An Olis Occasion

Recovery

2012-01-26T18:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I survived :) We thank the Lord that the surgery was uneventful, with the exception that a surprise cyst was found. Both were removed, and although I have found recovery much slower than expected, each day I am getting stronger.

I have to take this time to say how very grateful we are for our friends and family. Both have been huge in my recovery, and if not for the meals, visits, calls, grocery trips and child care- I have no earthly idea how we would have made it through this week. I have simply been overwhelmed by the generosity and compassion that has showered my family. At one point when I got teary-eyed and frustrated by not even being able to go to the bathroom by myself, my husband reminded me how much we were blessed and how much people were praying for me. He is right- we are so, so blessed to be surrounded by those who care enough to help when we need it the most.

Mark has also been incredible. Worried and protective, yes- but amazing. He has taken care of me, our child, the dog and the house- without so much as one complaint. He sure is a keeper :)

Tomorrow I head back for the pathology report and post-op, and am feeling almost back to myself again. In fact, the couch is a little less appealing and I am super tired of being cooped up- so I am praying for the all-clear.

In other news, Mark and I have been introduced to some great budgeting software and have started implementing it this week. I have gone round and round with the easiest way to manage our family finances, and I think we have finally found it. If you are interested in learning more, check out ynab.com.

I am headed back for some more riveting daytime television. Don't worry, if you are at work or on a playdate or at the gym... you are not missing anything :)

A day like today...

2012-01-16T18:10:00.000-08:00

This morning, I was uber (yes, it is a word) proud of myself. Not only did I make coffee, feed the dog, feed my child, got myself ready, packed two lunches, dressed my son, organized a back pack, refilled a juice cup, and loaded us into my toasty car (because of course I started it ahead of time), I also had us pulling out of the driveway at 6:20 a.m. BY MYSELF.

I know, I was patting myself on the back too. In fact, I was thinking of ways to nominate myself for some mom-of-the-year-award for oh, the entire 45 minutes to Wyatt's school. Even the traffic seemed to lighten. In fact, there was no traffic. Given the fact that I left before the crack of dawn, I was feeling pretty darn smug. Right up until the point that I pulled into the parking lot only to discover that I was the first in the carpool line. And the lights weren't on. And... OH S%^*.

It's a national holiday. No school. My husband is 500 miles away, the in-laws are dealing with a family crisis. And... I am pretty much SOL. No vacation time left. No such thing as working from home in my world. Just as I was beginning to imagine the horror of a three-and-a-half year old running rampant through the office terrorizing my co-workers and pissing my boss off, I decided to desperately dial the drop-in care at the hospital, praying for a miracle. A miracle I got. I must be living right, because the heavens parted and allowed me the last spot in the preschool room.

At lunch, given that Wyatt had failed his hearing screening at school the week before, I called an audiologist friend that works at the same campus as me. She graciously agreed to retest him, reassuring me that he probably just got distracted the first go-round. We headed over to the clinic, only to discover a flat line test, and definite hearing loss. Two appointments later, and my work day shot- we are bounding towards the land of tubes. Thus far this year, we have paid for our ENT's trip to Maui and new BMW-- now we can add the lake house to our tab :)

This day was stressful, and we have many more hurdles to get through the rest of this week- however, I am so very thankful that this is all that I have to complain about. These are things that can be fixed. My family is healthy, my little boy will regain his hearing and I will make it through my surgery at the end of the week. I might be a nervous wreck, and feel like the worst mom in the world at times, but I am crawling along. As this day concludes, I can't help but laugh at the chaos and feel grateful for all that I have.

This new year has brought new perspective-- let's hope it sticks around :)

Our Holiday

2012-01-09T16:52:00.000-08:00

Snow Mountain

Round 2: Atlanta
Santa came!

My child looks so excited to be taking a family photo instead of opening presents :)

Cookies for Santa, Apple for Rudolph :)

Our first Christmas program ...

To hear Wyatt scream in delight on Christmas morning was pure music to our ears! This year was magic --and it was worth every moment of insanity that landed us on the 25th. We have waited a long time for him to understand what is going on, and this year I think it has finally begun to sink in. We are so thankful for our Savior and I am thrilled to see my little guy connect the dots between the birth of Christ and Santa. He knows what is the true meaning for the season, and that makes this momma's heart happy!

After a sweet morning as a family of three, we headed to Clanton to celebrate Christmas with Mark's family, and then took off to Atlanta to visit Mimi and Papa. We had a blast at Snow Mountain and exchanging gifts with my family. Upon our return to Alabama, we spent the the rest of the week at home enjoying our pajamas and afternoon naps :)

Happy 2012!

The Disconnect of 2011

2012-01-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

In an effort to keep my sanity intact, I took a big 'ole break from all things that require a watch. I have decided that 12 whole days outside of the office can change an entire mental state. We did nothing without Wyatt, and our days included anything from fake snow, grandparents, swingsets and makeshift forts. We of course excluded clocks, professional clothing and technology.

It.was.amazing. I hope that your holiday was equally as special. When I get around to downloading the entire story, I will post... in the mean time, I will leave you with our little guy enjoying his gift from Mimi and Papa. It doesn't get any better than this- (well, the slide would make it better... it's on the way :) ...

Happy New Year!

Prayers, Please

2011-12-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

There have been so many times in the past month that I have turned to update this blog, and simply have not had the energy. I am not going to lie- this month has been tough, tough, tough. It is difficult to record happy things and the many blessings I encounter each day, when so many around me are hurting.

Watching my husband grieve over the loss of a close friend, standing helpless as another friend fights for strength and courage as she wages her own battle with cancer, saying goodbye to a precious family as they embark on a new journey, and supporting family when pain hits them square on-- not exactly what I pictured when this year began.

We are taking the good with the bad. We are healthy, we are warm and safe. We have jobs, we have wonderful friends and wonderful family. The guilt seeps in when such precious people around me are suffering and there is absolutely nothing I can do- nothing but pray, and pray and pray.

In my mind, everything should stay the same. Fifty years from now, as an old woman, I picture my friends and I sharing laughs and tears as we do now. I picture the same friends- the same group, where no one leaves, no one gets sick and no one moves. It's not reality, but it's a reality that I have clung to the last four years. Post-college was a challenge, but once I found my groove, once I became a mom and the Lord blessed me with an incredible network of amazing women I knew it would rock my world to have to watch one of them wrestle great adversity, or struggle with infertility, or maneuver a minefield of disappointments.

Change is inevitable - I know that in my head, but it is hard to accept when it affects the heart. Our "golden group" may not, (and probably won't) remain the same into our golden years. What a difficult lesson to learn. It is teaching me to be grateful in the small things and to take each day as it comes.

So, friends... I am asking for prayers. Not for me, but for those around us. I am sure everyone knows someone who is hurting this season. Let's be a community that prays for each other. I truly believe that there is power in prayer. Although we may not be getting the response or the outscome that we see as best- I find great comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is Lord and everything is His to control.

Day on the Plains

2011-11-20T16:58:00.000-08:00

#17, 18 and 19... cute coincidence!

We took Wyatt to his very first Auburn game on Saturday. I will admit, I am LOVING this age- he is finally getting old enough where I feel more comfortable taking him to events with large crowds and to activities that might interfere with naptime. He did great! For some reason, I was extremely apprehensive about the whole tailgating/stadium experience. We did have a dress rehearsal with A-day earlier in the year, and this was Homecoming, so I knew it would be pretty laid back. Nonetheless, SEC football is SEC football :)

We made the experience extremely "Wyatt" friendly by not trying to push past half time. We also tried to sit as close to Aubie as possible (this was his favorite part of the game) and promised a trip to Toomer's Corner after the game. As you can tell from the photos-- the whole toliet paper thing was beyond his wildest dreams (fun times for any child, I can imagine) and I was happy to share these memories with him- Auburn will always hold special memories for Mark and I, and to be able to expand upon those memories with Wyatt is an incredible blessing. What a wonderful day!

War Eagle!

...and, another FIRST!

2011-11-11T10:39:00.000-08:00

On Monday, Wyatt took part in his very FIRST field trip. We joined 22 other three-year-olds, their moms and four teachers at a local farm.

Wyatt got to pick cotton, corn and acorns. We ate lunch in a barn loft (which made me a nervous wreck!) and met lots of friendly animals. My ninety-to-nothing preschooler loved climbing a giant bale of hay and picking more pumpkins for our front porch. We both agreed on the way home, however, that our personal favorite activity was the hayride.

Here are some pictures of our adventure! I loved being able to share these memories with my little guy :)

And a Yo Ho Ho...

2011-11-06T18:10:00.000-08:00

The ladybug and Tinkerbell...
Yo Gabba Gabba!

Between parties, Boo at the Zoo and the traditional trick-or-treating, Wyatt wore his custom"made-by-Grandma" pirate attire five days in a row. He couldn't have been more thrilled :) This little swashbuckler has been begging to go dressed as a pirate for nearly a year, and there were several times that I tried (to no avail) to persuade him into a much more "cutesy" costume... but, to see the grin on his face as we got him dressed was well worth it :)

Hope ya'll had a Happy Halloween!

Brian

2011-11-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

Tonight sucked. I hate cancer, and I hate death and I hate seeing another mother in angst. Oh, but how much I loved Brian- we all did. My heart aches with a heaviness I haven't felt in a long, long time. My eyes are scratchy and my chest is tight.

I hurt for his family and for ours, I hurt for his other friends and for those of us who are left missing his bear hugs and his high fives... those of us who miss the sound of his feet through our kitchen at 4 a.m. as he leaves for another hunting trip with our husband. Those of us who want nothing more than to see him wrestling with a toddler in our living room, or share one more spaghetti dinner.

Life is just so damn short. I can't say it any other way. Tomorrow my husband will deliver a Eulogy and help carry a casket. Tomorrow has come way too quick. Hug a neck, say a prayer of thanks. I am so grateful for those I have, but we have no idea when this day will be my last, or his last... or hers. He was, quite simply, remarkable.

Stone Mountain

2011-10-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend with my parents at Stone Mountain, which is only 10 minutes from the home where I grew up.

I remember many days of hiking, riding and watching the laser light show, and I am happy that Wyatt will get to experience the same- we had so much fun exploring!

For any of you thinking about making a trip to Atlanta, I highly recommend you check out all that this area has to offer. We can't wait to get back for the Christmas Light Show and Snow Mountain.

Wyatt's top picks included both the train and the "table car" (cable car) ride. The view of the Atlanta skyline is amazing from 15,000 feet- and we couldn't have asked for better weather. The crisp, fall days are here, and I am loving it.

We even squeezed in a visit with my best friend from high school and her two children. Amy is in Florida now, so it was such a treat to be able to meet little Lily for the first time and catch up. I miss her so much!

And, we are gearing up for Halloween festivities already- where has 2011 gone?!

Christmas Card Sneak Peek

2011-10-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

We just finished up our annual photo shoot with my dear friend Erin at Lens Envy. I could sing her praises all day long, but the pictures will speak for themselves. Let me just say that she has some serious chemistry with the kiddos and incredible talent for getting those unexpected moments.

What a year. It has been a whirlwind and hard to believe that 2011 is almost over. My heart is so full with all God has blessed me with. I am beyond thankful for my family, great friends and good jobs. To Him be the glory!

Love, love, love these... I didn't want to post what we chose for the Christmas card, but here are a few of my favorites.

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-09T17:12:00.001-07:00

Actually, I want to go to the fair...

2011-10-09T17:02:00.001-07:00

Two weeks ago we had the opportunity to take Wyatt and Delaney to the Shelby County Fair. My son, being the thrill seeker that he was, LOVED it and didn't want to leave. In fact, for the last 10 days, we have had the exact same conversation every.single.morning.

ME: Wyatt it's time to go to school

Wyatt: Actually, I want to go to the fair.

Perhaps by the time my child stops negotiating, the fair will return. In the meantime-- here are our memories of the evening :)

Confessions of a Soccer Mom

2011-09-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

About three weeks ago, we began a soccer program (along with six or seven of my friends, and their little ones) designed to teach athletic "basics" to three and four year olds. The core premise is one coach, four drill stations, twenty preschoolers and forty parents attempting some semblance of order. The first attempt was mass chaos and choruses of "I'm hungry" or "I'm tired" or as my child demonstrated, multiple trips to the potty or full fledged fist pounding and feet thrashing. I was seriously debating my sanity and thought process for enrolling a three-year-old in organized sports.

The second week was a hair better, and I must say he looks pretty darn cute in Umbro's and those adorable socks that run the length of his calves. Although his attention span has not dramatically improved from when we started, the wooden spoon has done wonders in keeping his motivation from crashing to a screeching halt :)

The big game is in a couple of weeks, I have a feeling it will look a lot more like a herd of goats than an actual game... but it should be interesting. Watch out Alabaster- Smart Start has invaded!

