the old tv debate.

things are far different now, than when i was a kid.
we didn't have iPhones, and iPads. the children's shows on tv were only on for a couple hours, there weren't networks dedicated to just kid shows. we didn't have access to cartoons and movies like we do today.

and somehow we survived.

there's a lot of things you have to think ahead on when it comes to having a baby. ok, mostly everything has to be thought of ahead of time. from birth to how you'll raise your child, there are a lot of decisions to be made.

sonny and i have talked a lot about how we'll raise our kids. we talk about the big things like them growing up in the church, and going to private schools. what sports we'll force them to play because we love them so much (perks of being parents). and no soccer is not making the list. we talk about how we'll handle tantrums and the terrible twos. which i'm told is now really three. or basically until they move out and go to college.
and then the conversation about "screen time" always comes up. and i always have the same question:

why has it become a necessity for children to have iPhones and iPads?

i've done a lot of reading about the effects of technology on little human brains and it honestly blows my mind.

on average, american children spend up to four hours a day on television or technology sources. it's recommended that they only watch one to two.
it's also recommended that children under the age of two don't watch any tv...at all.
studies are showing that the amount of violence and sex children under the age of ten see is on average 40% of what they see. hello commercials. and have you watched a show on nickelodeon that isn't a cartoon? they. are. terrible. #bringbacklegendsofthehiddentemple

now don't get me wrong. i'm not writing this blog post in a naive sense thinking my perfect little child won't watch tv before they're two. i get that once in a while, mickey mouse will save the day. but. i'm also overly conscience right now of how much mickey will be on my tv. and which mickey episodes will play. just because it's on the disney channel doesn't mean i'm ok with them watching it.

studies are showing the disconnect in families because of too much tv and screen time in general.

think about when you go out to eat. how many tables do you look around at and see families all on cell phones. or babies with iPads almost attached to their heads? call me crazy...but i feel like people have been going to dinner with their kids for years and haven't needed to plop an iPad in front of them.

the fact is, that we're raising a generation that won't have a clue what "playing outside" means. they won't know how to catch bugs in jars, or ride bikes, or go fishing because we've allowed them to just sit in front of a tv instead of going outside.

and here's the thing.
it doesn't have to be this way.

like i said before, somehow we all grew up without these things. so i feel like we can start doing the same thing with our children.

i get that we live in a different world than what we did twenty years ago. there are terrible people out there doing terrible things making us have to worry about where our kids are and what they're doing a thousand times more. but.
we also can't let that dictate our children's lives. and we can't live in constant fear.

it makes me sad to live in a neighborhood full of kids and never see them outside playing with each other. because even if it was just my sister's and i, being outside is what we did. we made up weird games to play and ran around until the sun went down. in the winter we went sledding and built snowmen until our hands almost froze off. sitting inside in front of the tv wasn't an option.

which is how i want it to be with my kids.

maybe i'll act like the kid shows are only on from 9-12. maybe i'll never tell them what a dvr is until they're sixteen. maybe i'll just get them a simple flip phone that only makes calls to me and dad instead of an iPhone for safety. maybe i'll go outside with them. maybe...and just maybe...i'll have to do a bit more parenting then taking the easy way out.

i've lost some of you i'm sure with that one.
and some of you might be yelling that i have no idea what it's like because i don't have a baby yet. and you're right. which is why i'm so adamant about figuring these things out now.

kids don't need to constantly be watching something. what if we went back to the way it was when we were kids and watching tv was a privilege. not just a right because it's there?

if you haven't seen this video yet watch it. it's not full of scientific data. but it will make you think about how things used to be, and how they are today.

week thirty - thirty two

how i'm already thirty weeks plus, i have no idea.

mommy is feeling: a bit bigger at the moment. and super short of breath. a little uncomfy at night, but feeling great most of the time. 

weight gain: at our check up i hit 160! and still chowing down when and on what i want. and stayed at 160 at the next check up.

food cravings: cuban food. there was the best spot where we used to live, but haven't found one as great here in otown. i want those plantains please. 

food aversions: chipotle and i might not ever make up. i got it this week and thought i was in the clear. i was not. although i woke up with the biggest craving for it, stood in line and marveled at that salsa and cheese. the baby was.not.having.it. baby 1. chipotle 0.  

maternity clothes: i'm actually in all non maternity clothing in the first picture! thank you old navy and target for making long dresses and tanks. 

movement: i'm convinced this kid is trying to break out at this point with all the movement. 

emotions: i'm preggos. so i'm emotional. there. i cry at puppy commercials. 

sleep: other than waking up in the middle of the night to use the potty, sleep has been really great. including the two hour naps during the day. 

favorite moment of the week: getting more things to decorate the nursery! we're going with a really simple feel to the nursery. sometimes i don't get these nurseries that are so over done. shelves and books and just adorable baby things. 

things i'm praying about: to keep my cool these next couple of weeks. it's almost time!

looking forward to: my baby shower! 

third trimester!

