Life With an Eleven Month Old

I feel like I'm always on the go, go, go. Sonny is a ball of energy and he's only still when he's sleeping. He crawls all over the place. He pulls himself up and reaches for things he shouldn't be reaching for. He gets into drawers and scatters its contents all over the floor. He keeps me hopping all day long.
Then his daddy comes home and he settles down. They snuggle on the bed or recliner and before long they're both asleep. That is the time I cook or clean up. Occasionally I sit down and relax.
But I never complain. I cherish these moments I get to spend with my lil energizer bunny. He's growing up so fast and I'm trying not to blink so that I don't miss anything.
BECAUSE BEFORE I KNOW IT HE'LL BE GROWN AND ON HIS OWN.

March Madness Begins

I never really stopped to think about all that our military men and women went through...moving from base to base to base. Their spouses and children packing up their lives and saying their goodbyes. Moving, unpacking, and settling in to a new life. I never thought about it until now.
Now, I'm preparing for my fourth move in 2 years (5th move for my husband in 2+ yrs). We're so thankful that it will be our last move...at least for a very long time. We own our house in Michigan and once we're there we're staying put.
So march madness has begun in our home. Packing, packing, packing. We hope to have everything packed up by the end of the month. We also have all our weekends full of plans with family making memories before we head west.
So my days will be filled with watching a very active son while trying to pack as well.
Life is good. God has blessed us richly.

The house we're renting is for sale.

My parents visited us over the weekend. Before they left on Sunday, dad took some family pics for us.

I love my family. I love my life.

I know things will get hectic before the month is over. I know that I will stress myself out and I will want to give up. 

But for now, I'm enjoying my life and I'm so thankful that my husband is very supportive and he keeps me going strong.

I also have a great support system. I couldn't make it in life without the love and support of my family. My parents, sisters, brother, sister-in-law,  grandma, aunt, and cousins have kept me going strong for many years. 

Great friends have also been supportive of me and have been my rock. I will miss spending time with them but thankfully I have Facebook to keep in touch with all of my friends and family.

To quote The Waterboy, "Thank you, for being my friends".

My Hero, My Aunt

Most of my life, I've heard that I was my aunt's "mini-me". Every time I'd walk around singing a commercial, my dad would tell me how much I reminded him of his sister. I was a picky eater like her. The list went on and on.
Over the past couple years I have really bonded with my aunt. She has been there for every major event in my life. My baptism, my graduation, my wedding, and she's been there for my husband and son, as well.
The year 2015 was not a good year for her. Besides the birth of my son. She loves my son. But the shadow of my uncle's sudden illness and his quick passing looms over everything else.
Now my aunt is facing life alone. Now she is feeling week but I see how strong she is. She faced off with the devil and won. God may have called her husband home but He isn't done with her yet. He still has work to be done through her.
I'm so proud of my aunt. She's my hero. Because of her love for my uncle, she overcame an addiction. She's helped me see that when you love someone you can overcome anything because love is stronger than any addiction.
I love you, Aunt Julie. Never forget that. You are the wind beneath my wings. Without you in my life, life would be dull and boring. Hey, how fun would life be without us crazy ladies in it! We speak our minds, we love with our whole hearts, and we are peacemakers. We are two peas in a pod, you and I, and nothing will ever change that.
Right now my heart breaks for you. I miss Uncle Duane so much. But I know that God had his reason for calling him home. Be strong, Aunt Julie, and whenever you feel week just remember that I'm there to help you feel strong again. XOXOXOXO

At my graduation party in 2009 with my aunt, uncle, and grandma. One of the happier days of my life.

At my wedding in 2014. Proof that I have my aunt's back and I will always have her back. Just lean on me, Aunt Julie, when you need a friend.

