TWO STEPS FORWARD, ONE STEP BACK

Sometimes on Saturday mornings I let Joe watch cartoons as he eats his breakfast. He just recently became interested in TV, so he gets so excited to watch and learn while he chomps away. I got him set up in his high chair, prepared a peanut butter and banana sandwich (his favorite!) and turned on Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Today's theme? Daniel Tiger is going to be a big brother.

GRAY & YELLOW RUSTIC WEDDING

Today is our 3 year wedding anniversary. Some days it feels like I blinked and 3 years have passed, others feel like we've already lived a lifetime together. What I have learned so far is that love is a precious thing. You have to work at it, you have to have patience for it, and you have to appreciate it everyday.

MOTHER'S DAY RECAP

James knew Mother's Day was going to be difficult for me this year. And honestly, I was worried I was going to spend the entire day sad and crying. But my day was anything but sad. In true James fashion, he planned the most thoughtful and out-of-the-park day I could have ever imagined.

HOW TO SUPPORT A FRIEND THROUGH MISCARRIAGE

I have only had 1 close friend that has gone through a miscarriage. I remember feeling so sad and so helpless, not knowing what to say or do to make her feel better. I was actually nervous to talk to her. I didn't want to say the wrong thing that may upset her even more. And at the time, I had no idea what it meant to be a mother, let alone a mother dealing with the loss of her baby.

TO THE STRONGEST MOTHER

Being a mother is an indescribable thing. It's consuming, beautiful, rewarding, difficult, scary, fulfilling and frustrating all at once. I'm so very blessed that I've had the opportunity to experience it. It is the best gift in the world. On the day Joe was born, James looked at me and said, "a new part of my heart just started working." And I think it's the best way to describe it, because it's something you can't ever understand until you get to. I'm so grateful that I've gotten to, twice.