"Healthy Hearts"

I stole this phrase from Kelly because I absolutely love what it stands for. In today's culture it is so easy to get caught up in how we look physically, and even more how we think others see us physically. I have always been one of those people for as long as I can remember, but something has shifted in me. I realize that I really could care less what size pants I wear or if I ever wear a bikini again, all I want it to feel my best. I mentioned in my 2013 resolution post that I wanted to get back on the health wagon so I can enjoy life to the fullest and be around for a long long time, and that's exactly what I am doing. I have cut out the majority of meats and dairy in my diet, mainly because of my gallbladder issues I have had since giving birth to Preston. I have been able to tell a pretty considerable difference in the way I feel, but there is so much more I could do also.

Today I cleaned out our pantry of all processed foods and junk. Tomorrow I am going to go grocery shopping and stock up on all things clean. We are not going to eat out unless its date night or a special occasion, so I will be cooking clean, healthy meals each night. I also am going to give up caffeine for a while. The other day I did not have any coffee or diet coke, and by the end of the day I had the worst caffeine headache, and I knew then I needed to cut it out of my diet also.

We bought a jogging stroller today and I can already tell it is going to get a lot of use. Preston and I went on a hour long walk today and had so much fun looking at all the trees and cars (and he even saw a "dawww!"). I am going to start jogging him to MDO every Monday and Wednesday. Brooke and I are going to take the boys around the lake on Tuesdays and Thursdays which is 9 miles, so that should take care of my "healthy heart" activities.

The hardest thing that is going to have to take place is quitting the disgusting habit of smoking. (Preston, never pick up a cigarette, it is not worth it). I am starting patches tomorrow and I'm sure a tough road, but it will be worth it.

I want Preston to know that this isn't a diet or a quick fix, it's a total lifestyle change that is going to happen. Not because I want to be "skinny" but because I want to be healthy. I am going to post updates and even some of the new recipes I will be trying out. I am super excited about the Hodges' healthy heart journey!!

This morning when we were waiting to go into MDO we were sitting in the atrium. You were completely content sitting on my lap for over 5 minutes. The front door opened and your little friend Daniel came in with his sweet mom. The second y'all saw each other you both wanted to be put down and crawled toward each other and started playing.

Just another way of you showing me you have turned into a little boy!

I read my post from last night today (I re-read my posts all the time, it makes me happy). I realized that I started out talking about Preston, and unknowingly ended it by talking to him.

And that my sweet boy, is what this blog is all about.

This blog is 100% for you. Of corse a few other people read it because they like to know what's going on with you as well, but ultimately, it's yours. Every time I write a post it is a letter to you. I hope one day you will read through this blog and reminisce, laugh, and learn from it.

Going Through the Motions

It's true, some days I just go through the motions. We wake up, we go about our everyday routine that we have mastered, and when it's time for Preston to go to bed I can't believe the day is over. How did it go by so fast? It's another day I will never be able to get back, and that makes me sad. I don't want to be that mom. I want to remember every single thing about Preston, at every age. I want to always remember his goofy closed mouthed smile he gives us when he is up to no good. Or his open mouthed toothy smile he has when he is laughing. I want to remember how he spreads his toes every time I put his socks on him or how he wraps himself around me like a money when I hold him. I want to remember his fake cry he has when he doesn't get his way or how he gets so excited when he sees the Puff container. I guess I am at a cross road, between holding on and letting go. I am trying so desperately to hold onto everything "baby" about him, but I know he is not a baby anymore.

Tonight we cuddled again in my bed. We went in about 30 minutes before it was time for him to go to bed. We read books, went over our animals, and gave tons of hugs and kisses. It was almost time for you to go in your room for bed. You were laying next to me snuggled up with your paci in. You took your paci out and held it in the air. I looked at you and it was as if you were telling me to laugh. I smiled at you, and you smiled at me. You curled up even closer to me and put your paci back in you mouth and started laughing. I said out loud it was time to go to bed, but that didn't matter. You are sleeping, but you are still curled up nestled into me 3 hours later.

