Currently.

Hey there and welcome to Currently, where we talk about what we are Currently up to and also let you share your own through the link-up below. We’d love for you to join us and add a link to your own Currently. post! It’s a great way to make new friends and build community.

Thinking about: Our house, finally going on the market last night! Woohooo! I've been trying really hard not to complain, but it has been a rough few weeks. Ray has spent every weekend and even some nights after work over there fixing, cleaning, and perfecting that house (he's amazing), so we miss him and are ready to have him back. I'm looking forward to having our weekends back too. 

I spend a lot of time at home alone with Emmett, so on the weekends, I really need some adult interaction and some fun, preferably outside the house. I'm looking forward to more of that in the coming weeks.

Now, we just have to sell the place. 

This is our friend Paul and I "helping" Ray paint/i.e. taking selfies.

Thankful for: Emmett's sleep habits of late. When he stopped nursing, he started sleeping through the night. Or vice versa. But that wasn't until he was about 17 months, so we spent many a night over the first year and a half wide awake wishing he'd sleep better. Now that he sleeps through the night, I am not taking it for granted. He goes to bed at 7:30 and doesn't wake up until morning. Morning can be anywhere from 5:30 on, but lately, he's sleeping until 8:00. Yes, 8:00! It's incredible. This weekend Ray and I slept in right along with him, and it was glorious. 

Anxious about: Work. I started a new job last week, working from home, so I'm in the midst of figuring out how to make it all work. It feels like a lot- I have three email accounts to juggle, which is a bit of a nightmare for me. I like my email to be really organized (weirdo), so three accounts to manage is stressing me out a bit.

I laughed at myself a few times this weekend when I started to get anxious about juggling two jobs and new responsibility on top of everything else going on. When I worked full time, my job was incredibly stressful and I managed it just fine, on top of being a mom and wife and everything else. So it's funny to me now that two part time jobs is stressing me out. And I feel silly for being anxious because HELLO! I'm living my dream! I'm staying home with my boy full time, and these two jobs are making that possible. But still, it's new and I'm figuring it out and so for now, it's stressful.

Also, I feel like I've signed away my nap times and evenings and even free time on the weekends. Working from home, you don't get to just leave work behind. It's always there, and this new job is the sort of thing that I can do as much or as little of as I want. Which means I will always feel like when I'm sitting down to watch TV or going to bed early, I should really be working. I guess I just need to set some boundaries, schedule time to work each day, and allow myself free time the rest of the time. I'll figure it out. Any of you mamas who work from home have advice for me?

Looking forward to: Swimming! We took Emmett swimming for the first time this year yesterday. Ray's parents have a pool so we can pop over whenever we want. I'm so excited to get him in the water and teach him how to swim on his own. He's an adventurous little thing, but he also loves holding on to his mama, so I hope I can get him feeling comfortable enough to want to swim on his own. So fun!

I hope you had a lovely weekend as well! As always, I am joining with A Mama Collective to bring you this week's installment of Currently.

Thinking about:

Reading:

Listening to:

Watching:

Thankful for:

Wishing: (goals for the week)

Link back to this site so others can join with us, too! You can use the button below if you'd like:

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

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday Thoughts

When I wrote this post the other day, I was a little bit worried that I might rub people the wrong way. That was absolutely not my intention, but this is such a difficult topic. We moms are a fragile bunch in some ways. We all suffer from mom guilt, and it's so easy to compare our decisions to those of other mamas. So when I talk about how working from home has been a huge blessing for me, and how it's helped me to achieve my goal of being home with Emmett full time, I don't meant to imply in any way that my decision is the only good one.

The way I see it, every single mama is different. Every single family is different. What works for me may not work for you, and that's fine! What I want for my life and my family may not be what you want for yours. And that's great! I have friends who work full time, some who work part time, and others who don't work at all. Each one has her struggles, and each one has her joys.

