Love Letters in your Mailbox.

Every year the school-aged kids get to decorate a valentine box for their much anticipated Valentines day classroom party. As a child, this was my very favorite school party. There is just something about getting a little love letter from each student in the class to keep inside a little mailbox.

I loved helping the kids this year. They all decided what they wanted to make (drew a picture in Ella's case) and then picked out the supplies to make it and even got to use the hot glue gun to put everything together. I don't think Rory has been so excited to take something to school in a long time.

Hudson's box was right on- a boom box. That boy loves his music. He took it with him to preschool and came home all excited to be like the big kids. Now I keep finding valentines all over the house and candy wrappers stashed in secret places. Ah, Valentines day.

Mini-Jared

Hudson may have all the Bowman genes, but this little guy seems to be a carbon copy of his dear old dad. Maybe that's why I can't stop smooching him. It's uncanny how much they look alike at times.

Speaking of my better half, I had a moment last week when it just hit me how lucky I am to have him. He is such a patient, unjudgemental, super smart guy. He cares about the things that are really important and doesn't get caught up in materialism like I often do. I guess I just take him for granted most of the time. I'm going to try and stop doing that. I'm glad he likes me a bit.

Pretty soon we will be celebrating our 11 year anniversary. Lots of living has happened in that 11 years. Lots of houses, moves, babies, growth, jobs, struggles, joys- mostly joys. Thank goodness. And thank goodness I get to share it with him.

To my girls:

My dear girls,

You are lovely. You are unique. You are strong. You are brave. You are capable. Do not forget who you are. Never feel like you have to do something or act a certain way because you want to make others like you, and if you do feel that way, fight against it. Others will like you for being you, because you have amazing and wonderful beaming from your fingertips.

Be strong. Don't compare yourself to others because you will never be pleased, no matter what the verdict. Comparison only leads to bitterness and resentment. It never allows for you to be happy. Don't whine, but speak up when you feel the need. Let the little things go, but be wise and stand up for yourself when wronged.

Be happy, but be sad, too. Its okay to feel different emotions. It doesn't mean something is wrong with you if you are not 100 percent happy all the time. It is normal, even healthy. Just don't let the negative emotions steal from positive ones. They both need to be heard and dealt with- neither should be pushed away or hidden. Some people will say it is wrong to be happy. It isn't, life is not perfect, but it can be joyful. You should never feel guilty or false for feeling happy.

Work hard. But not so hard you can't sit and just be. Take pleasure and pride in a job well done. Work can be your best friend when feeling down, especially work that is beneficial to someone other than yourself. It can clear the head and help lighten the heart. Be careful not to live for work though. Don't  put it before your family or friends, don't let it become your golden idol. There is much to be said for sitting and doing nothing in its due hour. Moderation.

Don't believe the worlds definition of beauty. Don't buy into it for one minute. You've been beautiful since the moment you were born, and it was never and will never be because of how your face is painted on with makeup, any designer clothing you may wear, the size, shape, and angles of your curves, and most definitely not by any numbers on a flat square. I had to learn this the hard way, I bought into it and believed that looking a certain way or being in control of a certain thing would bring me peace and make my life perfect. It does the opposite.

Be true to yourself, and let others do the same. If you like to cook, cook. If you want to work in an office, work in an office. If you love the idea of being a mother, be a mother.  Don't apologize for being who you are. Don't make others feel bad for being who they are. Its not a competition. Let everyone do their own thing.

Take care of yourself. Eat whole foods and enjoy every bite. Learn to cook and eat for nourishment- not as a reward or punishment. Never ever diet. Never count calories. Avoid junk and don't confuse food with love. Its not. Exercise because you want your body to feel what its capable of. Enjoy the outdoors daily. Being in nature has saved my sanity more times than I can count.

Don't forget that I love you. I may make you mad, or seem unfair, perhaps drive you crazy, but I adore you. I won't hold you back. I want you to be happy, I trust you can make the decisions that you need to. You will eventually not need me and that is okay. But I am always here. And I will always love you, no matter what. There is nothing you could ever ever ever ever do to make me stop loving you. And that is the truth.

Now go be the silly, brilliant, beautiful girls that love to giggle late at night, put on plays, and have pecan sales.

