Nick names

I love nick names. It is actually what my very first blog was about. It is also the title of my blog. When Billy and I were dating and engaged he would call Most Beautiful, Most Awesome, Or Most Wonderful. Yea i think you get the idea. :) It quickly was shortened in cards and notes to Most and then just MOS! Well when I became pregnant with Tanner we stared calling him Mos Dos. Meaning mos the 2nd. I even remember driving home after a sonogram and the first time we called him that. Well it quickly became the title of my blog and Billy still calls me that. I love it!! He leaves me notes often or cards and texts. Well for my boys and I it's very special. I call Tanner my sidekick and Holden is my little mini me or chunk monk. Tanner loves it too. He'll say I'm Mommy's sidekick and I'm daddy's buckaroo. Billy calls him buckaroo these days. He is a great dad. I think Billy loves it now that Tanner is a little older as he can take him places and do stuff. Billy has taken Tanner to the movies a couple times since Holden has been born and they love it!! He says Tanner is a popcorn eating machine. So grateful for Billy. I sure love my mini me and my sidekick. They keep this mommy very busy!! Time is flying and I can not believe that Tanner is 3 and a half and Holden is almost 5 months. I am taking Tanner to the mommy/son dance here in Ocala tonight and he has been talking about it all week. I think mostly because of the popcorn and cookies. :) We went last year and I spent most of the night chasing my date around. :) Grateful for Meme and Grampy that will come over and take care of baby Holden. I love raising boys. This will be a tradition with both my boys.

Wise Women Panel

Today we had MOPS. (mothers of preschoolers) It was our Wise Women Panel. Our mentors gave us lots of wisdom today. They talked about discipline, marriage, cleaning, cooking, ect. But the VERY BEST thing I heard today was "you are enough, You are the daughter of Christ and you are loved." I am wonderfully made. I love Jesus and know in my head he created me and I am enough but sadly as a mommy and wife I don't always feel it. It was a nice reminder today!! Today we got to brag about our kids. What mommy doesn't like to do that. We got to go around our tables and tell what was special about each one. So I thought I would do it again here. Tanner is very smart and articulate. He is very socialable and loves having conversations with us. He loves books and movies. At 3 years old he loves helping me with his baby brother. He will bring me diapers or bring the baby a toy. He talks to the baby and kisses him all the time. He is very sweet with him. He is really good at puzzles and loves playing cars! We play outside and he loves to explore. He is a bundle of energy and I love spending time with him. Holden is so so sweet. Laughing out loud. The last 2 days I kiss his neck and that just makes him giggle to death.He loves to be a part of everything and I pull him over in his bouncy for meals or put him in his Bumbo while I cook. He laughs and coos all the time. He loves his brother Tanner and looks for him when he hears him. He is drooling all the time now and loves his teething ring. Sweetest boy!

Being a mommy is tough but oh so FUN!

Sometimes doing what is best for your kids is most of the time not easy, convenient, or simple. Today has been one of those days. Specifically one of those afternoons. Holden is finally taking a nap and Tanner has been asleep about an hour and I finally get to blog. I have not been able to "write" on my blog for a month. I remember coming home with Holden from the hospital and friends and family bringing us meals and one of my friends from MOPS said "with two there is no down time" And she's right especially two that are 3 years and 4 months. On one hand Holden is getting into a routine but on the other hand he gets bored and wants to be toted around. I know sometimes after a long exhausting day it is easy to feel unappreciated. Its not like my 3 year old is saying "thanks for cleaning the poop off my butt and out of my little toilet and for clipping my toenails" or my four month old is saying "hey mommmy thanks for bathing me, nursing me, and carrying me everywhere." It is not easy!! I admire my mommy friends. Some for their brutal honest!! Others for their example. I am really appreciative of my mom, mom-in-law, aunts, sisters, and friends for letting me vent or giving me a helping hand. I am blessed with tons of help and for that I am grateful. Growing up my mom was a very hands on mom. Putting notes in our lunch boxes, washing my baby doll clothes so I could play with them, reading with us, cooking special meals, and all the stuff I try to do for my two boys. Having boys is special. When we found out we were having another boy all everyone kept saying is "little boys love their mamas" and that is for sure!! The other day Tanner was running around playing and out of the blue he said, "mommy you my good friend, cause you always kissing me." Melt my heart. Then today I had to spank him for something and he was saying "no mommy don't spank me you my best friend." Talk about the guilt trip. I am trying to teach my kids that they will make mistakes. I have learned to make admends when I do fall short and teaching my boys the same thing. Billy and I attended a wedding a couple of weeks ago of some friends of ours. Billy was the best man and it was fun. I got to thinking after the mother son dance that I hope I can be around long enough to see my boys grow up and get married. I would be honored if they ask me to dance with them at their weddings. I have a special bond with my boys. I call Tanner "mamas side kick" and Holden is "mamas mini me and chunk monk" We have these little songs we sing. Life can be very stressful and I am so grateful for this few minutes of silence in my home so I can have a cup of coffee and blog about my sweet boys. My sponsor Teresa gave me a Charles Stanley parenting CD awhile ago. It is awesome. I have listened to it several times. He says your kids will embarrass you, humiliate you, and bring you loads of JOY! Yep that pretty much sums it up. News flash I am NOT a perfect parent but I love my kids so much. We have had a very fun and busy couple weeks. Tristan's birthday party, playdates, and Easter at our house with Meme and Grampy. I will post lots of pictures. I am thankful for my husband who works hard so I can be home with the boys for the next several years! He is working hard now at getting us a car and trying to be obedient to God with our finances. Not easy! WE are seeking God and so happy we found a church we joined and LOVE and our family can go and serve and worship. Tanner loves it and I do too. It is nice that we have friends there and are connected. I'll close with a sweet moment I had today. Yesterday we went to visit friends, and everyday we have been running around or had people over ect. So today after the gym and lunch we had baths and piled on the couch to watch a movie. Rainy Florida afternoon. I was snuggled up with the baby and Tanner came over and said "mommy can I snuggle with you guys too?" I said of course and we did!! This is what being a mommy is all about. Jesus reminds me all the time that he cares about all the details of my life. When I am hurt, alone, happy, joyful, and loved. I praised him for my snuggle time today. For this MOMMY it means the world! Lots of pictures!!