I would like to take a moment to apologize to all of you for the fact that when my sister called to get my favorite quote last week, all I could come up with was something my 3-year-old says about skunks. It went something like this:
Melissa: “Hey, Mand! I need to know your favorite quote for a blog post.”
Me: Looks down at the baby pool she’s sitting in while she watches her son play in the sand box. Laughs.
Melissa: “Why are you laughing?”
Me: “I’ve got nothing. Call me back in an hour and I’ll have thought of something.”
An hour later, I still had nothing. What I did have was a pathetic case of mommy mush brain. I wish I could say that I’m thinking about or even reading lofty and inspirational words when I’m hanging out with my kids day in and day out. It just isn’t true. But I have enough little kid quotes to sink a ship. For instance, this morning Curtis sat down with Jackson and me at the breakfast table to pray with us before he left for work. (This doesn’t happen every day, but we’re trying.) He said, “Okay, Jackson, what do you want Daddy to pray for you about?” Jackson said, “Ummmmm, sprinkled donuts!”
Lofty quotes I have not, but that which I have, I give to thee!
How about some pictures?
These are from our recent trip to Disney World.
These are from Annabeth’s dedication service at church.
Janelle and Ella came down for the weekend. (Janelle actually made that pink tutu for Annabeth.)
These are from Memorial Day, which we spent at Lake Conroe with some generous friends.
Curtis was trying out Jackson’s first fishing pole.
Here’s Jackson with the worm he named “Clumsy.”
Annabeth thought it was too loud at Marble Slab.
And here’s my almost-four-month-old in her robe after bathtime.
Mom, I think she looks just like me and Melissa here!
Oops.
Amanda,
I love your kid quotes and the pictures. I adore children so keep
the quotes and pictures coming. Isn’t it the best thing in the world being a mom? I loved it when mine were little and I love it now that they’re grown men.
The pictures of Annabeth almost make me want to have a third baby. Almost. Thanks for sharing them. 🙂 Boy, can I ever relate to the mommy mush brain. But I love every minute of it. They are so fun at this age. (Mine are 5.5 and 2.5)
So cute! Yummy children!
Love the pics — especially of Annabeth in the bathrobe! Too cute!!
Precious pictures of that baby girl! Puts a much needed smile on my face today.
Oh, pictures!!!!
Children’s quotes are so wonderfull. There is nothing quite like them!
My mom used to keep a journal for each of us (the youngest one’s is on the computer) of some of the cute, funny and profound things we used to say.
Well I think mom quotes are the most profound, most important ones of all. It’s precisely because you’re there listening to his sweet voice today that he’ll be making profound quotes of his own later on! That reminds me, when my son was about Jackson’s age, I loved a book by Lindsey O’Connor: Moms Who Changed the World. You might like it.–It’s simple stories about inspiring mothers…like you are to your precious kids!
don’t worry about the quote. I’m sure there are many moms on this blog who were glad to see you are in the same mode as them. Also, just to show you have some company, my four year old son has often asked to pray for transformers, batman, etc. Not to mention the times I’m praying and hear lots of rustling only to peep out one eye to see a little boy who’s not the least bit interested in my prayer. Keep keepin’ on, I can’t help but believe we’re getting through 🙂
y’all are all too cute for words!!
Thank you for sharing these adorable pictures! Way too cute!
Forever His,
Lawan Rivera
Phil 4:8
The photos are so stinkin adorable! Kid quotes are just the best, and you should know that you are permanently excused from all instances of mommy mush brain. Annabeth in her pink robe is the cutest thing ever!
Hugs,
Adrienne
I was checking the blog and LOVING the quotes from reality 🙂 I live there too.
My 8 yr old son was checking the blog with me and announced that Annabeth “looks like a boxer” – the hoodie robe 🙂
Sorry.
Anne in IN
Oh Amanda,
I love the picture of Annabeth smiling in the pink chair! So precious.
Much love,
Sharon
Love the pictures Amanda. You have absolutely adorable children.
Mom and Dad aren’t so bad either. You should be sitting in the “pool” when you get the chance. They don’t come around that often. Looks like you had a great vacation and a good time at the lake this weekend. I know your Mom sure missed you guys. Ok, she missed the little ones.
Enjoy the “Mother-isms”. Those as well will stop all to soon and be just a memory. ENJOY!!!!
Have a great day….
Blessings,
Bible Bunny in NO MI
Love, love, love the pictures, Amanda!! Such a sweet, sweet family!
