the mom diggity | can you dig it?

let’s rock this day.

March 7, 2012 — 9 Comments

What is it about moms that we think the entire weight of the world is on our shoulders? That’s stinking heavy. 13,200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 lb to be exact. (Thanks Google!) I get exhausted just having my 25lb toddler on my shoulders, the whole world is just too much.

So what is it? Why do we feel like we must do it all alone? I think the main issue that most moms think too much. Yeah, shocking. We watch what everyone else is doing and think we can do it bigger and better.

Quit comparing yourself. Just quit. Stop it. Right now. You are perfect just the way you are. Just the way God created you. You are a fantastic Mom. You are beautiful and wonderfully made.

Take pride in your home, but don’t beat yourself up if it’s not “perfect” in the eyes of the world. Those people who seem to have it all together? I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. THEY DON’T. Go ask them. They have issues of their own. Struggles they face every day. Maybe their floors are clean, but I bet that hall closet is stuffed full of junk (mine sure is). Find what works for you. I guarantee you what works for the mom down the street that you adore, will not work for you. If cleaning your house every week works, do it. If you need to nap every day, do it. Figure out a method to help you and your family be the best you can be.

Take the time to make silly faces with your kids.
The memories that will count.

I sat in bed a few nights ago telling Brook how I needed to schedule our time better. Most days I feel like I barely have my head above water. And a schedule is going to fix that? Yeah right. I have two children under two. I struggle to remember to brush my teeth. (Oh man, I need to go brush my teeth.)

I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror and told myself I am a great mom.
I will not let anyone tell me otherwise or treat me as less.
I will not believe the lies that creep in.
I will do the best I can for my family and not let myself be compared to others.

Be the best mom and wife you can be to your family. Don’t allow yourself to believe the lies that you aren’t good enough.

I hope you are encouraged my sweet friends. I love and cherish you all dearly!

Now, go have a fantastic day!!!

In joys of motherhood

the monthly rundown {23 months & 6 months}

March 6, 2012 — Leave a comment

JESSI GIRL –

Our baby girl is such a big girl now! It’s a joy to watch her grow and learn new things every day. She’s compassionate and had a precious heart. If someone so much as sneezes, she immediately asks “you ok???” She cares so much about how everyone feels and that everyone is happy. I love that!! She is becoming more outgoing and loves to talk to people at the store. When we go to the park she gets so excited when other kids are there and calls them all her friends. She loves making new friends and learning to play with others. She has gotten so brave and loves to go down the big slides at the park! Our little dare devil!

We are in the “what’s that?” and “why?” stage. Oh boy, is that interesting! Even if it’s something she knows, she still asks “what’s that??” just wanting to hear our answer. When we ask her to do something she very dramatically responds with “whhhhhhhhhhhhy??????”. The terrible twos are so much fun

This month was rough. She cut her top back molars and caught a nasty virus so we spent a couple weeks laying around. Her favorite shows right now are Tangled, Monsters Inc. and Madagascar. We watched them A LOT. She’s been asking to take naps while she’s been sick and teething. Playing with ZoZo is still one of her favorite things, and starting calling her Zoey (which is a little sad!). We were on the verge of potty training before she started teething, and she does really well most of the time using the potty.

I can’t believe she is almost 2!!! We love you so much sweet girl!

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Zoey,

My precious happy girl, you are an absolute delight!! You really had a blast this month.

You started eating solids and love sweet potatoes, avocados and munching on crackers. You are doing really well with eating, and it seems to help you sleep better at night too! Mommy is so thankful for that, but we are anxious for you to sleep all night.

You love watching your sister play. The two of you are so cute together and it’s so fun to watch you. You both get so excited in the mornings to see each other and just giggle together like you’re teenagers!

You’re such a little snuggle bug! You love holding your blankie against your face to fall asleep. We gave you a new paci and you are hooked. You still aren’t a huge fan of being on your belly and when you get frustrated, you’re starting to push up on to your knees. Can’t believe you will be mobile soon, won’t that be fun?!?

