Let's Get Real Thursday

Public restrooms and toddlers.... Real enough!? haha. Thought I'd stay on a lighter note this week, but FOR REAL.... what a mess! First of all - why in the heck are changing tables majority of the time only in women's restrooms!?... Not fair!

Sometimes (used to be when Grayson was younger) when Tony is with me... We'll do the whole - I take Grayson into the restroom, change his diaper, take him out to Tony, then go back into the restroom so that I could go... When you're alone... things get complicated.

So the other day Grayson and I are going to Target and as soon as we get there he needs a diaper change and I need to pee. It seems the handicap stall is never available when I'm alone with my toddler in tow. First, just getting us both and my purse and his bag in the itty bitty stall that opens inward is a task all by itself.  Then it's "Grayson don't touch anything!" while I try to sit and keep and eye on him and his hands... and hello, it's already awkward that your two year old is inches away from you while you sit on a toilet... but let's add to that "that week of the month"... just gross. So I'm doing my thing all the while yelling at him not to touch the gross trash bin (Ew! - as said in a Jimmy Fallon skit reference). Then he starts playing with the lock on the door and manages to open it - and I have to stop the door in time before my two year old bolts out and try to lock it.... and the scene plays on. Then, it's his turn to get on the changing table while he's saying "nasty" because he just learned that word from me in reference to the gross trash bin in the stall... awesome. Then, propping him up, while not letting my purse or his bag fall into the sink while we both try to wash our hands..... Holy Moly, I'm tired and we just got here! HA!

 

I know each one of you have been there... or will be there. Let's give a round of applause to mommas, shall we! We are awesome. :)

Hahaha - that is probably the most real I've gotten on this series... I bet you can't wait til Grayson starts potty training :)

God is good... all the time

It's been a rough few days. Actually, last week was a rough few days. We had some frustration and heartbreak and a mix of emotions that ended in making the decision Friday to give notice and take Grayson out of his current school and find somewhere else to care for him.

By Saturday I was emotionally drained, and that makes me physically exhausted. So we had an awesome, do nothing, stay in our pjs and watch movies and nap all day kind of Saturdays. It was awesome - and just what our family needed. We snacked, we napped, we watched a slew of movies (including, Frozen, Cars, Croods, Toy Story... and you get the picture of the theme of our movie days nowadays). It was great. Sunday we were rejuvenated and had a plan for what the next week looked like. We took a last minute date to just get away with each other and breath from the stress of the last week.

We woke up with a plan on Monday (you know how I like plans). Then our plan was tossed out the window out of our control and I was sent for a loop. The last couple of days did not go as I had planned... and we (I) went through stress and high emotions all over again. But ya know what?... God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.  Sunday night we went and saw God's Not Dead and they repeated this phrase throughout the movie. I thought what perfect timing for me to hear that phrase repeatedly after such a week. And He is!.. SO GOOD. He knew that my plan was not going to be perfect and He knew that it would be tossed out come Monday, and He knew what was and is best for our family yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

So today, Grayson started his first day in a new school. And God is good - to provide us with an affordable great place in a good location in the right timing. And I was nervous and fearful for Grayson to switch schools and environments and friends and teachers. And God is good as Grayson walked right into his classroom without hesitation or reservation, and I have been able to watch a live video stream of him in his classroom all day and watch him thrive and enjoy his new environment and friends and teachers. God. is. Good! All the time!.... Even in the rough/tough weeks/days when we have a hard time seeing his goodness... He is working, He is good, and He has a good and perfect plan!

I also got to be reminded how blessed and loved and supported we are by so many friends here. Amidst the rough days and the unknown and the emotions - we had a team of prayer warriors lifting us up. Friends texting me prayers and encouragement. Friends stepping up to care for Grayson during a day of unknown. Texts and prayers from so many sweet friends this morning praying for Grayson's adjustment to his new school.

 

I'm so thankful that I can cling to His hope and His goodness. I am so thankful that I have a God who is watching over my baby and protecting him. So thankful that I have a God who goes before me and lays out a perfect and perfectly timed plan for me and my family. Feeling very blessed that I have a God, a King Daddy, who is good all the time!

Let's Get Real Thursday

Let's get real... I am a momma's girl. Always have been, cannot hide it or deny it.  Last week when my mom came to visit she brought a bunch of old pictures for us to go through and walk down memory lane together. I was so fun to look back at all the pictures, the memories, the moments, the people who helped my momma raise me, my sweet grandma and grandpa who haven't been with us for a very long time now. It was bittersweet. We laughed a lot, we were teary-eyed through some photos and stories... I loved every minute of it. In the busy-ness of our life - ministry, work, raising a toddler, marriage, day to day... I forget how much I miss connecting with my momma face to face. It makes me cherish every second that I get with her now.

