There's not a whole lot to blog about this week. We had a super low key weekend and have a pretty low key week planned. Things aren't totally uneventful, but they are sort of boring. And boring is good sometimes.
While we don't have any big or exciting things happening right now we do have lots of little things going on. Things that I'd like to record just so they can always be remembered. Every month I like to go back and read the same month's posts from last year and the year before. (Starting in April I'll be able to read all the way back to 2010. Thank you Megan Lenhart for introducing me to blogging!!) And I love it. It makes me appreciate blogging and having my memories in writing that much more. So, this post is strictly for my own journaling of our life at this point in time purpose, so it probably won't mean much to anybody else. Just thought I should warn you.
Here's what's going on this week in the Selph household...
*Garrison is sick again. Boo! It seems like once he catches something his immune system is down and he's sick off and on for a while. We have an appointment this morning to determine whether it's strep or a virus or something else.
*We also have a follow-up appointment for Austin with the ENT. They're going to check to make sure his ears and tubes look fine and then do a hearing test. Both appointments should be interesting with both boys in tow. Pray for me.
*Since the time change the boys have been sleeping extra late. Which is nice except that it's going to break my heart when I have to wake them up so early tomorrow morning for school. (We stayed home yesterday since Garrison was sick.)
*The air conditioning in our Jeep needs fixin. And it may cost a bundle. But I am not stressing. I can't say the same for my husband, haha. But, God always provides and it'll be fine. We're heading down to B'ville tomorrow afternoon for haircuts and an early dinner with family so we'll be leaving our family car there to be repaired... and hopefully we'll get it back in time for the weekend. In the meantime, the boys and I will be driving around in the cop car (that's what we've nicknamed my mom's car) for a couple of days until our Jeep is blowing nice cold air for us from all vents... not just the driver's side.
*Lately we've been praying about and talking about what our future is with Premier. Where it fits and what it's place is. I've been a Premier jeweler almost 4 years and God has used Premier in a big way for us. It has been wonderful and an answer to prayer from the beginning. I started when Garrison was 6 months old and Premier provided security and hope for me staying home long term.
Now, almost 4 years later, life has changed. I have a "regular" job and paycheck now. It's not a lot money-wise but it is consistent and important for us to have, at least for now. What it is a lot of is extra work at home. There is no planning period when you teach preschool. Everything you do to prepare is done at home. It's not super overwhelming, but it is time consuming... which leaves less time for Premier.
Also, we've added a baby. Having baby #2, my sweet Austin, has changed things. We are busier. We have more errands and appointments and things to do. And I try to make sure my babies always come first. Which means Premier gets pushed to the back-burner.
Also, we have a son who has started recreational sports. We did soccer in the Fall and now have baseball this Spring. Sports are a big commitment. They are time consuming and change the look of your week nights. And once again, putting my children first means I'm putting their schedules first. And since we don't have family here to help with baby-sitting or chaufeuring in the evenings, it falls on me... until Terrell gets off.
Sooo, we're struggling a little with what to do. We love Premier. Love what it stands for. Love the extra income. =) But we're facing a bit of a dilemma. My renewal isn't until August so for now I'm going to try to get back into it a little while we figure out what God wants us to do next.
*This weekend we have Eater pictures! We rescheduled a couple of weeks ago when it was cold and dreary and we're so excited about a nice weekend (perfect for pictures) coming up! We're going to be doing them at the same place with the same bunny as last year. I hope the boys cooperate!
*This week we're also in the process of finalizing the contents of the boys' Easter buckets. We like to keep things practical and simple for Easter. We definitely don't need too many little bitty toys and we hate to get things "just because" because they always end up being a waste. But we both grew up getting Easter baskets and goodies so we want to do the same for our kiddos. It's fun and light and the boys love it.
*Terrell and I finally started watching The Bible. It's really good. And since I've been reading through the Old Testament it's making it that much more interesting and fascinating for me. We're both enjoying it so far.
*Last but not least, this week we're going to try to finalize/narrow down/make a decision about our anniversary trip. It's exciting but kind of stressful too. We want to have fun and make the most of our time away but we must keep our budget and kiddos in mind too. I'll keep you posted! (For anyone who's still reading....) Happy Tuesday!!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
VIP Date Night!
Terrell and I had an amazing, rare, will probably never happen again, opportunity last night. And it was SO fun!! Which means it must be written about!
We were invited to go on a double date with our friends/neighbors Ryan and Katie to a Hawks game. When Garrison was a baby and toddler we hung out with them a lot and considered them really good friends. We went to their church and even went to a couples Bible study at their house every other Thursday night. But since the Bible study stopped before Austin was born and we moved on from their church, and the kids grew (in size and number) we haven't gotten together in a loooong time or had a chance to catch up in forever. Sooo, when we were invited on this little date we were super excited. One, because we love the Hawks and two because we'd be able to catch up and go out on a double date!
(We never go on double dates. We're just not super close to any other couples...unless they're related to us. So we typically only go out on dates together...just the two of us.)
The HUGE bonus to the date was that our tickets were compliments of the company Ryan works for (who does business with Terrell's bank) AND they were for 2nd row floor seats. Squeal!!!! It was AMAZING. We loved every second!!
As soon as we parked in our super close parking spot and entered Phillips Arena we made our way to the "VIP" area. It wasn't really called that but you could tell you were somebody if you got to go in that way. It was swank. There were upscale restaurants and bars in a concession/food court style set-up. We chose a steak place that offered steak sandwiches. Our meal was delicious. So was talking and catching up!
