VIVA MEXICO

We had a dream vacation to Akumal, Mexico with our wonderful friends, the Nichols. I had to start thinking of new adjectives when I realized I was saying the words "perfect" and "heaven" a little too frequently. It really was the perfect family vacation. We stayed in a beautiful villa with a pool and then a few steps to the beach. The balcony had two hammocks and I spent the majority of the vacation rocking my baby and drinking "pepsi light". I think this was the first vacation where I actually came home relaxed and refreshed, instead of exhausted. Our kids spent most of the days in and out of the pool, searching for shells, and catching crabs. We visited the ruins, swam and cliff jumped in underground water caves, and ate Italian pizza with live music on the patio. Thank you Nichols family for the vacation of a lifetime!

My Girls

Do you think maybe I was hungry when I was picking out these dresses? Neopolitan anyone?

Before I had my girls, I would always tell people I'm just a "boy mom". I secretly feared having a daughter. I feared that she would hate me from age 13- 23, or at least pretend to hate me and blame me for all life's problems. I feared that she would one day go to therapy and spend the entire session talking about me. I feared eating disorders, body image, hormones, and self-esteem. I told people, "I just want three little boys"! I just want to fill my life with sports, mud, and movement. But everything changed on the day I was pregnant with my third child and we had an ultrasound. The technician said, "It's a girl" and my heart melted. I saw her little heart beat and fell in love with her before she was even born. I had no idea! I just didn't get it and now I do. So bring on the, "you are ruining my life" and "you just don't understand" and "you are so embarrassing". I'll take it all just to have the privilege to raise these beautiful baby girls. I just pray that they will know that they are truly daughter's of God and how lucky I am to be their mom.