The Best Stage Yet

I've realized that I've let my pregnancy consume this blog, and I haven't written a post on my favorite little man in my life in a long time. I feel like Evan is changing so much these days that I'm going to miss something, so I want to be sure to capture all these changes or as many as I can.

Before having a child of my own, I would hear parents say that whatever stage/age their child was in it was the best one yet. I never really understood that until I had Evan and I can now say with no doubt that this age/stage that he is in is the best one yet!

Every day Evan is saying and doing something new that just blows my mind. Granted, I am his mom so even the little things blow me away, but they are still wonderful and shows me and those around him his laid back and funny personality. Awhile back I wrote about how I was worried that Evan's verbal skills were lacking and that I couldn't wait for him to start talking with us. Boy has that changed! He is talking more and more every day and putting entire sentences together. I know this is part of a child's developmental growth, but to hear my own son tell me things like "I want to go outside and swim" or "I'm done eating. I want down" or my favorite "I love you mommy" is mind blowing. For over a year I felt like verbal communication was a one way street and now to hear Evan interacting and answering my questions is fantastic! I feel like we've broken new ground and able to explore a whole new world. It also gives me more insight into Evan's personality. He is a huge jokester and likes to see the element of surprise on your face when he gets you with one of his jokes. For example, his favorite thing to do when you're tickling or play wrestling is to fake cry and as you go to pick him up or see if he's ok he starts laughing as hard as he can and then tackles you. Who knew a 2 year old could master the art of a fake out so well? I know I didn't!

I'd say one of the most awesome things that Evan is doing right now is potty training himself. Yep, you read that right....he is potty training HIMSELF! At Evan's 2 year check up his doctor told me to not start potty training yet as boys are usually slower to master it and if you start too young it could have negative effects. So, I decided to heed this advice and made a mental note to revisit it closer to him turning 3. One day we were hanging out in living room playing and Evan turns to me and says I have to go potty. Huh? I thought, but immediately took him into the bathroom where he promptly went potty. Thinking this was a fluke, but also praising him all night, I didn't think about it again. As the weeks went on, he got better at telling us when he had to go potty and he's now at a 50/50 success rate, which in my book is fantastic! Granted most of the time he wants to go #1 outside (thanks to John) so I feel a little weird opening the door to the backyard and "letting him out" like we would the dog, but hey whatever works right?!? He's also getting better at going #2 (in the potty thank goodness) although with not as much success rate as #1. I think a lot of this potty training comes from seeing his peers at daycare use the restroom, but the fact that he's put two and two together and wants to do it too shows how smart and determined he is. I'm hoping that this will continue and by the time he is 3 he'll have mastered the bathroom all on his own. Again, who would have known that I would have been blessed with such a determined smart little boy!? <----------yes I realize that's a proud mom talking.

Another thing that amazed me about Evan lately is how I can reason and explain things to him. Granted, I have to break things down to his level and he still has his moments of throwing temper tantrums. But, for the most part I can explain things and he'll take it in stride and tell me "ok, mommy" and move on with his day. I know he got this laid back trait from John and I'm so glad he did. He's also starting to understand feelings and have empathy for people. For example when I tell him that he can't pull on our dog, Rocco's, tail because it hurts him he'll get up and go hug Rocco and tell him he's sorry. One of the cutest things that I don't think I'll ever forget happened just the other day. I was sitting on the couch with my feet elevated because they were so swollen, and he came over and wanted me to get on the floor to play. I told him I would in 5 minutes but I need to rest for a second because my feet hurt. He then went down by my feet kissed and patted them. Talk about melting my heart!

I could go on and on with other examples and things that Evan is doing right now that amaze me, but those are the major changes that have really blown me away. And as I've heard other mom's say, this is the best stage yet and I can't wait to see what the next one brings!

My little cutie showing off those adorable dimples

Evan on his favorite ride at Chucky Cheese

Hot tub cutie

Logan's Nursery

One of the many great things about having a baby is getting to decorate the nursery. And since I had full reign this go around with Logan's nursery, since John got his sports nursery the last time, I must say I'm beyond pleased with how it turned out. I wanted something that wasn't too babyish and semi modern. The idea for this room hit me when I was singing one of my favorite songs to Evan one night "You are my Sunshine". I wanted to base the room off of that song by using grey and yellow as the main colors, and my favorite trend right now the chevron print which reminds me of sunlight beams. I was able to find almost everything I got online, and through Etsy (the best website for unique finds around!)

A pic of the bedding and wall shelf

Another pic of the bedding and framed prints which are the lyrics to "You Are My Sunshine"

My favorite part of the nursery the tree wall mural. You can also see the cute chevron changing pad cover I was able to find. 

Another pic of the wall mural. If you look really hard you can see the custom art work I ordered for Logan which has a yellow chevron background and in grey lettering it says "L is for Logan Lane"



Below are the links for everything I ordered for Logan's nursery in case you see something you like :)

Bedding- JoJo Designs. I was able to find the exact same bedding on ebay for half the cost http://www.maternityandbabyshoppingmart.com/zig-zag-yellow-and-gray-crib-bedding-set-by-jojo-designs.aspx

Tree wall mural- Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/62716227/wall-decals-baby-nursery-decor-shelving

Changing Pad- Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/98486852/build-your-own-chevron-contour-changing

You Are My Sunshine Prints- Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/89878669/on-sale-40-off-you-are-my-sunshine

L is for Logan Lane Print- Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/102667077/personalized-monogram-print-all-color?ga_search_query=yellow%2Band%2Bgray

Zig Zag Shelf- Pflatzgraff. http://www.pfaltzgraff.com/Zig-Zag-Wall-Shelf/5042851,default,pd.html?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_content=pfaltzgraffshopping&utm_campaign=googleshopping&tmcampid=23&tmad=c&tmplaceref=GGL&tmclickref=5042851&CAWELAID=930979478

Stuffed owl and bird. Etsy- http://www.etsy.com/listing/104368943/large-yellow-and-gray-plush-bird-yellow

The End is Near!

The end is near! The end is near! The end is near! This is what I keep telling myself to help me get through these final days of pregnancy. Although I've been pregnant before and have experienced the last gruesome month of pregnancy and what that entails, I feel like it's my first time again. I'm having the typical irrational thoughts of wondering if I'll ever have this baby, how much more expanding my belly can actually take, and complete discord with those around me that aren't pregnant.

