Oh hey...

Oh hi there! I thought I'd pop in and do a mini update. I can seem to find the time to keep (somewhat) up to date with my blog friends by reading their blogs on my iPad or iPhone, but rarely do I have time to comment or post myself. But here's the truth. I miss blogging. I miss having my updates and snippits of my day to day documented. So without further ado... FF to today. February & let's pretend I never left.












What's new? I died my hair ombre and I'm loving. I'm a mom. A working mom. I have very few minutes totally to myself so worry about my roots and scheduling hair appointments away from my boy is just not realistic for me right now. So here we are today: brown and blonde and I'm a fan. (Dylan-still not so sure, but he loves me.)










So you might've heard the Buckingham's were in the hospital for 11 straight days back in November. It was easily the worst time in my life and instead of dwelling on it, I will just give you a brief (ha!) synopsis and we'll move on. Deal?












Garrett had what we thought was just a cold. He was sick through is entire (fabulous) 1st birthday party. Like wouldn't even hold his head up to sit in a high chair to try sugar for the first time kind of sick. It was heartbreaking before I knew what heartbreaking looked like. Kind of like planning a huge wedding and then getting stood up at the alter? Just not at all how I had it envisioned. After about an hour of realizing this party was not going to perk up, we kicked everyone out & headed to the after hours clinic and were told to go straight to the ER. 8 hours in the ER and then we finally got put in a room. We were there and for 6 days and they still couldn't tell us what was wrong with our baby. To say that was rough is the biggest understatement of my life. I wept. I prayed. I didn't shower. I sat and prayed some more. I asked why me. And then I decided this was the hand we were dealt and I was ready to fight. Not fight like angry fight, just ready to tackle this and move on. We had visitors and family and cards and plants and the best support group you could ask for. But it was lonely. Dylan works a million hours a day and is rarely off two days in a row, but he was there for 11 straight days and the head of his TV station even came to visit us. Wow. What a testament to how blessed we are. Anyway, they found out what was wrong and after three surgeries we were told we would have 6 months of roughness and then he would come back for surgery and all would be forgotten. We are now on month three and we are under the impression he will have his final surgery next month. Woohoo! I have tried my hardest to handle myself with grace and not be a constant complainer. But yall. This is hard. Like so hard. Garrett is the biggest trooper and you would never even know he had anything wrong. But as a parent, wow. Dylan and I have been through it. Dylan handles himself so well and I'm sure he thinks I am a hot mess of emotion. But I can say, there is an end in sight and I am ready to seeeeeeee it.












Okay now that that's over with,  I am finding a new normal and I so badly want that to involve blogging. So here we go: I vow right here and now to make blogging a higher spot on my never ending to do list. See you tomorrow? Okay, great!




PS blogger is annoying me and I can't get any pictures to load. So if you even made it this far, bless you.






XO,

Happy Heart

I'm an art teacher.

 

I spend my day (sometimes nights/weekends) planning/prepping art projects for 330 students at our school. I lesson plan. I do research and I spend my time getting inspired. I love my job.

 

 I've always said that I have SO many things I'm interested in, that I've never had just one dream job. My brain works non stop on things that can be created. I love to do a lot.

 

 Sometimes lessons come from ideas I see on pinterest (thank you, God, for pinterest!), pictures I've read in a book or sometimes they pop up in the middle of the night when I'm going through my neverending to do list.

 

I don't teach from a book. I teach from my heart and I think that is important.

 

My point is, is that I am always thinking of what is coming up and how I can tie a cool project into a lesson that our students will not only remember with fond memories, but learn something from. Like every other student loving teacher, my creativity often goes straight to them and not necessarily to me. Which is okay. I like it that way. Most of the time. :)

 

But sometimes, I need my creativitiy to clear my mind. Since becoming a mom I crave that creativity even more. I think because my day to day is so strategically planned and I have gajillion things to do at every waking moment. I think it's an outlet. An outlet that I love and miss. 

 

I don't want to ever forget that part of me. Because yes, I am a wife. A mom. A teacher. 

And those are three of my favorite jobs I wouldn't trade for a second.

 

But, I'm also the same girl that needs to get her hands dirty and create. Which sounds silly since I do that Monday-Friday, but I mean for me.

 

Sometimes my projects are small... it always varies:  it could be a new recipe, a pillow cover, new curtains, a kitchen makeover while my husband's traveling out of town for a bowl game, a crafting and cocktails session with my family...

...

But this week, it was two new ikat paintings for our master bedroom.

 

 

And it sure felt good.

 

 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

WILW:

Three posts in one week? Who am I?? :) Linking up with Jamie again, here we go!

...

I'm loving that some of our 2nd graders did a living history museum in our Library. They had a dot on their hand and when you went around you could push it and they became their historical character. Here I am with Rosa Parks. It was SO cool!!

I'm loving that we are only two days away from Spring Break!!

(Via)

I love waking up and running into this little guys room and seeing his squishy cheeks every morning.

More than that I love that his "405 Pride" OKC Thunder onesie my mom bought him last year, fits him.

I love that the last three nights that same little precious has slept 9 straight hours, then an additional 4.

It's downright exhausting being a growing baby.

