Meet Michelle Evans Jarrell, our September Everyday Mom

Michelle Evans Jarrell is an “everyday mom.” But she’s far from ordinary. Here’s what she says about being a stay-at-home mom with two kids in diapers:

Did you have any siblings? I have two younger brothers, each with familes of their own. My brother Jon has one daughter (7) and lives in Chatanooga. My brother Matthew has two children (4 and 8) and just received marching orders for Afghanistan. His is in the Army National Guard Reserves.

Names and ages of your children: Camden (2 years, 10 months) and Cavan (14 months). Yes, for all of you counting, they are 19 months apart!

What are your favorite activities with your kids? My boys really love being outside. I love doing anything with them that allows them to roam and explore in a safe environment. The little one is a runner, so finding a great fenced-in playground is like striking gold. I have been known to take them out to baseball fields, close the gates, and let them go! They love it! We have also enjoyed the children's garden at the Cape Fear Botannical Garden and Fascinate-U Children's Museum in downtown Fayetteville.

What are your least favorite "mom chores"? What's not? The boys don't like being cooped up or ignored, so when I try to focus on dishes or laudry, they protest. They like to unfold clothes and use the laundry baskets like boats. They don't nap at the same time, so usually the laundry piles up until the weekend. What we lack in housekeeping, we make up for in fun!

What kid-free activity do you do in your free time? I love to write and take photos. I could spend hours tinkering with photos of my children and blogging about our escapades.

Tell us about your hobbies. I love to sing. I used to sing professionally before having children. I guess now it could be called a hobby, although I hope to start picking up more professional engagements soon.

Are you involved in any organizations? I joined the Cumberland Oratorio Singers when I first moved to Fayetteville. The director, Michael Martin, is also the director of choral activities at Methodist University. They perform classical choral repertoire as well as contemporary works. I firmly support involvement in community arts at any level.

Tell us about your typical day — from the morning wakeup until you finally climb into bed. Well, my children wake up between 6:30 and 7:30 every morning. Lately I have been setting up my coffee maker in the evenings so I can reach for the java right after I hear the first cry from one of the boys. I change diapers for both and then make sippy cups of milk for both. The boys both like warm milk first thing in the morning. There is nothing better than seeing them gulm down the nectar with great satisfaction. While they enjoy their morning cup, I enjoy mine. Then I make breakfast. Then I usually have to do the diapers again right after. Then the boys go wild for a bit. I put one in the crib and one in front of the TV, and I attempt to shower and dress. Then they boys are ready to break loose. Around 10 a.m. we hit the road in search of activity – whether it be the playground at the park, or the playplace in Chick-fil-A. Then, after much commotion, we head home for lunch. Camden is always sad to leave any park, so the trip home is never very much fun. Cavan naps after lunch, although sometimes he falls asleep in the car before we get home. We try to get earlier starts for morning field trips, but it is so hard with two. While Cavan sleeps, Camden can have time to color or do something moderately quiet. I usually try to get the dishes done after lunch. Then I catch up on e-mail, blogging or chores. When Cavan wakes up, we usually play outside again and then we head to the store. We are always grocery shopping. Until recently, it was an educational activity, but now the boys try to climb out of the cart, throw food or open and eat it before we've checked out. Poor Cavan wants to eat everything in sight. He loves food! I try to remember to take along toys, but food is much more interesting! After the afternoon activity we head home to make supper. Camden likes to help cook when he can, and this is always fun for us. It's always fun when Daddy comes home and we really enjoy eating together. Suppertime is a HUGE mess, so clean-up usually takes a while. I do admit that I am a terrible cook, but I always feel a bit giddy when all three of my boys, including hubby, are chowing happily. After supper it's playtime, baths, books and bed.

What advice do you have for new moms? Please don't ask me for advice! I'm just hanging on! It does go by so quickly, doesn't it? My advice, I guess, to new moms, would be to establish a healthy sleep routine early on. This will help avoid conflicts later. It's been almost three years since I have had a full night's sleep, but I guess most moms could say that. It just comes with the territory. You know, it's not all that bad, either. I always enjoy being the one to snuggle with him and carry him back. I hear my 2-year-old pitter-patter down the hall to my room every night (he is a light sleeper). I always enjoy snuggling with him.

Share your favorite 30-minute (or less!) recipe. We love Mexican food, so I enjoy frying chicken quesadillas in a pan and serving them with fresh veggies and a side of black beans. No recipie involved! Just cook the chicken, chop it up, fill the tortilla with chicken and cheese, fold in half, and lightly toast both sides in a pan of olive oil.

What is most challenging at your children's ages? Everything. They are both still in diapers, although we are in the middle of potty-training Camden. Getting dressed and out the door seems to be the most difficult thing for us right now. Eating out is an epic disaster.

What is most rewarding at their ages? They are so loving. They give the best hugs and they both still need me. I need them too, tremendously.

From your experience, is the label "Terrible Twos" accurate? It is challenging, but not so terrible. I believe it is labeled that because at 2, children want to say so much, but don't quite have the vocabulary to express themselves. It can be frustrating for parents, but it is more frustrating for the children. They really need someone to listen to them.

What do you look forward to most as your children grow? Taking part in everything. Their successes and failures. Seeing what they will become and taking part in all the things they are interested in be it soccer, band, or whatever moves them at the moment.

What cartoon character do you have the most in common with, and why? I'm not sure Steve (from Blues clues) and I have anything in common.

What three words would your children say best describe you? Mommy, mommy, mommy. They're still babies.

What is your favorite children's book (title and author) and why? We love the Corduroy books (Don Freeman). Camden received a Corduroy book when he was born. Since then, he has collected every holiday: Corduroy's Easter, Corduroy's Halloween, Corduroy's Thanksgiving. We got the board books and he liked the colorful drawings and large print when he was younger. Now he really likes to talk about the characters and what they are doing.

Anything else you can share about you or your kids? Being a stay-at-home mom is the hardest job I have ever had, but I 'm sure I wouldn't be able to breathe if I had to change jobs now. We have been through so much together in the last few months, my babies and I. New town. New house. On some days, when Ryan was working out-of-town, they were the only ones I saw or spoke to. Every day with them is an adventure. They are my every breath. My life. I wouldn't change a thing about my life with them.