Week 22 | May 25th - May 31st.

Sunday - 25th: This morning we went to church at The Park by ourselves. On our way home Parker mentioned that he wanted to play so we swung in a McDonald's with a play place and hung out for well over an hour. Daniel and I chose to eat well and shared a salad. Just because I wanted to, I ordered a double cheeseburger and one bite in I thought it tasted so awful. Once Parker was good and worn out, we headed home for naps and relaxation.

Parker took this of his Daddy (I upgraded my iPhone)

Monday -  26th: The daddy's had the day off for Memorial Day so we planned a trip up to the wildlife ranch with Jake, Hayley and Tate. It started pouring on our way there but we kept on since there wasn't really a backup plan. And once we tell Parker what we're doing it's so hard to back out of it. He's been looking forward to our trip. We all piled in one car and made the rounds in the rain, laughing at ourselves the entire time. We had lots of fun together, made even more memorable by Pierec blowing out a diaper and Hayley not being able to escape the car since the animals were so close and the alternative being to stick her head out the window in the rain! Late lunch at a little Italian place was relish.




Tuesday - 27th: Today is our last day of soccer this spring. Sweet Daddy Daniel showed up as a surprise and Parker smiled so stinking big. He loves when his Daddy is around during normal workday hours. Our boy is such a craver of quality time. This afternoon we had quite a scare when all of our phones went off with a tornado warning. Tornados were sighted within miles from our house. Funny enough, all of the neighbors on our street walked out into the street to discuss. Ha! Parker, Pierce and I sat in Pierce's closet for a few minutes until it went around us. Thankfully, no hail or crazy winds and no tornadoes!

This is what we do on school days -- snuggle! Solo trip to the doctor today! Pierce has had a funky rattle in his chest. Of course he was fine when Dr. Gonzalez checked him out. Big boy weighed in at 14lbs3oz.




Wednesday - 28th: The morning began with a rough start. Parker hasn't been listening well and I just haven't had the patience to work through our struggles. In an effort to get out of the house (we do better together when not cooped up), I drove us to story time only to discover that story time is on a hiatus until summer. So awesome. Parker was bummed. We tried to read a few magazines to ourselves but Pierce wasn't really happy and juggling both the boys was a little much. For once, we didn't check out a single book and headed for the playground. On our way home we stopped for a lunch date at Panda Express. Thankfully, we caught a couple of short naps and were happy until bedtime.



Trying to chill out with some yoga.

Thursday -29th:  Today is our last day of school and we have two entire weeks off. I'm not sure I will know what to do with all of our time together and I'm hoping we don't go crazy. I think we're going to hang around in Navasota a little since Cookie will be out for summer. Woohoo. The kiddos celebrated today with a class party. When I dropped Parker off I realized that I hadn't gotten his teachers a gift. So not like me, I blamed it on having a new baby. I ran to Target and filled a few tubs up with yellow goodies for a bucket of sunshine gift. My fave! It's so fun to shop for these items. I grabbed a CFA tray of nuggets and made it back to school in time to watch Parker eat lunch and play with his friends. We gave extra hugs to our friend Shiloh today since she'e moving to Alaska! Parker adores Shiloh and talks about her all the time. I know he will miss her so much. Mama had to prepare for a very long afternoon with early release from school and Daddy attending game 5 of the Spurs playoffs. Both boys melted down after bath. All I could do was laugh and hit record to video the chaos.

Parker took this photo of Pierce without my knowing it and I love it -- chunky perspective and all.




When these little friends hugged goodbye for what could be the last time they'll ever see one another, I teared up. I absolutely love what Parker's school has given us.

Little brother napping. Daddy not coming home. This is how mama plays ball.

Some fun school memories


Not sure what happened to my little baby boy. Now, he's a big boy!

Friday -30th: This morning was all about packing to head home to Mom's for a week. My very best man friend is getting married tomorrow. I'm super excited to celebrate with Cameron and Trish. We made the most of our road trip, got in at a fairly decent time and put the boys to bed. Then the texts about meeting up at north gate started flooding in. So Mark dropped Kara off at Mom's so we could catch up and he and Daniel met up with all the other guys in College Station. Around 1am it occurred to both Kara and I that we should probably go pick our husbands up so that they wouldn't have to drive home. Both Daniel and Mark thought we were crazy but we didn't care. We drove the suburban and sat parked at north gate feeling like total moms. Ha! It was so much fun to spend time laughing with our friends. Cameron will never quite live down seeing me and calling me Jessica!


Saturday -31st: Cameron's wedding day is here! This guy is my best brother friend and I couldn't be more proud of the woman and life he's chosen. We've been friends since "wrinkled knee" bus rides home from band trips in seventh grade. Though we don't see one another all that often and don't always chat much, we do always pick up right where we left off. The Cunneen wedding was such a hit! It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and witness the happy union of someone so very special to me.




Photo credit to the grouping above - Yolanda, Shelbie and Kathy.

Week 21 | May 18th - May 24th.

Sunday - 18th: Brother love this morning at Cookie's.


Monday - 19th: Bekah took the boys shopping for lunch stuff and of course, they loved the mini shopping carts. This afternoon, we borrowed Mom's car and took all the kids out for froyo. Love the photo of Bekah and Berto with all their nephews and one lone niece. Cuties!




Tuesday - 20th: Special deliver to NHS. Had so much fun creating this box of sunshine for my friends.


Wednesday - 21st: We're home! Toe kisses for Pierce from the big brother this morning. Parker and I had a fun day together. He spent some time making me "cards". I love how creative he is and appreciate when he's thoughtful. During dinner prep, Pierce just wasn't having it and couldn't be put down. He's such a sweet boy and rarely acts fussy or gets sad. When he does, I make sure to listen. We sat and rocked in his room until he felt better. This guy is definitely proof that time passes quickly and I should always make room in our day for snuggling. Parker and I picked up a spider man costume from a neighbor and he loved it. Bedtime for my little mister means having a full blown party. He loves to talk and smile. I love it!






