I have four kids and you’d think by the time Leah came along I’d have this whole parenting thing down.
What no one seems to tell you is that whether you have 1 or 10 kids, God sends you a different one each time. You get the experience of starting over, learning the ropes again with each new little being. If it were only so easy to read a manual and have parenting down pat… you know how to raise one? You know how to raise them all. I’ve learned, that’s totally not the case!
Four kids and Leah has been my only one to…
Smear blood red vampire Halloween makeup on the couch…
Have an obsession with lotions, shampoos and sunscreen… and therefore continues to waste bottles of each and all, all the time…
Dump hot honey wax (for eyebrows) onto the carpet…
Eat over half of container of butter all in the matter of a few minutes while I was on the phone…
Give herself her own haircut…
Color on walls, have insane fits in the car every time we go someplace, etc. The list goes on and on and on and on.
Her siblings have nicknamed her “The Disaster” which is about as fitting of a name as you can get for her.
She is also the absolute only one who can do all these things, turn around with a twinkle in her eye and a grin and instantly melt our hearts, causing us to smile at her rotten behavior. She’s spunky, smart and full of life… and too darn cute for her own good.
I tell myself that someday this behavior of hers is going to suit her well. She’s headed into an all boy preschool class next year. Most mom’s might be worried about this but I have a feeling those boys won’t know what hit them when Leah walks into the room! She will hold her own, now and forever.
And all I can hope is that someday she’ll be blessed with a little disaster all her own… so she can be the one trying not to crack a smile when her daughter is too cute for her own good.
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LOL!
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
That first picture took my breath away, the other ones and stories had me nodding 🙂
Heh, my 4th kid was also the only one to color on the furniture, tattoo herself with permanent marker and cut her own hair (twice) they could totally hang…or not…because, you know, there’s only so much furniture and hair to go around. She is real cute 🙂
Too precious. I have three boys and I’ve said many times that if my youngest had been born first I probably wouldn’t have had any more kids!
I love that you have pictures of her transgressions! That would make an adorable photo book.
And she IS cute. Beautiful, even!
I bet you’re right, those boys don’t stand a chance. 😉
She really is adorable! I laughed very hard at all of her “disasters”. I cannot wait to have a daughter 🙂
LOL! I love this post! <3
Love this! She is adorable and I resonate your feelings so much in this post! You are such an awesome mum!
She is so cute and pretty. You are so lucky to have her in your life.
She’s very cute in her disaster photos..
Good job mom.
I love that picture of her with the butter, I would find it very hard to be angry with that smile.
Love this! She is adorable…Fabulous..
Fabulous!! and your so cute.
You really have a cute and adorable daughter. I love what she’s doing. Her smile captures me.
SUCH CUTENESS! You really can’t be mad at a face like that.
Leah is a challenge. I remember being told stories about you as a child by your Mom, Rose and Ginger, I am pretty sure some of Leah’s actions are inherited. Leah is just really really lucky to have the best Mom in “hestry”. I love you, and your a great Mom.
I have three, all now in their 20s. Believe me, they remain remarkable individuals their entire lives. My oldest one (almost 30) was the only one to demand I not wear sunglasses so he could be sure I was looking at him constantly; the middle one (almost 27) was the only one to obsess so much over food that I had to create a little plate of goodies in the fridge for her to dive into at any time; and my youngest (21) was the only one to sit in a parking lot crying over a baseball game that he hadn’t even played in.
Ever since I started following you a few months back (first on Instagram), I’ve believed that our girls would either get along fantastically, or possibly burn a house down within minutes of meeting. Love the name The Disaster! I call mine Mayhem. And it could not be more fitting… Her latest: working her way into a bathroom cabinet, getting a razor and bottle of liquid hand soap out and “shaving” her forehead. Thankfully, mine is cute too (at least this mama thinks so), and she will be my only.
One question – did you ever get the vampire makeup out of the couch fabric?!?!?!
She’s stunning & hilarious. I can’t wait to see what else she gets into (safely, of course!)
She is so pretty girl. You have a beautiful and smart daughter.
