May Flowers

April showers brought us the most beautiful May flowers, theoretically speaking.

Life presented us with some tough choices and wonderful opportunities this spring. Opportunities that literally presented themselves in such a way that you couldn't ignore or pass up.

After we had Mattie we knew some things had to change in our lives, but we really weren't sure what needed to change.  It wasn't the actual birth of Mattie Jayne that rocked our world.  It was the realization that we only have one life to live this beautiful life that we've been blessed with.

Mr. and I were always stressed to the max and both worked jobs that required our attention or thought 24/7.  That, on top of our family, which obviously needs us 24/7+. We also need each other, but were too tired to give anymore to one another at the end of the day.

We contemplated me not working.
We inquired about me dropping a few hours, working a bit less.
We prayed.
We felt change was upon us, just not sure when it would present itself.

And then one night, on our way to Friday Family Date Night, I got a text that was the change we were waiting for.  An invitation to join a dream team.  An invitation so sincere and real that I was re-charged. Re-charged in myself more than I've ever been before.

43 applicants, 2-rounds of interviews, countless hours of prayer for guidance, and one offer that I couldn't pass up.

I am not the most religious person.  We don't go to church.  I've yet to have my children baptized.  But, I believe.  And I pray and worship with myself often. I know in my heart of hearts with all my faith, that this was the answer I had been looking for...quite possibly longer than I'm even aware of.

So after almost nine years in the advertising agency world, I am now the Marketing Specialist for a local hospital.

From day-one, I knew that this was the perfect job for me.  I'm doing something that I love, for an industry that's second nature to me.  I have the flexibility and support that our family needs.  And my family has me, and it feels good.

May flowers didn't just bloom for me though.

Mattie finally got an open position at Jackson's school.  She'd been on the waiting list since conception, seriously.  She had a rough first few days, but she's finding her routine too.  We absolutely love the school and couldn't be happier knowing that our children are in such a loving and educational place.  Talk about making going to work so much easier...especially since our nanny literally no-showed her last two weeks with us and I don't even want to think about how she may have treated our princess.

First day of Pre-K4 & Daycare. May 27, 2013

5-months and a few days

Two weeks shy of his 4th birthday

Jackson started Pre-k4 the same day that Mattie started at his school...which also happened to be the same day I moved in to my new office.  We decided to cram as much change into one day as possible:)

So that pretty much sums up the changes that transpired into our May flowers that are in full bloom now!

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Valentine's Day 2013

It's not everyday that I feel particularly loved or special...especially now that Mr. is busier than ever with work and we're a family of four.  More work, more laundry, more chores and less time to do it all.  However, I can't get over how sweet and special Mr. made me feel on our Hallmark holiday Valentine's Day this year.

Between a house full of company for Mardi Gras, prepping for a big hearing/trial, and leaving for a weekend in New Orleans...Valentine's Day was the farthest thing from my mind.  I managed to get treats together for Jackson's class earlier in the week and had already gotten Mr. a year's membership for massages...check and check, I was done. 

We were headed to the city for my friend/co-workers wedding the day after Valentine's Day, so there was much to be done! Bags needed to be packed, my hair needed highlights and my nails needed some TLC!

Mr. tended to Jackson after school while Mattie and I spent the afternoon and early evening getting pampered making me look human again.  When we pulled in the garage we were greeted by our boys and my heart melted.  Mr. and Jackson decorated the kitchen with some lovely Pre-K3 artwork.  Flowers and balloons were sitting on the counter, next to champagne and petit fours.  And my absolute favorite dinner, grilled steaks and potatoes were waiting to be served. 

Jackson was so stinking excited about my present that he blew Mr.'s cover and got it out of hiding as soon as I walked in the door.  He was so excited that I had a present and he couldn't wait for me to open it.  Truth be told, the best gift that Mr. gave me this Valentine's Day was not in a box.  As cheesy as this sounds, it was the gift of showing our son how to treat a lady or someone that you love.

