Birmingham Views

  We moved to Birmingham about a month or so ago, and guys let me tell you, we absolutely love it here. Anthony lived here for six years getting his undergrad and grad degrees so it's like returning home for him. I've only visited Birmingham in small spurts for work or shopping.

  I was most excited that there's plenty to do around the city so there's no such thing as saying, "I'm bored." While we enjoyed our time in Dothan, there was plenty of times where we sat around because there was nothing to do other than a visit to Target.

  Even if you just want to go outside and check out the beautiful elevated views of the city or watch the sunset from our loft, it's a great place to be and good times to be had.

What To Do When Your Baby Wipes Dry Out

  We have a wonderful wipes warmer which we leave on 24/7. August doesn't really care if his wipes are chilled or warmed, but we have it so we use it. The only issue is that he's out of town once per month when he's visiting Grandparents and I'm traveling for work.
 
  We forget to turn the contraption off so, of course, the wipes dry out since they're continuously heated and not being used. Everyone who has ever had a baby knows there's nothing worse than having a serious Numero Dos on your hands and dry wipes. Without going into the details, it's just a mess.

  I finally had an A-ha moment today. I still have a travel-sized spritz bottle of witch hazel from post-delivery. It turns out August loves getting spritzed; who knew a good spray on the fanny was so fun? Double dudy (get it, du-dy?!), it's soothing to his newly developed diaper rash.

  Score!

In the Moment

  As I walk into the door from a long day's work, Anthony hands me our half-sleeping baby. I hold him, arms lazily wrapped around my neck and body melded to mine, and I melt. Heart and soul. I carefully walk to the rocking chair where I whisper hushed "I love yous" in his ear as I do my very best to memorize the feeling of 19.2 pounds of my baby boy sleeping on me. I know my mind will never be able to replicate this exact feeling so I remind myself to stop stressing that this moment is fleeting and banish the need to memorize it. I remind myself to be in the moment with him, to cherish it with all my heart.

2014 Made Me...

 2014 was a continuous string of treasured moments that flew by so quickly I'm not sure that I'll be able to remember all of it. We fit a good many milestones into 2014. It was beautiful. It was wonderful. It was epic, and it was life-altering.

  2014 made me a wife. I got to marry the most absolutely beautiful man. Anthony is seriously the most beautiful person I've ever met--outward,  and more importantly,  inward. He makes me a better person and our partnership brings out the best in me. I am so proud to be his Mrs.

  2014 made me a mama. The first half of the year was spent in preparation for our bundle of joy, and the remaining half was spent wrapped in parental bliss. This son of ours is such a blessing! He is so happy, so healthy, and so fun. I am so proud to be his Mommy.

  2014 made me a nervous wreck. I stressed more this year that in all my years on this earth combined. I have stressed about things that matter so much, and I've stressed about things that mattered not so much. In all that anxiety and worry, I learned a lesson that I hope to return to each and every day: God's got this. I remember talking with my Dad early in the year about all the stress. There were a million things on my plate at the time, and I had very little control over any of them. My Dad said something very simple and yet so profound that it didn't sound profound at all. He said, "Whatever is meant to happen will happen." At the time, I thought he was being so cavalier about it all, and I couldn't understand how he could seem to so nonchalant. But he was right, as most parents always are. Everything worked out in the best way it possibly could have. There was absolutely no point in my worry. Let go and let God.

  2014 made me an observer. I find myself observing others in their everyday lives and taking note. I watch spouses' interactions with one another, and try to learn something from it. I observe mothers with children older than mine. I try to wean as much knowledge and insight into the future as I possibly can because I am hyper-aware that mine and Anthony's choices today will shape our son's tomorrow. I can read all the books in the world and not learn as much as I could simply by observing my peers.

  2014 made me grateful. I have so much for which to be grateful; my cup runneth over.

  I hope each of you can look back on 2014 with fond memories. Whether it was the best or a wash, may 2015 be your year!