Small and simple blessings during my day...

“Give your child a compliment and a hug; say, ‘I love you’ more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of ‘what if’ and ‘if only.’ … “Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important.”

9 years ba-by!!

Laughing and being silly... that is usually how we roll.

I have to admit... I tried to take a picture of my honey  and me for our 9 year anniversary and 5 pics later Steve was like O.K. we are DONE! ( you know me, i'm a girl and have to have it JUST right)
ha ha

Hence this is the last picture! And you can see we are totally laughing.

This man is  the love of my life.
When I look at this picture I see a Man that has held my hand through the delivery of 3 beautiful babies, he has been the man that was at my side when I went into surgery and radiation 2 times.
He was the one that was the first person I saw when I woke up.
This handsome man is the comic relief that makes the stress of life go away.
Steve is such a provider and would do anything for his family.
I appreciate and adore his willingness to serve. 
He is the one that drives me crazy some times, we have a good ol' fight, then it is back to buisness as usual
 and at the end of the day, we know that we are each others best friend and partners in crime.
He is the one I want snuggled up to me and waking up beside me in the morning.
Steve is my whole life,  I would be lost without him.
I'm grateful that he is such an amazing father, dad and husband.
I could not have picked a more laid back, loyal, amazing, kind, and loving husband to spend my life with.
 Let alone, raise our children with and create long lasting memories.
So when I say he is the LOVE of my life... love means so much more to me than just roses and a  nice card, it is the deeply treasured moments we have shared.
Happy 9 year anniversary ba-by!

Success

Start Day/ 3 day weigh in
Weight - 160  154
Neck - 13" Same
Upper Arm - 11-1/2" Left  11"
Upper Arm - 11-1/2" Right 10 1/2"
Chest 40 "  (or can we just say HUGE )=- :) 38"
Diaphragm (rib area)- 35" 34"
Waist (below belly button) 37" 36"
Abs (at Belly button) 36" 34"
Buttocks - 41" (baby got back) ha ha ha 40"
Thigh L - 22" 21"
Thigh R - 23" 21 1/2"

 Lost 6 pounds and 10 inches total so far..

When I think of confidence... this is confidence to me!!! I read that most women say they gain confidence in there late 30's.  Well THIS gives me the confidence I need to be comfortable in my skin.  When I succeed, when I feel and look a way that I feel I should.  Then and only then can I have confidence.  I know that it crazy to some people.  They look and me and say but you are so pretty... well thankyou.  That makes me feel good for the moment.  Now if I could just take my head and put it on the body I had about 13 years ago.  ha ha.

I'm thankful for the body I do have.. I just want to tone it, and make it the best it can be.  Our bodies are amazing.  With the right "fuel" in them they will produce beyond our wildest dreams.  I can run 5K's without just about passing out each time at the finish line.  I will be able to do all that I desire.  I just need to get healthy and stronger. 

Yeah, I'm so excited.. I actually screamed like a little girl this morning when I saw my progress.  What a great day!

2 Day Cleanse....

 I feel great!  It is 5pm,  I only have a few more hours before I complete my first 2 day cleanse.

I thought for sure I would feel like I was starving, but it really is all in the mind.  I have really stayed positive and tried to keep my goal in mind.
 
Don't get me wrong.. the  PIZZA, homemade chicken and dumplins and cornbread in my house during the past 2 days have smelled so yummy.  Yet on the other hand, I haven't really missed it.... but oh I will be ready for a yummy salad on Monday.  LOL :)

 I have been amazed at the lack of cravings for sugar or other things that I usually could eat!  I even had lots of energy... oh yes, lots of energy when all I did was drink this cleanse for life drink.
(4 times a day).

I really have been impressed with myself,  and Steve is cheering me on. It means a lot and is so much easier when there is lots of support.  :)

I weigh in tomorrow morning and i'm pretty excited.   I have to remember this won't happen over night but it will happen.  I'm excited to meet my goal!

Today is a great day!!!

My Top Six

6 things that made me smile this week: 

1. Being able to look up at my adorable "White Home Rules" that my sweet sister Ashlea made for our family for Christmas.  

Ashlea has got to be one of the most amazing, talented, soft spoken and loving people on this earth.  I'm grateful for her and her example of a righteous daughter of God.  Thanks Ashlea for being so wonderful and great gift in my life.

