Mommy Lesson, No. 1

This is the first post of a new ongoing series of "Mommy Lessons." These lessons are things that I have learned about the heart of God while mothering my kids.

You all know that Cammy is now, as Cade calls it, "On the potty train." Well, due to a couple of immunizations Camden received yesterday, he is having some tummy troubles. So you can only imagine how the last 24 hours of the "D-word" have affected being "on the potty train."

After going to the gym with Daddy tonight, Cammy told me he had "ouchy bottom" and wanted his diaper taken off. He does the best at not having accidents when I just let him be naked from the waist down because there aren't buttons and zippers to contend with --- pretty daring when you are dealing with the "D-word!" I am glad to report that he made it to the toilet just fine to poo-poo the rest of the night, which is a huge feat when you are only two and have the "D-word!"

So back to my mommy lesson --- After the last round of the "D-word," Cammy sought me out and wanted to snuggle. He was still naked and in spite of a recent bath still had that distinctive poo-poo smell about him. I let him crawl up in my lap and with his full body, he just bear-hugged me and laid there for a full contact snuggle. It was awesome. I am a snuggler, so I just simply could not turn him away --- stink or no stink!

As he was laying there and I was rubbing his back this image came to my mind of me crawling into God's lap and just laying there --- fully spent, just soaking up my Father's love --- not realizing that to Him, I probably stink. But like my Heavenly Father I could not turn my child away --- even though Camden was stinky, I snuggled, caressed and enjoyed my baby boy.

How many times have I come to God stinky and dirty from another mess I have gotten myself into and He doesn't turn me away. He scoops me up, loves on me, cleans me up--- all the while loving me with His perfect, unconditional love. I simply cannot fathom such love and I say that while knowing just HOW MUCH I love my own.

Do you truly know how much God loves you? I didn't really KNOW the depth of love that one could experience until I had kids. Yes, I love my husband, my parents, my sisters, but my love for my kids is somehow different and somehow, well, more. So, again I ask you, do you truly KNOW how much God loves you?

More than an earthly mom could possibly love her stinky little boy --- this is quite possibly the best news I've had all day!

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The picture at the top was taken Christmas 2007 --- I LOVE this picture of Cammy --- Pure Unadulterated Joy. Not many people get to see this side of him since he is quite shy out in public.

Two Cute

Can you even look at this picture and NOT smile? Yeah, me neither. Chloe is the epitome of joy embodied in a ball of pink flesh. Sometimes I get carried away and squeeze her too hard!

This week Cammy started calling Chloe by her name (as opposed to just calling her "baby" or his version of "baby sister" which when Cammy says it sounds like "baby chi-cher".) In typical toddler fashion, he says a "w" sound for the "l" --- so it comes out sounding like, "Cwo-wee." And he even has the sing-song part of it down too. If he hears her crying or fussing, he will walk up to her and in his sing-songy-must-mimic-my-mommy-way he'll say, "Cwo-o-wee-e-e-e, it's oka-a-y" as he smacks her on the back. He still doesn't get the difference between patting and smacking even though I have shown him numerous times. Someday he will, just not now.

A Martha Stewart Moment

Recently the boys and I made a homemade peach pie for Daddy (I needed a good excuse to indulge in a pie!) It started out well, but was far from the Martha Stewart experience that I was originally hoping to give the boys. There weren't any cotton starched aprons or pre-measured cups with the appropriate ingredients all ready to be poured, sifted, stirred, folded and assembled. But all in all, it was fun (mostly), only a little stressful for me, and not nearly as messy as I had anticipated. Thankfully, Chloe slept through the whole thing!

The boys started out taking turns helping me dump ingredients into the bowl. I tried my hardest to be patient, knowing full well it would have been quicker if I just did it myself. Cammy asserted himself several times, declaring, "It's my turn-n-n-n-n!" And of course Cade had to make sure that I understood how he was the better choice for stirring the peaches, since after all, "I'm bigger, Mom. Cammy's just little." They each jockeyed for position, as if my picking them was a sign that I preferred one over the other.

After the pie was baking, we indulged in the "scraps." Cade licked the bowl (well not technically, but he did use his fingers to scoop out the leftover peach goo that didn't make it into the pie!) and Cammy and I ate the leftover dough. I love raw pie dough --- call me crazy --- I mean who doesn't love a good raw pastry crust?

What did I learn from today? Martha Stewart may have the corner on the market in regards to maintaining an appearance of "perfection" in all things homemaking, but, honestly, I don't think my boys will remember me for my perfect perfomances as much as they will remember how much fabulous fun we had along the way!

I am Now Qualified for a Job at the U.N.

Motherhood has equipped me for many things. Before I had kids I never realized to what extent peacekeeping and negotiating would be part of the job description. Well, I have executed peace treaties, negotiated trades, prevented hostile takeovers, and de-escalated gun battles. I have drawn boundaries, set limits, created high expectations and reinforced good values. Now that's a resumé! Anyone hiring?

"Houston, We Have Poo-Poo"

Well, I promise I won't post pictures of the evidence, but you must at least indulge a mother's ravings about her son's potty training success! There is nothing that can make a mom question her very own abilities as a mom faster than potty training disasters can --- and likewise potty training success can bring joy immeasurable!

Since before baby Chloe was born Camden has showed signs of being ready to potty train, but my oh-so-pregnant-self just couldn't muster the gumption to start down that path. So FINALLY this week (a mere 6 months later) I started working with Cammy and on day 2 we have poo-poo!

Also, today Cammy went potty all by himself, with out me having to remind him --- AND he even managed to do it standing up. The funniest part is that he is BARELY tall enough for the appropriate "part" to be able to reach to "tinkle" into the toilet --- so there was lots of grunting and maneuvering while my cute little two-year-old stood on his tippy tippy tippy toes all in the name of "peeing like daddy does." Then he exclaimed with shear joy, "I P-E-E-E-E-E-D!" and gave himself a round of applause.

Yes, the boy is tickled pink with himself --- and mommy is too! Two down, one to go --- Chloe, any chance you'll be ready to potty train anytime soon? Mommy's on a roll!