I have friends who are struggling with their work/life/mom balance right now, and I should have been sensitive to that when writing that post. I am incredibly blessed in my life right now, but it hasn't always been that way. I have struggled, and felt lost and unsure and like I was making all the wrong choices. I am lucky to be on the other side of that now, and I'm praying for those friends who are struggling to find what works for them.

Emmett was so sick yesterday. I've always dreaded the day he had his first stomach bug, and it was just as bad as I'd imagined! He was so panicky every time he would throw up and my heart would just break watching him so sad and confused. He got better little by little throughout the day though and is much better today, thank God!

My little sister's roommate's father was struck by a car today as he took his daily walk with his wife. He was killed on impact and his wife is in critical condition. My heart is breaking for that family, for my sister's dear friend. I can't imagine the pain she must be feeling, and I hate that my sister is having to experience the agony of loss along with her friend at such a young age. What a cruel, awful tragedy.

My own dad is such an important part of my life. I miss him every single day, and can't imagine what life would be like without him. I honestly can't imagine it. I'm hugging my family tight today and praying constantly for those who are missing loved ones. Especially the ones who's wounds are so fresh.

We have lots of out-of-town friends in for a wedding this weekend, so we can't wait to start celebrating with them! I hope you all have a happy, safe and joy-filled weekend!

P.S. If you're looking for the perfect weekend breakfast tomorrow, try this! ;)

What a Difference a Year Can Make

Our second installment of the month-long "Love in Motherhood" series is today! Read along, check out the hosts, and link-up if you'd like. We'd love to see how love rewrote your story.

What a difference a year can make. 

This time last year I was heading into what seems like the hardest summer of my life. Emmett was seven months old, and I missed him. I was working full time, and hating it so, so much. I cried each and every morning as I headed off to work, leaving Emmett with my sister. She was wonderful and took great care of him, but I wanted it to be me spending days with my tiny little angel baby. What a difference a year can make.

I thought I would work full time forever. We were struggling financially as it was, so we couldn't imagine a way for me to stay home, even part time. I complained and cried and made my poor husband as miserable as I was. It was awful. 

My dad was so encouraging. When I said I just couldn't make it another day like this, he reminded me that I could, and I was. I was making it through each day, and I was okay. He told me to thank God for the life I was leading. To thank Him for the job that I had, the job that I hated. He told me to praise God and to learn to love my circumstances. And to ask God to change them. So that's what I did.

I stopped complaining. I stopped crying (at least in front of people), and I started finding the positive in my days. My sister brought Emmett to see me on my longest days and that helped. I prayed, and thanked God for the things I had and the gifts I'd been given, and He slowly began to change my heart. I pushed through the awful summer, and in July we found out we were pregnant.

All of the frustration and anxiety and helplessness came back like a wave crashing over me. How in the world would I continue to work full time with two kids? I knew God didn't make me a mother twice just so I could leave my babies with someone else all day. I knew this couldn't be the way life was supposed to be for us. I called my dad in tears, and he talked me through it. He gave me sound advice like he always does and he told me to buck up. We would be okay. He reminded me to thank God for the life I'm living, and to ask Him to change my circumstances. So that's what I did.

A few weeks later, I miscarried. In the midst of that pain, my hours were cut in half at work, and we couldn't believe this was happening to us. Thank God for my husband. He jumped into action, and came up with a plan. We cut down all of our bills. We moved in with Ray's parents in November so that we could sell our house. We're still working on that, but it's all falling into place. We hardly spent any money on Christmas gifts and somehow, we were okay. We had enough to pay our bills each month, by the grace of God.

We flew to Georgia to visit my family for Thanksgiving, and while we were there a dear friend of mine mentioned a job she thought I'd be perfect for. It was writing, which I love, and it was freelance, so I could do it from home. It seemed too good to be true, so I jumped at the opportunity and got the job. I started in December and it has been the most wonderful blessing for our family.

In January, one of our babysitters had to quit. We knew that meant it was time for me to quit my now part-time job and stay home with Emmett. I would take on more freelance work, and we would hope for the best. I was terrified at first. You know what that's like - you have a dream that you never imagine will come true. You think about it night and day and then when it finally happens, you're afraid. Because what if it's nothing like you imagined? I worried about what I would do with my time, and wondered if I'd get bored and frustrated with Emmett. I was anxious about finding time for my work and worried that I'd get too caught up in it to be present to Emmett.

