Let's just jump right back in...

    So, well... it's been a long time.  I'd like to take a moment to blame this long pause on 4 weeks without my computer because my computer is most comfortable to me and I enjoy using my computer.  I'm not quite sure if that excuse could "hold water" or if you could "take it to the bank" but I'm going to go with it for now.

     What has happened in the last four weeks???  Not a lot of exciting things, but a lot of life has happened, I suppose.  After a wonderful week spent in Dallas with Brian, Jackson and myself  hopped on a plane over to South Carolina to stay with Grandmama and Papa Bruce.  The day we arrived was a tad bit cool and a little dreary.  Lucky for us, that didn't last long.  Let me just go ahead and sum up the fact that the rest of our 3-week stay stayed pretty consistently in the 70s and 80s ... and it. was. heaven.  We loved spending so much time with my mom - we worked on the rental houses and even had a very successful yard sale (all my share is going to paying off our son, of course! :))  Jackson was a man of great travels, of course; his doorway jumper was used nearly every day in several different locations.  Let's just say he has mastered the art of the jump.  I took him by the Clemson University campus where I had to get my transcripts for starting school.  It was a beautiful day with green green grass and flowers in early bloom.  We got some of the most precious pictures in the alumni garden, and I got excited for returning to get my masters in the next 4 years or so.  When we got back to Grandmama & Papa Bruce's house we set up the little kiddie pool my mom had bought for my water bug.  I'll let this picture tell you just how much he loved it:

I would venture to say "pure ecstasy." 

     We came back a week before Brian just so we could re-adjust ourselves to life at home.  The most depressing part of our return??  Forty-degrees and rainy.  Ick.  It's gotten to the 50s but it's still not the spring it was in Carolina and it's still pretty miserable.  On top of that, Brian's simulator broke on the day he was supposed to complete his "phase check" which is kind of like the pre-test before the check ride (a.k.a. the final).  Seeing as this was putting a major kink in his Easter weekend hopes and extending his time in Pheonix, Brian called headquarters and had them fly him home Friday until they could get their act together.  Turns out, he gets a week "off" here at home with us!  As much as getting everything done is goal number 1, it's really nice having him home!  We had a wonderful Easter with our families, and we're enjoying our quality time together this week.

     I think that pretty much brings us up to date.  I'll put some serious effort into updating more often than 4 weeks apart! 

Until next time, find something you love doing with your family and make it happen!

To my son...

I whisper this to Jackson (maybe not verbatim, but the gist) now almost every night when his eyes get heavy.  I'm putting it on here so I have a written record of the things I wish for him.

Be strong

Be smart; Be wise.  There's a difference, know it.

Stand up for yourself; stand down when you should.

Stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves.

Hold onto your dreams, but don't get discouraged if your path alters.

Keep you eyes on the future, but live in the present.

Love unconditionally; discriminate against no one.

Find your happiness.

Keep your head held high and maintain your truth.

Study hard.

Eat your veggies, and know I'll see you when you don't.

Be a good friend; be loyal, and trustworthy.

Be a good man; have integrity and heart.

Never be afraid to cry - it can be the greatest sign of strength and endearment.

Fall in love, but don't be afraid to walk away from a loveless relationship.

Learn from your mistakes.

Find something your passionate about.

Be compassionate.

Dream big dreams, little man, and know I love you more than life itself.

Naughty Little Blogger!

Ugh!  I feel just awful... I've gone almost 2 weeks without a word on here!!  Naughty!  I mean, really, I never had such a plan to stay away for that long.  But it has been quite busy...

We went to South Carolina on March 4 to see my family and to celebrate my 25th (!!!) birthday.  A quarter of a century gone by... unbelievable.  Though Brian had to leave on the 7th to get started on his upgrade stuff, Jax & I got to stay for the week because I was asked to speak at my old high school in an Alumni Forum.  It was so insane to be back at my old "stomping grounds" ... I haven't had to be at the high school by 8am in seven years so that was a bit eerie! 
Back in Lake in the Hills... Brian got to work from home all of last week which was heaven.  It was especially wonderful because we had some warm-ish days and lots of sunshine while he was home so we got to enjoy our back deck for a few days.
I was just about to say that "that's that" for the past couple of weeks and move on to current events, when I remembered we had milestones reached while we were in South Carolina!  Jackson started sitting up on his own on Monday March 8th! 

Annnnnnd, he also started getting the hang of eating!  You know, babies are inborn with the instinct to push food out of their mouths with their tongue and they develop the ability to move the food from the front to the back in their first months.  Well, he had been trying and spitting more than he was swallowing until we tried some sweet potatoes at Grandmama's house and we flipped the script - big boy swallows!!  Though, he did still end up with a sweet potato mustachio!

