I’ll never catch up.

 I’ll never catch up here… so there’s that! I’ll sure try though!!!

My oh my has life flown by. Georgia just started her FRESHMAN year of high school! 😳 After a lot of consideration, prayer and just God working His way in our lives,  she is attending Houston Christian High School. She was accepted not only to the school but also into the George and Barbara Bush Distinguished Scholars Program (DSP)!! Ummm total Mom brag but this is HUGE! Beyond proud of her!!

More info on the program can be found here:

https://www.houstonchristian.org/the-bush-center

And here:

https://www.houstonchristian.org/the-bush-center/distinguished-scholars-program

But wait! There’s more!! She tried out and made the High school Silver Spurs team. She auditioned and landed a role in the high school play AND the high school musical. Y’all, she is all around killing. it. 🙌🏼

She’s danced in two games now and I’ve gotta say, seeing her perform at her high school games has been 1,000% surreal to me. Like, how is she out there? She was just a bayyyybe not that long ago! 😭 At the same time, I’m the proudest Mom ever of her. I’ve spent years being sad about her “growing up” and, don’t get me wrong, it is still sad, I still tear up & get emotional over it and my mind is still baffeled  over how a child can change so much from year to year BUT- this year, I finally came to this strange place. 

I was tears when I dropped her off for her first day for sure- but it’s different now. It’s like, I know she’s got this. I know I’ve done everything in my power to set her up for success and I know, without a doubt, she’s going to be successful. She’s grown up and she’s about to take off and fly- I cannot wait to see where she goes from here. Georgia and I will always have a bond unlike any other. Love you G and you’re going to do it all!!!

On to my sweet Lola! We just celebrated her SECOND birthday!!! Time with her feels different. It doesn’t seem like “just yesterday” she was born. It feels like that occurred decades ago. So many phases of life since she has been in it but we are truly settled now. She is seriously the happiest toddler ever- unless, of course, you tell her, “No”. 

Be warned, if you say that word you just signed yourself up for a 45 minute theatrics show. It begins with her eyes looking up at you, huge and sorrowful. Next, the bottom lip pops out. I have NEVER seen a bottom lip pop out like this in. my. life. I’m thinking, “this cannot be real… but she doesn’t know how to fake?” Next up is the hard breathing. She gulps several times. Spends at LEAST 90-120 seconds building herself up for the full on waterworks show that follows. 🤨 Meanwhile, I’m standing there struggling to understand, 1. What just happened, 2. How can she stick her bottom lip out like that and how does she know how to do this?! And 3. Whoa! I did NOT know taking my mascara back from her was going to cause all of this ruckus!!!

It is INTENSE. 😳

Other than that…. She’s happy go lucky all of the time, giggles, laughs, dances, plays music, sings, LOVES the water and swimming!!! She loves to shriek out of happiness and it’s super cute and super loud. Today at the pool she was doing this and it was super cute! When she did it non stop, in first class, on our flight to Orlando, still super cute ((to me)) but not so much to the other passengers… 😬🤷🏻‍♀️

We had the BEST second bday party for her last weekend and getting back on here reminds me I HAVE to come and to a recap of not only her second bday, but her 1st as well!!!

That wraps this semi catch up post! Hopefully back soon with backtracking birthday posts for the girls!!

Xoxo,

Melanie

Life as we know it.

About this time one year ago our entire world changed when I found out Lola was on her way and the weeks that came after.

and here we are.

I think the best thing about change is how it forces you to evolve and become something you didn't know you could be. That's happened and continues to happen. 

My sweet Lola was born on 8/27/2019. The days after her birth blur for me. She was admitted into the NICU and it was such a surreal experience I haven't had a moment to stop and truly digest what all occurred during the first few days of her life. I still hold her close and cannot believe she is real. I will walk up the stairs to put her in bed, catch a glimpse of myself holding this baby and think, "whoa, when did this happen?!". I am so thankful for her. She saved me. 

You've gotta break before you build... or shatter. 

Time to rebuild.

So this is really happening.

27 days from now I revert back to "mama" which then will turn into my favorite word in the world, "mommy" that I held onto desperately with Georgia and for years would still sign my notes to her as "mommy". I finally begrudgingly accepted times have changed and I'm now "mom" and I'm okay with it now. Georgia is my #1, my sidekick, my proudest accomplishment in life and now...I get to do it all over again. 

As this pregnancy comes to an end to be honest- I'm not ready for it to end. I don't feel like I've taken it all in yet. I'm not totally uncomfortable- in fact, other than the placenta previa that required me to stay off my feet and take it easy this has been a fairly easy pregnancy. I am actually enjoying being pregnant. Lola kicks me every night and through out the day- Georgia never moved so it's fun to experience that. I feel more connected to this baby than I did to Georgia... maybe because she's my second and I know what to expect. I don't know- I just know that I've tried my best to take it all in and I've been in complete awe of the entire pregnancy process this time around and the way my body has grown and adapted to create this tiny baby living inside of me and I'm not ready for that part to end.