I love that me, my mom and Garrett will be crashing my cousin Savannah's senior trip and going along side Gaybra for a girls (plus Garrett of course) week trip over Spring Break. Pure bliss.

And of course, I love this man. I'm so proud of the family that we've built. There's no one I'd rather do life with. :)

Happy Wednesday, friends!



3 months...

Garrett Asher,

You are honestly THE cutest thing I ever did see. I don't believe I will ever get over the fact that you are mine. Even when you look at me like I'm crazy, (see above) my heart still just gushes with pride.

You turned 3 months old on Valentine's day. So it was only appopriate to document you in your cutie onesie that I made you. You are quite a ham. Such a flirt. :)

...

This month we didn't have a doctors appointment. So I have no clue on your stats, but what I can tell you is you are growing like a weed! Your cheeks, in particular, are just so squishy- I steal all the sugars I can get!

You are smiling non stop and cooing. OH the cooing. It is music to my ears. Sometimes, (and by sometimes I mean every minute of the day) we sit and have conversations for as long as you'll let me babble and you just babble right on back. I pray that we will always enjoy our conversations together and you will always feel so safe to tell me whatever is on your heart. You smile at me when you notice I'm looking at you or when you hear my voice. If someone else is holding you, but I'm right there, it's like you only have eyes for me. Bless you, I know that won't last forever but my goodness does it make me feel good now. You are my whole world. I didn't even know a love like this existed. It's like every day that passes just gets better than the day before.

You have been rocking your tummy time and have even begun to roll. You don't fully go all the way over but whether I lay you on your front or your back you go immediately to the side. It's like you know you could go further, but why bother. The side seems to be perfectly fine with you. Who knows, maybe you'll be a side sleeper like your momma?

Everytime I see your precious little tootsies, or squishy little hands I can't help but think of the verse in The Bible  that says "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Because you are, my babe.

...

You're starting to fit in 3-6 month clothing and I already have a huge box full of things you have outgrown.

Each milestone we cross seems to be more and more bittersweet for me. I'm SO proud of you, but I also can't believe that you aren't a "newborn" anymore- even my emails now say "infant". Sigh.

You are sleeping like a champ. Mimi tells me all the time you are spoiling me, but keep it up sweet boy, Daddy and I love it!

 Speaking of Daddy, the two of you are the cutest things.

You guys thumb wrestle. Bless it.

You spend most mornings together and two full days a week are just Daddy/Garrett days. I love coming home from work on those days and hearing all the details about what the two of you have done. He sure does love you and boy do you love him. I like to think I'm your favorite, but the way you light up when he is being silly with you is something I wouldn't trade the world for. I just know the two of you are going to be best friends and make so many wonderful memories together. I try hard not to look too far in the future, because I never want to miss a moment and try to be thankful for the now-but it's hard when I know how much fun the two of you will have with Lambeau and playing sports in the yard. I just feel so much pride thinking of all my boys giggling together.

All in all, you are still the cutest. We love you more than we ever thought possible.

XO,

Mommy

Chicken Salad

I am one picky Chicken Salad lover.

I don't love mayonaisse, so it can't have the slightest taste of that or I'm out.

I like it to have grapes.

 I prefer pecans over almonds.

And I need it to look pretty.

If those things sound like you too, then you will LOVE this salad like I do.

I got it through Pinterest via my Aunt Gaybra. It is supposedly the Neiman Marcus recipe? Who knows if thats true or not, but I changed it up a bit & took it to Recipe Club this last week. Even the pickiest of my friends thought it was good. That is when you know it's a hit. :)

I didn't take a picture of the final product, dadgum. But you get the idea. Grapes, celery, chicken, pecans, dried cranberries, salt, parsely, mayo... and the (not so) secret ingredient, coolwhip. Game changer. 

Try it and let me know what you think! 



Totally Tuesday...

Just incase you've been living under a rock, Friday was National Margarita day. Obviously, I celebrated. Hope you did the same. (Cheers!)

...

In other news, I received Garrett's Easter basket. It is perfect.

We got a new washer and dryer (finally!!)

...and I got some new running shoes. I'm already obsessed with them. (I have yet to actually run in them, because my tail bone is still broken-but I love them on our walks!!) 

Also, this guy is the bees knees. And I'm sure glad he's mine. ;) 



It's Wednesday...

I thought I'd link up with Jamie for "What I'm loving Wednesday"! I read it each week, but haven't ever participated. So I thought, HECK, why not?? There are lots of things I'm loving this week:

My new Planner for work. Gorj. Obviously. ;)

These little cutie boy pants for my babe. Ordered them today.

That I've been back to work now for three weeks and I still haven't shed a tear. How could I when I get notes like these everyday??

I'm loving that it's been snowing in Oklahoma. I'll be it random and it has yet to actually stick, but it is quite beautiful. It reminds me of the Indiana winter from my Anderson University days.

I'm loving my bathing beauty.

Speaking of which, he turned three months old on Valentine's day. (Gah, update coming soon.)

I mean, please. Is he not the cutest little thing you've ever seen in your life?? I just am so in love.

...

And lastly, I'm loving my delicious iced coffee and the caffeine it provides for my new working mom self. (Recipe courtesy of the Pioneer Woman. Try it, so delish!)

Happy Wednesday, friends!