Then I realized that none of that mattered. I was being given an incredible gift. All I ever wanted, from the time I was a little girl, was to be a mama. Nothing else matters. So I stopped being afraid and started getting excited.

Now I work from home while Emmett naps and a couple of mornings a week while he's at preschool. I really enjoy the work and it's been enough to provide what our family needs. It's been wonderful. I keep busy by baking and cooking and finally getting all the laundry done. I spend hours reading to Emmett and singing with him and teaching him things. We babysit one of Emmett's friends on Thursdays and we love that too.

I asked God to change our circumstances, and He did. Not in the way I expected, not in the way I would have chosen, but He knew I needed a push and He gave me one. If my hours hadn't been cut when they were, I would still be working full time. He opened the door for this new job for me and I am so thankful for that. We made sacrifices, we still are, but I wouldn't change a thing. I don't want money as much as I want time with Emmett. To see him learning and growing and turning into a little boy each day. That's what's important. 

I know staying home isn't for everyone. It's not easy. There are days when I'm bored to tears while Emmett takes his nap. Days when I fail at so many things. Days when we get nothing done and make endless messes. That's okay. This is just where I want to be.

What a difference a year can make.

THE HOSTESSES:

1. Anna Kate of Home Away from Home
2. Jen of Defining My Happy
3. Jess of Sadie Sky Boutique
4. Jenna & Mary of A Mama Collective

HOW IT WORKS: First, head to each of the hostess’ sites to check out their posts!

Then, write your own post about Love in Motherhood. We want you to tell how love rewrote your story!

You will then link up on any ONE of the hostess’ sites. Our links will be interlinked which means that your post will be displayed on all of our sites!

We will have a new post go live every single Tuesday for four weeks to continue to spread the love in motherhood story. You are welcome to link up with us every. single. time. Or just once. You choose!

Please share on instagram with the hashtag #loveinmotherhood so we can support each other. We can't wait to see what you all have to say about the journey of love in motherhood for you.

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Tips For Work-From-Home Moms!



Disclaimer: I am not an expert. My limited experience with working from home includes my "maternity leave," when I worked pretty much full time from home for six weeks, and then for a few months after that I worked from home one day a week. I've been doing some freelance work from home during Emmett's naps and in the evenings the last few weeks, but I've recently quit my part-time job and will be taking on more freelance work starting next week. I am writing this post mostly for myself, as away to focus my thoughts and as a guide to look back on when I start to feel the "balance" slipping. 

1. Make the most of your "work time."

For me, this means doing my best to be ready, focused and efficient when it's time to work.
Practical tips:

• Be prepared. For me, this means spending a few minutes each night after Emmett goes to bed preparing for the next day.
• Tune out outside noise/housework/tv/etc when you're working.
• Knock out the most important work first thing, so that if/when you are interrupted, the key tasks have already been finished.

I've been able to get all of my freelance work done during Emmett's naptimes and in the evenings so far, but I am planning to take on more work in the coming weeks. In order to get it all done, I am going to have to learn to use naptimes wisely. I have to work really hard to have all of my work planned out and ready to go when Emmett goes down each day, so that I can jump right in and get to work.
A friend who works from home told me recently that she settles in with her work while her son sleeps, and then he inevitably wakes up just as she's getting into the groove. In order to avoid that, I need to work on knocking out as much work as I can right away each day so that when Emmett wakes up, I'm ready to put the work away and tend to him. Which leads me to the next tip:

2. Push work out of your mind when it's "mom time."

Practical tips:

• Put away your work. For me, this means before I pick Emmett up from his nap.
• Don't let work emails and issues that come up distract you from what's important- for me, this is time with Emmett.
• Leave work things in a dedicated work space so that they don't show up in your sight-line all day to distract you.

