3 Years...A Lifetime of Change

Well...once again, I hang my head in shame. I have decided that after 3 years of this blog sitting idle that I will attempt to resurrect it. I know I have previously had like 5 followers (because I'm unreliable when it comes to adding content to this beauty, or maybe I am just really that boring), but I really do plan on keeping up with this. (At least more than one post every 3 years.) So with that elephant out of the room let me begin by saying "holy cow", what a 3 years it's been. In particular the last year and half. It is my privilege to give you a running list of what has happened in our lives...drum roll please...

Rykken has celebrated his 3rd, 4th and 5th birthday...

Rykken started Pre-K this past August and talks about starting Kindergarten almost every day...

Rykken is growing like a weed, speaking like he is 45, so charismatic, loves football, is taking hip hop lessons, has played tee ball for the last 3 years and will begin coach pitch in March...

We have added a new family member in the form of a 7lb, brown Chorkie named Lucy. She is a mess and yes, in case you are wondering she is half Chihuahua and half Yorkie. Recipe for sass, destruction and the cutest face you will ever see. She brings our zoo to a total of 3 beloved animals. Our Border Collie Emmy who just turned 8, and our hermit crab round out that number. We also had a fish for a over a year that we lost over Christmas. RIP Puss and Boots...

I married my man this past July...

We found out in October that we are expecting a little baby Bean on our first wedding anniversary (July 6), but Bean will be here on June 30 if all goes by the plan! (No pictures of Bean yet, because the last picture we have was taken at 9 weeks and literally looks like a bean with a head on it...)

So to say the least, things have taken a 180 degree turn since 2010. We are now a family of 3, soon to be 4 and I think everyone is adjusting well. Husband is adjusting to my nagging and son is adjusting to having a male figure around. No one is adjusting to having the new dog who is over a year old still pooping on the kitchen floor.

We are also preparing for a quickly approaching deployment that will interfere with the last part of my pregnancy and the birth of our Bean, but we are keeping our heads held high and know that hopefully the deployment will pass quickly and we will be back to being a family before we realize that I got really fat and birthed another watermelon.

The last impending occasion that is on our horizon is that I will be turning 30 tomorrow. Dum, dum, dum...I'm ready. Bring it. "30, flirty and thriving". I just wish I looked like Jennifer Garner right now instead of a tired, haggard, belly sportin', momma. All in good time my friends...all in good time.

My Season of Thanks

Unbelievably...it's that time again. The time of year when you get to go home and spend time with family and friends and spend massive amounts of money on food, traveling, and toys. Not to mention the years you take off of your life while eating all the rich, delectable holiday food and treats. I for one...have my Christmas tree already set up and the stockings hung with care even though we are still a couple of days out from Thanksgiving. I just can't stand it! I get too excited to wait! I love the way the tree makes my house feel.

As excited as I get about making sure Rykken has a wonderful holiday season sometimes I tend to get stressed and overloaded with making sure I am keeping up with the Jones' when it comes to my celebration. This year I have decided to make a few changes and stop trying to grasp for what I feel Rykken wants, what we have to do and have, and focus more on what we can do and what other people need instead of us. Truth be told...Rykken and I need NOTHING. Did I mention Rykken has two....yes two rooms full of toys. So...if Santa doesn't bring him as many goodies as usual...he will not notice. That being said, I want to use this post to give a shout out of what I have to be thankful for and not focus so much on what I am wishing for with the holidays upon us.

I am most thankful that I have been able to rekindle my spiritual journey and relationship with Christ these past couple of years. God has continued to show his mercy on me
and my child and I will forever rejoice in him.

I am thankful that I have a healthy beautiful child. A child full of love and compassion. He has a purpose and a soul bigger than I could have ever imagined and I know he is destined for great things. I don't know how I was picked to be his mom, but I only hope I can be the person he needs me to be. I am beyond blessed that I get to wake up to that smiling face everyday.

I am thankful that I have a job that nurtures my faith daily and assures me that I am working towards a purpose greater than myself. ACU is in the business of changing lives and I am blessed to be a part of this community.

I am thankful that I have a family that loves Rykken as much as I do. He is a lucky little boy to have such a large extended family who spoil and love on him all the time. They have exceeded my expectations as grandparents, uncles and aunts, and I am so thankful to have them in our lives supporting us every step of the way.

I am thankful that I have been able to connect with a group of women from church. I have been attending The Journey UMC since June of 2008 and have recently been lucky enough to fall in with a group of young mothers with similar backgrounds as mine. We had no idea what we all had in common until the 2nd or 3rd week of us getting together. Our small group was truly formed by the Lord, we couldn't have planned it any better.We meet once a week and it is usually the highlight of my week. I am so blessed to have an outlet to talk about the trials of parenthood while studying and worshiping.

I am thankful that I have enough to be able to give to others. I wish I could do something for every hurting person, but I am beginning to realize that encouraging words, prayers, and even just a hug will give someone just what they need even if it is not a material object. Abilene has so many amazing ministry's...Noah Project, Love & Care Ministries, and Alliance for Women and Children just to name a few.

Most of all...I am just thankful to be here, to see my baby grow another day, to get to experience another breath and another sunrise. To know that we are taken care of and to pray for those that are not. So if Santa decides to skip our house this year, that's okay, that just means there was someone who needs that visit and encouragement a little bit more,
and we will rejoice with them and for them.

Stage Mom...

Take 1

Take 3

My Favorite Pictures from San Diego...