My Springtime Babe

Day 41: Spring has Sprung

I guess being from Las Vegas and now living in Florida has made me addicted to the sunshine. So after a long winter I am ready for the warm sunshine to shine on my face. I know you are probably thinking, "Jaime you live in Florida how bad could it be." But it was bad this year the coldest and longest winter on record here in the Sunshine State. I'm glad it's over! Spring has sprung, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining. Praise the Lord for new life, new beginnings, and new seasons. His mercies are new!
Today I'm grateful for the warm sun shining on my face.

Day 40: Circumstance Doesn't Reign

Sometimes I look around this world and all I see is sickness, abuse, abandonment, cruelty, sadness, cancer, crying, anger, hopelessness and hurt. In the midst of pain it’s hard to see outside of it as though you will drown because it’s taking you over. The world hurts, life hurts and bad things happen to the most undeserving people. This reality sometimes shocks us at our very core and many people leave hopeless.

During church yesterday we sang a song and the words went like this:

So rejoice be glad rejoice O my soul

For the Lord your God

He reigns forever more

I rejoice cause My God Reigns

My God reigns and I dance the dance of praise

My God reigns with a shout I will proclaim

My God reigns and I worship without shame

My God reigns and I will rejoice for my God reigns.

I was caught up in this song as I thought of the horrible things of this life that long to reign over us. I thought about the times in my life where I waited for the outcome of some horrible circumstance to see if I would survive this one. I have given reign to my circumstances one too many times and today I’m glad because my God reigns. He reigns over sickness, abuse, abandonment, cruelty, sadness, cancer, crying, anger, hopelessness and hurt. He reigns over hard days, and long days. He reigns over bad days and good days. He heals the sick, redeems the broken, sets the captives free and restores hope. He is God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the beginning and the end, the Great I AM and He is the King that reigns over my life and my circumstance.

Today I’m grateful I have for my King and I rejoice for my God reigns!
 

Day 39: A Friend that Prays

From the day I met Karen I believe she has been praying for me. The Lord knit our hearts together and now I just can't get her to stop praying for me...this has got to be the best blessing! Karen knows me probably better than anyone else on the planet and it's not because we spend so much time together, or because she asks the right questions but it's because she prays for me. She knows how to pray and what I need because she asks the Lord and now she asks Him for my husband and my babies too. I admire Karen so much because she is someone who lets the Lord lead every aspect of her life. She has taught me more about submission and obedience just by watching the way she lives her life for the Lord. It's such a blessing the way the Lord has knit us together as family because I am confident she always has my back. I can call her day or night and she will stop what she's doing and pray, and she doesn't just say, "yeah, I'll pray for you" she prays right then, she prays until I feel more confident and ready to fight the devil myself. Karen is a prayer warrior that lifts my arms in the battle and helps me to fight. I love her for that!

Today, I'm so grateful to have a friend that prays for me.

Day 38:Grandpa is Home

My Father-in-law has been on the road for the last 7 months as a truck driver. Dave and Phil's brother took to the road working for a trucking company just to see how it suited them. I think they missed their family too much to keep up the life of a truck driver so now there home for good. Dave is the greatest Father-in-law he is so kind, caring and he makes me laugh harder than any of the other Hintons. I'm glad to have him home so he can spend more time with the babies and they can get to know their Grandpa.

Today I'm grateful Grandpa is home.

I Love Him!

He's so handsome!!  I love this face so I had to share it with you!

I Love Her!!

This is definetly one of my favorite pictures of Zaya so far.  I love this sweet face and I had to share it with you.  I'm grateful for the Pioneer Woman's Actions that helped make this picture beautiful. 

Day 37: Comfort Friends

In this season of my life there isn't a lot of going out with the girls...really there isn't a lot of going out period, but what makes this okay is my comfort friends. Comfort friends are those friends that you don't have to entertain, or perform for. They’re the kind of friends that are happy to just sit next to you and not say a word or do a thing and then leave and say “I really had a great time hanging out today”. Comfort friends are the friends that you don't have to clean your house for in fact they usually end up helping you clean your house. Comfort friends are simply friends you are comfortable to just be yourself around, no expectations or standards just enjoying each other’s company. I am blessed to say I have a few of those kinds of friends, one of them being Lindsay.

