3 years ago.....

Funny how one event can bring about different memories. My mom emailed me tonight with her recollection of E's birth day 3 years ago....

"Just wanted to share a few precious memories from three years ago.  I remember it being a stormy night on the 30th of December. We were in the family room watching a football game (Packers) when Rob called. I thought he was calling to give me a bad time about the game when, instead, he called to say you were in the hospital and they were going to do a c-section. It was so hard to be here and not be able to make it there because of the storm and equally difficult to know that Preston was going to be cared for at Scott and Natalie's instead of us watching him but we were so happy to hear the news and see the first photos of little Easton.

The next morning we got up and braved the storm to get there. I remember the text you sent me as though Easton was writing it to me stating, "Gee, I can hardly wait to me you". Then when we got to the hospital I stopped off in the bathroom and your dad was sitting out by one of the bay windows. I heard Natalie come down the hall with her girls and Preston and when Preston saw your dad, I heard his excitement when he called out, "Bob Bob!".

We came into your room and met our newest grandson and, of course, he was beautiful. I remember introducing Preston to his baby brother and showing him his tiny fingers and toes and he was in awe. You gifted me with the necklace with the pendent Preston and Easton engraved on it. It has always been a favorite of mine.

We took Preston to "Old Mc Donald's" for lunch and then checked in at the Hampton. We stayed there two days and Preston was such a good little boy. In fact, one time we passed through the lobby, the young man at the desk called him over to tell him what a good boy he was and gave him a candy bar. Need I add that he was thrilled!

We drove home in a snow storm and James texted several times to drive carefully and be safe. I would do it all over again for those precious moments."



Getting her email brought back memories that I had forgotten. Needless to say, it also brought tears to my eyes as I, too, took a walk down Memory Lane. This is what I remember:
I had had a couple times of pre-term labor and my doctor had put me on bed rest to make it to 37 weeks. Christmas is always a favorite time of the year for me and that year I felt I hadn't been able to give P 110% of the memories that I had wanted to because of my pregnancy. I was comparable in size to a beached whale and couldn't wait for my lil man to make his debut. The day I went into labor (for real) was a Sunday. It had been snowing and I told Rob I didn't want to go to church that morning because I had been up with contractions most of the previous night. As the day wore on I started getting the feeling that I would end it in the hospital. I told Rob and he said, "Please don't go into labor during the Packers game. This is a huge game for them." Almost as soon as the game started so did my contractions. With P I had had back labor but with E it was completely different. I looked outside and the snow was really coming down so I laid down, hoping that would slow everything a bit. It didn't and right before halftime, P looked at me and said, "Mommy, why are you crying?" Rob went into panic mode when I told him I thought I was in labor for real and that I was having pretty steady contractions. On the way to the hospital I found out that the 2 friends I had lined up to watch P for the night were unavailable because they had no idea I'd be going into labor so early (I was due mid January). So we called our good friends, Scott and Natalie, to ask if they would be willing to keep P for the night. They live an hour away from the hospital in good weather but it was downright snowing that night.
When we got to the hospital, Rob was upset that he couldn't watch the game and said he'd be really upset if he had driven in the snow and missed the game only to find out that I had had false labor AGAIN. But the nurse assured him I'd be having a baby soon so they prepped me as we waited for Scott and Natalie to get to the hospital. Rob probably called Scott 10 times, wondering where they were because my doctor was ready to deliver E via C-section (It had been pre-planned). Within minutes of P getting picked up, E was born. It was such a completely different experience for so many reasons. I almost felt a disconnect because everything seemed surreal. As soon as he was born he was whisked off with Rob following quickly behind. So I just laid there, wondering what was happening and if my baby was ok. Once they brought him in and reassured me that he was fine, I was able to bond with him. He was almost the exact same measurements as his big brother and just as precious as could be!
I remember being so cold once I was transferred to my hospital room. I put E on my belly after I nursed him so I could use his body heat to warm up. The nurse came in a few hours later to check us and said I couldn't do that because I had gotten him way too warm. Instead she brought me a few more blankets....to no avail. My room was so small but Rob insisted on sleeping on the hard, lumpy mattress that he put on the floor next to my bed. I remember looking up at the whiteboard in my room and finding it comical that it said "FALL RISK" across it. I proved the message correct and passed out in my favorite hospital place....the bathroom. But such is life and I've learned to just go with it (as has Rob but he may freak out about it a little more than me).
The day after E was born, P was brought to the hospital to meet his little brother. He beamed with pride as he looked E over, making sure he had all his fingers and toes. E "gifted" his big brother with a stuffed camo bear that says "I love you". (P sleeps with it to this day!). My dad took one of my all time favorite pictures of P sitting on Rob's lap, looking down at his baby brother.
Natalie was our first friend to hold E and I was so appreciative that, not only did she keep P for us, but that they came on last minute notice through a snow storm to get him. P was all excited that he had made a hot pad with Scott and Natalie's girls to give to E. I recently tried to throw it away as it's unraveled but E got very upset with me and told me it was from his Bubba. So I guess we'll keep it because of the memories it holds.
One of the other special things I remember vividly is my sweet friend, Jill, coming to visit me. She had told me before I had had E that I shouldn't get my feelings hurt but that she just couldn't visit me at St Mary's. That's where she had had to say goodbye to her little Matthew several months earlier. She told me she couldn't step foot in that hospital again and I respected that. So I was shocked beyond belief when I looked up and saw her standing in the doorway of my hospital room. We immediately started crying because of all her visit encompassed. Not only had she come into the hospital that held horrible memories for her but she came onto the Labor and Delivery floor where her life had tragically changed. At that moment I knew that, no matter where life took us, we'd be forever friends!
It's amazing the memories we hold dear. It's fun to take a walk down Memory Lane. I know there were some not so pleasant memories but those aren't the ones I think about. I think about the love that surrounded our lil man from the minute he was born. I think about our friends who came to see him and spoil P. I think of my parents, who graciously drove through feet of snow to make sure they could help out in any way, shape or form. I think about the bond E and I had from the start.
And now, 3 years later, I think about his first year of life. Where we packed up life as we knew it to move 2500 away. Where, on his first birthday, he was sicker than a dog and slept through most of his party. Where he took his first steps and said his first words. It all seems so long ago. As you know, time flies so I love reminiscing on his young life and all the joys (and frustration) he has brought into our lives. He and P are like peas and carrots in looks and personalities but I'm equally thankful for what they add to our lives. 3 years ago today I didn't think I could love another child as much as I did P. And 3 years later, I realize how wrong that thinking was. Happy 3rd birthday my lil firecracker!

