Reflections

Mexico was so nice, because I felt like I had time to think. Think about what i have been doing lately, but mostly what I want to be doing in the future. Ben and I have a goals binder that we look at and set new goals every anniversary, and then review them throughout the year. Last year, on our Costa Rica trip we made some new goals (even though it wasn't our anniversary) and came up with our family Mission Statement and made plans for the future with specific years adn dates in mind. This year, on this trip, we reveiwed some of those things, but I felt like I reflected and thought more about MY goals and then talked about them with Ben. And over the last few months my thoughts have focused so much on a few specific things. But in a nutshell (hopefully I will get around to recording all of my epiphanies and feelings and great inspirations in more detail, but this is a little snippet to remind me of all the glorious insights I got for myself) it comes down to how I want more than anything to be a good mom. Now figuring out what is the best way for ME to be the best mom for these three amazing kids is my next mission. How to find balance for me to give all I can to them. I really want my focus to be on my family. Ben and Noah had a really good conversation last year in Costa Rica (another great reason I loved mexico, because it is so fun to discuss so many inspiring, world changing, small day-to-day things with Ben, Noah and Kristi and to get some much insight from brilliant people, without being interupted. It is so rejuvinating!),and there observations have resonated in my head a lot this past year; One of the reasons Rick and Linda were such great parents and writers is because that is what they always thought about. They were always thinking about their family and being so proactive about raising their children and developing their family unit, and then writing about it. I know it sounds so simple, but I have since thought about that often, and ben and I use that thought process a lot when setting our goals and raising our family. There is a direct relationship to the amount of time I think about how I will teach, raise, discipline and love my children to how well I succeed in raising a strong, tightly-knit family unit. So I want my focus to be on my family. On how I will mother my children. On Motherhood. I want to be successful at my job as a mother. (And success is measured in lots of different ways). So now my new goals are focused on finding out how me and my personality will be the best mother, wife and homemaker. And even more importantly, always finding joy in it.

I think all mothers have and get success in different ways. We are all so different. I loved reading Shawni's blog this morning about balance (I love her blog and her book and highly recommend it to EVERYONE!! And she really is as nice and positive and fun as she writes), http://www.71toes.blogspot.com/

odds and ends

Brooke said to me yesterday as she was trying to push the chest out of the way to build a fort, "Mom, I am trying with all of my might to move this, do you think you could you give me a little help?" as she is grunting and trying so hard...(she sounded so grown up, I just started laughing.)
Brooke has been practicing rollerblading. She is so good at trying. She hasn't cried yet from the many falls, she just keep laughing about them! She is really determined to learn how to do it. I love it. She loves riding her bike! She can't get enough of any art project. She is constantly taking pictures and printing out pictures and then making them into art projects.

Jackson is pretty much out of his size 3 diapers already. I am mushing him into them. I still have another package. He is a drooling baby!! I have to go buy some bibs. He is always wet from drool. He absolutely loves to suck on his hands. He is hands down, the best baby EVER! I think he only cried, maybe 5 times the entire 8 days we were in Mexico. He is wearing 12 month clothes and they fit him. There is no extra room. (He is only 4 months and 2 weeks). He loves his sisters, and his sisters can't get enough of him still. When we got home, they kept fighting over who got to hold him. Brooke still asks to hold him every five minutes and gets so excited with this huge smile and big eyes when I ask her to watch him while I put Livy to sleep for her nap. I love how she braggs to everyone about how he makes noises or laughs, or is almost sitting up. It makes my heart jump to see how much she loves him.

I am trying the potty training thing again. Into it 2 days and have had 5 accidents. Not too bad. Except for the fact that she doesn't care if she is poopy or wet....AHHH! This could be a long haul. Livy loves babies right now. She loves riding her bike. And has recently taken up running out of the house to ride her bike in the front, or run down the street. And it doesn't help that she can unlock the door. She keeps me on my toes. She has the best hugs and the cutest voice. She loves balls, play-do, babies, coloring, her doggy blanket that Donna gave her and doing things she knows she is not supposed to and then smiling at me about it. She ALWAYS wants to hold Jackson or have him sit right next to her. Her favorite book right now is Go, Dog Go.

Mexico!

Mexico was AWESOME!! Jackson is such a great baby, so it was fine having him along. And I was so glad Kristi is 6 months pregnant, so I didn't feel like I was slowing everyone down with a baby! Ben adn I went scuba diving together for the first time since I was certified three years ago. We swam in waterfalls, went hiking up a river looking for a waterfall, hung out at the pool, ate tons of YUMMY mexican food (I wish I had eaten more food from the street, but I was a little hesitant the first few days), swam with dolphins, danced, talked, ate, swam, and just enjoyed the sun and hanging out. Thanks Noah and Kristi for all the fun (and thanks Noah for always being our translator!)..."that will be 60 pesos". Our camera battery was dead for most of the trip, so Kristi was kind enough to be our photographer and I will post pictures soon.