I don't want it to end, but I have to remind myself this is just the beginning. I don't want my "baby" to grow up, but I have to remember that you will always be my baby.

Experiencing Mommyhood

Preston wakes up every morning between 7-7:30, almost without fail. But this morning he decided he wanted to sleep in, which gave Chip and I a perfect excuse to sleep in. We use Preston as our alarm clock, which did not pay off today. Preston woke us up at 8:30, and we have to leave the house at 9 to get him to school on time. I immediately jumped up and started getting myself and Preston ready to go. The funny thing is, that it was not stressful at all. I knew exactly what needed to get done, and the perfect order to get it done the fastest. I put him in his highchair and gave him his milk and breakfast. I got ready while he was eating. I grabbed his outfit for the day and a clean diapers and got him ready. I put him back in his highchair and he snacked on some puffs while I got his lunch ready for school (turkey, banana, yogurt, and some Annie's crackers). Everything just flowed. I can't believe that this has become a normalcy around here. For the next 17 years our mornings will be filled with packing lunches and rushing to get out the door for school. I always feel like a mom, but today was different. I felt like I had the mom thing down, and I felt my first taste of being an experienced mom.

A couple who has been friends with Chip and I since Korea called me yesterday in tears. They have a 1 month old daughter and she was completely exhausted and you could tell in her voice. She was calling to see if I had any tips or tricks on a sleeping schedule. I remembered this feeling perfectly. I remember begging Kelly to help get Preston established with Babywise. And I remember thinking what an awesome example of a mother she was. I went back in my emails and found the email of the schedule Kelly sent me for Preston and I forwarded it to my friend. She called me this morning again in tears, but this time they were happy tears. She was so thankful that she had a mommy friend she could trust. This is another example of how I feel I have become an experienced mom. It is such a great feeling, and I can't wait to learn more and more each day.

Preston goes to bed in his own room 9 times out of 10, but not last night. After dinner and his bath, it was obvious it was bed time, but I just wasn't ready to say goodnight to him. I scooped him up and headed to our bed, and snuggled him like crazy. It took about 30 seconds for him to fall asleep, but I spent 6 hours loving on him. I never want to forget these moments. I wish I could bottle up the way he smells when he just gets out of the bath, and his super soft skin after I put his lotion on. I want to remember the sound of his baby snore, and when he babbles in his sleep. I just can't get enough of this kid.

Park Fun

Today was Chip's first day of his last semester at the Golf Academy. Preston and I both loved having him home during his break but its back to him being away the majority of the day. I decided to take P to the park for the first time today. He has never really played in the grass before, but he absolutely loved it. We started off swinging, but anytime he gets in a swing he immediately becomes tired. The first picture below is Preston when he was about 8 months and literally fell asleep while being pushed at Sari and Pappy's.

We then moved to a huge open field and he was in heaven. He examined everything. The grass, dirt, twigs, and rocks. He played while I snapped some shots of him with my new camera. When it was time to go I was putting him in the car seat and he was crying because he didn't want to leave. He is definitely all boy. He is my world.

New Years

Happy 2013!!

so.hard.to.believe.

This year Chip and I spent New Year's Eve with some close friends while Preston was busy having fun at Sari and Pappy's house.

I have one goal for this next year. I want to be a better wife, in all aspects of the word. I want to be as healthy as I can, so I can be around for a long time. I want to work on my organizational skills (or lack there of). I want to strive to be more understanding and patient, and to be a better listener. I want to be less judge mental, and more compassionate.

Chips goal this year is to further his career in golf, and to get healthier.

I am so excited about what God has in store for our family this year, and I can't wait to experience with my two boys.

Santa

Chip, Aunt Kelly, and I took Preston to see Santa on his birthday.... The picture explains it all.