Thursday - 22nd: I love my one on one time with my Pierce man. We usually spend our time together on the couch or napping. I try to hold him as much as I can! Crazy faces since we're so excited about some Target this afternoon....probably because we grabbed a snack! Bath time is so sweet for me. I love seeing all the dimples and rolls on my little fatty's body. He's just the cutest!




Friday - 23rd: Pierce's first time in the bumbo! I have photos of Harley checking Parker out just like this. When babies are on her level, she snoops them out. Thankfully, she's a very sweet bully. It was very last minute but this afternoon we hopped in the truck and headed to inflatable wonderland to celebrate Jackson's bday with the Roussin family. Parker had a great time running around!



Saturday - 24th: This is the only photo I snagged today. Look at my sweet little bug, all snuggled up. He's so precious I can hardly stand to put him down.

Week 20 | May 11th - May 17th.

Sunday - 11th: For four Mother's Days I've had the honor of being called Mama. Oh, there is no greater name on earth. Thank you Jesus for letting me be HER without having earned such a title. I certainly am not worthy of the incredible blessings you pour into my life. Thank you Daniel for the gift of parenting. On our worst day, I'm grateful we have one another to laugh with. You are such a great support to me and I appreciate that you boys let me "rule the roost". Thank you Mama for showing me what true love looks like. Only a mother knows, after all. Thank you Barbara for loving me as another daughter and for raising a sweet man for me to call husband. Thank you Baba for the love that you spill into every crack and crevice of our lives. You are one of my greatest treasures. Thank you Shalley sisters for being mama and friend along side me. Never a dull moment when we are together. Our children are so lucky to have one another. Thank you Hannah and Rebekah for being mama to my boys in my absence. They love you big! Thank you to my own aunts for being mama and friend to me. To all the women a little further down the road...thank you for sharing your stories. Your wisdom and transparency are appreciated. I admire you and hope to be the mentor you are to me to some other girl someday. To all my sister friends...well, you make motherhood survivable. You give me strength and support and allow me to lean into you when needed. You make me laugh and cry and hope. You bring me joy and encouragement. You remind me we are not alone, no matter where we reside. Thank you for holding my hand and hugging my neck and kissing my face! Because of you I feel more comfortable in my mama skin. Parker and Pierce, YOU are all that I live for. You give me purpose. Through all the mess and craziness, I breathe in knowing that you two are the most fulfilling thing I've ever done in my life. Thank you for sticking with me when I have no idea what I'm doing (which is all the time). I never imagined I'd love stinky, sweaty, silly, poo poo obsessed human beings so deeply. I hope you know that no one will ever love you like your Mama does.

Poppy, Ginger, Bubba and Rilee came over for lunch and Pierce was finally able to meet his great grandaddy. I love seeing my 80+ year old grandfather's huge hands holding my sweet little boys. There's just something about generational photos that makes me all teary eyed. We had a great time visiting and eating delicious food before road tripping back to SA. Parker is in love with his belated bday presents -- guns!

Monday - 12th: This morning awoke to the sound of a gun clicking. I shot up in bed and saw that Parker was standing in my room. Today's the only time he's ever gotten out of bed unannounced and scared the living daylights out of me as he crept into my room. We will definitely be discussing proper wake up protocols. The boys and I went to MOPS one final time this semester and headed home to relax the remainder of the day. Storms rolled in this evening so we weren't able to fall asleep without Parker in our bed.


Tuesday - 13th: Parker had school and soccer today. For some reason I thought it'd be the right time to do some insane grocery shopping. Pierce and I spent hours in the store and didn't check out for under $300. We were both hungry by the time we got back to the house. I put away all our groceries and barely made it back to school in time to get Parker. Despite being exhausted from not being at home all day, we did get in a little exercise this afternoon. I have to laugh at Parker's efforts, but really I'm so proud at how well he pays attention to the things that matter in our lives.


Wednesday - 14th: Lazy laundry day at our house today. I love this image of Parker subtly hinting to me that he'd like a snack. Ha! Clever kid.


Thursday - 15th: While big brother was at school, little brother slept the day away. We came home to the sweetest little gift from our UPS man. I love small, thoughtful gestures. Knowing that we'd be celebrating and indulging all weekend, Daniel and I made sure we fit our workout in. It was late. Both boys were asleep and we totally didn't want to. So glad we have one another as a support system though! I hope we can continue to workout together.





Friday - 16th: This is what 31 looks like. Pierce was the first to greet me on my birthday. Poor baby can't stop coughing, choking and gagging. I've suctioned him and there's nothing significant coming out. Hoping he can fall into a deep enough sleep that this doesn't bother him all night. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the weight of my baby on my chest. Even at 2am.

Found my son being adventurous enough to give me a small birthday heart attack. This guy. He's pretty adventurous these days.

Birthday yoga!

The boys were supposed to be napping so that I could pack but one was fussing and the other bumped his head and needed a story. Mom's don't get the day off...not even on her birthday.

There's nothing like turning 31, nursing a new baby and having your husband walk in with a 6pack of your fave beer on your birthday. He even opened it for me.

Melt down on our way to Nav


Saturday - 17th: Woohoo! Crawfish boil day. I've been craving this yumminess. We were able to spend the afternoon at Bubba and Ginger's and enjoy our fave seasonal bugs. So glad we were able to unexpectedly make the trip. It was great to see so many family members and have them meet our sweet Pierce.



This cowboy is the cutest: