Overwhelmed

In the Old Testament, God commands Israel to "Take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.  And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, 'Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'" (Deuteronomy 4:9-10)

Today, New Testament Christians don't witness miracles like the parting of the Red Sea or the Egyptian plagues and we don't see God face-to-face, but we have something better!  We have the Bible!  We have "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3) through the completion of the Scriptures. And parents still have the command to teach their children and grandchildren what God has done for us and how we are to show fear and reverence for Him.  Sometimes, as a parent, when we are overwhelmed, we say, "Children don't come with a handbook!"  But, what I've come to understand is, yes, they do!  We have the Holy Bible, the inspired Word. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)

Jeremy and I have been blessed.  We have a four year old boy, two year old girl, and expecting another boy in October.  The two we have are smart, healthy, and show talents in sports, art, and maybe even music.

I am so overwhelmed with joy with the blessings we have been given. But, to alter the common expression a little, "With great blessing, comes great responsibility!"  You see, while I am overwhelmed with joy, I'm also overwhelmed by the responsibility to raise Christian men who will become leaders, warriors, champions, for His church and a spiritual leader in his own home.  I'm overwhelmed by the responsibility that comes with raising a daughter who will first seek the kingdom of heaven and then to become a helpmeet for her husband and guide for her children.

What I am more overwhelmed by is the society in which Jeremy and I will raise our children.  We were having a conversation with some friends about the issues we are facing and Jeremy said, "It makes me want to pack up and just leave the country!" But our friend simply asked, "But where would you go?"  That's the key.  We live in the world, but we are not to be "of the world." It doesn't matter where we are on the Earth, problems will arise.  Persecution and temptations will come.  What we are commanded to teach Langston, Lakyn, and soon, Lincoln (*name spoiler*), is that God has already overcome the world!  And because He has done that, we are to obey and serve Him.

In their lifetime, our children will quite possibly face physical and legal persecutions for simply following Christ and standing for Truth in a world that is driven by feelings and emotions.  See, what I feel is right could change at any moment, but what is Truth (and logic) never changes. I am overwhelmed by the task to give them the tools and the fortitude they will need, but I am reminded, "...that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Now, in our home, we are committed to teaching respect for the authority of God, teaching "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; for against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-33) and to "supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love" (2 Peter 1:5-7). We are committed to teaching them that if all your earthly possessions are stripped from you, what still remains is faith and obedience to God.  

I am overwhelmed by physical and worldly blessings, but the hope I have for my children rests in the fact that the world has been overcome!  

Your Worth

Yesterday, I saw the viral video of the DOVE #ChooseBeautiful campaign.  This morning, I saw an advertisement for Cacique promoting their undergarments using the #I'mNoAngel campaign.  Both are geared toward making a woman (girls) feel good about their body. 

I appreciate the idea, but I still can't help thinking it doesn't solve the problem of girls not feeling beautiful.  So, what will? I have a little girl, that will grow up and I want her to know her worth.  I want my son to look at a girl and know her worth.  

Some blame society for the distorted way women view themselves.  I believe society, media, advertisements, etc, are all a symptom of the deeper issue.  Fathers and mothers.  Isn't that where it all starts?  How a father talks to his daughter.  How the father talks to his son. How the mother talks to her son.  How the mother talks to her daughter.  How a father talks to the mother.  How the mother dresses.  How the father dresses. How the mother and father view their physical and spiritual bodies.  How the mother allows the father (and son) to talk to her.  Who the parents allow to surround their children.

And let me pause to say, this issue is not a "FEMALE" issue.  Boys grow up feeling inadequate or unworthy as well. 

The world judges by what they can see.  But, I don't want my children to be like the world.  The world lives in darkness.  The world has no hope.  The world will be destroyed.  I want my children to be like Christ.  I want my children to live in the light.  I want my children to have hope.  I want my children to live eternally.

So, I will teach them that "the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because HE is your Lord, worship Him." (Psalm 45:11) I will teach them "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman (and man) who fears the Lord, she shall be praised..." (Proverbs 31:30) That is a lesson we need to teach our girls AND boys!

