Christmas on The Beach

Well Sweet Boy,

You are now 2 and a half and spunkier than ever. I am going to try and catch up this blog because you had quite a year last year. We wrapped up 2016 with meeting your grandma, papa, uncle booger, teetee on the beach of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. It was the greatest Christmas present that grandma and grandpa could have given us. We spenT 7 nights there and you enjoyed every minute of it! I have a funny story that I'll put here just for a good laugh down the road; I'm sure you will one day read it and think how crazy your parents are. It was our first night in Punta Cana; it was a long day of traveling. That evening we put you in the pack and play for bed and you were having a hard time going to sleep because you could see mom and dad. So we decided to step out onto the patio where you couldn't see us so that you could get a good nights rest. We dead bolted the front door, stepped onto the patio and slid the door shut. The moment we did that you could hear the "click" of the door locking. Turns out that since we were on the ground floor, the patio doors automatically locked when they were shut. We had absolutely no way to get back into the room since we dead bolted the door. After several attempts to jimmy the lock of the door, dad had to go to the front lobby and tell them what happened and to let them know that our child was in the room alone. Turns out that this doesn't happen often because they really didn't know what to do. They ended up having to remove the entire window from our room and crawl in the window to go unlock the door. Goodness it was so stressful. It's hard to find English speaking staff in Punta Cana so it was quite the adventure. Once we got inside the room; you were sound asleep and had no idea what had been going on. The resort that we stayed at had a large water playground that you adored and spent most of your days. It's safe to say that you played hard and you slept hard. It was an incredible vacation and you are an incredible good traveler! My heart explodes just thinking about what 2017 holds for you and our family!

On the Airplane Watching Finding Dory!

The Whole Gang! 

World Traveler

Dear sweet son of mine,

I am writing this from the bed of the Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas with you fast asleep in your bed next to me. Goodness I can't even describe the joy I felt today watching you see and experience things for the first time. You saw ducks and followed them around saying quack quack quack. You played on the beach and in the kiddie pool. You were in heaven and I was also just watching your little world get bigger and bigger as the day went on. I was starting to get anxiety about bringing you when the airplane rides were getting really long and you my little man were just not having it. But we arrived and it's amazing what a little breath of salt water air will do for your mama heart and soul. Your Daddy is here for an event with his Mastermind group. You should be so very proud of him; he is an amazing man. As I type,  he is mingling with multi-millionaires who have secrets to share about growing a real estate business. Daddy is an amazing real estate expert and we can't wait for you to learn all about what mommy and daddy do. He is here for an event but today we all hung out together and you played your little heart out. Mommy and daddy got sunburns and you got wore out. It was a great day. I think you approve of the resort because everyone loves you and you seem to be loving all it has to offer.

Easter 2016

Dear Hudson,

Today I find myself... well pretty exhausted. In-between you learning how to open every door in the house and stomping your food into the floor, I have managed to find a moment of quiet during nap time to reflect on your second Easter. You my sweet little man, are a strong willed little boy and while I am just wanting to take a nap today, I know that in 20 years- you will be an amazing man with a fun loving, persevering personality. Your grandmama and papa hosted your annual Easter Egg Hunt for you and it was lots of fun. You weren't too concerned with finding eggs, but you were enthralled with running around, playing and being all boy. You have also recently development an obsession with this little red character, Elmo. I'm not sure where from but he has over powered our home and papa bought you the sweetest Elmo for you to lug around, throw, eat; whatever your heart desires. Each day I feel as though you learn a new word. My proudest mom moment this week was when grandma gave you a lollypop and you gave her an unprompted "thank you" in the cutest little voice that I am trying to cherish everyone minute of. Papa and grandma also attempted to help you fly a kite while mom and dad went on their very first date since you were born! It was so great to eat dinner with two hands but a small part of me would rather be eating your leftover macaroni and cheese that was saved from being dumped on the floor.

You and Papa 3-26-16

Watching Elmo with Grandmama 3-26-16

Kite Flying 3-25-16

My strong willed little man is nothing short of amazing. I love seeing you grow and experience new things. God is already playing his part in the man you will become and he is constantly working within me to help Him with this plan. Everything I do each day is so much more than wiping your nose, telling you not to eat the dog food, and cleaning up spilled milk. I am so eager to see how this incredible little life of yours pans out.

I love you so much, Hudson!

