...breakdown in communication. Roy and I have had one of THOSE weeks, and I think all married people know what I'm talking about. I don't have any reason why we are at each other. I hate it when we're like this, too. Nothing I do or say is good enough, and I'm sure he feels the same way. He doesn't hear what I'm saying to him; when I try to talk to him about something (like the testing Payton is going to start next week) he immediately loses his patience with me which stonewalls the conversation. I, in turn, shut down completely and just start not caring about things (like the testing Payton is going to start next week).
Today was probably the first time in our relationship that Roy and I didn't speak to each other more than once during the work day. That NEVER happens. Even when we are upset at one another we still talk throughout the day - at least until today. And I don't know how to fix it.
All of this being said, I am proud of the relationship that we have. For all of the bad moments, we have many more good moments, weeks, etc. I guess we need to refocus. I thought that's what we had done a couple of weekends ago when we went to Branson but I guess we either didn't stay long enough, didn't REALLY focus on us or need to focus on the Lord more. I have a feeling that it's probably the last one.
Lord, thank You for giving me Roy as a mate. I prayed for someone that would be the husband and father that Roy is. Please place a hedge of protection around our marriage and our family. Our priorities get out of order, Lord, and we need to remember that You are our only priority.
Roy, no matter what we go through as a couple, I am thankful for the trials that we are given because they are from the Lord. He knows what He has in store for us and I have trust and have faith in Him. Jeremiah 29:11
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A Night Away
Just a quick post tonight. I spent an hour (and a TON of flour) making play dough last night for Payton which put my "to do at home" list behind. I didn't get to bed until midnight!! Uggh.
I wanted to capture here the wonderful weekend Roy and I had together. Our birthday gifts from his mom, dad and sister was to watch the kids overnight while he and I got out-of-town for a night. And we took them up on it quickly!! Jenny, Roy's sister, came up to the house at 2:00 on Saturday afternoon. We were pulling out of the driveway at 2:30. She spent the night so before we left I had to show her the "lay of the land" otherwise we would have been in the car waiting for her to get here!
We went to Branson for the afternoon/evening for some shopping, eating and reconnecting. It was a great time and I feel blessed that he and I had that time together. Roy surprised me with a suite at the Hilton Branson Landing which was beautiful! We stayed on the top floor with a view of the fountain and Lake Taneycomo. We got there, checked in, dropped our bags off and then hit the shops!! The hotel is basically right above the "strip" known as Branson landing which has several shops and restaurants. We shopped until they closed (with a quick stop at Macaroni Grill for dinner). We got back up to the room and sat on the leather couch and watched the Florida/LSU game. It was so nice to be able to sit and hear what we were watching on tv. On the way back to the room, we stopped at Marble Slab Creamery and got some ice cream. We ate our ice cream while we watched the game, and I got to eat ALL of mine!! Bliss!
We slept in on Sunday, got up and had some coffee in the room, got dressed and then hit the road, but not before we stopped and got some fantastic breakfast at a little restaurant on the downtown square. Yum! After that, a quick trip to Dick's 5&10 to pick up a few fun things for the kiddos, a drive down the "76 strip" to the outlet mall where I found some cute things for the boys at Carter's and a darling pair of shoes for Eli at the Stride Rite outlet. Payton lucked out at Justice the night before :)
When we got back, Roy's mom and dad were here. Their plan was to have Jenny come up Saturday afternoon and spend Saturday night and then "Nanny and Paw" come up at 8:00 the next morning and let Jenny go home. It was a PERFECT night away. Roy and I had such a great time and we really needed it. It was just the amount of time away. We missed the kids and if we were gone much longer we would have REALLY missed the kids and wouldn't have enjoyed ourselves as much. It really was the perfect amount of time. I'm sure as they get older the easier it will be for us to be gone longer. Right?
I love our marriage. I love my husband. I love my children. We are so blessed.
"To whom much is given, much is required." The Lord requires a lot from me and Roy because He has given us so much!
I wanted to capture here the wonderful weekend Roy and I had together. Our birthday gifts from his mom, dad and sister was to watch the kids overnight while he and I got out-of-town for a night. And we took them up on it quickly!! Jenny, Roy's sister, came up to the house at 2:00 on Saturday afternoon. We were pulling out of the driveway at 2:30. She spent the night so before we left I had to show her the "lay of the land" otherwise we would have been in the car waiting for her to get here!
We went to Branson for the afternoon/evening for some shopping, eating and reconnecting. It was a great time and I feel blessed that he and I had that time together. Roy surprised me with a suite at the Hilton Branson Landing which was beautiful! We stayed on the top floor with a view of the fountain and Lake Taneycomo. We got there, checked in, dropped our bags off and then hit the shops!! The hotel is basically right above the "strip" known as Branson landing which has several shops and restaurants. We shopped until they closed (with a quick stop at Macaroni Grill for dinner). We got back up to the room and sat on the leather couch and watched the Florida/LSU game. It was so nice to be able to sit and hear what we were watching on tv. On the way back to the room, we stopped at Marble Slab Creamery and got some ice cream. We ate our ice cream while we watched the game, and I got to eat ALL of mine!! Bliss!
We slept in on Sunday, got up and had some coffee in the room, got dressed and then hit the road, but not before we stopped and got some fantastic breakfast at a little restaurant on the downtown square. Yum! After that, a quick trip to Dick's 5&10 to pick up a few fun things for the kiddos, a drive down the "76 strip" to the outlet mall where I found some cute things for the boys at Carter's and a darling pair of shoes for Eli at the Stride Rite outlet. Payton lucked out at Justice the night before :)
When we got back, Roy's mom and dad were here. Their plan was to have Jenny come up Saturday afternoon and spend Saturday night and then "Nanny and Paw" come up at 8:00 the next morning and let Jenny go home. It was a PERFECT night away. Roy and I had such a great time and we really needed it. It was just the amount of time away. We missed the kids and if we were gone much longer we would have REALLY missed the kids and wouldn't have enjoyed ourselves as much. It really was the perfect amount of time. I'm sure as they get older the easier it will be for us to be gone longer. Right?
I love our marriage. I love my husband. I love my children. We are so blessed.
"To whom much is given, much is required." The Lord requires a lot from me and Roy because He has given us so much!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Kids say the darndest things
We all know that kids say whatever comes through their brain. They are filterless and are understably clueless about tact. My boys are certainly no different than any other kids. I've told some friends a couple of things that the boys have said, and all those friends have mentioned that I should be writing these things down. So here goes:
Benjamin - "Ewwww, mommy. I can see that man's crack!" This was a couple of months ago in Walmart when we walked past a gentleman who was bending down to study what brand of pickles he should buy. Unfortunately, he pants kept "bending" after he had stopped.
Eli - "Mommy, I wanna watch putball." This was just a couple of days ago when Eli and I were watching the NFL on Sunday, and I was bored with the game. So I changed it to the Food Network. Eli wasn't pleased.
Benjamin - "Look mom! Yoda!" This, again, at Walmart. Only we were outside in the parking lot when a little old woman walked by us. Benjamin thought she resembled the much-adored, extremely wise Star Wars creature. I just prayed that she was old enough not to hear him.
Eli - "Oh muh doodness!" He just likes to walk around the house and say this in his sweet, little Eli sing-song voice. I love it!
Payton - "I didn't wash my body because there was no body wash." "Payton, there was a bar of soap in the shower." "I didn't want to use the soap because it was too slippery." Mmmmmkay...
Benjamin - "But mom! I haven't watched that movie in 30 years!"
More to come I'm sure!
Benjamin - "Ewwww, mommy. I can see that man's crack!" This was a couple of months ago in Walmart when we walked past a gentleman who was bending down to study what brand of pickles he should buy. Unfortunately, he pants kept "bending" after he had stopped.