15 Weeks of Ames

A few days old.

1 week.

2 weeks.

3 weeks.

4 weeks.

5 weeks. (and before all his slightly auburn hair fell out)

6 weeks.

7 weeks. 

8 weeks. 

9 weeks. 

10 weeks. 

 11 weeks. 

 12 weeks. 

 13 weeks. 

14 weeks

These photos are from a little series that I happened to start with little Amsie a few weeks after he was born that I started tagging as the #babyonblanketseries. I noticed that I was taking a bunch of pictures of him (impossible not to do, by the way) on all these cute blankets, so I thought I would make it official by tagging them. It has been a fun way to document his growth, especially in the first few months when his growth seems SO drastic. (you can see the original series on instagram, my handle is bethannallen.) If you don't know already, I think instagram is wonderful, such a great, quick, and easy way to document everyday life. 

But anyways, Ames has been part of the family for 15 weeks now, and he has the sweetest, happiest personality. I have never had a child that smiles so readily and is just so good natured in general. We all love this little guy so much! Here are some things you should know about Ames:

- he started smiling early- at about 2 1/2 weeks. I know what you are thinking, those are gas smiles, Beth. But no, it's all in the eyes. 

- He is grabbing at everything now. Gone are the days of plates being safe when he is sitting in my lap.

- He makes the sweetest cooing sounds, just started to this past week. 

- He looks mighty dapper in a hat. Probably not for much longer, though, since he is grabbing at everything. 

- If you want Ames to be happy, just sit him on your lap and let him watch his brother and sisters. Never-ending entertainment.  

- Its really hilarious when he sucks on his tongue. 

- He loves to be snuggled. I love to snuggle him. 

- He spits up enormous amounts. But it doesn't seem to upset him and he is plenty chubby, so I figure he just eats too much. 

- He loves to eat.......

I am so freaking grateful for this little guy. 

Can't breathe

The last two mornings I've woken up with my nose and head completely stuffed. I really hate that feeling. It takes me about 3 hours of nose blowing to get somewhat clear again. Poor little Ames is in the same boat and all he wants to do is nurse and be cuddled. Is there a more uncomfortable feeling than not being able to breathe?

I think morning sickness tops it, but not much else.

Its wonderfully rainy outside this morning. I love the years where we get what seems like a good amount of rain for the desert. I think we will stay inside and snuggle today and try to get rid of these colds. It seems like Hudson's nose has been runny for 3 months straight, maybe longer. He has a weird thing about using tissue and will only willingly use his army handkerchief. He may be my most particular child, I thought it was Rory, but the older they get, the more Hudson seems to like things a certain way. Isn't raising kids so interesting? They are so different and I can just imagine what adults they will be someday. Someone told me once, when Ella was a baby, that it is important to remember that we as parents are trying to raise our children to be responsible, capable, happy adults, not large children. I think this is a common mistake especially these days. Our children are more capable than we might think. That little nugget of advice has always stuck with me.

Bits + Pieces

 1.

 2. 

 3. 

 4. 

 5. 

6.

 7.

 8.

 9.

 10.

 11.

 12.

13.

 14. 

15. 

1. Lego hearts/ 2. Funny faces at lunch/ 3. Test tube flowers/ 4. Our favorite Trader Joe party drinks/ 5. Gram + Papa's birthday cakes/ 6. My little construction worker/ 7. Little baby shoes that used to be mine/ 8. Hudson loves tennis/ 9. Painting again. . . . a little/ 10. lots of rainy days a few weeks ago/ 11. Ella's new obsession: Roald Dahl books. I love when my children are drawn to the same things I was when I was young/ 12. Rory after school/ 13. brothers/ 14. mothering, snuggling with Ames is my favorite/ 15. Ella and kit have matching glasses.

It's been a busy month- really a busy 3 months since Ames was born. The kind of busy that you don't get to see the results of. Never-ending laundry, cleaning up, cooking, changing, and nursing. It makes me feel a bit frazzled to say the least. But there is also so many good things. I love my family and my kids are always taking me by surprise with their goodness. 

Now I think I will go smell my baby's head because we all know how addicting that is.