Stay-At-Home-Mom Mondays

No one really likes Mondays, there is very rarely something positive said about the dreaded day.  I'm a SAHM,  I don't have to go to work today, I should love Mondays; but I don't always like them.  They end a weekend of Brad being home, family time, church, and getting to do stuff by myself!

So this morning, instead of complaining, I'm going to give you my top ten reasons I like Mondays as a SAHM: (these are in no particular order)

1.  We typically have no where to be on Mondays.  We usually stay in our pajamas much longer then necessary, and Carson and Aden both cuddle in my bed while we watch the Disney channel.  

2.  Clean sheets.  Monday is my laundry day, most weeks.  It's not really my favorite thing to do, I despise folding it all and putting it away.  But I LOVE clean sheets. I love getting into bed when I know the sheets are fresh and clean!

3.  Planning and scheduling.  I love to be organized, I love to make lists, I love to mark things off of those lists.  On Mondays, I write out my "to do's" for the week, make my menu, and go over what all we have planned.  

4.  Playing.  Since Mondays aren't usually a busy day, I spend A LOT of the day playing on the floor with my kids.  (in my pajamas!)

5.  Recovery.  Weekends are busy and sometimes rough on little ones.  I like to call Monday our recovery days, because it usually takes a day to get Aden back to his normal sleep schedule and it gives Carson a day to recover before school on Tuesdays.  

6.  Rise and Shine Oklahoma.  I don't always get to watch the news every morning, I miss that! On Mondays there is almost always time to watch the morning news.  I like the national news but I love David Payne and Lance West on Rise and Shine Oklahoma.  They crack me up!

7.  Naps.  I like nap time everyday, but on Mondays I sometimes get to take a nap too! Niiiiice....

8.  Clean up from the weekend.  I like everything to be straightened up, I don't like messes all over the place, but on weekends I try to let go of my neurotic behavior and just enjoy the weekend with my family.  When Monday rolls arounds I put everything back in place.  The stacks of stuff on the kitchen counter get put away, the shoe and jacket collections are moved back to closets, and other odds and ends are straightened up.  

9.  Blogs and coupons.  I spend some time every Monday, going through my coupons, throwing away old ones, cutting out the ones from Sunday's paper, and catching up on the blogs I like to read.

10.  Ok, I can't think of a tenth one....so all you get are nine reasons why I like Monday!  Hope you enjoyed! :)

Leavin' on a Jet Plane....

This week Brad was out of town for work training.  He left Sunday night and got home very late last night.    I did not have a very great week without him here.  Aden was getting over an ear infection, Carson was sick with a double ear infection, and I was stressing out that I might be pregnant.  (I'm not!!!)
With Brad's old job he traveled all the time.  We were married in May of 2005 and by June of that year he was gone most weeks up until Carson was born 2 years later.  One year I counted up the number of weeks he was home and it was only 8 or 9, or something like that.  It was rough on newlyweds to only be together on Saturdays and Sundays but we did our best to make it work.  After we had Carson, Brad still had to travel some but not nearly as often.  He missed 3 of Carson's surgeries/procedures because of being out of town but we made it!
Now, working at Michelin, Brad will have to travel a few times out of the year to South Carolina for training.  This was the first week he had to that.  This is the first time Carson has been old enough to really understand that Brad was going to be gone and not coming back for awhile.  It really set in around bedtime on the first night that Daddy was actually gone.  Brad always does the bedtime routine with Carson, and since Carson is such a creature of habit, he completely fell apart when I told him it was time to get ready for bed.  He was hysterical, and I am not being overly dramatic, he was inconsolable, absolutely hysterical.  It took me forever to calm him down but the second night was even worse.  I will not share the gross, crazy details, but I will say that I had to call in reinforcement! (Thanks family!!) By Tuesday night things were better, I found things to do to distract Carson and we had a system sort of worked out by the middle of the week.  Thankfully, Aden is a laid back, easy going kid so that made things not quite so bad.  And Carson and I started feeling better and getting used to Daddy being gone.
Brad's flight was not coming in until late Friday night but I let Carson stay up past his bedtime so that he could see his daddy.  When he heard the door open, he flew off the couch to see Brad.  He wanted him to play and was a little bit wired.  This morning, Carson did not want me to fix his breakfast, only Daddy.  He is such a Daddy's boy, Brad is his hero and he wants to do everything with him.
Well, after a week of feeling sorry for myself, being grumpy, and not feeling well, I remembered how easy I have it compared to so many other people I know.  Yes, this was a bad week for me, compared to all my other weeks, but it was only a week.   6 days without my husband, not month after month after month.
Brad's cousin, Courtney is married to man in the military and they have only been married for about a year and half.  He has already served overseas once since they've been married and he is about to leave again and will be gone for a very long time.  I CANNOT imagine telling my husband goodbye and being gone from him for that long.  Courtney, as are most military spouses, is an amazing, strong woman. She and I were talking at Christmas about how annoying it is to her when women complain about their husbands being gone for a couple of days or try to tell her they know how she feels.  There is no way I can even begin to understand how she feels, and yet here I was all week long moping and complaining about what a bad week I was having.  After realizing how blessed I am, I prayed for Corey and Courtney and the hard year this is going to be for them.  I thanked God for Brad and for my children and that this was only one week of bad.  It also reminded me to pray for the single moms I know who have to do it all by themselves, all the time.  I think that it is so easy to look inward, only at your own situation and dwell on the bad; but only when you look outside of yourself can you really put things in perspective and see how blessed you really are.
Yes, this was a bad week.  Yes, I was sick and so were my kids.  Yes, I missed Brad. But in reality, I knew the week would end and Brad would come home.  I knew that we would all get well and feel better.  I knew next week would probably be a better week.  So next time Brad flies off to South Carolina, I will hopefully remember that "this too shall pass" and not feel sorry for myself like I have this week.  Or maybe he should just take me with him! :)

