Being Mommy: Month Two

Exactly one month ago I sat here and reflected on being a mommy for one month. I foolishly assumed that month #2 would lack the surprise and intrigue I needed to truly reflect on the past 31 days. I was wrong. Here is what I have learned about being a mommy for TWO MONTHS:

1. It gets easier. The sleepless nights don't last forever, the crying is no longer cryptic and making a schedule doesn't seem like moving a mountain anymore.

2. The laundry will never end. I thought maybe with all our rookie parent mistakes we might have been going through laundry a bit faster than usual, but NOPE! Loads of laundry (pun intended) is the new norm.

3. The phrase "They grow up so fast!" Turns out that's the truth, too!

4. I am still getting to know my son, but everyday is amazing. Watching him learn and grow is the best and watching him light up when he sees me makes my heart skip a beat. I truly learned that a part of my heart that did not exist before John surely does now.

5. I have never loved watching anything as much as I love watching daddy and baby playing and talking and laughing.

6. I have also learned the total agape love my husband has for me. He is loving and selfless as he works hard so I can stay home with our little man and works so hard to continue to be a great husband and to be a great daddy.

7. John's hair will forever grow exponentially faster than the rest of him. He's the coolest guy ever.

8. People will offer advice, especially regarding adoption advice. Most of it is nonsense but we have learned to handle it graciously; always thanking the advisor for their encouragement and concern. This is also the best segway into having the opportunity to share with them what adoption is about.

How to Honor My Husband: My Looks

In my last post I mentioned that with the arrival of our little man, and the stressors that come along with adding a new member to the family, my marriage has been a tad bit strained.

I mean, we had an immediate adoption placement, came home and I was immediately on maternity leave and that left Matthew left to be the sole provider of our home. He's an amazingly hardworking man and has signed up to work overtime for every available shift that is open at his work.

But that on top of everyday life, we haven't been the best husband and wife to each other. We got in a fight the other day and I was so angry that he wasn't seeing things my way and I was so angry because he never does what I need! Why won't he compliment me more? Or throw the trash out at night!? Why isn't he perfect and a mind reader and fulfilling my every whim and desire!? I was (I'm so embarrassed to admit) about to sit down and make a list of all his wrong doings so I could prove how I was truly the victim, but then...I felt a bit convicted....like a lot convicted actually...and instead of my original list, I began to list all of my wrong doings against my husband.

Turns out in my quest to be the best mom and home maker possible I started to become a really bad wife. I was encouraged by my BFF to read Proverbs 31 as well as to HONOR AND RESPECT my husband NO MATTER WHAT.

So, to cut my story short, I am working on being a Godly wife, a respectful and submissive wife and putting my husbands needs before my own. How do I do that? One step at a time, I suppose.

Every so often, I'm going to come back here and update you on my husband honoring adventures. My first assignment is to be more girl and less frump. By promising the following:

1. I promise to no longer wear any of my husbands clothes to bed...or ever. Even those ridiculously comfy sweat pants.

2. I promise to brush my hair and apply a bit of make up (at least some tinted moisturizer!) before hubby comes home from work everyday.

3. I promise to dress up when we go out together. Just like I used to when he'd pick me up for a date!

4. I promise that even when it's time to jump into my jammies for the night, I will put more effort into it. Cute tank tops and matching shorts or if its cold, nice feminine pajama pants. No more frumpy clothes!

5. I promise to try and be pretty for my husband and not excuse myself from it because I'm "too busy" or "too tired." He isn't "too tired" to be doing 50+ hours of work a week so the least I can do is to look semi-decent when he finally does get home.

What would you promise?

Does anybody want to join me in this? I'd love to do a link-up so I can see how other wives are honoring their husbands! I'd also like to see some cute ideas for casual but cute clothes for around the house. How in the world do you do a link up? No idea! But if this is something you'd wanna do too, lets get the ball rolling!

Next week: My adventures in honoring my husband with my words...

(Disclaimer: Please do not read too deep into these posts.  I am being honest in saying that my marriage needs work but it is not in trouble.  Truth is...your marriage needs work too!  I'm enjoying the fruits of my labor & have never loved my husband more than I do today!  But, sometimes life gets in the way.  It's just so daily!  I think we all need these reminders & the encouragement to make a deliberate effort to improve our lives with the ones who lead our homes, holds our hands, makes us laugh & loves us like crazy: Our husbands!)

My Happy Birthday Post! Hello 25!

First of all, let me share a little secret with you...I'm actually 27 now, not 25. But, I've decided to tell people that I'm 25 (for the third year in a row). I like being young. I always have. Ever since I was 16 going on 17 (cue the musical scene here) I dreaded birthdays. Correction: I dreaded growing older. NOT the celebration and the cake and ice cream.

Anyway, I guess it all just goes back to the way I thought about people older than me. I thought their lives looked boring and plain. I thought the jobs, the bills, the monotony of their day to day would bore me to death...But as I've grown older here are the things about being a grown up I've come to find are true:

1. Having my own car meant freedom. Being old enough to buy and care for my own car? Even cooler.

2. Moving out and paying rent? So much fun! I moved where I wanted and I moved when I wanted. And after all of that, living here in pretty Huntington Beach, CA, I am sure that I am right where I want to be.

3. Bills? Well, I was right about that. They still suck.

4. Grocery shopping is a lot more fun when nobody is telling me to stop putting junk food in the cart like my mom used to when she ruled the roost. On the flip side, I don't put as much junk food in the cart anymore...Mom would be proud.

5. I get to make my own decisions. What to have for breakfast? Cookie dough? Why, yes! Cookie dough sounds delightful!

6. Marriage: Game Over. SO NOT TRUE! Marriage: Game Just Beginning. I really did think that marriage was the end of all youthful fantasy. Marriage meant work and boredom and being old. I thought this way up until the day I met my husband. And though I was right about marriage being work...I was wrong about the rest. Being young and married is the best decision I have ever made. Well that and buying a straightening iron for my hair are the best decisions I've ever made.

7. Motherhood!? Blech! My favorite saying about me being a mom was always: Babies having babies. Not good! But, since the day I met my husband, I realized that was all wrong, too. There is nothing I wanted more than to be a mother to my husband's children... Having babies and starting a family is one of the coolest things about growing older.

There are a few more things I'd like to add...but I think you get the point...Basically, everything I thought about growing older was wrong. Well, except the bills. But, I do realize after all of this that maybe I should be 27 after all. 25 was an awesome year. Married my best friend. 26 wasn't too shabby either. Adopted our precious boy. 27? Bring it on!