Poop and standing on her sister

Poop. Poop. Poop. Everywhere. In her panties. In the bath. On her legs. On the carpet. In the toilet (yay!). On Lorelai* At the park. In the pull up. Twice. Everywhere. The odd thing is, she didn't seem to notice it. Ever. She usually does, but this was a different kind of poop. She wasn't bothered. Except by the multiple changes of clothes. And, to top of the wonderful (said sarcastically) week we've been having. She stood on her sister with both feet and bounced. Luckily Lorelai didn't seem bothered either. Yes, daddy is at the station. But, tomorrow they are all his. For a little bit anyway. *just to clarify this was Lorelai's poop. Elle's never made it onto Lor. Although there is always tomorrow.

3.5 years later...

3.5 years ago 3 friends were laying on a bed watching the tv show FRIENDS on DVD. Laughing historically. Tonight, they finished the series. During the time that it took us to get through the entire series, we each had two kids (that is 6 total in case you needed help with the math). When we first started only one of us was pregnant. It was definitely bittersweet to finish. Sad because it's over, but grateful to be sharing life with these two women and their families. It is so easy to take your friends for granted and as cheesy as it is, ending the series tonight was a great reminder of how blessed we are. And, a friendly reminder that none of us is allowed to move away. It took us 3.5 years to get through the series, but it was 3.5 years of great laughter and fun times together. Also, goes to show you how much kids change things. It might have taken 1/3 of the time had we not become baby making machines. Thank you FRIENDS for the entertainment and the reminder of the importance of living in community together. Thank you Mindie and Maggie for being such great friends and living this thing called life with me. You guys definitely make me a a better wife, mom, and overall person. Also, in case you didn't know...the title of my blog is inspired by the titles of all the FRIENDS episodes...

Her favorite princess

Elle and I had a mommy/daughter date tonight. We went to chick fil a and Target. She got some princess stuff from the dollar spot and the check out lady asked who her favorite princess is. After asking several times she finally replied "Mommy".

If that doesn't make this motherhood thing worth it, I don't know what would.

Going to the doctor...

Elle: I'm leaving guys (with her nap-n-go on her shoulder like a purse, and milk in her hand)

Me: where are you going?

Elle: the doctor

Me: okay. Let me know how it goes

Elle leaves and enters again

Elle: I'm home

Me: what did the doctor say?

Elle: no more monkeys jumping on the bed (pointing her finger as she says it)

Nittney's Creations...here we go!!

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I wanted to learn to crochet. I was going on a trip to Oklahoma with my parents and decided to teach myself on the way. It was successful and I spent many hours crocheting simple things. I slowly got better, but never would have considered my stuff good enough to sell. After my daughter was born, I took a long hiatus from crocheting. Not on purpose, but you know, life changed.

My best friend, Brittney (yes we have the same name), had recently been bugging me to crochet (and teach her to do a beanie). Now I am pregnant with my second daughter and back to crocheting. I feel like the hiatus somehow made me better. It took me a few stitches, but I got the hang of it again pretty fast. My first project was a scarf for myself and a matching hat. It turned out amazing. I am usually very critical of my own work, but I was impressed. I made hats for Elle and Lorelai and decided they had plenty, so I started making them for friends.

Once I started giving them away, people started telling me I should sell them on etsy. My first reaction was "I couldn't do that". The stuff you see on etsy is cute and "perfect". My stuff is still far from perfect. I didn't have the confidence to think my stuff would even sell on etsy. But, the more I thought about it, the more I am convinced I could help my family out financially by doing something that I love to do: crochet.

I still have some hesitation and fears. I don't want to feel overwhelmed, and I don't want this hobby to become more "work" than "fun". It's relaxing to me and I am afraid if I start doing it as a business, I will lose that enjoyment. But, nonetheless, I am going to take this leap and see where I land.

So, etsy account set up....just have to add items. Will do that during nap time I guess. Gotta get this girl lunch and sleep.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nittney

For my dad...on his day!

