Everyday Victories in Motherhood

As mothers we all have those every day small victories that get us through the day or week. Maybe you conquered the piles of laundry that were building up, or maybe your child finally mastered potty training, or maybe you spent a morning just you and it made you a better mother. Victories all around. 


I think sometimes as mothers it's the small things that make a big impact, I know for me it does. Sometimes just finding fruits that she loves and will eat are a victory for me! Ava turned two in March and it's been amazing to me a little switch that's happened. It's like she woke up and decided she knew exactly what she wanted and didn't want. 


She's been exerting that will ever since. She's become very particular about what she does and doesn't want. The foods she wants to eat or drink. Lately my biggest challenging has come from getting dressed in the mornings. Ava goes to daycare during the week and they have some rules about things she can or can't wear, one being that all the kids have to wear close toed shoes. 


Ava's become obsessed with sandals, especially her sparkly ones. That's all she wears on the weekends, last week to church she wore sandals that didn't match because she didn't want to wear the shoes I picked for her. For me, as a mom it's become what do I really want to battle with her about and what don't I? Anyone else with me? 


She wants to wear her tutus more than pants. She wears her sunglasses everywhere, and I've been told on many occasions that she takes naps in them at daycare. The last couple weeks I've been letting her pick and choose some portions of her outfits. Choosing to let her express herself in this way, and letting her make some small decisions about clothing. 


The reality for me is that I don't mind her wearing sunglasses around the house, or wearing every last necklace around her neck if it means that she gets to express herself, be a kid, learn and have fun. 


It's a small victory for me as a Mom. 

Tutu, check.

Fairy Wings check.

Happy girl using her imagination, check. 

Letting her choose and telling her when she can't wear sandals to daycare has provided us the oportunity to teach her what she can't and can't do. We've seen her listening abilities through this, and and understanding come through. 


Small victory, and I'll take it. 


Do you have an everyday victory in Motherhood you'd like to share? Tell me in the comments below!

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For Me.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about life. Maybe it's because my baby girl isn't such a baby anymore and growing way to fast. Or because I'm reevaluating my first year in Motherhood. I've been thinking a lot about goals I have for myself. I've been thinking a lot about how to navigate this thing called Motherhood, wife, sister, friend, house keeper and just about everything else you can add to a woman's list of who she is or isn't.

Maybe it's because I'm going through a season of loneliness of sorts. Now, before you go thinking this is a woe is me, pity party post, I want to assure you it is not.

This is just me, sharing what's on my heart in hopes to encourage you and myself at the same time. I'm a pretty literal person. Let's take a look at the literal meaning of the word balance. Thank you dictionary.com

bal·ance   

[bal-uhns]

noun, verb, -anced, -anc·ing.

–noun

1. a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.

Let me first say that I don't believe in balance. {i know, shocker right?!!} The idea of balance means everything must be equal on both sides right?!?

Here's why; no woman or man can perfectly do everything all equal. I can't ever spend the same amount of time in a day that I do at work, at home with my Hubby and child. I can't equally divide my time between crafting, family and friends {not necessarily in that order either.} There aren't enough hours in my day to equally distribute my time to the things or people that are important to me.

To me the idea of "balance" is unattainable and unrealistic.

I do however believe in priorities.

pri·or·i·ty 

[prahy-awr-i-tee, -or-]

noun, plural

1. the state or quality of being earlier in time, occurrence, etc.

2. the right to precede others in order, rank, privilege, etc.; precedence.

3. something given special attention.

I believe there are people and things in life that are and should be more important than others. And it's up to me to decide what is priority in my life given that current season or time we're {my family} in. They are always changing as I am always re evaluating the season of life God has us in.

When Orion and I got married what was priority was a lot different than what is priority now. Our lives are always changing, we're always learning, and we're always adding and subtracting what needs to be from our lives.

Maybe it's to de-stress, or rid our lives of the excess. Maybe it's to make the people who are most important to us know and feel that they are loved and cared for.

This is probably going to look different for everyone. My priorities aren't probably going to be the same as yours, they could be but more than likely they aren't going to be.

And the beauty of that is this;

They are what works for our family.

For me.  

And when and if we find ourselves in a different season, and different place in life we re evaluate again and make sure our list of priorities are what is met first before anything else.

I am realizing more and more that life is about priorities. 

Making your family important. Making your relationship with the Lord important. Your goals, hopes and dreams are important. Making time for yourself, and make sure you're still doing what you love. Things that make you who you are shouldn't fade when you become a wife or mother. They should only enhance who you already are. 

I had a brief meltdown a couple weeks before Creative Estates. Babysitters fell through, and I was agonizing over putting Ava in daycare another day, when truth be told I already feel so guilty that she's in daycare and I'm not at home with her. 

