Patrick and I bought an amazing home back in 2012.  It is in the heart of Wake Forest, has a beautiful exterior, a private back yard, the list goes on and on. The best part though? We got a killer deal on it. All of the homes around us are twice if not three times as much as ours.

We moved in and did a few quick changes like new carpet and paint for a few rooms. We put new floors in our sunroom, my office eventually turned into Bennett’s room etc. As our lives have changed, our home has slowly followed along.

Towards the end of last year though, we sold our first home in Youngsville which we had kept as a rental for 3 years. This prompted us to start potentially looking for new home. We found homes we loved but the price tags were hard to swallow. Did we really want to DOUBLE our mortgage? Hmmmm no.

We decided to utilize the 1500 square feet that we DO have, keep a stupid low mortgage, renovate what we can and really start making our house into the beautiful home we are dreaming about.

I think the hardest part is knowing that what we have planned can not be completed in a weekend. It’s going to be months of hard work and late nights. A lot of sweat and elbow grease.

The biggest thing we will be doing is turning our sunroom into a part of the actual house. This will require new siding, air ducts being rerouted, electricity, new windows, raising the floor, new doors, new carpet… among other little things.My current office is upstairs in a bedroom. The older that B gets and the less that he is sleeping during the day, means me trying to cram all of my MJP work into just an hour or so because there isn’t room for B to play in my office. By completing the sunroom and turning it into my office, I will be able to work in short bursts downstairs while B plays. By changing the sunroom, this starts the chain reaction of redoing the kitchen… It’s like a domino’s effect.

I’ll be blogging about the process and keeping anyone who wants to follow in the loop.

Cheers to turning our dreams into a reality. ❤

There are so many paint colors that need to be picked… but I’m leaning towards this pallet for the kitchen.

One of my friends asked an interesting question that it literally took me all day to think of an answer.

What was the best thing to happen in 2015?

What was the worst?

How do you want to improve in 2016?

 

The first thing was actually a little hard to answer. Without trying to sound dramatic, 2015 was a challenging year. It was hard trying to figure out motherhood while running a business. It was challenging to find a new normal in our marriage now that we have a kid. We had a lot of huge changes in 2015… and if there is one thing that I have learned this year, is that I struggle with change. I’m a creature of habit and 2015 didn’t let anything stay the same long enough for me to sink into a comfortable habit hole.

We started the year with a 3 month old and Patrick still running his own company while going to school full time. I also returned from maternity leave back in January.

We ended the year with a 15 month old, Patrick working at a new job and me ending the busiest year I have ever had with Miss Jee’s.

We decided to sell our home in Youngsville (Patrick’s first home) after having it for a rental and having tenants in it for 3 years. So for months Patrick has been working on fixing everything over there and we actually close next week! As much as having the extra income was nice, I’ll be happy to just have our current home for awhile.

By selling our house, there are a few awesome things that will happen in 2016.

1. We will become debt free other than our current mortgage.
2. Patrick will be able to work on completing his commercial pilots license by purchasing a plane.
3. We will be renovating our home to bring my office downstairs along with updating a few other rooms.

I’ve never been so excited for a new year. I just have a feeling that it’s going to be the best year yet.

I made a post about 3 or 4 months ago about how I didn’t know if I would be blogging much this fall due to how busy I thought I was going to be.

Well…. I was busier than I thought I was going to be and I am just now coming back up for air. I felt like I was in a rough and tumble ocean these past 4 months… and although I’m hesitant to use this word, I truly felt like I was drowning at times.

Whenever I returned from maternity leave (January 2015), I prayed and prayed and prayed that I would have at least 3 sessions a month for Miss Jee’s. My  biggest dream was to have 3 consistent sessions and my little heart would be happy. After shutting down and turning people away for 5 months, my hopes were small for my return. I sit here and I’m literally shaking my head in disbelief at how my 2015 and more specifically, my Fall went. I was blown away at how busy I was when I returned from maternity leave, but yall… let me tell you about these past 4 months.

Here’s an example… In the first 3 weeks of November…. I had 16 sessions and a birth. Let me spell that out in case you missed it. SIXTEEN sessions in 21 days. At the beginning of November, I had to announce that I was booked for the rest of 2015. That crazy part? 2016 doesn’t look any different. I’m already booking into May of 2016.

