A Blessed, Blended Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, I was truly able to focus on the meaning behind the holiday. I didn't get wrapped up in the stress of cleaning, cooking, traveling, or how I looked that day. I did do all of these things (except travel, what a relief), but I didn't stress about them like I normally do. And everything still happened. But instead of being stressed out about getting everything done for no necessary reason, I got to enjoy the day and be thankful. It felt...fabulous.

Our Thanksgiving this year was very different in other ways, too. My family is separated in many different directions, so I usually have several meals. I'm overstuffed, feeling hurried to get to the next one, and I don't get to relax. I'm stressed about making sure that I seem to be enjoying the lovely preparation that has gone into making the day a success, but I'm honestly worried about making sure I  see everyone  that I'm "supposed" to see on this day and that I'm able to spend a decent amount of time with them. When you have lots of family, it's really hard to get that accomplished in one day. Sometimes it takes two days. And then I don't have as much down time to recover from the craziness of it all and get the house decorated for Christmas before December 1st. Talk about STRESS!

This year we invited everyone to come to us. With two little ones who take long afternoon naps, it was truly essential that we not be dragging them all over town all day. For our sanity, and theirs. When I decided that we would host and invite everyone to come to us in one large gathering of all our families, I was a little worried not everyone could be there. We live an hour away from our original hometown, and everyone else still lives there. But for the first time in my life, almost everyone that I normally share Thanksgiving with, came together. You have no idea how thankful I am - all the pieces fell into place.

All of my parents (I have four, plus my in-laws), all of my siblings (minus my sister-in-law who lives in Seattle), my nephew, an aunt, uncle, and cousins who have basically been like my siblings growing up, plus my own family, were all present. We all sat at a long, elegantly decorated table (if I do say so myself - thanks for the help, Mom!) , with name cards handcrafted by Victoria and myself. We used our china and silver for one of the first times since we married and enjoyed a giant buffet of food prepared by everyone.

How cute are Victoria's little finger prints as the turkey feathers?

SO much food...we are still eating the leftovers! Score!

The entire time, all I could think about was how perfect everything was on this particular Thanksgiving because I felt so at peace. I was truly thankful for having all of my family in my home, enjoying one another's company, laughing together, dining together, feeing blessed together. We even ended the night in hysterical laughter as we played a game of Thanksgiving Pictionary. Watching my mother-in-law trying to draw "stuffing" and my step-father trying to draw "cold turkey" was quite entertaining.

      

Cranberry Margaritas by mom

Trey & my dad

Dad drawing on the Pictionary board

Trying to guess Sue Ann's word...

family love & football!

To my family, thank you for always being so wonderfully loving and thoughtful. I am so grateful for your love each and everyday, and it means so much to me that you all drove an hour to spend Thanksgiving with us so we wouldn't have to travel with the kids. This small gesture was huge for us and I am so grateful that I was able to give thanks without the stress.

Our blessed, blended family

xoxo,

Why I Love Jamberry!

I know you may be wondering, what in the world is Jamberry? Well, I'm about to show you and tell you about how much I love it!

I am a girly girl that has always loved getting pampered. Going to get my nails done is such a delight!  However, the other details that go into it (getting a babysitter, paying a LOT more than I want to, questioning how much I should tip, and then having it get messed up way too soon) is such a pain. So my solution to this problem? Jamberry Nails!

I earned these festive "hostess exclusive" wraps from a party I just hosted!

Jamberry Nails are wraps for your nails that make them look oh-so-beautiful, only cost $15 for a set of two manicures & two pedicures (that's $3.75 per manicure/pedicure), and you can do them in the comfort of your own home! The truth behind why I really love them is because they are amazing for moms. There is NO dry time and they last much longer than painting your own nails. I can actually do them while the kids nap and not have to worry about them getting messed up if the kids wake up before I'm done! Alleluiah!

With Jamberry you can go so many different routes. Whether you prefer solid colors, sparkly colors, stripes, polka dots, chevron, french tips, and anything else you could possible think of, we've got you covered. You can even design your own nail wraps with their Nail Art Studio! They also have college and sorority wraps. It's really hard to pick, in all honesty!

