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The First Four Frenzied Years

Today is mine and Seth's fourth wedding anniversary!  Although four years is not very long, these past four have certainly been eventful! I have to say I consider myself truly blessed to have such a wonderful man to share this crazy life with. Seth is my best friend, and I am as excited for our future together today as I was on this day four years ago.

Here are some fun facts of our last four years. Since getting married:

• We have had 3 homes
• Seth has had 5 jobs
• We have kissed at least 36,525 times
• We have taken 12,073 pictures. (no joke, I counted)
• I have been pregnant for 50% of our marriage
• I have been nursing for 63% of our marriage, and
• We have changed approximately 9,546 diapers!

ANNNNND...since I love lists so much, here are four top four lists of the last four years! (see a theme here?)

1. My Four Favourite Things about Seth

1. His dedication and commitment to me and the kids.

2. His uncanny parenting skills.

3. His strong love of learning and seeking the truth. I really respect and admire this about him.

4. His willingness to serve and to help. (I think you can split that diaper number down the middle, because Seth has changed as many as I have!)

2. The Four Hardest Times We've Been Through

1. The loss of my mother. 

2. The first ten weeks as parents (Why doesn't anyone tell you!? And would you really listen if they did?)

3. Seth fund-raising his salary for his work with the Navigators (thank you to all who supported us!)

4. All three pregnancies. My mom said during pregnancy you're a bit crazy and definitely not yourself...I'm inclined to believe her!

3. Our Four Biggest Adventures

1. Getting lost in Greece on our honeymoon. 

2. Living on Hopewell Avenue. (Let's just say, old house, older landlord, rats, druggies, and fire alarms!)

3. Seth's Navigator's internship. (What a learning experience!)

4. Three children under three. (enough said)

4. The Four Most Important Lessons I've Learned

1. Respect should be just as unconditional as love. I would be devastated if Seth told me I had to earn his love, he would feel just as devastated if I were to tell him he had to earn my respect.

2. Never say the 'd' word. If you're in it for life, the word divorce should never come up, even in the worst of arguments. 

3. Sometimes you have to suck it up and let go of anger and resentment. Even if one of us doesn't deserve forgiveness, it's the only way for a marriage to survive!

4. Seth is not a mind reader. As much as I would love for Seth to know exactly what I would like as a gift, or what the most romantic gesture would be, or how I'm feeling right at this moment, the fact is, he doesn't. Sometimes, I have to tell him.

That's it for now! Stay tuned for next year's blog, "We Survived to Number Five!" (years, not kids)

¿En Español?

So for months now I have been trying to teach Naomi how to count. For a long time she would count repeating two and three over and over again. i.e. One, two, three, two, three, two....and so on. I tried teaching her all the way up to ten, but she showed no interest in that, so I figured I'd start small and just try and get her to count to four. Finally, after weeks of trying, she finally included the number four. Unfortunately, in order to do so, she left out the number three. So now she counts like this, One, two, four, two, four...etc.  I still count with her whenever I can, but I figure she will get it in her own time, just like everything else, so I'm not going to push her.

Well, this morning, we're sitting on the couch together, and Naomi starts to count her cheerios. She points to them and says, "Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!" Seth and I just looked at each other and burst out laughing. The first time she counts to 4 perfectly, and it's in Spanish! Can you say too much Dora?

Enjoying Dora together.

10 Life Lessons from my Mom

First of all, a very happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! I have to say that now that I'm a mom this is definitely one of my favourite days of the year. No diaper changing for me today! Woohoo!

Although it makes me happy to be celebrated today, it also makes me sad that I can't share the day with my own mother. She was such a great mom, and  there is nothing I would rather do today than give her a big hug and a kiss and tell her how much I love her. So all of you reading who still have your mother around, make sure you appreciate the time you have with her!

In honour of Mother's Day, I am writing this blog about the top ten lessons my mom passed on to me during her life.

10) Be faithful in the little things.

My mom stressed this one a lot in my life. Whether it was being somewhere at the time I said I would be there, or cleaning my room when I said I would, she made it very clear to me that it was important to keep my word, even if the matter seemed insignificant.

Luke 16:10

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

9) Be mindful of what you say.

I can honestly say that I never heard my mother say a bad word about another person. She believed that our words had power, and that we needed to be careful.

James 3:4-5

Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

8) Be a blessing

My mom said this to me every time I left the house. When I was in school, whenever I got my report card she always read the comments before she read my grades. She was more concerned with my character, and how I treated others (especially my teachers) than she was with my marks. As life goes on, I hope that my character more and more reflects the character of Jesus, just the way my mom's did.

Romans 12:9-13

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection.Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

7) God has a plan for your life.

And sometimes, it's not the plan we want Him to have. This was something my mom reminded me of over and over again. Knowing this has helped me through some of my toughest times, including her death.

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

6) God cares about the little things.