Lindsay and I have always enjoyed hanging out together. She makes me laugh and she's just really easy to talk to. Lindsay makes it a priority to come over and hang out with me at least once every 2 weeks. She comes over and spends the day. In between babies crying, changing diapers, and feeding them we connect. This is such a blessing for me that she meets me in the season I'm in. She understands that I can't do the same things I used to do and she doesn't care, she just wants to be with me. Lindsay makes the days of house cleaning, and changing diapers fun. The greatest thing is she is having fun too!

Today I'm grateful for my comfort friend, Lindsay.

Day 36: A Great Recipe

So you can tell that I'm not a food stylist (Did you know there was even a such thing?) because this picture doesn't make this look like the best dinner, but really it is!  It's quick and easy and good...a mom's favorite recipe.  I have to give props to Mama Lashbrook for giving it to me and blessing our home with this great dinner.  Mmmmmm so here it is...

Chicken Brocolli Braid

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken
1/2 cup red bell pepper
1 cup cheddar cheese grated
1/2 mayo
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup brocolli
1 clove garlic
Mix above ingredients

2 Tblsp sliced almonds
2 pkg crescent rolls
1 egg white

Unroll 1 pkg of crescent rolls and spread half of the filled inside and pull sides together creating a loaf brush egg white on top and sprinkle almonds.  Do the same with the other package of crescent rolls and filling.  Bake 25-28 minutes at 375 and enjoy.

Today I'm grateful for a great recipe.  If you try and you love it leave me some love!

Day 35: The Big Things

I ventured off to the grocery store today. I had an hour before the babies needed to be fed so I needed to get in and get out, but I also had a list of necessities and an empty fridge. I pretty much ran through the store throwing things in left and right praying that I would have all the ingredients for some dinners. I filled the cart to the brim and rushed to the check out. I swiped my card and was all of a sudden hit with an overwhelming conviction of "The Big Things" I take for granted. Today I was able to fill our fridge, buy my children new clothes, feed them, go out to dinner with my husband, work on our house and put away our clothes. Today I realized I take the big things for granted!

How many times do I miss it? How many times do I miss when the Lord provides for me and my family and I don't even thank him because I'm so accustomed to it? He has given us so much to be thankful for clothes on our backs, a roof over our head, a good job, food in our mouths, wonderful friends and family, a great church, and ultimately He gave us His son so we could have relationship with Him. My heart is overwhelmed today because of His provision. I never wonder if I won't be able to eat, or where I will sleep, or if I will be able to feed my children. I never do, but there are so many that do wonder those things.

My original idea was to title this post "The Simple Things" but isn't that just what the Lord was teaching me. That I take for granted the big things so much that I actually think there simple things. Give me a revelation Lord! Might I learn to not take the BIG things for granted!

Today I am grateful for the BIG things…food in my mouth, the roof over my head, the clothes on my back and the wonderful family and friends I have to share all those things with.

Day 34: Uber-Productive

Today my husband walked in from work and said, "Wow Babe! You got a lot done! Your Supermom!"  I love it when he notices!  He was right though I did get a lot of stuff done today.  That's the way I want to live my life.  I don't want to be a person that wastes away her days in front of the TV or the computer, but man it's tempting.  It's especially tempting when your so tired because the babies were up the night before.  I press on though to make valuable relationships with my kids and husband and to serve them the best way I can.  It's a good day when I can do that. 

Today I'm grateful for accomplishing some things for my family.

Zaya helped me with the laundry. 

Day 33: The Weight of a Mother's Love

I'm not sure if worry is a prerequisite or just a plain old temptation for motherhood. It's got to be one of the hardest things to deal with though. I don't want to be oblivious to everything but you don't want to be over-thinking everything either. I strive for balance.


I see mothers all the time worrying to the point of exhaustion and I'm not sure that is good for anyone because the last thing I want to do is live out of fear or teach my kids to live out of fear. As a mother though my heart aches always to do right for these little babies. Most mothers are always concerned with their baby’s health and development. For me it's their emotions. I don't know if it's because that's where I was broken as a child or what but my heart aches for them to feel secure, joyful and loved. My son is a little more demanding than my daughter. I like to say he is just passionate. Whatever it is it's been since the day he was born. He cries louder and more often. He wants to be held more and I love this, but it causes me to wonder why. Is he unhappy? Is he scared? Is he not secure? Did I not hold him enough or talk to him enough? Why? Then my daughter doesn't get held as often and I wonder...Does she feel loved? Does she know her Mommy loves her? Does she feel secure? My heart aches just as I write the questions.