This one is hard for me. I am learning how to let everything else go and just focus on Emmett when I'm with him. To really be present to him. This is tough for work-from-home moms because unless we create it, there isn't much separation between our work life and our home life. So, I need to figure out ways to keep my work separate, and to push it out of my mind until it's time to work again. Of course there will be times when I need to answer a quick email or prepare for an assignment while Emmett plays, but those times when he needs me, I hope to be totally focused on him.

3. Have an organized, dedicated work space, and make it a place that you love.

Practical tips:

• Set up a desk that's just for work.
• Organize the area from the start, and work each day to keep it organized.
• Put up photos or prints that inspire you.
• Get a few pretty accessories that you love to make the space fun and enjoyable.

This will help to create a little separation between work and the rest of your life. I often work from my bed while Emmett naps, which is nice, but I find myself winding down and getting sleepy just before Emmett wakes up. I'm hoping to set up a desk, and to make it a special place, just for work. I have my eye on a few cute desk accessories (I'm dreaming of things like this, and this, and this!, but Target has lots of cute accessories too), and plan to put up photos and prints of things that inspire me. At my job, I didn't have much freedom when it came to decorating my desk, so I'm looking forward to making my new work space a place that I love and enjoy.

4. Make time for fun!

Practical Tips:

• Set up outings each week, and allow time for spontaneous walks or playtime outdoors.
• Set up play dates each week (at least one!)
• Keep a list of fun outings you want to do, and cross them off your list one by one.

One of the nice things about my freelance job, and working from home in general, is having the freedom to leave your work when you choose and to have a little fun during the workday. I will have Emmett with me most of the time (we plan to keep him in preschool/daycare a couple of mornings a week), so I want to have planned outings each week. I want to take spontaneous walks around the neighborhood (his favorite) for a little change of pace and to call up friends for play dates. There are things I've always wanted to do, like take Emmett to the aquarium or the zoo, that I hope to finally cross off our outings list.

 

5. Go easy on yourself!

Practical tips:

• Remember, some days just won't go the way you want them to. Be okay with that.
• On those days, instead of fighting to keep working, let go of work when necessary, and go back to it when things calm down.
• Ask for help when you need it!

This is probably the most important tip, and the hardest one to follow! No matter what you do, there will be days when you feel like you're failing as a mom, and at your work. There will be days where there just is no such thing as balance, where your children need you and you can't get any work done. On days like this, just go easy on yourself.
I find myself fighting, trying to type just one more email while Emmett fusses and pulls on my legs. I need to remember to just let that stuff go, give in to the flow of the day, and let myself just be with Emmett. It's hard not to get stressed or anxious when there are things that need doing and you just can't get to them, but fighting to keep working just leaves me frustrated with myself and feeling like I'm not doing anything right. On days like this, it's important to go easy on yourself, ask for help if you can, or put work away until things calm down.

These are just a few little tips that I want to work into my own work-from-home life, but I'm sure there are so many more. I'd love to hear yours!

I Quit My Job Today: A Ramble

I am officially, well, in two weeks, a stay-at-home-mom. Ahhhhhhh!

I put in my two weeks this morning! This is my wildest dream come true. Since before I had Emmett, I knew I wanted to stay home with him, but we just couldn't afford it. We have a mortgage, and bills, and blah blah blah. It just wasn't doable. Until now!

We're sort of being forced into it, because we're losing our free and wonderful Thursday babysitter. Emmett goes to preschool three mornings a week while I work, and then I work a full day Thursday. Without that free full day of childcare, it just doesn't make sense for me to work, because we just can't afford to pay someone for another full day. So, we decided it was time for me to quit.

I have a second job doing freelance writing that I've been doing for about a month from home, and I really love it. So far it's going really well, and I've been able to get a lot done during Emmett's naps and in the evenings. It is a lot to juggle, but I like the work so it's been great.

