I'm Kristin. I am a wife, designer, Christian and for now a SAHM. My husband and I are parents to three kids- Dylan Archer, Kyler Jude and Noelle Rose. Despite the name, this isn’t a mommy blog and you won’t find sponsored content here. Ultimately my goal is to leave it as a legacy to my children and possibly anyone else who wishes to follow my journey. This little corner of the web documents my family's adventures and lessons I've learned along the way. The Mom Jungle is a modern interpretation of both the family newsletter and scrapbook.
I call this The Mom Jungle because motherhood is fun and messy, filled with laughter and sometimes heartache… it truly is a jungle out there!
Isn't it crazy to think that in two weeks Boxing Day will be here and Christmas will be over? I love the lead up to the holidays, but I'm ready to celebrate Jesus' birth with my family- and see Dylan open his gifts! For those of you who have some last minute shopping to do, here is my 2015 holiday gift guide for toddlers.
HOW FAR ALONG: 35 weeks
BABY: I joke that he should have been on the show Prison Break. His movements are so wild these days- he's probably plotting his escape! The baby weighs approximately...
Tomorrow I will be 35 weeks pregnant, which means we will soon be meeting our little one. We areso excited! These days when I'm not in Christmas mode, I am in full-fledge nesting mode. Therefore, it is time for me to start packing my hospital bag. Here is what I plan to bring...
When I was in high school, I recall watching a romantic comedy called “13 Going on 30.” The premise of the movie is about a 13 year-old girl named Jenna (played by Jennifer Garner) who wants to bypass the angst of teenage and college years and fast forward to adult life at age 30. With a little magic she reemerges as a beautiful, über successful, Manhattan-dwelling magazine editor who's thirty years old.
I’ll be honest. When I first saw the movie I questioned why would she want to be 30 of all ages? That seemed so old and so far off in the distant future. Haha! Well… in less than two months from now, I will hit that milestone. [Gulp].
I looked at his cherub cheeks and immediately was silenced. He looked so hurt, so confused and if I could express his feelings in words I knew he would say, "Why don’t you like me Mommy? What did I do wrong?"
Now with tears in my eyes, I knew what I needed to do. He may only be 20 months old, but I owed him an apology. Mommy is sorry...
As of last week, I have been in my third trimester. On one hand this pregnancy has gone by so fast; on the other I feel as if I were pregnant forever. We are so in love with our little one and can't wait to meet him in 10 weeks!
The trees are vibrant shades of orange, yellow and reds. The air is cool and crisp. Autumn is here and it is magical.
Hello everyone! I realize it’s been a long time since I have posted on TMJ. There have been a couple of big events for my family that explain the absence...
As I start my week, my prayer is that I would emulate the "Proverbs 31"woman. I want to be "clothed with strength and dignity." And to "laugh without fear of the future?" For the worrier prone me, that is a tall order. But with God's strength this is possible. I can breathe easy because I know that He holds the future in His hands.
Freedom of speech is paramount in an open and free society. There was a time when freedom of speech wasn't a right- and in some places today, censorship still exists. I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.
This is where I struggle though. I think we can misinterpret what freedom of speech means. We can say whatever we want (within legal parameters) but, that does not mean that we should. We are accountable for what we say.
I collect quotes. To date, my Pinterest " ~ q u o t e s ~ " board has 633 pins... oops! One that has stood out from all the others is by Theodore Roosevelt. He said, "Comparison is the thief of joy."
I hate to admit it, but comparison is something I struggle with. I often catch myself doing this. It can be anything from material possessions, an #ootd (outfit of the day), vacations, babies, job promotions, rock'n beach bodies... the list goes on!
Today was a rainy Saturday. It looked like brunch with my boys, while listening to Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes." It looked like a bubble bath. It looked like a baby shower for a sweet family member's little girl. I love weekends with no strict schedule and plenty of time to love on my family.
Today I find myself in a "meantime season," or a waiting period for God-given promises. Until they are fulfilled, in the meantime, I can choose whether I live and operate by faith or not. I think we will always be in some kind of "meantime season" one way or another, whether it's for ourselves or on someone else's behalf. Today, I am pushing through for breakthrough...
Today was the day we celebrated Dylan's 1st birthday with our families. I vividly remember his arrival like it was yesterday. Where has the time gone? Yet at the same time, it seems like he has always been a part of our family. It's impossible to imagine life without him!
If I could, I would pack my bags and head to the beaches of sunny Mexico! My husband has been there numerous times and raves about the food. I realize my experience of "Mexican" food really fits into the Tex-Mex category, but you can't go wrong with spices, avocado and lime. One of our favourite spins on enchiladas is this Quinoa Enchilada Bake. It's vegetarian and a great Meatless Monday option. Why not give it a try?
