Victoria's Secret!

 There's a gal, Jax, that I follow on Instagram who writes the most HILARIOUS original songs... I think she won Song Writer of the Year for Tic Toc last year, and she came out with a song a few weeks ago that is SO great!

She baby-sits for a middle school girl (she has a pretty funny song about her baby-sitting escapades) and recently the middle school girl came home from bathing suit shopping in tears... and so Jax wrote a song for her.

Here is the original video Jax posted... so good!

Then, a few weeks later, she organized a flashmob in front of Victoria's Secret and added another verse... so here is that video as well.

ENJOY!

Which Years?

 There's a reel on social media circulating that caught my attention and I thought I would be fun to participate.

One year at a time, a woman indicates how many years she has been pregnant -- obviously not the entire year, but has she been pregnant during that calendar year?

My results are in...

I have been pregnant in the following years...

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2019

2020

2021

I have not been pregnant in the following years...

2018

2022... so far.

Things to Blog About

 The topics that I keep intending to blog about lately:

Brady's four month growth update

Brady's birth story

The story of Brady's name

Sweet things that the big kids are up to these days

Insightful things about motherhood and loving life with littles

What I actually have the energy to blog about after getting the kids to bed after an 18-hour day:

A picture with no words and no explanation

Brady Bunch Cartoons

 I had fun making our Brady Bunch square into a cartoon recently.  

How cute are my little ones?

Eye Spy

There are some themes going around facebook in an effort to get through quarantine and away from COVID-19 info called EYE SPY.  One person tells people to go into their camera roll and find a picture with a specific color and post the picture in the comments.  Then after you post a picture in the comments, the original person gives you a color to post to your profile.

I have not felt the need to repost and ask others to play Eye Spy... but I have had fun posting pictures with various colors.

Here's a little glimpse into our quarantine life based on colors found in photos:

Pink:

Purple:

Blue:

Green:

Pink:

Green:

Blue:

Pink:

Red:

Last Name Game

This was fun! NO GOOGLING ALLOWED. Use your own brain power.  

Every answer must start with the first letter of your LAST name. 

WEAR - Mink & Sandals

DRINK - Milk & Scotch

PLACE - Michigan & Scandinavia

FOOD - Marshmallows & Salmon

ANIMAL - Marmot & Squirels

GIRL’S NAME -  Mary & Sarah

BOY’S NAME - Martin & Samuel

PROFESSION -  Minister & Secretary

WORD TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE - Manly & Spiritual

SOMETHING IN YOUR HOME - Mantel & Stove

BODY PART - Muscle & Spine

YOUR LAST NAME - Miller / Sanden 

 

I did my current last name and my maiden name because it was fun

Marriage Advice

I think this looks like great advice...

I think about great blogs to write all day... and then at the end of the day, when I actually post, my brain is so fried that I just search through pictures to try to find one that I can post with as little writing as possible.

It's just a season... "the new baby and five kids, I need my sleep" season.

Ships

Focusing on this these days...

So Much Truth!

Taken by Fitness Trainer Shannon Klepac's Facebook Page -- So Much Truth!

 

YOU DON’T NEED TO SHOW YOUR *Rear* TO BE SEXY. ⁣
⁣
I’m SO SICK and tired of girls being led to believe that they’ve got to pucker their lips, stick out their butt, flash some cleavage, and put seven filters on their face to feel like they’re cute. ⁣
⁣
Girls, this is sexy....⁣
⁣
Working hard. Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.⁣
⁣
Giving of yourself. And even when you don’t feel like you can, having the faith to know that God will carry you through it.⁣
⁣
Making yourself a priority. Even if all that consists of is taking a 20 minute bath while Daddy watches the baby.⁣
⁣
Being a leader. Someone who lifts others up, encourages, and supports other women.⁣
⁣
Being a spouse who stands by their man. She fills the gap when he’s tired and weak, she is a soft place to fall and simultaneously hell on wheels when needed.⁣
⁣
It’s humility. Understanding that you’re one person in an enormous universe. The world doesn’t revolve around you.⁣
⁣
Being a life-long learner. You’re never going to be too smart to listen and learn something , even from the least expected places. Get off your pedestal, look around, and learn something. ⁣
⁣
It’s understanding your strength. Stop acting like a fragile little flower and woman up. Again, and again, and again.⁣
⁣
It’s being vulnerable. When “womaning-up” is just too hard, allowing yourself to accept your weaknesses and ask for help.⁣
⁣
These are just a taste of the qualities that can make up one helluva sexy woman. ⁣
⁣
Stop limiting yourself to six pack abs and booty bands.⁣
⁣
Pick up a freaking shovel, love someone, learn something, and discover yourself.⁣
⁣
That’s what sexy is to me.⁣
⁣
Which of these do you need to work on?⁣