Labor "less" Weekend with Uncle Kurt

2011-09-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

I am a little behind on posting, but this pretty much sums up our Labor Day weekend. We were blessed with one day of semi-sun on Friday, and took full advantage of our beach time. The rest of the weekend we enjoyed the Auburn win, cooked and played with Uncle Kurt. It was so nice just to relax and enjoy spending time together as a family.

Tropical Storm Lee was a doozie, and when we returned back to Birmingham, we lost power for two days. Wyatt entertained himself by stomping around in his rain boots and pretending to watch cartoons. He wasn't nearly as excited as we were when our power was restored :)

10 Years

2011-09-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

I know from the comments I have been hearing all day that I am not alone in the disbelief that 10 years have passed since 9/11.

Some have welcomed the resurgence of video, interviews, audio files and previously untold stories.

I am among the ones who have avoided it as much as possible. Until Friday, I purposely changed the channel and the subject matter when I saw or heard anything relating to the horror and the panic that seeped into my dorm room on that September morning.

My heart still breaks for the thousands of lives lost, and the millions more who were forever changed. Like a stack of dominoes, we will never fully understand the ramifications of that day.

What few people know is that my father, a commercial airline pilot at the time, was working at the exact time the South tower was struck. He was in the air when the North Tower struck, still flying his 737 through the Midwest when we got word of the Pentagon, and then of United Flight 11. For five hours, thirty-seven minutes our family did not know if he was next. We sat silent, separated by state lines, frantically calling his employer, the FAA and each other. I wouldn't allow myself to think the worst, but my mind reeled. When we received word that every plane in the U.S. was being grounded, I took a breath. When he was able to find a working phone 17 hours later I cried. And cried. And cried.

My heart is still broken from that day. As the rest of the country, those images are still raw. I still teeter between intense pride and intense anger. I have no clue how one could process the events of that day as an unbeliever. I just don't. I thank God for this country. I thank Him for His divine plan- a plan we do not know. I thank Him for the heroes. I thank Him for everything that day has taught me, has taught us.

May we never forget...

Thankful

2011-09-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

We are back from our weekend at the coast, and although it was almost a complete washout, I am so thankful to have had a couple of days with my family away from all the distractions of life.

I am also thankful that I have such a sweet brother-in-law who allowed us to crash with him a midst a tropical storm and a very narrow Auburn win. And played with my three-year-old non-stop (did I mention that we barely left the house for fear of being blown away?!)

Thankful still for a husband who scooped my traumatized Wyatt into his arms two and three times throughout the night as lightning struck and thunder boomed. A husband who quieted him back to sleep, and then got up again with him at 7 a.m., allowing this very tired mom some much needed rest.

Last week was no bueno. At all. There have been so many Fridays where I was completely wiped, but I do believe this past week took the cake. My mental stability was hanging on by a thread and the only thing that kept me on this side of crazy town was the promise of sand between my toes. We made it before the rain, barely, and for that I am thankful. Thankful for a quiet day on the beach, for the birds that made Wyatt laugh, for the sand castles and the walks and an Amberjack lunch. Thankful still that I have one more day to be at home with my little guy, one more day to win the 'to-do' tug-of- war. One more day to put off the inevitable. The life of a working mom is just.so.dang.hard. But I am thankful for the job God has given me, and skills in which to complete that job. I am thankful for the paycheck and what He has provided.

As it says in Ecclesiastes, whatever He gives me, I will do with all my heart. And for what he has given me, I am thankful.

Aquapalooza, Celebrating Delaney and tooth trouble

2011-08-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

This past week has been all about my sweet niece. I cannot believe an entire year has gone by since I first laid eyes on her. Delaney has brought our family such joy, and I cherish being able to watch this sweet girl grow. I pray God's blessings on her, and I cannot wait to watch His plan for her unfold.

Happy First Birthday Delaney!!

We have also spent as much time in the water as possible. It is hard to believe that summer is ending as are the lazy days on the lake and at the pool.

Another school year has begun- we are so excited about 3K and cannot wait to see what this year brings for our little guy. So far we have learned how to use scissors, successfully manuevered the potty and contracted our first two cavities. (YAY)

Mark is going to have a dandy time at the dentist on Tuesday. There is no way I could stand to see my baby get two shots in the roof of his mouth! I am calling in back up with Grandma, and letting the two of them handle this one. In the meantime, Motts for Tots is banned at our house. We are on a strict "water and milk only" liquid consumption. I see many more toothbrushing wars in my future!

Here, here for Mom of the Year! :)

Ladies Man

2011-08-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

Wyatt and Miss Alabama

My son is a fan of blondes. As is our tradition, Wyatt and I supported Miracle Treat Day at our local Dairy Queen. I happened to have the inside scoop (no pun intended) that our very own Courtney Porter would be making an appearance. What's better than ice cream with a beauty queen I ask? um, not much.

The second picture makes me the teeniest bit sad. Wyatt's very last Sunday in our church nursery was last week. This sweet girl has taken care of him for the past three years, while Mark and I attended both church and small group. Starting this weekend, Wyatt will be sitting with us for the music portion, then on stage for the Children's Moment (Lord, help us!) followed by Children's church. He is officially a pre-schooler. Really, where did the time go??

Interview with Wyatt

2011-08-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

I am totally and completely stealing this idea from LB-- well, and Pinintrest. I love this idea. It's a little different with a three year old than a four year old- but the answers are still pretty funny!

I plan on doing this for every birthday.

1. Wyatt, what is your favorite food: Chicken

2. what is your favorite sport to play: Toys

3. What is your favorite thing to watch on tv: Sponge Bob (some things never change)

4. Who is the coolest person on earth: Bubble Guppies

5. What is your favorite thing to learn about in school: Kids, oh, oh and toys and friends [my little social butterfly]

6. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? To earth. And to Aunt Stephanie’s.

7. What is your favorite color? Crayons [obviously this kid has the word “favorite” and “synonym” confused]

8. What do you want to be when you grow up? Daddy.I want to be Daddy.

9. What is your favorite song? Jesus Loves Me.

10. Book I'm Loving Right Now: The Pirate Book and the Caterpillar story

11. Three words to describe me: I love my blankie and my monkey and my sharkie. I am happy.

12. When I was little I used to: drink milk in the bottle.

13. Favorite season: Summer

14. Absolute best thing about camping: [just curious to see what he would say, we have never been camping] Fire.

15. favorite snack: pretzels

16. food I really don't like: ice cream [seriously, my own flesh and blood doesn’t like ice cream?!]

17. My best friend is: Monkey. And blankie. And Sharkie. And Ryan and Lily.

18. One wish: I want to go back to Disney World.

19. My best memory: Mickey Mouse. And the Lake.

20. Is there anything else you want to say? I want to ride the jet ski!

Detour

2011-07-27T18:37:00.001-07:00

Anna's Splash Party!
Delaney has found her nose :)
And... more CARS!

As you can tell, the birthday festivities continued all the way to Atlanta. The weekend after Wyatt's party, we ventured back to my hometown for my 10-year high school reunion, and never can we enter my parents house without presents :) So, Wyatt had round three of the big hoo-rah.

It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since graduation. It is also hard to believe how different my life is than what I expected just a decade ago. I always envisioned myself in a big city rather than a tiny suburb, driving something other than what I drove in high school and writing life -changing and thought-provoking pieces for Time or the Atlanta Journal Constitution. My historical fiction would have been finished and my queries would be sent all over the country rather than collecting dust on the desk that used to be in my office (pre-baby, of course :) and is now in the corner of my bedroom.

In reality- Starbucks and Einstein Bros. have been replaced with Cotton Candy flavored Go-Gurt (which by the way- there is something invariably wrong with carnival flavored yogurt packaged like a Popsicle) my dreams of a luxury SUV have been put on hold -along with the story ideas rattling around in my head.

You know what, though? It's okay. It's better than okay. I wouldn't trade a big empty loft for my comfortable, crazy and chaotic home if my life depended on it. There is nothing more appealing than a birthday party with my two favorite boys or my backyard at sunset.

God certainly has a sense of humor- I am so thankful for all of those unanswered prayers. Those dreams from 10 years ago? Life may have stepped in and created a detour, but regardless of whats ahead or how I'm going to get there- one thing is certain: I am going to enjoy the journey.

Happy Birthday Wyatt!

2011-07-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

This girl is almost ONE- can you believe it?! The adorable wheel barrow from Uncle Kurt and Miss Kelley!

Celebrating our baby :)

We had a small family dinner to celebrate Wyatt's big day last week. As I have every year since he was born, I took the day off to spend with him. I absolutely love this tradition for the obvious reason of getting to spend one-on-one time with only child, but also because we do whatever he wants to do- and it is always relaxed, playful and incredibly special.

Last Wednesday he woke up and decided he wanted to go to the library and the pool. And he wanted pizza for dinner (the night before he wanted cheeseburgers, so my best laid plans for sliders went out the window). Pizza Hut it was, and he finally got to tear into his presents after a long day of hanging out with Mommy.

It was perfect. Mark and I have a lot of assembly work ahead of us this weekend, but when we are through, Wyatt will have a minature amusement park in the backyard. I kid, however, my one stipulation with regard to his birthday was that he was to get nothing that takes up valuable indoor real estate. We have one child and our small three-bedroom is already busting at the seams. Do I dare think about the massive amount of primary colored plastic that will be accumulating once we add another? Yikes.

Anyways, here are the pictures from his big day... the week long party is over, but we never stop celebrating our little man. We just love him so, so much.

Happy Birthday Wyatt! We are so excited to see what the Lord has in store for you!

Pirate Palooza 2011

2011-07-10T10:27:00.000-07:00

Ahoy Matey's!

Wyatt's Birthday was a success! It was such a relief to have rented the clubhouse in our neighborhood, because I didn't have to worry about cleaning , it stayed cool and was the perfect size!

Our little guy was so excited, (a bit overwhelmed at first, but he ended up having a great time with all of his friends :)

Here are some pictures:

Centerpieces

The dessert/candy table

Some of my family and friends are as obsessed with Southern Living as I am, so I borrowed several of their buckets that matched mine, and flipped them upside down to make cute

candy containers

For candy, we had neon glow worms, ring pops, blow pops and candy necklaces.

I used PeaceHeartCupcakes on Etsy for all of the table toppers and cupcake toppers, and used tin buckets and shred from the dollar store to hold them. I also ordered his napkin holders from there as well.

I didn't want to go with the traditional red/black, so I added a punch of color with the cupcakes.

Kurt's girlfriend made some adorable Pirate face cupcakes as well, but they weren't there yet when I took these pictures :)

The food table:

The food wasn't completely out when I took this picture, but we had fruit in waffle cups, Pirate's Booty Popcorn, Goldfish, chicken salad sandwiches, pasta salad, hot dogs wrapped in biscuits and Cannonballs (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate- a Stephanie signature :)

A huge thank you to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law who did most of the food. I couldn't have pulled this party off without them- and it was SUPER yummy too :)

Here are the labels I had printed for the food (Etsy again)- I thought they turned out adorable!

The entryway/favor table:

My mom painted the sign (she is super talented! For some reason, I did not get the artistic gene :) For favors, I ordered wrapped cookies from Cookie Queen of Alabama and then added favor tags:

She also made crabs and octopus cookies, but I forgot to take pictures of those.

The drink table (my mom painted the sign hanging above)

The activities:

Mark made a Walk-The-Plank out of two buckets and some 2x4's. We also had a pirate tent, a cannonball toss and a treasure dig (basically I dumped gold coins and jewels into a sandbox) the kids loved this- something about getting as dirty as you possibly can while wearing your cute

st party clothes is hugely appealing.

Also a big hit was the treasure chest pinata. Thank goodness we had a couple older kids there, or that thing would never have gotten busted! It was the sturdiest cardboard box I have ever seen- I think we would still be out there swinging if it hadn't been for Ryan and Lily :)

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us! It was a wonderful day, and one Wyatt will never forget :)

Sittin' on the dock of the bay...

2011-07-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that the summer is half over! We had a wonderful Destin-filled holiday. These two munchkins couldn't have been happier (i.e. rambunctious as all get out :) to spend four uninterrupted days on the coast with one of their favorite uncles.

It may be the last of the traveling we do for a while (other than the three of us going to Atlanta). It is beyond exhausting to protect, entertain and discipline an almost three-year-old when he is around his 10-month-old cousin for an extended period of time. I probably sound like the Wicked Witch of the West after asking 9,458 times for him to give a toy back, or to stop whining or to quit throwing sand.

