Hurricane Amanda

Just because I thought this was funny... what a hilarious husband I have. Ha :)

Happy Memorial Day!

We are grateful to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our great country.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great weekend! Saw lots of family and friends and squeezed just about everything we could into the 3 day weekend.

We went to Fort Worth for the wedding of two of our good friends. While we were there Kerri and her kiddos came over to hang out for a couple of hours. It was so much fun seeing them and letting the cousins play. Dex and Anna are so sweet with 'Baby Brady'.

Brady did pretty good on the trips there and back, although once we pass that third hour in the car it's tough to keep him occupied. We stopped a couple times for snacks and he may have gotten a little DQ blizzard. :)

Nana and Grumps came down to Fort Worth and kept Brady in the hotel room next to ours so Blake and I could go to the wedding. It was like a little date night! We are so glad they were able to come stay with him.

Andrew and Jessica came down Sunday night to cook out and hang out and we had SO much fun with them! It was fun getting to see both of my sibs this weekend. That never happens!!

And, in other news, Willa got a new haircut while she was at PetSmart this weekend! She looks so pretty! We are hoping it will help keep her cool and maybe cut back on the shedding a little bit.

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!

8 months

Our little buddy is 8 months old! He's changed so much in the last few weeks, and is hitting new milestones every day. He's talking all the time, laughing, smiling, rolling all over the house, and trying SO hard to crawl. He doesn't have any teeth yet which I'm pretty happy about - I'll keep that toothless baby smile as long as we can!

I realized after we were already home and in our 'comfy clothes' (i.e. naked for him) that I needed to take his 8 months picture so I just grabbed the sticker and stuck it on him. No clothes necessary :)

Sick baby :(

Brady caught a little stomach bug last week that lasted through the weekend. He was throwing up for four days so we decided to take him to the doctor yesterday. The doctor said Brady seemed to be well hydrated and that sometimes these stomach bugs take a while to recover from. He didn't seem to be too worried, which made me feel better. Brady acted happy for the most part but I know it wasn't fun for him to have a hurting tummy. Poor little man.

So what do you do when your baby is sick? Take pictures, of course. :)

Sick baby = lots of cuddle time.

There were several sink baths this weekend. As in, "OH MY GOSH what is that substance that just came out of his mouth QUICK take his clothes off and throw him in the sink and WILLA stop eating Brady's throw up!!!"

Trying to warm up post-bath. Sweet little lion.

We got to spend some time outside. He loves to eat grass, which isn't surprising.

He gets these red splotches on his face when he is sick. It's so sad.

Cuddle bug. You better believe mama enjoyed this!

This is what I came home to Sunday afternoon. LOVE.

A picture from the doctor appointment yesterday. He lost a little over a pound since he got sick. I'm sure he won't have any problems gaining it back once his appetite returns!

Weekend in Milam

We spent Mother's Day weekend in Milam with my family. It was so much fun! The highlight of the weekend was our crawfish boil on Saturday. Brady held a live crawfish!

This little crawfish would have found its way to Brady's mouth if we wouldn't have stopped it! :)

Brady's first Texas-shaped waffle. He was a big fan!

Chillaxin'

Just a swingin'

This was one of many popsicles consumed this weekend. Emi always stocks up before we come home.

His first sink bath. As you can see he's very interested in the water faucet.

My handsome boys after church.

Mother's Day 2014

This was my first year to celebrate Mother's Day with a child of my own. It was such a special day. I got to be home with my Mom, and having Brady made my day perfect. It was an emotional day as I reflected on the roles I've been charged with - mom and wife, caretaker of my family, protector and nurturer. My husband and kids will look back on our time together as a family and will hopefully one day see me the way my dad, sister, brother and I see my mom. I've been chosen to be Blake's wife and Brady's mom - these are my favorite, most important roles yet.

My family.

My mama and my baby.

The picture Brady made me for Mother's Day. It says 'My Love for Mommy is Blooming'. I love it!

The basket Blake and Brady made for me. It has a handwritten note from both of them, and handmade coupons for a family craft day, a spa day, a nice home-cooked dinner, and a beautiful necklace. They did such a great job. I could read the letters over and over again!

Mother's Day

I always knew I wanted to be a mom. I've loved babies for as long as I can remember, and when my sister had her first baby I remember rocking him and singing to him and dreaming of the day I would have my own little one. Becoming a mom has been the most emotional, incredible, life-altering experience. It has changed my world in so many wonderful ways. I knew I wanted to be a mom, but I didn't know how intense my love for my child would be. I knew I wanted a baby, but I didn't know how much joy that baby would bring to my life. I couldn't anticipate the jumble of raw emotions I would feel the first time I saw Brady, and the love I've had for him since that moment that somehow manages to grow every single day. Nothing could prepare me for becoming a mom. It induces happiness that doesn't even seem possible.

Meeting my baby. September 22, 2013

Meeting my mama. April 11, 1984

Since Mother's Day is approaching, I've heard a lot of stories on the radio about moms and what an important role we play in the happiness of our kids and families. I've always admired my mom and have said more than a few times that if I can grow up to be half the mom she is to me and my siblings then I'll be doing pretty good, but it is only now that I'm a mom that I can begin to comprehend the love she has for us and the things she's sacrificed for us.

Painting our nails together. August 1986

Hugs for my mama. 1987

So here's to you, Mom. For all the diapers you've changed, the tears you've wiped, the laughs you've caused, the lessons you've taught, the meals you've prepared... you are amazing. For the sleepless nights, the books you've read on repeat, the hours spent rocking me to sleep... you do it best. For giving me my first haircut, for braiding my hair every Friday before football games, for meticulously applying my makeup on my wedding day... thank you. There is no one like you, Mom. I know now that everything you do is out of love for your family, and I admire that more than you know. I love you so much and am so incredibly lucky that you're my mom. I'm so thankful to have you by my side, guiding me gently as I navigate this new phase of my life - the best one yet. If I can be half the mom you are, then I'm doing pretty good.

Helping me get ready for my wedding. October 15, 2011

Monitoring contractions. September 22, 2013

Meeting Brady for the first time. September 22, 2013

Happiness with Brady. January 2014

She is the glue that holds this family together. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

October 15, 2011