Mr. was and is so busy, but he took the time to cherish his wife.  He made me feel loved, special and irreplaceable.  He was patient with our son and let him pick out balloons and carefully taped up his school artwork.  Each and every detail was done with love and set an amazing example for our son.  I only hope that one day Jackson finds a special someone that he can spoil half as much as his daddy spoils me:)

Love,

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Gold Star: Momma Moment

I'm just going to put it out there that I totally feel like I deserve a momma gold star today, if such a thing even exists. It probably doesn't, but I'm still patting myself on the back because I feel like I accomplished a lot before 8:30 momma moment this morning!

Those of you who know me well can appreciate the fact that I feel like I've climbed a mountain or something today.

I like love to sleep.  And I used to be really good at it.  However, which each passing year I get worse and worse at falling asleep - and staying sleeping.  Just about the time that Mr.'s obnoxiously early alarm goes off is the time that I'm finally drifting away in slumber land.  It sucks, but Mr. is a rock star daddy and always takes one for the team to let me get in as much sleep as I possibly can.

With that being said, Mr. generally takes the "morning shift" that includes getting Jackson ready, making coffee and our breakfast shakes, and dropping Jackson off at school.  I normally take the "evening shift" which is our bedtime routine - bath, breathing treatment and medicines, etc.  It works well for us.

Anyway, Mr. had to run to Houston for a meeting today so I was on my own last night and this morning.  Most of you are probably laughing hysterically at me, but I was nervous about getting both of us dressed and to school and work - on time. 

I was supposed to spend the night with my parents because I'm technically not supposed to be lifting Jackson or getting him in and out of his car seat while I'm hyper-stimulating my ovaries. But, at the last minute I decided that spending the night out was more work then it was really worth.  To be honest I feel fine, which is 100x better then I did the last time around (more on that later).  My parents came to give Jackson his bath last night and Jackson got himself in and out of the car this morning.  No lifting or twisting was done with a 35lbs. toddler to risk my ovaries any harm.

So, in a nutshell, I was able to get a full nights sleep, wake up when my alarm went off, snuggle with Jackson for a minute when he woke up, get both of us dressed and ready for our day, get Jackson to school before 8:10 (the breakfast cut-off time), run through Starbucks for my venti black coffee to fuel my day (I'm good, but not that good), and make it to work at exactly 8:30 just in time for my first meeting of the day! 

Morning concurred, mountain climbed, mission accomplished - GOLD STAR!

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Mr. Romantic

Well Mr. did it again, he pulled off a surprise night away without me even having the slightest idea! I think the fact that I absolutely hate surprises, makes him enjoy these occasions even more...

We celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary on the 14th, and had a big date night all planned out.  However, the morning of our said date night, Jackson and I both woke up sick.  Determined to still have a night out, I took Jackson to the doctor and convinced his pediatrician to give me samples of the same medication he prescribed for Jackson.  By the end of the day I was pretty jacked up on steroids and hot tea.  Still on my mission for a perfect date night, I was doing everything to fool myself into feeling better only to come home and find Mr. - sick in bed.

Date night canceled and our weekend was spent watching movies and lounging around.  Not the night out I had hoped for, but it was a perfect weekend anyway.

So on Friday, we had our rain check date night all planned out.  We were going to go to a new wine bar and fun restaurant near by.  I had my new outfit all picked out, a fresh pedicure and highlights to go with it!

Well at 10:30AM on Friday, Mr. came walking into my office and told me (and my boss) that I have to leave work no later than 3PM.  WHAT?!? There was no need to start our date night that early, but he insisted otherwise and needed a list of stuff to pack.  No wine bar, no fancy dress, just jeans and my overnight bag.

Did I mention how much I hate surprises, especially those that involve me leaving for the night without a clue as to where we are going and what we'll be doing!!!

I immediately thought we were going to New Orleans, since he pulled the same type of thing the night he proposed to me.  But, then we got on I-10 heading west, not east, toward Houston, TX.

And that was all I got to know until I refused to speak and pouted for 10 minutes while Mr. chuckled with delight.

When Mr. knew I meant business, he finally told me that we were going to Houston for the night and that he arranged for my parents to keep Jackson until we got back.  He had reservations for 7PM at The Foundation Room, and tickets for Christina Perri at the House of Blues. 

Talk about a total surprise!