Of course it was well worth the trouble to see the look in their eyes as the fireworks started. Sitting on that dock in a rare moment of peace, my sister -in -law and I commented that though it was a lot of work to get them down there and keep them from killing each other, it was, in deed, worth it. I still do not understand how those of you with two or more do it! I can already tell that Wyatt's 3rd year is going to be quite the challenge.

Along increasing independence, Wyatt's rebellious side is ramping up. I feel I am having to keep a check on my frustration level more often than not, and also come up with creative ways to get him to do what he needs to do when he needs to do it- not easy, let me tell ya. I only wish babies came with lifelong instruction manuals :)

We returned home just in time to hit the party planning in full force. Everything is starting to come together, and we can't wait to celebrate the big #3!

This little pirate is ready... let's just hope I am ;)

This Little Monkey

2011-06-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

Has eyes that could melt a glacier and a smile that goes on for miles. My little monkey- with a perfect little nose and a perfect knack for finding trouble. He spins me in circles every day and makes me wonder what my life was like only three short years ago.

I am a little less patient and a little more tired. I am a lot more grateful and a lot more worried. My life changed forever the moment his began. My heart is on my sleeve and I live for the kisses and the cuddles and the imaginary boo boos that only I can fix.

The days seem to last forever, yet the years fly by. I try to let every detail of every moment marinate- until I am absolutely sure I will remember it forever. Even still, the ache is there. I know these minutes are fleeting, and one day I will look back and wonder where the time went. Already it has been three years and I wonder if I have captured enough. Have I let time slip through my fingers concerned with non-important things? Have I stayed in the moment, or wandered in my own thoughts- forgetting what is right in front of me?

He is my heart and soul- absolute sweetness and curiosity and all that is right with the world. He makes my life bounce with excitement and his laughter is music to my ears. This precious boy, my Wyatt. There has never been one like you, and there will never be another. You have brought me such unspeakable joy and for you I am eternally grateful!

The Road to Recovery

2011-06-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

Playing with Grandma's glasses and checking out "Mommy's work" right before they took him back.

After surgery, my brave boy with his apple juice... finally

Wyatt's surgery went exceptionally well-- Praise the Lord!! I didn't sleep much at all Monday night, thinking about it. We arrived at the hospital around 9, and after getting checked in and talking to the surgeon and Anesthesia, they took him back just after 11. An hour hour, we got a glowing report from the surgeon and were told we would more than likely get to go home for the night (Thank you, thank you Lord!!)

We did in fact, get to go home after arriving at Children's only six hours before. I cannot speak higher of the whole experience. I know I am a little biased, but as a parent- I could not be more pleased. Everyone- from the lab techs to the CRNA's to the anesthesiologist to the nursing staff treated my child like he was one of their own. They truly knew, that as a mom, this would be terribly difficult- yet they were enormously comforting. I am so, so grateful we have such a wonderful facility in our backyard- what a blessing.

Recovery, on the other hand, has been a bit rough. As expected, Wyatt is hurting- it is quite painful for him to swallow the medicine, so getting that in him has been a challenge. It breaks my heart to see him so miserable-- but, so far, no bleeding and no vomiting, so I think we are doing pretty well- exhausted- but chugging along. I am thankful that I have had the last couple of days to comfort my baby, and praying that next week will prove to be a turning point for our little guy.

I cannot tell you how much all of the prayers and thoughts have meant to us-- it was beyond comforting to know so many people were thinking of us this week- and we love you for it! The calls, texts and emails have been unbelievable. We are incredibly blessed to have such amazing friends and family- and I thank God for all of you!

Gulf Coast Getaway

2011-06-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

Of course my husband knew the Captain of Zeke's Deep Sea Fishing Fleet :) Here he is, introducing Wyatt and drooling over the Red Fish
Thinking about where he is going to run next...
Vacation = Breakfast In Bed!
Crabbing with Daddy
What would be a trip to Orange Beach without the family beach picture?!
Seriously. Love. Tacky. Jack's. Wyatt loved the live music and the fried goodness in that basket
And, the sand and surf
Mark, Wyatt and I stole away for a quick trip to the coast this weekend. It was, by all means, one of the best weekends I have ever had. I swear, family is all that is right with the world- and there is nothing that clears my head or renders my soul more than selfish hours spent with the people I love the most.

We laughed, played, ate and slept. I came home feeling rested and ready for tomorrow. We did have a little bit of a let down that Wyatt is 3rd on the surgery list, and will have to go until 10 a.m. with no breakfast or his beloved apple juice. No one loves juice more than my son. Please pray for our sanity!

I was also prepared for the distinct possiblility that he will have to be admitted. I am praying, praying, praying that he does exceptionally well and can go home tomorrow.

Will be back tomorrow to update everyone. I can't thank you enough for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers!

Wyatt the Pirate

2011-06-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

We are full steam ahead on birthday preparations for the big number 3.

My son, who has an odd preoccupation with all things Pirate these days, has of course nixed all other theme ideas- including an ice cream party at a nearby location where they do all the work (to be honest, the easy part appealed to me more than the actual itinerary :).

So, this mom is researching Pirate English, googling menus and spending way too many hours on Etsy. I am not sure why I do this to myself-- you know, the whole tons-of-money tons-of-time on a two-hour party-- but it always pays off in the end. I do realize that my husband is right- Wyatt couldn't care less about tablescapes and fruit kabobs. But, since I am that neurotic mom- I want it to be perfect and adorable and I want my little Buccaneer to remember his day. He probably won't, ( I don't remember my 3rd birthday) but... there will be the pictures. And, let's be honest- no matter how you slice it, July birthday parties in Alabama are never going to be easy :) Thank goodness for blogging, because I have gotten some GREAT ideas!

In other news, Wyatt's surgery is Tuesday... so keep those prayers coming!

Kick Start to Summer

2011-06-01T18:15:00.001-07:00

Me and my sweet Lily girl :)

I hope that you all had a wonderful Memorial Day! I am so grateful to all of those in uniform, and overwhelmed by the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedom. My daddy is a veteran, and I am thankful for his service to our country.

We had the kind of weekend that made me never want to return to the 'real' world. Mark smoked his famous boston butt, we enojoyed our new patio furniture (thanks, AL state tax return :) ate a ton of amazing food and spent the rest of the holiday with the Bufkin's on the lake.

Food, family and good friends is a great way to begin the summer, don't you think?

Delaney's Baptism

2011-05-28T07:48:00.001-07:00

Our precious niece was baptized on May 15. It was a beautiful ceremony, and she did great! Her Aunt Rachel sobbed like a baby, however :) Isn't she gorgeous?! What a special, special day. Mark, Wyatt and I are so grateful to be apart of this little one's life.

Gatlinburg

2011-05-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

My little preppy pink polo model
In the blink of an eye, he'll be driving the real deal- for now, we'll take this!
Three Generations of Olis Boys

My loves :)

And, finally... just to prove we actually did hike 2.6 miles.

You guessed it- we just returned from a weekend trip to the Smokey Mountains (or "Mounts" as Wyatt calls them). Mark's parents and brother had a wedding to attend, and we tagged along if for no other reason than because we don't travel alone in this family ;).

Anyways, we had a great time! Wyatt has gotten to do a lot of fun things this year, and now we can add the Smokies to list.

Mark was happy for the hiking, I was happy for the shopping, and Wyatt was happy for the pool (and the go karts too). All in all, a wonderful vacation.

1,460 Days

2011-05-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Four years. Long enough time for a student to graduate from college, long enough for a child to learn to tie their shoe or spell their name, and, sadly, long enough for a couple to marry and consequently call it quits.

Today heralds the fourth year of marriage for Mark and I. Not every day has been bliss, nor has every moment been Hallmark worthy . However, we have made it (happily, I might add) through four years. I am incredibly grateful for this man I have married, for the vows we made and for the sanctity of marriage.

In the short span of our marriage we have moved across state lines three times, changed careers twice and became parents. We decided early on to make our relationship a top priority, and that sentiment and resolve has brought us a long way. When life seems to be wearing us down, we lean on each other. Mark is my safe place. He is my haven in the midst of this crazy chaotic life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy, happy 4th... praying for 40 more :)

This crazy thing called life...

2011-05-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

At 5:30 yesterday afternoon when I pulled into the driveway only to find my back tire almost completely deflated, I was not prepared to spend the better part of the evening in the auto section of Walmart. As a young college student, my dad always took care of these inconviences for me. As a newlywed, my husband handled the flat tires, the oil changes and even bailed me out when I ran out of gas.

Now, as a young professional, an exhausted mother of one and, at times, a single parent- these type of things land themselves smack on my shoulders. Regardless of how tired I feel, how overwhelmed I am or how much I want to travel back to my early twenties- it simply isn't an option. Someone must pick up the two year old from preschool, someone needs to feed the dog and give baths and fix dinner- which doesn't leave a whole lot of leeway for things like a nail in the tire.

So, as I sat waiting on my name to be called (after wandering the aisles in 2-inch heels for 45 minutes) , I was simultaneously attempting to both stay awake, and figure out how I could propel myself through the rest of the evening. Knowing full well that Wyatt would be about as reved up as a tasmanian devil when I returned, and that Mark had a board meeting at the church to rush off to-collapsing into bed was not an option.

I managed to summon enough energy to get through the evening- flat tires, flying chicken, frantic tantrums and all. It did serve as a reminder that we are stronger than we think. Even when little things seem overwhelming, it is human nature to want to crawl under the covers. Yet, if we choose to put one foot in front of the other and to continue moving forward- God will do the rest. I need to remind myself of this on a daily basis. All too often I worry about things that I cannot control, I stress about the future and fret over details- skimming over the big picture.

I am no longer a child protected from the world, and on most days, the responsibility of it all is more than I ever imagined back in my college days. Life, in fact, is nothing like I imagined it- but I think that was God's plan all along. He never gives us more than we can handle, but just enough to make sure we depend on Him. The outcome is far greater than our wildest dreams, isn't it?

Pleasant Grove

2011-05-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we had the privilege to help with the tornado relief efforts. Our team was assigned to a neighborhood right outside of Birmingham, and specifically to assist the Smith's, a sweet couple in need of debris cleanup and tree removal.

Marvin is 82 and Barbara is 75. They have been married for all of 6 years, and were positively the cutest people I have ever met. Both worked along side of us all day, and got teary eyed when trying to express their gratitude. Barbara gave all of us multiple hugs and talked in disbelief of the devastation that surrounded them. Words cannot express and pictures do not show the magnitude of the destruction. It is like nothing I have ever seen in my entire life. It was all I could do not to cry- yet out of something so terrible, has come a great deal of good.

I was blown away by the amount of volunteers and churches that had come together to help. I thank God for the opportunity to be among them, and I look forward to volunteering more in the days to come throughout the road to recovery. Please continue to pray for those affected by these storms!

And then there was more

2011-05-14T13:00:00.001-07:00

As you know, a week ago we were preparing for Wyatt to have outpatient surgery- both emotionally and logistically. I had gotten medical leave approved at work to be out for two weeks of recovery, I had grilled our pediatrician and ENT ruthlessly about post-op expectations and Mark had taken Tuesday off so that he could be there for the procedure.

All that was left was the phone call from the surgery center telling me what we needed to be there. On Monday, Wyatt woke up with a low-grade fever complaining that he didn't feel good. The anesthesiologist beat me to the punch and called before I could reach for the phone. They had gotten both the ENT's and the pediatrician's office notes, and operating on a two-year old with a heart murmur had apparently raised some red flags. The tests that were ran were not conclusive enough for him to feel comfortable putting a toddler under, nor did they indicate that he did not have more serious issues. At that, the surgery was post poned until we saw a Pediatric Cardiologist.

I tried not to get rattled as I made phone calls, retrieved referrals and set the appointment. I would be lying if I didn't said that Wednesday afternoon loomed over my head for the first half of the week. We had absolutely breezed through Wyatt's first three years of life- I had counted myself lucky on many occasions that to-date we had only been to the E.R. once- but what if the entire time, something was wrong? What if my child did have a condition that we were unaware of? As I fretted, Mark consoled. My friends prayed, called, texted and encouraged me more than they will ever know.

I honestly couldn't focus on much of anything last week. Wednesday afternoon rolled around, and we got the good news I had been hoping for. His murmur is in fact innocent, which means there is a sound, but no physical abnormality with the heart. We couldn't have gotten a better report. For the first time in three days, I could breathe.

Six appointments and twelve tests later, Wyatt's tonsillectomy is scheduled for June 14th, and I couldn't be more relieved!

