Yesterday was my birthday... I know, I know - Happy Birthday to me ;-) I turned 25. When looking at that number, I wanted a big celebration - 25 is a big deal in my head. Or so I thought. Then the day came, not much went on - went to some great playdates, a couple of my friends took time to get me a cheesecake and sing to me, and my dear husband came home with gifts and cupcakes from Crave Cupcake (whoo!!!!!). But no big party or big celebration. And I was ok with that. I was content during the day and felt extremely blessed throughout the day as I looked back at my life and what I have accomplished in these 25 years.
For starters - I have a wonderful Husband, we will be married for 5 years in August! Can you believe that?! I cannot believe it! Together for 7 years - and I love him more today than I did 7 years ago! I have an education - something I've always wanted. While I have not used it yet, I love that I have it to fall back on, if I ever need it. I have 2 beautiful, wonderful children! This is the most mind-blowing part for me! I cannot believe I have 2 kids! :-) A perfect, smart, hilarious, strong-personality Boy who is 2 (as of this month) and a sweet, precious, black-haired beauty who is 3 weeks (as of 2 days ago) :-) Just perfect!!! So when looking at all that, who can be sad or "let down" by a low-key day? It was a great day because I got to spend it with my children and some friends and my hubby.
I've also learned a ton in the last year. Ash and I have been through our share of pain, hard times, difficulties, and sadness. But through it all, we have always learned from it and came out stronger at the end. This year was no different.
We started to do Dave Ramsey - the cash system is awesome, if you are looking for something to help get your finances in order! I was pregnant all year and learned that some pregnancies are just horrible ;-) Cy's was amazing but Lulu's was so hard and I was an emotional wreck through most of it.
Through the last year I have really been able to identify and come up with a definition of a friend. They are super hard to come by, but also very very needed. And those who stick by you - deserve to be treasured!
I have learned that being a mom isn't about how CLEAN your house is, but how LOVED your child is! If anyone wants to come critique my cleaning - you'd be here ALL day, I'm not the most perfect house-keeper. But if anyone wants to come see my children, I take pride in the fact that they are loved and well cared for. Something I'd take any day over cleaning (hey, maybe this year I can try and get a better balance of the two ;-) ... maybe).
I have learned the value of family. But I have also learned that you cannot count on all of them. I have learned that I need to let the small things go. Some people you cannot change and should not try to change. I also hold on to hurt and sadness, especially when it's family who will not see me or my children. Or family who does not show my children love (that is a killer)! But at the end of the day - I can only show love to my family - extended and immediate. I cannot demand love from them. This has been a hard one but has also helped me to have more peace in my heart.
I have also learned just recently to steer clear of drama, for it never brings ANYTHING positive to life!
This year coming up, I still have a laundry list of "problems" with myself ;-) I want to strive to continue to be better - to be a wife that my husband is proud of, a mother my children can love, a daughter/sister my family wants to be around, a friend that people want, and a Christian that shows in and out.
Love without holding back, Give without expecting anything in return, stand up for my morals and values but don't push them on others, forgive quickly, fix arguments/fights within a blink of an eye, focus on the positive and throw away the bad, MAKE everyday a great day, build a strong relationship with God, raise Godly children, and through the whole year - HAVE FUN!!! :-)
Fouladi Family
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Raising Grateful Kids
Yesterday at the store, after spending a good time grocery shopping - with 2, for the first time. Ash and I had told Cy he could ride a little ride if he was good. Well, after shopping - he was good, so we put in the .50 cents and off he went! How fun is that?! I don't recall getting to ride many of those things growing up - what a privilege!!!
Ride stops.
Toddler screams.
Toddler screams ALL the way to the car.
Hmm.... Daddy and Mommy stare at each other.
We started talking right then and there about gratefulness. Cy just got to ride a FUN car, yet here he is, screaming for more instead of being thankful for that one ride. How do we raise grateful children? The Lord says to be grateful in everything... and I want to raise Godly children, who are loving, grateful, kind, and have a strong faith in the Lord. So the question has been on my mind - HOW do I raise Cy to be grateful? When does this grateful begin? When do I start teaching him this concept?
So as I was speaking with my friend, Erin today - she brought up a point that floored me. What about MY gratefulness to the Lord? How often has He blessed me and my family, and I go back to Him and ask for more? I know he wants to bless us, the same way I want to give Cy everything he asks for. But how often do I THANK the Lord for His blessings??