Afterwards we made our way all the way down to the floor. And our 2nd row seats. It was surreal. I know I sound dramatic but I was so star struck. I couldn't stop smiling and staring at my favorite Hawks who were WAY taller and bigger than they look on TV. As a sports fan it was cool. As a basketball fan it was big. As a Hawks fan it was all of those plus AWESOME. =)
The game went great. We even had ushers checking on us! Then, it was especially cool when my mom sent us a text and asked us to turn around and look up. The backs of our heads were on TV all night long. So we asked her to record the game. Ha! She also saw me taking a picture with my phone and my mother-in-law saw Terrell put his arm around me. Crazy!
My favorite Hawk, Al Horford. He's having such a great season.
Can I just say the game is waaaay faster watching in person from 2 feet away. I was SO impressed. They are professional athletes I guess... but whoa. You have to be in shape to play basketball. And people are sitting so close to you. I found myself wondering how they aren't distracted by the people sitting in the floor seats. It was so out of my league.
We enjoyed ourselves so much. It was great double date and super cool experience. We even got to buy the boys a couple of souvenirs after the game because each ticket had some kind of "Hawks store credit". I'm telling you it was a VIP experience.
HUGE thanks to Nana for keeping the boys and staying up so late for us and to Ryan and Katie for inviting us. We had the best time! And seeing the boys and getting lots of love this morning was priceless. We were VIP's all over again. =)
We were invited to go on a double date with our friends/neighbors Ryan and Katie to a Hawks game. When Garrison was a baby and toddler we hung out with them a lot and considered them really good friends. We went to their church and even went to a couples Bible study at their house every other Thursday night. But since the Bible study stopped before Austin was born and we moved on from their church, and the kids grew (in size and number) we haven't gotten together in a loooong time or had a chance to catch up in forever. Sooo, when we were invited on this little date we were super excited. One, because we love the Hawks and two because we'd be able to catch up and go out on a double date!
(We never go on double dates. We're just not super close to any other couples...unless they're related to us. So we typically only go out on dates together...just the two of us.)
The HUGE bonus to the date was that our tickets were compliments of the company Ryan works for (who does business with Terrell's bank) AND they were for 2nd row floor seats. Squeal!!!! It was AMAZING. We loved every second!!
Terrell's mom came over to baby-sit and she made our picture before we left.
Then Garrison insisted he be in a picture with us too. I almost couldn't leave this little man after yesterday morning when we told him about our date and he grabbed onto my leg and said But I want you to stay with me mama. Break my heart. It made me feel loved but I also felt a little guilty. He even requested I come into his room to kiss him goodnight when we got home. Bless his heart. Thankfully he was perfectly fine when we left him and only had one Imissmymamaanddaddy moment at bedtime. =)
Afterwards we made our way all the way down to the floor. And our 2nd row seats. It was surreal. I know I sound dramatic but I was so star struck. I couldn't stop smiling and staring at my favorite Hawks who were WAY taller and bigger than they look on TV. As a sports fan it was cool. As a basketball fan it was big. As a Hawks fan it was all of those plus AWESOME. =)
My favorite Hawk, Al Horford. He's having such a great season.
Can I just say the game is waaaay faster watching in person from 2 feet away. I was SO impressed. They are professional athletes I guess... but whoa. You have to be in shape to play basketball. And people are sitting so close to you. I found myself wondering how they aren't distracted by the people sitting in the floor seats. It was so out of my league.
Josh Smith had a terrible game. But we still love him. And were thankful he walked over so close to us. =)
HUGE thanks to Nana for keeping the boys and staying up so late for us and to Ryan and Katie for inviting us. We had the best time! And seeing the boys and getting lots of love this morning was priceless. We were VIP's all over again. =)
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Baseball!
Technically it's wee-ball, but we just call all things baseball, baseball around here. Afterall, ChippaJones plays baseball... not wee-ball.
Garrison officially began his baseball career yesterday with his first ever practice. It was cold. It was a little unorganized. But it was fun! Yaaaay!!! He was SO excited in fact about his first practice that he was a little wild before we left the house. And he got in trouble multiple times for forgetting his self-control and using his mouth to talk back. Taking away the privilege to play baseball may or may not have been threatened before his first ever practice. Gracious.
Because our practice was at 5:30 I made one of our favorite, go-to, simple meals on Sunday night for us to have yesterday so I wouldn't have to cook. The boys and I ate around 4:30. Talk about a record early supper time. BUT, we made it to practice on time and met Terrell there.
Garrison did so good following directions and participating in all aspects of practice. We have a big team with 4-5 girls and 8-9 boys. And we're the Braves. Woohoo! Of course Garrison would have insisted our team was the Braves no matter what because he informed me on the ride over that he was a ChippaJones baseball player... and everybody knows Chipper plays for the Braves.
(Poor baby hasn't accepted his retirement yet.)
Terrell made all the pictures for me on my phone because I just couldn't lug our fancy camera around while trying to keep up with Austin. So they aren't the best but they'll have to do for documentation purposes.
We had a really great experience our first go-round. I did have a temporary moment of anxiety once I saw our practice schedule and that we practice multiple times a week at different fields, AND, that we even have 2 practices at 7:30. Shouldn't 4 year olds be getting ready for bed at 7:30??