Crazy Boys!

Sometimes I feel like I use this blog to make my boys sound perfect. They are not. I am not a perfect parent by any means, nor is Rob. We are an imperfect family trying to figure it out as we go. Some days are fantastic while others are barely survivable. Yesterday was barely survivable. In fact, it goes down as the worst day I've ever had with the boys. I'm blogging about the day simply so I can look back at it some day and laugh. At this point I'm still nowhere close to finding the humor in the day.
The day started out like any other. I poured some coffee, the boys and I cuddled for awhile then I went off to take a bath so we could start our day. When I got out of the bath that's when things went downhill...fast!
I walked into the hall to find 4 bottles of acrylic paint opened and spilled on the carpet, wall and door. I walked into the living to find a couple bottles of spices dumped on the carpet. I walked into the kitchen to find the crafts that I had bought for the boys (to last a couple weeks mind you) opened and destroyed. I went in the boys' bathroom to find more paint and spices spilled everywhere. I went in their room to find a different container of spices spilled on the carpet and E's bed. I was livid! After much scrubbing, I was able to clean up most of the mess. On a side note, the spices countered the smell of the wet carpet from earlier this week when E flooded part of the master bathroom.
After running a couple errands, I told the boys to clean out my car because they had trashed the backseat. When they said they were done, I went out there to find what was in the backseat all over our front yard. I know some of you may be thinking that I should've been specific in telling them how to clean out the car but I had been. I was very detailed in telling them where everything should go. Plus they know it already. After they assured me the yard was cleaned up, I went out to find that one (or both) of the boys snapped all of the lighted candy cane decorations aligning our walkway, making them impossible to salvage. For the rest of the day, it was little things....the boys fighting, lying, etc. It was a day I didn't want to repeat. This morning I found one more act of destruction that took place yesterday to top it all off. P SCRAPED 13-17 into the back of my car! One day it'll have to be buffed out but this morning I wasn't about to get mad all over again. I wasn't about to have the same day today. I couldn't. I had cried enough tears yesterday, as had the boys. There were spankings, time outs, raised voices, the gnashing of teeth, letters from Santa about the Naughty List and much more.
Today is a new day and, thankfully, 1000x times better!! I'm so thankful that those bad days are rare. I'm not naïve to think we won't have more of them in our future but if they can be spread out so I can recoup a little in between I'll manage. I'll learn as I go as to what works and what doesn't on days like yesterday.
And maybe, just maybe, some day I'll look back at this blog, remembering this day with laughter instead of tears. My crazy boys!