Holiday Jamberry nails - so festive!

So I don't know if you caught it, but I referred to Jamberry as "we" because I am now officially a Jamberry consultant! I love "jams" so much, that it just seemed logical to share them with you! I am officially having my "Launch Party" over the next couple weeks, so if you are interested in trying them out, please let me know! I will send you a free sample so you can try them yourself. If you're curious as to how they work, watch this video!

Want to see all the choices? Check out my new website: lizziewoolwine.jamberrynails.net

So here's to ending 2014 with a bang...or rather, some very attractive nails!

xoxo,

Happy 10 Months Samuel!

A typical morning at our house...

As of yesterday, my youngest is 10 months old. And boy is he darlin'. I know I'm a little biased, being his mom, but I could just kiss his little cheeks every minute of every day. Nothing is better than watching him grin and giggle as I shower him in x's and o's.

These days Samuel is always on the go. And he is getting into everything. I will turn my back for one second and the next thing I know, he has scooted (or army crawled) three rooms over and locked himself in a closet. It's amazing what they can accomplish when they're so small and aren't even able to walk, yet. Victoria always seemed so...still. I suppose that's the difference between a girl and a boy; at least, with this girl and this boy.

Samuel is still nursing and I treasure that time so very much. It's really about the only time he's still, and he loves to grab ahold of the edge of my shirt and rub it in-between his fingers, as he looks into my eyes and seems so say, "I love you, mommy." Although, if Victoria is around, there is no nursing to be done. The second Samuel hears her voice, he is ready to go! It's like he knows that when she's around, it's play time! He loves his solid food at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we recently starting giving him little bits of food to chew. So far he's been liking kidney beans, shredded cheese, and peas.

He's not doing a whole lot of "cruising" (walking as he holds onto furniture), but he is working hard at getting from the ground to standing. He's a pretty big boy, so I can tell the weight makes it tough for him. His little legs will shake under his weight, and he'll start to fuss after standing for awhile. He's scared to let go and knows he'll probably fall over if he does!

Sam-sam, as we often call him, loves Mickey Mouse and any sort of ball he can get his hands on. His favorite toy is his little "Sam-size" soccer ball. It seems ironic that I decorated his nursery with a sports theme! Maybe my motherly instinct knew he would like it.

Samuel's talking consists of "dada", "mama", and "nigh-nigh", which he seems to say when it's time for a nap or bedtime. We like to think he's saying "night, night". He also loves to blow bubbles and spit. He just figured out how to stick out his tongue and spit - very attractive! Screaming contests with his big sis are his favorite. This usually happens when they're both stuck somewhere together, like the bathtub or the car. It's pretty hilarious.

Samuel is such a happy kid, and I love every minute that I get to spend with him. Being able to stay at home with him this year has been such a blessing. I definitely missed out on the first year of being home with Victoria, but we are making up for it now.

xoxo,

Mommy Revelations

I've had lots of "mommy time" this week, as in, time with other mommies. If you are a brand new mom or are expecting your first child, I have some advice for you. Find other mommies to be your friend. You will need them to get you through all the tough times ahead.

As I mentioned in my Being Me, Bravely post, being a mom is not easy. It's a job that you have 24/7 for the rest of your life, and those first few months are a brutal awakening. Literally, you will be awake way more than you want to be or can physically tolerate. You will be needed by your child all the time. You will either be feeding your baby (or trying to if you're still figuring out breastfeeding), dressing your baby, changing your baby's diaper, cleaning up spit up or pee/poop that made it's way out of the diaper, washing your clothes and your baby's clothes, trying to figure out how to swaddle your baby so he/she will fall asleep and stay asleep if you lay him/her down, saying "sh, sh, sh" repeatedly while hoping your baby will actually fall asleep in the first place...and all of that literally takes up 24 hours of your day. So, there is no time left to take care of yourself, feed yourself, bathe yourself, or rest. We're exhausted and losing our minds. This, my friends, is why we need mommy friends. We get it, like no one else will.

