Welcome Wagon

We have been in our new house for one month now. Is it safe to assume that our neighbors do not plan on bringing us a big plate of warm, homemade cookies? We live next door to a family of five. All of this is strictly through observation. There is a Mom, Dad, Older Brother (maybe 8 years old), a middle sister (maybe 4 years old), and a younger sister (maybe nearing 2 years old).

I know it if were me, I would have given them 2 weeks to get settled in and then cranked up the oven. I would have neatly sliced the log of store bought cookie dough and formed them in to the, as directed, 1 inch balls. Once baked, I would have placed them on the big, red, round platter I was oddly enough given around Christmas time, filled with cookies, Thanks, T! I would have put the kids in cute little outfits, made sure Aaron was not in one of his cut-off T shirts and we would have walked over and shouted, "welcome wagon" when they opened the door. Am I re-living something from a bad, late 50's, early 60's sitcom? I mean, I think this is what I would do.

So, now I kind of think is has come to the point where it is just akward. When I see them outside do I walk over and introduce myself, or do I wait for them to shout, hello, to me? I will be honest, I have been a lurker from the upstairs gameroom window a few times when I have heard voices in their backyard. The Dad is usually sitting around a round patio table chain smoking his Marlboros while the older sister is pushing around her younger sister on the Big Wheel she has yet to learn to pettle. Not what I call a perfect scenario, with the smoking, but really, what is perfection these days? No such thing! Not a judgement, just an opinion.

With all of this being said, last night they placed a SOLD sign in the yard to our left. It looks like we are getting new neighbors soon. Aaron was told last night that, "there are three of them and they are funny." Um, ok. So, I guess two weeks after they move in we will re-visit this topic and see if I really am in to the whole June Cleaver, cookie baking, door knocking persona.

I guess I just always assumed that when we moved out to Katy we would instantly have all these wonderful neighbors we would stand outside with while the kids rode their bikes and played in the yards. While the kids were playing we would be standing around discussing all the great little play outfits we found at Target that day, all the fun and exciting things we had planned for the upcoming weekend, and whose house the kids would play at next. Now I am starting to think that I have to actually get out of the house every once in a while and walk around looking for these people. If you see a Mom of two walking around aimlessly looking for people to talk to and befriend, don't be alarmed, Silver Ranch!

Well, I am off to start making my lists of things to get accomplished this weekend for "blue's" big day. Trips to Target, Sam's, MAC (thanks to my 2 year old that thinks she looks fabulous in Mommy's make-up), back to Target for everything I missed the first time, and maybe Banana for a new outfit. Busy day, hope I have time to fit it all in.

Toodles!

Just What I Needed

I know what you're thinking, two posts in one day! Maybe I am a little obsessed already, or maybe I have found a sweet release! I am going with the latter of the two.

So, after my crazy morning I get this much needed email from my Mother in Law and I wanted to share it. I get a ton of these emails and usually delete them before even opening them, sorry Mom. However, this one was sent on the perfect day at the perfect time. I knew this day was going to be my friend. What a sweet reminder. Thanks, Nina!

"Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried.. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much... I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy. Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay..I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom ."

How perfect is that? It is mornings like these that we ponder every thought that enters our minds. It makes us question, exactly how good of a Mom am I? What kind of a Mom am I through other peoples eyes? Is everything I do in this world subconsciously for my kids? I think so, but is that even healthy? I should add these lines to the above email, "Before I had kids I could have sworn I was sane but have now been proven otherwise." "Before I had kids I could walk around in a bikini and not worry about my arse looking like a titleist golf ball." Before I had kids, wait...was there ever really a "Before I had kids?"

OK, I promise I will leave you alone for the rest of the day. I can not promise that I am not already thinking about what I will blog about tomorrow. Stay Tuned.

Toodles!

Accepting Those Mornings That Don't Accept Us

The alarm goes off and the first thing that pops in my head every working morning is this, "what excuse can I come up with to stay in bed a little longer?" I lie there and ponder this thought from the time Aaron rolls out of bed until the time he comes out of the bathroom all dressed and ready to go. Am I normal, or am I completely lazy?

