042: Goodbye 2012.

2012. 

The year I: 

Became a mama. 

Rode in a C130. 

Held a tutoring job. 

Celebrated my 2nd wedding anniversary.

 Nearly died. 

Discovered strengths I never knew I possessed. 

Started writing again. 

Prayed more fervently than ever before. 

Flew on planes with my baby who didn't cry.

 Made an effort to eat consciously. 

Rekindled my love for photography. 

Drank water, lots and lots of water.

 Learned the value of a dollar. 

Started my 2nd quilt.

 Lost old friends.

 Made new friends. 

Cherished nap time. 

Treasured play time.

 Began to love myself after years of hiding the hate. 

Whew. Big year.

blessings in 2013, sgym

037: Mama Monday, Babywearing Dads.

So, yes, technically this post is a Mama Monday post. But I need to talk about Dads for a moment.

To be specific, babywearing Dads.

Babywearing Dads are not wimps.

Babywearing Dads are not whipped.

Babywearing Dads are not ridiculous.

Babywearing Dads are not hippies.

Babywearing Dads are not pushovers.

Babywearing Dads are not pansies.

Babywearing Dads are wearing their baby.

Babywearing Dads are holding their baby.

Babywearing Dads are looking to bond with their baby.

Babywearing Dads are possibly helping Mama out.

Babywearing Dads are trying to soothe their baby.

Babywearing Dads are having fun with their baby.

Babywearing Dads are Dads too.

Making loud comments about how you "would never want to look like THAT" or "would rather just carry the baby like this, that way is so stupid." Especially within earshot of that babywearing Dad? Please. We left middle school a loooooooooooooong time ago. (Maybe?) This has happened to a friend of mine. Her husband works long hours, so on the weekend, he wears their precious daughter so he gets extra doses of bonding time with her. Because he's her Dad. Because he wants to.

Making rude comments is stupid. I have no other words for it. Stupid. 

Be a parent to your kid and he'll be a parent to his kid.

.... Well, that was a rabbit trail. 

My main thought about babywearing Dads?

They are dead-sexy.

Ok ok, I might be a little biased, since this is my hubs.

But seriously. 

Real men wear babies too.

That's the end of this Mama Monday. Baby wearing. Dads. Love them. Let's not degrade our fellow papas for their parenting choices. Especially when they're this adorable.

Feel free to leave a shoutout in the comments for an awesome Dad you know. Does he babywear? Does he give baths? Does he snuggle before bed? Does he sing silly songs? Does he wrestle in the living room? 

They come in all persuasions! Make sure to give them some extra love!

blessings, sgym

035: Thoughts Thursday: Try it.

I am a child of the nineties. My fond memories of school lunch included Dunkaroo's and Mondos. Capri Suns still bring back a flood of happiness. Don't get me started on Lunchables. And then they started making pizza ones too? A can of Dr. Pepper on a hot summer day after running around at the park with my siblings. Sweet tea and Ritz crackers with cheese. Ok. Getting too excited. 

We could say, "You ate that and you're fine."

Who wants to be "fine." Really. Think about it.

Maybe it's just me, but I want excellent. Spectacular. Fantastic.

I also want delicious. Scrumptious. Yummy in my tummy.

I battle allergies, soreness, and exhaustion. I can blame my 7 month old for some of the deprived sleep, but I've always felt tired. I'm tired of being tired. I'm tired of thinking feeling "just fine" is fine. For me, it isn't. Not anymore.

I've been thinking about what I eat. I've heard "food is fuel." I've heard "you are what you eat." I've heard "I deserve this." I've heard myself say each of those a few times. Last night my husband told me he wanted to change what we eat too. I think I could have jumped to the moon I was so happy. So, as a family, for our son, for our future as a couple, for our health...

I'm learning. I'm reading. I'm listening.

So, here's the thought I'd share today:

My mom and I are participating in a CSA at Real Food Farms in Brentwood, TN.

This is a shot from when we picked up our half-share yesterday.

There's my food in the distance, growing.

I love that.

blessings, sgym

034: Mama Monday, you too?

They aren't lying when they tell you that you are never the same after having a baby.

You get (little to) no sleep.
Your body is unrecognizable.
You waver between missing it and discovering the new one.
You lose friends who you thought would never leave you.
You gain new friends who know your struggles intimately.
You now think of activities in terms of how they fit your child.
You want to try things just to see how your child reacts.
Your free time is spent breathing.
Your free time is spent hurrying.
Your free time is short lived.
Your free time feels weird.
Your free time feels precious.
You know you will never really have "free" time again.
You think your child is the cutest. Ever.
You know you're biased.
You don't really care.
You want to give them everything.
You want to show your child things don't matter.
You want your child to love you.
You want to do what's best.
You want to be different than your parents.
You want to be as wonderful as your parents.
You're constantly comparing yourself to your parents.
You never knew you could love someone t h i s m u c h.
You know you'll never love anything or anyone t h i s m u c h. Ever. Again.

You know, maybe that's just me. 


blessings, sgym

015: Happy 4th of July!

Can you believe it's July already? Is anyone else out there wondering why time seems to go by so much faster as an adult? I thought being in school had the year chopped up into 3 pieces and therefore the year flies by... boy, I was wrong.

I am currently in Plano, Texas - one of my favorite cities in the world. We're at my Uncle's house, which is without a doubt THE coolest house I've ever had the privilege of hanging out in. He designed it himself, being a brilliant architect and all. It's a modern home, but you can tell that the people within it aren't contemporary zombies. They actually live in the house, making it one of the warmest and welcoming homes in the country.

I'm sitting at the dining room table typing this, while my aunts and uncles, parents, and little sister watch a movie in the living room, and my brother and younger cousins play Monopoly Deal. I can't pretend to understand that game... and the movie is one of the ones I've not seen, so I would need to watch it from the beginning. I'm hoping to go to IKEA before I leave this area, and I'm leaving on Wednesday for San Antonio to see Cage's Graduation.

Originally, I was posting to update with some wedding pictures... So I'll give you two of my favorites.





Thanks to Krystal Waters of Krystal Clear Photography for letting me have digital copies of these. :) She worked with Andy Morris of AndyCam Productions on my wedding day and I ended up with some awesome pictures.

And, I found this on facebook... so I had to share. This is my handsome husband.


I love my airman!

blessings on you and yours,
sgym