Monday, March 31, 2014

momma mondays: a momma convenience

There is one thing as a Momma I wish was out there for our convenience. Have you ever seen the restaurants that offer curb-side-to-go? You call ahead, order and before you know it, someone is bringing it out to your car! Kind of like your food order at Sonic. We have a local dry cleaner that has a drive up window. Hello! Genius! It must have been a mom, or at least a woman that came up with that one! The one thing that is the biggest inconvenience for me is all those little errands that you have to load the little men up, take them back out, run in for that one single item, then load them back in the car, to then wash, rinse and repeat. I can't tell you the many little errands where I need only one or two little items in a particular store. If you could call ahead, order and pay, and then have it waiting, that'd be amazing! Growing up in New York there were little convenience stores where you could do this for things such as milk, eggs, bread, juice, etc. I never minded running these million little one item errands. I would just knock them all out in one single day of the week and all was fabulous. Now, having to do it with the boys, adds a lot of extra time and energy. And I don't have much energy. Yesterday I had to run to one store for milk and apples, one store for a certain cream, Costco for a whole list of things... And I still have 4 or 5 one item stops and a couple multi-item stores. Having this option would be fabulous. For me at least. Is there one thing as a busy mom that you've always thought would be helpful to your busy schedule?

Monday, March 17, 2014

momma mondays: boys, bumps and bruises

When I first found out that our twins were going to both be boys, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. Okay Lord, I thought, I could learn about boys with one, but don't You think two little boys is a lot for me at once, the first time around!? All I could think about was the bumps, bruises, cuts, blood, broken bones, bugs, worms, frogs... and probably many worse things. I was a little nervous and freaked out, to be honest. I was all for wanting boys, but when it was two at once at the get go, I didn't know how well I'd handle things. 

Fast forward one and a half years later and I couldn't imagine life without the bumps, bruises and blood. God has so lovingly spared me so far from worms and frogs. I am not sure it is possibly for two little one and half year olds to be more active than our boys! If you have little guys more active, God bless you. Truly. I don't know how you do it! I am thankful they are active, but my goodness can it be tiring and nerve wracking. We have already had our fair share of head bumps and bloody lips... and let's not leave out their now camouflaged looking legs. I have become a little less nervous and stressed about injuries because I am learning to accept that this is a huge part of my life from now on. I know as they get older there will be worse injuries, but for now, we're hanging in there thanks to graces from God and two little products I always have on hand. 

One product is arnica gel. It amazes me how much of a difference it makes in bumps and bruises. The size and color lessens much faster! And that certainly helps this momma's heart. I just bought the generic Whole Foods brand (365), but I am sure you can find it elsewhere, even on Amazon. Product two is made by a friend of mine. She calls it miracle salve. You can find her on Facebook at Griffin Family Farms. She makes everything and I have used multiple products and love them! Do yourself a favor and check out Griffin Family Farms. Her products really are great! And I am not just saying this because she is a friend of mine. By the way, the miracle salve, is even great to have on hand in the kitchen because it is great for burns! If you are a momma to little boys, I highly suggest both of these products. 

I still have a lot to learn about little boys. But what I do know is I wouldn't trade them for the two cutest little girls I ever laid eyes on. They are rough and tough, but so sweet and loving. Their smiles and sweet ways melt me each and every day. Something I love in boys maybe even more in girls is teaching them their manners and to be loving. There is something so precious in seeing two little men being kind, considerate of each other and others, and start learning to help out at home. What a joy little boys are! And now I can say, "Lord, you totally knew what You were doing when you sent me these two boys at once!" I can handle it (at least most days) and will receive the graces to keep learning! 

If you have little boys, do you have favorite tips for products, ways of teaching them to be little gentlemen, or anything else you'd like to share! I'd love to hear!


And after all, how can you not want to just eat up and hug a bruised face as adorable as this one?!