The Weight of it All

As we prepare for sweet Marlie I have had a lot on my mind. Like how can I seriously at this point in pregnancy title a blog "Weight" and not laugh out loud? And then there are other more important things like Will my girls get all they need from me?  How in the world are there enough hours in the day to make sure they know how very much I love them? I must pour everything I have into them, Mike and my work.  And then I get tired.  This whole work-life balance thing is really a joke.  I have come to the conclusion that there is really no such thing and I am not going to continue to try to "balance".  I am just going to give it all I have and pray every chance I get that no one is getting short changed.  I pray more than anything that my girls and my husband and my colleagues look at me and know I am giving them every ounce of me and that my greatest hope is that they look at me and see the love of Christ.  I hope they see that I am not perfect.  I hope they see that I am sometimes crazy.  And I hope they see just how unbalanced I truly am.  Because then they will see that my Father loves me that way too.  Just as I will love them no matter where the are, no matter who they are.  There are days that are complete blurs between school drop off, work, school pick up, dinner, bath, bedtime, adult time and finally bed where I lay and think of all the things that didn't get done.  But in all of those blurry days there are precious moments that only a mother, wife and professional gets to experience.  I won't trade those moments for sanity.  I recently read an article from another mom and she so beautifully articulated what I need to hear. "The weight of perfectly remembering every detail for each of my kids, as well as purposefully pouring life into their little souls, is more than I can bear. But there is sweet relief when I confess my own idolatry and rest in Jesus’ promise that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. No matter how hard I work at it, I won’t get it all right all the time. But God gives just as much grace when I stand before my kids as he does when I kneel at the foot of the cross. My desire to be a good mother will never go away and I will always continue to work hard at it, but the weight to do it perfectly and completely will only be eased as I look to my own perfect Father and trust the gospel of his grace for me and my family. And some days that might just mean we’re having frozen pizza for dinner again."  I had an epiphany.  He never intended for me "to have it all", He wants me to surrender it all.  And I will.   And just like that He shows us up and calms the storm.  I can do this, I will do this and He will bless me. 

Smores Fun!

I am slightly addicted to Pinterest and have completed one project and three recipes this weekend!  Madie made Smores pops this weekend.  They were super easy and even more yummy!

This picture was the next day, but Madie kept handing me my camera and saying "Cheese!"  You just never know with this girl! Ha!

Top 10 Reasons Pregnancy Brain is Real!

10.  I have been to Target 4 times to purchase deodrant.  Looks like I will be heading back tomorrow.
9.  I bought my brother a women's sweater for Christmas
8.  There are certain people who received Christmas cards from me.  TWICE.
7.  There are certain people who did not receive a Christmas card from me.  Sorry, talk to the people from 8.
6.  I found my phone in the pantry today.  Can't blame Madie, it was too high.
5. I have to seriously remind myself every day what day it is.  I mean in a "do I get up and go to the office today or is it Saturday?" kind of way. 
4.  I forgot the rest of this list.  Seriously.  Seriously?

This is what happens

When you take random pictures on my camera when it is left briefly unattended.  I blog them and them post to facebook, tweet, add them to linked in, and whatever other site I can possibly think of.  I LOVE my little brothers and love the fact that even though one of us is approaching middle-age at lightening speed (Chad), we still revert back to 15 years ago.   :)

Christmas. Crazy, Glorious Whirlwind Christmas.

Is it just me or did Christmas come and go in an absolute flash this year?  Wow!  Regardless, we had a wonderful time and Madie was blessed beyond belief.  Well, we all were but this is about her so I won't post the picture of my ridiculously cute leopard and purple peep-toe pumps.  Disclaimer happens now:  way too many pictures posted so if you read this for my witty banter you can wait for my next post.  Otherwise just revel in the absolute adorableness that is my sweet Madie.  



We struck out for Abilene on Christmas Eve Eve but got there a little late.  First item on the agenda Christmas Eve morning was making cookies for Santa!  Madie was very good at it! 