So now, I'm a stay-at-home-mom. It's all I've ever wanted, but now that it's actually happening? I'm kind of terrified. Will I be good at it? Will I go crazy being home alone with a baby all day, every day? Will I lose my mind? I really like working part time. I like having to get up and get dressed in the morning. I like feeling like I'm contributing to our finances and feeling productive. On Fridays when I'm home with Emmett, we stay in our pj's and take the day really slowly. But that can't be the norm! Right?

I've been a ball of anxiety the last week thinking about all of the change that's coming in our lives. Quitting my job, something I've wanted to do for so long, is a huge step. We're also working really hard to get our house ready to go on the market, and we're hoping it sells quickly. We're living with my in-laws now, and we're hoping to rent a place sometime in the next few months if our house sells. We're trying to decide if we should keep Emmett in his little preschool a couple of mornings a week so that I can work, or if we should take him out to save money. If we do that, it will be a struggle for me to keep working during naptimes and evenings. But, we could really use a little extra money in the bank.

So, lots going on. Lots to be anxious about. Deep down, I know it will all work out, and there's nothing to worry about, but change is scary, especially when it comes in a deluge like it seems to be now. I'm feeling really relieved now that I've spoken to my boss and the ball is officially rolling. I'm actually ecstatic. So excited. A lot of the anxiety melted away and I can't wait to go spend some extra time with my little.

I hope I'll be a better mama to him now that I can be home and more focused on him. I hope I can learn to be content at home, just the two of us. I hope I can learn to let go of the work that needs to be done and just be present to Emmett while I'm with him. I know this will be a time of growing and learning and stretching myself, which is always a good thing. I'm ready for this, and can't wait to get started!

Seeing more of this sweet face can never be a bad thing!

Happy Days

Things have been pretty bleak on the blog this Summer, but life is good and happy and free these days so I want to share a little bit about that with y'all today.

First of all, the weather in AZ has started to cool. Don't go crazy, it's still in the 90's during the day but the low 90's is so so so much better than anything over 100, so I'm ecstatic. Like, really happy. We've eaten dinner outside a few times the last few days and in the afternoons I can let Emmett outside to play on the patio while I do dishes or sweep the floors. Oh my gosh he loves to be outside! It's such a relief to finally be able to let him play outside. He comes in and out through the doggy door, which he thinks is hilarious and I think is pretty strange and maybe awful now that I'm telling you about it. But that way I don't have to lose our precious AC and can keep the flies out, but he's free to come and go as he pleases.

It's win-win, since I can actually get things done, and he's happy and tantrum free. Oh glorious weather! It won't actually feel like Fall here until after Halloween, but any drop in degrees makes me a happy happy camper.

Our new schedule is wonderful so far. I can't tell you how much I love spending my afternoons at home with Emmett. I leave work at noon, pick Emmett up from "school", and we eat a quick lunch together. Then we cuddle before his nap. While he sleeps I read or clean or nap, and then we cuddle again while he wakes up. All this cuddling is just what we both need. It warms my heart and I can tell he's more peaceful and secure after spending that time together. This is what I've been missing the last year!

Things are so much more peaceful now. I am able to be truly present to him, for hours each day. I feel peaceful. Like I'm finally right where I'm supposed to be. It feels so good to give so much more of myself to my baby boy. This is the motherhood I've been missing, craving, needing. I am so grateful.

Things have been hard lately, really hard. But it's starting to turn around. I can already feel the positives that have come from the tough things our little family has had to endure. We're stronger, closer, more in love than we were. We know now that no matter what this life throws at us, we'll get through it together and come out okay. I appreciate my husband and my little Emmett more than ever, and feel so so blessed to have them.

So things are good. Beautiful, peaceful, sunny and warm (not hot). I am blessed, and so happy.

P.S. I'm trying these out for a little snack before dinner tonight. I'll let you know how they turn out!

Working Mom Gets Her Wish

Linking up with Corinna, keeping it real as real gets.

I've complained enough about work on this blog for ya'll to know that I've struggled a lot with work this Summer. This year, really. I struggle every day with leaving Emmett at home with someone else for most of his day, and most days it's been really hard.