Updates

2011-05-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

There have been two events that have absolutely consumed my heart and soul this week.

The recent tornado outbreak is still so very real and painful- one week has passed, and yet, in that small amount of time, so much has changed. Neighbors are helping neighbors, rivals are helping rivals- beyond anything else-- we are in this thing together. Some are more impacted than others, but all of us have been affected in some way or another. I am ready for Saturday, if for nothing else, to provide healing to my soul. I don't care if I am hauling trees, fishing through rubble, serving food or providing any amount of comfort-- I need to do something.

I have become fixated on You Tube-- watching the tornados whip through the state over and over and over again. I scour blogs, facebook and online articles related to the storms and the aftermath. I know that on Saturday, I will be way more blessed than any of the people and families we serve. I am a firm beliver that giving back, regardless of the method, is the best medicine for survivors guilt or the feeling of utter helplessness.

The other unexpected event that has affected our family is Wyatt's impending tonsilectomy on Tuesday. Whether or not a medical procedure is inpatient or outpatient, minor or major, planned or unplanned is completely irrelevent to this momma. I am a nervous wreck thinking about my baby going under anesthesia, have needles poked into his arm, and being scared because he doesn't know what's going on. I feel a MILLION times better that my co-workers will be in the OR with him and that we are having the surgery done in such an exceptional facility. It is, however, nervewracking nonetheless.

We did find out this week that Wyatt has a minor heart murmur that has gone undetected until now- probably because the doctors can hear it better when he is sick. I felt kind of silly after tests were ran and everything looked okay, because I burst into tears in the doctors office and began thinking of everything and anything that could lay ahead for us, and for him. I think it comes with working with and around sick children- you just always expect the worst- and it adds another element of worry to Tuesday-- even with the surgeon's assurance that everything will be fine- I am trusting in the Lord to hold my baby even when I can't, and I know that Wyatt will be taken care of.

Thanks in advance for all your prayers in the upcoming week!

Zoo Day, Potty Troubles and Mom Question

2011-05-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we joined Stephanie, Delaney and some of my best friends and their kiddos for a play date at the zoo. There is a new African exhibit, and Wyatt was thrilled to see the elephants and giraffes. His favorite part of the entire day was the splash pad. I failed to bring a bathing suit, but had an extra pair of shorts so I gave in and let him play in the water. He was fit to be tied when I dragged him out and was a bit mismatched the rest of the day, but it was worth it :)

When we got to the public play area, Wyatt told me that he had to go potty. No problem- we were about two feet from the bathroom. Before I could even reach down and pick him up, he had pulled his elastic waist banded shorts to the ground and was peeing in full view of everyone. I was BEYOND mortified. All I could do was scream for him to stop, but once he started, there was no stopping, All the moms were incredibly gracious and my friends thought it was hysterical (I will admit- had it not been my child peeing in a public park, I would have thought it was funny too :) I guess thats life with a boy- I did tell Mark that there would be no more pit stops in the backyard until he was a little older, and a little less confused ;)

On another note, Wyatt's Excema continues to be a problem- particularly when it begins to warm up and when his skin is exposed to chlorine. I know if this is the worst problem we have to deal with, then I really have nothing to complain about- BUT aside from slathering him in steroid cream, I was just wondering if any of you had any advice? We spend the majority of our summer at the pool, and I would like to be able to enjoy it without having to worry about Wyatt's skin cracking open at the end of the day. Ya'll, it was so bad last night that Wyatt was screaming and crying while Mark held him down and I covered him from head to toe with medicated cream. It just kills me that I can't find a better way to keep a handle on it-- please let me know if you know of anything that might help!

Heavy Heart

2011-04-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

Please continue to pray for those affected by the devastating tornadoes that ripped through the South yesterday. I am completely overwhelmed and saddened by all that I have seen and heard today.

Alabama was the worst hit, and the damage is completely unbelievable. The pictures and videos speak for themselves, but it is the images of our neighbors who literally have nothing left that are burned into my mind.

Out of these tragedies always come those unsung heroes- and there are plenty of them. I could never say enough about the doctors, nurses, aides, administrators and critical care transport teams I witnessed working countless hours who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. I pray that God would help me know where and when to serve others throughout the recovery- the needs are so overwhelming but I know that together we can be the light of Christ in the midst of great darkness.

Wyatt's 3rd Easter- Part 2

2011-04-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Hunting... what Olis boys do best :)

Yes, it is smocked- guess who won the clothing battle this year?! ;)
Sweetness

So blessed to have most of the family to join us for Easter Sunday!

The loot

Wyatt's first egg-dying experience (yes, my child is almost three, and has never dyed eggs. I will admit that in rare cases, my OCD might inhibit the formation of family tradition)
Missy Prissy's Easter Basket from Wyatt...
Playing with baby Zach

He is Risen! Easter was nothing short of wonderful. I am so humbled to worship a risen Savior and blessed beyond measure to have family and friends to revel in the glory of an empty tomb.

Zach came to play with us on Saturday so that his sister could go to swim lessons. He is such a sweet and content baby, and Wyatt had a blast playing with him. I didn't want to give him back!

Saturday evening we dyed eggs at Steph and Joey's and Joey's side of the family joined us for church Sunday morning for the Easter service. I helped with Children's church, so I had to catch the message online today. I think you know it's good when you have to fight back the tears and the goosebumps in front of the computer. I simply cannot say enough about how grateful I am for our church, our pastor and our friends who worship with us.

We enjoyed a fun and relaxing day at Mark's parents house that included a fabulous lunch and the best egg hunt yet-- Wyatt is a pro these days :)

Hope your Easter was as blessed as ours!

Wyatt's 3rd Easter - Part 1

2011-04-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all having a blessed weekend! We have been B-U-S-Y. In typical Olis fashion, we definitely have tried to squeeze in three weekends worth of activities and household "to-do's" into two days :)

Knowing full well that most of you are the exact same way, it brings me comfort that I am not the only mom out there who is running around trying to pack in 9,000 things into one day.

We are looking forward to celebrating a beautiful Easter tomorrow, and so I have posted some "trial run" egg hunt preparations from Palm Sunday. Thank you Heidi and Anna for hosting such a fun hunt! Wyatt, Delaney, Steph and I had a blast with our little friends and their Momma's- and it was exciting to be there for Delaney's very first hunt- boy did she love those eggs!

I look forward to seeing everyone's pictures from this weekend, so keep 'em coming :)

A-Day 2011

2011-04-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

The 'Ole Freshman Dorm
You can't visit Auburn without the Samford Pic :)
Where Wyatt will one day stand in his cap and gown...
Toomer's Corner
Game Time!
Hard at work, stealing some poor kid's shaker
Again, hard at work- only this time, he's workin' on the ladies :)
Where Mark and I stood side by side at Graduation - only 5 short years ago, and now I stand with our little boy-SERIOUSLY, where does the time go?!
Delaney's first trip to Auburn (better known as God's Country ;)
The new arena
My boys on Campus, AND (drum roll, please...)
The ENTIRE Tiger Paw clan. Mark was so upset to take this picture, let me tell ya ;)

It was a great feeling to be back on campus this weekend! So much has changed since I attended, but it is always fun re-visit our Alma Mater- especially when you are literally surrounded by people who love Auburn as much as you do. Everyone seemed to be floating on air as we celebrated the first A-day as National Champions. Auburn, as you well know, is where Mark and I met and fell in love-- so it will always hold a special place in our heart. Sharing those memories with Wyatt is a blessing, and this time around was no exception. War Eagle!!

Restore

2011-04-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

I invite all of you to watch this amazing transformation. I really can't say enough to describe the difference between where out church was a year ago, and where it is now. I promise, you won't be disappointed that you spent five minutes watching this... I even made the cut during production. This girl who is usually on the opposite side of the camera squeezed in a sound bite, haha. Enjoy!

These are the days

2011-04-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

Wyatt and his girlfriend Ava :) This is the perfect rehearsal dinner pic!!

Digging for treasure

What a special weekend for so many reasons. I look forward to Saturday mornings when Wyatt prances into our room and announces his presence with the sweetest "Good Morning!" I have ever heard. Lately he has crawled into bed with us, Mickey and all. I can't tell you how precious those moments are- the three of us snuggling and tickling and laughing. Even though it's 6 a.m. and I am exhausted from the week- I wouldn't trade it for all the world.

My parents came in town on Saturday, and Mom and I went furniture shopping for Wyatt's big boy room - I found exactly what I wanted for a great deal... so, furniture is on it's way, custom bedding is being made by Mark's mom, and I CAN'T wait to start decorating :) I can't believe my baby is out of the crib - it just amazes me that time is going so fast!

After a yummy dinner of smoked Crappie (freshly caught by Mark) we took Wyatt for a walk. Halfway down our street, he demanded that I stop the wagon. I thought maybe he had seen a bug or animal that called for closer examination. Instead, he hauled himself over the side of the wagon and pulled a bunch of wild flowers out of the ground. When he handed them to me telling me they were 'for mommy' I almost melted right on the pavement. My sweet baby boy had picked his first flowers and wanted me to have them. It was the smallest of gesture, but it made my heart feel as if it would burst with joy. A moment I will never ever forget.

Another special moment was the dedication of the brand new Contemporary building at our church. Eight months ago, this building was an empty Winn Dixie. Today, it is one of the most beautiful church facilities I have ever seen. It was incredible to worship in the space that only a few months ago was just a drawing on a piece of paper. Words cannot describe the overwhelming feeling that God is going to do some amazing things this space.

We rounded out the weekend with a Princess and Pirate party to celebrate sweet Maybrie's 3rd Birthday. It was a ton of fun, and made us excited for our own Pirate party only FOUR short months away! Can you believe it?!

It's all for the Kids...

2011-04-09T18:24:00.001-07:00

This is one of those rare posts where I will talk about my 9 to 5. Yesterday was very special to me, as it was the culmination of some very hard work. We are talking early mornings, late evenings and more than few chest pains along the way.

Yesterday, as more than 100 Hematology and Oncology patients rolled out of donated vans driven by volunteers at Barber Motorsports for the Indy qualifiers, I thought to myself that it may have just been worth it. As I watched the smiles as patient families shook the hands of drivers and received hugs from an A-list celebrities, I felt that it was a great day. But, when I witnessed this precious moment, I knew that the tears, stress and failures over the past few weeks no longer mattered.

Each and every time I begin to feel overwhelmed, our great, big God shows me the enormity of His love in these tiny, sacred moments. And ... I feel certain I am here for a reason. What an incredible feeling that is!

Thank you to all who made this day possible. You simply have no idea the impact this had on so many people. Wow!

and, yes, that is Patrick Dempsey to my left in case you were wondering ;) That was pretty cool too, I might add...

Emerald Coast and Easter

2011-04-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

We made our first Destin trip of the season over the weekend- and it was no small feat. Not only did the regulars go (Steph, Me, Liz and Wyatt) but we added a few "newbies" to the group this time :)

Kurt was thrilled, I am sure, to have SEVEN women and two children take over his house. Among the bras, panties, bathing suits, night gowns, diapers, tampons, hair bows, sippy cups, bottles, toothpaste, face wash, Vera Bradley and sand toys, we managed to disseminate every semblance of order in his home.

But, we DID make it to the beach and almost not lose our minds. My child acted in typical two-year-old fashion and made a scene every where we went-- come to find out, he had Bronchitis and so did half our party upon returning on Sunday. Other than the meltdowns and the illness- I count the trip a success. Especially since Kurt's new girlfriend didn't run screaming for the hills after spending the weekend with the crazy Olis/Hamm crew :)

I am still trying to get back into the swing of things this week as we prepare to celebrate Easter season. I just love this time of year--not because of the baskets, the egg hunts and the blooming foliage, but because I simply cannot think of anything more sacred than celebrating the ultimate gift of Grace.

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. " 1 Corinthians 1:17

March Madness

2011-03-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

I promise this post will not mention sports. Actually, I am referring to the crazy weather in Alabama. It is always a toss up as to what March will bring, and this year is no exception. Yesterday, I hosted a small thirty-one gifts party at the house (I love any excuse to get out serving pieces, bake a cake and have girlfriends over :) I purposely scheduled it at four, because it is after nap time, and Wyatt is typically in somewhat of a calm mood- plus it would give me all day to turn my house from dismal to decent ;)

James Spann, Birmingham's most sensational meteorologist had been reporting in my living room all day, but come 3 p.m., with no rain or hail to speak of, I turned off the T.V.

Needless to say, when only half my guests had arrived, and the skies turned black, I checked my phone. I had a dozen text messages telling me there was a tornado spotted in Calera- about a mile from my house. One of my friends was stuck at Walmart waiting for it to pass (no sirens in this town so we had no clue about the impending storm- if the mayor happens to read this blog, all I have to say is ahem).

