Snuggles for All the Nights

"Mom, what does 'penetrate' mean?"

I was folding laundry in our living room as McKenna watched "Austrailia's Deadly Dozen" on Netflix when this question arose. I looked up, confused. 

Not confused about what you may be at this point, because yes, our child often watches documentaries, instead of 'Dora The Explorer' like most normal kids. 
(I'm kind of wishing Dora was picked to watch more often because her songs are much more catchy than NatGeo's.) 
(But McKenna has grown attached to this particular episode and isn't afraid to point out my sub-par intelligence level because she knows the differences between a Box Jellyfish and your average everyday jellyfish.)

(I'm assuming any jellyfish is a jellyfish to be avoided. Am I right or am I right?)

"Huh?" I looked at her, to the TV, and back to her again, wondering if I heard the question correctly.

"What does 'penetrate' mean? You knoooow, like the Stonefish penetrates its fin through a person's shoe when they walk and poisons them..." This came complete with an exasperated eye roll and annoyed palm-to-the-ceiling motion of her hand. 

This confused me even more. When did my four ("and a half," she'd be sure to correct me) year old child turn into a thirteen year old? She clearly has the teenage eye roll and parental exasperation thing down. But I didn't realize my daughter could pronounce a word like 'penetrate'. 

Because isn't she still supposed to be learning how to say "Ma-Ma" and "Da-Da?" Wasn't just yesterday she singing "Geezus wuvs me?" 

Maybe it was I just didn't realize she was truly absorbing what the show was teaching... Sure, I thought she listened and remembered it, but for the most part, I figured she liked watching the show because it was filled with exciting, exotic animals on it. Either that or she has a serious desire to visit Austrailia and wants to be enlightened on the whereabouts of the deadly cone snail.

(Because her mother probably wouldn't survive a swim in the ocean with her minimal jellyfish knowledge.)

Okay, yes, yes - I know. Children learn quickly... They're like sponges... And what do I mean I "didn't realize" she was learning and speaking words such as 'penetrate?'

What I mean is... Where the hell is my baby girl and where have the last couple years of her life gone?? 

I have to be at least two to three years behind in the McKenna Growing Up race. At this rate, she'll be twenty years old when I am just about ready for her to turn ten. 

I'm only four (and a half) years into this whole parenting deal, but my mind was blown today when I realize how big my "baby" is getting to be. Then I looked at little Meda and realized she is already eight months old. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but y'all...

I just gave birth. Seriously. She is supposed to still be a blob of immobile, feces-creating flesh... Not the smiling, laughing, crawling, and soon-to-be walking and talking child she actually is. 

After I resisted the urge to make a sarcastic joke about the word 'penetrate' answered her question, I made McKenna promise me something. I made her promise when she's fifteen, she would still snuggle with me. And then when she's eighteen and then twenty five and every year after. In response, I received a snuggle and an "okay, mama." 
(Be still, my heart.)

After promising this, McKenna leaned over, grabbed my head, pulling it close to her, and whispered in my ear, "Will you promise me something, Mom?" 

I nodded.

"That'll you'll snuggle me all night all the nights when you're older?"

Y'all. The tears sprang up before my first full nod was completed. 

I plan to hold her to her promise. And I expect her to hold me to mine too. My heart is aching right now because I love both my girls so much. So much I want time to stop.

They say it goes by fast and the days are long, but the years are short. I'm not sure I've heard of more true words when it comes to parenting. 

I looked at MK and tried to capture that moment and tuck it away in my (pretty empty) brain rolodex. I want to remember every detail of this time in her and Meda's life. How McKenna winks at you with both her eyes when you give her a thumbs up. How Meda kicks both legs, swings one arm and sharply sucks in air from excitement after first seeing you following a nap. How McKenna won't speak to me until she's greeted her baby sister first thing in the morning. 

Because apparently I've been too busy looking forward to their futures to store in my memory bank any of the past. 

Though, I am looking forward to the promise to give and get all the snuggles, all the nights, when I get older. :-)

Operation Grown Up Bedroom

Around Christmas, I got the bug to vamp up our master bedroom. 

