Captured

Three years ago tomorrow, on a perfect October afternoon, the kind that makes you long for this time of year, I walked down a grassy aisle, in a white dress, and married my best friend.  I'm not really sure that I've ever fallen for the whole "love at first sight" spill, or any mushy, gushy stuff for that matter, but there's something about my Matt that has made my life so complete, even when we were "just friends."  He is a part of me...all of the parts that were missing, God has made whole through Matt.  I guess that's how it should be when you choose to love someone.  It should be someone who, pardon the overused movie line, but someone "who completes" you....and for me, that has always been Matt.  For our anniversary, I'm staying with my parents and Matt is lying awake (at 4 a.m.) in his hotel room in an Italian vineyard...perfect, huh?  I won't bore you all with our love story, I just wanted to send Matt my love from across the miles.  Love you babe and thank you for choosing to spend the last 3 years, and your life, with me.  You have always been my soulmate.

"You are mine beloved and I am yours to keep.  

Take my heart forever, you have captured me.  

God is singing over us, we hear it in the wind.  

Tonight our life begins."

JJ Heller, Tonight

Our Weekend...Full of Goodness!

I think Matt would agree with me in saying this was one of the best weekends we've had in a while, and as strange as it may sound, we spent most of our weekend apart.  Matt spent some much needed time in solitude in Sparta where, I believe, he was refreshed and renewed in a way only Christ can bring about.  I'm hoping he'll blog on his experiences...both dangerous and life changing (hint, hint...)!  I spent some quality time with Levi and family.  Levi had a great week last week (he slept through the night twice!!) and although he was sick this weekend, it was just a continuation of such a great week.  It could only have been more perfect if Matt would have been here.  Levi and I slept in, played, rode "Toot-Toot" (as you'll see below), visited with family at Monkeez Brew, and snuggled, snuggled, snuggled!  I am aware of how quickly baby boys learn that it isn't cool to snuggle with their mommies, so I took every opportunity to get my fix!!!  He is doing so much...he is waving "bye, bye" and imitating "mama, dada, and bye-bye."  I'm now trying to teach him to sign "more" during dinner time.  He thinks this is pretty funny and we mostly end up giggling the rest of the meal.  His personality is so precious...I believe we love him more and more every day.  I can't wait to fall in love with him all over again tomorrow...        

The morning after my first full night of sleep!

Look how rested he looks!  

Levi loves to flip around while I'm trying to change him or dress him....he apparently finds this game hilarious.

Riding "Toot-Toot" around Koko's town

Dinner with Grandma at Monkeez Brew

Napping (and drooling) on Pa-Paw after hard core playing (hims doesn't feel good) 

I'm back (probably for a short while...)

Hello blogging world!  It seems it has been so long since I've posted anything....I've missed my time in front of the computer screen and have missed sharing my thoughts.  Unfortunately, there hasn't been much to post.  I am now in the swing of things at work...serving kids, paperwork, serving kids, paperwork, paperwork, PAPERWORK!  When I come home, the last place I want to be is in front of the computer.  Some days, I'd love to sneak away and blog at work, but that would be a poor use of my time, and not to mention, against the "rules."  When I get home in the afternoon, it is all about my 'lil family.  I love being at home....cooking with Matt and playing with Levi...I am so blessed.  Levi is starting to "play" now and I'm really enjoying it.  Up until this week, I had a total of 3 toys in the house, only one of which Levi could play with.  So...I made a K-mart run on the way home from work and bought him a couple of toys.  I stood on the toy aisle FOREVER, desperately searching for something made anywhere other than China...no such luck.  He could care less though, he loves playtime and he plays so hard.  

I am loving this stage of his life and I feel like I miss so much of it while I'm at work.  Not that it is an option right now, but I spend so much time in my mind battling between would I want to stay home full-time or continue being a working mom.  I LOVE to work...I come from a family of hardworking people and it has always been my nature to enjoy work, whether paid or unpaid.  I also really enjoy my job, good days and bad, and am so grateful to be in the place and profession that I'm in.  With that said, I'd also love to invest all of that energy in my baby, my home, my husband.  Patience, patience, patience...in His time.... 

  

My Fog

Not that any of you are anxiously awaiting my next post, but if you are, I apologize for the delay. With good reason, I've been in a fog and can hardly process what I'm thinking...forget trying to post on my thoughts.  School is back in session which means I'm back at work and delirious as ever.  Gone are the days of taking my time and enjoying my leisure start to the day.  I'm up before the rooster crows and going strong until evening (and I'm still getting up with Levi once or twice a night).  So, needless to say, I have nothing to post...I think I'm losing brain cells and can't focus long enough to type anything meaningful.  Soon, I will adjust to being a working mom, the fog will clear, and I will be able to be more consistent with this blogging thing (which I enjoy more than I ever thought I would have...thanks Linders!).  

Oh, completely random thought (as most of them are these days)...yeah for Baby Levi...I think we see the start of his first tooth!