Anyways, it worked out and we had a great time-- we just had a bit of a scare and missed a few folks. The lemon white-chocolate cake was AWESOME I might add. You can get the recipe here.

In other news, tonight was our first family dinner at the same table. Wyatt has graduated to a booster (I got really tired of cleaning the tray to the high chair three times a day :) and I was actually able to fend off his hunger until I could get food on the table. Usually we are all eating at different times- evenings are incredibly chaotic at our house. I grew up on family dinners, and I have been determined to have the same in my own home.

I have also attached a picture from last week's Fairhope trip, and some that we took at the railroad museum a couple of weeks ago.

Such a precious, precious boy-- we are enjoying every minute of him... and are so grateful for this sweet life.

Weekend Whirlwind

2011-03-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

Wyatt and I made our very first trek to Fairhope this weekend with some of my very best girlfriends and their children. We had four moms and five children between us, and it was a blast! Between feeding and potty breaks, we toured the town and attended the annual arts and crafts festival. The weather was beautiful and I even managed to score a few cute things for Delaney, Wyatt and the house. Upon our return, I did inform my husband that we are packing our bags and moving South (my argument: Lots of land for you, lots of shopping for me)

I was exhausted after chasing Wyatt around for two days, but we made it to church and to Hudson's third birthday party yesterday- we wouldn't miss Build-A-Bear and carousel rides for anything :) Hudson is one of my good friend's little boy, and we were so excited to be able to celebrate with him! We don't get to spend enough time with the Hollis' but Wyatt thoroughly enjoyed himself- especially after two pieces of cake, haha.

Here are some pictures from the big day- thanks Erin for the pics!

In other news, Wyatt is in UNDERWEAR. I have ditched the pull ups completely (besides bedtime) because I just feel like they might as well be diapers. I am so over changing them, and even if he has accidents (which he has- thankfully, only #1)- I had to rip the Band Aid. Hopefully, he will get the hang of it at some point. Please pray for patience for me! I keep telling myself that he won't be going to Kindergarten in diapers, and we will get through this. One day at a time...

DISNEY!!!

2011-03-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

We arrived home late Friday evening after a six-day trip to the most magical place on Earth. I gotta be honest- before this past week, I couldn't figure out why people save for years to spend one week in Orlando. My experience with Disney was a bit limited so I really had no idea what to expect.

Best.Vacation.Ever. That's all I have to say about that. Gorgeous condo, gorgeous weather, amazing parks, rides and family. Of course our honeymoon was incredible, but there is something unbelievably heart-melting about watching your child's face light up at the sight of Mickey.

I can't wait to go back! Mark and I are so grateful to his parents who made this trip possible-- we will never forget Wyatt's first trip to Disney World and all that went with it. We had a fantastic time with Steph, Joey and baby Delaney and will cherish all the memories that came with it- we only wish Kurt could have joined us (busy accountants apparently can't take time off for Disney :)

Here's the rundown:

Day 1: Mark, Wyatt and I took off for a character breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Wyatt met Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Goofy-- several times. He was so excited to be amongst celebrities that I had to stop him from running up to them while they were signing autographs and posing with other children.... luckily everyone was a great sport and didn't mind his over-friendliness :)

We were all so exhausted from traveling and Steph was re cooperating from the stomach virus, so we ended up taking full advantage of the beautiful weather and the fabulous pool at the condo. In layman's terms: we sat around the pool and played all day long :)

Day 2: We got up early and got six adults, a baby and a two-year-old on the 8:20 shuttle for Magic Kingdom(seriously, we rock!). Spent all day there, only to return that evening for the electric parade (FANTASTIC!!) and fireworks. By this time, my child had fallen asleep in the stroller, had a meltdown in line for Dumbo and got sea sick on the ferry. So, I may have been pushing it a little bit attempting a 16-hour day with a toddler. Oops. You live and you learn I guess. Word to the wise- MAGIC KINGDOM TAKES TWO DAYS. Do not try to be overly ambitious with this park. You will regret it, trust me.

Day 3: After re cooperating in the room during the morning, we made it to Animal Kingdom. We took a safari through the African Bush (The Birmingham Zoo will never be the same), Searched for Yeti's in the Himalaya's, ate some sort of yummy frozen banana thing, sifted for Dino Bones, witnessed the most impressive Lion King reenactment I have ever seen (not that I am friends with Simba or anything) and ate dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. The food was yummy and the Mango Mojitos even better :)

Day 4: The Grandparents waved the white flag of surrender. We had done them in. Two consecutive days of crowds, strollers and grandchildren was all they had in them... so the four remaining adults and two kiddos hit Hollywood Studios with no backup. I am not going to lie- I was a little nervous to venture out without reinforcements... but little did I know that between the Toy Story line and another impressive show (Little Mermaid this time) our day would be eaten up. Joey, Mark and I traded Stephanie both kids for the Tower of Terror. I think she was more traumatized than us, haha.

And, we returned to the Ham just in time to set the clocks forward. Needless to say, we are all exhausted- and here are the pictures to show why :)

Glad to be home!

Life As We Know It

2011-03-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing I have learned this past year, it's that potty training is not for the faint of heart.

It is not for the person who enjoys knocking out a six month project in a mere day and a half. Nor is it for the parent who prides themselves on predictability, or the mom who smugly refers to herself as the 'schedule queen'.

Potty training, which by many is viewed as the pinnacle of parenthood-- the true test of mastering the mysterious realm of toddler world, is the most challenging, frustrating, hysterical, emotionally draining, beat-your-head-against-the-wall journey I have ever taken.

I was not prepared. Like everything else that has come with this ever-changing child of mine, I was completely inept for what it would take to get my two-year-old officially out of diapers.

Don't reach for the champagne just yet. We are still not there. I had to sit on my hand last week to keep from knocking a woman out in the grocery store when she told me her 23- month old was done was proudly sporting Elmo undies- IN PUBLIC. WITH NO ACCIDENTS. Thank God self control won out.

If someone had told me three years ago that I would be that mom- the one that shrieks for joy and produces ACTUAL tears at the sight of poop in the potty, I would have told them they were as crazy as the carnies at the Alabama State Fair. Lo and behold-- I am that mom. Funny how that happens.

After Disney, we are back in boot camp. For now, this is life as we know it. As for all those other schedule queens out there, take heart. I am in the same boat... and still searching for that darn proverbial paddle :)

Tooth Tickle

2011-02-23T11:38:00.000-08:00

Wyatt had his first dentist appointment today- I think I was more nervous than he was! I had hoped Mark would be able to join us, but he threw out his back doing push-ups (he's getting old!!) and had to go to the doctor himself.

I was super impressed with how sweet the office ladies and the hygienists were. You can tell they have a special gift with children- it instantly put me at ease, and I think distracted Wyatt a little bit too. He loved the flavored fluoride, and Dr. B was a huge hit until he whipped out his silver poker- (I always hated the scraping too!) No two-year molars yet, and we are pretty sure he has my super narrow jawline, and will one day require braces (no shocker there-both Mark and I had pretty jacked up grills, haha) They told him they were tickling his teeth, to which he replied with a giggle :)

This was the picture they took when we first got there- he looks absolutely terrified! I had to sit in the chair with him the entire time, but he was pleased as punch when they let him help himself to a sticker. My baby is getting so big- sometimes I wish I could just freeze time and keep him little and sweet and in need of his momma. One of these days he'll be sitting in that dentist chair all by himself , so right now- I am just going to enjoy these moments, filled with terror or not- because they simply go by way too fast.

Newest Addition

2011-02-20T13:31:00.000-08:00

Six weeks ago, on a bitterly cold Saturday morning (35 degrees in the South is considered bitter), I was attempting for the third time to drink my luke-warm coffee while simultaneously blocking my two-and-a-half year old from catapulting off the back of the couch. Wyatt had recently watched a particularly inspiring edition of Dino Dan, and thought excavating from the top of our overstuffed Ethan Allen was a super idea.

The phone rang, and like any normal Saturday before 8 a.m. in our house, I was debating setting my child in his crib, and going outside. Or, perhaps, catching a boat to Puerto Rico. I decided against the latter, and answered the phone instead.

"Guess WHAT?!" My husbands giddy shrill was so loud, that I yanked the cordless to arms length. Oh CRAP. (in my head, not out loud, in order to keep the toddler from being kicked out of pre- school). I don't even have to ask. I already know what he is about to say. I ask anyways- trying so, so very hard to act a teenie weenie bit happy.

ME: what?

HIM: I shot a 10-point!!!

ME (again, in my head) Wow. Really? Would have never guessed in a million years that this could be the reason why you sound like a teenage girl on crack.

ME (for real this time) Wow. That IS FANTASTIC! I am SOOO SOOO haaaaapppppyyyy!!! I mean, instead of being home between the hours 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today, you are now going to be gone ALL day, leaving Wyatt and I to our own devices- and we can't even leave the house because its the freaking arctic out there, and on top of that--- I get to look forward to blood and guts in my garage and raw meat on my kitchen counters, but wow, a 10 point?!?! That is so awesome honey.

HIM: Yeah, I know awesome huh?! Oh, and by the way, Jamie and I will be processing it all day tomorrow.

ME: Gee. That's fantastic! I didn't have anything I wanted to do this weekend anyways- other than packing my bags for Puerto Rico, of course.

Fast forward three weeks. My sleep-deprived, anxiety stricken, pre-occupied self cannot for the life of me understand why there are 23 industrial-sized bleach bottles filling up my laundry room. I stopped asking questions a long time ago, but when my testorone laden better half arrived home with a Sally's Beauty bag filled with peroxide cream, curiosity won out.

Before the question could even leave my mouth, Mark was bounding for the garage with enthusiasm that could rival Leslie Sansone. He reappeared with the skeletal remains of something that I thought he had perhaps dug up in the Arizona desert. Only Mark has never been to Arizona. Then it hit me-- I could tell from the sheer excitement spreading across his face, that he actually thought the creepy skull thing was cool. And, then suddenly, a worse thought crossed my mind. Oh, NO. He wants to hang this ON MY WALL. IN MY HOUSE. Oh please no... but, ask he did... and in a moment of sheer insanity, mixed with guilt over the fact that every single organism that my husband had ever killed, stuffed, preserved or mounted had been banished ages ago to the attic (well, except for the Turkey- which was in our garage... until our Cocker Spaniel devoured it- but alas, I digress), anyways- in that moment of pure insanity, I consented to letting him have one tiny corner of the least trafficked room in our house. And, have since grown to regret it (after walking into our guest room and almost peeing my pants).

Welcome dear friends. I do hope that this empty skull staring at you while you sleep does not give you nightmares :). I am thinking that not even my parents will come and visit anymore- perhaps this was his plan all along... ;)

Diva Dive 2011

2011-02-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

We had so MUCH fun at this year's Diva Dive. If you have never been apart of a clothing swap party, I highly recommend it! We had an absolute blast eating, drinking, chatting and swapping--and at the end of the night, we all had some awesome "new-to-us" clothes. Even my precious niece and sweet baby Norah joined us :)

Drowning

2011-02-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

This week has been nothing short of insane. I just wanted to check in and say that we are still alive, but it seems work has taken over my life lately.

We had a somewhat non-eventful Valentine's experience (I suppose that's what happens when you get married and have kids :) but, it was nice. I again got spoiled with roses and some sweet kisses from my "littlest" Valentine.

I am excited to be hosting a fun "girls night in" tomorrow night.... with pictures to come!

My motto this week is "to be anxious for nothing" as I seem to be drowning in stress lately. I hate that I tend to be negative, but worry is part of my nature. When I began this blog three years ago, I promised myself it would not be a complaint box- so I promise- the next post will be much improved!! :)

Relationship Rescue: Making Love Last

2011-02-06T11:13:00.000-08:00

We have had a great weekend as a family! I am so happy that hunting season is over for many reasons, but the main one is getting to spend more time with Mark and for the three of us to have uninterrupted time together as well.

The weekend started off with a bang as we celebrated Hayden and Brady's 4th birthday at the bowling alley. This was Wyatt's first time to bowl- and he loved it, but loved the arcade games even more as he took off for the "light-up" room on several occasions. I am so happy that Wyatt has such wonderful friends to grow up with! Each and every time we go to a birthday party I feel incredibly grateful that we get to celebrate these special moments with such special children.

Last night, Mark and I attended a Valentine's Dinner at the church with several other of our couple friends. All of us in attendance had small children, and the thought of free childcare and exceptional Italian food was such a draw that they filled just about every seat in our fellowship hall :).