God does not see beauty as we do.  Our bodies are only temporary shells for what is meant to last.  I do believe we are to value and take care of these vessels.  "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him.  For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."  (1 Cor. 3:6-17) Like the house we live in, the structure itself is not what's important, but yet, the family that dwells there.  However, I don't let my kids destroy the house and show disrespect.

So it is with our bodies.  We should learn to love and respect our bodies because the most important thing dwells within! I want Lakyn to know she is smart, funny, important, wonderful, unique, strong, AND beautiful! I want Langston to know that he is smart, funny, important, wonderful, unique, strong, AND handsome!  Not by societal definitions, but by spiritual definitions.

Boy, oh Boy!

DISCLAIMER: Because some people make take this the wrong way, I dearly love my children and would NOT trade them for the world! This is a way for me to share my experiences and maybe laugh a little!

You know in Home Economics classes when they have a few days where the students carry around these mechanical babies that are programmed to cry at different times?  The purpose of that was to deter teen pregnancy or at least get "real" experience having the responsibility of a baby.

Well, I now have a different plan...give them a TWO YEAR OLD!!  Boy or girl, I don't really think it matters!

Here's what I know about babies.  They stay in one spot when you lay them down!  They cry when they're hungry, gassy, have a dirty diaper, or tired.  But, you can narrow down the issues until you fix them!  Yes, they may still wake up once or twice at night, but they go right back to sleep!

Here's the difference with a two year old!  If they aren't sleeping, they're running...and usually AWAY from you!  They whine, cry, or pout about anything and some days everything!  They hit and spit!  They yell, "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy...." on and on and on!  They still wake up some during the night, either from bad dreams or being sick or just because they want you to cover them back up!  They sometimes are potty training, which is more gross than changing a diaper when things that should be in the potty are in the floor!  I don't know about girls in this area, but boys ALWAYS find a way to get dirty, so you are constantly wiping snot, covered in dirt, covered in yesterday's ketchup.  Oh, did I mention they talk!  So, their new favorite word is, "NO!"  They roll their eyes, yell back, and generally get an attitude!  (I thought I wouldn't have to worry about that till they're teens!) They yell out in church when they don't get their way or need to "pee pee!"

Anyway, in my experience, babies are easy/easier, but TWO year olds, the real work starts!  You have to learn what battles to fight, how to be consistent, how to talk in code, and generally keep up your energy!

Here's to all the mothers who have successfully survived this stage and lived to tell the tale!

Birthday Boy!!

Dear Langston,

Today marks two years since we met you!  How can that be?  You have been in our lives for TWO whole years!  (Sometimes it seems longer, but most times I wonder how I missed it!)

I can only try to express the difference a year makes!  It is absolutely amazing how much you have grown, in all ways!  So here are some updates...

At 13 months you started walking!  It's funny that I thought you would never walk! We were on vacation in Texas and we were eating breakfast in the hotel with Aunt Courtney and Uncle Gabe and you just started walking to each table asking for food! :-) You found a new sense of freedom and independence! We have been chasing after you ever since!

On that Texas trip you got to visit your first ballparks!  We saw the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. Your daddy can't wait to take you on more baseball trips!

At 16 months you started WEE school!  You get to go four days a week from 8:15-12:00!  You are in the 1's and 2's class with Ms. Savannah and Ms. Brandi!  You had a rough few weeks being dropped off, but you always had a great time once you got in.  Mommy was excited and nervous for you starting "school" and Daddy had a hard time adjusting to not having you with him. I think WEE school has been one of the best things to help you grow, learn, and develop so rapidly!  You are getting to socialize and learn from other kids. Your vocabulary has taken off and I can't keep up! They learn through playing there and I think that's awesome for you!

At 20 months you became a BIG BROTHER!  I was a little worried with how you were going to react to your baby sister, but you have been so great!  You love her!  You kiss her and snuggle with her!  You talk to her and make her laugh!  You are a wonderful big brother and I know you will always look out for her.  You want her to get up and play with you so badly!  I promise one day she will!  She already loves you and looks up to you!

