Importance

"What is the most important moment in your life?"

A question that I was asked recently that left me completely speechless. How am I to choose just one moment? 

I have been alive for 10,164 days...that's 243,948 hours...which means I have been alive for 14,636,930 minutes (and counting). HOW AM I TO PICK JUST ONE? Should I pick the first breath I ever took or the day I held my first child?

So today I wanted to share a few of my most important moments/events with you. They are in no particular order of importance...but these things are the moments in my life that made me into the person that I am...

May 8th, 2008....the moment I heard my first born child's heart beat for the first time. This is a moment that took my breath away! In an ultrasound room all by myself I fell in love with this little life I was carrying inside of me! 

December 6th, 2008 6:22 pm I held the most perfect seven pound baby boy in my hands for the first time! I counted his fingers and toes a hundred times and I worried that the hair on his ears wouldn't fall off! I dreamed of what his laugh would sound like and couldn't wait to hear him call me "mommy"! I welcomed my first born child, Bryson Reid, into the world...

November 18th, 2011 Danny and I found out that we were expecting our first baby together! I think this is the biggest I have EVER seen Danny smile!

December 8th, 2011 is the day that Danny and I heard Houston's heart beat for the first time. We both cried. This was the day that I realized that my heart was big enough to love Bryson, Danny, and now Houston! 

May 1st, 2012 I promised forever to my best friend. Danny and I got married at the beach...just us and Bryson. We wrote our own vows to each other and we exchanged vows with Bryson. While I wish I would have shared this day with our parents, I loved the memory and the sentimental value that just us being there had!

July 11th, 2012 I endured the worst pain of my life (natural child birth) and at 10:43 AM I held the most perfect 6 pound 12 ounce baby boy in my hands. My heart sank as his face begin to turn blue and they rushed him to the nursery. Thankfully his breathing was FINE he was just extremely bruised from the super fast and dramatic entrance into the world. This was the day I welcome my second son, Joshua Houston, into the world...

December 28th, 2012 I met Memphis for the first time. I blogged about the importance of Memphis in our lives a few weeks ago. She plays a huge role in our family and now we can't imagine life without her!

March 31, 2013 the day that Danny and I lost our second child together. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't stop and wonder what that child would have been like or if it would have been a girl or boy. This is a day that changed our lives.

How do I narrow my life down to the "most important"...I have celebrated with all of my friends on their wedding days and the births of their children.  I have watched my husband go from banker to self employed. I have helped my boys take their first steps and watched them take their first breath. My life is full of so many joyous moments, and so many heart breaking moments. Each of them have changed me and made me into the person I am today. 

If you were asked what the most important moment of your life is...how would you answer?

Here's to you..

I stumbled across a Valentines Day card I made for our friends several years ago...inside that card was this quote. I couldn't help but be reminded of how true this was! 

"The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity."

 

Ulysses S. Grant

 

 

 

Danny and I don't take the time to tell each of you how much we love you and appreciate you. Through the struggles of our past year you have each been there for us to vent to or a shoulder for me to cry on. Each of you stepped up and helped us in some way...from visiting us in the hospital, to cutting our grass, to cleaning our house. Despite the fact that you each have your own struggles. There is NO WAY that we could have made it through all of the curve balls life has thrown our way this year if it wasn't for your support.

 

We are SO THANKFUL that our lives (and family) are surrounded by an amazing group of LOYAL and LOVING friends!

 

We LOVE each of you and we are so happy that you are a part of our lives! Because of you our world is a happier place!

 

Here's to the GOOD times and the BAD times!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st Annual Celebration of Danny's 30th Birthday

Better late than never, right?

 

I realize it has been nearly two months since Danny's birthday party! We have just been extremely busy and I haven't had time to sit down and write a blog.

 

We had such a great time celebrating Danny's 30th birthday last year we wanted to continue the tradition. So from here out we celebrate annually that Danny turned 30 (soon it will be the 10th annual celebration).

 

This year I recruited my friends and we devised a plan to have a party that was made of everything Danny wasn't particularly fond of! LOL

 

My friends and I decided that a rainbow and unicorn theme was the LEAST like Danny and he should love it! I rummaged through my pantry and located any and all rainbow food/candy. (Yes, we keep TONS of snacks and candy in stock) I then went through my craft/party closet and found anything rainbow colored. This is what we came up with...the unicorn napkins were a splurge from Amazon (5.00) I owned everything else.

 



 

You probably noticed the rainbow display of drinks. My friend Amanda and I went through Pintrest for different color punches and drinks. We had enough drink containers to make a complete rainbow! (I think that makes us hoarders)

 

My friend Marie set up a photo booth for us to have fun in....as you can see everyone really enjoyed it! I can't wait to see what she comes up with for our Halloween Photobooth!

 

To see a full album of photos check out her Facebook album here

 

 

 

 

Being a mommy to boys...

Six years ago I learned that I was expecting my first son. At the time I had no idea just what that meant. I was excited to welcome my first child, but little did I know how much learning I was about to do.

Being mommy to little boys means that you know to make sure that the noodle isn't pointing up when you put a diaper on, and it means that you are likely to be pee'd on at least a dozen times before they reach the age of five.