These past 4 months have been some of the most trying times for me. I wasn’t prepared for just how busy I was going to get. I didn’t plan rest days or family days…. I just went full steam ahead for 4 months. I would wake up at 4 am to work until 6 or 7 (when B would wake), and every minute that he was asleep, I was working. I’m now in recovery mode. All of the things I have put off these past couple of months, now I’m finding time to do them! They say you live and you learn, ain’t that the truth. There were so many things that I learned this Fall that I will be implementing for 2016 to make sure I’m the best mom and the best business woman that I can be. I’m going to make sure I have a boat that floats for 2016. No more drowning.

What a validating year 2015 has been. Do you know how many times I have questioned myself for not going to a 4 year university? For taking 6 years to get an associates degree. How many times I have doubted that I was on the right track. How embarrassed I was that my husband paid all the bills while I worked to build MJP?

2015 though…

I finally can stand on a mountain top looking over 2015. All the valley’s, the ditches, the hills, the mini mountains and I throw my hands up and I yell, “I did it yall.” I have worked so hard for this year for the past 5 years.

I built a successful and thriving business from the ground up and I’m bringing in an actual income. The best part? I’m still able to be a stay at home mom. All the glory to God!

So cheers to what 2016 holds. I know it will be the best year yet… which says a lot because 2015 was pretty grand.

I finally have some time to start blogging again. I have so much to share about what I have learned over the past 4 months. I hope you’re ending 2015 on a high note as well. If not, the only way is up! Keep moving forward!

I’ve been loving my morning routine of getting to the gym… well most days. Half the time the motivation is simply that B has somewhere to play and I get a hour long (2 if I wanted) break. That simple motivation gets me out the door and getting out of the door is always (mentally) the hardest part.

Before we decided to have B, I was at the top of my game physically. I was running, weight lifting, hitting pr’s. There was always room for improvement and there will always be new goals but I was on the right track. I was working on a weightlifting program pre baby and FINALLY I have started that program again. I thought I would share so that if you need a step by step guide of what to do in the gym, here it is.

Meet Jamie Eason. She’s a mom, bodybuilder, fitness coach…. awesome person to follow on Facebook. She has two main programs (probably more). Both are free. Both are awesome.

The first one is her Post Pregnancy program for all the mama’s who are getting back into it. She breastfed her son for over a year so I trusted her. She KNEW what it was like to try and protect her milk supply. She had realistic workouts and the program in general was awesome. Most, if not all of it could be done at home.

The second is the one I started back in 2013 and am working on again. Her LiveFit Trainer is awesome. The Bodyspace app makes it even easier. You log in and it literally tells you step by step what you should do. It allows you to track how many reps at what weight and how long you rested in between. It can’t get any easier.

^ Choose what day you’re on.

It gives you a list of the workouts. When you choose to track the workout, you can enter the info for each set.

It even describes each movement and you can watch videos on how to do it properly.

I can’t describe how much I love lifting weights. There’s something about giving it your all, trying your hardest, reaching a goal…. it’s amazing. That feeling I get when I’m at the gym. I feel strong. I feel like I can conquer anything… ok that might just be the endorphins… but still.

I love this program because it clearly states my vision for every time I step into the gym. Don’t be a cardio nomad; going from one cardio machine to another. Lift some weights! There are so many FREE programs out there… so find one and get to moving… and lifting.

I was telling some of my close girlfriends about how I’m feeling like ME again. Not because I’m losing weight (that’s a perk) but because I’m feeling strong and healthy again. I’m taking it one day at a time and trying my best to take care of myself spiritually, mentally and physically. To be the best wife, mother, business owner and friend, that I can be. I have to take care of me.

What can you do for YOU today?

I didn’t know how much free time I had before Bennett entered into our lives. Even during the busiest seasons of life pre baby are nothing like my busy seasons now.

The first year with Bennett and nursing were hard to find extra time. More specifically, going to the gym. It just wasn’t working with the schedule that Bennett was on. SO, I bought my treadmill and settled for at home workouts. Here’s the thing… I really really missed the gym.