Eli - "Mommy, I wanna watch putball." This was just a couple of days ago when Eli and I were watching the NFL on Sunday, and I was bored with the game. So I changed it to the Food Network. Eli wasn't pleased.
Benjamin - "Look mom! Yoda!" This, again, at Walmart. Only we were outside in the parking lot when a little old woman walked by us. Benjamin thought she resembled the much-adored, extremely wise Star Wars creature. I just prayed that she was old enough not to hear him.
Eli - "Oh muh doodness!" He just likes to walk around the house and say this in his sweet, little Eli sing-song voice. I love it!
Payton - "I didn't wash my body because there was no body wash." "Payton, there was a bar of soap in the shower." "I didn't want to use the soap because it was too slippery." Mmmmmkay...
Benjamin - "But mom! I haven't watched that movie in 30 years!"
More to come I'm sure!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Eli's Coming, Hide Your Heart Girls
So I'm only one day behind in getting Eli's birthday post up, but I could think of nothing better to write about on my birthday. Especially since I got to bring that sweet baby boy home on my 32nd birthday. Eli's birth was pretty uneventful; it was much quicker than Benjamin's - actually come to think of it, everything about my pregnancies, labor and deliveries for the boys were completely different - just like the boys themselves.
Eli - here's your story - so far :)
First let me tell you that I was pregnant with another baby before I got pregnant with you. Obviously, having that baby was not in God's plan for our family, because if we had had that baby we would not have had you. So although I am sad about that miscarriage, and think about that baby often, I have to be happy, too, because we have you. We found out that we were pregnant with you in January 2007, due on October 7th. Due to the miscarriage, I had several ultrasounds so we got to see you more often than most mommies :) I was so worried about you throughout my first trimester. I prayed for your safety and for a healthy baby.
One Sunday at church, I was sitting in the choir loft during communion (it was Palm Sunday I believe) I was praying to God that I would be able to carry you to term and that He would give me an answer to my prayer. Right then, I felt you squirm in my belly for the first time immediately after that! I just sat there and cried because God had answered my prayers when I got pregnant with you and he answered my prayers when I felt you move in my womb.
I went into labor with you around 3:30 in the morning on October 5th. I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and when I got back into bed, as I was about to lay my head down on my pillow, my water broke! I called the doctor's office because I wasn't sure what to do. Again, it was very different than my labor with Benjamin. Once again, Paw and Nanny came to the rescue, this time to retrieve Payton and Benjamin. We drove down to the hospital, they confirmed that my water did in fact break (um thanks - I already knew that) and we were ready to have our second son!
The hospital was incredibly crowded that night. There were three sets of twins in the nursery and a total of 16 babies! I thought nothing of it really; I mean I knew that was a lot of babies, but it wasn't going to affect me...ummm not really. Because of all of the babies that had been born, the babies that were about to be born and the babies that had just started the process, the really important doctor was a little busy. And by really important, I don't mean the one that was to deliver you, I'm referring to the doctor that had the medicine to numb me from the waist down so I wouldn't feel anything :) I had to wait longer ( a lot longer) than I would have liked to get my epidural so there was about an hour or so when I was in a TON of pain. I didn't really feel anything when I was in labor with Ben, but this was something completely different! Finally the doctor came (he looked exhausted) gave me my epidural and I became human again :) I got a little bit of rest, but you were excited about meeting us so the nurse told me that I could start pushing. I pushed with your daddy next to me counting to 10. The nurse checked me again, told me to push again. I did as I was told. She checked me again and then told me to wait. She then ran out of the room got the doctor. The doctor told me to push and out you came! Seriously - three pushes and you were here! You were born around 1:50 in the afternoon (it was a Friday) and weighed 9lbs and were 20 inches long. You had a lot of hair as well and I was so happy to finally meet you. You decided that you wanted to celebrate your birthday without anyone else so you showed up the day after Uncle Monte's birthday and the day before mine.
Eli- I want to tell you how much I love you and how much you mean to me. I will be honest and say that you were a difficult baby (due to your allergy to milk that we didn't know about until you were about 4 1/2 mos old) but you are now the sweetest, kindest and most loving kid! You love to give everyone kisses, and nothing makes my heart melt faster than seeing your face when I pick you up at school each afternoon. I love how you cradle my face in your chubby little hands to kiss my cheek, then my nose, then my lips. I love that you crawl up in the chair with your daddy to watch "putball" or how you crawl on the couch with me to play patty-cake. You have the sweetest demeanor, but you can also get a temper, which right now is adorable to watch.
I will tell you the same thing that I told Benjamin in his post. Your father and I pray that you will grow up to love the Lord and to seek Him in all things. We pray that you will be the spiritual leader in your family. That you will shepherd your wife and children to follow the teachings of Christ and that you will live as Christ did. The Lord never ceases to amaze me, and my amazement of Him was multiplied a hundred-fold on the day He let me be your mommy.
I love you and I am so proud that you belong to me. It is an honor for me and for your father to be your parents. You are going to be a wonderful man and I know that you will have much success in life. Please always remember the importance of family. Stay close to Payton and Benjamin. You will always be their little brother but they will look to you for guidance. Although I know there will be days in the future that you won't like this, you will always be my baby. I will love you forever!
Eli - here's your story - so far :)
First let me tell you that I was pregnant with another baby before I got pregnant with you. Obviously, having that baby was not in God's plan for our family, because if we had had that baby we would not have had you. So although I am sad about that miscarriage, and think about that baby often, I have to be happy, too, because we have you. We found out that we were pregnant with you in January 2007, due on October 7th. Due to the miscarriage, I had several ultrasounds so we got to see you more often than most mommies :) I was so worried about you throughout my first trimester. I prayed for your safety and for a healthy baby.
One Sunday at church, I was sitting in the choir loft during communion (it was Palm Sunday I believe) I was praying to God that I would be able to carry you to term and that He would give me an answer to my prayer. Right then, I felt you squirm in my belly for the first time immediately after that! I just sat there and cried because God had answered my prayers when I got pregnant with you and he answered my prayers when I felt you move in my womb.
I went into labor with you around 3:30 in the morning on October 5th. I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and when I got back into bed, as I was about to lay my head down on my pillow, my water broke! I called the doctor's office because I wasn't sure what to do. Again, it was very different than my labor with Benjamin. Once again, Paw and Nanny came to the rescue, this time to retrieve Payton and Benjamin. We drove down to the hospital, they confirmed that my water did in fact break (um thanks - I already knew that) and we were ready to have our second son!
The hospital was incredibly crowded that night. There were three sets of twins in the nursery and a total of 16 babies! I thought nothing of it really; I mean I knew that was a lot of babies, but it wasn't going to affect me...ummm not really. Because of all of the babies that had been born, the babies that were about to be born and the babies that had just started the process, the really important doctor was a little busy. And by really important, I don't mean the one that was to deliver you, I'm referring to the doctor that had the medicine to numb me from the waist down so I wouldn't feel anything :) I had to wait longer ( a lot longer) than I would have liked to get my epidural so there was about an hour or so when I was in a TON of pain. I didn't really feel anything when I was in labor with Ben, but this was something completely different! Finally the doctor came (he looked exhausted) gave me my epidural and I became human again :) I got a little bit of rest, but you were excited about meeting us so the nurse told me that I could start pushing. I pushed with your daddy next to me counting to 10. The nurse checked me again, told me to push again. I did as I was told. She checked me again and then told me to wait. She then ran out of the room got the doctor. The doctor told me to push and out you came! Seriously - three pushes and you were here! You were born around 1:50 in the afternoon (it was a Friday) and weighed 9lbs and were 20 inches long. You had a lot of hair as well and I was so happy to finally meet you. You decided that you wanted to celebrate your birthday without anyone else so you showed up the day after Uncle Monte's birthday and the day before mine.