I'll just run down a few things you can do that amaze me, but I don't know exactly when it happened!  Some things happen so fast I can't keep up!  First, you talk so well!  You put thoughts together now in 3 word sentences.  Some of your favorites are..."Me did it!"... "Dat's tute!"(usually about something baby girl is wearing)... "Bat, Ball, Hit, Gove."(when you want to play baseball)... "Potty. Poopoo." (I'll get to the potty in just a minute, but you've started saying "poopoo" when any of us pass gas. I'm just hoping it doesn't happen in a quiet public place!)...."Toodles." "Puppies." (referring to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and PAW Patrol.) There are many more words you know, too many to list, but you can go through a book and point at pictures and name animals or tell me what sound a duck and a cow make.  You are getting into puzzles now!  You have an alphabet and shape puzzle that you can put in all the right places!  We are working on really knowing the letters, but you know what they look like! 

Okay, potty time!  I had planned on working with you as soon as I got out of school for the summer because I knew you were ready!  You started patting your diaper and saying "pee pee" and wanting to go sit on the toilet.  That was my plan, but you moved the timeline up!  You still wear a diaper to bed and in public but when we are at home I let you run around diaperless and you go to the potty when you need to!  I am so impressed and excited!  But, it's just another sign of your independence and will to do things on your own and in your own time! 

Mommy still struggles with you sometimes in church and that will I just referred to is part of the problem, but we are still working on that.  You love to SING in church and people always tell me when they hear you and they love to hear your sweet voice singing to God. 

Mommy and Daddy love you more each day!  We feel so blessed to be your parents!  You are still so sweet and loving!  I know your personality will be encouraging to those around you.  You genuinely love to be around those people that you love and love to laugh.  Your teachers describe you as the "class clown." That worries Mommy a little, but I'm so glad that you are a happy, smart, healthy little boy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Langston Brees Smith!

Love you always,

Mommy and Daddy and Baby Lakyn

 

Things they DO NOT warn you about - 2 kid edition

Warning! This blog is not intended to deter any family from having children or more than one child! This is intended as a follow up to last years blog titled, "Things they DO NOT warn you about."

"High stakes WHACK A MOLE!" That is how my beloved husband, Jeremy, refers to it.  We have an almost 2 year old and an 3 1/2 month old.  A few friends said, "It's not as bad as it seems." Others said, "It's not that hard going from 1 child to 2."   Well....they should have been more specific!

1. POOP!  Multiplied by two!  In last years blog I mentioned there's about 3 types of poop, well, with two kids still in diapers, there are about 6!  They can all be summarized in 3 groups though, the healthy, not so healthy, and the "GAH!  I NEED FOUR HANDS AND WHAT DID YOU EAT!" kind! Since there are two, there are moments that last from 15-30 minutes where you are going back and forth changing diapers.  She pooped.  His diaper is sagging. She wasn't finished. He wasn't finished. Give me a break kids! You can go through 5-6 diapers in 15 minutes if they are really trying to break records!

2. Memory...or lack there of!  It's amazing the amount of things I have to consciously stop and think about.  From where my keys are to what time I last fed Lakyn...or Langston for that matter!  I read an article that said mothers' brains are actually functioning at higher levels than non-mothers because of all the things they are keeping up with.  I am not sure I fit into that category. 

