Writer's Workshop: Motor Mouth

That's me....I'm the "Motor Mouth".......or at least that's what my Dad used to call me. "Niki" he'd say, "You're such a Motor Mouth!"

~OR~

"Hey, Motor Mouth....be quiet"

in other words....

I talk.......

A LOT....

and my little one Jordan

talks.....

ALOT.

Jordan knows all, can dispense advice with the best of them.



In her long five years of life, she's learned a ton and she's not afraid to share what she knows. Just the other day, while on stage for her end of dance camp performance, Jordan felt the need to tell me all about the types of dances....did I mention she was on stage? Getting ready to perform? She also was motioning me to move to a certain place and instructing me to take video versus a picture of the performance....

ummm...


yeah....

My little miss is a smart cookie who loves to chat....and truth be told.....boss a bit.

She'll have a conversation with anyone - she does not discriminate.....old, young, girl, boy - it does not matter- if you are a willing participant, she will give you an earful.

And you know what?

I was JUST like her

and now

I get it.

I really do.

It used to hurt my feelings when my dad would call me a "motor mouth" but now I TOTALLY get it.

When I'm just trying to be in my own head, it's impossible, because she's in my head, god love her...she has a lot to share. So instead of calling her a motor mouth and giving her that complex, I try my best to just listen and participate in the conversation in a somewhat productive manner....I'm not always successful (did I mention I just recently had twins and a solid nights sleep is still hard to come by? Therefore thinking straight is a rarity) but I try, because....

Jordan.....my chatty, friendly, boisterous, amazing little girl is a force to be reckoned with at the ripe old age of five and I want her to run with her fearlessness. I want her to feel no judgment so she can share her perspective on life with the world. I want Jordan to feel compelled to call people on what's right and wrong and speak up for those who won't speak for themselves. Because ultimately, she can be the voice for those who aren't willing to put themselves out there. She's got that kind of potential....the potential to lead, to influence and guide. Honestly, I am often in awe of her.

Which leads me to another thought......being her Mom is a BIG job....making sure she grows into a responsible, empathetic, giving, loving individual will require my guidance and it's a BIG job....but you know what? It's one job I'm willing to hang onto throughout all time. Hopefully she doesn't fire me.....


This blog was inspired by none other than MamaKat - one of the few bloggers out there that truly makes me smile on a regular basis.

For more Writer's Workshop, check her out!

Wordful Wednesday......My Swagger Wagon ~ Part Two of "My Minivan Does NOT Define Me"....

I'm still a hip Mama.....even while driving my minivan ;-D I wrote on this topic not too long ago - see November 16, 2009 post - You can also see my article "Giving into the Van" in the next issue of Hawaii Parent Magazine (www.hawaii-parent.com)
Photos are the result of the fabulous Laura Fleming Photography - they are copyrighted and should not be used without permission from Laura Fleming Photography - http://www.lauraflemingphotography.blogspot.com/

And then there's this...


For more Wordful Wednesday check out

Keeping it all in Perspective......

I often reflect on my life and wonder how I've gotten through the things that I have endured - not just the ordeal with the twins (see posts Nov. 2009 to present), but so many other things along my 31 year journey in this life. And I have come to the conclusion that we are all innately strong and therefore capable of weathering any storm given the right perspective. Life is complicated, it's messy and it's often times unfair. Life is full of selfish, disheartening individuals who cause undue pain and that just plain stinks.

~BUT~

Life is also

BEAUTIFUL



MIRACULOUS



and

AWE INSPIRING.



I am a "glass is half-full" kind of person. I try to choose the positive perspective and run with it as much as possible. Occasionally, I have a "half-empty" day - after the last six months and other life hardships, it's kind of a given. If I have those days, I allow myself the cycle of emotions - because they are warranted.

~then~

I pick myself up

dust myself off

and

move forward.

I consider myself blessed and I choose to focus on my blessings rather than the hardships...it's this perspective which has carried me through even the most daunting of challenges that life has thrown my way.

Wordful Wednesday with Charlotte

Charlotte.....my sweet, sweet Charlotte.

She's my calmer twin.....(er...most of the time). Which is funny, because she was the one who was the hardest to find on the fetal monitors while I was hospitalized for five weeks AND the one who caused our emergency c-section due to her decelerations (little stinker!). But, she's now my more laid back kid.

This week she started laughing. She and Daddy were staring at each other...and she laughed out loud. Today, when I was kissing her tummy and her tootsies (aka feet) - she laughed for me. Oh that made my day! It's the slightest little laugh, and it doesn't continue on and on, but she is definitely laughing out loud these days and I am so excited about that!



Charlotte has found her thumb in the last couple of weeks. She will be much like her Big Sister Jordan in that venture. It might even be the way that I tell her apart from Maddie in the future!



But Charlotte also seems to be my twin who takes it all in....



and in what seems like a very serious way....



She's not all business, all the time. I love that when she sees me, she smiles. It just makes my day to see her grinning at the sight of her Mama. It makes it all worth while. I am SO very blessed!

Wordful Wednesday with my Luv Bug

I heart this little girl. She makes my heart swell with pride. Jordan loves big, she loves with her whole heart and I am thankful. She makes my whole world a better place to be. When my glass is half empty...she fills it back up. When I need a hug, she's the first one their to offer it up. Over the last several months when things have been tough, I have found a child who is unselfish, resilient and loves unconditionally.

Jordan amazes me on a regular basis. She has been the strongest and most loving big sister. This is all in spite of the attention that has been taken from her. She went from being the only child for four years, to one who's mother was taken from her for five weeks (see inpatient hospital stay posts), MIA for eleven weeks (see NICU journey with the twins) and yet she still holds onto her optimism and her love of life and family. She loves her sisters fiercely, and without question.




I could not be more proud of my oldest child. I've written on this topic before (See "Luv Bug a.k.a Big Sister post) and I continue to be more amazed everyday with her unending grace, maturity and love for all of us.

Jordan will be five next month and I can hardly believe it. She recently finished her Pre-K year. Her graduation from preschool came complete with a beautiful song, "The World is a Rainbow" which she had the best time singing to everyone in attendance.She got to wear a graduation cap, and she received a diploma.She is officially on her way to Kindergarten and we are so proud of her.


Jordan loves to dance. She's got more rhythm than her Dad and I put together. I often find her banging on our Wii Rock Band drums to the beat of whatever song is playing on one of her kid TV shows. Recently, she was in her end of year dance recital and she did wonderfully. She shaked her tush with the rest of them like a champ. And we were so tickled to watch her have fun and enjoy music.



Jordan is a creative soul. She loves to draw and color. She loves to make creations out of random things like tissue paper and cardboard boxes. I love this about her. We can't throw anything out in the house because she wants to use it to create something.


The tissue paper skirt she created......



One of her usual spots...out in her lanai playroom drawing and coloring.....


Jordan is silly, sassy and oh SO sweet...I am eternally grateful to have her as my daughter....

Toes are tasty?!?


My heart is overflowing......