So, yaaaaaaaaaaay! Jackson!!  We are so proud! :)

Okay, now we'll get to more current events.  After a week of home training, it was time for Brian to go to Dallas for his long-term (as in 5 weeks) training at the flight academy.  Well, I don't like the idea of just hanging around the house for 5 weeks by ourselves and Brian didn't like the idea of 5 weeks by himself so we decided to do something to appease us all.  Sunday morning, bright and early, we made our ways to Dallas.  Brian was on a positive space ticket so he had no issues getting down direct from O'Hare.  Jax and I, on the other hand, had to go another route because direct flights to Dallas were obscene for standbys on Sunday.  They always are, really, but the obscenity was exponentially worse because of spring break and such.  So, we decided that going through Charlotte was the best route.  The original itenerary was a 7am, 1.5 hour flight (that meant getting up at 4am, folks) from O'Hare to Charlotte, a 2-hour sit, and then a 2-hour flight to Dallas.  Well.... I did say "original."  So we made it onto the 7am ORD-CLT flight with no issues because it was only about half full.  An hour and a half later we landed in Charlotte and quickly realized that the CLT-DFW flight which had looked fine at 4am now had 30 oversales and 7 non-revs (that's what we are who fly on company passes standby) listed above us.  All you have to understand about that sentence is that it translates to: no chance.  We sat and waited for 2 hours until they began boarding, they did get 27 of the 30 oversales onboard, so it got closer than any of us thought it would, but a lot of good that did us since we were still left sitting in the terminal watching the flight go out full.  Bleh.  That flight departed at about 12:30, and we now knew we were going to have to wait until 3:40 to try again.  Now, the Charlotte airport is a decent airport, but after about an hour you really run out of things to do.  Jackson, thank God, was an angel during the whole ordeal.  He slept and when he wasn't sleeping he was a smiley, talkative little boy. 
Speaking of, he's waking up from a nap so I gotta get him up and fed.  Be back in a moment.
Okay, he's not terribly hungry so we're going to see how much of this I can get through before he let's his hungry monster roar.  

Anyway,  back to our crazy travel adventures.  So after another 2 hours in the airport they started boarding the 3:40 flight.  The stats had improved, 3 oversales and 7 non-revs above us.  We watched the list as the agent called people waiting for seats to the podium.  Six people above us, four, three, a party of 2, and then a painful pause in the name-calling.  Really?  Now, I should mention things were so "dire" that my wonderful husband had already rented a car and carseat and my amazing friend Kelly, who lives in Charlotte, had already offered us a place to stay because I had already decided that once we didn't make the 3:40 we were going to dismiss waiting another 2 hours for the 6something flight and call it a day.  Lo and behold!  "Spears... Brittany Spears [snicker]" comes over the PA and I nearly fell over myself getting up to the agent who so graciously gave us a seat.  Granted, he gave us 25E which is the middle seat of the 3-seat side over the wing.  At that point, I didn't care.  Two hours of a sleeping baby and a completely wrecked neck/back later we landed in Dallas and took in the beautifully breezy 85-degree weather.  Whew!  I'm exhausted just remeniscing! 

So, here we are.  Tuesday in Dallas.  Yesterday, Jax and I spent most of the day in WalMart.  Not my favorite store, but it's really all that's around, unfortunately, and it was definitely better than a day in the hotel room.  So, WalMart it was; we perused the aisles and bought some food and some little things to make life in the hotel a little easier and more "homey."  Oh! This was all after Jackson took a dip in the indoor hotel pool!!  Although, since Daddy must be here for his "first swimming pool experience," we didn't take pictures so it doesn't count!! ;)  Maybe tonight we'll get Daddy down to the pool to see our big boy and take pictures of his second "first" pool time!  (Stay tuned!)  Brian is in class from 9-6 and trying to put another 2 hours of studying in once he gets "home"; he did squeeze in time for a wonderful dinner at Aspen Creek near the hotel, and tonight Jax and I are probably going to meet Brian and our friend Ryan (who we call Glanzer, his last name).  Glanzer is also a pilot at Eagle and has been down here for his upgrade training already (the end of this week is his oral exam which, from what I hear, is brutally nervewracking for pilots).  So hopefully we'll get to have dinner with him tonight & he can meet the little guy finally.  Then, tomorrow night we're meeting with Creech (Brian has a lot of friends named Brian so we call a lot of his friends by their last names... this one is Bryan with a "y") and his wife and new baby for another dinner and another "meeting of the babies." 

Right now, the plan is to head over to South Carolina next week (Monday or Tuesday maybe) and spend some more time with Grandmama & Papa Bruce (and GGmama & GGpapa, and the Great & Uncle Robbie & Zachey & BayBay, and Auntie C & Uncle J... just to name a few, holy moly!)  I'm quite excited for a lot of reasons, but one in particular is that, after 25 years, I'm finally going to make my mom teach me to sew!  The goal is to make at least one summery dress that I will wear!!  I also cut up all of my old sorority tees to practice on and make into a t-shirt quilt at the same time.  I'm really excited, and I'm really hoping to enjoy it enough and get good enough at it to justify a request for a fancy schmancy sewing machine.  (To go with the fancy schmancy camera I'm also in the market for!) 

