Abundantly Blessed

I cannot even wrap my head around the fact that it is almost December.  This year has just flown by and I am barely able to catch my breath before the busyness of the holidays are about to be upon us. I just wanted to take a few minutes out to reflect on the blessings of our life.  We are so beyond blessed and even though there are some tough days that we face, we realize just how fortunate we are.  

We have the most amazing extended family...a family that challenges us to be better people, a family that supports us no matter what, a family that prays for us, sits with us at church, cries with us when times get tough, buys us donuts and cookies, and just loves us with an unconditional love.  Not to mention families that truly love each other and want to be around each other.  There isn't fighting, strife, jealousy or bitterness...but we fight daily for love and peace amongst us all.  It is such a blessing to have parents that go above and beyond for us, siblings that are truly our best friends and cousins that make everything so fun.  Sometimes I just don't understand how we hit the family jackpot but I am so grateful that we did.  

I am so thankful for Christian and I's jobs.  We have been so incredibly blessed with two great jobs that allow us to prosper, but to also invest time into our children.  I have the ability to move my work schedule around and work when it is convenient for us.  I have a job that I truly love and am passionate about and long to see the company grow and prosper.  Christian has a wonderful job that he enjoys and one that challenges him, but one that also allows him to minister to those in need.  I look forward to the day that Christian can travel and bless others with his gift of healing and knowledge of healthcare.  

I am so thankful for my precious children.  The only thing in life that I really ever wanted was to be a mom.  My three kids make it so easy to love being a mother.  They make it fun, messy, chaotic, stinky and sometimes frustrating but most of all they love me like crazy.  They each, in their own ways, enrich and enhance my life and I am savoring each and every moment with them.  Aubrey is such a sassy, smart and talented little girl.  She is so full of life and loves to be in the middle of all the action...she finds such joy and excitement in every aspect of life.  I tell her all the time how thankful I am that God gave me a little girl.  She is so my mini me and I see so much of myself in her.  When God gave me Weston, he knew I needed an easy middle child...one that would counter balance my two bookends.  Weston is the easiest, sweetest, smartest, most articulate little boy you will ever meet.  He is extremely attached to me and I love being his number #1. I tell him all the time that we are soul buddies...he is a homebody like me, loves to snuggle and take naps and enjoys the simple things in life.  My Baylor Jace is Mr. Happy.  You will not ever find him having a bad day...no matter what...he just embodies joy.  Baylor has thrown us every curve ball possible when it comes to his health and we still have a long road ahead of us with him, but his happiness is such a comfort to me.  I know that no matter what he faces, he will do it with a positive attitude...and with a fierce determination.  His abilities and skills never seem to stop advancing and I am so amazed by his growth.  

I am so thankful for Christian.  He works so hard and is so such a man full of integrity.  He loves me even when I am tough and that can be quite often.  He is hilarious and makes us all belly laugh.  He loves life and is up for anything...camping, traveling, games, activities...you name it and he is usually on board.  He is so smart and his ability to fix almost anything is one of my favorite things about him.  I am so thankful for how hard he works to support our family and provide us with more than we need. 

I am so thankful for my salvation.  I can't image walking through life without the security of knowing my Savior.  This life is so full of ups and downs and hard times, but having a solid rock to fall back on is such a comfort.  I am thankful for the chance to worship God in a wonderful church, surrounded by others who desire to serve God and for the opportunity to grow in my faith.  

I am so thankful for my girlfriends. We chat almost everyday and I love that they love me for me...including all my quirks.  We laugh and share stories about our crazy lives and just encourage one another.  I love that our friendship has spanned almost 15 years and growing stronger each day.  

I am so thankful for my life...I know sometimes social media or blogs can make it seem like life is always perfect and rosy, but I will be the first to admit life can be downright crushing at times.  Sometimes daily life can feel overwhelming but I am so thankful for family, friends and a Savior that I can count on to lift me up and keep me going.  This Thanksgiving, I hope and pray that I can take these blessings I have been given and somehow bless others.  May we as a family, always aim to find the good in life and be a light in this dark world.  I pray that we continue to lift up the name of Jesus and proclaim His goodness no matter what.  

Time for me to go put on my stretchy pants and head to dinner!  Thank you Lord, for blessing me so abundantly and graciously.

PS: I re-read what I wrote this time last year, just weeks after finding out Baylor had Cerebral Palsy...I just can't believe how far we have come in a year.  Baylor is proof that God is still in the miracle working business.

http://www.blessedchick.com/2017/11/be-thankful.html

So long Sweet Summer!

So I know I have totally fallen off the blogging bandwagon and I do hate that I have been so terrible at blogging and recording our daily lives...but I am so stressed just living out these days, that I don't have much time to actually write down or record what we've been up to.  These summer days are coming to a close and Fall is approaching quickly.  My cuties will only be 2, 4, and 6 for a few more weeks because I will have a SEVEN year old!  My sweet Bre is going to be turning 7 and she is just growing way too fast.  I blinked and she is in 1st grade!!

We had a wonderful time at the beach at the end of August to close out our summer and it was just the icing on the cake to a wonderful summer.  We took a trip with my family to Watercolor and it was so much fun.  I will admit that I worried for about a month leading up to the trip, because we were staying in a beach home with stairs and a pool...both a recipe for disaster when it comes to Baylor.  I would wake up in the middle of the night just panicking...thinking about Baylor slipping out one of the doors and falling into the pool...just a total nightmare for me.  After discussing this with my family, we decided that hiring a babysitter to keep extra eyes on Bay Bay was the perfect solution.  We took our fabulous babysitter with us and it was just so amazing...I was able to relax and not feel so stressed out with the kids.  I felt totally spoiled having her to help me with everything from bath time, to sunscreen to changing diapers.  It was such a wonderful time, spending those special moments with my family.  I have the most amazing family and we sure did make many memorable moments on that trip.  Dinners out, beach time, pool time, golf cart rides, pedicures, late night talks, walks with my mama and tons of laughs throughout.  Those are the memories I will cherish forever.

