"But Mommy"

Lately, every conversation seems to hinge on the the following phrase: "But Mommy."

"NyCee, go to your room and get a book off of the shelf as it is time for reading."

"But Mommy, it's not dark out yet."

"NyCee, put on your pajamas and get in the bed."

"But Mommy, you didn't read bible verses."

"Mommy"

"Yes, NyCee."

I turn and look out the corner of my eye to see her standing next to me completely naked.

"NyCee, why did you remove all your clothes?"

"But Mommy, I took off my clothes because I sweating."

All I could do was laugh.

Proverbs 15:13 (The Message)
"A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day."

She is doing it...

It's amazing to me how much parenting changes me not so much my children. I believe as parents, we have a responsibility from God to cultivate the morals and values that He places in us. Children have to be taught how to make decisions and allowed to suffer the consequences of their choices.

I have been working with NyCee to get her to sleep, through the night, in her own bed. She still wakes up but what I have noticed is her increased use of manners. Instead of waking up and screaming my name, she knocks on the door and gently ask, "Mommy, may I come in?" or when I open the door, she will say, "Mommy, will you come and lay in my room please?" Using good manners is not optional for either one of my children. Therefore, I do not shout praises to the heavens because she used her good manners. But I praise her for sleeping in her bed all night with morning high fives. I acknowledge the good things that she does such as clean up the toys after her brother or sits and reads a book to Tyler.

She is really progressing very well. I thank God every day that He allowed me the honor of being their mother.

Proverbs 22:6 (New Living Translation)

6 Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Ty's 1st Birthday Party

Tyler is not really into any characters so I just selected Blues' Clues for a cake. Originally, I wanted a number 1 but the woman who made the cake couldn't locate her cake pan. The cake was really good. It was a pina coloda cake and the frosting was just perfect.

The morning started with a bounce house. It was a beautiful day for his party. Earlier in the week, it was really chilly as the temps were in the low 60s. Tomorrow will start the 90s. But today was a perfect 80 degrees, just a light breeze, and a beautiful blue sky.

Immediately after the house was inflated the kids ran to the backyard to play. Tyler tried to stand up a couple of times.

The party was held at the home of the kids' caregiver. Olivia and NyCee are BFFs (best friends forever). That is until someone takes something the other wanted.

After boucing in the house, we traveled out doors. Tyler immediately crawled to the walking toy and climbed up and started walking around. I guess that was the only way he could entertain himself because the bigger kids kept falling on him in the house.

And yes, I let him have a piece of birthday cake. Surprisingly, I am much more laid back with Tyler than I was with NyCee. But I guess all parents go through that with the first child.

All in all, it was a good day. After cake and loads of sugar from the candy, the kids laid down for naps.

And of course, I did not get a group picture of all the kids at the party. Oh well, there's next year.

"It's my birthday & I'll tear toliet paper if I want to."

Tyler woke up on his birthday morning excited and playful. He rolled around in the crib while Taylor sung "Happy Birthday Handsome Bud" to him several times. I finally got him out of the bed to wash his face and brush his teeth. After which, I put him down and let him crawl around before we left the house.

He crawled right into the bathroom and began tearing the toliet paper.

NyCee did the exact same thing when she was about his age. What is it with kids and toliet paper?

**For everyone who tried to call Tyler today, I apologize that you were not able to get through. I do not plug in my cell phone every night and the battery died. He loves each of you for thinking of him on his birthday.**

Nature Boy

Well, Tyler is finally comfortable playing in the grass. Before, he would scream bloody murder if anyone put him down on the grass.

I went to pick up the kids after work and they were at the park. He was so content in the swing. So much so, he started crying when I initally lifted him out to leave.

Happy Resurrection Day!

I have heard so many powerful messages this week leading up to today, what Christian celebrate as the day Jesus rose and conquered the grave. I looked up the word resurrection to have a clearer understanding of the word. Dictionary.com describes resurrection as:

1. the act of rising from the dead.
2. (initial capital letter) the rising of Christ after His death and burial.
3. (initial capital letter) the rising of the dead on Judgment Day.
4. the state of those risen from the dead.
5. a rising again, as from decay, disuse, etc.; revival.