It happened as I was helping McKenna make her overstuffed, fluffy PBK bed. Then I walked into Meda's room to straighten up (story of my life) and saw her handcrafted wall art that perfectly matched her own PBK outfitted bed. 

Being in my 30's now, I became jealous of my children's fully decorated bedrooms figured it was time for a grown-up room. Before we moved to Memphis, Bryant and I invested in an amazing king sized mattress set...

And stopped there. 

(Best purchase we ever made as a couple, by the way. That bed is so comfy.)

The furniture pieces we have in there are almost all hand-me-downs. We have an old dresser of his sister's and one of my parents. The (one) side table we have was leftovers from my sister. The other side table is a dog crate covered with a blanket. While what we have in there is fine, it just doesn't flow together as magazine-like as my daughters' rooms. Which I decided to change.

So I started scouring Pinterest for ideas on decor and furniture to recreate my own "sanctuary." We already have an oversized armchair in there, so I moved furniture around to create a little reading corner; a place where I can hang out to read and/or write when I'm not actually sleeping. I still need to add a small table next to this.

And, of course, I also checked my email to see if any of my favorite retailers were having any deals...

And lo, they were. 

So just after the new year, I cashed in on the PB outlet's white sale and scored new bedding stuff I'd been eyeing since the release of the new season's items... you know, pillow shams, a duvet, etc...

Then I somehow was blindly dragged over the river and through the woods of Pinterest and Internet Land to Right Grain's Etsy shop. They make customized prints such as the one I just received pictured below.

I have been wanting to add some cycling (remember the hobby turned obsessive profession of my husband?) decor to the house, and thought this would be perfect. So what did I do?

I ordered it. (As well as this other PB pillow cover I saw online, that works perfectly in our living room.) 

I was able to pick out the colors of the bike and background of the print to match the bedroom. The owners of Right Grain were awesome to work with and the result was better than I originally pictured. 

It was destiny, I tell you... destiny.

Then I was put on a spending halt by my cheap reasonable husband for a while.

Boo.

So, in the meantime, my mom is going to bring the other matching dresser to us and I'm going to do some online searching for a bed/headboard, side tables, lighting, and other decor that might suit my fancy.

So we're getting there a couple items at a time.

Below is a picture of the print hanging up, and I'm really happy with it. The pictures were taken with my phone, and the colors don't show up very well because of weird lighting, but it'll do. 

Do you have any fun (and cheap) ideas you would suggest? Stores or places to check for other items to add? 

Recipe Alert! (Non) Homemade (Mostly) Vegan Pizza

A few days ago, I posted a picture of our vegan dinner on Instagram and FB and got a lot of positive feedback on it. So I wanted to share the recipe. (If you're lucky, maybe I'll make it a habit to post some vegan recipes now and again like this one? Only time and my laziness will tell.)

Non-Homemade Vegan Pizza

1) Visit the Papa Johns website. (Or any pizza delivery website, really.)
2) Click special offers. (Because we're cheap around here.)
3) Pick a special offer where you can customize your own pizza.
4) Customize your pizza.
     - Add any of the veggies listed on the right side of the page.

      - Select "NO CHEESE" at the bottom under "Special Instructions."

5) Pay & Order. (Sometimes they will call you to double check the "no cheese" option was correct. This is normal in the life of a (mostly) vegan pizza ordering person.)
6) Sit back and wait for pizza to arrive. Enjoy an appetizer of Pinot Noir or something while you wait.

And Voila! A yummy, (mostly) vegan, (non) homemade pizza. And it only takes 2-5 minutes to make (not including delivery time) and doesn't cause a mess in the kitchen.

Here's a picture of what mine looked liked from the other night.

Enjoy!

(*This is considered a "mostly" vegan meal because I am not sure if there are any animal products used while making the crust. We will go into this meal assuming there is not.)

Meda Video Fun

She may or may not be a fan of peas.... The jury is still out.