Looking at the pictures and comparing them to some of mine now... I am completely my mother's child... and Grayson is undoubtedly mine! It was so fun to look at the pictures and exclaim I had the same picture of me or of me and Grayson and then go find it on my phone. Here are just a couple that make my heart happy :)

Above: my momma napping with me as a baby.
Below: me napping with my baby.

 I never noticed just how much I resemble my beautiful momma. Thankful for that.

 

 

And to end on a cute and funny note -

As much as everyone says how much Grayson looks like his daddy... here is proof that he is most definitely my child. :)

 That's me on the left.... Grayson just needs a red wig and it would be identical! ;)

A week with Gigi

My mom's name to my nephew is Grandma... That is what we've been calling her since Grayson was born... But he has a hard time with the "Gr" part... So he started calling her Gigi.... So now that is her name. :)
So Gigi got to stay with us for a whole week after Grayson's birthday! It was soo wonderfully to have my momma here for a little while! I had half days everyday - so I went to work in the morning and my sweet momma cleaned my house (I'm spoiled and beyond blessed), then I'd come home for lunch and we'd go out shopping and pick up Grayson early from school and had LOTS of fun all week long! It. Was. Great.

While she was here, she got Grayson another birthday gift... his first bike! This radio flyer tricycle is the cutest thing ever and will grow with him til he's ready for a big bike. And how adorable is he!?

Actually, he didn't want to ride it at all and only wanted to push it around... the whole time we tried to get him to ride it he would throw a HUGE fit... not exactly the hallmark moment I was expecting :(

 

But, it was still fun in the end....

It was SO nice all week, that almost every night we played outside in the backyard.. on the swing set or with a ball.... I LOVE these sweet moments! I want to freeze them forever.

 

Every year the rodeo is here during the same time as Grayson's birthday. This year I was excited for my mom to be here to take her with us and show her the Texan way. ;) We mainly hung out at the Kid's Country... and Grayson LOVED it!

 

 

 

Cool dudes.

Can you tell he just ate a fried oreo!? He's a little happy/hyper. ;) I loved every moment my momma was here! So glad she got to experience some more of Texas!

Birthday Weekend - part 2

Warning: this is a LONG post with LOTS of pictures. :)

I'm fairly certain I go a little overboard with birthday parties and planning and decorations... but I can't help it, one day I won't be able too.... So Friday night my mom (Gigi) came into town and the whole family (really, just the girls) stayed up way too late baking and decorating... But it was worth it!!! :)

I have an amazing friend who volunteered to come to the party and take professional pictures for us sot hat we can enjoy the party and still be in the pictures! I am so very grateful for Cyndy! So I am basically going to let the pictures show you all the party details for themselves:

 

 

 

Isn't it all so much fun!? I give Pinterest all the credit for all the adorable ideas and my awesome family for helping me pull it off! Now for the cutie it was all for!... Grayson is so very loved and this party reminded me how many people in our lives are investing in this little man - we are blessed!

 

 

 

 

 
 This picture, with all the kids running around our backyard and hearing laughter - makes my heart soo happy! THIS is what I prayed for and envisioned when we were praying for a home... a big backyard where kids could come and gather and have fun - God is SO Good!  It was so amazing to see all the people that showed up to celebrate with us! I am loving this chapter of our lives that God has us in right now and am SO blessed by the friendships we have.

That night, we had a little family cupcake time. :)  Since the wind blew out his candle - we thought we would sing and let him blow out his candle for the first time with just us and grandparents. It was such a special time - so glad they were there for this!

Welp - my baby is a big 2 year old now. Excited to see what God has planned for his life!

Birthday Weekend - part 1

After bombarding you with Grayson pics and stories leading up to his birthday, I had to take a week off to enjoy him and our family all this last week! We have had lots of family and nonstop fun since his birthday weekend! So.. now to finally unload it all (in two parts) ;)

Nana and Papa got here Thursday, Mar 6th. And Tony and Papa quickly got to work on Grayson's swing set for his birthday!!  These two men are amazing and are so handy when they are together! I love these two daddy's! :)

Grayson is one blessed little boy!

 

 Grayson LOVED his swingset! We let him see and play on it the night before his party so that he could experience it himself. It was love at first sight!

Nana and Papa had a short visit with us for the weekend and Grayson loved playing and cuddling with them! We are so blessed with parent's who fly all the way to Texas to celebrate G's birthday! 

 Tomorrow I'll post all about the party! :)