Anyway, after a closer look at my personal calendar I came to realize that we won't be able to make every single practice every single week because of prior commitments/plans anyway. And that's OKAY. It actually made me feel better. No more practice anxiety for me!
The only other glitch was the fact that we were all hungry again by the time we got home. So we pretty much ate again. The boys shared fruit, cereal, bread, and a few animal crackers. It was almost as if they had never ate supper. Oh dear. I guess next time I'll try to have something ready to go the second we walk back in the door. OR, since we're meeting Terrell there and will have 2 cars, Austin and I may leave early to come home and get supper ready. I'm sure it's going to be trial and error for a while, I just like having a plan. And that plan does not include "lunch food" for supper or fast food take-out after every practice. (We have our share of "lunch food" everyday for lunch and we have our share of take-out on the weekends.) It may include however a frozen pizza or Stouffer's lasagna every now and then.
We are all (especially Garrison... okay, and daddy) looking forward to this baseball season and brand new experience. And we were all thankful for a great first practice. Go Braves!! =)
Garrison officially began his baseball career yesterday with his first ever practice. It was cold. It was a little unorganized. But it was fun! Yaaaay!!! He was SO excited in fact about his first practice that he was a little wild before we left the house. And he got in trouble multiple times for forgetting his self-control and using his mouth to talk back. Taking away the privilege to play baseball may or may not have been threatened before his first ever practice. Gracious.
Because our practice was at 5:30 I made one of our favorite, go-to, simple meals on Sunday night for us to have yesterday so I wouldn't have to cook. The boys and I ate around 4:30. Talk about a record early supper time. BUT, we made it to practice on time and met Terrell there.
Terrell made all the pictures for me on my phone because I just couldn't lug our fancy camera around while trying to keep up with Austin. So they aren't the best but they'll have to do for documentation purposes.
They stretched as a team. So cute.
They stood in the field waiting for their teammates to hit the ball to them.
They fielded balls as they trickled out to them. =)
They practiced playing catch with one of the dads. The main goal was to try to catch the ball of course but they were also working on throwing it back as soon as they got it. Garrison made 5 catches and was soooo proud.
Then there was batting practice. My baby was the only left-handed batter. (Even though he's right-handed he has always batted left-handed. His daddy has dreams of him being a switch-hitter one day.) He did great!
I spent my time between trying to watch Garrison and trying to keep up with this little man. After a while he was bored with being held and watching Garrison and the Braves. He was ready for his own adventure.
Anyway, after a closer look at my personal calendar I came to realize that we won't be able to make every single practice every single week because of prior commitments/plans anyway. And that's OKAY. It actually made me feel better. No more practice anxiety for me!
The only other glitch was the fact that we were all hungry again by the time we got home. So we pretty much ate again. The boys shared fruit, cereal, bread, and a few animal crackers. It was almost as if they had never ate supper. Oh dear. I guess next time I'll try to have something ready to go the second we walk back in the door. OR, since we're meeting Terrell there and will have 2 cars, Austin and I may leave early to come home and get supper ready. I'm sure it's going to be trial and error for a while, I just like having a plan. And that plan does not include "lunch food" for supper or fast food take-out after every practice. (We have our share of "lunch food" everyday for lunch and we have our share of take-out on the weekends.) It may include however a frozen pizza or Stouffer's lasagna every now and then.
We are all (especially Garrison... okay, and daddy) looking forward to this baseball season and brand new experience. And we were all thankful for a great first practice. Go Braves!! =)
Monday, March 4, 2013
All About Austin- 18 Months Old
My baby boy turned 18 months old yesterday.
In a way it seems like he should be older and in a way I can't believe my baby is already 1.5. He is growing soooo fast and we can't get enough of him!! God blessed us in a BIG way 18 months ago and we are beyond grateful. This post is dedicated to my adorable, loving, funny, affectionate, happy, cuddle-bug Austin on his 18 month (and one day) birthday.
This is a picture of you at 12 months. You were a wild man!! You were fully mobile and got into whatever you wanted. You made everyday an adventure. You loved playing with Garrison and climbing on things and putting things in your mouth. This was a fun and very busy age for you.
At 18 months your personality is a little more mellow. You're really independent and are content to play by yourself sometimes. You are a mama's boy through and through. You still love to be held and rocked. Being read to is probably your favorite thing ever. You LOVE playing with your big brother. And you are extremely tough and resilient. (I guess that's part of having a big brother)
You wake up everyday a little after 7:00. When we have a break from school you sleep a little later but on school weeks you're our early riser. You go to bed around 7:30 every night.
You still take 2 naps a day on "non-school" days. Your morning nap is short and lasts from about 9:30ish-10:30ish and your afternoon nap is about 2 hours and lasts from 1:30ish to 3:30ish.
Your favorite foods are all kinds of meat, bananas, apples, pears, peaches, bread, dry cereal, crackers, grits, spaghetti, and cheeseburgers. You're finally starting to eat some vegetables. (Since switching to table food you haven't been a fan.) You like green beans, peas, and baby carrots occasionally. Your typical breakfast is a banana and dry cereal or a cereal bar. Your typical lunch is deli meat, crackers, cheese, fruit, and yogurt or applesauce. And your typical supper is whatever we're eating... which makes us really proud! You have a really big appetite and love to eat!
One of your favorite things to do while I cook or prepare meals (other than let me know you're starving!) is to get inside of your cabinet. You normally empty it out and climb in and want Garrison or I to close the door so you can open it up and play peek-a-boo!
