i dont want to raise a GOOD child.

not being able to sleep has caused me to browse my facebook newsfeed a zillion times over and over until my eyes cross and i fall asleep... something about scrolling and seeing the same status over and over again, sometimes does the trick.  other nights, i "like" just about everything anyone posts.  and other nights, i actually read each article that pops up.

2 nights ago, in particular, i came across this article:
http://devotions.proverbs31.org/2012/03/i-dont-want-to-raise-a-good-child.html

this mama needed to read it, and read it, i did.

aislynn is something else... a hoot and then some!
she isn't your "average" child, and although she is sweet and caring, she is a complete free spirit.
her independence gets stronger the older she gets.  i mean, she was only 6 months old when we took her off the bottle, and i'm sure our persistence as parents had something to do with it, but her little tiny ambition sealed the deal, and we were soon purchasing sippy cups instead.  

these days, getting her ready for kindergarten is a task, much like i knew it would be when she was only 2 years old.  the independence just drives her.  however, sometimes, i believe it hinders her ability to learn more.  #1 reason i'm excited for her to be going to school this upcoming fall.

jr and i both, although yin and yang, have very strong personalities, and boy when she does something, we're quick to say, "oh! that is definitely YOUR child!" and then nod in agreement.  my mind was/is more creative and flowing, while Jr's was/is tightly knit but very much full of "eyes on the prize"... and then, at times, we switch!

her imagination is nothing like we (or others) have seen in any child... its pure crazy at times, i will tell you, but i will also tell you, mine hasn't always been the sanest, either... i just never voiced it much like she does and has done.

anyway, i could go on about her special little personality, but the real reason of this post, is the real meaning of the posted link above...

yeah, Aislynn is crazy (she's actually adopted the name "Crazilynn Aislynn"), but she is also so very sweet and caring. yeah, she's bold in her words and thoughts, but like many others in the Bible, that's a lot of what propelled them to bring outsiders to Christ. this was one of their many gifts given by God to do the works of His kingdom. "be not afraid..." -- Jeremiah 1:8

some days, she'll misbehave, and when misbehavior includes talking back or catching attitude, no, there is no excuse. (this, we are working on) HOWEVER, there are certain ways of dealing with it... every parent has their tactics.  i think it just boils down to knowing exactly which tactics to pair with your child's personality, and knowing this, can be done through prayer...

we are all fearfully and wonderfully made... each unique. God loves us all the same, yet He knows exactly HOW to love each of us individually.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

-- Proverbs 22:6 (NIV 1984)

Faith & Love,

Casey

The Best Job in the World!

I got knocked up at 20, and gave birth at 20. Yep, you could say that was quite a big year for such a youngling.  And it was.  It wasn't easy by any means, and it seemed that as time went by, the harder it got.  Sometimes, yes, I would question if they gave me the wrong baby in the delivery room, or perhaps she was my younger sister reincarnated. But as I look at her today... okay, okay, I still ponder those same questions.

But I also see the most beautiful blessing in the world.  I see a past, present, and a future.  One that wouldn't have been as bright, or wouldn't be as wonderful without her.  My precious 4 year old.  My sweet sweet Aislynn Love. 

So when I was pregnant, I would ask God to pleaseeeeeeeeeee give me a baby girl. One, because I dunno how to take care of boys or their umm part, and two because I wanted to play with hair, share Barbie's, dress up, and go shopping with.  I wanted Miss Prim and Proper.  When Aislynn was born, she was a quiet baby; rarely fussed over anything (except when she was hungry, of course).  She was perfect. Simply perfect. 

A few years went by, and this "simply perfect" idea of mine, turned into jumping in mud puddles, hating hair combing time, throwing her hair accessories, to kicking and screaming over the slightest little bit of dramatic, one who's favorite word was "no", and who's dress wearing days were over after a mere 3 mo's old.

I wasn't sure what happened, or perhaps where I went wrong... I mean... this little girl. My sweet baby girl was practically a tomboy. What happened???

As time went by again, I learned what she loved, what she didn't love, and what she straight up loathed. I learned to lock those "pushable" buttons, and walk away with a smile. And of course, she discovered new buttons, and she too walked away with a smile.

Aislynn is a handful, and I'm not saying this because she's my kid, but everyone says this. And she's not ill mannered, but instead, she's a ball of fire with never ending energy.  Honestly speaking, she wears me out, and sometimes, I wish I could just catch a little break... a little mommy time every now and then.  However, when that time finally comes, I'm upset because I miss her so much.  I remember, not long ago, I was beyond pooped, and she went over to her grandmother's house for the night.  I literally cried myself to sleep missing her so much.  I just wanted to hold and cuddle with my fave gal pal. That's all I wanted.  My days aren't complete without her in them. Something feels like its missing, and I know its her absence.

These days, we're the best of friends (at least until daddy comes home and vice versa).  I love my baby girl, and all that she is.  She may hate having her hair combed, but she enjoys "playing hair" with mommy, she enjoys pink just as much as mommy, and she treasures mommy's old Barbie's.  She doesn't write on the walls, or color in her books.  She loves to read (unlike me when I was young), dance, appreciates a nice red delicious apple, and is super smart; so smart that she scored above average on all of her tests. (again, questioning the delivery room switch) I will admit though, even as the mommy and the adult, her intelligence is a little intimidating to say the least.  We're still learning her tricks of the trade, knowing we'll never master them, as we are parents, and are still learning. Every.single.day.

Aside from that, she loves fashion, anything artistic related, taking pictures with mommy's camera, the water, KSBJ, and she's THE best helper!

Although, she wasn't what I had originally planned, she's even better. God knew she was an exact perfect fit for me! 

Its funny, because when I first found out I was expecting, I couldn't imagine life with her. Even the signs of a growing belly felt weird to me, and just thinking about caring for another life... well I couldn't fathom it.  But now, I couldn't imagine life any other way.  I couldn't imagine not waking up to "mommy I'm hungry... what about cereal? okay, no, I want eggs, okay no, I want cookies!!" I couldn't imagine her not climbing into bed with us after a scary dream, or chasing her down the pavement in her Barbie car.  I couldn't imagine or even begin to fathom what life today, would be like without her.

I have the best job in the entire world; being a mother.  Nothing can compare to the feeling.  Its beyond amazing, beyond rewarding, and beyond pure awesome-ness.

I love my baby girl!  

My Aislynn Love! 

The night my world changed.  October 31, 2006.

 New Years Eve 2008/2009

 Family Pics (2010)

 Eating a yummy dinner at 51 Fifteen. (2010)

 Before heading out to take pics with Santa. (2010)

 Testing out a new lens.  (2010)

 San Antonio (2010)

 About to head out and spend daddy's money. hehe (2010)

 I had just got home from school. (2009)

My 24th.

 Halloween (2010)

 Galveston (2007)

 Valentine's Day (2007)

 Before heading out to see Tangled (2010)
haha Love her expression! That's a "mommy you crazy!"

 

November (2008)

 Before bedtime (2007)

 2009

Playing with mommy's MAC (2011)

 Christmas 2010

 

October 2010  

("Beauty and Brains" - Crystal M.)

Happy Mother's Day to all mother's out there past, present, and future! Whether you take care of your child, mother, sibling, dog, or cat! It takes a special woman to be a mother, and I know its not easy, but as you know, its well worth it!  Blessing to you all!

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he

will not depart from it" (Prov 22:6)

Faith and Love,
Casey