Our Aweful Beautiful Life

To anyone who reads this blog, and graced me with their presence to shower me with love when I was expecting Colton 5 1/2 years ago -- I'm talking to you. You obviously didn't love me then. You all told me how WONDERFUL being a mother was. How ADORABLE our baby would be. How we would snuggle and cuddle, how my heart would melt when they coo at me, or smile for the first time. You coo'ed and giggled as I opened adorable little teeny tiny baby outfits that all smelled of Johnson's baby soap. You talked about how fun they are when they start talking, and walking and reaching new milestones. It was all grins and giggles that day...ooh's and ahh's. Surely you were snickering at my innocence as you ate your cake, took your baby bootie filled with candy and left the party that day. SURELY. Because although I did have the blessed opportunity to encounter everything mentioned above...not one single one of you told me the FLIP SIDE of being a mother. You didn't me...

I remember a time when Colton was just starting to jabber...and being SO excited for him to talk. First time parents with our first baby, we couldn't wait to hear his sweet voice. And then he started talking at what seemed like a fairly early age. And didn't stop. Then Emmalyn came along and it seemed to take her a bit longer to start talking. Grandpa Hall often asked, "When is she ever going to start talking". Last week we sent Emmalyn on an errand to Howard & Sons with Grandpa & Uncle T.....she didn't STOP talking the entire time. At all. Keaton - we can't wait to hear your sweet voice either -- but we are loving all the coos and giggles right now. We love that you don't mouth back, aren't sassy and don't scream like a wild banche indian. Some day that will all change. We know. But, since they talk so much -- they've had some fun things to say: - Colton, after losing his second tooth - "Mom. Does the tooth fairy ever leav...

I've only been a mother for 5 1/2 VERY fast years. I've learned A LOT over those years....but somehow, I think God skipped over giving me that "natural" protective instinct. I'm usually pretty uptight. I like a plan. I have to know what's going on. But when it came to planning for babies -- I wanted suprise (which is why we didn't find out the sex of the first two kiddos). And I seem oddly laxed (probably more than I should be) when it comes to the kids. Let me share a couple of stories to back up my point.   A few years ago -- Colton was probably 18months-ish -- we went camping at Indiana Beach. Jason's parents, Seth & Jen, and Aunt Deb & Uncle John. That Saturday afternoon, we decided what fun it would be to take a boat out on the lake. So we rented a pontoon, loaded up and headed out. We ventured around the beautiful big Ferris Wheel, and joined the crazy busy lake traffic. Ahh what fun. And then...like in the blink of an eye...som...