We Are A Family Of Three

An only child clearly has the advantage of always being Mom and Dad's favorite!



I always imagined that I would have two children....a boy and a girl, of course.  I also knew that I wanted to have my children close together in age.  I am ten years older than my one sister and twenty one years older than my other sister.   I was an only child until the age of ten and wanted a sibling more than anything in the world.  I also knew I didn't want to be like my mom who had my sister at the old age of 42.  Nope, that would never be me!



We were married for three years when Brady was born.  March 19, 2003.   The absolute best day of my life.  It was an easy pregnancy...other than an emergency c-section.   Our life would forever be changed. 

We wanted to wait two years before trying to have another child.  Although I wanted my children close in age...I also knew that my type A personality might not be able to handle it!  When Brady was two,  we were in the middle of Eric changing jobs and trying to sell our house.  It was a stressful time and it just didn't feel like the right time.    Again, I like all lights to be on green and everything in order.  Looking back, I would have done things differently.  I mean, is there ever a perfect time? 



Brady was three when we found out a week before Christmas that we were expecting.   With our first pregnacy....we waited three months before telling anyone (except our parents) that we were having a baby.    Everything was so normal that first time around... we decided to share our good news on Christmas day that we were expecting again...what gift could be better than that?!



I miscarried at ten weeks.  I ended up having a d & e.   It was a very sad time...but  having Brady to take care of made that time a little easier to get through.  My doctor said that most women get pregnant pretty easily after this kind of surgery.  We waited about six months before trying again. (Again, looking back, I would have done things differently and started trying sooner) I was 37yrs old.


  Getting pregnant again has never happened for us.   We've talked about adoption.  It seems like a huge mountain at this stage in our life.  I am 40.  Brady is 7 1/2.    It also feels like we would be doing it mostly at this point to give Brady a sibling.   I think there are plusses and minuses to every situation. We are able to give Brady so much time and attention.   I believe that raising a child to be independent, kind, confident, caring and happy has everything to do with parenting and less to do with family size.  Brady has only ever mentioned not having any brothers or sisters once.  We explained to him that it might not be in God's plan for us.  He has never said that he "wishes" he had a brother or a sister.  I hope that Brady doesn't ever feel like he is "missing" out.   I guess you can't really miss what you don't know.  That is probably true for Eric and I as well.  We can only imagine how our life would be different with a larger family...but certainly not any better than it already is. 

Would I have ever chosen to have just one child?  No.  Have I accepted the way things are?  Most days I have!  I like to focus on what I do have that's positive in my life right here in front of me.  We are truly blessed.  Being a wife to Eric and a mom to Brady are the absolute greatest pleasures of my life. 



Linking up with Jen at Denton Sanatorium.
If you live in a cave and  haven't seen her blog...
go check it out!  She has an awesome blog &
a beautiful family!

An Early Christmas {Giveaway}



My husband and I used to make wood panel signs.  It was a fun thing to do together...he would cut the panel, I would paint and stencil it, and then he would distress it with an antiquing glaze. 

We had about 100 signs in a country store about an hour from us.   We made a little profit... but it was definately more of a hobby than a money maker....that's for sure!  





A few years ago we stopped making our signs.  Life got busy for us and our priorities changed.  The economy also started to go down...and fewer and fewer people were shopping in little country stores!



Here's what you can win...your choice!



The giveaway is easy!  Just leave a comment.  Giveaway will end Sunday evening.  I will draw a winner and post on Monday! 
 

A Win!

Brady won his first USTA Junior Tennis match on Saturday!



To say he was excited would be a huge understatement!
He was bursting at the seams....but would not allow us to celebrate until we got outside and into our van!
He played an 8 game pro set...which means the first player to win 8 games wins. 
Brady won 9-7 (you have to win by 2).
The match lasted almost an hour and a half.
Eric and I were on the edge of our seats the entire match!
We wanted to jump up and down afterwards...we were so happy for him!
But, tennis is weird like that...so we followed Brady's lead and went
all out crazy once were were out of the complex!


We told Brady we were taking Sunday off from tennis...
no clinic or court time at the tennis club....
no going to the outdoor courts....

we need a break and plus, it's cold out there!





Sunday night....I went out to tell Brady it was bath and bedtime.

You can't really tell because my flash went off...but it's dark outside.

That kid just never gets tired of tennis.

 

Da Doo Ron Ron



    Shaun Cassidy



I know I'm dating myself here big time...but I was pretty excited that Shaun Cassidy was on Oprah yesterday!  I even got a little teary when he started singing...pretty weird, I know.  There were lots of 40 and 50 yr old ladies in the audience that were pretty excited too!
He sang a medley of his hit songs.  If you're old like me and want to see it, here's the video.  I was seven when the song Da Doo Ron Ron was a number one hit.   I had a powder blue satin jacket with his picture on the back!  I loved that jacket!

Isn't it funny how teen idols come and go from generation to generation.
In middle school, I really liked Ralph Macchio! (Karate Kid)
Who was your teen heartthrob? 
You know...the ones you would check out in Tiger Beat!

Not Sure Where This Drive Comes From....





Brady said to me the other night, "Mom, hard work, a good attitude

and always doing my best...that's going to get me to the top"

I'm pretty sure he's talking about tennis.  But, whatever path he

chooses in life, if he always has that outlook...

he'll be just fine I think.

I Never Expected This

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What!  You too?  I thought I was the only one"

  ~unknown

When I started blogging, I never expected to get to know anyone...let alone, make friends.   I thought I would read some blogs, get a few craft ideas and keep a journal for myself.  Well, in the eight short months that I've been blogging...I have managed to get to know a few women that I can call actually call my friends.  And even though we think of ourselves as "blog friends"....I have high hopes of actually meeting them someday!

One friend in particular that I have really enjoyed getting to know is Nicolle.  You can find her blog HERE. Nicolle loves to cook and try new recipes like me, and we both have an only child.  We have emailed back and forth and shared our private stories of having an only child.  We admitted to each other that reading blogs of those who have lots of children sometimes leaves us feeling a tad envious.  (Just sometimes!)  We are both so very thankful to get to be the moms of both our boys!

I made a comment on Nicolle's blog a couple of weeks ago about a picture she had taken.  Nicolle takes AWESOME pictures...especially of her sweet little boy.   She also takes lots of other fun pictures...like this one:

I told Nicolle that I could see this picture on a box of notecards!  I would buy them if I saw them in the store!  The other day, I got a package in the mail from guess who?!  Nicolle sent me these:

Is she sweet or what?  The cards are so cute!

Thanks so much Nicolle!

I absolutely LOVE the cards you made for me! 

I'm so glad we're friends!

Halloween Weekend

We carved our PUMPKINS Thursday evening.
Very last minute for us!
Brady loves carving PUMPKINS.
He did it all by himself this year.
(Except for the cleaning out part...he wasn't into that!)
I hovered over him for a bit...until Brady said I needed to "trust" him....that he was able to do it. 
He actually did a great job and didn't need any help.
I'm finding I'm less needed more and more these days.

Friday night we went Trick or Treating.
Brady never seems overly excited about wearing a costume.
But he does like walking around the neighborhood getting candy.
I debated about putting his GHOSTcostume picture on here.
He looked more like something else.
Eric and I decided that next year, we will let Brady invite a couple
of friends over for trick or treating and have a little Halloween party.
I think it will be a lot more fun for him if he can trick or treat with friends.
Not that his parents aren't fun...I just think this would be more FUN!