The thing about kids and kid schedules is that they change all.the.time. Just when you think you’ve settled into a schedule that works, BAM… it morphs into something different. So when his schedule finally changed into something that worked with the gym nursery hours, I made a big leap.

I finally added B to my gym membership. I was really hesitant to sign him up before he turned 1. Now that he’s one, I finally felt like we were BOTH ready for it and let me tell you… we BOTH are loving it. His nap schedule is finally in slots where the nursery is open and I can go before his first nap so that I can shower when we get home and he goings down for his nap. Before,  I was always hesitant to work out before his nap because that meant I was left with sitting in sweaty clothes trying to nurse a baby. Gross. Not fun for either of us. Now that he’s not nursing, it’s easy peasy. Just go work out, bring him home, feed him a snack and put him in his crib. Loving it!

I am going to soak up every minute of this new schedule. I get an hour in the gym to myself while B plays in the nursery. It’s a win win for both of us. I leave feeling refreshed and high on endorphins and B gets to play with other kids!

It’s so important to find time to do something for yourself everyday. That is easier said then done BUT we have to try. I often feel torn in a million different directions between Bennett, running a business, running a household, being married… as do other moms. Finding time for our selves is hard. We often come last BUT you have to put yourself first so that you’re recharged, refreshed and can give your best to those around you. For me, that means I need to workout… or drink a hot cup of coffee in the quiet of the morning or getting together with a girlfriend sans child. Whatever it is for you, try to do it. Take time for you. You deserve it. Especially all you moms with multiple kids!

On the lists of must haves for Bennett, a comfy rocking chair was one of them. We sat in a handful of rocking chairs at babies r us…. but the $300 price tags always sent us away. I’m very frugal and need to feel like I’m getting an amazing deal or I most likely will not purchase it.

For months we searched. I wanted a gray plush rocker. Had to be gray. Had to be plush. Not an option. While searching craigslist one day, I saw, “Make me an offer.” It was a plush green rocker with custom fabric and originally $600 dollars….. The idea that I could get a good deal drew me in. I could handle green. Green could match….

“Would you take $100?”

“Yep, here’s the address.”

Patrick and I drove out to Cary and the moment I sat in it, I knew it was the perfect fit. Our rocking chair is unbelievably comfortable. I fell in love with the idea of all the newborn cuddles and story reading that would happen in the plush green rocking chair.

Bennett and I have spent hours upon hours in the green plush rocking chair. We’ve learned to nurse in the plush green rocking chair. I’ve loved him through sickness in the rocking chair. I’ve held him close through emotionally hard days in the rocking chair. I’ve been spit up on a million and one times in the rocking chair. I’ve seen my son’s first year pass, while sitting in the rocking chair.

A few days ago, while getting Bennett ready for bed, I looked at the rocking chair and couldn’t remember the last time I sat in it. How? How is that even possible? Well, we are ending our nursing relationship and the rocking chair goes hand in hand with that.

When Bennett was a newborn, our nursing sessions lasted 45 minutes… each time. SO, that was 45 minutes every 2.5 hours that I would typically sit rocking in the rocking chair… That’s A LOT of time.

A month before I left for Georgia, Bennett was still nursing 6 times a day. I got him down to 4 times a day before I left and when we came back, we dropped down to just morning and night. Last night, we dropped the night so now we are just down to once a day.

I always nursed Bennett before he went to sleep. I didn’t nurse him to sleep (unless he fell asleep from exhaustion), but it was always a step in the going to sleep process. I was nervous about how my great sleeper would be without the calming 15 minutes of nursing before putting him in the crib…

He always surprises us. He didn’t even skip a beat…. just put him in his crib and to sleep he goes. He’s been like that from day 1…. and I’m so unbelievably thankful.

I was so nervous last night that he wouldn’t sleep through the night without nursing before bed… surprised me again. Slept his normal 7:30 pm to 7 am. (again, so thankful for a great sleeper).

It’s hard to say goodbye to our rocking chair. I think I’ve wanted to be done with the nursing season more often than I wanted to be nursing… but when I think… “This could be our last time”, a lump forms in my throat and a sense of sadness brushes over me. Bennett is constantly on the go and the only time he would stop, slow down and cuddle with me was when we nursed. Saying goodbye to our rocking chair means no more half asleep baby pressed into me, stroking his curly blond hair, his hands grasping my fingers. The sweet moments of laughter that were shared just between just us, or the way he snuggled into the left side of my neck and wrap his arms around me…

It’s all so bittersweet. Saying goodbye to our rocking chair is just another step in the breaking away process. It’s another sign that my baby isn’t my tiny newborn anymore. He’s a determined little boy who loves exploring his surroundings.