Well, I think that about brings us all up to date.   Now, I have to catch up (again) on the 31-day Challenge stuff.  Again, I'm going to post them under the date that they were supposed to be posted, so if you're interested in seeing them you're going to have to scroll down to past dates. 

Until next time, take in some fresh air... it does the soul some good!

.Day 18.

Day 18 - A Picture of Your Biggest Insecurity

I'll work on a picture tomorrow for you guys.  I'm going to be brave.  It may just be the first step in changing the way I see this insecurity.

These days I am terribly insecure of my thickened middle and the stretch marks left behind from my pregnancy.  Not that they're the worst (they're not the angry red kind, but still), but they're there and they're all I see on my loosey goosey tummy.  I've always had a slight insecurity about my tummy and wanting to keep it trim, but now that I'm at the biggest I've ever been it's a little worse.  I would jump at a chance of a mini tuck and some laser therapy, but, you know, that requires a little more expendable cash-on-hand than currently available... so maybe we'll save those for later.. ; ). 

Check back for a pic... you know you're on pins and needles... I know I am! ; ) Ha!

.Day 17.

Day 17 - A Picture of Something That Has Made a Huge Impact on Your Life Recently

Really??  Have you been paying attention to this blog???  This has been an impactful year.  Seriously.  But at any rate, here we go:

A walk down the aisle...

We bought and proceded to renovate our new home
(while I was 8 months pregnant!!)

And then there he was.  The gift that erased any
negative there had ever been.

.Day 16.

Day 16 - A Picture of Someone Who Inspires You

Well, I have to do it again... sorry folks. 

That little face.  That smile.  That giggle.  The way he holds my hand.  The way he lights up when he wakes up in the morning.  The way he gets so cuddly when it's time to go night-night.  The changes every day.  The way he learns things and does something new.  That sweet, sweet little face.  It all inspires.  It all inspires me to be a better person tomorrow than I was today.  It all inspires me to love more deeply, cherish more completely, and enjoy every small thing in life.  

Awwwww Maaaaaaaaan!

Yeah... slap me on the wrist.  I've let the blog sit idle for far too long (gasp).  Although, it was my husband who commandeered my laptop for the purpose of completing his at-home training for the captain upgrade.  So... I'm actually going to "schedule" the 31-day Challenge posts on the days that they were supposed to have been posted, so you'll have to work from the rears. 

I will have a sort of "wrap-up" of all the goings-on from the past week and a half after I do some catching up on the challenge.  So, bear with the weirdness, and you shall have your "real time up-to-date post" soon enough!

.Day 15.

Day 15 - A Picture of Something You Want to Do Before You Die

Ohhhhhhh, Australia.  It's just a trip that I have to make before I die.  Have to.  It's so hard to plan though because, besides the expense, I really think you need to be there for at least a week.  I mean, you have a massive time change after a very long flight, and the country is so big with so many different things to see and do that you have to give yourself the time to take it all in without rushing through.  I hope this trip comes sooner rather than later, but at any rate it's the trip I've been dreaming of since I was five.

.Day 14.

Day 14 - A Picture of Someone You Could Never Imaging Your Life Without

Really?  This challenge, if completed by married mommies, has got to be the most boring monotonous things to read.  Seriously.  I think I've been doing a pretty good job of trying to change it up a bit and not make every day about my hubby and baby boy, but c'mon... I can only stretch the "truth" so far. 

Words just cannot describe.  My boys.  My family.  My everything.

.Day 13.

Day 13 - A Picture of Your Favorite Band/Artist

Yikes!!  This is a toughy!  I absolutely, positively love music.  Love it.  On top of loving it, my tastes are so sporadic and changing that it's hard for even me to keep track of.  My iPod looks like it has an extreme case of ADD.  But the one artist who has been featured through time, the one I get as giddy about today as I did when I was six issssss..........

Oh, Garth Brooks.  You made me want to play the fiddle (because I was one day going to play in your band; are you accepting applications??), I break out in your songs at random, I make everyone in the vicinity "Shhhhhhhhhhhh!" when your beautiful gruff voice breaks through on the playlist/radio, you in concert is on my bucket list, I've been counting down the days since you left and making sure that each of your kids were getting through high school so that you could come back, and I. love. you. 

Okay, embarassing as that should be, I'm done with my little love fest for Garth... for now.



.Day 12.

Day 12 - A Picture of Something You Love

Okay, I could do the totally predictable (and easy) thing here and post a picture of my boys because they are, in fact, two "somethings" I love very much - more so than anything else in the world.  But, since this is a "challenge" I'm going to go outside of that little box and pick something else.

No, not masks.  For those unfamiliar, this is "comedy & tragedy" - the representations of drama/theatre.  I am a theatre nerd.  I looooooooove the theatre and being a part of shows.  I haven't done a play in a very long time, butI miss it terribly and I hope to get back in a theatre locally now that our little family has finally settled down for the long haul.  (You'll have to keep tabs on that in future posts!)

.Day 11.

