I Heart Faces: Motherhood

I was not planning on entering a photo on I Heart Faces this week.

I love this week's challenge but I did not have a photo in mind. 

Then I stumbled across this photo...

I took it a couple of weeks ago when Ethan and I were playing around with my camera.

He was taking pictures of himself in our floor length mirrors. 

After playing for about 20 minutes, and taking about 100 photos, I had told him it was time to stop and he was thoroughly disappointed.

So I picked him up and held him for a minute and reassured him we had another fun activity planned right around the corner.

I happened to snap this photo on a whim.

It's not the most glamorous picture ever taken.

My hair is a mess, the closet door is open, the sheets on my bed are not straight, I look pregnant, but to me it is the definition of motherhood.

I little frazzled, not perfect, but stopping everything to comfort your little one.

Check out more motherhood submissions here.

Well Hello.

So it feels like I haven't blogged in months.
I know it's only a couple of weeks but it seems like so much has happened.

First and foremost, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.
I want to take a second to thank my mom for being the best there is, really truly she is.
She's helped make me the person I am today and I know I wouldn't be as fabulous as I am without her. (haha, Mom, did you get that one?)
She loves and cares for me and my family more than I could ask for.
She's always there, even in the most inconvenient hours, to lend a helping hand.
She's an amazing example of a wife, mother, care giver, and friend.
Thanks mom for always being you and being the best. Love you.

Speaking of Mother's Day, I didn't really get to celebrate today so we're celebrating next weekend.
I'm not sure what we'll be doing exactly but I hope it involves beautiful weather and the beach.
If the weather sucks maybe I'll just crank up the heater, wear my swimsuit, lay on the couch, and sip a fruity drink with an umbrella in it.
Can you tell I'm ready for summer?

So where have I been you ask?
Well Brett and I have been to Cabo and back, and the four of us went on our first camping trip.
All within 10 days.
Needless to say, the laundry is ridiculous, the fridge is bare, the house is a disaster, and I'm more than tired.
But it was all worth it. We've had fun and made some lasting memories.
I'll share photos as soon as I can.
My SD card reader decided to quit working and I need to find those cords that connect the computer and the camera together. You know what I mean right? I'm sure they have a name for them. Wish me luck finding them.
Until then, goodnight.
I need to sleep.

Music Obsession.

I'm pretty much obsessed with this song right now.

It's happy and fun.

You'll be singing it for days and it will leave you warm and fuzzy.

Enjoy. 

Our Anniversary {a few days late}.

Brett and I celebrated four years of marriage last Thursday.

We got to spend the afternoon together, without the kids, enjoying the sun and good food.

I kept saying over and over, "I can't believe how much has happened in just four years."

We've done a lot. We've gone through a lot.

We've had great times and hard times.

We've laughed and cried, loved and disliked, changed but remained the same.

Married life hasn't been easy but it's made us better people.

We're better individuals and we're better as a couple because we have one another. 

I thank God everyday for Brett and the family we have created together.

I honestly don't know where I would be without him.

Happy Anniversary To Us.

Easter Festivities.

We had a great Easter weekend.

We dyed eggs, went to church, had egg hunts, opened baskets, spent time with family, ate tons of good food, and relaxed.

I hope your Easter was enjoyable as ours. 

4am.

I don't like getting woken up at 4am.

I think most people would agree.

I saw a lot of the 4am hour during the first 6 months of Jacob's little life. 

Jacob would wake up for the 2nd or 3rd time on any given night and I would be angry.

More than angry.

I would sometimes just lay there wishing he would just fall back asleep, trying to ignore the crying.

Sometimes I would throw the covers off of me, stomp out of bed and say a few words I would rather not repeat.

I was tired and worn out.

About 2 months ago we decided to let him cry it out.

Hard decision but well worth it in the end.

Ever since that day he has fallen asleep on his own.

No rocking, no swaying, no cuddling, no light patting on the bottom.

We just sing a little song, kiss him on the head, lay him down and he falls asleep.

It's quite wonderful.

Except that I miss cuddling with him.

Jacob's never really been very cuddly but he would let me rock him to sleep, most of the time.

After hours of crying and screaming he would fall asleep in my arms and snuggle up against me.

I would be so grateful he finally had fallen asleep and was quiet that I would lie him down and go about the day, not thinking twice about it.

But now I miss it.

Last night he woke up crying. Usually I can give him a pacifier, turn on some music and he's out again within minutes, but not last night.

I was annoyed.

I wanted to go back to sleep. I was tired.

I took him out of the crib and starting rocking him in the chair.

As he was looking up at me and slowly falling back to sleep I realized it had been so long since I had put him to sleep this way.

I instantly had a change of heart.

Until that moment I hadn't realized I missed rocking my little boy so much.

I smiled down at him, sang softly and rubbed his little head. 

He fell asleep about 5 minutes later but I couldn't stop rocking him. 

We sat there for another 10 minutes before I laid him down.

 

Time is going by so fast and I often forget to slow down and enjoy tender moments with Brett and the boys. 

Last night was a reminder, even at 4am.

Help!

So if you haven't noticed I keep changing things around on this here blog.

I'm not really happy with the look of it but I don't know what to do.

I'm not too computer savvy but would love to spruce things up a bit.

If you have any tips or advice please pass along the info.

Thanks!

p.s. what I really want is a complete makeover done by Heather at Life Made Lovely.

I'll be accepting donations.