A Mother Looks at 30

If you had asked me 15 years ago what my life would be like when I turned 30, I don't think I could have even imagined my life would be as full as it is.  Husband, children, career, friends, and the list goes on.  I know I would have laughed in your face if you had told me I would be married to Billy Nance and that we would have two beautiful children together.  I guess I always imagined myself as a career woman, but the success I've had already in my career amazes me every day.  We are about to close on the purchase of a home we love that is more of my dream home than I ever thought I would have at this age.  I really am so blessed in so many ways.  Admittedly, finding balance with so much going on is difficult, but God is always with me, guiding and protecting.

Sometimes I wonder why God is so good to me when I am just another sinful human that falls short of his grace daily.  I hope that as I go through my 30s, I can serve God better and make better use of the gifts he's given me.  I am a wife/mother/employee/boss/daughte/sister/friend with room to improve across the board, and I hope that God will continue to give me plenty of opportunities to do so. 

To celebrate the close of my third decade of life, my amazing husband made a dream of mine a reality.  After we got married 7 years ago, I was sad to see my beautiful dress sealed in a box.  I loved wearing it, and I wanted to wear it again.  Fortunately, after 7 years and 2 children, I am still able to fit into it.  So, Billy threw me a Bridal Gown Gala on Saturday night.  Many of our friends joined us for dinner, and all of the ladies dressed up in bridesmaids dresses and other gowns.  I, of course, wore my wedding dress. 

I unsealed the box the night before the party, and I think Audrey was more excited than I was.  She wanted to touch it, told me I looked like a princess in it, and kept saying it was "soooo beautiful."  Barrett just wanted to eat the box.  We did manage to get Audrey to sit in the box too, but just long enough to take a picture.

Since Audrey didn't get to go to the party, I let her put on a dress from her closet that she thought looked like a princess dress.  Then, we took some photos together. I was sad that the children weren't celebrating with us at the party, so I was glad that Audrey and I could share that moment where we were both dressed up like princesses.  I know that many mothers save their wedding dress, hoping that someday, their daughter will want to wear it for her wedding.  I don't know that I will hold on to that hope too closely, but I am going to re-preserve the dress.  Maybe I'll break it out again in 10 or 20 years. 

6 Months

Baby boy...you're not going to be a baby for long!  You are growing so fast.  At a whopping 17 pounds 11 ounces, you tipped the scales at your six month checkup.  You are also 27 inches long now, keeping you in the 95th percentile for height. 

You've spent a lot of the past month fighting colds and even a bronchial infection, but you have still managed to be as happy as ever.  Your smile is contagious; all of your teachers love to hold you because of it, which means you are very used to being held whenever you want.  I can't deny complete responsiblity though, because I love holding you too. 

Your daddy is already starting to groom you for a future athlethic career.  He has his sights set on hockey, but part of me hopes that you will choose a sport with a lower injury rate.  You still haven't gotten to go to a professional hockey game though, because of the NHL strike.  You still wear your Blues onesies proudly, even though it makes your daddy a little sad to see them. 

Your diet is getting ready to change drastically.  You started eating baby food this week, and LOVE IT!  You gobbled up your sweet potatoes the first night, and probably would have eaten the whole container if I had let you.  You will also get to start drinking some water from a sippy cup and eating more rice cereal too.  We tried to capture some photos of your first baby food experience, but had trouble getting a good action shot, because we are also finding out that you like to ham it up for the camera.  Any time you see a camera, you smile.  I was trying to take a video of you playing with Jack, and you stopped playing to look at me a smile.  It does make for a lot of good pictures.  Maybe I should enter you in one of those baby photo contests. 

The holidays will be so much fun with you this year.  I cannot wait to take pictures of you and your sister together in your Christmas outfits, but I hope you also come to appreciate the real reason for the holiday.  I pray every day that you will come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; that you will love and serve God through this life that he has given you.  I also pray that we will be good parents for you, showing you love and kindess while teaching you to be the adult that God created you to be.  I have loved you since before you were born, but you have such a personality now, and I feel like I am really starting to know you.  That makes me love you more than you will ever know.  You will always be my baby boy, and your mommy will always love you. 

Bath Time

I think it is time to start putting Barrett's baby tub in the big bathtub during bath time instead of the kitchen sink.