My True Love

Even though I have a very busy life as a working mommy, above all I am a wife.  I really value you the type of relationship Matt and I share.  I am beyond thankful the Lord has blessed me with THE best hubby in he world.  We just celebrated our 3 year anniversary at the end of July.  July 26, 2008 was the day that changed my life forever.  I walked down the aisle to the man of my dreams.  I call him my boyfriend, my favorite.  When I say man of my dreams I truly mean it.  I can be a little stubborn or hard headed, I have been told I am a little firecracker and a little strong willed :). The most I can say about Matt is how understanding and patient he is.  He loves me for me and that is all I can ask for.  He goes above and beyond for me.  When I was pregnant with Carter love he would rub my feet EVERY single day...I mean, what more could I ask for! :)  He listens to me when I'm sad, happy, upset, and excited.  He was made for me.  We have the most wonderful time together!  Each moment I spend with him is special.  It's not about what we're doing or where we're going for our next date, it's about the quality time we invest in each other.  I find myself never wanting to do anything without him...it's safe to say if you see me more than likely you will see Matt too :)  He is the love of my life...

 We love being silly :)

                                                   Anniversary Night
One thing I find the most amazing is how wonderful of a dad he is.  He is truly superman!  I have to give him so much credit.  When Carter was first born, Matt would get up with me almost every night.  He changes just as many diapers and makes just as many bottles as I do.  I love watching him make Carters' breakfest.  He is such a loving father and it makes me fall in love with him even more. 
Having a husband who is a VERY active dad makes my life as a working mom so much easier.  Being parents is something Matt and I love to do together...it's our new hobby haha!  I couldn't ask for a better hubby!  He shows me and Carter so much love and he takes such awesome care of us.  He is a hard worker and when he comes home he just keeps on going...I TRULY AM BLESSED!

I SHLUV YOU MATT!

Silly Kisses ;)

Vaca!

Well, I know it has been a little while.  I have been away a little longer that what I would have thought but we were on VACATION! and of course trying to get ready for vacation was just as busy as vacation.  lol! We went to Clearwater Flordia to visit Matt's aunt and uncle and two cousins, who happen to live so close to the beach.  They were so kind enough to take us in their home and it was great to see family we havn't seen in awhile.  It was good quality time. 

This is good quality family time! We all had a blast!

So we were gone for a total of 6 days. Yep, that is 6 full days I got to spend with my hubby and sweet baby boy.  As a working mom, I think I was more excited about my 6 full days with my Carter Love than going to the beach.  I actually loved having food stuck in my hair and food thrown in my face because the look on his face after he does it is hilarious! lol!  My time with him was so sweet. I dream of the days that I will get to be with him full time.

Ocean Time: Oh boy did he love the beach! He loved the sounds, the taste, the touch, & everything else that comes with it!  I'm actually very curious on how many sea shells are in his little belly.  I was taking sea shells out of his mouth every second ha! He wouldn't crawl in the sand.  He had this little thing he did.  He would stick his butt up in the air with this feet flat and then try to crawl that way, it was Great! When it was time to leave, he actually cried when I picked him up to leave.  I sat him back down and he was totally fine ha!

First Time In The Ocean

The BEST Family Time!

Next, The Zoo: We took at day to go to the Tampa Zoo.  If you ever get the chance to go to that zoo it is A-H-MAZING! It's huge! Carter had a great time there too!  There are so many gorgeous animals and it was just another great day with my sweet family. 

  Tarpon Springs: So I told Matt that if he wants to move to Flordia tomorrow I would do it without second guessing myself! I LOVE the Clearwater area.  We went to this really cool place called Tarpon Springs.  We also ate some of the best Greek food and we visited the Sponge Shops...

I had a really great Greek Salad...I think I could eat it everyday :)

I found this little cutie outside the sponage shop ;)

If you can't tell by all the amazing pictures, the Lord truly blessed us with a safe and wonderful time.  As I walked along the beach I couldn't help and think what an amazing artist my Lord is.  Not only did He paint the sky the most gorgeous blue, but He also placed the cutest birds in the sky and gave to ocean the most peaceful sound.  It's very magical and spiritual all at the same time.  As I laid there with my feet burried in the sand, that God created, it's so hard for me to believe and understand that people think the Lord doesn't exist.  I pray the world will know the love of the Lord is pure, just like the sounds of the ocean and the movement of the wind.  My desire is to love the Lord with my whole heart...

My favorite part of the trip, neither me or the hubby having to get up and go to work.  I got such an amazing time with him.  Also, having my little man all day long.  I know I talk about the hurt my heart goes through with having to work and leaving my love bug for the day but that is the sacrifice I have to make for my family.  I want Carter Love to be able to enjoy fun trips and get to do fun things with his friends.  I pray daily that he will understand why I make the sacrifice that I do.  I do it for him.  He seems to be a mommas boy right now and I am 100% okay if he stays that way forever.  :) My life is truly a blessing from my wonderful Lord.

