I'm Back?

It's been a really long time since I've blogged. It's been a long time since I've even opened blogger to look at my blog. Since I'm working from home, all my old blogging time has been taken up with work, and when I do have a spare minute, it's hard to want to open my computer again. I write for one of my jobs, so writing is almost the last thing I want to do in my down time.

Also, I started to question the reasons behind my blogging. I began to realize that I don't care so much about how many people are following me, or how many comments I get on each post. I stopped looking at my blogger stats and sort of lost interest in the blogging "game." I realized that this blog is really for me most of all, as an outlet for me to talk about my life and my family and let out the thoughts that twirl around my head all day. So instead of just changing things up, I gave up on it all together.

Also, I don't always have a lot to say. Now that I'm staying home with Emmett, our life is so much less complicated. Sometimes, we stay at home for weeks at a time. We don't go out much, so I don't often feel like I have anything exciting to share. I have my daily anxieties, but our day to day is simple, and very laid back. In the very best way for us. I started to feel like my weekly Currently posts were the same each week- nothing had changed from Monday to Monday, so I felt silly writing those posts (and making you read them!)

So, those are the reasons I've been M.I.A. the last few months. Why am I back now? I'm not sure. I've had things on my mind that I want to get out, and I have new things to share and process. I received some encouragement from family and friends over the last few weeks to start up again, so I thought I would give it a try. I can't promise regular posts, certainly not scheduled recipe posts or link-ups, but I'll write when I have something to write about and if no one ever reads, that'll be okay.

This summer has been a crazy one. After lots of anxiety and a couple of tough months financially, our house finally sold. We spent three weeks in Georgia in July and August, where Emmett soaked up all the attention from my family and I did a lot of relaxing. We had an awesome week at the beach, where I spent every waking moment searching for shark's teeth and Emmett spent every waking moment asking to go in the water. Ray got to come too, which was so nice. It's great for all of us to spend time with my family, and we miss them an awful lot when we leave again. Now we're back in the desert, Emmett is back in school in a new classroom with a new teacher, and he's taking the changes like a champ.

Speaking of Emmett.. I am just so proud of that boy. He's so good! Ray and I talk all the time about how good he is, how sweet he is, and how smart he is. He blows me away with the way he adapts to new situations, the way he learns and grows all the time. I love him so much, and feel so lucky to be able to spend all my time with him. I'm the luckiest mama.

More later, I'm sure. ;)

P.S. If you think about it, say a prayer for us tomorrow afternoon. More on that later, too.

Currently. Mother's Day

Thinking about: Expectations/anticipation vs. Reality. This always gets me. I build things up in my mind, both good and bad, and reality never quite meets my expectations. This weekend, that was a good thing.

On Friday, Emmett and I were restless so we rode our bikes to the local library and museum. We had so much fun running around, riding old police motorcycles and fire trucks and playing with crates of plastic fruit. We came home and I got his lunch ready, but instead of eating he sat in his highchair staring into space and shivering. I snatched him up once I realized something was wrong and he was burning with fever. So awful. 

We juuuust got over a terrible, everlasting case of croup like a week ago, so I was worried it was back and we'd be sick again for another two weeks. The fever reached 103.6 in the evening, so I got in a warm bath with him and pumped him full of tylenol and ibuprofen to bring it down. After a while he started talking and playing again and was able to eat some dinner. The fever lasted all through the night, and then broke around 5:00 a.m.

We took him to the doctor on Saturday, and left with a diagnosis of hand, foot and mouth disease. The doc told me his fever would last at least 5 days and I immediately melted into a puddle of tears and defeat. I thought we'd never make it. After the croup episode, I didn't think I could handle another week of fevers. And it was Mother's Day weekend! 

But you know, it wasn't so bad. His fever hasn't come back, and he's been mostly happy. Every few hours he'll remember that his throat really hurts and it's all I can do to calm him down with popsicles and tylenol, but we spent most of yesterday snuggling, and that's all I ever want to do anyway. :)

Watching: I finished Nashville. What should I watch next???

Listening to: Emmett playing in the bath. He's in a great mood this morning! He keeps telling me he's swimming and he's a whale, then I say "a whale!?" and he says, "no whayal, Emmett hairplane!"

Thankful for: My husband. He helped me make the best of what could have been a really hard day yesterday. He got up with Emmett and I at 5:30 after a rough night, and ran out for breakfast and mimosas at 6:00 a.m. He came home with flowers and made my favorite breakfast, biscuits and gravy. He kept Emmett happy so I could shower (it had been daaaaays). When I wanted to go visit Oliver out of the blue, he made that happen too. 

He stayed home from work this morning so I could work since Emmett can't go to school, and he's currently cleaning out our garage. Bless him!

I married a really good man. He centers me and keeps me sane, and loves me well. Yesterday at the cemetery I watched him holding Emmett's little hand and I was overcome with gratitude. For Ray, for Emmett, for the little family we have together. That it's him I'm going through this life with. 

I hope you had a lovely weekend as well!

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Currently: Easter Weekend

Thankful for: Peace. Confidence in the plan for our lives. The knowing in my heart that things are slowly getting better, falling into place. We've been through a crazy season the last year or so, full of unexpected turns and some heartbreak. A changing and growing season, and I'm thankful for that. But I'm thankful that life seems to be settling. And looking forward to our new normal.

Watching: Nashville! I started the pilot yesterday while Emmett was visiting his grandparents and I'm OBSESSED. I'm not even through the first episode yet but Connie Britton will forever be my favorite (Tami Taylor for life!) so I'm super super into it. Do y'all watch?

8:25 a.m. Waiting impatiently outside Emmett's door for him to wake up!