Even Patrick recognizes the sadness. He knows that us ending our nursing relationship means we are saying goodbye to our baby and hello to our independent toddler. A walking, talking Bennett Journey who isn’t 100% dependent on us.

I will have our last nursing session in our plush green rocking chair… and then I will try and sit a little bit longer in it and soak in the closure of this past year. What a year. A beautiful life changing year.  

What a whirlwind this past weekend was. An absolute GO GO GO, one thing after another, what is this thing you call sleep, weekend.

I did it! I ventured out, flew on a plane for the first time (alone), navigated an international airport, rode a couple of trains to rent a car, conquered the most ridiculous ATL traffic (it was so bad, it made the news!), survived 48 hours of wedding weekend while still pumping breastmilk and made it all back in one piece.

I’ve been planning the details of this trip for over 6 months. The anxiety of leaving Bennett was so intense at times that I just wanted to say, The heck with it and not leave. Yes, the actual act of leaving him was emotionally tough but what stressed me out even more was not having enough pumped breastmilk for him while I was gone. Thankfully, everything worked out better than I could have imagined.

My mom arrived Friday morning to watch B for the day and take me to the airport. That morning was so emotional. It was Bennett Journey’s FIRST BIRTHDAY! I was up at 4 to make sure that I had everything packed and ready before he woke up. I crept into his room to stare at him while he slept until after a few back rubs, he jumps up and immediately starts babbling. He smiles at you with his closed eyes while he adjusts to the light. I picked him up and sang him happy birthday…. and of course bawled.

I think he knew I needed the morning to go free of tears from him so that I could get on the plane. I wanted to leave on a happy note, not a stressed out one. Thankfully, it was a wonderful morning. 🙂

I drove to RDU with my mom and B in the car and we switched at the departure lane and said goodbye. I left B in the car and gave him a kiss still strapped in because I would have wasted a $300 plane ticket if he cried as I left. My mom drove off and I was on my own.

I ventured through security and received a lovely pat down from TSA. Apparently they didn’t like my shiny gold cardigan as much as I did. I used the coffee mug that Patrick bought me the day before and filled it up with Starbucks, found my gate, sat down and started to read my book. I had about 45 minutes before I boarded.

I am notorious for over packing. I didn’t have that luxury this trip though because I had to be the one carrying everything (including lifting it into an overhead bin). My first plane was really nice. I played sodoku on the screen on the seat and by the time I finished my second game, we were landing. The guy sitting next to me awkwardly watched me as I played and nodded his head every time I entered a number. HA.

TOUCHDOWN IN ATL! I was early! Little did I know that I would actually make it to the resort until that evening. First of all, trying to get to the car rental place in the ATL airport is 2 train rides away. I only had 2 freak out moments during my entire trip. The first one was getting on the first train. The doors were closing, people were piling in and I couldn’t figure out which stop I needed to get off on. Thankfully, a few deep breaths, reading a few signs and I was good to go.

My second freak out moment was the ATL traffic. I know that it’s bad and was prepared for it to be bad but THIS. THIS WAS INSANE. A tractor trailer had flipped off a highway apparently and all lanes, everywhere were at a standstill. My 50 minute car ride turned into 2.5 hours of stop and go. I completely missed the rehearsal and was starting to wonder if I would make it to the dinner!

I did make it though and after about an hour of being OUTSIDE of the car, I was able to start relaxing and really enjoying myself. It was great seeing old friends, making new friends and catching up with everyone.

I was awake for 21 straight hours the first day. HA. Goodness. I had fun with everyone and I’m not entirely sure how my eyelids stayed open but they did!

The wedding day was long but I felt glamorous. I didn’t feel like a mom for the first time in long time. The hairstylist ROCKED my hair and I actually had time to really do my make up. I also drank a latte everyday I was gone (like I said I would!)

