Conclusions

Lately, I have come to a couple of conclusions about things:

1. While I like a maxi dress, I hate, hate, hate seeing someone wearing one and it completely dragging the ground. For some reason it just grosses me out and all I can think about is how dirty the hem is!

2. People will take as much as you give.

3. End of school year is wack-o crazy! Some people wonder why I choose not to take clients during this time of year more than I ever and I remember why!

4. Birdie may make me eat my words about never being a competition dance mom. That girl loved having her time to shine on stage. During her recital finale, I thought they may have to get out the 'ole hook to get her off stage.

5. Last, but certainly not least, people need to discipline their children. Seriously. I'm not talking about beating them, but disciplining them. I was grocery shopping in Publix yesterday and finally just had to check out and leave without finish shopping! A little boy and his mother and grandparents were shopping too. After watching him run crazy, the final straw was when he climbed.into.the.milk.display. I'm not kidding! After 3 children one thing I can tell you about parenting, children like boundaries. It may not seem like it at first and yes, it is more work to not give into your children and hold strong. But years down the road your children will appreciate all that extra work you gave to raising them.

Wordless Wednesday

Birdie's Birthday

Tonight I put to bed my precious little four year old baby girl. Tomorrow she wakes up a big five year old girl.

I feel like this is such a milestone birthday. Past the cusp of the baby years. Full speed ahead to the "big kid" adventures that lie ahead.

Birdie was the baby that brought me many tears....before she was ever conceived. My heart longed for her before she was mine. I was so impatient in my days waiting for the blessing to be her mother. I knew my family wouldn't be complete without another little baby to keep Lovebug, Hubby and I company. I can still remember the morning I found out I was pregnant with her. Lovebug had a "sleepover" with me so Hubby had slept in the guest bedroom. I snuck out of bed to take the test, heart beating, praying and hoping that finally this test was different than all the previous ones. In those brief moments you make all kinds of wagers with God. Begging, pleading. And there it was. Positive. And nothing has ever been the same.

Happy Birthday, Birdie. I'm enjoying having this opportunity to watch you learn how to spread your wings and fly. Many new adventures await you!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Happy (belated) Easter!

We spent Easter at the beach. I watched my kids run, laugh and play and it hit me, that I am so very thankful God gave us his only son to die for our sins. As a parent, it's beyond my comprehension to have to do such a thing. Me dying for them, could do in a blink of an eye. Having to give one of them to die for myself and others, makes my heart ache and tears well up in my eyes just imagining it.

Worst

I think I'm the worst blogger ever. Seriously. I keep meaning to write something and then after dinner is over and kids are in bed and I have sent out a couple dozen work emails I am just pooped.

Or just too pooped to write something witty anyway. Watching reality tv? Not too pooped for that.

I could write about Birdie always talking about how she "hopes the paparazzi isn't there" wherever we go. Or how just today, she talked about options for the name of her album (and yes, she referred to it as her album).

I could write about how Lovebug is already mapping out her performance in next year's talent show. (Actually, she is obsessing and it is starting to drive me a tad crazy!) Or how she is 99.99% certain at the age 9 that Harvard is her college of choice. Or how she already knows that she would like to get married in Charleston and have some sort of event at Poe's. I can't fault her for planning ahead. She is my daughter after all.

Then there is Macho Man. The baby. I could write paragraph after paragraph about how much he is changing and how my heart aches about the fact that this is my last baby. (Of course, it doesn't ache enough to make me want to do it all over again!). I could tell you tales of Macho Man getting his first hair cut, "reading" his books, all the words he is trying to say and his general daily antics. I could also share with you that he suffers from a Jekyll and Hyde personality.

I could fill you in on how the Faithful dog that has been part of our family for 7 years left us just a few short weeks ago to go to doggie heaven and yet I still can't get rid of her bed. Macho Man's first sentence was telling her to go and even now I tear up thinking about how she isn't here anymore.

And work. It's growing. Faster and faster. And I love it.....even on the days when I feel completely overwhelmed! The balance between work and family is still a huge struggle. Family, as I tell all of my clients, are first. I had cut off taking anymore clients for this year and just opened up more dates because I was turning so many people away. This may be a double edged sword. Only time will tell. Speaking of work, I need to get back to that. My first Charleston wedding is this weekend!