Playing Catch Up

So much for having the time to blog on a regular basis! Once again I am playing catch up with blogs so this will be a long one.
Ok, I had a paragraph written here. In fact, I've had several. I've rewritten the paragraph several times and every time I read it back it sounds depressing so I think I'll "tell" more with pictures than the actual writing for this blog entry.

Last Sunday was our annual Christmas choir performance at church. This year it was special because P's children's choir joined the adult choir on stage to perform a couple songs. I loved sharing the stage with him, so to speak, and to watch with joy as he sang his little heart out to glorify the Lord! It was also special because a sweet lady accepted Christ into her life. I cried tears of joy as I watched her walk to the front of the sanctuary to proclaim the Lord as her Savior. The only drawback was that my parents weren't there. They would've been on the front row, encouraging P and me, with their smiles, recognizing the hard work we put into the performance as well as its importance.

I never take it for granted when I am asked to photograph an event so when P's former Kinder teacher asked me to be the school photographer with the Santa visits this year, I was honored. It was such a fun couple of days, seeing the excitement in the children's eyes and getting to hear their requests. Out of all the classes I only had 1 screamer. (Those are always my favorite pictures!) Like I said, it was a fun time and I loved every minute of it!!

Last month my sweet boy wanted to help those less fortunate. So he gathered donations and used the money to buy food and products that underprivileged youth were in need of. We were so touched by the teens when we delivered the products that we decided we wanted to help make their Christmas special by filling stockings for them. Once again people overwhelmed us with their generosity! Several people at our church asked if they could fill a stocking or two or three. My mom asked if she could monogram stockings for each youth. One of my family members, who asked to remain anonymous, sent such a generous donation that it allowed each youth to receive a gift card and we also used the money to provide the center with a pizza party. When we took the stockings and pizza to the shelter one of the young ladies immediately said, "You don't know the kind of night I've had. That pizza smells so good right now!" (The youth only get food from the local food bank so they don't get typical teenage food.) When we went into the center a different young lady said to P, "Aren't you the one that came and brought us all that stuff last month? You must really love us!" We only stayed long enough for P to pass out each stocking but the youth were so incredibly appreciative and mannerly. I think it was more of a blessing to our family than it was to the youth! P and I came up with ideas for things to do for the youth during the next several months so the teens don't think they are only thought of around the holidays. Out of everything "Christmas" this was one of my favorite things I've ever participated in...all thanks to my sweet boy!

If I keep this pattern, I won't be blogging again until after Christmas. so, if that's the case, I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!

 

Shooby

Lucky you, it's a 2 for 1 blog post day!
As you may already know, I am a big kid at heart when it comes to holiday. I probably go to extremes but I am A-Ok with that! Since becoming a mom, I've loved Christmas for so many different reasons. I love teaching my boys about the true meaning of Christmas. I love seeing the sparkle in their eyes when experiencing Christmas parades, decorating, and sitting on Santa's lap. I love talking about the memories the boys and I've created even months down the road. I also love ole' Shooby, our elf. I thought this would be the year that P outgrew him but Shooby's magic is still very real. The boys wake up, sometimes at ungodly hours, to find where Shooby is. Then they'll race to my room to share his adventures with me. P comes up with elaborate schemes as to how Shooby did what he did. I love every minute of it and know that the boys will hold these memories dear when they're older. P is now grasping the concept of traditions and the other night he put his arms around my waist, gave me a big squeeze and said, "Mom, thanks for being so specialist mom ever and making fun Christmas traditions for us." I'm so thankful for the examples I had growing up and the fun traditions my parents had so I can pass memory making traditions down to my boys.

