It's a Wonderful Life

Merry Givemas OR Happy Christgiving - Which ever title you want to give it, Shaun and I were able to host his side of the family for a 2 in 1 holiday celebration this year! It was so fun to have them here, as it was the first time we've hosted them since getting married three years ago.  We are so grateful that they graciously agreed to travel to us (as we have burnt up the road to our hometown this year with a collective total amount of time of THREE whole weeks in the last 12 months spent down there.) We did our best to create a special atmosphere that would allow Mimi and Papi to truly celebrate two of Charlotte's first holidays and create a special time for all. We decked the living room in full Christmas decor and made the dining room a pumpkin fest! It was so much fun and I think Charlotte got just a little spoiled.

Christmas in the Living Room

Mimi & Charlotte opening presents

Papi & Charlotte playing

Thanksgiving in the Dining Room

SAHM Update: It's been two months since coming home full time and I have fallen in love with my new "career." I think I emotionally "tip toed into this job" very unsure of how I would feel about becoming a SAHM. Would I lose my identity? Get bored? Be unfulfilled? Well, two months certainly isn't much of a dabble in any career, but so far, This really is the best, the hardest, the most rewarding, the most demanding and the most wonderful job I have ever had and I LOVE it! I had a job in my early 20's that was a highlight of my life (still is in a lot of ways) I worked 80 hrs. a week, made pretty good money for being 22 yrs. old and loved every moment. I wasn't sure that the emotional high I got from that job could ever be topped (see picture below). Well, now I work 24/7, make zero money at what I do, my job has ups and downs constantly and it has become THE highlight of my life. I love love love being a wife and Mom and I just couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life right now. So, here's to trading in the professional dress and rushing from meeting to meeting for comfy clothes and days spent playing on the floor with my little one.

My Career Woman Days (in my early 20's) &  First Lady Laura Bush

My SAHM Days & My very own First Lady

I chose to post the First Lady picture, because the contrast of the two pictures is very striking to me. I realized I picked a job from 10 years ago to talk about, but I would say that was near the top of the most professional/career jobs I ever held. 

Shaun - is as always and incredible husband and father. He's always ready to jump in where needed, he serves our family tirelessly, does just as much for Charlotte as I do, even the undesirable things that come with babies, he's always ready to jump in at a moment's notice. He's just always there for both of us. Shaun is also staying super busy being the sole provider for our family. Work for him is in a good place where business is booming which means job security for us! We are so grateful for his job - the company he works for is very family focused, takes time to invest in each employee on a personal level and celebrates when Moms get to be stay at home Moms! We also get to join Shaun and all the other spouses and kids up at his office every Friday for family lunch and we love it! Most of all, the most incredible thing about Shaun has been watching him be a father to our little girl. I always knew he'd be great at it, but it is so endearing to see a man dote on a baby. It just melts my heart. 

Charlotte Grace - is keeping us both on our toes! Our little monkey is trying so hard to crawl, sprouting teeth, eating solids, sitting up, rolling all over the house, loves one on one attention, chases our dog around as fast as she can roll after him and is just a constant delight. Poor girl has her first really yucky cold - bad cough, sniffles and teething. It's been a rough few days for her, but she has been quite the trouper. 

Our lives certainly are not perfect, there are days that we are stressed, life is bigger than we can handle, laundry piles get the best of us, things break and need fixing, we get frustrated with each other, other people and circumstances and things just don't get done. But in the midst of all the craziness, there is so much beauty, that it truly makes this Our Wonderful Life!