2.  Having such amazing cousins for Hunter and Henry!
 We had the best time when Grace came to town.
We hit up Build a Bear and the kids were in heaven!

 

Henry was in a trance watching the stuffing go around and around and AROUND.

Happy Kiddos!!!!

3. Living on such beautiful property, this is what we see when we look out  the front door.   The kids were so excited to be able to feed the horses.

Gracie was the first one to the fence.
 She really tried hard to get us to let her ride one but unfortunately
we didn't have time to contact the owner... maybe next time!

This is my favorite!!

4. Momma son date night!!! 

We went and saw Chip-wrecked... it was a cute movie.
Popcorn, soda and candy galore.
 We had a great time just laughing and being together.
Hunter showed off his dance moves as we drove home with the radio cranked up!
It was a perfect night...

5. Cooking in the kitchen with the kiddos.

The kids made pizza for dinner....
They were so detailed and had to make sure it was just perfect!

Gracie was our taste tester!!!!  Yup that cheese it perfect! :)

Henry needed to supervise! 

Dinner is served... yum.

6. I l love being married to such a "G U Y"

I love that Steve is such a manly man!
He loves to be outside, hunting, fishing, and listening to country music.
Just hanging with the boys, or in a deer stand.
But don't the camo fool you, he isn't a totaly Redneck Country Boy (ha ha).
He is such a soft hearted man.
He loves to wrestle with his boys and rough house.
And he will be the first to cuddle on the couch and give kisses when there is a boo-bo.
  Steve went on a 3 day Guys Hunting weekend in Alabama.
This is our neighbors Tommy and Austin Skipper.
He had a blast!!!!
Steve is still laughing at some of the funny things said, saw and they did.
Steve shot two deer, so we are set on good healthy meat for a long time.
They turned the meat into sausage, hamburger, back strap, etc.
Good times for sure.  :)

Counting down... .11 to 1

Prep Day 1.  Was great... 2 shakes, and a delicious salad.

Prep Day 2.  Getting into my groove.  Going out to dinner with my  hubby tonight.. should be fun trying to find a meal for 400 to 600 cal.  I had my 2 shakes and snacks. 


Feeling good, I have my goal in my head !

Can't wait to weigh in tomorrow! ( I get to weigh in the 1st day 3rd and 9th)

Since this is my journal, i'm totally o.k. with sharing my measurements... ( I think, ha ha)

Start Day
Weight - 160
Neck - 13"
Upper Arm - 11-1/2" Left
Upper Arm - 11-1/2" Right
Chest 40 "  (or can we just say HUGE )=- :)
Diaphram (rib area)- 35"
Waist (below belly button) 37"
Abs (at Belly button) 36"
Buttocks - 41" (baby got back) ha ha ha
Thigh L - 22"
Thigh R - 23"

http://www.isagenix.com

9-Day System

Get weight loss and cleansing off to a fast start with the 9-day supply of the Cleansing and Fat Burning System. Seven pounds is the average weight loss for people using the Cleanse and Fat Burning System for nine days.* The five nutritional components of the system help you cleanse while infusing your body with premium nutrients for optimum health and safe weight loss. Stimulant free.

A girl can dream....

N.E.W Journey

O.k. so this is my new journey!

I'm pretty excited....actually i'm so dang excited that I just don't know what to do with myself.  Can I fast forward like 2 months... and see the changes :)

As most of my dear friends know I was diagnosed with thryoid disfunction since my daughter was born back in 2003.  They dignosed me with Hyper than Hypothyroidism.

Our Thyroids have many functions that we NEED to have a successful life, shoot just a successful DAY in my case!

Thyroid controls our hormones, weight and temperature.. should I go on.....

The purpose of your thyroid gland is to produce, store, and release thyroid hormones into your bloodstream.

These hormones, called T3 and T4, affect almost every cell in your body and help control your body’s metabolism.

So with all that said.... 

If it isn't all flowing and working correctly for  a WOMAN it would be pretty crappy.   Well friends,  this is what leads me to  WHY I'm on a new journey...

After having thryoid cancer and having to rely on my doctors to find the right dose to compensate, I needed to get extra help to control my hormones, mood swings, temperament and freak outs, especially around my "girlie time".

