Monday, May 12, 2014

Mother's Day!

Sweet Ella Kate took her first steps on Mother's Day--such a wonderful gift and one day before she turned 10 months old.  I've been so ready for her to start walking, so she can keep up better with her brother (and not eat everything on the ground).  She took more steps numerous times today, so here's hoping this isn't just a fluke.

My in-laws ended up going out of town on Saturday, so Blake sent me to their house that evening so I could sleep late and have a leisurely Mother's Day morning.  Alone time and rest is how I recharge, so that was the best gift he could have given me.  I think I could have spent the entire day in bed, but I managed to get up at 10 so I could swing by Starbucks and Target before heading home to join the family for a trip to the Market.  Both kids were thrilled to see me and extra sweet. I called my mom and had given her a card (painted by Jackson) and gift earlier in the week.  We spent the evening with Blake's dad and step-mother, and it was a great day.  
I thought a lot about the moms in my life as well as my friends who long to me mothers but aren't yet and those who have lost their moms.  I prayed a lot for a woman who recently lost both of her children and her mother in a tragic accident; I cannot imagine her day.  Or my friend who had a double mastectomy today and has 2 young children to care for as well.  I have much to be thankful for and am so privileged to be a mother.

p.s. I'm grateful for fresh strawberries, and Jackson being able to eat some out of a neighbor's garden.

Monday, May 05, 2014

Five Years Ago Today....

my husband Blake and I were on our 2nd date, celebrating Cinco de Mayo with some of our neighbors. Tonight we took our 2 year old and 9 month old to a Chinese buffet in hopes of satisfying my husband's craving.  While a buffet is almost always a bad idea, it's an especially bad idea with 2 children 2 and under.  I won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say it was a waste of money and time and we learned our lesson.  The only upside was watching our baby girl devour vegetable fried rice, fruit, and noodles and seeing Jackson try new things like egg rolls and fortune cookies.

It's fun to look back and think about how carefree and easy life was just 4 years ago.  Blake and I were just getting to know each other, and now here we are in a pretty labor intensive stage of life with 2 babies, a house, a dog, and a new business.  Love how life works out and how quickly things can change.  Oh how I used to love coming home to an empty, quiet loft and going to the gym at 10 p.m., and now I'm kicking myself because I'm not in bed yet (and it's 10:40) and my sweet little girl will wake me up before I know it wanting her morning bottle and her brother will wake soon after ready to play.  I'm feeling so blessed to have enjoyed a season of singleness and now to be immersed in a season with my little family.

p.s. I'm thankful for this incredible weather and time outside.  Picnic in the park tomorrow for lunch!