Baby Signing Time

With my older two children I never used sign language and just "guessed" what each wanted by the moaning and groaning! When I was getting curriculum for the kids last year, I bought Baby Signing Time, Learn to Sign 1 & 2 to try with Joseph. When he was about 10 months old (you can start sooner) we just kept signing everything (everything that we knew). Eventually, he picked up on it! Now, he is able to communicate! He knows more signs but I couldn't get him to "perform" (lol) all of them for the video! (I promise I'm not a stage mom!) I really didn't know this type of thing existed before! A friend told me to look up the creator of Baby Signing Time's story...It was very moving and inspiring. If you want to read it click here! If you are looking for something to do with a baby, I would highly recommend any of the Signing Time products!

Vacation

Even though we've had a good time in Myrtle Beach, I've definitely learned some things about vacationing with 4 kids!

1) We shouldn't call it a vacation!

2) It's harder to go on "vacation" than it is to stay home

3) Before you go on "vacation" you have to pack almost the entire house (especially if you have a 15 month old and a 3 month old, both of which require their own pack in play to sleep!)

4)Everyone sleeping in one room and sharing one bathroom (which also has one pack in play in it) is not all that exciting

5) Pools are way cleaner, easier, less sticky and less messy than the beach!

6) When you get back from "vacation" you need to spend 8 hours (without interruptions which

is completely impossible w/ 4 children) doing the dreaded laundry!

7) The kids LOVE vacationing! And seeing the smiles on their faces when they get to

experience new things makes points 1-6 worth the effort!

Homeschool

Well...WOW...is really the only word that describes the NCHE conference! It's amazing that a year ago I didn't even know I was going to homeschool or really even want to! The older two were registered at a private school. It's crazy how when I think I've got my plans figured out, God rearranges everything! How in the world, one year later, am I almost finished with K and 1st grade?

My Plan was:

Kids go to school while I stay home or work out or go have coffee or go shopping or hang out

friends! Doesn't my plan sound perfect?! I thought so. What happened?

Around the beginning of May last year, I was having issues with one of my children. We were "butting" heads constantly to say the least! If I'm being honest, I could not wait for school to start so I would be free of "battles" seven hours a day! I was wondering what was going on in our situation. One day in my quiet time I heard a still small voice all too familiar telling me I needed to homeschool! Of course, being the mature Christian I am, (LOL) I pretended I didn't hear anything! Other things started to confirm what I already knew! I didn't know how, why or any details about homeschooling but, I did know it was what God was calling me to! TRUST me! This was NOT my idea of a good time. I was totally against homeschooling! I thought people who did it were weird and wore long dresses with long hair. (Please forgive me if this describes you. I'm just being honest about my preconceived ideas of what someone who homeschools looks like.) I also the typical thoughts that people think such as:

They'll be un-socialized

They'll be sheltered

They won't be able to adjust to college

They stay at home all day

They are nerdy

The above are ALL untrue! I only know that now b/c I'm actually a homeschooling parent! I could give you examples of why each one is untrue but I'll save that for another blog! (If you can't wait till then, email me.)

Well, I listened to the Lord and bought my curriculum (My Father's World) last NCHE conference and have now been homeschooling for almost a year! I can't imagine not doing it! I do have bad days and sometimes get burnt out but I'm so thankful to be surrounded with other friends who share the same passion and desire and build me up when I'm feeling down! Also, I know when I'm feeling burnt out, I need to draw my strength from HIM!

I definitely know homeschooling is not for everyone! I mean hello, I never thought it would be for me! I even tell others if you don't feel called to it, don't do it b/c you'll be miserable! But, I'm so glad I listened! I've learned so many things over this year about each one of my children and things about myself. I don't know if this is God's plan for our family forever or for a season so, I guess I'll have to stay tuned to my own story =)

"Are you going to have more?"

This is the #1 question Jose and I are asked. Probably you have even been one to ask;-) The answer.......................We don't know. We were totally DONE having children after two. Actually, I had a friend who had a boy and a girl and was pregnant with her third and I actually asked her "Why?" since she already had a boy and girl. I mean, really, isn't that what having a family is? Having two children. Why would you need more? I thought people who had more than two children were C-R-A-Z-Y! After Abrianna, I wanted Jose to get "fixed" and he was like no way jose! No one was going to clip his private parts!

When Abrianna turned 3, it was like a spark went off! I was reading Psalm 127 and read:

³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

⁵ Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.

That passage changed my thinking in a drastic way! Honestly, I'm pretty selfish. Here I was thinking, "Oh, good! My kids are 4 and 3! They are more independent! It's almost time for them to go to school! Now I can get back to my life and do what I want to do!" I saw my children more just there to complete our family! I was completely blinded to what blessings they were and how much God loves them and how he entrusted them to us! Then I started thinking, if children are gifts from God and a reward then why would I not want more?! Jose agreed! I realized I could never regret having more children but I could regret not having more! I have never met a parent who could say they regret that child coming into their life!

Is our life busy? Yes. Is it hard at times? Yes. Do I get tired? Yes. Do we have to be creative financially? Yes. Do I have a bazillion loads of laundry all the time? YES! Is it all worth it? Absolutely! Would I change anything? NO! Will there be more? I don't know but, I do know EVERY child is a gift and a blessing! I can't imagine our life without our 4 children!

Prayer of a child!

Elijah really amazes me! His heart is so gentle and kind. So, last night we were praying like we usually do, giving each one their chance to pray. This time was different than the usual "God bless us and thank you that I can get a big Lego one day!" etc. Instead his prayer was so serious and powerful telling God how much he loved him and thanking him for taking all of our sins away and for smashing satan!!

I felt so privileged to hear such a sincere heart talking genuinely to the Lord!

Oprah the other day

Oprah was talking about motherhood the other day on her show. It was actually a really good show that featured moms making "confessions" about motherhood. I know many times I want to seem like I have it all together so people can say "WOW. Look at everything she can handle! Amazing!" I know it's sad but true! So........ Here are a few "confessions"

• I have actually gone a couple of days without taking a shower b/c I didn't have time in the morning and I was TOOO TIRED after the kids went to sleep!
  
• I have forgot to brush my teeth.
• I have put the kids to bed @ 6pm (bedtime is 7:30pm) b/c I couldn't take anymore.
• If you have seen the preview for "In the Motherhood", I have done exactly what that mom did. Yelled really loud upstairs to Elijah and Abi to "BE QUIET OR YOU ARE GOING TO WAKE UP THE BABY!!!!!" When I saw the preview I was laughing hysterically!
• I have put Abi's hair in a pony tail b/c I didn't feel like getting the knots out.

Okay. You get the point. I'm sure I could come up with lots more but these were just on the top of my head! Being a mom is the hardest job that is never ending! It definitely has plenty of rewards and is the best job on earth but there are days when I just don't feel like it.