Day 11 - A Picture of Something You Hate

Hate is such a very strong sentiment.  It takes a lot of passion and a lot of energy to hate something, not to mention the energy it takes to hate someone!  I chose this picture because it is actually an image I used in a National History Day performance I did in high school (nerdy, I know but I loved it!) in which I portrayed both of the main girls in the photo - Elizabeth Eckford, one of the "Little Rock Nine" and Hazel Bryant, the girl shouting at her.  I remember the emotion the photo evoked in the very depths of my soul when I first saw it.  To this day, it makes me cringe.  If there is something that I hate with complete passion and complete energy, it's racism.  It's a dirty dirty word, in my book, and one of the most unattractive traits anyone can have.  And if there's one thing I can instill in my son, it's that he see no color, and likes (or dislikes for that matter) based purely on merit - or lack thereof.  I could write a book with the passion I have against racism.  It's not cute or funny... in fact, it's a disgusting, ugly plague on a personality.  Period.

.Day 10.

Day 10 - A Picture of Someone Whom You Are Constantly Talking To

Well... if this is referring to whom I talk to the most without him knowing what the heck I'm saying.  It would be this little dude.  We spend a lot of time together, and so now instead of talking to myself he gets to put up with my daily verbosity.  Can't wait until the day he and I can exchange conversation (even if his side consists mostly of "Why's").

But in the world of adult conversation, most of that takes place with my hunky monkey.  I should note, because my husband would insist, that I do my share of talking to my mom as well, buttttttttt he can get over that. :)  Our conversations don't always make perfect sense, nor do they always have a lot of relevance, but I enjoy them all (even the more heated ones that I win). 

.Day 09.

Day 09 - A Picture of the Person Who Has Gotten You Through the Most

My mom and I practically grew up together.  Despite all the hullabaloo some critics make of "be the parent, not the friend," my mom somehow managed to become the best of both.  She is one of the strongest people I've ever met (I would say physically, as well) and she taught me everything I know, just about.  She's fiercely compassionate, sometimes to a fault.  She may be a little "crunchy" for some tastes, but she owns who she is and she taught me to do the same.  I only hope that I can be a fraction of the influence in Jackson's life as she has been in mine; if I succeed he's going to be one lucky boy.

.Day 08.

Day 08 - A Picture That Makes You Laugh

He just may kill me for putting this up, but I'm willing to chance it because, if it makes me laugh, it may as well make you laugh today as well. (You're so welcome.)  I love this man, part of that is for the fact that he makes me laugh everyday.  You try staying mad at a face like that.... come on.  I don't know whether this is his "Zoolander" or he's giving me his best fishy face... I would rather not recognize that he may - just may - see this as his "sexy" face.  No.   I choose not to believe that. :)

.Day 07.

.Day 07 - A Picture of Something You Treasure

My family is, above and beyond, my most treasured "possession."  I can't put a picture of all of my family, but I think it suffices to put this picture, simply because it embodies the culmination of the love of the families that extend before us.  It's no secret to anyone, I don't think, how very close I am to my family.  They are such an incredible support system with love that abounds unconditionally.  I thank the stars for them everyday.  My new little family is what I have been searching my whole life for, & I couldn't have done any better than what I have done... it's simply, perfection.

.Day 06.

Day 06 - A Picture Of Someone You'd Like to Trade Places With for a Day

Susan Downey.  I am o-b-s-e-s-s-e-d with Robert Downey, Jr. and he is most definitely in my "top 5" (If you have to ask... don't. : P)  Love him as an actor, think he's pretty colorful as a person, and pretty darn steamy if you ask me.  :)  So glad this whole 31-day thing had room for some comedy... I took the liberty of "inserting" myself into Robert's life. (Thank, you Photoshop!)

.Day 05.

Day 05 - A Picture of Your Favorite Memory

The moment he said "I do." 

At the risk of making every day a picture of Jackson, I went with another equally great and moving memory.  A steamy hot southern day, but one of the greatest days of my life.

.Day 04.

Day 04 - A picture of your favorite night  

The night that we brought our son home.  By far the best night of my life so far.  I've had great nights, but this.... this was pure magic.

.Day 03.

Day 03 - A Picture of the Cast of Your Favorite Show

So cliche, I know.  But I gotta do it.  I practically grew up on Friends and I was so so sad when it went away.  I was actually part of the trifecta that was my mom and I's Thursday nights - on the sofa with dinner in hand  **memories... sigh** - of Friends, Will & Grace, and ER.  It's still one of the only shows that I can watch 2 or 3 episodes tonight and laugh out loud at the same banter I've probably heard 4 or 5 times before.  There was so much honesty and so many true-to-life facets in their relationships.  I think any true fan of the show, at one time or another, wished that they could pop in to lounge in the recliners at Joey's or sit around the table at Monica and Rachel's (then Monica & Chandler's) or grab a cup of joe at Central Perk cafe while Phoebe played Smelly Cats at the mic.  Oh, happiness. : )

.Day 02.

