At 8pm every night when Liam has just been tucked into bed with his 3 favorite toy dinosaurs, I have the same conversation with Shawn: "How am I this exhausted? I'm pretty sure I wasn't this tired when we had a newborn." (Shawn usually tries to encourage me with, "You're also nearly 8 months pregnant," which sometimes helps.)

Liam was as easy as babies come. He ate well, slept well, traveled well, and was generally content. Then one day a few months ago, it's as if he woke up. It's not that he became a bad kid. Not at all. He's just a vibrant, strong-willed, joyful, passionate little guy whose energy level is unlike anything I've experienced. Every day that's warm enough, we head to a local trail that wraps around a lake and Liam runs the entire two-mile length, giggling and chatting with passersby along the way. No stroller needed (or tolerated).

It's been a struggle in my own heart not to compare him to other kids. When we go to Chick-fil-A with a group, other kids are sitting quietly and munching on fries while Liam is either turning around to other tables and making conversation about dinos, or I can hear his happy screams through the glass wall of the play area. He's no wallflower, and there's rarely a time when he's not full throttle.

As I've prayed so much for him and for us in this exhausting season, I've come to realize that my frustrations usually boil down to my own pride. When he blatantly misbehaves or runs off or is the loudest one in the room, I fear it reflects poorly on me. That everyone is thinking, "Oh, she just can't keep her kid under control. What is she thinking, about to have another?!" I've become every mother I used to judge. It's humbling in so many ways.

This morning, I heard him saying, "G'morning, Biam!" in full volume before I heard my alarm. I flipped on the light, opened Streams in the Desert to today's devotion, and hoped to quietly focus my heart for the day ahead. This quote struck me:

"The colored sunsets and starry heavens, the beautiful mountains and the shining seas, the fragrant woods and painted flowers, are not half so beautiful as a soul that is serving Jesus out of love, in the wear and tear of common, unpoetic life." - Faber

Whoa. I'd say "wear and tear" describe this season pretty perfectly, though assuredly dotted with moments of deep and pure joy. And I pray that I can be a soul that serves Jesus out of love. In this season, that means serving my son: by teaching him about the love Jesus has for him even when he disobeys. By enjoying him. By remembering that these days, though intense, are fleeting.

So if my blogging has become sparse, now you know why. It's just about all I can do to keep up with my wildly vivacious little man, grow a little lady, keep a home business running, share a few coherent words with Shawn at the end of the day, and keep my love for Jesus alive. By the end of the day, writing a blog post is often too high a mountain to climb. Is anyone there with me? I would love to know I'm not alone - and I hope you know you are surely not.

PS - I just saw a friend post this article, "Strong willed children are a blessing, not a curse." Maybe you need it, too. Timely and encouraging.

DIY for Kids: Canvas Ornaments.

Subtitle: Stocking Stuffers for Grandparents.

I'll just be honest: this project was more seamless (and a lot less messy) in my head. Add a 2-year-old to the mix and it got really messy really fast, and I ended up scrubbing acrylic paint out of his hair for much longer than it took to make these. In the end, though, I'm so glad we persevered. Liam adores painting and the grandparents adore gifts from him, so it was worth the mess. Overall, though, I think this would be a much better DIY project for kids ages 4 and up or plan on using a washable paint, such as tempura paint.

 Here's what you need:
+ Mini canvases - I found these 2x3" stretched canvases on sale at Jerry's Artarama for less than $1 each, but you can purchase similar mini canvases here
+ 1" felt letter stickers - purchased at Hancock Fabrics, but you can purchase similar letters here
+ Paint
+ Paint brush
+ Paper to cover the table
+ Ribbon
+ Staple gun or glue gun

Hopefully the photos make pretty self explanatory instructions. Adhere the felt letters to the canvases and let your little one paint right over them. You may need to help fill in near the edges of the letters if they aren't applying the paint thick enough. Once they've added a layer of paint, carefully peel off the stickers and let the canvases dry overnight. After they're completely dry, adhere ribbon to the back for hanging on the tree, either with a staple gun or a glue gun. Add their name and date to the back of the canvas and tuck them into grandparents' Christmas gifts (or hang on your own tree). That's it!

5 November goals.

I've been using this planner since August (which I love), and one of the things it's really prompted me to do is to set goals. Because how do we accomplish much of anything without them? Most of my goals in this season of life revolve around maintaining balance and peace. Without it, my 7-months-pregnant-chasing-a-toddler-on-top-of-everything-else self goes a little crazy. Ultimately, that begins and ends in the time I spend with the Lord. But I've also been learning a lot about setting goals, creating boundaries, and sticking with them to stay sane. So here are a few manageable goals for this month...

