It is 9 am and Britten just went down for his morning nap, so I should be working out right now- I'm trying to get my body back. I just can't though, work-out that is. My heart is so full of joy and gratitude for the life I have on this earth. I have a great husband who works hard for us and I have 6 amazing kids!
My thoughts have been circling in my head all morning about these kids I have. Can I just let you know how great they are? Well, I'm going to.
Ryan-
Ryan is my first. It is with him I first experienced pregnancy, first experienced birth, first experienced that my body doesn't snap right back to that size 5. It was also with him that I first experienced that overflowing love that fills a mother's heart when she holds her tiny baby for the first time, the excitement of the first words and first steps. What an amazing experience!!
With Ryan, we are learning everything new, even now. He tried out for the High school basket ball team last night. He came home early which surprised me because it was like 30* outside and instead of calling for a ride, he walked. He was wearing shorts and a tank top jersey! That was a red flag. My heart broke right then. He's a pretty good ball player, so we were sad, but not him. If he was, he didn't show it. He just said he'll be happy playing church ball and will try again next year. I'm grateful for his positive attitude and willingness to keep trying. I am grateful that he is such a good example to his younger siblings. He's a good big brother.
Aaron-
Aaron is number two, or should I say, "Me too!" That has been hos nickname since he could talk. Whatever anyone was doing he would always say, "Me too, Me too!" he never wanted to be left out of anything. I see it in him today, in different ways.
Aaron is a go-getter. If something needs to be done, he'll always do it, or offer to do it. I know that when I ask someone to take the garbage out, Aaron will be the first to offer and it is always done right then. It is rare that he complains about it, but he is like the rest of us who get tired of doing everything. Is it bad that when he is the first to jump up, sometimes we tell him no? That's how willing he is!! What a great kid- I mean young man!!
Grace-
It is with Grace we first experienced having a girl. Dustin was a little sad when we found out she was a girl. He wanted 5 boys! However, when she arrived and he first held her, he said to me, "Can we have another one?" I thought the nurse was going to punch him! She was just so sweet though! And, THE. BEST. BABY. EVER! I honestly never had to stress with her. She was calm and put herself on her own schedule. She is still like that today! This girl sets her own alarm, never is reminded to do homework, goes to bed on her own- in fact will whine when I don't let her go to bed when it's past bedtime. She is my consistent, little angel!
Kate-
Kate and I had a bond before she even existed on this earth, before I was pregnant with her! I knew my next girl would be named Kate. Even though I swore up and down I was pregnant with a boy, I knew I had a Kate waiting. So, when I had her and realized she was a girl, the minute I saw her my eyes swelled with tears. I had never lost control of my emotions like that. I knew she was my Kate. Is she ever!
Kate is my mini-me! We look alike, we act alike, we even think alike! She is not girly-girl, she is not proper- the other day she asked her friend if she heard her burp during lunch. This friend sits at another table in the cafeteria. Kate doesn't really like following rules. I love her for it!!! For all the things she is not she makes up for in what she is. She is smart, funny, energetic, and happy- most of the time!
Becca-
Oh, Becca! Where would our family be without Becca?! This girl has kept me on my toes since birth! She snuck in to my belly when Kate was only 7 months old. She knew the world couldn't wait any longer. It needed her. We needed her!! She was right.
As much as I have a hard time relating to this girl, I love her to pieces!! She is everything opposite of me! She is Dustin's mini-me. She's just the female version. I want to say energetic, but that's an understatement! She is whatever means extreme energy!! Our family would be quite dull and boring without her. We seriously use the word Becca-ism in our house.
She is mature beyond her years a lot of the time, so I love it when I see her acting her age! Becca is sharp as a whip! the girl taught herself to read, do math, and write. She seriously is not the most patient person in the world, but this will be a great strength as she learns to apply it in her life.
Britten-
Everybody loves little Britten! He was such a surprise that for a long time I struggled being pregnant. The moment he got here, I let all of that go. He has brought so much joy to our family! His smile and big eyes are the first thing anybody notices. He is seriously the happiest baby I have ever had and I have happy babies! He's so good; he has Dustin always talking about having another one- not going to happen! We are all excited to see who he becomes.
Those are my 6 little angels. Six little human beings that are a part of me! I am amazed daily, but today I just feel overjoyed to have them. What a blessing being their mom has been. I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world!