There was a song on the radio that gave me goosebumps on the way home from Erin's - Cost of Living by Ronnie Dunn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghZlwCFYpYc
It talks about a man, looking for a job and at one point he says "I know there's only 5 spots" for the job - and says he's a hard worker. He needs the job. His last job he lost took the clothes off his kid's backs and food off the table. WOW! With unemployment being what it is - how blessed am I to have a husband with a job?! And to go further than that - how blessed am I to have a husband with such a great job, that I can stay HOME with the kids and be a FULL TIME mom?! What a BLESSING!!!
It floored me and made me so grateful in that moment. I am so blessed! Though my days may be hard at times, and at times I don't know how we are going to pay bills - we make do! We get by and through it all - we are BLESSED! Blessed with 2 wonderful kids who are just the most beautiful, healthy children EVER ;-), an apartment to keep us cool and warm (despite the noisy neighbors - at least I have neighbors!), cars that might break down from time to time and cause stress but we have cars, Food on the table each meal, family, friends, .... the list goes on.
And no matter how hard it gets, we are still better off than someone else. You are too. It can always get worse. So today I am focusing on being grateful. Well... being grateful & trying to figure out how to teach my children to also be grateful ;-)
Ride stops.
Toddler screams.
Toddler screams ALL the way to the car.
Hmm.... Daddy and Mommy stare at each other.
We started talking right then and there about gratefulness. Cy just got to ride a FUN car, yet here he is, screaming for more instead of being thankful for that one ride. How do we raise grateful children? The Lord says to be grateful in everything... and I want to raise Godly children, who are loving, grateful, kind, and have a strong faith in the Lord. So the question has been on my mind - HOW do I raise Cy to be grateful? When does this grateful begin? When do I start teaching him this concept?
So as I was speaking with my friend, Erin today - she brought up a point that floored me. What about MY gratefulness to the Lord? How often has He blessed me and my family, and I go back to Him and ask for more? I know he wants to bless us, the same way I want to give Cy everything he asks for. But how often do I THANK the Lord for His blessings??
There was a song on the radio that gave me goosebumps on the way home from Erin's - Cost of Living by Ronnie Dunn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghZlwCFYpYc
It talks about a man, looking for a job and at one point he says "I know there's only 5 spots" for the job - and says he's a hard worker. He needs the job. His last job he lost took the clothes off his kid's backs and food off the table. WOW! With unemployment being what it is - how blessed am I to have a husband with a job?! And to go further than that - how blessed am I to have a husband with such a great job, that I can stay HOME with the kids and be a FULL TIME mom?! What a BLESSING!!!
It floored me and made me so grateful in that moment. I am so blessed! Though my days may be hard at times, and at times I don't know how we are going to pay bills - we make do! We get by and through it all - we are BLESSED! Blessed with 2 wonderful kids who are just the most beautiful, healthy children EVER ;-), an apartment to keep us cool and warm (despite the noisy neighbors - at least I have neighbors!), cars that might break down from time to time and cause stress but we have cars, Food on the table each meal, family, friends, .... the list goes on.
And no matter how hard it gets, we are still better off than someone else. You are too. It can always get worse. So today I am focusing on being grateful. Well... being grateful & trying to figure out how to teach my children to also be grateful ;-)
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Have... no, MAKE it a great day!
My upline in Arbonne always says "Make it a great day" - it's never "Have a great day" and I love that!!! This week has been especially hard for me, not baby wise, but in other areas of my life. And the thing that has really stuck in my head throughout the entire week was 'Make it a great day'. No matter how hard things get, no matter how exhausted I feel or how much my head hurts - I need to MAKE my days what I want from them!
Lulu has really opened my eyes more to my desire to have a stress-free, drama-free, loving life. With 2 now, I do not have time for craziness - I want to be able to focus on my children 100% of my time! I do not want them to have to deal with drama either or people who come and go from their lives - leaving them questioning where so-and-so is. I would hate that and I remember having people coming and going from my life at a young age; So it's important for me to have simple surroundings.
So with that being said - I have gotten a new outlook on life in the last couple weeks - and I am loving it. Of course I will never be perfect but I am going to try and perfect this new attitude of mine. No drama. No negativity. I am going to MAKE my days great!
