What did you learn today?

2+2=4...In the year of 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue...A fun way to remember to spell Halloween (I still remember a very catchy song I learned in 1st grade)  Or, the ever popular..."nuthin'"

You want to know what I learned today?  Here we go...

I learned I can survive running errands without my cell phone!  Yes, that rascal didn't make it's way into my purse this morning and I left without it.  I was apart from it for a solid 3 hours and no one died!  It can be done!

Patience is a virtue and it always pays off.

The Word of the Lord is alive and active!  Today I heard a take on the story of David and Goliath that I'd never heard before.  It was beautiful. Wish I could recite it for you but I'm pretty sure I'd butcher it.

I learned that it is possible...hard, but possible...to visit Hobby Lobby and leave for less than $20!

No matter how hard I try, I cannot undo free will.  And it's hard when it comes to my children.  I'd love to be a puppet master and program them to only do what I tell them to.  But, it doesn't work like that.  And I have to learn to not let their behavior seem a reflection on me.  And I have to give other people that grace too.  That's a hard lesson I'm afraid I'm not finished learning.

Babies are easier to care for when they're not my own!!  I've started babysitting a precious angel baby girl.  She's AMAZING and I'm so blessed to care for her.  And I can tell you, she's a piece of cake!  Although, it probably helps that I don't have her overnight.  I'm getting a solid 8 hours before taking care of her.  That'll make most anyone seem like an angel. : )

I learned I can simply not go one day without ice cream.  I can't!  And I'm okay with that.

And, just an hour ago, I witnessed a vocal group practice that became a time of worshiping our Savior through song and it made my heart melt.  I love that I'm part of the body of Christ!  And I'm glad that I'm serving at a church and with people who are so in love with Jesus that it oozes out of every part of their lives.  I learned that I can be honest with them about my life.  It's so freeing to be real with folks!

I'm sure I learned much more today.  But, I think I'll stop there.

What did you learn?

With Hard Rocks

There's just not much in the world better, to me, than rocking a baby.  And no one I know can rock one better than my daddy.  And when he rocks a baby...he rocks "with hard rocks".  He says that's the only way.  You have to rock with intensity and whack 'em on the bootie until they konk out. Either because the hard rocks actually worked or they just get tired of being whacked in the rear that they close their eyes in an attempt to make it stop. Either way...he's the best!

I've yet to produce an offspring of my own who enjoys a good cuddle/rocking session.  Probably because I started very early allowing them to self-soothe to sleep.  They'd  much rather be put in bed in a dark room and go to sleep on their own.

However, there are rare occasions when my youngest asks to rock before bedtime.  I love and savor those moments.  And tonight was one.

I sat down in the chair with his trusty blankie and puppy and rocked gently back and forth for a good 10 minutes.  He just laid there on my chest sucking his thumb and snuggling his blankie.  And ever so often he'd reach up and stroke my chin with his fingers.

I heard a song by Nicole C. Mullen once that she sings to her children at bedtime.  I have vamped it a bit and when I get an opportunity to have some rocking time with my boys, I sing to them.  And the words are these:

My Denver (Tanner)
You are my precious baby boy
My sweet Denver (Tanner)
You always bring me so much joy

I'm so glad God gave you to me
Sleepy angel, face of peace
I'm so glad God gave you to me
My baby love
Goodnight

I don't know how many times I sang that song tonight.  Over and over and over again.  Determined to not stop until he made me.  (sometimes he looks up at me with those precious brown eyes and says "momma...stop singing!")  Not tonight!  He let me sing him to sleep.  And as I was making the move from the chair to the bed, he awoke.  Just long enough to say "I love you momma".

Ugh!  Melt my heart!  It took everything in me to not sit back down in that chair and stay there all night.  But...I had to pee.

