Violet and the adventure baby shoes

Dear Violet,

Last night as we were winding down for bed, your big brother Grey had found one of your tiny sneakers in the big kids' room and set off to your room to put it away.  About ten minutes later, I went in to collect your siblings and found the both of them in the corner of your room organizing baby shoes.

There are two quick things you should know, honey.  First we have a lot of baby shoes because you are blessed to have an older sister, older girl cousins, and a best friend that has passed down their clothes and shoes to you.  Second, you're the third baby which means you rarely ever wear pants, let alone shoes.  (sorry - I promise this will change when you learn how to use your feet, hah)

So anyway, the kids were matching up these little shoes - which had previously been stockpiled in your sock drawer - and also talking about all the occasions on which their baby sister was going to be wearing each pair of shoes.

Greyson:  These shoes are for going to fun places with Gigi and Pappy.  And these shoes are for, ya know, visiting cowboys...?
Gemma (nodding):  mmhmm.  yep.
Greyson:  These shoes, here, are for crawling in our yard, and these ones are for church.
Gemma:  These shoes are for dance parties!
Greyson:  And these ones are for having a sleepover at Abba and Chums - ya know, when she gets bigger and can fit them.
Gemma:  Yea!  And these ones are for the beach
Greyson:  These ones are for walking in the mud.  And these ones are for, like...ya know, going to beautiful places.
.

I sat in our rocking chair, holding you and listening to your brother and sister going on and on about all the amazing places and things you'll do.  There you were snuggled up in your onesie (no pants!) dreaming the sweet dreams of a baby with a belly full of milk - and their little minds were daydreaming about you and your adventure baby shoes. 

In small moments like last night, I am overcome with gratitude.

Thankful to get to be the mumma to wonderful, imaginative, and funny kids.

So very very grateful that you will always have one another

...to learn from each other

...to stand beside each other

...to go on adventures together

....even to visit with cowboys, 

or go to dance parties, 

and hopefully most of all to go to, 

ya know, beautiful places.  

No matter where your adventure shoes take you in your whole life, Violet girl, know that they can always, always bring you back home.  

we love you, Lettie bug.
forever and ever.
even when you get so big.
mumma

The Mom Next Door Series: Jen S

I am honored today to bring you our Mom Next Door interview from Jen S; the mom of a girl and an incredible little boy who overcame an enormous obstacle in his young life.  Jen and her husband Kevin are former residents of our hometown who gave our entire community (and beyond) a lesson in standing together and believing against all odds in never giving up.  One of Jen's photo captions following Owen's successful surgeries stood out to me, sort of encapsulating their whole story, it read:  "Don't believe in miracles?  Maybe he (Owen) will help you."

Please read on to learn more about Jen, Owen, and their entire family who stood together through a very scary challenge, only to come out stronger and with the firm belief that anything is possible with prayers, support, and love behind you.

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Who are you?  My name is Jen Sheridan. I'm 33 years old and live in Pittsburgh, PA. I don't blog, but I do have a Facebook page for my son own - Owen's Miracle Journey

Who is in your family?  I live with my husband Kevin, daughter Aubrey (2 years), son Owen (10 months), and our 7 year old 100lb lap dog Dakota

What do you do for work?  I just started work at Carlow University this October as the Senior Accountant.  For the last 5 years before that, I was employed by Conemaugh Health System in their Internal Audit Department.

What has been your most difficult Mom moment (so far)?  Owen was born with a neural tube defect known as an encephalocele. To say it was large is an understatement. No one thought they could operate so we were sent home on Hospice. With the strength of God, my husband, family and friends we spoke to numerous doctors until we found a group of AWESOME doctors at Boston Children's Hospital who would perform a very risky, but life saving surgery. We owe them the world.

What would your pre-mom self be surprised to know about motherhood?  That I can actually function on 5 hours of sleep! I used to sleep in until 11am...9am used to be too early for me to wake up!  Now, it would be fantastic if I could sleep IN until 9a!

What would your pre-mom self be proud to know about you in motherhood?  I'm stronger than I ever thought I could be when it comes to our kids. My husband and I fought and fought for our son. All the experts told us that he would not make it to term, much less live outside of the womb. We were told he wouldn't be able to breathe on his own. He surprised everyone and was born screaming. 

Which chore is your least favorite?  Putting close away. I don't mind folding them but somehow they won't get in the closet or the dresser.

What keeps you up at night?  Our daughter! She starts the night in her crib but wakes up in the middle of the night. The only way I learned to function was to bring her in bed with us. She sleeps until morning in our bed and I have to admit, I love it. I know someday she won't want to be in there with us. So I'm trying to enjoy the time as much as possible... even when she keeps me up for hours.