Ray and I have talked and talked about what to do, if anything. We needed my income, so I had to work, but I've been desperate for some other way to make it work. Some way to be able to spend more time with Emmett while still helping to provide for my family. We thought and prayed and struggled through each day, but no solution presented itself.

Then a couple of weeks ago I started spotting, and thought I was losing my baby. I called in to work and let my boss know, and he told me to take a few days off to rest, they would all pitch in and take care of my work for me. I took three days off, and then headed to Georgia for Labor Day weekend. When I came back to work last week, my boss called me in to a meeting to tell me they were cutting my hours back from 40+ to 20 hours a week. They said they needed to save money, and I guess they realized while I was gone that they could survive without me. After the shock wore off, I found myself feeling totally relieved. I felt the stress and pressure I'd been dealing with all Summer just lift off my shoulders, and I relaxed, for the first time in months. This was an answer to prayer.

I told Ray and he and his family jumped in to action. They looked at our house and the comps in the neighborhood and realized that we can sell it, after years of being under water, for what my husband paid for it. My in-laws offered to let us move in with them to save money until we decide what to do next. Not ideal, but definitely do-able for a time. We felt peaceful by the end of the day, and I still felt relieved.

Things still seem to be pretty weird at work and there is a lot to work out, but I hope in the end this all ends up being a blessing in disguise. Already I've loved spending my afternoons at home with Emmett, and I've been able to rest and take care of myself while we try to figure out if baby number 2 is going to be okay.

I've been going to the doctor for blood work every couple of days, and so far my HCG levels continue to rise, so little baby seems to be doing okay. We have an ultrasound on Friday, and I'm desperately looking forward to seeing that tiny little heartbeat. My spotting turned to full-on bleeding over the weekend so it's been hard not to panic and worry and stress, but I feel peaceful too. I have faith that God gave me this little baby for a reason, and I know He's taking care of us.

The thing is, as I sit here tonight, very obviously coming down with a cold, pregnant and bleeding and half as employed as I was last week, I feel peace. I should feel discouraged, under attack, and anxious. There is fear, and worry, and hurt and so much still to be determined, but mostly there is peace.

I know everything will turn out as it's supposed to, and I know I would do anything for my family, and for this little tiny baby struggling to grow inside me. I am a wife, and a mother, and that's all I ever wanted to be.

Keepin' It Real: Bad Blogger

Linking up with Corinna over at Track 8!

I've been MIA on the blog the last few weeks y'all. I haven't felt like I've had much to say, so rather than whine or complain or just babble on about nothing, I've been sitting back and just.. not saying anything. I love this blog, and I love to write about our lives at the end of every day, but this month has been tough and I just haven't had it in me.

Work (I know, blah blah blah about her work again..) has been at the peak of the craziness the last two weeks and I think (knocking on wood) it's finally starting to quiet down. I've been so tired after each day at work that I clinb into my pajamas right when I get home and then climb into bed right after Emmett goes down. At like 7:30 most nights.

Part of that is sheer exhaustion but another part is I'm addicted to a book series! I'm sliiiiiiightly (but more than slightly) obsessed with Sherlock Holmes. The books- Amazing! The tv shows- all of them Amazing. The movies- SO AMAZING! Top two movies of all time status. Just before Robin Hood and then all the Twilights and don't even roll your eyes you know it's true.

I can't reread all of the Sherlock Holmes stories again because my husband won't let me, so I've been on the lookout for a similar series. Something British, centered around a detective, with lots of interesting who (or what!)-done-its. I've hit the jack pot ya'll, with the Inspector Rebus novels by Scottish Writer Ian Rankin. Oh man, am I hooked! I've been dying to jump into bed each night with my iPhone to read and read and read until I pass out. Some of the earlier novels aren't available on Kindle so I haven't read all of them, but so far, so so good.

I know this isn't an interesting post but this is my life right now. Work, my family, and Inspector Rebus. Ain't life grand?

Keepin' It Real: Working Late

Linking up with Corinna over at Track 8 for another installment of Keepin' It Real Mondays!