(honestly. how cute is duke.)

i have done a terrible job at keeping up with this blog and these updates. but. that's ok because we are officially in our THIRD TRIMESTER! how this happened, i'm not sure, but here we are. 

my second trimester was wonderful. i finally felt that pregnancy glow, which has stuck around. energy is back up and so is my appetite. i could eat all. day. every. day. 

so here we are at 28 weeks! 

mommy is feeling: wonderful! people are totally noticing my bump which i love.  

weight gain: at our check up i hit 150! so i'm up about 10 pounds so far (not including the weight i lost from being so sick)

food cravings: mexican food. all day errr day. 

food aversions: salsa out of a jar, and bbq. still. and chipotle. still going strong on these ones. i had the biggest taste for chipotle a week ago and went and got it for lunch. i had thought my little diversion was gone. after eating half my delicious burrito....i saw it again. so weird. but it was so delish. 

maternity clothes: i'm pretty much in all maternity clothes at this point. nothing fits from before, not even getting mediums or larges in shirts because they end up being too short. 

movement: this kid moves all the time. it's honestly the most wonderful feeling in the world. 

emotions: all.over.the.place. being half way brings a ton of them. 

sleep: starting to run into a bit of pregnancy insomnia. it's not terrible but i'll wake up to use the bathroom then stay awake for the next hour or two. 

favorite moment of the week: it wasn't during this week, but during week 26 the bump and i traveled to wisconsin to visit aunt josie! it was such an amazing trip filled with fried cheese which we both loved. it was so wonderful to take this trip. 

things i'm praying about: for God to give me wisdom over the next couple of weeks. so many things to make decisions about! 

looking forward to: our next check up! 

the movements

feeling that first kick was unlike anything anyone could ever have prepared me for. i was sitting on the couch with head phones on my belly when i felt the little bean kick or punch my hand.
of course filled with pregnancy hormones (and just being a human in general) i balled my eyes out.

you go from knowing there's a baby in there to actually feeling it.

as the weeks go by and the countdown to baby gets smaller and smaller, the movements get bigger and bigger. i can now sit and watch my stomach just poke out in certain places.
this little nugget moves all the time. morning noon and night. especially at night i might add when mommy is all ready for bed.

that's when the tickle ones come.
it's amazing to me how long this kid is. i can feel the baby move on both sides of my belly at the same time. and when i lay down, it straight up feels like someone is in there tickling me.

there's times when i can feel what i think is a leg or an arm almost poking out (kinda weird, but if you felt it, you'd know how amazing it is).

these increase in movements have me totally mesmerized and in awe of what God is doing. to think that He's given me the gift to fully sustain another humans (my tiny humans) life, is amazing. and holy cow, a ton of pressure. but always always amazing.

i can't, and honestly don't ever want to get used to the kicks. i in fact announce the baby's movement every time it starts the gymnastics routine no matter where i am or who i'm with. they of course always stop moving right when someone (mostly daddy) puts their hand on my belly, already playing jokes.

i don't want to get used to them because i think it might take away some of the wonder i have with God. because at this point in the game, i am totally and completely in awe of what God is doing in there. i mean, really. there is a HUMAN growing inside of me.

we're currently in round one of our gymnastics routine for the day. so i'm going to go cheer my kid on.

week twenty - twenty two

yes. i missed some weeks but it happens. twenty three and twenty four didn't get any photos taken, but it should be noted that i made the sign for them. so my efforts were met half way.

mommy is feeling: so so so great! 

weight gain: at our check up i hit 150! so i'm up about 10 pounds so far (not including the weight i lost from being so sick)

food cravings: mexican food. all day errr day. 

food aversions: salsa out of a jar, and bbq. still. and chipotle. still going strong on these ones. 

maternity clothes: maternity jeans have been purchased. the belly band and i broke up. although those are regular pants i'm still in, in this picture. 

movement: feeling the baby move more and more. as soon as i feel a kick i try to get sonny to feel it too, but then the baby stops. it's this slightly annoying game we've been playing. 

emotions: all.over.the.place. being half way brings a ton of them. 

sleep: other than waking up in the middle of the night to use the potty, sleep has been really great. including the two hour naps during the day. 

favorite moment of the week: we got to see our little nugget at our 20 week doctors appointment! i cried like a baby when we got into the car because i'm just so in love already. last time we got a "picture" of them, it was this tiny tadpole and now it's a human. they flexed their arm at us which was adorable (no you won't be seeing pictures of my unborn child on the internet. maybe a blog on that later. sorry). the feet look huge, but hello, look at daddy. 

things i'm praying about: for this child to grow up and know Jesus. 

looking forward to: daddy to feel a kick!  

mommy is feeling: really great! that pregnancy glow has really hit and i'm feeling so great! 

weight gain: 150 and heading north from there! 

food cravings: mexican food. all day errr day. 

food aversions: salsa out of a jar, and bbq. still. and chipotle. i'm so sorry to admit this. 

maternity clothes: pretty much all i wear. on occasion a dress i had before, but only if there's enough room. 

movement: daddy felt the baby kick for the first time! it was the sweetest moment! and i'm glad he realizes that i wasn't making up these kicks because for a while every time the baby kicked, i'd grab his hand and then they would stop. 

