Three Years

Three years ago today...I married my wonderful husband. Three years ago today...I decided to embark on a journey with my best friend.  Three years ago today...I made a commitment to honor, respect and cherish my husband.  Three years ago today...I made the best decision of my life.  

I am not going to sit here and paint a fake picture of roses and rainbows when it comes to marriage.  Marriage is tough...marriage is work...marriage is challenging, but I can honestly say that I love the man I married more today than three years ago at the alter.  Why?  Because those challenges have only made us stronger and I've been able to witness (time and time again) the patience, love and kindness of my husband.  Not a day goes by that he doesn't exhibit the love of Christ towards me even when I'm undeserving. 

He is an incredible father to Aubrey Lane, even more so than I could have ever hoped for.  He's not afraid to change horrible diapers, give baths after an impromptu playtime in the toilet, dance with Bre for half an hour, or be the disciplinarian that she needs. He's willing to do late night feedings, carry my breast pump for me (ha ha...funny story I'll have to share) or rock a sick baby to sleep at 3:00 in the morning.  He has exceeded my expectations.

The other day I had a horrible morning, I had just started back to work and leaving Aubrey was very hard for me.  I was rude to Christian all morning and then left the house crying because I wanted to stay home with my baby.  Christian very well could have been rude right back to me or told me to suck it up...it's just partime...but no...I came home to flowers and a sweet card telling me it would all work out and things would get easier.  The next morning I got in my car to find a framed photo of myself and Aubrey with a card that said, "for your desk at school...Aubrey is always with you".  His patience and kindness never ceases to amaze me.

Again, I'm not saying it's all happy all the time.  We fight, we argue, we disagree...but at the end of the day we are so in love and so cheering for one another.  In marriage, we have to remember this one truth, WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM.  It's not me against him or who wins or loses.  Nope.  We are one team fighting for one cause...for our family to bring glory and honor to Christ.

We are growing and learning on our journey.  As new parents, we are having to move our marriage back into the forefront and learn that our marriage is the foundation that comes first...before children...because without that solid rock, our family will crumble.  Aubrey needs to see a strong, united couple more than anything.

Psalms 127:1 says, "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain". That verse has spoken to me tremendously because Christian and I can build and labor to our hearts content, but because we are two imperfect people we will never make it on our own. In order for our marriage to succeed...we must allow God to take control. I don't know about you, but I don't want to just be married or get by...I want my marriage to flourish and bring glory to God in the process. 

If the next 30 years are half as much fun as the first 3...then I can't wait! Happy Anniversary Christian Lane!  I love you! 

As a side note...Our anniversary is August 29th which is the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and now Hurricane Isaac.  I'm thinking it is a sign.  Our love is like a hurricane.  Fierce and strong...a force not to be messed with...haha!  

10 months old! Holla!

Miss Bre Bre you are 10 months old today! I'm gonna skip the same old stuff I say every month about how fast time is flying and how quickly you are growing cause I feel a little like a broken record.  (It's so true though!)

We have officially nicknamed you "Busy Bre". You are so busy. And by busy I mean destroying everything you can get your cute little hands on. I like to think of you as being intelligent and inquisitive about life...but mostly you are just destructive! Ha! 

I can turn my back for half of a second and you have emptied a drawer, pulled down a shelf of books or managed to dump the dog food bowl.  You are good girl...I have to give it to you. When there is silence...I know trouble looms ahead. 

You weigh about 17 pounds and are wearing a size 3 diaper. You still wear 6-9 month clothes and a size 2 shoe. 

You FINALLY cut your first two teeth (yes-at the exact same time-hello sleepless nights). You have bitten me a few times during nursing and I have screamed...you burst out into tears...then I cry as well.  Your teeth are not my friends right now. 

You are crawling and pulling up constantly.  You will be walking soon-I just know it. 

You are still nursing, but it is slowly declining. You nurse about 4 times a day and are beginning to eat 3 meals a day. You are not as interested in food as you used to be...I think because you don't have time to stop for meals...there are things to be discovered and destroyed! 

You still take two naps a day and are mostly sleeping through the night.  You consistently wake up at 5:30 to nurse and then are up for the day by 8:00. 

Your absolute favorite thing in the whole wide world is the dishwasher. You can be in another room and hear me open the dishwasher door and bam...you are there in under .2 seconds. You love to fling things out of the dishwasher, as well as shove dirty items into your mouth. It's a field day for you. And you usually throw a fit when I shut the door and call it quits. 

You are so stinking precious Aubrey Lane.  We have never laughed so much in our entire lives.  You have more personality and spunk than one should be allowed!  We love you so much, Bre! 

 Happy 10 months!

Olympic Obsessed

For my 5th grade yearbook, we were asked what we wanted to be when we grew up...you know...a doctor, teacher, nurse. However, I had much more in mind for my future...my answer was an Olympic swimmer.  I kid you not. That was my dream and I seriously thought I would achieve that goal. At that young age I was naive to the fact that I am all of 5 feet tall and most swimmers are at least 5'9. The Olympics have forever been a fascination of mine.  I simply cannot get enough of the excitement and thrill of these fierce competitors going after their lifelong dreams. In fact, I would have to say during the two weeks of the summer Olympics, I am a terrible wife and mother. I may or may not have done the following...

 

I may or may not have put Aubrey to bed 45 minutes earlier than her normal bedtime just so I could catch the synchronized divers.

 

I may or may not have allowed Aubrey to play in the cabinet filled with dvd, electronics and other inappropriate items just so I could finish watching Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps go head to head in the 200 IM. 

I may or may not have scared Aubrey to tears with my screaming and yelling.

 

I may or may not have sang the national anthem to Aubrey at bedtime followed by a rendition of the Olympic fanfare. She was not impressed. 

 

I may or may not have been so engrossed in the men's gymnastics that I realized I had misplaced my baby. No worries...I found her literally sitting on top of the door of the dishwasher entertaining herself with a fork and a butter knife. Is there an award for mom of the year?

 

I may or may not have tried my name out on some stationary as Mrs. Ryan Lochte.

 

I may or may not declared these two weeks "empty out the fridge and pantry" weeks in order to refrain from having to take time out to cook. 

 

I may or may not have forgotten to pick up my husband's prescription because I was too focused on getting home to watch Missy Franklin in the 100 meter back. Hopefully his health will survive the next few days.

Introducing the future Ms. Michaela Phelps! 

She totally has her game face on, don't you think?

Maybe not...