Eli- I want to tell you how much I love you and how much you mean to me. I will be honest and say that you were a difficult baby (due to your allergy to milk that we didn't know about until you were about 4 1/2 mos old) but you are now the sweetest, kindest and most loving kid! You love to give everyone kisses, and nothing makes my heart melt faster than seeing your face when I pick you up at school each afternoon. I love how you cradle my face in your chubby little hands to kiss my cheek, then my nose, then my lips. I love that you crawl up in the chair with your daddy to watch "putball" or how you crawl on the couch with me to play patty-cake. You have the sweetest demeanor, but you can also get a temper, which right now is adorable to watch.
I will tell you the same thing that I told Benjamin in his post. Your father and I pray that you will grow up to love the Lord and to seek Him in all things. We pray that you will be the spiritual leader in your family. That you will shepherd your wife and children to follow the teachings of Christ and that you will live as Christ did. The Lord never ceases to amaze me, and my amazement of Him was multiplied a hundred-fold on the day He let me be your mommy.
I love you and I am so proud that you belong to me. It is an honor for me and for your father to be your parents. You are going to be a wonderful man and I know that you will have much success in life. Please always remember the importance of family. Stay close to Payton and Benjamin. You will always be their little brother but they will look to you for guidance. Although I know there will be days in the future that you won't like this, you will always be my baby. I will love you forever!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Happy Birthday Love!
(This was post began on October 1st).
Today is Roy's birthday and I just have to spend at least a second to "talk" to him about how I feel about him.
I plan on doing a post about how we met, and I will so I just want to say that I know that Roy was put on this earth to be my husband, the father to Payton, Benjamin and Eli. He was the one that the Lord had picked out for me. I know that because I heard the Lord tell me, and to be completely honest, the first time I heard it I tried to ignore it. But I also know that the Lord has a plan for me and I finally decided that He knew best.
I think it's safe to say that when we started dating, we knew that we were "done." I didn't even look back. It's easy to do that when God tells you to :)
Roy, this time of the year is such a special time. Each day one of our children celebrate their birthday, I am reminded of how much you mean to me. We have such an incredible family, of which I am incredibly proud. I look at you and I think, "Wow. He and I did this." We have shared so many sweet, special moments as husband and wife and mother and father. I've said this before, but you truly are a blessing to me. You changed my life and made IT all happen.
I remember when I was a little girl that I wanted to be a veterinarian, a wife and a mother. Well, obviously the first one didn't happen (the Lord knew what he was doing there, too :) but because of you, the last two did happen. Being a wife to you and mother to our children is my passion.
Thank you for being a man who loves the Lord, seeks him daily and strives to be more Christ-like. Thank you for your giving heart. I've always believed that "to whom much is given much is desired", but you've taught me how to LIVE that.
I love you Roy. You are my best friend and I can't imagine going through this life with anyone but you.
Always yours,
Leslie
Today is Roy's birthday and I just have to spend at least a second to "talk" to him about how I feel about him.
I plan on doing a post about how we met, and I will so I just want to say that I know that Roy was put on this earth to be my husband, the father to Payton, Benjamin and Eli. He was the one that the Lord had picked out for me. I know that because I heard the Lord tell me, and to be completely honest, the first time I heard it I tried to ignore it. But I also know that the Lord has a plan for me and I finally decided that He knew best.
I think it's safe to say that when we started dating, we knew that we were "done." I didn't even look back. It's easy to do that when God tells you to :)
Roy, this time of the year is such a special time. Each day one of our children celebrate their birthday, I am reminded of how much you mean to me. We have such an incredible family, of which I am incredibly proud. I look at you and I think, "Wow. He and I did this." We have shared so many sweet, special moments as husband and wife and mother and father. I've said this before, but you truly are a blessing to me. You changed my life and made IT all happen.
I remember when I was a little girl that I wanted to be a veterinarian, a wife and a mother. Well, obviously the first one didn't happen (the Lord knew what he was doing there, too :) but because of you, the last two did happen. Being a wife to you and mother to our children is my passion.
Thank you for being a man who loves the Lord, seeks him daily and strives to be more Christ-like. Thank you for your giving heart. I've always believed that "to whom much is given much is desired", but you've taught me how to LIVE that.
I love you Roy. You are my best friend and I can't imagine going through this life with anyone but you.
Always yours,
Leslie
Monday, September 28, 2009
Benjamin
One of my goals of this blog was to "scrapbook" the events and happenings of our lives, especially the kids since I am not one to sit down and put photos in decorative and elegant albums. I do, however, keep special things from the kids and my husband and I do plan on putting them in an album for each kid. It will not be a "Creative Memories" album by any means. I was able to "write" to Payton on the acutal day of her birth, but I neglected to do so with Benjamin. On the night of his birthday, Eli was getting sick and I ended up having to take him to the ER for trouble with breathing and vomiting. Needless to say, I wasn't thinking about updating my blog when I got home at 12:30 in the morning. But this post is about my sweet, first-born son - Roy Benjamin Pearson V.
You were born on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at 11:30(ish) in the morning - during the Arkansas/Alabama game (which we lost). I went into labor with you on Friday night at 9:30. I will never forget it. Your dad, sister and I were across the street at Mr. Matt's house and I just felt yucky. I didn't really think it was "it" because you weren't due for another 13 days. Your due date was October 6th - my 30th birthday. We came home, put Payton to bed and then sat down to watch some TV. I had my first contraction around 9:30. It wasn't painful, but it was definite. So much so that we started timing them. We knew that labor could be a really long process so we weren't too nervous about rushing to the hospital - especially since we weren't sure it was the real thing. Your dad went to bed to get a little bit of rest. I took a shower, straightened the house and packed Payton's bag. Around midnight or so we called Nanny and Paw to come pick up Payton because we had decided at that point that we were going to the hospital. I thought for sure that they would send me home, but I thought "better safe than sorry." When I got to the hospital, I saw that my favorite doctor, Doctor Gorman, was on call and I prayed that he would still be when I delivered you. They declared that I was, in fact, in labor. They hooked me up to all of the monitors, etc. and we were ready to have our baby! Thankfully, I got an epidural before I really felt any pain. Everything was pretty uneventful for your labor - for the most part. There was one scary moment about an hour or so before you were born. They doctors and nurses were watching your heartbeat and I guess your heart was acting kinda funny so they asked me to lay on my left side to alleviate pressure that I was putting on you. I laid that way for what seemed like hours and was starting to get sore. I really wanted to lay on my back or at least switch sides so I did. I asked your daddy and my friend Amanda (not Miss Amamba) to look at your heart monitor just to make sure you didn't freak out when I made the move. Very calmly your dad and Ms. Amanda said that you looked good. Your dad left the room about half a second later, which I Iater learned, was to run to get a nurse because your heart rate plummeted. When he got out of the door, he saw nurses running towards my room because they had seen the same thing on the monitors at the nurses station. When they got in the room, they immediately had me get on my hands and knees and threw an oxygen mask on me. I stayed that way for I don't know how long but I was extremely scared and I would have stayed that way for months if it meant keeping you safe and healthy. Pretty soon they told me I could turn back over - your heart rate got to a comfortable rate. When I turned over, my room looked like something on the set of "ER." Lights, stirrups, stainless steel trays with instruments, etc. all over the place. They decided that I was ready to push and meet my Benjamin. I only pushed for about 45 minutes and out you came - with a TON of jet black hair. You were gorgeous and healthy and here! You weighed 8lbs and were 19 inches long. My life has never been the same since that moment.
