Confession Number Six: I Can't Remember the Last Time I Cleaned My Bathroom

Okay, so since I have entitled this blog "Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom" I figure it is about time I start posting some true "confessions". Let me start off this post by saying that my husband is going to be horrified that I am putting this out there on the World Wide Web for everyone to see and my college roommate will be oh, so disappointed. I know, Em, you taught me better than this. I am hanging my head in shame.

The title of this post is the honest to goodness truth. Was it the first of December? Maybe even before Thanksgiving? I've been thinking I need to do it for a long time now. The make up smear on the counter reminds me every morning.


But, who wants to clean the bathroom during nap time, when you can catch up on the latest posting on Pioneer Woman (my new obsession, you should try it yourself. Go ahead, it won't hurt you. Sigh. I've turned into a blog pusher.)?

When we first decided that with this move I would be able to stay at home, I set lofty goals for myself. Kennedy and I were going to do crafts (which we do), I was going to make lessons for her like Ms. Marcie used to do (never happened) and I was going to keep our house spotless. Hmmmmmm.....

I was going to set aside one day a week as "cleaning day". I would get caught up on laundry, clean the bathrooms, dust, etc. Well, needless to say, that worked for about, um, a week. Ha! It lasted a little longer than that, but not by much. You see, in Piedmont I was completely and totally spoiled. We had this angel who made an appearance at our house every two weeks. As long as I left her a check, she kept coming back every other Wednesday. When I walked in the door that afternoon I would breathe a sigh of contentment and say, "I love Sherri". Well, unfortunately, Sherri didn't make the move to Grove with us and I am forced to try to keep my house clean. The insanity!!!!

At least now, I have all of you out there to be my accountability in my job. Right? Didn't know keeping up with this blog meant you had to actually DO something, did you? Well, thanks for being my accountability partner (that might not be what Pastor Craig meant when he introduced me to that phrase, but it works)! Here is what you helped me accomplish today.....

So, thanks for helping me out. I added the candle just for you! I keep telling myself it will be different when we move into our new house. Hmmm, we'll see. I think it will still be awhile.....

We may have to wait for the snow to melt. So, now that most of YOU have been home with your kiddos over the break, what is your confession???? Leave it in the comments section. Oh, and if we are going to be accountability partners.....go clean your bathroom!!

Confession Number Five: I Love My Camera

So, I've been a little crazy with my new camera this Christmas. Even though we haven't made it to Texas, yet, it has been a good day. How many times do we really actually get a White Christmas??!!! This is the first in my lifetime.

I just wanted to share some of my favorite shots of the last couple days. I haven't had the chance to edit all of them, but I did some. I will post more tomorrow. Merry Christmas!!

Kennedy once she saw that Santa had brought her a Dora Princess. She isn't quite sure about Dora dancing, but loves to carry her around by her ponytail! :-)

Kennedy and her cousins Ainsley and Justus made a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve. We then left a piece for Santa. We figured he was tired of cookies all of the time.

Kennedy and her cousin Madelyn. Notice KJ has already changed into her "dancing dress" her Weezie and Papa Lynn got her for Christmas. It came complete with her first pair of high heels. So cute, but dang they hurt when she steps on your toes!

KJ experiences her first snow. She loved it!

Now for my artistic side. Here are a few shots of the nieces and nephews. We miss them and don't get to see them nearly as much as we should!

Well, I think that is it for tonight. I better hit the hay as we are headed out very early in the morning to brave the roads south. I hope everyone had an extra special Christmas Day.

Confession Number Four: He's Pretty Good

When we were younger, buying for Dustin was always difficult. One thing that compounded the problem is that his birthday is 2 weeks before Christmas, so I have to save up all of my ideas throughout the year and go crazy in December. Over the years, I have figured out my husband....a little bit, and shopping for him has become a bit easier.

Dustin, on the other hand, has always been a great gift giver. Some would even say that he amazing at gift giving. Over the 8 Christmases we have been together his gifts have included diamond earrings, a laptop, and a new truck. I know ladies, try not to be jealous. Since Kennedy was born, we decided to forgo gifts for each other at Christmas and only allow Santa to fill our stockings. However, a couple of days ago, my husband emerged from our bedroom with a wrapped box. After me insisting that we didn't buy each other Christmas gifts, he argues that it isn't. "Can't you tell by the wrapping? It isn't a Christmas gift. It is a 'because I love you gift'." Sweet, isn't he? I DO have a great husband. Okay girls, let me pause for a second to explain this wrapping job to you. His skills weren't bad. He picked a pink, red, purple and white plaid paper that I must have bought during a temporary stint of color blindness. The medium sized box was topped with a metallic blue Christmas bow. It cracked me up, but he was so proud.

I ripped open the paper to find a brand new SLR Cannon Rebel camera. Something I've been not so quietly hinting about for about 4 months. It was amazing! Since, I've been getting shots of everything in my sight and I'm loving it! Here are a few of my favorites!

Quite possibly the most exciting shot this week!

This is the back of our new house. Poor guys were working in 36 degree weather.

I'm in love with those men! I can't get out of this apartment soon enough.