Feathers, Hotwheels and Army Men

I began a new bible study at my church this morning.  It was the first time we met for the new fall semester.  Women of all ages, shapes and sizes piled into a room. We all munched around on yummy breakfast foods and coffee before we split up to go our separate ways for our studies.  While I was sitting there enjoying my cinnamon roll...and pastry...and muffin...and fruit (ahhh..yes, the fruit! The only redeeming factor to my plate of carbs), I noticed the lady standing in front of me.  She was chatting it up with someone, whom I assume, she'd been missing for awhile. They were having a good ol' time.  Then I noticed something... sticking up from the top of the back pocket of her jeans was a feather. A feather!  Not any kind of spectacular feather.  Just an ordinary run-of-the-mill grey bird feather.  I pondered for about a half a second and then it hit me...she's a mom!  She's a mom who, on her way out the door with her arm-load of kiddos, stopped for a moment to gush over a feather with her youngster who was stopped dead in his tracks by the wonder of it.

I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me.  Why, just today, my son was so proud over his discovery of a locust!  He brought it in the house to show me.  Placed it ever so gently on the carpet and proceeded to smash it.  You see..some choose to marvel over it and some absolutely must demolish it.

I know that at any given moment my purse/pocket/bag will consist of an assortment of items that I will not need EVER but absolutely MUST go with us!  The yellow car (not just any yellow car...it must be the one that has the doors that open and has the blue lightning bolt on the side), the army man, the bubble wand or the wrapper from a Reese's cup (they're shiny and, therefore, cannot be thrown away).  All these things make it in the "carry on" because it's just easier to say "okay!  Just put it here and we'll take it with us" than it is to try and reason with the child.

And when I stumble across these items while I'm fumbling around looking for my keys, I think of my babies.  I remember when I put it in there.  By the time I've found it, my son has already forgotten that he had given it to me.  And I suppose it's really just there to make me smile.

So, the next time you're reaching under the carseat chasing after that runaway quarter that slipped through your fingers and you come upon a marble or a water gun, take a moment to think about the reason it's there.  Or, better yet, take a moment to pray for the one you think of the moment you find it.

Labor Day

I was inspired by a friend of mine who's a seasoned blogger!  Today she, and some of her other friends, have chosen to blog about their Labor Days.  (birthing baby days)  So...I thought I'd join in!

There's something about a labor and delivery story that gets all mommies excited.  I don't care how long it's been since you've counted..breathed..pushed...screamed your way through it, you still enjoy sharing your stories and hearing others.

Early December 2007 my doctor gave me the "any day now" speech and got me all excited.  May I just say, that's just plain mean!  Due dates are stupid!  Just enjoy every day of it and know that the baby will come when they're good and ready!  Tanner was still not here by his due date (Jan 10, 2008) so doc said I could be induced whenever I'd like.  There was no medical reason for it...just misery and swollen feet.  I said..."let's do it!" and we did.

On January 10th, 2008 I was induced.  My entire family was there!  They were there before the induction even began.  Sweet saints they are.  I progressed quite quickly once the induction started.  Once I dilated to a 3, I believe it was like 3am, I was tired and ready for some sleep. They then gave me my epidural.  (or, as I call it, sweet gift from God!)  Tanner wasn't born for another 12 hours!  Talk about slowing things down.  This being my first delivery, I didn't know exactly what I was supposed to be feeling like.  We had taken childbirth classes but nothing can totally prepare you for it. So, I was a little clueless.  I kept asking them to "check" me (which, by the way, is a magical thing...sense the sarcasm) every time the nurse would come in.  After one such checking, the nurse pronounced me 6cm and began to waltz out the door.  I stopped her and asked when she'd check me again.  She said she'd check whenever I wanted her to.  Casey, deciding that from 6 - 10 he'd have enough time to scarf down a sandwich, went downstairs to have a late lunch.  While he was gone, I felt the urge to push.  I called the nurse in and she checked.  She said "yep...you've made some progress!  You're at a 9. We'll call the doc and have a baby".  I called Casey...he came back up (not sure if he ever did get to eat)...and then the doc showed up.

I loved my doctor.  Robert Aikman.  An AMAZING man!  He walked in...and just plopped down on the bed.  I loved his easy going demeanor.  He kept me cool.  He looked at the monitor and said.."alright, on the next contraction, let's push".  And I did!  And out came Tanner Selph only 4 pushes later.  7 lbs 14 oz 21 in  Perfect!