Whether it's getting green lights when you're late for an appointment, or improving your golf game, nothing is too insignificant to ask for God's help

Matthew 7:7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then,who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

5) Let God tell you who you are.

I cannot even begin to express how much this has meant in my life. When I've felt like a complete failure, or somehow less worthy of love and respect from anyone because of choices I've made or have felt scared of what people would think of me or say about me, my mother told me that it was more important what God thought of me. This has made a world of difference in my life. How else could I survive the abundance of comments I receive as the mother of three children under three?

1 John 3:1

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

4) Trust God in all things.

My mom's life was a living testament to this. If she hadn't trusted God, I wouldn't be here!

Matthew 6:31-33

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

3) God always answers the prayer, "let this situation change beginning with a change in me"

My mom prayed this one a lot, and encouraged me to pray this one a lot too! Just working up the humility to say this prayer when you feel hurt and angry is heart-changing enough!

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

2) You have the opportunity to preach the gospel to each and every person you meet.

My mom always seemed able to talk about God with some person or other that she encountered that day. Even when she was going through chemotherapy, she had many conversations with other patients and nurses. She always seemed to have the boldness and courage to speak the truth to people, and managed to do so with love.

Mark 16:15-16

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

1) Make Christ the center of your life.

My mom taught this one most by example. Her love for Jesus was so great that everything she did and everything she said revolved around Him. Everything else that she taught me flows from this one thing. It is the single most important thing anyone can do on this earth.

John 6:35-40

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”



I am so blessed to have had a mother who loved God and taught me these things from a young age. I pray that all who read this will come to know the love of God through Jesus the way my mother did, and the way that I have.

Thank you God for my mother!

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Today while watching Naomi and Jonah eat their dessert, it really struck me how different they are from each other.  Jonah dumped the ice cream out of his cone so that he could eat the cone by itself, while Naomi asked for a spoon so she could eat the ice cream without eating any of the cone. Although these kids are mine, they came pre-programmed with their own personalities and their own likes and dislikes. I may be raising my children, but more than that, I'm getting to know them.

Jonah enjoying his cone after dumping the ice cream on the table.

Naomi using her spoon to finish off her ice cream. 

It always amazes me when I think about what a gift I have in my children. Each child is such a miracle, and is absolutely the handiwork of God. I can never be thankful enough.

Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.

From Either to Any and Both to All

Well, I can't believe it's been almost a year sine I've posted. Despite all my desires to keep this blog up to date, life just keeps flying by leaving me with very little time to do any writing. We'll see if I can keep this up more regularly, but with three children under three I wouldn't put any money on it!

With baby number three's arrival, life has become even more exciting in the Potter household! It may sound crazy, but I have actually been enjoying the challenge of having three babies. Not to say that everything has been perfect or easy, or that there haven't been moments where things have been pure chaos, but I really do enjoy the increased need to prioritize, problem solve, and organize. Plus there is nothing I would rather do than be home with my children!

Enough about that though! Let me give you an update on the kiddos!

Naomi -

Naomi is now a little over two and a half and is a wonderful big sister. She is talking up a storm even if Mommy is the only one who understands her sometimes. She is also a little princess. I don't know how it happened, but this girl wants to wear a dress everyday. If she's not wearing a dress, she puts on her costume princess dress. Sometimes she wears her princess dress over her dress. She's even worn a crown to preschool before. The teachers at the preschool Naomi attends two mornings a week told us that Naomi spends her free-play time playing with the princess vanity, and trying on dresses. I find it so funny how natural her interest in this is, as Seth and I have done very little to influence or encourage it. She doesn't even watch Disney princess movies! Princess or not, she is still full of energy and mischief! She definitely keeps my life interesting!

Jonah -

Jonah is 16 months old now, and knows what he wants! Unfortunately, he lets us know by screaming, crying, and sometimes biting! I think this has a lot more to do with his age though than his personality as Naomi went through the same thing when she was one. I really do think that one is a very difficult age, and has proved to be even more difficult than two thus far! It's also a very exciting age though. Jonah is picking up new words very quickly these days, and it is amazing what he understands. A testament to how my life has been the past few months are two of Jonah's first words...'french fries' and 'Dora'.
 Even though it may be difficult at times, I couldn't love Jonah more. He really is a sweetie and loves to snuggle. He is anything but shy and it is very easy to make him smile or laugh. Add to that his flirtatiousness and his big blue eyes and you have a boy who makes friends wherever he goes.

Gideon -

Gideon is 5 and a half weeks old now and is growing like a weed! Some of his outfits don't fit him anymore by the time I get them washed. My labour and birth with him were the easiest yet, and for that I am thankful.