This is my great friend, Jessica. It was a tacky sweater party.

She doesn't always wear hooker red lipstick, I promise.

My favorite!

Isn't she a cutie? But she looks so mean!

I must say, there are a FEW things in this world Dustin is better at than I am. Gift giving is one of them. Thanks for a great "because I love you" present, honey!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Confession Number Three: I Was Awake

One thing I've figured out since I started staying home with Kennedy in June is that I'm more exhausted now than I was when I worked all day, then came home. How can that be? Ask any mom who has given up her career to raise her children full-time and she will tell you that this work is truly exhausting. And I only have ONE child. I can't imagine 2 or 3 or more!!! Don't get me wrong, I love staying at home with Kennedy. I love being able to cook with her and taking her fun places. I love having our own schedule to do what we need or want to do. But,there are some days when I'm just so stinkin' tired that when Dustin gets home it is all I can do to cook dinner (or call Pizza Hut) and fall onto the couch.

Last week, I had one of those nights. Dustin could tell from the time he got home that I wasn't totally with it, and being the wonderful husband he is, after dinner he insisted that I crash on the couch. I really wasn't feeling well, so eventually I informed him that I was moving my useless self to the bedroom and he and KJ were officially on "Daddy Time". He was very gracious, kissed me on the forehead and told me to rest well.

After a time of tossing and turning, I hear Dustin talking on the phone with his mom from the living room when all of a sudden his converstaion is interrupted with a "Whoa! Ummm, Mom, I gotta call you back" then "Oh my gosh! How much Miralax did you give her!!!" I giggled under my breath knowing that "Daddy Time" had just gotten a little messy. Kennedy is very, shall we say, irregular, so we help her out by giving her a stool softener every day, and when it kicks in, it REALLY kicks in. To add to the fun, we are potty training, and while going pee pee in the potty was mastered weeks ago, we are a LONG way from mastering the other. I knew, what Dustin was soon to find out...Kennedy was in panties, not Pull Ups, she was wearing cute little Dora the Explorer panties. Fun, huh moms?!? I hear him take her into the bathroom, so I pull myself out of bed to hide out in our closet, which shares a wall. The following minutes are full of lines like, "Oh, no! What did you do? How did you poop EVERYWHERE?" "Daddy, poo poo on K's hand!" (I almost fell over with laughter on that one) "Ah, Kennedy, this is yucky." "Yucky poo poo Daddy?" "Yes, yucky poo poo....Kennedy NO!!! Do NOT put your thumb in your mouth!!" Finally he turns on the bath and their voices are drowned out by running water.

Laughing so hard my sides hurt, I make my way back to bed. Why go help now? The worst is over. Besides, not all "Daddy Time" needs to be full of fun and games. Sorry, babe! At least he had the smarts to clean her hands first!

Confession Number Two: I Wouldn't Change It

I was an oops baby. A late in life baby. A surprise. Over the last 29+ years I've gotten used to that title. I embrace it. I love my place in the family. I'm the baby. What better place to be, right? My siblings are 18, 15, and 10 years older than I am. My parents were 35 and 49 when I was born. For most of my childhood my mom worked and my dad, who retired when I was 5, stayed at home. It is great. I am completely and totally spoiled, yes, still even now.

There was one part of being the baby that wasn't so great. Nine years ago today I lost one of the most important men in my life. After a long battle of smoking induced COPD my daddy went to be with our Lord. I was 20. Before Daddy died he was very sick for a long time. Due to his illness he missed most of my high school basketball games, my FHA events and even my high school graduation. I have more memories of him being sick than I do of him being healthy. He still had a great spirit, even when it was hard for him to get out of bed. Sometimes I'm jealous of the years my siblings had with him when he was healthy. When he golfed and played with them. When he coached other men out of their shorts and changed the lives of so many. Yes, being the baby does come with some green tinges of jealousy.

I remember that night when Mom called to tell me he was gone. I woke up so many of my Chi-O sisters that night with my sobs. They comforted me and helped me pack my bags. They traveled in weather that was down right miserable to come to the funeral. They warmed my heart. I haven't talked to many of you in years.....thank you. And I think it is time we changed that. :-)

For years, this day hasn't bother me that much. I was sad, but knew that he was in a better place. "On earth I have given you glory by finishing the work you have given me." John 17:4 Last year one of my student's fathers was very ill, fighting cancer. I wrote him a note telling him my story and throughout the following weeks he learned to confide his emotions and feelings in me. One year ago today, his dad went to be with the Lord. How our stories paralleled each other was amazing. Thanksgiving in the hospital, taking care of our mothers, celebrating Christmas so soon after a tragedy. It was an incredible experience for me to help him through that. One that makes me more knowledgeable and aware of God's amazing plan for our lives. He knew nine years ago that he would use me to minister to another who was too young to loose a parent.

Today I could say that Daddy never met my husband and has never seen his grand-daughter, but I know that isn't true. He is with us every single day. He is especially with us on this day, when we remember his amazing life. I love being the baby in the family. It is all part of God's plan. I miss you Daddy.