It's Time To Think About Dad With Jord Watches

Hunter has been excited to become a father for as long as I've known him.

Back in our high school days we dreamed of having 10 kids running around our house.

Then we had one... Ha!

Even though our ideas of how many kids we are wanting have changed, Hunter's love for being a father hasn't.

Oaklyn will do the littlest things and Hunter can't stop talking about how perfect she is and how much he loves being her dad.

I never doubted whether or not he'd be a "good" dad, but I will say he has exceeded my expectations!

The day Oaklyn was born, I saw a new side of Hunter and it made me fall in love with him even more than I already had.

I wish you all could've seen his face the first time he laid eyes on her, it was like he had fallen in love all over again.

He was so natural holding her and taking care of her right from the start and even during the sleepless nights, he loved her more than she'll ever understand.

As Oaklyn gets older it is so fun for me to see their relationship.

She is the bossiest little girl with her daddy, but she also has the most special bond with him. 

She follows him around everywhere and is in full blown tears when he has to leave for work. 

Hunter cherishes every bit of time he gets to spend with her and loves looking back on memories.

It is beyond cute to see him get emotional about his little girl.

Since being a father is one of his biggest passions in life, I've been thinking about how I can make Father's Day special for him this year.

I want him to know how much we appreciate and value all he does as a father.

Thanks to Jord Wood Watches, I think we found the perfect gift!

Hunter was so excited to pick out his favorite watch and put some serious thought into which one he should get. 

He ended up picking a men's watch from the Dover series in Olive and Acacia.

When the package arrived, we liked it even better in person than online!

It really is such a unique watch and Jord has made it possible to engrave a personalized message or saying into the watch as well!

We engraved "Forever Moore" into the inside of Hunter's wedding ring and love it!

I think it's an awesome idea to engrave a message into a Jord watch as well.

We gave Hunter his watch early so I could let you all know about this awesome Father's Day gift idea ahead of time, but it was just as special doing it early.
It was so fun for me to watch Oaklyn bring her daddy his Father's Day gift.
She kept oohing and ahhing over it and was so sweet to Hunter.
I always love pictures of the two of them together because it captures how much they love each other.
This is the first Father's Day that Oaklyn understands a little better so it was so fun having her be involved in the gift giving.

This Father's day gift was a huge hit and I know it will be with the father in your life too!
There are so many stylish options that can be dressed up or down and the option to customize it with engraving!
I love how on Jord's website it says: " The value of a watch is not in being able to tell how much time has passed, but in being aware of the need to make that time count. Moments are bigger than minutes and your watch should tell more than time."
So, it's "time" to think about dad, and give him a gift that he'll really love!
Jord Wood Watches are perfect for dad's everywhere!
Because we've loved Hunter's new watch so much I've teamed up with them for a giveaway!
The winner will receive a $100 gift card to Jord!
Click Here to enter the giveaway!

I hope you all will love this company as much as we do!

All my love,
Aleigh Joy

Luxury Wooden Watch

Thank you to Jord for sponsoring this post!

4

Within the Walls of My Home

Photo credit to Kiely Ro Photography 

Part of me is saying it's not worth my time to write this post, but the other part of me is saying "hey wait, isn't this why you started a blog?" 

Sooo... here goes Nothin!

I'm not going to tell you who I voted for, because to be honest that shouldn't matter.

If you liked me before the whole voting scene went down, why should that change?

I won't define you by who you voted for, and I sure hope you won't, me. 

We all woke up this morning and went about our lives per usual, correct?

Maybe a few were celebrating, a few were crying, and a few were upset, sure... but we all lived the same Wednesday we always do.

Because that's the thing... this country will not change over night.

America has undergone some pretty rough things in the past, if you paid attention at all in school you'll agree with me there, and somehow we survived it all.

If you aren't a fan of the new president, that's fine, but please don't act out irrationally.

The United States of America is and should be just that... United.

With each other, with our neighbors, with our families, and our president.

I get it, you don't agree with everything he stands for... but will you ever agree with everything a president stands for?

Probably not.

I didn't agree with quite a few things our last president changed and believed in, but my life still went on and I chose to focus on the bigger, more eternal picture. 

If you're planning on moving tomorrow, so be it.

But as for me, I am entirely proud to be an American no matter who is in office.

Our country is not defined by our president, it is defined by our people.

So try, and try hard, to be a people of love, compassion, and empathy.

You may not agree with him, me, or her... but you can still choose to represent yourself in a respectful matter.