Day 02 - A Picture of the Person(s) You've Been Closest to Longest

I don't think any one of us loves our look in this picture... for whatever reason.  But, there's no way I could pick one of these people above the rest.  I don't know that I'll ever be able to quite get across to them exactly how big the impact they have each had on my life is.  They are my sisters, more blood than not.  I would walk through fire and take down an army for any one of them and all of them.  Annie, Courtney, and Kelly... if any of you read this, Through thick and thin, good and bad, across distance and time; I love you, each, from the depths of my soul. 

.experiment.

    So, I must admit I'm a facebook junkie.  Moreover, I've become intrigued by this "31 Day Challenge" thing that so many people are doing on it.  Just as a way to reflect on my life through photographs, I think I'm going to take part.  Not on facebook... on here.  So, read it or don't ... either way : )


Day 01 - A Picture of yourself with ten facts:

1. I was born in San Antonio, TX
2. My mama is my very best friend.
3. I broke up with my first boyfriend because
   he see-sawed with another girl... we were in kindergarten. :)
4. I'm a sucker for macaroni 'n' cheese
5. I've wanted to go to Australia since I was 4 years old.
6. I LIVE for the ocean, river, pool... WATER.
7. I love to write... I currently have 3 unfinished books
   waiting on my computer.  I'll get to them... eventually.
8. I also love to act; becoming an actress professionally
   has been my dream since I played Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird
   when I was 8 years old.
9. I LOVE animals.  Cartoon, real... doesn't matter.  Hurt one
   and it breaks. my. heart.
10. I was a beauty queen at one time, and I hardly ever
    admit it.  I don't know why.

.celebrate.

Before we get any further, let me just say:

Here or there or anywhere,

We do like Green Eggs & Ham

We do so like Hop on Pop, and

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish...

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

That's right, the legend would be 107 today!  This may be as good a time as any to admit I am kiiiiiiind of obssessed with the world of Dr. Seuss. 

But while we're on the subject of birthdays, someone just maybe might be kind of turning a quarter of a century old this Sunday. 



Who? Meeee???

Yes, me! :)  I cannot BElieve how fast this past year has gone by!  It's insane.  What a year, though, right???  I mean, I kinda kept myself busy I do believe.  Here's the rundown:

• More fun with the man I love :)
• Expecting :)
• Goin' to the chapel and we're.....
• Let's buy a house!
• Let's gut and remodel said house in a month's time!
• And baby makes three!

Okay???  Bit of a big year.

So, I'm looking to 25 to be a little more laid back.  Perhaps a few more creatively cheap (but totally AWESOME!) vacations with my hunky and the little man.  Fielding our way through Brian's upgrade to captain and figuring out how reserve is going to treat him.  We've heard good things about CR-J reserve for captains... but only time will tell.  I should be getting into the groove of school by the fall which is sooooooooo exciting.  It may sound crazy, but I miss studying and late nights cramming and presentations and tests and everything else that goes with college.  Another big milestone will be reached in my 25th year: Jackson will celebrate his 1st birthday!  I can't wait to decide on a "theme" and get everything ready for a nice little celebration here at our house (I love saying that!).  The wish would be that all of my South Carolina family could come up, but I know at least my mama and Bruce will be here so that's awesome in itself (Jackson loooooves his Grandmama and Papa Bruce!)  And of course we'll have all of our Illinois family in attendance so I think it's going to be quite the soiree!  I think among all of the exciting times to come in the next year, I am really looking forward to the summer sun and pool time with Jackson, his first trip to a beach.. it's going to be so much fun!

Speaking of fun... yesterday was a big ol' day out for my little family.  Brian got in from work at around 10 or 11 in the morning, and so instead of wasting the beautifully sunny (albeit cold) afternoon we headed out to get some things done.  Brian was in need of jeans and some shirts that he can take with him to training, and I'm in need of EVERYTHING.  Our first stop was TJ MAXX which just may be one of my favorite places to shop (hello, unique better-than-cheap-department-store-quality clothes and shoes!).  I went into the dressing room with 8 things and emerged with.... zero.  Bleh... I am not appreciating my body right now.  I just don't know how to dress a size # body.  I knew how to dress a size 7 body, and I enjoyed shopping for size 7 clothes.  I am not digging shopping for clothes at the moment.  Which stinks, because I really need a new wardrobe.  I know one thing, when - yes, when - I get back to my happy place I am going to appreciate it a little more and work a little harder to keep it that way.  In other departments, Brian found a couple of button-ups that were nice and looked really good on him.  Then it was on to Old Navy where we found him some jeans (which required some cat-calling) and a couple more shirts.  After a quick stop at Carter's for some gift clothes and a few things for Jax, Brian "surprised" me by taking me to Golden Corral.  Some of you might jump to be like, "ewwwww," but I gotta tell ya - it's the only place, really, up here that I can get flavorful southern comforts.  In other words, I loved every minute of my turnip greens, fried okra, and banana pudding.  My hubby hit a homerun on that one, and though he says "no way" I think it would suffice as a birthday dinner! : )  At any rate, it was a great long afternoon/evening out and about, and it made coming home and putting the baby to bed - and then ourselves - all the more enjoyable. 