We had a great time catching up with friends and spending time together. This event was the big kickoff to the new sermon series on marriage that began today.

I am always thrilled when we can attend anything on this subject. Marriage, any marriage takes a lot of work. There are days when I love Mark so much I can barely stand it, and there are days that I can barely stand being in the same room with him because he is driving me nuts. The past 3 1/2 years have brought a lot of change in us both, and there have be

en a lot of happy times, but also a lot of hard times as we both adjust to these changes. The one constant is that Jesus is the center of our life. The more we look to Him, the more we grow closer. I am in complete awe of the man my husband has become - he is enthralled with God and everyone who knows him can see it. I am so very, very humbled by this man who trusts the Lord with everything-- including our family.

Mark is my special gift from God.

How blessed I am not to be wading around this world with no one to share my life with. I can't even imagine what life would be like without him. As I sat in the pew today, I was struck with how very, very important it is to pray for your spouse. I never had even thought of this before. I mean I pray for Mark's protection, I pray that God keep him safe- but how often do I pray to thank God for this gift of marriage? I am embarrassed to admit the answer.

Today Mark and I made the commitment to pray for each other each and every day. I pray God's blessings on him, I pray that God help me to be the best wife I can be to him. I pray that God work in our marriage, and that when I am 85, I can look back on my life and know that I spent it with my beloved. I hope you and your Valentine have a wonderful week!

Gasparilla 2011

2011-01-31T09:25:00.000-08:00

Most.fun.girls.trip.ever. That's all I have to say about that :) Well, and it will take me a week to recover. I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful friend- even though she lives so far away, when we are together its as if no time has passed at all. Shannon will be my friend for life, and these kinds of weekends where I can take a small respite from the daily grind make me appreciate my husband and little boy all that much more. Taking a weekend off every now and then makes me a better momma - and where better to do it than sunny, beautiful Florida?

I had a wonderful surprise when I returned home... my sweet husband and son picked out some beautiful roses, cleaned the house, did all of the laundry and Mark had gone to the grocery store. He even made a little menu for me to order my dinner off of- and then he cooked it to perfection!
Can we say husband of the year?! This girl is blessed beyond measure. It is so good to be home!

My Souvenir From Vegas...

2011-01-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

My husband just returned from the SHOT show in Vegas. I can't remember what this stands for, but basically it's a huge convention and trade show for all hunters, shooters and outdoors men. Pretty much somewhere I would NOT want to be.

There was talk of me going out there to meet him last weekend after the convention, and us making a mini vaca out of it- but I opted for a fun girls weekend in Tampa with one of my best friends from college instead. I didn't feel right about leaving Wyatt two weekends in a row, so I am heading to the Gasparilla festival TODAY. Seriously, CANNOT wait! Last week was awful in every sense of the word. I am not sure why things go so very, very wrong when Mark is gone... but that's what happens every time, and every time- I feel like I am going to lose my mind.

Alas, that is behind me now. The point of this post, is to show you the "souvenir" my husband brought me from his trip.

When he pulled it out to show me last night, I lost it- we are talking shoulder-shaking, snorting, rolling-on-the-floor hysterics. It was too funny not to model for my loyal blog readers:

I might just have to wear this one to the parade on Saturday ;)

Scary Mom Moment #462

2011-01-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

The birthday boy Luke
Wyatt with all his battle scars and sweet little Delaney... who ROLLED over for the first time on Friday!!
Decorating cupcakes
Mommy and baby- what a sweet moment!

I have said it a million times, but I will say it again: there is never a dull moment in this house! Yesterday was no exception. We made out first trip to the ER, but I know better than to say it will be the last :)

Everything turned out fine, but we had quite a scare about 24 hours ago. I put Wyatt in his booster for breakfast and didn't realize that it wasn't strapped to the chair. Mark apparently had moved it the night before and didn't say anything so I buckled Wyatt, put his tray on, and went about my business in the kitchen. I will preface this by letting you know that we have 3-ft tall pub chairs and ceramic tile floor. Next thing I know Wyatt, kitchen chair, booster and all have hit the floor. Little guy is scared out of his wits and screaming like crazy. After I got him cleaned up, I noticed he was incredibly swollen and his goose egg was huge. Upon calling the doctor, he let me know that any type of head injury needs to be seen in the ER.

So off we went to Children's, and thank goodness he is okay. Another good thing is that I already made an appointment. for his first dentist's visit this week so they can check his teeth and make sure he didn't damage anything.

On another note, our camera came in! I absolutely love it. It is small and easy to use, and takes great pictures. I need to find the red-eye application, but other than that I am super pleased. These are some of the first pictures we took at a birthday party yesterday.

Hope y'all are having a great weekend!

Rachel, the OCD artist

2011-01-10T12:39:00.000-08:00

We are iced in today, (roasting Duck :) as is most of the state is right now. I am so excited about the game tonight- I literally cannot wait to see our boys take on the Pac 10! I so wish we were in Arizona, but it didn't work out this time, so we will be watching it from our couch.

We literally did nothing this weekend- it was so nice just to chill out and relax after such crazy holiday season. I did have the most.fun.girls.night.ever!

Before you go thinking I was hanging from a chandelier, let me just say that I did not spend the evening in a bar (shocker, I know!) anyways, a bunch of my friends and I decided to check out the local sips and strokes... so I spent the evening with some of my best girlfriends, attempting to conjure my inner artist. An artist, I am not, which I found out very quickly. My OCD-self had a very hard time with the "manic" brush strokes, and my second attempt at an "office-worthy" piece did not come out the way I had expected.

My red tulips were not red, and my image looked absolutely nothing like the pictures that surrounded me... in fact none of ours looked the same. When I took it home and showed it o Mark, I was pleasantly surprised that he liked it so much-- even remarking that it was beautiful. Certainly not the reaction I expected, but I 'll take it!

It struck me all of a sudden, that isn't this exactly how life is?

The lines get blurred. Things get incredibly messy. Frustration mounts at times.

Anxiety builds. You have a few laughs along the way... and, voila! you right smack dab in the middle of a beautiful mess called life- which is nothing how you expected it to be, but it is beautiful all the same.

and, without further adieu...

My not so "red" tulips :)

Hope everyone is staying warm, and WAR EAGLE!!

Because of Disney....

2011-01-05T17:41:00.001-08:00

My sweet husband surprised me with a fabulous new camera!! I have been complaining about how AWFUL mine was (we are talking a 10 second delay, and some very fuzzy images) and his SLR is beyond bulky... (thats what happens when your husband is an outdoor photographer). Last night I was absolutely freaking out about not getting great pictures on our trip. So, when he told me that he had heard how awesome this camera was, and that he was thinking of getting it for our next family camera, I almost cried tears of joy at my desk- almost.

Anyways, this is supposed to be a top of the line lightweight Cannon. We are a Cannon family around here, so I CAN'T wait to get my hands on this bad boy!! Mark has officially earned husband of the year award, for sure.

If anyone has this camera, and has any tips- let me know.

Incredible pictures to come! Stay tuned...

The Holidays- Post Mortem

2011-01-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!! HELLO 2011...

Well we survived. I can't say I was sad to see the Christmas tree come down and the decorations dragged back into the attic- the house seems much, much bigger and the exhaustion and overwhelming "to-dos" are over.

Not to say we didn't have a magical Christmas, in fact- it was just that but I am seriously tired. It may have something to do with our late night on New Years, but hey- we had fun :)

Now we are in full swing preparations for our next big adventure... DISNEY!!! I am incredibly thrilled that we have moved our trip up to March (thanks to our fantastic in-laws) I have become somewhat of a Disney guru overnight... researching restaurants and interviewing friends- but it has been a lot of fun. I am like the proverbial kid in a candy store... bouncing off of walls and discussing Mickey and Goofy with my two-year-old (who doesn't even understand the awesomeness of whats to come :) Anyways, I literally can't wait.

And the adventure after that? Well, my husband seems to think it is THAT time. I am just not sure I am there yet... I can't explain it except to say I just don't have the urge to have another child. Before you go screaming for the hills, or cry yourself to sleep at night, I am not saying that it won't ever happen...I am, however, waiting for that baby bug to bite. And it hasn't. Apparently, it has sunk its teeth into my husband-- but I am a-okay with the perfectly healthy, smart-as-a-whip, wear-you-out-so-much-your-teeth-hurt one I've got.

Our life seems complete. End of story. Now, for the question of the year to all those moms who have two or are expecting two-- did the urge suddenly hit? Did your child turn a certain age and you forced yourself to be okay with another? Did you finally hit some burst of energy, or just momentary insanity?? I really do want to know. Mark thinks that I just need to dive right in and then once the bundle arrives, it will be perfect. But oh, dear Lord- I almost didn't survive the first- how on Earth will I survive a second?

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T13:50:00.001-08:00

Our Christmas in a nutshell...

Power Tools - to match daddy's...
And, the train table!!

Olis Family Christmas

Shriver Family Christmas (over hills and through the woods we went... )
Santa's Stash :)

What brought tears of frustration to "Santa's" eyes only 12 hours before...
Reading his new book with Papa
Setting out Santa Cookies...
baking Santa Cookies with Grandma and Mommy... (backwards, I know- but what else is new?!)
Bass Pro Shop on Christmas Eve
...and the rest of the Cookie decorating party pics
Need a cookie with those sprinkles?!
My boy loves his icing!

Our visit to Huntsville to see Ryan and Lily a couple of weeks ago...

We had a wonderful, magical, spectacular Christmas... really I couldn't ask for more- except maybe a few more days off! Daddy is playing Mr. Mom this week, as I head back to work :(.

Happy New Year!

Celebrating

2010-12-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

The second weekend of December was packed full of Christmas parties... and I am not complaining one bit about it, either! This is my FAVORITE time of year, and what better way to spend it then celebrating with friends?

My favorite party of the weekend happened to be Wyatt's favorite as well (had to be, since it was the only one he attended, ha!) One of my sweet friends at church had the guts to host a cookie decorating party for all of our 2-3 year olds (we are talking 15 toddlers!!)

Can I just say, WOW, WOW, WOW- Stephanie has some nerves of steel... and an incredible talent for entertaining. Not only did we decorate cookies (in monogrammed aprons no less) but made reindeer food, drank peppermint milkshakes, swapped books and visited with a VERY special guest :).

Here are a couple of tiny pictures from our fun afternoon. But... you get the idea. I hope this becomes an annual tradition, hint hint! ;)

Lens Envy Pictures... and others too :)

2010-12-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! Erin as always.... captures the BEST of my baby :)

WAR EAGLE!! It's great to be an Auburn Tiger... ARIZONA, here we come! Don't we look excited?!

Gettin' ready for that National Championship!
A wonderful Santa experience this year! What does he want? A choo choo and a Spiderman... in that order :) Ask him any day, any time, and he'll say the same thing. Cracks me up!

The Christmas Patch with papa

Turkey Day! Yay for Uncle Kurt!
These pictures are backwards... but we are playing catch up :)

Elf on A Shelf?

2010-12-09T06:18:00.000-08:00

I realize I have been slacking on this blog, and I promise to add our Thanksgiving/Christmas season pictures very soon. The busier each year gets, and the more shopping, decorating and celebrating I participate in the less I seem to focus on the real reason for the season.

We found out on Monday that one of Wyatt's precious teachers at school was killed in a tragic car accident last week. Miss Jessie was one of the kindest, most gentle person I had ever met, and she had a very special love for Wyatt. She will be deeply missed. This news really caused me to stop and think about all the things I take for granted on a daily basis, and how hard this time of year is for a lot of people. The commercialism and the gifts and the parties don't matter. I am so very, very blessed with family and friends and a good job and a home and the list goes on and on and on...

I want Wyatt to know and feel the joy that this time of year brings... and boy does he! He knows who Santa is, and that he is supposed to be good and that the Christmas tree is completely magical. He goes ape over the lights in our neighborhood and can't wait for his presents. I am so happy about this, and I can't wait for Christmas Day... but I also want him to know that we would have none of these things if it weren't for the birth of Jesus.

This year I have decided to forgo the "elf on a shelf" that so many people celebrate. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, and we may do it next year- but I just couldn't add one more "thing" to take away from what I feel our focus should be on. With Santa alone, I am struggling to help Wyatt understand the correlation between the fat man in the red suit and the babe in the manger. We play with his nativity set each night, we are singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and I may just get a cake as well. I hope that these traditions will instill in him what is really important.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T09:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Grandma Olis!
Uncle and Niece
Baby Hudson and I
The little Pilgrim
Pumpkin Patch Express

I hope you all are have a blessed Turkey Day :) We aren't eating until later this afternoon, so I thought I would take the time to update the blog on what we have been up to over the past week.