Benjamin - (here come the tears :) I am not exaggerating when I tell you that my heart SWELLS with pride when I think of you - and you are only 4! I can't wait to see the man that you will become. You are strong-willed, yet compassionate; opinonated, yet want to please. You love being outside, riding your bike, playing with your trucks, watching any movie at home. You especially love going to the movie theater. You are extremely smart and are excited about learning. I will honest and tell you that the past three months or so have been a challenge with you, but since you've turned 4, the "switch has flipped" and you are acting so much better and have a much better attitude. You love your sister and brother and they love you, too. Payton wants to dote on you all the time, and Eli wants to do exactly what you do, no matter what. I want to take this time to ask you to please stay close to your brother and sister. They will do anything for you, and I want so much for you guys to celebrate all of lifes moments together - the good and the bad; the fun and the sad. Payton and Eli will always be your friends - even in those time when you feel like you have none.
Benjamin, you have so much potential and it is my and your father's prayer that you grow up to love the Lord; that you seek Him in ALL things. I know that you will be an example to everyone that knows you well as well as those that only spend a small amount of time with you. I can't believe that God let me be your mommy. For that I will always be thankful. You are one special boy, and I love you more than you will ever know, although I will never stop trying to show you.
You were born on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at 11:30(ish) in the morning - during the Arkansas/Alabama game (which we lost). I went into labor with you on Friday night at 9:30. I will never forget it. Your dad, sister and I were across the street at Mr. Matt's house and I just felt yucky. I didn't really think it was "it" because you weren't due for another 13 days. Your due date was October 6th - my 30th birthday. We came home, put Payton to bed and then sat down to watch some TV. I had my first contraction around 9:30. It wasn't painful, but it was definite. So much so that we started timing them. We knew that labor could be a really long process so we weren't too nervous about rushing to the hospital - especially since we weren't sure it was the real thing. Your dad went to bed to get a little bit of rest. I took a shower, straightened the house and packed Payton's bag. Around midnight or so we called Nanny and Paw to come pick up Payton because we had decided at that point that we were going to the hospital. I thought for sure that they would send me home, but I thought "better safe than sorry." When I got to the hospital, I saw that my favorite doctor, Doctor Gorman, was on call and I prayed that he would still be when I delivered you. They declared that I was, in fact, in labor. They hooked me up to all of the monitors, etc. and we were ready to have our baby! Thankfully, I got an epidural before I really felt any pain. Everything was pretty uneventful for your labor - for the most part. There was one scary moment about an hour or so before you were born. They doctors and nurses were watching your heartbeat and I guess your heart was acting kinda funny so they asked me to lay on my left side to alleviate pressure that I was putting on you. I laid that way for what seemed like hours and was starting to get sore. I really wanted to lay on my back or at least switch sides so I did. I asked your daddy and my friend Amanda (not Miss Amamba) to look at your heart monitor just to make sure you didn't freak out when I made the move. Very calmly your dad and Ms. Amanda said that you looked good. Your dad left the room about half a second later, which I Iater learned, was to run to get a nurse because your heart rate plummeted. When he got out of the door, he saw nurses running towards my room because they had seen the same thing on the monitors at the nurses station. When they got in the room, they immediately had me get on my hands and knees and threw an oxygen mask on me. I stayed that way for I don't know how long but I was extremely scared and I would have stayed that way for months if it meant keeping you safe and healthy. Pretty soon they told me I could turn back over - your heart rate got to a comfortable rate. When I turned over, my room looked like something on the set of "ER." Lights, stirrups, stainless steel trays with instruments, etc. all over the place. They decided that I was ready to push and meet my Benjamin. I only pushed for about 45 minutes and out you came - with a TON of jet black hair. You were gorgeous and healthy and here! You weighed 8lbs and were 19 inches long. My life has never been the same since that moment.
Benjamin - (here come the tears :) I am not exaggerating when I tell you that my heart SWELLS with pride when I think of you - and you are only 4! I can't wait to see the man that you will become. You are strong-willed, yet compassionate; opinonated, yet want to please. You love being outside, riding your bike, playing with your trucks, watching any movie at home. You especially love going to the movie theater. You are extremely smart and are excited about learning. I will honest and tell you that the past three months or so have been a challenge with you, but since you've turned 4, the "switch has flipped" and you are acting so much better and have a much better attitude. You love your sister and brother and they love you, too. Payton wants to dote on you all the time, and Eli wants to do exactly what you do, no matter what. I want to take this time to ask you to please stay close to your brother and sister. They will do anything for you, and I want so much for you guys to celebrate all of lifes moments together - the good and the bad; the fun and the sad. Payton and Eli will always be your friends - even in those time when you feel like you have none.
Benjamin, you have so much potential and it is my and your father's prayer that you grow up to love the Lord; that you seek Him in ALL things. I know that you will be an example to everyone that knows you well as well as those that only spend a small amount of time with you. I can't believe that God let me be your mommy. For that I will always be thankful. You are one special boy, and I love you more than you will ever know, although I will never stop trying to show you.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Busy but FUN Weekend!
The Pearsons were crazy busy this weekend, but it was a good one!
I landed in NWA on Thursday night around 9:00 or 9:30 to find that it was raining and had been all week. But I wasn't going to let that drown my excitement about finally being home to my family!
I was so tired, but got my second wind when I saw my sweet husband pull up at the airport parking lot. He had to come pick me up since his truck was dead when I tried to start it :) I was hoping to have a "short" day on Friday since I had traveled on Sunday and had worked long days while I was in NY, but that didn't happen. After I got off work, Roy and I fed the kids quickly and then dropped them off at church for Friday Night Out. I didn't really want to do that because I had just spent four nights away from them, but we had to run errands to get things for Payton's 8th birthday party! This is where the fun comes in. We went down to Fayetteville to visit Party City where we could get all that we needed for party favors, plates, napkins and balloons. Payton was soooo excited about her party and as I thought about her excitement the more excited I got about buying the stuff for it! I think birthdays are so important and should be celebrated in a special way!
Payton had 7 of her friends over for games, food, cake and ice cream and I hope it was a party that she will always remember. The girls showed up and my boys just had a blast with them. They chased the girls up and down the stairs and thought that Payton's friends were there to see them! Once they ran around for a bit, we started the games.
Here is a run down of what we played (courtesy the internet :)
I landed in NWA on Thursday night around 9:00 or 9:30 to find that it was raining and had been all week. But I wasn't going to let that drown my excitement about finally being home to my family!
I was so tired, but got my second wind when I saw my sweet husband pull up at the airport parking lot. He had to come pick me up since his truck was dead when I tried to start it :) I was hoping to have a "short" day on Friday since I had traveled on Sunday and had worked long days while I was in NY, but that didn't happen. After I got off work, Roy and I fed the kids quickly and then dropped them off at church for Friday Night Out. I didn't really want to do that because I had just spent four nights away from them, but we had to run errands to get things for Payton's 8th birthday party! This is where the fun comes in. We went down to Fayetteville to visit Party City where we could get all that we needed for party favors, plates, napkins and balloons. Payton was soooo excited about her party and as I thought about her excitement the more excited I got about buying the stuff for it! I think birthdays are so important and should be celebrated in a special way!
Payton had 7 of her friends over for games, food, cake and ice cream and I hope it was a party that she will always remember. The girls showed up and my boys just had a blast with them. They chased the girls up and down the stairs and thought that Payton's friends were there to see them! Once they ran around for a bit, we started the games.
Here is a run down of what we played (courtesy the internet :)
- "Guess How Many" - I filled a glass jar with M&M's and had them guess how many were in the jar. The winner got to take home the M&Ms
- "Shoveling Snow" - You put a dab of Vaseline on the girls' noses and have them pick up cotton balls with their nose and drop it in a bowl, all the while their hands are behind their back. The first one to get all of the cotton balls in the bowl wins the game.