 

Puffs, Swimming, The 4th, & Going Round & Round!

Ooo me did we have a busy weekend!  Of course you guys know I loved having that extra day off with my sweet family.  Any working momma loves the holidays because that means another day with our little loves!  Extra days mean extra kisses, hugs, snuggles, & PUFFS! Carter is obessed with puffs.  In a week we are flying to Flordia (that should be it's own blog in itself lol) and you better believe puffs will be my saving grace!  I promise he could eat a whole container of those things in one sitting, with me helping out a little bit, strawberry apple is my favorite :).  He can eat 90 and get 16 calories. Haha, maybe I should eat those for my snacks! I'll tell ya, we don't go anywhere without our puffs...that even means the pool! 

 

Next: Swimming! Don't worry, I let his food settle for 30min. hehe :) He loves loves loves swimming! He likes to take baths so I knew he would love to swim.  We are very blessed that his yaya and paw-paw have a pool so Carter is able to swim whenever he wants.  He wasn't a big fan of his little float that paw-paw got him but once he got use to being in the pool he was all about it.  Carter is so so smart! While in his float he started to kick like he was dog paddling.  I learned to swim when I was 5yrs old (thanks to my big brother, who took off my floaties and told me to swim! I didn't have the choice haha) so maybe Carter love will be a early swimmer. He's 10mos old and I already think he can do everything ha!

I just melt when I see his amazing little smile...I get lost in that smile

So my extra day was in thanks to the 4th of July.  I love the 4th, it's one of my favorites.  I love history and the holiday that comes with it!  Plus my brother is a US Marine so that makes me love it even more.  I loved it a little more this year because I got a extra day with my Carter love and it was his first 4th of July.  His mimi has made it a point to get all of his "my 1st" outfits and send them to us.  I was actually surprised Carter did so well with the fireworks.  He was so so tired but he did really good! The next morning he slept till 10am! Woo hoo! His Daddy was extra happy lol!  I can't wait till Carter grows up and we can do all kinds of fun stuff together on the 4th and I can teach him the history behind it all...I know, I'm such a nerd!  My mom always made holidays fun (heck, she made everyday fun) but holidays were always extra special.  She was, and still is so creative.  I hope Carter will remember all the fun thing I do with him like I have with my momma. 

 Round & Round! Carter loves to go round and round.  His aunt "tay-tee" found this new hobby for him.  I loved hearing his big giggles as they went round and round, and of course his face afterwards was hilarious.  This is a little of what I saw...

Look at those pictures and can you imagine the sweet sounds I heard coming out of that mouth? And that is what I miss while I'm at work.  I know he's happy and having a fun day but I can't help but stare at these pictures and think that I am missing out on a lot of that.  If I could be home everyday Carter love, I promise we would go round & round and have a day filled with puffs...When he is older I hope he understands why I have to miss out on some of those giggles.  It breaks me knowing I miss out.  I wish it was different but the Lord says otherwise.  I def don't understand but He does.  It's hard for me to remember that and maybe that's why I have to wait a little longer to make my prayer come true.  As cheesey as it sounds, I know the Lord knows my heart and my passion. I pray being with my Carter love full time is the Lords way for me...

My Blessed Life As A Full Time Working Mommy: Let the Tears Flow

My Blessed Life As A Full Time Working Mommy: Let the Tears Flow: "I like to think I have a big heart. That is not meant to be a cocky statement by all means, but it just shows how quickly and easily that p..."

Let the Tears Flow

I like to think I have a big heart.  That is not meant to be a cocky statement by all means, but it just shows how quickly and easily that precious face above just melts my big heart.  I had a very dificult time today.  Work was a little tough, very busy (which is good) but on top of my very busy day I had some things in the back of my mind the whole time.  When am I going to get my mountain of laundry done?  I knew I needed to go home on my break and do the dishes that I swear I just did.  But with all that I couldn't get the most powering thought out of my mind long enough to focus.  My sweet Carter love cried for me this morning.  I couldn't hold him, I couldn't love on him or hug him and tell him it would be ok.  I had to just keep walking and keep thinking how much this SUCKS!  The hubby and I have sacrificed a lot to be where we are and me working is just something I know I have and need to do.  (I want to clarify something real quick.  I don't want people to think, because I work that we don't sacrifice because we do.)  My heart broke into a billion pieces.  I would much rather have spit all over me, food in my hair, "stuck" in the house all day.  I can handle the mountain of laundry and forever pilling dishes but I can't handle his cries beacause mommy has to leave him for 9hrs.  I feel like he is going to forget me.  I know that isn't true but it does cross my mind.  I wonder if he will resent because I can't be there for him when he has his summers off from school?  Goodness, I know this is where the "living in the moment" takes place and I do but this is what takes place in my mind when I'm alone.  It's just a inner struggle that I know I will be able to conquer one day.  The Lord knows my heart... 
To make up for my lost time during the day, I try my hardest to make sure that our time we do have together is extra extra sweet!  I'm looking forward to this weekend.  I get a extra day with my hubby and baby boy and it's Carters first 4th of July...I just know it's going to be FAN-TAB-ULOUS!  We have lots of fun things to do...we LOVE our Murfreesboro! Happy 4th!    