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One of my favorite thing about motherhood.  Motherhood has allowed me to become... and to still be becoming the person I am meant to be.  These children -- so many children so close in age require so much from me -- more than I knew I could give, more than I knew I could do.  I love being their mother, and I don't have the time or energy to care about much else.  I don't have much time to put on clean clothes much less flattering or "sexy" clothes.  I'm proud of who I am... and I'm confident in the tiny humans I am taking care of -- and nothing else matters.  That was not the case in my early and mid-twenties.  Finding your purpose and working really really (REALLY) hard is a lot of fun.

 

Quiz About Mom

***ADULT daughters... How well do you know your MOM? 

This is tougher than you may think.

What’s her middle name? 

Christine

What is she probably doing right now? 

Sleeping because she and my dad have a long drive tomorrow.

Name something she hates: 

Lack of common sense

What does she like to drink? 

Water, Manhattan, Dark Beer

Cats or dogs? 

She has a history with both... she has neither at the moment.  If she had to choose one right now... I think she would choose my cat Lexie.  If she couldn't choose Lexie, I think she's choose a small nice older dog.

What is something she collects? 

Compliments on the fact she doesn't dye her hair.

What is her favorite color? 

I do not know.  Maybe blue?  Or wallpaper.

What would she never wear? 

A crop top

What could she spend all day doing? 

Cooking/Baking, Canning, and Reading aloud

Who is her favorite child? 

I am!

What is her favorite restaurant? 

I don't know

Where would she rather be right now? 

Florida

What is her nickname? 

Chrisy, Grammie, Mom

You’re in jail and you call her, what is her response?

 She'll help and she might even hide it from my dad... depends on the circumstances.

40 Odd Things

40 odd things about me . . . 

Borrowed from Facebook

1. Do you put ketchup on a hot dog? 

Yes

2. Choice of soda? 

Diet Coke... and La Croix

3. Do you own a gun? 

I plead the 5th... and the 2nd.

4. Can you swim? 

Yes!  Very well.

5. Hot dogs or cheeseburger? 

Cheeseburger

6. Favorite type of food? 

Chinese food, Southern Food -- or food someone else cooked

7. Do you believe in ghosts? 

The Holy one!

8. What do you drink in the morning? 

Water and Coffee! 

9. Can you do 100 pushups? 

Probably not simultaneously -- but throughout the course of the day, yes.  Actually, now that I think about it, 2.5 months postpartum, probably not -- and definitely not the "good" pushups.  Mine would have to be on my knees until I get my strength up.

10. Summer, Winter, Spring, or Fall? 

I usually love the season I'm in, and am looking forward to the next one around the corner.  Right now is no exception, I am loving winter and especially enjoying all these snowy days... and I'm beginning to get excited for Spring in a few months.

11. Your favorite hobby? 

My children are my hobby.  Other than caring for them... breastfeeding is my hobby (and I get to watch Netflix when I do), and blogging.  Driving could also be my hobby.  I drive a lot -- both in motherhood and for work.

12. Tattoos? 

I plead the 5th again.

13. Do you wear glasses?

Only sun glasses.

14. Do you have a phobia? 

I am afraid of spiders and snakes... I'm not really a fan of many reptiles to be honest.

15. Do you have a nick name? 

Mama, and Babe -- once upon a time, Brookie

16. Three favorite drinks? 

Water, La Croix, Coffee

17. Biggest downfall? 

I really like sweets -- too much

18. Rain or Snow? 

Snow

19. Can you change a tire? 

Yes, but not without consulting my car's owner's manual, and maybe watching a youtube video as I'm doing it.

20. Favorite flower? 

Daisies and Roses

21. Can you drive a stick? 

Yes, but it would be a very rough ride.

22. Ever gone skydiving? 

No

23. Kids?

Five in less than six years.

