Just another manic mom day

When I started this blog, the purpose of it was to keep friends and family updated on the life of Miss Paisley Rian--hence the name of this blog site. Now, of course it still serves that purpose, but it is also a way for my children to have record of their life, week by week. And lately, this blog has even become a place in which my children can learn more about their mom, or "who mommy was when I was little."

And although some Sunday nights I'd rather cuddle up on the couch or get to bed, writing gives me time to reflect. Am I the type of mom I always wanted to be? Am I teaching my young children values to be proud of? Am I teaching them to be respectful and a good friend and responsible and to be happy with who they are...and express themselves...and laugh and play with no worries? Am I doing my best?

What I've figured out this far in my short 3 years as a mommy...is that the hardest part is finding a balance. It means helping my kids find themselves while not losing myself along the way. There are very few days with 3 kids in which I feel like I have conquered the balance. And so I continue to work at it, each day. And this day, what I feel is necessary is....

More dance parties in the living room, less Facebook.
More tea parties, less worrying about the dishes in the sink.
More stories by Paisley, less email.
More hide and seek, and less worrying what others think.

And as each week I reflect on what we did, I often forget to think about who we are. Who is our family? But tonight, I am happy to say that I am really proud of our family. When you grow up always wondering why your own father doesn't love you--and wishing it could be different...there is nothing more rewarding than knowing you married someone who makes the most amazing father. EVER. What I never had, he has given to my kids 10 times over. And all the good my mother gave me, I can only hope I am passing down.

So if it isn't already apparent, being pregnant with my fourth child has made me quite emotional. Okay, not gonna lie....I am always emotional, sometime to a fault, but when you consider yourself an extreme planner...and then things don't go as planned...you have to know that there are reasons....and so as my mind goes and goes allllll night long...this is the stuff I think about.

And as I finish my rant, much of me wants to just delete this, and just show you what we did this week. But like I said in the beginning, this blog is for Paisley, Hudson, Madden and Baby 4. It is for them to know who we are----and maybe how crazy their mom is too?! :)

And likely the reason you have visited the blog today-- to see the kids!!!


Hudson loves reading. He has also mastered going down the stairs this week....finally!! Before he would sit and the top and scream/cry....now...both he and Madden scurry right down! Yay!

Madden eating yogurt. He is getting more teeth, and a frozen gogurt does the trick! This week, Madden was really into talking-- yelling, "dance", "block", "sock" and "quack quack".

Saturday, our friend Shannon and her little guy, B, who is 14 months came to visit! The guys had a little lunch gathering and played for a bit! We are looking forward to doing this more often now that they live about 4 hours closer!

And Paisers....

As we were saying prayers one night, I asked P if there was anyone special that she wanted to pray for. She said, "yes, anybody who is sick." Then I said, is there anything you are thankful for that you would like to mention in your prayers. She said, "thank you everybody for coming to Hudson and Madden's birthday party" ......so cute!

She is also totally into role playing. I'm telling you-- we are never really who we are. Some days we are the Lokken's.....some days we are animals, but many days, Paisley is the mommy, and I am the sister. But on one day this week, Paisley was the mommy and I was the daddy. I asked her, what do daddy's do? She said, "I dunno". So I said, well since I'm the daddy I will go to work, and I will mow the lawn and I will fix stuff. What else do daddy's do??? And she quickly said, "they sleep in their underwear!"

The twins are now in big car seats!!! We've only driven to Craig's parents, about 2.5 miles away--but they loved it!

BABY Update: 25 weeks!

I had an appointment last week, and all is well. We actually could not get a heartbeat for about 20 minutes! We knew everything was okay, because the little stinker was flipping and kicking like crazy. Each time the doppler was placed on my stomach she kicked it. It took 3 nurses to finally get it---and it was about 140. I measured at 25 weeks (so about 1 week ahead)....and it's hard to believe that after my next visit I will be going every other week! WOW!

I've been having a hard time sleeping--and then I have been waking up starving!! But really....uneventful is good in pregnancy, and that is definitely what I would call it.

Saturday night, my friends/co-workers and I attended an old co-workers wedding...so here is a belly pic from that night...

Today...we visited with great grandma Wanda and great grandpa Ed...and then went to Berg's for dinner. We want to wish great grandma Marian good luck as she has her third, and hopefully very last chemo treatment tomorrow. She has been remarkable through all of the treatments thus far, continuing to go to card club and Sunday night dinners!

Enjoy your week....

Brook & fam