Nine Months of Motherhood

I can't believe that my lil one is almost 10 months old already. Time is flying by way too fast so I'm trying to cherish every moment while he's little.
The year 2016 is already starting to be a big year for us. We are currently planning our son's 1st birthday party and we are planning our big move for a couple days later. April is turning out to be a big month for us.
Sonny is already showing his independent side. He doesn't like being held for very long and he's always on the go. He gets around very well and very quickly. He will most likely be walking soon.
Our biggest issue is Sonny loves playing with outlets and he knows how to pull those outlet covers out. He pulls them out very quickly. He keeps his old mom on her toes that's for sure.
He also eats everything we give him. He also has a tendency to find little pieces of trash on the floor and in his mouth they go. He's our little vacuum cleaner.
He is making more and more sounds each day. He says mamama and dada all the time. He even sings along to music. It is so cute to watch him bounce to the music and sing along.

Eating pizza for the first time.

Goofing around with pop.

Mommy's sharp dressed man.

Enjoying the blizzard of 2016.

I'm so blessed to have this lil guy in my life. He and his daddy have made my life worth living and I live life to the fullest. I thank God daily for their presence in my life.

One More Thing

The two happiest days of my life were the days I married the love of my life and the day I gave birth to my son.
Everything I went through to bring him into this world I'd gladly go through again and again and again....to bring new life into this world.
I cherish my time as a wife and mother. Their needs trump my own needs. Hearing my son's voice as he calls out "mamama" and seeing his big beautiful smile when he sees me are the moments I treasure.
My husband and my son are my whole world. I live for them.
Here are my favorite pictures from my two favorite days:

This picture is a favorite of mine and very special to me because my uncle took it.

Our first family picture of the three of us.

Thank you, Baby, for putting up with my crazy family. Thank you for putting up with your hormonal wife. Thank you for being such an amazing husband and father. We love you.
I look forward to turning this house into our home.

2015 - Year in Review

The year 2015 was a big year for me...it saw relationships come and relationships go, there were deaths of loved ones, and life decisions made. Other than that my life was pretty dull!
I worked hard and kept house for my husband. I made monthly trips to the salon. Had manis and pedis every month. Life was good. Wait, I'm forgetting something or someone...my son. There were no salon visits, no manis and pedis, instead there was a tiny human being lifted from my womb by the skilled hands of a doctor.
There were numerous infections and antibiotics prescribed. There were wound drainage and weekly to biweekly trips to the wound clinic.
There were tears of joy and tears of pain. Grief, so much grief. Unborn babies meeting their Maker leaving our hearts to break.
There was a hasty trip to Michigan to see a loved one one last time. There was gathering of her loved ones to bid her farewell and blessed assurance knowing we'd see her again.
There was a heartbreaking diagnosis and watching a loved one suffer immense pain. There was death on a holiday where we celebrate a birth. So fitting considering that he got his heavenly birth on Jesus' birthday.
There was also a decision made to move to our house in Michigan. My husband and I did not make this decision lightly instead, we trusted in God and everything fell into place in His time.
This will be my fourth move in two years and my husband's fifth. Thank God we won't be moving anywhere for a very long time after this move. Moving is too stressful.
I'm excited to see what all 2016 has in store for me. I'm looking forward to less stress in our lives as we leave all the family drama behind and say goodbye to stuck up family members who were too good to associate with us.
Goodbye, drama, goodbye.

Our Blue Christmas

The holidays were difficult for us this past year. On Christmas morning my aunt called me to let me know that my uncle had passed away. His body just couldn't fight the cancer anymore and our Lord finally called him home.
My brother, Robert, and his wife, Kristan, were at my house so they heard the news right away. My parents, younger sister, Rachel, and oldest brother, Lynnie, were on their way so I had the responsibility to break the news to them.
Even though Uncle Duane's death put a damper on our festivities, we still tried to make it special for Sonny. We opened gifts and enjoyed a feast...yet our hearts were broken for my aunt.
Sonny, unaware of what was going on, enjoyed opening the presents that were waiting for him under the tree. He actually enjoyed the wrapping paper more than the presents. One present, however, drew his attention...a toy boombox. He loves it.

My two loves by the tree.

Opening his stocking.

Adorable! 

AWESOMENESS! 

Giving Pop a squeeze! 

With granny and pop.

Opening presents.

With mommy, granny, and Aunt Rachel.

With mom and dad by the tree.

All things considered, we had a pretty good day. We took time to reflect on my uncle's life. I just pray that next Christmas will be even happier.