6 years ago today..

6 years ago today- Reese asked me to be his wife! I cannot believe our 6 year anniversary is coming up- it still seems like it should be our 6 month mark!

Falling in love with Reese was something I never expected to happen- I had other plans. 

From our first date I knew he was something special. He was different from the other boys I had dated- and that scared me. 

Reese always stood out to me- he was such a hard worker, he really respected me, and he never let me pay for a single thing when we were together. 

He knew falling in love with him wasn't my plan- and he was patient with me. He was patient with me up until the day I knew I had to tell him right then and there that I loved him so I drove to island park- and walked a mile in the snow to tell him in person! (That is a good story haha) 

I was 19 when we got married, he was 22. People always ask me if I regret getting married that young- but I never have- not for a second. 

Contrary to what people might think- I didn't miss out on my college years, or my young adult free life. In fact, it was just 10x better to do it with the guy I loved! 

Back then we were running on love and macaroni (and hot dogs). And now our dynamics have changed as we have added Ruby (and penny) to our family.- and I couldn't love my little family anymore! 

I'm so glad I said yes that day Reese Hawker asked me to be his wife- because he makes me a better person!! He makes me so happy, he is the best daddy, and he works so so so hard to provide for our family so I can stay home. 

So when people ask if I ever think about what I missed out on by getting married so young- I tell them "no, but I do think I about what I would have missed out on if I wouldn't have gotten married"

Anyone else a teenage bride?? 😂

Modern Housewife

Sometimes, I like to read controversial articles about motherhood. But more than I like to read the article, I like to read the comments. I don't comment, I just pop myself some popcorn and enjoy the arguments between the working mom and the stay at home mom, between the moms who like to clean and the moms who hate it, between the wives who like grown up time with their husbands and those who don't, between crunchy moms and old school moms- I just find it entertaining.

Which brought me to realize that I am a cross between a 1950s housewife and a 2015 housewife.

My husband doesn't clean the house, he doesn't wake up with Ruby in the middle of the night, he doesn't go grocery shopping, he doesn't cook..

I don't expect him to.

We used to split the house duties 50/50 when we were both working and going to school but then things changed.

He works full time and I stay home. I am a stay at home mom, and a house wife.

Some ladies hate that term- housewife. But I love it. I love to take care of Reese, Ruby, and the house.

 Some wives might scoff at the fact my husband doesn't do housework or wake up with the baby in the middle of the night- not me, that's my job.

He wakes up every morning and gets to see Ruby for like 5 minutes as she is waking up before he goes to work, he works 40+ hrs a week, and raises a herd of cattle on the side. His days are busy. Sometimes that means he doesn't get home till after dark, sometimes that means he has to leave first thing on a Saturday morning while I snuggle Ruby in bed to fix a fence and catch his cow that got out. He is a busy man, he provides for us.

No matter how late he works, or how bad his day was- he always puts on his daddy/husband hat when he is home. He plays with Ruby, he talks to me while I finish dinner, he sits down and unwinds from his hard day.

So no, my husband doesn't share the responsibilities in the household. But I can't think of a time I dealt with an upset client, or chased an angry cow to try to catch it's calf to tag.

He has given me the chance to be a stay at home mom, and I am forever grateful for the sacrifices he makes to do so.

But this is where the 2015 housewife steps in because sometimes instead of cleaning, I watch netflix at naptime. And sometimes I am too tired to cook so we do take out. Reese always puts Ruby to bed, he sings to her and that is there special time together. He always cleans up after himself, if he sees something needs to be done, he just does it. And when he does cook for me- he is the best cook! I love his food. He is understanding if I didn't get to the dishes, or didn't clean out the front closet that has been needing it since we moved in, he looks past my yoga pants (or checks out my bum in them haha) he mows the lawn, plays with Ruby, stays up  with me in the middle of the night to clean up puke from Ruby, he will run to the store if I ask him to- he does those things because he love me, loves Ruby.

So no I don't expect Reese to get up with a crying baby in the middle of the night- because he has to get up for work the next day, and I don't- I can nap if I want.

Sometimes I don't understand what is so wrong with gender roles. I actually dislike a lot of feminism views. I wouldn't consider myself a feminist in the least bit. I am just a 1950s housewife with a side of modern woman. ;)

Our marriage works the way it is. He provides and I keep the kid alive, and the house clean. And everybody is happy.

Miracle Poop Remover

In my last post I promised to share with you a miracle poop remover, and here I am now to share it with you.

Now I can't claim it as my own recipe because I found it on Pinterest. But I have perfected the process. 

Babies poop. A lot. And sometimes those cute little Huggies with Mickey Mouse don't contain all of poop, and it gets all over. And I mean all over. Blowouts keep us moms on our feet. 

I can't bare to think of Ruby's cute clothes being stained with poop, so I use the miracle poop remover and they are as good as new. 

Step 1- The baby poops. The poop finds it's way out of the diaper and covers your cute child and their tiny clothes. 

Step 2- You access the damage. You make a stink face. You ponder 5 different ways you can get the onsie off without covering the cute baby face with poop.

Step 3- You manage to get the poop clothes off and carry them to the nearest sink. Now isn't the best time to make the stain remover and treat them because you now have a naked baby on the couch. So soak them in the sink- make sure to use COLD water! If you add ice to the water-it does wonder. Ice has helped me remove many stains. 

Step 4- when you finally find a spare second slip away to make some of this amazing stain remover. 

Ingredients:dish soap, hydrogen proxide, and baking soda. 

I use a bowl or cup to mix it. 2 parts baking soda to one part dish soap and one part hydrogen proxide. 

I use a spoon to apply it and you can use an old toothbrush to scrub it in. A lot of scrubbing isn't required. 

Before. 

During. I usually let it sit on overnight. 

I did this while this sweet baby slept.

I washed it the next day and her cute gap onsie is good as new!

Stain removal is kind of my hobby. I have always been interested in new cleaning products, this is just an extension of that. 

Reese even brags about my stain removal skills. It makes me feel special ;) 

I have a sink full of tiny clothes right now that need miracle poop remover. 

Now you have been educated in Poop Removal 101. Try it. You will love it. Promise.