Here's a couple of pics from his photo shoot on the 15th...I was so proud of him, he was perfect as always!

"GO PACK!!!!!"

Happy Birthday BABY!

Okay, this title may be misleading.....I guess I should say, "Happy Birthday to my other BABY!".  Yes, today Matt turns another year older (I'm still 4 days wiser...) and he's celebrating his birthday at a convention in Atlanta, so send him happy birthday wishes...I know he'd love it!  

I'm just missing him while he's away and wanted to spend this post celebrating my dearest friend, my husband.  For those of you who have been with us on our long journey, you know that we truly are best friends....we have been for half of our lives...hard to believe, but true.  Yes, Matt has been charming me now for 14 years and he keeps on going!  Here's a list of what I love about my husband....

1.  He loves me all the time.  Even when I wake up with my hair all a mess and wearing who knows what (usually covered in dried spit up!).

2.  He absolutely cannot listen to anything I say while playing with Levi because he's so involved with the 'lil man (this actually does drive me nuts when I have something important to say...).

3.  He is one of the most dependable people I know.  He rarely makes promises he cannot keep.

4.  He is pretty stinkin' hilarious with his random thoughts and freaky dreams.  I'm not sure where he comes up with this stuff, but he keeps me laughing.

5.  Speaking of dreams...he always manages to remember his very disturbed, detailed oriented dreams, and loves to share them with me in the morning.  His mind can be a crazy thing...

6.  He is a hard worker and takes pride in the work he does.  In the past year, Matt has left his career in law enforcement and started an entirely new career in sales.  I have been so proud of him and how he's adjusted to the changes and the sacrifices he's made.  

7.  He is good with his hands and if he doesn't know how to do something, he tries to figure it out.

8.  He is superb at choosing the perfect card and writing lots of good stuff on the inside.  If he makes a mistake, he just turns the scribble into an interesting picture...sometimes it is a sailboat, skull & bones, fish bones, heart...I never know what to expect!

9.  He is the least pickiest person I know when it comes to food.  He'll eat whatever I cook and pretend to love it.  As long as there is meat in it, I usually can't go wrong.

10.  He is the best person to be with when experiencing something or somewhere new...he's like a child.  He just can't contain his excitement sometimes...

11.  He loves every kind of music...from 80's love songs to eardrum exploding rock to techno to lullabies.  I'm not quite sure he's in to show tunes or rap...but everything else is pretty much game.

12.  He will try anything once.

13.  He is one of the bravest people I know and because of that, I always feel safe with him.

14.  He undoubtedly loves the Lord and strives to please him as a father, in our marriage, and in his daily walk.

If you have anything to add to my list please do so on my comments!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!!

Our Company from NY

Our dear friend, Rusty, came to visit this past week and was finally able to meet Levi.  He has lived in NY for about 10 years doesn't get many opportunities throughout the year to come to NC. Matt was very excited to introduce Levi to his best friend and it was such a joy to finally watch him with our son.  Levi warmed up to him right away.  I know Levi is friendly with everyone, but he really took interest in Rusty as soon as he scooped him up...Levi must have sensed how special Rusty is to our family.  Levi thought he was so special that one evening, he christened him with his dinner...he only does this to his favorite people!  

We love you Rusty!

Back to School

Today I had my first taste of what I'll be experiencing starting this coming Monday....WORK.  Not that being a mommy all day isn't work, but it is a different kind of work and something that I haven't exactly perfected when I have to juggle my job as a mommy and my job as Mrs. R.  These past couple of weeks I've been telling everyone how much I love my job and how going back won't be that bad...yada, yada, yada!  Well, today was my first day back on the 8-3:30 day, without Levi (and pump in tote).  After sitting through meeting after meeting and learning all of the paperwork changes I get to painfully fumble through this school year, I have to say....I'm not sure I'm liking it so much.   

...Of course, being back with the crew I work with is wonderful...they're so great and I don't think I'd love my job half as much without them.  I guess I do miss my students, a teeny-tiny bit, and I'm looking forward to hearing of their summertime adventures...which, unfortunately, I'm certain consist of mostly wasting away in front of some way too mature video game.   Also, I must confess, I'm one of those nuts that loves the "back to school" time of year...the smell of freshly cut grass (not that it isn't cut all summer long...it just has a different smell when school starts.  I'm not sure why...) and the smell of new pencils....I love it!  I also find it so entertaining to see how well everyone...teachers, parents, and students...get along at the beginning of the year.  That warm, fuzzy relationship doesn't last long for some, but at the beginning of school, everyone gets a fresh start.  

Okay, I guess going back may not be that terrible of a thing.  Although I can think of many reasons I'm not looking forward to walking down that hallway and unlocking the door to my freezing classroom, my cave, I'll keep those 'lil thoughts to myself.  Let's keep positive, right?

I am grateful for the roles the Lord has led me to play and I will try my hardest to keep a smile on my face....and no tears in my eyes!  We'll see what the next couple of weeks hold....