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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First week back to work & the sitter's

I don't know about the rest of you, but this past week was hard. After almost two straight weeks without bedtimes, alarm clocks, and 24/7 emails it was back to reality.  During my time off I did some "unplugging" and soaked up my time with my boys. I feel like Jackson has grown up so fast and I'm missing it. Every time I turn around he's changing!

Speaking of change, the new year meant back to work for Momma and new arrangements for Jackson. Amidst our crazy unsuccessful search for a new nanny our neighbor offered up her services to us. Like I've said before, she has three children of her own and has started watching a couple others as well. So, the situation was perfect! Jackson loves her and her kids, they are all sweet blond babies as well:) Anyway, I was really happy that Jackson would be able to interact with kids his own age. He is such a social little boy!

I packed a box full of food, toys, diapers and wipes to take with Jackson so that we wouldn't have to bring that sort of stuff everything.  Monday came early, and I was running around like a crazy woman.  Mr. ended up walking Jackson over to the sitters so that I wouldn't be too late for work.  He said that Jackson never looked back and was ready to play.  When I got home that evening, Jackson was so not ready to come home.  I know that he missed me, but it made my heart so happy to know that he was having fun!

Tuesday was a little crazy, which was all my fault.  Jackson had his follow-up appointment with his ENT and I totally forgot to set my alarm.  I woke up at 7:45, brushed my teeth, put on some sweats and we ran out the door.  Jackson's appointment was at 8:15! After his appointment we dropped him off and I ran through a quick shower before heading to work...I'm sure my co-workers appreciated that:)

Wednesday and Thursday went pretty well.  Jackson is cutting all four of his eye teeth which has given his little bottom the worst case of diaper rash I've ever seen.  He has also caught a little cold, so my poor boy was a mess by Friday.  I got him in to see his pediatrician Friday morning, oh how I thought these days were going to be in our past! He gave him some medicine for his butt, the diaper rash has turned into a yeast infection?!? He's also on medicine to dry up his nose and breathing treatments as needed...Jackson just can't catch a break.  I'm tried, really really tired.

Did I mention that I weaned Jackson down to just nursing before bed over the holidays?!? My sick boy just woke up from his nap...more on that later.  Happy Saturday loves:)

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perspective & plans

I went to bed last night weeping from the confirmation that our rock star nanny would be leaving us at the end of the year. And I woke up this morning to an email message that said our potential home buyers had put an offer on another home.

Lovely, right?!? But, I am determined to not let this news bring me down. I have to keep things in perspective and have faith that everything happens for a reason.

Jackson is so incredibly lucky to have had Fee for the time that we did. He loves her, and she loves him. She plays with him, she really plays. She sings to him, she sings all of the nursery songs that I should know, but don't because I never took the time away from my job to look up the words. She makes me feel okay with being a working momma because I know that she's giving him more than I could. And this too, makes me weep.

I'm relieved that we didn't get an offer on our house. Everything happens for a reason, and I think God knew that looking for childcare on top of a new house is too much for me right now.

We have some big decisions to make. Some decisions that are going to force me to lose control and not be selfish. Half of me has kept Jackson at home with a nanny for completely selfish reasons. I'm sure that's somewhat obvious. Packing bags, drop-off lines, 5:30 pick-up deadlines in the extreme heat or pouring down rains, sleep mats, and sick bugs just don't sound appealing to our situation. Not to mention, I have strong feelings about Jackson being able to sleep in his own bed and play outside, when he wants!

But, the time as come. Jackson needs social interaction in an educational environment. He's ready, so I have to make myself ready as well. I mean, I cannot be that mom sobbing as I drive my kid to grade school in the rain. We all do it, and it's my turn.

I'm making lists, scheduling appointments and doing my homework. So my questions for you - would you do an in-home childcare or a daycare center? What are your experiences? What should I be looking for??? Am I nuts? Should I look for another nanny and think about daycare when Jackson is 2???

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Losing control

It's no secret that I'm a complete and total control freak. I have to be in control to make my life work. I hate a surprise and not knowing what the day holds for me.

Thankfully, Mr. allows tolerates this behavior.

When I'm not in control I feel like everything is spinning and I panic. In the past 24 hours I have lost control, and it's not pretty. I had a little melt down last night and prayed for the ability to accept whatever God has planned for us.

Jackson still has fluid in his ears and now Strep throat. He is on a third round of antibiotics and we're waiting for the first available appointment with an ENT. I want my child to be well more than life itself. I hate that I cannot heal him. I don't understand how my child who stays home has turned into such a sick baby in the past month.

Our amazing, loving, trustworthy, rock star nanny may have to leave us at the end of the year. I cannot begin to tell you how sick this makes me feel. Jackson loves her as much as he loves us. She is truly an extension of our family. I believe that she was brought into our lives for a reason and I don't want her to go. I don't have the energy or want to start another nanny search. And I'm not ready to put my sick baby into daycare when his immune system is so run down.

As I type, potential buyers are taking one last look at our home. I'm not 100% sure that they will put an offer on our house, but the stream of emotions surrounding this is nerve racking.

Before the year's end we could theoretically have to: go through surgery with Jackson for tubes, find another nanny or a daycare, and either find a new house or decide to build.

It's no wonder that I don't sleep at night, or that my mind never stops racing, and that I'm losing weight from stress. I'm playing phone tag with my doctor to get my blood results. Her voice mail said that everything looked okay, but that she wanted to review everything with me.

