Sharing

I'm doing a theme song each day this week. Yesterday was the one I posted below. Today's is:


I launched my etsy store over the weekend.  I'm really excited about it!  I also added a "Shop Me..." section in the right column at the bottom.  I'll be tweeting as I work (as opposed to whistling) if you are interested in that.. You can find me at BornBeloved.

I have many other things to share, but am wrangling a preschooler and eight month old on very little sleep so it will have to come another day.  Today's goals are:

• Shower
• Laundry
• Try to resist feeding the preschooler McD's for dinner tonight

In Brief

Life is exhausting, but good. My girls are willful, but sweet and loving. My husband is busy, but helpful. Our anniversary was odd, but wonderful. I'm growing closer to some dear friends, and it is refreshing. I'm loving making and selling my jewelry.

Fun From FB

My Life According to Otis Redding

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 15 people you like and include me. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Re-post as "my life according to (band name)"

Pick Your Artist:
Otis Redding

Are you male or female:
Look At That Girl

Describe yourself:
A Woman, A Lover, A Friend

How do you feel about yourself:
Little Ol' Me, Got To Get Myself Together

Describe where you currently live:
Good To Me

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay

Your best friend is:
My Girl

You and your friends are:
Ton Of Joy

What's the weather like:
Wonderful World

Favorite time of day:
A Hard Day's Night

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
That's How Strong My Love Is

What is beauty to you:
Lord Have Mercy

Your last relationship:
I've Been Loving You Too Long

Your fear:
Give Away None Of My Love

What is the best advice you have to give:
Tell The Truth, Try A Little Tenderness, Respect

Thought for the Day:
Change Is Gonna Come

How you would like to die:
Let Me Come On Home

Smiles on a Sick Day

My oldest is sick.  She has the cutest little froggie voice right now.  Rainy inside days with a sick toddler and a baby in the midst of a growth spurt are not known to be full of smiles, but today I was thankful for the little things.  That made quite a difference.  The other, even bigger thing was getting some time with God.  Here are some of the things that made me smile today:

Coffee from my sweet husband

A no real reason phone call from my mom

Reading this awesome book to my sickie face

My beautiful girls (matching outfits c/o Nana)

 This super fun dress by Jelly the Pug I ordered for A

Even better?  Getting it from modnique for $13 instead of $36

Can't wait to see her in it!

Texting, FBing, & E-mailing with Janette, 

my best friend since we were 12

Sharing music I love with my littles

This "album cover" photo of Boo

Notice the drum around her neck while playing harmonica 

This post & just how much God loves ME

 

This hat

One of my babies might need one

I wonder if I could make it

and this song...

I hope your day was full of smiles too!

Many Thanks

I just wanted to say thank you to all those who have out poured support, love, and prayers since my Trouble post.  I'm doing much better.  The mastitis seems to have passed and I'm only having twinges of pain here & there now.  We have been able to feed L without supplementing with formula for the last week thanks to Peter letting me nap & rest as I've needed to & using fenugreek.  Being rested & built up by God has made me feel more confident both in general & as a mom.  My girls have also helped.  My youngest gives me giant smiles every time she wakes up and sees me.  My oldest is growing in new ways all the time.  Last night she was trying on swim suits for her new lessons starting today and all of a sudden she went leaping through the air and yelled, "I'm a rock star!"  It was both a precious thing & a challenge for me.  It was precious to see her so carefree and confident.  It was a challenge because I feel nothing like a rock star when I put on a swim suit.  It made me wonder when we women lose that confidence and challenged me to reclaim it.  Being the mom of a three year old girl is amazing that way.  It is growing me as a woman as well as a mom.  We, of course, have battles of the wills, but part of that is her developing into her own person.  I remind myself regularly that her willfulness not only gives me opportunities to learn patience, but also is growing her into a more confident little girl.  I want her to be able to make up her own mind and not be a follower.  It's just very hard when I need her to obey as well.  Teaching her to respect us as her parents and do as she is told, but still have a mind of her own is not an easy task.  I'd totally welcome any advice on the balance others might have to offer.  Another thing I've found encouraging as of late has been the blogs of other believers and moms.  Here are a few I've been really enjoying:

• Sometimes Sweet (she is also a fashion inspiration to me as I'm working on the project of finding my style again)
• Steph in the Suburbs 
• Mommy Needs Coffee (me too)
• Gathered from Afar
• Cara - Deo
• Trouble Bound : A Better Life (an awesome blog & reminder of God's incredible faithfulness) 
• Storing Up Treasures
• The Leaky Boob

The music of Kendall Payne has been encouraging as well.

I must draw this to a close.  It's time for the "Rock Star" to go to her first swim lesson without mom or dad by her side in the pool!

While Doing Mom Things

Ever the multitasker, I am...

• Listening to:

• Researching Fonts for my Tattoo:

 -Frivolous-

  -Old Script-

 -Platthand-

  -Porcelain-

Thoughts?  Also, if you have fun handwriting feel free to write down "Always Love" and send it to me.  I'm sort of leaning towards one of the lower two.

• Playing to Win

• Searching to Win (and saving up for Starbucks)

Comfort

What brings you comfort?  Not on a grand scale like the beautiful, all encompassing comfort we find in the reassurance God is there and cares deeply about all you are facing, but on a small scale.  I mean the little comforts that make such a difference.  For me it's watching my 3 month old blow bubbles or hearing my three year old tell me she loves me.  It's hearing, "Touch of Grey" by The Grateful Dead or the way my ancient Dr. Marten's cradle my feet (Peter is convinced they are beat up beyond wearing in public, but I'm not so sure).  It's laughing with friends who have known me long enough to have seen me at my worst and knowing they still love me.  It's remembering I'm a mom, but knowing that part of me is merging with all the other dynamics of who I am, not becoming my single defining role.  It's walking in the rain.  All of these things are filled with the beautiful promise of God's grace and a new day.  They are reminders of the joy we can find in such a broken place.

Hard Week

Little Known Fact:

I listen to Matchbox 20 when I'm having a hard time.  Mostly "Unwell" and "Push," but the rest of Yourself or Someone Like You often comes into play as well.

Listen Here

Anyone who knows me knows that I love music.  I have no talent for it (unless you count often knowing titles & artists).    I would gladly listen to music from the moment I wake.  I can't listen to it until I fall asleep because I have the bad habit of keeping myself awake listening.  I love the power music has to influence your mood or take you back to an entirely different place and time.  I love that the opening notes to "America" by Simon and Garfunkel make me feel I'm being embraced by an old friend.  To share the music I'm discovering and my dearly loved favorites I've added a section at the very bottom right of this blog that lists songs I've bookmarked on my pandora stations.  I hope you'll enjoy it.