Everyone is blessed by their father. EVERYONE! You wouldn't be here without him.

But, not everyone is blessed to have a Daddy. I have a very special kind.

My Daddy didn't have that "you slipped into my arms and into my heart" kind of moment. I wasn't a perfect sweet little newborn when he met me. He had a different kind of introduction to fatherhood.

Not only did two little girls invade his house, but the oldest (me) was stubborn, smart, and a terror. Not always, but a lot.

But, my dad never lost his temper, never gave up, and constantly loved me. He made sure I knew he was going to love me no matter what, and he never abandoned me. Most 6 year olds don't worry about their father abandoning them (unless of course he has), but I did.

My Daddy is one of the most mild mannered, sensitive, "keep his cool" kind of guy I know. Even when he would discipline us, he never let his anger control him and we could tell it was killing him inside. I don't believe most parents when they say "this hurts me more than you", but for him I think it probably hurt just as much.

Despite the fact that my Daddy is not biological, I've never felt otherwise. In fact, sometimes I really do forget that I'm adopted. I forget that he missed out on the first 6 years of my life and to him I'm really only 19. I forget that I didn't get my blue eyes from him, or my stubborn will. I forget that he didn't get to experience the bonding with a precious newborn, like I did with my daughter.

I am amazed at the love he has shown me despite all of those things he didn't get to experience. He loved me just the same. As if he did bond with me as a newborn and watch me grow. He picked up the pieces of my brokenness and put them back together. He made sure I knew how a man was supposed to care for his family. He made sure that I knew I deserved to be treated better.

My Daddy wasn't perfect, but he was perfect for me. God knew that. I don't think it was God's plan (from the beginning) for my birth parents to destroy their lives' and those of their children, but it was his plan to provide me with Amazing parents when they did.

I am thankful for my heavenly Daddy who has carried me through it all.

I am thankful for my Daddy as well as my Daddy in love. These men have been consistent and have loved me through a lot, and now I get to watch them love and adore my sweet little girl. I get to watch them be Papa's. Definitely a title they both carry well. I am thankful that they are such great examples for my daughter. That she will know how boys and eventually men should treat her.

I am thankful for my husband who has been an amazing daddy, and has grown so much in the past 15 months. This girl of ours has stretched him and blessed him beyond his wildest dreams. Not only will she have a great example in her Papa's, but her Daddy will be the best example of all.

Motherhood x2

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I am going to be a mother to two children. It seems surreal and I sometimes forget that I am pregnant. I blame it partly on my preggo brain and partly on the 1 year old distraction that I call Elizabeth.

Part of me cannot wait for this bundle to arrive, but the other part wants it to be just the 3 of us a little longer. While I have no doubts about being a family of 4, I know I can never go back to only being 3. I will have to give two children a bath, tuck two children into bed, worry about feeding two children, and love two children.

Honestly, I don't know how I could love another child as much as I love Elle. I know that I will and that God will provide that love through me, beyond my understanding, but I cannot imagine. I'm almost afraid to. It feels like if I love another child as much as I love her, then I can't possibly love her like this. I don't want to stop loving her as much as I do, and I don't want to split that love. But, I am certain that God will not allow that and he will just give me more love to share. I don't know how it is possible, but if he can do it for the world, certainly I can do it for two children.

Don't get me wrong, I have always wanted several children, but this time of being pregnant is time for me to process through these feelings. I didn't expect to love Elle the way I do. In a way that I cannot even describe. In a way that I do not understand completely, myself. I look at her and I am overwhelmed by emotions and love (that could also be the hormones right now). I might just have a heart attack with all the emotions I'll have for 2.

I longed to be a mother my whole life. I let go of other dreams because the dream of motherhood was so much greater and I wouldn't trade it for the world. This is so much better than any other way I could have imagined my life turning out.

I longed to be a mother and loved the idea of it. Now that I am a mother, I love it even more.