Wow, yet another awesome Mommy Fest contest going on and I have to say this is my favorite one. It’s called What I’ve Learned Since I Became a Mom and here goes.

Since I became a mom I’ve learned many things and continue to learn more and more each day. Here are just a few of the things on my long list:

1. God has an amazing way of giving us things to make us stop and realize just how short and precious life is.
2. Boys WILL bring home bugs, worms, and just about anything else they can fit in their pocket…dead or alive.
3. Even a 2 yo big brother will be protective of his baby sister.
4. A 10 yo big brother will be the first to pick a fight or argument with his younger brother, but no one else better even let the thought of giving his brother a hard time cross their minds.
5. I’m lucky enough at this point that my children still tell me they love me without being embarrassed. On the flipside of that I’ve learned that the day will come when it won’t be cool to hug and kiss mom goodnight and tell her you love her in front of all your buddies. And later down the road, the hugs and love you’s will reappear in my life!
6. Kids have a way of taking even the worst day and making it all fade away with just one smile.
7. Kids make you much more open minded about certain things in life and much more closed minded about others (read: cleaning your room is NOT an option, seat belts aren’t either)
8. The list could go on and on, but the biggest and best thing I’ve learned since I became a mom is this:  A mother’s love for her child is so strong that no other love could ever compare to it!

So, how about you?  What have you learned since you became a mom? Leave me a comment and let me know and then head over to Mommy Fest and join in the meme.

Five Things About This Mom

1. I’m the mom of 2 boys and 1 girl and won’t have anymore children due to the fact I had surgery to tie my tubes this last time.

2. I work at home as a Virtual Assistant and an Internet Marketer.

3. Right now I’m battling with a bit of the blues, because I chose to stop breastfeeding my 1 month old little girl just this past weekend. I know I didn’t HAVE to stop and right now a big part of me feels guilty for stopping.

4. I’ll be 30 next month and it doesn’t bother me one tiny bit.

5. I just finished my lunch (taquitos) and I’m still hungry!

How many of you have listed five things about yourself on your blog?  If you haven’t do so and then head over to MommyFest.com and enter the contest for a $20 Amazon gift card. Get all the details here.

Just a few pictures taken over the weekend of the little princess in the family.

She’s growing so fast already. Here are just a bit of her milestones:

The day she was born (no I’m not exaggerating I promise) she was lifting her little head up to see the world. Now, she almost never leaves her head down. Guess she’s like her mom was and afraid she’s going to miss something very, very important!

About 3 days after she came home from the hospital, she was rolling over already. I thought it was just a freak accident the first time, but now almost every time I lay her down she rolls right on over. So much so that Hunterman thinks she needs to be rolling over ALL the time.

She’s already conned talked her older brother Hunter into moving her when she’s not happy where she is. I put her on a blanket on the floor to change her diaper and Hunter laid down beside her. Once finished, I took 2 seconds to throw the diaper in the trash in the kitchen (about 10 steps) and when I came back he had picked her up and put her on the couch. Talk about one FREAKED OUT mama. Luckily she was fine, but there will be no more leaving the two of them alone, even for a few seconds…at least not for the next year. ha ha

And I added this one, taken just this morning, just because I love it ! She’s also showing off all her hair, even if she does have “bad hair days” everyday. - Yet again just like her mommy!

Today marks the start of the 5th Annual Mommy Fest Blog Party and we here at They Call Me Wahmmy are participating, so let me introduce myself.

I’m Arika! I’m a little bit crazy and a whole lot of fun.  I’m a work at home mom of 3 wonderful kids.  Zach (10), Hunter (2), and Sierra (1 month). Life is hectic sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.  With 3 kids, how could it not be, right?

I’m a virtual assistant who started her own business in 2005 and told the crazy life of a J-O-B good bye and opened my VA business doors full time in 2006.  Working at home has it’s good and bad points just like any other work, but I honestly don’t think I could ever go back to the corporate world now for many reasons.  I love what I do, what can I say.

The Mommy Fest event lasts all this week (May 12-16, 2008) and there are tons of fun prizes, giveaways, audio interviews and other cool stuff so be sure to stop by and check it out.  I always have a great time jumping around blogs and getting to know all the other mommies there.

Get to know tons of other blogging, partying mamas! Meet other moms at the party by clicking here and reading through some of the awesome mommy blogs of those who are partying it up with me this year.

Want to join in on the fun? Check out the party details and come on in by clicking here.

No, I’m not really on the computer today, as I’m typing this post on Friday but, wanted to share something with all you moms out there! Hope you are enjoying a day of rest, relaxation and love on this Mother’s Day.

Thanks to Susanne at the Hillbilly Housewife for posting this lovely message in her newsletter.

Why Mothers Cry …

“Why are you crying?” he asked his mom.

“Because I’m a mother,” she told him.

“I don’t understand,” he said.

His mom just hugged him and said, “You never will!”

Later the little boy asked his father why Mother seemed to cry for no reason.

“All mothers cry for no reason,” was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why mothers cry. So he finally put in a call to God and when God got on the phone the man said, “God, why do mothers cry so easily.”

God said, “You see son, when I made mothers they had to be special. I made their shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort. I gave them an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times come from their children.

I gave them a hardiness that allows them to keep going when everyone else gives up, and to take care of their families through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave them the sensitivity to love their children under all circumstances, even when their child has hurt them very badly.

This same sensitivity helps them to make a child’s boo-boo feel better and helps them share a teenager’s anxieties and fears.

I gave them a tear to shed. It’s theirs exclusively to use whenever it’s needed. It’s their only weakness. It’s a tear for mankind.”

I just recently started using an email list and I’ll tell you it’s not always easy coming up with things to email my subscribers about.  That’s why I was so glad to see Alice Seba giving away this:

24 Ideas for Endless Email Topics (I highly recommend you check this out if you’re having trouble with what to talk to your subs about too.)

One problem I have, in case you haven’t noticed here, is that I tend to be wordy, especially in my emails and although sometimes I need to be to explain things to my target market, most of the time it isn’t necessary and will actually bore my readers before I get my point across. After reading these 24 email topics I realized I don’t have to put it all in one email - I can break things up a bit.  And, that’s not all I got ideas for either. ;) 

So, if you’re on my list - look out! I’ve got some good info coming your way soon.  If you aren’t on my list you can sign up for it by filling in your name and email address on the right.  —>>> 
You’ll receive an awesome report that gives you ideas for spending more time with the family…for FREE when you sign up too.

Of all times to not have my camera, this is probably one of the worst. I have a newborn baby girl who is changing so much each and everyday. We’ve planted a garden for the first time. The boys are both growing like weeds. The list goes on and on of things I should be taking pictures of but can’t because I don’t have the batteries for my camera. I’m horrible about remembering to pick batteries up when I’m shopping or out and about.

The weird thing is I didn’t use to be like that…my camera ALWAYS had batteries and was almost always with me. Any suggestions on how I can remember to remember to keep my camera with me and more importantly, keep batteries around for it?