Example (I know you wanted one!! ;-) ha) - Lulu is having reflux and it gets pretty bad at night now. Last night she was crying a bit, so I literally counted 3 hours of sleep total that I go. Yay me! ;-) She has spit up all day and is currently being rocked by me - me hoping with all my might that she falls asleep so I can nap and make up for some lost sleep. Cy has been clingy and fussy - not listening very well and very demanding. I have a headache. ..... um, ya... that's a ton of negative things going on, huh? But yet, I text my hubby this morning and shared some funny stories with him, I loved on my sweet toddler boy, I got to rock my baby girl, I can go on and on with how this day has been MADE to be great! I'm exhausted but I'm having fun!!
I'm going to MAKE every day great! No matter what happens, no matter the trials or sadness or drama or lack of sleep that hits me throughout my day/week/month - I am going to MAKE the day great, regardless!!! Because I have the POWER to do so! I have the ABILITY to do so! I have the WILL to do so!
So - Make it a great day, y'all!!!
Lulu has really opened my eyes more to my desire to have a stress-free, drama-free, loving life. With 2 now, I do not have time for craziness - I want to be able to focus on my children 100% of my time! I do not want them to have to deal with drama either or people who come and go from their lives - leaving them questioning where so-and-so is. I would hate that and I remember having people coming and going from my life at a young age; So it's important for me to have simple surroundings.
So with that being said - I have gotten a new outlook on life in the last couple weeks - and I am loving it. Of course I will never be perfect but I am going to try and perfect this new attitude of mine. No drama. No negativity. I am going to MAKE my days great!
Example (I know you wanted one!! ;-) ha) - Lulu is having reflux and it gets pretty bad at night now. Last night she was crying a bit, so I literally counted 3 hours of sleep total that I go. Yay me! ;-) She has spit up all day and is currently being rocked by me - me hoping with all my might that she falls asleep so I can nap and make up for some lost sleep. Cy has been clingy and fussy - not listening very well and very demanding. I have a headache. ..... um, ya... that's a ton of negative things going on, huh? But yet, I text my hubby this morning and shared some funny stories with him, I loved on my sweet toddler boy, I got to rock my baby girl, I can go on and on with how this day has been MADE to be great! I'm exhausted but I'm having fun!!
I'm going to MAKE every day great! No matter what happens, no matter the trials or sadness or drama or lack of sleep that hits me throughout my day/week/month - I am going to MAKE the day great, regardless!!! Because I have the POWER to do so! I have the ABILITY to do so! I have the WILL to do so!
So - Make it a great day, y'all!!!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
1st Real Day as SAHM of 2
Ash went back to work today - SOOO I was home alone with 2 kids :-) I have had some "practice", since he went back to work last week for a day, so I was not as nervous about the new adventure that was staring me right in the face as I woke up this morning. But I just must say - it went so well!!!
I have a very well-thought out schedule that I wrote down, it tells me what I can do with Cy throughout the day, so I am not as a "loss" for ideas and so we don't have a lot of dead space. With a new baby, I want to be able to capitalize on his time as much as possible when Lulu is sleeping. So this helps. I also planned all of her feedings during 1) Breakfast 2) Lunch 3) Nap :-) So Cy is never left just wandering around - I feed her while Cy is sitting and eating his lunch/breakfast/dinner - it works soooo well! I'm in love with the 3 hour feedings because they are just perfect for what I need to do with Cy :-)
Cy did very well with sisa and played well with himself when I was "preoccupied" with Miss Priss :-) He was a lot more clingy but we managed it well. He also fussed a lot more but nothing a couple minutes in time-out didn't take care of ;-)
Now now now - before you said "this is ridiculous - having 2 is harder than that and she has NO idea yet" - I did have some very interesting moments in my day. I am seeing that life with 2 is going to be a lot more hectic - talk about not being able to sit down for longer than a few minutes without doing something with someone (Which, I love, by the way! I love being busy all the time and this is just what I needed!!! I didn't have 1 dull moment today!) :-)
1) Cy took off his diaper and peed in his bed. ALL OVER. Yep - after cleaning him, taking off bedding, throwing in wash, cleaning bed, and changing Cy - he refused his diaper. So I let him walk around for a few.
2) Cy asked for diaper, I ran to get one but didn't get to him fast enough - so he peed ALL over my dining room tile. Oh great! So after cleaning that up, cleaning him up, and his toy - I got a diaper on him. Needless to say - POTTY TRAINING will start next week!!!!