To say my hormones and thoughts are out of control would be an understatement right now. I feel as if the Mrs. Jekyll side of my personality has stepped in and there is nothing I can do about it. I keep telling myself to relax and enjoy these final days/weeks before Logan is here, especially since I know what's ahead (a lot of sleepless nights and a complete life adjustment) but it's almost impossible. It may be due to the fact that I can't sleep at night because of the horrible sciatica pain I'm having or the multiple trips to the bathroom. Or the fact that every time I talk or see someone they make the same statement that is obvious, "you're still pregnant!" Or perhaps the fact that I get tired just walking from upstairs to downstairs in my own home. Put all of these things together and it makes for one cranky me!

The other day as I was sitting on the couch with my feet elevated because my ankles were the size of my head, I started contemplating time and how slowly it seems to be ticking by and realized it's because I can say I've been pregnant this ENTIRE YEAR! Yep, that's 232 days of feeling not myself. Granted not all of those days have been uncomfortable and bad, but when you throw in multiple doctor appointments, trips to the bathroom, and the Texas heat it can seem like forever.

The thing that I will miss the most after Logan is here is feeling him move around inside my belly. That is the one thing that I absolutely LOVE about being pregnant. I can't get enough of watching my stomach bounce, move, and contort itself while Logan is practicing his dance moves. The feeling is like no other and an amazing one at that.

And while I know these days I have more complaints than not about pregnancy, I am thankful that I've been able to go through it again to bring a second life into this world. I love being a mom and feeling the unconditional love from Evan. To get to experience that twice is truly a blessing. I know Logan is going to bring another level of love and bonding to our family and I can't wait to experience that with John and Evan. So, until our little angel is here please excuse my crazy hormones and know that the end is near!!

Me and my belly at 37 weeks

My sausage like ankel by mid afternoon on most days. It doesn't even look like it belongs on my body.

Feeling the Love

This past weekend I was reminded of all the awesome people that are in my life and that truly love and care for me. I've always known people were there for me, but sometimes when life starts throwing you curve balls and your 8 months pregnant, with all the crazy hormones that come with it, that love and support can slip your mind.

I know that I haven't been as good as a trooper with this pregnancy as I was the last one, and I try not to complain about it but sometimes I just can't help it. This past weekend was exactly what I needed to remind myself that what I'm going through is temporary and for a greater reason that I still can't even imagine. My baby sprinkle for Logan (yes, we finally decided on a name. Woo-hoo!) was this weekend which meant my mom and step dad were coming into town. I think my mom being around was exactly what I needed because I just felt better about life in general by the end of the weekend and their visit. Even though I'm 31 years old, I still need my mom and there are certain things that only a mom's touch can make right. I can't exactly explain what that touch is, but it's something magical that I can only hope my two boys will feel the same about with me.

The baby sprinkle was on Sunday and I couldn't have asked for a better shower. I'm lucky enough to have some great in-laws who hosted the shower and made sure they took care of every last detail. Walking into La Madeline's where the shower was held (which happens to be one of my favorite places to eat) and seeing the decorations, the favors, the food, and most importantly all the friends and family that gathered to celebrate Logan's birth really touched me. There were a couple of times throughout the shower that I stopped and thought how blessed I was to have all these amazing people in my life. It wasn't the material things that day that we received but the thought and meaning behind it. To know that everyone in that room loves me and Logan (without even meeting him yet) made these past 8 months of pregnancy madness worth it. It also made me stop and count my blessings and focus on the positive side of things which in all honesty I needed to do.

So, my thought/reminder of the day to those of you that read this is when life has you down stop and look around you at all the wonderful people God has put in your life. Suddenly anything that has you down and out won't seem to matter as much.

My mother-in-law (on the left) and my mom (on the right). Two amazing women in my life

My sister-in-law, one of the shower hostess

My BFF, shoulder to lean on, fellow mommy and all around amazing woman

One of my dear college friends, confidants, and fellow mommy- Kristin

Three of the best coworkers and friend's a girl could ask for- Sherri, Ashley, and Marci

Me at 33 weeks

Bite Your Tongue I say!

Have you ever walked through life thinking you were a circus act or a freak show? No, well consider yourself lucky. I cannot believe the comments I hear from people on my baby belly. The comments come with such frequency and grander that I'm starting to think that I'm a walking freak show at the circus like the bearded lady or something. A few of the comments I hear almost weekly are:

Are you sure you're not carrying twins?

Oh my goodness you're huge!

You're going to pop any day now!

You are really getting big now!

And my latest comment that almost made me reach across and do a Three Stooges type slap to all 3 ladies was at a birthday dinner for a family member. We were all sitting down when one family member gets up from the table because they see a friend at another table a few tables away. The conversation went like this:
Family Member- "Have you seen Robyn? No, well wait until you see her stomach!" (I should call out said family member for even starting this conversation, but I'll take the higher road here)
To which I was then called over to the table to meet said friends (talk about a walk of shame).
Family Member Friend- "Wow! When are you due?"
Me- "September 8th"
Family Member Friend- "Oh my goodness, are you have twins?"
Me (between gritted teeth) - "Nope just one"
Family Member Friend- "Well, you are going to be humongous by then you poor thing!"

Humongous? Are you freakin' kidding me?!?! What planet do you live on that makes you think that's a nice thing to say to someone? As I waddled my way back to the table cussing all of them under my breath, I decided that from here on out any woman I saw that was pregnant I would tell her how amazing she looked.

I don't remember getting these kinds of comments when I pregnant with Evan and technically I've put on less weight this time than I did with him. My oh so sweet husband and friends tell me people only make those comments because I went from being a bean pole to now looking like I swallowed a basketball. Which I can see, but does EVERYONE have to comment on how big I look? I know I'm pregnant and carrying around another human being, but NO ONE pregnant or not wants to hear comments all day on how big she is! So, I'm asking all of you that read this to take pity on the next pregnant woman you see and tell her something about her looks that will compliment her and whatever you do DO NOT mention her size at all!

Me at 28 weeks. I'm sure I'm not doing anything to help my cause but I'm sure I'll look back at this pic and smile at it and all the comments that went along with it one day!

Getting It Together

This past weekend was so incredible and fun that I felt like I had to share it with you! For those of you that have been reading this blog since it started (which was when I first found out I was pregnant with Evan) know that I feel like being pregnant can sometimes be a 9 month "no fun" jail sentence. And before anyone gets upset, I'm not trying to discount being pregnant because there are a lot of great things that come with it (like people being nicer to you and holding doors, elevators, or even letting you cut in a long line at the women's bathroom at a public event), but there are also a handful of things you can't do when pregnant (like drinking a glass or two of wine, going out to dance the night away, and certain activities like jet skiing or sky diving). So, I feel like a lot of times I'm left out of the fun that is going on around me.

