Walk It Out

Where is the time going?

Jack started walking 1.5 weeks ago and by this weekend he has completely decided to stop crawling. Seeing him standing on his own two feet really makes him look like a toddler instead of a baby.

I sort of feel like we are all standing on our own two feet and feeling comfortable in our shoes these days. Every little family has to figure out how to make it work and we are getting better and better at going with the flow.

Jack really let's his little light shine. He has so many different ways of communicating with you just with the expressions on his face. I can't believe he and I haven't had a true conversation, and yet we talk all the time. This has made me realize how important your non-verbal actions really are. I see how much he shows me he loves me and yet he has not been able to ever tell me out loud.

Top ten new things with JACKAROO:

1. He loves to roll in blankets on the ground at the end of the day.
2. Touch and feel books are his favorite (thank you Aunt Krissy for "That's Not My..." books)
3. He has started to feed Cooper from his high chair. This in turn has increased Cooper's love for him.
4. He never stops moving in the bathtub.
5. He loves to push buttons on our entertainment center. Sometimes this leaves me without TV for days because I can't figure out how to fix it if Michael is out of town.
6. You can actually lay him in his crib and he goes to sleep on his own (only took 11 months).
7. Avocado, FAGE yogurt, and meat are his favorite things.
8. He loves for you to follow him like you are playing chase.
9. He enjoys getting into things. Cabinets, baskets, bookshelves, drawers...
10. HE IS SAYING "BYE". That's right, he actually knows that he is telling you bye and says it with a country accent.

What Life is About

Rambling conversations
Midnight swims
Laughing until your belly hurts
Cocktails on your front porch
Afternoon walks
Peonies
Big dreams
Friends that you fart in front of
...yeah I said it.

I want to give a shout out to one of my dearest friends. I know she reads this blog and as I grow older I realize how the person she is truly is always an example to live by. My PaPa would always ask "how is that Lindsay doing...she sure likes to giggle." I wish I had some digital pictures of the old truck she parked outside our high school when I turned 16. The golf cart we used to drive through cow pastures. The mission trips, bible study groups, and youth groups that taught me all about having faith. She IS a good person inside and out, and every time I think about her it brings a smile to my face.

Bastrop or Bust!

We spent some wonderful time with Pop, NaNa, Aunt Krissy, Uncle John, and Gail at Hyatt Lost Pines recently. Of course you know Pop captured some amazing moments. Things to note:
-Jack is fearless
-They have an awesome splash pad
-We all constantly watched him (spoiled first child)
-We are super excited about baby Olivia
-He smiles BIG

Young at Heart

This morning I am lucky enough to hang out with both my kiddos. As I was walking Jack and Cooper around the neighborhood my phone was playing old George Strait songs. I like to try and keep them as country at heart as possible. Thinking about simplifying life got me thinking about the titles we give ourselves.

Wife, mom, christian, sister, daughter, friend, employee, dog owner, home owner, car owner, runner...you get the picture. With all of those titles you have major responsibilities. Each of them require time and dedication. I always feel like the second I have a moment to breath, all of a sudden another beach ball hits me in the head. My oil needs changed. Michael needs a dentist appointment. My client can only talk on her lunch break. Cooper doesn't have enough time to poop in the morning. I have not gotten to call that friend in a while. I always fear falling short of not only other's expectations but my own.

Then I look down at a dog smiling and a kid's toes wiggling and realize that they do not have a care in the world. Okay they do care about eating, sleeping and having fun, but really have no responsibilities at all. I wish I could be everything to everyone at once, but I can't. So I will have to be the best I can and love every second I get when I get that precious time to spend with each of you.

Give me a high five! Five Years!

I have never thought about it until now, but our wedding anniversary actually falls around the same time of year when we first met. It was the end of summer, Krissy and Amanda had been hanging out a bunch during summer school, and they were in the middle of work week for rush. Both of their younger siblings were headed to A&M and they couldn't wait to show us the ropes. Amanda and Michael came over with Sonic drinks so he and I could be introduced before they dropped us off at Fish Camp the next day. He was tall, thin, and shy. I was certain I would do the networking for the both of us at Fish Camp. A miracle put us in the same color group at camp, so we continued to have a safety net and fellow friend during that overwhelming experience. He came out of his shell more and more as the week went on. He introduced me to a girl named Mandy from his hometown who would be going through rush too. She had a sister that was an older Zeta too. Little did I know I was about to spend the rest of my life with these two people...from East Bernard, Texas.

I can still remember eating lunch with him in the MSC like it was yesterday. We would eat "dirty Chinese" and have the best conversations. Although I thought he may like me more than just a friend, he never sugar coated anything and was brutally honest with me. To this day it is my favorite thing about Michael Preisler. I found myself waiting to eat lunch with him excited to get his opinion on things. He noticed I would always keep my fortunes from my fortune cookie, so after a while it became second nature that after he read his he would hand it over to me to keep.

I looked at the frame again today and these are some of the fortunes:
The future holds great things for you.
Simplicity in your lifestyle will ensure you a happy life.
Your cheerfulness will win success.
Don't put off till tomorrow what can be enjoyed today.
Hard work is always appreciated.
A sincere apology goes a long way.
The best mirror is often a good friend.
The most important things in life aren't things.

Looking at these photos you realize how much you have grown up. We thought we were adults when we graduated high school...

Shorty got LOWE

Your first thought...boys and their tools. We both decided to work from home last Friday and part of that entailed shopping at Lowe's. We braved it and decided to take the little man with us. He loves riding in grocery store carts. He dangles those little feet and just takes it all in. We had decided long before we even had kids that our children would know how to use tools. It may not mean driving a tractor down a major interstate at the age of 10 (cough couch Michael), but it will mean using a hammer and nails at a young age. Since Jack's favorite toy has become a baby hammer (literally we did not force this on him), we knew he may enjoy this. Let's just say that the ceiling section of fans may have blown his little mind into another universe. 

Enjoy appreciating Lowe's through a child's eyes. 

Those that know Michael and James Preisler well, know that pictures of Jack next to pipe looking all excited is pretty comical. I am pretty sure he may have a little Preisler coming out in these photos. 

Phase 2 of this post will include his "at home" implementation of using tools. 

New life!

Who knew that grabbing food with your finger tips was such a big deal?!?

We all find ourselves in odd places, you just have to find your way back out!

"When fear knocks let faith answer."- Robin Roberts

I realize as I watch Jack advancing around the house that babies really do have to be brave. They are constantly facing something new every single day and pushing their little bodies to learn. I appreciate the miracle of life and how amazing God's design for each person is. The time and energy that has gone into every person is really overwhelming when you think about it. Sort of makes you realize that you should never treat another person poorly. I think a lot of people think parenting starts once life is brought into this world, but really it starts far before that. It is putting the faith in God that you hope to become pregnant, praying to him every night that you receive that blessing, and then hoping you can do everything in your power to show it true love. Your faith in him and inability to control any of it, reminds you that "we are human." Thank you for being Jack's village. As Dot says, "you can never have too many people love your child." That is right. How sad I would be if he only experienced my love.

Here are photos of our celebration for Krissy's journey with baby Olivia. A baby shower full of friendship and blessings.