Goodbye. Hello.

Today we said goodbye to our first home. We built this home 16 years ago when we began our marriage journey. We were babies. Babies.

This house is the longest place either of us has called home. We came home from our honeymoon to this house. We brought our babies home to this house. We had career changes and made huge family decisions in this house. We fought for our marriage in this house. We lost a parent in this house.

I will miss it.

I will miss the silly, seemingly unimportant parts of this house. Like the master closet; it's where I hid to talk on the phone. It's also the place where I chunked a candle into the wall when we struggled with infertility...and where we prayed the night before our first child was finally born.

I will miss the bushes in the front yard. It's where we took pictures before every important event in our lives...like daddy/daughter date night and soccer games and the first day of school. It's where we hid Easter eggs and was the scene of all the epic pool noodle light saber battles.

I will miss the kitchen sink. It's where I learned not to put 8 eggshells into the disposal. It's where I stood for countless hours watching my tiny humans play while I did dishes or meal prepped. It's where Brad washed my hair when I was on bedrest during pregnancy and where he bathed Channing and Chaz when they were infants.

It is hard to say goodbye to something with that many memories.

So I choose not to say goodbye. But instead, I will say hello. Hello to our new home. Hello to new memories. Hello to a new master closet...a new picture spot...a new kitchen sink view. Hello.

One more quick story before the unpacking shall commence. Brad and I were scheduled to return from our honeymoon on his birthday, June 9, 2002. But our flight from the Bahamas was delayed and we had to spend the night in Florida. We flew home the next day and he carried me over the threshold of our new home for the first time...one day later than planned. On June 10, 2002.  June 10th.

I don't believe it's a coincidence that we walked out of this home for the last time on June 10, 2018. Our heavenly Father is a part of every detail in our lives. And what seemed like an annoyance and extra expense 16 years ago now feels like a nice big bow on top of a wonderfully wrapped gift. He is with us for every hello and goodbye.

The Half-Way Birthday

Today is a milestone birthday. The last of the single-digits. The half-way mark. The doorway from little kid to big kid.

Nine years our Channing has been with us under our roof. Nine more to go. Gulp.

Everything about this past year has been so representative of this half-way birthday. I think more than any other, she has changed the most this year.

As we navigate the uncharted waters of the half-way stage, the place where she is not little but not yet big, we are going to treasure every moment. Every. Single. One. Because I have a feeling the second half is going to zoom by.

SEVEN

A 6 pound, 12 ounce boy stole my heart at 12:17pm exactly 7 years ago. He continues to steal my heart when he tells me things like, "Mom, your laugh is adorable." and "You'll always be my plus one, Mom." and "Mom, it's good to be part of life with you." Not. Even. Kidding.

Get ready to have your heart stolen too.

Happy 7th Birthday to the boy I adore! I know you won't stay little (and I'm ok with that-I think). So instead I will say, stay compassionate. Stay tender-hearted. Stay generous. Stay brave. Stay fun. Stay focused on the Father. Stay mine.
We love you, Snazzy Chazzy!


If you have a fever and the only prescription is more Chaz cuteness, then see below for pictures from past birthdays. :)

Chaz's SIXTH birthday

Chaz's FIFTH birthday

Chaz's FOURTH birthday

When the Lord Turned 3 Years into 6

Big changes are about to happen in our home.

I've shared about our past struggle with infertility. And I've shared our story about my journey to becoming a stay-at-home-mama. I love stories with happy endings. This one is no different.

Grab your after-dinner sweet treat and settle in for another story with a happy ending...

Being Happy for Others

I absolutely adore those school projects the children do for Mother's Day. You know the ones where they fill in the blanks and say that you're 10 years older than you really are...or that you're really good at napping....or that you love it when everyone is quiet.

Oh, the honesty of a child.

8 is Great (and Toothless)!

A funny thing happened for Channing's birthday pictures this year. We were having unusually warm weather here a few weeks back (perfect for an outdoor photo shoot) but a cold front was scheduled to blow through later that day. Chan and I went out to take a few birthday pictures and were outside for about 15 minutes when the cold front blew through much earlier than expected. It was so miserably cold and windy that we just couldn't continue. I was so frustrated with myself for not getting up and going earlier in the day before the cold weather hit.

That night our sweet girl lost her front tooth. Then 3 days later she lost the other one. AND she pulled them both out herself (she's way braver than me)!! So then I felt super thankful that cold front blew in and forced us to continue another day because now we get to remember our little one like this on her 8th birthday....

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Hello Lovelies! It's Pumpkin Time. I've got your local Pumpkin Patch lowdown all in one place. Here are some of the best local pumpkin patches and all their deets (including my all-time favorite pumpkin patch!).

Super Six

Today Chaz is six. Oh how I love this kid.