- "Digging for Gum" - This was the most fun, I think. I placed four gumballs on a paper plate and covered the gum with whipped cream. The girls had to dig for the gumballs with their mouths and the first one to get all four gumballs won the game. Again, their hands had to be behind their back. It was hilarious!
- Then we did your traditional "Pin the Cell Phone in the Girls Hand" and had a pinata that Roy had to tear open because it was too darn hard for the girls to bust with a baseball bat!
We did take pictures, but apparently I don't believe that pictures belong on a blog seeing as how this is my 11th or 12th post and I've not put one picture on here. After the party we cleaned up a little, and then went over to Rob and Charity Holman's house to watch the Hogs play Georgia. It was a great game and we had a great time just sitting and hanging out with them. They have a little boy that is eight months younger than Benjamin and is in Ben's preschool class. Carter and Ben love each other so much, and Eli loves to run with the big boys! Payton is always so patient with all of the boys so it's nice to have her be the "baby-sitter" while we sit in the next room and catch up.
Of course, we got up on Sunday and went to church, came home, had lunch and TOOK A NAP!!! Even I took a nap which I NEVER, EVER, NEVER do. I was so tired that I just didn't have a choice. I slept when the boys slept so it was a good hour nap. Boy did I need it!
Now, on to prepare for Benjamin's party on Saturday and Eli's the following Saturday! It can be a lot of work, but I know the kids will have a blast and hopefully, remember these fun times with their friends and family. My mom is going to try to come in town for Benjamin's party. It will be a good time! Maybe I'll get some pictures up for that post...
or maybe not.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Crazy Love
I've just started the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, and it is fantastic! There are many points that he's made that I underlined but the one that has hit home (so far) is this one: "Both worry and stress reek of arrogance." Ok. Wow. My two biggest strongholds - worry and stress. The Bible says that the Lord can do nothing with pride and arrogance, and here I am being the most arrogant I can be by worrying and stressing out. I will say that I don't stress all the time, but I do worry ALL OF THE TIME. That was part of my problem the other night with getting ready for this trip to NYC. I worried about flying, leaving Roy at home to care for the kids, house, himself as well as get to work, soccer and church. I worry that something will happen to me while I'm here or something will happen to the kids while they're there. Chan also writes: "Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what is happening in our lives. Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control." The control thing is why I worry. If I worry then I feel like I will be prepared for whatever might happen. Stressing out only creates disruption in our relationships. This is what I was referring to in one of my earlier posts about being overwhelmed and taking it all out on my husband and children.
"God will ensure my success in accordance with His plan, not mine."
"God will ensure my success in accordance with His plan, not mine."
Sunday, September 13, 2009
God of this city
Tonight is my first night in the Big Apple - first night of four. I am glad that I'm here even though I don't love getting ready for this (work) trip and I really don't like being away from my family, but I do appreciate this city. Each time I'm here I wish Roy were here too so that we could see the sights and be the typical tourists (minus the fanny packs :). I know he would love it, and it would be awesome to experience this city with your love. I also get excited about taking my kids here when they are older so they can appreciate a city that has so much to offer. New York City appreciates and flourishes in diversity and culture. Though this city, as well as other big and small cities, has it's problmes (homelessness, crime, drugs, etc.) I was reminded as I flew over the landscape that no matter what happens, He is still the God of this city and every city, town, township, community that you are sleeping in tonight.
"There is no one like our God. For greater things have yet come and greater things are still to be done in this city."
"There is no one like our God. For greater things have yet come and greater things are still to be done in this city."
Friday, September 11, 2009
9-11-01
Though this day 8 years ago was one of tragedy, sadness and terror it is also a day of happiness and celebration for my family. Payton Diann Pearson was born on 9/11 at 4:11 and weighed 7.11. Pretty cool, huh? I, of course, had no part or was even aware that Payton or Roy existed on the day she was born, but I am so happy this day happened! As a sidenote, I did meet Roy 3 days later and actually saw pictures of Payton in the hospital at that meeting. I had no idea then that that man and that sweet baby girl would be the beginning of the life I had prayed for. I will go into details of my and Roy's courtship at a later date. This post is about Payton :)
Payton - first let me tell you how much I love and adore you. You are such a sweet, heartfelt and caring little girl. You are always so patient with your brothers and love being their big sister. They love you, too! I will explain this to you when you are older so that you may understand it better, but I want you to know that before I met your father, I prayed that I would find a man who loved the Lord, loved his children and wanted to be a family man - home each night, home on the weekends, coaching soccer, and the like. I never thought that I would marry someone who already had children. I actually didn't think your dad was the "one" when we first met, but the more I prayed the more I heard the still, small voice say his name. I think the Lord lead me to your dad because the Lord knew he was the man I needed, but He also knew that I needed YOU. I am so proud of you and can't wait to watch you blossom into the young woman that I know God intends for you to be. I love the fact that you always want to read your Bible with your dad each night, that you not only take your Bible to church on Sundays but that's it's always accompanied by a notebook and a pencil. You seek to know more about Jesus and I pray that your zeal for seeking His face will continue. Thank you for making me a better mom. It is my prayer that I am the woman and and the example that you need me to be. Happy Birthday Tater! I love you!
Payton - first let me tell you how much I love and adore you. You are such a sweet, heartfelt and caring little girl. You are always so patient with your brothers and love being their big sister. They love you, too! I will explain this to you when you are older so that you may understand it better, but I want you to know that before I met your father, I prayed that I would find a man who loved the Lord, loved his children and wanted to be a family man - home each night, home on the weekends, coaching soccer, and the like. I never thought that I would marry someone who already had children. I actually didn't think your dad was the "one" when we first met, but the more I prayed the more I heard the still, small voice say his name. I think the Lord lead me to your dad because the Lord knew he was the man I needed, but He also knew that I needed YOU. I am so proud of you and can't wait to watch you blossom into the young woman that I know God intends for you to be. I love the fact that you always want to read your Bible with your dad each night, that you not only take your Bible to church on Sundays but that's it's always accompanied by a notebook and a pencil. You seek to know more about Jesus and I pray that your zeal for seeking His face will continue. Thank you for making me a better mom. It is my prayer that I am the woman and and the example that you need me to be. Happy Birthday Tater! I love you!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Overwhelmed
I am completely overwhelmed. In the good way and in the bad way. Is that possible?
This time of the year is so crazy for me. Last weekend I was busy with Run for a Child. This weekend I'm leaving for NY for work until the following Thursday. The Saturday after I get back is Payton's birthday party at the house. The weekend after Payton's party is Benjamin's party. The weekend after Benjamin's party is Eli's party. Not to mention my sister's, husband's and brother's birthdays are somewhere in between there! I hate scrambling. I hate feeling like I get nothing accomplished. I really hate being away from my family for four nights and I hate even more missing church in order to get to a MEETING in NYC by 1:00 - ON A SUNDAY! I have piles of laundry that need to be folded and more piles that need to be put away and even more piles that need to be washed! I feel like I don't ever do anything well and that is really irritating. And when I get irritated I get impatient which means that I take it out on my poor children and husband. I got visibly irritated with Benjamin the other evening for asking me to get him a glass of chocolate milk; and when he saw my reaction he said, "Are you just doing your best, mama?" I wanted to cry because I made him feel bad for asking my help on something that he can't do alone; and I also wanted to cry because he could see that I was doing my best on a day when I knew nobody thought I was doing all I could do.