Home Sweet Home

As you know, our house is for sale.  It was listed this week and has been shown once already.  I am really hoping and praying that we can sell it and that it will go smoothly.  If you know anyone looking for a home send them our way.
We are asking $107,900 for it. It is right under 1200 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, several updates, high ceilings in kitchen and living room.  Very cozy and warm. Plenty of storage, walk in closet in master bathroom, stainless steel oven and microwave.......
It's been a great house for us and we are hoping someone will come along and love living here like we have.

Cranky Pants

When Carson is being a grump or in a bad mood, I ask him if he is wearing his cranky pants.  Today, he looked at me with those adorable, big blue eyes and said, "Mommy, do you have on cranky pants?".  I looked down at him and was offended for a couple of seconds, then I cracked up laughing, and then I realized that my cranky mood was making me a cranky mommy.  

I have been MIA from my blog this week for lots of reasons that I may or may not share at some point! :)

I have started several posts and then I have deleted them because I decided I didn't like them.  Aden and Carson have been sick off and on for 2 1/2 weeks now! Both have been struggling with ear infections this entire week, and I haven't felt so great myself.  I have an extensive list of "to do's" that I have not touched; I have napped, I have not cleaned or cooked, and no makeup has come near my face all week! I really don't like being cranky and I don't like being absentee from my blog, but I especially don't like being a grump as a mom.  So thank you to my 3 year old for helping me get out of my cranky pants!

To my few blog followers, I promise I will do better about including you in my boring life and I will do my best not to leave you hanging for days on end! :)

Just a stay at home mom....

I'm a stay at home mom....yep, that's right, I sit at home all day long, watch tv, wear my pajamas, and take naps....oh wait, NO!  The part about being a stay at home is true, but the rest, well...I WISH!! ha ha!
Sometimes I get into this little pity party, slump in my life where I think I am "just" a stay at home mom.  I daydream about what my life was like outside of taking care of kids, I envy those people who get to dress up and go somewhere besides the grocery store, I imagine what it would be like to talk to grown ups all day long and have adult conversations, I think that maybe I threw my years in college out the window when I had my boys.  Then I slap myself around a little bit and remember that I have been given an amazing, challenging job of bringing up two boys to become godly, respectful, fun, loving, well-rounded gentlemen.
I went to college for 6 years, I acquired 3 diplomas (2 associate's degrees, 1 bachelor's degree), and certification to interpret sign language and to teach hearing or hard of hearing children.  And here I am not doing anything I went to college to do, or am I?  I am responsible for the well-being and education of two children.  Carson learned sign language to communicate before he could speak, he can now write most letters of the alphabet, read a handful of words, has a broad vocabulary, can play well with others (most of the time), and blows us away with the information he knows.   Aden is 6 months old....but I do read to him daily, interact with him, and do a few signs with him.  So here I am, entrusted with two little lives; I have been instructed to "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) But I still sometimes feel like I am "JUST" a stay at home mom.  I know some women who would love to be at home with their children but financially need to work outside of the home.  And then I know other women who enjoy working outside of the home and don't want to be stay at home moms.  Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful that I am able to stay home with my children; but like I said, sometimes I get into this little funk where I think college was a big waste of time and my brain is being infiltrated by Veggie Tales, Disney movies, and Yo Gabba Gabba, and eventually there wont be any grown up thoughts left!
When I am in the middle of my self-pity, I have to stop and think about the blessing of not needing a second income and the opportunity to experience all the big moments in my children's lives.  My aunt has told me several times about missing so many of her son's "firsts" because she had to work. I have seen every "first" my children have done and I wouldn't trade that for hundreds of interpreting jobs or teaching positions.  Someday my boys will be at school all day, and I can go back to work, or even to hair school like I've always dreamed of doing.  But for now, I will play with my kids, run errands, fold laundry, clean the house and live vicariously through those people out in the adult world!  And I will do my best to remember that I am not JUST a stay at home mom!