Wow! She IS adorable!!! I’m sure it’s hard to say no. But I’m sure that’s why she’s so naughty!! That and by the time you’ve had several kids you just get worn down and are easier on them. Love that you have the photos of her adventures! ha ha :o)
Oh my gosh; these stories are going to be gold some day! She is so sweet-looking, so I’m sure you can’t stay mad at her long when she gets in trouble 🙂
We miss you, sweet Leah! Your buddy RJ (he’s got the eye twinkle down too)and you could have had some good “Disaster” fun together in the bubble!! Kris – I agree with “The Husband” that you asre a fantastic mom, and it looks like you guys are having a great summer!
I have two girls. They are night and day. One was an easy baby but is harder to deal with as an adult and the other is just the opposite. But that 2nd girl, she had a lot of Leah in her. No babydolls for that girl, nope, it was soccer and bikes and tag all day long. She would have been as happy with a room full of boys then as she would be now…I’m imagining your girl will do just fine!
She’s precious! Totally. But I bet you’re totally pooped at the end of the day, huh?
It’s a good thing! This story is so sweet and hilarious. 🙂
Dad thinks Husband has it right! We remember the haircut and also your having to have your nose in pogition before you could go to sleep. I also remember your weighing the effort and reward before doing tasks. You were also very cute…which was also often your saving grace. You are a great Mom and you and Husband have four cute and smart kids and are doing a great job! That first picture of Leah says it all! Look at the twinkle in those eyes.
Sweetest. Thing. Ever.
She’s awesome and she absolutely will have her own lil disaster someday that will make YOU smile 🙂 I think you beat me with the crazy stories but I’ve still got time since my youngest is still younger than yours. I’m scared.
Oh my, Kristin, your 4th sounds a lot like my 1st. It’s a wonder we had anymore; however, now that she’s a teenager she has blossomed into such a confidence and responsible gal who is always organizing her friends for the next fun outing. I love watching her grow into the woman she’s becoming. Don’t get me wrong though….even though her preschool years are long over, I can still see the purple sparkly lotion she wiped all over the walls and carpet of our downstairs tv room when she was Leah’s age.
She is TOO cute, and full of character, I love seeing all her photos on Instagram, she is such a precious little thing – but all your girls are stunning! I really enjoy your blog Kristen, I love that you post on so many different things, some light hearted and others serious and deep. I love all your tips and bits and bobs too! so I have nomintaed you for the Food Stories Award for Excellence in storytelling! http://foodstoriesblog.com/food-stories-award/)
Great post, I can relate! My 4th child is Lyla and who ever said the 4th will be the easiest did not have my Lyla….as her father and I say…she is CRAZY! Although if you were to meet her she would be silent and perfect, no one suspects a thing.
I love this post! I’m sorry to admit it, but I laughed out loud at all those trouble-making pictures. Kids sure do keep things interesting. 🙂
It’s funny, but not! My kids have such different personalities, with my daughter being our family disaster. These kids sure keep us on our toes!
Oh, I so know of you what speak.
She is so ding dang darling. Her inner light just *beams*. I’m certain that God gave it to her (and you) for a very specific reason. Can’t wait to watch the story unfold. 🙂
Okay, all exasperating incidences, but boy is she CUTE!! I love her curious and spirited nature.
Oh do I feel that one!!!! Except the boy (youngest) is the one who ha done all of that. In the last two weeks. And the haircut was his sister when she was sleeping, not his. And drowned my phone. And broken a coffee pot…I can keep going….
Somehow he’s still alive… Guess hell stay that way
She is beautiful and precious and free-spirited and wonderful. I cannot wait to hear pre-school stories about sweet, spunky Leah.
Yes, we called our son the “Payback child” My mother was always saying I hope you have a child just like you! She got her wish!
I really love the photo. The girl is enjoying everything what she did and she is so adorable. Watching her makes me feel glad.
Haha, my younger sister was the exact same! Our neighbors nicknamed her “Emma the Dilemma” and she had a similar obsession with all things smeary and lotiony…my mom even caught her spreading cream cheese over her arms once! She also had a sneaky butter eating obsession, although in Leah’s case, if it is Kerrygold, how can you blame her? 🙂