My little sonshine

10 days after Rocco's 2nd birthday, Noahkeem was born. He is my miracle baby.
Noah stopped growing in utero and I was induced this day 4 years ago-although he was full term. He was born 5 lbs, 11 oz. Because the birthday boy awaits, I'll have to quickly share my full testimony of my miraculous pain-free labor and delivery without an epidural . I first give credit to God, of course and the resource "Supernatural Childbirth" by Jackie Mize.

The jist is that you pray and prophesy over every single muscle and body part involved in childbirth and apply the scriptures over those parts of your body-everyday. I gave it a try even though some thought it was hokie and I can say I felt zero contractions during labor-to the point where the nurses kept showing me the monitor and pointing out my contractions that I was not feeling. This of course occurred with no drug intervention. I was exhausted and given a mild sedative to sleep and I woke up a little after 8 and felt the need to push. My lovely doctor wasn't there and I was advised not to push. When I finally did push I felt no pain, just pressure like something was coming out of me and at 8:33pm, Noahkeem was born.

He is such a wonderful son. He is also my most vocal boy. In one form or another, he will let me know how he is feeling. He is always giving me a hug or asking me, "Can I give you a hug?" then I can bet within the same course of the day, after that hug, he will tell me how mean I am.

Noahkeem has never failed to make me laugh or smile. Once he caught on what April fools jokes were, he has been on a mission to try to trick me, everyday. Stuff like, "Mom, there's a bug in your hair" or "Mom I spilled my drink" and then he follows it up with saying, "April Fools Joke!"

The highlight of these last four years besides his birth was, one day last year. I was sitting on his bed in the evening time, and I looked at him and said, "Noahkeem, you're a good boy." He turned around and looked at me with sincerity and said, "Mommy you're a good boy too!" and then he hugged me.

The other man in my life

6 years ago at 12:42am my little Rocco was born. I was so excited about this baby boy. So in love with this little boy! He was a good little baby that didn't cry much except when he was hungry. Eight weeks later he contracted meningitis. I remember the day when I rushed him to the hospital and being told he needed a spinal tap. My heart just broke that day. I stayed with him in the hospital for several days. He made a complete recovery without any residual complications. He grew so fast those following weeks. It was no surprise that he outgrew his infant carrier at 4 months, weighing 22 pounds! (exclusively breastfed might I add). My next door neighbor would say to me, "what are you feeding him? he's a king size baby!" 8 months later, I found myself tying his first pair of walking shoes. I watched in amazement as this little king sized baby walked all the way down to the playground unassisted. 4 years after that , I watched him ride his bike down the street for the first time-without training wheels and it brought tears to my eyes. I knew he would grow up but, not this soon. This year, he began to read and fall in love with math.

In the land of motherhood some days feel as though time just stands still but, when I turn around and see how much he has grown, I realize, that time has indeed flown by. Motherhood is by far the most challenging yet rewarding vocation that I know. What you don't learn in Home Ec. is that changing a diaper is just as important as closing a deal. You don't learn that hugs and kisses really do make a difference-So give plenty of them to those you love. You don't learn that every once in a while it's okay to eat breakfast at dinnertime. You certainly don't learn that there is a window that is given to you only once, where only you can make an impact on the child you have been blessed with-good or bad, whatever impressions you leave will become part of his story when he is grown. You determine what kind of chapter you will be in, in his story. You determine what kind of parental baggage or banner he will carry around his whole life or check before boarding his plane to "the real world".

As I navigate through mommyhood, hearts cry is: Lord help me to continue to love this little boy and parent him on purpose and not be on autopilot and when I am wrong help me not be so prideful that I can not say "I'm Sorry". And not so busy that I can't look into his eyes when he is talking to me. But most of all, may the fingerprints I leave all over his heart be filled with love.

What I am thankful for

The weekend is over and it was filled with a "good busy". As I type this I am compelled to share what I am thankful for.

• Friends who keep in touch
• Kettle Corn
• A little boy who gives me extra hugs through out the day
• A little boy who gives me high fives-on my shoulders
• A little girl who braids my hair
• A little girl that says "read me" and listens to the whole story
• A God who loves deep and is touch by everything that makes us laugh and makes us cry.

Meet Bissell, my new servant

Well there was a Bissell hiding in Big D's office- still in the box. Now I can finish my "job" making sure there is more stuff inside the vacuum cleaner than outside of it. But I will not introduce Bissell to the household yet because well, today is Friday and I don't vacuum on Friday unless it's absolutely necessary and today it is not absolutely necessary. However, it is necessary to pack the cooler, grab the sunscreen, and get sand stuck in between my toes and hear the waves crashing in ; all of which is made complete by that happy little phrase that summons my attention: "MOM, I GOT SAND IN MY EYE!"

Death in the Family

I have always tried to be a good steward of all the blessings that have come my way. Unfortunately, today as I vacuumed the playroom and made my way to the living room, the vacuum cleaner stopped. I saw that the plug was coming out of the socket. I finished taking it out of the socket only to discover one of the prongs was left in the socket. I killed my beloved Electrolux canister vacuum (Diamond Jubilee Series). I stood there in disbelief as this was given to me from my dear mother in law when I was first married (nearly 12 years ago) and she had it years before that -maybe even 30 years before that. Now I'm trying to figure out if I should get the cord replaced or buy a Swivel Sweeper. I will have to call it an early night and mourn over my loss and maul over my next critical decision.