I hate snot!

I can deal with a lot of the parenting grossness....diaper changes, poop, puke, messy eating, filth from playing outside, but I have very little tolerance for snot!! :)  And let me just tell you, my kids and I have been FULL of it for the past week and a half.  It started with Carson, a low fever, congestion, wheezing....which for him can turn into full blown bad in the blink of an eye.  I took him to the doctor, everything was clear so I just did the stuff I know to do at home.  Humidifier on full blast, vapor rub, breathing treatments, decongestant, cough medicine, alternating Tylenol and Motrin....you get the idea! When it comes to Sick Carson, I can handle it!  What I can't handle is the insane amount of snot that can come out of one person.  There are kleenex all over the house, hand sanitizer, and I made him wash his hands so much they were nearly chapped!! Carson is 3, you would think he could blow his nose, but he can't seem to figure it out.  I tell him all the time that he would feel so much better if he would just blow his stinkin' nose!!
Well, after several days of keeping everything as disinfected as possible and trying to keep Carson away from Aden, the germs attacked Aden and me.  Yuck!!  I can barely tolerate my own snot!
Aden ran a low fever off and on for a couple of days and he is still congested.  Since he is so little there isn't much you can do.  He's been on Claritin, Tylenol, Motrin, humidifier running, etc but he still has a cruddy sounding cough that I'm hoping goes away soon.  There is nothing sadder than a sick, miserable 6 month old.
Having children made me a little crazy when it comes to germs.  I have spent the last 2 days cleaning bathrooms, bedrooms, changing sheets, disinfecting door knobs and light switches....anything I can do to make the snot go away!  I knew having two kids would mean sharing germs but I was not prepared for being cooped up in the house for over a week!  I have been to the store, and out to dinner, and my fabulous friend took me to get a pedicure just to save my sanity!! Carson finally went back to school yesterday and I'm pretty sure the Hallelujah Chorus was playing when I walked him into class.  We are not typically home-bodies, and I do not like feeling like I am confined to my house.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some lazy days at home but only when they were my idea...not when they are forced on me.  We went out for a little while this morning, I even got a new dress, but after just a couple of hours I was feeling cruddy, Aden was fussy, and Carson needed a breathing treatment.
Dear Oklahoma weather, please be consistent.  I would really like for my family to get well, and stay well.  I know, I know, I've lived here for all but 3 years of my life, I know it's not going to be consistent. I guess I will just pump us full of vitamins and healthy eating, keep the house disinfected, and maybe the germs will leave us alone.  At least Brad hasn't gotten sick....so far! :)

"E" for Effort

Well, last night I made my first attempt at more serious "couponing!" My sister and I went to Starbucks, planned our menus for the week, and organized our shopping lists and coupons.  We started with Homeland, I didn't think their sales were that great this week but I got a few items that I needed.  I bought 11 items and paid a little over $12, I saved 57%.  Next we went to Crest where I bought 24 items and spent $42.  I know that is a whole lot more than what some of you other crazies might spend, but I was proud of my effort!  I still have a few more things on my list for this upcoming week but I plan on waiting until I go through the Sunday newspaper coupons before I finish up.  I still haven't tried out CVS , thats on my "to-do" list for this week.  I know a lot of people that save tons of money there, I'm hoping to be one of them!
Today, I have spent the morning organizing my coupons and now that they are more structured I'm little more excited about my endeavor.  Currently, my goal is to not go over my budget, and to save $10 to $15 a week.  Eventually, I would like to save a lot more than this but that's my plan for now!