The bride was stunning. Her wedding was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever attended. She didn’t let the constant rain and dreary weather ruin her day!

We partied the night away. Between delicious food, great music, an amazing photobooth and fantastic company, a great time was had by all!

I also didn’t get a ride back to the lake house until 1 and didn’t get to sleep until 2:30, only to be back up at 6:30 to start my trek back to the airport.

Going back wasn’t as nearly as stressful… just exhausting. With very little sleep in 2 days, I could have fallen asleep in many places throughout the airport. I managed to return the car, find a carribou coffee and buy a latte and a muffin…. except I left the muffin and someone stole it. My $4 muffin!!!! Thankfully, when I realized I left it and returned for it, the ladies behind the counter gave me another one, free of charge. I chugged my coffee, ate my muffin and slept almost the entire flight home.

My guys picked me up from the airport. I was expecting B to be more excited to see me but he was so fascinated by my rolling suite case, I had to force a hug out of him. 😉 He apparently didn’t cry once the entire weekend! 🙂

Now I’m back and I’ve hit the ground running. It’s the busiest year yet, for MJP! Sessions every weekend into December and bookings already for 2016. I’m not entirely sure how much time I will have to update the blog…. but we shall see. Say a prayer for me? I’m trying to juggle a lot this fall and all I know is that I’ll need a lot of Jesus and coffee…. 

I woke up at 5 am this morning and all I could think about was how different my life is today vs. 1 year ago. Maybe it’s the first child, first year that changes you the most… but there are days that I can’t even wrap my head around how crazy (good) our lives are now.

1 year ago today, my water broke at 4:50 in the morning. Being a mom has changed me. It’s so hard to explain how one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life, is also the one of the best things. The most rewarding. The tears of frustration I cry when I get overwhelmed are so worth it because I have a little boy who looks up at me and says, “Hey mom”. Those words are real jewels though because he loves to tell you about his Da Da.

I didn’t know what I was getting into whenever we made the decision to get pregnant and have a baby. I didn’t know how physically, mentally and emotionally hard it would be. I also didn’t know how much I could fiercely love another human. How at the end of the day when I’m falling asleep sitting up and nothing is more enticing than my pillow, I still want to wake up and do it all over again.

Some days I feel more like a mom zombie, than Ann. Who is this Ann woman who likes to read, paint, create, workout, blog…? Some days, I get lost in the shuffle of the daily tasks. I get put on the back burner, along with dinner as I try to get it ready in time…. but when that little boy wraps his arms around my neck and squeezes me close and lets me hold him for a few minutes…. I come alive again. I’m reminded that I’m doing one of the most important jobs out there. That I only get one chance at raising this little boy to be a world changer, a gentleman, a hard worker and hopefully a husband and father one day.

There are days when I feel like I’m unstoppable and stand victorious on the mountain top and days when I say hello and swim a little too long with the  bottom dwellers of the ocean. It all ebbs and flows and can change sixteen hundred times in one day. Mamahood never gets easier, just different.

Every day, I have to choose to give Bennett back to God. God is the one who has a mighty and amazing plan for his life and I’m just the earthly body to help guide him, love him, support him. Everyday I have to point him back to the Gospels and the life saving truth that Jesus is Lord, the Word of God is alive and powerful. I want to show him God’s real and powerful love, mercy and grace in the way that the scripture talks about.

Another huge thing that I wanted to talk about is tomorrow marks reaching one of my biggest accomplishments. I am so proud of myself for this. Tomorrow, I reach 1 full year of breastfeeding.

I was so nervous about breastfeeding before I gave birth. I’m a planner and it’s not something you can really plan out or practice… so it terrified me. There have been COUNTLESS times that I have wanted to give up. I persevered through it though. I pushed through, poor latching in the beginning and 7 weeks of thrush. I pushed through the middle of the night feedings. I pushed through nursing while out and about. I pushed through the crazy comments people say to you (especially when you start nearing 1 year old), I pushed through ANOTHER round of Thrush. I pushed through the teething and biting stage. I pushed through the hours, days, weeks, months and now a year. My goal has always been 1 year. When I return from GA, we start the weaning process. I need my body back for awhile before we decided to start this whole process over again. I’m so proud of myself for sticking with this. I did it. 