3) Cy took his truck out for a walk with Lulu and I. He proceeded to roll over some dog doodoo (ugh!!!!!) and got it all over his truck tire. By the time we got home, it was all up and down his legs and his truck was a mess. GREAT! So we took a long shower, then a bath, cleaned his truck, and got everything back to normal.
-- 1, 2, & 3 are not as easy to deal with when you have a hungry newborn waiting for you ;-)
But all in all - the day went great! I am loving being a SAHM, I am loving the craziness of it all and how busy I am throughout the day. It is forcing me to keep life simple, clean as I go (my house has never been cleaner) and capture those small moments of love from the kids b/c a second later - the other one needs you ;-)
I have a very well-thought out schedule that I wrote down, it tells me what I can do with Cy throughout the day, so I am not as a "loss" for ideas and so we don't have a lot of dead space. With a new baby, I want to be able to capitalize on his time as much as possible when Lulu is sleeping. So this helps. I also planned all of her feedings during 1) Breakfast 2) Lunch 3) Nap :-) So Cy is never left just wandering around - I feed her while Cy is sitting and eating his lunch/breakfast/dinner - it works soooo well! I'm in love with the 3 hour feedings because they are just perfect for what I need to do with Cy :-)
Cy did very well with sisa and played well with himself when I was "preoccupied" with Miss Priss :-) He was a lot more clingy but we managed it well. He also fussed a lot more but nothing a couple minutes in time-out didn't take care of ;-)
Now now now - before you said "this is ridiculous - having 2 is harder than that and she has NO idea yet" - I did have some very interesting moments in my day. I am seeing that life with 2 is going to be a lot more hectic - talk about not being able to sit down for longer than a few minutes without doing something with someone (Which, I love, by the way! I love being busy all the time and this is just what I needed!!! I didn't have 1 dull moment today!) :-)
1) Cy took off his diaper and peed in his bed. ALL OVER. Yep - after cleaning him, taking off bedding, throwing in wash, cleaning bed, and changing Cy - he refused his diaper. So I let him walk around for a few.
2) Cy asked for diaper, I ran to get one but didn't get to him fast enough - so he peed ALL over my dining room tile. Oh great! So after cleaning that up, cleaning him up, and his toy - I got a diaper on him. Needless to say - POTTY TRAINING will start next week!!!!
3) Cy took his truck out for a walk with Lulu and I. He proceeded to roll over some dog doodoo (ugh!!!!!) and got it all over his truck tire. By the time we got home, it was all up and down his legs and his truck was a mess. GREAT! So we took a long shower, then a bath, cleaned his truck, and got everything back to normal.
-- 1, 2, & 3 are not as easy to deal with when you have a hungry newborn waiting for you ;-)
But all in all - the day went great! I am loving being a SAHM, I am loving the craziness of it all and how busy I am throughout the day. It is forcing me to keep life simple, clean as I go (my house has never been cleaner) and capture those small moments of love from the kids b/c a second later - the other one needs you ;-)
Friday, July 15, 2011
I have a 2 year old!
Tonight we celebrated Cy's 2nd birthday. I cannot cannot believe he is 2 already! Time has gone by sooo fast!!! This last year has been crazy and fun! The most fun I've had, in fact. I absolutely LOVE the toddler stage - how they can talk with you, communicate, laugh, run around, play, do crafts, bake with you, and imagine things. It's wonderful! It's so interactive and fun! And with each day, more learning is seen - he picks up on words on a daily basis, and stuns me with his smarts (I have one smart cookie) ;-)
We went through pregnancy this last year, Cy was 15 months old when we got pregnant. The pregnancy was very hard on me and I was sick constantly but Cy kept me going and active - which was a huge blessing. Cy also became a big brother just 9 days ago - so while he is still adjusting, he is showing excitement towards his sissy and everything she does :-) Big year for us - it's been wonderful!
Cy had a couple friends over tonight, we kept it small. My mom always had a policy that the number of years you are turning is the number of kids you invite. So, I tried to stick with that in a way - mostly due to our apartment and the size of it... I wouldn't have been able to invite all my dear dear friends. So we stuck with 4 friends that have been closest to Cy. It was a full house! But so much fun! The theme was Cars, and we had a wall mural of the main characters :-) Cy had a blast and we had a great time watching him. I am so overwhelmed with the love I feel for my son. He is wonderful and adorable :-) I cannot wait to see what the next year brings us!!!