You also love to push your dump truck around. This is something you and Garrison almost always do together. Y'all fill them up with things or race them or chase each other and have the best time. You love doing just about anything Garrison is doing. Most of the time the two of you are the best playmates!
You love climbing into things. We find you in the laundry basket, your toy basket, and your book basket all the time. Reading books by yourself and being read to are your absolute favorite hobbies. We always read 3-4 books before naptime and bedtime and you are so relaxed and attentive. I know you're soaking up a LOT from being read to.
You love playing with Garrison in his room. Especially at his table. This is a big deal to you and you will play there for as long as we let you. You've also been known to climb on top of his table and turn your brother's room into a diaster area. We have to really keep a check on y'all when you're playing together in his room!
You are talking more and more and learning new words everyday. Here's a list of the most popular I can think of: mama, dada, bruba (brother), bay-bay (Bailey), bye bye, blue, shoe, amen, ball, car, bubble, book, whoa, truck, duck, and quack quack. You've attempted "please" a time or two and we can count on one hand the number of times you've said your grandparents names (you're still content to call them mama, haha), but you are starting to repeat almost everything we ask you to say. Yay for a growing vocabulary!
You are so precious to our family and we are so thankful for you! We are all loving watching you grow and learn and change. You make us laugh. You keep us busy. You add fun and excitement and adventure to our family all the time! Happy Birthday to our growing littlest man! We love you Austin Selph!!
Here's a picture of you at 6 months. You were a happy, laid back, and oh so cute baby. You showed us your personality a lot at this age and were already scooting around and rolling around to get into things and make your presence known. Your mama, daddy, and brother loved holding you, watching you, and playing with you.
This is a picture of you at 12 months. You were a wild man!! You were fully mobile and got into whatever you wanted. You made everyday an adventure. You loved playing with Garrison and climbing on things and putting things in your mouth. This was a fun and very busy age for you.
At 18 months your personality is a little more mellow. You're really independent and are content to play by yourself sometimes. You are a mama's boy through and through. You still love to be held and rocked. Being read to is probably your favorite thing ever. You LOVE playing with your big brother. And you are extremely tough and resilient. (I guess that's part of having a big brother)
Your favorite foods are all kinds of meat, bananas, apples, pears, peaches, bread, dry cereal, crackers, grits, spaghetti, and cheeseburgers. You're finally starting to eat some vegetables. (Since switching to table food you haven't been a fan.) You like green beans, peas, and baby carrots occasionally. Your typical breakfast is a banana and dry cereal or a cereal bar. Your typical lunch is deli meat, crackers, cheese, fruit, and yogurt or applesauce. And your typical supper is whatever we're eating... which makes us really proud! You have a really big appetite and love to eat!
One of your favorite things to do while I cook or prepare meals (other than let me know you're starving!) is to get inside of your cabinet. You normally empty it out and climb in and want Garrison or I to close the door so you can open it up and play peek-a-boo!
You love climbing into things. We find you in the laundry basket, your toy basket, and your book basket all the time. Reading books by yourself and being read to are your absolute favorite hobbies. We always read 3-4 books before naptime and bedtime and you are so relaxed and attentive. I know you're soaking up a LOT from being read to.
You are so precious to our family and we are so thankful for you! We are all loving watching you grow and learn and change. You make us laugh. You keep us busy. You add fun and excitement and adventure to our family all the time! Happy Birthday to our growing littlest man! We love you Austin Selph!!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
This & That
*Today we finally had Garrison's 4 year well check. And it was a big one.... not just because he had to get multiple shots but because he had to take a hearing test, vision test, perform a few physical feats, and answer a few questions. Mama had to answer some questions as well. Wow. Those things can be intimidating!
He weighed 34.6 pounds and was 40 inches tall. He is right at 50% in both categories and the epitome of an average sized 4 year old. He did really good with the shots (he only had to have 2, plus a finger prick) and was loaded up with goodies afterwards... 1 blue popsicle, 1 spiderman sticker, and 1 cool bouncy ball from the treasure chest. There was more drama in the car as we were leaving reliving the whole experience of being "pinched" than there was at the doctor's office. The dramatics continued this afternoon as well. Bless his heart. No idea where he gets that from. =) We are SO thankful for our healthy, growing boy!!
*We stayed up to watch Duck Dynasty last night. Sooo funny. I am definitely hooked... and totally fascinated by the Robertson's and their family life.
*We're also really getting into Survivor again this season. Drama, drama, drama. Of course I really like the Favorites and would love to see one of them at the end, but I also always have a soft spot for the underdog... which appears would be the Fans at this point. We'll have to wait and see how it plays out and who I'm rooting for in the end.
*I'm getting excited about Dancing with the Stars coming back on (or as my husband says when he's making fun of my wanting to watch every week... DWTS!)
*Speaking of my hubby, we're in the middle of trying to plan our anniversary weekend away in June. Let's just say it's been a tad challenging. At first we were thinking of going to Helen and leaving on a Friday morning, staying 2 nights, and returning Sunday afternoon. But, after much discussion (and even stressing), we decided we're not really at the point where we want to leave our 2 small kids for that long while spending a sizeable amount of money. Maybe we'll be at that point in a few years, but for now, we're on a pretty tight budget and therefore don't want to spend too much, plus we don't want to leave the kids for too long. Sooo we started looking into other places that would be fairly close by but that we could arrive at on a Friday night or Saturday morning. We stressed so much over the Helen trip that we sort of moved on from it and now we can't decide where to go or what to do. In a way it's exciting, in a way it makes you crazy. Guess we'll keep looking and hopefully make a decision soon.