Side note:: Upon hospital check-in I signed my name "Kayla Epidural Selph" (not really) and had a great medicated labor and delivery.  My pain was controlled but I was not completely absent of feeling; I could move my legs, turn-over, walk around immediately after birth, feel when it was time to push, etc.  My baby made his arrival active, alert, and nursing well!   I say, if you want to have a natural delivery, do it!  But if you want to have pain medication, do it!  Don't let anyone make you feel like less of a woman or less of a mama for the choice you make.  Having a baby is beautiful work. Period.


My second baby was born via C-section because of complications with the pregnancy.  (Placenta Previa, to be exact)  So, his delivery was quite different.  He was born after two months of strict bed rest.  One of those two, being in the hospital.  While in the operating room, my heart was nearly pounding out of my chest.  He was being born 4 weeks early so we didn't know what to expect. We had met with the NICU specialist to discuss the possibility that he'd need to spend some time there.  I was prepared for them to whisk him away and to not get to see him until I could walk again.  


Having your insides cut open and pushed around on, even while numb, is an incredible feeling.  Incredibly...weird!  And, while this is happening, my doctor is discussing with one of the other surgeons their costumes for halloween.  My doc was going as Cher.  She was mid-sentence when she said..."okay, you're going to feel a LOT of pressure now."  She was right!  It felt like someone was trying to pull my lungs out of my toenails.  And then...MAGIC!  The most precious sound.  My Denver Wade crying.  She held him up for us to see.  I soaked in every inch of him.  Preparing to not see him again for awhile.  He was beautiful!  Long, skinny and dark.  Casey disappeared to go watch them clean him up and weigh and measure him.  Not long after, he returned to tell me that Denver was a perfectly healthy 6 lbs 6 oz 19 in and would be going to the regular nursery.  He then brought back my baby burrito for me to gaze at some more.

There's not a word in the world to describe the feeling of laying eyes on your baby for the first time.  Just pure magic.  True love.



So, those are my stories!  

The Ultimate

Today we celebrated the life of my grandmother.  The mother of my mother.  And what an amazing legacy she left.

Even though she never bore a son, I don't doubt that she would know the exact things to say to me in every situation in my child-raising days.  The woman was ALWAYS right!

She had three daughters. And, no more after that.  I think I'd stop at one!  One girl holds enough drama to last me a looooong time.  But, she had three and never batted an eye.  Never once did I think.."gosh..she's gonna come unglued!"  But, her girls were all grown by the time I came to know her. Although, I know grown women who probably make their momma's blush.

This lady was a saint. And now, she's reaping the benefits of it.

I was privileged to read a poem at her graveside.  One that was found buried deep in her bible.  A poem entitled "Immortality".  Basically it's gist is that she should like to be remembered in the little things that make us think of her.  For me, those little things are...sleeping bags, bells, coo coo clocks, windbreakers, donuts, garage sales, Fruity Pebbles and red onions.

My grandma was the ultimate grandma!  She was the ultimate mother. She was the ultimate wife. She set the bar so high, I'm not sure my legs will ever be long enough to jump it. And, my legs are long!

I can honestly say, I'm not sure I ever heard my grandmother say a single thing that did not honor or uplift her husband!  Not ONE thing!  I don't remember ever seeing an eye rolling aimed at him.  Or even a shot of sarcasm.  She personified honor and submission toward her husband.  I admire that.

She was forever understanding of her grandkids.  I don't ever remember feeling at all like I was inferior or less than best around her.  She was an amazing baton twirler in school.  And I wanted to be just like her.  However, I was given the gracefulness of a camel.  And I soon learned that baton twirling was not my thing. But she still encouraged me and even let me use her "real" baton!  I may as well have been handed the olympic torch when she let me hold it.

She was an encourager.  And a prayer warrior.

I love her dearly and hope to some day be the kind of woman that my children and grandchildren will look up to and "call her blessed".  I've got a long way to go.