3. Multi-tasking! Jeremy is at home with the kids during the day when I'm at work and many days he leaves to work when I get home, so there are many times that we both have hours of dealing with both children.  So, instead of man-to-man, they are double-teaming us!  There was one occassion where I was changing Lakyn and Langston went into his room and closed the door. No big deal.  He can't open the door by himself so in a few minutes I hear him knocking.  I lay Lakyn on the couch and go to open the door.  It's locked.  I mean, for real, locked!  Of course, Lakyn starts crying.  I am trying not to freak out.  The door handle only has one of the holes in the middle, not a typical lock, and I don't know if there's a key.  After many minutes of failed attempts at a bobby pin and credit card, I start hurling my body at the door and trying to calm Langston.  Lakyn is still crying.  Eventually Jeremy gets home and remembers the key above the door casing.  There are so many other stories but the best one I have to date was last week.  Jeremy was working. Things were going fine until Langston wanted to "pee pee." Ok, no big deal.  We went to bathroom and I sat him on his seat.  No pee pee.  He wants to take a bath.  Little girl starts crying.  I run the bathwater and go put pacifier in.  Come back, get Langston undressed, put him in bath and he starts to pee pee.  I grab him and sit him on the potty. The frustrating dance of bath to potty goes on until I finally give up, keep him in the bath, and go check on baby girl.  I realize she needs to eat, so I go back in, give Langston a wipe down and get him out.  He starts running around the house.  So, I give up on chasing him and go feed her.  I am nursing by the way, so it's not like I can just jump up to get to him.  So, trying to relax, I sit there and nurse while he's running around naked.  I'm hoping he isn't peeing everywhere, but sure enough, I finish with her, go to walk into his room to get him dressed, and step in pee!  Great! Even when we are both home, we do the man-to-man, but that only involves the kids.  Throw in laundry and cooking, etc, etc, and you learn to do a lot with one hand!

4. Stuff!  You name it, we probably have it, unless we really need it one day, then that's the thing we don't have.  The stuff that comes with kids slowly takes over everything until you don't recognize your own house or purse.  Just recently I have gone on a rampage to pair down and get rid of things we don't need.  Watch out for an awesome yard sale coming in May! 

5. Terrible two's + infant = crazy mama!  At both ages (stages) the child needs so much attention but for different reasons.  I will not try to describe it because it's one of those things you have to experience.  Nothing can describe it.

6. Going out!  We try not to with both kids.  Seriously.  We go to church all together.  We go out to eat together, occasionally.  We've really worked hard to eat at home though. But take everyone shopping? NO WAY!!  I will make a 10:00 pm trip to avoid that!

I know I have listed "negatives" that no one tells you about having two children so close in age, but there are many more positives. Twice the laughs. Twice the cuddles. Twice the LOVE!!  I cannot imagine life before Lakyn.  I feel like she completes our family.  Her personality is so sweet and calming.  Langston is at the age where he is learning so much!  I love hearing the new words and phrases he comes up with!  Children have taught me so much about God's love.  Langston and Lakyn have made me stretch and grow as a person.  This phase of life is just that, a phase.  And the next 3-4 years are just a drop in the bucket.  And even when negative thoughts creep in and I want to believe I'm the only one who has it tough, I am reminded that I'm wrong and I have it SO GOOD! Women whose children are grown and out of the house constantly remind me that I will MISS these days!  So, I will soak it ALL up!

Why I'm Running

As some of you may know, Jeremy and I have committed ourselves to running our first 5K in May.  We started "training" last week and have accomplished little goals.  I ran a little in college, but that was mainly because I knew when the boys basketball team was practicing/working out and that was when I would go. 

Sometimes I think people believe that the only reason a person would run or lift weights or exercise at all is to lose weight.  I'm a fan of "The Biggest Loser" but even that is focused more on losing weight, with a little eating right and lifestyle changes thrown in.  So, I thought it would be good for me to write about why I'm doing this so I can go back and read it later when things get tough.

1. My husband asked me to. - I know that doesn't seem like a good reason, but if he wouldn't have asked, I would never have considered it.  And, since his goals are to run this 5K, get in shape, and lose weight, I feel like this is the best way to support him.  I have found that this has been a good conversation topic as well.  Sometimes we exhaust the topics of work, kids, work, kids, bills, work, etc.  Running has become something we can talk about that builds our personal relationship.  The times we can go together are good too, but not a must.  He runs with music and I like quiet time so it works.