So this weekend, we leave for South Carolina.  One of my best friends (indeed on of the three girls I consider my sisters) is getting married in May and her shower is Saturday so we're going down for that and to celebrate my birthday with my family.  It's going to another quick trip for us, but it just means that the time is getting closer when Jax & I will be spending a LOT of time down there while Brian is away.  Warm weather, sunshine, visiting daddy in Dallas for some pool time, lots of Grandmama/Papa Bruce/GGmama/GGpapa/the "Great" time... Exciting! 

I think that'll about do it for now..

Until next time, get excited about the things to come in your next year!

.hunky.

  Before I get started, let me just say that I call Brian "my hunky"; I don't care if it makes you gag, it's just the way of it... soooooooo yeah.  Deal. : )

Anyway,  he just left for work... again.  I guess that's the brutal trade-off of getting to be stay-at-home "house-mommy": Brian works his butt off and picks up all the extra time he's even allowed to pick up.  I try to tell him often, but I don't think he'll ever quite get exactly how much I appreciate his devotion - not to work, but to us, our son, our family.  Granted, it would be impossible for me to work as a reserve flight attendant with a child (not to mention an infant!).  But, it's still a lot of days and nights he spends away just to make sure our little family stays afloat. 

I'm not writing this morning (holy moly, almost afternoon!!) to mope about our "financial situation."  Actually, quite the opposite.  I just got the urge to brag on my hunky.  He reminded me, as he left for work, that this was the 1st of the last 3 times he was going to be leaving us for work as an FO (first officer, for those of you who don't know airline lingo!).  Next week he begins training for his upgrade, not only to a captain (!!!!!) but also for a new airplane (the Canadair CRJ-700).  Can I just say, "Wow!"  We thought this would happen, you know, a couple of years from now was the hope.  Before Thanksgiving last year, while in South Carolina, he got the call... our prayers were answered and it would be happening this year.  There really could not have been a better time... well, maybe a couple of years ago would've been nice, but, hey, beggars cannot be choosers, right??  I am so proud of him - his hardwork and determination.  It's all about to pay off (literally!).

I think a lot of people wondered if, with the way our marriage came to be, maybe we were jumping head first into something without being in the right "place."  For some reason, it just occured to me to write this out.  Maybe because, with every new day, I fall more in love with my husband, my son, my life.  I had so many bad experiences, bad choices, mistakes, and things didn't always happen the way I envisioned (I know I'm not the only one in the world who can say that).  But, I have to make this very clear to you: I cannot bring myself to regret any of it.  Not a thing.  Because anytime I reflect on the life before Chicago, before Brian and Jackson, I think, "Man, one tiny change... one single thing happening different... I would not be here."  It's not an exaggeration.  Things happened in a very specific pattern to push me into the airlines, into moving to Chicago, and what did I get?  I met my husband.  A wonderful, loving, caring, handsome man who makes me laugh everyday.  He's one of only a couple of men who have shown me what uncondtional love is (I'm including family here, folks, don't get carried away!).  I never thought I'd find that outside of my family.  I searched for it everywhere... not always in the best places, people, or activities.  That love that envelopes you for exactly what you are and nothing else. 

There are still things I want to accomplish.  I really want to get into nursing, and I want to finish a degree at Clemson, and I want to get back into the theatre.  And this is the first in my life where I feel all of that is completely within reach, because I have completed my circle of inspiration and support - from it's foundation in South Carolina (my mama is the reason I have had strength to fight through the bad and see the good, my grandmother gives me wings, and my aunt has always been someone I looked up to) to my new family here in Illinois.  It's a great feeling.  A warmth and comfort and satisfaction that is brand new. 

I don't think I'll have a lot of sloppy, mushy entries like this.  I just had a moment of reflection after Brian left for work that I wanted to get "onto paper."  I hear someone waking up from his morning nap, so I had better go for now. 

So, until next time, remind someone you love how much you appreciate them!

My hunky! <3

.reflection.

  So, last night I realized that unconsciously I added an extra little step to our (Jackson and my) bed time routine.  Every night, while he drinks his bottle I read a book to him - a side note, this is such a cute time to me because he actually pays attention to the book.  I SWEAR!  He can be closing his eyes or flailing his arms and looking everywhere, but when I start reading he stops and watches the pictures, and I would swear he is actually listening to every word intently!  Then it's time to "rock rock."  Which is another part that I really love because he's so darn cuddly.  It doesn't take long before he's a sack of potatoes and I enjoy another minute or two of snuggles before I take him to bed.  Here's where it happens: the guest bathroom is on the way to his room (right beside it, in fact) and I realize now that it has become habit that I stop in the bathroom and look at us in the mirror.  He always falls asleep with his face looking away from mine when we rock rock, and so at some point I started looking at him laying on me in the mirror because it makes me smile.  Well, I don't remember the time that I started doing this, but last night I realized that it something I do EVERYtime I rock him to sleep.  I just love seeing his sweet little face sound asleep.  I know how fast time flies and how much he changes just day-to-day; I think I do this to keep the memory of his sweet baby face fresh in my mind for the long run.  Because there will come a day when he no longer wants to "rock rock" or be held at all, and so every moment he spends in my arms is a moment I hold onto dearly!  I don't look forward to the end of our new routine, and so, until then, I soak in every moment!