I hear you on the Mommy mush brain. I was just telling my hubby last night that I need some sort of mind sharpness pill. It seems I’m slipping more and more everyday!!
Lots of love to you and your family!
Kristen
Precious, Amanda! By the way, tell your sweet Momma that I was just in Sam’s Wholesale Club and they had Moon Pies … a whole case of 24 for only $6.88. I’m sure someone has already told her, but had to make sure. Had to run and tell.
Love, Shelli L. in Fort Worth, TX
Our 15 seconds with Lightening McQueen was the highlight of our week at Disney. My 4 year old son started doing all these hilarious poses for the Photopass photographer. All the people in line were cracking up 🙂 Glad I’m not the only one with no deep quotes to offer these days!
Such sweet family times!! We took our family of 4 to Disney 2 years ago (our boys were 3 and 4 1/2 then). It was the best and it had nothing to do with Disney. We were just the 4 of us, far from home and the stresses and distractions of home. It was definitely rest and recreation–so refreshing for a pastor’s family! I’m glad you all had a great time! Thanks for sharing your story 🙂
Love it! Love it! Love it!
Thanks for sharing!
Kid quotes I’ve definitely got too!
My daughter’s preschool teacher is retiring. As we were leaving to go to her retirement tea on Sunday afternoon, my 3 year-old son looks at his 5 year-old sister in her pink party dress and her blond curls and says “Everyone’s just going to LOVE you at the party because you’re so beautiful and they’re not going to love me because I’m not.”
It was not said with envy as much as with awe at her beauty and dismay at the relative drabness of his wardrobe! It was priceless!!
It definitely shows the sweetness of his heart and character!
And yes, he can’t help but wear those pretty pink dresses sometimes – not sure what to do about that!!
How precious!
I kept my two grandchildren (ages 5yrs. and 11 mos.) from Thursday night to Sunday night. I only had one child so this was a new experience for a out-of-practice Grammie. I can see how brain mush could happen — very quickly! I might add that we made it to Sunday School — early!
Blessings, sweet mommy!
Okay I need my baby fix! It will be another week and a half before I can hold our sweet little Faith (in her Mary Jane socks! I still just love those). Little girls are so precious but don’t you just love little boys too. They just are who they are.. no pretenses..just say or do it and think about it later. A worm named clumsy? That is great!
You have two very sweet children!
Don't ever apologize for your Mommy quotes, they are perfect.. I LOVED the snuck quote.
I had a great one this Sunday.. My 3 year old came out of his class after church holding a colored page of Jesus & said "Mommy, this is Jesus & He really loves me"
I burst into tears right there in the hallway.
You will have the rest of your life to memorize quotes from this author or that speaker, but only a few of snuck quotes.
Amanda, every time you post pictures of your family, all I can think is that your little man is a spitting image of your big man! And your girl in her robe – adorable!! Your family is SO sweet!
I soooo LOVE Disney! Thanks for posting the precious pictures. Mommy quotes are the BEST. Kids tell us alot about life!
Wendy Berenson
Mechanicsville, VA
AWWWWEEEEE!! Love your pics, AJ!
Don’t worry, Mushy Mom Brain will pass (or at least that’s what they tell me…)
What sweet pictures, especially Annabeth in the bath robe.
Kids do say and pray the cutest things…I remember my daughter sincerly asking God how did He ever get the tiny bubbles in the sparkling water. Actually I wonder the same thing…:)
Have a wonderful and Blessed day!
Michelle in VT
Those pics were too precious!! Annabeth is just adorable! And Jackson is soo big! I can not get over how big he is!
Thanks for sharing!
Nikki
PS…Mother quotes are the orignal Kids say…I’m pretty sure Bill Cosby got the idea from moms! Lol!
I love that parting shot!! I got an 8×10 of my little 4 month old crying his eyes out at the JCPenney portrait studio. It’s one of my favorites and probably will always be. Blessings from Sarah in MO
Amanda,
This is your golden time as a mom. There will be many, many days for you to read lofty and inspirational words, but only a brief time to hang out with your babies. Cherish the quotes from their precious mouths…
Thanks for sharing the pics…
I love how babies all of a sudden get a neck at 4 months of age! We felt like my daughter grew a neck overnight. These pictures are precious!
Melissa in CA
What a beauty!
Every mom goes through that phase where she can’t have an educated, well-thought-out brain wave pattern. It will pass. In about 5years or so. In the meantime, just keep it real.
