Vacation

For Fall break we went to PCB with our family and a group of our closest friends. We had a blast! Days spent on the beach, watching the kids play in the sand and ocean, nights spent on the patio talking and just being together. This was far one of my best vacations. It was my kids first trip to the beach. They loved it. They made memories of a lifetime. How many kids get to go on vacation with their best friends? I hope they remember this trip for a very long time.

 

While we were there Briley Jane turned 8 months old. Hard to believe time is going by so quickly. She's starting to develop her own personality. She hasn't started to crawl-she's not even interested. She loved the ocean and the sand.

 

The only small hiccup we had was Troy got stung by a jellyfish- it was funny in a way.

 

 

To my babies- I hope you had the best time ever. I hope that you enjoyed spending time and making memories with your best friends. That's what life's all about.

 

To my friends- thank you for being a part of one of the best vacations ever. I love you guys and don't know what I'd do without any one of you.

Mother's Day

Today is my first Mother's Day with Briley. She's made this day so special just because she's here with all of us. Our little family wouldn't be complete without her. '
  This day can be emotional for some. Some people are having a hard time because their mothers have passed on or are no longer in their lives. We all have a story of some sort.

Today seems extra special because there are women in my life that has stepped in and has taken the place of my mother.

I had surgery Friday. I can't lift anything , and that includes my baby girl. My mother in law has stayed with us the whole weekend and helped me out with her and the boys. I am grateful for her, she has always been there. She doesn't get told enough by anyone how much she is appreciated. She does so much for so many and ask for nothing in return. She has taught me how to be a better mother and I'll always be thankful for that.

Mother's Day shouldn't be about gifts, flowers, cards, etc. It should be about taking the time to stop and say thank you for your mother, grandmother, aunt, sister or whoever else impacts your life. It's a special day to let them know how much they are loved and appreciated.

I thank my God that He gave me three little people that call me mommy. I have Mother's Day everyday when i look at my three beautiful children.

So to the special women in my life thank you so much for being there, giving me advice, being my "mom", and being  the best friend a girl could ever ask for. Yes, we've had falling out, but you loved me enough to stay in my life through my crazy pregnancy phase. Thank you for sticking by me. That means more than you'll ever know. You know who you are.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there. I hope you take time to realize what a blessing it is to have someone call you Mommy.



ApRiL

3 months

Where does the time go? Briley Jane is three months!
She is an amazing baby girl. She sleeps through the night and wakes around 6 am. When she wakes up she always has a smile on her face. She's starting to laugh and giggle out loud. I am so in love with my kids. There aren't words to describe how I feel.

Baseball is in full swing. Trev started a new travel team and Trace will be playing travel for the first time this summer. Briley is starting to get use to the yells and cheers at the park.

I am blessed beyond words. This past three months we've had a lot going on and can't imagine what it would've been like without the help of our dear friends and family. They have been amazing. My kids are so lucky to have wonderful people in they're lives and I can't imagine our world without them. Even though I signed up to take food and deliver cupcakes and totally forgot.. what great friend am I?

Having three kids is trying sometimes. Usually, there's blood, guts, and tears.. not really, but you know what I mean.  I have one screaming, the other climbing the walls, and then there's Trevor. He's always the one trying to help with the other two. I'm getting the hang of it for sure. It took me a while to realize that I have to start getting everyone, including myself, ready like three hours before we go anywhere. I've only been caught without extra clothing and milk once. I'd say that's pretty darn good... if you know me personally. So I think we'll all make it. As crazy as our lives are , I wouldn't trade it for the whole wide world. 

And i owe a BIG thanks to my MIL. Without her I don't know what I'd do. She's a very special lady that stays by my side through anything and everything. I'm so thankful to have her in mine and my kiddos' lives.

So to sum it up. These past three months, minus the little bumps, have been SIMPLY AMAZING.

Our Boys

It all started in 2007. They played for the Dodgers. A lifetime friendship started that year. One was on first base,the other was pitcher. They were both 5 years old. It was Trev and Thomas, the duo had pitcher and 1st  on lock down.

 Our boys got to play baseball together again. Now they are in kid pitch. Thomas is pitcher and Trev is catcher. The friendship is still going strong.

The other night I was watching them play together. Thomas and Trev made a play that only they knew they were going to make. I ask Trev when I got home if he and T talked about making that play and he said "No mom, its just the look we gave each other." It was as simple as that-the look. I realized then what our boys have. They have the kind of friendship that they know each other so well. I hear them encourage each other during the games. It makes me proud to know that my son's best friend encourages him.

Trev and Thomas- if this post ever finds you. I hope you two boys remains friends forever. To have each others backs no matter what. Don't let society's cruelty get in the way of your friendship, and always be true to who you are. And leave them girls alone.Just know that us moms, and probably nanny too will not be too far behind you, in disguise. You are our boys and we all love you more than you know.

 True friendships see no color

Her name is Briley Jane...

It's been a while, I know. I want to share with the world our new little girl Briley Jane. Troy and I welcomed her into this world on Wednesday Feburary 1, 2012 at 3:36 pm weighing 7lbs 6oz and 20 1/2 inches long. She is beautiful. She has dark brown hair and blue eyes. She has her daddy's eyes and her momma's nose. God made her perfectly, He made her just for us.

When we found out we were pregnant, there were a lot of emotions. To be honest, we were finished having kids after Trace. Then God had other plans for us and now that she's here I know now why.

