One Year.

One year. Holy crap, has it only been that long?!

One year ago today I said "I do" to the most amazing man I have ever known. He pushes my buttons every. Single. Day. But good Lord, I love him.

We have been through an incredible year--getting married, merging a family, finding out we were pregnant, searching for a house, buying a house and finally moving into a house just as I was being put on bed rest, preeclampsia, a preemie, a major cranial surgery for our baby and so, so much more.

I cannot imagine going through the events of the last year with anyone else but Brian. His take-charge attitude during my hospital stay with preeclampsia let me know that he was concerned with my well-being, as well as our baby. He constantly asked the doctors questions after we found out about James' craniosynostosis. Everything that I was afraid to do--he was able to do.

I've always thought that marriage was a team effort. Brian possesses strengths that I do not. Where I am scared, he is confident. Where I am strong, he is weak. In many ways, we are polar opposites, but at the end of the day, it totally works for us.

Most women love the book and movie, "The Notebook." Of course it's the sweet, touching story of a girl and guy who fall in love, are separated, fall back in love and live happily ever after...sort of. But what I love is the brutal honesty in one of the scenes--the truth about true love and about commitment.

There's a lot more to the scene, including the couple's brutal honesty with one another at times. That's what marriage should be. No one wants to fight, but no one wants another person who doesn't care about them either.

And when the two of us are just about at the end of our ropes with one another, we remember what Stephanie captured in our wedding photos:

Be nice...

Little Moments

I have been so busy and tired lately that updating has been a difficult for this Little Mama. Working full time, taking care of a three year old and building a marriage would be difficult for anyone, but it's especially difficult in your first trimester of pregnancy.

Brian and I did get a chance to take the boys to the beach this past weekend. It was nice to have a break from all the rain we've experienced in our area over the last few weeks. Sunshine and sand for 3 days? Yes, please!!

We also made the announcement to the boys about the baby, or as Thomas has named it, "Baby Dora." There is definitely some mixed emotion about it, but that was expected. I pray that they become more at ease about the situation over the next few months. The one thing they all agree on is that they hope it is a boy.

This mama's ready for a girl!

The hubby and I got some time to ourselves this week. Thomas was at the beach with his dad, while Jason and Dylan were at another beach with their mom. We have missed them like crazy, but it's been great just spending time together. It's also been great not eating anything with the word "nugget" in it.

My hope and prayer is that even with #4 coming early next year that we can continue having quiet, intimate moments like the ones we have had in the last few days. I enjoy my days with my kids, but I also like spending alone time with their dad/step-dad. He is my sweetheart and my best friend. I can't imagine going through these days without him.