This past weekend proved to me that there is fun to be had when you are pregnant. I've always been a big country music fan and I found out that a couple people from work were going to the Kenney Chesney and Tim McGraw concert that John and I had bought tickets too months ago. One of my coworkers suggested that we all get together before the concert to tailgate and enjoy some food, drinks, and good company. I was all for it! So Friday night I got a bunch of tailgating food ready (Don't judge! I mean if I can't partake in the adult beverage portion of the tailgating. I was definitely going to make sure I had the food portion covered!) which consisted of croissant wrapped sausages, salad on a stick, chile lime wings, 2 different kinds of sausage links, and my favorite Rolo/Pretzel bites (recipe can be found here). I also made sure we had plenty of non alcoholic drinks like cherry limeades, water, cokes, and an O'Doul's or two for me (hey, I never said that I didn't miss the taste of a ice cold beer on a summer day).

On Saturday we were lucky enough to have John's mom watch even for the day/night so we could go to the concert and we dropped Evan off around noon at nana's house and we took off for a fun day of tailgating. I was a little worried the Texas heat would get to me, but with our big ESPN tent and the nice breeze that was blowing all day it really wasn't that bad. Once we found everyone in the parking lot we all had passes too and got everything set up the rest of the day was perfect! A bunch of other people brought food and beverages so we had a popular spot on the way into Cowboys Stadium. The part I liked best about the tailgating was getting to know some of my coworkers that I normally don't interact with at work, and it further confirmed what I've believed all along.....I work with some AMAZING people! After about 3 hours of tailgating fun, John and I made our way in Jerry World (a.k.a Cowboys Stadium) and found our seats which were great! I then enjoyed 4 hours of my two favorite male country singers all while dancing and singing at the top of my lungs to all their songs. After the concert our tailgating group met back up where we enjoyed some more food and drinks before calling it a night and heading home.

Sunday was also a fun day, but in a different sense and meaning. John and I finally decided to become members of the church we've been going to for awhile now and part of the process was John getting baptized. This was a huge day for us both because it meant having a spiritual home and really vowing to raise and guide our kids in the way God would want. It's also something that I've been unsettled about since having Evan because I wanted him to grow up knowing God and church and laying that strong foundation for him. Since John and I came from two different religious backgrounds (me Baptist, and him Catholic) it's always been a touchy subject for us. So, it was great to find a church that we both loved and that we felt so welcomed and at home with.

All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend! And it was great to dispel my "no fun" thought on being pregnant for a few days.

23 Week Comparison

I almost thought about not posting this 23 week comparison for a couple of reasons.
1. The number of comments I've gotten from people at how big I look. They usually follow it up with, "it's just your belly, not you" but what girl wants to hear how huge they are? Um, NO ONE! I kid you not about a week ago I was at a memorial service for a friend's mom that passed and a woman asked me my due date. When I told her, she said "Oh my goodness! Are you pregnant with twins?" Not only did I have to hold my hand back from slapping her upside her head, but I felt like crap the rest of the time.

2. My stomach really is bigger this time around. I know that your second pregnancy this usually happens because your muscles have been stretched before, but I really am starting to wonder if I'm going to give birth to a toddler.

3. There is nothing cute, sexy, beautiful, or charming about the comparisons.

So, why am I posting it then? Well, I'm sure there is going to be one day that I look back and want to see it and remember how awesome it was being pregnant.

Me at 23 weeks this time around. Why this uploads my pictures sideways when I correct it before saving, beats me but you can't miss the belly :)

Me at 23 weeks last time around. 

Very Pinteresting!

I love making things, especially when the thing you've been working on turns out as you had hoped, you save money doing it and people actually appreciate your work. I wouldn't label myself as "crafty" per say but I wouldn't mind picking up that label one day. I've always admired people that are good at being crafty and have blessed that a few friends of mine are very good at it and have bestowed some great gifts on me that I've held dear.
I have two favorite websites that help feed this homemade obsession of mine, Etsy (click here to check it out) and Pinterest (click here to check it out), both of which I've only become rescent fans of. Etsy is a great website if you want to buy someone else's homemade gifts. I've bought plenty of things off of there including a tree decal for our soon to be nursery (take a look),  a time and life saving quiet book for Evan (looky), and some adorable necklaces that made fantastic Christmas gifts (here, here, and here). I also got a ton of things off of there for Evan's second birthday for the circus theme that really brought everything together.
Pintrest is great website if you want to try the crafts yourself and give Martha Stewart a run for her money. For Mother's Day this year I decided to test my crafting skills and make my mom's, John's mom, and his sister their gifts. I wanted the gifts to meet certain criteria.
1. They had to be semi easy to make.
2. They had to be something that I would want to get as a gift
3. They couldn't involve any sewing. Sewing is something that baffles me and even though I own a sewing machine and I'm not ashamed to admit it is still in the box after 2 years of getting it. (que the gasps!).
After a couple of days of searching I found a post on how to make your own photo blocks (check it out here). The moment I saw it, I knew this was the Mother's Day gift to end all Mother's Day. So, I ran out to Michael's and got all my supplies and got to working on them right away. I must say I was impressed with myself and thought they turned out great, and so did all the mom's I gave them too. They were super easy to make and I impressed myself (which isn't that hard to do, but one can pat themselves on the back every now and then right?!?)Check them out below.

My mom's photo block. For some reason I couldn't upload the picture correctly despite numerous times trying. Maybe my next project I should take on is an IT one :)

The back of my mom's photo block

John's mom's photo block (again sorry for the sideways pic)

John's sister's photo block

Back of John's sister's photo block



12 Important LIfe Lessons

Every now I then I'll stumble across an article that is so profound and meaningful that I have to share it. Below is one by Tony Schwartz, the president and CEO of The Energy Project. It is entitled: The Twelve Most Important Lessons I've Learned. They are as follows:

1. The more we know about ourselves, the more power we have to behave better. Humility is underrated. We each have an infinite capacity for self-deception — countless unconscious ways we protect ourselves from pain, uncertainty, and responsibility — often at the expense of others and of ourselves. Endless introspection can turn into self-indulgence, but deepening self-awareness is essential to freeing ourselves from our reactive, habitual behaviors.