This is me trying to act like I've got it all together but I'm miserably exhausted.
 (Samuel, a few weeks old)

Husbands can be a huge help, and maybe some are no help at all. Either way, we mommies tend to think that we have to be strong all the time. We think it all rests on us and that we are not allowed to have moments of weakness. We'll shower someday, we tell ourselves, and we'll sleep again one day, we hope. Do you know how hard it is to live on little- to-no sleep? If you've ever been the mommy of a newborn, then I know you do. And I want you to know, you are not alone. I am here for you. And there are other mommies out there that want to be there for you.

My new hometown is filled with so many resources for moms, but you have to be willing to take a chance and meet new people. You have to be brave. My MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group is where I have met so many fabulous women who are crazy about their kids, but who also appreciate their "mommy time". We get together so that we can grow emotionally and spiritually and find other moms who get what we're going through. We get together to support one another and to reinforce the fact that we're not alone. We learn about things that are important to moms, like how to deal with our mommy fears, or how to start building Christmas traditions. We learn how to be crafty together and we give what we can of ourselves through service projects. And when we have sleepless nights, or feel like our home lives are struggling, we're there to listen, pray, give advice, and pick each other up.

Part of my village - MOPS friends!

One of my MOPS friends, Julie Ann, said something during a playdate this week that really stuck with me. We were discussing how hard having little bitty babies is, especially when you feel like you're alone in your role.

She said something alone the lines of, "It really is true that it takes a village to raise a child. This is our village."

This is a traditional African proverb, and one that I've heard many times in my life. However, it now has an entirely different meaning to me. My children are being raised by me and their dad, by their grandparents, by their teachers, babysitters, and child care workers; but, I know that I also need the support of all those mommy friends to do my part. They are part of this village, too. Without their wisdom, encouragement, guidance, support, and love, this mom gig would be a lot harder. Having my mommy friends has taught me that I'm not strong when I'm on my own. I'm strong when I know how to ask for help. Somehow, we got this notion that we are the glue of the family and we are supposed to take care of everyone. I guess it's just in our nature. But, we have to take care of ourselves, too. It's really hard to do that when you are brand new at this gig and you are so scared to mess something up and you're just so tired....hey, it's ok. Take a deep breath, know how blessed you are, and if you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed - ask for help. If your husband or family can't give you the help you need, that's when your mommy friends come into play. As my wise friend Julie Ann reminded me this week, it takes a village to raise a child.

Mind blowing, right?

xoxo,

Delicious Dishes : Giada's Orecchiette (Pasta)

One of my favorite creative outlets is cooking. It has become challenging to accomplish with two little ones, but I try to fit it in at least once a week. A homemade meal makes it's way into my "to be repeated" category when it lasts for more than one night (we moms love leftover nights!), isn't too challenging to figure out, and tastes absolutely delicious. Now, I know that seems like I'm being kinda picky, but these meals do exist! My goal is to share my meal of the week with you so that I can let other moms (or whoever is cooking dinner) know what is worth putting your time, effort, and money into.

This week's delicious dish comes from my all time favorite chef, Giada De Laurentiis. I LOVE (understatement) Italian food, especially pasta dishes. Do not be surprised if many of the recipes I share on here are pasta! It's hard to ruin, usually delicious, involves cheese (another favorite of mine), and it's a great food for runners. This meal is called Orecchiette with Sausage, Beans, and Mascarpone. It was my first time making it and it was scrumptious! I chose to go with this one because we already had sausage in our freezer, as well as some orecchiette in the pantry. Orecchiette means "little ears" in Italian because this type of pasta actually looks like little ears. It soaks up the mascarpone cheese, while the sausage and beans can be found tucked away inside the "ear". Yum, yum, yum!

How cute is this pasta? Little ears!