I am overwhelmed in a good way because I know that our Heavenly Father can see that we are doing our best even when we think no one else does. He knows our hearts and our desires and no matter how bad or good the day has been He has been there with us! I am overwhelmed at the grace that He shows me each day when I get to pick up my sweet, healthy and happy boys from pre-school even after I complain about doing their laundry, cleaning their rooms and getting their chocolate milk. He has blessed me with the house that I clean, the food that I cook and the family that I love so much it hurts. You see I only have to give my time and my energy each day, but God had to give his Son! He had to watch his sweet, healthy and happy boy be beaten, spat upon, flogged and ultimately hung on a cross so that we might complain and ask why but also so that we would be forgiven. It's overwhelming to me that He loved me so much that He would do that!
Sometimes being overwhelmed is a good thing - no wait being overwhelmed is a great thing when you realize that you are overwhelmed because of all of the "stuff" you've been given. So I will be happy that I am leaving on Sunday for NYC because leaving means that I have a healthy family at home and a job that respects me enough to want me at this meeting. I will be happy that I have three birthday parties to throw in three weekends because that means I have three children who have lived another year and have friends with which they can celebrate.
Thank you, Father, for your blessings and for every bit of the "stuff" that you've given me. I am overwhlemed by You.
This time of the year is so crazy for me. Last weekend I was busy with Run for a Child. This weekend I'm leaving for NY for work until the following Thursday. The Saturday after I get back is Payton's birthday party at the house. The weekend after Payton's party is Benjamin's party. The weekend after Benjamin's party is Eli's party. Not to mention my sister's, husband's and brother's birthdays are somewhere in between there! I hate scrambling. I hate feeling like I get nothing accomplished. I really hate being away from my family for four nights and I hate even more missing church in order to get to a MEETING in NYC by 1:00 - ON A SUNDAY! I have piles of laundry that need to be folded and more piles that need to be put away and even more piles that need to be washed! I feel like I don't ever do anything well and that is really irritating. And when I get irritated I get impatient which means that I take it out on my poor children and husband. I got visibly irritated with Benjamin the other evening for asking me to get him a glass of chocolate milk; and when he saw my reaction he said, "Are you just doing your best, mama?" I wanted to cry because I made him feel bad for asking my help on something that he can't do alone; and I also wanted to cry because he could see that I was doing my best on a day when I knew nobody thought I was doing all I could do.
I am overwhelmed in a good way because I know that our Heavenly Father can see that we are doing our best even when we think no one else does. He knows our hearts and our desires and no matter how bad or good the day has been He has been there with us! I am overwhelmed at the grace that He shows me each day when I get to pick up my sweet, healthy and happy boys from pre-school even after I complain about doing their laundry, cleaning their rooms and getting their chocolate milk. He has blessed me with the house that I clean, the food that I cook and the family that I love so much it hurts. You see I only have to give my time and my energy each day, but God had to give his Son! He had to watch his sweet, healthy and happy boy be beaten, spat upon, flogged and ultimately hung on a cross so that we might complain and ask why but also so that we would be forgiven. It's overwhelming to me that He loved me so much that He would do that!
Sometimes being overwhelmed is a good thing - no wait being overwhelmed is a great thing when you realize that you are overwhelmed because of all of the "stuff" you've been given. So I will be happy that I am leaving on Sunday for NYC because leaving means that I have a healthy family at home and a job that respects me enough to want me at this meeting. I will be happy that I have three birthday parties to throw in three weekends because that means I have three children who have lived another year and have friends with which they can celebrate.
Thank you, Father, for your blessings and for every bit of the "stuff" that you've given me. I am overwhlemed by You.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
More (much more) on this later...
BEING A STEPMOM IS HARD!!! Sometimes I have no idea where I stand, what my place is, and if I'm doing everything wrong! Ugggh. I don't know anyone that is in my situation and I could really use some help here!
Monday, September 7, 2009
I didn't like it!
I always thought I would love the nights that my husband and I would have with just the two of us at home while our kids were having a sleepover with friends or other family members for a night or two. We have some time until Benjamin and Eli fly the coop to stay at Cooper's house, but Payton doesn't look back when Jentry calls her for a sleepover or Aunt Jenny wants to take her for the evening for a "girls night out." But Payton is our oldest so when she leaves us to "go have more fun" we are still at home with our boys.
It doesn't happen often that Roy and I have the boys AND Payton to be gone for the night while he and I stay at home, but that opportunity arose this past weekend. My incredible, passionate and caring man and I are on the committee for a local charity that hosts a run each year on Labor Day. This year was the sixth year, and each year we have more and more participants which means more logistical work, etc. All of the money we raise from the sponsorhsips and the registrations go to a local charity, and Roy and I have a heart for the kids at the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter. Well kids in any shelter really, but this event helps kids in that shelter specifically. Anywho, last night we had a dinner to go to for our sponsors and then had to be on site at 5:00 this morning. As I mentioned before we are both involved with Run for a Child and both have to be present in the morning which means that our kiddos have to go somewhere else for the night/next morning. Payton went back to her mother's house on Sunday after church so the boys spent the night with my sister Amanda, afectionately called "Miss Amamba." I dropped the boys off yesterday afternoon around 5:00 with no drama or tears whatsoever so I knew we were off to a good start. Of course, Miss Amamba had bought several pounds of legos to keep them occupied while I snuck off. I was excited for them because I know how much my sister loves my kiddos AND this was Eli's first time to spend the night at her house.
I'm going to be honest and say that I was looking forward to coming home from dinner and getting to go to bed exactly when I wanted to. I didn't have to give anyone a bath, a glass of water, three hugs and three kisses, be told a scary ghost story, cut a hang nail or listen to another secret that Benjanin has for me to hear. I do love our nights with the kids but honestly the incessant excuses get a little frustrating :) It was even more important for us to go to bed when we wanted to because we had to go to bed earlier than usual since we had to get up earlier than usual (like 4:15 am!). So here's the point that will explain the title of my post: Even though I was excited about coming home from dinner, brushing my teeth and hittin' they hay, I really didn't like not having my kids here!! I had the hardest time falling asleep which is soooo not me. Now let me be the first to say that if Roy and I had just come home from dinner in Paris or Cabo or some other fabulous location I may not have had the same problem. But the bottom line is I missed all of the things that I usually want to pull my hair out for on any other night of the week. The most surprising thing about the way I felt is that this wasn't the first time they kids have had to be away on the Sunday night before Labor Day because Roy and I have done this together for the past three years. I guess because I'm getting to know them more and more as the years go on the more I miss them when they aren't with me. I love to see Payton interact with her brothers. Benjamin has the most active imagination and it's awesome to watch it come to life. Eli is sucha treat to watch run around the house and try to keep up with his big brother and big sister.
I'm typing all of this I guess because I always have a hard time believing how fast my kids are growing up. Payton and Benjamin both have September birthdays with Eli's the first week of October. This time of the year is bittersweet for me, and I just don't want my kids to grow so fast!
Payton, Benjamin and Eli - you three are my pride and joy. I know it's cliche but it's true. I think of you guys all day long and pray that I am the mother that you need. Although it's hard to believe how fast you are growing up, your father and I are having a blast watching your personalities develop and shine. I love you!
It doesn't happen often that Roy and I have the boys AND Payton to be gone for the night while he and I stay at home, but that opportunity arose this past weekend. My incredible, passionate and caring man and I are on the committee for a local charity that hosts a run each year on Labor Day. This year was the sixth year, and each year we have more and more participants which means more logistical work, etc. All of the money we raise from the sponsorhsips and the registrations go to a local charity, and Roy and I have a heart for the kids at the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter. Well kids in any shelter really, but this event helps kids in that shelter specifically. Anywho, last night we had a dinner to go to for our sponsors and then had to be on site at 5:00 this morning. As I mentioned before we are both involved with Run for a Child and both have to be present in the morning which means that our kiddos have to go somewhere else for the night/next morning. Payton went back to her mother's house on Sunday after church so the boys spent the night with my sister Amanda, afectionately called "Miss Amamba." I dropped the boys off yesterday afternoon around 5:00 with no drama or tears whatsoever so I knew we were off to a good start. Of course, Miss Amamba had bought several pounds of legos to keep them occupied while I snuck off. I was excited for them because I know how much my sister loves my kiddos AND this was Eli's first time to spend the night at her house.
