A Dr. Phil moment!

Several of my very close friends have asked me lately.....how do you do it? How do you make it look so easy? This I do not know? Maybe it is because I am ahead of you....you see I don't think I make it look easy at all. In fact most of the time, I think that most people probably think I am a little nuts, but thank you to all of you for giving me so much credit and for loving me and believing in me anyway. I also must give credit where credit is due....I don't think I would seem so polished if it were not for my "better half"!

Many of my close friends are new mommies, and some are trying to juggle jobs, and husbands, and babies, family, and friends....trying to fit it all in can be exhausting. There is one thing that comes to mind when I think of my marriage, and my relationship with my family and friends and when it comes to my children. Please forgive me for this Dr. Phil moment.....I am going to let everyone in on our little secret.....here it goes, this is good people....are you ready.......communication! Yep, that simple, simple word, pretty much says it all!



Here's the deal, it's no secret that having a baby changes everything, and I do mean everything. The most common complaint I hear is that "he" just doesn't get it, "he's" not doing enough or helping enough......men and women are not built the same, that's just the way it is! They need direction, they need to be told what to do.....(in most cases anyway). Do you tell him that you need help, (communication) do you ask for a night off, (communication) do you give up the power, or do you just think "oh it's just easier and faster if I do it myself"! Ummmm....guilty!



I think that the turning point for us was when I realized that he was in fact trying to help. The problem was, that it wasn't the way I wanted it done, or the way I thought he should do it (notice the pattern) I, I, I! WHO CARES....really, I mean does it really matter if she gets her fruit before the veggies, or if he has on different color socks, or if her hair isn't in those perfect piggy tails and there are no bows (gasp)!!!! The important thing is that the other member of your team is showing up for practice and is ready when he needs to be tagged in....no he may not play the same way, but he is there and that's all that matters! Let go, communicate and talk about what you want and need!



On to the next topic....for the men I think the most common complaint I hear is......I know this is going to be a shocker....sex. Yes, I said it....sex! I am no expert in this department either, and trust me I have thrown out every excuse in the book.... I have a headache, I'm waaay tooo tired, I have PMS, It's too late, the kids are here, I haven't shaved.....in weeks! Oh the list could go on. Truth is that these are all real legit excuses...NEWS FLASH....men don't care. They don't care if you haven't shaved, or even showered for that matter. This takes us back to men are built different in every single way!

My BF went to a seminar recently about relationships...marriage, etc.....the woman who spoke said it so well....it's like going to your bank to make a withdraw....if you haven't put anything in, you can't get anything out. I guess our men just expect the bank to be overflowin' not realizing that the account is negative and has months worth of over draft fees! Men....you have to make your deposits.....you know like you used to Way back when! As crazy as it sounds we still like flowers and compliments, and all that other cheesy stuff! I can promise you, the bank will start to waive those fees ;)


The reason I am writing this post is because I know that the friends who have confided in me have wonderful, solid, love filled marriages. I was standing in your shoes not too long ago. I want you all to know that you are all wonderful women, you have wonderful husbands who make wonderful daddy's. Get back to the basics, get to the core of your love. Open up, be honest, share everything....communicate isn't that how you here in the first place?

So what I want everyone to do, is pick a night......one night a week.....that's it. There are 7 I'm just asking for 1! A night that is made for you and him, no canceling, no excuses, no one else. Go to dinner, see a movie, dust off those bowling shoes (oh come on... you know you have some) go to a park sit under the stars....fall in love again! Ladies, sit in your man's lap, laugh at his jokes, rub your fingers through his hair.....men wash the car, open her door for her, bring her flowers, you know the routine ;) Then once a quarter you plan a trip....just a weekend getaway, doesn't even have to be far. Stay in a hotel (who says that you only do that once a year for your anniversary), eat at a nice place, get a massage, talk and reconnect....sound like fun?

I certainly don't hold all the answers and I don't even know if what we do is right, but I know what works for us! Thank you for trusting me and confiding in me like you have! Don't ever forget who you are....you are a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, and aunt, and an amazing friend. Just in case no one has told you today....you are doing an amazing job!

web-sites for sitters.....they do background checks and all!
http://www.gonannies.com/
http://www.care.com/

BOO!

Just wanted to post a few pics from Carson's 6 month shoot! He was such a sweet boy! You can only imagine the looks we got....a naked baby, on the streets of grapevine....with his mommy and photographer making all kinds of silly noises and jumping around all so we could get a smile! It was sure a site to see~ we did get some smiles, but I think he was mostly going for the more dramatic look! Happy early Halloween!

also there is a link for Simple Treasures Photography on this blog.....if you are looking for someome she is just fabulous!

It's a date!

I am so blessed! The night William and I can home from our honeymoon we found out we were pregnant. This was a complete shock, and although we wanted to start trying soon, soon came a bit sooner than planned! We sat in silence, we cried, we laughed, we thought what in the world are we going to do! We both knew that we wanted to have a family, but we also wanted to enjoy our married life...all you married people know what I'm talking about! So we took trips and ate at really nice restaurants, had spa days and lots of dates :) We crammed as much as you can into 9 months!! Here comes Riley (just didn't want anyone to think this is current) HA HA!!