*This weekend we've scheduled the boys Easter pics (a mini session just like last year) and it's going to be cold! What to do, what to do?? Since we're thinking it shouldn't take that long, Terrell wants to go for it. I'm a little more nervous because I'm hoping for good pictures and don't want the weather to ruin things. Or for the boys to be shivering and miserable, and therefore uncooperative. Hmmm...I'm thinking we'll stick with it though....
*Spring Training for the Braves is in full swing! Yay for baseball!! My oldest little man is loving watching it on TV. I'm excited for him to get to play starting in a week or two. I'm sure it will be overwhelming at first trying to find a good routine (week night practices tend to give me just a teensy bit of anxiety) but we survived soccer last Fall so hopefully baseball will be just as fun!
*That's all the little updates I can think of... Happy Friday and first day of March tomorrow!
He weighed 34.6 pounds and was 40 inches tall. He is right at 50% in both categories and the epitome of an average sized 4 year old. He did really good with the shots (he only had to have 2, plus a finger prick) and was loaded up with goodies afterwards... 1 blue popsicle, 1 spiderman sticker, and 1 cool bouncy ball from the treasure chest. There was more drama in the car as we were leaving reliving the whole experience of being "pinched" than there was at the doctor's office. The dramatics continued this afternoon as well. Bless his heart. No idea where he gets that from. =) We are SO thankful for our healthy, growing boy!!
*We stayed up to watch Duck Dynasty last night. Sooo funny. I am definitely hooked... and totally fascinated by the Robertson's and their family life.
*We're also really getting into Survivor again this season. Drama, drama, drama. Of course I really like the Favorites and would love to see one of them at the end, but I also always have a soft spot for the underdog... which appears would be the Fans at this point. We'll have to wait and see how it plays out and who I'm rooting for in the end.
*I'm getting excited about Dancing with the Stars coming back on (or as my husband says when he's making fun of my wanting to watch every week... DWTS!)
*Speaking of my hubby, we're in the middle of trying to plan our anniversary weekend away in June. Let's just say it's been a tad challenging. At first we were thinking of going to Helen and leaving on a Friday morning, staying 2 nights, and returning Sunday afternoon. But, after much discussion (and even stressing), we decided we're not really at the point where we want to leave our 2 small kids for that long while spending a sizeable amount of money. Maybe we'll be at that point in a few years, but for now, we're on a pretty tight budget and therefore don't want to spend too much, plus we don't want to leave the kids for too long. Sooo we started looking into other places that would be fairly close by but that we could arrive at on a Friday night or Saturday morning. We stressed so much over the Helen trip that we sort of moved on from it and now we can't decide where to go or what to do. In a way it's exciting, in a way it makes you crazy. Guess we'll keep looking and hopefully make a decision soon.
*This weekend we've scheduled the boys Easter pics (a mini session just like last year) and it's going to be cold! What to do, what to do?? Since we're thinking it shouldn't take that long, Terrell wants to go for it. I'm a little more nervous because I'm hoping for good pictures and don't want the weather to ruin things. Or for the boys to be shivering and miserable, and therefore uncooperative. Hmmm...I'm thinking we'll stick with it though....
*Spring Training for the Braves is in full swing! Yay for baseball!! My oldest little man is loving watching it on TV. I'm excited for him to get to play starting in a week or two. I'm sure it will be overwhelming at first trying to find a good routine (week night practices tend to give me just a teensy bit of anxiety) but we survived soccer last Fall so hopefully baseball will be just as fun!
*That's all the little updates I can think of... Happy Friday and first day of March tomorrow!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
What I've Learned...
There have a been a ton of great posts on marriage lately. Almost everybody is writing one. And they're so good. And true. And encouraging. And make you feel normal. So I had to join in. I needed my writing fix and figured I'm jump on the "marriage blog post" bandwagon.
I am definitely no expert. I am selfish. We fight. Things aren't always wonderful. But here's a list of some of the things I've learned after 7.5 years of marriage that have definitely made a difference:
*Compromise is KEY. This became apparent right from the start with us and is still so true to this day. Sharing your life with another person who has different habits and opinions and preferences than you means you will have to compromise. Regularly. Oh my was this a toughie for me. Sometimes it still is. Everybody wants their own way, right?? I think my husband would say we've both gotten better at the art of compromising over the years. And only by God's grace.
*Being a team is important. Marriage is about being teammates and facing everything together. On the same side. It's about sharing responsibilities. Sharing a home. Sharing money and bills. Sharing material things. Sharing feelings. It's just a whole lot of sharing. And things work so much smoother when you're doing it together as a team. Terrell and I have gotten into the habit of high fiving or fist pumping and saying Team Selph! after tackling something tough together... a wild and crazy bath and bedtime, a hectic shopping outing, getting out of the house in record time on school days. It's corny but it's our thing and we always feel proud after accomplishing something "tough" together. I love my teammate and sharing life with him.
*There will be ups and downs. Marriages have ups and downs. It's just a fact. You don't feel "in love" every single day. (And after dating for 5.5 years before getting married this wasn't a shocker for us.) There are even some days (or parts of days) you don't even really like each other. Some days you're more like roommates. Some days you're madly in love. Making each other a priority and simply making an effort get you through the ups and downs.
*Communicate Often. You can't read each other's minds. I am STILL learning this.