Night Night, Sweet Angel

.catch-up.

I'm beginning to think that maybe my blog will be composed of posts that happen in clumps if I don't start writing when I think to write.  Sorry, folks.  It's funny because I am constantly thinking of things I'd like to post, and then something else comes up and I don't get to it.  I can't really blame it on baby because I follow enough blogs by people who have babies.  So, I think it can really only be blamed on scatter-brained me!  At any rate, let's get things back up to speed:

This month has been a busy one for us.  We went to the Chicago Auto Show the Tuesday after Valentine's Day.  It was a lot of fun (though much more exhausting with a 4-month old!).  It was so funny to think that last year when we were there, Brian and I found so much excitement in the idea that "Next year, we'll have a 4-month old with us."  It was almost surreal to walk around a year later with a stroller and all the provisions an infant requires.  Blessed, we are.  So, of course, here's a picture or two from this year's Auto Show:

Excited, obviously. : )



One of the many pitstops of the day!

    We celebrated Megan's 2nd birthday with the family.  It involved some really good pizza, really good company, and lots of pink sparkly things for sweet little Megan.  It also strengthened my desire for a little girl for our second child... I loved looking for the little girl stuff!  Don't get it twisted, though... I LOVE my boy!!  I always wanted a blonde-headed blue-eyed boy followed by a blonde-headed blue-eyed girl, so I'm well on my way!  But, of course, besides the fact that our second is quite a time away, I'll be happy with whatever we get!  I don't know how it happened that we didn't get ANY pictures of little Megan, but we did get a picture of Jackson with cousin Dante that is just PRECIOUS!  Here it is: (c'mon did you think I'd tease ya and not post the picture??)

Last (for now) but not least we took a little trip to San Antonio.  Literally.  Brian had 4 days off (Sunday thru Wednesday) so we thought, "Okay, let's head somewhere Sunday thru Tuesday."  We chose San Antonio because that's where I was born and, for years, I have been DYING to get back.  The weather forecast was warm, and we got deals on the hotel and car so it set up nicely.  Sunday started out rocky - our first choice of flight was canceled and the chain reaction from that knocked us off the second choice.  So we had lunch at Chili's in the airport and hung out in the non-rev lounge for about 3 hours and finally made the last flight out.  Of course, the fun of flying didn't end there - we actually sat on the runway for another hour and a half before FINALLY taking off on our 3-hour flight.  Jackson was a champ and we finally landed in balmy SA, got the car, drove the short 20-minute drive to the beautiful and historic Emily Morgan Hotel and settled in for the night.  Or so we thought.  An hour after drifting off, Jackson woke up screaming with a stuffy nose.  I felt awful for my little guy.  I walked the room and rocked him and sang to him until finally he went back to sleep.  I propped up on pillows in the bed and held him since he was sleeping more soundly than he was in a crib.  After about 3 hours of sleep he was up again, miserable and moany.  So I remembered that the hotel shampoo in the bathroom was rosemary/mint which is similar to what is in ches rubs  (I had not brought the baby chest rub because I had no intention of needing it... lesson learned).  I stripped him down, rubbed the shampoo on his chest and belly, turned the shower on steam-hot with the head pointed toward the wall and sat down in the huge jacuzzi tub with him in my lap.  It worked like a charm and he perked back up a bit.  After the "shower treatment" I wrapped him in a warm towel and he went right to sleep.  Again, I held him as he slept and tried to catch some zzz's myself before we resumed our morning at about 7.  He was much happier (though still not feeling great) so I handed him to daddy and went to get ready.  When I came out this is what I saw...

PRECIOUS!

I couldn't resist capturing the moment!  After letting them sleep for a couple more hours (I figured, Jackson definitely needed the rest and since he was getting it snuggled with Daddy I'd let Daddy get the extra sleep, too!)  We ended up heading out around 9:30, stopped by the Alamo for a second before heading down to the famed RiverWalk where we ate breakfast and spent most of the morning.  Then, we headed back up to the Alamo to actually do the walk around - Sidenote: it is crazy to think of the things that happened on those grounds and the people who were there... I mean Davy Crockett??!?!  Really??? While we were there the sun popped out and the temperature & humidity headed up and it. was. HEAVEN.  Though it was also naptime for everyone.  After a quick cat nap in the hotel room, we headed back to the RiverWalk for some drinks at an outdoor restaurant (and, of course, Brian enjoyed his first cigar in San Antonio!).  We did more walking around the RiverWalk and had a DELICIOUS dinner at Saltgrass on the RiverWalk.  After a better - not perfect - night's sleep we got packed and ready and headed out again for a walk to Produce Row where we ate at one of THE greatest Mexican restaurants we've ever been to, Mi Tierra.  With full tummies, we walked back to get our car and hit the road.  We decided to fit in a trip to Natural Bridge Caverns just 30 minutes from the airport.  What a COOL (well, actually about 77 degrees with 99% humidity) place! 180 feet below ground with rooms that could fit a football field with room to spare!  The formations are thousands and THOUSANDS of years old, and it's just amazing to stand in awe of such things!  After surfacing, it was back in the car and back to the airport.  Shout out to Luis, a friend an fellow flight attendant, who brought us up to first class for the 3hour flight back to Chicago which was amazing. 
So, here are some pictures from the trip:

