ONE and wiser too!

Who doesn't love a good ol' Monster Bash?
Our sweetest, craziest, growing little monster turned one!

We had family over Sunday night to celebrate
and boy was it a celebration!
any of you that know our mini know that he is SO worth celebrating.

My sister in law made us this to-die-for sign!
It's exactly what I wanted to be and am
thankful for something we can keep forever to remember
his very first year of BIG accomplishments and growth.

//Kyren got spoiled as e.v.e.r.y one year old should!//

Seriously though, his face says it all!

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa Gray
You hit the nail right on the head!
Our little has yet to get sick of cruising around in his very own truck!

and his very own big boy slide.
A month later and he is climbing up and down those stairs,
sliding and even climbing up the slide part.
Ugh. Boys will be boys!
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Ropey and Shelbs!

And of course Auntie Brina, and Uncle Jack spoiled him too.

His "ball pit" has become his safe landing from his slide.
Sabrina and Jack gave him this pool with balls.
He LOVES it. and we've found many MANY hidden things.
Ky-Bug seems to think it's where he's supposed to stash everything.

Sabrina was blessed with all the talent between the two of us!
She made Ky's delicious cakes that everyone loved.
They too, were exactly what I wanted.

Thanks Brini!!!

He wasn't quite sure what to do with his Smash Cake.
Yes, i'm that mother that cleans his hands off
just as quickly as he gets them messy.
again, I'm learning to "let go"

...BUT he got the hang of it, and when he did
he was all for it!

Only the best messiest kisses for Momma!

And this. This is about how every single picture goes these days.
**speaking of letting go...
I think it's about time that I start settling for the
running away-blinking-head turned-pictures that I'm getting.
Don't worry I wouldn't trade his curiosity, in all things, for the world!

--and now adorable pictures, of my adorable ONE year old.
(some were taken from Brini, some from me, with lots of help from Daddy)

I couldn't quite possibly sum up how truly amazing this year has been.
Kyren Jace has brought such a sweet irreplaceable spirit into our home
and most importantly into our lives!

It's been a year of learning, lots of patience, and tons of love.
I'm not going to lie some days he makes me want to pull my hair out
but, don't worry, the next minute he has me smiling from ear to ear.

he has the cutest little dimples,
and the greatest fluffiest hair.

He amazes me. He is SO ridiculously smart.
He has the sweetest little smile, and BIG dark brown eyes.
His eye lashes are to die for, and his tummy laugh is the absolute best.

We love him. We love him for so many reasons!
and truly, we are so grateful to have him and to celebrate him!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MY SWEET LITTLE ONE!
I hope that every year is like the last
and that no matter your age you'll ALWAYS be my baby.

Happy 2 Years

Wow. Where has the time gone?
We have been married for TWO whole years.
Hurray Hurray! Yee-haw! and YAY!!!

Jace. He is in fact my all time favorite person.
he has my heart and he's had it since day one.
Things between the two of us moved fast, real fast...but that's a
different story that you can find here
I wouldn't change a thing though and he is my happiest and greatest decision and accomplishment. ever.
He makes my heart beat fast, my laugh a lot louder, and my smile much bigger.

We have had such a happy and blessed 2nd year of being together.
One on one time has become a rare thing but Jace always makes sure that
we get "our"time and I'm thankful he makes me a priority when things get crazy.

Here are a few things you may not know about us:

1- I begged and begged Jace for probably 2 weeks straight to be my boyfriend.
he finally gave in and about 2 weeks later became my Fiance'

2- One night while laying down and watching a movie I said "if you love me, you'll
scratch my back." he replied with "okay" and begain scratching.

3- We went to Park City for our Honeymoon and then the plan was to head down to Vegas. As we started our way down we started talking about how much money we could save and how we'd save for a "honeymoon" we actually really wanted. (It still hasn't happened, but you bet I'm looking forward to it!) So we turned around, stopped at
RCwilleys and made it to Shelb' High School graduation then locked ourselves in our house and had a Harry Potter Marathon.
It was the life!

4- Jace took me away last year for my birthday, before the baby was born.
We ended up staying in all night...me sobbing because I felt like a Whale
and Jace consoling me! haha, prego problems!

5- I added Jace on Facebook months before we had even started talking, but
days later, he still hadn't accepted it. I deleted it feeling rejected and
awkward. Don't worry he's just not a Social Media fan so he never even saw it.
Haha!

Something cute Jace has said to me:

Me: Ugh. Look at all my scars.
Jace: Babe, you don't have scars those are love bites!

Because he love me:
1- He lets me sleep with 3-5 blankets year round.
2- He made me a mommy.
3- He puts the toilet seat down.
4- He puts up with my OCD.
5- He goes grocery shopping with me.
6- He listens to my church music. A LOT.
7- He watches Grey's and the Bachelor/ette.
8- He takes LOTS of pictures and edits my Insta posts.
9- He goes on walks with me outside.
10- He took me to the temple and keeps taking me back.

