I Came Pretty Close

"I always wanted to invent something that would move around and make funny noises and would change the world as we know it and I forgot all about that until we had kids and now I see I came pretty close.”

-Story People

Today I feel sorry for people who say they never want children. Yeah, I know...it's their choice and well, if they don't want them they probably shouldn't have them. Yadda, yadda...I've heard it all before.

There is just something so life-changing and special about having your own children. They complete you in a way that the rest of the world cannot imagine and I think it's true for all parents, yours is better than theirs and well, when it comes to how perfect they are, yours are perfect. More than perfect even. And it's true. They're perfect for you. They came from you and they are part of you. Nothing can ever change that and given the choice, you'd kill someone before you'd let them change that.

At least I would.

I am not ignorant. I know there are people who really should not have children. There are people who have children and shouldn't have had them. There are to many suffering children in our world and my heart breaks for them. I can't imagine not giving my son everything that I have and everything that I am. He deserves that from me. He's that special to me and my main goal in life is to make sure he knows it.

I suppose I just have a hard time understanding having so much love to give but having no one to give it to. Eventually it would just swell up inside and burst into a million pieces. I don't want to waste the love that I've been given. I want to find ways everyday to share it and give it and hopefully brighten my little piece of the world with it.

Perhaps I'm crazy, I'm okay with that. I just know that every time someone looks me in the eye and says 'I never want to have kids' it kinda twists my heart a little inside. They're missing out on one of life's little miracles and well honestly, it's a huge one to miss.

Amber and Anna

I had the pleasure of photographing my old neighbor and her little girl today. I did this session for free because Amber (the little girl) is going into surgery on Monday for a brain tumor. The odds aren't really with her on this so I'm asking anyone who reads this to say a little prayer for her and her family.

15 Down

I've been using MFP for about a month now and I've lost almost 15 pounds.

Yup, I'm pretty proud.

That means I've lost 20 pounds so far this year, averaging about 10 pounds a month.

That's awesome work and let me tell you, I've worked for it!

My goal right now is to lost another 10 pounds by the end of March.

I'm pretty sure I can do it. =)

Seven Months

A 7 months old Henry...

...has two front teeth that can visibly be seen every time he smiles.

...talks and screams and giggles and is very, very loud (pretty much all of the time).

...sits up on his own and absolutely hates laying down.

...is on the move and (almost) crawling both forward and backwards.

...favorite toys are his crawling ball, his music board and his books.

...eats like a horse.

...knows his name.

...knows the word 'no' and finds it funny.

...is still very attached to his Mama.

...laughs at just about everything but especially the dog.

...loves playing peek-a-boo.

...steals every remote and cell phone that's within reach.

...grabs at everything.

...rides in the shopping cart, his big boy car seat and the stroller with no issues at all.

...keeps changing and growing right before our eyes so quickly that we can hardly stand it.

Locks of Love

Today my bestest and I cut and donated our hair to Locks of Love.

Here is my before picture!

And here I am after!

If you've ever considered donating your hair, I would highly recommend it. You have a sense of accomplishment knowing that someone is going to be so happy to have this hair that you can so easily grow back out. I cut off a total of 15 inches. That's a lot of hair! If you want to know the truth, I'm going to miss it from time to time but I don't regret it a bit. Besides, the best way to feel love is to give love.

I am me

I wish I had a better memory, but I don't.

I often forget even the most important of details and well...that's why I blog.

I know that my random rambles mean nothing to most people.

I don't write for an audience.

I write because it's part of who I am.

It always has been and it will always be.

I write because without written words (or typed, rather), I would go crazy with all the stuff in my head.

I write because it's an addiction. Truly.

I get an itch that only my moving fingers across the keyboard can fix.

I share because this is who I am.

I'm not ashamed to let anyone into the details of my life.

I am an over-achiever and unfortunately, an over-eater.

I am a mother and a wife, a daughter and a grand-daughter.

I hate almost everything 'modern' and I'm kinda old fashioned.

I am a Christian and I'm not afraid to admit it.

I suck at sticking with things.

I give up to easy.

I love the color orange, popcorn and photography.

I am forgiven.

I am loved.

I am a writer, a photographer and sometimes an artist.

I don't claim to be good at any of it.

I am me...

Life

I have the very best friends in the world. Seriously.

And my husband? Well, he's pretty much perfect too.

God, I love my life! <3

One Word

Stephanie tagged me so I thought I'd play along. Feel free to play too, I'm not going to tag any of you...just consider yourself tagged!

Here are the rules - answer the 35 questions below with just one word. Tag some of your favorite bloggers so they can join in on the fun!

1. Where is your cell phone? Couch

2. Your hair? Annoying

3. Your mother? Excused

4. Your father? Sad

5. Your favorite food? Skyline

6. Your dream last night? Forgotten

7. Your favorite drink? Coke

8. Your dream/goal? Happiness

9. What room are you in? Living

10. Your hobby? Photography

11. Your fear? Failing

12. Where do you want to be in six years? Here

13. Where were you last night? Couch

14. Something that you aren't? Dumb

15. Muffins? Cappuccino

16. Wish list item? Studio

17. Where did you grow up? Miamisburg

18. Last thing you did? Clean

19. What are you wearing? Jeans

20. Your TV? Grimm

21. Your pets? Asleep

22. Friends? Perfect

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? Everywhere

25. Missing someone? Always

26. Vehicle? Buick

27. Something you're not wearing? Socks

28. Your favorite store? Penney's

29. Your favorite color? Orange

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Forget

32. Your best friend? Amazing

33. One place that I could go over and over? Virginia

34. One person who emails you regularly? Brandon

35. Favorite place to eat? Papa's

Lazy Day

Henry and I had a lazy day today.