Oh and you better believe I will be drinking latte’s in the middle of the day, everyday while I’m gone this weekend. #nobabytofeed #freedom

I also am planning a day trip for myself to celebrate my 1 year mark. Patrick will watch Bennett and I will disappear for an entire day. No baby to feed. No worrying about pumping while I’m gone. No worries in the world. 🙂

The past two years from finding out we were pregnant, to my water breaking, to laboring all day and night, to surviving the newborn phase and keeping a human alive for an entire year….. what a journey. HA! No pun intended.

My life is busier than I ever thought possible, crazier than I imagined but overflowing with blessings. To God be the glory.

Thankful for this past year. ❤

This week, I get to check off a huge personal bucket list item. I’m flying on a plane, entirely alone.

Why is that such a big deal? I’ve flown before but never alone. You see, I’ve always had the security blanket of Patrick to help guide me.

Let me explain….when you get married at 19, you kind of skip over the time that most people are exploring and learning to do things on their own. Instead, I explored, traveled the world, took on new and exciting adventures, but they were all with Patrick. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that either! I loved every minute of it!

We celebrate 5 years in 2 months and it wasn’t until a few years ago that I created my own personal bucket list to make sure I still had/have individual goals, dreams and bucket list items that were for just me. As much as having a spouse is amazing and awesome, it’s also still important to do things just for you.

I’m naturally a hermit crab who dreams of traveling the world but is slightly terrified to actually do it. Our first cruise was a nightmare because I was in tears from the idea of getting off the boat and for whatever reason getting left behind. Patrick has been good for my soul though. My adventurous husband has patiently waited outside of my hermit crab home and whispered kind and reassuring words to coax me out over the years. I do spend more time outside of the shell now than in! 🙂 It’s crazy how you see that in your kids as well. Bennett has a small hermit shell of his own. Patrick calls him cautiously outgoing. He takes his time to warm up to an environment and then he’s all in.

2 years ago, I was able to check a smaller bucket list item off of my list. – Drive outside of the triangle by myself (preferably to the beach).

Patrick drives everywhere for us. He enjoys driving, I don’t, so we make a great team. Driving to Florida? He does the whole trip. Driving just a few cities over? He does it. Driving through the night? He does it. He rather be the one driving and I rather be the one sleeping 😉 HOWEVER, I realized a few years ago that I had never driven outside of the triangle by myself. The furthest was Clayton…. SO, when the chance to drive to the beach to meet up with Patrick, arose. I took it on with excitement! I checked it off my list. 🙂

A few months ago, I checked another one off of my list. Assemble an entire piece of furniture by myself. This was a huge one because if you know ANYTHING about my husband… you know that he can build or fix anything. Literally anything. It’s insane. BUT because of that awesome talent of his, I typically leave the building up to him. When we redid our living room though, I decided it was time to check one off the bucket list. I assembled our cabinets ENTIRELY by myself… with very little injury. Ok, let me explain, I was trying to put the top of the cabinet on and I shifted, took a step and the side of my foot caught the sharp end of the hammer and well… the hammer won that fight. I feel so accomplished though when I look at the cabinet. I carry around pride, knowing that I did it!

SO, this Friday, I get to check off a HUGE bucket list item. I’m flying to Georgia all by myself. Not only that… but this will be the first time I’ve ever left Bennett longer than 5 hours for work. Say a prayer for me ok??  Now that it is only a few days away, I’m getting more excited than nervous. I’m in a wedding down in GA and so I decided to fly and rent a car instead of drive. This allowed me to spend more time with Bennett that morning, celebrating his birthday, while still making it to the rehearsal in GA. It will be a big day for me! I’ll also be driving an hour through Atlanta to get to the resort. Pray I don’t get lost!!! SO, realistically, I’m checking off three things for my bucket list….

1. Fly alone
2. Rent a car
3. Drive in a different state alone

Miss independent over here! 😛 Just kidding. In all seriousness, having a bucket list like that became so important to me when I kept hearing of friends whose grandpa’s died and the grandmas can literally do nothing because they had depended on their husbands their entire life. We never expected to lose my dad, but I’m so thankful that my mom was an independent woman who could still run a household and work. I want to make sure that I still know how to do anything and everything even if I decide to let Patrick do it instead.