The thing is, we genuinely love to be around one another. We love each others company, we love to do the same things, we love all the same TV shows (well most all ;) ) we just work. I think what we have is so special and rare! He is with out any doubt my very best friend!

So when Ry was born, we vowed to have a date night so that we never lose touch of what started this whole thing. We vowed to try and not miss it for anything....we don't schedule other things on this night, we don't make plans with other people and we usually don't bring others along. It is our night to connect and laugh and talk, or sometime not talk at all....just the sound of silence can be so calming!

We started this when Riley was 8 weeks old, and let me tell you that first one was gut-wrenching! I cried like a baby, I think we went and ate and were back in 60 minutes FLAT! The tradition is still going strong and Tuesday night is by far the best night of the week! I just wanted to let my husband know that he is the center of this family and that I am so blessed and thankful for his love, and support! This man truly loves me and our family, he is the reason I am who I am....I love you more today than yesterday and I will love you more tomorrow than today....always!

Our Very 1st date night!

Our most recent date :)

The Power of Prayer

We just got the news that my In-Laws house in Galveston is still standing. There is some roof damage, and some other structural damage, from what we can see from the tiny areal picture. They had left a few sentimental items behind not thinking that something this catastrophic would happen, and we are just praying that they can get back to retrieve those things. Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers! I will post with an update as soon as we know more. They do know that they will not be able to return for a couple of weeks and that only residents will be able to enter. We are just so thankful that they were not there. Let's continue to pray for the families who have lost loved ones or homes during this very awful time.

~Blessings~
S

I couldn't believe my eyes!!

This afternoon I laid Carson down for a nap as I always do, and was listening to him talk on the monitor. I was checking every couple of minutes to see if he was close to falling asleep. The last time I checked I ended up sprinting up the stairs.....camera in hand!!

honestly....how cute is he! I still can't believe he was standing up!! He has just barely started to crawl and is still working on getting his belly off the floor, so when I saw him standing like this I was just in complete awe!! I am just glad that I got to snap these photos! I also had William lower the crib tonight just to be extra safe :) Hope these pics bring some smiles tonight My sweet, sweet boy! (almost 7 months)

New beginnings....

Carson started swim class last week! He and his BFF are in the class together and they just had so much fun splashing around! Of Course Link has been doing this for 3 months and is already up to 7 seconds! He is such a great little fish ;) I love seeing them play with one another, and am so happy that they are going to be on this journey together!

It is so amazing how quickly they learn! Riley started out at the same age and is now swimming on her own pretty well. She can hold her breathe for 10 + seconds and goes in the water now without Mommy. It's so cute to watch her sit on the side of the pool on her little turtle and wait her turn! I love how smart they are and how their little brains just soak everything in! I can't wait for Ry and Carson and Link to all be able to swim together someday! I just know they will all be the best of friends :)

Day 2!

Just wanted to update! Riley did great on her second day of school. She was so much more relaxed today! They learned about the numbers 1 & 2, painted their feet, and sang songs about Jesus. I am so proud of her!

First Day of School!

For the past few weeks I have been pep-talking Riley about returning to school. Every time I would ask her if she was ready and excited she would give me the...."seriously Mom" look and run off. It quickly went from "the look" to just plain flat out NO! I explained to her that school is fun, and that she is going to get to learn about Jesus and sing and dance, color and draw, practice letters and play with friends.....still she stood firm. She would say, "I wanna stay here mommy with you, and Carson" (this is where you hear sounds of my heart breaking)

So after weeks of talking and waiting the day finally came! Yesterday was Riley's first day of pre-school, (this is her second year attending and she really does love it)! It was so sweet to see her walking down the sidewalk with her cute little backpack and lunch box! She was super excited all the way there and kept saying "are we going to cool Mamma (this is her version of school) I was pumped that she was pumped, but her mood changed pretty quickly!

She was great up until we arrived to her classroom. There were two little boys (who might I add were not so little) standing at the gate screaming "get me out of here" really that is what they were shouting, and crying for their mommy's. It was heartbreaking....and for Riley it was devastating. She pretty much lost it and looked at me like I was nuts for wanting to put her in that room with those crying boys! As I handed her over, kissed her and told her that I loved her while fighting back my own tears, I truly knew she would be OK. My little Riley is a fireball and she usually adjusts pretty well!

I went to the orientation meeting, and went back to check on her before I left, it had been about 20 minutes....she was in the back of the classroom, playing with her BF Morgan. They were at the little kitchen both with a baby doll in hand. I was so happy to see that the tears had stopped and that she was having a good time with her friends!

She was literally ecstatic to see Carson and I when we came to pick her up! Her sweet face just lit up and her little legs could not get to us fast enough. I asked her how her day was and she said in a very matter of fact way..."good Mommy", she literally melts my heart. She has talked about "cool" all day today, so maybe tomorrow won't be as bad!!

It is crazy how fast these last 2 years have gone by, soon she will be going to kindergarten, then middle school and high school. The day will come that she won't want me to drop her off in front of the school in fear that someone may see her....I dread the day that she doesn't need me to hold her hand and tell her it's going to be alright.

SO for now I am going to take advantage of the tears and sobs and hold her and squeeze her while she will still let me!! My sweet Riley, I am so proud of you and who you are.....you amaze me more and more everyday!

I sure do love you

XOXO....

Love, Mommy!