What do you need?
1 lb. oreccheiette (or other small pasta)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 lb. sausage (I used regular mild sausage but Giada uses turkey)
1 onion, chopped
1 (15 oz.) cannellini beans, drained & rinsed
2 tbsp. fresh oregano leaves (or just a bunch - that's how I usually use herbs, throw 'em all in!)
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese (but I used an entire 8 oz...the more cheese the better in my book)
salt & pepper (for flavor)

Now, this does take a little bit of focus and concentration, so I recommend giving the kids something to do. Victoria has a cabinet in the kitchen that is hers and is filled with "child friendly" cooking bowls and utensils so she can "cook" while I cook. Samuel is constantly crawling in all places he shouldn't be, so I either stick him in the highchair with some puffs to much on, or let him bounce in the exersaucer.

my little chef

The pasta: Boil water & cook your pasta. It takes about 8-10 minutes. Now I have come to realize that not all people know how to cook pasta. So this is important because YES, you can mess this up!
Heat water (I usually fill my pot about 1/2-3/4 way full) and put in a few dashes of salt to flavor the water. It will make the pasta taste better. Add your pasta to the water once it's boiling. Don't put it in and then wait for it to boil - that's another NO-NO. Then, once it's close to the itme it says to cook it on the box, start checking to see how it tastes. You DO NOT want to cook your pasta so long that it's all floppy. That is not how it is meant to be cooked and is a major misconception! You want to cook it al dente so that it is tender, but firm to the bite. Also, before you drain your pasta, use a large ladle to spoon out about 1 cup of the pasta water. You will use this reserved water to add to the sauce and it is SO important! You do not want to use water from the sink because it will not have the same flavoring and thickness of your pasta water.

The sauce: While your water is boiling/pasta is cooking, start your sauce. In a large skillet, heat your olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onion together and break up the sausage. Cook until the sausage is brown and the onion is tender. Add the beans and the oregano and cook for another couple of minutes. Now you will add in the reserved cooking water, stir, add the cheese, and stir until the cheese dissolves into a sauce. Add salt and pepper for flavoring and then add the pasta. Stir until it's all mixed together and voila! Dinner is served. OH! And Giada did not do this, but I added some grated parmesan to the top. I always add parmesan to my Italian meals because it's fabulous and tastes good on everything! I feel like my meals are naked without it. I recommend buying a block of parmesan and grating it yourself whenever you need it rather than buying pre-grated parmesan. It's always much fresher that way.

This meal was not only loved by the adults in the house, but 2-year-old Victoria loved eating the "little ears", and 9-month-old Samuel enjoyed the beans! Just the right size for his two teeth to munch on. It also lasted for about 2 and 1/2 nights of meals (4-6 servings) - that means it's a winner!

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Running Bravely

I did it. I did it! I DID IT!

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read my last post. Or just keep reading this one.

I ran and ran and ran and ran Saturday morning until I couldn't run anymore. I have never run that fast in my life. I knew that I would have to come back and tell you all how the race went. The fear of saying that I didn't make my goal - that I didn't run fast enough to run 13.1 miles in two hours or less - kept me from giving up. I knew that you all were rooting for me from the sidelines, from your warm couches, or maybe from your dreams (it was 7:30 AM after all). But I knew I had to come back and tell you that I did it.

SO excited to see Trey on the sidelines!

When I hit mile 10, I started hurting. I knew that I couldn't go any faster than I was at that moment, and I honestly did not know how fast I was going. You see, I had big plans to listen to my favorite running music (Pentatonix & Anthem Lights) on Spotify, and to use the MapMyRun app to help me know my pace so I could make sure I was running about nine minute miles. You know what happens when you put 20,000 people and more in one block of one city? Your phone internet stops working. And both of these apps were run by my WiFi. So, for about sixty seconds panic set in. My wave was starting to run, I was coming up on the starting line, and I had no music and no way to monitor my pace. This is what we cheapos get for trying to use free apps! Daggonit. But all it took was about sixty seconds for me to get my act together.

This looks close to the end, doesn't it? I look beat!

I had worked so hard and so long for the results of this race that I knew I couldn't let a couple setbacks get me choked up. So I figured out another way. I pulled up my iTunes which had my old running playlist from a couple years ago, "Mommy Running" I called it, and listened to some tunes from Wicked, the musical, about defying gravity. That's pretty powerful stuff when you're trying to run as fast as you can.