Over the past 5 years, I’ve never taken a trip away from home by myself. Patrick typically has taken one or two trips a year, but when I started to think about it, I realized that I haven’t! When you’re married, you tend to just do everything together. It wasn’t until I started planning my GA trip that I realized this is my first time doing a trip by myself. I’m excited yall!

SO, I have two more big bucket list items that will be getting checked off in the next month or two but I’ll save those for another blog post. 🙂

AND not all of my bucket list items are domestic 😉 So don’t worry.

Do you have any bucket list items you want to share? What’s the most recent one you checked off? Have any tips for flying or renting a car?

I can’t believe we celebrated Bennett Journey’s first birthday party this past weekend. It truly is mind boggling how we have arrived to the one year mark so fast.

Let me tell you about my experience with planning and executing Bennett’s first birthday party. I have decided party planning isn’t my happy place.

From the start, I knew I wanted it to be an aviation/travel theme, just like his nursery. I’ve been pinning things on Pinterest for months! That’s the thing though, Pinterest can easily take a simple birthday party and turn it into an overwhelming occasion. I wanted the day to be perfect but I was on the struggle bus all the way until it was over.

I didn’t want it at my house because we had a 63 person guest list. That’s a lot of people. So I started looking into venues…. until I realized that renting a venue was either going to be too far or too much money. I finally decided that there was no other option than to have it at my house. Then came the biggest problem with that. We live in a culdasac and there is literally NO ADDITIONAL PARKING. Even when we have friends over, the biggest question is, “Where do I park?” Now trying multiplying that problem by 20 families.

A few weeks prior to the big date, we went to a birthday party out at a park in Rolesville. I walked up and said, well, this is it. This is where we are going to have the party. Thankfully the rental fee was minimal, we were under a shelter if it rained, there were playgrounds for the kids to play on and plenty of parking. Sweet relief.

I rented a shelter, announced it to friends and started buying and decorating. Here’s the thing. As a first time mom, I received the, “Birthday parties cost WHAT?!” slap in the face. I had a budget of $100 for his birthday. That easily went out the window when just buying the stuff for invitations was $22. I eventually nixed the birthday invitations because by the time I bought a new ink cartridge, stamps and the time invested, it stressed me out more than it needed to. Hooray for FB invites! No shame in my game.

Yea, so we spent around $200 for Bennett’s first birthday. I told Patrick that next year, we are going to go to take him to the Zoo and buy a hotel room and call it done. I know that first birthdays are different but my goodness, I truly didn’t know that they were so expensive (and ours was really really low key). Heads up to all the other first time moms coming up on the big O-N-E.

I had a huge long list of things that I wanted to for his party but in reality, I didn’t have enough time or energy and didn’t want to invest more money into a 2 hour long party. I spent so many naptimes and evenings working on what I DID do, that I’m not sure how I could have done more without letting something else in my life go to the wayside. After we got everything set up, thankfully it turned out way better than I initially thought it would.

The day was perfect. It was a little hot at times but other than that, I walked away feeling accomplished and my heart was overflowing from the love that B received on his special day. I’m so thankful for the grandma’s who put in a lot of sweaty hard work to help me set up and execute the day.

My awesome husband, who has been working 60+ hours a week even found the time and energy to make and frost Bennett’s smash cake. He put a lot of love and hard work into it and it turned out so well!!! ❤ Another reason why I love my guy. He’s a family man through and through.

Also a HUGE part of the day was having another photographer at Bennett’s event. When you’re a photographer, sometimes you just don’t want to take pictures for yourself. It turns into more work, more time editing, makes your to-do list even longer and you’re left with not actually enjoying and experiencing an event because you’re in work mode. I’m so thankful for Lauren who took beautiful and timeless images of our day. THANK YOU for letting me be a mom and not a photographer for a day. ❤

       

It was so great to be surrounded by the ones we love and to celebrate Bennett. As we sang him happy birthday and I looked at everyone who surrounded us, all I could think about is how awesome this last year has been. I thought about how lonely I was when B was first born and now look at how far we both have come. Making 63 cupcakes wasn’t my favorite but thinking that 63 people were coming to love on and celebrate one of the most important people to me… that meant everything.

Thank you to everyone who came. It means the world.