I'm going to be honest and say that I was looking forward to coming home from dinner and getting to go to bed exactly when I wanted to. I didn't have to give anyone a bath, a glass of water, three hugs and three kisses, be told a scary ghost story, cut a hang nail or listen to another secret that Benjanin has for me to hear. I do love our nights with the kids but honestly the incessant excuses get a little frustrating :) It was even more important for us to go to bed when we wanted to because we had to go to bed earlier than usual since we had to get up earlier than usual (like 4:15 am!). So here's the point that will explain the title of my post: Even though I was excited about coming home from dinner, brushing my teeth and hittin' they hay, I really didn't like not having my kids here!! I had the hardest time falling asleep which is soooo not me. Now let me be the first to say that if Roy and I had just come home from dinner in Paris or Cabo or some other fabulous location I may not have had the same problem. But the bottom line is I missed all of the things that I usually want to pull my hair out for on any other night of the week. The most surprising thing about the way I felt is that this wasn't the first time they kids have had to be away on the Sunday night before Labor Day because Roy and I have done this together for the past three years. I guess because I'm getting to know them more and more as the years go on the more I miss them when they aren't with me. I love to see Payton interact with her brothers. Benjamin has the most active imagination and it's awesome to watch it come to life. Eli is sucha treat to watch run around the house and try to keep up with his big brother and big sister.
I'm typing all of this I guess because I always have a hard time believing how fast my kids are growing up. Payton and Benjamin both have September birthdays with Eli's the first week of October. This time of the year is bittersweet for me, and I just don't want my kids to grow so fast!
Payton, Benjamin and Eli - you three are my pride and joy. I know it's cliche but it's true. I think of you guys all day long and pray that I am the mother that you need. Although it's hard to believe how fast you are growing up, your father and I are having a blast watching your personalities develop and shine. I love you!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
It All Gets Done in the End
I know that my kids won't be kids for long; and before they reach the age where they fly the coop, they will still be kids but won't want to be at home with mom and dad all the time. Payton is 7, almost 8, and she loves to be over at her friend Jentry's house or have Jentry over here. Either way, we don't see her until snacks or a meal are being served. My boys are just 3 (almost 4) and 1 (almost 2). They still have a few years until they are where Payton is, but I know they are coming. My goal as a mom is to remember that my children will only be children for a finite period of time. The objectives of reaching that goal is to remember that they don't want a mom who is always tired from cleaning, folding laundry, cooking dinner, cleaning up after dinner and then being more than axious for them to get in bed so I can clean the family room and finally have a second to sit down and unwind. Because I work outside of the home, the weekends are when I usually try to catch up on chores.
Yesterday, Saturday, was a different day for me. I made a concerted effort to just let it be. I kept thinking, don't spend the time now to do all of this. The kitchen was a mess, there were four baskets of laundry that needed to be folded and beds needed to be made. I chose to ignore it and sit on the couch and play with my baby. Eli and I had the best 20 minutes that we've had in a long time. Benjamin was sleeping and Roy had taken Payton and Jentry to a local sporting goods store. Eli and I laughed and talked and kissed and just loved on each other. It was the sweetest time between mother and son, and tears are coming to my eyes as I type this. I have Eli to thank for the realization that what we did together is what MATTERS. I mean, I knew in theory, that that's what mattered but now I have experienced it. I don't mean to sound like the mom who has three kids and just feeds, shelters and clothes them. I have had some really sweet times with my other two as well, but in the back of my mind I was always worried how I was going to get my "stuff" done. Eli won't remember those 20 minutes but I will. I will also remember that I was still able to spend time with my child and look forward to so many more moments like that with Eli as well as with Benjamin and Payton.
Today, I believe that Roy had the same sort of experience with Benjamin. They left shortly after church and went to the woods and stomped around and did what boys do in the woods. They were gone several hours and Roy kept telling me what a good time that they had. Eli was here with me while Payton had to go back to her mother's house. While Eli took his nap, I was able to get my housework done. I can't be dishonest and say that having an orderly house isn't important to me, and I think children thrive in a structured home; but they thrive moreso on love and attention. And as I sit here and type this post, my kitchen floors are clean, sheets have been changed, laundry folded and put away, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, Roy and I both had some really good moments with our children. I have now learned what will come first, because the other stuff all gets done in the end.
Blessings,
Leslie
Yesterday, Saturday, was a different day for me. I made a concerted effort to just let it be. I kept thinking, don't spend the time now to do all of this. The kitchen was a mess, there were four baskets of laundry that needed to be folded and beds needed to be made. I chose to ignore it and sit on the couch and play with my baby. Eli and I had the best 20 minutes that we've had in a long time. Benjamin was sleeping and Roy had taken Payton and Jentry to a local sporting goods store. Eli and I laughed and talked and kissed and just loved on each other. It was the sweetest time between mother and son, and tears are coming to my eyes as I type this. I have Eli to thank for the realization that what we did together is what MATTERS. I mean, I knew in theory, that that's what mattered but now I have experienced it. I don't mean to sound like the mom who has three kids and just feeds, shelters and clothes them. I have had some really sweet times with my other two as well, but in the back of my mind I was always worried how I was going to get my "stuff" done. Eli won't remember those 20 minutes but I will. I will also remember that I was still able to spend time with my child and look forward to so many more moments like that with Eli as well as with Benjamin and Payton.
Today, I believe that Roy had the same sort of experience with Benjamin. They left shortly after church and went to the woods and stomped around and did what boys do in the woods. They were gone several hours and Roy kept telling me what a good time that they had. Eli was here with me while Payton had to go back to her mother's house. While Eli took his nap, I was able to get my housework done. I can't be dishonest and say that having an orderly house isn't important to me, and I think children thrive in a structured home; but they thrive moreso on love and attention. And as I sit here and type this post, my kitchen floors are clean, sheets have been changed, laundry folded and put away, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, Roy and I both had some really good moments with our children. I have now learned what will come first, because the other stuff all gets done in the end.
Blessings,
Leslie
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Or...
...maybe I'm so exhausted in the mornings because I spend the wee hours of the night wrestling with my 3-year-old who has once again snuck into bed with me. Like he did last night. I woke up at 2:00 this morning after Benjamin had managed to simultaneously kick me in the gut and hit me in the face. Once I woke up to take him back to his bed, I realized that I hadn't really slept because I had spent most of the night trying to avoid what Benjamin ended up accomplishing - beating the you-know-what out of his mamma while we slept. He, of course, is none the wiser since he is sleeping peacefully and comfortably knowing that he is snuggled next to his mom. He is completely unaware of the tears of pain and exhaustion that I'm trying to hold back while I lift my lil' heavyweight back to his own boxing ring.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Discipline
So the title of this post has more to do with me than with my children... I realize that my whole idea of blogging was really to provide my kids a virtual scrapbook of their childhood as well as my and Roy's thoughts and feelings. A very intergral part of scrapbooking, whether it be virtual or real, is photographs. This is where the discipline comes in. Roy and I don't need discipline it TAKING pictures. The discipline is need in DOWNLOADING the pictures. So this is the second day of my new blog and I haven't picture one on here. I realize it's only my second night to post anything, but I really need to get in the habit of downloading the pictures that I've taken. So I have taken a pledge to use this holiday weekend as an opportunity to take LOTS of pictures as well as post them on my blog! Wow - what a novel idea.