It’s a joy to be your mama and see you light up when I walk in the room. I adore you and am so blessed by your joyful personality. Happy half birthday sweet thing, it’s been a blast!!

Love you tons and tons,
Mama

In jessi girl, zoey b

february photo dump

March 2, 2012 — 1 Comment

Sooooooooo I got this bright idea that I would do a picture a day for the year. BUT WHO AM I KIDDING? I failed. I didn’t keep track for February, and even though I know I took a picture each day (most likely about 15), I don’t have the energy now to go back and figure out one for each day. I admit it, I failed.

But that’s ok. I’m just going to throw up a bunch of my favorites from the month on you, and that’s pretty fun too right?? Right. Enjoy!

What February was about:
- Awesome Shopping trips to Target -
- Lots of snuggles -
- Baby sunglasses -
- Playdates & crafting -
- First time painting toddler toes! -
- SNOW! -
- Zoey starting solids -
- Zoey got a new paci! -
- Feeding the ducks -
- Celebrating our “First Anniversary” Happy Leap Day! -

Linking up with Amy @ A good life!

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Congrats to Sarah K. for winning the Jaxon Jill Designs giveaway!!! Hooray! Kristina from JJD is offering a 10% off coupon code to her shop!
Use MOMDIGGITY at checkout! (Valid through 3/4)

In life through my iphone instagram

exhaustion, defeat and sacrificing oreos

March 1, 2012 — 17 Comments

Jessi cut her top 2 year molars. And it was a nightmare.

Then hubby got the flu.

Then I starting feeling sick.

Can you say pregnancy scare of the century???
(I was puking, exhausted, showing lots of signs. Thankfully it ended up being stress and a stomach bug of some sort. Mama is NOT quite ready for number 3.)

Then Jessi ran a fever for 3 days.

Now Zoey is coughing like crazy.

Sigh.

These last couple of weeks have been some of the hardest in a while. When it rains it pours, eh?

You know those days where you just feel defeated? I’ve felt that way for about two weeks. Completely defeated. The house looks like toys r us exploded and forgot to do the dishes. Zoey isn’t sleeping well, and the sleep deprivation is wearing me thin. I’m impatient and exhausted. My emotions are all over the place.

Yesterday was our anniversary. Our leap day anniversary. We’ve been so excited and looking forward to it! When we got married, we said we would do something BIG every four years to celebrate. We had been thinking we would leave the kids for a few days and go on a cruise or just get out of town. Well, that didn’t happen. We ate lunch at Rib Crib (using a gift card) and went home.

Honestly, it was really hard on me. Since hubby started a new job and we’ve had to make some major cutbacks, that means cutting back on everything. No anniversary cruise, night away or even dinner out. No gifts or fun new gadgets. I made a homemade card and Brook did the same (except he cheated and bought me a bag of much needed chocolate–bonus points for hubs!).

I can’t make it to Blissdom, Blogher or Allume or any of the conferences I would love to attend this year. We are missing one of my childhood best friends wedding. It’s just hard to learn to live on very little. Sacrifices we haven’t have to learn to make until now. Don’t even talk to me about that pretty new camera I’ve had my eye on for a while.

I’m learning to put down the oreos at Target that sound SO yummy. Learning to live on what we NEED and not on what we WANT. But sometimes I just WANT a big sweet tea or a yummy drink from starbucks. Last night in the car on the way to the doctor Jessi said “Mommy, you want get hot tea?” Yes, honey. Mommy really wants to go get “hot tea” (aka: Chai Tea Latte) from the ‘bucks.

Thanking God today for healthy kids (and that coughs and runny noses are as bad as it’s gotten) an amazing husband, and for having all our needs provided. We are richly blessed, even when I’m incredibly stubborn and selfish.

“Oh, the utter extravagance of His work in those who trust Him – ENDLESS ENERGY AND BOUNDLESS STRENGTH” Eph. 1:19

In our life

this day

February 29, 2012 — 9 Comments

On this day, 4 years ago I changed my name.

