On the third day of Christmas

This is a different season for us.

 

As I have shared here before, we felt the Lord calling us back to Tuscaloosa for Baker to attend Rise, a preschool serving children with and without disabilities. You can read about this incredible journey here and here.

 

Everything fell into place so perfectly.

There was no one, no thing we could attribute it to other than the hands of our Father.

 

We left jobs, sold our home, secured Baker a spot at this coveted school, said our "I'll see you laters," and made the short journey back east to Tuscaloosa.

 

When we arrived, we moved in with my parents.
There really wasn't time to find a house, so they opened their home to us.

 

We are still searching diligently for our home.

There have been some heartaches along the way, some closed doors,

and some very clear commands to wait.

So we have.

 

And in the waiting, we are rejoicing.

 

If you are also in the season of wait, whether you, like us, are waiting on a home, or a child, or a job, or a healing, or a spouse, or an answer to another prayer, I encourage you to be strong and courageous.

Pray expectantly for an answer.

Rejoice in the season.

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

 Psalms 27:14

 

Maybe this season of waiting isn't so bad after all.

Sometimes in the waiting, we experience other blessings that only come during that season.

 

Savoring Spring Break

We are savoring our last few blissful hours of Spring Break.

I'm bummed that it's almost over, but am enjoying reflecting on a wonderful week with my little family.

I captured these few pictures of my little ham on Friday afternoon.

If I didn't tell you, you would never know that it was meltdown central at our house.

Literally. 

Melt. Down. Cen. Tral. 

In these pictures, Baker is looking at a spoon.

A spoon, for crying out loud.

He has never been uber attached to a toy. 

He doesn't even take a pacifier. 

But there was no parting with this beloved spoon.

By Friday afternoon, there were spoons stashed in all corners of the house.

Just in case.

When the spoon was in hand, he was a happy camper.

When he dropped the spoon, or lost the spoon...RUN FOR COVER! 

 

Seriously.

A spoon.

Still a spoon.

Our dear parents are the sweetest.

Mine practically begged to keep my little one overnight Friday and 

Brian's parents offered Marriott points, so we skipped town for a mini vacay. 

It was fabulous!

I still have the hardest time leaving Baker.

To preserve my dignity, I won't say how many times I kissed him before I left, called to hear his voice, or begged for pictures of his time away.

I'm smitten with my precious boy, it's true.

But, Brian and I needed to take a break for just us. 

We savored our time together and Baker had a blast!

We promised to do it again very soon. 

We are so thankful for such wonderful family.

They are such a blessing. 

Getaways are great, but there's no place like home!

I cannot believe it's time to start brushing teeth around here.

Adventures anew.

I love each and every one.

 

I'm currently switching between computer screens while holding the most perfect sleeping baby. 

Blogging and first birthday planning.

I think I'll publish before editing, cease the birthday looksie-ing, and just savor my last few blissful hours of Spring Break by holding the most perfect sleeping baby.

Just Another Day in Paradise

Oh, how glorious it was to turn the alarm clock off this morning.

 

Happy President's Day!

 

My sweet husband got up with Baker this morning so I could sleep for a few more blissful minutes.

Bliss indeed.

 

I heard that sweet sound drifting over the monitor shortly after six.
I could hit the snooze button for hours, but
it only takes a few times of him calling me by my favorite name to awaken me from my slumber.

I tiptoed across the house and peeked into his room.
I called his name, "Baker, Sweet Baker Boy."
And y'all, that smile.
This mama just can't take it.
The combination of that little gummy grin and him whispering my name.
It's all I can do not to pinch myself to awaken from a most wonderful dream.
Every morning is the same.
I thank the Lord for this precious gift, the gift of a child, the gift of my Baker, and the gift of getting to be his mommy.
When you start each day reminded of that incredible blessing, it's hard for it to be anything other than a slice of paradise.

We ate breakfast, did some Monday morning snuggles,
and then Little Man went back to sleep.
And I got to hold him the whole time!
Love Mondays.
 Love Monday holidays.
Love days home with my boy.

