My Definition of "Mom"

When I first started staying home, I met a lot of new women.  People would ask me what I did, and my response was "I am a Creative Specialist for Domestic Development".  The reactions were always very interesting!!  People seemed intrigued by my fancy career choice!  When they begin asking questions, I filled them in on my job responsibilities...  Cooking, Cleaning, Diapers, Laundry, Shopping, Loving on my Daughter, REPEAT!  People would always laugh when they finally realized my job title was just a fun way of saying I am a Stay at Home Mom!  Home or not home, MOM has so many meanings!
When I try to define it. this is what I get...

moth·er ¹  (muth-er)

noun

1.  A woman who loves, cares, and raises their children, always providing support and compassion. 

 

2.  She prepares 3 meals a day (even if it is a hotdog and applesauce situation).  She sings "The Wheels on the Bus" for an hour straight to keep everyone happy in the car.   She has learned to hide the spit up stain on her shoulder with her purse strap.  Poopy diapers don't phase her, and potty training is her newest goal.  Going shopping has a new meaning, and purchases are usually not for her.  She can buckle a car seat with 1 hand.  She can locate and retrieve a sippy cup in the back seat while driving.  She's best friends with Santa, and pretty chummy with the Tooth Fairy.  She manages to shower almost every day, and on some occasions all of the kids are clean at the same time!  While she isn't without flaws, she tries her best to make sure that everyone around her is happy... even though most days, it feels like a complete waste of time. 

3.  She is a BOO BOO FIXER, a CHEF, a CHAUFFEUR, a TEACHER, a MUSICIAN, a VACATION DIRECTOR, a PERSONAL SHOPPER, a DECORATOR.  She runs a CLEANING COMPANY, a LAUNDRY SERVICE, and a DIAPER SERVICE. 

 

4.  A woman who does the work of twenty, for free!

Growing up, I never gave my mom enough credit.  I didn't realize how hard it was to be a mom until I was one myself.  I know that is generally the way it works!  On many occasions I find myself calling my mom and apologizing!  "Mom, I am so sorry for poking you in the eyes when you would fall asleep on the couch"!!  Being a mom is the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever had the chance to do.  My kids are gifts, and I am honored to get to raise them.  As much as I want to call them mine, they belong to God.  I am so lucky that he is letting me borrow them, and I hope that I make him proud.  I appreciate my mom, and as Mother's Day approaches, I find myself thinking, once again, that there really is no card or gift good enough for the occasion.  I hope my mom realizes just how grateful I am for everything she has done for me.  I can only hope that I make her proud of me as a mom too!

 - Jessica

Rehearing

2011 "Farrar Style"...

2010 came to an end, and we were sad to see it go. It was the best year of my life to date, and I am sure that Derik would say the same.  The best thing that ever happened to Derik and myself, Abigail's birth, brought the year in with a bang.  She was a month early, and the day she came was exciting and terrifying all at the same time! 
We have watched Abbie grow so much in the last 10 months, and we arent sure how she has grown up so fast!  We watched her smile for the first time, eat baby food for the first time, cut her first tooth, sit up, wave, learn baby babble, and grow more hair than we know what to do with!  She is growing so fast, and in just over a month we will be celebrating her first birthday! 
While Abbie was pretty much our year in one word, we had some other things woth mentioning!!  We visited Derik's family in Delaware.  We went up in June, and it was so wonderful to see the family.  Abbie got to meet Pa Reade and Taddie, and seemed to enjoy the visit!  We stayed with Susan and Mike, Derik's aunt and uncle, and got to spend some time with them and their girls!! 
We also got to take Abbie on her first beach trip!  She wasn't an unsupported sitter yet, so the trip was not as much fun for her as we thought it would be!  However... she did enjoy the beach, she LOVED the sound of the ocean (it put her to sleep) and she liked the feel of the waves breaking on her feet!  She also really enjoyed a few dips in the pool with mom and dad! 
I also got to take Abbie on her first camping trip... now that was an experience!  My mom's family had a family reunion camping trip, and we took Abbie.  She again was not sitting, and that was NOT an easy camping trip!  We did have fun though... with the exception of the evening that the skies opened up and POURED rain!!!
We ended the year with Abbie's first Christmas!  She was too precious opening her gifts from us, our parents, and Santa.  It snowed most of the day, and was the most beautiful white Christmas ever!  It was the first white Christmas in 46 years here in Greensboro!  It was absolutly perfect. 
As we look towards the future, we hope that 2011 is as good to us, or better, than 2010 was.  Although we are not sure that it can beat it! 
We, as usual, made resolutions for the upcoming year...
Derik and I both want to read the bible cover to cover.
We are both going to make an effort to work out and get fit.
I have a personal resolution to be a better wife and mom
and Abbie's resolution is to learn to walk and talk... and to go to the zoo!!!

2011... here we come!

 - Jessica

My sweet girl :)

She is getting so big so fast!!!

Pool Day!

Abbie was enjoying a bottle before a morning swim!  The water was chilly, but she had a great time, and so did I!!

Abbie has her first tooth!!

There have been some crazy big changes with Abbie lately!!  She sits up, she eats most baby food, and today she cut her first tooth!  We think she actually cut it last night, but who cares... it's here!! 

Bottom front left... and it is adorable and SHARP! 

I guess I dont have a whole lot to write about it... yet... but I am so excited and proud of my little angel!

 - Jessica

Our new "Green" lifestyle...

We have embarked on a new adventure in our house! 
First of all I started making baby food for Abbie.  It is REALLY easy, and Abbie loves the consistancy and taste of the food!  Her favorite is carrots!!  And she has started apples, which she also LOVES!  I really like making it for her!!
Second... we have jumped full force into the cloth diaper world!!  We really like the diapers that we have, and the system we are using works REALLY well.  We use a dry pail method and we invested in a diaper sprayer... I am pretty sure that is the best thing EVER invented!!  She looks so cute in her cloth diapers, and I think she really likes them!
It is pretty amazing to me the different reactions I have received when I tell people about cloth diapers!!  There is no in between!  Either people are very understanding and supportive or they are completely disgusted and not supportive at all.  I try to explain to people that dont support it... that it isnt difficult, but most of the time the are pretty closed minded. 
It doesnt matter though!!  It is our adventure, and so far... we like it!! 
This has been a busy week, and little miss Abbie is teething pretty bad right now.  That means a lot of crying and VERY little sleep!  Hopefully this weekend will be somewhat relaxing!!

 - Jessica