I get in the shower already trying to decide if I am going to blow dry my hair or let it air dry and look like a clean, frizzy headed, dirty girl all day. By the time I get out of the shower I decide that I will save my co-workers from another day of the clean, dirty girl look. I blow dry my hair, saturate my face with moisturizer and put on the little make-up I wear daily. I dig through my drawers for the few clothes that I am able to wear right now. Did I mention I am on an extreme body make-over plan? Another day, another blog.

So, I go in the living room and say good morning to "something blue" whom is chilling in his bouncy seat talking to "Fox and Friends." I hear "something pink" in the front of the house with Aaron refusing to sit on the potty. This can't be, we are done with diapers. She can't refuse to use the potty now. What will I do for a diaper while she rides in my car? Nothing. I bring her potty seat in the living room, turn the TV to the Disney Channel and let her sit there, watch TV, and try to go pee pee.

I now venture in to the kitchen. I need coffee! I was never a coffee drinker before kids but let me tell you, it is my fuel in the morning. I can't function properly without it. I look in the cabinet and there are no to-go cups clean. Ugh, why would there be? That would be way to easy, right? I run to the car and get my cup from yesterday, clean it, and fill 'er up. Ahhh, the sound of sweet relief.

In the meantime, "something pink" is still sitting on the potty, "something blue" is still chilling in his bouncer. Why am I so overwhelmed? Why do I feel like the roof will soon cave and I have to rush out the door to save them from the avalanche of walls? I calmly go over to "pink" and ask her is she has gone pee pee yet. "No Mommy, no pee pees." Ok, well on go the panties and shorts. Now I start the begging and pleading to not go pee pee in Mommy's car. Of course she answers, "ok, mommy." Does she really get the plea or is she just appeasing me? I am being totally optimistic here. She so gets it!

We finally get out of the house and I get "blue" in the car. We walk around to the other side and strap "pink" in and press play to her "Dora" dvd. I get in the driver seat and just start to think, "that was not so bad, we are 2 minutes earlier than our regular departure time." What happens next? I spilled my coffee! I knocked my cup over, it splashes all over the back of "blue's" car seat, all down the back seat, and all over the front of my brand-new designer handbag. Whatever, I am so done! I just start laughing. "Pink" says ooopsie daisy. Um yeah, you think? I cleaned it up and we were off.

I drop the kids off at VaVa's with un-peed on seats and proceed to the office. Here I am! I have accepted this morning even though it clearly does not accept me! Today will be a good day, today will be my friend! Say it with me now. Today will be a good day, today will be my friend. Ok, I'm finally convinced.

Have a great day, Toodles!

A Whole Lot To Take In, In One Sitting.

So, I have been thinking about starting a blog for years. I have always loved to write and Lord knows there is more than enough going on in my head to put down on paper, figuratively speaking.

I almost feel like I should start this journey with a forewarning. I don't tend to think about things before they shoot out of my mouth. I am the person you love because of that trait, or the person you can't stand for not knowing when to turn on the filter. So, with that being said, let the fun begin!

I almost feel like I need to give a long, elaborate introduction about who I am, where I came from and where I am going. This is going to be a cinch because I am kind of going to cheat. This weekend, my "something blue" is being Dedicated at our Church. We have been attending this Church since July of 2007 but have only been members since March of 2009. Last night while watching "Biggest Loser" I turned the laptop on and started writing our Pastor this novel-like email to introduce our family before we stood in front of the whole congregation and he had nothing to say because he had no knowledge of our past, present, and future.

So, rather than me try and come up with a whole lot of different stories and babble on and on about, I am going to share the email I wrote. Here goes "A Whole Lot To Take In, In One Sitting."

"I just wanted to give you a little back ground on who we were and where we came from. My Husband Aaron was born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Aaron graduated with a Professional Golf Management/Marketing degree from Mississippi State. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I graduated with a Marketing degree from the University of Houston.

Aaron and myself got married in November of 2004. At this time we were full time residents of Austin, Texas. I was working at the University of Texas Golf Club as the Assistant Membership and Marketing Director and Aaron was the Head Golf Professional at River Place Country Club.