*Speak One Another's Love Language. This goes a long way in having a happy marriage.
*Compliments are Important. Whether "words of affirmation" is your love language or not everybody needs to hear they're appreciated, loved, supported, attractive, etc. Not just wives... husbands too.
*Keep Christ at the Center. Sometimes this is the easiest and most natural thing to do. Other times it's forgotten. And sometimes it's just tough. Seek Him regularly. Rely on Him daily. Pray for each other. Pray with each other. Seek His will for your marriage and relationship.
*Make each other a priority. Life is full of busyness, problems, careers, children, each other's families, commitments, etc, but in the midst of everything try your hardest to prioritize each other. We've found we have to be very intentional about setting aside time to hang out. Go out. Talk. Watch TV together. It's crazy but you can both get lost in the busyness and craziness of everyday life if you're not careful.
*Make laughing together a regular thing. One of my favorite bloggers recently wrote that she thinks "sense of humor ranks in the top 3 important things in marriage". It may or may not be in the top 3 but it is definitely important (at least in my opinion). Laughing together keeps you best friends. Laughing together makes you feel better. Laughing together means you have fun together. Laughing together makes hard days easier. I am so thankful I have a husband who makes me laugh all the time... and who laughs with me and sometimes at me regularly. =)
And just in case you're interested... here are just a few of the great and honest posts on marriage I've read lately:
marriage is work. and work is worship.
Clinging
Nagging vs. Communicating
I am definitely no expert. I am selfish. We fight. Things aren't always wonderful. But here's a list of some of the things I've learned after 7.5 years of marriage that have definitely made a difference:
*Compromise is KEY. This became apparent right from the start with us and is still so true to this day. Sharing your life with another person who has different habits and opinions and preferences than you means you will have to compromise. Regularly. Oh my was this a toughie for me. Sometimes it still is. Everybody wants their own way, right?? I think my husband would say we've both gotten better at the art of compromising over the years. And only by God's grace.
*Being a team is important. Marriage is about being teammates and facing everything together. On the same side. It's about sharing responsibilities. Sharing a home. Sharing money and bills. Sharing material things. Sharing feelings. It's just a whole lot of sharing. And things work so much smoother when you're doing it together as a team. Terrell and I have gotten into the habit of high fiving or fist pumping and saying Team Selph! after tackling something tough together... a wild and crazy bath and bedtime, a hectic shopping outing, getting out of the house in record time on school days. It's corny but it's our thing and we always feel proud after accomplishing something "tough" together. I love my teammate and sharing life with him.
*There will be ups and downs. Marriages have ups and downs. It's just a fact. You don't feel "in love" every single day. (And after dating for 5.5 years before getting married this wasn't a shocker for us.) There are even some days (or parts of days) you don't even really like each other. Some days you're more like roommates. Some days you're madly in love. Making each other a priority and simply making an effort get you through the ups and downs.
*Communicate Often. You can't read each other's minds. I am STILL learning this.
*Speak One Another's Love Language. This goes a long way in having a happy marriage.
*Compliments are Important. Whether "words of affirmation" is your love language or not everybody needs to hear they're appreciated, loved, supported, attractive, etc. Not just wives... husbands too.
*Keep Christ at the Center. Sometimes this is the easiest and most natural thing to do. Other times it's forgotten. And sometimes it's just tough. Seek Him regularly. Rely on Him daily. Pray for each other. Pray with each other. Seek His will for your marriage and relationship.
*Make each other a priority. Life is full of busyness, problems, careers, children, each other's families, commitments, etc, but in the midst of everything try your hardest to prioritize each other. We've found we have to be very intentional about setting aside time to hang out. Go out. Talk. Watch TV together. It's crazy but you can both get lost in the busyness and craziness of everyday life if you're not careful.
*Make laughing together a regular thing. One of my favorite bloggers recently wrote that she thinks "sense of humor ranks in the top 3 important things in marriage". It may or may not be in the top 3 but it is definitely important (at least in my opinion). Laughing together keeps you best friends. Laughing together makes you feel better. Laughing together means you have fun together. Laughing together makes hard days easier. I am so thankful I have a husband who makes me laugh all the time... and who laughs with me and sometimes at me regularly. =)
And just in case you're interested... here are just a few of the great and honest posts on marriage I've read lately:
marriage is work. and work is worship.
Clinging
Nagging vs. Communicating
Monday, February 25, 2013
Winter Break Recap
This past week we enjoyed our Winter Break from school. It was SO nice to have a little break and to not have to worry about making lunches and picking out clothes the night before and waking up the kids every morning. We definitely enjoyed ourselves... and because this blog serves as our family journal (and so I don't forget) I wanted to do a quick recap of the week's events and challenges.
Monday- This was President's Day so Terrell had the day off and we hung out around the house, did a little laundry, and played outside. It was a relaxing and fun day... especially for the boys.
Tuesday- Tuesday was rainy so we stayed in all day except for Austin's follow-up appointment with the ENT. This was his first appointment since getting tubes and while the left ear looked great the right ear still had some issues. We were given more ear drops and have to go back in a few weeks for another follow-up and a hearing test. By late afternoon the weather was super nice so we were able to play outside for just a little while before supper.
Wednesday- This was the wild and crazy day at the Georgia Aquarium. Plus Terrell had to work late. It was a special day since we got to go on a special outing... but it was also super draining.