I bid Brian farewell, and welcomed my mom to spend the day with us.

Baker woke up just in time to get dressed and load up the car.
We started off the day with Speech Therapy at 9:00.
They conducted an evaluation and are proposing Speech Therapy once a week.
I am super pumped about this!
We all learn so much from these sessions.
And I just love watching Baker interact with his therapists.

Then we bundled up to head on to our next destination.

It was a blustery day here!

We then headed to the new school Baker will begin tomorrow.
We set up his bedding, and unpacked his bags, and met his new teachers, and played with his new friends.

By the time we got in the car, he was zonked!
Us too.

We came home and Baker took at 3 hour nap!
Nana was in hog heaven holding her grand, and I coughed incessantly worked on lesson plans for my class.

When Baker woke up, we had lunch

and then some serious play time on the floor.
There was laughing and reading and singing and hugging and wardrobe changes.
We love when Nana visits!

We went back to the hospital for Physical and Occupational Therapy at 3:00.
This was by far one of the best sessions ever!

They hung a swing from the ceiling and my boy was justa swinging!

What you can't see here are the two pretty girls sitting in the doorway.
Can you see that look he's giving them?
I'm in big trouble.
Big.

And for your viewing pleasure.

You're welcome.

By the time he finished with his third therapy session of the day, my boy was tuckered out and his Nana was happy to oblige.

After a power nap, it was time for Nana to head home. 

There were a few tears shed.

I may be a mama now, but it still breaks my heart to see mine leave.

The rest of the evening has gone quickly.

Brian bathed Baker while I finished cooking supper.

We had a picnic on the floor while Baker played.

My biggest sweetheart is currently singing my littlest to sleep with "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys."

Just Another Day in Paradise, indeed.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Happy Fall, Y'all!

 

I am loving this gorgeous weather. 

I am loving spending time outside with my boys.

And this weekend, I am loving the pumpkin patch.

Such fun!

 

How have I lived here for almost five years and never visited this little gem?

What a precious place tucked smackdab in the middle of Smalltown, USA.

 

Today was a blast!

We had fun picking out orange pumpkins, green pumpkins, pumpkins with warts, striped pumpkins, misshapen pumpkins.

 

But my favorite, was this little punkin!!

 

 

Pumpkins galore, hay rides, ponies, a corn maze, and a cotton jumper.

I can see this being a yearly tradition,

only getting more fun as Baker gets older!

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful day spent making precious memories!

 

Nana, Nana, Bo-fana

Growing up, I considered it the ultimate compliment for someone to say to me,

"You remind me so much of Susan,"

or

"That's just like your momma would have done it,"

or

"You look just like your mother."

Of course it was the ultimate compliment;

I mean, just look at her.

 

As a mother, I still it consider the ultimate compliment for someone to say

"You remind me so much of Susan,"

or

"That's just like your momma would have done it,"

or

"You look just like your mother."

I pray that I am a fraction of the mother to my sweet Baker that my mother was to me.

When I count my blessings, having a mother who was always there for me, who led me to Christ, who loved me unconditionally, who put the needs of her family before her needs, who was not only my mother, but my best friend is at the top of my list.

My mom is the greatest mom, so it's no wonder, she is a fabulous Nana!

And my Baker Boy sure does love his Nana!

When I stay home with Baker for the day, I am lucky to eat lunch. But when Nana visits, my house is cleaned, supper is cooked, laundry is done, and she even keeps Baker fed, dressed, and smiling!

She has always been a superwoman, of sorts.
Some things never change.

Her presence brightens our home.

Everytime she visits, she brings something new for her one and only grand,

her pride and joy.

I had been obsessing over dropping little hints about an exercise ball after seeing Noah use one for therapy. Being the intuitive grandmother she is, she arrived with ball in hand!

Here's how they spent their day.

Needless to say, my Baker Boy slept through the night after Nana's visit.

We're all a little better after a visit from my dear mother,
Brian's "Mama Suze,"
Baker's Nana.
She is a blessing, a true gift, the mother I hope to be.

"All I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."

Abraham Lincoln