I feel like this is an ongoing life lesson. Becoming a wife and mom has taught me a lot about myself and things I didn't even know were possible that I had lying deep inside of me. To this day I'm still learning about myself and trying to better me everyday. There are days that I don't feel like I'm doing or being the best I can be, but I think those days are the ones that push us to really look within on how to deal with the curve balls life throws at us.


2. Notice the good. We each carry an evolutionary predisposition to dwell on what's wrong in our lives. The antidote is to deliberately take time out each day to notice what's going right, and to feel grateful for what you've got. It's probably a lot.

Sometimes it's easier to focus on the bad that's going on in our lives than the good. I know for me it can be a downward spiral once I let that negative focus take a hold of me. I start picking apart everything that is wrong and before I know it, I'm mad at everything and everyone in my life. I start wanting to question God and what his plan is for me and my family and my actions to others aren't that great. I'm trying to make a effort each day to thank God for what I do have in my life and try to keep a positive outlook on life. Is that hard to do when Evan is having a major melt down, I have a million things to do at home and work, and other outside factors seem to be weighing me down? Heck, yes! But in every negative there are postives. One quote I try to keep in mind is "If God will lead you to it, he will lead you through it."

3. Let go of certainty. The opposite isn't uncertainty. It's openness, curiosity and a willingness to embrace paradox, rather than choose up sides. The ultimate challenge is to accept ourselves exactly as we are, but never stop trying to learn and grow.

We've all heard the old saying the only thing that is certain in life is paying taxes and dying. As much as that saying makes me want to roll my eyes and smack the person that is saying it, it's true. This life lesson is hard for me to grasp. I've always been a structured scheduled person. I like to have a plan and then stick with it. It's hard for me to fly by the seat of my pants, which is why John is such a perfect compliment to me. He takes the outlook of let life happen how it will and roll with it. Being with him for the past 12 years has let me let go a little. I still have my days when I want a plan, but I've found the greatest moments and memories that I've made in my life happen when I least expect it and aren't planned at all.

4. Never seek your value at the expense of someone else's. When we're feeling devalued, our reactive instinct is to do anything to restore what we've lost. Devaluing the person who made you feel bad will only prompt more of the same in return.

I really feel like if more people took this lesson to heart, the world would be in a much better place. For some reason we like to attack others to make ourselves feel good. I've been guilty of it, and in the end you just feel worse about yourself. Now that I'm a mom, I think about how my actions effect Evan and how I would feel if someone treated him the way I'm treating someone and it really brings a new perspective to life.

5. Do the most important thing first in the morning and you'll never have an unproductive day. Most of us have the highest energy early in the day, and the fewest distractions. By focusing for a designated period of time, without interruption, on the highest value task for no more than 90 minutes, it's possible to get an extraordinary amount of work accomplished in a short time.

I feel most productive in the morning (at least after my first cup of coffee). I've been practicing this life lesson since I started my working career and found that it works like a charm every time.

6. It's possible to be excellent at anything, but nothing valuable comes easy and discomfort is part of growth. Getting better at something depends far less on inborn talent than it does the willingness to practice the activity over and over, and to seek out regular feedback, the more precise the better.

Although it can be hard to hear and act on constructive criticism, it really does help you grow as a person. Working at BCG, an environment that fosters immediate feedback, I've learned some important professional lessons that have carried over into my personal life. Those lessons has made me a better employee, wife, mother, and friend.

7. The more behaviors you intentionally make automatic in your life, the more you'll get done. If you have to think about doing something each time you do it, you probably won't do it for very long. The trick is to get more things done using less energy and conscious self-control. How often do you forget to brush your teeth?

I reall like this lesson because this is where my OCD/over planning works to my advantage. I have certain actions and behaviors that I do out of habit that have worked in my favor. This doesn't mean that I've completely mastered this lesson, but one that try to continue to foster and make work in my favor.

8. Slow down. Speed is the enemy of nearly everything in life that really matters. It's addictive and it undermines quality, compassion, depth, creativity, appreciation and real relationship.

I have to remind myself of this on daily basis. I rush to get ready in the morning, rush to get Evan to daycare, rush to get dinner done at night, and rush to get through the next task that I'm doing. Evan has really opened my eyes to this. Have you ever just went on a walk with a 2 year old? If not you should, because you will learn so many things. Evan will stop to look at everything. The grass, a bug, a crack in the sidewalk, and the list goes on and on. This is a true example of really taking in life and enjoying all it's wonder. So, on days that I feel like I'm rushing through things I try to go on a walk with Evan to remind me to slow down and smell the flowers.

9. The feeling of having enough is magical. It rarely depends on how much you've got. More is rarely better. Too much of anything eventually becomes toxic.

The "keeping up with the Jones'" view on life is destroying us. Everyone is always trying to one up each other. I've fallen victim to this too. I've wanted the designer purses, the "it" outfit of the season, or the latest and greatest car but in the end all of those things don't matter. In becoming mom I've realized it's the life memories and family that you build that really makes a difference in our lives. People don't say that they wish they would have bought the new ipad before they died, no, instead they wish they had more time to be with loved ones.
10. Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do, and don't expect anything in return. Your values are one of the only possessions you have that no one can take away from you. Doing the right thing may not always get you what you think you want in the moment, but it will almost always leave you feeling better about yourself in the long run. When in doubt, default to calm and kind.

This comes back to the basic rule of treating people how you would like to be treated and do what you would want to be done if you were in their shoes. Again, I think about Evan and how I would want people to treat him and it has changed my actions on a lot of things.
11. Add more value in the world than you're using up. We spend down the earth's resources every day. Life's primary challenge is to put more back into the world than we take out.

I used to think being "green" was a silly hippy thing that didn't really effect me. Boy was I wrong! What we do to the environment today will effect our children's tomorrow. I think little things add up. I've started recycling, picking up trash when I see it if I'm taking a walk, using green cleaning products, and using reusable water bottles. None of these things are major, but if everyone did them think of the positive impact it would have on this world.
12. Savor every moment — even the difficult ones. It all goes so fast.

True that! I look back on my life and can't believe how quickly time has flown by. I can't believe that I've been with my husband for over a decad, or that I graduated from college almost 10 years ago, or that my son is two!! All of these things have come with their ups and downs and I wouldn't change anything about them because it's brought me to where I am today. So, go out their and seize the day and make the best of it! I know I'm going too!