Girl, Boy, Girl, Girl, Boy

24. Favorite color? 

Purple

25. Employed? 

Yes - full time teacher of the blind

26. Can you whistle? 

Yes 

27. Where were you born? 

Florida

28. Siblings? 

Two half siblings (that does not equal one whole sibling)

29. Surgeries? 

Oral surgeries in middle school

30. Shower or bath?

Shower daily - Bath rarely to relax

31. Last song you listened to? 

Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music

32. Broken bones? 

Nope 

33. How many TVs are in your house? 

Four

34. Worst pain? 

Childbirth

35. Do you like to sing? 

Yes

36. Are your parents still alive? 

Yes!

37. Do you like camping? 

Yes -- in a camper.

38. What do you enjoy binge-watching? 

Netflix shows while breastfeeding.  So far since Hunter was born, I have watched the new season of The Crown, the new season of Fuller House, Mad Men, and I'm almost finished with Grace and Frankie.

39. Pumpkin or pecan pie? 

They are both very delicious... but I'll have to go with French Apple

40. Someone who will play along? 

No one I know

 

 

 

50 Questions (and Answers)

50 (yes fifty!!) Things You've Never Been Asked

1. What is the color of your toothbrush? 

I have several... blue at the moment

2. Name one person who made you smile today: 

Lee Lee

3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? 

Nursing and dozing I think

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? 

Nursing and dozing I think

5. What is your favorite candy bar? 

Heath at the moment... but it changes.  I love Reese Fast Break too.

6. Have you ever been to Disney? 

Yes!  So much fun at any age.

7. What is the last thing you said out loud? 

"Shhhh, Buddy"

8. What is your favorite ice cream? 

Cookie dough or Mint Moose Tracks

9. What was the last thing you had to drink? 

Water

10. Do you like your wallet? 

Sure... I don't really care

11. What was the last thing you ate? 

Chicken soup and a roll

12. The last sporting event you watched? 

Currently watching Clemson v. Ohio State in the CFP Semifinal Fiesta Bowl

13. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? 

The tins of three flavors -- butter, carmel, and cheese

14. Who is the last person you sent a text message? 

"Whole Family"

15. Ever go camping?'

Yes and I really like it... but now a days, I prefer camping in a camper, not a tent.

16. Do you take vitamins daily? 

Prenatal vitamin

17. Do you go to church every Sunday? 

No... we try, but we don't make it every Sunday.

18. Do you have a tan? 

No... freckles.

19. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?

 Yes

20. Do you drink your soda with a straw? 

Only when its served with a straw.

21. What did your last text message say? 

"Anyone going to church tomorrow morning?"

22. What are you doing tomorrow? 
Going to my niece's birthday party and spending time with family.

23. Look to your left, what do you see? 

Hunter asleep

24. What color is your watch? 

Pink band, black face

25. What do you think of when you think of Australia? 

A fun/expensive trip with my husband... maybe even a cruise

26. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? 

Drive throughs

27. What is your favorite number? 

13

28. Who's the last person you talked to on the phone? 

Probably my Hubby this morning

29. Any plans today? 

It's 10:59pm... plan to sleep.

30. How many states have you lived in? 

4 states, 2 countries

31. Biggest annoyance right now? 

Feeling tired -- not having a routine with Hunter yet, so I'm still up nursing him plenty and I'm tired as a result.

32. Last song listened to? 
Yankee Doodle

33. Can you say the alphabet backwards? 

Nope

34. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? 
My indoor black shoes or my outdoor black slip-on shoes.

35. Are you jealous of anyone?
No.  The longer I live the more I realize that you never know the details or struggle of someone else's life and you never will.  Just live your life as best as you can with joy.

36. Is anyone jealous of you? 
I have no idea.

37. Do you love anyone? 
Yes.  My husband, my children, my family, my husband's family, my animals.

38. Do any of your friends have children? 
Some.

39. What do you usually do during the day? 
I raise and keep track of tiny humans, and manage our family, and teach students who are blind and visually impaired.

40. Do you hate anyone right now? 
No.  I try to stay away from the word and feeling of "hate"

41. Do you use the word 'hello' daily? 
No.  Usually "Hey"

42. What are you doing right now? 
Watching the end of the Clemson v. Ohio State game and hoping Hunter stays asleep and doesn't need to nurse or burp again for awhile.