"No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child." -Jeffrey Holland

Detox Smoothie Recipe

Well, I woke up and smelled the roses this weekend. Actually l finally admitted to how strongly I feel about wanting another baby one day and realized that I need to get my act in gear. Before getting pregnant with Hudson, I focused on my health 100%. I worked out with a trainer for over a year, did tons of cardio and weightlifting throughout my entire pregnancy to be sure I was in optimal health for carrying and laboring my child. However, yoga pants, toddler food and starbucks have become my best friend and I've lost any sort of motivation to put on tennis shoes and a sports bra. I have lost and gained these last 10 pounds of baby weight several times but I think I'm finally ready to take the plunge. The good thing is that I know what I have to do; I've done it before... now I just have to have the discipline to do it. I started my Saturday by grocery shopping and I made tons of smoothie packets. I filled quart size bags with all the yummy ingredients of this detox smoothie and popped them in the freezer so that I can simply pull them out, add green tea, blend and go. Should be easy peasy. I haven't tried it yet but it's prepped and in the freezer prepared to start my week. I'm hoping in a few months that my physical health will catch up to my mental health on the baby fever. :-)

Detox Smoothie Recipe

Lucky Duck

Sweet Hudson,

It's 8:30am and after a breakfast of eggs and a banana, you are playing with a light saber, chasing the dogs around the house. Little do you know how lucky your mama feels on this Monday morning. Yesterday you got a random sinus infection where you had a green goopy eye, massive snotty nose and a brutal diaper rash that you have been suffering from for awhile now. A quick trip to the doctor has left you feeling like your normal self again. However, I'm not excited about sending you to daycare after only being on antibiotics for 24 hours... so here we are; playing with light sabers, chasing the dogs around the house. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world to have the ability to do this. Where I can check my email every few hours and smother you with kisses every chance I get. It's the best Monday I could ever hope for! And you my son... are the best thing I could have ever hoped for. I love you oh so much and I already can't wait to plan our impromptu Monday together.

Love you, sweet boy!

-Your lucky duck mama

Mom Brain: Forgot to post... Months ago!

This post was in my drafts that I never posted: It's clearly from a LONG time ago.... Time is so cruel. Look at that little face!

This past weekend we went down to our cabin in Broken Bow, OK. My normally angel child seemed to have flipped the switch for our relaxing getaway. He cried most of the way down there and then did not sleep through the night a single night we were there. I'm not sure if it was because it was a new environment and he was so interested in what there was to see, but let me tell you.... I am one tired mama and the relaxing weekend was not relaxing at all. Aside from my sleep deprivation, I  managed to snap some pics of the weekend!

PASSED OUT! (Eventually...when it was time to wake up!)



In between crying, He snuggled up to his water bottle

Adulting

Well it happened. I'm not sure exactly when or how; but it did. My husband and I realized what life is about. It's not about the car we drive, it's not about the clothes we wear or the social status we have; it's about creating a legacy for our family. It could have been the Dave Ramsey cd's that we listened to that helped us alleviate all our debt or it could be that look of innocence in our son's eyes... either way; it happened.

It doesn't mean that we easily drag ourselves out of bed at 5am when we hear a cry from the other side of the house. However, it does mean that we walk more graciously when we do see that baby monitor turn on when a sweet boy starts to toss and turn. We work a little harder, we save a little more and more importantly, we focus on the moments that really matter. After talking finances, cutting up credit cards and creating a financial standing that we can be proud of, my husband and I have began a journey that will create financial legacy instead of burden for our loved ones. And holy moly- let me tell you... the hope you feel and see is completely worth the lack of a Louis Vuitton that I have oh so badly wanted for many years. The gratitude that we have when we are able to successfully sell and close 13 homes in one month means so much more when we can close our eyes, recognize God our idol and literally see the results of hard work. (And to know that our hard work isn't being used to pay on credit cards for when we made purchases that we didn't have the cash for!)

I turned 28 this last week and for once in my life, my joy came from spending a day with a toddler eating grilled cheese and finger painting instead of being proud of something I purchased or something of monetary value. Adulting doesn't mean that you work your life away, it simply means that you work in order to fund not just your own life, but the life of those brave little people that overtake your home with toys and half-eaten graham crackers. I've never experienced such deep love as I have with my son; with every breathe that he takes, my love multiplies and it has allowed me to more deeply understand how great God's love is for us.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16