Pitching a Fit'Bit'

In 1997 we had Beanie Babies...

In the 2000s we were introduced to the Atkins diet...

"I'm on a roll! And not eating one..."

We've seen Boy Bands, Pokemon, Twitter, and all kinds of fads explode over the decades.

And in 2016 we have...the Fitbit.

Think my boss will notice if I walk around my cubicle 10 times before going to my desk?

So, basically this little device tracks your every move with a daily goal of 10,000 steps; 20,000 if you have a toddler and 35,000 if you have twins.  Any more than three kids and you qualify for the infinity package.

The Fitbit tracks your sleep (or lack thereof), your heart rate (mine was over 140 the other day as I looked hurriedly for a lousy, matching pair of socks before we had to leave the house), and you can join a network of friends and challenge them to do steps.  It basically makes you constantly aware of your physical activity.  And get your butt in gear.

Fitbit makes you do weird things to ensure that you meet your daily goal.  Next time you see someone park their car as far away from the entrance as possible during a rain storm or march in place at the grocery store checkout lane, look on their arm for a little colored band.  Yep, you've encountered a Fitbit fanatic.

Coworkers heading to lunch.

The Fitbit also keeps a running tally of your total steps, and you'll want every single one accounted for.  The only time you'll take it off is during shower or bath time, so you might just wash like a flamingo to make sure no step goes without being recorded.

Well, crap.  The conditioner is out of reach.

If you step out of the shower and encounter a psycho killer with a knife you might seriously ask them, "Could you please wait a minute so I can put my Fitbit back on before running away???"

I begin to wonder why no one has stepped into uncharted waters?  Why has no one invented a Fitbit for Toddlers?  I envision that the results would look something like this...

Think about it.  This device could help parents keep track of toddlers.  It could vibrate when they reach for something hot, thus saving a hefty ER bill.  You could even play music on it so that it would put the kid to sleep...or in my kid's case, dance around in circles like a propeller.

I don't know what they'll think of next, but I finally bought into the craze.  Of course my first thoughts on the Fitbit were...

How can I FIT 'dis BIT of chicken in my mouth?!

But nonetheless, my purple little friend and I have a good working walking relationship, and it will hopefully be the turning over of a new leaf in regards to my health.  An organic leaf, of course.

So how DO you fit so many steps into a day/week/month?  With a schedule like mine, it's as easy as low fat pie.  But each step counts, so make them special.

By going to showers to celebrate special family friends...

Having too much fun on the playground...

By chasing the kids in a restaurant after church...

Going to housewarmings...

So happy for Lexie and Stephen!

Playing and singing for weddings...

Congratulations, sweet Destiny!

Overseeing what goes on outside the pool while Ryan covers the inside...

Helping your friends celebrate their Birthdays (Happy 31st, Jamie)!

It's reuniting to see some awesomely special people graduate!

Many thanks to the amazing Shuttleworth family for keeping Emerson that evening.  How many people actually make you a welcome sign!?  Dorothy could make a mouse feel at home in a room full of cats.  She's just wonderful!

Congratulations, Connor!  Thanks for finishing high school so I could have two pieces of that incredible cake.  

An afternoon in the pool is guaranteed to increase your heart rate...

Dawson was the sweetest big brother!

Wonder how far I'll have to jog after that Shuler's dinner??? 

But without question one of the best ways to burn calories is...by laughing your head off.

Pro-Life & Pro-Noise

"There are no absolutes in parenting." - my Mom, during a recent conversation.
Me: "YES, there are.  I am absolutely tired."

She couldn't argue with that. Motherhood: it's the only job on the planet with no vacations, uninterrupted rest, or even bathroom breaks.

"A minute to yourself?  What does that mean, Mom?" 

Newton may be responsible for the law of gravity, but there's another one that he forgot.  Without fail, husbands know when you adjust the thermostat, and children know the MOMENT you go to the bathroom for 30 seconds of peace. 

As Moms, we run off of coffee and/or Mt. Dew, we always think of our kids first (did I wash my hair today? This week even?!), and we are in a 24/7 protective mode.

"Don't eat that bug off the floor.  That's an electrical socket; not a popsicle.  Don't pull my pants down while we're in line at Chick-Fil-A."  

In the hood.  Motherhood.

We're inundated with information on what to do- and not to do- with, for, because of, or in spite of our kids....through television and talk shows, magazines, books, social media debates...you name it.

And sometimes we just get sick of the funny business from children and adults alike.

Seriously.  Hasn't Mickey solved all the puzzles, riddles, and crises by now?!?

And no matter how hard and tirelessly you work to make your house look somewhat neat, THIS is a reality.

Every. single. time.