The Big Reveal

I've been meaning to write this post for awhile, but somewhere between the starting of daycare, tantrums, pregnancy brain, and life this fell to the way side.
Back in mid April John and I had the BIG SONOGRAM....the one where we found out the sex of our little peanut growing inside of me. I know the intention of the "big" sonogram isn't to find out the sex. It's to make sure the baby is growing properly and everything is healthy, but to me it's the holy grail of sonograms. The big reveal! The one that I lose sleep over. It's also the one that I start crafting up creative ways to tell our family what we are having.

I've always loved a good surprise and the anticipation that goes with it. The reveal sonogram is one of those surprises and one that John and I and our family and friends get excited about, so I feel like the way you tell it to people has to match that excitement.
I came up with my idea on how to reveal the sex to our family from Pinterest. For those of you that are not members of the website, YOU MUST GO NOW and join!! In fact, here is the link to it (click here now!)go to it and check it out! Pinterest is full of handy tips, recipes, and gift ideas that will make you feel like the next Martha Stewart (or at least make you think you can be the next Martha Stewart). When I was on there one day perusing the site I saw a post about gender reveal cupcakes where you inject the cupcake with blue (if it's a boy) or pink (if it's a girl) icing, so when the person bites down into it they find out what it is. Genius I say! I mean cupcakes, icing, and the reveal all wrapped up in one neat little surprise package? I'M IN!! So, that's the route I decided to go with both of our families and it was a hit!

Although I didn't get many pictures of the reveal because I was too busy shoving my face full of cupcake goodness and hugging everyone, I did get some.

The Gender Revealing Cupcakes

Doesn't this just make you want to find out?

Biting into the yummy goodness

And in case you didn't know, we are having a BOY!! 

John and I are thrilled that we are having another boy! It's a win win for me.....we already have all the boy things you could want or need and I get to remain the queen of the house! Plus, what's cuter that two brothers who love each other and are best friends and are momma's little boys! Nothing, I tell you! Nothing!



22 weeks

As promised I actually remembered to have John take a picture of me this weekend so I could post it on here. I'm 22 weeks and 2 days here, which for everyone that doesn't want to do the math that translates to 5 1/2 months. More pics to follow!

And just for fun, I thought I'd compare what I looked like at 22 weeks when I was pregnant with Evan. So, here I was last time at this stage in my pregnancy.

Busting out at the seams!

I've now hit that point in my pregnancy that not only is it obvious that I'm pregnant, but things are starting to get a little uncomfortable. These past couple of days I could have sworn my skin was tearing because of the growth of the baby. In fact, I even asked John to double check my skin to make sure there wasn't a gash or cut of some sort from all this growing.

I feel like one day I went from not showing at all to all of a sudden popping out over night. I also thought with the second pregnancy that I wouldn't have the aches and pains I did the first time around, but boy was I wrong. I don't know if it is from the sudden onset of growth but my stomach muscles are killing me! And I already feel like I need to wear some sort of supportive band to hold my stomach up.

I'm also up to at least three middle of the night trips to the bathroom. I'm still trying to figure out how my body can possibly make so much urine during the night when I'm not drinking anything. Is it possible for some of your blood to turn to water? Because that is the only logical reason why I'm getting up so much.....well maybe not the only logical reason but it's the only one I can come up with right now. I'm also getting up almost every hour if not sooner at work to go to the bathroom. Which would be ok, but my office is like a fish bowl with lots of windows and an open concept, and the bathrooms are right by two main conference rooms that only have glass walls, and that always seem full. So, I can't help but wonder what the people in there think when they see me passing by numerous times during the day. On the plus side, I am getting in a mild work out with all the walking I'm doing to and from the bathroom. I've also made a game out of my bathroom trips. Sometimes when I go I have a full bladder, but other times when it seems like I have a full bladder I'll get in there only to find that it was only full of a couple of trickles. This baby already likes to play jokes on me! So, I now try to guess what kind of bladder release each trip will be and if I get three right out of the day I treat myself with some chocolate. Not sure if that's really a game, or just a way to justify my craving for large amounts of chocolate but it helps me feel better either way.

One of the best things about my being prego is feeling baby Chilcoat moving around so much. I had forgotten how much I loved that feeling! It's a feeling that is indescribable and one that I wish I could always feel. The baby is most active at night and around lunch, so those are the two times of days that I look forward to. I'm also going to go out on a limb and say this baby boy might be musical because it feels like he is playing the piano on belly when he moves. It's the best music ever!

Well, I need to wrap this up because like clockwork I need to go use the bathroom.

As a side note, it has also been mentioned that I haven't posted any pregnancy pictures this time around like last, so I'm going to have John take some of me and try to be better at it. I'm just usually so tired at night that all I want to do after Evan goes down is take a warm shower and lay in bed watching my HGTV shows. Nothing like a good episode of House Hunters to help relax the day away!

I survived!!

Have you ever had one of those weeks that seem so stressful and full of events that when you look back at everything you wondered, "how in the world did I survive that?!" Which is then usually followed by the need to celebrate or do something to pat yourself on the back?!

Well, last week was one of those weeks for me. The biggest thing/event that happened was Evan starting daycare. We've been blessed that John's mom has been watching Evan up until this point, and still wanted to but John and I felt that it was time for him to try new things and start socializing a little now that he's older. I think that I was more stressed out about than Evan was, although there were several mornings and evenings that he tried to convince me otherwise. The first day was pretty rough. When Evan realized I was dropping him off and not staying to play with him he started crying the cry I hate the most (most moms will agree that their child has different forms of crying, Evan has roughly 7 different "cries"). I call it his shrieking cry which comes out only when he's upset or hurt. So, you can imagine how it tugs on my heart strings. It broke my heart to walk away from him when he was that upset and I even teared up leaving day care. Later on that night he decided to let John and I know how upset he was with the drastic change in his schedule by getting so upset that he actually threw up during one of his tantrum/crying episodes. I've never seen him do this before so it made me feel like the worst mom on the planet. The rest of the night I just held him in my arms and gave him lots of jelly beans (I know probably not the best message to send to him, but I felt bad and wanted to make him feel better and who doesn't love a jelly bean?! I ate at least half the bag after he went to sleep that night). The next day was a little bit better, but his crying episode started before we left the house so it wasn't as bad when we got to daycare. The rest of the week went the same, and as the days went on he got a little better with the crying. The one thing daycare has brought on is the comeback of the "witching hour(s)". For some reason at night around 5ish Evan loses it. If one thing doesn't go his way, a tantrum will ensue. I haven't figured out if this is because he's not sleeping as much at daycare, just him letting the stress of his day out, or part of the terrible two's.