We went through many obstacles to become pregnant and keep those pregnancies viable. We finally decided, with the help of prayer and research, to turn to the help of fertility treatments in January of 2006. We were blessed with our beautiful daughter, "Something Pink", in October of 2006. Before "something pink" was born we both changed job and industries. Aaron is currently a Contract Underwriter and I am in Management and Accounting for a roofing company.

While we lived in Austin we attended Christ Community Church. I felt such a re-connection with the Lord and his presence in my life that I was re-baptized as an adult through submersion. "Something Pink" was dedicated at 4 months of age. I was baptized, but never confirmed in the Catholic Church and Aaron grew up in a Baptist Church and was baptized at the age of 10.

After the birth of our daughter I fell in to a deep wave of depression living in Austin with so few friends and absolutely no family. We continued to pray about the destiny of our family. I knew in my heart that my true happiness was here in Houston, along with my family. In June of 2007 I was offered an amazing job with a Houston-based company that we could not turn down. Thankfully, Aaron's company also had a branch in Houston so his transfer was easy as well. It was definitely meant to be :)

So, in December of 2007 we began asking God to expand our family. It was back to the doctors, back to the fertility treatments and of course the endless prayers. We found out we were pregnant on April 15th, 2008. The pregnancy went perfect until I hit 32 weeks and then I suffered from Pre-Eclampsia. We were so worried about the safety and health of our baby and myself. Leaving the hospital, I was sent to bed. I was on bed rest for nearly 6 weeks and the very day I was considered full term (37 weeks), "something blue" was ready to come. But wait, my C-Section was not scheduled for another week and he will be 3 weeks early. We had not even packed our bags. You would have thought it would have been complete and utter chaos. It was the most calm, relaxing, and un-chaotic visit, surgery and birth I could have ever wished for. Sure, it was not planned that way but in the hands of the Lord we were all at ease. Our precious baby boy was born December 4, 2008 at 7:38 am. Our baby was 100% healthy. He did not have to spend 1 second in the NICU. He was eating fine, he was sleeping fine, and he was the perfect baby. How could this be? Just 5 weeks ago we were told almost positively that he would not make it that long in utero, we were told to pick the NICU we wanted him in. I give all the thanks and glory to God. He is my BIG, strong baby boy and I praise God for him and his health every chance I get.

"Something Pink" absolutely loves her baby brother. She gives him kisses on the forehead every chance she gets. She talks to him and explains all the things a 2 year old understands to her baby brother. She blames her broken toys on him, and according to her he always spills the water on the kitchen floor. She is your typical older sibling, it's OK to share her spotlight with him sometimes, but still needs to make sure everyone knows she is still there and still ready to entertain. Does it get any better than this?

We have been back in Houston since July of 2007 and have been attending JVBC as guests since then. My Mom, Pink and Blue's MiMi, told us we should "come and try it out" for a while. We took her advice and started attending. We absolutely loved listening to your services and I always loved the way you used real life scenarios in comparison to Biblical times. We loved everything the Church offered the kids, but of course "something pink" was too young to be involved in that area of ministry. After a while of attending we could not help but think that we were just jumping on the bandwagon. We thought, this is Mom's Church, we need to find a church of our own. We went and visited another Church for one month not really knowing what we were looking for and found ourselves right back here at JVBC. I think it is definitely safe to say we can chalk that up to me trying to prove good ole Mom that always knows best, wrong. Ha, she showed me, once again! Praise God! We always knew we were going to join, we just never stoop up and made the walk down the aisle. One Sunday morning I just looked at Aaron and said, "Let's go, I'm ready." He said, "Don't you think we should wait until next week when we are not wearing jeans." Ha, that's my husband for you, not a big fan of "all eyes on him." So, after that service is when we finally came down to you and officially become a part of the JVBC family. "

I know this email was more centered around "something blue" but no worries on that notion. "Something Pink" owns the spotlight in this family, well, for now.

Thanks for stopping in, Toodles!