My spirited child. You’re so smart and so fun. I equally love and loathe your nature to always do the opposite of what you’re told. Stay wild and bold forever. ❤️ But, can you please decide to be potty trained? 💩 I’m starting to lose my will and mind. 🤷‍♀️ #adelaiderose #toddlers #pottytraining #almostthree #ringpop #spiritedchild #strongwilled #stronggirl #futureleader #astronautsweardiapers 🙄#shetoldmethat (at Hammerhand Coffee) https://www.instagram.com/p/BneSyurnvI7KHcKIFHAnzfCZfnePUKGCOFopHQ0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kzr1ibo1bwfx

This morning we tried to go to church and Adelaide wasn’t willing to stay in her class or stay quiet in big church. So after getting all four of us ready and there, we went home. I apparently am a glutton for punishment as I also tried to at least snap a photo of the girls in their coordinating dresses. This was the best one, happy baby, toddler who wondered off. This is after yesterday attempting our first movie in the movie theater 😳🤦‍♀️ This season of parenting is teaching me so much about holding loosely to my plan, relinquishing my expectations and practicing being in the moment. After Adelaide threw a pile of laundry on the floor and pretended to be angry mommy, saying “I’m so angy”.. I realized I need to change. I don’t want to be angry mommy. It’s easy for me to expect too much of my almost three year old and lose patience when she makes messes on purpose or throws fits and whines. Those are things some adults still struggle with 😜 Parenting is so much about relinquishment; relinquishing your plans, keeping a clean house and high expectations of how you think your children should behave. Kids are kids. They have off days. They have big emotions they are learning to process what to do with. They test boundaries, it’s their job, and how they learn. Today I’m needing to take a deep breath and rethink how to parent my toddler, in a loving, calm and peaceful way. I’m relinquishing what I think she should be doing by now, like using the potty, being a better listener, never making messes on purpose and not having emotional fits. Turns out, my frustration was my own fault, for expecting perfection from a two year old. Anyone else been there? So instead of attending church, we came home and painted blocks outside and made a big, fun mess. We dumped water buckets and learned how to trim flowers with scissors. I channeled her spirited, adventurous energy into an activity that didn’t stress me out. Thank you Jesus for nice weather, toddler forgiveness capacities and a brand new week for you to transform me to be more like you. 🙏❤️ #sundayvibes #parenting #toddler #adelaiderose #genevievesnow #motherhood

These two cuties keep my days, and nights, full. Full of smiles and laughs, snuggles and kisses, running and playing, adventures and sweet memories. But with anything that is good, there is also difficulty. There are frustrating moments that take everything in me to not respond in anger, and when I do, I torture myself with guilt. There are sleepless nights, causing short fuses, and low energy. There are weeks I enjoy every single day, and others I’m counting down the hours till nap and days till Saturday. And so is parenting. It brings out the best of you and the worst at times. It stretches you, literally, in every way possible. Your capacity to love, function without sleep, get stuff done (or not 😜), to offer grace to yourself and patience to another. Your capacity increases with each day. But then there are days that feel like too much, where you just want to check out. Fight the urge, and if you can’t, seek help. This week I made an intentional effort to schedule some me time. And I felt awful about it, total mom guilt. I had to suppress the anxiety of leaving to even enjoy being gone. I had to tell myself repeatedly it’s okay to take some me time, to work out, while the girls are with their grandma, to better myself. Because I can’t give from empty bucket. So we had a date night, hung out with friends, I joined a gym, I took a nap, I let the house get dirty, I picked out some new clothes, and I ate the cupcake! And you know what? It stretched me. I had to pray through it to get my thinking right. And, I’m better because of it. And if I’m better, they are better too. So other moms out there who are struggling to take some time for you, do it anyway. Even if it feels like too much! I literally had told myself I’d workout again when they went to school 🤦‍♀️ and that I didn’t deserve to have nice clothes, since I just stay at home. 😳 A better is you is better for them. Even if the planning to leave seems like too much to even go, do it anyway. It may feel selfish, but a healthier you will raise healthier children. So figure out what fills your bucket back up and schedule it! You are worth it. 😘#motherhood #sahm #adelaiderose #genevievesnow

Cheese! 🧀 Some days are easier than others with these two. Let’s be clear, the little one is the easy one 😜. After two days of mostly sweetness, all boundaries were tested today. I have to remind myself that it’s a child’s job to test boundaries and my job to reinforce them, hopefully with gentleness. Most days I have to ask the Holy Spirit to fill me with his fruit, especially gentleness, kindness, patience and self control. 😳🍎🍊🍋🍒 And then, after a less than smooth morning (just check my instastory), she sits on the couch and wants to hold baby sissy, kisses her and let’s me rock her to sleep for nap. ❤️ Oh children, you bring out the best and the worst in me, and I’m just trying everyday to be a better me than the day before. If not for my sake, for you! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧#momlife #toddlermom #sisters #adelaiderose #genevievesnow #motherhood #sahm

Merry Christmas from the Lisby’s! Or kissmuss as Adelaide says. ❤️🌲#adelaiderose #merrychristmas #christmas2017 #kcphotobus #unionstation #latergram

Mommy/daughter(s) photo shoot. 💕👍 Thank you @denise_jambor_photography! We ❤️ them!!! #adelaiderose

Grateful for my tribe. ❤️ #family #myman #adelaiderose #lisbypartyof4 #25weeksprego (at Top Of The Rock- Big Cedar Lodge)