On top of that big change in our lives, I had my in depth sonogram appointment with the Fetal Care Center at Baylor because at my last sonogram the doctor saw some fluid on the baby's kidney's. It is a mild case, but my doctor wanted to have a closer look so in I went. I was hoping that I would get the news that the fluid had gone away and all was ok, but I didn't. In fact the fluid had gone up a milliliter (from 3 ml on the right side of the kidney to 4 ml, and from 5 ml on the left side of the kidney to 6 ml.). It is still consider mild, until we hit the 10 milliliter mark, but the doctor's at Baylor didn't make me feel good about it. I know doctor's have to give it to you straight and prepare you for the worst, but I left Baylor in a grumpy mood and not liking life. I did talk to my doctor the next day who assured me everything was fine and that this is very common in boy babies and almost 99% of the time fixes itself before the baby is even born, which made me feel a little better.

John also decided to resign his teaching and coaching position for next year so he can go back to school to get his masters so he can pursue what he's always wanted, which is being a principal. I'm thrilled for this new step in his life as it means he'll be home more to help me out and be around the family, but cut backs in our budget that we will have to do is a little stressful especially with baby #2 on the way. We will be ok, but definitely have to watch our spending, and in the end as long as we have a roof over our heads, food on the table, and a healthy family what more could I really want or need? (thanks to Rev. Rocky for this Sunday's church message that dealt with that. I totally needed to hear it, and made me realize there is more to life than having the new clothes, shoes, or purses).

Needless to say with all of that going on plus work plus having wacked out hormones from being pregnant by the time Friday rolled around I was exhausted and thankful I made it through the week without having a complete mental break down. And true to form to celebrate making it through the week John and I had a date night Saturday where we ate at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants, Mi Cocina, followed by a mani and pedi and complete relaxation. Something John and I both needed and are thankful we have such an awesome support system to allow us to do that.

So, here is hoping this week is better and stress free! Hope everyone has a great week!

Happy 2nd Birthday Evan!!

I've seen several other people do this idea, so I won't claim it but I will say that I think it's great and have decided to start up the tradition myself of writing a letter to my kids on each of their birthdays. Since Evan is turning two tomorrow (where does the time go?) below is my happy birthday letter to him.


Evan,
I almost don't know where to start on the absolute joy, love, and laughter you've brought to your dad and mine lives these past two years. Every day is a start to a new adventure and wonderment as we get to see childhood through your eyes. I'm amazed at how far you've grown and come in the last year. You are now a walking, jumping, laughing, ball of energy that cannot get enough of the world around you. You are starting to assert your independence a little bit but no so much that you don't want me or your dad close by to explain the new thing you've found whether it be a flower, a toy or even a bug.

I look forward to seeing you every day especially after long days at work when you greet me with a boisterous "momma!" followed by a kiss. I love how you want to bring everything you find to us and want to share your most prized possessions like a half eaten jelly bean or cracker with us. I also adore how you are obsessed with tractors and anything construction truck related and how you will yell at the top of your lungs "TRACTOR!" when you see one. I also love how into music you are and how you insist on hearing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" for the 10th time in a row. I also love to watch you sing and dance to Jack's Big Music Show or any other music that comes on.

I can see both your dad and me in you and your actions. You have your dad's love for sports, especially baseball and one of your favorite past times is throwing the ball to whoever will catch it. You are almost a spitting image of your dad, minus your eyes which look like mine. You have your dad's laid back attitude and take everything in stride. You have my sensitive side and need to make those around you happy. You also have my love for sweet and salty food combinations and nurturing side.

As our family grows over the next year I want you to know you'll always be my baby. I know you are going to be the best big brother anyone could have because you're already the best son any mother could have. Happy birthday my little scooter buggie!

Love you with all my heart and soul,
Mommy

I'm so excited! And I just can't hide it!!

Tomorrow is a day I've been anxiously waiting for since I saw the little blue plus sign on my pregnancy stick the day I found out I was pregnant (which just so happened to be New Year's Day)! What day is this you might ask? We finally get to find out if we will be buying more blue or pink! If we'll have a Barney or a Wilma. If we'll have more snips and snails, and puppy dog tails or sugar and spice and everything nice. If...well I think you get the point.

I must say there is just as much excitement the second time around as the first. There is something about the wonder of it all and being able to talk to John and everyone else about what we think it is and everything that goes with that. This pregnancy has been so different from the last that I honestly don't know what we are having. In my head I think that all our family is going to have is boys since that's all that's around us (no girls anywhere, zip, nadda, zilch). Then there is a part of me that thinks it might be a boy since pregnancy has been so different.

In one of our many talks about it, John said for the first time he thought it was a girl. However, he said that last time and I was more shocked to find out Evan was a boy than when I found out I was pregnant. I was certain he was a girl. I'm happy he wasn't because the joy and energy he's brought to our lives is amazing and I absolutely love how he adores his momma! As every parent to be will tell you, in the end it really doesn't matter what sex the baby is as long as he or she is healthy and I really do feel that way. I'm ok with having all boys around me and being the queen of the family, and I'm ok with having a little mini me. Someone to dress up and have girl's days with.

I think what I'm most looking forward to is getting a start on the nursery. I have some great ideas for both sexes and I'd like to capitalize on my new found energy while I can and while it's here. I'd also like to start getting organized for the little ones arrival, and all of that is contingent on the sex.

So, if you see me today and I seem a bit out of it. My mind is already at my doctor's appointment that is taking place first thing in the morning tomorrow. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

Differences

I realized I haven't written anything about my pregnancy this go around, so decided it's time to change that. For some reason I thought this pregnancy would be like the last one. I mean, why wouldn't it? It's still the same body that it took place in the last time right?! The answer is a big fat NO!

This pregnancy has been different in many ways. The first of which being the morning sickness I was plagued with up until 2 weeks ago. I didn't have an ounce of sickness with Evan, so when I did with this one I wasn't sure what to do. The worst part about having morning sickness is I never got the point of throwing up, but I would get so on the verge that I think I'd rather of thrown up. And it seemed to hit me like clockwork, the first bout in the afternoon right after lunch and then again at night when I'd lay down to go to sleep. I lost count of the number of times I would rush to the bathroom and just sit there for what seemed like hours waiting for the sickness to subside. The one good thing about having morning sickness is it kept my cravings and bad eating habits at bay. I actually lost weight (5 pounds) from one check up to the other in a month. I'm sure I'll more than make up for it later on, but you gotta find the silver lining in everything right?!