I suppose part of it is knowing this time around this will be my last pregnancy. After all these years of wanting another baby and now on the precipice of having another baby it's sad to think this is the last time I'll do this. 

I also still pinch myself and can't quite believe this is happening. December 2018 seems like just yesterday. This pregnancy has flown by. I can't really comprehend that I'm just 27 days out from holding this beautiful baby in my arms.

As far as being prepared on all other fronts... let me just say, I have the BEST family and friends in the world. The amount of baby gear is staggering and her clothes... oh her clothes! I had to move a portion of them to my closet and box up the rest. Her closet right now consists of one entire rack of Newborn only sized clothing (along with 2 dresser drawers filled with newborn sleepers) and the other rack filled with all 0-3 month sized clothing. There is no more room to hang anything else up and all the 3-6 month, 6-9, 12month and on up has been packed away until she grows into it!

This baby is so loved and I am so thankful for all the support during this pregnancy. It's been quite a journey but as always, God is in control. I've truly turned over so much to Him during this time and I'm thankful for the sense of peace I have. He has blessed me more than I could have imagined. Every time I've doubted myself or questioned my path God has shown up big time. It's been pretty humbling. I know, without a doubt, that everything will be okay. Life has a funny way of working out.

xoxo,

Melanie

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"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."- John Lennon

I’ll miss you. Maybe.

“Mom, I’m going to miss you so much. I’m sad you are leaving on Valentine’s Day. It’s like the first holiday that you will be gone. Ever. Did lee know what day this was when he booked your trip?”

“Yes Georgia, he knew it was Valentine’s Day. It was suppose to be more romantic that way. Plus, I’ll only be gone a half day longer than usual from you. I’ll be here in the morning.”

“Oh, so will we still get our Valentine’s Day presents”

😐

Yeah- she’s really going to miss me tons. 🙄

Early Mornings

Little did I know when we gave the kids Echo Dots at Christmastime what changes lay in store for us. Georgia discovered how to tell 'Alexa' to set an alarm for her every morning. Much to my surprise Georgia is now waking up on her own at 6am (huh? why?? I know...), making her own lunch and breakfast. By the time I roll out of bed at 7am she's just hanging out waiting for me. I cannot tell you how much faster this makes our mornings go!! It is the most AMAZING thing in the world. I don't have to do anything except fix her hair and we are off!

So many things about her growing up make me so sappy and sad. Hands down, not this one, not this one at all. If I only knew a voice activated alarm would have made this change in our lives I would have set it up YEARS ago. 

Praise you Alexa. Praise you.

All good things come to an end....

So here we are.... my how much has changed. Today I attended Georgia's last ever elementary Christmas party at school. What a rush of emotions. This is the last year that she will have a class party full of cookie decorating, ornament making and 'Best Snowman' contests.

I had flash backs today as I attended the same pep rally I've attended for the last 6 years and watched the RCE teachers do their annual teacher dance at the end. I remembered Georgia's very first Christmas party there in Kindergarten. Her most favorite and special teacher, Mrs. Robbie, who ended up becoming one of my trusted friends and helped Georgia and I both through some pretty rough times. The years literally have flashed through my mind today. Every year I can see vividly. Kindergarten with hot chocolate, cookie decorating. 1st grade and ornaments... afterward I hired a limo to pick up Georgia and her friends and I took 9 little girls ice skating at the Galleria then on for hot chocolate. The pajamas worn in 2nd grade, the haste of the 3rd grade party because we were closing up shop in the temporary building and EVERYONE was ready to get outta there! 4th grade and watching them play the games and finally a grade level wide party today in 5th.

You never know what life will bring you. One thing I know without a doubt is that I have a little girl that I love with every ounce of my being. I have been to every single performance, game, party that she has ever had and I always will be there. I love watching her grow into the amazing young woman she is becoming but it hurts so much to realize these days are gone forever.

My heart breaks knowing this time in our lives truly is coming to a close. One more semester and we leave a school where 'everyone knows our name' and head out into the unknown. I guess I thought she just might stop growing up and stay little forever.

Thank you Georgia for making me a 'Mom'. It is undeniably the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life.... even with all the tears that come along with it! ;)

Our new home!

Lee and I bought our first home together this October! It's been so much fun to decorate and move in and finally have a yard and space!!! The very first thing we did when we moved in was PAINT- everything!!!! The previous owners really loved some faux paint. 😬 The home (in my opinion) is absolutely gorgeous with some fantastic features I've only every dreamed of having... but getting rid of that paint job was essential.

Here are a few before and afters!