I've realized in the last year that one of the beautiful and most important things about being a parent, is the ability to choose what is right for you and your family. What I choose may not be what you do. It may not be how you raise your children. 

It isn't right or wrong necessarily. But I get to choose what is best for my family based on what we believe, our priorities. 

Working outside the home may not be for everyone, or even desirable for everyone. Being a stay at home mother may make you want to puke and lock yourself in a mini van and never come out. To others it may be all they've ever dreamed of. But the blessing is, I choose. 

And I've learned that instead of judging other parents, moms or dads let's support, encourage and uplift one another. 

Even though I was having worst mother of the year guilt a couple weeks ago, I realized {with the help of my wise hubby & friends} that I am a good mother, and my child is amazing. Regardless of if I work outside my home or not, or if my child is in daycare. 

I needed to take a step back, and breathe. To know that I am a good Mom, I am doing my best. And my best is good enough. It may be a lot of trial and error sometimes, but it's the best. 

But, I also learned another valuable lesson; I need time for myself. 

These days it seems the only alone time I have is late at night while Hubby is in bed, or on a trip to the grocery store. I gave up a lot of things when we first moved to Arizona, things that I loved. People that I loved working with. I gave them up to make this transition work, to make ministry somehow work better. And I know now, that those things are apart of me. They make me who I am, they feed my soul, they ignite fire and creativity, they simply make me happy. 

And some where in the middle of it all I didn't know how to work those things into this new found Motherhood. When I actually realized taking the time for me to be a healthy person in Christ, and live out the passions he's given me makes me the Mother I am truly supposed to be. 

Taking time for myself is just as important. Making time to do the things I love needs to be a priority as well. 

I take pictures because I love it, and it feeds my creative soul. Not because it makes me money. It's For me.

I started this blog and continue to write here, for me.

I invest in mentor ship programs like Arizona Girls Ministries & The Miss America Organization to mentor, give back, and challenge young girls to be the best they can be for themselves and for me because I love it so much. 

I craft and create not to show off or see how many people love it. I do it for me, because I love making something from nothing and seeing the finished product. 

So while I find my groove in the ever changing seasons that life throws at me, and while I know a lot of you are doing the same I pray that you be encouraged in whatever season you're in. 

That you take time for you. Remember what you love and do that. 

Smile at life's most simple moments. 

Breathe sometimes when it gets to hard, say a little prayer to the one who holds it all and is holding you too. 

Do this, for you. 

For us.

Today.

It's been three weeks since I've started working full time, I thought by now I'd have a handle on everything. I thought I'd be in a good routine and know exactly what I need to get done, and how to make it all work. 

It hasn't come yet. 

I realized today, that I haven't picked up my camera since I started working. I haven't created something with my hands in a long time. 

I feel like apart of me is missing. 

This past year has changed me, I feel like I'm re discovering who I am. 

Who I am as a person. What I want out of life and what is really important to me. 

I realized today, how much I miss and love entertaining in my home and I don't really know why I stopped or haven't in such a long time. 

It's these little things in my life that make up the bits and pieces of my heart that make me so happy, and make me feel alive and worth living life. 

I miss this blog, it's so much apart of who I am now. I have grown with it, and it has grown with me. 

With every new season in life comes its own set of challenges, priorities and a new way of balancing it and finding a way to make it all work. 

I haven't found that quite yet. I don't know yet how to make it all work. How to fit everything in now in my life. 

But, one thing I do know I no longer want to put away the things that make me happy, complete and are such a huge part of who I am. 

I need to create and craft. 

I need to entertain, cook good food that oozes love to those who eat it. Even if it is just Orion and I. 

I need to grab a pen and my journal and write and write till there's no more room left on the page and it spills over into the margins. 

I need to take pictures for no reason at all. 

I need to learn. 

I need to make time for what is truly important. I feel like time is passing by really fast, and I don't want to miss a minute of what God's blessed me with here. 

So, while I work on balancing it all, doing it all and trying to make it work. I hope that I don't miss the chance to live and truly what matters most in my life. 

Schedules & New Normals

I apologize for my last of presence on the good ole' blog here. As we settle into new routines, schedule and our "new normals" here at the Worley House I'm learning a new balance to life that I never knew before. 

All of a sudden, I went from having all the time in the world to having very small, narrow windows of time. Split between my two loves and what is now "my day job." Like anything else in life, right now I'm still trying to figure out how it all works together, how it fits and trying to make the most of what's important. 

We have a new schedule, here's a little glimpse of what our days look like:

5:30 am I wake up, get ready. 

6 am I wake Orion up, he gets ready. and we wake Ava up, get her fed & dressed. 

6:30 am we're out the door, on our way to daycare. 

7 am I drop Orion off at work, and head off to my long commute to work. 

