Formspring #2: Motherhood

As a tag-along to my last post, I figured I'd share a few more mom-related formspring questions and responses. Enjoy!

So, as a follow-up, how many more kids are you planning on at this point?

Probably 5, but we'll see what life brings. I mean, 5 total...not 5 more ;)
(Spencer insists that I should say 12 or we'll stop when I turn 35, whatever comes first :P)


Do you ever feel like you missed out on something by having your kids so quickly and not much time to yourself?

Yeah, the thought occurs occasionally. I used to feel that way a lot more often when I was a newer mom. Sometimes I see young, free college students and I get a little jealous. But, at the end of the day, I do much better in a steady relationship then alone, so I can't imagine life being better if I had married later...then, once you're married it seems the kids come too.

Part of me wishes Spence and I had taken more time to really enjoy ourselves before Ezra came along (we had only been married about 14 1/2 months), but we felt like we were supposed to have him when we did, so that was that.

While I most likely did miss out on a lot of kid-less play and freedom, I can't honestly say I'd have it any other way. My kids make my life so much more full and I can't help but think that it'd be a more then a little lacking if things had gone differently.

So do you ever feel alone in the world of women without a friend to talk to?

Sometimes, especially if the day is particularly rough...but then I remember that I do have people to talk to if I choose to open up and rely on them. I have my sisters, who I talk to very often. I have my best friend from high school (who I co-blog with on Hot Chocolate Talk). I have girls from my ward and friends online.

I think the biggest thing for me is realizing that those women might just be feeling a little down and lonely themselves and it's just as much up to me to reach out to them as it is for them to reach out to me. No matter where one is in life: student, young married, new mom, veteran mom, or empty nester, there are always women who are dealing with the exact same stuff and can reach out and relate. Even better, one can easily cross those lines and realize that a veteran mom can help and relate to a young mom or a young mom to a student or newlywed. We're all just trying to get through the day...but life's trials and joys are so much better when one shares them.

One more thing, just so y'all know...

this song makes me happy :)

(it kinda makes me want to be a hippy)

Formspring #1: Babies

You asked and I promised to answer. I can't say I was all that shocked when I received this as my first real question from formspring...

"Not that you can go back now, but how do you feel about having 3 kids so close together? Any chance baby #4 is in the works?! You're a fantastic mother!"

You want the short answer? Honestly, I love having 3 kids so close together. Oh, and I also hate it.

As for the long one, we'll start with the Cons: There no denying that there are a lot of difficulties that come with having kids so close in age (currently almost 5, 3, and almost 2 or 19 and 17 months apart). First off, they fight...they fight, fight, fight, fight! I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they play so much together (and so often with the same toys) that arguments are inevitable. But...rumor has it all kids do, so I don't know if their ages really effect it all that much. The hardest so far was when they were babies (we missed the Three Under Three cut-off by 5 days)...because they really were still babies when the next one came along. I used to have people inquire how my baby was doing and I couldn't help but ask, "which one?" in confusion. It was really hard to deal with a screaming newborn and a clingy, whiny toddler all at the same time. Not to mention, it was really really really hard simultaneously dealing with a screaming newborn, clingy, whiny toddler, and naughty, attention-deprived preschooler. We didn't plan on having Scarlett so soon after Georgia and it was a huge shock to the system. I just didn't have enough hands and honestly, still don't. You should see us try to go grocery shopping. We're like a friggin' three-ring circus, which, of course, innocent bystanders don't hesitate to point out to me.

Pros: That being said, there are so many things that I love about having my kids so close in age. They are each other's ever-present best friends. They learn from each other, but they're young enough that there are so many things that they learn with each other. They entertain one another really well (although I can assure you there's massive gobs of destruction and disorder in their wake). I love the thought of them growing up together and having a big rowdy house full of teenagers (crazy, I know ;). One of the things I love most is the idea of them having built-in peers. As my kids are so close in age, I will be having a senior, junior, and freshman in high school all at the same time...I'm really hoping that the peer pressure in this case will be a good thing. I also love the fact that I'm blowing through these baby years and will be done young. I guess the hope is that I can enjoy lots of middle-aged kid-less years to make up for the fact that I started so young.

When it comes to a recommendation, I really can't say. Something like that is so dependent on the parents. It's a good fit for me for a number of reasons: I'm young and have lots of energy, I love change so I really enjoy frequent pregnancies, I don't really feel the need to keep my children babies for very long, and I honestly don't mind being in baby-mode (although I could do without the massive amounts of money spent on diapers). So, if you fit those categories, you might do well with multiple small children.

As for baby #4...We've been attempting for about 6 months now without much luck. It's been a big shock to the system since the other three didn't take much effort (Ezra was the longest at 4 months, but he was our first and we were still working out all the cycle kinks, Georgia was a lucky first time, and Scarlett was our oops). We waited until Scarlett was 18 months to start trying to give us a bit of a break, but we really hoped to be well on our way to #4 by now. Oh well, in the words of Miss Doris Day, "Que Sera, Sera. Whatever will be, will be."

Hope you enjoyed the extra peek into me! Feel free to direct any additional questions to my formspring widget on the sidebar. Have a fabulous day!

Bazillion Picture Catch-Up

We have had a very busy couple of months around here! August was just insane followed by an equally insane September. Here's a bit of what's been going on around here...