For Sale, Cute Kids Not Included

So our house is finally going on the market, soon, as in by Monday it will have a for sale sign in the yard.  I am beyond excited about the prospect of moving into a newer, hopefully bigger, nicer home  but now that it is actually real, I might be having a little bit of a panic attack.
Beds will need to be made EVERY morning, most mornings this does happen but not EVERY morning.  Toys will need to stay picked up, laundry stay folded and put away, dusting done, no stray shoes or socks out of their place, army men and legos cannot be under foot.  Aaaahhh!  Can I stick a sign on my front door explaining to the potential buyers that I am typically a clean, organized person but that I have a toddler and baby living here?
I know we live here and we can't stop living here, but I would really, really like for someone to buy our house, and buy it for the price we are asking for it.  It's been a good first house for us; we moved in when I was in my 8th month of pregnancy with Carson...that's right 8 months pregnant! Oh, and Brad was out of town for work all the time! We might have been a little bit crazy!  Thankfully, we have awesome family members and friends who stepped in to help.  We painted, put in new carpet, new faux wood blinds, and some other new things along the way.  There are still some updating needs but we are praying the right buyer will come along who appreciates the things we have done.
I'm praying that I don't get overwhelmed and stressed out, thinking about keeping this house perfectly picked -up all the time.  I still want Carson to be able to play and have fun,  I still want to have lazy days in our pajamas.  I'm just hoping it goes smoothly and is as stress-free as possible.  I will keep you updated on how we are doing.  And if you know of anyone looking for a house, send them my way!

6 Month Check-Ups

Today was Aden's 6 month check-up with his pediatrician.  So far, Aden's appointments have been MUCH easier than Carson's since Aden is what Dr. Stecklow calls my "boring" baby.  Health-wise he may be boring but as far as personality is concerned, he is far from dull.  Both of my boys are happy little dudes, with huge smiles and great laughs.  Aden is laid back and easy going, while Carson is more structured and loves his routine.

Carson, 6 months old.  14 pounds 2 ounces, 24 1/2 inches

These appointments always take me back to Carson's first year a life, and make me think about all the differences in my boys.  By 6 months old, Carson had major surgery when he was 2 days old and was in the NICU for 2 weeks.  By 4 weeks old, he was back in the hospital for a few days having tests run.  He had spiked countless high fevers, had several chest x-rays, had been sick more often then he was well, and his mommy never slept.  He saw 2 specialist besides his pediatrician, took more medicine than any newborn should have to take, he was on a heart/apnea monitor when he slept, and he took nebulizer treatments like a pro.  Brad and I got very little sleep during the first 6 months; stress, nerves, tension, a sick baby all adds up to a very tired Mommy and Daddy.  Having Carson taught me humility, made my faith stronger, caused me to grow up a lot, and gave me strength that I had no idea was in me.  Carson made a lot of loud noises when he was a baby; we were stared at, pointed at, talked about, and I was VERY protective.  My heart still stops a little bit when he coughs or runs a fever.  BUT by the amazing grace of God, Carson is a healthy (mostly), active, talkative 3 year old boy who is, by all medical standards, a true miracle.  I may never know why God chose me to be Carson's mommy, but I am so incredibly blessed to have traveled this journey with him.

Aden, 6 months old.  18 pounds 2 ounces, 26 1/2 inches.

And then there is Aden....6 months old, been to the doctor maybe 4 or 5 times, has a little bit of reflux but nothing a good bib and not bouncing him won't take care of, eats like a champ, and currently has no health issues.  Let me tell you though, Aden scared me to death when he was first born.  What do you do with a "normal" baby?  Those crazy people at the hospital just up and let me take him home when he was 2 days old! 2 days old!!  Every noise he made, every noise he didn't make, every little thing he did made me jumpy.  I made Brad check on him countless times, just to be sure he was still breathing.  And here we are with a healthy, chunky, precious 6 month old boy.  His pediatrician is so great and patient with me, knowing I am nervous about simple things like feeding him baby food, giving him medications, and his reflux.  He does a great job of reassuring me, making fun of me a little bit, and making me feel at ease with this little "normal, boring" kiddo.