I love him when he gives me his "handsome eyes." And when he tells me he just wants to stare at my beautiful face. I love him when he prays his little heart out to the Father. And when he talks about being "bapstitized" one day like his sister. I love him when he gives me 3 kisses before getting out of the car to go to school everyday. And when he is tenderhearted about the noise in the school cafeteria. I love him when he laughs the best laugh in the entire world. And when he makes his super frowny face that means he's trying not to cry. I love him when he's playing soccer. And video games. And building with legos. And I love it that all he wants for his birthday is a pair of suspenders and Super Mario sheets (which he is getting...shhhhh). And a Wii U (which he isn't).

Final Kindergarten Prayer

Tomorrow my "last" is going to Kindergarten.

I was a complete mess when my "first" went to Kindergarten just 2 short years ago. Now it is Chazzy's turn and I'm feeling pretty confident. I have done this before. I am an experienced kindergarten mama. I've got this under control. Until yesterday. We were in the car on the way to buy duct tape for his weekend book box project and I burst into tears. The duct tape made it real. Now I'm a blubbering, teary-eyed mama who is praying my final kindergarten prayer.

She Said Yes

On May 22, 2016 at 2:45 pm our Channing Elizabeth said yes to Jesus. And I got to be there when it happened.

I love telling the story of how the Lord was so clearly tugging at the heartstrings of our little one for several months before her big decision. But I think it's even more special that she wants to tell you the story herself.

The Year No One Cried in the Bluebonnets

You may remember my bluebonnet post from last year when I shared all our bluebonnet photos from years past. Well this was the year that no one cried in the bluebonnets. Hooray!!

7th Heaven

On December 31, 2008 at 2:19pm I became a mama to a 20 inch, 6lb 13 oz beauty who looked exactly like her Granny. I know I say this each year my children get older but this time I really mean it. How is it possible that 7 years have passed?!? Seven is officially big kid status. See for yourself in these photos that capture everything she is so perfectly:

And because I'm not quite ready to see her looking that grown up...here's a little trip down memory lane on each of her birthdays. Someone hold me. 

WELCOME TO THE WORLD!!

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

Happiest of birthdays, Channing Elizabeth!! XOXO!

Chaz is FIVE!!

I'm pretty much in denial that my youngest is five. Five?!? That's like big kid status now. Being a boy mom made me super nervous at first, but I can't even begin to describe how much I love, love, love being a boy mom to our Chazzy. He has made me a more relaxed, silly, spontaneous mom. And for that I am forever grateful.

Fatherhood Revealed

I promise I did not forget about you. In My Journey to Motherhood I said I would finish telling you our story. I hope my written words will do justice to this next part because it was one of the most memorable moments of my life. 

When Brad and I decided it was time to start a family, my wheels were already turning about a special way to tell him when we got pregnant. I have always felt like the fellas get the excitement of planning the marriage proposal so I knew I wanted to be able to surprise him with the news that he was going to be a father. 

I will always remember the night that my plan for the big reveal came to me. I literally woke up in the middle of the night with this idea. I got up, wrote down my idea, and hid the scrap piece of paper in my nightstand certain that I would be needing it any day. 

Fast forward to nearly 2 years later. Still no baby. I happened to be cleaning out my nightstand one day and found my brilliant idea-full of hope and excitement-squished up in the back of the drawer. I pulled it out and in my despair, I threw it away. In that moment, I felt like that idea was a fantasy that might never happen and maybe it was time to let it go. 

I found out I was pregnant the next month. 

Can we just pause for a minute to reflect on how amazing our Lord is? He knows the desires of ours hearts (He places them there) and He is so incredibly faithful and precise in His timing. I am just in awe at times. 

Ok, back to the story...it was time to put that discarded plan into action! 

Step 1: Don't tell Brad yet. This was so hard, but totally worth it in the end!! 

Step 2: I put a call in to the local Salvation Army to schedule a time for them to pick up all of our furniture in one of our guest bedrooms. Their first available appointment was a week away. This was going to take a lot of will-power NOT to let the cat out of the bag. Luckily, that meant I had a week to secretly pack up the guest room...empty all the dresser drawers, hide the contents, and strip the bed except for the top comforter. I had to make it look like nothing was changing in that room even though my plan was to have it be completely emptied.

Step 3: Balloons. Lots and lots of balloons. I blew up 50 pink and blue balloons (with the help of some precious co-workers) and ordered about 50 more helium filled balloons to be picked up the day of the big reveal. I also ordered a bag of rose petals. 

Step 4: Signage. I made a huge poster board sign that said 'Welcome Home Daddy'

Step 5: Wait. (This was the longest week of my life!!)

Brad was working in sales when we got pregnant. This was such a blessing at the time because he was on business world time and I was on teacher time. I was able to take time off during the workday without him knowing so I could put my plan into action. The Salvation Army came and hauled off all the furniture in the guest bedroom. Then I filled it with 100 pink and blue balloons. I used the rose petals to leave a trail from the garage into the future nursery where I waited for him with the 'Welcome Home Daddy' sign. Oh and I video taped the whole thing....the guest room before-hand, the workers moving the furniture out, the balloon-filled room, and the moment he finally came home. 

