New Endevours

I think a lot of moms come to a post baby cross roads in their lives. They have these beautiful little bundles of joy, are able to stay home with them for a full year (Thank you Canada!), and then its time to come with a plan as to how your going to be a full time mommy, make some moola, and find satisfaction and purpose in both.
When I made the choice to get into social work, I did it before I had kids of my own. My dilemma is that I don't know that I can give 100% to both... wait, scratch that. I know I can, many many do. But I don't know that I WANT to.

So, I've been dabbling in some new ideas. Hence my new passion and project - Photography. I am by all definitions of the word and amateur. But I am learning, practicing and am building on a dream I've been thinking about for years. Here's some pics of my beautiful pregnant sis, Rachelle. She was a very patient model! And I think we got a few gooders. So for your viewing pleasure, photoshoot # 1 ever!

Mmm, good!

Are you a cupcake love-a? I know I am! Come get your fix this week at the Farmers Market in Big I, 10- 1! I'll be there getting my cupcake on :D

My sweet Ry-boy

My gentle little soul, how I love you!

You win this one little man!

In the world of Mommyhood if you've heard this little gem once, you've heard it a million times - "Pick your battles". Our day today started out as one of those days. So lunch time rolls around and goes something like this (ahem):

Me - Grady your yummy lunch is ready. Come get in your chair.

Grady - silence.

Me: Grady, did you hear me?

Grady: Yes! I no like it.

Me: You don't even know what it is yet!

Grady: No Mommy. I no like the CHAAAIIIRR.

Me: Since when? You always sit in that chair?

He then begins to crawl under the table and says in his sweetest little question voice "Grady eat down here?".



Even though the thought of No way passed instantly into my head, I stopped for a minute and thought "why not?" Grady then raised his victory flag, happily took his little plastic plate under the table and had a grand time eating.

I truly think he thought he was on a big adventure under that table.






And what you may ask did Ryan think of all this? Well, I'll let the picture speak for itself!


Yes little man, you won this one hands down. Now lets all be sure not to tell him that I'm ok with that. That would take all the fun out of his lunch-time victory.

p.s. Yes we were all still in our pj's at lunch time. Don't judge me! lol.

Whoa nelly, that was easy!!!

So I've wondered for a while how all these neat bloggers get their pictures to come out bigger than mine. As if she read my mind one such blogger Kelle Hampton posted these intructions.

So this is my trial run. Let see if it worked!

For the love of a Nuggle

There are so many things I am loving about this stage in my life!

a) Ryan pulling me in for a big sloppy six month old kiss.

b) Grady requesting a 'Nuggle' almost every time he wakes up.

c) Both boys still thinking their momma is the coolest lady around.


Sigh. My heart is forever gone.

Birthday Boy

Grady,

Well my little buddy, you turned two yesterday. As the day approached, I couldn't help but think back to those days and moments that led up to your arrival. We were so excited and yet so scared. We didn't know what to expect, but were so ready to move through that process with you.

Your first cry sounded at 5:42 pm, on March 4th, 2008.



You were so loved right from day one. You filled a place in our hearts that we didn't even know was empty. You showed us how to love in a way we never knew was possible. And you have given us more happiness then we could ever have imagined. You are (and always have been) light to this world. You are so charismatic, and seem to have the ability to draw people to you and make them feel happiness. You have a gift, and I can't wait to see what God does through you and that gift.

At two years old you are hilarious. You say the funniest things and are always making me laugh. You love trains, trucks and tractors. You can say almost anything, and you'll try to say even the things you can't. Just tonight you looked up at me and said "Mommy, I excited!". When I asked you why? you said "For heep in Jeep... uh jeep in jeep... uh, SHEEP IN JEEP! YA, SHEEP IN JEEP!!!" (Sheep in Jeep in one of your favorite stories right now :). You love to be read to, and you love dancing. Mommy tries to show you some killer moves, but I secretly hope that by the time your dancing at your Jr. high dances you've got some cooler moves of your own. You love to sing your ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, Ba Ba Black sheep and the occasional Taylor Swift song. You like to point out things as we drive, and I am pretty confident that you know the location of every horse, tractor and barn all the way between our house and a 30 minute drive in any direction. Even though there is a fine line between your hugs and your head locks, you are a great big brother. You are without doubt Ry's favorite person. You can make him laugh like no one else. You have a very strong temper and are not immune to 2 year old sized tantrums. And you are plain and simply great. I love who you are, just as you are and always will.

My hope for you Grady is that you have a happy life. I pray that you grow to be a confident, kind and compassionate boy. I pray that love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faith flow from you. I wish you would never feel pain, but since I know that is not life, I pray that you will have the strength to feel it, grow from it and move forward a better person.

We love you Grady. I have loved being your mommy for the past 2 years, and I can only imagine the joy and the journey that is still to come.

For good measure - here's a look back at your arrival and our early days with you! (p.s. Ryan's is in progress!).