Christmas 2012

Christmas this year was a total world wind. I busted out the Christmas decor at the end of November (it would have been sooner but Chip wasn't having it). Last year we had a mini tree in our apartment and I was so excited to get our first big tree this year. I was extremely surprised with myself when I can came home with a modest, 6 1/2 ft smaller tree. It was perfect though. It fit perfectly in the corner in between our kitchen and living room and I can't wait to put it back up next year. Preston was absolutely infatuated with the lights on the tree. I also put up a ridiculous amount of garlands with lights strung through all over the house. We had our old mini tree in the dining room and on several occasions Chip and I would see the lights twinkling from the living room and just look at each other and smile. Remembering last Christmas and the most incredible gift we recieved. I never thought that last Christmas could be beat, but it was. It makes me wonder if this is how it will be forever. Each year gets better? I can't imagine. I am so beyond excited.

Christmas Eve was spent with my side of the family. We ate a fabulous meal and spent hours opening up presents. Preston did incredible, especially considering we had been to the Dr that morning and we found out he had the beginning of a double ear infection. He fell asleep in my arms while we opened gifts and was very excited to get in his crib around 10 that night.

On Christmas morning Chip, P, and myself had our little family Christmas. Chip and I exchanged gifts for the first time since we have known each other and it was so much fun. After all the gifts were opened he told me to turn around. He went and got something out of my stocking and when he told me to turn back around he was on one knee with a gorgeous new wedding ring for me. My dad has had a deep yellow diamond in a safe for years. I always wanted it, and I found out he had always wanted to give it to me. Chip took the diamond and got it mounted for my "big" gift. It is so beautiful, and so incredibly special to me.

Later that morning we loaded up the car with presents, food, and blankets to head to McKinney to spend the day with Chips side of the family. We knew the weather was going to be bad (we had what seemed to us to be a blizzard) so we planned on spending the night at Aunt Kelly and Uncle Jason's. We ate great food, opened presents, and soaked in every second that we got to all be together.

I have successfully taken down all the Christmas decorations and got the house back to "normal". I was sad to see it all go, but a huge part of me is excited to ring in the new year with a clutter free home. This Christmas as so great, and I'm sure next year I will be questioning how it could be beat, but like I said, every year seems to get better and better :)

Oh, Boy!

This story is out of order, seeing as it happened this morning, but I want to write it down so I don't forget.

Preston woke up around 7 this morning and Chip got up with him to give him breakfast and play. Around 9:30 it was time for Preston's morning nap (he still takes at least two good naps a day). Chip and I just bought a video monitor because we are working on Preston sleeping through the night in his own room. Preston had been in his crib for about 10 minutes and I went to look at the monitor to see if he was asleep. I looked once, saw he was standing up, and then did a double take. Preston was standing up, but with out a diaper on. I ran into his room to find his pj pants thrown over the side of the crib, his diaper in one corner of the crib, and poop all over his sheet. I yelled for Chip to come in the room and see what our son had done. We looked at the sheet, looked at Preston smiling, looked at one another and burst into laugher. I immediately went to get the bath water ready for P and Chip was holding Preston as far away from his body as possible. The entire bath we were both uncontrollably laughing.

Chip and I can't wait to tell Preston's girlfriends this story.

My Birthday Boy

I am now a mother of a 1 year old. So incredibly hard to believe. It feels like Preston has been with us for forever, probably because I can't imagine life with out the little bundle, but it also feel like yesterday I was meeting him for the first time.

I had been planning P's party probably since the second day he was alive. I wanted it to be a blow out, a party that he would look back in pictures and know I made it a huge deal. Well, the closer it got to the big day, the more I realized that none of that really mattered. What mattered was that he would be surrounded by the people that love him. On his actual birthday Chip took the day off and we spent family time together during the day. In the evening we went over to my parents house and had dinner. This was Preston's first time sitting at the dining room table. After dinner was over it was time for cake. Preston had never had cake before, and he is particularly picky when it comes to textures of food so I wasn't sure what he would think when it was cake time. He was definitely a fan of the cake. He took maybe five or six bites and then was done, but he enjoyed those few bites a whole lot. We all sang to him, and he LOVED it. On the video of the birthday song, there is a second where he looks at me while everyone is singing almost to make sure that everything was ok. I gave him a huge smile and he gave one back. This video will always be so special to me not only because it was his first birthday, but because of that sweet exchange the two of us had.