I will never, ever, ever forget the look on his face when he made his way into the nursery. Best. Moment. Ever. Sometimes I forgot that he had to face infertility with me. My sorrow was his sorrow. My joy was his joy. Revealing fatherhood to him was definitely one of our greatest joys.

Our precious Channing Elizabeth was born later that year. And soon after she turned one, we found out we were expecting a second little bundle of joy. That has a good story too, but I think I'll save that one for another time. :)

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there...especially my Brad!

Lucky 13

Me + Him + 13 years of...

Laughter

Tears

Imperfections 

Forgiveness

Compromise

Loyalty

Growth

My Journey to Motherhood

I've wanted to be a mama for a long time. I just knew my main purpose in life was to have babies and raise them to be Christ-followers. It was my heart's desire and I knew that when the time was right, I was ready for that. Little did I know that my journey to motherhood would be bumpy...and slow.

It began like this: Our dream vacation to Italy in June 2006 was our Baby Kick Off (which should be it's own blog post because we had some seriously funny things happen to us on that trip!).

By the following spring, we still weren't pregnant. So we had that doctor visit. You know, the one where they tell you all the possible reasons why you aren't getting pregnant. Luckily, our diagnosis was 'treatable.' So we started fertility drugs. Several months later, still no luck. Then on to the next step. More fertility drugs and shots (sigh) and 4 rounds of IUI...which were all unsuccessful.

At this point I was pretty much one crazy wanna-be-mama (I blame it on the fertility drugs). So we decided to take a little break and revisit the subject in about 6 months.

Six months later, in the spring of 2008, we went back to the doctor. This time, he suggested further investigation for anything undetectable thus far. So, in March 2008 I had an outpatient surgery to clear my tubes. At that time, it was discovered that I had endometriosis. I hadn't had any symptoms of this so we didn't think it was a factor in our infertility struggles. But it was. The doctor was able to burn off the endometriosis during surgery, but the terrible thing about it is that it continues to come back until a woman goes through menopause. Yep, you guessed it. I was a mess about this news.

Our doctor had a treatment plan. He could chemically shut my body down and make it go through menopause. Then restart it with more drugs. My thoughts: "Sign me up...I wanna have a baby!!" Brad's thoughts: "Are you kidding me? More fertility drugs for my crazy wife? Count me out."

Yeah, you can probably see the problem here.

I so desperately wanted to get pregnant on my time table that I didn't care what it took. I would've given my right arm if they'd told me it would help. Brad just wanted his 'normal' wife back.

If you know my sweet hubby, you know that he is pretty laid back when it comes to decision making. He goes with the flow and doesn't usually make a fuss about things. He just wants me to be happy.

But for some reason, he was very adamant that we not go with the doctor's recommendation. Oh believe me...I cried and begged and tried to talk some sense into him. But he wouldn't budge. So I listened and trusted him, and we refused the doctor's prescribed plan.

The doctor understood our concerns and told us we would still have the greatest chance of getting pregnant that month after the surgery since everything had been 'cleaned out' (yeah right...I didn't believe it). 

Surprisingly, on May 6, 2008 I found out we were going to be parents after nearly two years of struggling with infertility. I can still remember the way I felt when I found out we were pregnant. It's like I could almost hear our Heavenly Father audibly saying to me, "See I told you. My timing is perfect. Oh, and it is important to listen and trust your husband!" (Great reminder for me even as I sit here writing this!!)

That Sunday was Mother's Day. I know you will think I'm crazy when I tell you this (but if you knew me when I was on fertility drugs, you already know how crazy I can be) but I spent my first official Mother's Day celebrating in secret. I hadn't told Brad the good news yet. Yes, I know I'm leaving you totally hanging...but that is a great story all in itself that I will save for another time.

My journey to motherhood was not what I had expected. It was so much better. It was incredibly hard at the time, but the Lord has used our experience to help others who face infertility (just like we had others walk through it with us!). And that, my lovelies, is one of the reasons I think we went through it in the first place. 

And besides...these sweet faces were worth the wait.

Channing Elizabeth, 11 months, 2009

Chaz Anderson, 11 months, 2011

Texas Bluebonnets

If you're a Texan, you know it is tradition to take pictures in the bluebonnets. I LOVE having pictures of my little ones in the bluebonnets. It's taking the pictures that leaves us all feeling like this at some point:

Nevertheless, we muddle through it and try to make it a fun memory. I usually bribe them with candy or ice cream afterwards. And I drink wine from a mason jar. Now that is great parenting.  #whateverworks

Here are some of my favs throughout the years...

2010: The Year When She was an 'Only'

2011: The Year with Two Babies

2012: The Year When I Took Them Each by Themselves and We had a Marvelous Time

2013: The Year We Took Pictures in the Bluebonnets and They were Only Interested in the Red Flowers

2014: The Year We Finally Got Pictures Together

2015: The Year They Ran Barefoot (and looked too grownup...tear)

Until we meet again, Texas Bluebonnets...