Our Children

I realized that winter used to be my favorite time of year because my birthday is in January and of course Christmas is in December. After these crazy winter days in Kansas I believe my opinion has changed after 25 years! Looking outside I can see the trees starting to bloom their first flowers and I am reminded that my son's birthday is right around the corner. I think that's why I initially started to love summer days.

May of 2007 we were driving from Springfield, MO back to Branson with our newborn son. Everything was new and I was so anxious to see if I would be able to become this phenomenal mother that I wanted my son to have. Matthew Elias was an "easy" baby. He only cried when he was hungry or dirty and then went right back to sleep. My maternity leave with him was a breeze. I sat on the couch all day and cuddled with my new baby. He has now grown into a perfect miniature version of his father. Which for me, at times, can either be entertaining or completely nerve wrecking. There are times when I look up and find both Matts in front of the mirror dancing the newest dance craz, while intensely staring at themselves to assess how their moves are working. Now he is turning three and I am starting all over again with Maliya.
She definitely has my personality. Everything has to be her way and just the way that she wants it or she screams. I'm not a screamer, but that's surely how I feel at times. She is very particular about how she wants to be held and when. She has the most beautiful caramel skin. Everyday she is getting darker, which I am excited for because it's so stunning with her hair.I am so proud of her jet black hair. Although I know that it will change in a few months and probably transform into the red-brown curls that Little Matt has. My maternity leave with her has been a little less relaxing than with Matt, to say the least. This time around I am chasing after a two (soon to be three) year old, trying to catch up on classwork, and making an attempt to domesticate myself. When we got married I had tricked Big Matt into thinking that I was this cleaning, cooking, potential-house-wife-machine. Turns out I'm just as lazy as him. So now while on my "vacation" I've been trying to get myself back into the swing of being a working, mom/student/wife. Let me tell you, it's not relaxing at all, and I haven't even gone back to work yet!
It's going to be a whole new ball game when I return to work and I'm not sure how we are going to survive financially or emotionally, but we are ready to take on the challenge. Anytime I start to feel a little doubt or fear (which are my biggest obstacles), I reassure myself and God that He is in charge of my life. I know He wouldn't have blessed me with two amazing children and not given me the means to provide for them. So here's to the next few months and attempting to survive!