Dear Dakotah,

Dear Dakotah,

Today is your birthday. Saying that makes the beats of my heart pound harder within my chest. I'm aware of emotions surfacing in the midst of our little busy lives that we all lead together. The sound of dishes loading, laundry cycling, and you and your brothers loudly playing fades to a low drone as I close my eyes and press my hands heavily over my heart trying to soften the beats. It is a mystery...becoming a momma. It makes me FEEL in capacites I never knew before.

You were born among panic and turmoil and we flew fast in a large plane to a larger hospital. You were early and you met with a herd of doctors upon your arrival. They rushed you away and I watched the buzz move swiftly down the hallway...away from me. I soon got to see you again but a hard plastic bubble separated the two of us. I still remember how beautiful you were. To this day, I have never seen a more perfectly formed little fresh bundle. You were curled up wanting love all alone in that incubator. You had a soft, round body and big chipmunk cheeks. I wanted to hold you close but it wasn't time. Of all my boys, you appreciate physical affection most of all...yet, there you were, hours old, and void of human touch. My heart wanted you as I peered past the plastic. We almost lost you one night, you were so sick. I raced out of my room when the Doctor called at 2am, saying you were possibly breathing your last breaths. Oh my, was that false. You have breathed so much life into everyone around you for seven years now! I called you my "angel baby". God saw your big heart and knew that he needed an angel here on earth, so in a swift move, He chose to leave you here. We needed love, the kind only Dakotah boys can give! You were born to love. Truly.

Please know, my sweet Kotah Bear, that you hold such a unique part of my identity and my heart...only YOU have this part of me. You are the middle of three incredible lives that stir my emotions like nothing else. Exactly in the middle. But rest your little heart and know that you are placed exactly where you need to be, just like the cream in an oreo. You have me, you always have. My Dakotah is unlike any other little boy in God's big world. I need you right here where you are. You connect your brothers, always checking to make sure that each one is loving one another. Your little mind works in ways to create laughs and excitement in our everyday lives. You are LOVE quite simply Kotah. You demonstrate love in the purest form to all of us. It is so important to you that everyone is getting along and that we are all happy. Do you have any idea how that makes your Momma feel? I feel so blessed to have my little angel taking care of us. That is what you do. Your heart is big and spilling over with love for Momma and Daddy and your brothers. I know that.

You are unique and full of wonder. You are PACKED full of personality! Your wispy beach blond hair falls into your eyes as you run to me. I like to push it back and kiss your forehead all over, while I study your tea-cup blue eyes that never stay still. I watch your eyes move about and wonder what you're thinking about. I have some slight clue that you are working on a big adventure in your mind, or that you are waiting to tell me about your latest expedition. You can never stay still. There is so much that you want to explore, and see, and touch, and do. You love life and you make sure we all love life right along with you. Your little hands automatically discover each thing around you. You just can't seem to get enough of it all. What a gift that is. Don't lose that sense of "awe". Always let this world WOW you. Don't slow down. Keep running, explore this life, see it all, experience it in ways that only curious little boy minds can.

I love you Dakotah. You make this family. Nothing, ever, ever will change the way my heart beats harder for you when I know you're turning another year older. I'm convinced I'll always feel this way...just as I do now. And that is okay. It means I'm feeling life, just like you feel life. We're the same. We feel life...You and I.

Thank you for making me smile and Happy 7th Birthday,
Momma






 

French Kisses On My Doorstep

My husband may ground me to the kitchen for this but...

Why is the UPS man always so yummy?

I secretly believe it's because he always brings excitement in any sized packages...
(What an inappropriate pun...simply shameful)

I received a big brown box on my doorstep and I have to share my new treasure!

This is a French Cutlery and Utensil holder. All the credit for this delicious find goes to Susan and her beautiful blog here. Thank you! (But, I will go broke if I spend too much time on your blog.)

More french decor for my kitchen...this is my FRENCH KISS for today.

Keep Minds Sharp with Summer Reading

Books I love. So obviously, one of my goals as a mom is to pass that love down to my three boys. There are exciting summer incentives to encourage all young readers! The two that our family has participated in the last couple of years is Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program and our local library's program. Let's start with the incredible book superstore: B & N allows your child to choose a brand new FREE book in their children's area after the child reads 8 books during the summer.

Here is a photo of the boys choosing their free books LAST year at Barnes and Noble.

And here are their completed journals ready to turn in!

Now, all these shots are from last summer because we are still in the middle of completing their reading logs this year. We are almost done though!

This however, is a current photo snapped at Borders. It makes me SMILE wide every time I see it! I hustled around the corner, trying to get everyone out of the store and this is what I found... My boys already LOVE to read and that is EXCITING NEWS.

Check your local library to see what programs are offered. The incentives include fun surprises for your kids, free movie passes, free ice cream certificates, and even free books! These SUMMER READING PROGRAMS are too valuable to pass up because your child is stretching his/her mind plus getting little goodies to take home. And who doesn't like FREE STUFF? (The library offers the same program for ADULTS. Oh yes, I keep a reading log too and cash in on some free treasures!)

Here are the boys completing the reading program at the library last summer. We had just arrived there after walking in over 100 degree July heat...which explains the flushed faces.

What do you do to encourage your kids to read? I would love to hear more ideas! What a great gift we can give our kids if we ignite the passion to read. They can curl up and escape to places that we can't drive to, they will feel the culture that otherwise they wouldn't know, they will live through history, their imaginations will be free to roam, and they will grow in character and build strong values as their mind is constantly sharpened by the words on every page.