Our weekend: I woke up Friday morning with the worst sore throat of my life. Three hours later I cried every time I had to swallow and Emmett was looking at me with what resembled fear in his eyes so I left him with his grandmother and headed to urgent care. Apparently I had a sinus infection, which surprised me because I've yet to feel any congestion or sinus pressure, and two ear infections. I had no idea a throat could hurt that bad! Thank God for modern medicine. A few hours after taking my prescriptions, I was alllmost back to normal.

Saturday was one of those perfect days. Emmett woke up and ran straight for the sprinklers outside. I let him run around naked and it was bliss. We went to a friend's house for an impromptu Easter egg hunt. Emmett and the other kids played while we sat on the porch swinging and chatting. While Emmett napped, I snuck away to pick up Easter basket things. I almost never get to run errands by myself, so I was really excited. Target was an insane place the afternoon before Easter, but it was fun anyway. I had this perfect moment driving to Trader Joe's. The weather was beautiful, so I opened the windows and cranked up the radio. Neil Diamond came on (Holly Holy- takes me back to listening to the radio with my dad as a kid! Is anyone else really into Neil Diamond??) and.. I don't know, it was a good moment.

When Emmett woke up we dyed eggs. It was messy and silly and I loved it so much. I love traditions, and I love that Emmett is old enough now to sort of help and join in. I made this granola, and then Ray and I got ready to go out ON A DATE! We took a long bike ride to one of our favorite restaurants, and took our time with dinner and drinks. It was perfect, and a perfect ending to a really great day.

Can you guess who's is whose?

I know it's blurry, but it's RARE to get a picture of Ray smiling. :)

Sunday was more of the same. Family, friends, a warm day, and lots of bunny ears. I feel like I'm bragging- I'm sorry! It was just a great weekend, and we haven't had many of those lately with Ray being so busy with school and working on our condo. Things are good, and I'm happy.

Little booger figured out there was candy in the eggs so he sat down to eat and gave up on hunting!

I hope you had a beautiful weekend, and a wonderful, blessed Easter Sunday!

As always, I'm linking up with the lovely ladies at A Mama Collective to bring you this week's Currently. I hope you'll join us!

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Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! From my family to yours. I hope your Easter has been a blessed one.

Currently. In Georgia!

Reeling from: The weekend. Friday Emmett and I caught a flight from Phoenix to Atlanta. The flight was about as easy as it could have been. After a whole lot of worrying and confusion about our seats (I was worried we'd end up in a middle seat, which is my nightmare), we were blessed with a whole. entire. row. to ourselves! Even the flight attendant was amazed. She came over to me twice just to whisper in my ear how lucky I was and how she almost never sees that happen anymore. It wasn't lost on me. I know what it's like to fly with a baby, stuck between two people who are less-than pleased that they're sitting next to a wiggling baby. I know it was just another one of God's little ways of showing me he's in control.

Whoops, totally forgot it was Friday and grabbed a burger before our flight. :/

This lasted about 5 minutes.

Then it was lots of this, and no naps.

This made up for that though.

Ree-united and it feels so good!

From Atlanta, my parents picked us up and we drove to Columbus, Georgia to spend the weekend with my sister Shea, where she plays soccer at Columbus State University. Today is her birthday (Happy Birthday, Shea!!!), so I'm so glad we got to spend some time with her. We went to her soccer game on Saturday, had a few really good, southern meals together (endless biscuits and gravy?? Music to my ears!), and woke up to pouring rain on Sunday. Glorious.

Watching the air-show going on during Shea's game.

What's that? Rainboots and umbrellas!? Yes please!

Sunday afternoon we drove from Columbus to my hometown of Augusta, about four hours away. Emmett hates being stuck in the car for half an hour, so four hours was really, really rough. We left right at his nap time, so he cried for about half an hour before falling asleep to the sounds of his white noise and Finding Nemo on the iPad. An hour later, he was up again, and he was PISSED. Screamed bloody murder until we finally pulled over for some oatmeal (his favorite) and coffee at a Dunkin' Doughnuts. My dad must have worked some prayer magic because after that, it was mostly smooth sailing for the last two hours. And then, we were home.

Listening to: My parents and brother playing with Emmett in the kitchen. When he's here, he gets cars and toys and endless attention. You want Nemo you say? Nemo it is! Whatever his little heart desires is his. My family loves that boy and they don't get to see him enough, so they spoil him rotten when we're here. I love it. :)

Enjoying: The rain. Real weather! It's not just hot and sunny! Georgia weather is about as unpredictable as weather gets. Rain then sun then cold then hot. Give me cold and rain and a fire in the wood-burning stove please. I'll be under a blanket with a good book while everyone plays with Emmett. 

Looking forward to: The St. Patrick's Day Parade this afternoon, weather permitting. Augusta has a large Irish population, so St. Patty's Day has always been a big deal around here. I'm really excited to be in town for it this year, since I always miss it. My best friend's birthday is today, and I remember the year my sister was born like it was yesterday. The morning of the parade I was so excited to go to the parade, I was doing cartwheels in the hallway. Mid-cartwheel I kicked the door jam so hard I broke my big toe, then waddled around the parade all afternoon anyway. That was before cell phones, so when my mom went into labor my grandmother had to drive around for an hour to find us and bring us all to the hospital. I left with my toe in a cast and a new baby sister. That was an awesome year. 

I'm also looking forward to a relaxing week at home with my family. And all the familiar faces I'll get to see over the week. Moving and work and everything at home has been stressful, so this trip is a much-needed vacation from reality.

I hope you had a lovely weekend! I'm joining up with the lovely ladies from A Mama Collective to bring you this week's Currently. I hope you'll join us!

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If you are interested in co-hosting, please email Jenna at info(at)amamacollective(dot)com to get on the list!

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