I became a wife. I stood hand in hand with the man of my dreams and promised to love him forever. We had no idea what was ahead for us, but we walked into our future excited. We were together, and that was the best way to go through life. Together.

We didn’t do a big fancy wedding, but it was perfect for us. We drove go-carts at our rehearsal dinner and laughed with our friends. We were surrounded by hundreds of people who love and support us.

It was the perfect celebration of our love.

Over the years we have learned how to love each other, and how to serve each other. We are learning every day how to do that better. I will serve this man and be his bride until the day that I die.

Brook, I love you with everything in me. It’s a joy to be your wife. I’ve had the privilege of standing by your side through good times and bad, and will continue to be there through it all. Thank you for loving and cherishing me. I feel even more loved today than I did on that beautiful day. It’s an honor to be your pride and joy.

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All photos taken by Prints Charming Photography
(an incredible photography team if you’re in the OKC area and looking for a photographer!!)

being blessed

February 27, 2012 — 2 Comments

Motherhood is hard. DUH. It is by far the most exhausting thing I have ever done. It’s also the most rewarding and enjoyable experience of my life. Sometimes I find that it can be so easy to focus on the hard times, and let the exhaustion take over. Right now, I’m very worn out. Brook has had the flu for the last 3 days, I haven’t felt well in over a week, Jessi is cutting her 2 year molars and Zoey doesn’t sleep. Needless to say, I’m beat.

But do you know how blessed I am? INCREDIBLY. My husband loves and adores me. He’s crazy about our children. I have two perfect and healthy little miniature humans. I’ve recently joined an amazing group of women who are some of the most encouraging and honest people I’ve ever known. Our leader is encouraging us to write 100 things we are thankful for every 2 weeks. I love this. It gets kinda tough once you list the obvious things, but it has pushed me to see the blessings in the little things.

All that to say, I’m going to share some of these things with you and encourage you to look for the little blessings in your every day!

Ten Blessings of the week:

Chai Tea – I’m not a coffee drinker, but I looooove chai. I have a cup every morning, and usually another during naptime to refuel

Sidewalk Chalk – Spring is coming! I’m loving playing outside with the girls.

Rest – My mom came over yesterday to help with the girls and I got TWO naps. Praise Jesus!

Snuggling Toddlers – Jessi is teething, and that means lots of snuggles.

Dryer – I love having a dryer to fluff my clothes so I don’t have to fold them right away!

Library books – Free books are so great and Jessi learns new things every week.

Stickers – Providing hours of toddler entertainment.

Swings – Even big kids need to swing every once and a while. So carefree.

Encouragers – People that get me through the tough days.

Baby sunglasses – Come on. That just makes you happy!

In blessings, joys of motherhood 100 things, Blessings, Thankful

she hates sleep, and therfore hates me.

February 23, 2012 — 13 Comments

I’m officially eating my words and thoughts. Jessi was a total freak of nature. When she was 3 weeks old she was sleeping 8pm-4am and waking to eat and back to sleep until between 8-10am. By about 8 weeks, she was sleeping 12-14 hours every night. She never wakes in the middle of the night. She has always been a fantastic nap taker. For the first 4 months she would nap in her swing and then started napping in her bed with no problems.

I thought this was normal. When I heard other parents talk about issues with getting their kids to sleep I thought SURELY they were doing something wrong because my perfect parenting was working wonders on my perfect baby.

And then I had Zoey.

She will be 6 months old next week and sleep is a nightmare for this one. She’s done pretty well with napping in her swing (until the last few weeks), but you better not even try to lay her down to sleep or she will bust your eardrums with screams.

And nighttime? Let’s just say I’m beyond beat. 8 times she has slept through the night. EIGHT. In six months. Most nights she wakes 3-6 times. Lately I can usually get away with one feeding, but that still means I’m being woken up way too many times. And getting her to go to bed? Don’t even get me started. Right now I’m writing this after having tried walking her, rocking her and on and on for over 45 minutes and she’s still fighting me. I finally just put her down and am letting her fight it out because I’m about to LOSE MY MIND.

