summer picks

every year when the summer rolls around, i get this feeling of relaxation ...almost. i say almost because it's too hot in Texas for true relaxation. but this feeling comes in the moments about mid to late afternoon, when the children are napping, the sound of the ceiling fan on high speed is the perfect calming hum, the sunlight peeks across the bed through the blinds, and my legs search for the cold spots on the bed while i take my precious time to just sit back and rest. this is when i find my summer picks. the things i enjoy in these quiet moments. so, without further adieu...here are a few of my summer picks.
-personal bible study. spending personal time with Jesus keeps me at peace. He keeps my life balanced.
-my kindle. the best part about this gadget is it allows me to read and flip pages one handed while i nurse. amazing! i am currently reading Water for Elephants and when that's done i will move on to Redeeming Love, then i'll just have to see. i am going to fill my summer with reading, i've missed reading.
-dove ice cream miniatures. it's dove chocolate, ice cream with mini chocolate chips mixed in, all rolled into one little 70 calorie treat. need i say more?
-at&t u-verse movies on demand. so much easier than hitting a redbox or blockbuster.
-girly beauty products. hair, face, body...i've become obsessed. my new favorite is my nexxus shampoo/conditioner...not only does is moisturize and mend split ends, but it smells of coconut, just like my after sun body butter. a good shower and moisterizing session makes that afternoon nap all the more rejuvenating. my second favorite is my mint julep face mask...it leaves my face feeling cool and fresh.
these are the things that make me forget about the awful Texas heat and make my summer all the more sweet. yep...that rhymed.

my pretty babies

i'm so thankful for how well my kiddos are getting along. my daughter not only loves her little brother with all her heart, but she is so eager to teach him everything she knows. and he is all too ready to learn. he smiles every time he hears her voice and she of course takes that as a chance to get close to him. i spend more time telling her to get out of his face than anything else during the day. i will take that over other alternatives. i am so blessed that my children love each other so much. i just pray it lasts as they grow. the other day she was telling Jacob the "rules"...i'm not quite sure what the rules are and where they are derived from, but among these rules were, "always listen", "eat your food", "do everything you want to do", and "never cut your hair"...this leads me to believe she thinks she's never allowed to cut her hair since every time she asks we say no. that was a good laugh. she also told me she doesn't like little boys, but then proceeded to point at her brother and say, "but this little guy, i love him". so sweet. i am so blessed!

my 3 year old daughter's quotes of the week

as you know, i've posted things in the past that my sweet little 3 year old has said...well, i think i'm going to start posting things she says on a weekly basis. i find such joy in the cute little things my daughter does. so, with that...

the other day i got pulled over and while i'm sitting there talking to the police officer, from the back seat comes a little voice saying, "that's a cool gun you got there!"...ya. the officer looked back at her puzzled and then smiled. he obviously found it amusing and i didn't get a ticket so... win win.

we paid my mom a visit at work the other day, at the office this nice gentleman opened the door for me and my daughter, she waltzes through holding her dress out a bit, complete with a smirk on her face, she says, "thank you...my name is Kailyn. the most beautiful girl in the town."...she's so modest. ha.

i started doing...

as a follow up to my last post...i pushed myself to go to church on Sunday even though my hubby had to work. it was my first time doing anything alone with the new baby. so it was me, my 3 year old, and my new little man enjoying a morning at church. aside from my nervousness driving there, due to the constant worry that my daughter was going to poke her brother in the face the whole time, and my daughter acting out a bit after church...it wasn't too bad. although, i don't know how single mothers do it. i'm am so blessed and so thankful i was able to pick up my hubby from work at the end of the day and be able to share the kiddos with him. they are a handful. more so my daughter than the little guy though...who would have thought? the baby is a breeze compared to her. well...anyway...the message was awesome!

we were in Luke 5...the focal point was on the story where Jesus tells Peter to cast out his nets (plural) and Peter casts out his net (singular)...we learned that partial obedience to God, hinders the full magnitude of blessings He wants to give us. Peter was told to cast out his nets. Peter cast out one net, allowing us to see that he doubted Jesus. but the Lord, as merciful as He is, allowed fish to fill that one net, it was overflowing. and to imagine, what would have happened if Peter had cast both nets as he was told. it makes me stop and wonder what blessings i have missed out on because i only partially obeyed what the Lord was telling me to do. i can't be afraid. i can't doubt Him and His ability to lead my life. i need to be casting both nets at all times, instead of keeping a safety net for my own personal comfort. it's hindering blessings...i don't want that. i want as many blessings as the Lord is willing to give me. who wouldn't? this is something i need to work on. when the Lord is telling me to do something, i need to do it with a whole heart, without doubt, and no fear. if He is leading me to do something, i have to remember He will be with me the entire way, and that it will all work out.

stop saying...start doing

the two most wonderful blessings i have ever been given in my entire life

so...there's this bible verse that's been sticking out to me. it was brought up in church yesterday and for some reason i can't get it out of my head.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25

i'm convicted to spend more time in fellowship and less time to myself. i need to quit fearing and get back to the place where i felt like i was pleasing God. i've become what my pastor calls a 'pugh potato'...i'm there on Sundays, i "do my time"....but what more? i used to be involved, i used to spend my spare time with God...having another child shouldn't hinder that, it should make it all that much more important. i need to start living the way God wants me to live. not only for me, but more so for my children.

time to get on with things

procrastination. its an ugly word. it's the reason there are piles of clothes on the floor. it's the reason i have files of papers that need to be sorted through and bills that need to be paid. but worst of all...it's the reason my bible study lesson sits undone on my nightstand and my bible sitting on top of it has barely been touched in the last month. for the last couple weeks i've said, "tomorrow...tomorrow i will get back into the swing of things. i will do my bible study, i will clean up, i will embrace my life as a mom of two..." yata yata...but every morning i wake up and i'm "too tired." or "i don't feel good." excuses... excuses. last night i sat for a while, glancing every so often at my bible, wanting to do my bible study, but i caved into laziness instead and quickly fell asleep. but this morning i was suddenly overcome with this realization. yes i've been tired and i've felt yucky and i've been busy with the new little one, but none of that is enough to keep me from my relationship with Jesus. i am procrastinating. and that is wrong. i know i should pick up my bible, but instead i pick up the remote. i know i should take my quiet time to pray, but instead i sleep. i am breaking that cycle today. it's been a month and a half...it's time i get back to my life. embrace it and love it. i'm blessed beyond words and i need to take every moment i can to thank my Jesus for that.

my kiddos :)

first month postpartum...

this is my list of things that make the first month postpartum not so bad...

...first and for most, God. without Him, i would have no peace. i'm so thankful for His amazing provisions and the wonderful family he has blessed me with.
...my hubby. he makes me laugh and smile and forget how icky i feel. and he gets me ice cream when i ask for it.
...ice cream...i need extra calories for breast feeding, right? haha.
...cool baby gifts! i really enjoy seeing the amazing gifts friends and family pick out for our little man and me!
...assorted fiber bars and cereals. seriously, you never know just how important these things are until you are home from the hospital and attempting to potty with numerous stitches down there. ya. thank you FiberOne for all your great tasting products.
...TLC, HGTV, & FoodNetwork.
...little kid movies. i'm not one to stick my 3 year old in front of the tv...but while recovering and caring for a newborn, its a lifesaver. thank you daddy for buying her new movies after the baby came home!
...all my "comfy" pants. especially my victoria's secret ones from like 2 years ago! best purchase ever!
...sleep. need i say more?
and last, but definitely NOT least!...

my little boy's smile makes the postpartum pains and blahs so much better :)

...my little Jacob...