Alright, now that those thoughts are out... 

I want to ask you to think about what is most important to you.

Think real hard.

I hope more than anything, you are thinking about your family.

Whether that be your immediate family, extended family, or those that are "like family," those are the people we should truly be thinking about right now.

I encourage each of you that are reading this to stop scrolling through Facebook and posting your differing opinions on people's statuses and to think about what you can do to create a stronger family focused on Christ. 

Because that is what matters, and if you have faith in The Lord, you have faith in our country. 

So as for me, I'm not freaking out about this election.

I can't believe we ended up with those two candidates... but I knew I could live with either one of them in office because they make temporal decisions, not eternal. 

As for me, I'll be using these times of disagreement as a time to teach my children what really matters.

And, I'll be doing this within the walls of my own home; where only mine and my husband's opinions matter.

My goal is to make our home a sanctuary that my family looks forward to coming home to.

That will only happen if I teach them correct principles, not those of hate and judgement.

I'll teach them that racism is two sided and can be demolished if we have the pure love of Christ in our hearts.

I'll teach them to respect others even if they have a differing opinion.

I'll be teaching them that women are strong and important, but men are too. 

I'll be teaching them that love conquers all hate and to love as they wish to be loved.

I'll also be teaching them that the going will get rough, but it's how we handle ourselves in those moments that defines us.

I'll teach them that we will always respect our president because he/she is an imperfect person too, and everyone deserves a chance.

I'll teach them to pray, in all things and through all things.

Last but absolutely not least, I'll always emphasize that the world we're living in currently is not forever. This world is in control of our Maker, and he has a plan for us that will make every trial and hardship worth it to experience pure and complete joy. 

So if today, yesterday, or tomorrow you're having a hard time, try a little harder to remember that all that really matters, is what happens within the walls of your own home.
If you really want to make a difference, raise the next generation of voters to have a little more love, understanding, compassion, honesty, and faith in their hearts.

All my love,
Aleigh Joy

2

I Hate Being A Parent In This Day

Photo By Kiely Ro Photography

I was talking to Hunter's grandma the other day on the way home from a baby shower, and the conversation we had really stuck with me.

We began talking about motherhood, pregnancy, and children. 

She said something along the lines of "I had no idea what any of you girls were talking about with your pregnancies. It's like I didn't go through it 5 times with how little of the medical terms I understood."

I then told her I was just about as clueless as her and I actually went through a pregnancy in this day and age.

Giggling, I then said: "Yeah you should've seen the look on the nurse's face when she asked for my birth plan and all I said was, an 'epidural and a healthy baby.' " 

Her response: "Birth plan? What the heck is that? Isn't everyone's plan to you know, have a baby?"

I chuckled to myself... "yep, you'd think so."

The conversation took turns all over the place surrounding the topic of motherhood, but she then shared a story with me I might never forget.

She told me about a time when she was a young girl. They had a pool in their backyard and she was swimming in it alone. It had never dawned on her that neither of her parents were out there watching her. Not even a sibling. She went on top of the roof of the shed and dove off into the pool. She instantly realized it was a bad idea because she smacked her head on the bottom of the pool. She swam to the top and caught her her breath from being terrified. She then said, "And can you guess what I was thinking about when I was holding on to the ledge gasping for air?"

I answered: "Well, that was probably the first time you realized your parents maybe should be out there watching you."

Her answer: "Nope, I realized I should never do that dumb dive again. It taught me to figure it out for myself and I made sure to never do it again. Sure if my parents were out there they would've told me not to do it in the first place, but I wouldn't have known why. I instead figured it out for myself. Nowadays, if someone heard that story they would've called CPS."

I laughed with her as we exchanged a few more ridiculous motherhood moments such as the time a lady made sure to come up to me as I was putting Oaklyn in her car seat and asked if I was hurting her because she was crying.
I wanted to smack her and ask if she's ever put a tired 10 month old in a car seat but I decided to let her think she was the best dog mom around instead.
There was also the time I gave Oaklyn one of those lollipops at the grocery store checkout and the woman behind me decided she should advise me not to give my one year old sugar.