2.  Lose weight and tone. - Yes, I said it.  I would like to lose a few pounds.  If I'm running/walking 3-4 times a week, I think it's ok to have this as a goal. Yes, for all of you thinking it, I know I am NOT FAT!!  My body fat percentage (whatever it's called) is normal, etc, etc. I am not obsessed with the number.  I am 10 years and 2 kids past that!  I am more concerned with how my clothes fit.  Ok, now I'm done with that subject.

3. My kids need me. - I am blessed with two small children under the age of 2.  Langston has so much energy and is ALL boy, so he needs (both of us) to play with him and run around and be silly.  Lakyn will be that too, I'm sure.  And, even if their energy level decreases, the example I am setting will carry them throughout their life.  I don't expect either of my children to be super athletes (if they are, fine, if not, okay) but I do want them to know that their body is important and know how to take care of it. Anyone who knows me should not question that I value their spiritual body over the physical, but I don't want their physical body to hinder their spiritual work.  I feel like I am in charge of their spiritual, mental, emotional, AND physical well-being and staying active and healthy is a way to take care of their physical well-being.

4.  Finish a goal. - Sometimes I set a goal and never finish it.  This 5K is a good way for me to work on that.  The Bible compares our life to a spiritual race.  We are racing towards a goal, heaven, and only those who finish this life in a righteous state will receive the prize.  I think setting my mind on finishing this 5K will be practice for keeping my mind on the spiritual goal.

That's it.  That's the list.  I briefly mentioned that I liked walking/running in just silence.  That has been a side benefit to all of this, getting some time just for myself.  That makes me a better wife, mother, and teacher.  Now, if future Blythe is reading this because it's gotten "too hard" or "there's no time", I would tell you to "suck it up" and get out there!  "If it were easy, everyone would do it", etc, etc.  If you can't do it for yourself, do it for Jeremy, Langston, and Lakyn!

Langston + Lakyn



I have to admit, I was worried that we had not done an adequate job preparing Langston for the new baby.  But, I had no real idea of how to do that.  We read him a Little Critters book that showed the parents bringing home a new baby girl and the big brother helping.  When my tummy got big enough, he would point to it and we would say, "Baby Sister." Thankfully, he was more prepared than we expected!

Mamaw and Chief (Jeremy's parents) brought Langston to visit us in the hospital and, to a mother, the moment they met was "magical."  I was holding Lakyn and he came in, waved to everyone, and then noticed me and the baby in the bed.  He came over and wanted to sit with me, so he got up on the bed and just stared, in awe, of Lakyn.  He would point to her, rub her back, and even gave her a kiss on the head.  It was a moment I will never forget!

It's been 8 weeks since that first moment and Langston still loves "Baby" so, so much!  He HATES hearing her cry.  Sometimes if I can't get to her quickly, he will go over to where she is laying and put her pacifier back in or say, "No, no, baby. Shhhh."  Just the other day, Jeremy was holding her and she got hungry (so she got fussy) and Langston called out, "Mommy! Mommy!" because he knows it's my job to feed her.  When we go somewhere and people ask about his baby sister he will go over to the carseat and point to her.  He wants to sit by us and "hold" her.  When he enters a room he says, "Hey baby!" or leaves a room, "Bye baby!" If she's laying on the couch he will come over, lean in real close, and give and sweet hug or kiss.  Only a few times have I had to keep him from hugging too tightly.  I think it's the boy in him to just be a little rough, but it breaks his heart if he thinks he hurt her. 

And what does Lakyn think about Langston?  Well, from what we can tell, she adores him as well.  She perks up when she hears his voice.  She follows him with her eyes when he's close by.  I think she already knows he is there and will protect her.

I grew up with all girls so I don't know the dynamic of brothers and sisters.  From what I've seen so far, it is going to be a very special relationship.  I know they will argue and fight, but I have a feeling they will be best of friends.  He will protect her and she will tell him when he's not thinking straight!

I was anxious about them being so close in age, but for their relationship I think it will only make them closer.  Whatever we have to deal with as parents while they are little is worth the friendship they will have.

There have been many moments of just pure, sweet love and it makes my heart smile knowing he loves her and she loves him.