I forgot to post pictures of our trip on the Pumpkin Patch Express, so here are a couple from Wyatt's first Train ride.

We celebrated Grandma's and Lily's birthday (both of which Wyatt just happened to be the first in line for cake :)
Wyatt enjoyed his first Thanksgiving feast at Preschool
I got to meet baby Hudson for the first time! Super excited that is worked out and my sorority sister/old roommate, Mary, and I were able to meet for lunch over the holiday. Columbus is waay too far away... but this guy is PRECIOUS!
and, a picture from our lazy Saturday :)

I am also SUPER excited about our Christmas Pics from last Sunday... can't wait to post them... and, I will be back with pictures from Thanksgiving 2010--- I know you are just dying for those, ha!

The Days I love being a Momma

2010-11-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

Some sacrifices are harder to make than others in the world of Motherhood. Like the day (ahem, last week) when I gave up a perfectly good Ga/Au ticket because a certain brown haired brown eyed boy needed his Mommy... and trading a seat in Jordon (pronounced JER-DEN :) Haire Stadium for a seat on my couch was not exactly the easiest thing to do- BUT, alas, I got over it and ended having a good time sharing shakers and cheese dip with my boys.

Today was none such sacrafice. Today I decided to give up the grocery store, the dry cleaners and the bank for some good ole PJ time with Wyatt.

We played and ran and ate and tickled. We laughed and disciplined and whined a little. We fought our nap and fussed and threw everything out of our crib... and in the end- this self-soothing, schedule queen caved and rocked her little man to sleep in the first time in over a year... and loved every.single.second :)

Cheers to lazy Saturday mornings with the love of my life!

I'm Back...

2010-11-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

This has been a very tough week- I traveled to Atlanta to say good-bye to my best friend's father. His cancer was extremely sudden, and he passed just three short weeks after his diagnosis.

This goes back to the age-old question- "Why do bad things happen to such good people?"

We will never know the answer on this side of heaven... but, it hurts me so, so bad to see people reeling with grief.

My second close friend to lose a parent so young--- and it isn't any easier the second-go-round.

I thank you a million times over for all of your thoughts and prayers, what a blessing to know I have so many friends who think about me when I don't even realize it.

And... the good news is... I got to come home and celebrate my 28th birthday with my favorite boys in the whole wide world... and my precious extended family.

Here are some pictures from Sunday...

Hope you are having a great week!

Trick or Treat!

2010-11-02T18:10:00.001-07:00

Goodies from Aunt Steph and Grandma :)

Seriously, the cutest bumble bee I have ever seen ;)

Two little bugs
...And sweet Delaney, celebrating her very FIRST holiday :)

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

2010-11-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks Aunt Steph for the popcorn!
Seriously- he would not look at the camera. For anything. This is the best we got :)
Horsey ride!
Cousin Love :)
Mom, what the heck am I supposed to do with this baby?!

Since we are going in chronological order... here are the pictures from the Pumpkin Patch last weekend, and I will add our cutie pie bumble bee's trick or treat pictures from last night. I love this time of year!

Happy Halloween!

D.C.

2010-10-28T06:22:00.000-07:00

The View from our hotel
Celebrating the Auburn WIN!
Being tourists :)

Last week (or perhaps two weeks ago now?) one of my old college roommates (and one of my best friends) made our journey across the Mason Dixon to D.C.

I had a work conference, and she tagged along... I worked, she played... and in between we got to see some of the city.

It was definitely an eye opener to be in such a fast paced environment, and trying to figure out the subway was interesting to say the least. I have to say that between our Vera Bradley, our accents and our directional challenges... it was pretty obvious that we were Southerners, through and through :)

We partied in Georgetown (I just like saying that :), saw all three Smithsonian's, Ash toured both the Pentagon and Arlington... and what else? Oh yes, I got to sleep in. What a concept!

We were such tourists... but we loved every minute of it!

Oh, and upon my return... I spent three glorious hours at the salon, and finally talked my husband into hiring a maid. I feel like a new woman!

Let's Be Honest

2010-10-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of Kelly's Korner, as I know so many of you are as well. Most of her posts seem like they are exactly directed at me and exactly what I needed to hear. Ya'll know that all too often I beat myself up for not having it together- at all. I feel so crazy and disorganized most of the time, my house is a disaster zone and my two year old is playing in dog food, or climbing on the couch or pouring water all over the floor.

I haven't had time to exercise in three months (besides the Zumba class Heidi and I dragged ourselves to) my gray roots are showing because I literally haven't been able to carve two hours out to get my hair done and my "meal plan" this week has consisted of frozen pizza and chicken nuggets.

Most evenings I am counting down the minutes to bed time so that I can crawl into my bed and attempt to read a page or two of my book that is currently collecting dust on my nightstand. I am constantly tired... and I live for working lunches that involve an adult conversation. Does that make me a bad mom? I hope not... I LOVE and adore my child more than life itself, and I am SO very very grateful for this life I have been given. It is just a breath of fresh air to me to know that I am not the only mom and wife out there that doesn't have all the answers, and isn't Mrs. Cleaver.

Being a working mom and wife is HARD. I can't imagine pulling it off with more than one child... even with my one I feel like I am failing most of the time. I thank my ALmighty God for giving me the strength to not just survive the day, but to enjoy it. And for surrounding me with wonderful women who are going through the same things in life- and who encourage me more than they will ever know. Even if our laundry piles are taller than Mt. Everest and the dust on our furniture is an inch thick- we are in it together, and with God's grace and mercy- our children will grow up to be strong, patient, responsible and kind- gray roots and all :)

Pumpkins and Stage Coaches

2010-10-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

And fairy godmothers too! Just kidding. After I had picked myself off the floor, wiped my tears and gained 1,000 new gray hairs trying to figure out what in the heck Wyatt is going to wear this fall, we headed to the mini Pumpkin patch.

My parents came in town, so we decided to ride the train which runs to a small vineyard and pumpkin patch right around the corner from our house. It was a lot of fun, and would have been better had it actually felt like fall... but Wyatt had a great time riding the train and running around like a maniac through the corn maze. Sweaty and all.

He is so funny these days- such a little talker and flirt. He loves all his girlfriends at church and I can already tell he is quite the ladies man! We practically had unravel him from a certain sweet red head at a Sunday School party Saturday night, and he talks about Miss Anna all the time.

W's favorite book right now is "Goodnight Moon" which is read approximately 10 times a day. He is still obsessed with Elmo and is a lover of balloons, candy and dancing... and apparently is a huge fan of lobbing Pumpkins as well (found this out over the weekend).

Tomorrow is a big day... complete with a 6:30 arrival time (yikes!) and a real live stagecoach...
All we need is Cinderella :)

Anyways, Happy Birthday Mom! We had a great time celebrating this weekend... and WAR EAGLE (It could be these dang AU games that are giving me the gray hair and wrinkles!!)

Where to begin?

2010-10-07T17:58:00.001-07:00

As you can imagine, I have an INCREDIBLE amount of things to update on this blog. Running behind seems to be the story of my life. I am behind at work, at home, you name it- I am struggling to keep up. I feel a little on the crazy side- my days are starting to remind me of a Looney Tunes cartoon, in which I am cast as the Tasmanian Devil.

I am determined to get more organized, and I am realizing bit by bit that it means giving up control and giving everything over to God- I am only one person, and I know I will always fall short... but God won't. Somehow those words are so much easier to type than to live out.

With that being said, let's start with a HUGE praise... I really wasn't going to mention it- but this is a scrapbook of my life and I certainly want to document all the little and BIG ways that the Lord has blessed us. In a nutshell... the promotion I had been hoping and praying for came through. It happened sooner than I had anticipated, and right after I realized that I needed to be happy with where I was and with what He had given me. Long story short- it felt good to know that my hard work had been noticed... and it felt even better that after a long journey - I knew exactly where God wanted me.

And, what's new with Wyatt? He is a handful of epic proportions. Today Mark picked up from school, and for the second day in a row, he was in time out. When asked why he had been put in time out- he stated that he had pushed a classmate and threw toys. Normal for a two-year-old? Yes. Disappointing that my son is not as perfect at school as I had once imagined him to be? Absolutely.

He is also becoming quite opinionated- almost overnight. Now, it totally matters what color his sippy cups is or what PJ's he wears. Thank the good Lord he has not started pitching a fit over the monogrammed clothing yet. Oh the horror.

Speaking of clothes- that is the big battle in our house at the moment. Not with Wyatt, but with my husband. I came home from a boutique overstock sale with several precious two-piece, smocked outfits and was promptly told that if so much as Wyatt's big toe touched them- they would find themselves in the bonfire out back. I am heartbroken. It seems the only teenie tiny thing that even still resembled my baby boy is gone- only to be replaced by blasé polos and khakis (YAWN!) Even worse, the dozen holiday long alls that I have been stashing in the closet were discovered and my dreams of gingerbread one-piece Santa pictures have been squashed.

Enjoy your babies while you have them- because one day your husband might just come home and put his foot down. If I ever have a daughter, Mark Olis, get ready for hair bows the size of Texas, and smocked dresses for the next 10 years :)

The Woes of Single Parenthood

2010-09-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year when my husband begins to chase tail- literally. Everything from white tail to duck tail is fair game. Unfortunately, that means he is traveling around the country (or, in this case, around Canada) thus, leaving Wyatt and I to fend for ourselves.

The past 5 days have been beyond exhausting. I have spent the majority of the time in the car shuttling Wyatt around. I seriously am starting to consider installing a meter and painting my car yellow! Yesterday it took me 2.5 hours to get to work. I have NO idea how single parents do it.

Anyways, we got to hang out with baby Delaney, and catch up on some quality mommy-son time. As you can see, we are most excited about trick or treating with Miss Cutie Pie this year. Wyatt was such a gentleman and even shared the wagon- who would have thought?!

Lily, the new big sis, also came over to play. She was so excited to see someone her own age :) They had a great time cheering on their Auburn Tigers- and what an incredible game it was. I am really trying not to get my hopes up... but we might just give the other school something to reckon with. We shall see!

War Eagle... and... Happy Fall Ya'll!

Auburn V. Clemson

2010-09-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Tailgating with the Bufkins

The two bearded brothers- watch out ladies... these Patagonia guys are Hot
Me and Sharon... my pretend big sis :)

War Eagle!! Mark and I certainly picked an exciting game to go to this season. We spent the weekend in Auburn (where we met and fell in love :) with Chris and Sharon- sans kids.

It was an absolute blast to be able to catch up with Bufkins, enjoy some good food... and some GREAT football. What a nail-biter! I wasn'y sure our tigers were going to pull it off, but in the end, we surely did- even if it was in overtime... a win is a win!

Friday evening we enjoyed a wonderful dinner and even tried to keep up with those college kids... but lets face it- I am a mom now, and sleep is much more important now than hanging out in a bar where all the kids are a good 5-7 years younger than me. Also, I realize I am waaay behind the fashion trends... but I am on the hunt for some super cute cowboy boots to wear with my dresses this fall. Nothing like a trip to a college town to realize what your wardrobe is lacking :). Good thing the 'Ole birthday is around the corner. That's what I love about an early Fall birthday- it's a great time to stock up those pieces I wouldn't normally buy for myself.

In other news- we have made the costume decision for 2010.... and I CAN'T wait for the big reveal!!

I have also posted a picture of the two cousins with Uncle Kurt on his birthday. I thought it was too cute not to share.

Also, in case anyone is curious... Kurt is still single! A 26 year old accountant who lives in Destin and owns his own home?! I'd jump on that, Ladies!! Let me know if your interested ;)

p.s. He's great with kids too!!

Just a few things... and lots of pictures :)

2010-09-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

Mollie, Our Pastor's sweet wife, at her baby shower

Happy 30th Birthday Uncle Joey!

Precious Little Delaney, all dressed up for Daddy's surprise party :)

Yard Sale-ing it up

A hot Saturday Morning in Chilton County

This past weekend was one that we don't have very often. I literally had to check my blackberry every hour to make sure I wasn't missing anything on my schedule- starting with Thursday evening. Between my best friend and her little boy coming in town to visit, a yard sale, my BIL's surprise 30th birthday party, helping host a baby shower for our pastor and his family and hosting bible study... I was a tad stressed. Everything went great and we had a BLAST with all of our activities. Mark and I were thrilled to get our garage cleaned out and to make $400 to boot... it was definitely worth the heat and all the work- next year I think we will wait until October though :)

Wyatt and David played and played... you would have thought they had known each other all their lives ... and almost made me start thinking about giving Wyatt a more permanent playmate ;)

I wanted to take a moment and comment on one of Kelly's posts from last week. If you don't read Kelly's Korner, I highly recommend it. I love that she is a real.live.mom, meaning she has no problem admitting the struggles she faces as a mom, a christian and a wife.