I "can't wait" to see what other stories the rest of my motherhood journey will bring but I can almost guarantee it'll bring several more nights I fall asleep feeling guilty because I'm not cut out to be a mother in this era.
Sure, there are several gadgets we have now that our grandmothers could have only dreamed of back when they were mothers.
My mom couldn't believe they didn't have something as simple as a pacifier clip when I was little now that it's always attached to Oaklyn.
We may have all this awesome gear to "simplify" our lives now, but we also have too many "Nazi Moms" that are right there to tell us our child is going to die because we gave them goldfish in their lunchbox, used the off brand of sunscreen, or gave them a sippy cup that isn't bpa free.
Then there's the people that either have never been a parent, or think they're the perfect one (because they got lucky and got an easy kid) that give you dirty looks because your child dared to actually make a peep while you were shopping.
Or maybe you've all come across someone that thinks you could have been watching your child better when they get hurt.
I'm sure there was a little of this judgement back in the time Hunter's grandma was a mother, but by the sound of it, I should've given birth in that era.

The thing is, the mom groups are awesome, the ability to share knowledge with each other over the internet is great, and the freedom we get to decide how our child is born is exactly what some moms want.
But, the complexity of being a mother now is insane.
I mean come on, we have an entire aisle just dedicated to car seats.
How the heck is anyone supposed to know which one to buy??
I remember standing in the aisle when it was time to move Oaklyn out of her infant seat and feeling so overwhelmed with choices I almost just wanted to give up.
The mother next to me asked "Do you know what percentage of steel Chicco uses in their car seats?"
I looked at her with eyes wide open and said, you're gonna have to ask siri... I didn't even know car seats had steel in them.
Then I looked at Oaklyn and felt so sorry for her that I didn't know everything about everything and felt like I was inadequate to be her mom.
She smiled at me and drooled a little on her shirt and I remembered that I grew up on Koolaid and Lunchables with turkey that may have actually been rubber.
 And ya know what, I think I turned out just fine.

Being a mom nowadays means information you didn't ask for being thrown at your face every way you turn.
It means another mom disagreeing with your every decision or judging you for doing something different than they did.
It means wondering if you're doing the right thing at every moment of the day and questioning yourself with every move you make.
But it shouldn't be that way...

So here's me, another average mom, telling you that you are doing A-Okay mama.
If your baby is fed whether that be breast milk or formula, whole milk or goats milk, homemade purees or gerber jars, you're doing it right.
If your child gets sleep when they're tired, whether that's in your bed or their crib, in your arms or in their swing, with a sound machine or nothing at all, you are doing your job.
If your child is learning, whether that be home school or public school, charter school or private school, community college or a university, you should be proud of yourself for getting them that far.
If you think for one second you are failing according to the new standards of being a mom, you are not.
Keep smothering your kid with kisses, help them achieve their goals, give them a dang chicken nugget, and tell them how much you love them.
Because seriously, there is absolutely no right way to parent.
There are a million and a half suggestions if you want to listen to them, but being a mama is hard enough.
Instead just ask yourself "What would grandma do?"

All my love,
Aleigh Joy

0

A Little Kindness Never Hurt Nobody

I've been thinking quite a bit about this topic lately and it just so happens that I made a guest appearance on Steffanie's (from The Urban Hare) mocktail periscope series and the topic was on being kind.

This topic has been on quite a few mother's (or parents in general) minds lately based off the current tragedies that have made the news.

(If you are unaware please refer to the articles here and here)

It is interesting, and quite frankly, annoying, that the parents of these children have become the subject of ridicule online as they mourn the loss of their child.

No parent wants to outlive their child. Ever.

The thought alone makes my heart ache.

So what's interesting to me, is that others can't seem to offer their condolences to these families but instead feel the need to tell them that the death of their child was their own fault.

Seeing the cruel remarks of those hiding behind a computer screen makes me sick, and it needs to stop. Now. 

These words are harsh and unfair, and truly will do nothing beneficial in the end. 

You see, It’s easy to throw other parents under the bus when something horrific happens because we want to believe that we are somehow better. 

It's easy for parents to believe that their "superior parenting" can prevent a tragedy and that bad things can only happen to an "irresponsible parent."

Want to know the truth?

Bad things happen to good parents, good families, good people... and when those bad things strike they deserve our empathy, and never our judgement.

I want to share a quick story with you:

Somewhere around 10 months ago, when Oaklyn wasn't quite mobile, I was able to set her on top of my bed without worry.

In the mornings, she would lay next to me as I would relieve myself from the night and pump to supply food for her. 

She would smile and grab her toys as we laid there together.

One morning I got bored while pumping and turned my head for a split second to grab my phone. 

When I looked back she was already off the bed, in mid air, about to fall on the floor.

Her little body hit and she instantly began to scream.