Getting ready for an event looks strikingly different than it used to.

And the end of each day is truly a triumph.

But Moms are the center of our families and leave legacies through the generations.  We recently celebrated Granny Earline's 83rd Birthday with (almost!) all of the family.

The Moody families (or shall I say, "crowds") are getting bigger each year!

And COURTNEY is getting married next month.  I can't WAIT!  I love her family so much.

Last week I had the most wonderful trip to Moore to meet one of my FAVORITE- and I mean favorite- new sweethearts.

Her beautiful name is Eden, and I am over-the-moon in love!

Remember Karen's shower a few weeks ago? 

She waited until the birth to find out if the baby was a boy or girl, and this precious sweetheart was definitely worth the wait.  Karen and her parents mean the world to me!

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS!!!  They're everywhere lately.  Last Friday we celebrated with a special reveal party at the Rogers home.

When I was transferring pictures from my camera, I came across this one and laughed SO hard.  Look at their faces!

Audrey and Emerson anxiously await the cake cutting to find out if Audrey is going to have a little brother or sister.

It's a SISTER!!!

I told Heather that was good news, because she wouldn't have to buy any new clothes.  Her Dad said, "Yes, she will.  Everything is monogrammed!"  Hahaha.  We are super stoked for the Greer family.

Joy, Dorothy, and I were also thrilled to see Eden during what would be our last trip to the Reeves home.  Don't even get me started on the bittersweet feelings!

This Mother's Day was extra special, and I find it humorous that I bought Emerson a dress with clocks all over it, given that she still gets up at all hours of the night and seemingly has no concept of time...

Just one day before Karen's parents closed on their home our church family was able to meet Eden.  It was so special.  

I also sang a special song dedicated to the mothers during the service, which you can watch here.

After lunch we enjoyed our annual Mother's Day cookout at the Johnson house.  

Grands and great grands pic!

There are not enough stars in the sky or drops in the ocean to describe how much you love your children.  But you can show love in your own ways.

Love is:

Letting your little one play with animals...

Love is being fed french fries during bath time...

Would you also like an umbrella in your sip cup, ma'am?

Love is letting little ones hang out in high places...

And taking extra good care of them while they're sick...

Love is understanding that sometimes you can't choose just one best friend...

It's the fifth trip to the wave pool (in an hour...)

Love is oversized candy...

It's saying, "Sure, you can wear your rain boots to bed..."

Love is Daddy/Daughter time...

It's letting them kick back and relax...

Love is going back to Walgreens to buy that squealing pig she was infatuated with at the checkout counter...

It's letting them climb trees...

Love is letting your kids tackle your parents...

It's running late some mornings, because you had to get a few extra cuddles...

It's showing your kids how to love, too...

Two Sundays ago I led an evening of praise and worship for the youth and parents at Lake View Baptist Church.  I was also asked to speak on the topic of choosing life.

Special thanks to Youth Director, Carol Edwards!

With this being an election year we are inundated with political advertisements and statements about what we should and should not vote for/stand for.  Hot topics will resurface, and we will need to be grounded in our faith.  

When it comes to abortion, many will say that a woman's body is her own and she therefore has a right to choose.  First of all, I have never been in a situation where I considered abortion.  I do not pretend to understand the difficulty, anxiety, and thousands of other emotions that would surround that circumstance, and if I were to meet someone who has had an abortion (and let's be honest, I've probably met several people over the years who have)...I would embrace and love them and lift them in prayer.  Because I have not walked in their shoes, I would not pretend that I knew what it felt like.

I say as tactfully and firmly as I can that we do not have authority to take life into our own hands.  I don't believe any human life is an accident.  There are people all over the world who have taken classes, done home studies, and are on waiting lists for adoption.  Someone will want- and adore- that precious life.

So the way I see it, we have two options: Pro-Life and Pro-Noise.  I say "noise" because that's what choice is.  It's just noise.  It's a lie.

If everyone has a right to their own body, then a baby - from conception - has that right, too.  If a woman is pregnant she may indeed be carrying a baby, but it is a separate entity and belongs to the Father.  He will determine the next steps.

If I held your purse or wallet and decided to pawn it off you would probably be angry with me, right?  Sure, it was in my possession, but it doesn't belong to me.  

Parenting isn't easy.  It brings frustration, exhaustion, and a host of other things.  But I can promise you that at the end of the day I am thankful for the noise of my sweet little girl: her laughs of delight, the way she sings and talks to her animals, plays, prays, and loves.

Because one day her toy box will be replaced with moving boxes, and all will be quiet.  These days, I'm grateful for every bit of noise in our house..no matter the time of day or night.

So when I say I'm Pro-Noise, I mean the pitter patter of little feet.