Say Cheese!

                              
I admit it. I am a trigger happy, photo-takin' momma. My kids are constantly having their picture taken. They learned at an early age to "freeze and cheeze"or ELSE! "Smile like you mean it" - yeah, they hear that often. I have baby books (well, at least for the older two) stuffed full of pictures, and a thoroughly documented journey of childhood. Some day these kiddos are going to be able to look back and maybe even remember some really fun childhood moments. Even now my middle little loves to bring out her baby book and see what she looked like when "she was little" lol.
                    But, the other day my daughter pointed out something that broke my heart. "Mommy, there aren't any of you and me!"
What? Of course there is one in there, there must be. 
And, there were - a bunch when she was born. See, I AM in pictures. But, after that. . . . once we were home from the hospital - she was right, pictures of mommy were few and far between. I mean of course there was an occasional picture of me in the background of a birthday party or at Christmas. But, there were not many where I was intentionally posing and smiling with my family.  
                    This, if you think about it - makes sense! I am often the one who is snapping the picture, or I am the one who was able to get everyone else dressed and pretty but somehow I missed the memo. There just wasn't enough time for momma to run a brush through her hair! Or.......I haven't lost the baby weight, or I have a headache and it shows or - lets be honest - I just don't want my picture taken. You feel my pain, right?
                     

              But what about when this is all said and done - will I regret not being in more pictures? When I visit my parents one of my favorite things to do is look through old pictures of my mom and us kids. . . .there are pictures on almost every wall. But, not many of my mom. You see, she was in the background, carrying the bags, wiping noses, fixing hair so our pictures would be perfect. But, those few - the ones where she is holding me, or a candid photo of my mom with all of us kids - those pictures are my absolute favorites. I wish there were more. I want to see her as my mom. I want to see how she held me, I want to see her interactions with my brothers and me. I wish there were more pictures of my mom.

               Too often as moms we dodge pictures because we don't have make up on, or our hair is a mess, or ugh those grays! Not to be Debbie Downer here but guess what? By the time our kids are able to notice these little gray hairs or those few extra pounds -  we are gonna look a LOT worse! Not having make up on will be the LEAST of our worries! We are going to be very different looking from how we are now - we are really going to look old then! So, give up moms. Give up on looking good for pictures. Stop dodging that camera and start allowing (and even ASKING) trigger happy photographers to snap those precious moments of you with your babies. Or of you with your husband. Those are so important, so beautiful. You have created a legacy through your children. You are investing your time, energy and love to help mold another generation. Don't avoid becoming part of beautiful memories because you don't have make-up on. Lets give our children, grandchildren and GREAT grandchildren some photographs that they will cherish while we still can. They will want to see each crazy moment of their childhood - with their most cherished, beautiful momma in the actual picture.                  

                      

Sugar and Spice and ......DRAMA!

                                          

                     
It's a girl!
The very first time you hear those words its like a dream come true. A little girl. What a blessing! Of course, so is a little boy. But, for today's blog we are going to focus on little girls.
You know, back in the "old days" a little girl was valued far less than little boys. Families prayed for boys, boys babies were treasured. Girl babies were accepted. Dealt with. Too many little girls and not enough boys and the family was pitied. Now a days is much different. Isn't it?
Hm, you know - I don't think so.
We had a boy and a girl. Pregnant with my third, we debated finding out the sex of the baby. I caved, what can I say - I'm a planner. It was a girl. Oh, I was happy. But, maybe a little disappointed? Nervous even? TWO little girls? Yikes. And the reaction I received from others was no better. "Another little girl? Wow, you are going to have your hands full!" It was not the same reaction as one would have received hundreds of years ago, yet - it was far from the reaction I would have gotten if I had said we were having a boy.
My "hands full" - hm. Why?
 Well, I think most people view little girls as more, um, shall we say "difficult"? Sometimes, I agree. They are very, very "difficult'. For those of you with all boys - here is a little insight to my life with precious little girls. I live with up and down emotions, feelings that are so strong they appear very physical. With constant neediness - the need for physical love, hugs, touch. With the need for reassurance and acceptance. I live with questions that range from "mommy, why doesn't that girl like me? I want her to be my best friend" to "mommy, will you still be my mommy in heaven"? Deep thoughts are part of my day - every time I look into those deep brown eyes they are full of emotions, feelings, thoughts and questions.
Little girls are full of drama - and therefore so is my life. A simple, quiet discipline will turn into a complete and utter meltdown - just because she couldn't put dolly down to brush her teeth(clearly because it would mess up her hair). And, my little girls are only 5 and one and a half. I can only imagine how the drama and emotions will become larger and larger.
But, you know what? I wouldn't change it for the world. Of course, every mom says that, and we all mean it. However, I see a very special charge in raising little girls. Boys obviously have their challenges as well. Moms with all boys have a special mission, as well as have been blessed with a special patience all their own! But, raising little girls - I see it as a huge responsibility and blessing from above. Let me tell you what I see when I look at my emotional, dramatic little girls.