I jumped off the bed and frantically grabbed her.

We spent the rest of the morning rocking on the rocking chair as I probably whispered "I'm sorry" 100 times in her little ear.

The reason I share this story with you, is because it is an example, though far less tragic, that resembles what is currently happening.

I'm sure it would be easy for a lot of you to say that I should have just kept my eyes on her and that wouldn't have happened. 

I'm also sure that some may say I shouldn't be so glued to my phone and that my daughter wouldn't have fallen.

But what I'll tell you, is that it was an accident.

It was an accident I wish would've never happened, but it did and accidents happen often.

Especially when you are a parent balancing a million things every single day.

There is no such thing as a perfect earthly parent.

So to all of you other imperfect parents out there, I beg you, to stop shaming and blaming all other mothers and fathers that are just trying to do their best daily. 

My heart breaks for all of the families that lose their children to bizarre and horrific accidents daily.

We all often point fingers, but try instead, to take the high road and show kindness to those in need.

Instead of criticizing and ridiculing, try uplifting and rallying around others.

It's much easier to smile than frown, and it is much easier to share a good thought than to deny it. 

Try your hardest to be soft and kind instead of letting the world make you bitter and hard. 

If the words you wrote on social media appeared on your skin, would others still think you are beautiful?

We all say that we want to teach our children to be kind and uplifting, well the best way to do so, is to practice what you preach. 

So I encourage all of you to back up other parents instead of tearing them down.

Parenting is hard enough, we don't need bystanders making it harder. 

And always remember, a little kindness never hurt nobody.

All my love,

Aleigh Joy 

5

Here's to You Dad!

 

I've always adored my dad, and I've always been excited to see my husband become a dad, but I didn't really understand everything that dads do, until I became a mother.

I think we can all agree that dads are pretty awesome.

There really isn't anything quite like a hug from your daddy.

And from the motherhood standpoint, they always seem to walk in at the perfect moment.

You know... that moment when you are at your wits end...

And, they play with the kids.

They ask you how your day has been.

They pretend to be a trampoline, a superhero, and a basketball hoop all as he listens to you rant about the 10 poopy diapers you changed that day.

From a child's eye, it seems that you can always count on your dad to be the first one to say no... (haha) and the first one to catch you when you fall.

Dad's are tough, they support, encourage, love, smile after a long day, give you ice cream and cereal for dinner, and supply the absolute best hugs. 

Dads offer protection and instill confidence.

My dad always had words of wisdom to offer and made sure there was a roof over our heads.

I didn't know it at the time, but he dealt with the stress of bills, work, and you know... taking care of us.

In my mind, he was already a superhero.

But, now that I see my husband doing those same things, I am even more blown away by all the unnoticed things my dad did for us growing up. 

I want to paint a scenario in your head.

It's 5:30 and you haven't even thought about what you're going to feed your family for dinner.

The baby has been throwing tantrums more than ever today, you dealt with and cleaned up yet another blow out, you managed to get the grocery shopping done in [almost] one piece, you watched the same Disney movies over and over again, you thought you might get a break during nap time but today the toddler decided she doesn't want to nap, there's spilt milk in more places than you can count but if you clean it it'll just magically appear again, and there's a mountain [or two] of laundry piled up on the bed.

You're about to pull your hair out, or run away, because it has just been one of those days...

And then, the door opens.

The kids run to the door and the toddler isn't far behind saying "dadadadada" over and over as you take a deep breath and realize your help just arrived. 

As you flash a relieved smile, he scoops the kids up and they tell him all about their day. 

You watch from a distance as he pretends he didn't just have another hard day at work, because he knows and expects there is still more work to be done.

He plays with the kids as you prepare dinner, he washes the dishes as you dry, he helps with bath time, he sings the little songs and reads the tiny books, he prays for his babies and he hugs you tight.

And you mama? You just smile and thank The Lord for dads.

 

It's easy, especially for me, to overlook all that dads actually do.

They have endless jobs they are performing and roles they are fulfilling, yet, they still make time for family and raising their children.
They are their daughters first love and their sons first hero.
Behind every great child, is a loving dad that supported them the whole way.

So here's to you dad!

To my dad, to the dad of my child, to my grandfathers, to your grandfathers and husbands... to dads everywhere, thank you!

For loving, protecting, serving, providing, encouraging, simplifying, rescuing, exemplifying, and smiling.

Happy Father's day to dads everywhere, you are and will always be, a superhero.

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

0