I went on  Zoloft and I was on it for 5 months... it was fabulous!!!  That was UNTIL I had the side affect of gaining 20 pounds.  Now that is not so fabulous.

Talk about making me totally bummed, down on myself and not comfortable in my own skin.  My knees where hurting from the extra weight and I found it hard to breath sometimes. It was sad when the boys wanted me to jump on the trampoline and I would tell them "mommy can't my knees hurt".  And running, well I love to run but my knees hate me to run.. hopefully this will help.  I was totally beside myself because I had finally LOST all but 5 pounds to be back to what I weighted when I got married.  And now I was back up to what I weighed when I was 5 months pregnant.

You can imagine my frustration!!!

So I have taken a different approach to life, weight, happiness.. etc.

I have gone off of the Zoloft and gone on a more natural route (vitamins, etc, that have all that my body might be lacking.)  It has been great! I have been on SAM-e, liquid B-12 and Calcium ...for about a month now and it is working amazing. 

I feel better, lots of energy, happy and I have also just THIS week started a 9 day detox cleanse  program to  kick start my weight loss.  I know I will be happier once I can gain control of my weight again.

Also, accepting who i'am without being a weight NUMBER. I have always been a certain weight and so this is hard for me to define myself and try to get into my clothes that don't fit.  Oh man that it is the worst.  Talk about an ADULT TEMPER TANTRUM!

During this journey I'm trying to find peace in myself.  Find the love from my Savior and gain a  testimony of the gospel. 

I feel like if i'm happy with myself than I can be happy with everything around me.  I can look around and see the MANY MANY blessings that I have.

I  AM truly blessed!

Over the past month, I have regained the desire to kick my butt back into shape, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually.  

I'm excited for this program in my life and it gives me something to look forward to, a goal, a challenge that I can see a change in my life.

I'm grateful for new days and new beginnings......... 

ABC's - President Monson

This was a great article to read/hear...  I posted the link at the end.  Very comforting!!

Living the Abundant Life

At the advent of a new year, I challenge Latter-day Saints everywhere to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the abundant life—a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness, and blessings. Just as we learned the ABCs in school, I offer my own ABCs to help us all gain the abundant life.

Have a Positive Attitude

A in my ABCs refers to attitude. William James, a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, wrote, “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”¹

So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.

Charles Swindoll—author, educator, and Christian pastor—said: “Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”²

We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.

Believe in Yourself

B is for believe—in yourself, in those around you, and in eternal principles.

Be honest with yourself, with others, and with your Heavenly Father. One who was not honest with God until it was too late was Cardinal Wolsey who, according to Shakespeare, spent a long life in service to three sovereigns and enjoyed wealth and power. Finally, he was shorn of his power and possessions by an impatient king. Cardinal Wolsey cried:

Had I but served my God with half the zeal

I served my king, He would not in mine age

Have left me naked to mine enemies.³

Thomas Fuller, an English churchman and historian who lived in the 17th century, penned this truth: “He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.”⁴

Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.

You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.

Face Challenges with Courage

C is for courage. Courage becomes a worthwhile and meaningful virtue when it is regarded not so much as a willingness to die manfully but as a determination to live decently.

Said the American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide on, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”⁵

There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming. At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember—David did win!

Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve.

Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

May we remember these ABCs as we begin our journey into the new year, cultivating a positive attitude, a belief that we can achieve our goals and resolutions, and the courage to face whatever challenges may come our way. Then the abundant life will be ours.

Teaching from This Message

Consider inviting family members to share personal experiences when a positive attitude, belief in themselves, or courage helped them. Or invite them to find examples of these three principles in the scriptures. You might prepare to teach by prayerfully thinking of scriptures or experiences of your own.

Youth

Courage to Weather the Storm

By Maddison Morley

On the second night of my stake’s Young Women camp, we had a big rainstorm and tornado. My ward had about 24 young women attending the camp with two leaders, and we all had to fit into one small cabin for protection. The rain was falling hard, and the wind was getting worse. I had to continually remind myself of the prayer for safety our stake president had offered earlier. Our ward also said our own group prayer in our cabin, and I said my own personal prayers.