I had to work late today. Things are crazy at work and it was 5:40 before I finished answering emails for the day. That left me about an hour with Emmett before putting him to bed tonight.

Ray is working early and late this week, which means he gets maybe 15 minutes with Emmett in the mornings and he'll be asleep before Ray even comes hom in the evenings. I can't imagine what it would be like if long(er) hours were the norm for us.

Some days the hard/crazy/chaotic part of parenting isn't parenting at all. It's everything else. Oh, to be JUST a parent! To have no worries or cares or struggles except for making sure I'm the best parent I can be to my baby boy.

Keepin' It Real Y'all

Linkin up with Track 8! Have y'all entered Corinna's Freshly Picked giveaway yet??

Today was a long and exhausting and rough day for all of us. By the time we got home from work, no one wanted to cook, so we threw in the towel and went out for burgers. We try really hard to make sure Emmett eats well balanced, healthy meals, but tonight, we just didn't have it in us. He shared our burgers, fries, and even some ranch dressing.

Part of me was mortified. All I could think is What must all these people think of us! Any second someone is going to walk up to our table and call us out. "How old is that baby!", I kept hearing them say in my head. "French fries?! Are you kidding!?" Instead everyone in the tables around us just oohed and aahed and chatted with him while he played with his food. The rest of me was just relieved to be sitting down to a meal as a family that we didn't have to work for. We'll give him an extra helping of veggies tomorrow!

Some days we just do what we can to survive, and we pat ourselves on the back for getting through the day.

Happy Friday!

I was ready early this morning, so Emmett and I spent half an hour outside before I went to work. What a fun way to start my Friday! The weather was cool, or at least it wasn't super hot, so we walked and walked and walked around the neighborhood. Emmett is happiest just walking around outside, and I'm happiest watching him be happy. I'm thinking about waking up early every day now!

Anyway it was a really nice morning and not a terrible day, and now it's the weekend so woohoo! I hope ya'll have a great weekend!! 

Life Is Good!

Things are good right now y'all. 

Not perfect, never perfect, but good. Work is slowing down, and I see an end to the busy season in sight. Yesterday we got some rain and the temperature never hit 90. We had dinner outside for the first time all Summer. Such a treat! And Emmett, oh Emmett. He's at a really great age right now. 

The last couple of weeks he's really changed and grown up. All of a sudden there's a little boy walking around our house, talking and laughing and interacting with us. He's a little human with a little (big) personality, and we're loving it so much. He seems bigger and taller this week too! It's crazy how that happens every couple of months.

Some new things he's doing lately:

• Reading. Devouring books, all day every day!
• Animal sounds. Cows, dogs, cats, ducks, and more and more dogs. Our house sounds like a zoo!
• Walking better and faster and steadier each day.
• Talking! He says mama and daddy and up, and making so many noises, having conversations with himself and with us. He's able to tell us what he wants and needs now.
• Reaching for me when I come in the door. He runs to me and reaches his little arms toward me. It's awesome!
• Sleeping through the night! Okay, it only happened twice, and he's been waking up at 5 every day, but he's never slept straight through before so I'll take it!

Every night Ray and I go on and on about how much we love that little boy and how great he is. We're smitten and so proud of him. 

So anyway I'm feeling good and life is good and it's nice to feel this way. It's been a long tough Summer but things are peaceful and joyful and sweet and I'm content. 

Keepin' It Real: Workin' Too Much

Linking up with Corinna over at Track 8 for this week's installment of Keepin' It Real Mondays!

I saw my baby for a total of 45 minutes today. NOT. ENOUGH. 

Working is the worst sometimes. Today I was stuck at work for an extra hour and a half- the hour and a half that I normally spend with Emmett before he goes to bed. It was a hard, sad day for both of us. 

I love that little boy so much. I just have to remind myself that I do it all for him. I work so that I can provide for him. I'm reminding myself now but it's not really helping. He's growing up, changing, and learning new things every day, and I'm missing it. Some days that's a really hard pill to swallow. 

That's real life for me today y'all. I promise a more upbeat post later in the week!