It's been a busy month...

So after doing so well during most of December, I've totally slacked off on the whole blog thing.  However, I think I have a good excuse...we sold our house, celebrated Christmas and New Year's, moved into an apartment and now we're trying to find a house to rent for the next year because our move to South Carolina seems to be in a holding pattern for right now.  Needless to say, it's been a busy month full of ups and downs and way downs.

This last month has been a true test...I've questioned my faith in ways I've never done before.  I've had moments of weakness, discontent, sadness, and pretty much every emotion in the book.  I've tried to be a strong woman and hold it all in so as not to further upset my husband...I've tried to act like nothing's been going on for the sake of my kids.  But as I pulled out of the driveway of our home for the last time, I couldn't hold back the tears.  I couldn't stop the waterfall from falling.  Then I heard this sweet voice from the second row asking if I was okay and somehow I found strength I didn't even know I had.  Somehow I found my tears stopping and my heart healing as I told WP, "Yes, I'm okay...Mama's okay."

See to WP, it's not about the house we live in, it's about his Mama and Daddy being together...it's about his family being happy and healthy.  I'd be lying if I said I was totally over the craziness that was the sale of our house and the disappointment at the fact that we aren't able to move to SC yet, but my heart feels full when I see my sweet children and when my husband walks through the door at the end of a crazy day.  And what more can I possibly ask for?

In other news:

CE will be 5 months old on Thursday, January 28th.  She had cereal for the first time on Saturday morning and is starting to get the hang of it.  She's rolling over and not sleeping again.  It's causing me to be a little moody...oh, who am I kidding, the lack of sleep is making me a mega *****.  I'm trying to get her onto a better schedule since we've basically been doing to the whole "on demand" thing, so hopefully that will help.  We introduced her to the saucer and she LOVES IT most of the time - a true blessing to her Mama.

Will's almost 21 months old...which means he's almost 2.  How can that be? His vocabulary is exploding like crazy.  He is in to everything and apparently has a temper similar to his Mama's.  He's a joy, a sweet, loving boy.  He adores his sister and is a huge helper.  He is growing up so quickly.

Favorite Vacation

For our honeymoon, DH and I went to St. Lucia.  We stayed at Jade Mountain and it was pure perfection!  The rooms only have three walls...the fourth one is open so your room has an amazing view

The resort was built into the side of a mountain.  The very top level is The Celestial Terrace.  Below is a picture of DH and I on the Celestial Terrace with a view of the Pitons in the background.

 

Below is a picture of the resort.  I took this picture during our half-day sail.  DH wasn't such a fan of the sailing but if you like to sail and snorkel, then the half-day sail is wonderful!

Sunset one night

DH has informed me that we will be going back to Jade Mountain for my 30th birthday in March 2012...motivation for me to finally lose all of this baby weight!! 

Catch up!

Day 20: Nicknames

The most common nickname I've gotten over the year is "Elmo"...so much so that my parents bought me an Original Elmo doll.

Day 21: Picture of Yourself

Day 22: Favorite City

I've got a couple, in no particular order:

1. Alexandria, VA
2. Nashville, TN
3. Venice, Italy


In other news, we are still looking for a house to move into by January 6!!! Please keep your fingers crossed and say some prayers for us!!

Something I miss...

I'm suppose to write about something I miss, but I'd rather write about someone.  I miss my mom and I wish she lived closer to us.  She's coming next week for Christmas and I am so excited.  She is one of my dearest friends.  She is a constant sounding board for me, someone I can rely on to always have my best interest at heart.  I'm so blessed that she is my mom!  I can't wait to see her on Wed. and get a big hug...I need one right now!!

I love you, Mama!!

Regrets

Today's 30 in 30 is suppose to be about regrets, but I don't believe in regrets.  Every decision I've made, every road I've taken has molded me into the person I am today so why would I want to do over anything?  I think my life's pretty good...I've got to amazing kids that light up my life and a wonderful husband who is my best friend, my soul mate. 

Some readers may wonder why I don't say I regret going to law school...but I DON'T.  If I hadn't gone to law school, I would have always wondered if I gave up on my dream job and I would not have been in a position to meet DH.  I believe it was in our destiny to meet each other...we both got accepted to Furman University and considered going there...we both considered going to law school at Wake Forest University, but ultimately, we ended up in the middle of Georgia sitting across from one another at a local Mexican restaurant playing trivia.  So, no, I don't regret going to law school.

I think it's a waste of time to have regrets...if there is something you wish you had done, try and find a way to do it.  I am passionate about cooking and I wish I had gone to culinary school.  Right now, that's not an option...two small kids and all.  And I'm not sure that I would want to be a chef or anything like that...maybe down the road I'll explore it more.  But right now, I'm turning that passion into a little adventure for my family.  I'm taking all of the recipes that I've collected over the years and I'm actually making them.  DH is having a blast testing all the different recipes and I'm exercising a passion of mine that got pushed aside while I was practicing law.

So that's it...my past lead me to my present and I wouldn't change a thing!!

Something I'm looking forward to...

This is such a simple one...

Closing on our house in GA

and

moving to SOUTH CAROLINA!!

I've been so busy doing the 30 in 30 posts that I failed to post about some recent cooking adventures.  The other week I made these meals...

Black Bean Tortilla Casserole
Source: Cooking This and That blog

This was a little spicy, but you could totally lessen the heat by using a mild sauce!  DH gave this a 5 out of 5 stars so it will be definitely be staying in my receipe index!

I also made Chicken Sweet Potato Stew.  I don't have a source for this one because I got the receipe before I starting making note of where it came from.

This was WP's dinner plate...Chicken Sweet Potato Stew, Broccoli, and Canteloupe

He loved it and so did DH

Chicken Sweet Potato Stew

Ingredients

8 chicken breasts, cubed

4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

4 yellow potatoes, cubed

4 carrots, sliced

56 ounces whole tomatoes, canned

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons paprika

2 teaspoons celery seed

1/2 cup fresh basil

2 cups chicken broth

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker.

2. Cover; cook on Low 6-8 hours or High 3-4 hours.

 
How easy is that!
 
 
In other news, CE turned 3 months old and WP turned 19 months old...we've decorated our tree for Christmas and we've sold our house (that's a blog post for another day).  I'll leave you with these photos...
 
 

Dream Home

My dream home...

Would have views like this one...



 A master bathroom complete with a see through fireplace and jetted tub

 An upstairs laundry room/kitchenette

Would look like this...

 Or this...

Or maybe even this...

Would have a kitchen like this...

And an outdoor area like this

And don't forget a pool like this...

But my dream home would never be complete unless I got to enjoy it with my best friend...

and the two cutest kids around!



Of course, I would love to have the picturesque home in the perfect setting.  The home with the massive bay windows that look out onto the peaceful waters.  The home with the gourmet kitchen...the double ovens, the Wolf range, the SubZero frig, the granite counters and dark wood cabinets...the room which makes all our guest feel at home and offers the setting for countless family memories.  The home with the beautiful built-ins to hold our books and family photos.  The home with a master suite that makes people green with envy.  The home with the infinity swimming pool and a bar/outdoor kitchen that rivals my indoor kitchen.  The home with the outdoor living space that makes every summer and fall night magical.  The home with the upstairs laundry and kitchenette area.  The wine cellar to hold our to die for wine collection.  Sure all of those things would be a fantasy come true.

But, in all honesty, my dream home is wherever DH, WP, CE and Rocko are.  Everything else is just icing on my already perfect home!