My pregnancy with Gideon got a bit complicated when I went into preterm labour at 32 weeks. After having contractions all day long, Seth and I decided to head into the hospital that evening. The contractions had gotten to a point where they were five minutes apart or less and they were not letting up. We went to the hospital and they put me on an IV to hydrate me, and monitors to time my contractions. After being there an hour they gave me a shot of steroids to help Gideon's lungs mature, as it seemed more than likely that he would be born that night. After being at the hospital for another hour or so, my contractions quickened to 3 minutes apart, and were more intense. Since the Queensway Carleton Hospital is not equipped to deliver babies before 34 weeks, they called an ambulance and transferred me to the Civic Hospital. On the way there I prayed fervently for God to stop the contractions. There was nothing the doctors could do and nothing that I could do to make them stop. Thankfully, God answered that prayer, and by 7am the next morning, my contractions had stopped.

The next few weeks were spent trying to take it easy (easier said than done with two children). Although I was still experiencing contractions, they never got to the point that they had in February. By the time I reached 38 weeks, (a happy thing for sure!) I was absolutely ready to give birth. I felt extremely uncomfortable, and was having about 40 contractions a day, though nothing regular. I was a bit afraid that if I waited for my contractions to be regular that I would end up giving birth at home or on the way to the hospital! So on the night of the 22nd, Seth and I decided to head in. The nurses were very adamant about my contractions having to have been five minutes apart before they would check me in, so I stretched the truth a bit and told them that they were...ok, maybe that's outright lying, but I knew that I shouldn't be sent home! So they put me on the monitors, and low and behold....NOTHING. No contractions at all! Thankfully the nurse decided to check me, and I was already five centimeters dilated. She said there was no way they would send me home since I was so far along. The doctor broke my water, and one and a half hours later, Gideon was born. And with brown hair...which after having two blondies, is exactly what I ordered!

Since then he has been a relatively easy baby. He nurses well which is a blessing. Unfortunately, he has had a lot of fussy periods where he is up for hours at a time, not happy, and not sleeping. Even worse, this usually occurs during Mommy and Daddy's prime sleeping hours! (of course)  But beyond the lack of sleep, we are more than thrilled to have this wonderful addition to our family!

Well that's it for now! Hopefully I will be able to update again soon!

Thanks for reading!

Three Years of Crazy

Three weeks ago Seth and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary.  Although three years isn't long in the grand scheme of things, we have gone through so many changes in this short period of time.  Sometimes I find this fact a bit overwhelming, especially when I realize that the life I knew for so long, a child in my parents' house is gone and gone forever.

On May 31st, 2008, Seth and I, two university students got married and moved into our first apartment on Hopewell Avenue.  We have moved two more times since.  We both "finished" university, Seth graduating, me "taking a break" to work for awhile (haha).  Seth was working at Scotiabank when we got married, he later quit to focus on school and graduate sooner, and has had THREE more jobs since then.  Two for the government, and one with Navigators, where he is still working.  We got two cats.  AND, the biggest change of all, we had two babies.

Now all of these changes are probably pretty normal for the first few years of a young couple's marriage. We probably have done things a bit faster than most people, being as crazy as we are, but still, these have all been positive things and we are so happy with our little family.

Even though these changes have been positive, there have been a lot of not so happy changes that have made change of any kind difficult for me to handle.  Since we've been married a lot of people have left Ottawa, including my sister and her family, and some of my close friends.  The least happy change of all though is the passing of my mother.  The loss of her in my life alone is enough to make me terribly sad.  Since her passing, my dad has sold our old house, the one I lived in for 18 years of my life.  I have to admit that house seemed like a safe haven for me.  Somewhere I was always welcome and that felt like home no matter how long I had been gone...and from the time I was four I don't think I've gone longer than 6 weeks without being there! Not only that, but my two childhood kitties, Zipper and Lilly have had to be put down.  We got Zipper when I was 4, so she's been around pretty much as long as I can remember.  In addition to all this my dad will be getting remarried this summer.  As glad as I am that he's happy, it's just another reminder of how my life is never going to be the same as it once was.

So the point of all this?  Well I realized, that with my life changing so quickly, and all of this change being beyond my control, I was avoiding the change that I could control.  One of these things was my hair.  The last time I got my hair cut was in November 2009.  I knew that I needed to get it cut, but part of me was terrified to do it! I knew that I didn't want to become somebody who kept the same hairstyle for decade after decade  so, with some encouragement from Seth I made an appointment.  I was really nervous the day of my appointment.  It seemed so silly to feel that way, but I couldn't help it.  Not only was I getting my hair cut, but I decided to donate it again, so the change was going to be big.  I did it though, and I am glad I did!  I felt awesome after.  It feels so nice to have short hair, especially with two babies who love to wrap their little hands in it.  My hair has never been this short as long as I can remember.

I have to admit, I find it hard being a "grown-up".  I feel like I'm still a kid in so many ways.  I wonder if I'll ever really feel like an adult or if I will always feel like I'm just pretending. Does anyone else ever feel this way? Or is it just me?

Well, that's it for today, it's taken me two weeks to write this blog!! I know, I know, what about the babies??  Well I guess you'll just have to look at my facebook pics for that!  A picture's worth a thousand words right?

Thanks for reading!