(warning: VAST amounts of un-chronological pictures following)

Ezra's first day of preschool. As I'm sure you can tell, he was verrrry excited.

(ps-I made Georgia's dress this last August. Isn't it adorable? Thanks Grandma B and Mom for the material (circa 1971), pattern, and endless amounts of patience!)

My sister Stephanie and her lovely daughter Ella came to visit a few weeks back, followed by her sons Cooper and Greyson and husband Phillip a week or so later. We attempted to do and see as much as possible with so many kids running around.

We visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's Sculpture Park

(The giant shuttlecock is by the husband and wife team of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen)

There was much hill-rolling to be done there.

We couldn't resist the lure of the Crown Center...twice.

Fritz's


There was the giant Crayola Store

If you've ever spent time with Greyson, you know just how seriously the boy takes his mac and cheese.


They had the best Clifford (ya know, the big red dog) interactive exhibit going on.

Indoors or out, the girls always manage to find flowers to pick.

Ezra's treasures from the beach/sand table

Ella and Georgia as T-Bone and Cleo, respectively

Would you like germs with that?

The fountains are always a must-do.

Isn't this the sweetest picture ever?

There's the necessary Plaza visit


The boys just HAD to get a up-close look at this wicked Mystery Machine look-alike.


Church Sites!

Ezra and Spencer at Liberty Jail

The Boys
(man, Ezra has some bad hair in this picture...and bad outfit...and non-matching shoes. yeah, I didn't have much input on this one.)

The Girls

Scarlett thinks that Greyson pretty much walks on water. Every red-headed boy she sees is Greyson to her. It's adorable.

Giddy-up, Cowboys!


Cooper sweeping the hearth in his frontier cabin

In other news...

My little brother Jesse came home from his year-long visit to Japan (he was doing a college-level foreign exchange). I took the kids down for a weekend visit to see him. Jesse's practically my arm, he's so much a part of me, so I was very excited to have him home again.

A big THANK YOU to Hannah since I totally stole this picture. I was a loser and took not a single picture when I visited Oklahoma.

We had a super-fun (and full) visit from Spencer's little brother Eric and sister Heather. Heather recently returned from her mission in Bangkok, Thailand, so it was a great excuse to get them out here to see us. I was, predictably, a picture-taking slacker, so if someone wants to send me a few of theirs *cough*Heather*cough* I promise they'll make it up here.

Oh look, my children looking like un-loved ragamuffins again. shocker.



The End.

ps-I have an answer to post for one of my formspring questions (refer to previous post), so check back soon!

my life is like an open book

Throughout my life I've made it a point to let the world know who I am and what I think. Anyone who has known me, even for a little bit, knows that I'll pretty much talk about anything, whether I probably should or not. I've always claimed, and truly believe, that my life is like an open book for those who choose to read. I think that's one of the reasons I've taken to blogging so well...it allows me to express myself in full honesty. I've always believed that if we are truly willing to share our full selves with the world, we'll all be able to relate a little better, hold back the judgment and, at the risk of sounding cliche, just get along. My mistakes, my triumphs, my weaknesses, and my strengths...I own them. They are who I am.

That's why, when I saw that my friend, Megan, had created a Form Spring account, I knew it was my type of bandwagon to jump on. Basically, in the right-hand column you'll see a small box where you can ask me any question you'd like. As an added perk, it's completely anonymous, if you'd prefer. Feel free to ask whatever catches your fancy and I'll attempt to live up to my claim of honesty...and answer. The plan is to share some of the fun ones with y'all. So, ask away :)

I hear a guitar solo coming on...

You take some big, wig-like, mullet-shaped hair...

add in a Steven Tyler-esque mouth...

throw in a larger-then-life personality...

...and you've got yourself the makings of a great hair band, my friend.

Confession

Confession:


I


am


a


total


GLEEK.


One week, in counting, until the return of Glee. Be still, my heart, be still.




You might want to pause this last one for a few seconds at the beginning to give it a chance to load.



Please tell me I'm not the only one addicted to this show.

phew.

On his way to run some errands with the kids the other day, Spencer decided to swing by a park to let them play for a bit*. Immediately he realized his mistake of stopping in an uber-nice area of town. Looking around, there was a ratio of one kid per parent (with each parent closely following their small charge) and the place was flooded with massive amounts of khakis, tucked-in polos, and loafers.

As he sat around watching his bare-footed, crazy-haired, dirty-faced mowglis run around, he was approached by a mom who asked him incredulously if all three kids were his and if he actually came alone to the park. After he responded in the positive, she asked him how he did it as she had two small boys at home and couldn't even manage to leave the house when she was alone with them. At this time, the mom had a bit of a epiphany. She theoretically wiped her brow, telling Spencer that, "It must be because I have TWO boys, while two of your kids are GIRLS." phew, indeed.

With a chuckle, Spencer just gestured to our girls playing together, saying, "I don't know, that one there, she's a wild one."

So, next time Scarlett's standing on top of Georgia's dresser, chucking things off, or Georgia's painting herself, the house, and every window in sight with mud, I'll think to myself, "It's a darn good thing we have girls." [insert eye roll and dripping sarcasm here]


p.s.-Catch-up post a-comin', I promise.

*Yes, he was alone with all three kids on a Saturday morning, running errands, AND stopping at a park? Where does he keep his cape, right?