Being mommy to little boys means that you have to be quick on your feet and respond to statements like "OH WOW, MY NOODLE IS GROWING"...it also means you likely know what a noodle is!

Being mommy to little boys means that you check the pockets on all clothing for items like rocks, matchbox cars, gum, and chap stick. It also means that laundry is NEVER done, boys and dirt are one in the same.

Being mommy to little boys means the bottom of your feet are extremely tough, they have to be to endure the shock of stepping on army men or matchbox cars.

Being mommy to little boys mean that you are also a doctor, not from an earned college education...but by experience. Well, it means stopping the boys long enough to doctor their boo boos and dragging them to the hospital for the ones that are more serious.

It also means that you shouldn't grow fond of their teeth...they will most likely knock them out.

Being a mommy to little boys means that you are responsible for teaching them the meaning of "No". It also means you teach them respect, loyalty, and strength.

It means that you have to teach them what love is, and how deep love is.

Being a mommy to little boys means that it is also your job to teach them the differences between women and men.

Being a mommy to little boys means you are a professional temporary tattoo applier and are used to being the "bad guy"...they always choose to be the good guys...

Being a mommy to little boys means you find creative ways to get them to eat things other than chips or ice cream. It also means that your grocery bill will sky rocket....boys eat so much food!

Being a mommy to little boys means that bath time is full on war...you enter the bathroom at your own risk. You are likely to be splashed soaked or pee'd on. It means that your FIRST task after bath time is to pick up any remaining bath toys...or else your morning shower will not go as planned. (stepping on a matchbox car or action figure is not enjoyable at 6:00 am)

Being a mommy to little boys means letting them have the Mohawk if it makes them happy.
(At least it wasn't a rat tail) It means you sit back and let them explore and figure out who they are. You pick your battles...

Being a mommy to little boys means that you have selective hearing. You have the ability to drown out all noisy toys...and ALL BOY TOYS ARE NOISY! 

Being a mommy means you are constantly moving and running. It means holding your breath as you watch them do stunts that nearly make your heart stop.

Being mommy to little boys means you see girls clothing and cringe, you appreciate the simplicity in Under Armour and tennis shoes!

It also means that you give up owning anything nice...they will destroy it. Boys are rough and tough.

Being a mommy to little boys means you know that they are en-grained through genetics to sleep with their hands in their pants. You can't change it...and you just accept it.

Being a mommy to little boys means that it is your job to teach them that they can conquer anything. It means being behind home plate after their grand slam, it also means you are the one their eyes find when they strike out. You are their foundation, you are the one that rebuilds them when they are broken.

Being a mommy to little boys means you are their first love, but you are not the love of their life. It means knowing that at some point you will no longer be the woman that holds their life together. It means that you will have to step back and allow another woman to love them...and pray that she loves them as much as you do.

Being a mommy to little boys means accepting the fact that one day you will look up to your babies and knowing that their soft cheeks will soon turn into prickly unshaven cheeks.

Being a mommy to little boys means it is MY job to make sure that these two boys have the happiest life I can give them. It is my job to make sure that they know they are loved. It is my job to grow these little boys into amazing men.

Being a mommy to little boys means you look at every man and his mother and you see the little boy inside of them and the mother that made him. 

Being a mommy to little boys means that I love my husband the way I want my boys loved. It means I am setting the example for their lives.

Being a mommy to little boys means that right now, I am EVERYTHING to two stinky, wild, and crazy little boys.

First Day of Kindergarten

From the day that I found out I was expecting Bryson I dreamed of days like today. I dreamed of his first baseball game, his first day of school, first prom, graduations, his wedding, his children.

I can not believe that we have already made it to our first day of kindergarten. It just reminds me that we will soon be breezing through proms and graduation. Life passes by so fast!

I was nervous about today, and so was Bryson. I remember how terrifying a new school year is, who will be your friend and what if you get lost. I tried my hardest to hide my emotions and encourage him, remind him that he already knows some of the kids in his class and his teacher is very loving. I have seen her love on her own children, so I know that she will love my child the same way.

Today I held Bryson's hand as we walked through the school doors together. Today we made a memory together, his first day as a school age child! 

He had his head up, his shoulders back and he was brave. I know inside he was nervous, but he never showed it. He walked right into his class, put his back pack up and sat down and begin to color.

He never cried. He never looked back. He was brave and strong...I pray that the REST OF HIS LIFE he embraces life with this exact same attitude. I have spent the past five years trying to teach Bryson about life, but days like today I am reminded that the truth is HE TEACHES ME what life is about.

I am so proud of Bryson! He is an amazing child, with an amazing heart! I hope that the characteristics that we saw today continue to grow as he does! He is going to be an AMAZING man one day...but for now I will continue to allow him to remind me how life is with a child's heart!

I love you so much Bryson Reid, and I can't wait to see you this afternoon!

Oh, and Chubby moved up to the two year old class. Which means NO WUBS, and potty training (hardcore) for him! He is doing great and LOVES his new teachers.

Thank you all for loving my boys...each and everyone of you have impacted their lives in some sort of way. It is amazing to me knowing that each of you in some shape, form, or fashion are helping them grow into amazing men!