Love

{2015 Resolutions}

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January 17, 2015

Happy New Year.

I’ll count today as my new year. Resolutions just didn’t happen this year before New Year’s Day… And ya know what? That’s OK. A lot didn’t happen this year… {I was going to post a link here to our 2014 resolutions… turns out, they never even made it to the blog} Blogging most certainly fell by the wayside. Weight loss post baby? Ha! Potty training? Forget it! But so much did {Annual Recap HERE}

This year I thought I’d try to just choose a word.  A word to live by, that encompassed most of my resolutions. In my brainstorming, I kept coming back to this verse: {John 14:27} “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  I recognized an emotion/state that I so deeply desire and settled on the word PEACE. I’m resolving to choose the calm, avoid the chaos. Slow down, appreciate, enjoy, live in the moment. I’m going to be at peace with myself – mind, body and spirit. I’m going to practice acceptance with less judgement. I’m going to try to see only the positive and complain less.  In the past I’ve made resolutions of weight loss, healthier eating habits… Not texting while driving. Not to say these aren’t still things I’d love to focus on… But not setting myself up to fail or forget such specific goals.

With Dan – prioritize each other above kids. Make more time for one another – date each other. Take a sincere interest in each other’s daily lives. Make time for intimacy. Speak each other’s love languages fluently. Support each other in goals and passions. Be intentional in how we are shaping our family – spend quality time together bonding, with fewer distractions – hiking, adventure, vacation. Pay more attention to each other than we do our smart phones.

With kids – parent with LOVE and patience. Remember to always lead by example. Set a vibe in our family we want emulated. Make daily life less of a race. Slow down and appreciate experiencing the world through younger eyes. Be less rigid with a routine and schedule – “feed them, love them, spoil them”. Let them be little. Make sure that they know undoubtedly how much we love them. Cook more together. Grow a garden – develop a healthy relationship with food. Be more intentional with kid entertainment – less screen time, more brain building/ learning activities for Olivia, sensory fun for Townes. Eliminate toys that don’t foster learning and creative play.

With myself – respect and love myself. Make time for myself – exercise, healthy eating, reflection and prayer, hobbies and interests. Love the person I see in the mirror. Make changes to BE that person. Be myself with new friends – only spend time on relationships worth fostering. Speak only words that build others up instead of tearing them down. Show acts of kindness. Be genuine. Keep in touch with Dallas friends – make concrete plans to visit and schedule (at least!) monthly phone dates. Give myself grace with weight loss and body image – remember that I’m nourishing another and set a positive example for Olivia. Drink less alcohol, consume less sugar and processed foods. Repair, Sustain, Rekindle, and Grow various relationships with friends and family.

With finances – Sell our house. Buy a house. Exercise patience with making home improvements and furnishings.  Pay off credit card debt – don’t add to credit card debt. Create savings for Olivia and Townes.

 

 

 

 

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Family P: TEN TEN TEN

Two  years ago today, October 10th, 2010 (Yes… 10/10/10), Daniel and I tied the knot in front of our closest family and friends at the Pacific Edge Villa in Laguna Beach, CA.

Today we’re celebrating our second wedding anniversary… well actually he’s in Houston working and I’m home sick with a cranky teething baby… Today IS the day. And we ARE planning on celebrating. (We failed miserably last year.) Later this weekend…we’re dressing up, dinning out, getting a babysitter… the whole nine yards.

Just the other night, Daniel and I were snuggled up in bed watching a chick flick, enjoying some rare alone time (Olivia frequently co-sleeps) pigging out on some late-r night snackies… he looked over at me and just said, “Meg, You’re my best friend.” 

I feel incredibly blessed to be married to such an amazing man. Daniel truly is my better half. He is my best friend. My lover. (A few weeks ago the sermon at church touched on the stigma behind the word… fear of using it… etc. It stuck with me… more on that another time). He makes me laugh like nobody can- Loves me in ALL my nerdiness and crankiness. Oh! and he ALWAYS lets me have the last bite of dessert. Our love grows and changes every day – I can’t wait to see where it will take us in the years to come.

Dan + I fondly remember our wedding as “the best party OF ALL TIME.” Obviously we’re a tiny bit biased…  

Featured Images courtesy of Cameron Ingalls Photogrpahy – In case you’re in need of a wedding photographer… definitely check him out. We were beyond thrilled with his work 🙂

My Mom + Sisters stuffing me into my teeny tiny wedding dress

The Pacific Edge Villa, Laguna Beach, CA

Some fun was had

Dan + his Dudes

“Livin’ on a Prayer”

Air Guitar

Post Wedding Tacos

 

 

Oh! and one more…

Awesomeness

 

Family P: Am I doing this right?

I must admit – I feel like I’m finally starting to get a hang of this whole MOM thing. Olivia has her first cough/cold this past week – going on 6 days of the snottiest and crankiest little Liv… No fever. Just snot. and LOTS of it. Standing in the hall bathroom (it’s much smaller than ours) with a steamy shower running and a tearful baby wrapped tightly to my chest – it hit me  – You’ve Arrived, Welcome to motherhood! Just as I started to feel completely hopeless, unable to do anything to soothe my miserable baby girl- she laid her head down on my chest, whimpered then closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Most rewarding are the moments when you just feel like, “I’m doing it right!” 