What big projects, worries, or events have you busy right now?  We just relocated to Pittsburgh from our hometown of Johnstown, PA. My husband and I had to get new jobs, sell our Johnstown home, buy a home in Pittsburgh and move...and we did it all within the last 2 months. It's been hectic but we felt this is what is best for our family.

What do you feel like you wish you were better at being a mom?  Patience. Sometimes my patience is very lacking. I hate that about myself and I'm definitely working on it.

What are the small joys of being a Mom that you treasure most right now?  The hugs, kisses, smiles and cuddles. I wouldn't trade that for the world. Now that my daughter is talking (non-stop!) I love when I put her to bed. We must say "I love you" five (or more) times before I finally shut the door.

The 32 pound comedian

This chick...

Granted, I'm only about a month into this gig - but it appears that the number of children (3) seems to be less of a challenge than does the ages of two of those children.  Grey at 4 and a half is a big help and usually very sweet and patient with all of us (little sisters included).  We are really lucky to have such a thoughtful son (...actually, I could use a lesson or two from him on patience at many occasions during the day in my sleep deprivation of the rotten 8).

It's common knowledge that a newborn in and of itself is sort of a tricky part - regardless of how many kids you have.  A newborn requires lots of time, lots of holding, lots of interruptions, and very little sleep.  And you can't really blame those little peanuts on account of them being so little and also so damn cute.  hah.

But around these parts - we not only have a newborn added to our mix, but we are also currently operating under the take-no-prisoners dictatorship of a two and a half year old.

This girl sets her mind to whatever she wants and that's the law of the land.  There's a whole lot of "Watch this/Look at this!" going on all.day.long.  At two and half, Gem is walking a tight rope suspended between "Hold me" and "I can do it myself" and let me tell you, the wind up there blows all day long.  We have long days of tested patience waiting for her to decide if she wants no help at all from us or if she is helpless - with a constant stream of toddler dialogue pouring out of her little pouty mouth.

It all makes for a mumma who needs extra cups of coffee and  halloween candy quietly poached from the cabinet.

Luckily for us; although exhausting - most of Gemma's antics are pretty hilarious these days (as all two and half year olds tend to be).  So if you're up for a few laughs today, check out some of our 32 pound comedian's current stand up routine -

She sings Kumbaya all day long, but changes the verse depending on the situation, for example at dinner time:

Gemma:  I don't like my chicken my Lord, Kumbaya.  Oh Lord, Kumbaya

or at nighttime

Gemma: Where is BigFoot my Lord, Kumbaya.  Oh Lord, Kumbaya

We were in a restaurant bathroom stall when the woman in the stall next to us passed gas rather loudly.

Gemma:  What was that noise?!

Mum:  Please mind your own business, Gem.

Gemma:  No, but what was that noise?

Mum:  Honey, go potty please.

Gemma:  That noise was a monster?

(the questioning went on until we left the bathroom).

Mum:  Gem, please stop flushing the toilet.  You only need to flush one time.

Gemma:  I have to do things.

Gemma came downstairs in the morning crying that Daddy wouldn't help her change her clothes and I thought she had had a bad dream about it.  
Mum:  Gem said she had a bad dream about you not helping her change her clothes! Haha
Dad:  That wasn't a dream, she came in too early and I told her to keep her jammies on
Gemma:  Dad, I want to change my clothes now
Dad:  Gem, not now, it's still morning - let's eat breakfast first
Gemma (looking at me and pointing at Brandon):  Did you see that?


Mum:  Please stop touching the sound machine.
Gemma:  I have to do things.

Gemma:  I can do this (claps hands) but you can't because it's too tricky for you.

Grey:  I can do that.

Gemma:  No, it's really tricky and I'm bigger than  you, so...

Grey:  Gem, I'm bigger than  you.

Gemma:  No, I'm two and half and I can do this (claps hands) and it's really tricky for you because I'm bigger and so, I can do this (claps hands)

Grey (to me):  Can you please take care of this?

Mum:  Gemma, is that scotch tape yours?

Gemma:  no.

Mum:  What's the rule?

Gemma:  not yours, don't touch it.

Mum:  yep, put it back.

Gemma:  I have to do things.

After velcro'ing her own sneakers

Gemma:  Look!  I'm magical.  So I get to hold the baby right now.  Standing up.

Talking to Violet

Gemma:  hi, baby!  I'm so proud of you!  I'll never drop you.  I promise.  Never, ever, ever.  I betect you from the bad guys.  Because I'm supergirl.

Gemma: (turns her head and sneezes away from Violet):  Look!  I didn't Bless You on her!

Mum:  Where are you going with the baby's wipes?

Gemma:  I have to do things.

Here's to the terrible (and hilarious) twos!