The next difference has been the crazy hot flashes I've been experiencing. I can go from being just fine, to feeling like I'm burning up and in the pits of hell in a second. The flashes are so strong and severe that sometimes they make me feel light headed. All I want to do is strip down to my birthday suit and sit inside a freezer (I know, the mental picture disturbs me too!). It has me a bit frightened of when I do go through menopause when I'm older because I'm not sure I'll be able to keep my sanity. I'm hoping the flashes will subside before the horrible Texas summer heat is here. I know I'm not in for an easy ride being pregnant in the dead of summer, but hopefully God will have some mercy on me and make it a little easier.

The last major difference I've noticed is the bad sciatic pain I started getting about a month and a half ago. It's something I've always dealt with, but the pain that it's been bringing lately is so bad that it will paralyze me in my tracks. The pain shoots from my butt to the middle of my back and is unlike any pain I've ever felt. I've done a lot of research on it, and it is common in pregnant women but usually doesn't start until the 6 month of pregnancy. Lucky for me, I get to experience it earlier. Yay!

As for cravings, I haven't wanted anything unusual but I can't get enough fruit. My weekly fruit consumption is ridiculous and only getting worse. The fruit I crave the most, grapes! I'm not sure what is in grapes that my body needs but whatever it is it has me going through pounds of them. I'm afraid I'm going to start looking like the fruit of the loom guy only a scarier version if I keep it up.

I'm still waiting on the second trimester energy boost that everyone says you get. Right now, I'm tired all of the time. I even wake up tired. I seem to go from being semi tired to extremely exhausted in the matter of seconds. I've even had a couple of break downs about being so drained and tired, I won't go into those break downs in detail, but I'm going to chalk those up to pregnancy hormones.

Since I'm only 16 weeks along, I'm sure there will be other differences along the way and hopefully some of them will be good differences (like not getting those horrible Charlie horses in the middle of the night). I'm just blessed that I have this little angel and that we can add to our family. Until next time.....

Guilt Trip

I think every mom, wife, sister, or daughter can admit they suffer from guilt when it comes to life and work. I've always had to deal with this type of guilt, but once I had Evan I feel like it kicked in ten fold. I constantly wonder if I'm giving him enough of my time, teaching him the right things, being available to him when he needs me.
My guilt trip seemed to almost consume me this week when Evan fell sick. He had a high temp, a horrible cough, and wasn't eating anything (this alone will drive a mom crazy!). This is all came at a time that work is beyond hectic and I couldn't afford to take a day off. John's mom was more than happy to watch him and help him feel better, but I felt guilty. That guilt was only magnified by the fact that I wasn't sleeping at night and every morning he would beg for me to stay with him and cry while doing it. Talk about pulling at your heart strings! I cried every morning on the way to work over it (some of that I blame on the pregnancy hormones). It's situations like that where I question if I should have chose to put work on the back burner. Was I a bad mom for putting work first this week?
I wish I could say these feelings of guilt only happen when Evan is sick, but they don't. There are nights when I get home that I'm so spent from my work day that I dial in being a mom. I put on Evan's favorite TV show, make an easy dinner for him, and hope that will keep him happy until bed time. I've been told by several people to savor every moment because I'll miss them when they are gone. I agree with that to an extent, but sometimes the moment has passed me by and I'm just beat. Then the guilt trip sets in. Should I be tuned in and discovering new activities with Evan every day and waking moment? Will this affect him growing up?
It's crazy all the way I beat myself up over being a parent, and I won't even go into the guilt trip I put on myself on being a good wife, friend, daughter, and sister. I have to accept that I am doing the best I can at juggling everything, and know that as long as I love everyone in my life with everything I got that things will work out in the long run. So, if you are reading this and feel a little guilty about the same things, give yourself a break and give me a ring and we can pat each other on the back for doing the best we can!

When One Door Closes.....

I thought a long time about whether or not I should post this blog entry, but decided that it would be therapeutic and help hold me to the promise I made myself when I first started writing this post....to keep it real on all accounts. So, here it goes.....



It's been said that when God closes one door, he opens another one for you. I've heard that time and time again, but never really had to come to terms with it until a couple of months ago. I was pregnant with what would have been our second child, when 7 weeks into it I miscarried. It was a traumatic time in my life and one that took months to come to terms with. Only our family and close friends knew about it, and even having their support I felt alone and depressed. I blamed myself for what happened, and even though in my heart of hearts I knew it wasn't my fault. There was still a piece of me that thought I was somewhat responsible.
John and I found out I was pregnant on my birthday (surprise!) and instead of the initial ecstatic reaction I had when I found out I was pregnant with Evan, my mind went from being happy to panic mode. Was this the right time? How would Evan take the news? Do I have enough love for this second child since I love Evan so deeply? Crazy thoughts I know, but I have to think every parent has some of those questions bouncing around in their head when they find out about the second pregnancy. Those questions came back to haunt me after I miscarried. Did God hear those questions and decide we weren't ready to be parents again? Did my body sense that stress and go into abortion mode? After the day I miscarried I hated myself for asking those questions and would have given anything to be pregnant again. The miscarriage also came at a time when everyone around me, I felt like, was announcing their pregnancy news. I was thrilled for these people, but it was also like a knife through my heart. A constant reminder of what I didn't have.
After months of wallowing in my sorrow and reminding myself that everything happens for a reason, even if we don't know what that reason is; I pulled myself up by my boot straps and decided not to let it consume any more of me. I looked around at the things that God had blessed me with. A fantastic and supportive husband, a perfect baby boy, a great job, a roof over my head, great friends, and the list goes on and on. I started to focus on the positives in my life and things got better.
So much better that John and I are expecting our second child September 8th! Things were a little different this time around when we found out I was pregnant. I was cautiously optimistic. I didn't let myself get too excited until I saw the baby on the first ultrasound and heard his/her heart beat. We decided not to tell anyone about the news, which killed me, and wait until I was completely out of the danger zone of the first trimester. When I did finally see our baby, all John and I could do was cry. They were happy, relieved tears, and all my concerns and worries seemed to melt away. I looked at that first ultrasound a couple times a day after that doctor appointment just to remind myself it was real.

So, now that I've fully come to terms with what John and I went through I couldn't agree more with the saying, "When God closes one door, he opens another".

Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?