A lot of girls were scared, and it was easy to see why. Our cabin was not very sturdy, and we were right by a river. In about 20 minutes the storm got so bad that the whole stake had to run from their ward cabins to the counselors’ cabins, which were on higher ground. My stake president said another prayer, and we sang hymns, Primary songs, and camp songs in an attempt to comfort ourselves. Yes, we were scared, but we felt that everything would be all right. Half an hour later it was OK to go back to our ward cabins.

We later found out what had happened to the tornado that night. It had split into two storms. One of them went around us to the right and the other to the left. What we got wasn’t even the worst of it!

I know that God heard our prayers that night and that He protected us from the worst of the storm. Why would a tornado split unless God needed it to? I know that in the storms of life, we can always pray to Heavenly Father and He will hear and answer us, giving us the courage and protection we need to make it safely through.

Children

Captain Moroni

Captain Moroni had courage as he faced challenges. He loved truth, liberty, and faith. He devoted his life to helping the Nephites preserve their freedom. You can be like Captain Moroni by facing your challenges with courage. You can even make your own title of liberty by writing on the flag below or on a separate piece of paper the things that are important to you and your family.

 http://lds.org/liahona/2012/01/living-the-abundant-life?lang=eng

WHY???

Why do you belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? 
Will you please share your testimony with me?

M - O - M

3 days without daddy! Steve went on a 

"Guys Hunting Weekend"... 

i'm soooo ready to have him home! 

If I hear MOMMA one more time I'm going to blow gasket!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Countdown time... 

T-minus 1 hour....

P.I.Z.Z.A

 If you want a good home made pizza, whipped up with some black olives, 

lots of cheese, pepperoni, and topped off with love.  

Well then you have come to the the right place.  

Hunter boy is serving up some d-e-l-i-s-h pizza for dinner tonight!

Hungry anyone....

Groom Dance... so dang cute!

Terrific Tuesday....

Tuesday started out with some deals at CVS!!!  

2 containers of razors BOGO

1 12pk Angel Soft Toilet Paper

2 Colgate Toothpaste BOGO

and some Vitamins..... all for :::

$6.14

I was one happy camper!!!

Later on in the afternoon my Uncle Neil and Grandma Maxwell came into town.  They have never been to our home so it was great to show them around, spend some time playing outside and talking.

Hunter and Henry loved playing outside with Uncle Neil.
What else but football!!!

 Henry was not to worried about Uncle trying to steal the ball.
He would just run for dear life it was so cute.

 Henry's smile says a thousand words... fun times!

Awwwwwww  Great-Grandma Maxwell. 
First try and everyone was smiling.. yeah, Love it!

 Hummmmm,  Henry looks like he is being carried like a football... ha ha

Run Henry RUN!!!

It was a neat day to just relax and spend some time with family!  My Uncle lives in Utah, so any time he comes to visit it is a fun treat to get together.  Uncle Neil is awesome and I enjoy talking to him and just hanging out.  I miss them already!

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons 

(I found this adorable blog post... loved it!!!! ) 

http://studerteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/25-rules-for-mothers-of-sons.html

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

Inspired by a Pin I've recently seen about "rules for dads with daughters," I went searching for a similar list for moms with sons.  This search was mostly fruitless, so I was inspired to write my own Rules for Moms with Sons.  Granted, my list will not be conclusive and may not be entirely uncontroversial.  So agree, or disagree, or take with a grain of salt - but I hope to inspire other moms who are loving, and struggling, and tired, and proud, and eager to support the boys in their lives.  You are the most important woman in his life, his first teacher, and the one he will look to for permission for the rest of his life.  From "Can I go play with them?" to "Should I ask her to marry me?"  Its a big job, but as the mumma, we're up for it.

25 Rules for Moms with Sons

Source: pre-schoolplay.blogspot.com via Tabitha on Pinterest

1. Teach him the words for how he feels.
Your son will scream out of frustration and hide out of embarrassment.  He'll cry from fear and bite out of excitement.  Let his body move by the emotion, but also explain to him what the emotion is and the appropriate response to that emotion for future reference.  Point out other people who are feeling the same thing and compare how they are showing that emotion.  Talk him through your emotions so that someday when he is grown, he will know the difference between angry and embarrassed; between disappointment and grief.