We got in to Houston and quickly checked into our hotel, freshened up and shared a toast of champagne.  Our dinner at the Foundation Room was amazing and extra romantic.  The concierge thought we were really nice and deserved a little something extra, so he sat us in their private Ganesha room.  Ganesha is the Lord of Success - I may or may not have asked our dinner guest for some fertility success after a french martini or two;)

I wasn't too familiar with Christina Perri, but the show was awesome.  She has an amazing voice and was so stinking cute - like you would be lucky to be her friend because she just seems so sweet! 

After the show we passed by a dueling piano bar, which is a huge weakness of mine.  I sure did make Mr. pay the $7 cover so we could go sit on a bar stool and sing like some fools until very late in the night.  Seeing Mr. do soulja boy was well worth the cover, I'm just sayin'!  

I'm so thankful that after all these years Mr. is still sweeping me off my feet - even if I start out kicking and screaming!

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Life Lately

Since we moved in with my parents last month, my little family of three has gone through some ups and downs. We have our own space, and bedrooms, and are certainly not living out of suitcases - but, it's just not the same as being at home.

Mr. refuses to enter into my mom's laundry room in fear of drying or washing something wrong. Jackson asks for Pop about a 150,000 times a day and has re-named Loli, Ya-ya. The dishwasher is like a space machine that we've yet to figure out and are cursed for putting a dirty cup into almost completed wash cycle about as frequently as Jackson asks for Pop.

I say all of this with a smile on my face because really, we are thankful to have my parents and the luxuries of their home. Every Thursday the maid comes and cleans our space and bathroom. Countless hours are spent lounging by their beautiful pool. Evening walks have been replaced with golf cart rides that make my heart happy. Laundry is folded faster than I can remember that I even started a load of wash. And Jackson loves his Loli Ya-ya and Pop to pieces and it's nice to have extra hands.

Happy boy on his ride!

My happy little family, and Momma's back as a blonde:)

All in all - I'd say the pros of living with my parents far outweigh the cons - which is a very good thing since I'm not sure when our house will ever be done!

My new laundry room, which Mr. will be using;)

The builder is finishing up the hardwood floors this week. The fence is almost complete and the appliances are in. However, we have a long list of "punch-list" items that have yet to be touched. So, we're not counting on closing until we return from St. John.  I had hoped to be unpacked and ready for a vacation before our trip, but instead it looks like I'll be resting up for the big move when we return.

Work has just been absolutely insane and I see no end in sight.  Jackson says a new word everyday and his little voice is too cute for words.  Mr. and I have worked through some issues and are in a much better place.  I attempted potty training for a day, but we're just not ready for this yet.

Jackson got a new bike since his is at the back of our storage unit.  He's starting to figure it all out.  Oh and we've been on the Medifast diet for a little over a month now.  I'm down 8lbs., and Mr. is down 20lbs.! Hello beach babes:)

Did I mention how much love and joy these two handsome men bring into my life?!?

Happy Wednesday loves:)

P.S. Jackson will be 2 in less then a month, how did this happen?!?

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Mr. Romantic

I had a little Valentine's surprise waiting for me when I got home last night that made me feel so special. Mr. knows me well, and that I'm all about the little things;)

So Mr. Romantic lead me to believe all weekend that he was going to have to work late Monday night.   It really wasn't a big deal because that happens a lot and we weren't doing anything for Valentine's Day.  I called Mr. on my way home to check and see how his day was going.  I had plans to go pick up Jackson, and take him to the store to get a big balloon and a rotisserie chicken for dinner. 

Mr. quickly informed me that he got the biggest balloon ever and was on his way to get the chicken and the boy! Wait, what?!?

Oh it doesn't stop there, when I walked in the door there was a bottle of champagne chilling and my candy dish was filled refilled with chocolates! And next to all of that was a movie I had been waiting to see, that I totally forgot all about.  Non of that can even compare to the love note he wrote for me.  Mr. Romantic swept me off my feet and reminded me why I loved him so much!

Is he romantic or what?!?
And apparently he thought I needed to drink after Saturday night to make me feel better:)

me and my crazy boys, this was as good as we could get for a self portrait!

Jackson's Valentine's art project from the sitters

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