The Priviledge of Motherhood

Happy Mothers Day! Let us not forget the sacred responsibility that comes with being a mother – in whatever capacity it may be!

The Zipper

So funny!!! So clean!!! I love it :)

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Oh Wait - Your Crazy is Showing!

(Source)

Happy New Year...four days late! Story of our lives here. Who knew this mommyhoodshipness (whatever its called) would be so challenging. Good thing Bicho is so cute or else I would have to turn in my two weeks notice. As our family has grown, I have been contemplating what environment I want to create for our home. Of course I picture everything sparkly with no secret messes hiding in every bedroom closet or dirty diapers piling sky-high. And yes, ladies and gentleman, my perfectionistic (word?) idea of heaven on earth has once again have nipped me in the bud. Has that ever happened to you? No so fun - the bud nipping, I mean.

The perfect example is this past Sunday, which was Bicho's baby blessing. I was so consumed with the nitty-gritty details of chicken-macaroni-bowtie pasta saladness, and throwing every piece of junk that was downstairs into our bedroom so we had the appearance of having a clean home, that I missed the very spiritual experience of my first born child being blessed by my husband. Don't get me wrong. I was there. But I wasn't "there". And I know Bicho felt my anxiety because she cried during the whole blessing. And after. And for most of the day. So after all the planning and cooking and stressing, I ended up spending the lunch-in after the blessing upstairs with Bicho trying to keep her (and myself) from crying. And that is when it hit me. I focused so much on the appearance of having it together that I missed out on the here and now.

So my resolution for 2010 is to NOT have it all together. Sure, I will try. But I my goal will be to not "miss the mark" and focus on the life here and now. Be grateful for what I have...not the perfect put-together life I wish I had. So here's to showing your crazy every once in a while.

P.S. If you are wondering why there are no pictures of the baby in her blessing dress, refer to the post above.

Welcome Burner Bicho!

Introducing....

Kenadee Ann Burner
Born 9/10/09 at 9:50 am

8 pounds 3 ounces

(the 3 ounces is all hair!)

More details to come soon!

I Declare Maternity Leave!

Today is the day I declare maternity leave at work. Oh yeah - it's gonna feel good. It kind of reminds me of my favorite Office episode. I wish I could declare it Michael Scott style ! Instead I filled out paperwork....social workers are no fun. So when you watch this, think of me - declaring maternity leave!



So now what am I going to do now that I don't have to drive 80 miles to and from work? Sleep in, take naps and eat a lot of things that will probably give me killer heart burn but taste oh-so-good. Oh and prepare for little Bicho to join our family soon!

P.S. Did I tell you we saw Bicho at my "luverly" Dr. appointment yesterday? She's going to have A LOT of hair. (Add making bows to my list above...)

"Big Bicho Belly" or "Why I Stink at Blogging on a Regular Basis"

Here is my personal portrait...

And here is Terrence's picture...

Personally, I like the "far away" approach.

("I'd like her to look a little more attractive. How far can you pull pack?" "How do you feel about Cleveland?" - name that movie!)

I can't really complain about how I feel right now. I think Heavenly Father is really helping me get through my last few work weeks and miles upon miles of traveling that is required. And He has saved me (on more than one occasion) from seriously injuring people who make those "well-meaning" pregnancy comments like "Wow, you are getting really big". Usually I would respond with a "Great observation, Sherlock. Can't sneak anything past you, huh?!" But I try to refrain. One sweet Latino man at work told me I was "engordandose" which means getting fat. I told him (in a semi-joking manner) if he ever said that to me again, I was going to fill his mouth with my knuckles (it sounds much more suave in Spanish). I think I scared him off since he hasn't said a word to me since. As you can tell, my biggest trial right now is controlling my tongue and swallowing the sarcasm that just flies out of my mouth on an involuntary basis.

::Sigh:: I think I should have registered for a muzzle.

But in better news, I had my first "internal exam" ::grimace:: and it went as well as an "internal exam" could go. I guess I am about 50% effaced - whatever that means and I've apparently started to "thin out". He apparently missed that round thing between my extremely enlarged chest and pubic bone (ha ha - my lame attempt for a joke)! So anyhoo, I'll just plan for Bicho to come on time. And if she comes any earlier...heaven help us!

Highest Place of Honor

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the 'highest place of honor' in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious,and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy,radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness,dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty. "

"One of your particular gifts is your feminine intuition. Do not limit yourselves. As you seek to know the will of our Heavenly Father in your life and become more spiritual, you will be far more attractive, even irresistible. You can use your smiling loveliness to bless those you love and all you meet, and spread great joy. Femininity is part of the God-given divinity within each of you. It is your incomparable power and influence to do good. You can, through your supernal gifts, bless the lives of children, women, and men. Be proud of your womanhood. Enhance it. Use it to serve others."

James E. Faust
"Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor,"
Ensign, May 2000