Thursday- On Wednesday night/Thursday morning Garrison woke up a couple of times during the middle of the night with an ear ache and some kind of fluid/discharge coming out of his right ear. Soooo, we made an appointment on Thursday morning and went to the doctor only to discover he had a cold that included strep throat. Which was part of the reason he was having issues with his ear. Yuck. He laid around the rest of the day Thursday but starting feeling better as bedtime approached. Thankfully he slept all night and he is much better now.
Friday- Friday was another rainy, cold day so we stayed home most of the day playing inside and doing laundry. Since Garrison still wasn't 100% and Austin and I both were a little under the weather from colds we can't kick, it worked out for the best to stay home. Terrell got off early so we could go out to eat and do just a little shopping on Friday night. It was nice to finally get out after a messy day stuck inside.
While our week wasn't spectacular or exciting or filled with lots of fun outings, I think we were all (even the boys) thankful for the break. It was fairly low-key and stress-free. Almost. (But don't forget about the Aquarium...)
But we also had some challenges. And this was probably my first break from school that I've faced these challenges. Which was different for me. I'm used to things being easier and more laid back when we don't have school. I'm used to feeling more at ease and in my element... home with the boys, taking care of the house and our errands, and just in my preferred role.
For documentation purposes, here are some of the challenges faced:
Lack of routine: While a break in the routine was so super nice and I loved every second of not making lunches and ironing and waking up at 5:40 (I like to have time for my quiet time and to read/write blogs before the boys wake up), it was a little challenging. For the first time ever I think, I found myself saying I sorta, almost, maybe just a tad get how some working moms say they could never be stay at home moms after having a long break from work (and their routine). I've never gotten it before. Ever. (Just because I've always loved being home.) But this week was tough having unlimited time at home without a whole lot planned. It threw me off a little. We still had the meals and naptime routine in place, but other than that we had lots of time on our hands. A part of me wanted to be lazy and a part of me wanted to tackle everything under the sun.
We didn't plan a lot because of doctor's appointments, the weather, being sick, etc. And it made for some interesting days. Half the time the boys were angels and getting along perfect and entertaining each other and the best of friends. (LOVE). The other half was spent breaking up fights and teaching lessons on sharing and trying to make Austin understand that hitting is a no-no and trying to make Garrison understand that he is expected to listen and obey the first time he's told. I am thankful that they are at the point where they really play together though. It was precious to watch and hear... until the crying/yelling/chasing/whining began. Haha.
While our lack of routine made me a little stir crazy because of having too much time on our hands, I have to say that staying home full time is still my first love. Because when I'm home all the time we do have a routine and a plan for everyday. Occassionally sicknesss and the weather throw things off but for the most part our routine is there and things are good. We have the perfect mix of getting out and staying home and it works for everybody involved. Hopefully I'll get back in that groove this summer.
Unlimited Playtime: Because we were home a lot last week and weren't in our usual routine, there were several stretches of unlimited playtime. Lots and lots of time to play. And eventually all that playtime started to wear on me. Because eventually all I heard were requests for mama to play. Which means the house was a disaster and I felt like I didn't have 2 seconds to myself.
If I'm being totally honest, sometimes it's hard for me to stop and play. Sometimes it's easier for me to do chores around the house while they play (or to take a break while they play). I enjoy playing with my boys on the floor when I know there's some sort of time limit and/or purpose. Playing with blocks and helping Austin say his colors until it's time for lunch... I'm good. Playing ball in the hallway for 15 minutes to get out energy until daddy gets home... I can do it. Sitting down to play with an unlimited amount of time to play... gets kind of tough. (At least for me.) We all get bored. I feel like I need some kind of lesson plan so we're learning or being productive. Ha! And when you're playing with a 4 year old and an almost 18 month old there's only so much you can all do together. Which is why sometimes it's easier when they're playing together doing something only they can do... riding their toys around, pushing dump trucks, etc. Or when I'm playing with them one-on-one.
I'm hoping the challenge was more about our routine being off and us having a little too much time at home rather than the possibility I may not be good at playing for long stretches. Sigh.
Angry Birds: My firstborn is officially addicted. Oh my gracious. He was exposed a while back and this week he discovered he's in love with the game on daddy's phone. (We're rethinking the decision to download it now.) The first few days he drove us crazy asking to play. He was literally borderline obsessed. Angry Birds was seriously one of my "challenges" of the week. I'm just not a huge fan of tons of technology for kiddos and this really made me question our parenting more than once. (I know that sounds dramatic but when your 4 year old is revolving everything around a game on a phone... it makes you question.) We've now decided he gets 2 times per day to play and that's it. Knowing his limit has helped a lot... and saved our sanity. And hopefully he'll move right on out of this phase soon. If not, Angry Birds may be deleted. So sad.
*This weekend we wrapped up our break by going Easter shopping and spending lots of time outside yesterday. A family walk of the neighborhood was wonderful. Then today we had a good day back at school and are hopefully all getting well. Austin had an appointment this afternoon and I have one tomorrow. We're praying we're past the sick stuff soon and can enjoy our regular ole routine to the fullest. Baseball is right around the corner afterall!
Monday- This was President's Day so Terrell had the day off and we hung out around the house, did a little laundry, and played outside. It was a relaxing and fun day... especially for the boys.
Tuesday- Tuesday was rainy so we stayed in all day except for Austin's follow-up appointment with the ENT. This was his first appointment since getting tubes and while the left ear looked great the right ear still had some issues. We were given more ear drops and have to go back in a few weeks for another follow-up and a hearing test. By late afternoon the weather was super nice so we were able to play outside for just a little while before supper.