So Dr. Momma Wilson prescribed a family date night at an ice cream parlor last night. Yes, we had ice cream {technically it was frozen yogurt} for dinner. I did make sure that Jackson had fruit with his:)

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

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hApPy HeArT :)

It's been a crazy week at the Wilson's. You know the kind of week that you work for the weekend?!? I have a hard time keeping my mind off of what our nanny is going through. She'll be coming back to work on Monday and I hope that Jackson can make her heart a little happier.

I'm off to Baton Rouge today for meetings, so I'll leave you with some pics of Jackson and another silly video {Jackson's life before 5, part 2}.

This little guy sure makes my heart happy!

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Jackson's life before 5

Yesterday I shared with you our life after 5 {well it's more like after 6}. So today it would only be fitting for me to share with you what Jackson's life is like before 5. Trust me, his life before 5 is way more entertaining then mine!

Our nanny has her little sister with her this week, so Jackson is getting double the love. We are seriously so blessed to have found such a wonderful care taker for Jackson. She plays a huge role in his development and happy personality!

And I mean with all this fun going on, who wouldn't want their Momma to go to work all day?!?

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SpRiNg Weekend

We finally had a weekend of wonderful SpRiNg weather and it was fabulous! I seriously wish that we lived somewhere that had this climate all year long. Our Spring will soon turn into the oppressive heat and smothering humidity that is South Louisiana Summer.

Friday night we met some friends for dinner and had a nice time catching up. It's sad how much we lost touch with our friends since we've had Jackson. The funny thing is that we are always on the go and out on the town. We've just been a party of 3!

Saturday we opened the windows and I did some spring cleaning. How is it possible for so much dust to accumulate behind dressers and beds??? It grosses me out that we have been sleeping with so much dirt and dust under our bed!

After I purged the house, we took Jackson to the park for a nice long walk. We were even lucky enough to run into our sister-in-law and nephew. We ended the night with Coronas and Fajitas with my parents.

Since the house was already clean on Sunday, we were able to have a completely lazy day. I made us blueberry muffins, which Jackson LOVED. Then we packed up and headed down the road to Avery Island. I'm going to do a separate post because it was that awesome:)

We also hired our new nanny on Sunday, and I am really looking forward to having her. Although, Jackson is teething again and isn't his happy self today. I hope he doesn't scare her away!

We ended the weekend with an awesome dinner made by my awesome Mr. My parents and grandma joined us for dinner. Since my parents have to redo their kitchen they will be eating with us a lot in the next couple of weeks!

If you're still reading this long post, take note that I did some spring cleaning on my blog too. I added some pages and information about us. I hope you take a minute to check it all out.

I leave you with pictures of my muffin man. Be sure to come back and see my Avery Island picture post!

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Nanny Interviews

When I was pregnant with Jackson, we interviewed a handful of girls to be our nanny. We hired the one we liked best, just by gut feeling. Finding someone you can trust to be in your home and care for your children is overwhelming. I mean, you are trusting this person with your life!

As full-time working parents our nanny is with Jackson, during his awake hours, more than we are. It's sad, but true. Our nanny gets to have the everyday playtime, the walks on sunshiny days, the giggles, the leisure. By the time I walk in the door and blink, it's bedtime. Thankfully, we have the weekends. But, you see my point. You can't just hire anyone to be this special person in your child's life, this extension of you.

Unfortunately, our nanny is ready to move on. So we have started the dreaded nanny search process again. We pay well. We encourage our house to feel like home. We don't ask for much, and who wouldn't want to spend their day with Jackson:) Seriously though, being our nanny must be appealing. We have girls lined up to interview every night. It's just hard finding the one. We've learned a lot over the past nine months and know what we're looking for this time around.

The girls all look great on paper. Most sound pretty good on the phone. If I like them from that point, I schedule an interview at our home. Let's just say that we've had a few disappointing interviews. I had really high hopes for the girl we interviewed last night... Mr. and I kept waiting for someone to knock on the door and tell us we were on hidden camera.

Here are a few highlights:

Me: So I read that you've been a nanny before. Can you tell me about a challenging situation and how you handled it?

Girl: Well this one time I closed my eyes for a minute. When I woke up, the kids had tied my hands together and put tape over my mouth.

Me: Really, wow. You must be a heavy sleeper.

Girl: Yah, well it wasn't that bad. They didn't know how to tie a very good knot. I got loose pretty quick.

Me: Wow, that's a good thing.


Girl: Is Jackson allergic to animals?

Me: I don't know, but we don't have any pets so this really isn't an issue.

Girl: I have 10 cats, 4 dogs, a parrot, and had a peacock until a fox ate him.

Me: Oh wow, you must love animals.

Girl: I would prefer watching Jackson at my apartment. I live with the boyfriend. The apartment is pretty well baby proofed. I can come and pick him up in the morning.

Mr: I would prefer him to be in our home.

Girl: Maybe once you get to know me.

Me: Maybe so. Well, thanks for your time. I'll be in touch.

This is a true story. Nothing has been embellished or exaggerated. Where was the hidden camera!?! Needless to say, she won't be our new nanny. She sleeps on the job and I can't even imagine what "the boyfriend" and animal filled apartment must be like!

Here's to hoping tonight brings better luck!

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