If I had my child to raise all over again

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self esteem first, and the house later.

I'd fingerpaint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

by Diane Loomans

When I read this poem on my friend Erin's blog I began to tear up.  This is a subject that had already been weighing heavy on my mind.  I just want to cherish every single second that I have with my kids because I know that before I know it they will be grown.  I want to spend more time recording their childhood so I can look back and remember every day.  I regret so much not keeping a better journal when Joie was younger and I've already forgotten some of the adorable things she use to say that melted my heart.  I know its not New Years yet but I figure anytime is a good time for new goals and resolutions.  I want to spend every day playing and loving my kids and hopefully find time at night to record our experiences. I want to be able to print off my blog books and have it read as a journal and the story of my kids lives.

These are some totally random pictures that are not related to each other or this post but I thought they were all pretty cute.

A few little Joie-isms

Well little 3 year old Joie may be more like her momma than I previously thought.  She basically never stops talking.  If she is awake, she is talking.  There are days where I bribe her with treats and toys if she will be quite for 30 minutes.  However, most of the time I adore her little voice and I adore most of the things that come out of it.  I want to write down a few things that Joie has been saying lately to make sure I remember them. 

We went and visited my parents for Thanksgiving.  Andrew and I took advantage of the free babysitting and went on a couple of dates.  While we were gone my mom discovered that not only does Joie love having books read to her, she also likes hearing stories about people she knows.  I guess my mom told her some stories about a "little girl" that Joie knows very well.  Joie thought this story was so funny that she has been telling me the readers digest version for days.  

"Once upon a time there was a little girl named Courtney.  She got the chicken pox.  It itched so she used pink lotion (Caladryl).  The End."

She really loved playing with her gigi.  First she wanted to "sleep" on Gigi's back then she thought it would be funny for Gigi to "sleep" on her back.

A couple of Sundays ago Andrew and I laid the kids down for their afternoon naps and continued with our Star Wars marathon.  We were only about 5 minutes into the empire strikes back when Joie sneaked out of her room and informed us she had a good nap and was awake now. I told her she could stay awake as long as she just sat on the couch and watched our movie with us.  Joie actually loves "big girl" movies, as she calls them, so she got really into it.  When it was over she spent about 2 weeks saying "Mommy, I'm Darth Vader ' I AM YOUR FATHER'".  She also said this to everyone she encountered at the playground, the grocery store, and anywhere else she could find people to listen to her.  We had a similar experience with Harry Potter as well.  We were at Chick Fil A and she was playing in the play place with some other kids and I heard her yelling something.  I went in to see what was going on and saw that she was using her straw as a wand and pointing it at kids and yelling "peliamus".  What she meant was Expelliarmus and I don't know why she was trying to disarm all the other kids at chick fil a.  


She loves talking to her baby sister.  Joie always wakes up before Berkeley and when she hears Berkeley babbling in her room she always says "(Gasp) That kind of sounds like Berkeley" and she runs into her room and turns the light on and says "MY BERKEY BOO" and then baby talks and over and over compliments her chubby cheeks and says "Your my sweetheart!".  This is my favorite time of day because as soon as Joie opens that door Berkeley's face lights up and she just smiles and giggles and laughs.  This morning Joie was sick and she was in the bath when Berkeley woke up so I went to get Berkeley and when I walked in Berkeley stood up at the edge of her crib just staring out the door and I knew she was looking for Joie.  So I shouted to Joie to tell Berkeley good morning and Joie yelled from the bath "GOOD MORNING BERKEY BOO" and Berkeley lit up just like she always does.  Watching the two of them play and interact is so much fun.


I love these little girls so much.  I just wanted to make sure I wrote down a few of these things so I dont forget them :)