We then went and "opened" presents. I of corse helped, but he did have fun ripping the paper as best he could.

The day after Christmas we celebrated all the cousins birthdays with Grandma Mike, the Lee's, and the Walsh's. We had a breakfast casserole instead of cake, but it was just as good. Even though we aren't able to see our Houston family as much as we all would like, we always make the most of the time we do get to spend together.

Preston received a ridiculous amount of gifts, and he loved every single one of them. He got a ball pit, a cd player, a new truck night light, a walker, bowling pins, a trampoline, golf clubs, clothes, a tent and tunnel, nike tennis shoes, tons of books and puzzles, and the list goes on. I am so thankful for everyone who helped celebrate our sweet boys birthday, and I know he is also.

First Words

Preston started saying "dada" months ago. We did not count it as his first word because he never said it to or towards Chip. At the beginning of November I was holding P, and Chip was on the other side of the room. Chip called out Preston's name, Preston looked at him, and yelled out DaDa!

Over the past several months Preston has become obsessed with dogs. My parents have floor to ceiling windows in their den that look out to their back yard. They have two pit bulls that Preston became fascinated with. He would look out the window for 10 minutes at a time (which is like hours for adults). One day he was staring at the pups, and they were staring back. While they were barking Preston let out a loud "dawwww". He said it over and over. Everyday that we would go over there he would do and say the same thing. He now goes to our back door and says hi to Wrigley multiple times a day. He will lift up the curtain on the back door and play with her through the window. He has several books with animals in them and he will turn the page until he gets to the "dawwww" page.

Preston has said the sound of the letters B, D, M, S, T, and V.

Since Preston was about 8 months old he has been fascinated with anything with wheels on it. Janie started playing a game with him where she would take one of his cars and push it around saying "zoom zoom". Now every time Preston plays with his cars he says "Va Va" for zoom zoom.

I waited for what seemed like FOREVER but Preston finally said MaMa for the first time at the beginning of December. My heart has never felt a feeling like it did when my baby finally called me by name. He doesn't say it much yet, but every time he does my heart skips a beat.

Always Remember

Well I'm so far behind again, no surprise I'm sure. So much has happened in the last month and I can't wait to write about all of it. It might take some time, but I will get everything documented.

The first thing that happened is something that I wish never happened, and something I hate having to write about, but it's impossible not to because it hits way to close to home. On December 14th, the Connecticut school shooting happened. My heart still hurts for those children, parents, and teachers. When I first heard what had happened on the news, my immediate reaction was that Preston would never go to school. Actually I didn't want him to ever leave the house. I wanted to keep him locked up with us, where I knew he would be safe from the evil of the world. This thought stuck with me for days, and I could not stop thinking about the helpless babies whose lives were stolen that day. I prayed more in those first four days then I had in a very long time.

Later that week I was talking about the tragedy with my mom. I was in tears, asking her how I suppose to let Preston go out into this world with this kind of evil happening all over. She looked at me with a look I have only seen her give me a handful of times, and every time she does I know that what is about to come out of her mouth will change my life, and it did.

She told me that we can't escape the evil. That this evil that hits me so much harder now that I have a child, has always been here, and always will. She told me that the only thing you can do as a parent is raise your child in hopes that they will have a relationship with Christ, and if anything happened to them God forbid, that you would know where they were for eternity.

As much as I already knew this, sometimes your mama knows how to say it for you to totally grasp it. I can't shelter Preston, even though everything in my body and soul tells me I want to. He deserves to have life experiences, to learn side by side with other children. He deserves to be able to play sports or be in the band and go to Proms. My nightly prayer for Preston has been lengthened. I Now always include a prayer for myself. I ask God to help me guide him not only to be a gentleman and an attribute to society, but to guide him in his relationship with the Lord.