Because I love him:
1- I let him sleep with the fan on.
2- We watch more manly shows than Chick Flicks.
3- I let him pop my toes AND fingers.
4- Friday night game nights are allowed.
5- I watch sports on tv.
6- I eat Taco Bell more than necessary.
7- I scratch his back way past bedtime.
8- I let him hog the bed.
9- I support his soccer, golfing and every other sport obsession.
10- I organize his closet *even though he doesn't think it needs to be.

The list could literally go on and on.
And thankfully it grows and grows.
Everyday he does or says something that I just think
"oh I love you. so much!"

He is my forever and because of him my whole life has forever changed too.
He made me a mom to the cutest sweetest mini little man and is the all
time cutest daddy to our Ky.

There is nothing better than waking up to and
falling asleep with your best friend.
<3 <3 <3

He is my biggest fan, comforter, role model,
cheerleader, protector, safe haven, cheerer upper, confidant, talented, and most patient-fun-loving man I have ever had the honor of knowing. and better yet, he is ALL mine!!!

I love you Husband!
Thank you for making me your wife and being my forever.
You're my happy and have given me my happily ever after!
I love you babe and I can't say it enough.

Happy 2 years baby!!!
Here's to loving our past,
living in our present,
and looking forward to our future!

and here's just a few extra pictures I just LOVE and die looking at :)

I love you babe.

Being a MOMMY.

Life.
Does it ever seem to slow down? Ever?
I feel as if time never ever stops and well it doesn't.
I've been thinking a lot lately about being a mom and what it means to me.
I have read a number of articles about motherhood,
seen countless posts on Instagram about mommy-hood **mine included.
and I am now a Mommy of my all time favorite little!







I can't help but think of my own mom when I hear the word.
I can only hope that I myself can become the Mother to my Son
as she is the Mother to me. She inspires me, knows me,
keeps my secrets, does my hair, forgives me, cheers me on,
gives me time, energy, and herself. She truly is an Angel, my angel.
and let's not forget that not only does she love me but she loves
my Mr. and my darling boy.
I don't ever. EVER. want to imagine a lifetime without her.

I've been a mom for 19 months now. (and yes, I count my entire pregnancy)
it has completely changed my entire life and even more so, me.

Being a mom is going to bed late, waking up early, and checking on the little one(s)
numerous times to make sure nothing is wrong. Please tell me I'm not the only one
making sure your little babe is breathing.

Motherhood is worrying about every little cough,
rash, squeak they make, or bump on their head. Is he getting enough to eat? Is this
bite too big? Is he learning enough? Was that there yesterday? Should I call the Dr? Am I overthinking this? and so on.

Mommy-hood is getting excited about things that we, as adults, take for granted
every.single.day! Like throwing a ball, waving, standing, clapping, crawling,
pointing, and the list only continues to grow as does that little bundle of joy!
Motherhood is hurting when they hurt. The first real bump on their head, the first time they
fall off their bike, or miss a step. Their first little bruise, the teething, allergies,
sicknesses, and probably even that first heart break and every heart break after that.
You feel it all.

Being a mommy is taking in every single hug, wet kiss, feeding, and
every snuggle that you can. Because one day they will grow up!
They will still need you but not to the extent that they need you today.
Motherhood it is being exhausted, a walking zombie, a pushover, overly protective,
nurse, comforter, teacher, over bearing, snuggler, absolute hardest, busiest, funniest,
happiest, most worthwhile rewarding full time calling I've ever EVER been given.

I love it. I love being able to have man so willing to work SO much and SO hard to make it
possible for me to stay at home with my mini me everyday. It's not always easy but there is absolutely
nowhere else that I would rather be.

He has taught me so much. He makes my heart so incredibly happy. Hearing him say ma-ma-ma..there are
very few greater things in this life. His hugs are priceless and his little cheesy grin is the
cherry on top. Watching him and his daddy is every Christmas morning all combined in to one.
Kyren you bring out the very best in me; my happiest self, patience, loving and protective self.
You, right there along with your daddy, are such HUGE blessings.

I love you. I love the little human that you are.
I am sorry when I lose my temper and I admit that I occasionally need a break.
But I promise you that just like Daniel Tiger says, "Grown-ups come back" And I will.
Even when I am away, which isn't often, you are constantly on my mind.
and coming home to you is an absolute favorite of mine!

I have such BIG hopes and dreams for you and when I look in to your ever so sweet and
determined face I know in my heart that you were sent here to do some amazing amazing things.
In the short fast ten months that you have been here, and have been in our home and in our family
you have made some GIGANTIC and ever lasting impacts. I am so thankful that you are mine and I am
so incredibly grateful and SO honored to be YOUR mother!
I pray so SO hard and so SO much that you will ALWAYS need me...Because, I will ALWAYS need you!!!