little MANnerisms

Little Man says the funniest things,

But sometimes his siblings take the cake.

Bean was just barely home and the kids were all over her.

All of a sudden she tensed up,

Her face went red,

Her body was tight as can be...

And she filled her diaper.

Loudly.

And 5 year old Soapy D says, completely serious...

"It looked like she was using the force!"

(Have I mentioned she's a Star Wars fan?)

Needless to say Bean's been using the force plenty.

-McGee

silly me, I made another plan.

You would think I would have learned my lesson.
Make a plan.
God laughs.
Plan goes to hell.

Last Tuesday I was counting down my week.
I was two shopping trips,
A doctors appointment,
Two high school registrations,
A basketball practice,
A nail appointment,
And a kids hair cut away from having a baby.

We had a plan to induce on Saturday.
It didn't quite work out that way!

So on Wednesday, August 15th, a few days earlier than we planned but like everything else in the world, just on time...the most amazing blessing came into our family.

Introducing...the Bean!

Happy, healthy and perfect as can be.
Some day I will learn...my plans are often overrated.

-McGee

Seriously?

Saw this on Mormon Child Bride...

I had the same reaction she did.
http://mormonchildbride.blogspot.com/2012/07/take-sad-song-and-make-it-better.html

Only I'm a mom of boys as well as girls
And here's what...

I'm so tired of girls being responsible for boys reactions.
I've grown disgusted with the concept that girls are taught in the religion I grew up in that they need to be modest for the boys sake, so the boys don't think bad thoughts.

I absolutely abhor the object lessons that regenerate every few years like licking a lollypop and then asking everyone if they want it after you.  Only to tell these young women that if they make a mistake with regards to morality they are nothing more than a lollypop that's already been around the block and no one else will want them.  Or a cupcake that's had the frosting licked off.

It makes me sick.

How about this?
How about we focus on respect for ourselves.
Why aren't we teaching young girls to respect their bodies.
For THEIR sake.
To dress in a way that makes them feel beautiful.
And comfortable.
So that they feel great about their bodies.

How about it's ok, we all make mistakes.
You're worthy of great love even if you aren't perfect.
Your worth doesn't hang on one less than stellar choice.

Where are the lessons for the young men of the world being told to get their minds out of their gutters and treat the girls around them with respect?  When do they get held to the fire and made responsible for their actions?  Or will we always blame the girl in a short skirt standing on a corner for the misdeeds done to her late at night?

Ugh.

so gross to me.

and to sign it from "Real Men"

Good.  God.


If this is what we really lean on to teach our girls self respect and dignity than shame on us.


Pregnant Rant Over.


-McGee 

perks of divorce.

Got your attention on that one, didn't I?

So this weekend, Mr. Man and I realized our time was running out.
Life is about to change in a drastic albeit blessed way.

We're about to retire our non-kid weekends.

For the past four years, our special little perk of being divorced parents was that all of our sweet kids went to their other parent's homes every other weekend.  On the same weekend. Which was lovely.

We've run away for mini-vacations.
We've hung out in bed for entire weekends.
We had three movie weekends.
In the theaters.
(This past weekend we had to repeat that one just for kicks!)
We've hot-tubbed and chilled in front of fires.
We've seen more concerts than I can honestly recall.

It's been a blast!

What an amazing blessing to a new couple to have that time set apart to spend with just each other (and now an over eager puppy), playing, dating and just enjoying life together.  Don't get my wrong, I adore all four of our children who live in our house but it has been quite a luxury to have no choice but to spend time without them.

And now there's the Bean.

Baby Bean is getting closer and closer.
Our time just the two of us is about to get sparse.
And while I cannot wait for her to complete our little family,
I will miss our non-kid weekends.

I have been so blessed to get to hang out with my best friend, the best husband I know and the funniest guy I've met over the past four years of non-kid weekends.  Our lives are better for it and as sad as I am that they're going away, I can't wait to see what this next phase of life holds for us.

Baby Bean weekends can't come soon enough!
Tick...tock...it's coming!

-a very preggo McGee

favorite dad.

I have had the fortune of experiencing a few dads in my life.
I have a biological dad.
A dad who raised me.
An uncle who I looked to when I needed a teddy bear.
And a step-dad in my late 20's.

I've seen a little bit of everything.
So I feel a little bit of an expert on the subject.

That said, I am married to my favorite dad of all!

When I met Mr. Man he wasn't yet a dad.  I watched him with the eyes of a friend become a dad for the first time, nervous and excited, ready and not at all ready.  Five years later I can say he's wrapped around Soapy D's little finger and she loves her daddy.  I've watched him put her first, better himself to benefit her and move mountains to make sure she had what she needed from her Daddy.  And when something is wrong that girl knows her daddy is waiting there with arms open always.

Then he really went and did it.  He became a dad to my children.  It takes an unusually special man to marry a woman who has three children.  It takes an extraordinary man to love them like his own.  I know, the dad who raised me was not the one I was born with and Mr. Man had big shoes to fill with an example like my dad.

I've watched him take on Little Man as his son and teach him the things boys need to know along with a healthy dose of the gross things mom's pretend we don't know about.

I've watched him grow the patience of a saint with two teenage daughters who push and pull and test every boundary but know they can count on him at every turn and love him for it.

I've seen the man I love turn into the man I love even more than I thought possible.  I've heard the best thing a dad can do for his kids is love his wife well.  Mr. Man loves us all well.

And now with a little one on the way...I cannot wait.

I can't wait to share that moment with him.
I am so looking forward to coming full circle.
Completing our family.
Together.
With the best dad I know.

Love you to pieces sweetheart!
-McGee

little MANnerisms

So my littlest sister was in town last week.
Little Man had just walked in from the backyard.
He's 8 now and we're adding to his responsibility list.
He's in charge of cleaning up after the puppy outside each day.

Auntie JoBo...
"Whatcha doing out there buddy?"

Little Man...

"I was just outside picking up poop."

(long pause)

"But not mine."

Ever watch Modern Family?
We have our very own Luke.

And he's adorable.

-McGee

she said it best.

I follow this blog.
She's honest, messy and true to herself.

And she said it better than I can yet.

"I will be Mormon again whenever that title allows me to do good. I know my struggle is not over. I know my church will let me down again. It is run by humans, steeped in patriarchy and tradition. Humans, social hierarchy, and tradition will always let us down."


 http://mormonchildbride.blogspot.com/

Eventually I hope I can put into words how I really feel about the heritage I grew up with and my heart that disagrees with much of it while missing it fiercely.

Until then-check HER out.

-McGee