Even though Evan's vocabulary isn't that big, I am amazed at how much he understands. I can ask or tell him to do about anything and he does it. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but for me watching my little baby grow into a little boy it just blows me away!
For instance, last night I asked him if he could put his dish in the dishwasher and throw away a napkin (note the two different tasks here) and watched in bewilderment as he walked over to the dishwasher, set the napkin down, put his cup in the upper rack (YES, he even put it in the right rack), shut the dishwasher door, and then picked up his napkin and walked over to the trash to throw it away. I realized I did indeed ask him to do this, but the fact that he comprehended everything I said and did it in the right order and everything just blew me away.
I've also found that Evan actually listens better if I ask him to do something or task him with a chore. He wants to help, even if it means simple chores take that much longer (which they often do), and that in itself leaves me a little baffled. I'm glad he wants to help and to see his cute little peanut head as he is cleaning up his toys or trying to clear or set the dinner table is a total cuteness overload that I never expected. For some reason I thought the unwillingness to help that you often hear about with pre-teen and teenage kids started at a very young age, but boy was I wrong. Don't get me wrong, there are times that I ask Evan to help clean up or to do something and he won't but for the most part he's momma's little helper and the cutest one I've ever seen at that!

The UPs and downs of living with a toddler

As any mom can contest too, having a toddler in the house means never having a dull moment. Each day is different than the last and you never know what will make your toddler smile or rage into a full blown temper tantrum. One day they will love having fruit and cheese for a snack and the next they will act like you have ended their life by even offering it to them. I must say it has been a whirlwind of excitement; tears, laughter, frustration, and love having Evan turn from a baby to a toddler.
For the most part Evan is very laid back and has been since he's been a baby. He'll usually go with the flow as long as John or I are around, and generally likes trying new things. Some of my fondest memories or experiences with Evan come from the simple things in life. For example, if I need to see what pure joy looks like all I have to do is take Evan to the park. He lives and breathes for the park it seems like. We took our yearly family bonding trip to Broken Bow a week ago and visited not one, not two, but four parks in one day. At the last park as Evan was running from the slide to the stairs to slide down the slide for the 50th time, he looked at me with a huge grin on his face and squealed a shout for joy that I will never forget and will bring a smile to my face every time I replay it back in my head. His love for being outdoors and playgrounds has taken me back to my childhood several times.
Evan also has a big heart and loves to love. I can't count the number of times he's stopped playing or doing something to get up and give me a hug or kiss for no reason at all. And every time he does that my heart skips a beat. It's those types of moments that make being a mom the most rewarding thing in the world.
As with every up, there is always a downside. By downside I mean the temper tantrums that come with being a toddler, and wanting to figure out the world your way. When Evan has his temper tantrums, time almost seems like it stands still and they go on forever. Half the time I have no idea what he is so upset about, and since you can't talk any logic into a toddler in the throes of a tantrum I wind up standing there staring at him in bewilderment or putting him in time out until he can calm down and show me what he's so upset about. The other downside to having a very opinionated 21 month old is when it comes to food. I've mentioned it before, but Evan is the pickiest eater I've ever known. He turns his nose up to everything from mashed potatoes to mac and cheese to Jell-O. This has led to many power struggles in our house and usually ends in me giving in and making him pizza, hot dogs, or grilled cheese. And before you say anything, yes, I am aware that none of those things are very nutritional. I have been saved by the fact that Evan loves fruit and I can trick him into eating pureed vegetables, so he's at least getting some of his nutrition that way.
Having a boy in the house also means unlimited amounts of energy that I somehow have to figure out how to burn during the day. It also means that there is no rest for the weary on days that I'm feeling absolutely exhausted. All I can say is thank goodness I live in Texas where the weather is descent 10 months out of the year. I can't imagine living in Chicago again and dealing with the grueling winter months with Evan. Being outdoors is my life saver most days.
While most days I do love being a mom and all its ups and downs, there are days that I wish I could escape from the madness. For those days I'm thankful I have John, who seems to take everything in stride and understands when I need some "me time" away from it all. And for the other days that I can't escape I just have to keep telling myself to take it all in stride and remind myself of one of my favorite country songs by Tracy Adkins, "Your Gonna Miss This" which says:

Your gonna miss this
Your gonna want this back
Your gonna wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But your gonna miss this

Every time I see this picture I can hear Evan's squeel of joy!

Learnign to swing like a big boy

Let the Merriment Begin!

Now that the holidays have come and gone, I've had a chance to sit back and reflect on them and I can't seem to wipe this goofy smile off of my face! Why, you might ask? For some reason the holidays seemed to hold a little bit more magic this year and were a bit merrier than normal. Is merrier a word? Heck if I know, but if it isn't I just made it one!

I think one of the main reasons the holidays were so great was Evan's reaction and involvement with them. He was more cognizant of what was going on and loved every moment, experience, and wonder that came with them. We would go out driving looking at Christmas lights at least once a week and he would point at the lights and say "more!" There is a house a couple streets down from me that really goes all out with Christmas lights and even puts them to music. We went by there at least 4 times so he could watch the lights dance to music and I would watch him and his eyes light up. In fact, I got more enjoyment watching him enjoy the lights then watching them myself. He would bounce up and down in his seat and try to sing along to the Christmas songs and it warmed my heart.
And speaking of Christmas songs, he LOVED them! One of the rules I have at Christmas time is that whenever I'm doing anything Christmassy (again another word I'm sure I made up) I put on Christmas carols to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Putting up the tree, making sugar cookies, wrapping presents, sending out Christmas cards whatever it may be Christmas carols have to be on. Evan would dance around the living room and sing in his own gibberish language and I just loved it! I even started putting on Christmas music at night just to see him do this.
When Christmas morning finally rolled around and he got up, the way his eyes lit up when he saw the presents under the tree was fantastic! And he was actually into opening gifts this year. Although he didn't quite get the concept that after you open one present you have more to open. He wanted to play with the gift he just opened so we had to bribe him with the newly opened gift to get him to open another.
I guess what it comes down to is I got to be a kid again myself and see Christmas through a child's eyes for the first time. I loved that view and that peek into childhood again. I also loved seeing Evan so happy which in turn made me happy.
And as New Year's came around it made me stop and thank the man upstairs for all that he has blessed me with this past year and number one on that list was my family, followed by friends. We were lucky to celebrate New Year's with our closest friends and couldn't help getting a warm feeling inside that I've only read about in books.
I can't wait to see what 2012 brings and I'm thankful for what 2011 left me with. Love, merriment, and contentment!

Evan and I getting ready to go into the ICE exhibit at the Gaylord. Another Christmas tradition we started years ago, that was even better this year with Evan.

You can see in this pic that we bribed him to open the soccer ball with his drawing board

Evan's first Christmas gift he wanted to open