EDIT on 8-5-09: We completed our program and I wanted to add a couple more photos of THIS YEAR at Barnes and Noble below:

Summer VACAtion 2009

The Heavenly Bed

I wanted to snag this moment to share another one of my Favorite Things. I've had the pleasurable experience of getting to vacation in Westin hotels a time... or three! ;) In fact, I get to go again this 4th of July WEEKEND!!

These dreamy affairs were made faultless thanks to Westin's hotel room BEDS. Among all the exquisite luxuries these hotels have to offer, I dare say the BEDS were my favorite!

The first time I dipped my bare feet beneath the covers, I was captured. And as I was sinking my relaxed body into all the crisp white sheets I got lost...ohh, yes. I was lost in this bed. If you've ever wanted to dance in the clouds, this is the closest you will get. I suppose that is why they are called HEAVENLY BEDS.

Evidently, I'm not the only fan because they actually have these for sale. It's on my WISHLIST...at the top!

I don't just want the pillows....

or the sheets...

or the mattress...

I want the COMPLETE PACKAGE, you can see it here.

Chris dear, please read this blog post and take note of my moving affection for this material thing, better labeled as eternal heaven.

These photos are property of Starwood Hotels and are not my own

Couch to 5k

For those of you who know me, I am not a runner. But what you may not know is that I've ALWAYS wanted to run. It's so simple, natural, and free-feeling. My eyes are always drawn toward people jogging on the side of the road, or glossy magazine photos of a runner in stride, or the Chariots of Fire scene where they are running down the beach with the music. I can't describe the admiration I have always had for runners!

A couple of years ago I tried out this intriguing program called Couch to 5k (C25K). Basically, it's a training program that gets any self-proclaimed couch potato to jog a 5k in only 9 weeks. It works. I tried it, following the program 100% and received MUCH satisfaction on the day I completed it. I even graphed myself a little chart to take notes on each workout and gave myself a gold star upon completion. (Yes, those gold star stickers your teacher gave you in 1st grade for completing a penmanship paper!)

Here is my "journal chart"

I used my treadmill for most workouts, though I believe running outside is ideal. You see...the treadmill gives me no excuses!

Couch to 5K is a PERFECT start for beginners and it is designed to prevent injury. Visit this website for more information. Whisper a line if you've tried this before...

For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, click here.

My Kids are Politically Incorrect

We passed a group of people in their military uniforms and my boys were so excited to see "army men"!!! This was just like those little green plastic fighting army men, but in REAL LIFE. They were gasping and pointing, and their voices hummed in excitement. But Titus made a discovery that perplexed them all:

One of the real life army men was a GIRL! What? None of their green plastic army men toys were girls. They sat silent for a moment then they began to work out the situation among themselves. Dakotah confidently and firmly gave his answer, "well brothers, she isn't an army men, she just cooks all their food for them!" Titus quickly retorted in an equally confident voice, as he rolled his eyes at Kotah, "No, Dakotah! She is there to clean and pack all their stuff." Skyler still wondered aloud, "then I wonder why she was dressed like an army man?". They all seem satisfied at this point with the conversation and we drove on down the road. I realized as we made our way home that my children have definitely NOT been groomed and trained to be politcally correct.

LITTLE BONUS:
The following night Chris and I were discussing Michael Jackson's untimely death at the dinner table. The boys wondered what we were talking about. I explained that MJ pioneered a lot of music and the music video, saying that he was the "King of Pop". Kotah replied, "you mean he made up all the songs like Jesus Loves Me and all that stuff?" And Skyler responded to Kotah with a bit of disdain, "No Kotah! He is in charge of the drink Coke, you know...like the king of Coke and all soda pop!".

Chalk Ink is on the Mark

At the Shabby Chic Cottage Blog it's all about chalkboards today. Be sure to click you way through all the unique finds there. Recently I've posted about wanting to get a chalkboard so I am looking forward to seeing all the chalkboard creations today. I've also had a lot of people ask me about chalk ink. Chalk Ink is the new best thing! It applies smoothly...doesn't make a mess...and looks more vibrant and colorful than plain chalk.

Also, you can use it on plastic Tupperware to label and you'll feel organized in a snap! Get more creative and use chalkboard name tags to label dishes at a buffet dinner or for nameplates on a table setting.


You can pick some up at Michaels or order it on Amazon. Take a look at the fun colors you can choose from:

Earthy Colors

Basic White

Teddy Bear Brown

Cayenne Pepper

Smiley Face Yellow

Candy Corn Orange

Grape Jelly

Classic Colors

Now YOU know Starbuck's secret to their colorful and crystal clear writing on their display chalkboards! So excited to share with you all...Because we're always looking for the NEXT BEST THING ! !

P.S. I don't have a chalkboard yet, this is my sweet momma's. ;)

Hanky Panky Thongs *Works for Me Wednesday*

This post is for Women Only...No boys allowed ;)


Lean in close to your computers girls, I have great news! A discovery has been made that will change your life as you know it! Because SEXY has met COMFORT and is a match made in heaven. Hanky Panky has thongs that ummm, surprisingly don't feel like thongs. They are comfy cozy...so make some space in your underwear drawer.


You wear slinky lingerie all the time, right? Those granny panties are a crime so toss them out. I've heard from some real life sex goddesses that it is important for married women to still always dress quietly sexy for our husbands underneath our business suits, soccer mom sweats, or aprons. Just because you tied the knot doesn't mean your husband wants to see you in unattractive underwear, right? Keep your marriage red hot by paying close attention to these details. And now the excuse of discomfort isn't valid because you've been introduced to Hanky Panky thongs.

You won't believe how great they feel and fit!

You won't go back

It's a gift for all women.

There's no denying that these are the best.

Have a peek here, or here, or here!
On my wishlist are these, and these and these.

Oh, and if you already own these, please share. For more Works for Me Wednesday posts, click here.