He has just discovered his books...

and he loves them.

And I love that he does.

Our Love Story

With Valentine's day right around the corner, everyone seems to twist their minds around hearts and roses and the one they love. Allison and Stephanie both posted this little questionnaire about their significant others and I thought I would too. I just love sharing about Jeremy and I because he is so special and important to me. He is my soul-mate and the one person who I can share absolutely anything with. Not only is he the father of my children and my partner for life, but he is my best friend. So on to it, feel free to steal the questions and write about your own significant other!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We will have been together four years this coming April.

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

Jeremy was talking to my best friend at the time but they both knew right away that there was no way that they were compatible. She told him, 'I know someone perfect for you' and ta-da! Wouldn't you know that she was right? After we met we did not spend one day apart (literally) until I went away for a youth trip. Even now, 4 years later, you could count on 2 hands the total amount of days or nights we've spent apart.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

We were married for 3 years on December 23rd.

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?

We were married at Friendship Baptist Church at one of the smallest wedding ceremony's you could have. I wore my wedding dress, he wore his tux and we were married in front of a total of 17 people; all immediate family with the exception of our pastor, his wife and Ken and Carmen (two people in which we love with all of our hearts).

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

Jeremy calls me 'Genevieve' from time to time and we throw 'booger' back and forth fairly often. Other than that, our nicknames are just those typical used by couples (babe, baby, sweetie...etc).

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

This is sooo hard! There are so many things I love about Jeremy.

1. He gets me. He gets us. He's okay with the fact that I say what's on my mind most of the time and don't give a crap what other people think. He has the same lifestyle as I do and when someone says, "OMG, you don't watch Jersey Shore?!" we can both look at them like their idiots for watching such trash. (Sorry, but it's true) He doesn't need to be in the 'in' crowd and he doesn't need to do typical 'guy' stuff with his old friends. We are perfect for one another.

2. He's so smart. Seriously. He's a master at trivia and he can tell you how so many things work. He loves learning new things and he doesn't feel ashamed to admit when he doesn't know how to do something. He's handy and he's so good at so many things.

3. He's a man; a real man. He does everything he can to support his family. He loves me endlessly even when I'm grumpy or a nag. He is a wonderful father and works so hard to make sure Henry has a great life. He gets up early and goes to bed late and barely gets a break in between. All the while he makes sure he takes time to make sure that Henry and I are loved and well...that's so important!

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

He took me out to lunch for chinese food and then we went and saw 'Step Brothers' in the theater, on the way back he took me to the Eldean Bridge in Troy that we had frequented before and while there he took me below it by the creek. He got down on one knee, pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him and (obviously) I said yes! The first person I called was Ken because Jeremy had informed me that he had asked Ken's permission to marry me. I was just smitten!

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

He's a flowers and chocolate and random other things type of guy. We're not a typical 'romantic' couple. Rose petals and champagne don't set a mood, the person you're with does...so why waste your time?

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

We are definitely a couch and movie couple, but we love having a nice dinner out somewhere every once in awhile!

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant other one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I'd like to travel overseas, have a bazillion more 'weddings' and just be a close, happy family who laughs no matter what!

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

We have no plans. We'll probably do dinner or something.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Nadda.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Be as selfless as possible, laugh as often as you can and have a little pillow talk every night! It's so important to communicate!

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

You know there's no way I can show you just one, right?

Love is... being silly, laughing and marrying your very best friend.

Love is...spending your wedding night in the emergency room...and not caring a bit.

Love is...being there through the easy times and the hard times while building a life and a future together.

Sleep

There's something to be said about sleep.

Or lack there of.

I feel like that the lacking is the main saying around here lately. I am so tired. Worn out. Exhausted. Call it whatever you may.

If Henry is sleeping I can't get my mind to stop.

What if something goes wrong with the house?

What if we move in and it's not what we thought it would be?

What if the dog hates it?

How am I going to decorate?

Should I paint now or just wait?

Will be have time to do what we need?

If I'm sleeping, Henry is not.

He cries.

He coughs.

Oh, did I mention he cries?

If we're both sleeping that means...

Jeremy is taking up half the bed,

Mason is taking up a third and

Henry is taking up the rest.

And me? Well, I'm usually curled up into a ball in a corner somewhere wishing that I didn't have to try to twist my body into some crazy pretzel like shape just to lay down in my own bed.

Yup. That's been the last few weeks.

Like I said. Tired. Exhausted...etc. I'm going to try to go to bed. Henry is asleep (in his crib, mind you) and maybe if I squeeze my eyes shut really hard, I can get my mind to sleep too.

& then there were three.

Everyone in the Ovenshire household is sick tonight. Jeremy started it out with a sinus infection, then I developed a sore throat and now poor little Henry has a mix of the two I think. I'm hoping tomorrow we'll all wake up and feel magically better...being sick is for the birds.

It's felt like summer out the past two days. I think my sore throat can be partially blamed for the weather change, especially since the sunshine has lured me out of the house and on daily walks. I've been enjoying my walks (and I think Henry has too) but I think we both learned the hard way that taking both the stroller and the dog is a recipe for disaster. I can't wait for spring and summer to be here so we can spend more time outdoors.

I did have a pleasant surprise from the sheriff's office today. They have our deed back and ready for us to pick up. Once we make our final payment on the house, the house will officially be ours. I wish that meant we could officially move in, but that's still going to take a few weeks. However, I think Brandon will be able to see the place when he's home. I told you God had timed crazier things!

I'm really just trying to pass time right now. My entire head hurts and I want so badly just to go to bed. But I know that Henry will have none of that and so I've still got a couple of hours to kill before bedtime. Here's to hoping that tomorrow will be better.