New Beginnings

Sorry from the lack of posts. Summer is dwindling down, and my days are spent chasing my favorite one year old everywhere. A week from tomorrow I go back to work...full time. 

When Brooks and I decided to buy a bigger house, we knew deep down that this was going to be a possibility. Bigger House=Bigger Mortgage. And while we could have swung it with me still part-time, I wasn't a fan of living paycheck to paycheck. This has definitely been a hard decision. I know a lot of moms would think I am crazy for trading extra time with my child for a bigger house. But until you have lived in a two-bedroom townhome with a baby-toddler, a dog and no yard, while your poor in-laws keep your other dog- don't judge. 

Yes, it pains me when I hear of morning music classes and play dates. I hate thinking that I won't be the one to cuddle with him after his naps or our constant hugs. To make matters worse, one of my best friends (who happened to teach with me), has decided to be a stay-at-home mom. In the past two years, all four of my teacher/mom friends have left!

But, I refuse to let this get me down! Even though these are tough things, here are all the things I am grateful for:

• A wonderful principal- He worked hard to find me a part-time position. Then, when I told him I needed full-time, he put me in the grade level I love (fifth), teaching the subject I love (math.) He has been so encouraging and every time I talk to him, I actually get excited about returning full-time.
• My team- I love fifth grade! Seriously. I have worked with every grade, and it is my favorite. Not to mention one of my good friends, Lisa, is Grade Level Chair! 
• My profession- I am fully aware that teacher hours aren't always 7-3. In fact, that is the rarity. And that summer has been cut from three to two months. But after seeing my sister go through 12+ hour work-days five days a week, I will take it. I still think teaching is the best profession.
• Woody's Caretaker- Seriously, love her. She loves Woody so much and takes wonderful care of him. Bonus, she lives super close to my school. I know he is happy there. Oh, and she cuts his nails for me. (Hate doing that.)
• Showers- You know what I am talking about. It is HARD to get in a shower with a baby-toddler! Woody is sometimes on his third (precious) outfit of the day, while I am still in my pajamas. I am glad I have an excuse to shower, put on make-up, and pick out an outfit. (Superficial? Maybe.)
• My Mission Field- I realized this last year. Our church was doing 30 days of service, and I was thinking, "I have a child! I don't have time to volunteer!" It hit me that I work in a service field. My school has the poorest population in the county. (And it is a big county.) These children need an education, but more importantly, they need so much love and support. (Funny how having my own child made this clear to me.) God is constantly working in me to have more patience and to see these students as His children. I know He has big plans for me this year.

Thanks for reading my long soap-box. Now some Woody pictures!

My mom brought Woody this plastic Cars chair, and Woody is obsessed with it. He drags it all over the house and just sits in it.

In the kitchen

In the Dining Room (excuse the mess)

Back in the kitchen

In the family room

His BFF Burke (Jessica's son) came over Monday morning. We are working on hugs.

The only time he wants to sit in my lap is when he gets up from  nap. This is the closest we come to cuddling, but it counts in my book.

Oh just the cutest video ever.

Happy Birthday Woody!

Dear Woody,

Yesterday, you turned one! I cannot believe that you have been a part of our family for a year. The time has flown by, but it is hard to imagine life before you.

The day Momma and Daddy found out that you would be a part of their family, we were a little nervous, but knew God had big things in store for our family. Before you were born, I was worried of how our lives would change. And on July 14, 2012, our lives did change... for the better.

You are the sweetest, funniest, happiest little boy. (Well, not always happy from the hours of around midnight to 3:30 am.) You are an explorer and never content. Even though it is exhausting, I love that you are  always trying to find the bigger and better. You bring the biggest smile to anyone you meet. I hope you always use your personality to bring joy to others and show God's love. 

You made me a momma. I never could imagine how much I would love that job, but I believe I love it so much because I get to be YOUR momma. Happy Birthday Woody Man! I'll eat you up I love you so!

Pictures from the weekend

Practicing on your new bike from Mimi and Papa

After church

Daddy and I gave you a cupcake last night with dinner. You loved it! (And thank you for not complaining about the mounds of boxes behind you.)

Our Fifth

Sorry for the long blogging delay, but we are in our new home! And we got internet last night (at a quarter til 8!)

Not only was yesterday a big day because of the installation of cable and internet, but the Hubs and I celebrated five years of marriage! It was a bit of a crazy day- he flew home from Houston after being gone for a week, and I fell asleep at 8:30 due to exhaustion of Woody waking up at midnight and 3:00 am for the past three nights. Romantic I know.

But what is romantic? Husband surprised me on him drive home from the airport with a love seat I told him that I was desperately in love with at a flea market. If that's, not love, I don't know what is.

All joking aside, I am the luckiest girl to have had the pleasure of being married to Brooks for five years. I love to look back on our wedding day and thank the Heavens Pinterest wasn't around think about how excited I was to start my life with Brooks. I was all of 21, and made (oh and am still making) some dumb decisions, but I was smart enough to not care too much about the wedding- just wanted to start a marriage with my best friend.

Marriage isn't always easy. I think everyone knows that, but the wonderfully, awesome thing about Brooks is that he makes the hard times easier and can make me smile through the bad. And so in the end, the happier times out-way the not-so-happy times 100 to one. Blessed. Oh, and our marriage was even more blessed with the addition of this guy, two days after our anniversary last year.

So Happy Five Years Brooks! And to five hundred more!