  

Perhaps it's just from knowing your children so well or that you spend so much time with them, but I like to think it's a special gift God gives mommies to make up for childbirth ... lol.


It can also be found in bigger things.  I think I was worried about Autism before Tee was even born.  I started saying something to Matthew and my family when Tee was very young.  It was a gut feeling that she was ASD ... even in infancy.  I remember taking her to our nurse and being worried about it.  She said she was not autistic and I became relieved for awhile ... until several Dr.s picked it up and kept sending us to new specialists.  As her personality developed more and more people started to see it.  

Again, this could just be from spending so much time with her, but I think the gut feeling came before there was any way of knowing ...  I'm not saying mommies have all the answers.  I definately take the advice of professionals because I do NOT claim to be a professional, but I do think that moms have an intuition a lot of times.


My intuition tells me it time to get up and feed JJ some breakfast ... or maybe that's because she just woke up and I hear her poking around the kitchen ... he he.

Generation gap

Okay all you ladies out there.   If we want to be good wives this is the way to do it!  Pay close attention ... I hold all the keys to being a good wife!

The Good Housewife

The following is excerpted from an actual 1950's high school Home Economics textbook:

ADVANCE: How to be a Good Wife

HAVE DINNER READY: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal--on time. This is a way to let him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned with his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home, and having a good meal ready is part of the warm welcome that is needed.


PREPARE YOURSELF: Take fifteen minutes to rest so that you will be refreshed when he arrives. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift. Greet him with a smile.


CLEAR AWAY THE CLUTTER: Make one last trip though the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up children's books and toys, papers, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you lift too.


PREPARE THE CHILDREN: If they are small, wash their hands and faces and comb their hair. They are his little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.


MINIMIZE ALL NOISE: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise from the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.


SOME "DO NOT'S": Don't greet him with problems and complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as a minor problem compared to what he might have gone through that day.


MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE: Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest that he lie down in the bedroom. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.


LISTEN TO HIM: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.


MAKE THE EVENING HIS: Never complain if he doesn't take you to dinner or to other entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his need to unwind and relax.


THE GOAL: TO MAKE YOUR HOME A PLACE OF PEACE AND ORDER WHERE YOUR HUSBAND CAN RELAX IN BODY AND SPIRIT.

This may seem hard , but just remember ....

 

Sisters

I'm up early and everyone is still sleeping since we stayed up late partying ... by partying I mean watching Adam chew on his hand until 9.  We are a wild bunch.  I think the dark clouds and rain are helping them sleep too.  I was looking at some pics of my girls and I can't believe how much they have changed in their few short years.  Here is a bunch of pics I found .... not sure if they will be in order, but hey.

and so I begin with my presentation of Sisters

  

 

 

 

The Sillies

Have you ever had one of those friends that can just make you laugh?  I have been lucky enough to be friends with someone like this for 20 years now.  We become friends in grade 6 and she is more like a satellite memeber of our family now.  We can have the best talks ever, but she is one friend that can make me plain old giddy.

I remember her staying with Matthew and I when we were first married and we were laughing so hard the whole night that even Matthew laughs when he thinks about that night.  Actually I just thought about it and burst out laughing.

I could never relive or explain what was so funny, but redundance was the key that night in mockery of the amazing race.  
Tyra Banks.  Model.  Pretty 
Tom and Betty.  Dating 8 years.  Virgins.

Apart from this night I can remember going out to a restaurant with my family and her falling off her chair, or the countless times we performed heartfelt concerts behind closed doors. (the world wasn't ready for us)

 What's even more fun is when you throw my sister into the mix ... we have too much fun.  I remember being 35 weeks prego with JJ and the two of them coming up to spend some time with me.  I seem to remember a clumsy work out session and virgin drinks.


Anyways, here's to you my dear friend .... Ali Baa Baa

Super Cool person of the week

This week's super cool person is ...... Shelley!

I've known Shelley for a few years and have gotten to know her over the past while since I've been helping with Sundayschool.  I have never worked on a team that was more prepared in all my life.  Every Sunday I go in EVERYTHING is completely organized.  It makes it so easy!  I love it!

Not only is she organized, but she's awesome with the kids.  She takes time for each child while still maintaining control of the class.  I wish I knew how to do that in a large group!  She also encourages everyone on the team as well with words or little notes.  

We (and our kids) appreciate her so much.

Extreme Makeover Dickey Edition

As you have read in past posts, we have decided to redo Tee's room to make it more suitable for her.  You can read back if you want to know all the details.  

Here is the before (this is the best picture I can find )

 

and after ...