I’ve had a migraine for the past 24 hours that I can’t beat. I’m absolutely exhausted. I have no energy. I just want some rest without having to go stick a paci in a mouth 12 times.

This is what I get for thinking I rock at parenting.

In parenting rocks, zoey b

wordless{ish} wednesday: big girl bed?

February 22, 2012 — 5 Comments

A couple of days ago I posted about moving Jessi into a big girl bed.

Well, we went ahead and took the plunge.

I think it’s going to work out really well for her.

Plus, she says it’s super comfortable.

Linking up with some Wordless Wednesday friends
The Paper Mama, And Then She {Snapped}, 5 Minutes for Mom,
Jenni from the Blog & Angry Julie Monday

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Don’t forget about the $40 Gift Certificate Giveaway to Jaxon Jill Designs!

In wordless wednesday big girl bed, humor, toddlers, wordless wednesday

jaxon jill designs {a giveaway!}

February 21, 2012 — 46 Comments

************THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED************

So, let’s be honest. I’m not fashionable. I live in sweat pants and my hubby’s tshirts. I wear things that I know I shouldn’t. And due to my lack of fashion sense, I have to count on my super fashionable friends to tell me how to dress.

Kristina from Jaxon Jill Designs is one of those people. She’s aaaaaadorable (like in an annoyingly beautiful kind of way that you want to punch her in the face for being so adorable). She is super sweet and an amazingly genuine woman. She makes really incredibly beautiful babies. AND she makes some stinking cute things! Basically the perfect woman!

Remember that shirt you see on Jessi ALL THE TIME because it’s my favorite and one of the only shirts that fits her right now? Yeah, Kristina made that. Oh, and the bow too of course.

And these infinity scarves I am obsessed with? They are new in her shop! I wear these alllll the time (probably committing another fashion no, no?). Playdate scarf? OK! Girls night out scarf? Yes, please! They are super soft, and also warm! Zoey is convinced I wear them so she can snuggle them. That darn cute little snuggle bug.

GUESS WHAT?!?!?! To celebrate the launch of the Spring Line, Jaxon Jill Designs is giving away a $40 Gift Certificate to one lucky reader!!!

Check out some of the lovelies from her new line!

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Go visit her shop and comment and let me know what you might use the gift certificate for.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
(leave a comment for each entry!)
(1) Like “The Mom Diggity” on Facebook
(2) Follow me on twitter!!
(3) Like “Jaxon Jill Designs” on Facebook
(4) Tweet this giveaway (must include @momdiggity), you may copy and paste this: “Jaxon Jill Designs released the Spring Line and I entered to win a $40 Gift Certificate from @momdiggity! Enter here: http://wp.me/p14UOo-2oi”

This giveaway will end at 11pm CST on Wednesday, February 29th and winner announced here. The views here are strictly out of my brain, and of course based on my quality fashion. Duh.

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In stuff i love Giveaway, jaxon jill designs

talk me off the ledge?

February 20, 2012 — 13 Comments

I’ve been planning to keep Jessi in her crib until Jr. High, but over the last few days I’ve been having these crazy thoughts of moving her into a big girl bed. Her crib is super high, so I doubt she’ll ever be able to climb out. So we can’t really count on her telling us when she’s ready, it’s up to us to decide.

She’s just getting so big and I’m obsessed with showering her with things she doesn’t need I was thinking it would be so fun to surprise her for her birthday with her new big girl bed! The only thing that really concerns me is the fact that she’s upstairs by herself. We have a gate at the top of the stairs, but is is bad to put a childproof door handle on the inside of her door so she can’t get out at night?

I mean…come on. How cute is this?? Since her room is already a “rockstar” theme, I doubt I’ll change it until the girls move into a room together and something like this would be so stinking cute!

Source: Target