Amara's new room (PART ONE)

It pains me...slightly...to say this, but Amara is moving. It pains me for a couple of reasons. 1. I ( along with my bestie and hubby) worked so hard on her nursery that she has really only been sleeping in for a total of 10 months. 2. She is growing up people!!!

Amara's nursery has french doors on it, which I thought at the time would be sooooo beautiful! However, it is right at the top of our staircase and she sees and hears pretty much EVERYTHING! So, I just think it is best to move her to a room where the door ( that doesn't have windows) shuts quietly and doesn't rattle when the air kicks on and off. It wouldn't hurt her to have a little more space, as she is accumulating a lot of toys these days. Her new closet is bigger too! Maybe I should have thought all of this out while pregnant, but I didn't think this day would come so quickly to be honest.

Anyway, before I sadly dismantle the nursery of our first child * so dramatic, I know*, I thought I would share pictures of it with you all. I never completed taking photos as we got closer to her arrival. Plus, every room in my house is a continual project.... let's just be honest. I am hardly every happy. I get tired of things quickly. Even while I was pregnant, I moved my living room around weekly. I am crazy!

Here is the nursery as it stands today. I will be posting an update on her new room, and can't wait to do the final reveal!

Some extras .....if you are into cute babies with CRAZY hair...

Happy Birthday Daaaa....

Today is Gabe's ( "Daaa" as Amara refers to him) 31st birthday. I know I am a little late getting a post up, but I just wanted to take a moment to celebrate the love of my life ( and Amara's) on our liiiiitle blog here. I am just elated when I think back on what this year has looked like for my sweet husband. Now that we have Amara in our lives, everything seems fast paced, but the Lord has really worked in our lives, and made this year extra sweet! We celebrated today by just going to church as a family ( which doesn't happen so much when Gabe is on the road), having a nice little lunch, and then coming home and watching Football and being lazy! We got lots of hang out time as a family, and we just enjoyed the peace and quiet.  Pizza for dinner and a new PS3 game to play......perfect day huh?

Babe, you are the freaking BOMB at everything you do!! You are, above all, and AMAZING husband and an INCREDIBLE father. I just can't imagine our lives without you. You bring so much joy and happiness to my life. You make me feel like a queen. Amara and I definitely feel the void when you are on the road working so hard to support us. You go above and beyond to not just give us what we need, but most of the things we want. I am just so proud to be your wife, but I definitely wonder why the heck God let me do daily life with someone like you. It just doesn't make sense to me??? I really didn't think I would get the chance to settle down with someone so amazing, caring, loving, serving, FUNNY, talented, smart and most of all.....God-fearing. Today, we celebrate you, and all that you are.....which is sooo much to our little family!

I love you more!

Moments captured between my two loves today.....

Hugs...

Family photos....

We got a few photos taken recently to kind of capture our family with a 1 year old ( even though Amara is 14 months in these pics).

It is haaaaard to get a good shot when everyone is doing a different face in every pic. Family portraits with a child that moves seem nearly impossible. Amara was pretty much fussy the entire time, Gabe HATES getting photos taken, and I just feel like I am forcing everyone to be there and be happy ;).

We got a few good shots though, which covers the Christmas card and a few pictures for our walls, so I can't complain.

Photos by IGC Photography

Little things....

I ordered myself a little "jewelry display box" from West Elm about 2 months ago, and it was backordered. I kind of forgot about it until it showed up on my doorstep yesterday. How quickly your house gets taken over by all things baby, so for some reason, I was like a little girl putting my jewelry in a box that has my name on it. I have my own little space for some of my precious pieces. It was just a little thing that kind of made my day today!

TGIM ( Thank Goodness Its Monday)

I am sitting on my couch watching television/staring at all of the ribbon and wrap on my dining room table so that I can actually wrap gifts while Amara sleeps, but I just can't seem to muster up the energy!!
We had our first week of being SICK, SICK and SICK. I am surprised we made it almost 15 months quite honestly. We were driving home on Wednesday ( the day of the week Gabe leaves for his shows) when I hear a choking baby in her car seat. She was throwing up, but her car seat isn't tilted up enough for her to get it out. SCARIEST MOMENT of mommyhood so far. I just pulled over, ran over to her door and yanked her out of her car seat, and let her just release on the side of the road. I felt so bad for the little thing....

BTW...Thanks to the sweet lady that pulled over to ask if Amara was okay, and if she needed me to call anyone! SO sweet!