My next problem to fix was measuring my pace. I knew that a family friend of mine who was running this race was close to the same pace as me. We weren't running the race together, but I had caught up with her before the race started and made sure to keep her in my sight. Until I lost sight of her. Shoot. Fortunately at that moment I saw a man with a sign on the back of his head that said "9:00". I assumed he was a "pacer" guy that helped everyone around him know they were running a nine minute mile. Right? Well I followed him for a bit, but then I lost him too. I was hoping I was in front of him, but I wasn't sure. So at that point I just kept running and hoping and praying that I was fast enough. It sure felt like I was because my legs were aching. But my mind was stronger. My mind reminded me that I was stronger than I had ever been - in my entire life - and of course, as I reached miles 11 and 12, when the going gets tough, I pulled out my last resort. When the music starts to sound like "blah, blah, blah", the crowd starts to blur, and my legs are on fire, my favorite verse gets me through. "I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength", Philippians 4:13. Seriously, y'all, it's powerful stuff and it works. My mind said this over and over and over...and then I saw the finish line. The clock above it said something like "1:59:42" and I couldn't believe it. I had made it. I DID IT.

What I realized later was that the clock I ran under had started six minutes before I even began running, since I started in a later wave. So in actuality, I had not only beat my goal, but I crushed it. My time was 1:53:43. About six and a half minutes faster than I had set my goal for and about 11 minutes faster than my personal record for a half marathon. And here I was planning my "I failed" blog post in case I didn't reach my goal. I was planning to talk about how it didn't matter because I had tried my hardest and I was in the best shape of my life. The fact that I ran this race at all and had shared my goal with you guys was good enough. And all that is true. However, I didn't have to write that blog post because I got to write this one.

Y'all, I DID IT! And if it wasn't for your support, I might not be saying that. Being brave and sharing my goal with all of you is one of the scariest things I've ever done as a runner, but it also led me to run harder and faster than I ever have. I have only just started writing, but in the season of being thankful, I am so grateful for the bravery that has come out of being brave enough to blog.

xoxo,

My Secret to Losing Baby Weight & Being a Nice Mommy

If you had asked me ten years ago If I liked to run, my answer would have been a big, fat NO. If you had asked me five years ago If I liked to run, my answer would have been not really. Looking back on my fitness journey this fall season, has inspired me to share how one goes about learning to love the art of running.

In high school I had never run more than a mile at a time. Running is exhausting! I was a dancer, a cheerleader, and I played a season of lacrosse in ninth grade. That involved running, but more sprinting, than anything. Running in short spurts didn't seem as bad.

In college I cheered on the all-girl club team for a year, and then I started running a couple times a week with my dear friend, Riva. We were both starting to see the effects of the all-you-can-eat buffet meals at D-Hall and without our daily sport practices to keep us in check, we realized we had to start working to stay in shape. Hitting up ol' UREC (our college gym) a couple times a week together became our "us time" so we could girl chat while we ran. But I never ran more than a mile or two. I didn't think little ol' me could handle it.

The days of cheerleading (2004). Now that's a good workout. 

After college and grad school, Trey and I got married and the budget was tight. I was searching for a teaching job and Trey was in dental school. So joining a gym was out of the question. Our apartment complex had a small gym with a couple of treadmills and ellipticals, so I would venture over there once or twice a week, whenever I was feeling like a couch potato. Then one day we got in a little tiff. I'd had to cancel a hair appointment in Roanoke, where we'd been visiting for the weekend, so Trey could get back to Richmond to go fishing with his grandpa and cousin. For some reason, I was pretty upset about the whole thing, and so I went for a run, not knowing that the rest would be history. I ran  four miles that day. Four miles. In my mind, I was a champion. An all-star athlete. And you know, I wasn't even mad with Trey anymore.

My first big race took place in Spring 2011 (a 10K in Richmond), which then inspired me to sign up for my first half marathon. Hey, if I can run 6 miles, why not run 13? That was my thinking. All you runners know exactly how that frame of mind works. That runner high, it's addicting! Before you know it, you've signed up for all sorts of things.