I don't know why things God does surprise us, isn't He the one with the perfect plan for our lives? All I could ask after Aden was born was "is he ok?" "is he breathing?' "is anything wrong with him" and my wonderful, sweet doctor looked at me and said "he's perfect"  What an awesome God, I serve.  God knew I needed Aden.  He knew I needed easy.  He knew I needed rest.
I am so incredibly blessed to be the Mommy to both of these boys; my not so boring, not always so healthy Carson and my boring, healthy Aden.  Words cannot describe how much I love them and how thankful I am to have them.  I know God has great things in store for them both, and I am looking forward to seeing what that is.

It doesn't get any cuter than this!!

Aden had his 6 months pictures this week with our awesome photographer, Katy Berry.   Carson tagged along; so of course, he was in a few pictures as well.  I know they are my children; and I know all parents think their children are the most beautiful anyone has ever seen, but seriously have you seen these boys??  I mean, they are pretty stinkin' cute.
So, here are a few pictures for you to admire....enjoy!

Katy Lynn Photography has a blog and a facebook page.  Please check her out! She is great with kids and groups.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

I have decided it is time to clean out, reorganize, and throw out a bunch of "stuff."  We are hopefully moving in the next few months so that we can live closer to Ardmore where Brad works.  Right now he drives a little over an hour, one way, to work everyday.  I could NOT do that, I get bored in the car after 20 minutes! But Brad is amazing and he enjoys the drive.  Through Michelin we are using a relocation company to put our house on the market and move.  This is a very slow process for which I am very thankful, it is giving me time to get my house ready to sale.  Closets have been straightened up and organized, kitchen cabinets are all clean, and my countertops are cleared of clutter.  

When Brad and I brought the Christmas decorations out of the attic, I also brought out several boxes of "keepsakes" that I have had since I was a little girl.  I thought it would be fun to go through them and also to clean them out and try to minimize the amount of boxes.  This week I went through three boxes of cards, letters, and notes that span from birth to about 21 years old.  I had a blast reading through them all; smiling at the sentimental ones, laughing at the funny ones, crying at the sad ones, and recalling inside jokes.  There is nothing like a blast from the past to make you feel young and old at the same time.  I loved reading them all; it made me feel like I was reliving some old events in my life and at the same time I felt so much older and so far removed from that time in my life.  The best notes were the ones from junior high and high school; letters from old boyfriends, letters fighting with friends, and then making up with the same friends, letters covered in inside jokes, letters with words of encouragement.  

Lately, I have been struggling with some not so happy memories from my childhood and high school days so this was a great refresher and reminder of the happy moments in my life.  It's so much easier and more convenient to focus on the negative parts of life but for me personally the good really does outweigh the bad.  I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for the amazing friendships God has given to me.  Although my friends and relationships have changed over the years, there are people who's names automatically bring a smile to my face or cause me to think of a special memory shared between the two of us.  There are relationships in my life that are unexpected and new that I cherish just as much as the lifelong friendships.  I miss so many friends that I have lost along the way but I know that in that season, they were exactly the person I needed as my friend and now as we have grown up and changed that relationship had to become something different.   

So I guess I am just reminded to enjoy life, look back on those happy moments and cherish them, try to think on the positive memories instead of the negative, and be thankful for the path God has me on and the friendships He's given me along the way.  

(Oh, and by the way, I narrowed it all down from three boxes to one!)

The Coupon Challenge

I know a lot of people who find amazing deals with coupons and save a ton of money.  I clip coupons from the Sunday paper, and I like a good sale but I have never been one of "those crazy coupon ladies."  I tend to buy generic and I think the coupon business is just too much work for a mom of two tiny kids.  I cant imagine driving all over town to find a good deal with a 3 year old and 6 month old in tow.
Last night, I experienced my very first coupon class.  I found out about it through my sister and a friend.  A woman who has a blog at couponcloset.net taught the class.  It was FREE to attend and we were give a lot of great ideas.  This woman has 5 kids plus a cat and dog, her budget per month for all things groceries, including dog food, cat food, litter, etc, used to be $1000/month.  Now she spend less than $230/month!! That is incredible but I am still and probably always will be a skeptic by nature.
I love a good deal, I get excited about sales, and I am a serious fan of shopping.  So, since this the first week of January; a time when we are supposed to have resolutions set in place and goals for a new year, I am going to attempt to become a "crazy coupon lady."  I'm going to bypass Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Target**; I'm going to try out Homeland and CVS; I'm going to look on the internet for good buys and coupons; I'm going to check out blogs and websites.  These are lofty goals for me because I tend to get overwhelmed with too much detail and too many choices.  I'm giving myself 90 days, at the end of that  90 days I hope I am saving hundreds of dollars...or at least $20 to $50!
So I've put it out there, my big, bad goal, I can't take it back now.  If you are reading this, keep me accountable, leave an encouraging words; I'll keep you updated as I go along.  If you have any tips or suggestions please feel free to share!
(**disclaimer:  I will still be shopping at Target but probably not for groceries. I might go through withdraws if I completely take Target out of my system!)

