Oh, Lummi...

I LOVE Lummi Island!  Jake loves Lummi because it holds his boyhood memories of running through the woods, and spending the majority of daylight hours turning over rocks looking for crabs on the beach.  For me, Lummi is only a part of my recent past, but it still holds a special place in my heart.  It is like a magical retreat.  It feels like you're on vacation, even though you are only minutes from town.  I love hunting for sea glass...I could spend all day beach combing.  It is where Jake and I got engaged, so it will always remain the most romantic place in the world!  :) 

If it didn't cost an arm and a leg to get over (seriously, $21 for us to drive over on the tiny ferry...sheesh!) I would spend most sunny afternoons over there.  Fortunately, Jake's grandparents own a home right on the beach, and a few times each summer, Jake's dad pulls out the boat and ferry's us across to the magical land.  Yesterday, we went out to celebrate grandma and grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary!  It as Calvin's first boat trip and first time on the island, and he really enjoyed it...I think he thinks it's as magical as I do :)  It was such a fabulous summer day!

Bad Mom Day

So I was reading a blog yesterday about how mom's are afraid to admit to having bad days.  We always want to say we adore being a mom, and everything that comes along with it.  We never yell at our children, we never let a load of laundry go unfolded, and we always have dinner on the table at a reasonable hour.  There is so much pressure (most of it put on by ourselves) and we are just afraid to admit sometimes it isn't always perfect. 

Well, it came at the perfect time for me, and I admit that today was a BAD MOM DAY!!  I brought it on myself, staying up too late last night.  But Calvin woke up early and was crabby, which made me crabby.  I found myself getting super irritable and yelling at him for things I wouldn't normally.  And he was being in super discovery/destruction mode.  He was able to somehow unscrew the bolt that held together a stool I have had since I was little.  And where did I find the screw?  In his mouth!!  BAD MOM!!  I try (and am usually able) to be really patient with him, remembering that he is learning and discovering, and not always intentionally trying to push my buttons...yet :)  Anyway, I almost decided not to go walking with some of my gal friends, but last minute changed my mind, and determined to change my attitude. 

I came home feeling much better and Calvin took a great nap!  After his nap though, I changed his diaper and found the first of what I can safely assume will be many, many "discoveries" in his poo.  A rubber band!!  That couldn't have felt good being digested...hmmm...maybe why he was so fussy yesterday and slept poorly??  BAD MOM!!  (Sorry if that's too much information for anyone). 

I know I am still new to this mom thing, and there are many of you out there with oodles of kids who always seem to have it all together.  I am still learning so much but even as I learn and grow, I am still going to have rough days.  I praise God for blessing us with sweet Calvin and I love him more than imaginable.  I really, really love being a mom...even on the bad days!! 

I know, seriously, who could be crabby with this sweet face to smile at!!

The Gang's All Here!!

Today was our first accountability group meeting with all four babies!!  It is amazing that we started meeting together when I was still pregnant, and since then, all three of the other girls have had their babies!!  These girls (and their babies) hold such a special place in my heart.  They are such an encouragement to me and we just have a blast together.  It has been so amazing to have a great group of other first time mommies to walk and pray through this experience together.  I love them!!

The Gang

Calvin (9 months), Katelynn (7 months), Analynne (6 months), William (1 month)

Typically, Calvin is the one making the girls cry, either by yelling too loud or flailing his arms in the general direction of their face :)  But today he was on his best behavior.  We can't wait to watch these kiddos grow up, and hopefully, become good friends!!



And I couldn't resist throwing in some photos of Calvin in his new jammies.  Good grief he's adorable!!  And doesn't he look like a little boy??  Where'd my baby go??