Number 5 was the most interested definition of them all to me.

This past week, I really struggled with some things: raising two kids alone, the prospect of doing that for the next 18 years of my life alone, my current job does not offer growth, etc. All of these thoughts ran through my mind Friday and really hit me Saturday afternoon. But when I attended Saturday night service, the message was right on time.

Dr. Tom didn't teach the traditional Easter message of Jesus coming to earth as a man, going to the cross for our sins, raising from the dead so that we could live with Him in eternity. That's great. But I have to live here on earth for 80-100 years before going to glory. Dr. Tom's message was about why Jesus did what He did. Why did He come to earth? Why did He carry our sins on the cross? Why did He suffer death and hell? Why?

The answer is simple:
John 10:10b New Living Translation
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

In order to have that life, I am the only one who can get it. God's Word is the catalyst to change my life. But I must use God's Word to change my heart which will change my surroundings. While there are some things that are out of my control: I.e., whether or not I will remarry as I can not force someone to take on me and my two children. What I can do is change my tomorrow as it applies to my career path, raising Godly children, living everyday of my life in a way that is pleasing to God, teaching my children the value of hard work, and giving them Godly tools to help them be successful in this life.

So when I look back at the definition of resurrection: number 5 is the most significant for me. Today is a day of revival. A day of new beginnings. A day to become the cause that positively effects my tomorrow.

3 John 1:2 (New King James Version)
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Our soul prospers as we read and apply God's word to our daily lives.

Switch-a-roo

It is amazing we get stuck on one brand of product or shopping at one location and really do not think much about trying something different.

For example, both of my children were/are "Huggies babies." In the same sense that some people prefer Target to Wal-Mart or vice versa. Last week, I had a coupon for a large box of diapers. So I purchased the Pampers brand because there were more diapers in the box than the Huggies brand. I must admit, the Pampers brand is a much better diaper.

For several nights, I was using the Pampers brand and when Tyler woke up in the morning, he was wet but not soaked. This morning, when I woke him up, his pajamas were soaked through with urine. At first, I thought there was an opening for a leak. Nope! The Huggies brand diaper is not as absorbent as Pampers.

It's amazing how something so simple can have a profound meaning. What I took away from this scenario is do not be resistant to change: it may be a good thing in the end. If nothing else, it will definitely be a learning opportunity.



Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Slowly but Surely

So we are making progress. Last night, I locked the door and true to form, my child shuffled to my room. She tried to turn the knob a couple of times then began yelling out, "Mommy, Mommy."

I answered the door and carried her back to her bed. Laid her down and went back to sleep. This time, locking the door yet again.



Around 4am or so, NyCee attempted to come into my room. Only this time, she rubbed her little belly repeating, "I hungry Mommy, I hungry." I gently explained it was not time for breakfast and laid her back down in HER bed.Of course this time I laid down with her in her bed. Hey, cut a girl some slack. It was 4am and I had to get up in 45 minutes. HA! But, let's focus on the fact that progress is being made and she did not get in my bed last night.

Thankfully my son does not have this issue. I just put him in the crib with a cup of milk and off to sleepytown he goes: ALONE!

Lock Out

I was talking with my mentor about trying to figure out a way to get NyCee to sleep, continuously through the night, in her own bed. When bedtime commences, she falls asleep in her own bed. I do not have to coax her, lay with her, or anything along those lines.

But generally around 2 or 3 in the morning, I hear the scurry of her little feet heading towards my room. She no longer calls out my name as she just climbs in my bed on "her side" and falls right back asleep. At her age, she really does not need to sleep with me anymore. (Really, a baby does not need to sleep with a parent at any age, but moving along). Because she slept in the bed with me for nearly one (1) year, it made sense at first. Well, now it is time to put down my proverbial foot regarding this matter.

So, on the advice of my mentor, I locked my bedroom door. Well, in usual fashion NyCee proceeded to my room and when she couldn't get in, she yelled my name several times. I got out of bed and gently guided her back to her room. She went back to sleep and I went back to my room and went back to bed.

When I woke up this morning, guess where she was?


I guess in my head, I thought I would only have to lock the door once for her to get the message.