I Hate Change!!!

I had a sentimental moment today, reflecting on all the NEW that has happened in my life these past couple years. I remember starting my job almost three years ago and thinking- will this always look so new and be so hard? Every tax return was like a chore. I had no idea what I was doing and felt like I was lost in a jungle of debits, credits, income, deductions, oh my! My co-workers were experts, knew all that they were doing, and had all this cool lingo. I knew nothing (or at least I felt that way).

It was scary. Now I can say, I love my job. I love the lingo. I love all that pain that it took to make the new become old and understand the crazy life of a tax accountant.

 I remember getting married that Sunday in September (2010) and thinking will this newness wear off? Will the excitement of having a roommate/husband/best friend/ultimate companion fade away?

The newness did fade, but to be honest, I can’t remember what it feels like not to have a best friend anymore. It’s the best security. I am incomplete without him. It's fun and he always makes me laugh. I look forward to living the rest of my life with him and tackling whatever new beginnings and endings that may come!

 I remember wondering if making dinner and keeping a clean house would always be so hard as a working wife?

Answer-yes it’s always hard, but it does get easier. And I am incredibly blessed to have a husband who is a teammate rather than a coach when it comes to getting things done! <3
I then remember the big shock of finding out we were having a baby that Tuesday in February (2011). I asked myself over and over-will the newness of this news always be surreal? Will I actually be a mom? Can I even give birth? Everything about being pregnant was new. A new belly, a new appetite, a new desire to drink milk, a new wardrobe (or a borrowed one to be completely honest), a new set of furniture for Noah, a new set of responsibilities, a new feeling of fear, a new sense of complete joy. It was all so new.  

          It stayed new. I don’t think it ever faded. I soaked up every moment.

Then when we welcomed Noah in October, I was a NEW mom. Everything about Noah was NEW to me. I had never really held a baby, never changed a baby, never breastfed, never went months on end with no sleep, never put a baby in a car seat, never rocked a baby to sleep, never kissed such soft cheek, never felt such a deep protective love. I mean once again, it was all SO new.

I will say I am now an expert diaper changer and have mastered the mommy tasks. However, Noah’s smile, laugh, and complete love for life RENEWS my heart every day.

I don’t enjoy change. Matt will tell you this. I fight it. I am a creature of habit. I am predictable, BUT when I look back at the change and the NEWNESS I have experienced these past three years I realize I need a change of attitude. I need to embrace the new and lose the ‘tude.

Today, moving forward, I count my blessings again and again- realizing that I am blessed. I am thankful for the journey of life. I am thankful that every day is a NEW day! 

This is Happening Right Now...

My two boys are taking a nap and I have FREE time. I love knowing that they are snuggling and I love that I get to read, blog, paint, whatever I want for an hour. This is awesome. Anyways, this is how this all happened...

Noah woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning at 6 a.m. I’m NOT complaining- seriously, I'm NOT. Homeboy has been sleeping well these past four nights. He will go 8 to 10 hours without a feed and that means mommy's getting from 6 to 8 hours of solid, non interrupted sleep a.k.a. BLISS. Anyways, I fed him and played with him for a while after he woke up, but I could tell he was still tired. I put him in his crib, and he took a quick 15 minute power nap. YUCK- these are the worst because they wake up crankier than before. I then got him out of bed, changed him (smelled like number 2), and he came and laid by Matt. These pictures tell the rest of that story- my boys are PRECIOUS. I kid you not, Noah loves to take naps with Matt. This happened twice this past week and I caught it on video for the first time this morning.

Snuggle buddies!

 Confession- I get super jealous. Noah will not do this with me. I guess it's just a dad and lad thing, but I'm still jealous! Anyways, these two boys are snuggling while I have the living room to myself! 

Catching Z's

Happy Sunday!

Pickles and Limes

Today was a big day for Noah Walker. Not only did he have his first pool day with me and Grammy Tammy, but homeboy tried a lime and pickle. Boy oh Boy, did we have fun! Don’t worry, pasty boy was loaded with sunscreen and well covered. He seriously had a blast, and I can’t wait to take him again. He was eating up the water and kicking like Michael Phelps. Do we have an Olympic swimmer on our hands? Stay tuned folks, we shall see. For now, he is loading up on the pickles and the limes (pre training diet) and soaking up the rays. Happy Day after Tax Deadline!

Pre Lime Face

Post Lime Face

This Little Honey Bunny

This was our Easter Bunny!  

Thanks Nana for the cute hat and bib! 

Homeboy Loves Bananas

This picture progression says it all….no words needed.

Purplebonnets

Texas Tradition- I’m all about it. I have the best memories of parking the family car and venturing to the perfect Bluebonnet spot. I would then proceed to be bitten by all bugs alive (I’m a mosquito magnet) and itch for weeks- but let us forget those memories. This year, with our little nugget, I decided the tradition had to continue. My mom and I headed to a beautiful patch near my dad’s hospital and took some pictures. The Texas weather has been PERFECT- ABSOLUTELY GOREGOUS. I can’t believe what the rain did to bring this beautiful weather and breathtaking spring of wildflowers. Thank you Jesus for your beautiful creation!

 Matt calls them “Purplebonnets” hence the title of this post. I don’t think he quite understands the excitement/glee/joy of the wildflower season in Texas, but he’ll get there, I’ll make sure of it. Enjoy the nugget in the weeds flowers.

Poop Happens

Last Tuesday I received this email from Matt- I thought it was hilarious. We may need to slow down Noah on the prunes.

From Matt:

noah pooped everywhere o my gosh it is everywhere. he was sitting in the bumbo and i fed him and i see this poop dripping out of the side of the bumbo bc he pooped so much it was EVERYWHERE. had to give him a bath and quarantine the clothes and the bumbo and the bath and clean all of it. holy cow

Matt had an poop filled day on baby island. Afterwards, Noah passed out on his play Matt. See picture below!