I took these photos on a little outing with the girls when we were in Florida. They’re random and silly but for some reason I just love them. The two of them couldn’t stop dancing their way down the streets that day. Rowan would make a move and then Finley would copy. That’s how it usually goes. Finley loves her Roro and is always just a few steps away, copying her every move. She always has to do what Rowan does. Finley’s most used sentence is probably “i coming too!!” She never wants to left out. It’s been one of my greatest joys seeing their relationship blossom. They love each other fiercely, of course not without sister squawks but that’s to be expected. Rowan builds, Finley knocks down. Needless to say there are always some tears but their love always shines through. Last night as I was putting Rowan to bed, Finley was in the other room having a time out with Kev for normal Finley shenanigans. Finley was of course upset and next thing I know Rowan is balling because she feels so bad for Finley because she can hear her crying. Rowan is a nurturer through and through. She is the number one look out for Finley. Always patting her face and saying “it’s ok baby” or “good job honey, you did it”. Oh man… the two of them are just the sweetest thing to witness.
Life with a 4.5 and 2 year old is chaotic but worlds of fun. We have a good time together! Motherhood is a weird journey sometimes, huh? One that’s always evolving and changing. Who I am as a mother now is so completely different than who I was when Rowan was born. It’s a good thing though (I hope). We should always be growing right? The Lord has really worked in my heart the last year on my thoughts toward it all. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the mind set that being “just” a mother isn’t enough. I felt this pressure to be striving for something greater all the time, as if I wasn’t being successful or doing something worthy. I didn’t even know what it was that I was striving for? All I know is that it left me feeling quite inadequate in my role of Mom. Have you read Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson? or even Make It Happen by Lara Casey? I really, really enjoyed those books. I talked a great deal about all of this at Hope Spoken actually. My talk was titled “The Story of Rising Up”. It was all about rising up in Christ right where you are. It doesn’t matter if you are changing diapers or creating a nonprofit it’s all worthy and great for the kingdom of heaven. For me, that’s motherhood. I am knee deep in it and it’s something I feel so fulfilled by when I remove all the outside worldly pressures. Don’t get me wrong, we all need our “me” time and I totally still have dreams and goals but I have learned where to let go and where to make the time for what matters. I hope I can write out my talk into a blog post one of these days because I would love to expand on all of this. I feel like as mothers we struggle with always feeling less than for some reason. Why? Why do we do this to ourselves? (cough, cough social media-just kidding)
Well I’m not really sure why I titled this post “Sisters, Motherhood and Everything In Between” because we’ve definitely covered sisters and motherhood, but I am kinda done with the post and I’m not quite sure what the in between should be. The title flows though so maybe I’m just going to leave it. Should we talk about spicy chocolate ice cream again? No? Ok. Ok. How about 5 things I am totally loving right now? 1. Grapefruits. I can’t get enough. I used to hate them now I love them. 2. Starburst. Don’t ask. 3. Freshly dyed and cut hair. Holla. 4. Hot Yoga (post to come) 5. The fact that the forecast is at 60 or above for the next week!!
Rowan: Dress from Old Navy, Moccasins from Freshly Picked | Finley: Jumper from Old Navy, Sandals from Target
yes, yes, and yes! I feel so often like I am not enough as a stay-at-home mom. Especially when out forces are telling you “you don’t work”, “you have all this time”, etc. But I love being home with my 8 month old daughter. I am really trying to be in the moment and be content with where we are. I don’t have to have an etsy shop, or work part-time, or even have the perfect house. It is enough that I am a mom to my daughter.
Your girls are adorable! I love reading about other women’s motherhood journey… Thank you for sharing
Happy Medley Blog
Love these pics of the girls, and I can’t believe how big they’re getting! Loved this post, and also… Try putting sea salt on your grapefruit. It cuts some of the tartness and makes it taste sweeter without the sugar.
How amazing that your little girls would be so sweet with one another. I’m always impressed when I see close siblings. I hope when the day comes for me to have children they can be like that also, helping each other every step of the way !
It’s always a pleasure to read about motherhood as I’m very much looking forward to it myself.
xo, Charlie
http://charlieleschroniques.blogspot.com/
Good morning,
Last year, I purchased a lovely necklace from your etsy shop. I would like to purchase a second necklace-the double strand necklace with black/white beads with one modification–a red bead with a pattern.
Is there any way you would consider making this for me? I receive so many compliments when I wear the necklace you made and I simply love it.
Thank you for considering my request.
Kris Powell
Those pictures are so precious. I too love watching our two kids who are pretty close in age do everything together. Our youngest definitely copies his big sister in everything she does which can be pretty funny when its a boy/girl pairing. Our daughter asks for her “princess dress” so she can twirl and then he has to have one too. 😉
Loved this, Jen! I am going to add the books you recommended to my “to-read” list. Also, can’t wait to hear your thoughts on hot yoga! I’ve been practicing it since last summer and I’m obsessed. At first I went into it just hoping to lose weight. I’ve gotten so much more out of it than that! Strength, awareness, confidence, gratitude – gah, getting emotional just talking about it. 🙂 Hot yoga (any yoga!) is awesome!
Jen! Thank you so much for writing these kind, honest and insightful words about motherhood. I’m a new mama of almost four months and resonate wholeheartedly with what you’ve said. Navy has forever changed our lives for the better. She is a joy like we’ve never known. And yet I, too, find myself struggling with striving constantly for something ‘greater than myself’, as you’ve said. I waver between feeling totally fulfilled in this new role and sometimes frustrated that I can’t find the time to do other big things simultaneously. That said, I just started reading Make It Happen a couple days ago and oh my! #gamechanger 😉 Loving it and am loving the active process of reworking my heart and mind to be (1) kinder to myself about where I am, (2) more intentional about filtering out distracting noise and (3) more intentional about what goals are actually worth pursuing and how.
This post is very sweet. I’m not in any way religious but I identify with the way you come at things like motherhood. I look forward to more rambling thoughts like this. -Claire
Hi Jen! I think your blog is so sweet. I have read for a long time, but never commented but I HAVE to now because I recognize just where these pictures were taken, right in my home town! I think I would have freaked out to see you and the girls there 🙂
I have really scaled down on a lot of blogs that I read, but kept yours because I love your perspective on life and parenting and adventurous living. Thanks!
I really appreciate your thoughts on motherhood…I also plan on being a stay at home mom in just a few short months and I too feel the pressure that the job won’t be enough. It’s nice to have some reinforcement that being “just a mother” truly is enough and if it’s what someone is called to do there should absolutely be no shame or pressure to feel inadequate.
Beautiful Jen!! Love your heart, and only wish I could have been at Hope Spoken to listen! (the bummer of living on an island…) really hoping to get to another conference sometime this year–so we better coordinate! 😉 XOXO Aloha!
Haha so cute.
And now… five random facts. Oh I love blogging. 🙂
I love the moccasins! thank you for sharing where they were purchased.