Raising Boys

I bought the book Raising Boys by James Dobson months ago. I had been reading it right before bed and for some reason I just stoppped...maybe Amazing Race, DWTS, 24, LOST, Flashforward had something to do with that. (I may have too many shows....DVR). I also got into a few other books along the way, so I tried to have an upstiars book and a downstairs book...no luck. Now that I have finished Donald Miller, I am moving back in to James Dobson. I have read a few chapters so far and it is very enlightening...mainly because I am not a boy. Surprise! I am not usually a fan of statistics and facts, but since this directly relates to me I am very interested. Growing up I always wanted boys because I knew how dramatic and crazy girls were...because I was that girl. Surprise! Now that I am reading this book, I am seeing a picture of how boys are wired. Boys need love and security. Boys need their dads. Boys are going to rough house. Boys are going to push the limits. Boys are messy. (I added that one). I am learning to embrace the sweet boy I have. I am giving him lots of love and I am giving him boundaries and letting him explore. MOST importantly this boy LOVES his daddy. He lights up when Colin comes in. He wants to get on his shoulders and rub his buzzed head. He wants to wrestle on the floor. He gives Colin hugs (Camden does the lean in when he wants to show you love). Colin is a very involved and loving father. I love to watch the two of them interact because they both light up. They need each other. I am so thankful for my husband and the roll he has embraced as dad. I have fallen in love with him all over again through the last year. I am so proud of my boys.

Mom

(we may need to get a more recent picture mom!)

Thank you so much for all the book suggestions, especially the one in Japanese, I am gonna run out and get that one right away. (what is that anyway?) I was reminded I have a great book on my nightstand right now...Raising Boys. I am going to finish that one and then move onto Jen and Kendra's suggestions....thank you so much friends.



This weekend we celebrated Mother's Day. I am a lucky girl because I have been blessed with an amazing mother. She has been my biggest fan (most of the time, I did give her a few reasons not to cheer throughout the years). She is one of the first people I call in any circumstance and on any given day. She laughs with me, and has cried with me a few times (she is s a tough cookie). Now being a mom myself, I don't know how she did it with such grace and confidence. I never once questioned my mom's authority, what mom said went. I believed (and maybe still believe) so many things she told me. Some true, some not so much.



1. The pink panther isulation when touched will make you itch for the rest of your life.

2. Big wheels are not supposed to have loud clickie things on the wheels

3. She was in the group the Lovin' Spoonfuls (sp)

4. I can cook...ha, sorry mom I didn't get that gene.

5. If you ask if someone can spend the night in front of that person it is an automatic NO!

I hope to add a few more throughout the weeks...she was good.


My mom always led aerobics in our living room, blew bubbles with us on the front porch, and let us crawl up in her lap. She knew that a cookie and Sprite would heal anything, she laid in bed with me for an entire day while I cried over my first breakup, and she prayed with me during our battle with infertility. My mom is the best. I am so thankful God gave me Trish Baxter. I love you mom!

What are you reading?

My family can't believe I am reading!

I am looking for my next book.....what do you rec? I like an easy read (sorry no John Piper, no offense Head family). I like a book that challenges me, I love Francis Chan, Donald Miller, John Ortberg,....let me know.

Em

God....

"write a good story, take somebody with you, and let me help."

I just finished my book by Donald Miller. It was a great read. I enjoyed his ability to tell his story and weave other people through each page. It was interesting to see him literally get off the couch and make a better story for himself. I wonder what God is asking me to do? I wonder what I miss out on each day because I am trying to write my own story. I wonder what fears hold me back from taking a step towards God's story. I wonder if today I am in the place God wants me to be in my story.

I don't want to get to Heaven and start telling God my stories...I want us to sit together and tell our stories. Stories that I could only live through Him. Stories that could only be written by God, stories with no fear, worries, and much growth.

I am that loser mom....(just hear me out)

I was watching Wheel of Fortune the other night (superfan, I have a wheel ID and everything). Supercool and no that is not the reason I am a loser mom. Colin and I always have a competition to see who can solve the puzzle first, it doesn't count if you just get a few words you have to get the whole puzzle. There are some tricks to this....you can't solve the puzzle aloud or the competitor will steal all your hard work and win that round. Very tough for me....plus I am competitive and I get really nervous that Colin will solve the puzzle before me and that makes my heart beat really fast messing with my thinking. (then we get into the whole anxiety thing...nobody wants that). ....and no that isn't the reason I am loser mom, although you may think so by now. I also like to predict where the really good prizes are on the final wheel spinner thing....I think it's all in the stars....big money and cars, oh and no wammies....wait wrong game.

So back to my thought and title of the blog. The contestant who won was introducing his precious family and friends whom he brought with him for his Wheel debut. It was his mom and his cute girlfriend. I was torn...who did I relate to now, the cute girlfriend or the mom. I continued to watch and celebrated as this young man took home over $60000 home. I told Colin he better be buying her a ring...and then it happened. He didn't know who to hug first mom or the girlfriend. Well hello....I would have always been all about the girlfriend, but now I have a son and I am that mom. He went back and forth hugging his mom and kissing his girlfriend.

Colin looked at me and said...what are you going to do when Camden brings home his first girlfriend.....I sat puzzled because I wasn't the only one who noticed the awekwardness (word?). I told Colin I would be nice to her.......I guess, I don't want to think about that. I am still getting past the point that I am no longer the girlfriend....I am the mom. I get to be a mom, and am thrilled to be a mom.

PS I don't think I am a loser or that the "mom" on Wheel is a loser....I just had to accept the new role I am playing in life...

Double Yuk!

Now my poor parents and sister in law have the bug. I am so sad for them because it just plum stinks. Mac just got over it and I am still praying it stays away from Colin and Camden. I have had to find alternate childcare for my sweet boy while I work and sub this week. I will not ever take my parents for granted. They are so giving...it is killing them to say no to watching Camden for me. I just want them to have adequate time to rest and get well. I love them so much. Please pray that this bug go away and that my family can get and stay healthy. In the back of my head I feel like it is my fault because they cared for Camden while I was so sick. I love you guys...get well soon.

yuk!

Oh my, what a weekend. It started off great. No plans and laying low with the family. After taking a recent personality test, I realized that my sweet husband likes to take it easy and go with the flow...total opposite of me. It was hard not to pencil in plans on my calender, but I really wanted to do this for my hubs. We woke up Saturday and had a big breakfast and I got my haircut (I didn't plan it, I called at 10:45 and they got me in at 11:15, I am living on the edge). We had an awesome day of no plans and just enjoyed some family time. Saturday night after Camden went to bed, Colin and I watched It's Complicated (very cute).

Sunday morning Colin woke up early to play at church. As he left I knew I didn't feel great, but I thought a Tums would help. No dice my friends.....it was bad, rough, awful. I am so lucky to have parents who live less then a mile away and they came to my rescue. My dad came over and hung out with Camden until Colin came home. As for the rest of the weekend it is a blur. Some was spent sleeping, some on the bathroom floor, and some in bed. I had a good friend who had some phinigrin and that helped with the sleep. I am on the mend today, but pray nobody has to go through that.....YUK!