Tonight we went on a little family outing to the beach. It was the first warm Saturday of the season and I desperately wanted to be outside. I wanted to shoot with my ISO low and my shutter speed high. I wanted to feel and see the warm light. I wanted to be outside. It was about an hour drive. I made sure the babies were fed and prayed my guts out that they would be happy and we could enjoy a family day out together. It wasn't 10 minutes before Chase started crying. Chase's cry is painful to listen to because I would call it more of a scream. He gets himself so worked up that he can't breathe and his lip is quivering. Physically he had everything he needed he was fed, changed; he was fine before we left so I didn't think it was gas or anything, but he just cried. He cried for a couple minutes but then I was able to entertain him out of it. We got to the beach and had a couple minutes of sunlight left so we made the best of it. It was nice to be outside. Then we had to get on the road again because the park was going to close. We loaded them up and Zaya immediately started crying. This wasn't her normal fussy cry this was an I'm really upset mom please do something cry. Zaya doesn't get like this very often so I panic when she does because I don't always know how to soothe her. I haven't had the practice that I've had with Chase. Then I feel guilty and the questions begin. So we pull over and I am trying to soothe Zaya and Chase starts screaming again. They cried and cried and cried. We tried everything, but they weren't happy. It was then I broke. My heart had carried the weight of the why and what if questions long enough and I broke. I cried right alongside both of my babies. I cried because I couldn't make them feel secure, I couldn't help them to feel joy and I cried because I felt like I couldn't love them enough in that moment. Sometimes the worry is unbearable, so I surrender them again.

It's not that I worry to worry because I think that's what mom's should do (the prerequisite). I suppose I worry because I have never felt a love like this before. I don't want anything to hurt them. I don't want them to ever question their identity or their worth. I don't want them to ever know or feel the pain I have in my life. I cry as I write because it is unbearable at times, so I surrender them again.

Today I’m grateful because I do know the truth. God is in this with me, He loves Zaya and Chase more than I ever could and the weight of that love isn't heavier then the cross that he already bared for me and for them.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. ~Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

Ammendment to the Rules

This blog is really helping me to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord and His blessings.  I really am loving it but I don't want to get burned out so I'm making an ammendment to the rules. 

Ammendment 1: If needed Jaime can skip one day on the weekend, but has to go 365 days.

If you think that's okay leave me some love on my comments.

Today I'm grateful I can make ammendments!

Here is a picture of my dog Cola that expresses the way I feel most days. 

Day 32: A Fun Day

I had trouble deciding what I would be grateful for today because it was just a great day. The sun was shining, I got some fresh air in my lungs and the babies were happy. It was a good day! Joyce, my mother-in-law, came over today. She comes over once a week and has a visit with her beautiful grandbabies. She also visits with me, but I know her real motivation ;) I like when she comes too because we usually venture out of the house. We’re a good team when it comes to rounding up babies and shopping! We had lunch at Five Guys...So good! Then we went to our favorite Joann's fabrics to pick out fabric to cover our new patio furniture cushions. This week we found a 10 piece set of patio furniture on craigslist for so cheap just needs some new cushions. I love the fabric we picked and can't wait to see the master of sewing, Joyce, whip out those cushions. Then we ventured to Target and Marshalls and bought the babies some new clothes because they are growing so fast and just because I love buying cute baby clothes. After that we headed home to make dinner, meat loaf and mashed potatoes, for our dinner guests, Emily and Astin. It's been a while since I spent any time with Emily so it was so good to hang out with her and meet her boyfriend Astin. They really are perfect for each other. Just a great Friday now I get to spend the weekend with my husband. I'm a blessed girl!

Today I'm grateful for a great day!

The Fabric

Constructive Criticism

Today I'm asking iheartfaces to give me some constructive criticism on my photo.  I really love this photo but my edit seems flat.  Help me to spruce it up!

my edit

Thanks!