 Admiring her finished product.

 We do tamales for dinner on Christmas Eve but Mimi had a special treat in store for Madie and Cooper!  They got to make their own pizzas!  Chefs in training, I mean it!

 This is Madie clapping in the middle of her masterpiece. 

 Watching them bake in the oven.  Yes Case is quite handsome isn't he?

 Handsome and CRAZY!  Look at Madie's face.  Priceless.

 After dinner it was time to distribute the presents.  It is a longstanding tradition in the Chambers clan that the youngest take on this duty.  Case has been waiting 20 years to pass it on.  Here he is training Cooper and Madie.  I actually think Chad secretly wants to do it himself forever.

 The insane amount of presents for Madie, Mike and I.  I promise we were not this good.  Our family just chooses to ignore our flaws.  Thanks for that!

 My sweet pea posing

 Madie really enjoyed opening presents this year.  She just tore through them so quickly!  It was fun to watch her. 

 Cooper is his super sweet train gear!  He looked SO good.

 Christmas Eve family photo with Madie's new special baby from Mommy and Daddy. 

 Madie wrote a note and left cookies for Santa in hopes that he would make it to Abilene!

 Luckily, he did and left her a loot!!

 He even left fingernail polish in her stocking which we had to use immediately. 

 I LOVE this picture!  Madie in her high heels, with her wand talking on the phone. I feel like this is me most days! Ha!

 Madie also got lots of things to take care of her new baby.  She loved them.  I think she fits in her new pack-n-play famously.  Ha!  Such a silly girl.

 It was such a great Christmas for our little family.  And to think this is probably the last picture of us as a family of three!!

I am still trying to figure out how Granddaddy managed to avoid the camera the entire time.  He was there I promise, causing mischief.  As every year, we were blessed beyond measure and so thankful to be able to spend time with family.  Thanks everyone and Happy New Year!  I cannot wait to see what 2012 will bring but know it is bringing someone really special in just a few short weeks! 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

One more Christmas post before the REAL festivities begin!

Does this scream Christmas joy or what?

 Decorating our gingerbread house

 Finished product!

 We can't wait until tomorrow!! Merry Christmas!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

If you know me well at all you know how much I absolutely LOVE Christmas!  Well, it appears my partner in crime feels the exact same way.  Oh joy to the world!  We have kicked off this Christmas season with a bang.  First the decorating, then every Christmas movie known to man, Advent calendars, Christmas candy making, Christmas lights and of course the true story of Christmas every night before bed.  

Madie was SO excited when I got out her tree.  She took out each ornament and said "whoa!".  I made a promise to myself last year that if I was going to put a tree in her room she had to have total access to it.  It is not a "no, no".  It is hers.  So we rearrange ornaments everyday.  We have broken a couple but we love our tree!

Madie also loves our advent calendar.  I think she finally got the concept of it now but the first day I put it up she was being awfully quiet.  I found her this way and as soon as she saw me she said "uh oh". 

Watching Shrek the Halls

My little Santa baby

It has also finally gotten a little cold here.  Madie picked out this hat and gloves all by herself and she thinks they are fabulous!  I think I agree.  Ha!

The most precious gift from above

Madie loves looking at the Christmas lights on the way home in the evenings and we take our time past every house in our neighborhood.  She also talks about Santa  a lot and knows he says Ho!Ho!Ho!  Except when we went to see him she didn't want to sit on his lap.  When I asked her what Santa said after that she said "roar!".  I love this little girl so much!  She just cracks me up.  I do love the season so very much but hope she comes to love it for the same reason as me.  We were given the most amazing, selfless gift from our Father.  The birth and gift of Jesus is the reason we celebrate.  The gifts from Jesus are the reason my family is blessed to celebrate in the ways that we do. Now, I think we have a gingerbread house to decorate!  Merry Christmas!