2. Be a cheerleader for his life
There is no doubt that you are the loudest person in the stands at his t-ball games.  There is no doubt that he will tell you to "stop, mom" when you sing along to his garage band's lyrics.  There is no doubt that he will get red-faced when you show his prom date his pictures from boy scouts.  There is no doubt that he is not telling his prom date about your blog where you've been bragging about his life from his first time on the potty to the citizenship award he won in ninth grade.  He will tell you to stop.  He will say he's embarrassed.  But he will know that there is at least one person that is always rooting for him.

3. Teach him how to do laundry
..and load the dishwasher, and iron a shirt.  He may not always choose to do it.  He may not ever have to do it.  But someday his wife will thank you.

Source: offbeatmama.com via offbeatmama on Pinterest

4. Read to him and read with him.
Emilie Buchwald said, "Children become readers on the laps of their parents."  Offer your son the opportunity to learn new things, believe in pretend places, and imagine bigger possibilities through books.  Let him see you reading...reading the paper, reading novels, reading magazine articles.  Help him understand that writing words down is a way to be present forever.  Writers are the transcribers of history and memories.  They keep a record of how we lived at that time; what we thought was interesting; how we spoke to each other; what was important.  And Readers help preserve and pass along those memories.

5. Encourage him to dance.
Dance, rhythm, and music are cultural universals.  No matter where you go, no matter who you meet - they have some form of the three.  It doesn't have to be good.  Just encourage your son that when he feels it, it's perfectly fine to go ahead and bust a move.

6. Make sure he has examples of good men who are powerful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.
The examples of men with big muscles and a uniform (like Batman and LaMarr Woodley) will surround your son from birth.  But make sure he also knows about men who kick a$s because of their brains (Albert Einstein), and their pen (Mark Twain), and their words (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), and their determination (Team Hoyt), and their ideas (The Wright Brothers), and their integrity (Officer Frank Shankwitz), and fearlessness (Neil Armstrong), and their ability to keep their mouths closed when everyone else is screaming (Jackie Robinson).

7. Make sure he has examples of women who are beautiful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity
The examples of traditionally beautiful women (like Daphne Blake, Princess Jasmine, and Britney Spears) will surround your son from birth.  But make sure he knows about women who are beautiful from the inside out because of their brains (Madame Marie Curie), and their pen (Harper Lee), and their words (Eleanor Roosevelt), and their determination (Anne Sullivan), and their ideas (Oprah Winfrey), and their integrity (Miep Gies), and fearlessness (Ameila Earhart), and their ability to open their mouths and take a stand when everyone else is silent (Aung San Suu Kyi).

8. Be an example of a beautiful woman with brains, determination, and integrity.
You already are all of those things.  If you ever fear that you are somehow incapable of doing anything - remember this:  If you have done any of the following:  a) grew life b) impossibly and inconceivably got it out of your body c) taken care of a newborn d) made a pain go away with a kiss e) taught someone to read f) taught a toddler to eat with a utensil g) cleaned up diarrhea without gagging h) loved a child enough to be willing to give your life for them (regardless if they are your own) or i) found a way to be strong when that child is suffering...you are a superhero.  do not doubt yourself for one second.  Seriously.

Source: simplymontessori.blogspot.com via Terry-Anne on Pinterest

9. Teach him to have manners
because its nice.  and it will make the world a little better of a place.

Source: swagbucks.com via Adriana on Pinterest

10. Give him something to believe in
Because someday he will be afraid, or nervous, or heartbroken, or lost, or just need you, and you won't be able to be there.  Give him something to turn to when it feels like he is alone, so that he knows that he will never be alone; never, never, never.

Source: theberry.com via Chris on Pinterest

11. Teach him that there are times when you need to be gentle
like with babies, and flowers, and animals, and other people's feelings.

Source: heatherbeadles.com via Heather on Pinterest

12. Let him ruin his clothes
Resolve to be cool about dirty and ruined clothes.  You'll be fighting a losing battle if you get upset every time he ruins another piece of clothing. Don't waste your energy being angry about something inevitable.  Boys tend to learn by destroying, jumping, spilling, falling, and making impossible messes.  Dirty, ruined clothes are just par for the course.

13. Learn how to throw a football
or how to use a hockey stick, or read music, or draw panda bears (or in my case alpacas), or the names of different train engines, or learn to speak Elvish, or recognize the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or the lyrics to his favorite song.  Be in his life, not as an observer but as an active participant.