Day 31: First Bite

Today was a big day in the Hinton household.  The babies had their first bit of cereal.  I'm not sure exactly how much really ended up in their stomachs, but it was fun.  Zaya had a hard time figuring it out, but when she did she cried because Mommy wasn't bringing the food fast enough.  Chase took to the spoon like he had always known it.  He loves his food!  I can't wait to watch them experience all the new foods.  I know chocolate will bring them a lot of joy, it does me.

Today I'm grateful for my babies first bites.

 

Day 30: Bath Time

Today the babies had their bath time.  I've just recently started to love this mostly because they have started to love it.  They splash around and try to catch the water from the little shower in their mouths.  It's so fun!  And of course the results of a bath are a gift.  They smell so sweet with their baby lotions and powders.  I love clean babies!!!

Today I'm grateful for my clean babies!

Day 29: A Spit Thing

About a week ago my husband and I discovered if we do a zerbert thing, or a raspberry thing to the babies they really love it and start smiling so big. You know what the zerbert thing and the raspberry thing is right? Zerbert- put lips together and blow causing them to bounce and essentially makes your lips tickle. Raspberry- put your tongue between your lips and blow causing your lips and tongue to jiggle which may cause spit to spray everywhere. Now that you know we act like fools to make our kids smile I will continue. So today Chase woke up early from his nap so he had a one-on-one with Mommy. We laid on the bed and were just talking away then I did the zerbert to him and he did it right back at me. He zerberted me!!! He has been studying those lips for about a week now and today he got it.

It's the greatest thing watching your children grow and learn new things. My babies are just beginning this journey of learning and they have so many new things to learn. I'm excited to watch them learn all the new things even if it is just a spit thing.

Today I'm grateful for my son learning something new.

Day 28: Bed Time

Today was a rough day.  I'm not sure if it was the time change or what but the babies were fussy most of the day and they didn't nap at the same time today.  It's currently 10:06pm and one is still awake. 

Today I'm grateful I made it to bed time.

Day 27: A Napping House

Sunday afternoon naps are a gift from God.  Yesterday was such a busy day so today the family rested.  We all took ourselves a well needed nap after church.  For a mom there is nothing like a quiet house.  Well somewhat quiet besides the snoring that was lullabying through the house.  Cola's snores are the loudest.

Today I'm grateful for nap time.

Daddy was sleeping too, but I didn't think he wanted his sleeping picture plastered on the internet. 

Day 26: Date Night

You may scold me for my failure to post yesterdays entry. It wasn't exactly the emergency I told you was acceptable. It was just a really busy day. I woke up to my wonderful husband handing me breakfast in bed waffles with Nutella and coffee, then I fed the babies, painted the patio, fed the babies, finished painting the patio, fed the babies, gave the babies a bath, got ready for date night, fed the babies, went over everything with Nana who babysat and left for a nice evening with the man I love. We went out to dinner, to the Michael Buble concert and to our favorite the Bern's Dessert Room.

Phil and I really enjoy being together and experiencing new things together. Since the babies have arrived there hasn't been a lot of that happening. At first I really missed Phil and now I just cherish him. I cherish our time together and am so thankful I have a whole lifetime of date nights with him.

Yesterday (oops) I was thankful for a date out with my husband.

Day 25: not giving up

Let me make a confession…today the grateful girl had a pretty gloomy day. My mood matched the rainy weather which meant a little complaining; a lot of doubting and my productivity was at an all time low. I’ve been doing some photography studying lately and this should be a good thing, but for some reason it never ends up that way for me. The more studying I do the more I discover incredible photographers like Courtney Fries, Amy Wenzel, Simplicity Photography, or Beth Jansen and then I melt. I think I want to be this good, I’ll never be this good; I’ll never start my own business. I want to be so good at this and today I feel like I’m not. I don’t want to be good so I can make a lot of money or so I can be famous I just want to be good so I can feel good when I look at my work and not horrible. Today I feel I will always be a jack of all trades master of none. I want to be a master at this art. Today Satan attacked me.


So to fight back I whipped out my camera and undressed my babies and started shooting. They banded together and decided to not give Mom one smile. I guess that was their protest for undressing them, but it doesn’t matter they’re just so cute even when they don’t smile. It wasn’t the most successful shoot, but I did fight back.

Today I’m grateful I didn’t give up.