Loved the pics.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
Thanks for sharing your family with us! Great pics! I’m totally with “HisTreasuredPosession”… I tell people all the time that there’s scientific proof that I’ve lost brain cells in the process of giving birth to 3 children!
My favorite recent kid quote was the way my 5 year old responded to the Mother’s Day questionnaire at her school. It was a complete the sentence deal… too cute! One of the sentences was “My mother is more beautiful than ____”; and according to my Sarah, I am more beautiful than “stars!” Awesome!
love ya all,
Barbra in PA
Oh, how I love pictures! Thanks for sharing so many. In the first robe picture- the one of Annabeth with her pacifier in her mouth- her eyes so remind me of her grandmother Bibby’s eyes when she is passionately making a point in Bible teaching! Does anyone else see it?!
Love to you all-
Fran
Gulf Shores, AL
When does the “mama mush brain” end? Mine are 23, 21 and 14, and it still happens….and now I have “nana mush brain” because I have a grandson! (I’m at least glad to know this syndrome has a name 🙂
BTW, the pics of Annabeth in her robe are A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!
that last picture just HAS TO BE put in the “graduating Senior pics” file!!! so precious 🙂
Loved all your pics, especially the pics of Annabeth in her pink robe! SOOOO CUTE!!!! Also, I really like your purple & white blouse with the green bow ties on the sleeve. The colors are my cup of tea. Mind sharing where you got it? Pretty please? 🙂
Can't wait for summer bible study to begin. I am SO looking forward to it!
Now that is just too funny!!!
Love the mommy mush brain!
Much love,
Angela
I bet your mom is on cloud nine now that you all and the babies are back. I know she was missing them on sunday. The picture of you and our little seista with snow white was soooo soooo cute loved it. Curtis and Jackson look like they were having a blast at the lake. Thank you again for sharing your life and pictures with us seista’s . You are awesome we love you all to pieces. Have a great evening love and hugs to you all
Carol Albuq.NM
What a darlin’ end to a rough day! LOVE the sunglasses Annabeth shot!!!!!
Ok, I am a Mom leaving for her son’s wedding this weekend. Cleaning out boxes I found a book that I wrote down all those quotes from when he was little…What a treasure for his new bride as they start their lives together. Write them all down and one day you will hand them over…with tears of joy and a little sadness sprinkled in.
You are so funny! Mommy mush brain is a real thing, and I think quotes from 3 year olds are priceless. It’s good to have a record of it so that you can remember all they say.
And when you busted out Scripture, “what I have, I give to thee” I started laughing. So fitting- And pictures of your precious children are a great offering! Love the one of Annabeth in her robe with that smile. Adorable!
What do you do when you have mush brain, but no excuse? I don’t even have children, but I definitely have mush brain.
And I absolutely love how in the moment and literal kids are – a sprinkled donut, indeed! Now that is something to pray for! 🙂
Continued blessings to you,
Gretchen
Great pictures! Thank you for sharing with us! Your little ones are just precious! By the way, I love kiddie quotes!
Much love!
Heh,
I would have put up a kid quote, because they swim around in my brain for days, interspersed with wondering what is for dinner. Mummy brain is such a common condition, I often wonder how we all survive.
-Bobbi
Wow, Amanda, thanks! And to think I almost didn’t check the blog today 🙂
I have the identical picture of my son when he was 3 hugging Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. He’s now 17. But he’s still 3 in my heart.
Thanks for sharing all your pictures! Love, Karen in OC, CA
Thanks for reminding us Mom’s of teenagers what it was like to have Mommy mush brain. I envy those days now. The pictures are precious.
Amanda,
Girl! I know just what you’re talking about about a brain of mush. My sweet baby, Ella, was born right (Feb. 2nd) around the time Annabeth was, so I know what you mean! My 3 year old daughter LOVED looking at your pictures from Disney. She’s been begging us now to go to Pooh’s house! 🙂 Oh, and the pics of Annabeth in the bathrobe–oh, my!!! She is absolutely PRECIOUS!
Oh Melissa,
Love your pics that you post always do… there is a few that sank my heart though.. 3 years ago on Memorial Day my 12 year sweet daughter was also tubing (as jackson and his daddy were) well Kristin was swung into a dock and suffered a Severe Head Injury!! We had been doing this with the family for years. She was in a coma for almost 3 weeks. We witness a devine deliverence for GOD!! She is a different little girl from what I gave birth to, I had to greave for my firstborn and accept what GOD allowed to to keep!! So it just sent little goose bumps when I saw your precious son tubing!! Thanks for reading…God Bless