After our fabulous trip, my kiddos all started school.  I know they were all thrilled to get back into a routine and I was able to find my sanity again after having them to myself all summer! Aubrey Lane is in 1st grade, Weston is in PreK4 and Baylor Boo is in the Frog class.  The boys are just part time because I want to savor these days that I can keep them home...I know first hand with Bre just how quickly it goes.  Aubrey is rocking 1st grade so far and I am so incredibly proud of the things she is accomplishing. Here's to a wonderful school year!

Love these cuties...praying daily that they make an impact on those around them.  

Summer Fun!

I know...I know...I completely missed the entire month of June when it comes to blogging.  Oops!  It is not because we have been laying low...on the other hand we have not stopped!  I decided this summer to keep the kiddos with me, instead of doing a summer camp, and I honestly have loved every minute of having them with me full time.  I have totally been soaking up their sweetness and loving having them with me.  I think last week was the first time I actually found myself frazzled and thinking, "when does school start back?"  Mid July and just asking myself that question for the first time...I'd call that success.

Overall it has been a fabulous summer.  We spent all of June doing swim team and both Aubrey and Weston rocked it.  Aubrey more than Weston, but I have to give Weston props for hanging in there and not giving up.  He is a tiny fellow so getting across a 25 yard pool is no easy task, but he gave it his all.  Bre Lane did amazing and was in the top 10% for all girls aged 6 in the entire city.  I was so proud of her. She gets it in her mind that she is going to win and she gives it her all.  She loves the thrill of the competition....she reminds me so much of me at that age.

We have done a ton of leisure swimming at Meme's and Nana's pools and also had a great time in our backyard pool from Costco.  My kids could swim all day long if I'd let them and they always sleep extra good when we have had a long day at the pool.  7:30 pm and my kiddos are out cold...score one for mommy.

Weston Hayes is 4.5 and still a huge mama's boy.  He does not let me leave his sight.  It is really sweet and cute until I need some alone time...then it can be difficult.  Weston is a child who is either one extreme or the other.  He is either an absolute charmer and the sweetest thing you will ever meet, or he is Mr. Temper/Grumpy.  I have to really try and teach him to control his temper, again, he is the most precious, sweetest soul...unless you make him mad...then watch out.  Weston compliments me all day long.  He is such an encouragement to everyone.  He will tell me he loves my clothes or that I look beautiful or even that I smell good.  Just a genuinely sweet little boy.  He totally has me wrapped and I secretly soak in the fact that he is so obsessed with his mama.  I know it won't last forever.  Weston is incredibly smart and amazes me with his vocabulary and ability to remember things.  Weston loves to take baths and be warm.  Give that boy a hot tub over a pool anyday.  Weston is such a joy and he makes me laugh each and everyday.  He melts my heart with the things he tells me and I think hands down he is the best snuggler in the world. 

My Bre Lane is 6.5 and inching her way closer to 7.  She is becoming such a joy.  Aubrey has always given us a run for our money, but lately she is sliding into the role of becoming my easiest.  She is incredibly talented at anything she tries.  She can do swimming, dance, gymnastics, art, cooking, singing...the list goes on.  She just has the ability to succeed at anything!  She is crazy smart...she can learn and master tough board games and then beat me!  Aubrey has never been an overly affectionate child, but lately she loves to be held and hugged and kissed.  I absolutely love it! I am loving that Aubrey is becoming more fashion aware and really having her own sense of style.  She is very girly but also loves athletic things...she is just the best mix of everything.  Aubrey is such a happy girl...she truly loves life and has a great attitude about all things...she gets excited about new things and really embraces all aspects of life.  She can make a friend in about 2 seconds and never meets a stranger.  She is extremely inquisitive and will ask me 100 questions every single time we get in the car.  I try and be patient and really teach her things because she is genuinely interested in soaking it all in.  Aubrey loves her brothers and she makes the best big sister...she and Baylor have a very special bond that I just adore.  Aubrey loves to spend time with Baylor and he thinks of her as his second mama.  It is the sweetest thing ever.  The other night she bathed him, changed his diaper, dressed him in pj's, rocked him and then put him in his bed.  When I went in to put Baylor to bed, I realized that Aubrey had already done it...when I peeked in on him he was sound asleep!!!  I was shocked (and kinda offended) that he was so content to let her do the bedtime routine! 

Baylor Jace has been such a stinker lately. His vocabulary has grown exponentially and he is absolutely hilarious.  He repeats anything and everything he hears.  He loves to say phrases that he knows he isn't supposed to say.  Things like poo poo, toot and dad gommit.  He also loves to say the phrase, "I spank your butt" and just laugh his head off...it is pretty funny if I do say so myself.

Baylor loves the water and is participating in a swim class for special needs children.  He absolutely loves it.  They sing songs, move and kick and just get acclimated with the water.  Baylor soaks it up and thrives on the one on one attention he gets from the volunteers.  He is still working hard in therapy and continuing to amaze us with his progress. I am so proud of that little stinker.

These crazy kiddos bring me such joy.  They can wear me slap out and make me wanna pull my hair out at times, but overall they are such sweeties.  I wouldn't trade these summer days with them for anything.  I am so thankful for these weeks to spend together and throw all routine and obligations out the window.  Here's to many more lazy days with my cuties!!