 (Apologies to those who hate watching little kids eat, like I still do used to. Go ahead and skip this video.)

 

McKenna Video Fun

Something leads me to believe McKenna wants to be a singer/performer when she grows up.

Or a hairstylist.

 


Below is a playlist of McKenna's Christmas performance at school. I'm secretly proud of her sass. ;-)

This is the Year of Reading

So I enjoy reading - a lot. I don't do it as much as I'd like (insert the excuse of having to be a parent and make sure the two kids in my house survive each day... blah blah blah...).

But I'm over not being able to read whenever I want.

Really, I am.

Anyway, I've recently had a larger-than-normal number of people ask me for book recommendations... New Year's resolutions to read more, maybe? I don't know, but I figured I'd write a quick post about some of what I'm recommending these days. :-)

If you're a reader and not on Goodreads yet, I recommend doing that first! It's a fun site where you can update your "bookshelves" and keep track of what you are reading, want to read, and have read. You can also read reviews from your friends on there to find out what you may want to pick up from the library or bookstore next. :-) You can also create or join reading challenges, etc.. Go ahead and add me as a friend while you're at it too!

Moving on...

Here is a list of what I read in 2013. I would recommend any of these books. Some more than others, but it's worth it to take a looksie at all of them and see what might float your boat. (Yes, I just said "float your boat."). I've put a link to the book description/my review on Goodreads.

Legend: 
(because I really like using symbols rather than typing a bunch of stuff out. Lazy? Absolutely.)

!   go read NOW
^  made me laugh
~  fabulous writing
$  super cool or interesting story line/theme
+  self help
*  has a blatant or implied Christian theme... I know some people (unfortunately) don't like these types of books, so I figured I'd share which ones are. If you don't - then I'm sorry for you... you're missing out on some amazing stories. 

• "The Storyteller" - Jodi Picoult (!~$)
• "A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet" - Sophie Hudson (*^)
• "The Kite Runner" - Khaled Hosseini (!~$)
• "The Maze Runner" - James Dashner
• "Unglued" - Lysa TerKeurst (*^+)
• "Single Infertile Female" - Leah Campbell ($)
• "The Silver Star" - Jeanette Walls ($)
• "Sons of Encouragement" - Francine Rivers (*$)
• "A Voice in the Wind" (Pt 1 of Mark of the Lion Series) - Francine Rivers (!*$)
• "Echo in the Darkness" (Pt 2 of Mark of the Lion Series) - Francine Rivers (*$)
• "On Writing" - Stephen King (+)
• "Dangerous Surrender" - Kay Warren (*+)
• "The Principle of the Path" - Andy Stanley (*+)
• "Desperate" - Sarah Mae & Sally Jackson (*+)

Also, here is a list I would recommend as they are a few favorites of mine that I had read prior to last year. If you can't tell, I have some favorite authors who keep reappearing. There is definitely more on this list, but these are the few that popped into my head immediately.

• "A Lineage of Grace" - Francine Rivers (!*~$)
• "Redeeming Love" - Francine Rivers (!*~$)
• "Before I Go To Sleep" - SJ Watson ($)
• "The Art of Racing in the Rain" - Garth Stein ($^)
• "Nineteen Minutes" - Jodi Picoult (!~$)
• "The Glass Castle" - Jeanette Walls (!^$)

Well, now... I'm not sure how you are feeling about the symbols above (annoyed, maybe?), but I'm kind of liking how it looks. #nerdalert

Anway - I hope at least one person finds this post interesting and/or helpful! 

What are YOU reading right now? Anything I should add to this list??

Happy Twenty Fourteen!!

Wow - is it really 2014, already??? Happy New Year, friends!!  I hope your holidays were amazing and you are pumped to wipe the slate clean and start over.... again! :-)

As I did last year, I wanted to take a quick look back on this past year and then forward to 2014. Because, let's be real... it's basically a requirement for a blogger to write a New Year's post. I'll be honest, this post was kind of hard to finish for me. Not because 2013 was some sort of epic year or anything, but instead it was sort of a blur for me... possibly due to a lack of sleep. But I am having a hard time remembering it. (Are we surprised? My memory blows.) Besides a couple big instances (birthing child should be considered a big deal, right?), 2013 may get lost somewhere in a faded memory stack in my brain as "just another year." I don't know, I'm kind of excited to leave this past year behind and move on. Anyway...moving on...