In the past 7 months I have become increasingly thankful for such an amazing support group of friends and family. They (Y’all – because lets just face it… y’all are likely the only ones following this blog) are my constant assurance that I am actually “doing it right;” that I am a good mother.  I want each of you to know how appreciated your words, advice, time, prayers, etc. are. Your support means so much to Daniel + I. We truly believe that it takes a village to raise a baby – Family and Friends alike – We feel incredibly blessed to have you and consider YOU part of our village. 

We are among the first in our circle(s) of friends to have a baby(ies). As much as we’ve made an effort to not let “having a baby” change who we are and what we love to do; there are some lifestyle changes that are inevitable. For the most part, our young married and single friends have been wonderfully accepting, understanding and accommodating as we navigate through this change. I’m reminded of this every time Olivia spits up on a girlfriend’s silk blouse and she pretends like it’s REALLY no big deal… or it’s overlooked when show up 15 min late but still have to leave promptly to catch bedtime… or when we bring a big embarrassing animal-print high chair cover in to a trendy upscale restaurant. I’m constantly juggling feelings of eagerness to have some of y’all join the club with understanding when dinner + drinks invitations taper and  still contentment with exactly the life we’d imagined (It’s unreal how insanely happy we are). Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to our amazing friends, who have not abandoned us because we had a baby, and became SIGNIFICANTLY more dorky than we were before.

Would also love to mention how grateful I am to have some good new-Momma friends, nearby and far away alike. I love knowing that y’all are out there for 2 am text messages or emails about diaper rash, spit-up and sweet potato puree. Ready and willing to answer the questions I’m too embarrassed to call my pediatrician about. It’s amazing how something a baby in common can bond you to someone instantly… Hope y’all feel the same.

Much Love,

Momma Meg

PS. I guess I get kind of sappy when Daniel is out of town. 

A Post about Us

New Year’s Eve 2006

Daniel and I met during my first semester at SMU. When I transferred after one semester (I didn’t realize that SMU required a uniform including Lacoste polos, seersucker dresses and BMWs.) we stayed friends long distance. We’d been on a few dates while I was living in Dallas but didn’t call it official for almost two years later. I decided to give him a long-distance chance – October 2005. We dated long distance through Summer of 2006 while I finished up my general ed at a local (So Cal) community college when I transfered back to SMU. After a lengthy protest concerning transfer credits, I decided to transfer, yet again, to Chapman University. That Summer, Daniel and I packed up and moved to Orange, CA.

New Year’s Eve 2007

I think we’d both agree that this was one of the BEST years of our lives. You know those summer’s  in high school that you would fondly remember as being completely carefree. You did “fun stuff” EVERY day. This was OUR summer. We spent days at the beach, made weekend trips to Big Bear and San Diego… became Disneyland pass holders. We spent most of our time outdoors, walking, hiking and exploring. We enjoyed everything that Southern California had to offer – All of the amazing perks I’d taken for granted growing up.

Spring 2008

After a year – Daniel packed up and headed back to the DFW area to take advantage of job offer he couldn’t turn down. Once again, we we dated long distance for a year- After one of the BEST years… this was one of the LONGEST. I was determined to finish up at Chapman before joining him in Dallas.

Summer 2009

The night before I graduated, May 2009, I picked Daniel up from the airport and played along with his request to go to “Table Rock” Beach to climb on the rocks and reminisce. When I was turned away, Daniel crouched down and peered into a tidepool. He called me over, claiming to have seen a starfish in the water. When I turned around to look he was already down on one knee. A few weeks later, we made the cross-country drive (yet, again!) and started planning our dream wedding.

Fall 2010

October 10, 2010, surrounded by our closest family and friends – Daniel and I said “I do” at the Pacific Edge Villa in Laguna Beach, CA just minutes away from where we got engaged. We both agree… hands down… best party EVER. The atmosphere was comfortable, casual and perfectly “us”.

Fall 2010

After honeymooning in Los Cabos Mexico, we returned home to Dallas and weeks later moved into our first house… A little vintage (actually VERY vintage – originally built in 1913) yellow house in historic area of East Dallas. We haven’t exactly made it around to making many BIG improvements… but couldn’t pass up the charm!

Summer 2011

In June of 2011, we found out that we were expecting a new addition to our little family. We celebrated the news with our families surrounding a family vacation to Hawaii and embarked on another crazy year!  After an exhausting first trimester, I made the decision to step down from my retail management position to commission sales. Daniel and I had talked a lot about parenting styles and both agreed that it would be best for me to stay home if we could afford it.

February 2012 

Our daughter, Olivia Kate, was born Valentine’s Day 02-14-2012, 6lbs 13 oz, 19 inches long. A week early, but perfectly healthy in every way! This little blessing has, without doubt, changed our lives in the most amazing and completely wonderful ways. We both are completely smitten with this little bundle and already cannot remember what life was like without her.

The Durch

In a post about our family, I should also mention our dog “Durch” (AKA “Duchess” – her given name). Our 9 year old, “troubled teenager” black labrador retriever. She’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, brightest crayon in the box… etc., despite her flaws (and there are MANY…) We love her and consider her excessive-shedding-self to be part of the family.