Mom doubts

Yesterday I was talking to another mom and she was sharing how she is thinking of homeschooling her preschool daughter next year. She shared how she thinks it's the right thing for her daughter but she still has doubts because she feels like sending your child to preschool is the expected thing. I assured her that whatever she felt was right for her daughter was going to be right.

Sometimes it is hard being a mom. Sometimes you never feel like you're doing anything right. If my kid doesn't have those shoes I'm not a good mom. If my kid doesn't go to preschool I'm not a good mom. If I don't homeschool my kids I'm not a good mom. If I let my kids watch TV I'm not a good mom. If I don't feed my kids that food I'm not a good mom. And the list goes on and on.

Why all these doubts? I have determined not to let media, social pressure and others guide my mothering. And I urge all of you mothers out there to do the same. You know what's best for your children, the choices you make will be the best for your kids. So go on being a mother and don't doubt for one second that you aren't a good one. Don't let the father of lies even put that in your heart for one second. Pray to God for direction and guidance and go on being a great mother free of doubts.

I love my life!

Getting to wake up each morning to these two cute faces! (Usually one of them curled up next to me in the bed.)  And then I get to spend the entire day doing nothing but hanging out with them.  Ok there might be the occasional food spill I need to cleanup, poopy diapers, wiping bums, numerous food services and cleanups (breakfast, lunch and dinner is not enough for 2 growing toddlers), toys cleanups, etc, etc, etc.  So I guess I wouldn't say DOING NOTHING! 

But every moment no matter what is involved is awesome because I am hanging out with 2 of my favorites:) 

I have had a lot of special times in my life and have loved them all but this time in my life is definitely one of the most special times. 

I am treasuring every hour, every minute, every second because it is so precious!

Love you kiddos:)

This is the Day

Time goes by so fast.........it seems like just yesterday I was sitting on the living room of the house I grew up in playing Barbies and Gi Joes with my brother..........now I am sitting watch my boy and girl just starting their adventure of playing together as brother and sister.  Wow! 

3 years ago I had the joy of giving birth to my son Tian and 6 months ago my daughter Tessa.  And what a blessing each day with them is!  God truly gives us blessings when he gives us our children to enjoy and raise and as I sit and watch these 2 play it is my prayer that He would give me the wisdom and understanding in how to raise them the right way! 

Some days I worry about if I play enough with them, pray enough with them, feed them right, teach them the right things at the right time, discipline them right etc, etc, etc.   I think I need to read that book so I know what to feed them, I need to do that activity so they can learn their colors or I need to follow that person's discipline guide.  But then I hear the soft voice of the Spirit saying to me just love them and allow me to be your guide.  And so the worries vanish (at least for a couple hours:) 

As I spend these precious years with my little ones and watch them grow, grow and grow into the man and woman God created them to be it is my prayer to allow Him to guide me in the process.  And to also allow me to live the verse "This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it."  I want to enjoy every day, moment and second of this time - playing legos, cars, eating PB and Jelly and cuddles before naptime.  

Tessa's Birth Story

The story began Saturday morning March 2nd  2013 around 9:00am.  I had been expecting this birth to begin during the night or while I was out somewhere with Tian and all of a sudden  maybe my water would break.  I actually tried to stay home quite a bit the days before my due date just feeling like I could handle things better if I was at home when the labor started than if I was out somewhere.  But this birth started very similar to my first and in many ways was much the same.  And this was nice because it allowed for Troy to be here, and for me to be relaxed and stress-free.

So around 9am I started having mild contractions and had the feeling like this could be it.   They were steady coming about every 8-12 minutes but mild and I was able to get dressed, eat, play with Tian, etc.   I told Troy "Please go get your stuff packed and start packing the car because this is happening today."  So he started getting things ready while I sat on the couch with Tian watching Mickey Mouse or Bubble Guppies and started timing my contractions and relaxing for the harder stuff to come.   And come it did.   After lunch Troy took Tian to nap and I remember still feeling like things were going pretty easy.   Fairly mild contractions every 7-8 minutes.  But around 3:30pm the contractions started getting harder and I began to feel like maybe we better call the doctor and see what they thought........especially since this was the second child.   I honestly was kind of nervous that I might wait too long and not make it to the hospital on time.   So I called my practice, which has anywhere from 12 doctors that could have been on call, and it turned out to be the same doctor that delivered Tian.   She said to wait a little while longer until the contractions were a little closer together and more intense and then come in.   Well a little over an hour later I decided they were "too intense".   So I called again, called our babysitter to come and watch Tian and we headed in.   We were at the hospital by 7pm and my contractions were coming faster now - every 3 or 4 minutes and were getting stronger.   So they took me to the observation room right away to observe me and sure enough it was time for me to be there.......7 centimeters and 100%....... I was ready to be in the hospital for active labor.    

Active labor continued for another couple of hours and I remember thinking this seems a lot more intense than it did the first time around with Tian.   But I was determined to make it through again with no epidural and Troy did a great job relaxing me through each contraction.   I found if I just leaned on him and relaxed my body the contractions were managable and seemed to pass quickly.   I was encouraged to lay some on my side though as the baby's heartrate was dipping with each contraction.   As it turned out she had the cord wrapped around her neck so when I was having a contraction it was squeezing the cord.  

Eventually it was time to push and while most of the labor had been similar to my first this was far from that.   While I pushed 3 hours with Tian my first-born this time I only had to push 3 minutes.   And these 3 minutes seemed like forever when the 3 hours of pushing had not been nearly as intense.   But finally Tessa Soleil was born at 10:03pm only 2 hours before her actual due date.   She weighed in at 9lbs 9oz and 21.5 inches long.  And getting to hold her right away was a treat:)

Once again I had a great birthing experience.  I am so happy I chose to experience both births naturally using the Bradley Method with Troy as my coach and support.   I really feel like it aloud for us to experience the birth as a team.   And I am so thankful for a birth and pregnancy that went smoothly without any complications to allow me to have a natural labor.  

Thanking God for a beautiful new life that we know have to share on our journey.

Tessa Soleil

What keeps someone from blogging for almost a year?  I guess chasing an overactive 2 year old and being pregnant might qualify.   But the time has come that a new blog is needed.  

The birth of our 2nd child - Tessa Soleil Mouer.  Tessa was born Saturday March 2nd at 10:03pm (2 hours before her due date).  She weighed in at 9lbs 9oz and was 21.5 inches long.   She has some dark hair and eye color is yet to be determined.  

Her name Tessa means "harvester" and Soleil (so-lay) is the french word for sun.   We hope her name will have a significant meaning in her life as a Christian someday as a harvester of souls.   

We are very excited to have her with us watch her and her brother grow together.   We are also very thankful and blessed to have a healthy and beautiful baby.  

Leading the Freeze dance

Finally able to do a layup