Fun Day...

O Saturday couldn't have been any sweeter! I got lots of laughs, kisses, snuggles, and messes.  This was def. a blessed day that I got to spend with my hubby & baby boy.  It was a bitter sweet day.  We were suppose to head up to Kingsport to see my sweet momma but plans changed and we had to stay at home, but we ended up making it a VERY FUN DAY! First stop...the farmers market.  This couldn't have been more fun! Carter did so good.  He looked at everything and wanted to touch everything.  I for sure have a 10mos old!

Our Day At The Farmers Market

Our Beautiful Downtown and Some Very Yummy Peaches...Carter Loves Peaches

After we finished at the farmers market I remember thinking "I don't know if this day could get any better".  It was only 8am and we still had our whole day ahead of us.  I then, for a split second and only a second, I got a little bit sad, only because I wish I could have this time with him everyday.  I look at his sweet face as he smiles back at me and I can't help but get lost in his pure sweetness and all my sadness just goes away.  I try to "live in the moment" but I won't lie, sometimes it's a struggle.

So after our wonderful time at the farmers market we had a quick trip to Nashville to pick up Aunt Cassi from the air port and then we all headed  back downtown and had a fabulous breakfest at Murfreesboro most famous City Cafe...AMAZING!

   After a couple naps and some lunch our day wasn't quite over just yet...Park Time! Carter loves swinging!  He just laughed and laughed and he wanted to stay there forever...

Then we had a blast on the slide...

 He Made It To The Top!

We had a fun filled day for sure.  He was a tired little boy after our big day.  That is where all my suggles came in.  Now if only I could figure out how to be with my little punkin head everyday my life would be complete.  I pray daily that the Lord would help me figure out a way to make my dream job come true.  I want to make everyday with my little Carter Love a Fun Day!  

Time To Eat!

If it's one thing Carter loves to do most it's EAT! Boy has he been a eater since day uno.  Sometimes I can't feed him fast enough...

This sweet baby boy shows his monster side when it comes to food.  He doesn't play around haha!  One thing I wanted to have the most control over while he was little is knowing exactly what goes into his body.  As a mother I feel like it is SO important to teach our children healthy ways to eat.  Yes, I am going to be that mom, the health nut.  Poor Carter, I know! ha!  At 6 or 7 I want my kids to ask me what a happy meal is.  Now, I'm not saying if your kids eat happy meals that your wrong, I'm just choosing to not go that route.  Don't worry, I have heard over and over, "you just wait till they are screaming in the backseat..." well, my answer to that is, he can wait till we are home. lol!  I want him to love to cook and have fun in the kitchen.  I want cooking and kitchen to be happy words.  Some of my favorite memories from when I was little was cooking with my momma in the kitchen.  We all had our own night to help her cook and it was so much fun!  By the way Carter helps me cook now.  I strap him to my body and he just follows me around everywhere in the kitchen.  He seems to have a blast! 

With all that said, even though I'm a working momma and my time is def limited, I still find the time to make Carters' baby food.  My favorite website is weelicious.com and a great starting website is wholesomebabyfood.com.  By making Carters' baby food it gives me a great peace of mind about knowing exactly what goes into his precious little body and I can't forget to mention the amount of $$money$$ we are saving! O. MY. GOODNESS. do we save a ton of money!  Working moms let me be the first to say, it is very possible to make your own baby food and it not take anytime away from your sweet bundle of joy.  Yes, sometimes I do have to stay up a little later but that's okay.  I love the fact that at 8mos I was cooking his food with cinnamon, basil, rosemary, and all kinds of fun spices.  Here are some of Carters favorites...actually all food is his favorite...even avacado! Happy Cooking!

Green Beans

Cooked with a slice of apple, onion, and rosemary...It was so hard not eating these all myself!

  Banana Mango Sauce

3 Bananas, 3 Mangos & 2tsp of Lime Juice...If you use 3 of each it leaves a little extra for a smoothie for mom & dad :)

P.S. Please excuse the bad pictures...the good ones are taken by my mother-in-law and sister-in-law...they are the professionals :)