I trained that summer with my Richmond buddy, Kate, and in November 2011, I ran the Richmond Half Marathon. I was also five weeks pregnant at the time of the race (yes, I knew) and felt like a true warrior. My time was 2:09 (two hours, nine minutes). Once my runner's high wore off that day, I recall saying that I would never run that much again. I was done.

The morning of the Richmond Half Marathon 2011 with Kate (pre-children)

HAH! Fast forward to January 2014. Baby Samuel pops out on January 23rd and the next thing I know I've signed up for a half marathon in September with my childhood/college bud, Grace. We both had babies in January and were feeling extra large postpartum, as most mommas do. We wanted so desperately to get rid of that baby weight as soon as possible, and we knew that running was the fastest way to do it. Unfortunately, Grace and I live an hour apart, so training together wasn't the easiest. But fortunately, we both found running friends in our hometowns that helped us reach our goals of getting ready for the big day.

Several weeks postpartum, February 2014 -- BEFORE I could run again

In March 2014, I was back on the treadmill/pavement of Lynchburg and ready to build my mileage. I started at ONE mile. Yes, ONE. That's all I could do. But with some really good music (look up Pentatonix & Anthem Lights - they're AMAZING) and some new shoes and running gear, I was able to stick to my plan and grow my distance. I also found Morgan, who is now one of my dear friends in Lynchburg and my running bestie, who helped me get off the couch and back in the gym. She invited me to start doing some cross training classes and we would also run together when it fit our schedules. She is FAST and so I, too, got fastER. I also lost the baby weight, and had an excuse for downing large bowls of Edy's Rocky Road ice cream every night a couple nights a week.

On August 9, 2014, I ran 13.1 miles for the first time after having two children. And I ran it in 2:04 (two hours, four minutes). After having two babies, I was indeed, FASTER! I couldn't believe it. I felt like a beast. Those endorphins - the runner's high - whatever you wanna call it...that's why I run. The same reason others play sports, ride bikes, swim, dance, take group exercise...it's all about how AWESOME you feel afterwards.

Crossing the finish line at the Lynchburg Half Marathon 2014  - 7 months postpartum

As a mom, it can be really hard to fit in working out. We truly have to make it a priority. We have to remember that it's for us - for our health - physically and mentally. Fortunately, I get to stay at home now, and my children love going to the child care at the gym (now, that wasn't the case in the beginning - it took time!). On the weekends, I have an amazing husband who gets up early to feed the baby and take care of the kiddos while I go run. HE KNOWS that's my "me" time. As soon as I could work out again after having Samuel, I knew I needed to work out to stay sane. Being a parent takes an incredible amount of patience, and I need those endorphins to help me make good decisions in order to be a good mom. So I run. And you know how they say Rome wasn't built in a day? Well neither is a runner. I've had friends tell me that they're really impressed at how far I run and that they can't do it because they're not a runner. But you know what? Anyone can be a runner. You just have to believe in yourself and you have to want it. You have to want the results. And when you earn those results, it's all worth it!

So if you want to know who I am today, I would say I'm a mom, a wife, a teacher (on break), and a runner. Ten years ago I would've thought you were joking if you said I'd be a runner. Who in their right mind would run for fun? Now that I'm older and wiser, I know. I'm only in my right mind when I run.

xoxo,

PS. On Saturday I will run my last race of the season, the Richmond Half Marathon. This time, I'm going for a new personal record of 2:00 (two hours). I'm hoping I can come back to y'all on Monday and tell you I did it. Please pray for speed!

Mommas Are Never Alone, and That's the Truth!

It's safe for me to say that today has been a pretty ordinary day for a mother of two under/at two. If you're not a mom or caretaker of little ones, you may not be able to relate as much, but for those who are, I know you've been down this road before: using the bathroom --- with everyone crammed in with you.