Here is my 2013 Inventory:

• In 2013, I gained another huge gift from God - Meda Grayson. Words aren't big enough to encapsulate the emotions that having children brings. 
• I lost my mind. Quite a few times. It's currently back, but rest-assure... it will be gone again soon. Probably by morning. 
• I stopped singing in the choir at church. With the new baby and... well, life really... the time commitment during the week for rehearsals and the numerous services per weekend wasn't something I could commit to for 2013. I plan on getting back into it in 2014, though. I miss my choir friends and worshipping with them on the weekends!
• I started getting more involved with leadership teams at my church though and have met some amazing people who are great mentors for me. 
• I was hugely satisfied by finishing the first draft of my novel. Now I need to finish all the edits.
• And frustrated by my short, but ugly bout with post-partum depression. 
• I am so embarrassed I now have four dogs. Yes. FOUR. Who has FOUR DOGS???? OMG. Embarrassing. But I'm totally in love with the fourth addition and she was worth it!
• Once again, I missed estranged family members.
• Once again, I wished they missed me too. 
• The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is my lack of a protruding pregnant belly. 
• The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is my mind doesn't turn off anymore. Ever. I feel less "at peace" and am unable to relax these days. Ugh. That was really annoying to write/admit. Maybe the addition of another child and a fourth dog has something to do with that?? Hmmm....
• I loved joining a new life group and getting to know new friends at church.
  
• Why did I spend even two minutes playing candy crush??? 
• I should have spent more time in prayer. But I'm pretty sure no matter how much time is spent in prayer, that much more could still be spent there... something to work on.
• I regret working immediately after having the baby. At the time, I didn't think it was a big deal. It was. 
• I will never regret being a tad O.C.D. when it comes to keeping our home in a relative state of cleanness. I'm a much happier and calmer person when I'm not surrounded by a cluster. I wish my husband was the same... #hinthint
• I ran way too much. Training for a 26.2 mile race is like having a second job. I'm not so sure I can do that again with the time commitment it requires. At least not at this point in my life with young kiddos. Maybe someday... maybe even for St. Jude next year... we'll have to see.

• 

  They will FIND YOU....

  The most relaxing place I went was the restroom. By utilizing the restroom (or pretending to), I was able to gain precious minutes alone... Until I was caught. If you're a parent - I know you feel me on this one, don't deny it... Second only to the bathroom was Santa Barbara, California back in March. I got to shop, eat a truck load of great food, and catch up on my reading. Thank you so much to our good friends, the Reeds, for having us!
• I did not race 26.2 miles like I hoped for, planned for, and paid for. 
• The best thing I did for myself was enroll in a writer's training program.
• The best thing someone did for me was take over caring for my family so that I could get a nap or two in. 
• The one thing I'd like to do again, but do it better is write a book. 
  
  

(Fill-in-the-blank template from Mary Schmich at The Chicago Tribune found via this blog) 

2014 Intentions:

• Keep up the running and run a handful more races and some half-marathons. But get faster while doing it. I'm almost to my pre-baby speed, but not quite there yet.
• Attend 1-2 major writing conferences. This will be where I pitch my novel to agents/publishing houses and also get some major training in at the same time. I'm thinking about heading to Texas and/or North Carolina later in the year to do this. 
• Convince my husband to take/send me to see Britney Spears in Vegas. Yes, seriously. I'm adding this to my New Year's list. Ms. Spears is totally worth a spot in this post. 
• Add an additional freelance job or two...maybe. I'm not stressed about this one, but it'd be cool - if not, no big deal. :-) But it might be cool to make a little extra cash.

Wishing you a FABULOUS Twenty Fourteen!!