All in a year's time

In honor of the first anniversary of my 30th birthday, I'm recapping how our life has changed...

On this day last year- this is what I woke up to

This year-


Last year- I was 6 days pregnant. Pregnant, you say?


This year-I have a 3 month, 2 week, and 5 days old baby boy.


Last year- these were some of my accessories
(my sister and my boa)

This year-
(my super fab diaper bag and many, many, many "burp" cloths--I don't know if I'd call what Everett does into those things 'burping.' Just sayin')



Last year--I went out to a Japanese restaurant in Mexico and had a glass of wine
This year--I'm going to Soul Shine for pizza and a beer (Why Soul Shine you ask? It's quiet enough to not be annoying but loud enough that noone notices if my son loses it in the middle of dinner!)

Last year--my Saints ended the season 8-8
This year--


(and btw--though I'll always be a "Bless you Boys Believer", if you'd have shown me this picture last year, I'd have asked, "Is that a smaller headed Peyton Manning?" or, perhaps, "Why did Tom Brady let Drew hold his trophy?" But NO--we spanked both of those future Hall of Famers. WHAT?)

Last year--my Mom had just had her surgery to remove the initial tumor and was about to start chemo at MD Anderson. Lindsay and I alternated flying to Houston (to give Bert a break) almost every other weekend for about 2 months. She was 2 months into her one year life expectancy.

This year--my Mom is meeting with a thoracic surgeon at Vanderbilt today exploring the possibility of removing the final spots left in her lungs. If possible, she won't even have to be on chemo until they grow back. It's a long shot but one that we'll take!

(Sorry, Mom, I know you don't like this pic but I do and TODAY, it's all about me!)

Last year-- My number one life goal was to be a good wife.

This year--my number one life goal is to be a good wife.

"The greatest gift you can give your children is a happy marriage."-Anon.

I guess things haven't changed too much.

Oh, that smell...

One day, when I die, I think my Heaven will smell like spit up mixed with Johnson & Johnson's "unscented" (that stuff SO has a scent!) baby body wash. I heart that.

The Unanswerables

I know I shouldn’t but sometimes I wonder, “Why me?” I have a friend who is a GOOD person. She really is. I’m talking Christian, caring, sweet, fun-loving, just all around good girl. In the last two years, she has suffered more loss than anyone I know. Among other things, she has lost two children (though painful, I’m not even talking miscarriages) in one year. They had a beautiful, red-headed girl and a handsome, petite little boy. She carried them both the full 9 months and then lost them before she could even “complain” about the trials of parenthood.
When Everett was a baby and needed to be nursed every 3 hours (or less) night and day, I would think how grateful she would be to have to wake up and tend to a baby. Anyway, she’s one of the strongest people I will ever know. But that’s it…What makes me able to watch my healthy, happy son grow and smile and she never will? I did nothing to deserve this more than she does and it pains me that she can’t have this (for right now, I’m holding out hope that one day she will have a child to love.)
I look around at my life. We may not have the biggest house or the nicest things, but all that is so unnecessary. My life is so full and I try to remember that everyday. I have a wonderful husband that is the best teammate in marriage and parenthood. I have a healthy baby boy that has the smile thing down pat and has just recently started laughing. It’s a hiccupping sounding thing that seems to surprise him when it erupts from his belly.
Anyway, why do I get all these things and she has to suffer so much? I know there’s nothing I can do about it but whenever I talk to her, I feel like my words are beyond inadequate. I love her so much and want her to be happy but I cannot imagine continuing to be positive in the face of all that she’s been through. All I know to do is be thankful for my blessings. I just pray that one day, she will get the family and children in which she has dreamt. On this cold, (still) snowy Valentine’s Day, be grateful for all that you do and don’t have. I know I will.