Lately, I have been having huge pity party with myself- Wyatt has been absolutely wearing me out... if we are not right smack dab in the middle of the terrible two's I am not sure I really want to know how bad it could possibly get. I know it is just a phase, but I have had to catch myself a couple of times before I completely lost my cool. I will admit it- my two-year old is getting the best of me.

Then, last week, I came across this post .

It made me realize that although I will continue to have these trying days in the toddler realm... it is not what I remember when I look back. I will remember the laughter and the love that fills our home, the sleepy snuggles at night and the way Wyatt exclaims "I love YOU more, Mommy!" I know I won't think about the constant temper tantrums, the endless piles of toys I pick up or the amount of times I wipe his little hiney :) When I look at it that way, I could almost cry thinking about how blessed I am. God must love me sooo much to entrust me with this huge responsibility- I am incredibly grateful to be a mom to this little boy!

September So Far...

2010-09-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

We have made the most of the last lingering days of Summer by hitting up the pool with friends, enjoying some time with Papa and Mimi, Cheering on our Tigers (WAR EAGLE!!) and celebrating Uncle Joey's 30th Birthday. As you can see, Wyatt decorated his presents all by himself :)

With Fall in full swing, I am busy decorating my house for harvest time and making sure Wyatt has proper attire (no small feat for a growing boy!) On top of that, we are trying to have our annual Olis/Hamm Family yard sale, crank out some more baby showers (diaper cake central at my house) and getting ready for fall bible study (all happening this weekend :)

We are also looking forward to a wonderful visit from friends that we rarely get to see... pictures to come!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Cleft and Crainofacial Day 2010

2010-08-31T09:21:00.001-07:00

Meeting with Dr. Grants wife before the event
The support group for moms who have children with Cleft Palettes decorated this table- I just thought it was too cute not to show.... I especially love the animal print paper lanterns they hung from the trees!
The Plastic Surgery/Corporate Communications team who worked on this event...

This past Saturday, our department helped host the sixth annual Cleft and Crainofacial Day at the Birmingham Zoo. This is the biggest and most fun event that I work on all year. My co-worker (and close friend) Laura and I have been working our fanny off for nine months... and our hard work paid off in a BIG way. It was such a joy to be able to witness the smiles and laughter from some very special patients (I wish I could show pictures of the event in full swing, but for obvious reasons I can't do that)

We had over 900 patient families from across the state attend the event, a host of volunteers who did everything from face paint to serve ice cream, not to mention the plastic surgeons who made this day possible for these boys and girls.

I have said it 100 times, and I will say it again- I am so proud to be apart of an organization that serves the children of Alabama. I feel incredibly blessed to be have a heart and a passion for what I do. I am reminded every day why I do this- and am grateful that God has given me the ability to give back to those who need it most :) What a feeling it is... to LOVE what you do!

Here we go...

2010-08-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

Today is Wyatt's first day of two-year preschool. Mark and I are so incredibly blessed to be able to provide Wyatt with a Christian education where his teachers love him almost as much as we do :)

A year ago, we had such a tough decision to make regarding our child care situation, and I know in my heart that we made the right choice. We couldn't do it without some serious help from our family, but it feels great to be able to pack that book bag and roll up the nap mat every Tuesday and Thursday. It is such a joy to witness my first born recite bible verses or sing Jesus Loves Me. I have cleaned off the fridge in preparation of all the art projects little Monet will bring home, and we took plenty of "first day" pictures this morning. We are ready!

We are so excited to see what this year will bring, and to witness God's plan for Wyatt unfolding before our eyes. What an adventure!

2nd Birthday Party Pics!!

2010-08-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Tearing into the presents!
LOVE the polka dot balloons I ordered from Polka Dot Market!

Wow! I'm TWO!!
Wyatt got an awesome easel from my Mimi and Papa and a new tricycle from Grandma and Grandpa :)
Enjoying my 'melmo' cupcakes!

The Banner came from Etsy...

FINALLY!! I got the pictures yesterday, so here they are! We had a wonderful time celebrating Wyatt's big day :) Aren't the cupcakes awesome?! I was so excited at how they turned out- and Wyatt loved them!

Two Year Visit

2010-08-16T13:51:00.001-07:00

Wyatt's two year well check up was on Friday. Mark and I took him together since it was his last "well visit" for an ENTIRE year. It seems a little odd not to be taking him every 3-6 months anymore.

All is well minus a few allergy/Excema issues. I was a little concerned that he is now on the "smaller" side percentile wise, but Dr. Jolly said he would catch up.

Here are the stats:

Length- 32.7- 10th Percentile
Weight- 26.6 pounds - 25th Percentile
Head- 19- 25th Percentile

We are more than blessed with our happy healthy child!!

Delaney Grace is here!

2010-08-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

The "Aunts"
Wyatt and "Laney" as he calls her :)

After an unexpected c-section, Delaney Grace made her appearance yesterday at 12:02 p.m. She weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds 5 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. We are so excited to welcome her into the world, and I am THRILLED to be an Aunt! Wyatt is already in love with his baby cousin, as we all are. Congratulations Stephanie and Joey!

What we have been up to this week...

2010-08-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

Bedtime stories with Daddy
Enjoying Miracle Treat Day with Miss Alabama- one day, he might be more interested in the beauty queen than his blizzard... but we'll see :)
Hanging out at the pool with Lily, Ann Campbell and Will
Dressing like a sweet little angel for church :)
Good News!! After a very scary stint in the hospital, both Joey and Steph are on the mend... AND, the best part of the aftermath of a NUTSO week, is that my niece will be here no later than Saturday... hip hip HOORAY!!! I am going to be an aunt this weekend!

Hurry, hurry Miss Delaney Grace- we are READY to meet you!

On Marriage...

2010-07-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

... I so wanted this post to be all about Wyatt's party. But, you see- I really need the pictures to be able to adequetly talk about how much fun we had, how proud I was of those Elmo cupcakes we slaved over and stressed about, (which turned out oh so cute by the way) and the adorable way he sang 'Happy Birthday' to himself.

But the pictures are still on my Dad's camera card, in Atlanta. I forgot to download in all the birthday madness, and my repaired camera arrived one day too late. Sigh. Just for scrapbooking purposes, I will add them to the blog at some point, but much to the demise of my OCD self, it won't be today- and this blog will just have to be out of order. Oh the horror!

On to what has really been weighing on me lately. As you, my faithful readers know, I will put anything on this blog- well okay, not anything, but close to it. I love spilling my thoughts, as heavy, random or disconnected as they might be. Lately I have been overwhelmed and lost in these thoughts, and trying to make sense of them myself. This summer has been chaotic, busy and as carefree as we could make it. We have burned up the interstate and made good use of our vacation days. We have visited friends and family, couples with children and without, single friends, newlyweds and those who have been married for a lifetime. We have taken time for ourselves- both on canoe trips with the boys or beach trips with the girls.

We celebrated out third anniversary, made plans for our future while hashing out childcare and diving up household responsibilities. This third year brings a new sense of the permanence of marriage. the first two years I often thought to myself "What is so hard about this? There is no work involved in marriage- we love each other- this is a piece of cake!"

I am not sure if any of you shared those same sentiments, but slowly I began to realize that marriage truly does take work. It is not something you can sail through, or that is supposed to be held is some stark comparison to others, as if you are fighting for a spot on a reality show. The thrill of the chase, the butterflies on a first, second, third or tenth date are replaced with a sense of comfortability. We are okay with silences, I don't get embarrassed by anything in front of Mark, and he knows me better than I know myself on most days. Not to say that the weight of responsibility of parenthood, of home ownership, of finances and budgets and work and scheduling, of whatever- doesn't bear down on us- because it does. But, we are making it- and most days, we are thriving. Most days the hills are higher than the valleys are low. And that, I count as a success. My husband is my safe place. And this work? It's all worth it :)

Only In This House...

2010-07-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

...does the DVD collection include a triple feature of Coyote Rage and Elmo Goes Potty.
...could one reach under the couch and find a sippy cup from February.
... items such as frog legs and hog shoulders make the menu plan.
...the dog's tongue suffices as the Swiffer.
...would a pant-less child be sprinting down the driveway.
... a .22 is considered a perfectly appropriate gift for both Mother's Day and a second birthday.
... the laundry basket considered to have its own zip code.
...the phrase "roll tide" is foul language.
..."hottie" is repeated over and over and over- by the two-year-old,
...could one open a kitchen drawer and find pantyhose, or a slinky or perhaps a tube of Desitin.
... a list of unchecked "to-do's" from 2007 still decorates the whiteboard in the kitchen.
...does the dining room double as "Martha's" workshop and the kitchen as an Elmo cupcake factory or a meat packing plant- depending upon the day :)

300th Post for the Birthday Boy!

2010-07-13T13:19:00.001-07:00

It is so ironic that my 300th post lands on Wyatt's big day. I wanted to go on and on about how much this little corner has helped a) me navigate this thing called Motherhood and adult responsibility and b) it has been huge in establishing some sort of family record in this disorganized chaos called my life.
But, instead I will show you how we celebrated :)As promised, Wyatt woke up to his birthday chair:This is a tradition that I grew up with and I wanted to keep it going for my children. On the morning of our birthday we would wake up and race downstairs and a chair would always be decorated in our honor. The whole waking up to a mound of presents is really very magical :)
After Wyatt tore into his gifts, we made blueberry pancakes and headed to The McWane Center, where the birthday boy got to meet Mr. Potato Head and touch a shark...
And, what's a birthday lunch without a giant Sundae? yummy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Wyatt man :)

Sappy Mom Moment...

2010-07-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

Between the 15th trip to Hobby Lobby, scouring the shelves of every candy shop within the Birmingham metro and mastering the art of cupcake tiers, it hasn't officially hit me yet that my baby boy is turning two-tomorrow. Okay, it just did.

Every mom knows this, but WOW- how much has changed in two short years. My life as I knew it has been turned upside down and inside out. A good Saturday night is spent on the couch and crushed Cheerios and dried applesauce now decorate the tiles in my kitchen floor. I live for the sound of the pitter patter of chunky baby feet parading down the hall or unmistakable belly laughs that escape from the last "body slam" of the day (don't worry, it sounds worse than it is- Mark tossed Wyatt on the bed and subsequently coined the move a 'slam')

Wyatt is now singing, dancing, skipping, ABCing, numbering and categorizing. Every day is different, each moment is new... a term or phrase he didn't know 24 hours ago is fair game. Surprises are around every corner and I simply can't get enough of him. What a gift... what a glorious, glorious gift.

To mark the occasion, we have taken the day off to spend with our son. He will have a "birthday chair" (pictures to come!) a trip to the science center, lunch with Mommy and Daddy, dinner and cake with the family, and a small party on Saturday. Wyatt, you are the light of our life- words can never express our love, sweet boy!

Fourth Fun with The Sowards!

2010-07-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

For a fun twist on the Fourth's festivities, (I know, enough with the alliteration already) we made the trek to see some very special friends in South Carolina. The Sowards' were so sweet to invite us to their beautiful home for the weekend and we spent time playing with Will, who is only two months younger than Wyatt, Dupree, their sweet Golden Retriever, my friend Kathy, and her wonderful husband, Stephen. The adults had a few "minutes" to visit when we weren't chasing down almost-two-year olds, haha :)

Sweet Kathy is expecting her second child, and was the hostess with the mostest- we had a fantastic time on the lake! We can't wait to return the favor and meet the newest addition to their family soon. Enjoy the pictures, courtesy of Kathy (my brand new camera had a manufacturers defect, and is on it's way back).

We love you guys! Thanks for the fantastic weekend. Your family is too precious for words!

Puppy Love, Cahaba Send-off, Celebrating Delaney Part 2

2010-06-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we had our annual Cahaba Send-off party for Mark and all his guy friends- they had a wild weekend floating down the river in their canoes- eight men +one river+ zero electricity = a whole lot of craziness. I am so glad I wasn't there!Wyatt and I joined Aunt Steph, Heidi and Anna at the pool Saturday morning, we had so much fun this time, and for the most part my little daredevil minded his p's and q's minus a little incident with a bucket and sweet Anna's head, always something, I tell ya.

Cuddling with my man :)
So happy to be leaving for the Lost-In-The-Dark Swamp Tour 2010!Bufkin, missing his wife already... and the BEN-mister :)

Then, on Sunday it was time for Delaney's Shower! Steph is now ready for Miss D...I think the pictures speak for themselves- we had a great time!