I texted my husband after this morning's eventful bathroom experience and reminded him to enjoy every peaceful bathroom moment he had today, because mine are never peaceful. Or private. Unless I fasten my two-year-old into her booster seat, stick my nine-month-old into his exersaucer, turn Mickey on, and keep the door cracked from the side hallway, so I can make sure no one tries to jump/climb out. Although if they did, what would I do? Stop myself from going to the bathroom and run out to grab them? Probably not. I'd probably just let them continue, unless it got really dangerous (I think).  Anyway, even in this ideal situation, I'm still not having peaceful, private time, as the door is half open and both kids may or may not be yelling my name. On repeat. 

However, there are times in my life that using the bathroom was a me time and I know that one day it will be again. So I'm not at a loss. In fact, I'm sure that when the day comes when I do get to use the bathroom on my own, I will miss my littles and their constant intrusions. It'll be kinda lonely, I suppose.

Today's bathroom visit not only had my nine-month-old trying to crawl through the door that my two-year-old was trying to shut on him, but my three-year-old Lab insisted on joining in the mix. 

(Note: we were in our powder room downstairs, not the full master bath. Think tight, small spaces). 

I think my cat was the only one giving me some space. She's a cat, though: she understands the need for space. As I was feeling slightly overwhelmed at the whole scene, I realized how utterly hysterical it all was. Babies yelling at each other and at the dog, yelling at me for help, watching me as I finished up, and making honest toddler comments like, "Eww! Yucky!". So I just started to laugh. And, document with my camera phone. What else can we do but laugh and take pictures, right? 

** I apologize for the poor quality of photography; I was multitasking and couldn't focus on lighting and camera angles. 

Mommas, next time this happens to you, don't despair. Be grateful. How blessed are we that we have someone to share our bathroom time with? I can't imagine having it any other way. Except with more babies and dogs piling on in. 

Have a blessed day!

xoxo,

Being Me, Bravely

For my mom friends who are in MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), you know exactly what my post title means. "Being you, Bravely" is our theme this year and our challenge, as moms, is to embrace ourselves, face our fears, and take those brave steps of motherhood. Being a mom is so hard - in fact, it might be the hardest thing I've ever done. There are so many unknowns, so many challenges, and it can be scary.

But what I've learned from this amazing group of women and the many MOPS resources, is that I'm not alone. You, fellow mom, are not alone. We are in this together, because we've all been there. When your baby is up every couple hours, hungry and crying, and you just want to sleep because you're so sleep deprived you might go insane: we've been there. And when you just can't do it anymore and you leave your baby to "cry it out" and you feel like your heart is being torn in two and that you're a terrible mom for letting your baby cry like that: yup, done it. How about when your two-year-old starts taking her diaper off in bed for no apparent reason, except to pee all over the bed and then yell for you in the middle of the night for hours, so the next night you try duct taping the diaper shut and sticking a onesie on her? Ok, maybe that's just me. But the point is - motherhood is one BIG FAT challenge! And I wouldn't trade it for the world. Nothing is better than the sound of those little feet running down the hallway, the giggles between siblings as they chase each other through the house, the eskimo kisses before bed...yup, so worth it.

I'm a mom. It's so hard. And I love it.

So this year, I'm taking on the challenge of being me, bravely. One part of this challenge is "The Brave Collective." The head honchos at MOPS describe this as choosing to share your courage with others, because when you share, the courage multiplies. Collectively, we become brave. The plan is to grab a group of ladies, sit around a table together, and share your "brave" (something that you want to take on this year that requires you to be brave). Then you can share your journeys with each other as you conquer your braves, knowing that your friends are holding you accountable and as fellow brave moms, are there for you. And it doesn't have to be something monumental. It can be anything that is something you feel you need to do, want to do, for YOU.

Well, I haven't done the table part, but I want to share my brave with you today. This year, I, Lizzie, want to become a blogger. Yes, I'm already blogging right this minute, but I want to be a REAL blogger: writing regularly, making it a priority, growing in the blogger community, sharing my deepest moments with my fellow readers, and reaching out to other moms, letting them know they are not alone. I love to write and I love being a mom. So there it is. I'm already feeling a little braver! Now the plan is, because I've decided to be brave and share my brave thing, hopefully I will continue to be courageous and reach my goal. Thank you so much for your support already by reading today's blog. Now it's your turn! What's your brave?

xoxo,