If you know me and you know my history, you know about my relationship with my mother. It's a story that no child should ever have to explain. Growing up I had a good childhood because of my dad and my dad's parents. My mother wasn't a mother. My grandparents gave me a good life. But a girl should have her mother to raise her, to teach her how to be a strong woman, a mother, and a wife. She didn't. I believe that not all women were made to be mothers. My insecurities with my mom has caused a lot of heartache and pain. I've almost lost a couple of amazing friends because of my issues with trust and people wanting to be close to me. Thank God, they love me and wanted to stay in my life. I know that God has put them in my life.

 We found out on October 11th that we were having a little girl. I was scared to death. How was I going to raise a little girl? To be honest I was afraid that I wasn't going to be a good mother to a girl, just because of my history with my mom. What if i didn't connect with her? I was worried, then I layed eyes on her and my whole world changed.

I love my little girl, she and her brothers are my world. I love them with my whole heart. I want to be a role model to her and raise her to be a strong woman, mother, and wife... someday in the far far far future. I will be a good mother to her. All my fears are gone now and I love that little girl more than life itself. So now I want to thank my mother. Thank her for showing me how not to be, thank her for making me want to love my children like there's no tomorrow.

God gave me a gift, a gift to prove to myself that I can be different, that I can be a good mother to a little girl. That I'm not like her. He gave me a gift to fill the emptiness of a mother/daughter relationship. He gave me Briley Jane.

30 has been good to me.

Turning 30 wasn't as bad as I thought. I think it has definitely changed me for sure. I feel more gown up, smarter, wiser, and overall happier. My granny used to tell me that her 30s were the best years of her life. I didn't understand why, but now I do. I look at life differently now. I'm more open to issues that before I was dead set on my way. I have matured over the last year, I try not to let the little things bother me. I have new goals and have accomplished some old ones.

 Not that I used to, but now I don't take my friendships for granted. I love my friends and I love them all for different reasons. I have a few that are very loud and outspoken, {completely opposite of myself} but I love that about them. They make me laugh, and turn red sometimes and they know I would do anything in this world for them. We have a few friends that are married and like the simply life, just like us.

I'll be 31 in a little over a month; if it's better than 30, I can't wait. i don't think getting older is such as bad thing. I think it just adds character to your personality and makes you so thankful for Him and that He has given you all these years.

It's Over??

Well Christmas was a HUGE success. As I look back on these last few days, I remember the joy, laughter, and love of being with family and friends. We laughed and cried this past week. My vacation week- sad things happened as well a lot of happy things. Trevor got his 4-wheeler and that was worth the wait. The look on his face was priceless. Now every time we ask him to take out the trash on Christmas morning, I hope he doesn't expect a huge gift waiting for him. I don't think we can keep that one going.

We had such a great time being with family. Now it's come to an end and its bittersweet. I'm a little sad for Christmas to be over and a little happy to see what the New Year's going to bring. We have a lot planned for the Spring and Summer and I can't wait. Baseball, our second career, is right around the corner. Trevor is ready for that. We miss our baseball family.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I know we did.

PS.. I got my Silver jeans I've wanted forever!!!!

Ready for Christmas!!

We only have a few days left before the guy in red suit arrives.  We are almost ready. I only have a few more gifts to buy.I'll probably be one of the crazies  people shopping on Christmas Eve. Trevor and Trace are ready. Ready to be with family and open all of their gifts. To be honest, I can't wait either. My favorite is watching the looks on their faces while opening all the presents.

Christmas at our house is very traditional. Growing up we did it a lot differently that Troy's family. When i was a kid, we opened our gifts a few days before Christmas, so I never really got to experience the "Christmas morning." All of Troy's family gather on Christmas Eve to eat, open gifts, and just be together. It;s so much fun and its one of the things that I look forward to every year. We did that long ago with my whole family until my parents divorced and then my aunts and uncles went their separate ways. I'm not really sure why it happened, but it did and it made me sad.I missed all of them at Christmastime.

I want my kids to know the real reason of Christmas and they do. Christmas morning we always sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and they understand its the season for giving. We always choose a family to give to and I try to teach them the importance of giving to less unfortunate. Trevor has it down... Trace, not so much.

I want everyone to have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Enjoy the time you spend with your family and friends. Don't take the moments for granted and enjoy the presence of family and love for your family. Jesus is the reason we all celebrate Christmas and that should NEVER be forgotten.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.. We are jumping for joy at our house!!

Decisions Decisions

i am a 30 year old { i shutter at that number} mother of two.... and why can't I make decisions??? Troy is usually good at pulling me out on this. If I can't make a decision then he makes it. Thanks, honey. But I'm getting so frustrated with myself. I just want to be able to say yes or no and mean it. I go back and forth.  Maybe I think too much??? yes, that's it I'm a thinker, that's good, right?

Tonight we had made plans with some friends, and I changed them twice within a couple hours!! You see, both Troy and I had to work today, so I thought it would be best that we just stay at home with our boys. but then, we both wanted to go, and then we didn't and then we did, and then he didn't know what time he would get off from work and now he can make it. You liked that run on sentence, didn't you?  So now, we are going and I still feel a little guilty about it. I haven't been with my boys all day and won't be with them all night. Parents need their time alone sans kids. Some might not agree and that's fine and there are some that don't have their kids at all on the weekends... they need to be put in check... that's another post though.  I love my husband and we have a good time together, so we need our nights out every once in a blue moon. If you know us, then you know that our lives revolve around our boys. So its nice to be able to have a night out with my hubby and our friends. I can't wait! Now I hope I don't change my mind before we get there.