8 am I'm at work for the day. 

4:30 pm I head out the door to get Ava from daycare.

5:15 pm I pick Ava up from daycare.

5:30 pm we're back at home for a quick change, feeding and playing before going to pick Orion up from work.

6:30 pm we're off to get Orion from work.

7:30 pm we pick up Orion from work & head home.

7:45 pm we're finally home, I start dinner while Orion bathes and gets Ava dressed for bed. 

8:30 pm we put Ava to bed, and Orion and I eat dinner together, watch t.v. or just hang out for a bit. 

10 pm I'm off to bed, to do it all over again tomorrow. 

This is what our days look like now, I am thankful that I have Fridays off to spend with my daughter and the rest of the weekend is ours. 

My prayer is that even though this new season that we're entering into is less than desirable that God would bless us during this time. The last week and a half has taken its tole on my heart and my spirit. I am grateful for a job and the financial blessing that comes with but I feel like I am grieving the loss of the Mommywood I wanted to have, the loss of not being able to be with my child like I wish I were, and the loss of the life we'd "planned" to have. 

There is always something to learn in every season of life, and I pray that I am willing and ready to learn and take something away from this season. 

So, as I get a hold and a handle on my new schedule and our new routines please know that I am not neglecting this blog, it is still my outlet, my scrapbook and one of the best forms of community I know. 

Bare with me. 

Pray with me. 

Let's encourage each other. 

Mommy Milestones: Making my Own Baby Food

I knew I wanted to try making my own baby food when I was pregnant, and this past week I tried my hand at making my own baby food. It was one of the mommy things I wanted to check off my mental list of things to do. 

I bought some Earth's Best food initially when we started her on solids, just because I didn't know what to make yet and didn't know what she'd like. I like this brand, I'd use it again if I didn't have anything already made. 

I followed the tips given by my friend Jessie on her blog Mama of M's. She has some really great and detailed posts about the "how to" of making baby food. Check out her blog and see. 

I made baby food Monday night after she went to bed. I made baby food while Hubby and I chatted and broke down the day. We talked and bonded over making baby food for our girl, it was a good time. You should try it. ;)

I made carrots & peas since they seem to be a big hit with her. 

I boiled both, and then put them in the food processor and blended them till they were the consistency I wanted them. 

I used these Glad Ware containers I had on hand, next time I'd like to get these containers I saw or use ice cube trays. 

But, for this first time these little Glad containers worked well for me. I let them cool down, before putting them in the freezer. 

Now, we have a freezer full (about 8 containers) of homemade baby food. I plan on taking some on our vacation for Miss Ava. 

Doing this homemade is pretty economical, you can get so much more food out of a bag of carrots or peas than you can in 1 jar of store bought baby food. 

I used all organic veggies in this case. 

Be Creative Challenge 

Week #41

I debated for a while about sharing this on the blog, but then I realized that;

1. I never heard this while I was pregnant & preparing for Motherhood.

2. If I can bring awareness & help another struggling Mommy than this is worth sharing.

3. It's my blog, so I get to talk about whatever I want. :)

As I mentioned in the previous post, when I took Ava to the doctor last week they told me that she lost 7 ounces. They asked about her eating habits and how much I was giving her. After explaining everything and going over it the doctor determined that as this point she thinks Ava isn't getting enough from me with strictly breast feeding. 

When I pumped two weeks ago I noticed that I only had gotten 2 oz. and usually I'd gotten at least 4 oz. I thought maybe from that experience something was up, and my milk supply might be lower from where it once was. But, in my own ignorance I just figured my body was making what she needed and it wasn't as issue. 

You can imagine how my heart sank when he doctor told me she wasn't getting enough at each feeding. I felt pain and hurt that mostly I wasn't able to give her what she needed. I felt guilty automatically. I wondered how can we fix this and make it right?

Ava's doctor suggested that we supplement with formula for now to see if it's an issue of her not being able to gain weight or something more. 

I came home that day, and I won't lie it was really hard. Now, we were entering a world of formula something we haven't done in the last 6 months. She's been strictly breast fed nothing else. She did well with the first few bottles and was doing well switching back and forth. 

The next couple days were a little rough. I think the hardest thing has been the emotional side of all this. While I was pregnant I knew I wanted to try breast feeding, I didn't know how I'd do or how she'd do. But, she took to it like it and I embraced it as it has become the most natural thing to me. Something that I look forward to every time, something that bonds us and is special to us. 

Panic and fear set in my mind thinking, would I still have that bond with her if I wasn't breast feeding? Would she still want me? Is, that silly or what? 

It is. 

But, if I'm being honest I thought that, all those things. 

It's a crazy feeling to feel like I can't nourish my child the way that I wanted to or expected to. 