I see......a college student with her whole life in front of her. She can do or become anything. A doctor, scientist, engineer, missionary, explorer, President, teacher of young hearts, chef, etc. Its my job to fill her with that confidence, that drive. To teach her that she is a strong, capable woman. That even as an unsure high school student - she is a wondrous child of God who can do and beomce anything she wants to. Such a responsibility for a mom of little girls. How many of us walked with such confidence, or received such instruction at home as children? Well, as moms to little girls - we CAN instill this in their hearts. It is our job. We are raising the women and leaders of tomorrow.

I see a.......wife. A child who will someday grow up and marry her prince charming. How am I taking these wild emotions I see now and molding them, teaching this young woman how to handle them so that she can develop a meaningful, thriving marriage some day? Do I let her have free reign? Give in to those crazy, drama filled mornings where she must wear what she wants or her life is over? Ha. For those who know me, know I accept the challenge. Of course not. But, is how we handle the emotions of a 5, 6, or 7 year old really going to affect the relationship she will have with her husband? Absolutely. It takes work, time, energy and diligence to raise a little girl. But, oh - the amazing woman she will become is beyond our wildest dreams.

Lastly......I see a mother. I see a woman who will raise our next generation. Parenting is a generational thing. It feels like we are living in the moment, moms. It feels like we are trying to just survive today. But, remember this - you are raising the women who will raise your grandchildren. Your sweet baby girl will have her own sweet babies. And, raising our next generation - as you well know - is quite a challenge and responsibility. Being a mom is, by far, the hardest job in the world. I think 99% of the population would agree with that. Hm. Maybe that would be why raising little girls can be so hard? Maybe these emotional, dramatic, wild, stubborn, strong willed little girls are perfectly designed that way?

Maybe our good Lord created us, as women, to be able to handle the difficulties that raising a family would entail. Maybe, just maybe, raising little girls has its specific challenges because we are raising the mothers of tomorrow. Moms who will face the same difficult, exhausting, discouraging days that we do. Moms who will need a strong foundation to take these tiny little beings and help them become functioning, capable adults who will live full, blessed lives.
Hm, maybe raising little girls is a special blessing all its own. When my little girls run to me and start brushing my hair, or climb up in my lap to kiss my cheek I remember this. When I the drama begins before 6:30 in the morning, or when it lasts well past 8:00 at night - I take a deep breath, and remember this.

So, here I am, sitting here with my coffee, wondering now what baby number 4 will be. I have one boy, two little girls. Guess what everyone wants us to have? Yep, a boy. And, oh that would be so wonderful! What a blessing. My son would love a brother, and my husband would love another little boy. It would be perfect - 2 boys, 2 girls. But, you know - deep, deep, DEEP down........another little girl would make my heart happy. Because I see the huge responsibility and blessing it is. A gift I would be given. To raise another woman of tomorrow. . . . . makes my heart happy. So, boy or girl - healthy, happy baby! I will take it. Either one. I will do my best, each day to raise these littles to have pure hearts, strong heads and capable bodies.  Remember moms, as you handle these wild emotions of your daughters.....you have in your hands tomorrow's mothers, tomorrow's world leaders, tomorrow's teachers. What an incredible honor, a blessing, a gift........and a big responsibility. One we should remember not to take it lightly.