emotions: they've been in check lately. other than just crying at little things like baby commercials and the norm. 

sleep: my hips have started to hurt at night when i'm sleeping, which makes me feel like an old woman. but a pillow between my legs helps so much. i wake up and move a lot...and to use the restroom. at least twice. 

favorite moment of the week: daddy feeling the baby kick!

things i'm praying about: for this child to grow up and know Jesus. 

looking forward to: more movement! 

little world changers

sunday at church our pastor gave a really great sermon about the influence a mother has in her children's lives.

i was all over that sermon.
so much so that i just listened to it again.

it's so jam packed with amazing that the link to it is included at the end of this blog. so when you're done reading this, go listen.

the part that really made me think was when he said mothers are building up world changers. that as a mother, i've been called by God to raise up my tiny humans to make a difference.

talk about some serious pressure.
but when i really think about it, it's a beautiful pressure to be put on my shoulders.

from the day i birth my babies to the day they turn eighteen, i have the ability to build them up, or tear them down. i'm in the position to speak life to them, or to constantly yell. i have the ability to instill in them Godly values, or let the world have it's way with them.

and it might not be the popular way.
but.
i'm deciding now, that the influence i'll have on my children will be to raise them up in the name of Jesus to love the Lord and be world changers. to see the world differently. to love people well. and to grow in God's grace.

the closer we get to meeting our little nugget the more i realize that parenting isn't just making sure they eat and sleep. it isn't just making sure they get to baseball practice on time, or make sure they have a present for that birthday party. it isn't hounding them until they make all A's in school.

parenting is a chance to raise up Godly men and women. it's a chance to change future generations.

"mothers are called through their sons and daughters to change the course of history and to bring forth world changers."

there's so much about parenting that i don't have a clue about.
but what i do know, is that i have influence over my children.

the way i choose to live my life, will affect theirs.
they way i choose to use my words, will affect the way they use theirs.
the way i choose to handle tough situations, will affect the way they handle theirs.

i'm going to let my life be a life that's worth looking up to. and not in a conceded way.
but i want my children to remember me as being a Godly woman.

i want them to remember that i didn't yell and scream at them when they did something wrong.
i want them to remember that i parented well, without putting fear in them.
i want them to remember that at times i was wrong, and i admitted it.
i want them to remember that i loved well, in turn making them love well.

"a mother holds a significant amount of influence in the way she speaks, and the way she lives her life."

raising a child can't be easy. hello, i was one once, and i promise you i was not an easy child to raise. but. i hear it can be the most rewarding thing on the planet.
and so no, i don't want to mess this up.
because it's a short window that i have with my babies until they all grow up.
and for those short eighteen years i want to make sure i point them to Jesus in everything i do.

we live in a very fast paced, technologically driven world. which can be wonderful at times, but also scares the crap out of me when it comes to my children. 

sonny and i joke all the time that we're going to be the worlds meanest parents because of how little technology our kids will have. it's something we've decided on now. so that it doesn't become a problem. i also just read an article, ok a bunch of articles, on how children really shouldn't watch tv before their two. and that kids who watch the average amount of tv kids are watching these days (before the age of 5) create problems down the road. but did we really need to be told these things? 

"our homes need to be saturated with God."

am i crazy to think my kids won't watch tv before their two? no, i'm not. but. i'm going to do everything i can to not let that tv become a constant babysitter. because there's no way letting a child watch tv every day for long periods of time is having them saturated in God. 

i'm going to monitor what my kids watch. and yes. even disney channel shows. i'm going to monitor the time they spend in front of the tv. i'm going to make sure that tv is never the first thing they want to do. 

because i want my house saturated with God. 

because satan will be knocking at my front door. 

i honestly can not wait to be a mommy. i can't wait to raise up this child (and their siblings) to know God. 

i can't wait to raise up my little world changers. 

*all quotes from the sermon*

http://churchintheson.com/series/mothers-day/

week eighteen & nineteen

 

*i'm combining these two weeks because they were pretty much the same*

mommy is feeling: really great! that pregnancy glow has really hit and i'm feeling so great! 

weight gain: i'm going to say 5 here, because again, i'm not keeping track but i have notice the scale going up

food cravings: mexican food. all day errr day. 

food aversions: salsa out of a jar, and bbq. still. and chipotle. i'm so sorry to admit this. 

maternity clothes: maternity jeans have been purchased. the belly band and i broke up. 

movement: I FELT A KICK! i instantly cried my eyes out at the amazement. i was just watching tv and could feel them in there moving and then boom! a little poke on my finger. God is so amazing and i am over the moon. 

emotions: they've been in check lately. other than just crying at little things like baby commercials and the norm. 

sleep: my hips have started to hurt at night when i'm sleeping, which makes me feel like an old woman. but a pillow between my legs helps so much. i wake up and move a lot...and to use the restroom. at least twice. 

favorite moment of the week: feeling that first kick. i still just can't even. 

things i'm praying about: for this child to grow up and know Jesus. 

looking forward to: our 20 week ultra sound!