Anyway, I had a sick/mopey baby for about 2 days, and then I woke up at 6:30 am with what I think was food poisoning. My mom, sister, and I all went to eat the night before with some friends, and all 3 of us woke up that morning throwing up. I literally could NOT move. I was getting sick every 30 mins. Somehow, my mom pulled it together and took care of all 3 of us. I was so grateful and I couldn't have done it without her. Amara had her energy back that day, and I just knew I wouldn't be able to keep up.
We have recovered from a rough week, but daddy comes home tomorrow!!! That is all these two girls could ask for. All things are made right when he is here... Mondays are our favorite!

We had a little time out today walking around Downtown Franklin with our friend Christy taking in the Christmas scenery.....perfect weather. How can I be okay with no jacket in December?? Kind of weird, but it was one less thing to have to wear. Baby is enough sometimes!

14 months...what!?!

I have completely fallen off of my monthly updates, and I am sorry to say that I think it will be a permanent fall. I can, however, manage to do a post every now and then ( every two months) haha!

I just wanted to do an update on the sweet baby girl who is just rocking our world right now. I am going to call her our "baby" as long as I possibly can, although, she is quickly making her way to Toddler-land. 

 After her first b-day ( pics HERE), it was like she all of a sudden felt grown up to me. I have a bad habit of rushing to the next milestone, but she always gets there and then I can't believe it has already come and gone!?!?! Ugh, I need to stop already. The gap between her taking her first step to her walking as fast as we do is all too short. I would say walking, eating "big girl" foods and taking our world by storm with her independence and opinions are the most drastic changes. I welcome them, but man oh man.....

The last two months have honestly been kind of a blur to me. Work is picking up for me ( new business ventures, current clients, etc.), we are adjusting to daddy's tour schedule, which seems to have no end in sight ;), and just everyday life tends to make my mind hazy. I am not going to lie, I have had some harder days now that Amara is more of a handful....( and I sometimes talk about wanting another one soon??? what!?!?!) Crazy, I know! My husband reminds me all of the time. Despite all of these things, there is not a day that goes by that I question Amara's purpose in our lives. I know for me personally, I am learning patience ( she walks slow/ I am always on a mission), I am learning to get stains out of EVERYTHING, I am definitely learning to be giving of my time, and trying to not be selfish with it     (when nap times don't go my way), Goldfish are my best friend ( shopping trips are a nightmare without them), trying to master the reprimanding without smiling or laughing....the list goes on! I am so thankful for the things God is teaching me through this little one! I couldn't be happier to be her mommy!

Photo disclaimer: I have not been very disciplined about using our camera, so most of these are phone shots...oops!

Happy 14 months "Boots"!

Breathe.....

I sometimes feel like I need to blog about a project or show noteworthy pictures, but then I realize that only 2 people read my blog....two of my besties and my blog was never intended to be a projects blog. So, today, I am just writing! I am in super good spirits because I woke up to a happy baby who went back down for her morning nap perfectly and the sun is shining. Forget that Amara spilled my freshly brewed cup of coffee all over the coffee table ( barely missing my laptop).... I just don't care!

Yesterday, daddy left and I was feeling a little un-optomistic about facing the day alone with a fussy baby, but that was YESTERDAY, and the Lord makes all things new in the morning huh? I feel like my head is in a MILLION places right now, and my memory is not serving me well these days! Yep, there babe, I said it! I actually had to go buy a little planner to sit on my kitchen counter so I would actually write stuff down, and it is there staring at me DAILY! Isn't she pretty....

 I just need to make better uses of my time and organize myself a little better. We are moving Amara's room into a larger room in our house, trying to set myself up an office ( I am desperate!!), Gabe is traveling a lot, I have a Thanksgiving dinner to host (gladly), a meeting here, a flu shot there, a dog that needs grooming...the list goes on. My list is no different than the next person's, however, I bet the next person can remember their child's flu shot before the morning of :)

All this to say, I just need to focus on one thing at a time instead of trying to create perfection in my everyday! It just isn't possible! I am really trying to learn to let go of the dusty baseboards and blinds, and tell myself that that doesn't have to be taken care of TODAY. A lot of times, I get overwhelmed and then I just shut down and don't do ANYTHING. Not. good.

So, today is my fresh start. I believe there is a balance in managing time better to accomplish more, but not killing myself over every little thing that didn't get done that day. Happy Friday everyone!! Do what makes you happy this weekend so that when Monday rolls around, you feel accomplished AND relaxed!

My most relaxing moment of the day.....mornings with my little love! I cherish them!