Lessons from a Half....

On Saturday I ran my first half marathon. I say first because I know realize that my last one did not count. The last one, 4 years ago, was a marathon relay which meant I ran three 4 mile laps (my partner did the extra lap so technically I didn't even run 13.1 miles) in intervals. So I got big breaks in between. This time was the real deal. My girlfriends and I woke at O'dark thirty and were out the door by 5:15am. By the time the race started at 7am it was a balmy 40 degrees with 82% humidity (ie it was FREEZING). Despite never actually running 13.1 straight miles in my entire life I felt good the entire race. I started strong and ran my fastest mile the first mile of the race. I never walked and only stopped to use the bathroom.
Between mile 0 and 12 here are some things I learned:
* I felt a sense of accomplishment at every mile marker.
* There weren't enough porta potties on the race course. I was bummed because I thought, at mile 10, I was going to wet my pants. I raced to a construction porta potty (gross!) only to find it was a false alarm. This one stop cost me valuable time and prevented me from beating my goal. (More on that in a minute)
* There are a dozen hills in Baton Rouge and I ran ALL of them Saturday morning. (read: ouch!)
* I never warmed up despite running so hard/long. The first time I felt warm all day was after soaking in a HOT bath for several minutes once I got home.
* Having complete strangers hold up encouraging signs and yell words of encouragement was a huge motivation!
* Not knowing the course I was running had it's advantages because I didn't know where I'd be running next. It kept me motivated.
* Having so many people present while I ran kept me from walking. I had too much pride to walk. At all.

What I learned mile 12-to the finish line:
* It was the longest mile of my life! (I swear it was 5 miles, not one.)
* Seeing my boys at the finish line, each holding a dozen roses for me, was the highlight of the entire race!

Back to my goal: Every race I've ever done I choose someone, about halfway through, that I want to beat. This race it was a lady who looked to be in my age bracket. But that's not why I wanted to beat her. I wanted to beat her simply because she was annoying. Yes, you read that right. She'd run about a half mile or so at a decent pace. Then she'd get right in front of me, hold up both of her hands in peace signs and then STOP. She'd walk until her watch beeped then she'd do it all over again. She also didn't wear headphones so everyone around her got to listen to her music of choice. I wore headphones but had the volume turned down because it was a open course (meaning cars drove all around us). Every time I was running near her, her music would overpower mine. There's one of these type at every race and it was my goal to beat her. Sadly, my last bathroom stop prevented me from accomplishing this goal and that frustrated me more than anything.
All in all, I am so glad my friends asked me to do this race. It taught me a lot, gave me time for reflection and prayer, and filled me with pride at how well I did. I'm hoping to get the official race results soon because, as of an email that was sent out yesterday, it looks like I finished 5th in my age bracket. But, regardless of standings, I am just happy that I participated and am looking forward (kind of) to the next one!

I.Am.Done!!!!!

Well, 2015 has come and gone. At least for my business. As of an hour ago, all orders have been placed and all sessions have been done and edited. I have a few loose ends to tie up but I will now be getting a decent night's sleep and E won't have to play with his trains and trucks next to me while I spend hours on the computer. Plus, my house will FINALLY get clean, laundry will be caught up and I'll have time to blog. On top of all that I'll be able to enjoy the Christmas season with the boys.
It's been such a sense of accomplishment, to not only get my business up and running solid but to know I've made a name for myself this year. Unfortunately, I got so busy last month that I had to turn potential clients away. "Why turn away business/" you ask. Well, because my family comes first. By the end of last month I didn't know which way was up and I was working 12-14 hour days. One day I only slept 4 hours so I could get everything done. As much as I love my business, I love my family more. And it is important that they know that too. They put up with my craziness for the past month so now it's time to give them my undivided attention.
That doesn't mean I won't be working. I have a few things to finalize with clients and then I'll be prepping for a busy 2016. I'll be doing some business/behind the scenes type things in between being a mom and cleaning the house and running a half marathon and singing in the church choir performance. I was also asked to volunteer my time at P's school, to take pics of the kids sitting on Santa's lap. So, lots of fun things in the works!
But right now I have a (almost) 3 year old that I need to go cuddle......