Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Happy belated Birthday to the man to whom I have compared every man I have ever met, to the one who knows just how to mend a daughters broken spirit, to the wise man who always heeds the best advice such as never talk to any strange snowmen and never walk in front of any fast moving fish, to the one who is always willing to draw you that straight line map so you and sisters would never get lost on your many adventures, the one who taught me how to figure out the slope of a drain, hang drywall and how to wire a room correctly, to the man who was brave enough to give me away, has always had my back, the man who worries endlessly about if he taught us everything he was suppose to, the man who never gives a strange look when one of his children writes an off the wall borderline crazy blog post, the man who will get right in there and be goofy too. Grandfather, Father, peer, friend, Daddy.... Happy birthday to this wonderful man I love you Daddy!

Holy Matriarch Batman!

Before I was a Mom I never learned the words to a lullaby.

I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Drooled on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple little grin.
I never sat up for hours watching a baby sleep.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

I had never known the warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

And remember that behind every successful mother... Is a basket of dirty laundry


Amazing, terrifying, unpredictable, frustrating, Rewarding, and all together spazadelic, I still thank God every day that I am a Mom

Springs a coming

Hello! Yes after my vast mental health hiatus I am back. this morning the kids and I bundled up and went to the zoo with a friend and his two small children. Wyatt and Nathan had a blast. Its amazing to me that those two little boys seem to only have two speeds, run and stop. It was a great day at the zoo; very few people, active animals, and well tempered babies made for a wonderful experience. Anyway, here are a few pics from our adventure. *(We also got our pictures done in the photo booth but I don't have those scaned in yet so you will have to wait)*

Season of thanks

These are just a few pictures of some of the most important people in my life. From starting out as far back as I can remember with My big brother and my first of MANY little sisters. To the four people who made My three children possible.

I am Very thankful this year for my family and friends. These last couple of months have been something else for sure. And without these people and many more that I don't have pictured, I don't think I would have survived them.


If I have learned nothing else from the darkness of Postpartum Depression, I have learned that recovery depends as much on your support system as it does on your medical treatment.


All I can say is my family was the biggest part in getting me the help I needed. And I love all of you for being their and not judging me at all but taking me into your arms even as my world crashed down around me.




I have found the light again and That is allowing me to be a better Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother and Friend. God is the strength of my heart.

So I say thanks to God for giving me such an awesome family, Mama, Daddy, Rylan, Cherise, Alyssa (Logan and Rowan too), Krystle, Courtney, Hayden and Cameron I love you guys so much! I also thank God daily for my Wonderful husband Jess, Our children; Wyatt, Genevieve, and Danika. God's light shines through my children. I Have so many other friends that have played a big part in my recovery process. Unfortunately I only have time to name a couple. Gary and Joy; Lalita (Bob and Simon too) Your love and support makes you family. Then there is Kiel. Kiel, I may not know you that well but I know enough that you have not judged me even when I was at my lowest. . . But, you love my sister and that helps more than you know.

Faith, Hope and Love are the good things he gave us. The greatest is love

Babies three

Well, my due date is in about two weeks and we have had little Danika on the outside for just over a week. It still seems kinda unreal to me. I've been feeling pretty good and then I go to the lactation lady and come home feeling incompetent. Apparently I'm doing everything wrong. . . I'm trying not to be discouraged but its hard. Anyway, here are some pics of my babies

Dearest Baby Cherise....

A couple things for these last few weeks of body cohabitation. . .

1) I understand that you and I may not like the same foods. That does NOT mean you have license to eject the contents of my stomach four times a day.

2) Get your foot out from in between my ribs.

3) I know that you are trying to get me prepared to be awake when I would rather be sleeping (I have done this before) But, waking me up at 4am and not letting me eat or go back to sleep is NOT okay.

4) Just because your brother and sister may have written it on the wall doesn't mean Mommy is okay with it. . .

5) Rather than both of us being uncomfortable for another month please consider coming out before Mommy's birthday.

6) GET YOUR FOOT OUT OF MY RIBS!!!!!!

Don't worry, I love you Baby Cherise Gnome Reardon. We look forward to meeting you on the outside.

Happy Birthday Cameron!!!

People give me funny looks when they first find out that My baby brother is almost 16 years younger than me but I still think its pretty cool.











Cameron was the ring barer in my wedding ( he slept on the ring pillow through most of the ceremony) A big job for any four year old but Cameron took the challenge head on.






Now days he is pretty much known as uncle Cam. . .

Each time my son shows of a new "big boy" skill I pretty much know where it came from. Cameron is a great teacher. His creativity and imagination have been a blessing for as long as he has been around and we think he is pretty neat.









Cameron,
You have blessed us with your incessant fortitude of abnormal behavior. . . We love you!