43. Are you thinking about someone right now? 
Hunter

44. Have you ever been to Six Flags? 
Yes, but its been a long time.

45. How did you get your worst scar? 
My worse scar is emotional from when my sister died... it changed me and the way I view life, love, future, and impacted the rest of my life.

46. What is your favorite snack? 
Depends... I go through phases.  I like pistachios.  I also like peanut M&Ms.

47. Do you take naps? 
No.  It is extremely rare.

48. Favorite genre of music? 
Christmas music probably.

49.Do you go to the movies a lot? 

Rarely.  Maybe once a year.

50. What is your favorite color? 

Purple

Less Time

Truthfully, this summer I am finding that the less time I spend at my computer each day or each week... the less time I want to spend at my computer.

Its frankly not as much fun to open my computer to blog at the end of the day, because I just don't want to see the screen.

I especially don't want to check emails or think about the fall or update our amazon subscribe and save or really tend to any of my normal computer responsibilities.

I like being completely on vacation and I wish the entire world could be on vacation while I am so they would stop bothering me.  Lol.

Maybe if I have no other computer tabs open except my blog each day... maybe that would help?

 

Every Year...

I came upon this blog post last week and it has really stuck with me.

It's called Encouragement for Every Sing Year of your Child's Life (1-18) and it's by a blog called  For The Family.

 She is writing about a daughter, so even though it says "Child's Life" I really hear her words regarding a daughter -- and I have three daughters at ages 5, 3, and 1... What a beautiful post to remember that a daughter's needs are different every year.

Here are her words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is finished.

We did it. 

Eighteen years of parenting and twelve years of school – completely under our belts, and the deed is done. Our daughter graduated from high school this week, and I wish I could travel back in time to my “younger-mom-self” and share these words with her.

Year One – Pick her up every time she cries. Don’t listen to the experts who don’t know your baby. You won’t get to hold her for very long, and her little heart needs to know you will always be there for her.

Year Two – Be patient with her. Tantrums are not forever. The world your toddler is exploring seems insurmountable at every turn, and she needs to know you are a safe place. 

Year Three – Make the whole world wait. Finger-paint every chance you get and read-aloud every book in sight. These are the things she will remember. 

Year Four – Buy lots of bandaids and keep them handy. Her brave new self wants to find out just how fast a tricycle can go. 

Year Five – Treasure your alone time with her. She’s moving into a stage of life where you will be only one of her many teachers. Always kiss her goodnight and pray for her future.

Year Six – Sit at the table with her. She’s absorbing the world around her and learning new, scary things like addition and subtraction. She needs you more than ever.

Year Seven – Pour into her heart when she wakes up scared and runs to you for reassurance – and never – ever – even in your sleep deprived moments – assume this will be how she always deals with fear. Let her know she can run to you.

Year Eight – Empathize and confess. Multiplication is from Satan himself, and she needs to know you too struggled with math. 

Year Nine – Cut her some slack. Long division is just as evil as multiplication. So when it is the last thing she wants to do, and it feels like disrespect to you, please know that she doesn’t dislike you, just the learning disability you don’t know about yet.

Year Ten – Remind her how beautiful she is. The glasses help her see better, but man… they make her feel “other” around non-glasses wearing folk. 

Years eleven, twelve and thirteen – See the child underneath. The slamming doors aren’t to shut you out. It’s to release all those hormones that hold her hostage and give no explanation as to why anger is their chosen form of expression. 

Years Fourteen and Fifteen – Don’t take your eyes off the ball. Crushes, braces, high school classes and the combination thereof make your time, your affection, and your investment all the more crucial. You are in the home-stretch now, and she’s counting on you to fight for her. 

Year Sixteen – Take a deep breath. She’s not gonna die and neither are you. Mastering driving happens like all the other skills – with practice and perseverance. She’s got this, and the Lord has you both. 

Year Seventeen – Repeat the words: “I don’t care. I care about you, but I don’t care about your ACT score or which college accepts you. I only care that you are safe, whole and following after Jesus. The rest doesn’t matter.”

Year Eighteen – Pull back your grip. Her wings need to spread. She’s as scared as you are, but it’s time. It’s what you’ve both worked so hard to accomplish. God is with you, and He will help you release your mama-hold so she can run towards her future ministry, husband, children and calling on her life. 

Blessings, 

Denise 

You can find me at www.denisemcdowell.com