My Very First Post

Welcome to the ramblings of Tara! I hope you enjoy reading my blog, and I hope that I actually follow through and stick to it!
Well, 2010 is over and we are on to a brand new year.  2010 was an extremely busy, challenging, life changing year for me and my family.  We started the year off with Carson in the hospital for 4 days with pneumonia, RSV, and croup; not to mention I was in my first trimester with Aden and miserable with morning (all day) sickness.  By spring it seemed we were all on the mend; I was growing wider, Carson was getting sick less often and Brad was looking for a new job while still working at UPS.  In June, I was in my last few weeks of pregnancy and Brad was moved to a new position at his job which made him more determined to find a new place to work.  Brad worked very hard in college to have his bachelor's degree and master's in Industrial Engineering.  UPS did not appreciate all his hard work and dedication and took advantage of just having another body in a management position.  His job kept him from family functions, put some strain on our relationship, and limited the time he was able to spend with Carson.  We continued to pray that a door would open and he would be able to find another job.
My due date for Aden was July 4 and since he was so nice and cozy, he decided he would not make his appearance until my actual due date!  I was induced at 7:30 in the morning and at 5:13 pm he entered our lives, all 8 pounds 2 ounces of him.  He was practically perfect and I was scared to death!  Who knew a healthy baby could be so intimidating! We brought him home at 2 days old, instead of 2 weeks old like his big brother.  Carson took on the role of big brother like a champ!  We had our ups and downs, and adjustments to make but he adapted to our new life with ease.  In August, Carson turned 3 and Brad flew to South Carolina to interview for a job at Michelin.  In September, Brad accepted a job at the Michelin plant in Ardmore that actually appreciates and allows him to use his degree.  It's amazing the difference in a man when he is doing what God made him to do.  We are so happy with the new job, new coworkers, and new boss.  They understand the importance of family and have made an effort to get to know us.
September also saw Carson starting preschool 2 days a week; he loves it!  He has learned so much and has become much more social.  When we pick him up from the nursery at church he says "I want to go see people."  Gee, who's kid is he???  I guess he gets that from me!  :)
In October, Carson had his 10th procedure/surgery. He had his tonsils and adenoids removed plus a cyst removed from his trachea.  One of the toughest surgeries/recoveries he has been through but what a difference it has made!  He sleeps through the night, eats better, and can breath better!  We are very thankful for Carson's superhero, Dr. Digoy.
The holidays were fun with two little boys.  Aden slept through most of the excitement but Carson loved everything about spending time with all of our family, seeing Christmas lights, eating, shopping, and learning about Baby Jesus.  He even had army men, Hot Wheels, and dinosaurs worshipping out our nativity scene.  I think he was a little confused though when he asked me if Santa was Jesus's Daddy.  By the end of December he had it figured out!
Through everything, Aden has been the most laid back, easy going little boy I have ever seen.  He eats well, sleeps well, and always smiles!  He so very rarely cries that we are surprised when he actually does.  He is easy to take places, he adores his big brother and he loves the sound of his own voice.  God has blessed us with both of our children but I think He knew we needed easy after how high maintenance Carson was.
Looking back over the past year, and really the past 3 years, I feel like I am more at rest and at peace then I have been in a very long time.  I am eager to see what 2011 has in store for me and my family; I believe God has some amazing things planned for us.  It's so nice to be able to enjoy my husband, enjoy my children, and not live in fear or wondering what bad thing will happen next.  God has brought me through so many trials, and I have been able to see His grace and mercy through each of them.  My faith has been tested and it has become stronger.  I know my faith will still be tested, and trials and temptations will still happen but God will allow those things to happen so I can continue to grow in Him.
How wonderful it is to start a new year with excitement, new goals, new hopes and at rest.