Wednesday- This was the wild and crazy day at the Georgia Aquarium. Plus Terrell had to work late. It was a special day since we got to go on a special outing... but it was also super draining.
Thursday- On Wednesday night/Thursday morning Garrison woke up a couple of times during the middle of the night with an ear ache and some kind of fluid/discharge coming out of his right ear. Soooo, we made an appointment on Thursday morning and went to the doctor only to discover he had a cold that included strep throat. Which was part of the reason he was having issues with his ear. Yuck. He laid around the rest of the day Thursday but starting feeling better as bedtime approached. Thankfully he slept all night and he is much better now.
Friday- Friday was another rainy, cold day so we stayed home most of the day playing inside and doing laundry. Since Garrison still wasn't 100% and Austin and I both were a little under the weather from colds we can't kick, it worked out for the best to stay home. Terrell got off early so we could go out to eat and do just a little shopping on Friday night. It was nice to finally get out after a messy day stuck inside.
While our week wasn't spectacular or exciting or filled with lots of fun outings, I think we were all (even the boys) thankful for the break. It was fairly low-key and stress-free. Almost. (But don't forget about the Aquarium...)
But we also had some challenges. And this was probably my first break from school that I've faced these challenges. Which was different for me. I'm used to things being easier and more laid back when we don't have school. I'm used to feeling more at ease and in my element... home with the boys, taking care of the house and our errands, and just in my preferred role.
For documentation purposes, here are some of the challenges faced:
Lack of routine: While a break in the routine was so super nice and I loved every second of not making lunches and ironing and waking up at 5:40 (I like to have time for my quiet time and to read/write blogs before the boys wake up), it was a little challenging. For the first time ever I think, I found myself saying I sorta, almost, maybe just a tad get how some working moms say they could never be stay at home moms after having a long break from work (and their routine). I've never gotten it before. Ever. (Just because I've always loved being home.) But this week was tough having unlimited time at home without a whole lot planned. It threw me off a little. We still had the meals and naptime routine in place, but other than that we had lots of time on our hands. A part of me wanted to be lazy and a part of me wanted to tackle everything under the sun.
We didn't plan a lot because of doctor's appointments, the weather, being sick, etc. And it made for some interesting days. Half the time the boys were angels and getting along perfect and entertaining each other and the best of friends. (LOVE). The other half was spent breaking up fights and teaching lessons on sharing and trying to make Austin understand that hitting is a no-no and trying to make Garrison understand that he is expected to listen and obey the first time he's told. I am thankful that they are at the point where they really play together though. It was precious to watch and hear... until the crying/yelling/chasing/whining began. Haha.
While our lack of routine made me a little stir crazy because of having too much time on our hands, I have to say that staying home full time is still my first love. Because when I'm home all the time we do have a routine and a plan for everyday. Occassionally sicknesss and the weather throw things off but for the most part our routine is there and things are good. We have the perfect mix of getting out and staying home and it works for everybody involved. Hopefully I'll get back in that groove this summer.
Unlimited Playtime: Because we were home a lot last week and weren't in our usual routine, there were several stretches of unlimited playtime. Lots and lots of time to play. And eventually all that playtime started to wear on me. Because eventually all I heard were requests for mama to play. Which means the house was a disaster and I felt like I didn't have 2 seconds to myself.
If I'm being totally honest, sometimes it's hard for me to stop and play. Sometimes it's easier for me to do chores around the house while they play (or to take a break while they play). I enjoy playing with my boys on the floor when I know there's some sort of time limit and/or purpose. Playing with blocks and helping Austin say his colors until it's time for lunch... I'm good. Playing ball in the hallway for 15 minutes to get out energy until daddy gets home... I can do it. Sitting down to play with an unlimited amount of time to play... gets kind of tough. (At least for me.) We all get bored. I feel like I need some kind of lesson plan so we're learning or being productive. Ha! And when you're playing with a 4 year old and an almost 18 month old there's only so much you can all do together. Which is why sometimes it's easier when they're playing together doing something only they can do... riding their toys around, pushing dump trucks, etc. Or when I'm playing with them one-on-one.
I'm hoping the challenge was more about our routine being off and us having a little too much time at home rather than the possibility I may not be good at playing for long stretches. Sigh.
Angry Birds: My firstborn is officially addicted. Oh my gracious. He was exposed a while back and this week he discovered he's in love with the game on daddy's phone. (We're rethinking the decision to download it now.) The first few days he drove us crazy asking to play. He was literally borderline obsessed. Angry Birds was seriously one of my "challenges" of the week. I'm just not a huge fan of tons of technology for kiddos and this really made me question our parenting more than once. (I know that sounds dramatic but when your 4 year old is revolving everything around a game on a phone... it makes you question.) We've now decided he gets 2 times per day to play and that's it. Knowing his limit has helped a lot... and saved our sanity. And hopefully he'll move right on out of this phase soon. If not, Angry Birds may be deleted. So sad.
*This weekend we wrapped up our break by going Easter shopping and spending lots of time outside yesterday. A family walk of the neighborhood was wonderful. Then today we had a good day back at school and are hopefully all getting well. Austin had an appointment this afternoon and I have one tomorrow. We're praying we're past the sick stuff soon and can enjoy our regular ole routine to the fullest. Baseball is right around the corner afterall!
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