So, that's February so far.  I have more to post, but someone is waking up from his nap, so it'll have to wait until later today!  Until then!

.small.

     I saw my son holding onto his daddy's thumb the other day.  Suddenly I was three years ahead watching him grip his first crayons; then seven years ahead, watching his daddy show him how to grip the baseball for a game of catch; then I was 16 years ahead, watching his hands grip the steering wheel of the beater we allowed him to drive to school.  And then I was 18 years from now, watching him shake his daddy's hand as he went off into the vast bright future. 

     It takes so long, those nine months.  You wait and wait and wait for the first kicks, and the first rolls.  Then the day comes when you finally get to meet that little squirmer you've loved since the first moment the test was positive and time decides to fly.  The first coos turn into the first smiles turn into the first laughs.  There's just no better feeling than when that little hand grabs a hold of your finger and a smile cracks across that chubby-cheeked face. 

     I am as excited to watch my son grow as I am to enjoy him every day.  But I feel his changes everyday.  His body is a bit heavier, his footies are stretched just a little tighter, his coos are a little bit more recognizable, and his smiles grow brighter everyday. 

      Nothing beats this whole "mommy" thing.  It's an amazing privilege that I am so thankful I get to experience.  As these moments quickly become memories, I feel compelled to take an obscene number of pictures.  So that one day, when he holds his own baby's hand in his he can see the day when he held his daddy's thumb.



.wonderment.

     Please forgive the "three posts in one day" routine.  Shouldn't happen that often, but because I'm just starting this one up, I would like to at least play some catch up.  Specifically, I just want to reminisce about this Christmas. 

     This Christmas was a season of firsts for us... our first as a married couple, our first in our new home, and most excitingly, it was our first with our first child. 

     The season started off with a small gift from the previous residents of our new home.  After nearly three months in our house which we had been tearing apart and putting back together again, we had never ventured up into the attic located in our garage.  Now, back during the home inspection, the inspector had told us there were a "few things here and there... a kiddie snowboard and a couple of boxes," but it never really occurred to us to go up there with everything else going on.  (Heck, I wasn't even allowed on a ladder to paint to the top of our 8 foot ceilings because I was "too pregnant!")  Then, a couple of days after Thanksgiving Brian suggested we take a look.  After he spotted more than a "couple of boxes" I jumped at the chance to explore.  As I opened the boxes, I was giddy... LIGHTS!!  GARLAND!!  A GIANT INFLATABLE SNOWMAN!!  As sad as it was to think that the previous owners had forgotten their decorations, it was a total gift for us seeing as how we weren't going to be putting any money into anything other than diapers and formula for a little while. : )  If that wasn't enough, Brian's mom is a property manager in the city and one of her tenants gave us their prelit Christmas tree.  I was ecstatic.  Am I the biggest fan of colored lights??  No, but when it's all just falling into my lap when otherwise I would have had none of it they become a lot more appealing!  I went to work hanging lights, putting up the tree, and even finding time to make salt dough ornaments for our baren little Christmas tree.

It's funny how the lights seemed a little more "twinkly" this year. : )

We still have some painting to do...

2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water  Knead, Roll flat, cut out and bake at 325 for 1-2 hours and voila!

Jackson made his first visit to Santa and made sure to drop his wish list off in Santa's mailbox!

Christmas morning wore him out!  Santa was VERY good to him for his first Christmas!

My favorite gift.

        Christmas means something different for everyone.  For us it's about celebrating the gift of family and friends and spending time with those we love.  This past Christmas was one of the best in my memory, and I can only imagine it getting better as our little one grows!

    P.S.  We didn't get the inflatable snowman up this past Christmas, but I'm sure we will next time around!

.whirlwind.

     Whirlwind may be the best adjective for this past year.  Before I take y'all into 2011, I wanted to make a blog to mark the big accomplishments and milestones of this past year... in pictures. : )



One of our favorite moments... This is how I told Brian we were going to have a baby... at the "Bean" at Milennium Park in Downtown Chicago!

 ...and then came a wedding...



Yummy Southern-style pig roast!!

...and the transformation of house to home...



...and then came baby...

Stay tuned!! There's plenty more to come!