You Know You're a Mom When...

You Know You're a Mom when...

1. You only have time to grab something to drink for breakfast and the only thing you can find is a blue Kool-Aid Kool Burst drink - and you have to rub the blue off your lips before heading into the doctor's office.
2. You find a caramel dipping sauce package from McDonalds in your purse, and you're not surprised and actually a little excited.
3. You notice yourself singing along with the little kids on the cd in the car
4. Your husband has to help you zip your pants all the way in the morning, but you're really excited because you are finally getting back into pre-pregnancy clothes.
5. You ate fruit cocktail for lunch!
6. You spend WAY more time getting everyone else ready in the morning than yourself, and you're really excited when your hair can fit back into a ponytail because it makes getting ready all the faster.
7. You actually enjoy a kiss from the chili-cheese covered mouth of a certain red-headed little boy.
8. The closest you get to Alone time is actually driving your kids to their well-visit and turning on a movie in the back for them and just enjoying the peace up front.
9. You get giddy when your kids finally go down for a nap!
10. Your sidewalks at your house are covered in chalk drawings, and you actually secretly want to show everyone the picture that you drew.

All of these things actually happened to me today...I just thought I'd share and see if any of you moms out there can identify!

Okay...no kidding, as I was writing this my two year old little darling puts a Tic-Tac up his nose and it took me 20 minutes to get it out! I guess add that to the list!!

Valentine's Celebrations and Milestones

I have gotten behind in the whole blogging thing. Honestly, 3 kids are wearing me out, and I just haven't had time to sit down and write. Maybe it will all slow down soon when Hannah starts crawling and walking (do you hear the sarcasm??). Having 3 kids under the age of 4 definitely keeps you on your toes... And I wouldn't want it any other way! (Well, maybe add a few more naps here and there, and time for a manicure!!) ... By the way, this picture is at our church Valentine Banquet.

Here's our Valentine morning celebration! They went on a little scavenger hunt looking for heart clues outside and ended up here at the table for pink, heart-shaped pancakes and strawberry milk. I think their favorite part were the balloons. Hannah didn't get a balloon, because as I was putting them in the car one floated away. I don't think she noticed - next year I know she will.

Jonah and Caleb got a Hungry, Hungry Hippo game for Valentine's Day. I always wanted that game when I was little, and it was a big hit here at the Barker house. They have played it over and over. It's nice because it's a game that Caleb can play with Jonah. This is the toy that Hannah got for Valentine's Day. I don't think she's too sure about it, what do you think?

Here is a picture of Jonah's Valentine Party at school. Holidays involving lots of candy are always a little nerve-wrecking for our family because of Jonah's peanut allergy. (If you didn't know Jonah has an anaphylactic reaction to even a trace amount of peanut) Our school, Forerunner Christian Academy, has done a great job setting up guidelines to keep Jonah safe, but we have to be really careful. Jonah is so good about understanding when he can't eat certain things. I think he does better about it than I would!

This was the day after Hannah turned 4 months old, and her first bite of cereal. She didn't know what to think, but now she is a pro at eating cereal. She stares us down any time we put food in our mouths. Pretty soon she'll be helping us clean our plates!

By the way, I want to bow down in shame and admit defeat. My sister and I were having a contest to see who could lose 25 pounds first. My sister has pretty much wiped the floor with me!! She's done and I still have 15 pounds to go! ...Great job Michelle - I'm so proud of you!

Weekend in Iowa Park

We had such a great weekend at our friend's house this weekend. Well, Kelli and I had fun with the kids at the house and Adam and Dan (who is the youth minister at the church) were busy, busy, busy all weekend with Disciple Now. Adam was the speaker for the youth Disciple Now weekend at their church in Iowa Park. They stayed out late and Adam preached 4 times that weekend. So needless to say, he's still recovering. Then when we got back he had to immediately attend a family night for a funeral that he was doing the next day that we had no clue about until we got back!

Yes...Kelli and I were watching 7 kids all weekend! They had so much fun together, and I'm sure Kelli is still putting her house back together after we invaded. From left to right: Judson (18 mo.), Olivia (3), Caleb(2), FaithLynn(6), Elise (almost 5), Hannah (4mo.), and Jonah (4)

We went to the park, and here's the very tired Judson and Hannah chillin' in the stroller!
This was so cute! I walked outside and the kids had found packing peanuts and were crushing them up. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were making "snow" for the squirrels! Isn't that fun - so creative!

They had a new puppy named Tiger! Poor Tiger was terrorized all weekend by Caleb. Caleb just loved him so much, he didn't want him out of his sight. Olivia also has a small obsession with the puppy too! I think Tiger knew to run from either of them when they got too close!

Milestones and Firsts!

In the last couple of weeks we've had a few milestones and firsts in our family! Hannah sat in her Bumbo for the first time. She is so ready to run around and join her brothers. I'm so nervous that she'll be one of those that walks at 9 months. She also has learned to roll over - immediately when you place her on her back now, she flips right over to her belly. That girl is growing up too fast!

Caleb also had a milestone. He went poo-poo in the potty for the first time. I finally got him to wear his Diego pull-ups, after first having to put some Baseball underwear on him. If any of you know my son, he loves baseball! He carries a little bat and ball around with him most of the day wanting you to throw it to him so he can try and hit it. He puts in his backpack like his favorite movie "Everyone's Hero". (Cute movie by the way!)

Okay, back on subject - so after the bat and ball underwear he was no longer opposed to the Pull-Ups without Elmo on them. He was so proud of himself. We're still working on tee-tee, but I know he'll get there. I know all of you who read this who don't have kids are probably wondering why I'm writing about my childs tee-tee and poo-poo- believe me I never thought I'd say tee-tee and poo-poo this many times in my writing - but believe me you'll understand one day! You'll soon notice you're calling yourself "Mom" and your husband "Dad" and wiping bottoms and boogers will become a normal part of your day! Sounds so foreign and weird until you actually get there - and then it just feels right!

I'm just ready to decreast the number of diapers I have to change and buy-it will be such a blessing. That's what I get for having my kids so close together - 2 in diapers!

The pictures below are of our first trip to the bowling alley. We didn't know if they would like it or not - but it was a big hit! Jonah was especially excited about it. Caleb just wanted to run down the lane, but learned pretty soon that it was alittle slippery. Hannah just enjoyed the noise and lights. I actually had the worst score - I needed bumpers like the kids. I guess my professional bowling dreams are shattered! It's so fun when you're kids start getting a little older so they can enjoy a bigger variety of activities.