My Happy 362 Days

It's been 362 days since I married my husband.

Those 362 days have been like taking a class in college.

Some days are great and some days are easy, and then some days you have a lot of work to do. But, after you work it out, solve the problems and talk about it everything turns out just fine and you move on. As in any marriage, we have our faults, we have our ups and downs but most of all, we have each other and we have love so we have everything we need. Oh, and we have Lennon, of course, and a new puppy, Luke!

Since we got married we have taken vacations together, traveled out of the country for our amazing honeymoon in Mexico, we have experiences loss of friendships, gained friends, grown up - A LOT, and become better, more mature adults, lovers and parents. We have learned. Life is all about growing up, learning and making yourself better, making the world around you better and I think we are doing a great job of that, or at least we are off to a great start.

I have learned a lot about myself this past year.

I have realized that I need to count on my husband before counting on my family and friends because my husband is here, they aren't and not always will be around. I need to turn to him instead of calling home, because him, and Lennon, and our house, is my home. It's been an adjustment, like any major event in life. But, I didn't realize marriage was going to be an adjustment like this. We do everything together, in one unity. We eat, sleep, shower, watch TV, do homework, laugh, cry, scream and yell, drive, yell at stupid drivers, shop, cuddle and play... together. It's fun, it's exhausting and it's amazing all in one. That's the beauty of life being married. It's together - all the time - forever. I have learned to not sweat the small things. A husband learns with time... and a wife doesn't read minds. That being said, a husband is not going to know where you want your clothes, where the dishes are that you packed away in the new house, and a wife certainly cannot read minds to know when a husband has to poop instead of watching the kid and puppy. (Seriously!) I think that we both have different love languages, but we have both learned how to love in a different language as well. We both have great qualities and need a little bit of each love language in our lives and we are definitely getting better at communicating that. Marriage is a work in progress... It's easy to wake up, love each other, go to bed every night. It's the in-betweens that get hard and that you have to work through but if I have learned one thing in the last almost-year of marriage it's, never give up and keep fighting because in the end LOVE is the best thing in the world and I LOVE my husband today, tomorrow, and forever.

It's crazy how much can change in one year. We bought a house & got a puppy, and we are loving every minute of it.

The moment I saw his face at the end of the aisle I was filled with an overwhelming, jittery, butterfly love feeling that I got when he kissed me for the FIRST time. I knew I was going to marry him in 5 minutes and I couldn't wait!

The moment we were announced husband and wife was surreal. All I could do was stare at him and wait for that kiss, hoping that feeling would be the same overwhelming, jittery, butterfly love feeling! And you can tell, it was and so much more. It was the best kiss ever.

And again... We were just so happy and that feeling was so amazing we wanted it to last all day. Little did we realize that every time we would kiss for the next 300-something days it would be that same overwhelming, jittery, butterfly love feeling and it hasn't gone away. Here's to many more years of amazing kisses.  

I love my life, my husband and I cannot wait for the next 362 million years of our marriage!

Off to celebrate our marriage!

Xoxo

Be Grateful.

These last few weeks that I have been home have been a learning experience to say the LEAST. 

Being at home 24/7 can definitely feel smothering and get boring at times. That's when I turn to Pinterest for craft ideas, games, preschool prep activities, etc. I have a headache that starts every day, usually just before NAP time. Hopefully I will get used to this chaos soon. Even though it's chaotic, crazy, messy and lonely from not being around adults anymore, I am so grateful. I  do love seeing my daughter grow, learn and play on a daily basis while staying in our comfy clothes ALLLLL DAYYYY LONG. Luke loves it too and I couldn't imagine keeping him locked up all day without anyone to play with. 

I am grateful for my husband that works so many long hours to help out and I am definitely grateful when he finally gets home at night so we can actually have an adult chat and relax! It's so hard on us being on one income right now but we are doing our best. I am (and always have been) hands down a supporter of moms being the ones raising their children. I just don't know how, in todays economy they do it. I have always been the working mom and now, I stay home. It's a huge change on our lives! I hope, wish and pray something changes that allows me to stay home daily forever but... it doesn't look promising. So, I am cherishing every moment of being home with Lennon and Luke. (Seriously, it's too bad that we named our puppy Luke because that's such a cute name for a second child and goes great with the name Lennon!) Anyway, does anyone know of any AMAZING paying jobs that my hubs can have like right this second? :) 

I am grateful for my BIFF (& her daughter that Lennon adores and doesn't ever stop talking about!) for many, many, MANY reasons but for two really important ones right about now. 1. She is amazing at making a house a home and this past Holiday week she came to see my new home, gave me some great tips and now my bedroom and L's playroom look amazing. Her Feng Shui tips ROCKED. Who knew a bed should always be across from the opening of the door? Not I. But, now that my room is rearranged and we could FaceTime to arrange the rest of my room, my room looks great and I can't wait to hang pictures once I make up my mind on what to do! 2. She recommended Coconut Oil and I have to say, I don't know how I lived without it for my entire life. This stuff ROCKS! I found this Blog on Pinterest for more AWESOME ways to use Coconut Oil. Check it out -- 50 Uses for Coconut Oil. 3. She gave me the ideas for my signs that are starting to sell great. I just love my BIFF. Thanks for being awesome, mama!

I am definitely grateful for nap time (when and if it happens... TODAY it didn't!) or "down time". Right now, Lennon is hyper, inconsolable  when she cries and will whine about EVERY little thing if she doesn't get her way. I am literally taking deep breaths to not lose it at the moment. I am so thankful that L is relaxing with me and Luke is asleep on my lap while I am typing this. I need my husband to have a 9-5. That would be perfect.

I went to Target with L today and got some little stocking stuffers for her and Luke. Luckily she got to pick out her favorite things like a new Munchkin brand sippy cup with a STRAW - WOOT!, big girl undies (for when I start Potty Training) and a new E.O.S - pink of course and then I got her some things she didn't see that I just know she will LOVE! When we were shopping of course, Lennon was sitting in the cart and not paying much attention to me telling her to behave, keep her limbs and head IN the cart, and stay facing me... so all of a sudden this OLD lady says to me, "Ma'am she's licking the cart and that's gross and germ infested". I snapped! First of all, I know that's the wrong way to react, I get it... but come on. I was a. in a hurry b. frustrated with L already c. in a freakin' hurry and d. I DONT NEED TO BE TOLD BY YOU WHAT MY KID IS DOING AND HOW GROSS IT IS. So, the first thing out of my frustrated little mouth was, "Mind your own business!" and kept walking. Bad karma may be headed my way but hey, like I don't already have bad juju... what's a little more? 

I am going to start Potty Training soon since I am home with Lennon all day. Any recommendations are welcome. I have heard sooooooooooo many good and bad and in between stories, rules, myths, things peoples Grandma's swear by, etc. So if you have something that has actually worked for YOU and your little one, let me know!!! :)

At the end of the crazy, chaotic, messy, no nap day... I am feeling tired, exhausted and seriously ready to throw in the towel on dishes and laundry (no pun intended...) but I am looking at my pup on the couch sleeping, Lennon resting her head on my leg and holding her blankey, and I am watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and singing the silly songs with L. I am full with a belly full of nachos - that were amazing, and my house is warm and snuggly. At the end of it all, I am grateful for what I have and who I share it with... even if some crazy old lady things my kid is gross and germ infested!

<3 XO