+ Purchase and wrap all Christmas presents for friends and family (not including for Liam & Shawn). Maybe it's nesting? But I'm almost halfway there with this goal and it feels so good. For our budget, for my time, and for the overall holiday stress level.

+ Go on a real date. Drinking hot tea and watching The Good Wife after Liam goes to bed doesn't count.

+ Take a day of family rest every week. This makes the biggest different in my heart, I've found, when I get quality time with my guys with no to-do lists in sight.

+ Read a "classic." Cozying up on a November night with a tried and true book just sounds so delicious. I've got To Kill A Mockingbird in mind.

+ Do something kind for someone in need, with Liam. I remember being struck by how Princess Diana would take her sons along when she did charity work, and how it's impacted them so strongly even today. I can't think of a better way to celebrate a month of thanksgiving than to serve someone else - even in a small way - and to have Liam join me. I know he's just 2, but who knows what impact it will make on him even now.

One year of saving (a lot of) money.

I have to let you in on something a little crazy: I haven't spent money on clothes or shoes for myself since March. Or for Liam - besides buying some pajamas and socks.

And it's all because of ThredUP. When I first heard about ThredUP, I made a purchase of about 8 or 10 items to see if I was happy with the quality and the service before I recommended it to anyone. Once I received the clothes, they were in flawless condition, fit well, and were brands that I wouldn't be able to afford outside of purchasing them consignment. Winning all the way around.

Liam's shirt: DKNY, $9.99

When I posted about it for the first time in March along with my referral link, several of you signed up and I got $10 toward clothes each time you did (thank you!) and you also got $10 toward your first purchase. In ThredUP dollars, $10 can go a long way. So what started out as just a site I loved became a huge blessing for our budget. Because even as I needed to purchase some maternity clothing and bigger sizes as Liam grew, I found it all on ThredUP and have been able to use referral credits alone since March. Crazy?!

Liam's shirt: Old Navy, $4.99

My dress: Daniel Rainn Silk Dress, new with tags $57

My jacket: BCBGMAXAZRIA, $40 

My shirt: Banana Republic, $7.99

Liam's shoes: Ralex sneakers, $7.99
My jeans: Gap Maternity jeans, $14.49

This isn't a sponsored post - ThredUP only knows me as a happy, satisfied customer - but I do get a $10 credit if you make a first time purchase through my referral link, and you'll also get $10 toward your purchase. I just can't say enough about it, and I plan on buying from them for a long time. And even if you don't have a blog yourself, once you've made a purchase and have a referral link, you can send it to friends and family via email or post what you purchased on Facebook and then you'll also get $10 for every person who makes a purchase. Try it!

Two.

Dear Liam Worth,

Tomorrow you are two. You'll wake up with Mimi and Poppy staying next door, a train table waiting downstairs, and a hundred kisses from Mommy and Daddy. Your day will consist of a few of your very favorite things: Pullen Park, balloons, apple crisp, and your family.

But tonight, the night before your birthday, I want to recall a few of my favorite things about you...

You are compassionate and (sometimes) giving. If you see a squirrel or a bird while we're taking a walk, you almost always offer whatever you have: a stick, a toy car, even your shirt. Sharing with other kids, on the other hand, doesn't come so naturally (does it ever?). Having a sibling will be really good for you.

There is nothing small or quiet about your personality. You are the child who laughs the loudest, cries the hardest, and is still running laps when we're all worn out. For being such a laid back baby, your energy level and extroversion has taken us all for a loop. You love to run away from Mommy through the halls at church, and because she's 7 months pregnant, you know you can get away with it. Thankfully you're known by nearly everyone there and they feel comfortable enough to scoop you up and return you to me.

You love books and ask to go to "tor-time" (story time) at the library almost daily. Some of your other favorites are "dadows" (dinos), trucks, trains, coloring and painting, balloons, baking with Mommy, and running outside with a stick in your hand. You can recognize all of your letters - uppercase and lowercase - and you love to learn. When I pointed to a stop sign the other day and asked what it was, I expected to hear, "stop." Instead, you said, "octagon!"

You love people. Love people. You especially love their reactions when you smile at them in the grocery store and say, "Hiiii. How yooo?" and then respond, "Ged!" when they ask you how you're doing. I can count on one hand the times in the past year you've ever acted shy.

I see tiny seeds being planted in your heart for Jesus and it thrills me more than anything. You like to read about Him, to flip through your Bible, and are always the first to remind us to "pway" at the dinner table, thrusting your hands into ours. When we pray for you before bed, it's the only time you get still and quiet for more than 5 seconds. I know these are small signs, but I pray they grow deeper and stronger as you learn about our great God and His lavish love for you. Daddy and I pray with you every night for your salvation and that it would come soon.

We love you, precious boy. It's hard to believe just how much more we love you than we did the day you were born.

Happy, happy 2nd birthday!

Love,
Mommy