The last week I've been angry at my body for not "doing" what everyone else's can do. But, also in the last week God has given me peace that everything is going to be ok. That he's the ultimate provider and he will take care of Ava. 

I've come to a peace that whatever way we need to get her to a healthy weight that's what we'll do. 

And I am reminded every time I sing her to sleep, nurse her or bottle feed her, change her outfits because she spit up on herself that she needs me! 

That nothing will take away or tarnish our bond. The bond that we've formed is strong and lasting because at the end of all this;

She's my daughter. 

And, I am her Mommy. And that is forever.

Motherhood: Life Lessons

There's this unspoken code it seems with Moms. 

I'm not talking rockin' "mom jeans" & Carol Brady haircuts here people. 

I'm talking about that unspoken word, smile and nod like you've been there before, or will be there at some point between Mothers. 

Between having it all & doing it all, I feel like there are some real life lessons that I am learning through this journey called Motherhood. 

There's this thing I've noticed about Moms, the understanding that comes with Motherhood. Mom to Mom. 

The struggle, the joys, the highs and the lows are all apart of the daily role. Between screaming tantrums, giggles and grins, crazy toddler antics, rescheduling your day because one kid got sick and the other is screaming. 

Whatever the case may be I find that Moms get other Moms. They understand where their coming from and there's this sorta grace I've experienced through this culture all its own called; Motherhood. 

Here's the lesson I'm learning, be understanding, give grace and don't be offended or hurt by everything not just by the Moms in your life, but by everyone who lives this life with you. 

Sometimes I wish that people in general were more understanding of each other, more accepting, more willing to give the benefit of the doubt to others and not be so quick to judge and be hurt. 

I'm being challenged in my everyday life with friends, family, and my Husband to have a little more grace and understanding. 

Because it's not just Moms with crazy kids, or schedules that need grace and understanding it's all of us. 

I've since decided that being a fool or at least acting like one is part of the job. 

I've given up all inhibitions, and care about weather or not I sound or look cool. 

To Ava, all she knows is that I'm her Mom and I make her smile, laugh, and I love her and take care of her. 

She doesn't know that probably I wouldn't be caught dead making some of the voices, or sounds I make with her in everyday life with other people around. 

But, I'm learning that parenting & motherhood are full of silly moments. Moments that make your children smile and laugh and create lasting memories for them. 

They love you when your foolish, when you let your imagination run wild and tell them amazingly created stories that transport them to a different place. 

I'm willing to be made a fool, or sound like one if it brings a smile to her face and laughter in her heart. 

It's teaching me to not care so much about what others think, to be myself more, take in each moment cause I might not get them back. 

It's teaching me to be more accepting of others behaviors, and remember that the world is made up of all sorts of people. 

It's teaching me to laugh more, smile often, and not take life so seriously. 

She's teaching me to be carefree and drink in the moments that come my way each and every single day. 

With this new phase of life, I am learning so much. I am a student again, and it's almost as if Ava is teaching me. 

I hope to take these life lessons, ponder them, and prayerfully consider them daily. 

May they change me from the inside out. 

Mommy Milestones

The life of being new parents is filled everyday with new milestones, changes and exciting things. As each day approaches I'm in anticipation of what she'll do next. Each month she changes and I can't believe how fast it's all going by. 

It's like I just want to bottle up each moment put them on shelves, so I can open them up and re live them, over and over again. I suppose that's what pictures and blog post are for. Making them memories and then taking the time to record them is a big part of our lives. We get the cameras ready, the video camera charged, wait patiently for those moments to capture. 

We smile and revel in them, for they are perfect and exciting no matter what the stage we're going through. 

All these milestones that we record of our children got me thinking, "What about the Mommy milestones?"

You know, those moments when you feel a small amount of victory in this crazy parenting gig? 

The moments when you feel like you finally got it, and your kids get it too. 

The moments when you put back on your pre pregnancy clothing and they fit to your surprise?!! ( I had that moment this week.) 

The moments when you feel like you and your little ones are finally getting into a sweet groove and routine and it's bliss. 

I feel like that right now, Ava and I are in this great little routine. I know what to pretty much expect from her, how she's going to act, what she's going to do. She naps so well, and it's predictable for the most part. And, I know that I still have a lot to learn and give but I feel like I'm finding out where I want to be as a parent in this stage of life. 

(taken of me & Ava during a rather hard night)

I was smiling in this picture but inside I was thinking, I can't do this. She's crying she won't stop, there are people over, what are they going to think?

But, we got through it. We made headway, we made it to the other side. I have more patience and love than I ever thought I could. 

These are simple, but I want to celebrate every single 'Mommy Milestone' that I have. Cherish these and remember them. 

Because before I know it they will be gone, and we'll be onto the next thing.