Come to think of it, there are many areas of my life that need discipline. As I sit here and type this post, I am so tired that I don't think I can move anything but my fingers. I need to be better about going to bed sooner than I have been. I used to be a morning person. Even when I was a child I was always the first one awake. I was never that kid that slept past 8:00 am. As a teenager, I rarely slept past 10:00 am unless I had an "all nighter" slumber party or something. I always felt that if I slept past 10:00 half of the day was gone and I didn't like that feeeling. Well things have changed since I have had kids. One would think that with having children you would go to bed earlier instead of later. That used to be the case when my boys were infants because I wasn't running on a full tank of gas if you know what I mean. Getting up every two hours (Eli) really did a number on me for several months so I went to bed whenever I had the opportunity. Now that all of my kids are sleeping through the night I usually use the hours of 9:00 to 11:00 to "prowl" as my pastor's wife calls it. This is when I can unwind, fold laundry, catch up on my DVR'd episodes of Top Chef and The Next Food Network Star. Oh, ok I'll admit it now - and The Real Housewives of (Insert name of major city here). There I feel much better. Now where was I? Oh yeah prowling. Anywho, I revel in that time that I have the whole house to myself. Roy typically goes to bed around 9:00 or 9:30. He's a good example of self discipline. He goes to bed early so he can get up early and have his quiet time to study and read the scriptures before the kids get up. That's what I'm trying to do, but I lack the discipline! When my alram goes off at 5:30 I cringe. I have a hard time going to bed with dirty dishes in the sink and "things" out-of-place. Everything has to be "just so" or as close to "just so" as it can get. I am definitely a Martha. You know, the two sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus came over to their house and Mary sat at Jesus' feet while Martha flittered around the house trying to make everything "just so." Jesus didn't care what the house looked like. He wanted Martha to sit at his feet and listen to him. Although I can't literally sit at Jesus' feet today, I can sit at His feet by reading the word of God. I need to be a Mary and not a Martha. Some things are just more important than others and getting rest (even God rested) and studying the word of God should be the most important things on our "to do" lists.
So I'll try tonight (again) to go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier and have my quiet time. I'll keep you posted on how it's going!
Blessings,
Leslie
Come to think of it, there are many areas of my life that need discipline. As I sit here and type this post, I am so tired that I don't think I can move anything but my fingers. I need to be better about going to bed sooner than I have been. I used to be a morning person. Even when I was a child I was always the first one awake. I was never that kid that slept past 8:00 am. As a teenager, I rarely slept past 10:00 am unless I had an "all nighter" slumber party or something. I always felt that if I slept past 10:00 half of the day was gone and I didn't like that feeeling. Well things have changed since I have had kids. One would think that with having children you would go to bed earlier instead of later. That used to be the case when my boys were infants because I wasn't running on a full tank of gas if you know what I mean. Getting up every two hours (Eli) really did a number on me for several months so I went to bed whenever I had the opportunity. Now that all of my kids are sleeping through the night I usually use the hours of 9:00 to 11:00 to "prowl" as my pastor's wife calls it. This is when I can unwind, fold laundry, catch up on my DVR'd episodes of Top Chef and The Next Food Network Star. Oh, ok I'll admit it now - and The Real Housewives of (Insert name of major city here). There I feel much better. Now where was I? Oh yeah prowling. Anywho, I revel in that time that I have the whole house to myself. Roy typically goes to bed around 9:00 or 9:30. He's a good example of self discipline. He goes to bed early so he can get up early and have his quiet time to study and read the scriptures before the kids get up. That's what I'm trying to do, but I lack the discipline! When my alram goes off at 5:30 I cringe. I have a hard time going to bed with dirty dishes in the sink and "things" out-of-place. Everything has to be "just so" or as close to "just so" as it can get. I am definitely a Martha. You know, the two sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus came over to their house and Mary sat at Jesus' feet while Martha flittered around the house trying to make everything "just so." Jesus didn't care what the house looked like. He wanted Martha to sit at his feet and listen to him. Although I can't literally sit at Jesus' feet today, I can sit at His feet by reading the word of God. I need to be a Mary and not a Martha. Some things are just more important than others and getting rest (even God rested) and studying the word of God should be the most important things on our "to do" lists.
So I'll try tonight (again) to go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier and have my quiet time. I'll keep you posted on how it's going!
Blessings,
Leslie
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Maiden Voyage
Well, this is the first of hopefully many blog entries. I am very excited to have started this process. I have just eneterd the blog world thanks to a friend, http://thehallfamilypage.blogspot.com/ Windy Hall, who used her blog to update friends and family on her husband's battle with cancer. From Windy's blog, I found a blog "button" called "Praying For Stellan" which was a small picture of an adorable baby sleeping in a hospital bed. From that moment on, I was hooked on "MckMama" http://mycharmingkids.net/ and her blog. MckMama has probably close if not more than 15 million hits and is an incredible writer. What's the most amazing about his woman is that she has 4 children who are 4 and under - NO TWINS. Her last two were "Irish" twins, and the baby, Stellan, has a heart condition called SVT. She has the best attitude about everything and is a faithful servant of the Lord. Anywho, I say all of this to explain that once I started reading MckMama's blog, I realized that this would be a great way for me to journal about my life, my marriage, my children, my family and my friends. It seems that since I decided to start a blog that I've been writing blog posts in my head and now I will be able to have a place to store them.
So now that I've begun, where do I begin? I am 33-years-old, married to Roy - the man that God made for me. Roy and I have been married for 5 years and have three children. Payton Diann is our 7-year-old daughter. Now, I'm sure you've done the math and I should tell you that Payton is my step-daughter, though I don't like describing her as that. Benjamin is our 3 1/2-year-old son. Benjamin is named after his father and has quite the name legacy: Roy Benjamin Pearson, V. And our youngest is Eli James. He's 20-months-old. I think it's funny that I still tell people how old Eli is in months. I think that when Benjamin was past the 18-month mark I just started saying "a year and a half" or "almost two." Eli is our last baby and I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that he's about to be two - well out of the baby stage. I guess giving people his age in months make him seem younger than he really is. Sigh. They grow up so fast and I am trying to come to terms that I no longer have babies. I am the mother of a third grader, a preschooler and a toddler!! It's a dichotomy of sorts - you are happy that they are able to do more for themselves but at the same time you are sad that they don't need you as much. I guess I better get used to it, huh?
I've got so much more to write but it's time for my nightly bowl of cereal and then off to beddie-bye. Thanks for joining me on the "Maiden Voyage" of As for Me and My House (more about my blog title later).
Blessings,
Leslie
So now that I've begun, where do I begin? I am 33-years-old, married to Roy - the man that God made for me. Roy and I have been married for 5 years and have three children. Payton Diann is our 7-year-old daughter. Now, I'm sure you've done the math and I should tell you that Payton is my step-daughter, though I don't like describing her as that. Benjamin is our 3 1/2-year-old son. Benjamin is named after his father and has quite the name legacy: Roy Benjamin Pearson, V. And our youngest is Eli James. He's 20-months-old. I think it's funny that I still tell people how old Eli is in months. I think that when Benjamin was past the 18-month mark I just started saying "a year and a half" or "almost two." Eli is our last baby and I am having a hard time dealing with the fact that he's about to be two - well out of the baby stage. I guess giving people his age in months make him seem younger than he really is. Sigh. They grow up so fast and I am trying to come to terms that I no longer have babies. I am the mother of a third grader, a preschooler and a toddler!! It's a dichotomy of sorts - you are happy that they are able to do more for themselves but at the same time you are sad that they don't need you as much. I guess I better get used to it, huh?
I've got so much more to write but it's time for my nightly bowl of cereal and then off to beddie-bye. Thanks for joining me on the "Maiden Voyage" of As for Me and My House (more about my blog title later).
Blessings,
Leslie
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