Working Mama and Traveling Toddler

This is my current view.

I walked the two glorious blocks from Chattanooga Magazine to the Downtown Public Library while I wait for the next issue to come off of the press.

Wait a second Samantha - I thought you were a stay-at-home-mama?

Well yes, I am. But today?

Today I am a freelance copy editor at my old stomping grounds; Little man and Kris are on their way to the Atlanta Airport to spend the weekend in Arkansas.

I may or may not have cried when I dropped them off. Jackson has never flown before and this will be the longest I have ever been away from him. I am so nervous that I can't even concentrate on the fact that I have three days to myself.

I am taking bets on long it will be until I get bored. If you want to follow along with the adventure check out #ToddlerTrip on Twitter!

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Next week is Life As Wife's two year blogging anniversary. Make sure you stop by - I have a huge celebration planned with special prizes for YOU!

Wordless Wednesday: Holiday Weekend

No holiday weekend is complete without a splash.

Or a movie date night with a little intruder.

Anyone else have a little sweet talker when they don't want to go to sleep?

It Just Clicked

Yesterday my little brother became a dad.

My little brother -

Who used to ram his head into walls when he didn't get his way.

Who has had more stitches than I even care to count.

Who doesn't know how to balance a checkbook.

Who lives across the country, away from family.

Who is a newlywed.
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I am the complete opposite of my little brother.

When I found out I was expecting, I immediately began preparing. I read every book, discussed all possible birth options with my husband and began decorating a nursery.
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I have learned that nothing prepares you for parenthood; almost everything I do as a mama - I do based on instinct. My world clicked into place when my husband handed me our son.

Nothing prepares you for parenthood.

Except this:

Peyton. 6 lbs, 2 ozs, 19 inches long

Congratulations to my brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Amber, on the arrival of their daughter! I know it will all "click" for you!

It's Funny, This Marriage Thing

Life's Lessons brought to you by my marriage this week!

1. Loving Kris has always been effortless. He is my best friend and we have literally scraped each other up from the bottom of the barrel a few times in our eight years together.

2. To say that we are perfect would be a lie. Perfect? No. Dedicated? Yes. Willing to work? Yes.

3. Recently we experienced our first bump in the road so to speak. We have argued before but never fought over deception or other legitimate issues.

4. So many webs had been weaved that I don't even remember where it began.

5. I remember my anger though - burning white like hot iron - blinding my ability to reason.

6. My anger delivered like a hammer striking again and again. What happened? What didn't you tell me?

7. I am nothing short of relentless when I am trying to get to the bottom of something.

8. And Kris? He tends to bottle everything not wanting to burden anyone.

9. Surprisingly all I needed to hear to extinguish the fire was the truth and all Kris needed was trust.

10. It's funny - this marriage thing.

How did you handle your first real argument with someone you love?

Unconventional Picnic

There wasn't a wooden basket or a red and white, plaid blanket but it was picturesque just the same.

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I have dubbed this summer the Family Summer of Fun. Follow along with out adventures!

Fifteen Months

Fifteen months have come and gone.

You were slow to walk but now run everywhere you go.

You throw temper tantrums with the best of them, always ready to voice your opinion and show your free spirit.

You can say a handful of words and sign even better: more, eat, bath, walk, milk, sleep. Dada and I are proud of all the little tricks we have taught you, asking you at every turn where is Jackson's nose? (eyes? ears? mouth? bellybutton?) You love the limelight and are always happy to perform.

You are a book worm like your Mama. The way you drag a book to the nearest lap and back up - booty first - to sit and be read to makes me smile.

Your favorite game of chase can become deadly when you are pushing your cart. You like to run over anything in your path and shriek hysterically when we dive out of the way or when the dogs jump onto the couch to escape.

You have to do everything yourself and almost refuse to eat unless you have utensils. You love the water - any body of water is fair game to splash.

Fifteen months have come and gone.

But at the end of the day - when you are finally lost in your dreams, sucking your thumb under the watchful eye of your stuffed owl - you still look every bit of 7 lbs, 6 ozs.

Waiting to Be Called

Disappointment is such a terrible feeling.

The last time I was disappointed I was a senior in high school. A name had just been called for homecoming queen. Not my name.

I was left standing in the middle of the gym floor, wondering why I wasn't good enough.

Don't get me wrong; I am not a sore loser. I was genuinely happy for the winner.

But? There are only so many times you can be left waiting for your name to be called before you start questioning yourself.

Why am I here?

What did I do wrong?

Why am I not good enough?

I pride myself in being a go-getter. I usually have no problem picking myself up when I fall.

But? Dusting the dirt off of yourself gets old.

I am just kicking dirt, waiting for my name to be called.

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Linking up with Pour Your Heart Out.

Family Summer of Fun

 

Kris, Jackson and I have been a family of three for one year and 15 months. In that time period we have been alone - just the three of us - for four months. My brother-in-law lived with us and my mom.

There was nothing wrong with either of those situations; however, with summer approaching there is no better time than now to focus on our family - just the three of us. We live in an amazing outdoor-friendly town and I want to take advantage.

So, I declare this summer the Family Summer of Fun. The goal?

To reconnect.

To let Jackson experience new things.

To enjoy the sunshine.

To enjoy each other.

To have fun.

So, what am I missing? What is your favorite summer activity?

Wordless Wednesday: Wedding Shower Bliss

What I wore.

Who we celebrated.

What we gave.

He Just Saw Friend

Little man is an only child; however, he gets plenty of interaction with other children daily - his cousins, at the playground, at the pool - or so I thought.

Jackson plays alongside the other kids great but if they approach him he gets the deer-in-the-headlights look. He doesn't react, just simply stops and watches them. He has even let another kid take his toy and walk away. It doesn't add up with his bossy demanding strong personality at home.

I wonder when he runs into my arms or hides his face in my leg if it is my fault. Do I baby him too much? Is he too dependent on me? Should I encourage him to play more?

The other day we were sitting in the courtyard on a blanket. Jackson was building blocks and reading a few chapters in a book, trying to soak up some sun. The neighbors, whom we never see come outside, let their kids out to play. The beautiful, Indian girls could hardly speak English but they eventually made their way over to where we were sitting. I encouraged them to play with the extra blocks; it seems like they don't typically get much play time.

I sat close to little man while he watched the girls - one hardly older than he.

With one outstretched hand, he surprised me.

Jackson handed the girl a block and happily helped them build a tower. I was amazed to see him interact and not act frightened. Maybe it was because the girls were fairly quiet themselves? Maybe he knew they wanted a friend so badly?

He didn't see color. Or language barrier. Or gender. He just saw friend.

Great Expectations

Expectation:

• The act or state of expecting; Anticipation
• Something expected
• The state of being expected

Expect:

• To anticipate or look forward to the occurrence of
• to look forward

Ever plan something and it turn out completely different?

Ya, that.

Come read all about my Great Expectations over at Greta's.