What is it about...

baby heads? They are simply irresistible to me. I snuggle my girl's all. the. time.

In fact, just moments ago, I buried my face in her hair (what little there is of it) as I wiped prunes from her face.

Baby heads don't even have to be freshly washed for me to be drawn to them. Actually, the baby heads don't even have to belong to my offspring. I'm thinking all the sweet baby heads are the reason I work in the nursery at church.

Finally, what is it about those precious heads that makes already-sweet-smelling baby shampoo smell a thousand times better? I know that baby wash wouldn't smell nearly as wonderful on my head. Now that I think about it, that is probably a good thing. I'd look a little strange walking around while constantly smelling my hair.

I love having baby heads in the house!

We May Not Have Clean Clothes, but I Know Where to Find the Cumin

This was originally posted at the end of February. Seven months later, I can say the system is still working well. It is one of the few things I've organized that hasn't be a mess two hours later. Truth be told, I sometimes open my spice cabinet and just stare at it. It makes me feel better about the stuff bomb that seems to constantly explode in all other areas of the house.

Please be sure to head over to Shannon's at Rocks in My Dryer for more "kitchen management" tips.

A while back, I wrote about joining in on Org Junkie's Monthly Organizational Round-Up. I love to organize, much to the frustration and humor of my husband. So, I thought this sounded like fun. Org Junkie has designated a room of the house for each month. I thought that couldn't be too hard.

I did that thinking before sweet Baby Girl became a part of our family. Now, Baby Girl, thus far, is a mellow little one. However, she does have this little habit of wanting to eat every 2-3 and sometimes, bless her, 4 hours. This happens around the clock. Then, there are those other munchkins who live here who need things like food, clean clothes, and special time with their mama.

So, you can see how what at first seemed so doable, quickly became not so doable. Well, somehow, I did it. It is a good thing it is leap year and I had one more day in February to get something in my kitchen organized.

I chose my spice cabinet.

Here is a before picture.

As I cooked, I had to sort through the cabinet to find what I needed. Of course, whatever I needed usually happened to be at the top and in the very back.

Also, I learned that I had multiple containers of garlic powder, curry powder, crushed red pepper, and nutmeg. To top it all off, they were all partially used.

Now, here is the after.

I placed the salt and pepper shakers, cooking spray, and salt and pepper refills on the bottom shelf. The middle shelf holds the spices I use most while the top shelf holds those spices that I seldom use.

Finally, here is a picture of what I hope will make finding the spices even easier.

I took a Sharpie and labeled the top of each container. This way, I can easily glance and find what I need. Notice I put the containers with black lids at the front. Obviously, the marker wouldn't work so well on those.

So there you have it. The laundry still isn't finished, my hair is greasy, and the kitchen floor is yucky, but my spices, oh, they are in order.

Choosing

I'm sitting at the library typing on a computer named Carle. I tried to sign in and use the computer named Happy. That didn't work. It is fitting, really. No one would accuse me of being happy this morning.

Of course, I have no reason to not be happy. I simply started responding to life's little inconveniences in a grumpy manner. It was my choice.

Now, I have four more minutes before my time on this computer is up and I need to log off. And, when I do sign off, it will be a sort of turning point in my day. I'm going to choose to be happy for the rest of this day. And yes, I do realize that I've set myself up to be tested.

So, when the children break something or stain something, I will choose to not let it ruin my day. Because it will happen.

Nap time will be too short and dinner time too messy. My choosing grumpiness won't make any of that change.

Deep breath, and here I go!

I Will Try

My Sweet Baby Jane,

Just moments ago, I put my finger in your mouth to look for teeth. I fully expected your mouth to be the same as it has everyday for the past seven months. You can imagine my surprise when I felt a tooth! That tooth is another sign that you are growing healthy and strong. I'm so grateful.

Yet, I must confess that my first instinct was not to celebrate another step in your journey. Rather, I the emotions I experienced were bittersweet. I had tears in my eyes.

You see, with the exception of a few sleepless nights, I've enjoyed each and every moment of this first year. Your first tooth served as a reminder to me that it will be over all too soon.

Then, I watched you crawl into the kitchen this evening as I loaded the dishwasher. My eyes grew misty.

Baby girl, please don't think for one minute that I'm not proud of you. I couldn't be more proud. And, to think that our family is experiencing this for the third time, well that only makes it more special.

Jane, I promise I will try to smile when you take your first step and say your first word. And when all those other firsts come along, I promise to do all I can to make sure you know just how proud I am of you. But, should I fail and tears come before my smile, please know that you are loved and your mama is so very proud.

I thank the Lord for the blessing that is your life.

I love you little one.

Mama

Busy

Earlier tonight, I realized that my mom or my sister might soon ask why I hadn't posted anything lately. Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words...



I spend quite a bit of my day chasing this little one. She is usually crawling over the baby toys I've given her in order to reach something more interesting like the dog's tail or a power cord.


I believe this picture foretells of what life will be like around here for the next several months. I love how she has a look on her face that says, "I didn't do anything."

Of course, the big kids are always into something. They have the best time together. Except when they don't.

They always keep me laughing. This little guy knows how to have fun. He also knows how to make his mama worry. He tends to act before he thinks.

Yes, these three little ones are certainly keeping my hands full these days. If you'd asked me a couple of months ago if it was much different having three children, I would have said no. Jane is such an easygoing baby. She was content to watch the world go by. The key word in that sentence is "was." Now, she seems to be saying, "Look out world! Here I come."

Life is certainly busy. So naturally, the old blog has been quieter. I suppose that is how it should be. As you can see from the pictures, it certainly isn't from lack of material that I haven't written more often.

My hands are most certainly full. But, my heart? My heart is near bursting with the joy of this life.

The Money Guy

"Oh, that is something we do with Daddy," is something I can frequently be heard saying.

It is usually my response when my children want to do something particularly messy or active. I suppose you could call me a bit lazy. I like to think of myself as helping my children foster a wonderful relationship with their father.

Anyways, my children really like money. I can understand that. They are particularly fond of coins. They like to carry them everywhere. And, every now and then they actually put them in their piggy banks. We have a bit of work to do in order to teach them the value of a dollar.

Unfortunately for my older children, we no longer allow them to play with coins any old time they'd like. We just can't risk the coins lying around on the floor with our baby girl now crawling and perfecting her pincer grasp. Though, apparently two-year-olds can eat money.

Of course, this new money policy hasn't stopped Ann and Chris from asking for money. So, now when they ask, I remind them that they can only count their coins and feed their piggy banks when Daddy is at home. "He is the Money Guy," I say.

This morning, Chris was carrying around his empty wallet. It wasn't long before he asked me for money. Ann chimed in with, "Daddy is the Money Guy."

Curious, I asked her what I am.

"You're the Cleaning Girl," she said.

It's hard to argue with that while your hands are still wet from washing dishes.

Sisters of Seven Months

I love watching these two love on each other.

This picture reminded me of an earlier post. Rereading that reminded me that little ones change so quickly. I'm looking forward to watching their relationship grow.

Ann and Jane, I love you!