Our Adventure called Life

Our last time in this room before the birth of our boy Four years ago today I woke up early and took a long hot shower.  My bags were packed and I was excited and terrified, I was confident yet hesitant, I was strong but full of weakness.  I had faith but was so scared God may have a different plan.  It was the beginning of hospital bed rest. Hospital sweet Hospital I remember the morning minute by minute, all the feelings, the way Scott and I were entering into a new phase of our life, checking into the hospital and the duration being unknown.  Having zero control of anything is difficult, but to have zero control over the health of your child is excruciating.  So many times I prayed to God and our baby that if he could just be born healthy that I would spend every second of the rest of my life taking care of him.  Six weeks later, prayers were answered. For this child we prayed The other morning as the sun was peeking through the blinds, ...

It's early.  Scott has already left for work and the babies are still snoozing in their beds.  As I sip my iced coffee and look out over the sunrise coming up above the cornfields, my heart swells with love and happiness from all that surround me. It's a typical Friday but feels as special as a holiday weekend.  Scott started a new job a couple weeks ago.  With the raise in pay comes the raise in responsibilities.  His hours have gotten longer and the demands are greater.  In those few short weeks we've had to adjust our lives and learn our new normal.  Dinner is on the table a little later, the kids get less time with Scott before bed, and I'm up a good hour earlier to have a few moments with Scott before he leaves for work.  It's hard.  I wouldn't say I like it, but we're doing it.  We're taking the time when he is home and squeezing every bit of it with 2 hands. Birthday dinner This week has been hot.  Southern Indiana is...

The busy month of May brought a few changes to our family that made me both happy and sad. Baby P Lovely L After 4 years of having a high chair at our table, we have rid ourselves of the well loved (stained) plastic chair that held our babies as they learned to eat.  We used the same chair for P and L and decided that we didn't "need" it any longer.  Lila has been moved into a booster and Paisley sits in a normal chair.  I like the extra space we have around the table now, but it was a little bittersweet to see it go. I've retired the diaper bag.  For 4 years I've slung around brightly colored Vera Bradley bags, carrying clothes, diapers, toys, snacks, drinks, and occasionally a lone shoe.  These days I leave our home carrying a simple purse, one that doesn't have room for everything including the kitchen sink.  I admit that I miss feeling like I am prepared for anything (including whipping up simple meals to sterilizing a small child that I dee...

Written as I sat on a plane heading to Tampa Stormy Tampa Last night I took a little more time getting the babies to bed.  Singing just a little softer, holding them a little tighter, and stealing an extra kiss or two.  They understand that I am leaving for a few days, but they haven't experienced more than a day of their lives without me.  It's harder on me than them for sure. Scott drove me to Louisville this morning, holding my hand in his.  The babies played in the backseat, Lila frequently chanting "my mommy my mommy..."  The sky was blue and bright as the trees and grass were green.  Internally I felt sick leaving the 3 most precious people in my life and yet excited to take a few days for myself, soaking in sunshine and walking along the cool ocean waters. While I lived in Wyoming I always wished I could split myself in two, allowing myself to spend time with family in Indiana while living my laid back life in the mountains.  I find m...

2007 - He must have had a thing for cheerleaders (thank goodness) At 27 I was enjoying life as a single girl, working in the corporate world and traveling whenever the mood struck.  The night I met my future husband I had plans that didn't involve meeting the man I was going to marry, shoot, I had a date planned with another guy just a few days away.  Yet there we were face to face, smiling ear to ear, and talking well into the night.  Life was about to get better than I ever thought possible.   2010 - "I Do" I've heard people say that the first year of marriage is the roughest.  I'm going to agree, but not for the reason you may think.  Our wedding day was the best day of our entire lives, followed by the hardest blow of losing our honeymoon baby that fall.  That loss showed me that I had married a man that would hold me as I sobbed on the living room floor for months.  I was shown a man that was not afraid to show his emotions to his n...

I love to paint.  Walls, furniture, picture frames, if it has a surface I'm going to paint it.  I'd heard of Annie Sloan chalk paint and saw pictures of furniture painted with chalk paint, but I didn't know anything about it.  Rewind to last Christmas when my husband presented me with a Annie Sloan Chalk Paint 101 class at a local store called the Barefoot Cottage.  I was nervous and excited as I walked into class. The Barefoot Cottage - Google Image There were roughly 15 women of all ages that aproned up and listened as our instructor began to speak.  The class was 4 hours and we literally jumped right in to painting.  We were each handed a wooden tile that was roughly 2 x 2 inches, a paint brush and told to pick one of Annie's 32 colors.  This process of receiving a new tile, a clean brush, and picking a color happened 6 times as we learned the various methods of painting with AS chalk paint.  The methods are as follows; - Two Color Dist...

Lovely Lila - The "Mommmmy Mommmmmy" started around 3am.  I knew it was those last 4 teeth trying to push through that woke you.  I can't even imagine how painful those new knife sharp teeth are as they attempt to cut through your gums.  Without hesitation (well maybe just a minute because my bed was so warm) I walked across the dark hallway towards you.  In your dimly lit room I could see your silhouette standing up in bed, patiently waiting for my arms to scoop you up.  Your room smelled like a mixture of baby powder and Johnson & Johnson body wash.  That scent is locked into my brain and my heart and brings a smile to my face.  Your weight is easy to lift and you easily nestle yourself against my chest laying your head on my shoulder. We made our way to the living room and cuddled on the couch.  You quickly fell asleep on my chest and I tried not to move despite your fuzzy hair tickling my nose.  I listened to you breathe and ...