We went through pregnancy this last year, Cy was 15 months old when we got pregnant. The pregnancy was very hard on me and I was sick constantly but Cy kept me going and active - which was a huge blessing. Cy also became a big brother just 9 days ago - so while he is still adjusting, he is showing excitement towards his sissy and everything she does :-) Big year for us - it's been wonderful!
Cy had a couple friends over tonight, we kept it small. My mom always had a policy that the number of years you are turning is the number of kids you invite. So, I tried to stick with that in a way - mostly due to our apartment and the size of it... I wouldn't have been able to invite all my dear dear friends. So we stuck with 4 friends that have been closest to Cy. It was a full house! But so much fun! The theme was Cars, and we had a wall mural of the main characters :-) Cy had a blast and we had a great time watching him. I am so overwhelmed with the love I feel for my son. He is wonderful and adorable :-) I cannot wait to see what the next year brings us!!!
Monday, July 4, 2011
4th of July
This is going to be a random blog :-) Lots going through my head and I am so thankful for my son, that I just had to post silly things from here and there.
Firstly, Cy saw fireworks tonight - he was amazed! At the end he kept asking for "more more more". Then the entire way home was: "Fire, fireworks, fireworks, fireworks, more?, fireworks" (I think you get the point! ha). It was such a fun night! Despite my contractions and crazy gymnastics from Thumper that causes crazy pain - I am beyond thrilled to be a mom tonight! It's these moments you share with your child that makes everything so wonderful! I cannot think of a better feeling in the WORLD than seeing my son's face, as he sees fireworks for the first time (second time actualy but he was only 1 last year and doesn't remember) - and being at complete amazement! I love showing him the world, new things, adventure. I love love love it! This is what being a mom is all about!
On another amazing note - my sweet, beautiful, genius boy turns 2 in just 11 days! Can you believe it?!??! Well, maybe you can - but I sure can't! I cannot believe 2 years ago, I pushed for 4 hours, went through an incredibly hard labor, and brought a 9.01 pound premie into the world! He has changed my life completely! We got him some decorations for his birthday online today - it was so fun to look around and plan it all out.
In other news ;-) Baby Girl Thumper is due in just 22 days! I cannot believe she is so close to being here either. I must admit it has been a horrible week for me. The doctor said this would be the week to have her, but she has other plans. Silly doctor for telling me that - but I wrapped my brain around week 41 again and am aiming for that - so if she waits until the end of July - I am not as upset as I have been this week. Thumper is teaching me a TON about patience! Something i've never been good at, but something I am being forced to work on and perfect. She will come in her own time, on her own count, and in her own way - I cannot rush her and cannot force her (well, I could but I don't want to). So here's to another 22 days of pregnancy :-)
Firstly, Cy saw fireworks tonight - he was amazed! At the end he kept asking for "more more more". Then the entire way home was: "Fire, fireworks, fireworks, fireworks, more?, fireworks" (I think you get the point! ha). It was such a fun night! Despite my contractions and crazy gymnastics from Thumper that causes crazy pain - I am beyond thrilled to be a mom tonight! It's these moments you share with your child that makes everything so wonderful! I cannot think of a better feeling in the WORLD than seeing my son's face, as he sees fireworks for the first time (second time actualy but he was only 1 last year and doesn't remember) - and being at complete amazement! I love showing him the world, new things, adventure. I love love love it! This is what being a mom is all about!
On another amazing note - my sweet, beautiful, genius boy turns 2 in just 11 days! Can you believe it?!??! Well, maybe you can - but I sure can't! I cannot believe 2 years ago, I pushed for 4 hours, went through an incredibly hard labor, and brought a 9.01 pound premie into the world! He has changed my life completely! We got him some decorations for his birthday online today - it was so fun to look around and plan it all out.
In other news ;-) Baby Girl Thumper is due in just 22 days! I cannot believe she is so close to being here either. I must admit it has been a horrible week for me. The doctor said this would be the week to have her, but she has other plans. Silly doctor for telling me that - but I wrapped my brain around week 41 again and am aiming for that - so if she waits until the end of July - I am not as upset as I have been this week. Thumper is teaching me a TON about patience! Something i've never been good at, but something I am being forced to work on and perfect. She will come in her own time, on her own count, and in her own way - I cannot rush her and cannot force her (well, I could but I don't want to). So here's to another 22 days of pregnancy :-)
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