Source: shanna-kaye.com via Shanna-Kaye on Pinterest

14. Go outside with him
turn off the television, unplug the video games, put your cellphone on the charger, even put your camera away.  Just go outside and follow him around.  Watch his face, explore his world, and let him ask questions.  It's like magic.

15. Let him lose
Losing sucks.  Everybody isn't always a winner.  Even if you want to say, "You're a winner because you tried," don't.  He doesn't feel like a winner, he feels sad and crappy and disappointed.  And that's a good thing, because sometimes life also sucks, no matter how hard (as moms) we try to make it not suck for our kids.  This practice will do him good later when he loses again (and again, and again, and again, and again.....)  Instead make sure he understands that - sometimes you win - sometimes you lose.  But that doesn't mean you ever give up.

Source: None via Emma on Pinterest

16. Give him opportunities to help others
There is a big difference in giving someone the opportunity to help and forcing someone to help.  Giving the opportunity lights a flame in the heart and once the help is done the flame shines brighter and asks for more opportunities.  Be an example of helping others in your own actions and the way your family helps each other and helps others together. 

Source: data.whicdn.com via Meagan on Pinterest

17. Remind him that practice makes perfect.
This doesn't just apply to performance-based activities (like sports and music) but also applies to everything in life.  You become a better writer by writing.  You become a better listener by listening.  You become better speaker by speaking.  Show your son this when he is just young enough to understand (that means from birth, folks - they are making sense of the world as soon as they arrive), practice trick-or-treating at your own front door before the real thing.  Practice how you will walk through airport security before a trip.  Practice how you order your own food from the fast food cashier.  Practice, practice, practice.

18. Answer him when he asks, "Why?"
Answer him, or search for the answer together.  Show him the places to look for the answers (like his dad, or grandparents, or his aunts/uncles, or his books, or valid internet searches).  Pose the question to him so he can begin thinking about answers himself.  Someday, when he needs to ask questions he's too embarrassed to ask you - he'll know where to go to find the right answers.

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Maegan on Pinterest

19. Always carry band-aids and wipes on you.
especially the wipes.

Source: babyhold.com via Katie on Pinterest

20. Let his dad teach him how to do things
...without interrupting about how to do it the 'right way.'  If you let his dad show and teach and discover with your son while he is growing up, some day down the road (after a short period of your son believing his dad knows nothing), he will come to the realization that his dad knows everything.  You will always be his mother, but in his grown-up man heart and mind, his dad will know the answers.  And this will be how, when your son is too busy with life to call and chat with his mom,  you will stay connected to what is happening in his life.  Because he will call his dad for answers, and his dad will secretly come and ask you.

Source: familyfun.go.com via Kate on Pinterest

21. Give him something to release his energy
drums, a pen, a punching bag, wide open space, water, a dog.  Give him something to go crazy with - or he will use your stuff.  and then you'll be sorry.

Source: bleubirdvintage.typepad.com via Marybess on Pinterest

22. Build him forts
Forts have the ability to make everyday normal stuff into magic.  Throw the couch cushions, a couple blankets, and some clothespins and you can transform your living room into the cave of wonders.  For the rest of his life, he'll be grateful to know that everyday normal stuff has the potential to be magical.

Source: None via Tabitha on Pinterest

23. Take him to new places
Because it will make his brain and his heart open up wider, and the ideas and questions and memories will rush in.

Source: None via Anne on Pinterest

24. Kiss him
Any mother of sons will tell you that little boys are so loving and sweet.  They can be harsh and wild and destructive during most of the day.  But there are these moments when they are so kind and sensitive and tender.  So much so that it can cause you to look around at the inward, reserved grown men in your life and think, 'what happens in between that made you lose that?'  Let's try to stop the cycle by kissing them when they're loving and kissing them even more when they're wild.  Kissing them when they're 2 months and kissing them when they're 16 years old.  You're the mom - you can go ahead and kiss him no matter how big he gets - and make sure he knows it.   p.s. (this one is just as important for dad's too).

Source: smallesthings.blogspot.com via Sherry on Pinterest

25. Be home base
You are home to him.  When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back.  When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile.  When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you're the only one who will listen that many times.  When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands.  When he is sick, he will call you.  When he really messes up, he will call you.  When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious.  Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun.  Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.